Words of Wisdom

Here is a post from Ari Bolden creator of Submissions 101;


No when to hold them; Know when to fold them
I recently got back from LA and training with Eddie Bravo at his gym in Hollywood. I have been a student of Eddie's for about 4 years now but I had never ventured down to LA to train with him at HIS gym. I have traveled all over Canada and the US attending his seminars and I have had him up at my gym several times. But, training at his gym was something completely different.
I had a complete rebirth while training there and my philosophy on training is totally different now.
Legends gym is a world class MMA facility in the heart of Hollywood. I was training alongside MMA (UFC) fighters and 'everyday' Joes. We were all equals on the mat and the experiences I pulled from my week there are worth their weight in gold. So what were they?
1) Your heart is your main weapon in a fight (grappling). I was, to
my surprise, woefully unprepared for the physical demands of practicing and rolling at Legends. I train and teach 5 days a week at my own school, but I don't have the chance to be a 'student' .
As a teacher, I have to tend to my students and their needs. My needs as a martial artist are placed on the back burner more often than not. Training every day, twice a day, really wears on your body. At one point while rolling at Legends (on the second day), I gassed out and just stopped when one of the guys had me is side control. Eddie yelled at me and said "Ari- you can't tap out from side control. At least recover guard."
This encouragement (and scolding) from MY teacher really made me realize that my heart (and my body had so much more that I gave it credit for. A few days later, when Eddie and I went head to head, my heart is what kept me going. I hit this euphoric high where I just kept going even though my body was wrecked.
2) Tapping is ok! I have no problem tapping. Tapping means you got
caught. You just keep going. When your pride gets in the way, you get injured. Everyone down there taps-and I mean everyone. No macho bullshit. You learn more from your taps that you do from tapping people out in fact. But don't get me wrong, those guys roll HARD.
3) Roll hard...roll on: On Tuesday night, Eddie threw several of
his brown belts at me in a row. While everyone one of them had a different style, body type and strength, they ALL shared a similar intensity. They really live and breathe the 10th Planet stuff. I was getting caught with stuff I NEVER get caught with at my gym.
You know why? Because they really are trying to rip your head off and apply the stuff. When you get framed with a forearm, it isn't a gentle push. These guys grind the ever living shit out of your face in order to get your hands up to protect it. Then BANG-they are in spider web working for the arm. I realized that playing an aggressive game really helps your win percentage.
4) How often and how hard are you rolling? Eddie rolls 4 days a
week for at least 45 minutes. He goes hard so he can get pushed. He told me this also. He said "Ari, you've gotta roll everyday for at least 45 minutes and push yourself. It is the only way to get better. Don't be afraid of tapping to your students either. In order to be on top, you've gotta be rolling with your toughest students in order to push beyond the level you are at." Eddie really is an amazing grappler and I know the system well. I even knew what moves where coming many times but could not stop them from happening. That is the sign of a GREAT jiu jitsu player.
Jiu Jitsu is a life long journey and every once and a while you are reborn. I was recently. Just when you think you know, so much more is presented to you to learn.