Drill your way to success in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

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You have to drill your way to success in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The biggest error most jiu-jitsu practitioners make is that they abandon repetitive drilling when they start live training.

Beginners make a lot of progress through solely drilling techniques over and over. Practicing an individual technique allows your body to develop muscle memory to be able to repeat them. When many people finally start to train live, they often push the repetitive drilling to the side. Students start to focus more on trying to tap their training partners. Live training is vital to progression in Jiu-Jitsu. However, you cannot abandon drilling your techniques to perfect the movements. Trying a technique a couple of times, and then trying to hit it in live training, will cause you to fail more often than not. Bodies aren’t conditioned yet to react to the angles or grips of the technique. Many practitioners will get frustrated and feel like the technique “doesn’t work for themâ€. You cannot get frustrated, this is common. In Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers”, the Outliers Theory states that in order to master something you must perform 10,000 hours or repetitions.

Keeping track of your repetitions:

A great way to keep track of just how many you do is to start a notebook. Write down every class you attend and keep a record of how many times you have practiced that technique. Some classes you may be so tired you can only do it 20 times, whereas others you might have a bit more energy and accomplish a higher number. If you tell yourself you will do it a minimum of 20 times a class you should easily add the technique to your “game†in no time.

Drilling what is being taught, how it is taught:

This is one of the more important aspects of drilling. Your instructor spends a lot of time working on the curriculum of your academy. They do this in order to help the entire school progress.  When you are learning something in class, that is what you should be working on, especially at the lower ranks. When you get to be a brown or black belt, you will have the opportunity to start venturing into other techniques. By doing your own thing, you are not just hurting your own progress but that of your training partners as well. There is no reason to try and re-invent the wheel, do it the way your instructor is advising you to.

Books to read on the subject

In Malcolm Gladwell’s book “Outliers”, the Outliers Theory states that in order to master something you must perform 10,000 hours or repetitions. Another good book on drilling is Andre Galvao’s “Drill To Win”

5 Motivational quotes to help you through BJJ

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I have composed a list of 5 Motivational quotes to help you through BJJ. Throughout your BJJ journey, you will see hundreds or thousands of motivational quotes. These 5 really helped me over the years. The last one by Jim Rohn became a life credo for me.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – Lao Tzu

The hardest part of starting any martial art, not just Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is getting over the fear of walking through the front door. It is the hardest step you ever take and your first lesson….facing your fears. Facing fears is a huge part of the martial arts and you already did it unknowingly. One of the blackbelts at Savarese BJJ is a life-long martial artist who began under his dad. His dad is a member of the martial arts Hall Of Fame. He uses a saying he learned from his dad years ago, “face your fear and the fear disappears.” Taking that first step is the first step in becoming a blackbelt someday.

“You will never find time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.” – Charles Buxton

We all have lives outside of the Academy. The phrase “I’m so busy” or “I have no time” is used way too often. Truth is, EVERYONE IS BUSY in their own way. Over my 10 years of being a school owner, the most common thing I see is people unable to manage their time properly. If you want time, you must make it, you have to schedule things better or find a class you can attend. Even if that class is the dreaded 7am class.

Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; - Earl Nightingale

There comes a time around 1 year into your bluebelt when students getting frustrated. They are frustrated with being defeated and their progress start to question whether BJJ is worth it because they are so far away from blackbelt. This saying goes hand in hand with the one below at this stage.

“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius

People quit at bluebelt more than any other belt. It is usually the longest belt next to black. In Saulo Ribeiro’s book Jiu-Jitsu University , he speaks about surviving at white and bluebelt. It is a tough time to go through but one almost 100% of blackbelts appreciate the most once they reach blackbelt. I am seeing more and more purplebelts quit as well these days. Recreational practitioners of the art will see their promotions come a little more slowly and will often get frustrated. They compare themselves to other who are sometimes training more, are younger etc. It is a mistake to compare yourself to anyone because everyone’s BJJ journey is different. Some may reach a rank faster, doesn’t mean they will be better long term.

