No Turning Early...
While not freediving as much this last year I have reconnected with some friends that have become more like family to me. They would be the Valente Brothers, and that includes all the guys I learn and roll (spar) with at the Valente Brothers Jiu Jitsu academy. Now, why would I mention that here,...well because during a recent seminar at the brother's academy we were in the rare company of Rickson Gracie. And,...Rickson- if you are unfamiliar with Jiu Jitsu and the history of hand to hand fighting,...is at the very top of the art, and possibly the world's best proven and re-proven (over 400 fights) fighter -to say the least. While he was sharing his energy and techniques with the Valente brothers he also spoke on Breathing.
I was locked on to every detail for over four hours but I found this to be one of the most interesting aspects of the time we had with Rickson. Essentially, he has a very advanced and practical knowledge on breathing in regard to fighting and in preparation for fighting. Some of it he was taught to him and some of it he developed out of need. It was not just in passing that he spoke on breathing or while explaining other concepts...it was completely separate, just the breathing element. His emotional control and amazing physical capabilities are no doubt related to his intelligence and understanding of breathing.
He knew about diaphragm breathing for example, and showed us that he utilizes diaphragm stretches. He had the flexibility in his diaphragm of an advanced freediver! In freediving, as we know, having a flexible diaphragm is the difference between being comfortable at depth (pressure) or being very uncomfortable and having to turn early on a dive. The analogy then came to my mind instantly while listening to Rickson. For Rickson, there is no turning early. He had heavy pressure to deal with, and not just because of the tough fighters confronting him. He represented his family and his father's philosophy and he had to have the emotional control to stick to his technique and win. The fact that he did win, time and time again, was not lost on us and was the same energy that comprised his detailed approach. He was disciplined in that when it mattered he was able to balance his extreme physical and emotional being with intelligence and technique that he began to share with us. His breathing is central to the discipline he possesses. I know that having a flexible diaphragm (and I will be testing this more) can reduce the dire urge to breathe that a fighter experiences at times of elevated stress in a fight. It is probably best to never approach that threshold but if you do- maybe a flexible diaphragm will help you succeed.
Breathing is life, and is central to our ability as freedivers and athletes. Like many of Rickson's techniques, it seems 'invisible', but there is something there. Invisible is a word that Rickson used a few times to describe his technique that is there but you may not see. At times in freediving I would talk about technique and experiencing depth with Martin...and I have repeatedly come to find that the reality is no matter how good of an understanding mind you have, the real progression and learning comes with performing. Learn through action, being challenged, and then analyzing the experience. Then look at what you have learned and do it again and again,...slightly better every time facing repetitive challenges, sometimes feeling good, then like crap, then maybe good again,....eventually you might look around and realize you have attained the next increment of what you are seeking.
It is difficult sometimes when there is much philosophical talk and we want tangible gains and instant gratification as human beings. I am telling this to myself,... but with some patience, intelligence, and discipline to keep trying,...these 'invisible' things will materialize in our technique and make us more efficient and relaxed. It may take over 400 fights or over 400 feet in depth to understand the invisible...but it is there. They are real minute things and definitive actions that allow massive energy flow by efficiency. Sometimes these seemingly tiny or invisible things have the most effect. Momentarily, I am now conscious that I am not referring specifically to Jiu Jitsu or Freediving, but to many aspects in physics and in my overall life. With that said and back to Rickson, Martin, and a few other individuals that come to mind, it is rare that an individual can embody the multiple aspects necessary to make them elite, most notably the perception and energy to do so.
At another point in Rickson's conversation with us on breathing, he related a specific experience of his in order to describe a state of mind that he has been able to achieve. It had to do with being fully aware and focused without any interruption. In his example he said he was aware of things around him, but simultaneously removed and more locked into a zone of concentration. No longer as self-conscious- but more uninhibited. How do we get this and then how do we repeat this experience to a point of controlling it? In freediving, something similar occurs for me on my better days of freediving and usually after training and refining my warmup for a few days straight. Maybe it is like Rickson's experience, in that I can remember the details with a certain clarity but at the same time feel a separateness and complete unbroken focus. It is one of the reasons that I like freediving, and why I continue to freedive, which is to understand this likely 'intentional aspect' more. That will take further dedication and work to motivate and challenge myself when I might not want to or don't have to.
This is why I go to Jiu Jitsu and dive in the ocean, to explore and to be challenged. More importantly perhaps this is what validates, in some ways, somebody like Rickson sharing his very effective but very personal experiences. You could see there was both serious concern in Rickson about what he was teaching and equally so trust for whom he was teaching it to. (The Valente brothers, and in turn the brotherhood of students.) Not because he is insecure about his achievements being surpassed (unlikely, and they're uniquely his own) but because what will his techniques be used for? It is not often that someone who works very hard, trains very hard is then going to share in a truly honest manner the specific details of how they do something so well. Rickson spoke straight and taught us like family.
One answer to this (of a few)- is that there are undoubtably, individuals that he will affect and then will be inspired more so to succeed and to surpass a significant mark in their fields or lives. No matter what level of excellence another fighter or individual in their field reaches it would be a complement and extension of those that led them there whether they admit it or not.
I also want to mention this was the first time I have seen in person or been around Rickson. It was pretty special to learn from someone who is so passionate in his ways and has an authentic approach- which means- talking loud at times, slapping the mat, and not going easy on you,...because somethings need to be conveyed with strong emotion which make the point real and the energy true.
