Study momentum

The BJJ study has kept me ridiculously busy. I want to thank the community for so generously coming forward and opening your lives to me. My knowledge of jiu jitsu grows exponentially with each interview and for that I have the community to thank. I have been overwhelmed by the level of hospitality shown me by not only the participants in my study, but people in the jiu jitsu community generally.   

Because of this research I have come to the attention of the media - how they picked up on it I don't know! From what I understand, one of the reporters who has contacted me said he noticed it on my UofA webpage. I'm not sure I understand, however. Do reporters from local papers peruse local academics' websites for content? Really? Whatever the case, I'm supposed to be interviewed this afternoon - I'm fully cognizant that the shoe is now on the other foot. But, I have a ridiculous amount of trepidation. Reporters I have encountered in the past have not been particularly kind, nor entirely accurate in their deployment of my comments. Other times, they have been outright hostile (why they call in the first place I don't know!). 

As someone trained as a crime scholar I'm often called upon to comment on local "crime news" - a role from which I don't derive a great deal of satisfaction. On one particular occasion I was working in my office the morning after a violent incident involving a university aged male when the phone rang. I held my breath and answered the call certain of who or, rather, what was on the other end. The reporter – I was right – inquired whether I could explain to her why violent crime was increasing in Edmonton. After informing her that in fact police statistics for the last 5 years suggested the opposite, she bellowed ‘you’re the criminologist (that's debatable!), explain to me why we keep seeing these violent crimes, then.’ To which I replied, ‘because you keep reporting them.’ Disgusted, she hung up. 

Experience, in part, explains my apprehension. Moreover, this will be my first occasion to talk about my research in a public venue. While I have learned much, I'm not sure I'm sufficiently far along in the research to make any definitive claims. 

Or, all these justification may just be avoidance techniques: like when you know that someone is not particularly keen to roll with you because they suddenly find something really interesting on their belt as you approach! 

Given my goal of promoting jiu jitsu I want to embrace this opportunity. Toward this end, I should stop procrastinating (another avoidance technique), end this post and prepare. I'll let you know how it goes.

Bryan

bjjstudy@gmail.com

Spreading...

Understanding the widespread growth and spread of jiu jitsu throughout the world was a driving motivation for my study. Through the window that burgeoning class size and increasing number of black belts outside of Brazil provide, we are well aware that the numbers of individuals taking up the sport/art has grown considerably over the last decade. But, by how much? Given the relatively recent diffusion of BJJ from Brazil, the dearth of academic attention to the art, and the lack of coordination and sometimes hostility between schools, at this time no detailed records or accounting exists to determine the exact number of practitioners. I would be reticent to even hazard a rough estimate.

But it is growing. People are taking up the art at an unprecedented rate. Rarely does a week go by without at least a couple of new white belts taking their place amongst the ranks.

What appeal does jiu jitsu have for the average person? and, just how many people worldwide are doing BJJ? I hope my study will shed some light on these questions. In the meantime, if you have some insight please let me know.

Bryan

bjjstudy@gmail.com

Starting the journey

I arrived at BJJ's doorstep through a rather circuitous route. You see, in one way or another I have always been involved in combat sports. I wrestled throughout high school, been slammed to the mat thousands of times as a judoka and punched in the face more times than I care to remember during my stint in Muay Thai - perhaps this explains a few things. When I arrived in the great white north, I was looking for something to fill the void. I was also overweight - a condition that felt severely awkward given my previous sports obsessed life. But, this is what happens when under the stress and time crunch of a demanding PhD programme. Those 4 years of my life (basically) involved waking up, going to the fridge, watching some horrible programming on tv while downing some equally horrible breakfast cereal, sitting at my desk writing for hours, realizing I'm hungry, going to the fridge, sleeping... My life and body paid severely for the inertia. Although I was not entirely sedentary during this period - I played golf... I'm not complaining or regretful - I have a (sometimes) wonderful job, wonderfully understanding wife and two fantastic children for the effort. But I was neglecting something tremendously important - my body. While my mind was becoming increasingly acute, my body was becoming rather substantial. 

Quite literally, I woke up one day and looked at my kids and Joanne, and then down to my rapidly expanding abdomen (where there was once a 6 pack) and decided I needed to do something ... I was tipping the scales at an oh so impressive 230 lbs. (I'm 5'10 ish). Toward getting back to some kind of fighting shape, I went back to Muay Thai for several years. This got my rather lethargic golfer's ass in gear and (re)awakened my competitive spirit. But something was missing. Although I was getting rather proficient at punching, elbowing and especially kicking, I wanted something more. 

