The Journey Of The Black Belt

If you’ve ever trained Martial Arts, you’ve probably received the infamous question: ‘Are you a black belt?’ No matter what discipline you train, it’s the first thing on everyone’s mind. The quality of ‘being a black belt’ seems on par with being a superhero, or having your hands registered as deadly weapons. Black belts certainly deserve praise for the countless hours of training they put in, hundreds of techniques they learned, and unflinching dedication that it took for them to get there. However, should earning a black belt be ultimate goal for a martial artist? It’s what we’re all striving for, isn’t it? Well, ask any coach or talented martial artist and they’ll tell you that their journey didn’t end at the black belt.

A White Belt Who Never Quits

The classic martial arts idiom goes, “A Black Belt is a white belt who never quit.” In martial arts, determination, effort, and willingness to learn are much more important than any belt rank. In some ways, the white belt is the hardest rank to earn, because it requires taking a risk. What if you fail? What if you’re not cut out to be a black belt someday? Sometimes, the most difficult part of a journey is just beginning it. But in the encouraging words of Woody Allen, “90% of life is just showing up.” For those who have the courage to start something new, the rewards will be great. That is why we never forget where we came from, and welcome each new white belt brave enough to start their journey.

As martial artists learn and grow, their belt colors are designed to represent the sweat and grit that have gone into their training. Persevering through difficulty, frustration, dips, plateaus, and roadblocks along the way can be challenging, but above all, martial arts rewards consistency and sticktoitveness. Every Black Belt who ever lived was once a white belt who barely knew how to throw a punch. For that reason, martial artists stress the difference between getting a black belt, and earning one. Anyone can go online and buy a piece of fabric, but it takes dedication and hard work to truly earn the rank. Mostly, it takes a willingness to be a white belt first.

The Journey Never Ends

Why do martial artists always refer to training as a ‘journey’? Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Krav Maga are skills that can always be improved, and never be mastered. As the belt rank goes up, the scope of knowledge left to acquire doesn’t narrow – it grows wider. In fact, when an experienced martial artist earns their black belt, often they find that their journey has only just begun. For this reason, few people quit once they’ve hit this milestone. At that point in their journey, they’ve likely realized that having a black belt doesn’t mean they can’t benefit from any more training. There will always be more to learn, and if a martial artist is truly committed to improving, they’ll be able to learn from any situation. Cross-training between disciplines, helping other students, and teaching are all ways that black belts seek new opportunities to learn. Most importantly, they form a community of people who never quit, and encourage each other and students of all belt ranks to appreciate the journey over a final destination.

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Can Martial Arts Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals…

On January 12, 2016 By Forged Bjj Krav MagaIn (BJJ)Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, BJJ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Dragon Within Martial Arts, DWMMA, DWMMA - Dragon Within Mixed Martial Arts, Fitness, Kickboxing, Krav Maga, Mixed Martial Arts, MMA, Self Defense, Thai Kickboxing, UncategorizedLeave a comment

There are hundreds of options for conditioning but few have the all around benefits associated with martial arts training like Krav Maga, Thai Kickboxing and (BJJ)Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Classes can offer both cardiovascular and strength benefits through dynamic routines. They also provide an alternative to single focus activities like running or lifting and improve agility which can transfer to other sports or physical activities.

Interval Training

Most martial arts training include intervals, periods of high intensity followed by rest or low level activity. Rounds may be 2-5 minutes of all out effort with a rest in between rounds. From the bleachers, 2-5 minutes may not seem like much, but working at high intensity can make those few minutes feel much longer. Training in these burst help your muscles work more efficiently under high demands and recover quickly in case you have another round to go. This type of conditioning not only improves your martial arts capabilities but is also associated with:

Improved cardiovascular endurance for workouts and day to day activities
Improved muscle strength and power
Increased metabolism (calorie burning) during and for a few hours after workout

Martial Arts training includes a variety of interval training options. Pad drills in Thai Kickboxing have 2-3 minute sessions where you’re working hard, then you hold for your partner and have down time before you do your next round. (BJJ) Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has 2-3 minute rolls which may be all out or have bursts of activity. Krav Maga principle requires all out defense efforts and training follows that suit. In any of the activities you have potential to reach heavy breathing intensity then have time to recoup before you go again.

Interval training is suitable for the beginner to advanced students since everyone works according to their abilities. Beginners may use rest period as actual rest where more advanced students may use lower activity during the time to keep it challenging.

Core Conditioning

Very few, if any, martial arts skills can be done without the core. A punch loses its bite without pivots and the core helps transfer power from the hip pivot up to the arm. A (BJJ) Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu roll would simply be flailing legs and arms without the core to connect and move your body. Kicks would be impossible without the core’s ability to stabilize the rest of the body while energy moves through the hip and leg.

The core is constantly challenged in martial arts training because it is called on to stabilize you during certain movements, load or transfer power, and manage sudden explosive changes in direction. It is a nice alternative to millions of crunches. Core strength will improve as you practice and many martial art skills will improve as your core strength grows. A strong core will also help to:

Decrease the risk of injury to the back and other areas of the body
Improve balance and stability
Improve efficiency of movement

Muscle Conditioning

Muscle training is associated with strength but faster reflexes, being able to work in full range of motion, and agility are equally important benefits. Healthy muscles also decrease wear and tear on joints, reduce chance of injury, and increase energy levels. Traditional strength training can increase strength but does not always improve function.

