Tim,

Let me first thank you for your book. It is by some margin the best book on BJJ. (Gene Simco's is probably the next best.) The attention to detail and the overall conscientiousness of the design are the highest I've seen in a martial arts book. (If only there were stand-up martial arts books done with this much care.) I would say it is almost the only book I've seen that is more useful than a video. About the only "criticism" (it is not really one) I have is that more mention isn't made of no-gi or vale tudo variations. (I am well aware it was not your intention to cover that material in this book.)

I've been doing Bagua and Taiji for sometime now (including a brief period with Ed Hines in London) and have only recently taken up BJJ. Especially for the standing portions, how seriously should I look to incorporate my understanding of internal mechanics? I must admit that after years of programming myself to seek a straight spine and sink into a single-weighted leg, even the crouching stance is a little unnatural to me. More specifically, should I try to use the little bumps (elbow, shoulder, hip) and leg traps that I commonly use to set up Bagua takedowns?

Another issue I am concerned about is conditioning. Some of my IMA teachers have been quite averse to any bodybuilding type exercises, especially weightlifting, saying it impedes the development of "soft" power. (I compromised by maintaining a bodyweight regime- Matt Furey inspired- but avoiding weights.) I gather from your postings that you are definitely not one of them. How do you divide your routines these days? Do you still do extensive standing? How often do you do the heavenly stems as compared to, let's say, squats and pushups? Do you do weights?

It is splendid having a guy like you around. I am one of those guys who went counter-clockwise with their martial arts training. My first martial art was Muay Thai (I grew up in Thailand) and from there I got into the JKD scene, focused on the Wing Chun and eventually ended up doing Bagua. This progression came from a quest to find methods to give me an edge over stronger, faster, harder guys. Now with the NHB/MMA community endorsing Muay Thai as their "official" stand-up art, I was starting to feel misguided. At least with you around, there is an example of someone with impeccable IMA credentials succeeding in the BJJ world. (Now if only an IMA fighter would win a NHB competition...)

At the risk of being indelicate, could I ask a final question? Now that you're a BJJ man, do you feel your years training in IMA were wasted? I mean, do you think you would have been better equipped if you'd trained in, let's say, wrestling? Or Muay Thai? I hope this doesn't result in a merely PC answer... (^_^)

forgive me for popping in... but I can tell you from watching several of Tim's BJJ matches and from hearing compliments from his opponents (and having done a lot of Randori with Tim)- Tim's years of IMA were far from wasted.

Quite the contrary- his base and power are incredilble. And it's great to see him not 'crouch' in typical BJJ fashion- he's bolt upright in most cases. In BJJ compitition a throw is a throw- I've seen Tim takedown several opponents with Bagua based throws. If you check out the 'competition' clips on the Virtual Academy you'll see Tim execute a nice Pheonix throw agaisnt a brown-belt who aslo had a black belt in Judo (unless I'm mixing up my memories).

By the way... what'd you think of all those photo's in the Passing the Guard book???

Shane

Just a quick few comments.

What's interesting is now that I've trained with some of the more 'famous' BJJ folks, a common thread in their teaching is posture, correct body alignment, sinking etc.
All basic principles that Tim stresses in his teachings (whether Bagua, Tai Ji, Shen Wu, BJJ etc)

The "trick" is to take those same principles and apply them in a 'horizontal' position rather than 'vertical.' And just to take it to the next gross logical level, think of it as the ultimate form of push hands...

So, in my humble opinion, one that doesn't count for anything and just some guy posting his 2 cents on an internet forum, Tim's extensive study has tremedously helped him with his advancement in BJJ because of the principles he's practiced.

good training,
The illustrious Macaco fino...

Hi Kris,
Thanks for your kind words about our book.

I teach that their is only one best way to use your body, it shouldn't matter what art or technique you are applying. Correct principles of body use should in all situations.

As far as my training is concerned, I don't stand for long periods, but I do practice holding of positions. I do short, intense bursts of anaerobic training on a regular basis. I do alot of "bodyweight" exercises, but I don't lift weights. I spend alot of time practicing non-cooperative sparring.

I think my training in IMA was extremely valuable. It is the foundation of my stand up fighting, and the main source of my understanding of the principles of body use.

Tim,

Congratulations re: the Pam Ams. Mundials next? Are you doing to do Vale Tudo stuff in the future?

About principles of body use: I've been doing a lot of Yiquan lately and I've come to associate internal body use strongly with emptying into a weighted leg and pumping out the lower back when pushing forwards (along with the usual relaxation and underside weighing). It is probably because I am on too low a level of development (both in neijia and BJJ), but it is still very difficult for me to do BJJ "internally". I'm sure you are supposed to "sink" your weight on the ground, but at the moment, all my mind can handle is keeping my hips low. Is there any advice you can give me?

