My New Zealand visit.

Off to New Zealand again at weeks end. I love seeing my friends over there - the BJJ scene is strong, vital and progressive. Everyone is so enthusiastic about the training - which is, of course, the most important feedback an instructor can get. if the students are enthusiastic and fully engaged, then so too is the instructor.
I will be landing in Christchurch on friday, training at Geoff Aitken's school, then up to Auckland on Saturday morning to train at Glenn Tarrants and Michael Fooks place. On Sunday, I work with Karl Norton and Steve Cockell, who are mainatining the legacy left by wonderful Micahel Gent, then ot's off to Phil Beale's school in Hamilton. On monday I will be driving with Glenn tarrant over to Napier to train at Shayne Cox's school, then down to Wellington to work with the Police - finally, my last night in NZ will be spent with geoff Grant's school in Wellington. Back home thursday - attend to the stack of e-mails and other stuff awaiting me, pick my son up from school, then head to class that evening. Vincent Perry from the gold coast will be visiting that evening. And so goes my next week or so .. busy enough,
Best wishes all, see the Kiwi crew very soon.
best regards,
JBW

The Hourglass Training Model

In the course of teaching martial arts, I have come across and developed many different training/teaching models. One of the ones I really liked, is what I call the Hourglass Training Model. I have also called this the ‘Five ways to catch a fish and one way to cook it’ model.
The most common model of teaching a technique is to instruct the student in one angle or position to apply the technique from, and then add variations on the technique, based on how the opponent reacts to it (Eg: if the opponent does this, then we do that, if he does that, then we do this, etc). In other words – teach the person one way to catch a fish and five ways to cook it.
The Hourglass Model embodies a very different approach. The idea goes like this:
I first instruct the student in a variety of ways to get into the technique, from as many positions and angles as are viable – and only emphasize the one finish to the move. This way I increase the chances of the student getting an opportunity n sparring to actually try the technique. Four different ways into the start of the technique means it becomes four times more likely that the opportunity will come up to at least, try the move. Once I see the student ‘hitting’ the move regularly on the mat, it then becomes time to show him/her the various variations on the finish (depending on how the opponent reacts). So the Hourglass Model puts the focus on increasing the students chances/opportunities to try the technique/move in sparring by increasing the amount of ‘entries’ or ‘ways in’ to the technique/move – rather than increasing the number of ways to ‘finish’ the technique/move. Hence the name ‘Hourglass’ – lots of ways in – before we emphasize lots of ways out (variations on finish). That is – we have now taught the student fie ways to catch a fish and one way to cook it. This will keep you fed, when it comes right down to survival. More ways to cook the fish – is just a luxury; ot necessary during the survival stage.
The more usual model is: one way in to the move – and lots of ways out (variations on finish); I call this the showerhead model. The big problem with the showerhead model is that if the student knows half a dozen variations on the finish part of the move/strategy – but he/she can’t even get a chance to try it in sparring – then ultimately, they won’t take ownership of the move at all – irrespective of how many variations of it they remember.
The Hourglass teaching model puts the emphasis on getting the student to the starting-line as many times as possible in the course of grappling/sparring. The more ways the student has in to the beginning of the technique, the greater the chances are that they will have the opportunity to try the technique. Ultimately, the more opportunities they have to try the technique, the more likely it becomes that they will be successful with it. The instructor has many roles, but one very important one is to create environments and opportunities for the student to experience success rather than failure. It’s all about success.

An example - the X-guard sweeps:

In utilizing showerhead model the instructor would teach the four or five main sweeps that the student can do from the X-Guard. The problem though, is if the student can’t even get to establish the X-Guard on the mat during wrestling, then the sweeps become purely academic. The student will not master any of them.

In utilizing the Hourglass model the instructor would teach the student four or five ways to establish the X-Guard in the normal course of wrestling. Once the instructor sees the student actually succeeding in establishing the X-Guard with regularity, he then teaches the student the four or five sweeps from there.

I trust this will get you thinking.
Best wishes,
JBW 2007

The Challenge before us!

