Making Connections = remembering

A question I am often asked by novice Jiu Jitsu athletes (and sometimes by Black Belts as well) is how do I remember so many techniques when from their perspective it all seems like a huge ever-expanding jumble of ideas and concepts …
I usually answer by admitting that when I began my own BJJ training back in the 80’s, it seemed that way to me also. When we start out, the whole thing looks like a giant jigsaw puzzle, with most of the pieces missing – this can make our initial BJJ learning experience somewhat of a frustrating time. Things do though, get a lot better as we progress … but why do they? And perhaps more importantly, is there any way we can make sense of things a little earlier?
In my own case, things began to make more sense, and I became better at remembering techniques, once I had a ‘base’ or ‘core game’ to pin newly learned techniques to. When we are exposed to a new technique (sweep, attack, etc) it is easy to commit it to memory if we ‘connect’ it to other techniques/moves that we already own/know. My own personal trick for remembering techniques, is to connect ‘new’ moves/techniques to as many ‘familiar’ moves that I know. Simply, the more connections we make, the more likely we are to remember the new move/idea/technique.
The secret to remembering new things is to make strong associations between the new thing and things we already know. The stronger the associations/connections we make, the more powerful and easy the remembering.
The better and more well-rounded our ‘core’ game becomes, the easier it becomes to find ways of ‘connecting’ new techniques to it. This is why the remembering and ‘making sense’ of things becomes easier after we become a blue or purple belt.
When you learn something new – immediately try to make a connection between it and something you already know – or even better still, make several connections/combinations between the newly learned thing and things you already know. This will greatly improve the likelihood of taking ownership of the ‘new stuff’.
Best wishes
JBW

Terra Incognita

To a large degree, we know the world we live in – at least from a geographic perspective. There are still of course, many places to explore but we no longer have maps with the words ‘terra incognita’ (unknown land) written all over them. For me though, tomorrow is an unknown landscape – one that hasn’t been painted yet. Every day, we have an opportunity to not only change the landscape of our lives but also an opportunity to change the way in which we live them. Each day we wake anew with possibility before us. Each time we hit the mat we have an opportunity to learn. As children we were all filled with a sense of wonder about the world around us. We explored, we wondered what was over the next hill – as adults, this sense of adventure and wonder can sometimes be crushed under the weight of daily life – but remember, each and everyone of us is an explorer at heart.
Next time you hit the mat – try something new. Experiment and see what happens. My wife calls me a mad-scientist – but underneath it all, underneath those layers that we have piled and piled upon our inner being – we are all mad-scientists at heart. The words ‘Terra Incognita’ are what made the map of the world so interesting back when … the fun is in the unknown.
JBW

Fresh off the table ...

Just arrived home from the hospital - knee operation done!
I feel pretty good - part of the benefit of going with a top surgeon. Walking around, albeit gently, with just a walking cane. I need, and am motivated, to recover quickly. I am up teaching in Coffs Harbour, Ballina, The Gold Coast and Brisbane next weekend. I plan to compress the six weeks recovery into 6 days. I shall tap into the amazing healing powers provided by my wife's excellent care (and cooking). I will rest this weekend to let most of the swelling go down - and then start some moving and rehab work monday.
I have certainly had my share of operations - and if any of you ever have the need (I am sure many of you will) then take the time to seek out the very best surgeon you can find. Ask around; find out who the best pro athletes go to see. Then go see that one. What you get from the best surgeon is a much faster recovery time - a less invasive and traumatic procedure - well worth the trouble and possible higher pricetag.
Here's a small vid clip of a part of the operation. Amazing keyhole surgery nowadays. I have had four knee ops now - but the first (some thirty years ago) left me with a large scar and took 2 full months to recover from. Today, I limped away from the op - not even needing crutches. Times have changed!
Best wishes
JBW
The following vid clip contains graphic footage of surgery - watch at own peril.

LOVIN’ IT ALL …

When I was in Vegas some ten days ago, at the Martial Arts Expo, my old student George Sotiropoulos heard I was in town and dropped by to visit me. It was a treat to see him and spend some time on the mat with him, talking tactics and working moves. George was one of my most dedicated Geelong (hometown) BJJ black belts, his work ethic is unparalleled and his commitment to excellence remains un-diminished. He has an impeccable MMA record and to date, a perfect 5-0 UFC record.
One of the reasons for his success, apart from his burning desire and passion for competition, is that he does not rely on being able to steer the game/fight in the direction of a set of specific strengths. In short, he doesn’t care what is happening – he loves it all. Standing and boxing or kickboxing, he’s up for it; clinching and takedown work, he’s up for it; groundwork (top or bottom) – yes, he’s up for it. George is lovin’ it all! This allows him to make absolutely seamless transitions from one fight strategy to the next. This is what makes him the professional that he is.
Whilst on this topic, let me say this: Well done george, you are living life the way it is mean't to be lived: with vigour, with passion and with purpose. Congratulations on your well-deserved success - may your adventure continue to unfold in joyful and exciting ways.
I have always been about full and total integration of all aspects of the fight game. We don’t want to undergo a ‘border=check’ every time we move from one range or one strategy to another. In the pursuit of excellence, we need to move seamlessly and effortlessly from one fighting strategy/style/method to another. In short, we need to flow …

In the pic: David Meyer, Awesome George and my handsome self.