“If you really want to do something, you‘ll find a way. If you don’t, you‘ll find an excuse.†—Jim Rohn.

This is my life’s credo. It helps me in the “no excuses” mindset I try to live by. Once I got rid of all the negative people and excuse makers in my life, I said this saying to myself over and over and my life got so much better because of it. I have ingrained this into my mindset so deeply that I can answer any excuse someone tries to give me about anything with this saying. Examples:

Hit too much traffic? Leave 15 to 20 minutes earlier

You’re taking extra classes this semester? Come to 7am or weekend classes

Don’t have the $? shovel snow, mow lawns, get a 2nd job on weekends or at night 1x a week, sell something you own that you do not need or stop spending on things you don’t need.

Once we get in the mindset of holding ourselves accountable for what we do and do not do, life gets easier and we make better decisions. Our focus gets better, our attitude gets better and we are happier.

 

Fitting into your BJJ School

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Fitting into your BJJ School

One of the hardest parts of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is fitting into your BJJ school. This list is here to help you recognize all of the diverse students you will encounter at most Academies around the world.  Now, since there are generally no “cookie cutter†students, this list may slightly vary but it should give a good summation of most schools.

The New Student

This student has probably only been a part of the school for less than 2 months. They are still a bit shy around other students and may even seem a bit lost. The ones that have been at the school for less than a month will still have that look on their face like they don’t know what they got themselves into. This is normal, they are still in the process of fitting into their BJJ School. They typically are the one that is wandering around the room trying to make a connection with other students.

The Hobbyist

Every school has them, in fact, with the popularity of BJJ, the Hobbyist Student is becoming more prevalent. They are the student that comes to class once or twice a week.  Everyone is friends with them. They do not really study BJJ outside of the academy but still love class when they are there. Typically they will be the student who is a Blue Belt and has been training as long as some of the Purple Belts. The hobbyist is a key student in the academy. They are the ones that tend to bond quickest with The New Student and help them transition into what kind of BJJ Student they will be. They have no problem fitting into your bjj school because everyone likes them and they have their place on the mats.

The BEAST

This is the student that seems to tap everyone. They could be the nicest person off of the mats and the other students like them, but The Beast is the Purple or Brown Belt that nobody can seem to do anything to and goes through everyone else. They tend to be the guy that doesn’t compete that much but absolutely loves BJJ. They are always studying and taking notes. They are the last one off of the mats at the end of the night and never make excuses.

The Competitor

Not everyone will fit this description. This student lives and breathes Jiu-Jitsu Competitions. When they train they keep track of positional points in their head. They are always getting ready for their next tournament, and sometimes will also fit the bill of THE BEAST that we just talked about. They aren’t always the highest ranked student in the room either, usually a younger Blue or Purple Belt will fit this description.

The Seasoned Veteran

This is the rarest of students. The older Brown or Black Belt in the room that has seen it all.  They have been there and done that, and held every role in the academy. They are usually one of the instructors on staff at the school. Do not let their role as the Seasoned Veteran fool you though. They are still tough as nails and ready to keep the younger and newer students in line. They tend to be the instructors right hand man or close to it and they command a lot of respect from the other students.

These are just a few of the different types of students you will encounter while fitting into your BJJ school. There is nothing that says you have to be any specific one of them, and who is to say you can’t be each of them during your journey through Jiu-Jitsu. Just get on the mats and enjoy BJJ for the amazing art that it is.

Savarese BJJ

Call Today to start your BJJ Journey. 201 933-5134

Following your Academy’s curriculum

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Today’s topic is Following your Academy’s curriculum. You must follow the program!

One of the biggest keys to anyone’s personal success will be the beginner program your instructor set for. This is going to be the foundation that your jiu-jitsu game is going to be build upon in the future. If your school doesn’t have a detailed and outlined beginner program for you to follow in the first 6 months of your training, that is a red flag. Systems should be in place and when they are adhered to, there is an even flow of progression for all of those who follow it.

