Maintaining a Jiujitsu Journal

By Liz

Why should I keep a jiujitsu journal?

A jiujitsu journal is a place where you can write down the techniques you learned that day, as well as record your physical state (“pain in right knee, very fatigued after 2 rolls, ate too much too close to training”) and general experiences during that training session (“felt great today, fun flow roll with Josh at the beginning, got smashed by Kayla during last roll”).

There are several good reasons to keep a journal devoted to jiujitsu:

• Keeping a jiujitsu journal encourages you to pay close attention during class: When you know you’re going to be writing down the techniques later, you are forced to pay attention to every detail--both while the coach is talking and while you are drilling the move. I’ve found that sometimes I space out while the coach is talking and sometimes even do the moves half-heartedly, just going through the motions without really paying attention to what I’m doing and ignoring the details. However, when I know I have to write down the techniques later, I pay close attention to what all four of my limbs are doing, where to put the pressure, when to change positions, how exactly to hold each grip, and how to transition through each move… because otherwise my notes will be crap later. This helps me get the most out of my training time.   
• Keeping a jiujitsu journal encourages drilling before and after class: Sometimes I’m so tired after class that I head to the locker rooms right away without a second thought about what I learned that day. But when I know I have to write the techniques down later, I’ll stay after class and review the moves a few times with a willing partner for five minutes, and will often come back early the next day to drill the moves again.
• The process of writing helps you remember and creates a record for later: You will inevitably forget the details, and keeping a journal allows you to keep going back and drilling moves you learned weeks or months later, helping reinforce the muscle memory of various techniques into your brain.

How should I keep a jiujitsu journal?

Here are my tips for keeping the journal:

• Drill the moves you learned that day again after class is over, and make sure you have all the details correct and solid. Ask your coach to watch you do the move once to make sure you’re doing it correctly.
• Write it down as soon as you get home (or, even better, in the locker room) in as much detail as possible.
• Keep all of the entries in one place and organized by date, and give some details for who your partner was to help jog your memory when you look back on the entry later.
• Detail how you were feeling emotionally and physically that day. Some people also keep a food journal as well. This will help you pick up patterns. For awhile, I was feeling really weak during rolls. When I went back to review my notes, I noticed that in my notes, I was writing “feeling fatigued” during most of my entries. That prompted me to see a nutritionist, who informed me that I wasn’t eating enough. If I hadn’t kept that record, I think I would have thought I was just tired and not realized that it was a consistent trend that was affecting my training.
• Frequently review your notes. Go through them once at the end of the week, and again at the end of the month. This will help refresh your memory. This will also help you get better at writing them, because when you look back on your notes from the week before, you will realize the details you left out but need to include next time.  

Keeping a jiujitsu journal helps keep you focused on technique and helps organize your thoughts. It also helps you keep track of your progress and any injuries or illness. Although it can take an extra 15 minutes of your time each day, it’s definitely worth it to keep you progressing through advanced moves.

Liz started jiujitsu in 2011, got her blue belt in 2013, and has competed in 11 competitions.

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An Abridged Beginner's Guide to BJJ for Women

By Meg

In BJJ, women face a slew of unique issues, and as beginners in this sport, your male coach is probably not your best source. Sure, he's got 50 ways to do an armbar, but does he know how to strap boobs down so as not to suffocate during inverted guard? Just for fun, try asking him.

In this post, we cover the bare bones of several issues and questions female beginners usually encounter, but might be afraid to ask. All topics have been or will be covered in more detail on our blog, but in the meantime, consult this abridged version!

What You Should Wear

A T-shirt and gym shorts are always acceptable. If you attend a gi class, you may be provided with the appropriate uniform. In a no-gi class, remember to wear long shorts or leggings. Think twice about low-cut shirts or just a sports bra. In BJJ, clothing gets yanked around constantly, and your boob popping out on some red-faced guy is a situation that should be avoided. Once you get started, you might decide to buy a rash guard, which is a tight spandex shirt that keep everything tucked in tight and comfortable. Larger-chested ladies might want to consider doubling up on sports bras. Remove any jewelry and makeup before class.

This lady has a nice double-braid combo going on to control her hair.

Hair Issues, Fixes, and Puns

Possibly one of the most annoying things about rolling is your hair. Stay on top and it's all dandy, but the minute you get caught, the situation gets…hairy. Ever see a woman go into a guillotine with a perfect ponytail and escape with an atomic explosion on her head? It looks something like those 80's trolls.

You're thinking, I'll just give up and roll with my hair free. No. It will fall into your mouth and smother you. It will slap people across the face. It will get stuck under your partner's knee, and you'll be left staring at chunks of hair on the mat in horror.

Here are some fixes women (and long-haired men) have developed, so you can roll without hair-rowing troubles.

• Cut it off: The most obvious but perhaps the scariest option. However, gone are days when you retie your hair during and after every roll. Check out some other BJJ gals liberated by short hair here.
• Bind it in braids: If you have long, thick hair, this option may work best for you. Be sure to keep them very tight, but using bobby pins is a no-no. Your partner won't appreciate getting stabbed by your hair accessories. (Et tu, Brute?)
• Place it strategically: In BJJ, you spend a lot of time with your head scraping across the ground. Whether you prefer a braid or Ronda Rousey buns, keep your hair high or low on your head.

Training on Your Period

With the flexible pads, sports tampons, and even this cup that we have today, training on your period is a non-issue. Exercise actually alleviates cramps and bloating, but keep in mind your body might be weaker during menstruation and cut yourself some slack if you can't perform as well as usual. If you typically experience a heavy flow, double up on products (e.g., tampon + pad) and wear dark pants, just in case.

Unexpected Things You Should Expect

Expect to fart on someone, and be farted on, and then laugh about it or start coughing as a cover-up. You're probably not fooling anyone though. Expect to get so drenched in sweat that you're not sure how much is yours and how much is your partner's. Expect that fateful, slow-motion moment when a drop of sweat rolls off your partner's nose and lands in your eye.

Train long enough and you will almost certainly encounter these gross situations. However, expect to feel stronger, braver, and more confident. Expect to feel badass.

How to Act

If you are taking time to read this post, I assume you are serious about BJJ, or at least you are not solely there to cause trouble. Women have made small strides in the BJJ world to be recognized for their hard work, dedication, and talent. When another woman struts across the mat in tiny clothing and smoky-eyed makeup then spends the whole class giggling and making vulgar suggestions about mount, it unfairly reflects on us all.

All personalities are welcome on the mat, and when you're there, please demand the respect other women have been chasing for decades. We still have a long way to go. Welcome to the team.

Meg started jiujitsu in 2012, got her blue belt in 2013, and has competed in five competitions.

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