May 182015
 

This weekend Precision MMA’s head coach Brian McLaughlin was awarded his first degree by Jamey Cruz (3rd degree black belt under Renzo Gracie).  Brian has been training under Jamey since 2008 and with this promotion Brian is now the highest ranking Brazilian Jiu-jitsu black belt in the Poughkeepsie region.

Precision MMA’s Brazilian Jiu-jitsu program has three active black belt instructors. Believe it or not, most Poughkeepsie BJJ programs are taught by an instructor below black belt level. Precision is the only school in the region which boasts this level of expertise, with our black belts possessing a combined 45 years of experience!

Precision MMA Black Belts

Precision MMA Black Belts

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interested in training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Poughkeepsie?  Check out Precision MMA FREE for 30 days call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsiebrazilianjiu-jitsu.com to get started.

 Posted by at 7:30 pm
Jul 142013
 

triangle            The art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, whether practiced with or without a Gi, has multiple modern applications.  As anyone who has trained for any length of time knows, BJJ is one of the best styles for street self defense due to its emphasis on getting the fight to the ground, limiting the attacker’s ability to land strikes and ending the altercation as quickly as possible while also avoiding the over usage of striking techniques which could land the defender in jail due to excessive force.  BJJ is also an excellent way for people of all ages to get into peak physical condition, including losing weight, gaining functional strength and improving flexibility and cardio vascular endurance.  Of those who do get involved, a large number of BJJ students stick with the art because they grow to love the activity of grappling itself and this influences many to test themselves in grappling competitions.  However, there are many differences between casual rolling in one’s own school and competing in a grappling tournament and failure to understand and prepare for these differences can lead otherwise excellent grapplers to lose matches in a tournament format.  As a BJJ brown belt who has competed in thirty-four grappling tournaments I personally know some of these pitfalls all too well.  In this article I will outline five reasons why good grapplers can meet with defeat in a tournament setting while giving examples from my own experiences and tips which have helped me to be successful.  It is my hope that other aspiring competitors can learn from these experiences so that they can have the best chances for success when they decide to put their skills to the test.

One of the main reasons that many excellent Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu students fail to perform as well as they should in grappling tournaments is lack of training in takedowns.  While my current school of Precision MMA in Lagrange, New York does emphasize takedowns we are actually a great minority in that respect.  The majority of BJJ schools start their rolling sessions from the knees and never teach their students how to properly execute or defend against takedowns.  In a tournament setting this presents problems for a number of reasons.  For one, under all tournament formats, whether they are fought with or without a Gi, points are awarded for completion of a successful takedown.  As such, students who do not train takedowns have one fewer way to score points in competition.  However, this is not the only problem because failure to train in takedowns also means that the student will not know how to defend against them and this gives his opponent one more way to score points on him.  Moreover, unless the student who is lacking in takedowns is able to sweep his opponent from bottom guard this also means that his opponent will be able to have the top position whenever he wants it and this limits the students’ chances for victory even more because other than a few tournaments with different rules awarding points for submission attempts, there is usually no way for the opponent on bottom to score points excluding a sweep.  This means that if the opponent on bottom guard cannot sweep his opponent it is nearly impossible for him to win on points and his only avenue to victory is to submit his opponent from on bottom.  Before I became more proficient at takedowns this was a situation I frequently found myself in while competing and believe me when I tell you that this is no fun at all.  Many of my opponents in past competitions have been wrestlers and with how common it is for wrestlers to cross over into the world of BJJ these days if you are looking to compete you had better prepare yourself to be matched against them.  Wrestlers specialize in takedowns above all else and so failure to train in them can spell disaster for the pure BJJ practitioner.

wrestle

This leads me to my second reason why quality BJJ students can meet with defeat in a tournament setting which is the mentality of being too relaxed, especially while in bottom guard and while down on points, and failure to grapple proactively and force one’s opponent to make a mistake rather than simply waiting for him to make one.  Now I do not mean to imply that an opponent who finds himself on top or in any position for that matter cannot fall prey to the mistake of letting the time run out in a tournament match while down on points because it can certainly happen in any number of scenarios.  However, I myself have found that almost every time it has happened to me I have been taken down by a superior wrestler and found myself down on points while in bottom guard or half-guard.  I cannot possibly begin to count the number of times my opponent has scored points exclusively through takedowns and I have had to deal with the mounting frustration of realizing that he is content to sit in my guard making minimal attempts to pass as the time to secure a submission becomes ever shorter.  Aside from the inability to get a takedown or sweep myself or stop my opponent’s takedown I attribute my difficulties in these scenarios to two factors.  The first is an “old school” Jiu-Jitsu mentality which had been particularly popular during my early days of training which is actually an over emphasis on being relaxed in training.  Jiu-Jitsu is translated as “the gentle art” from Japanese and this generally implies that it is a style where the practitioner should be able to overcome his opponent while using as little physical strength as possible.  While it is very important that the Jiujitsuka focus on proper technique above all else and never be tense while training, it is possible to take this approach too far to the opposite extreme and refuse to use any extra exertion when grappling.  This generally amounts to being exclusively defensive which is a good way to lose when one is already down on points in competition.