Watching you tube can be your friend….or set you back months!

Unfortunately, today our biggest tool is also one of our biggest enemies… YOUTUBE. It seems like lower belt in the world wants to have their own you tube channel showing techniques that have 12 steps and require multiple grip switches and rolls all to do the same thing that a technique with 3 steps would accomplish. Watching you tube videos and then trying to work on that stuff instead of what is being taught is like trying to teach yourself, and any good instructor will tell you ” The student who teaches himself has a fool for an instructor.”  Now I am not saying to never study, by all means do so but many older blackbelts will tell to watch matches instead of instructional videos. I promise you very few times will you actually see that 12 step technique used. There are many greats in BJJ to watch on social media like Marcelo Garcia, Saulo Ribeiro, Rafael Lovato Jr and Henry Akins. Even John Danaher has taken to social media. I highly recommend them if you are to watch you tube.

Back to the main topic. Your instructor should have systems to help guide you through your journey. I highly recommend staying with your instructors teachings through the 1st year and a half, straying from what they are teaching many times ends up hurting your progress. They know you better than any video, see your movements every day, know what your strengths and weaknesses are. The time to go off program will come.

Let the instructor do his job

This for parents as well. You placed your child in a program to learn Jiu-Jitsu. The instructors your are paying are experts in their field. If you do not train yourself, please let the instructor do their job and keep your child on course. Trying to train your child yourself from video is not the right thing to do. No instructor worth his salt would never watch a video and then try to teach a technique without having drilled that technique at least a couple hundred times and live. This goes for tournaments too. It can be confusing for a child whether to listen to his mom/dad or his instructor. Unless you have drilled a technique on a live opponent, you will never know what the instructor knows.
I hope this helps.

5 reasons to enroll your child in Martial Arts

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5 reasons to enroll your child Martial Arts

Listed below are 5 reasons to enroll your child in Martial Arts. Hopefully they help you on making the decision to go with Kids Martial Arts to help your child.

Strengthens your bond with your child.

One of my favorite parts of teaching the kids program is seeing how excited kids are after class. Especially when they go talk to their parents about what they learned. After we all bow out for the end of the training session, they run to the parents with huge smiles. In addition, they start filling them in on how good they did in class. The look on parent’s faces when this happen is priceless, they see that their child is having a great time, and almost immediately start seeing the benefits of having them in the program. In turn, you will be excited to bring your child. You will wait anxiously to hear from them about how their day was, and what they accomplished.

New Encounters.

We have children in our academy from all over Bergen and Hudson Counties. Chances are, outside of the training room, the kids would have never met. From the moment your child joins our Kids Martial Arts Program, they will begin to make many new friends. They will have the opportunity to encounter kids from different schools, and many of them spend time together outside of class. For kids who have a hard time making new friends, this in invaluable.

Physical Fitness

Let’s face it; the world is not what it was when we were kids. The frequency of kids being outside and being active is lower than it was back then. Schools are not as focused on Physical Fitness as they once were and now with video games as accessible as they are, kids do not want to be outside. Childhood obesity is at an all-time high, and the lack of emphasis on Physical Fitness is one of the main reasons for this. Every class at the academy incorporates physical fitness into the curriculum and the kids will even participate in a Physical Fitness Challenge 3 times a year.

Overcoming Fears

Starting a journey into any Martial Arts Program, can be a scary one. The kids do not know what to expect and can sometimes be very nervous. Getting them onto the mats for the first time is a huge step towards teaching them how to overcome and conquer their fears. Through the lessons taught in our academy, your child will be able to face fears in all walks of life, from taking big tests in school, to interacting with new kids, and even playing other sports. Leadership traits will begin to shine through when their fears go away and you will see a stronger more confident child emerge right in front of you.

