MMA A Winning Combination of Grappling Arts MMA LIFE SHOP

Most people know that these two martial arts share their roots as Brazilian Jiujitsu was developed directly out of Judo.

Although these two arts are very similar and have much in common, their biggest difference is on their area of focus and this is where training both arts becomes a huge advantage. Training both arts enlarges your focus and expertise in the different areas of takedowns and throws and the ground game and submissions.

While BJJ does focus part of it's training on throws and takedowns. Judo takes this aspect of grappling into clearer focus than BJJ. By developing the beginning standing aspect of grappling, the BJJ player will better his overall game and further develop his defense against being taken down or thrown.

Further benefits include improvement in his ability to score points through throws and takedowns as well as better control of the match.

As for Judo players, they do have a little more adapting to do because of the rules differences on the ground in Judo which do place a lot more limits than BJJ does.

But despite that the overall skills gained training in BJJ on the ground will improve a Judo players' ground game for the simple reason that more emphasis is placed on the ground game.

Personally. the two arts have helped me develop a deeper appreciation of both grappling and Mixed Martial Arts as well. Where I constantly and permanently seek to develop my skills further in both arts.

One of the points you need to be aware of going in though, is that Judo can be a tougher sport if for simply because BJJ can be fought using a positional strategy where you control the position and are given moments to relax and work slowly whereas Judo tends to be more fast paced with less chance to relax. This doesn't mean Judo athletes are tougher, all it means is that your style of BJJ might be more relaxed and that you should accept that Judo could be more fast paced and aggressive than what you're used to.

In the end, the completeness that they both offer my game, is worth taking some time off of either one to focus on specific aspects of the other.

If you have considered cross training in either to better your game, then following this approach will benefit your game greatly and I couldn't recommend it more.

Within a few short months you'll be seeing a difference in both styles and so will everyone you spar against.

MMA How to Bully Proof Your Child MMA LIFE SHOP

There is something that has been going in schoolyards as long as kids have been going to school, and it is a tradition that needs to be stopped. At one time, bullying was not thought of as anything serious, just kids being kids. In many instances, bullying has been encouraged by parents and other authority figures throughout the years.

Today, we are learning just how much damage bullying can do to a kid's psyche, and how that damage can carry on well into their adult years. Even with all that is being done these days to prevent bullying, it still happens, which is why kids who are being bullied need to learn self defense, and not end up becoming bullies themselves, picking on others as they have been picked on.

Build Their Self-Esteem

One way to bully proof your child is to enroll them in martial arts classes. Not only are you going to be giving them a way to protect themselves, you will also be helping to build their self-esteem. Take Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for example. This is a type of martial art that pretty much anyone can learn, no matter how large or small they are. Rather than kicking and punching, this type of martial art involves a variety of holds that are used to subdue an opponent. Even smaller children can easily learn how to take down opponents with the techniques they learn. This is going to give them the confidence to be able to stand up to bullies. Often, this is really all it takes, and with any luck, your child will never actually have to use the techniques learned, because bullies will often back down if they realize that those they are trying to bully aren't afraid of them. If the bully does not back down, your child will have the skills needed to be able to keep from getting hurt.

Keep them In Great Physical Shape

Another bonus to having your child take Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training is that it is going to help him or her stay in great shape. Obesity is becoming a huge problem in children and teenagers these days, mainly due to the fact that with so many computers, video games and other gadgets, they do not actually go outside to be active, and spend hours at a time sitting in front of a screen.

All kids should be getting at least an hour of physical activity every day, and martial arts is a good way to get it. They can take one or two classes a week, and on the off days, they can practice what they have learned. This will ensure that they are getting plenty of exercise, which is going to help them to be healthy and happy.

MMA Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu What Sets It Apart? MMA LIFE SHOP

Jiu-jitsu represents the triumph of human intelligence over brute strength. This can probably be attributed to Helio Gracie.

The traditional combative practice of martial arts has certainly become exceedingly popular in the Western Hemisphere. With the advent of karate movies, actors such as Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee, have become household names in American homes. The movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" (2000) had a predominantly ethnic Chinese cast. The film earned over 40 awards and $120 million at the US box office, the highest for any foreign language film. Therefore it should not be surprising how the influence of martial arts has encroached upon American pop culture.

