The culture of being technical ...

Want to be a technical grappler - then establish the habit of being technical right when you first start training. If you are a coach - then expect and demand that your students be fully engaged in technical thinking, right from when they first begin training.

Even when I have my students warming up, and they are doing something as simple as a knee-warm up - I demand that their toes be aligned perfectly. I demand they be technical with things even as simple as this. it's all about establishing the 'habit' of being technical - besides, if we can't be perfect with our warm-up, then how can we expect to be perfect with the more complicated workings of advanced techniques. it's all about the habits we establish.

The 'good enough to get by' philosophy is one that is guaranteed to sabotage our progress on the mat. So let's be techncial, with everythiug we do. besides that, I like congruency! If we are technical about he warm-up, we are more likely to be technical with the drilling - and the learning - and the rolling. if we are sloppy with the warmup, then we are more liekly to be sloppy with the drilling, the learning and the rolling. So be careful about what habits you form!

So with this in mind - the most important rank (for my money) is the blue belt. By then, we have either established good habits or sloppy habits. In my experience, a sloppy blue belt will never become a good black belt - in fact, a slopy blue belt, will probably never even make black belt. A techncial blue belt - will become a technical purple belt - and so on!

We could alomst modify the BJJ ranking systme like this - and get good results:
White to Blue - 3 years
Blue to purple - 18 months
purple to brown - 1 year
six months more - black

My point being - the better blue belt we produce - the easier the progression and development to purple - and so on. Basics rule - but smart and technical basics - really rule!

good training,

JBW

Back home ...

Back at home after a gruelling flight from Los Angeles, where most of us were in qeue's for more than two hours before getting through immigration. LAX has to be the worst airport I have ever experienced - and I have been thrugh some shockers!

The trip through the states was great though - I had a wonderful time with friends up along the west coast. A huge thanks to Dave Meyer, Mike Valentine of practical martial arts in MArin county, all the great people I met at the MAIA Supershow, Robert Jones, who loaned us his mat in Vegas, Korbett Miller at Millers Martial Arts in Seattle, Brian Johnson, BJJ Black belt and great friend from Northwest Jiu Jitsu Club, Chuck Norris, Aaron Norris and Steve Nelson from the UFAF convention, all 400 odd martial artists on the mat at the convention (yes - and you Chip Wright!) for the over-the-top enthusiasm - Gene LeBell (great to see you again old friend) - Mark Cox of Chatsworth Karate, Fariborz Azhahk of TKC in the valley - and Dick Treanor, great friend, great martial artist and all-round nice guy (we also call him 'the voice of reason') - and everyone else who made this trip what it was. Thanks again - i look forward to being back next year.

Today will be spent going through the stack of e-mails piling up on my desk, before i jump back into my regular teaching routine beginning tomorrow. This week we will also be puttin in a lot of time organizing our upcoming nationals to be held on Septmber 16th. this year will be especially good with Rigan Machado coming out for a visit.

Take care all - I am looking forward to seeing everyone on the mat.
Good training,
JBW

Chuck Norris fan ...

Hi everyone,sorry havn't been around for a bit. Still in the states - heavy schedule!
Just left las vagas - after accepting a special award from Chuck Norris (Making History Martial Arts Award) in front of a crowd of near 1000 UFAF (United Fighting ARts Federation) members - I was called on to give a speech. feeling a little weird as the only person in the room not dressed in a suit and tie - I opened by apologizing that I was overdressed for an australian martial artist - which got things off to a good start.
I spoke briefly about Chuck and what a cool and inspirational person he was before talking a little about the types of cultures we set in our schools and training places. UFAF has one of the friendliest and warmest cultures I have ever experienced - it was such an honour and privelage for me to be there.
People like Chuck are far and few between - selfless to their very soul. I admire Chuck's sincerity of character and the man he is - far greater than the movie idol that most people get to see. He is a person that makes a real and positive difference. I love to be around people like that!
The UFAF organization has taken BJJ into their program with huge enthusiasm. It was a great sight to see - four hundred black belts hitting the mat at one time. What a weekend.
Anyways - I had better go. Got to train with a few friends here in San Fransisco before heading down to Los Anageles this evening.Best wishes all - I shall get back online when I reack Ozzie shores at weeks end.JBW

Leavbing Las vegas ...

Hello everyone - I am here in Las Vegas again - my second time in a week. I need to get out of here! It is hot (116 farentheit) , with casino aircon, smoke everywhere and the undending sound of slot machoines. Not good.
After teaching several hundred of Chuck Norris's Black Belts this morning - I need to rest my voice., The auditorium was huge - so I had to yell a lot.
have the afternoon off now - one of the first breaks I have had in several weeks.

I was up in beautiful Seattle earlier this week; teaching at good friends, Brian Johnson (BJJ Black Belt) school and Korbett Millers martial arts school.ian and Korbett are good friends and excellent hosts.
before that, I was here at the MAIA convention in Vegas, and before that, I was teaching foir Mike Valentine in San Franbsisco. Thanks Mike , Karen, Milo and all all the troops at Practical MArtial ARts in MArin County.

Sorry - I seem tyo have given my trip report backwards - but sleep has been eluding me and I have yet to eat today.

I will be heading back to Los Angeles the day after tomorrow (must attend a dinner tomorrowe night with Chuck before we leave) where I will teach for MArk Cox (krav Maga and KArate school in the valley) and Fariborz Azhakhk (former NPAMA director for California). Thyen it will be on a plane and heading for home.

I miss my school - the great students there - and my family. See you all soon,
JBW

PS: Excuse the typos - my eyes are sore from the smoke-filled air - back online at home soon.

The next 24 hours ..

Hi all - it's dark and gloomy here, I am up three hours before sunrise to try to get my body into the USA time zone before I get on the plane for the trip across. The plan being I that will fall asleep on the plane late this afternoon - get six or seven hours sleep and then wake up ready to rock on the wednesday in the states. My first day there is a big one - with breakfast with a friend in Los Angeles - then a drive out to burbank arirport to pick up Dave Meyer who is flying down from San Fransisco, then off to Black Belt magazines offices for a photo shoot for several articles we are pulishing in the Magazine. After that we get back on a plane and fly up to San Fransisco to head out to Mike Valentine's Practical Martial Arts school in Marin county for a seminar that I will be running that evening. After which I will eat some food - before allowing my head to fall into whatever plate of soup happens to be sitting in front of me at the table.
The day after, is when the workload really strats to pick up - heading to vegas for the MAIA convention (Martial Arts Industry Association). Apparently there will be more than two dozen Aussies over there this year - a word for those guys(and gals) - HELP ME!!!
Anyways - I had better get packing - take care all - more ramblings to come during my USA visit.
JBW