The second factor I attribute my difficulties in competition to while in a “down on points” scenario is related to the aforementioned, but rather than being an attitude towards grappling it has to do with a style of offense and defense, especially while on bottom guard.  It has been said that some BJJ practitioners have a “pro-active” guard style while others have a “reactive” guard style.  A “pro-active” guard style is one where the opponent on bottom guard does not rely on his opponents’ attempts to pass to set up a sweep or submission.  Instead of expecting that the opponent will aggressively pursue a guard pass, the “pro-active” guard player attacks the top man relentlessly, chaining together multiple sweep and submission attempts until something works for him.  One popular style of “pro-active” guard is Eddie Bravo’s “Rubber Guard” but this is by no means the only type of guard which falls in this category.  I myself have found significant success with a variety of “upside down guard” techniques which involve hooking the top man’s leg with the near hand and rolling underneath the opponent in an attempt to secure a leg lock.  Other “pro-active” guard styles include the deep-half guard, X-guard, butterfly half guard, and many others.

On the other hand, “reactive” guard styles are those where the bottom opponent relies almost entirely on the top man’s attempts to pass guard to set up a submission or sweep.  A simple closed guard where the bottom player refuses to open for extended periods could be seen as a “reactive” style, but the truth is that any time the bottom player refuses to act first he is grappling “reactively”.  For years I grappled this way and lost many matches because I simply assumed that my opponent would aggressively attempt to pass my guard.  What the BJJ competitor needs to realize is that if the top opponent is up on points he has no need to pass, he need only remain active enough not to be called for stalling and otherwise he’ll be cruising to an easy decision win against a bottom player who refuses to act first.  Now let me be clear here: I am not saying that reactive grappling and guard styles do not have their place in competition, and in reality all grappling matches include a combination of proactive and reactive techniques.  My point is merely that rolling in the dojo exclusively is likely to foster a sort of reactive grappling which does not acknowledge time limits or a point system since neither exists in casual rolling.  As such, before entering a competition the casual grappler must become acquainted with these differences and realize that there may be times in competition where the onus will be on him to press the action if he wants a favorable outcome.

Another reason that casual Jiu-Jitsu practitioners these days often fail to have success in tournaments is that they do not train in leg locks.  While every BJJ school offers instruction in all varieties of arm locks and chokes, for whatever reason many instructors do not teach leg locks or allow their students to train in them.  One reason may be that they are afraid of students injuring each other, but the truth is that if trained properly leg locks are no more dangerous than any other submission.  As one of my specialties, I frequently win tournament bouts with leg locks and have later heard many times as an excuse that my opponent simply did not train in them.  Just like the aforementioned problem with failure to train in takedowns, a competitor has no one to blame but himself if he has not at least attempted to gain familiarity with techniques which might be used against him in competition.  If attacking with leg locks is not your thing then there’s no need to go for them while competing but you should at the very least know how to defend against them if you want to find success on the competition circuit.  Even if you do train in every possible technique Jiu-Jitsu has to offer you are likely to eventually encounter someone who is better at it than you but you will not completely be a “fish out of water” so to speak, when confronted with it.

My fourth reason for why a good casual grappler might be unsuccessful in competition might seem to go without saying but I know its importance first hand, and this is failure to warm up properly.  While most BJJ classes do emphasize warm ups, they are not nearly so important in casual rolling.  This is because tapping one’s training partner should not be, nor is it usually a major concern of the casual grappler since grappling in a dojo is only practice.  As such, the very beginning of the rolling session itself can be part of the warm up and the partners can increase the intensity of their grappling at their own pace.  On the other hand, a tournament match can be extremely intense from the first second to the last.  Because of this the intensity will be a serious shock to the system for the grappler who has neglected his warm up.  Not only will his muscles be cold which may be a risk for injury, without his blood pumping freely before the start of the match the stiff grappler will be likely to fatigue more easily and I have personally lost matches for this reason alone.  I strongly recommend that all grapplers wear layers, such as sweatshirts and sweatpants prior to competing in order to keep their body heat up and engage in any activity which will get their heart pumping faster such as jumping rope, jumping jacks or burpees.  Make it a priority not to get out there until you have a good sweat going first.  I’ve personally noticed a big improvement in my performance since I started taking my warm ups seriously.

The fifth and final reason I will give for why many casual grapplers fall short in competition is that they do not realize the importance of finding the right weight class.  As someone who stands just shy of 5’8, I have only recently realized that I’d be best off competing in the 159lbs division.  In the past I have grappled as high as 179lbs and I can say first hand that being the smallest one in your division can make things difficult.  BJJ tournaments are full of wrestlers who have been cutting weight for years and all Jiu-Jitsukas would be best to learn from their example.  While the weight classes at different tournaments can vary greatly, if you wish to compete go over your options with your instructor ahead of time and figure out the weight at which you will be most likely to find success.  You will generally want to get as light as you can without weakening yourself, and to do this proper diet is essential and you should only sweat out as much water as is absolutely necessary.  If you make your diet a priority you just might find yourself the biggest and strongest competitor in your weight class which can only increase your chances for success.