Self-Defense

In conclusion, the number one reason parents enroll their child in Martial Arts is for self-defense. They want their child to be able to hold their own in case they ever are in a physical altercation. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the number one Martial Art for Self-Defense. Your child will learn how to assess a situation, stay calm, and react the appropriate way. Above all else, they will know how to avoid conflict and resolve dangerous situations without having to be physical with an aggressor. The best means to defend yourself is knowing when to walk away.

About Savarese BJJ

Did you enjoy these 5 reasons to enroll your child in Martial Arts? If you live in Hudson or Bergen County and want to start your child in an award winning school, call us today at  201 933-5134. We will set them up for a FREE, NO OBLIGATION CLASS.

5 students promoted at Lyndhurst Jiu Jitsu Academy

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5 students promoted at Lyndhurst Jiu Jitsu Academy

5 students promoted at Lyndhurst Jiu Jitsu Academy on saturday after a live training session. Lyndhurst’s Savarese BJJ Academy, led by 2nd degree blackbelt Professor Chris Savarese, promoted Anthony Del Guercio, Andrew Zeppetelli, Babatunde Ojo, Ariana Zeppetelli and Kayla Zeppetelli.

2 Teens promoted

First, Ariana Zeppetelli, who is one of the instructors of the Academy’s “women’s only” classes, received the 4th stripe on her bluebelt from Professor Savarese. Zeppetelli, at only 17 yrs old, is one of the most technical students in the entire school. Efficiency comes easy to her because of her great focus in class and her drilling to perfection. Rank or size doesn’t matter, she can hang with anyone in the training room. Therefore, Professor Savarese says she is one of the few teenagers he has taught over the years who understands that repetition is the key to success. Futhermore, everyone at Savarese Jiu-Jitsu looks forward to she how great she is in 5 years.

Another to be promoted was Babtunde Ojo, who received the 1st stripe on his bluebelt. Ojo helps out with the kids program and is improving rapidly over the last couple of months. Very eager to learn, he even takes notes in kids classes if he doesn’t know the techniques Professor Sean is teaching. Therefore, we say to look out for this kid in 2017, I think a huge jump in coming for him

Upperbelts Promoted

Also promoted was Anthony Del Guercio, who received the 2nd stripe on his brownbelt. A laywer by trade, he works long hours every day but still is one of the most dedicated students we have, training almost every night and still testing himself through competition. Consequently, we believe a blackbelt at our Academy is definitely in his future. Also, he is one of the top students in our Academy and an instructor of Fundamentals classes.

Andrew Zeppetelli received the first stripe on his purple belt from Professor Savarese. Due to being is one of the most dedicated and hardest workers in the Academy, purplebelt was an easy decision. In addition to working 15 hour days at his job, he still finds time to train 4 times a week and is one of the top self defense students. He is a great example to his children, who also train the the school. Finally, he is a true model of consistency, never missing more than a week since he started.

Kids get promoted too

Finally, Kayla Zeppetelli received the 1st stripe on her yellow belt. The kids program’s top student, she routinely trains with the adults, showing no fear and more courage than many of the adults.  Professor Savarese says he wishes he had 100 students like her, she is tough as nails and a pleasure to teach. Her future in BJJ is as bright as she wants it to be.

What’s Next for this group?

All of these students will be competing in the NJBJJF tournament in November. You can find more info about the tournament at njbjjf.com

Kayla

Kayala

Mark

Mark

 

Baba

Baba

Anthony

Anthony

Ariana

Ariana

Lyndhurst martial artist wins Instructor Of The Year

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Lyndhurst martial artist wins “Instructor of the year”

Lyndhurst martial artist Professor Chris Savarese was presented with the Lovato Jiu-Jitsu Association Instructor Of The Year Award. Lovato Association head Rafael Lovato Jr presented Savarese with the prestigious award thursday night at Savarese’s Academy. Because this covers all of the Lovato schools across the United States and Canada, over 30 in all, the award is quite an honor.