While driving to work everyday I routinely sped passed a place advertising Mixed Martial Arts. After 2 years of driving past the sign and telling myself that I should really drop in, I finally did just that. Not only did this gym offer Muay Thai, but BJJ. ... 

There is much more to this story which I will offer as time goes on. But, suffice it to say for now that the mats are my home away from home and I weigh in at a healthier 170 lbs.. I've never been happier (is it weird that choking people makes me happy?)!

Bryan

bjjstudy@gmail.com

Out of the blue

Have you ever been caught in position, or, had something done to you where you did not have a response? In more theoretical terms, has there ever been a disturbance that has disrupted your intuitive response? Where, no matter how much rolling you have done, something comes out of left field to leave you bewildered and shocked?

When I first started rolling, this would happen regularly. Through repetition and countless hours of rolling most of the surprise factor has been drilled out of me. That was until last Saturday when my opponent grabbed my belt and pulled. I realize this happens a lot while in bottom 1/2 guard among others - I can deal with this. Rather, I was standing above my opponent who was butt scooting to establish position. When I stepped in to initiate my pass, he grabbed my belt and extended it over his knee. Needless to mention, but suffice it to say, the belt felt like a boa around my waist. What do you do in this situation? I had to stop and think for more than a little while which allowed him to take advantage; which, as I mentioned in a previous post, obfuscates a centred and rationale response.

How does this inability to (re)act occur? What is the cognitive process (or is it a lack?) when something occurs which you have not drilled and never seen? The rational response is to rely on what you know... fair enough and that's what I tried to do (hips forward and using his momentum to my advantage), but the initial grabbing of my belt had sufficiently disrupted my focus. I'm certain that the ability to remain centred when confronted by obscurity requires fantastic patience and hours of practice.

Bryan

bjjstudy@gmail.com

"Don't think..."

Before moving on to the subject of this post, I need to request your assistance. My study has now moved into the interview phase. My hope is to interview as many as 40 BJJ players from around the world (both women and men). I would sincerely appreciate any help toward this end you may be able to offer. If you have some time to speak with me about your BJJ experiences please contact me at bjjstudy@gmail.com. Or, pass along my email address to anyone you think may be able to help. Thank you. Bryan  

I've come to the realization that the more I am forced to think while rolling, the more awkward and ungainly I become. A little while ago I was helping with the beginner class. At the end of the class, TP put the upper belts who were teaching at the front of the class to roll with the white belts. On this occasion, like others, TP gave us a task. In this case, we were to lock in a Kimura - but without finishing it. We were to just find as many places to grab it as possible. My favourite positions include: top side mount, from guard (failed or feinted rainbow sweep) or off the pass. However, this usually is accomplished in a dynamic roll. 

I had a terrible time. I felt awkward - not nearly as smooth as is (sometimes) the case. I felt self conscious. I was able to lock it in 2 or 3 times; but they all felt sloppy. I felt lost. Frustrated, I triangled one of my opponents to kimura the trapped arm!? I had  lost something essential to the art - flow!

When we stop to focus and concentrate on the things in which we are intimately involved action is fundamentally and necessarily inhibited. When we are able to let go and 'flow with go', our experience becomes almost effortless. 

"Don't think... it can only hurt the ball club." (crash davis - Bull Durham)

Bryan

bjjstudy@gmail.com

Evaluation

I had a meeting yesterday with the instructors for the martial arts course. Evaluation seems to be the topic with which we are somewhat stuck. Given that this is a University level course we require some manner through which to appraise students. Further, because we are delivering the course through Sociology (co-listed with Phys-ed) we cannot rely solely on physical measures. 

On its face, this course is meant to be a radical alternative to the run-of-the-mill and every-day practice endemic to almost every university. In the established version, the professor takes her/his place at the front of the room at the designated hour and lectures for the set time and then leaves with little or no interaction with students. No doubt, many in my field find cold comfort in this reality. Our course, by contrast, demands a more hospitable and relaxed environment. Really, in what other course is there potential to batter your prof? - I'm certain many have considered it!

Given its radical constitution, how should students be graded (no, their ability to tap out the prof would not be useful)? I am not certain that Denis Rancourt's approach of giving A+s to everyone is viable. Ain't academic freedom grand! Such that this is a university course we are (somewhat) bound by institutional rules (there's always some latitude), so we HAVE to have students perform some tasks which we can then evaluate.