In summation, competitive grappling is very different from casual rolling and any BJJ student who wants to be successful on the tournament circuit should keep in mind all the aforementioned tips if they want a leg up on the competition.  By training in takedowns and takedown defense the Jiu-Jitsuka can gain the ability to decide where the match takes place and not give up much needed points.  By learning to grapple proactively and through understanding that the pace of a tournament match is different from that of a casual rolling session the student can take the initiative against the opponent.  By training in leg locks the student will never be caught off guard by attacks which many schools neglect.  And finally, by warming up properly and finding the right weight class the aspiring competitor can avoid injury and fatigue come game time and hopefully find himself amongst the stronger competitors in his bracket.  These are just a few tips the BJJ student should know before actively competing but they can mean the difference between victory and defeat.

 

About the author:

jamey

Jamey Bazes is a Hudson Valley martial arts practitioner holding a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt with over 15 years of competition experience earning over 100 tournament victories.  He also holds a Masters of Arts Degree in English from SUNY New Paltz with a focus on the English Romantic poets.

 

 

Jun 112013
 

Hudson Valley Martial Arts Expert Brian McLaughlin has launched a new grappling website so that he can share his martial arts techniques with the greater jiu-jitsu world at http://www.learntograpple.com

The goal of the website is two fold – first to make jiu-jitsu techniques available to people who do not have an academy in their area thereby allowing them to learn and enjoy grappling from the comfort of their own home.

The second reason was to give Precision MMA students the chance to review techniques taught in class.  The site breaks down each technique and covers common mistakes to help the student avoid common pitfalls.

Check out this technique – one of the most effective sweeps in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and a favorite amongst the Hudson Valley martial arts practitioners of Precision MMA

 

Like what you see and want to learn more?  If you live in the Hudson Valley and would like to train martial arts visit http://www.poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com

 

Apr 152013
 

This past weekend Precision MMA’s Hassan Khan took part in a the charity Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu event “Tap out Cancer”.  Hassan trained very hard for this event and took home multiple medals, earning first place in no-gi and third place in gi (losing on the horrible rule “knee reaping DQ”).

Way to go Hassan!

To find out more about Precision MMA’s Poughkeepsie BJJ Classes Click Here

Poughkeepsie BJJ

Hassan takes home a victory

Mar 182013
 

kids-martialartsGrowing up isn’t always easy. Just as the adult world is fraught with all sorts of competition, whether business related or otherwise, so too is a child’s world full of social obstacles. From a young age each child makes particular friends, which often distinguish him as a part of a social “clique”, at whatever school he attends. Being outside these cliques often subjects a child to bullying, which can be physical and/or verbal. Kids can be very cruel at times and will pressure each other in different ways and not all parents are able to provide their children with the necessary tools to defend themselves against bullies. However, if a child becomes involved in martial arts, such as those offered at Precision MMA in the Hudson Valley, they can learn to take matters into their own hands and become more confident in dealing with bullying and social pressure. When children learn to defend themselves physically they change from the inside out: they become more confident and this confidence shows in the way they hold themselves and conduct themselves daily. The reasons for enrolling ones’ child in martial arts at the Hudson Valley’s Precision MMA are nearly endless, and it’s something every parent should strongly consider.

The first thing to consider before enrolling one’s child in a martial arts program, such as those offered by Precision Kid’s MMA in the Hudson valley, is which style the child is interested in. A parent should have his child watch one of the kids’ classes ahead of time and let him choose which class he would like to attend so he feels from the start as though he himself is the one in power. Forcing ones kids to partake in an activity rarely provides the best emotional outcomes, and when the child later sees the progress he has made and remembers that it was he himself who chose to partake, it will make him feel all the more empowered. Once the child has chosen a martial arts class, such as either Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Muay Thai kickboxing, all are offered by Precision Martial arts in the Hudson Valley, they will see from the start that this sort of training isn’t always easy. In fact, while the training should be fun, it should also be challenging so that the student knows he has accomplished something when he makes it through a difficult class. Especially if started at a young age, the child will be able to see his musculature develop as he grows and this will give him a greater sense of self-confidence. At school his peers will notice the physical changes taking place in him and they will most likely also notice him carrying himself with more confident body posturing as a result of the hard training. This should in general help a young martial arts student from Precision MMA to avoid being the victim of bullying. Kids generally tend to look for their physically weaker classmates to pick on, as well as those who appear to lack in self-confidence, and so young martial artists will not be the greatest choice of victims.