A ballerina is a ballerina 100% of the time. A ballerina doesn’t stumble down the street, crashing into things; a ballerina doesn’t look awkward or out of control; a ballerina is a ballerina to the core of her being; it defines her as a person and is manifest in everything she does.
In my view, many martial artists could take a lesson from this. To be martial artists right to our core means that we should act and behave like martial artists all of the time. Why take the escalator when we can run up those stairs? Why stumble on to the mat, when we can walk on with intent and focus?
I have just returned from teaching in the USA where I was frustrated to see more than one martial artist who has lost touch with what it means to be a true black belt. When I see someone wearing a black belt, I expect them to act and behave in a certain way. I expect them to ‘snap to’ and be ‘fully engaged’ in everything they do; especially when on the mat. I expect a black belt to ‘suck it up’ when they are a little uncomfortable and to ‘dig deep’ when the going gets a little rough. The black belt should be a standard that others would want to aspire to; a badge of honour – something to be earned. Perhaps I am too ‘old school’; but a return to traditional martial arts values and standards could be exactly what we need right now. The currency of black belt has been devalued, just like the dollar; it doesn’t buy today, what it bought say, two decades ago. Belt-inflation is rampant; and showing no signs of slowing down. There are of course, exceptions to this trend; and these are the schools and the types of people I choose to associate with. The black belt to me, is a standard of excellence that should serve to inspire and elevate others. I urge anyone who will listen to help in ‘raising the bar’. I understand that people have businesses to run, and an important part of that is student numbers and retention – but at what cost? When the black belt loses all meaning, then there will be nothing for the new student to aspire to – then what?
A ballerina is a ballerina 100% of the time. A black belt martial artist should be a black belt martial artist 100% of the time. The sales and marketing pitch for the martial arts had changed dramatically in the past several decades; now, the brochures and sign-writing spout the ‘benefits’ such as: Confidence, Respect, Fitness, etc. well okay – forgetting fr a moment about whether or not the art is actually delivering effective self defence, do we really see a lot of Confidence, Respect and Fitness? Are these things self evident in the black belt population? I am afraid I just don’t see it! I dislike being negative, but let’s call it as we see it; where are all the masses of Confident, Respectful and Physically Fit black Belts? At the recent martial arts instructor’s convention in Las Vegas, I saw perhaps 10 % of the instructors walking around that would get a pass rate on those things – and we are talking about the very things they are trying to sell via their brochures and professional marketing campaigns. It’s time for a change; time for a return to traditional martial arts values. If new-age school owners can’t deliver on their promises then prospective students will all start heading to the boxing and kickboxing gyms where they will at least get a good dose of useable and practical self-defence skills.
It seems that the martial arts/combative industry is highly polarised and becoming even more so. At one end we have schools that promise everything but deliver nothing; where a black belt is as easy to attain as a yellow belt was some twenty years ago. At the other end, we have the fight gyms, where good manners, respect and honourable behaviour is pretty scarce, but at least the people who train there are coming away with real and serious fighting capabilities. The challenge for the professional school owners of today is to find a middle ground that gives everyone what they want and need. The challenge is to be able to consistently produce a black belt who has respect for other people, self-discipline, a standard of physical fitness and prowess that is inspiring to others.
I would dearly love to see the professional martial arts schools take up that challenge. Can the professional school deliver effective fighting/self defence skills in an environment that also promotes real ‘self-discipline’, integrity, respect for others, etc? That is the kind of place I would want to spend time in. The kind of place that produces black belts who are black belts 100% of the time. In such a place, the direction is always forward and upward – and instead of lowering the bar, the focus is always on teaching the student to jump higher

JBW 2007

Award from Chuck Norris

Just returned home today from the USA. yeasterday was a monster with me leaving vegas in the morning to head to San Fransisco for a seminar before getting on anothe rplane to LA - waiting four hours at the airport before boarding the midnight flight back to Oz. It has been a hectic ten days - culminating in a nice award from martial Arts Icon Chuck Norris. I have added a short vid clip of the presentation to this blog. Glad to be back though - looking forward to seing my students in Geelong this week.
best regards all,
JBW

UFAF Convention

Last day in Las vegas before attending tonights UFAF banquet. Dave Meyer and I taught classes to several UFAF groups yesterday - here is a small bit of footage of one of the classes.
Need to head on up to the mat again now - get some training in before tonights event.
best wishes,
JBW

Competition vs Cooperation

Having just been in Las Vegas at the Martial Arts Instructors Association convention, I made some interesting observations concerning the opposing concepts of competition and cooperation. The martial arts industry, like most industries I guess, can be a highly competitive one. But I have realised that different people, depending on where they are in their lives and depending on their values and attitudes, have quite different approaches to business and the relationship that that has with friendship.
I have noticed that the most successful people, who are often the ones that seem the happiest and at most ease with themselves, also tend to be highly cooperative people. That is, they don’t seem to look upon peers within their own industry, even people selling the same products as they are, as competitors. Instead of shying away from others that are selling the same service as they are, highly successful people seem much more happy to cooperate and seek out win-win relationships. In fact, the most successful people seem to be overly-generous and giving when it comes to financial stuff, than do less successful people. Those that are less successful seem to more often than not, view others that are selling or providing the same services as themselves,, as competition. They avoid talking or engaging with their peers, too caught up in trying to corner their ‘due share’ of the market. This is not abundant thinking and in my view, holds them back from being as successful as those who adopt a cooperative and sharing attitude. I find myself being more and more drawn to people that live by a creed of cooperation rather than a creed of competition. Win-win situations seem to be abundant at every turn – it’s almost as if the universe wants us to act that way.
It seems also that the martial arts industry is becoming more and more polarised; with the highly competitive at one end of the spectrum and the highly cooperative at the other. I find the atmosphere and vibe on the cooperative side to be much more relaxed and friendly, making it a much more fun place to be. I have been at the other end myself – and I am not going back.
Case in point: this very morning I received an e-mail from Geoff Thompson in the UK, congratulating me on a few things I have done of late. He also is constantly encouraging me to get going and move forward on a book I am currently writing – offering to promote it and help me market it in his own marketplace. Wow – that is so nice. In return, I find myself telling everyone that will listen, that they should go buy his stuff. The relationship we have is totally cooperative. Neither of us is concerned about cornering our ‘share of the market’. As long as we both continue to genuinely have the others best interest at heart, it seems that we move from strength to strength. This is extraordinarily rewarding. I have also seen, many examples that have gone in the other direction; people calling each other friends, and when money comes into the equation – an air of competition and jealousy creeps in. This can be extremely corrosive.
Cooperative and win-win relationships are sustainable, highly rewarding, fun and a pleasure to be in. The martial arts industry can benefit tremendously from this kind of thinking.
JBW

