Surviving In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
CrossFit Journal Article Reprint. First Published in CrossFit Journal Issue 68 - April 2008
Surviving in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Becca Borawski
Jimmy Tang at the North American BJJ Tournament in September 2007.
Navigating the landscape of martial arts training can
a half years. A frequent tournament competitor,
sometimes be a daunting and mysterious task. Fol owing
Jimmy earned his brown belt from Jean Jacques
up on last month’s article on how to choose a Brazilian
Machado in 2006.
jiu-jitsu (BJJ) academy, I asked a few more questions of
a panel of experts in the art. This second article in a
• Felicia Oh earned her black belt from Jean Jacques
three-part series addresses how to survive in Brazilian
Machado in four and a half years and has been
jiu-jitsu once you’ve got started—meaning how to
training for seven. She teaches BJJ and is a certified
navigate everything from ringworm and cauliflower ear,
CrossFit trainer at Big John McCarthy’s Ultimate
to what to wear underneath your gi and how not to
Training Academy in California. In 2007 she was
annoy your teammates.
the FILA World Grappling Champion and Pan-Am
Champion in both gi and no-gi divisions.
This month’s panel of experts
• Kenny Florian is a mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter,
• Jimmy Tang has been training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu,
Ultimate Fighter contestant, and top contender in
both with and without the traditional gi, for six and
the 155-pound weight division in the UFC. He has
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Surviving in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (continued. .)
been training BJJ for approximately eleven years “BJJ is apt to be unlike anything you’ve ever tried before,”
and earned his black belt in five and a half years, Valerie adds. “Put your ego in your pocket in every way.
from Roberta Maia of Gracie Barra.
It will be difficult, but it will be unbelievably worth it.”
• Valerie Worthington has been training for nine years. Nuisances
She earned her purple belt from Carlson Gracie
and Carlson Gracie, Jr. Currently she trains under Although not an injury, one of the more unavoidable
Johnny Ramirez and John Ouano at New Breed ailments that can curtail training in BJJ is ringworm.
Academy. In 2007 she won the gold in her weight Early on it may appear as just a red bump or an itchy
division at the World Grappling Games in Antalya, spot, but it will quickly grow into the tel tale ring, and
Turkey.
it is highly contagious. Jimmy advises, “Put some Lamisil
or any anti-fungal on it three times a day or when it
Check your ego
gets real y itchy. You probably got it because you didn’t
shower quickly after training and you scratched yourself.
One very situation commonly experienced by people Or you had a cut, didn’t cover it, and trained. To protect
new to BJJ is for them to come back from their first class yourself, shower as soon as possible after training and
with a tale of a higher-ranking belt being inexplicably if you have a cut or an abrasion on your skin, cover it
hard on them and tel ing the newcomer to relax. The up.” A commonly suggested preventative measure is to
newcomer is frequently confused and often mistakes his take acidophilus or eat yogurt on a daily basis. Once
or her own uncontrol able aggression with having one-
ringworm is contracted, the best measure to prevent
upped the higher belt.
further outbreaks is to stay off the mats.
“People who are just getting started in BJJ are general y Valerie adds this etiquette advice when it comes
awkward and inefficient in their movements,” says to ringworm, “I would implore [a new person] to 1)
Valerie. “Unlike more experienced practitioners, shower immediately after training—every time! 2) pitch
who move smoothly, graceful y, and efficiently, white in to clean the mats on a regular basis, and 3) wash
belts tend to use a higher ratio of muscle and energy his gi and/or rash guard and shorts after every training
to technique. This translates into jerky, ineffective session. Insisting on training with ringworm is rude and
movements and sometimes feels like the person is inconsiderate.”
flailing around uncontrol ably. This ‘flailing’ can be made
considerably worse if beginners do not like to tap and Another common occurrence once you’ve begun
will do anything to avoid having to—including flailing grappling is to one day realize a burning sensation in
around so much that they hit their partner or otherwise your ears and possibly the beginnings of a swel ing. This
causes pain or potential injury.”
swel ing can grow into a fluid fil ed sac, which can be
painful and unsightly. Over time this sac will harden
It is essential when beginning training in BJJ to be patient into a permanent disfigurement, known as “cauliflower
and understand that you do not know what you are ear,” which is common in a variety of martial arts where
doing. More than most other martial arts, ego needs to trauma is inflicted on the ears. “For the most part
be tossed aside in BJJ. A large part of the learning process cauliflower ear doesn’t just suddenly appear,” says Jimmy.
is being submitted by higher-ranking belts. Newcomers “It usual y comes after your ear is sore from training. If
need to understand that reckless abandon is neither a you notice your ears getting sore, take a break. If it does
safe situation, for them of their training partners, nor blow up, go to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) medical
conducive to learning.
specialist and have them drain it for you.”
Says Kenny, “Relaxation, technique, and leverage are “After draining the ear,” suggests Valerie, “get some
the keys. Ego can lead to slower learning because you SAM splint, which is a spongy material backed by a thin
are thinking about winning or losing instead of getting layer of bendable metal. Pinch a piece of SAM splint
better and understanding skil s.” Felicia Oh elaborates: around the affected ear as tightly as you can stand it.
“Work on BJJ, not your ego. Don’t worry about tapping. This will keep the ear from fil ing back up with fluid.”
Learn to do it early and often and you’ll avoid some
unnecessary injuries.”