There are various styles of martial arts and these include: karate, wrestling, judo and tae kwon do. Most techniques require the fighters to generate a lot of force and consume energy. However Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which is better suited for someone who is not too bulky, could be best used as a system of self defense. Bigger opponents can be defeated by using proper fighting strategies. This particularly appeals to females, who are usually smaller in size and stature, a feature which makes them appear to be more vulnerable. The techniques of this form of martial arts empower women by enabling them to be better prepared for surviving an attack. In this way, Brazilian jiu-jitsu could be seen as crucial to saving one's life. It has the additional benefits of toning muscles without increasing bulk and for promoting weight loss. These are just some of the many reasons that it has become increasing popular among females.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu, or bjj, is markedly different from Japanese jujutsu because it is not only considered a martial art, but also a competitive sport. The level of expertise and training required also encourages character building, which makes it an important sport for young people. It gives a strong sense of discipline and perseverance.

This style of fighting focuses on getting the opponent to the ground. When fighting a larger opponent, this is particularly advantageous as it limits his/her reach, as well as the ability to apply powerful blows. Technical strength, rather than brute force, is then used for defeating the opponent.

Different colored belts are also awarded to young persons and adults as the practitioner moves up the various levels of technique and practical skill. The demands of the consistent training, averaging 3 to 4 times a week, are very good for promoting physical fitness.

There are several international tournaments, such as the Mundials, European Championships and the Pan American Championships. However, for years, stakeholders have been lobbying the International Olympic Committee to make Brazilian jiu-jitsu an Olympic event. After all, it is highly competitive and has international appeal. It is practiced in several countries of the world. Several new sporting events had been added to the London games, such as, women's boxing, mixed tennis doubles and Omnium track cycling. As the upcoming Olympic games are scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, it would appear that it might become a reality, as it is one of the national sports of the country. There could certainly be no better way of introducing the sport to the world.

MMA Gi Buying FAQ - Part 1 MMA LIFE SHOP

It looks like the very same concerns normally pop up when folks start Brazilian JiuJitsu...

Lots of people ask "Can I personally use a Judo/Tae??Kwon??Do/Karate Uniform for BJJ?"Nicely, you could, however I highly advise in opposition to it. To the untrained eye, they look comparable, but are all very different style of gi. For instance, a judo uniform has a looser reduce; the sleeves as well as collar will be easier for the adversary to grab and employ towards a person. And the??tae??kwon??do??or karate gi are too slim in order to final in bjj, they'll tear after a couple of rolling periods. Most importantly, you're probably going to be rejected from competing in tournaments; numerous organizations possess strict rules on gi's . . .the smaller??businesses. A person might end up being capable to use your old Gi for any couple of classes in the event that it will be OK with the instructor, but in the event that a person tend to be serious about BJJ, buy any BJJ gi as soon because you actually can.

Alright, so I'm going to get a uniform particular with regard to B razil Jiujitsu. What colour uniform should I get?BJJ gi's generally are available in whitened, blue, or black. Some crazier colors are getting popular like red, green, camouflage, yellow, or pink. Many tournaments just allow blue or white, to ensure that is really a safe pick. Additionally, a few colleges contemplate it disrespectful to wear the colored gi that isn't blue or white.

Another thing to consider with color is contrast stitching. Many new gi companies are issuing solid color gis with the stitching in a contrasting color. This is very common and most look very nice. They are becoming increasingly popular and, thus, less expensive. Initially a gi with contrast stitching was very rare and would cost virtually $ 300, but now they can be bought for the minimal cost of approximately one hundred dollars.

First of all, check with your own college on what colors are acceptable. Then check the tournaments in your town that you are likely to take part in. If both of individuals groups let you select your uniform color freely, choose whatever you such as. Be cautioned however, wearing the fancy gi might get a person some reactions, something from a couple of extra appears hear and there, to somebody really calling you out on it.

MMA BJJ Training Methods MMA LIFE SHOP

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art that focuses on grappling, ground fighting as well as street fighting techniques that are important for self-defense. It is different from other martial arts such as karate and judo that focus on hitting and striking the opponent. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu involves techniques that are to be used without hurting your opponent. It requires extensive training to gain expertise in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and carry out the techniques as desired. The training methods involve warm-up sessions, learning the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques and then practicing against full resistance.

The warm-up sessions include push-ups, running laps, crunches or other exercises as your trainer deems fit for you. This is followed by learning basic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques such as mount positions, armlock, chokes, close/open guard, and so on. In most cases, you will be partnered with someone on a mat to learn these techniques.