I am in for knee surgery tomorrow morning. I plan to ignore all advice and be back on the mat next week. More time to post a few more blogs. I'll be back, post-op ...

Respectfully,
JBW

Heading Home

I am sitting in a spa inside the Southpoint Hotel in vegas right now, having said goodbye to my UFAF friends, gone for a treadmill run with Dave Meyer and with bags ready to pick-up at the bell desk. I am flying back to Los Angeles in an hour or so, then onward to Australia this evening. All American good-guy, Chuck Norris, gave me a an inscribed book for my son Ronin this morning - illustrating yet agin, what a thoughtful person he is. At the UFAF convention, he is surrounded by people who want a piece of his time - yet he always seems to find time to do the little things that count - and this is a part of what sets him apart from the ordinary. Last night, he and his lively wife, Gina, personally greeted hundreds of people as they entered the banquet room door - truly a thoughtful man. Movie career and iconic martial arts status aside, the world is a better place for having Chuck living in it.
Time for one more dip in the spa, a shower and a quick bite before heading to the airport with Dave. Back to my more usual style of blogging shortly. Best wishes all,
JBW

UFAF Dinner

It's late here in vegas - I just returned to my room from the United Fighting Arts federation formal dinner. It was great to catch up with Chuck, Gina and Aaron Norris again. The Norris's are grounded, generous and humble people - one cannot help but like them. David Meyer and I were again honoured with an award for our contribution to the further development of the UFAF system - and we have been asked to return again next year and teach the Black Belts again; will do!
It was also very nice to catch up with many other UFAF friends: Chip Wright (7 times USA Karate Champion), Kenneth Fjeld from Norway, many of our UFAF bJJ blue belts, and a host of other esteemed martial artists. Here's a pic of myself, with David Meyer, and old friend Dick Treanor just before we were called up to receive our awards. Time to sleep- will visit with a few friends in the morning before flying back to Los Angeles and getting on the midnight flight back home.
Best respect
JBW

Back into it - Guns blazing.

Back on the grid. Just arrived back in Vegas, ready to teach at Chuck Norris's annual united Fighting Arts federation Convention in the morning. Todays drive was nine hours from a remote corner of Utah ... time fora shower and a good nights sleep. Dave Meyer will be flying in early tomorrow and we'll be back into it - guns blazing.
Saturday night we will attend the formal UFAF dinner - and once again, we will be the only ones wearing jeans. No class!
Sunday night, I am on a plane heading back home to my school and my family. Can't wait to see them all.
Best wishes
JBW

Loving what you do VS doing what you love

Make a living out of doing what you love! I have heard this sage advice on many occasions – but in fact, I do not necessarily agree that it is the way to go! My own philosophy is actually different, and it has served me well so far – I hope it will serve you equally well.
There are several problems with making a living by just doing what you love; I have seen these problems manifest in the martial arts and I have seen them manifest in other occupations.
It’s a typical story; someone starts out daydreaming about making a living from his or her hobby. Perhaps they practise martial arts, perhaps they fly-fish; but one day, after an Anthony Robbins course or after a particularly bad day at work, they make the decision; their life will be perfect, if they can just find a way to turn their part-time hobby or passion, into a way of earning a full-time wage. Suddenly things take a turn; the bills start pouring in, they begin to realise that it’s one thing to participate in an activity for the pure joy of it and quite another to ask others to pay you for facilitating their participation in the activity. It’s one thing to wander along a river, fly-rod in hand, chatting to a life-long friend and scanning the water for a rising trout but quite another thing entirely to walk the same river, with a client whose expectations are not only unrealistic but whose skills are simply not up to the task at hand. Time goes by, one day rolls into the next and before he knows it, our passionate hobbyist is beginning to hate the very thing he once loved. I have seen this metamorphosis unfold countless times – and it is truly tragic. Strange, because on the surface of things, it seems that doing what we love doing three times a week, should just be all that much better if we did it six days a week. But in my experience, it rarely turns out like that.
I subscribe to a different philosophy and it is this – instead of doing what you love, switch the focus around and love what you do. For me, this goes to the very core of what it means to be happy. The great thong about training ourselves to love what we do, to find joy in what we do, to take pride in what we do, is that it is a skill that we can carry with us, all the way through our lives.
If we focus only on doing what we love, we shouldn’t be surprised when the thing that we love begins to look a little different a year down the track; we shouldn’t be surprised upon realising that the thing that once rejuvenated us seems to now be sucking the energy from our every waking moment. On the other hand, if we cultivate the habits of being fully engaged in the works we are already doing, in finding ways to wring joy and fulfilment out of what we are doing, we can, as the saying goes, ‘have our cake and eat it too!’
‘Love what you do’ is something I learned a long time ago; but it is also something that has been re-impressed upon me on the mat. If we just do what we love on the mat, we restrict our development and the experience can eventually become the same ‘ol same ‘ol - but if instead, we love what we do, then the experience can give us joy and fulfilment, irrespective of what is happening on the mat; it all becomes fun, we find challenge and fun no matter what we are working on at the time and no matter what the outcomes of our efforts. Learn to love what you do – it’s one of the true secrets to real happiness!
JBW