First, Lovato, the 4x World BJJ Champion, recognized the talent in the Savarese Academy’s room and the hard work of the instructors and Professor Savarese. Also, Lovato spoke movingly of the success the school had through a personal health battle Savarese had encountered. Most noteworthy is that Savarese did not forego his teaching duties. Finally, he presented Savarese with the Lovato Jiu-Jitsu Association Instructor Of The Year Award.

Due to the fact it was presented at his Academy, Savarese was very touched and honored. In addition to the Lovato Jiu-Jitsu association having some amazing, world class instructors, Savarese has a great deal of respect for them. Hence, everyone at Savarese BJJ is very honored to represent the association.

Rafael Lovato Jr Lyndhurst NJ seminar

Since Oklahoma City’s Lovato came to train at and teach a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu seminar at the Savarese Academy, over 60 students were in attendance.

Lovato taught some useful concepts for any BJJ practitioner. Framing defenses from the guard that can be useful in other positions as well started off the seminar. Next up came the finer details of the passing, mount attacks and submissions. These details have been working well for him in competition for the past year. Teaching concepts and not just moves made it a true teaching seminar. Students at the Academy called it one of their favorites that Lovato has done here.

Finally, thank you to Professor Lovato and everyone for a great night of learning Jiu-Jitsu.

In conclusion, do you live in the Bergen, Passaic or Essex county areas and want to learn jiu-jitsu? Call the Savarese team at 201 933-5134 for a free trial lesson.

Lyndhurst martial artist wins Instructor of the Year

Lyndhurst martial artist wins Instructor of the Year

Lyndhurst martial artist wins Instructor of the Year

Lyndhurst martial artist wins Instructor of the Year

Rafael Lovato Jr Lyndhurst NJ BJJ seminar

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Rafael Lovato Jr Lyndhurst NJ BJJ seminar

Rafael Lovato Jr taught a Lyndhurst NJ BJJ seminar at the Savarese BJJ Academy last night. Lovato, the 2007 World Jiu-Jitsu and 3x No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu Champion, took to the mats of his good friend Professor Chris Savarese’s school to teach to the over 50 students in attendance.

Professor Savarese’s thoughts

Savarese had this to say after the seminar. “Thanks to Rafael Lovato Jr. for teaching a truly awesome seminar at my Academy last night. First of all, for making it a night to remember for all of us. Futhermore, the seminar was so useful for any BJJ practitioner as he taught some great framing defenses from the guard. These defenses can be useful in other positions as well. Also, he gave of the finer details of the passing and mount attacks and subs that have been working so well for him in competition for the past year.

It was a true teaching seminar that taught concepts and not just moves. Hence, it was one of my favorites that he has done here. To make the night even more special, he recognized the talent of our room and the hard work of the instructors and I. I was then presented with the Lovato Jiu-Jitsu Association Instructor Of The Year Award. Professor Rafael spoke movingly of the success we had through a personal health battle I encountered. Since I was on the mats with my students, I was very touched and honored to have that moment.. Also, because our association has some amazing, world class instructors whom I greatly respect. Therefore, I am honored to represent our association. Thank you to Professor Lovato and everyone for a great night of learning Jiu-Jitsu.”

The Lovato Jiu-Jitsu Association

Lovato Jiu-Jitsu is one of the strongest teams in the United States. Led by Rafael Lovato Jr, the most decorated and experienced American BJJ competitor of all time, students of the Lovato Jiu-Jitsu Association receive cutting edge instruction from one of the World’s best. Currently, the Lovato Jiu-Jitsu Association has produced 4 ADCC veterans, World and Pan-American medalists at all belt levels, and No-Gi World medalists. Based in Oklahoma City, the Lovato Jiu-Jitsu Association (LJJA) also has schools across the country and in Canada. The LJJA has developed a proven system to reach the highest levels in BJJ despite your location or resources.

