The session had an informal open mat feel and Marc began by asking for any problems the guys might be facing, which led to an investigation of triangle escapes. In proper Walder style, this discussion of technique and the physical implementation of jiu jitsu was accompanied by his views on a philosophical approach to practice that might facilitate the practitioner’s personal evolution. In particular, the importance of trying different approaches to familiar problems in order to push one’s game, to develop one’s own style and to find one’s own truth. The remainder of the session was spent sparring and I, personally, enjoyed three super fun rolls with a selection of very forgiving brown belts (some more forgiving than others, but I appreciate the crushing as a sign of respect). What can I say, it was a tremendous way to end a week, it has me pumped for the coming week’s training and I am still quite stunned to have been hanging with these folks. It is quite thrilling to be immersed in such a concentration of advanced players; exciting to think I might develop that conceptual understanding, speed of thought, superb positioning, composure and timing for myself in the fullness of time.
24 Jan 2011 @ 3:46 pm
I have more sympathy than ever for upper belts now that I am a blue belt. Even though I'm just one little rung up the ladder from whitebelt, I notice more and more that I hunger for people higher up than me to drill with, simply because they can give me such helpful feedback (and more efficiently than I can get it from a whitebelt, though I still get it there too.)
24 Jan 2011 @ 3:50 pm
Thanks for your comment, Georgette! Totally, I love training with advanced grades and I try to follow a balanced diet of male and female training partners (to the extent that I can manage that) of all different sizes and belt ranks. The Women's Open Mats are really helpful for that as well as having mats in my basement; get mats and they will come, from massive brown belt dudes to tiny white belt ladies 😀
Enjoy your week's training!
26 Jan 2011 @ 3:07 pm
Sounds like an amazing time! 🙂
"In particular, the importance of trying different approaches to familiar problems in order to push one's game, to develop one's own style and to find one's own truth."
For me, this is one of the hardest parts. I get into habits and my body wants to do those things automatically. Problem is, "those things" don't always work and other solutions are needed. I need to learn to be more adaptive. But I guess that is just another beautiful part of the bjj journey.
27 Jan 2011 @ 8:26 am
It was a lot of fun, A.D. McClish!
That is a paraphrasing of Marc's words, so I can't take credit; I find his approach – and that of my coach with whom he shares similar points of view – very helpful for conceptualising what it is all about, man 😉
I here you, sister, yup my bod wants to play the comfort zone too! Working hard to break out of it, but it'll take time (lots and lots of time).
Thanks for your thoughts, I love that you read and comment!