Improvements to muscle strength are achieved by overloading muscles and in martial arts this is often done with body weight based exercises. In addition to providing overload, body weight exercises can engage smaller stabilizer muscles that often go unchallenged with traditional strength training. Stabilizer muscles help make movements more efficient and protect joints. Most martial art exercises also encourage movement through a full range of motion which can help maintain flexibility. This type of training can lead to both strength and agility improvements.

Of course, as with any training, the overall effects will depend on the work you put into it.

Dragon Within Mixed Martial Arts offers the most functional and realistic self-defense and fitness programs in the North Shore area.

We offer Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu(BJJ), Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Krav Maga and Children’s programs.

Visit Our Website! www.DWMMA.com

Don’t Wait! Call TODAY to sign up for your FREE PRIVATE LESSON 978-745-8511 Dragon Within Mixed Martial Arts, Salem MA, provides the most realistic and practical self-defense programs for Massachusetts and North Shore Area including: Peabody MA, Salem MA, Beverly MA, Lynn MA, Marblehead MA, Danvers MA

How Many Days a Week Should You Train BJJ?

On November 12, 2013November 12, 2013 By Forged Bjj Krav MagaIn BJJ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, DWMMA - Dragon Within Mixed Martial Arts, Fitness, Media, Mixed Martial Arts, Self DefenseLeave a comment

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) is an enormously popular martial art. This is why you see so many BJJ schools are opening all over the world. Of course, the presence of a school is not the main indication of its value. The number of students enrolled in the school is. When you look closer at these students, you will see many training as frequently as possible and others train when their schedule permits. Since BJJ schools often offer unlimited training per month, there is a lot of flexibility available in terms of how often a student can train.

But, how many days a week should a student train? This is an important question that needs to be asked and answered. There are active and athletic students that train virtually every day of the week and there are also those that have to train far less because training too often leads to them becoming sore and somewhat broken down.

Really, you do not want to become sore or too beat up to train. That does no one any good. When you are over-trained, you end up missing days of class. Does that help your ability to progress in BJJ? Absolutely not!

Again, different people’s bodies will react in a completely different manner to their training regimen. There is, however, a safe medium that you can follow in order to be sure that you avoid over-training. That medium would be playing it safe and training about three days a week.

These three days should not be consecutive. The reason for this is you want to at least one rest day in between the three workout days because your body will need time to recuperate and heal. When you do not get the proper amount of rest, the body will start to break down. This is where all those aches and pains come from. Those that are older BJJ practitioners will be more than familiar with such pains which is why they might be more willing to take such breaks than younger BJJ’ers. However, just because you are young does not mean you are invulnerable. Over-training can affect anyone at any age.

There are going to be those serious minded BJJ players that want to train each and every single day. They reason they wish to do so is not all that difficult to figure out. They just want to become very good at the art of BJJ. Here is a little news for those that have such desires in mind: frequency does not always equate with quality.

The true value of the class will be in the quality of the instruction combined with a good attitude for learning. In short, you need to enroll in a good class and then make the most out of it when you are in the class. This means you should py very close attention and ask pertinent questions when they arise. (Of course, you should ask them at the appropriate time) Follow these very simple steps and you will find it is a lot easier to get the most out of your three day a week training plan.

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Balancing Your Martial Arts Training/@DWMMA

On August 23, 2011 By Forged Bjj Krav MagaIn BJJ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Fitness, Mixed Martial Arts, MMA, MMAXOUT, UncategorizedLeave a comment

In martial arts mythology, we often hear the story of the dragon and the tiger. The tiger represents a hard, linear and aggressive style, whereas the dragon embodies the circular, flexible and soft style of martial arts. When many people first start in Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/BJJ or Filipino Jiu-Jitsu, it’s all tiger, all the time. They ferociously pound away on the Thai pads or charge their opponent like a bull in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/BJJ. The tiger overshadows the dragon. However, the dragon also represents learning and wisdom — if the tiger rules our actions and emotions, our aggressive tendencies literally stifle our ability to learn and grow as a martial artist. The true martial artist strives to balance the tiger and the dragon — using aggression and power only when necessary to achieve a specific goal. So, the next time the tiger appears, calm down, slow down and think about unleashing the Dragon Within — your game will thank you for it!

Dragon Within Mixed Martial Arts offers the most functional and realistic self-defense and fitness programs in the North Shore area.

We offer Thai Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu(BJJ), Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Filipino Jiu-Jitsu and Children’s programs.

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30-DAYs FREE!!!

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978-745-8511

Dragon Within Mixed Martial Arts, Salem MA, provides the most realistic and practical self-defense programs for Massachusetts and

North Shore Area including:

Peabody MA, Salem MA, Beverly MA, Lynn MA, Marblehead MA, Danvers MA

Forged Bjj Krav Maga Self Defense Salem MA

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