The next methods in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training would be drilling and sparring which form the practice part of your training. Drilling and sparring may be divided into sub-categories such as solo drill, cooperative 2 persons drill and finally sparring. Let's look into all the methods briefly.

Solo drills: In this method, you need to practice few Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques, movements or positions by yourself. This method is used during the warm-up sessions after you have learned the techniques.

Cooperative 2 persons drill: In this, you practice a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu movement or technique against a non-resisting partner. This method helps you to develop a movement and apply it practically.

Sparring: This method allows you to practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu techniques against a competitor with full resistance. An instance of sparring is when you try to escape from your partner when he has gained a mount position over you with full force. In sparring, you can use any legal technique of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to submit your partner and hence, it is close to a fight in a real competition.

MMA Conor McGregor, UFC Slammed for Nate Diaz Booking by Frankie Edgar's Manager | Bleacher Report MMA LIFE SHOP

Well, I need not tell you that as a person who MMA Announcer Mauro Ranallo said, "Has more degrees than a thermometer" that I get asked all the time, "What in the world are you doing fighting in the cage?"

Then the next statement is, "It just seems so violent. So barbaric!"

This statement and line of questioning occurred with such frequency that I really had to sit down and ask myself.... "Is MMA Barbaric?"

I really didn't bother with having a discussion concerning violence because let's face it....

Hockey is violent...

Football is violent...

Rugby is violent...

Boxing is violent...

Judo is violent...

By definition many sports are VIOLENT. Hell, war is VIOLENT.

Now there are varying degrees of violence but, they are all violent or they have the propensity towards violence at some point due the the nature of the said sport.

But the question is.... "Is MMA or Cagefighting Barbaric?"

Well if you do a quick search on the internet you will read how former United States Presidential Candidate and Senator John McCain calls the sport "barbaric" and similar to "human cock fighting."

You will even read how one of the sports stars and practitioners, Chael Sonnen, calls the sport of MMA "barbaric."

====================

I know right now you are saying to yourself, "So What!?!?" But here's what's WHAT!

====================

By definition, the word barbaric means, according to Webster:

1

a: of, relating to, or characteristic of barbarians

b: possessing or characteristic of a cultural level more complex than primitive savagery but less sophisticated than advanced civilization

2

a: marked by a lack of restraint: wild

b: having a bizarre, primitive, or unsophisticated quality

Now, by definition MMA is NOT barbaric!

MMA IS VIOLENT.

MMA IS DANGEROUS.

BUT IS IT BARBARIC?

NO!

There is an ELEMENT or hint of barbarism in it? YES! (but that IS only due to the lack of training of the practitioner if such lack of experience and understanding exists)...

BUT BY DEFINITION, it is NOT barbaric!!!

=====================

But Dr. Ferguson, How

Can You Say That?!?!

======================

Well, the same way NASCAR's Jimmie Johnson can tell you that driving at 180 miles per hour is the norm while it is extremely dangerous and stupid to some people to drive a car that fast knowing that an accident at such speeds can cause death.

Well, the same way I can watch a football game and watch somebody get hit and knocked unconscious and reach my right hand back into the bowl of chips and dip, slap my boy a high five with my left hand and utter, "that's part of the sport. Don't run across the middle next time on a zone defense. Sit down in the zone!"

Well, the same way I can watch 12 rounds of boxing with the anticipation for someone to receive brain trauma. (uhhhh, because you DO UNDERSTAND that getting knocked out is trauma to THE BRAIN!!!!! Not your head, YOUR FREAKING BRAIN!!!

And it is not BARBARIC to those with a trained eye.

Just as War is not barbaric.

Because the sport of Mixed Martial Arts is VERY VERY COMPLEX.

As is the sport of football. As is war, if you care to study military science as I do and have because war is an ART (please see Sun Tzu if you don't believe me).

It is more complex than primitive savagery and sophisticated just as advanced as civilization. You CANNOT win or be successful or practice this sport if you lack restraint. And as a matter of fact, this sport INVOKES restraint in its practitioners.

And the QUALITY of sophistication is only readily available and in PLAIN view to the trained eye.

If you were watching the game of chess and you didn't know how to play. You wouldn't know if moves of the practitioners were "sophisticated" or not, but because you are familiar with the game of "chess" you would assume a high level of sophistication.

