Diary > You Tube Jitsu
12/22/2009
Personally I think one of the worst things to ever affect BJJ is the internet. Not cos I hardly know how to use it and wouldnt know a server ( tennis?) from a hard drive ( melbourne to sydney in a ford festiva ) its because I see the damage it does first hand on the mat.
Students get on the net looking for a way to fast track their knowledge or learn some secret death move that will save them years in getting their black belt or save $20 on a kimono they should have bought from their instructor anyway.
Ive seen and heard of more injuries since Eddie Bravo came up with his ridiculous rubber guard, mission control crap than ever before. Students are tearing their own knees to pieces trying to bend their bodies into stupidly dangerous and unhealthy positions.
Jiu Jitsu is great cos anyone can do it and you can become a world champion without being able to touch your toes ( although most can ) its about choosing techniques to suit your body and mind, not destroying your body trying to fight like 1% of the population.
You tube brings a whole new level to ´ I wanna be famous for a second" types. People posting all sorts of stuff in the vain hope that someone else will be stupid enough to do it too. If you already are a part of a good club spend the time and money on some private lessons, your coach knows you better than anyone else and you can always go back and ask him/her questions.
In BJJ there are hundreds of different ways to do moves and often neither is wrong but it might be wrong for you, but your coach should be able to determine that. Im writing this today as a student came and said how confused he was after looking at you tube and was terribly confused, and now also wearing a kimono the wrong size!
Weight/size charts cant compete with the knowledge your instructor has about kimonos, Ive been through dozens of different brands and know all the various models and their fit and how they wear over time and feel on the mat. Sure I might have to charge an extra $20 to stock them but its better to get it right than waste $300 in getting the wrong one as Ive seen on the mat dozens of times.
The moral of this is, trust your coach, simplify your jiu jitsu and if in doubt ask or get a private lesson. Simple.
