This week we talk about the four basic types of matches you could find yourself in BJJ. We gave each match a symbol, to make it simple.

1) The straight line or arrow (------, ------>). This is a one-sided match that progresses smoothly. This match goes from start to finish with one of the competitors dominating the other. A tip for a tournament is to watch the rest of your bracket as they compete. You might see someones game plan and be able to avoid the dominant parts of their game.

2) The Figure 8. This is a chaotic match. This type of match is typically at the lower levels, because the higher level competitors are more controlling and better at using any dominant position. If you find yourself in a match like this, you can win this match, but you are going to need to fight for it. Try to use the transition to your advantage. Decide your strong part of your game and find a way to get your opponent to that place. If you find yourself behind in a match, you might look for ways to make it more like a figure 8 match.

3) The Circle O. This match is like a loop (like the movie ground hog day). The competitors find themselves doing the same things over and over again. If you are winning keep this going. If you are on the wrong end of this match find ways to break the loop, you need to change some things that your doing.

4) The Dot . This match is when nothing is happening. Be ready for your competitor to try to score at the end of the match. Try to find a way to get the match going.

We also give some training tips, because you will encounter these types of matches in training.

Quote of the week- This quote was brought to us by Coach John Connors from Episode 23 “Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.” Albert Einstein

Article of the week: I'm not ready for a BJJ competition, From Chewjitsu.net

This week on the podcast we bring you an interview with coach John Connors. John is the author of the e Book “Quick Start Guide to Complete Jiu Jitsu Competition Readiness”. This is a great guide for someone who is an experienced grappler or just starting out.

At the age of 35 John found himself in the business world and lacking the fun and excitement of a sport. John started BJJ with Roberto Maia, and the fun and excitement was put back into his fitness. John eventually got his black belt in 2006 from Roberto Maia. John is now 51 years old and is very active on the mat and he also has a passion for coaching.

John Connors talks with us about:
Meeting goals off the mat
Coaching BJJ and MMA
Grappling for older people and not getting hurt
Making a game plan for competition
Developing key moves
Positional sparing
Limiting your training to get better faster
Making the most of your training time
Coaching during a match
Setting different goals for your competition
Sparing like it is an actual match with a referee and a coach
Dealing with an adrenaline rush
Getting better at winning scrambles
The advantages to getting a fast start to a match
Advice for the non competitor
Setting new challenges outside of your comfort zone
How competition can help you get better at BJJ
Advice for someone's first day at BJJ

Quote of the week: “Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.” John Wooden

Article of the week: 3 Steps for Returning to BJJ After Injury – Breakingmuscle.com

Links
Get John's Ebook for competition for free here
Rickson Gracie Documentary Choke
Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers (this is a link to the entire book as a pdf!!)
Email John Connors at John@dedhamjj.com
John's Facebook page
John's Twitter @Connorsmma

This episode we are covering some of the basics. We are going to break down some of the main positions in BJJ and give you some guidance for each one.  

We give tips and general strategies for:
Guard
Side Control
Mount
Back
Standing
Turtle
Quote of the week: “When you loose say little, when you win say less.” Matt Hughes

Article of the week: nuclearchainsaw.com “11 Things Your Jiu-Jitsu Instructor Won't Tell You”.

The BjjBrick Podcast is in iTunes, and Stitcher radio

We both spent a significant amount of time working on escapes. We have had a big increase in confidence with our grappling by getting better at our escapes. It is good to know that you will be able to escape a position.

Escapes fall into two categories: Escaping submissions, and escaping positions.

Tips:
You need to be proficient at escaping from both sides (left and right), you do not get to choose what side is attacked.
Put yourself in bad positions, the more you train at them the better you will get at escaping.
Escape fast, if you get out of a position fast enough your opponent will not score points.
Know the areas that you are weak in and work on them.
Roll with people that can push you.
Try working on two escapes at the same time.
Ask questions, your teammates will be happy to help.

We also give some tips for escaping these common submissions:
Armbar
Triangle choke
Guillotine
Chokes in general

Quote of the week: “What you everyday matters more than what you do once in a while”. Gretchen Robbin

Article of the week: Jijitsuvortex.com – Why and how to keep a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu notebook

our email is BjjBrick@gmail.com

It is important to take a step back and look at your grappling game.  Are you in a mode where you are trying to accomplish a goal?  Or are you just trying to get better at BJJ in a particular area?  

Some examples of the goals mode that we talk about:

You have a tournament coming up that you want to do well in.

Achieve the next belt in BJJ.

To drop some weight.

Your goals should be:

Tangible

Realistic

Have a time frame

Results focused

Some examples of some areas that you might consider for growth:

Get a better defense.

Get a better offense.

Experiment with a new technique of strategy.

Ways to help develop your growth

Go in to a deep study of the area you are growing.

Use rolling as an opportunity to try your new stuff.

Ask upper belts for help.

Make sure you are growing in the correct ways, get some guidance from your coach.

You may need to try your new techniques on lower level oponents.

Quote of the week: “you can never defend someone else belt, that is their job.”  Sean Roberts If you catch a higher belt in a submission you should go for it, and there should be not revenge.

Article of the week: “How to be a BJJ Soccer Mom”  This article was sent in by our friend Mat, thanks buddy!  This is a great article that gives you some advice on how to support your team at a tournament.