You can find out more about Lovato here http://www.lovatojr.com/about

Anyone on the East Coast interested in taking a Lovato seminar or joining a Lovato affiliated school, call the Savarese BJJ Academy at 201 933-5134.

lovato-2016-sav-award

Savarese BJJ students split NJBJJF Absolute championship

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Savarese BJJ students split NJBJJF Absolute championship

Students of the Savarese BJJ Academy split NJBJJF Absolute championship last Saturday in Homdel NJ. “Handsome” Mark Garcia and 16 yr old Leo Alves, both won 3 matches to advance to the finals of the tournament. The New Jersey Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (NJBJJF) Summer Open was held among close to 50 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools in across the tri-state area and from schools from Maryand and Delaware. Absolute divisions are the most prestigious to win because the Absolute division has no weight limit. Garcia and Alves decided to split the division instead of teammates fighting. This is a common occurrence in BJJ when teammates make the finals of a tournament that doesn’t have a monetary prize. Making their victories even more impressive was the fact that the 2 were the lightest in the division.

Garcia is a real up and comer on the tournament scene. Mark also won his division at the NY Open, the toughest East Coast toughest each year. Look out for Mark in the future.

Alves is also becoming a big name on the tournament scene. Savarese Jiu-Jitsu has 3 teenagers (Alves and fellow teammates Sean Yadimarco and Ariana Zeppetelli) who have consistently fought in adult division over the past year and won gold medals vs adults. Each of them had excellent showings in the World BJJ Championship in CA in July. Winning an adult Absolute title at only 16 yrs old is a major accomplishment for Alves.

NJBJJF Tournament

Fernando Sarmiento, a BJJ blackbelt, created the NJBJJF tournament in 2008. This Federation was established to bring the best competition in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to New Jersey.  The mission of the NJBJJF is to bring together those academies, teams and individuals searching for a traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu championship and help spread our art.

The rules used in this event follow the traditional rules utilized by the IBJJF. NJBJJF’s greatest objective is to preserve the integrity of the competitors and to give our spectators a true show.

Anyone interested in joining the Savarese BJJ Academy, call 201 933-5134 to set up a free intro class.

Lyndhurst Football Coach Earns Jiu Jitsu Certification

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Carlos Dorjo, a Lyndhurst football coach, earned his jiu jitsu teaching certificate last night.

Dorjo, who coaches the offensive and defensive line for the Lyndhurst high freshmen football team, earned the certification at the Savarese Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) Academy, located in Lyndhurst on Park Ave.

Dorjo is only the 4th student in the 10 year history of the Academy to earn this certification, which takes up to a year to earn.

Lyndhurst football coach earns jiu jitsu certification

Lyndhurst football coach earns jiu jitsu certification

Dorjo sets a great example for his players and the students he teaches at the Savarese Academy. Dorjo teaches at 7am classes there.

Four years ago, Dorjo suffered a great setback not only in his BJJ training, but in life. Dorjo tore his ACL and while rehabbing his injury, he tripped and ruptured his patella tendon, making it impossible to rehab the ACL injury.

He missed almost 3 years of training, and had much difficulties at work because he couldn’t walk. His knee looked like a cantaloupe at times. The athlete in Carlos told him to never give up, something he preaches in his teachings every day.

Like the great Michael Jordan once said “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out a way to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” That has been the theme of Dorjo’s return to the mats at the Savarese Academy, where he also works as the school’s program director.

Dorjo is overcoming another obstacle by competing at the New Jersey Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (NJBJJF) tournament in August in Homdel, NJ. It will be his first tournament in almost five years.

Dorjo was an excellent competitor before his injury, last winning the Grapplers Challenge in Red Bank NJ in 2011. There he won all of his matches by submission.

Anyone who wants info about the Savarese Academy or is interested in trying a free class, call 201 933-5134 for more info.