“The next step,” Valerie says, “is to get headgear and
wear it. It’s not attractive, and it’s not comfortable for
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Surviving in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (continued. .)
you or your training partner. But if you do not consider
cauliflower ear to be a badge of honor, as many grapplers
do, you must protect your ears while training to keep it
from coming back.”
Attire
Another area of concern for students new to Brazilian
jiu-jitsu is proper wardrobe. The preferences for
clothing run the gamut in both gi and no-gi training,
so a new student should be observant of what other
students in the academy are wearing. Says Jimmy, “For
me, I think it’s kind of rude not to wear anything under
your shirt. No one wants a sweaty chest on their face.
I like wearing a rash guard because it wicks away the
sweat and if you want to go no-gi after a gi class, you
can just take your gi top off.” Kenny concurs and adds in
some safety equipment as wel : “Wear long-sleeve rash
guard, board shorts, groin protector, and knee pads for
no gi. The same should be worn under the gi, minus the
board shorts.”
Women usual y tend to dress in layers so as not to be
distracted by clothing getting pul ed up. Felicia Oh has
a system down, “I wear a tight tank (the kind with a
built-in sports bra) and a t-shirt with the tank tucked
into the board shorts for no-gi. For gi, I wear the tight
tank or a sports bra with a t-shirt under the gi tucked
into my pants.” Valerie has a similar system, only she
also layers a rash guard under the t-shirt, “For no gi, I
prefer to wear a sports bra under a rash guard under a
t-shirt on top, and a pair of compression shorts under a
pair of board shorts on bottom.”
Felicia Oh at the No-Gi Mundials in December 2007.
Women also have a more complicated time dealing with
their hair if it’s long. Since longer hair can get pul ed on
Felicia Oh’s Top 5 BJJ Etiquette Tips
or accidental y pul ed out, hairstyles are an important
1. When rol ing, get out of the way of higher
aspect of preparing to train. “I feel it’s my responsibility
belts.
to keep my hair out of the way if I don’t want it to get
pul ed out,” says Felicia. The solution settled on by most
2. If you’re new, don’t walk in and start teaching
longer-haired women seems to be a combination of
others.
braiding and ponytails—using multiple ties to segment
3. Be nice and people will be nice back.
the hair and keep it from potential y coming loose or
4. Don’t be a spaz. Communicate with your
fal ing out of the braid.
training partners.
Tapping out
5. Wash your gi after every use. Don’t be the
“stinker” in class.
Sometimes the existence of women in a BJJ class can
present a complication for the men who are training.
It is not uncommon for men to be uncomfortable with
women for a few different reasons. Sometimes they are
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Surviving in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (continued. .)
trained, practiced, and sacrificed to get
where she’s at. There is no shame in tapping
to anyone on the mat. Every time you tap,
you’re learning.”
“Tapping can be frustrating,” says Kenny,
“but it simply means you are not solving
the grappling equation in front of you as
you train. This could be due to technical,
mental, or physical limitations. You need to
be smart enough to figure out which one it
is or if they are all a problem. BJJ is all about
problem-solving on the fly.”
“We’ve all been through this,” adds Jimmy.
“It’s going to take time and practice – don’t
Valerie Worthington on top at the No-Gi Mundials, December 2007.
worry, though; the longer you train, the
better it gets. The guys who are tapping
not sure how hard to go; they are either concerned you were you before, but they didn’t give up and kept
about hurting them or their egos are overcompensating training. You can be them if you keep at it.”
out of fear of losing to a woman.
Next month we will take the final step down the path
“Don’t have an ego,” advises Jimmy. “When you’re of training Brazilian jiu-jitsu – how to survive in the long
rol ing with females, give them as much resistance as run and achieve the higher belt ranks.
you think they need to work. Work on your technique
instead of using maximal strength, but don’t be a dead
fish.” Talking the issue out with a female training partner
is highly suggested. Valerie adds, “Since there are
relatively few women at any given academy, you can talk
to them about your concerns about rol ing too hard.
Usual y they will have plenty of experience rol ing with
people who are bigger and stronger than they are.”
When it comes to being submitted by a woman, men
can sometimes find themselves feeling uncomfortable
or feeling the urge to get overly aggressive with a female
training partner in response. “Sure, you can probably
crush her and tap her or, worse, injure her,” says Felicia.
“How does that make you feel? You have an opportunity
to work on techniques. You can learn about jiu-jitsu.
You can see and feel that it does work. You can learn
Becca Borawski teaches and trains at Petranek
to respect the belts and what they represent. And learn
Fitness/CrossFit Los Angeles in Santa Monica. She
to respect people no matter their size or gender. What
has a master’s degree in film from the University
if it’s a small guy? Is that different? Is the issue getting
of Southern California and a background in
tapped by a woman or by a person smal er than yourself?
martial arts training. She has blended these skil s
If it’s because it’s a woman, don’t train with her…for her
together to produce DVDs and build websites
health and safety as well as your own.”
for professional fighters. Her main job is as the
“If you’re rol ing with a black belt female, she will
music editor on the TV show Scrubs and she
have better technique and quite possibly tap you,”
currently trains jiu-jitsu under Eddie Bravo at
adds Jimmy. “Respect the belt. There is a reason why
10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu in Hol ywood.
she’s attained the black belt. She’s put in the mat time,
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