Well, for those who are NOT familiar with MMA, they make an assumption that there is not a high level of sophistication with the sport and they couldn't be further from the truth. The science of MMA is just as "sweet" as boxing and although the sport is violent by nature, as is boxing, it is VERY FAR from being barbaric.

And those who call it barbaric are either one of two things:

(1) One, not familiar with the definition or the term barbaric, or

(2) Two, not qualified to speak on the sport with any hint or sense of authority.

Having an opinion is one thing...... HAVING AN INFORMED OPINION is another.

To understand Mixed Martial Arts you have to study it. You DO NOT HAVE TO DO IT to understand it. But to understand it you MUST study it. You cannot look at it for a split second and make your mind up about a sport that you bring an inherent or learned bias to its observation. You cannot do that. Nor can you speak amongst a group of people who believe in your thesis statement without any quality discourse. Such at thing is stupid and ignorant.

Mixed Martial Arts is definitely a sophisticated sport.

I do it. And I'm no academic slouch.

Rosi Sexton does it and she holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics and quite honestly, Rosi is one of my heroes in the sport and it something that I look up to and really admire.

I do believe that she is the FIRST person to fight with a Ph.D. and I believe I'm the first male, in terms of fighting on television.

And she is SUPER SUPER smart because she has her kid practicing judo:-)

UFC Jeff Monson does it and he holds a Masters Degree in Psychology.

Veteran MMA Fighter Dustin Denes did it and he holds a Masters Degree in Psychology as well.

Former UFC Champion Rich Franklin has a Masters Degree in Education.

You see, in order for your sport to be Barbaric, it must be practiced by Barbarians!!!

This is why as Mixed Martial Arts practitioners and enthusiasts we DO NOT USE the term "cage fighting". We use the term "Mixed Martial Artist." Because as a student of the "Fine Arts" of which "Martial Arts" come from, you cannot be BARBARIC in the attempt to acquire mastery.

As violent as the Art of War maybe...... IT IS STILL AN ART!!

Trust me.... "I'm a DOCTOR!"

MMA Conor McGregor issues statement, says he's not retired after all - MMA Fighting MMA LIFE SHOP

That's the question that has been bothering me for years. And probably like you, I have a natural bias to support my decision based on what I am... a BJJer. But in spite of that bias, I'm gonna tackle this question as objectively as possible to support my theory. So, just bear with me before you call me an idiot.

Ok, the answer to the question are wrestlers tougher than BJJers is... yes and no.

Why, you ask?

The reason that I say wrestlers are tougher than BJJers is because of the way they train and the mindset that's ingrained (overtly and covertly) within the training. If you've ever been around wrestlers for any period of time, it's easy to notice common traits they possess, regardless of whether they're pee-wee, master/veterans level wrestler, and every level in

between.

And what stands out in my mind about wrestlers are these common characteristics:

- They're always aggressive on the mat

- They usually attack first

- They're not afraid to work hard, even to point of complete exhaustion

- They'll fight anybody, regardless of size

- They're all a little cocky about their skill set

- They believe they can beat anyone in the world that faces them

- They don't quit on themselves during a match and if they do, they're destroying something as soon as the match is over

- They hate losing at anything

- They basically evaluate grapplers in two categories: you're either tough or a punk

Now, are those characteristics that BJJers don't possess? No, that's not what I'm saying at all.

It's not that BJJers can't have that tough mindset that I've mentioned above because many do, especially those schools that are involved in various competitive events (e.g. BJJ Tourneys, MMA Events, etc).

What I believe is the way that BJJ has been marketed (e.g. an art for a smaller man to win against a bigger man, technique not strength, etc.) for average Joe has made it easier for the "toughness" aspect to be downplayed (or even removed) from the daily training, especially when a certain amount of people are paying to learn how to grapple as a recreational activity.

And since instructors must create friendly training environments where all students (from MMAers to couch potatoes) can train and not feel physically overwhelmed, it's easy for an environment to evolve

where an instructor or coach has to:

- "Protect" certain grapplers from training with other grapplers

- Allow grapplers to skip certain part of the workout (e.g. warm-ups) so they won't be too tired

- Allow grapplers to not train because they're getting tired and don't want to lose

- Avoid certain training situations (e.g. takedowns) for fear of injury or it's too exhausting

- Displaying passive behavior on the mat

- Quitting during matches with impunity

And while that may be the "right" thing to do as far as business is concerned, that approach makes it easy to remove the element of toughness that's automatically ingrained within BJJ training to make it "safer and friendly" for the potential student.