Leaving Vegas

Leaving Vegas today - thank goodness. This place can suck the life out of you.
heading north to a way more healthy place - Seattle, to teach at Brian Johnson's school (one of the best and nicest grapplers in the USA) and Korbett Mlllers school (Korbett runs one of the best MMA schools in the country) and then up to Vancouver for a night to teach for my friend Perry Bateson, who was down again for the expo in Vegas.
I'll be back here on Sunday night -and then I'll be getting in a car and heading off the grid for four days before coming back for a third time to teach for Chuck Norris. Then it'll be on a plane and back home.
One of my black belts and now legendary UFC star, George Sotiropoulos came by to say hello a few days ago. He is just wading through the opposition in the UFC right now and shows no signs of slowing down - one of the truly professional all-rounders in the competition. He has just bought a house in the beautiful Washington State, where he and his lovely wife now live. Life is going well for the Geelong-born george - because he has stood up and made it happen. I am very proud of his efforts, the way he conducts himself and his well-balanced outlook on life. Go George.
I also spent some time with Benny the Jet Urquidez - who is still hugely active in martial arts training. legends, simply, do not stop! What an amazing martial artist and what a contribution he has made to the martial arts landscape.
Gotta run - planes to catch.
JBW

The Circus

Well ... here I am at the martial arts circus!
Really not my scene - except that I need to be here this year to help my great friend David Meyer promote our MMA and BJJ Curriculums. The air inside the MGM GRANDE (the hotel casino where the event is being held) is recycled, dry and bad for your body. My eyes at least, are stinging from the smoke that I had to endure whilst walking through the casino to get to the conference centre. The windows don't open - and night is day. On top of this, I have a bad dose of the flu - everything seems more surreal in an already very surreal Las Vegas. See the attached pic of the hallway leading to my room - the light at the end of the tunnel is not even the halfway point - it's a huge place.
SO that's the bad part - oh ... one more thing; all the suits walking around, overweight and strutting (strange combination) and congratulating each other and swapping knowing grins. I suspect a lot of these people don't spend much time on the mat or DOING actual martial arts training. As I said, not my scene ...

Now for the good: there are some great martial artists poking their heads in now and then. I had a chat to legendary Benny Urquidez this morning - that was nice. I spent most of the day on the mat that I set up next to my both. My good friend and superkeen student Brian Johnson (NAGA Submission grappling multiple champion and one of the best and most competitive BJJ Black Belts in the country) and I, hit the mat and worked through some interesting grappling problems. We drew a crowd, who seemed very interested - and we had a load of fun. I have lost my voice (due to the flu) and so I got out of SELLING aspect of the job and spent my time doing what I love doing - martial arts practice. Nice day.
My mate Paul Jolley (Jols Martial Arts Supplies)has just arrived, so we will head out for dinner to cap off the day. More soon - I'll try to snap a few pics.
best wishes from vegas
JBW

USA Bound

At the airport again. I must admit, I am very much looking forward to a lot less travel in the 2nd half of the year. Pre-dawn start again, and this time I am flying to the USA. I have several days of work to do delivering at the Martial Arts Industry Expo - followed by a couple of great days visiting and teaching for my good friends Korbett Miller and Brian Johnson in Seattle. A quick day trip up into Canada to teach at my friend Perry Batesons scool - and then back to las vegas to hire a car and drive northwest for a bit. Then I have a four days off, and I am heading out into the UTAH desert with my buddy Paul Jolley, who will fly over in a few days time.
After my desert jaunt, I head back to Las vegas to teach for Chuck Norris and deliver the the third degree black belts requirements to the United Fighting Arts Federation higher grades. Then it's back home, three nights training at my school (my favourite thing) and then knee surgery on the friday. I hope to recover from that surgery in four or five days and I will be limping, but on the mat nonetheless. What a year so far - I think I am going to sleep all the way to los Angeles. Hope I dont snore sitting up. Economy class. Yikes.
Still, the best part of this trip is that I will be soon spending time with my great pal Dave Meyer; we have been the best of friends for more than twenty years now - he is my favourite person to hit the mat with; I greatly treasure the collaborative approach that Dave brings to the table - good times ahead.
JBW