Besides being creatures of habit, we are all emotional beings. Most of the actions you take are based on your emotions.

So how do we learn to make better decisions? On the mat and off, the key is to learn to control your emotions so they don’t control you.

One of the greatest benefits you’ll see from Martial Arts training is what we call “positive self-control” when it comes to your emotions. Rather than just reacting all the time, you can learn to do three important things:

First, assess…

Then respond…

Then reset.

When you train yourself in this way, you begin to understand that there are ways that you can influence your own emotions, putting you in the driver seat.

This is a very empowering experience, one that is directly in line with the principles of Jiu-Jitsu: efficiency, effectiveness, creativity and consideration.

If you’ve ever lost control of your emotions, this usually means you’ve grown mad, sad or upset over something that’s happened to you. You’ve allowed your emotions to be in the driver’s seat, when they’d do much better as a passenger. With consistent training and practice, you can and will gain control over your emotions; and this will allow you to excel in your training and your life.

Franklin D. Roosevelt, stricken with polio at age 39, became president at the height of the Great Depression, and helped the American people regain their faith in themselves. He wrote,  “We are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of our own minds.”

What are you a “prisoner” of? What are you doing to change it?

The things you focus on day in and day out have a significant influence on your attitude. Your daily habits can have a positive or a negative impact on your thoughts and emotions. The more you direct your focus and thinking patterns, the better control you will have over your emotions.

Martial arts training puts us directly in front of ourselves. We’re reminded about both our strengths and our shortcomings on a regular basis – a personal inventory that many people lack the courage to consider. As modern warriors, we have to consider the physical, mental and emotional habits we’re building as we work towards black belt.

Thoughts lead to feelings, your feelings lead to your actions, and your actions always determine your results.

Improve your thinking and you will improve your life.

Belief is the knowledge that we can do something. It’s an inner feeling that we can accomplish the things we desire to do…and decide to achieve.

One of the truly great things about the goal of Black Belt is that it re-invests us in ourselves: it asks us to commit to self-belief. When you believe in yourself, you gain power and your eyes open to opportunities that lead to greatness.

To achieve high levels of success in any field, you must believe you can do it. Surrounding yourself with a powerful support team – your family, your friends, your instructors, your bosses – helps to build this feeling of belief and possibility.

Your thoughts can be positive and filled with belief, or they can be negative and filled with disbelief. If you’re not building the habit of self-belief through positive, proactive activities, you can slip into self-doubt and “stinking thinking”.

Either way, your mind will convince you to succeed and achieve, or to fail and give up.

Have confidence in yourself and your ability to become more and achieve more than you already have. Confidence and self-belief are like muscles that have to be exercised and used to become stronger.

“Believe you can and you are halfway there.”
— Theodore Roosevelt

Fill your mind with thoughts of success and victory – work to eliminate thoughts of failure and defeat. Surround yourself with people that support and encourage you to go for it, and dump the naysayers that fill your mind with fear and doubt.

See it, believe it…and you’ll make the change a reality.

We love taking the practice outside the dojo, especially when we’re helping kids learn how to stay safe. Our afternoon with Healthy Living Ministries was great – and here is what they had to say about the class:

Greetings,

Warmly,
Rev. S. Jordon
Friends Healing Network for Healthy Living Ministries, Inc.

If you are planning on taking a time off – for two days or for two months – we’d like to know about it!

Our recommendation to all students is that if you are planning on missing days, put in some extra time and work by doubling-up on classes. For example, if you’re going to be out for two weeks, try to get in two extra classes the week before you leave and two extra classes the week you get back. That way, you will have done the work for the weeks you’ll miss. It will also keep your progress on track.

If for some reason you cannot get some extra classes in, then we ask you to please download and fill out a Vacation Form. In order to properly credit any time missed, return it to the Program Director, and it will ensure that your time will be credited back to you accurately.

See you on the mat!

The Staff of Brooklyn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

By Professor Josh Skyer

We love summer and we love training in the summer: nothing beats a great martial arts class after a hot summer day: stepping into a clean, air-conditioned Dojo, putting on a clean uniform and letting the stress of the dog days disappear.  Here are some black belt tips to keep your martial arts training intact during the summer months:

1. DON’T LET THE WARM WEATHER KNOCK YOU OFF TRACK – Progress comes with consistency. It’s tempting to let a day at the beach, or a long weekend distract you from your martial arts goals. Fight it! We talk about self-discipline; what that means for most adults is hitting the mute button on that little voice in your head telling you that it’s OK to skip class.

2. WEAR A CLEAN UNIFORM – This holds true regardless of season.  This might mean getting a second or third gi, especially if you’re training more than twice a week. Of course, never wear a gi or thai boxing uniform that hasn’t been washed. This actually might be illegal in some states, and if it isn’t then it should be.

3. DON’T DROWN YOUR TRAINING PARTNER…BRING A TOWEL – Sweat management is a necessity during warmer weather.  Bring a small towel to class and use it.  Getting caught in a rainstorm on your way to class is not a big deal.  Getting caught in a rainstorm while on the bottom of the mount IS!

4. ALWAYS WEAR A T-SHIRT OR RASHGUARD UNDER YOUR GI –  It will add an extra sweat-absorbing layer.  If you partner taps out because of a triangle you will most likely get a high five or “good job”.  If your partner taps out because they are choking on your sweat or your chest hair you will not get a high five.

5. TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR PERSONAL HYGIENE – Take a shower after class, every time. This is common sense for most people, but it bears repeating anyway. A really wise man once said that a good training partner showers after every class, but a great training partner showers before class.

6. HYDRATE – Drink water all day.  Start first thing in the morning. Coffee, sports drinks, alcohol and soda all LEECH water from your body. It’s important to hydrate before, during, and after class.  Also be extra careful about eating salty foods on training days, which can also draw water from the body.

7. BE A GOODFINDER – Yes, it’s hot out. Yes, there is traffic. Yes, you had to stand up on the train and didn’t get a seat. Yes, your boss is a mean person. Yes, your therapist likes to blame all your problems on your parents. But NO, you don’t have the right to complain in the dojo. Your training hall is supposed to be a positive place, a sanctuary. If you can’t say anything positive,don’t say anything at all. JUST TRAIN.  If you don’t feel better after class, we’ll be happy to refund you your misery.

Have a sustainable practice! The martial arts is the best year-round activity there is for fitness, focus and self-improvement. Commit to the process of getting better by following these tips…and by encouraging others to do the same.

Train hard – there is no substitute!