And once many students realize how demanding the training can be, they usually quit before ever achieving a purple or even a blue belt.

What's the solution for the BJJer? Well, I think the solution lies in the question itself. I don't really think it's important to improve who's tougher, but I think it's quite obvious that we should lean towards wrestlers to learn how to engrain the tough mental mindset into grappling training, for grapplers of all ages to learn.

MMA Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Etiquette And Rules MMA LIFE SHOP

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an age-old martial art that was developed by monks. It not only gets its moves from them, but also follows their principles of respect and discipline. It follows the rules of most martial arts and discourages any unethical behavior.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teaches a practitioner to respect his opponent and his strength. A good fighter must honor a tap-out immediately. A tap-out does not show weakness, but it is a sign to honor the opponent's strength and skill. A fighter must tap the opponent, mat or himself the moment he feels pain that is beyond his tolerance level and can be dangerous. Also, the tap should be hard enough for an opponent to feel, so that he can stop immediately.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu uses chokes, joint locks and compression locks to make the opponent submit. However, a fighter must take care not to cause any harm to his opponent. Chokeholds in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu aim at stopping the blood supply to the brain. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter should not choke his opponent in the neck. This can cut the air supply to the brain and damage the larynx, which can be life-threatening. An athlete must take care not to twist the joints of his opponent to a dangerous limit while giving a joint lock. Any submission technique should be applied slowly to ensure the opponents safety.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu does not allow any moves that aim at injuring the opponent. These could be slams, eye gouging, biting, scratching, etc. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu does not support any behavior that inflicts unnecessary pain on the opponent. Every fighter is responsible for his opponent's safety. This also means that if a fighter knows that his opponent is not tapping despite unbearable pain, he must free the hold. In addition, a fighter can strike only under strict supervision. This is a rule that holds true for all martial arts.

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete must not practice on any person who is unaware of the moves and rules of the sport. He should not use any vulgar language while competing or practicing. Such behavior is not dignified and is not how a sportsman should behave. This will only incite anger in the opponent. This also means that a fighter must check his anger. He should not get angry at his opponent for winning.

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete should not wear any jewelry while practicing or exercising. He must wear clean clothes while practice and exercise and must have neat and trimmed nails. Some schools also recommend wearing a mouth piece during workouts.

MMA An MMA Fan's Guide to EURO 2016 | SevereMMA.com - UFC, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Irish MMA MMA LIFE SHOP

Many people understand that in order to be successful in the martial arts and life then belief in yourself and especially in your abilities is critical.

There are a lot of people who get involved in the martial arts in order to build confidence, self-esteem and belief in themselves.

This article will give a deeper perspective in this process so that the reader can further understand and strengthen his belief in his abilities, which will in turn further develop his abilities and improve his skills at the same time.

Let's start off by examining what it means to believe in yourself. I personally have always seen this as a trap to be avoided. Believing in your self is delusional in that your self has no real basis in what you can do and how you can perform. Believing that you are good at something will not necessarily make you good at it. Focused practice on properly doing it is the only thing that will increase your abilities. Therefore believing in your abilities will make you better and help you to perform when needed. Your confidence should be based on your abilities and not your self.

This of course should only come from a realistic assessment of your abilities and knowing your strengths and weaknesses and focusing on overcoming your weaknesses.

Some people might simply see this as semantics but if you think about it carefully you'll realize that there is truth to this understanding of the difference between belief in your self and belief in your abilities.

With belief in yourself you are merely creating the illusion in your mind about what you can do. With belief in your abilities you are looking to be clear on what you can actually do, and if you are being honest with yourself then you are removing your ego from the equation and realistically assessing what you can do and what needs more focused attention and practice so you can eventually develop the skill in being able to do it well.

For a deeper understanding, let's say you believe you can defend yourself based on the fact that you have developed self confidence because you fight well in the ring and have been working on self defense skills for many years.

Do you think that this will give you a realistic perspective compared to if you learned what is necessary to realistically defend yourself and analyzed all your skills as well as developed a situational awareness needed for successfully defending yourself. And so you solidified your belief in your skills by testing them under pressure as much as realistically possible and developed a confidence in those skills as working in the necessary environment.

Which one of these two beliefs, one in yourself the other in your abilities, do you think is more grounded on what you can actually do as opposed to what you believe about your self?

Which do you think will make a difference in a self defense situation?