Dear Jiu Jitsu,
We’ve had some excellent times together, and we’ve also had our rough patches. You are my first love, Jiu Jitsu, and that will not change. Yet, right now we cannot be together – because being with you hurts me. Literally. So I watch you from afar, biding my time until we can reunite.
I don’t mean to hurt you, but I have to let you know that I started seeing someone else. Weight lifting. I’m not sure if it’s a long term thing or just a short fling to ease our parting, but I’ve started doing it since January and I really like it.
Weight lifting won’t replace you. I’m actually hoping that it will help our relationship grow even stronger. Please, please bear with me through this rough time and don’t be jealous. I’m doing this for us. I love you dearly.
-Jiu Jiu
Hehehe Yes, it’s true. I have started weight lifting consistently since January. I really enjoy deadlifts and bench presses, the adductor and the leg press machines. I like seeing myself get stronger literally every session. Plus, I love all the massive points I rack up on Fitocracy.
I’m in Malaysia now, but when I return to Seoul I plan to join a local gym and continue weight lifting as I continue watching BJJ.
So, are you cheating on BJJ right now? True confession time!
Ahahaha great post!
I’m not cheating my bjj for now,but I’m really thinking in start doing kick box in the others free nights of my week :p
But I’m thinking in do it to improve my bjj, so can I consider it like a cheathing?
Totally – it will completely help your relationship with jiu jitsu. Just watch out about spending TOO much time with kick boxing.
Hell yes.
I have to. I’m rehabilitating an injury, albeit without a therapist, and if I stop lifting, it gets worse. BJJ is a tempestuous, obsessive passion, but lifting is my steady life’s companion. If I ignore it for a while, it is exactly the same when I return to it: predictable, uncomplicated, and ready to play. Not a total pushover, I’m forced to start at lower weights and may get a bit sore, but after a little time, the relationship is all good again.
I also think lifting is more accessible that jiu jitsu. Especially the deadlift, as it is a total body exercise that requires no spotter. Once you know what you are doing, it’s really hard to injure yourself lifting, if you can resist trying to show off. It’s also something that you can get better at with time, a plus against those fast explosive kids at BJJ.
Yeah – I have to watch out or I’ll be in an abusive relationship with BJJ. I go back to her to early and I get hurt. Go back, get hurt. I’m keeping my distance for now until I’ve gotten healthy enough to not get hurt so badly.
I’m in the same place you are, Julia. I haven’t trained since I herniated my C7 in early November. I did PT all of December and now am weight training for another 2 months before I get on the mat.
We’re both cheating on our loves. I feel dirty.
Yep!
Since I joined Fitocracy I’ve been contemplating a lot of other activities too. Those points are addictive and I want to maximize my scores.
After seeing what everyone else is lifting I decided I needed to start lifting more as well.
Yeah – Fitocracy made me cheat on BJJ.
I even did some freaking swimming quests! Whaaaa? 
Yeah. So, last year after the Pan, I felt really irked at losing my first match 20-0, and even more irked that I’d been so careful with what I ate to make weight… so I ate whatever I wanted for a day. Then two days. Then a week, and then two weeks. And then it was like a month later, and I’d gained like 15 lbs. So I thought, wtf-ever, I can lose that no problem, just gotta work out more. And then, I hurt my knee and had to sit out a while. Then things weren’t super happy at my old academy, plus I was really really busy with work. And then it was November, and Thanksgiving, and then Christmas, two weeks at my inlaws’ and eating all the time (they live in Vegas!)
So, now I’m back to jiu jitsu (at the new academy) and I’m sneaking around on her, having a daily lunch date with a regular gym and a “cardio kickboxing/pliometrics” class. 5 lbs down, 18-20 to go.
Right there with ya. I’ve started cheating with morning cardio DVDs for all the reasons you stated above save the Pans and 2 weeks with in laws.I gotta get 25 off me.
Hahaha Good luck to you! Hey – are you on Fitocracy? I can’t remember seeing you on there! Let me know if you need an invite code!
Hey – unrelated – I met Ian!
I didn’t realize he was the one connected to the peeling off of the stripe. hehe
Yeah – I will DEFINITELY have to do some weight damage control after Malaysia. Good luck with your weight loss goals! If you ever decide to join us on Fitocracy, I have a code with your name on it!
Yep, I was invited to do a boxing match at a charity event. So though I’m continuing my minimal required 2 BJJ classes a week, I’m focusing on boxing and conditioning until the event. I let my instructor know. I do want to try a BJJ tournament someday.
Oh man…how long before you return to BJJ’s loving embrace? hahaha Boxing is an ABUSIVE relationship – so much punching. Jiu Jitsu is so much gentler – albeit kinkier.
No cheating, just a few weight lifting to get strength and improve my learning into the jiu-jitsu. Loosing weight and getting stronger. But no cheating.
It’s BJJ that make me cheat other stuff… Miss you beef strogonoff and German Weizen.
Yeah – Jiu Jitsu completely ruined my relationship with tv. We see each other now and again, but it’s not serious like it once was. Sometimes I pine for the old days, but Jiu Jitsu has me completely head over heels.
Yep, I’m cheating too; weights, yoga, running and gymnastics.
Gymnastics? You minx!
Don’t give up your relationship to Jiu Jitsu! Are you absolutely sure they won’t lure you away?
While you are weightlifting consider doing farmer walks or suitcase carries to increase grip and forearm strength. What you do is you carry dumbells in each hand, ones that are significantly more than what you can bicep curl. Try to carry them for 30 seconds (walking in a direction), and you could turn around and carry them back, or put them down half way and take a break then carry them back, etc. It is great fun. A suitcase carry is similiar, but with one dumbbell only.
Increase weight and increase time slowly over the course of months. It will help with your deadlifts as well, if you have problems with your grip.
Very cool. Thanks for the tip. I think I will do this with a piece of gi wrapped around it so I can simultaneously work on jiu jitsu grips.
As you say, weightlifting and other forms of beneficial cross-training, only serves to strengthen your Jiu-jitsu. I don’t think of it as cheating, more of a polyamorous relationship. I like to go climbing, outdoors or at a climbing gym. It strengthens the whole body and it’s awesome for developing grip.
Yeah – I’ve thought about the rock climbing for grip strength.
Yeah – I don’t think Jiu Jitsu and I are ready to be in an open relationship. I just have to make it through the NRE with weights and keep going back to BJJ. 
I’m cheating on running with jiu jitsu!
More later, but my quick version is that I’m heading over to Fitocracy (Slideyfoot gave me an invite) to check out what exercises you are doing, etc, to help with my L5-S1 and L4-L5 issue.
Hey very cool!
I’ve added lots of weights recently, but the things I was doing that were helpful with L5/S1 were specifically:
* short bridges
* dead bugs
* bird dogs
* planks
* pushups
* supermans
* camel/cow position (on all 4 legs, tip your pelvis up then down)
I hurt my back mid October, so I’m not entering into my 4th month of recovery. I find that weights can be helpful because they require perfect posture. I also make sure to watch how I’m sitting. It’s REALLY hard to not sit with a rounded back, but my doctor thinks that’s likely one of the reasons it went out.
dead bugs?
Can be done with straight legs, or with your knees at a 90 degree angle.
Thanks Jiu,
‘preciate. I’ll give these a go. Love the dead bug.