Guidance? Direct me...

[Chapinho]

Hello, I just started this forum today. In the past few months I have been researching alot on physical conditioning and trying to incorporate anything that will excel my progress in my art of bjj other than training the art itself. I believe highly in BodyWeight conditioning for bjj but I need to incorporate other things as well. I read the info on BodyFlow and I think it is great!

So basically this is me and what I want. If you have some insights into what may help me then please share.

I'm 5'9" 160 lbs, 26 yrs old. I compete in bjj. I would like to stay at the weight I am because it seems natural for me. I'm not sure however if lighter would be better since I haven't been under 150 lbs in over 7 or so years. I joined the Marines in '95 at 144 lbs and gained 10-15 lbs and kept it on since. I'm out now and trying to make a career out of bjj.

My goals are to get in the best condition of my life! My goal is to compete at the highest level in the sport. Obviously my technique has to be sound but I know conditioning plays a big role. My wind needs to be there and my muscle endurance and flexability will be important.

I read the BodyFlow links and think I could really benefit from it. But I still haven't reviewed everything. Clubbells are an option I've been looking at. Scrapper's Mod1 is another.

I'm just looking for some guidance...thanks in advance for any replies.

-Guy

[Doug Szolek]

Guy,

take a look around the Personal Training Program Logs to see the results that people are getting with CST and Body Flow.

As for guidance, I can't speak highly enough of the comprehensive benefits of Clubbells for martial arts training. From grip and extreme range strength, to circulo-muscular endurance, they are THE key to building mat-ready strength and ability.

Good luck on your search,

[Scott Sonnon]

Guy,

Remember that strength and conditioning are only supplementary to combat sports. As a former US National Sambo Coach I can assure you that the greatest cause in poor performance was firstly performance anxiety and secondly over training.

You can address performance anxiety by delving into Body-Flow. This will be your primary tool for conditioning flow grappling. Although I speak more to the later information in this post, Body-Flow will be the most important aspect of your supplementary training

Strength training should be kept to a minimum considering that BJJ is inherently a heavily athletic activity. Clubbell training 2-3 times a week will be all that you need.

If you do MOD1 for conditioning, it is an excellent resource. Make certain that you are not conditioning too much, too intensely, too often. Read Wayne Fisher's article on his training of Egan Inoue in the current issue of CST Magazine.

You may feel that you could be training harder, especially at 26 when you still have so much natural juice flowing through you. You may feel that you can get in better 'shape' and then you'll perform better when you go live. But if you train (conditioning) any harder than the above guidelines, you may interfere with your practice (skill refinement).

Focus all of that energy on technique practice, Body-Flow, fluid drilling and light rolling, and adequate rest and recovery. Only go live once or twice a week and for short duration.

There are many BJJ fighters and instructors at CST, including some BJJ specific training programs in the training logs. Read through the posts, ask questions, and get started, but most of all... take your time.

[Lee]

Chapinho,
You've come to the right place to improve your game! I'm about the same age as you doing BJJ as well. I was able to get my Blue Belt in BJJ in just 5 months with no prior grappling experience, and I owe a lot of my progress to Body-Flow and specific skill refinement. I can hang with the much more experienced, and I have surpassed others with more training time.
I'm sure you know BJJ is about more than strength and conditioning alone. Body-Flow can help you get find that place where you are using your body very naturally. Just the skill of relaxed, co-ordinated breathing, while moving will have you out-gassing your opponents quicker than any cardio conditioning program.
Body-Flow is bigger than strictly improving BJJ, but that is a great place to start. Its sort of a Rickson-esque method of mastering yourself and 'Flowing with the Go' rather than a set group of techniques.
Take a look at my training log, and read the wise words from many others here. Coach Sonnon's approach may not even click right away, but give it some space and let it come together naturally.

Hope that makes sense, maybe I'll see you around the scene!

[Chapinho]

Thanks for all the info guys. I read up on BodyFlow and was hoping you guys would direct me in that direction. My game is very flowing and exciting, atleast I think so. I'm always on the move looking for submissions, so sometimes I get in really tight situations where I need to be flexible, calm and flowing. I guess BodyFlow will help out.

Breathing is a big thing too and I'm not sure how to go about the right way, so this should help a lot.

I will check out the logs and take notes. I've been doing bjj for about 7 years or so. But I really haven't had the routine of conditioning my body like I used to while in the Corps. I'm in good shape but I know there is another level out there that I haven't even reached or come close to. So maybe I'm on the right track by coming here. :)

What about the Grappling Toolbox? Seems like that is a perfect choice as well.

thanks guys

-Guy

[Scott Sonnon]

Guy,

You won't need the "Grapplers Toolbox" if you start with Body-Flow.

Breathing coordination is a major topic in Body-Flow.

If discipline is your one's issue for not allocating time for conditioning, then it's usually one asking oneself as to the necessity of it all. If it you truly considered it a priority, you would be doing it. The exploratory nature of Body-Flow, resting halfway between conditioning and skill refinement, should circumvent that issue as it has for me and many others.

I look forward to reading your progress.

[Chapinho]

thanks Coach

I will try and setup a routine of BW conditioning, BodyFlow and Lifting or Clubbells(as soon as i get them), and try to keep in mind what you stated above.

...this forum is great!

[Chapinho]

If I get BodyFlow then I shouldn't need Warriors Wellness right?

[Scott Sonnon]

The exercise selection presented in the Body-Flow book and video course is not the same genre as the Warrior Wellness program. The former exercise selection involves sophisticated drills for exploration. The latter involves a step-by-step follow along process of dynamic range of motion of each joint - head to toe.

Judging by your background and stated needs, I suggest you begin with the Body-Flow book and reassess which direction you would like to proceed after thoroughly reading it.

[Chapinho]

great! will do!

[Dan Chomycia]

Obviously my technique has to be sound

I would say when you are working on this part of your game, try to look at what makes the tatic work and the possibilty of using it in a different way for other situations.
Some thing to play with slowly if you still have too much energy or time to burn in your training.
Ideally you would just keep this perspective in mind when training your skills by themselves.

Just make sure you are not overtraining like Coach Sonnon advises.

[Chapinho]

Obviously my technique has to be sound

I would say when you are working on this part of your game, try to look at what makes the tatic work and the possibilty of using it in a different way for other situations.
Some thing to play with slowly if you still have too much energy or time to burn in your training.
Ideally you would just keep this perspective in mind when training your skills by themselves.

Just make sure you are not overtraining like Coach Sonnon advises.

thanks Coach Chomycia, will do.

also just ordered my BodyFlow book this past Sunday, should be getting it soon I hope. Can't wait!