As a child grows into his teen years and pressures mount, if he has been doing martial arts for years at an esteemed school, such as Precision MMA in the Hudson Valley, he will at this point be quite confident in his skills to defend himself physically should the need ever arise. Of course, violence is always best avoided at all costs, but that is why martial arts training is all the more effective for preventing bullying, because when one knows how to fight, they are less likely to feel defensive and more likely to stay out of trouble as a consequence. Just as lack of self confidence shows in body posture, and makes a child more likely to be a victim of bullying, so too does lack of self confidence breed defensiveness, and this defensiveness often leads kids to become bullies themselves. If a child or teenager feels that they are lacking in some area they are likely to want to take their frustration out on others and become a physical or verbal bully. Hudson Valley martial arts students gain the confidence necessary through their training to overcome these feelings of defensiveness so they will be just as unlikely to become the school bully, as they are to become a victim of bullying. The constant training in techniques based in real world self defense will give them the peace of mind to know that they can handle physical attack, and so if a bully threatens them, either physically or verbally, they will be more likely to laugh it off than actually engage and risk injury, school expulsion or other consequences.

Moreover, martial arts training at Precision Mixed martial arts in Hudson Valley, New York, breeds discipline. Students know that if they want to improve they are going to have to make sacrifices and work diligently. They will see that if they do not properly apply themselves they will not get the results they want and this will likely cross over to other areas of their lives. They may see that if they don’t finish their homework ahead of time they will not have time to attend their martial arts classes, and so as they grow to enjoy them they may learn better time management to get their assignments done early and become better students as a result. And in this way, not only do young Hudson Valley martial artists become more confident because of their physical abilities, but also because of their overall life success. Precision MMA instructors also stress respect for oneself and ones’ peers, so a martial arts’ student at Precision is not likely to victimize or ostracize his classmates or engage in any form of bullying. In addition, Precision in the Hudson Valley often acts as a “home away from home” for many young kids looking for something to do after school or on the weekends. Martial arts training generally keeps kids busy so that they don’t have too much idle time to get into trouble.

In summation, bullies tend to stay away from winners, realizing that the other kids who are highly successful will not be the easiest targets. Martial arts training at Precision MMA in the Hudson Valley helps make kids into winners, not only on the mat or in sport competition, but in school and in life as well.

12076823-precision-frontGet Your Child Started at Precision Mixed Martial Arts Today!  Make sure to ask about our 30-day FREE trial!

visit http://www.lagrangemartialarts.com or call 845-392-8495 to get started

Jamey Bazes is a lifelong martial artist holding a brown belt in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kenpo Karate.  He also holds a master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz.  He is a student of Precision Mixed Martial Arts in LaGrange, NY (near Poughkeepsie) and a decorated competitor including a Delaware Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu State Championship and a NAGA World Title.  to train with Jamey in Poughkeepsie NY check out Precision MMA http://www.poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com

Feb 282013
 
BJJ at Poughkeepsie Martial Arts

BJJ at Poughkeepsie Martial Arts

From its earliest origins in 17th century Japan to its 21st century application at Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie, New York, the martial art of “Jiu-Jitsu” has been a way for smaller opponents to overcome their larger adversaries. Translated from Japanese, “Jiu” literally means “gentle” and “Jitsu”, “art”. Akiyama Shirobei Yoshitoki created the first style of Jiu-Jitsu, “The Willow School”, over 400 years ago based on the ability of the branches of willow trees to withstand large amounts of snow fall by yielding to the pressure. Though this martial art adapted over the years and became the basis for Judo and later Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the focus would remain the same: teaching students to prevail in fights by utilizing the least amount of force.

In 20th century Brazil, Helio Gracie used these same principles to create the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Growing up, Helio was a frail child. In fact, during most of his youth he was so weak due to illness that he could not even train and learned simply by watching his older brother Carlos in his lessons with Esae Maeda, the first Japanese foreigner to bring Jiu-Jitsu to Brazil. Later Helio’s physical weakness became Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s gain as he adapted the style to work for smaller and less athletic students. When his son Royce competed in the first Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1993, he too was smaller and weaker than most of his opponents, yet he overcame all of them by using superior technique and the principle of yielding. In fact, he defeated his first opponent in that tournament, the boxer Art Jimmerson, without landing one punch by simply taking him down and holding him in the mounted position until he became so frustrated he simply gave up and tapped out.

Precision Mixed Martial Arts in Poughkeepsie, New York boasts a direct lineage all the way back to Helio Gracie who himself can trace his Jiu-Jitsu lineage back to the founder of the Willow School. The gentle art has spanned four centuries and thousands of miles from Japan to Brazil to Poughkeepsie, New York. However, the goal of Jiu-Jitsu instructors at Precision remains the same today as it did in antiquity: for the teacher to impart the lesson of yielding to his student so that he can use minimal effort for maximum effect. A Jiu-Jitsu practitioner wants to defeat his opponent by using as little strength as possible, and also by doing as little damage as possible to his attacker. In fact, one of the greatest current Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts and UFC fighters, Demian Maia, has been quoted as saying that he believes the best expression of his expertise in this martial art is to be able to win a fight without once striking his opponent.