Leaving the oven!

In Vegas for the last night - the MAIA convention was a hectic affair. I didn't seem to have a minute to spare. Dave Meyer, Brian Johnson, Eddie Mercer and I manned our BJJ America booth for the three days. We had a matted area also - and so I gave mini-lessons to people as they swarmed around the expo, between various martial arts business seminars. Today I taught for six hours, evaluating a few instructors from throughout the USA for their pre-blue belt training. Tomorrow morning I head up to my favourite US city, Seattle; to take a couple of seminars before coming back to Vegas and teaching for Chuck Norris at the UFAF convention. It is way hot here - 47 degrees celcius. Don't come here!
Going to treat myself and Dave to see the Circus du Soleil show on wednesday evening. it's called 'KA' - and is a wild, amazingly extravagant and technologically advanced show, based on a martial theme. I have seen many Circus du Soleil performances - and they always leave me stunned. Do not miss the chance to see anything they offer if you get the opportunity.
best get some sleep - early start tomorrow.
Good training,
JBW

Vegas again!

It's hard to beleive that a year has passed since i was last in vegas. I am off tomorrow morning to head over to LA and then on to Vegas for the MAIA convention. I will be heading up to Seattle mid week to teach for my good friends Brain Johnson and Korbett Miller before heading back to Vegas to teach for Chuck Norris at his annual UFAF convention. my mate Richard Norton will be there again this year, so it will be a bonus to be bale to catch up with him as well.
Dave Meyer and Dick Treanor will also be meeting me at the MAIA convention, so I will be in great company. I am also looking forward to seeing NZ Black Belt Geoff Aitken there as well as the usual suspects from Australia (Fari Salievski and Friends). This time round, I will be holding mini classes on some mats that US Judo Champ Mike Swain is providing for us at our booth. it should be a non-stop weekend. Rigan Machado will be there as well - so the fun will be non-stop.
I will be stopping in at Mike & Karen Valentines school in SAn Fransisco on the way home - they have one of the best schools in Frisco; if ever anyone gets a chance to visit, you will absolutely love it.
When I get back in ten days time, all will be full steam ahead in preparation for this years BJJ nationals. Rigan's ticket is booked and so the weekend will be extra special.
I shall do my best to post from Vegas - depends on the broadband connection at MGM Grande.
best wishes all,
JBW

The Law of Attraction – How it really works.

The mechanism by which stuff, via opportunity, comes into our lives is a simple one. Some people have made an obscene amount of money by over-complicating and mystifying this process. So here’s how it works:

There is so much information coming at us, sounds, colours, smells, movement, etc – that we are incapable of processing even a small portion of it. So our brain kind of blocks out all irrelevant information so that we can cope. We have a kind of information ‘filter’ if you like. This filter has a name – it’s called the R.A.S – the reticular activating system. The R.A.S filters out repetitive and non-relevant stimuli, thereby preventing sensory overload.
So if this filter is in place; how does our brain identify which information it needs to process?
That’s where basic goal-setting or visualization comes in. And here’s how this works:

Imagine you decide you need to build a new barbeque. You start thinking about it, visualizing how you want it to be made from red bricks, how big it is, where you will build it, etc. And then something funny happens; you start noticing bricks everywhere. On building blocks, on sale at the hardware store, at a local garage sale, etc. Most people think this to be an amazing co-incidence. Of course though, it is not! It is no more of a co-incidence than how you tend to spot loads of new Hondas on the road, the day after you buy one for yourself. They were always there of course, just like the red bricks were always there – it’s just that you didn’t see them until you had indentified they were personally important to you.

Your R.A.S will filter out most information that is irrelevant to your immediate needs. Once, via goal-setting or visualization, you let your R.A.S know that certain things are important to you, your brain will stay on high alert, and be on the lookout for anything that can help you get what you want. Once your R.A.S knows you what you want, the bits and pieces you need to make it happen will ‘magically’ start to appear.

This is a part of how the so-called Law of Attraction works. Pretty simple. It’s based on how our brains have evolved over millions of years. I see no need to enshroud these processes in mysticism; they are a part of our biological design.
So visualize – set some goals – be clear on what you want. But be careful, because it’s all right out there, and ready to materialize, just for you …

JBW