There are now many organisations offering Fitness Bootcamps in Calgary. In a world of increasing levels of obesity in both children and adults, they offer the additional push that many people need to shed those extra few pounds, especially coming up to the New Year when so many start out with good intentions to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle.

The trouble is that so many people fall by the wayside when they realise that this task was a bit tougher than they had originally anticipated. Martial Arts will add the additional components to keep you interested for longer and to keep you motivated.

We offer the perfect alternative to Fitness Bootcamps in Calgary through our Martial Arts Program. In the process of learning a very effective system of Self Defense, you will also be sculpting your body into great shape, through a wide variety of exercise. Martial Arts has become widely known to benefit students in a wide variety of areas:

• Increased Cardio Fitness
• Increased Strength
• Increased Flexibility
• Improved Posture
• Improved Focus and Concentration
• Weight Control

Not all Martial Arts are the same by a long shot so ensure you look into a few options before making that commitmen, this way you can be sure that the style that you have chosen suits you best.

Take a look at the program we have on offer at Jiu Jitsu Calgary  you’ll be glad you did. It is open to both men and women and we also have separate programs available to children, it is such tremendous value.

Whatever path you chose - Train Hard - Train Smart  - Fightwize 

How to Tie Your Jiu Jitsu Belt

Hi everyone, I hope you are enjoying the festivities and making the most of a little rest. As promised, here is my video on “How to Tie Your Jiu Jitsu Belt” - It should take you a few minutes to watch and learn and you still have 7 days (for adults) and 12 days (for kids / parents :o) to learn.

As a quick reminder, Jiu-Jitsu Calgary classes restart on the following dates:

• Adults - Monday Jan 5th, 2009
• Little Samurai (5-8 years) - Sunday Jan 11th, 2009
• Juniors (9-12 years) - Friday, Jan 9th, 2009

This method of tying your Jiu Jitsu belt will prevent it from coming undone so often.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

What is the most important aspect of Self Defense?

I like to ask this question to Newbie’s attending group courses. The answers differ greatly from one person to the next, there is no one correct answer but what is important to hear is what’s important to that person at that particular point in time. The answers are relative as each person’s circumstances are very unique. What is important to one person is not always apparent to another person until they hear someone else’s story. Bringing this question out within a group always highlights many different and very valid points. It also gives us a chance to explain some of the pros and cons of the answers.

Be Aware of your Surroundings is a very common answer. To expand on that point, it is important to know where you are and where you’re going. Knowing any areas that should be avoided can prevent getting into trouble in the first place. Also being aware that muggings, rapes, attacks and so on do actually happen is important, people who are switched off and unaware become ideal targets.

Attack the Groin is often shouted out. The groin can be a very effective target; however it can only really be accessed successfully or effectively during a very close quarter fight. To try and access the groin from a normal punching and kicking distance is often ineffective. The body is equipped with lightening fast instinctive reactions to protect valuable organs such as the testicles and eyes. Close quarter strikes that come from out of view would be far more effective and much more likely to reach the intended target. Learn how to strike in these areas and practice striking. Use a groin Protector and Headgear complete with a visor in order to practice at a realistic speed, safely.

Run Away - is a common answer and is a very viable tactic but to expand on that point, if you are on your own and there are multiple attackers or an attacker carrying a weapon the running would be a sensible option. However, it is not always a possibility. Maybe you are simply not fit enough to run more than a few yards without getting winded or maybe you have young children with you. This could be one reason to stay n top of your personal fitness.

Avoid getting into trouble in the First Place - Avoidance is certainly a recommended practice, increasing your awareness through reading and research will increase your general Self Defense knowledge and help avoid situations before they happen. Maybe you will simply learn from the misfortunes of other people, maybe you will learn how people have managed to fight their way out of a situation. Maybe for example, its as simple as not walking down a dark alley at night which is obvious to most people. However, the downside on this point is that a situation may come along that was impossible to avoid.
Avoid, Escape and attack should be your options and in that order.

Stay in Groups - If you are out and about, there is something to be said for strength in numbers, as a group, you are far less likely to be the target of many types of attacker. Seeing friends home right to the point of getting into their home is very good practice.

All of the above are very good and very valid points but there are some other points to remember that people rarely bring up and we consider to be very important:

Have a Plan - Go through as many scenarios in your mind as you can possibly think of and figure out what you would do in a particular situation. This helps to avoid panic as you have a good idea of what you should do in a particular situation. When considering your options, keep in mind, avoid, escape and attack.