Much like Maia, and similar to Royce Gracie in his first UFC fight, Precision Mixed Martial Arts in Poughkeepsie’s head instructor Brian McLaughlin won his first MMA fight without landing a single punch and without being hit once. In only twenty-two seconds, Brian tripped his opponent to the mat, established control, applied a choke and got him to submit. This is a perfect expression of the same martial art created centuries ago in Japan, and Brian imparts these same skills to his students during his martial arts classes in Poughkeepsie. One student at Precision who has learned the lesson of yielding as well as any is Brown Belt Karl Nemeth. Despite being only about 145lbs and smaller than most of his competition he is often able to use his technique to defeat much larger and stronger opponents in competition. The reason Karl is able to do this is because he grasps the concept of “yielding” that is so stressed in the martial art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. When faced with a larger opponent, instead of trying to over power them or forcefully gain top position, he recognizes that his best course of action is to relax and use technique and flexibility to gain the upper hand. This is the essence of Jiu-Jitsu that the original “Willow School” was founded upon.

precision30dayfreelogoHowever, the lesson of yielding stressed in martial arts like Jiu-Jitsu is not always an easy one to learn. When struggling with an adversary who wants to choke, strike or torque one’s limbs, it is a natural reaction to become tense, and to try to fight back using more strength than is necessary, or even useful. The lessons taught at Precision Mixed Martial Arts in Poughkeepsie teach proper body mechanics so students never waste their energy while grappling. Every movement is based on economy of motion: achieving the greatest result with the least amount of effort. For example, the famous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Marcello Garcia only weights 170lbs, but knows so much about proper body mechanics that he is able to make himself feel twice his weight while on top of an opponent without exerting extra energy. And while this concept is important in sport competition, it is absolutely essential for street self-defense. While one may be able to out muscle the opponent in a local Poughkeepsie tournament and get away with it, in the end they may leave themselves physically exhausted and depleted. Such exhaustion is excusable during sport competition, but can lead to disaster in a self-defense scenario where one’s ability to survive the altercation is dependent upon how much energy they can conserve. Martial artists must expect that if attacked in the street they may have an adrenaline dump that will leave them physically drained. They must expect that they will be up against bigger, stronger attackers, possibly multiple and possibly armed. Furthermore, they will probably not even know the attack is coming. With all the odds stacked in the attacker’s favor the last thing a martial artist wants is to be tense and to use too much strength giving the attacker an even greater advantage. The lessons taught in Jiu-Jitsu will allow the student to prepare for being overpowered, and this will in turn allow him to remain calm and use his superior technique to survive. The economy of motion taught in Jiu-Jitsu is based upon muscle memory: the student becomes so used to performing the same movements in a relaxed motion that when it comes time to put his skills to use, “muscling” his opponent is hardly even an option. In fact, it would require undoing what has already been learned. Because of this martial art’s focus on muscle memory and economy of motion, all reactions are natural and do not require actual “thought”. In the same way that the techniques taught in our Poughkeepsie Mixed Martial Arts classes do not require physical strength, neither do they require mental exertion. To quote the great Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu champion Saulo Ribiero, in Jiu-Jitsu “if you think, you’re late. If you’re late, you muscle. If you muscle, you get tired. If you’re tired, you die.”

Aside from physical “yielding”, Precision Mixed Martial Arts in Poughkeepsie, New York teaches the lesson of mental yielding as well. At Precision we do not train with egos. Beginning students often have a competitive mentality and do not want to submit while grappling, but they quickly learn that tapping is a part of regular training. In fact, if one trains regularly but is never submitted, it most likely means that they are not challenging themselves enough. In the long run, this lack of physical and mental challenge creates rigidity, and rigidity is the opposite of the “gentle way”. However, what is so great about the martial art of Jiu-Jitsu is that it can be trained at full speed without hurting one’s opponent. Two students can grapple at a high pace, and yet if one gets the other into a submission, it is easy to let go without causing harm. And while this principle is true of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a whole, there are still schools whose teachers do not stress this enough. The practice of catch and release is emphasized at Precision Mixed Martial Arts in Poughkeepsie so that we can continue to train hard every day. And finally, Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie is a school where it’s students are encouraged to think outside of the box. If one technique is not working, another may. We like to think that our students do not stick to one style or routine and that if need be, they can be as flexible as a willow branch.

The essence of the martial art of Jiu-Jitsu has never changed: to overcome superior force through superior technique and flexibility of mind and body. Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie has not forgotten its roots in either ancient Japanese or 20th century Brazilian culture.

For more information on Poughkeepsie Martial Arts, visit our website: http://www.poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com

 

About the author

Jamey Bazes is a lifelong martial artist holding a brown belt in both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kenpo Karate.  He also holds a master’s degree from SUNY New Paltz.  He is a student of Precision Mixed Martial Arts in LaGrange, NY (near Poughkeepsie) and a decorated competitor including a Delaware Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu State Championship and a NAGA World Title.  to train with Jamey in Poughkeepsie NY check out Precision MMA http://www.poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com

 

 

Feb 142013
 

Hudson Valley BJJ and the Law of Attraction

Poughkeepsie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Hudson Valley BJJ

There’s a theory that like feelings and outcomes are attracted to one another. That is to say that positive thought supersedes positive outcomes and inversely negative thoughts precipitate negative outcomes. While this may not be applicable to all situations, it certainly plays a factor in martial arts success.  Here is my story about the law of attraction in Hudson Valley BJJ.

