This week we have an interview with ADCC standout Lachlan Giles. Lachlan is coming off an amazing absolute bronze medal performance at adcc 2019. He had submissions over Kaynan Duarte, Patrick Guadio, and Mahamed Aly.
We’ve all heard that “jiu jitsu is like chess”, but have you ever considered that it’s a lot like poker as well? I spent some time thinking about these two activities today and I see at least five lessons one can learn from playing poker that can be easily applied to jiu jitsu.
You gotta play the hand you’re dealt.
Yes, you can discard and draw cards, but you can’t make requests…you have to
make the best of the cards in your hand. In jiu jitsu this is true on the macro
and micro levels. On the macro level i.e. looking at the journey as a whole –
we don’t all have the same physical attributes, we don’t all have the same
amount of time to invest, we don’t all have the same training opportunities
etc. So, your journey may be a little more difficult and take a little longer,
you just have to press forward and play the hand your dealt. On the
micro level – every time you go into a competitive roll whether it’s with
one of your favorite training partners or whether it’s in a tournament, you
each bring different skills to the mats. At that point it’s probably too late
to try and revamp your game, you have to use the tools you currently have in
your toolbox (or the cards in your hand) in such a manner that will produce the
best outcome.
You have to know the rules and
understand the objectives. I have a vague memory of a scene on tv of a guy
laying down his cards saying “read ‘em and weep” thinking he had a flush, but his
cards were a mix of spades and clubs…. yes, they’re all the same color, but
that’s not really the goal. While this point has application for those who are
training jiu jitsu as a hobby but don’t compete the real value of this point is
for the competitor. Don’t lose matches because you didn’t know the rules or
intricacies of how points are scored.
Bluffing is a necessary skill to win.
When you are bluffing at the poker table you are simply trying to create the
illusion that something is true (like you have a great hand) when it may or may
not be. Likewise, from guard you may mess with your opponent’s lapel to get him
worried about a technique he may not have seen when you have no intention of
playing any form of lapel guard. It doesn’t matter so much if you have a decent
lapel guard, but it does matter that your opponent believes you do.
You gotta know when to hold em, know
when to fold em, know when to walk away, and know when to run. In poker there
are times when you say “I’m good with these cards, I’m going to play them”
there are other times you just lay em down and fold. There other times when you
have to say, “this table is too rich for me” and just walk away. Then there are
other times you realize you’re playing with sharks and you better run. The
lesson here is you have to learn to read situations on the mat quickly. If you
have been doing jiu jitsu for any length of time you should be able to visit a
new school for an open mat and almost immediately be able to read each training
partner, you roll with. No matter what position you are in – their stance,
posture, grips, frames, etc. are all clues that should help you understand what
they are bringing to the mat.
You never count your money when
you’re sitting at the table. In the old west, gambling was a cutthroat business
and sometimes men bet all they had on a game. Making a show of counting your
money was a sure way to get shot in the alley behind the tavern. You won’t get
your ass shot but making a show of every victory you have in jiu jitsu is not
the best approach to making friends and earning respect in the community.
Having friends and respect in the community go a long way towards helping you
get better at jiu jitsu. The goal is to have a healthy ego and be humble at all
times.
In conclusion: If you’re going to play
the game, you gotta learn to play it right. There may not necessarily be a
“right” and “wrong” way to do jiu jitsu, but there are definitely some ways
that are better than others to get good at jiu jitsu and win matches. The
sooner you figure this out, the better off you’ll be.
This week we have an interview with BJJ Black Belt Amal Easton. Amal is the rare person that has both been able to compete at a high level and produce high level competitors of BJJ and MMA.
Quote of the week: “It’s not about any one person. You’ve got to get over yourself and realize that it takes a group to get this thing done.” Gregg Popovich
This week we have an interview with the Vice President of We Defy Foundation Alan Shebaro. Alan is a 4th degree Black Belt under Professor Chris Haueter.
This week we have grappling legend Gokor Chivichyan. Gokor has achieved gold at the international level at BJJ, Judo, MMA, and Sambo. He has coached Ronda Rousey, Karo Parisyan, Neil Melanson, and many more
We talk about:
Growing up as a tough kid in Armenia
Starting Wrestling in 1968
Starting Sambo in 1971
Eventually adding Judo to his grappling mix
He also did boxing for four years
Bringing leg locks to the United States 35 years ago
Quote of the week: “Pretend that every single person you meet has a sign around his or her neck that says, ‘Make me feel important.’ Not only will you succeed in sales, you will succeed in life.” -Mary Kay Ash