Know Your Limits - How far would you go in order to protect yourself? Could you stick your finger deep into someone’s eye if that’s what it required to save yourself? Could your pull chunks of hair out, tear an ear away from the head, fish hook a hole from the mouth through the cheek? Know what your own personal limit is. Many people find it hard to imagine carrying out such actions but any parent will know that if it was their kids that needs protecting then they would certainly do whatever they have to.

Finding Your Inner Strength - What is it that would make you get home tonight? Friends, Family, Pets, Your Home? Are you going to let your family become Fatherless, Motherless, Daughterless, Sonless, Husbandless, Wifeless, whatever it is? Absolutely not, this piece of scum standing in front of you, is not going to deny you and your family the right to be together -

YOU ARE GOING HOME AND YOU WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO GET THERE

In Self Defense, it is essential that your strikes are very simple movements. In a high stress situation, after your body has reacted with an adrenal rush, it is not possible for most people to carry out fine or complex motor skills.

As with all Self Defense Techniques, the strikes must be very simple movements. Striking is just one part of a System, you should have your other pre-fight strategies in place in order for your strikes to be most effective.

An example of a pre fight strategy is being verbal with your set up. If you learn how to verbalize, you can lower your assailant’s guard. Strikes that are not expected are far more effective.

Being Pre-emptive, striking before you have been struck can be a life-saving strategy in many situations. In other situations there may not be a pre-fight stage such as a blind sided attack or ambush.

Fear Control is also an area that must be enhanced. If you are paralyzed by the effects of fear then your strikes will not even happen.

There are two distinct types of strike, distractions and power strikes. Distractions carry the perception of speed and are used to create an opening for other strikes or techniques. Power Strikes carry weight and momentum.

Let’s take a look at some simple strikes that can be used starting with punches. Punching is a great tool for many people but many other do not punch well to put it politely. The other downside is that punching to the head area could cause more damage to puncher than to the person on the receiving end. Catching a tooth in the punch can break the skin and allow the transfer of diseases or infections.

Punches to other parts of the body would be a much safer option for most. The solar Plexus for example makes a very effective target for such a strike.

Your Elbow makes a great tool for striking in a close quarter struggle. It can be used in a variety of ways and from various positions. Fast distracting strikes can be used if the elbow is the closest tool to the target but great power can also be generated by rotating the hips and shoulders into strikes.

Knees are very effective as a weapon too, obviously during a close quarter struggle too. Kneeing to the groin, inner thigh or outer thigh can be totally debilitating.

Simple low Kicks can be made to be effective by most people. Nothing has to be fancy about kicking. Kicks targeted below the waist are very effective. To give them names, Round Kicks to the thighs, Side Kicks to the Knees, Shin Kicks and Foot stomps can all be useful in a stun and run type of strategy.
Not all strikes are intended as finishers. Distracting strikes, whether with the hands, feet, elbow or knees will create an opening for power strikes. Let’s not neglect the close quarter strikes that can be made effective by anyone. Eye gouges, tearing at the ears, scratching to face and nose, throat grab etc.

One important point to remember is that force should parallel danger. Therefore, strikes that could cause permanent damage to the assailant should only be used in a life threatening situation. Take some time to attend a course or attend a Martial Arts class that is dedicated to Self Defense Training just like our own School “Jiu Jitsu Calgary“.

Train Smart - Fightwize 

The Alberta Jiu Jitsu Association is helping to educate people and promote our Art throughout our Province. One of the limiting factors for Alberta Jiu Jitsu is that people generally do not know what the Art is about so growth has been rather slow.

Recently the process has started to move along at a faster rate and we now have to build on the momentum that has been generated.

As Head Instructor at Jiu Jitsu Calgary, I am proud to say that I am part of that movement, work has been steady but over the coming months, we have many plans to push this process along using many tools that are now available, it’s not going to be easy but anything worth doing, never is.

Martial Arts has so many benefits to offer people of all ages from all walks of life, that it makes the Task so worthwhile.

One of the Projects that I am working on is the Alberta Jiu Jitsu Membership Site which will have so much great information crammed into it in the form of Videos, Audio, Photos and Written Articles that will be a great benefit to all of our Members for Techniques, Training, Fitness, Health, Effective Self Defense, Parental Guides etc.