I can remember being a blue belt and grappling with higher belts and getting demolished when doing BJJ in the Hudson Valley. I felt like there was nothing I could do to stop their attacks or start my own. When I would look down at the color across their waist I felt like tapping rapidly was the only thing I would be accomplishing. However, one day I was visiting a different academy on a no-gi night. This particular night things were going well for me and I felt like I was going to tap anyone who got on the mat with me. I had a great roll with a guy I’d never seen before. He was technical, but I was able to catch him in a few triangles setups I had been working. At the end of the class I had to leave, but my partner decided to stick around for the next class. I was shocked when I saw him pull out a tattered BJJ purple belt and strap it around his waist. I couldn’t believe that I actually pulled off submissions against a higher belt in Hudson Valley BJJ. I later saw that this purple belt was actually getting the better of many guys who I thought to be unstoppable. I realized then that the difference was largely mental. With the other high ranks I saw their belt color and assumed defeat before I even began. However, when I grappled confidently and without concern for my partners rank I was able to be successful. Although this realization helped me in practice, I still had mental hurdles that hindered my performance in competition.

As a brown belt I entered the Abu Dhabi North American Qualifier. Abu Dhabi is the most prestigious grappling tournament in the world and only a handful of people get the honor of competing there. In order to earn my spot I had to win this qualifier. When I looked at my bracket there were about 30 people, but I was only concerned with one name – Enrico Cocco. Enrico was something of a grappling phenom who had beaten some really big names and earned a rock solid reputation – he had also earned a victory over me a few years back at a local tournament in Florida. I was relieved when I saw that he was on the opposite end of the bracket, we would only potentially meet in the semi-finals. I had a great day of grappling, easily winning my first three matches without getting a single point scored on me. I was one step away from the finals when I saw that I would indeed be facing Enrico. At that moment I felt completely defeated. I had convinced myself that there was no way I could beat him. He looked so dominating in his prior matches that I just assumed I’d be another notch on his belt. I stepped on the mat and shot into a guillotine choke, tapping out in less than 1 minute. Enrico then went on to win the tournament and earn a spot at Abu Dhabi.

Afterward, I was so upset that I gave the match away mentally before even getting on the mat. A few weeks after Enrico beat me we found ourselves competing against each other once again. This time though, I convinced myself I would win and show my Hudson Valley BJJ skills. I pictured myself getting my hand raised and grappled confident that I not only “could” win, but that I WOULD win. Sure enough, after a back and forth match, I had my hand raised. There was no technical improvements from the last match, no greater physical preparation. Indeed the only difference was my mentality. I believed in my success and I reaped the benefits. Having faith in your personal potential for success, is often times the biggest determinant between the possible and the impossible. For centuries it was thought that no person could run a mile in under 4 minutes. However, once Roger Bannister achieved it for the first time everyone re-worked their understanding of possible. The result? Runners began hitting sub 4 minute miles everywhere, today even high schoolers can do it. The “Bannister Effect” was simply the Law of Attraction applied. Belief in success caused a new level of achievement. Even against seemingly impossible opposition, a focused belief can overcome.  This is what I did with BJJ in the Hudson Valley.

A common pitfall people fall into when confronted with a challenge is to tell themselves they cannot overcome it. They go forth assuming defeat and arrive at their failure as if it was complete inevitability. Muhammad Ali once said, “It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believe in myself”. Think about your goals in martial arts and in your everyday life. If these goals are worthwhile to you then chase after them with a steadfast conviction that you will be successful and watch your limitations be redefined.

To learn more about hudson valley bjj, visit our website: poughkeepsiemixedmartialarts.com or call us at 845-392-8495!

Feb 092013
 

Precision MMA’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Program – The Finest in Poughkeepsie, NY

by Jamey Bazes

BJJ Brown Belt and Senior Student at Precision MMA near Poughkeepsie, NY

 

Poughkeepsie Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Poughkeepsie Brazilian jiu-jitsu

A lot has changed in the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since it was first used by Royce Gracie to win the first Ultimate Fighting Championship back in 1993.  Back in the mid to late 90s, legitimate Poughkeepsie BJJ schools were very hard to come across, and if you were lucky enough to find one, chances are the instructor would not be a black belt or even close to expert level. Much of this was because the majority of black belts still resided in Brazil.

Fast forward to 2013 and not only is it not a novelty for a small town like Poughkeepsie, NY to have a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school with a black belt instructor, but it is not uncommon for even very rural and sparsely populated areas to have more than one school, not to mention the competition in larger urban areas.  Competition between BJJ schools is fierce these days and so each must try to offer the highest quality product and provide something that the others don’t so as to stand out and stay in business.