Thank you to Rickson Gracie for sharing the 'invisible' and The Valente brothers for sharing a great philosophy and environment in which we all spend as much time as possible to learn the new, and the old ways.
I was locked on to every detail for over four hours but I found this to be one of the most interesting aspects of the time we had with Rickson. Essentially, he has a very advanced and practical knowledge on breathing in regard to fighting and in preparation for fighting. Some of it he was taught to him and some of it he developed out of need. It was not just in passing that he spoke on breathing or while explaining other concepts...it was completely separate, just the breathing element. His emotional control and amazing physical capabilities are no doubt related to his intelligence and understanding of breathing.
He knew about diaphragm breathing for example, and showed us that he utilizes diaphragm stretches. He had the flexibility in his diaphragm of an advanced freediver! In freediving, as we know, having a flexible diaphragm is the difference between being comfortable at depth (pressure) or being very uncomfortable and having to turn early on a dive. The analogy then came to my mind instantly while listening to Rickson. For Rickson, there is no turning early. He had heavy pressure to deal with, and not just because of the tough fighters confronting him. He represented his family and his father's philosophy and he had to have the emotional control to stick to his technique and win. The fact that he did win, time and time again, was not lost on us and was the same energy that comprised his detailed approach. He was disciplined in that when it mattered he was able to balance his extreme physical and emotional being with intelligence and technique that he began to share with us. His breathing is central to the discipline he possesses. I know that having a flexible diaphragm (and I will be testing this more) can reduce the dire urge to breathe that a fighter experiences at times of elevated stress in a fight. It is probably best to never approach that threshold but if you do- maybe a flexible diaphragm will help you succeed.
Breathing is life, and is central to our ability as freedivers and athletes. Like many of Rickson's techniques, it seems 'invisible', but there is something there. Invisible is a word that Rickson used a few times to describe his technique that is there but you may not see. At times in freediving I would talk about technique and experiencing depth with Martin...and I have repeatedly come to find that the reality is no matter how good of an understanding mind you have, the real progression and learning comes with performing. Learn through action, being challenged, and then analyzing the experience. Then look at what you have learned and do it again and again,...slightly better every time facing repetitive challenges, sometimes feeling good, then like crap, then maybe good again,....eventually you might look around and realize you have attained the next increment of what you are seeking.
It is difficult sometimes when there is much philosophical talk and we want tangible gains and instant gratification as human beings. I am telling this to myself,... but with some patience, intelligence, and discipline to keep trying,...these 'invisible' things will materialize in our technique and make us more efficient and relaxed. It may take over 400 fights or over 400 feet in depth to understand the invisible...but it is there. They are real minute things and definitive actions that allow massive energy flow by efficiency. Sometimes these seemingly tiny or invisible things have the most effect. Momentarily, I am now conscious that I am not referring specifically to Jiu Jitsu or Freediving, but to many aspects in physics and in my overall life. With that said and back to Rickson, Martin, and a few other individuals that come to mind, it is rare that an individual can embody the multiple aspects necessary to make them elite, most notably the perception and energy to do so.
At another point in Rickson's conversation with us on breathing, he related a specific experience of his in order to describe a state of mind that he has been able to achieve. It had to do with being fully aware and focused without any interruption. In his example he said he was aware of things around him, but simultaneously removed and more locked into a zone of concentration. No longer as self-conscious- but more uninhibited. How do we get this and then how do we repeat this experience to a point of controlling it? In freediving, something similar occurs for me on my better days of freediving and usually after training and refining my warmup for a few days straight. Maybe it is like Rickson's experience, in that I can remember the details with a certain clarity but at the same time feel a separateness and complete unbroken focus. It is one of the reasons that I like freediving, and why I continue to freedive, which is to understand this likely 'intentional aspect' more. That will take further dedication and work to motivate and challenge myself when I might not want to or don't have to.
This is why I go to Jiu Jitsu and dive in the ocean, to explore and to be challenged. More importantly perhaps this is what validates, in some ways, somebody like Rickson sharing his very effective but very personal experiences. You could see there was both serious concern in Rickson about what he was teaching and equally so trust for whom he was teaching it to. (The Valente brothers, and in turn the brotherhood of students.) Not because he is insecure about his achievements being surpassed (unlikely, and they're uniquely his own) but because what will his techniques be used for? It is not often that someone who works very hard, trains very hard is then going to share in a truly honest manner the specific details of how they do something so well. Rickson spoke straight and taught us like family.
One answer to this (of a few)- is that there are undoubtably, individuals that he will affect and then will be inspired more so to succeed and to surpass a significant mark in their fields or lives. No matter what level of excellence another fighter or individual in their field reaches it would be a complement and extension of those that led them there whether they admit it or not.
I also want to mention this was the first time I have seen in person or been around Rickson. It was pretty special to learn from someone who is so passionate in his ways and has an authentic approach- which means- talking loud at times, slapping the mat, and not going easy on you,...because somethings need to be conveyed with strong emotion which make the point real and the energy true.
Thank you to Rickson Gracie for sharing the 'invisible' and The Valente brothers for sharing a great philosophy and environment in which we all spend as much time as possible to learn the new, and the old ways.
posted by Jared at
Monday, March 29, 2010
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