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Master level instruction for all students. Call or text Leigh at (585) 354-8946 to get started.


BJJ Uniforms - Why Are they Important?

1/16/2017

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The world of uniforms can be pretty confusing to new martial artists. Open up Amazon and you'll see martial arts uniforms on there for thirty bucks, so why are we asking you to buy one that's twice as much? No, we aren't evil money hungry jerks looking to cheat you. The uniform is actually pretty important- especially for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.



If you or your child are taking BJJ, you need to get the right uniform. ASAP. Why?



Protection

In Jiu-Jitsu people are grabbing that uniform by the collar and sleeves as hard and fast as they can. Grips play a huge role in this sport. A BJJ uniform is made to handle that, and the quilted material is pretty forgiving on the skin. Those cheap standard student uniforms are NOT the same. If someone grabs those super hard and fast they can cut into the skin, leaving what looks like rug burn on the neck, upper arms, and wrists. A proper BJJ gi will eliminate a lot of those types of injuries.



Longevity

A BJJ uniform is thick, quilted, and designed to withstand the rigors of training. Again, people are grabbing at the uniform pretty aggressively. You can buy a cheap $30 uniform, and it will maybe last a few months. They tend to rip along the sides and under the armpits. In Jiu-Jitsu, you are also fighting on the ground. The knees on a BJJ uniform are reinforced, so they tend to last for a long time. My oldest one is over two years old and it's just starting to wear out- and I train all the time. On a cheap standard uniform the knees are usually the first thing to go, I've seen it happen after only a couple hours of training.



The Right Cut

Again, grip fighting is a major part of BJJ. If you have a standard student uniform, chances are that the sleeves and overall cut of the gi will be on the larger side. This is because those uniforms are not specifically made for Jiu-Jitsu. I've gone up against people with giant sleeves, and even my little hands can grab onto those suckers and wrap the material around the wrist- resulting in a death grip that is nearly impossible to break. BJJ uniforms have a slimmer cut to make it harder for opponents to catch the sleeves and collars. If you're a woman, I recommend getting a uniform specifically made for females. The sizing and cut will be different, and you'll be much happier with the fit.
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You wouldn't wear hockey gear to play baseball, right? We need to think about uniforms in the martial arts the same way. Plus, if you're looking to compete you'll absolutely need the right uniform. Many major tournaments regulate them and won't let you participate if the uniform isn't right.
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Training Beyond Your Own Dojo

1/11/2017

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​Should your training begin and end with your own school? For many people, coming to class and training in their own school is enough. However, extra training can be extremely beneficial for so many reasons.

Additional training can take many forms. Seminars, open rolls, and tournaments are just a few examples. Why are these events so important to your training?

They Keep Things Fresh


As you train and start working with others, you start figuring things out about your training partners. We all have habits, and the more you work with familiar people, the more you can anticipate just how he or she will react. By training with new people, you can better tell if your techniques are working properly. A technique will work differently on someone who has no idea it's coming.

They Put Things Into Perspective

Maybe you're the biggest guy in class. Maybe you're the smallest. Maybe you're the oldest. Maybe you're the youngest. By traveling to another school, you can seek out others with similar or different body types than you're used to. I'm used to working with people a lot bigger than me in our classes. At first I was getting a little discouraged because it seemed like everyone was better-- Until I went to another school that had several women my size. I held my own! Suddenly I didn't seem to be doing nearly as badly as I had been thinking I was.

They Prevent "Martial Inbreeding"

This is a term I use for when people substitute anticipation/expectations for technique. In other words, is something working because it's legit? Or because Sensei says it will work and it's working for everyone else? Other instructors and high ranking individuals may have new ways of looking at things or interpreting techniques. By going out and experiencing new ideas - even if you don't agree with them - you keep adding tidbits of understanding and knowledge to your belt. This keeps your martial world growing, expanding, and evolving.

There are so many more reasons to venture outside your school walls. I'll tackle more in another post. 

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