Ask a Black Belt - Jiu Jitsu Podcast
Ask a Black Belt - Jiu Jitsu Podcast
142. It's ok to be on the bottom
Imagine yourself in a thrilling Jiu Jitsu match, but you're pinned to the ground, on the bottom. Sounds like a nightmare? Not necessarily! Let's flip the script. In this revealing discussion, we explore the rewarding challenge of being on the bottom. Drawing parallels with a World War II submarine Admiral's daring tactics, we stress how this position can actually help you discover your limits, control your anxieties, and emerge as a stronger strategist and a more resilient individual. Far from being a dreaded spot, being on the bottom can be a game-changer, enabling you to master defense and escape skills, key to every successful attack.
Turns out, being on the bottom is not as boring or unexciting as most might think. In fact, it could be your secret weapon! In the second part of the conversation, we delve into the art and strategy of Jiu Jitsu. We debunk the misconception that being on the bottom is mundane and instead highlight its crucial role in building a solid Jiu Jitsu foundation. From sharing insights on making right decisions under stress to improving your Jiu Jitsu game, we arm you with the knowledge and confidence to turn the tables, literally. Overcoming discomfort can transform not just how you play Jiu Jitsu, but also how you navigate life's challenges. So buckle up, it's time to embrace the bottom.
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Jimmy sends me a question why is it okay to be on the bottom? Specifically, I'm going to quote Jimmy here. I heard you talk about being on the bottom a lot. I'm working from the bottom. Why is that justifiable? What are benefits Am I gaining from being on the bottom? So why being on the bottom is so important?
Speaker 1:Listen, being on the bottom develops a strategy and skill of one defending but two escaping. And if you look at Dekka, a very fundamental principle of Jiu Jitsu, which is defend, escape, then control and then attack. That changes everything. We can't develop efficient way of defending and escaping if we don't put ourselves in this situation. A long time ago I read a book where Admiral from US Navy talked about during Second World War. He was taking submarines all the way down way deeper past the point of manufacturer recommended depth, simply to find out how much he can push the vehicle, the submarine, so he can learn what the limitations are. And there is something interesting about behind the concept and by no means, please don't think here that I'm asking you to push past your limits.
Speaker 1:However, being in uncomfortable positions develops a mental state of controlling our mind, our emotion, our anxiety while we are working through things. So imagine this you can learn how to swim without getting into the water. It's simple as that. You cannot learn how to defend or escape if you not put in yourself in these vulnerable positions of being on the bottom and oftentimes being smashed. So why do we care? Why is this important to us?
Speaker 1:Well, jiu Jitsu, fundamentally, is an art or activity or sport, when defending is one of the primary focuses, because attacking is beautiful. But if we can defend and we cannot escape, the attacks become secondary. Those opportunities will never present themselves If we are unable to one, defend, to escape and, three, to control the situation. See, I often think about this as attacking is the last, final stage, is almost a result of everything else that we are doing. If you want to have a phenomenal guard passing game, you need to know how to defend the guard, and you cannot defend the guard if you are not on the bottom. So, as you continue exploring this beautiful, beautiful activity, art, sport that we all love, I encourage you to put yourself in these vulnerable situations and test out the waters of being in the weak spots, often the spots that we don't get ourselves get, we don't get into.
Speaker 1:But yet, thomas, come on, you know that's a boring stuff. That's boring. Jiu Jitsu does not exciting. How am I going to submit somebody? And this is the interesting part of training.
Speaker 1:Listen, if you ask me how to improve your Jiu Jitsu, how to become a phenomenal, phenomenal defender, and how to control the situations, I will tell you every single time put yourself in those situations, act on a battle, lay down, let your partner pass your guard and work from disadvantage, work from the point when you are not comfortable, so you can, one, calm your mind, to travel, to shoot the situation as you need to and, three, the most importantly, make right decisions under the circumstances of stress and anxiety.
Speaker 1:So, jimmy, as you are asking me why, being on the bottom is important, one, it develops a skill of managing the situation. Our mind sometimes goes crazy, the anxiety hits us, the adrenaline hits us and we don't make a logical and smart decisions. Being in those vulnerable spots puts us in a state where our brain and our body gets used to the fact of being under stress and we can develop almost an immunity system, if you will, almost a point of ignoring the distractions, and we can start making smart decisions for ourselves. So, if you ask me, being on the top it's awesome, it's fun. There's nothing more that I like than smashing my partner. However, being on the bottom, this is what develops the true Jiu Jitsu develops these key components, which oftentimes are very, very useful. Keep on training. Stay on the bottom, peace.