Keeping in mind that one of our goals is to have students confront their inner self and ask critical questions about their being in the world through training, I want to know: How do you think we should grade our students? What assignments should we prescribe? What readings would you recommend? Please feel free to be as radical and "outside the box" as your mind allows.

Bryan

bjjstudy@gmail.com

Someday...

In my previous post I promised some background to my thoughts. If you recall, I was discussing mutual learning in BJJ and the importance of synergistic pedagogy. Let's be clear though, opportunity for this type of cooperative learning environment increases the further along a BJJ player progresses. That is, because of time on the mat, experience and, as a result, accumulated knowledge, a black belt will naturally have much more to share than a white belt who has been training for 6 months. That being said, in my view there is much room for the white belt to be a part of the give and take of a truly open and hospitable gym/dojo.

Case in point, a private lesson with a white belt was what prompted me to start thinking about BJJ and pedagogy. The session started with me teaching him a couple of chokes from sidemount and ended with a light roll. For me, these are "teaching rolls" where I try to be as smooth (not always easy) as possible. When I secure a submission I control the position and allow my partner to fight out of it - or talk her/him through the proper escape. At the end of our time, Tim thanked me and said, "someday, Bryan, someday". I looked at him and said, "I sincerely hope so". One of the guys sitting on the sidelines replied, "yah, right!" I sincerely meant what I said. I DO want Tim to tap me ... someday.

The response from the guy on the sidelines bothered me. Once I thought more about the situation, the more it occurred to me that his reply was to be expected. In my experience, a good number of BJJ players have an informal inventory going on in their heads about who has tapped who. They are also very much aware of where they stand. While this may be true in my experience, it may not be in yours. Whatever the case, and while this type of mentality may be somewhat unavoidable (and healthy?), it nevertheless holds potential to produce all kinds of problems - jealousy, cliques, uncontrolled sparring, injuries & etc.. 

What if, instead of being upset and guarded that someone from your team has the goal of one day tapping you, you show them how to do it? What if, we see the mats, not as a space of competition, but of mutual learning and benefit? What if, the gym is no longer such, but becomes a dojo (place/space of enlightenment)? What if ... someday! 

Bryan

bjjstudy@gmail.com

A space of mutual learning

As an academic I hope to inspire students to learn and think critically about the social world in which they are situated. I am always amazed and proud when one of my students offers uncommonly astute insite into social-economic-political phenomena. My hope is that they surpass my meagre attempts at theorizing and understanding.

At the same time, I understand the classroom as an open space for dialogue, debate, and, most important, mutual learning. Unlike some in my profession, I do not consider students empty vessels into which I pour my (vast?) wisdom. I do not stand at the head of the class lecturing ad nauseum about what and how students should think. Rather, I attempt to provide students with tools to make sense of their being in the world. Armed thus, it is my hope that students will offer insite or critique of which I had not thought. I mean this sincerely, it makes me feel proud when one of my students gets me thinking in ways I had not before. These are good days.

Is there linkages that can be drawn between the BJJ mat and the classroom? Is the mat a forum for debate and mutual learning? Or, is it a space on which the professor reigns and is not to be challenged, questioned, or surpassed? What happens when this occurs? That is, when a student consistently taps out the professor. Does the latter celebrate their students success and learn from this situation? Or, is there something endemic not only to BJJ, but to martial arts, that prohibits such interactions?

I'm not saying that all professors, whether academic or BJJ (not that they are mutually exclusive), think or behave along these lines. Rather, my point is to suggest that perhaps the mats can be viewed as a space of mutual learning which may push the boundaries of not only learning, but the martial art itself. I'll have more to say about what got me thinking along these lines in a subsequent post.

Best,

Bryan

bjjstudy@blogspot.com

Metaphors and more

How is it possible to understand or make sense of the process involved in securing a submission. When I was in Toronto recently one of the blackbelts suggested that the end to which we work in BJJ is analogous to joke telling. 

Bare with me, I think there may be something here. If we consider jokes or joking we are immediately struck by the centrality of surprise. If we tell a joke in which the punch line is a foregone conclusion, then the joke ceases to be funny and bleeds into the realm of story or narrative. For a joke to be funny, to elicit the desired response (laughter), requires that incongruities be resolved in a fresh and unique way. 

