Part 20 of 21 improvements BJJ has had on my life. I am ready for it to be finished! This series was inspired by Tangled Triangle: 21 Days of Improvement. You can read my Part 18 here!
20/21 Improvements from BJJ: Efficiency
Especially compared to black belts, white belts move inefficiently and ineffectively. I realized that after three and a half years of doing jiu jitsu, I am more efficient in my movements, and in a way that is more effective as well.
For example, go lay down in the middle of your bed. Then get up.
How did you get up?
Did you sit up, straight backed? Or did you hip escape?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahFL6Tl3cX4]
When I carry things, I use jiu jitsu grips, when carrying a bag on my arm, I reach up and grab my collar for extra support.
Overall I’ve noticed that the higher belts use less energy, less movement, to achieve a better result. Often time it seems like they’re only one step away from a thing that looked so far away. I’m really excited that I’m gaining that type of effectiveness in motion in my life. Maximum results, minimal energy. The only real downside is that your jiu jitsu sparring sessions stop being so great for burning calories because you’re not moving as much!
I’ll be doing technical standups when I’m an old lady, and I’ll be hip escaping out of bed while other old ladies are breaking their hips. Those motions are efficient!
Jiu Jiu’s Question: How have you seen this efficiency manifest in your own life or training?
I don’t know how “efficient” this is, but earlier this year when I was seeing someone we were making out and I unconsciously placed myself in standard side control, then executed a perfect transition to mount. It took me a minute to realize what I had done, at which point I dissolved into laughter and killed the mood. 😛
Hahaha that’s awesome. I had such a hard time staying in a non-dominant position. Though – closed guard felt dominant to me.
I totally hip escape when changing sleeping positions or getting out of bed. I also find myself using gable grips fairly often when trying to hold things.
I just learned that the Gable grip was named after a collegiate wrestling coach!
Gable grips, De La Riva, Kimura, all named after people. I wonder what the Jiu Jiu escape would look like…
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I often do closed guard pendulum sweep-style motion to get out of bed or get up. I use other jiu jitsu-inspired moves or tricks as well, but that one came as first to my mind.