Poughkeepsie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Poughkeepsie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie New York is well aware of this competition, and because we truly care about our students we are constantly striving to provide the best instruction possible.  Precision stands out from the competitors in many ways.  One way we stand out is that we offer both Gi and No-Gi classes and equal emphasis on both.  While this is becoming more common, there are still many schools which are mainly one or the other, but Precision caters to both styles equally.

 

 

Poughkeepsie Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Poughkeepsie Brazilian jiu-jitsu

One of the more important ways in which our Poughkeepsie BJJ program stands out from others is that we place emphasis on takedowns.  There are still far too many schools that grapple exclusively from the knees and the students do not even realize how much this hurts their games.  All Jiu-Jitsu tournaments, MMA fights and street fights start from the feet, so whatever your motivation for training, if you are not learning takedowns your needs are not being met.  In fact, when someone takes BJJ classes at Precision MMA in Poughkeepsie New York, they are not learning one style of grappling, they are learning seven separate styles.  Our advanced no-gi classes are taught by two instructors who share the stage: a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and Professional MMA fighter is there to teach the ground game, and then the takedown instruction is provided by one of any number of our division one wrestlers.  As such, you will be learning not only BJJ, but Freestyle, Folk style and Greco-Roman Wrestling in our Jiu-Jitsu classes.  We also have elements of Russian Sambo and Catch As Catch Can Wrestling that are mixed in for added effect.

Likewise, our advanced Gi Jiu-Jitsu classes are taught by both a BJJ black belt and a world class Judo Black Belt.  Throws and trips from Kodokan Judo are emphasized on the feet and this is something that very few schools offer these days.  What we produce are students who are well rounded, who know how to perform and defend against takedowns both with and without the Gi, and who know all facets of the ground game, including leg locks, which are another area which many schools neglect because they are afraid of the risk of training with them.  However our school stresses safety in performing all techniques, another area that many Poughkeepsie area schools neglect.

Poughkeepsie Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Poughkeepsie Brazilian jiu-jitsu

All too often, BJJ schools are loosely run.   We have all seen those schools where every training session is fought like a tournament match, and this behavior causes injuries.  At Precision MMA, if an opponent refuses to tap to a submission, then catch and release is practiced, meaning that the hold will be relinquished.  We do not have an ego at Precision.  We also recognize that upper level belts can be tapped by lower level belts.  In fact, we hope that this happens because it shows improvement in the lower ranks.  We do not gossip at the end of the day about who tapped whom or make a big deal of it if a lower belt submits a higher one because we realize this is a natural result of regular training.  We feel it is important to stress good sportsmanship and the results speak for themselves.  Inevitably, if you train with an ego there will be a price to pay, whether it is an injury to yourself or a training partner, or simply a bullying mentality that is fostered.  A good Poughkeepsie Brazilian Jiu-jitsu studio should never encourage this.

 

In addition, we provide an atmosphere that is neither too loose nor too formal.  While respect for one’s instructors is paramount, the rigidly traditional routines of some schools can be off putting to some students who are new to the Martial Arts.  Precision MMA Jiu-Jitsu classes are run so that they are fun as well as character building and we like to think of our coaches as friends, not merely superiors.

Poughkeepsie Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Poughkeepsie Brazilian jiu-jitsu

Precision MMA also emphasizes hygiene and cleanliness in our BJJ facility, which is of the utmost importance these days.  With serious staph infections like MRSA and lesser skin afflictions around, keeping the mats sanitized is nothing to take lightly.  At Precision our mats are sprayed and mopped after every single class and our equipment sprayed down.  Students are also told not to train if they think they may have some sort of skin infection and the instructors keep a keen eye out for them so that nothing spreads. We pride ourselves on being the cleanest gym in all of Poughkeepsie.

Another distinguishing factor about Precision’s Brazilian Jiu-jitsu program is our structure: when it comes time to spar we do not choose our own partners without the instructors consent or sit out whenever we feel the desire.  Instead, our instructors are careful to place various students together for specific reasons.  Perhaps the teacher feels that a newer student needs the help of a senior one, so he will match them up.  Or maybe one student will be training for a competition and need to be matched with more skilled students to test them.   One student may be injured and need to train with someone more accustomed to going light.  Our instructors take all of these factors into account and none of our training is done randomly.

Finally, Precision MMA’s BJJ program caters to the specific needs of our students.  We know that different people train for different reasons so we cover all of our bases.  Some students train for self defense, and so which moves would be better or worse for a street fight scenario are discussed in class so that everyone is aware that not all moves should be used in all situations.  Since some students train for competition, we cover this as well, and make students aware of how many tournaments utilize their point systems.  Or if someone is simply at Precision to get in better shape, they can easily achieve this aim since our classes all have serious warm ups and conditioning exercises designed equally to aid with strength, flexibility, cardio and avoiding injuries.  We even have instructors who are knowledgeable about diet and who are willing to provide tips on nutrition for those interested in losing weight.

