Happy Chuseok from Korea! Chuseok is a Korean holiday that gives people 5 days off in a row. It’s often described as a “Korean Thanksgiving.” At my school we dressed up in hanboks, traditional Korean costumes, and made some Korean toys.
Me with my babies!
On to the BJJ stuff!
1. I’m going to the Asia Open! I bought a plane ticket and today I’m processing my request for an IBJJF membership, then signing up for the tournament. SL invited me and I was happy to take her up on it!
2. I’m getting OK Kimono’s spats! Yay for all the tigers! These things are so dope looking. I can’t wait for them to arrive! Readers can get a discount by entering the code jiujiubjj during check out!
I NEED TO GET ALL THE TIGERS!!! (Thanks Brendan!)
3. I have a brand spankin’ new logo! I haven’t yet put it on the site – I’ll get that up this week, but I have started using it online! I commissioned Meerkatsu to create my logo. I described it as a sort of old-school heart tattoo with a ribbon that says MOM, only instead of the ribbon it’s a bjj belt. I love what he came up with! And yes, I have one for each level through black.
It’s perfect!! I love it!
4. I have a new BJJ friend! She’s a blue belt from California and she’ll be in Korea for 3 months. It’s really cool to meet another woman my belt level and who I share a common language with. She’s training in the John Frankl network, so we can easily train together, too!
Jiu Jiu’s question: what are you most excited about recently? Anything good happen with you?
This is like a year’s worth of dopeness for a regular person, but you got it all in one month. Dope!
I’m excited about sending spats to Korea!! I’m excited about 12 new t-shirt designs and finally getting back to basics! And your new logo!!
i am wanting to start in bjj but I am in doubt about choosing which gym. When you chose her beyond the didactic teacher, empathize with him and students what criteria you used? Distance? Has a close to home but as the main focus of it is weight lifting q believe must change teaching all the time. What is your opinion about it?
Hi Anderson! That’s a great question. Ultimately, as a beginner, it’s a mix between price, comfort, and schedule. Period. If you have more money, perhaps you only need to worry about comfort and schedule. If you’ve got leisure time and no money, then schedule isn’t something you worry about, etc.
My recommendation is to check out a week of classes – or at minimum 2. Tell him/her you’re looking for a jiu jitsu home and want to try it out. Any good place worth their salt will let you try a class (or week) free. Evaluate how welcome you feel. Evaluate how well you mix with the other students. Are they friendly or aloof? Do they roll super hard or are they kind? That sort of thing. As a white belt, everything else is irrelevant.
Later in your BJJ career, other things will matter – for example, choosing a place with lots of upper belts, or a place that is competition driven, etc. But for now, visit 2 or 3 places and pick which one feels RIGHT to you. All else being equal, pick the place you feel most excited about. Good luck to you!
Thank you . Sorry for English. I do not know anything English. Is google translator. If you have any tips to learn English alone will be a big help. I am a 38 year old Brazilian wanting to get in shape through the BJJ and learn to speak and write in English
(note for native English speakers – direct speech often sounds rude, but it is clearest. Because he’s using a translation program I am using extremely direct English)
Hi Anderson – I’m happy for you. There are thousands of websites and books and programs that will teach English. Here is not a blog about learning English. I recommend a teacher or a program or website. I do not give English tips on my website – it is only about jiu jitsu. Google translate is very difficult to understand sometimes.
I told you how to evaluate your new gym. You should apply the information. For example, I told you that beginners must consider only time, distance, and comfort. I do not need to know that distance is not important for you. It does not change my advice.
Good luck to you.
The distance of the place until my house is also not important. Vc rolled in a place near your home?
[…] I also decided to make blogger cards. This was thought of and executed in one evening. Please to be enjoying. On the back is the logo that Meerkatsudesigned! […]