The same, it seems, applies to BJJ. If I told you with my body language or whatever else that I was intent on securing an armlock, most would be able to defend it. When I am rolling with white belts, I'll often tell that what I'm after - say a choke - to see if they can defend it and to help hone both mine and their skills. At higher levels - purple and above - this tack becomes futile such that it will lead nowhere. Rather, at higher levels we attempt to lead our opponent down one path so that we may surprise them with something else - something they did not see coming. 

For instance, I was rolling with one of our more accomplished blue belts recently. I am working on wrist locks so my goal for the day was to see how many different ways and directions I could set them up. MS tips the scales at 240 or 250 and moves quite well. We started rolling and I passed his guard - recall that I weigh about 170lbs., so I do not play bottom with guys this big! After establishing technical (as John Danaher maintains - what's so technical about it?) mount I grabbed his collar as if setting up a hell choke. He defended by grabbing his collar, which brought his elbow away from his side and exposed his arm. I locked it with my arm. Thinking I was going to spin for an armlock, he defended by grabbing his elbow, which then exposed his hand for the wrist lock. I secured his hand and (gently) put on the lock. When he realized what was happening he let out a quick yelp. I quickly asked if he was ok and whether I hurt him. He said, no, not at all, only that I surprised the "shit" out of him.

He hadn't expected the wrist lock that I set up initially with the choke and then the armlock. Is this how we are to do BJJ - to tell jokes with our body? To surprise our opponents/training partners with incongruities?

Bryan

bjjstudy@gmail.com

Ossss...

Unlike many places, the city in which I live hosts only 3 major BJJ tournaments in a given year - one of which is run concurrent with other martial arts. Yesterday one of the events was held. There were 8 rings/mats arranged around the former aircraft hanger; unfortunately less than half were reserved for BJJ. This made for a very long day. Although I did not compete, I refereed (for 6 hours) and coached our competitors.

All this being the case, our team did exceptionally well placing first in a number of the divisions! Well done!

But it was a long day for the competitors. Many were sitting around for hours waiting for their divisions to be called. Many were not sure where or when they would be competing. I saw their anxious faces, for many this was their first competition and they were rightly nervous, when they would ask me if I knew when their division was going to be called ... I felt badly that I could not help them. Not that I fault the organizers... they did the best they could with what was available.

In my humble opinion, the following is a beginning list of what makes for a well run tournament (or if I was king for a day). Please keep in mind that I come from a wrestling background so much of my expectation follows thus:

1 . start on time - a must

2. keep competitors well informed THROUGHOUT THE DAY

3. registrations and weigh-ins done before the day of the tournament - this saves a lot of time. Competitors can then re-weigh in before they step on the mat. 

4. (this way) Brackets can be set before competitors start arriving.

5. Brackets posted 

6. Well trained and seasoned referees. While this is not always possible, consistent and knowledgeable refereeing sets the tone for the day

7. Keep everyone off the mats except competitors

8. Have a food vendor with a range of foods from healthy snacks to pizza and hotdogs.

9. Makes certain the mats are clean and stay thus throught

Please feel free to add your own.

Where there's a will...

In my previous post I discussed some difficulties I have encountered in receiving bureaucratic support for my sociology of martial arts (or whatever) course. To date, my colleague and I have been unsuccessful in obtaining OFFICIAL sanction for our course. That being said, we recently may have uncovered/derived (this sounds devious?) an alternative way of going about this.

In lieu of university endorsement, we plan to teach the class as an independent study course. Traditionally, these classes are open to any student (undergrad and grad) for whom a topic of interest is not covered by existing course offerings (i.e. martial arts). Students interested in pursuing this course would then locate a supervisor who would assist the learner in locating resources and decide upon a plan for evaluation. In our case, we have inverted the process by flagging and filling a gap in course offerings. 

So far so good. However, because we are subverting the usual routes we will not receive credit, in the usual university bureaucratic sense, for our efforts; which is fine with me. I would teach this course for free, anyway. The life of an academic, however, is hectic (FYI - we DON'T get our summers off!). In addition to research, teaching, supervising grad students, we are heavily burdened with committee work at the departmental, faculty and university levels. I'm not complaining because I love my job, only putting into perspective the time draw this course presents. 

All this being true, I think such a course is important. Martial arts, and especially BJJ, teaches us so much about ourselves and the social world around us. To this end, the deafening silence in the academy around martial arts ought to be shattered. The question becomes, how do we get the University bureaucracy to buy in?