Overall, whatever your motivation for training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Precision MMA’s program will meet your needs.  We are confident you will not find all of these aspects covered at just any Poughkeepsie Brazilian Jiu-jitsu school.  The proof is in the product, try us out for 30 days of free training and see for yourself.

 

To start your 30 Day FREE Trial of Poughkeepsie Brazilian Jiu-jitsu call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsiebrazilianjiu-jitsu.com

Feb 082013
 

Looking for Hudson Valley Jiu-Jitsu?  Precision MMA in LaGrange, NY offers Hudson Valley Jiu-jitsu classes 7 days a week

For 30 Days FREE of Hudson Valley Jiu-Jitsu call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsiebrazilianjiu-jitsu.com

Hudson Valley jiu-Jitsu

Hudson Valley jiu-Jitsu

The Law of Attraction

 

There’s a theory that like feelings and outcomes are attracted to one another.  That is to say that positive thought supersedes positive outcomes and inversely negative thoughts precipitate negative outcomes.  While this may not be applicable to all situations, it certainly plays a factor in martial arts success.

I can remember being a blue belt in the Hudson Valley and doing jiu-jitsu with higher belts and getting demolished. I felt like there was nothing I could do to stop their attacks or start my own.  When I would look down at the color across their waist I felt like tapping rapidly was the only thing I would be accomplishing.  However, one day I was visiting a different academy on a no-gi night.  This particular night things were going well for me and I felt like I was going to tap anyone who got on the mat with me.  I had a great roll with a guy I’d never seen before.  He was technical, but I was able to catch him in a few triangles setups I had been working on.  At the end of the class I had to leave, but my partner decided to stick around for the next class. I was shocked when I saw him pull out a tattered purple belt and strap it around his waist.  I couldn’t believe that I actually pulled off submissions against a higher belt. I was the most shocked jiu-jitsu student in the Hudson Valley.  I later saw that this purple belt was actually getting the better of many guys who I thought to be unstoppable.  I realized then that the difference was largely mental.  With the other high ranks I saw their belt color and assumed defeat before I even began.  However, when I grappled confidently and without concern for my partners rank I was able to be successful.  Although this realization helped me in practice, I still had mental hurdles that hindered my performance in competition.

As a brown belt I entered the Abu Dhabi North American Qualifier one of the toughest no-gi jiu-jitsu tournaments in the nation.  Abu Dhabi is the most prestigious grappling tournament in the world and only a handful of people get the honor of competing there. No one from the Hudson Valley had ever made the grade.  In order to earn my spot I had to win this qualifier.  When I looked at my bracket there were about 30 people entered, but I was only concerned with one name – Enrico Cocco.  Enrico was something of a grappling phenom who had beaten some really big names and earned a rock solid reputation – he had also earned a victory over me a few years back at a local tournament in Florida.  I was relieved when I saw that he was on the opposite end of the bracket, we would only potentially meet in the semi-finals.  I had a great day of grappling, easily winning my first three matches without getting a single point scored on me.  I was one step away from the finals when I saw that I would indeed be facing Enrico.  At that moment I felt completely defeated.  I had convinced myself that there was no way I could top him.  He looked so dominating in his prior matches that I just assumed I’d be another notch on his belt.  I stepped on the mat and shot into a guillotine choke, tapping out in less than 1 minute.  Enrico then went on to win the tournament and earn a spot at Abu Dhabi.

On my way back to the Hudson Valley, I was so upset that I gave the jiu-jitsu match away mentally before even getting on the mat. A few weeks after Enrico beat me we found ourselves competing against each other once again. This time though, I convinced myself I would win. I pictured myself getting my hand raised and grappled confident that I not only “could” win, but that I WOULD win. Sure enough, after a back and forth match, I had my hand raised. There was no technical improvements from the last match, no greater physical preparation. Indeed the only difference was my mentality. I believed in my success and I reaped the benefits. Having faith in your personal potential for success, is often times the biggest determinant between the possible and the impossible.

For centuries it was thought that no person could run a mile in under 4 minutes. However, once Roger Bannister achieved it for the first time everyone re-worked their understanding of possible. The result? Runners began hitting sub 4 minute miles everywhere, today even high schoolers can do it. The “Bannister Effect” was simply the Law of Attraction applied. Belief in success caused a new level of achievement. Even against seemingly impossible opposition, a focused belief can overcome.

A common pitfall people fall for Hudson Valley Jiu-jitsu students is when confronted with a challenge they tell themselves they cannot overcome it. They go forth assuming defeat and arrive at their failure as if it was complete inevitability. Muhammad Ali once said, “It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believe in myself”. Think about your goals in martial arts and in your everyday life. If these goals are worthwhile to you then chase after them with a steadfast conviction that you will be successful and watch your limitations be redefined.

Overcome your limitations at Precision MMA in LaGrange, NY train Hudson Valley Jiu-Jitsu for 30 Days FREE call 845-392-8495 or visit http://www.poughkeepsiebrazilianjiu-jitsu.com and get started today!