"Holding positions" sounds interesting. Is that kind of like doing zhan zhuang in a kesa gatame position? (Matt Furey in Martial Art of Wrestling suggested doing zhan zhuang style exercises in a stagger stance, turtle position and pushup position. They feel really strange to do: the alignment feels awkward.)

I would be very interested to see your material on power building exercises I've heard mentioned on other threads. I am especially interested to see how you integrate the more traditional exercises (like the Gao tien gan) with your anaerobic training (I presume you mean stuff similar to Scrapper's workout?). Could you give us an idea of what your daily routines are like?

Just one more question: how far do you think we should mix clinch training (like Greco pummelling or Muay Thai neck clinching) with rou shou or tui shou? It always seems to me they have a lot in common, but pushing the analogy too far seems a bit rude in classes. How would you handle a more vale tudo or no-gi clinch range situation?

Thank you for answering.

P.S. Shane- I thought your question was a little suspicious and, sure enough, you're listed in the credits as the photographer. (^_^) Great photos. The only BJJ book where you can really see everything you need to see in the pictures. (No "where does that foot go again?" moments.)

Thanks, Kris. I wasn't the only photographer for Passing the Guard... but I am darn proud of the book.

Kris,
In my understanding, "sinking" of the weight can be done through any part of the body (whichever part is in contact with the ground). You sink your weight through your feet when standing up, and through whichever part of the body is in contact with the ground when groundfighting (very often "through" your oppponent). Coupled with the correct angles, an opponent under you when groundfighting will feel your weight to be much greater than it actually is.

Some of the exercises we do are like Scrapper's, but all the exercises are task specific to the movements and techniques we use (for example, we don't do regular push ups, they are fine exercise but don't mimic groundfighting movements as closely as other movements).

Personally, I do exercises to condition the joints, and alot of movements that train the particular rhythms used in our techniques. Also alot of whole-body strength/conditioning exercises (slow presses to handstands, one legged squats...). We also do alot of paired conditioning drills (squats with a partner on your back, isometrics...). I free spar and grapple about 8 hours or so a week. My anaerobic training usually centers around one minute intervals of near maximum effort bursts of activity followed immediately by a minute of a different exercise for several consecutive rounds (between 5 and 10 minutes total). For example, a minute of jumping squats followed by a minute of running while bearhugging a heavybag, alternating the two exercises for several rounds.

When my students practice rou shou, I have them work in one of two formats. The first format does not allow clinching. The players can strike and throw, but if they clinch they immediately return to the original position of hand contact. The purpose is to train smooth entries into immediate takedowns (the ideal). The second format allows clinch fighting to continue until one of the players is thrown (because this will often be the case in real fighting). I like these methods because they teach the students the very important lesson that striking and throwing/grappling are not separate, they occur simultaneously and in the same flow of movements.

Last night I tried running while bearhugging a heavybag.... I got real dizzy real quick. Do you have yours hanging on an extremely long chain?

Nope, just secured in a very large jock.

Hello Tim,
how would you define a joint conditioning exercise, and what's the physiology that behind them? Could you give an example. Us creaky folk out here need all the help we can get.

thanks, Arthur

Hi Arthur,
Basic joint conditioning exercises most often involve moving a particular joint through its full range of motion. An example is shoulder circles (rotating the shoulders in as large a circle as possible). Other basic exercises alternately stretch and relax joints.

More advanced exercises involve resistance or impact. For example, hanging from a pull up bar for time will help condition the joints in the shoulder and arm, so will striking the heavybag.

Some of the more traditional exercises use apparatus (heavy staffs, weapons etc).

Although I don't lift weights myself, proper weight training is also an excellent way to strengthen the joints.

Hey Tim,

This is my first post here and I wanted to say first that I just got a couple of your books (Chin Na and Combat Throws) and they are truly excellent and are really helping me a lot. And it's really great to have this forum to discuss things.

My question is about the one leg squats that you mentioned. Are these kind of like if you stand in a santi posture (with all the weight on one leg) and bend your leg all the way and push back up? I tried these early in my MA training to try to lower my stances but it seems like it puts a Lot of stress on your knee joint.

Also, Kris mentioned he would like to see your material on power building exercises. Are you working on a new book covering these or are these already out there or something?

Thanks a lot,
Mike

Ah, I found the threads about the Power Training video you're working on. I'm still making my way through all the old posts. I can't wait to see it.

Mike