Cem Kilos, Hundred Kilos, 220 pounds.... Being heavy or luscious from Side Mount

     Another one of the concepts Porfessora Caren covered in her seminar was the need to be heavy in jiujitsu. Many of the top positions like side control and mount are positions of weight. I remember when I first started learning jiu-jitsu the side control was referred to as the 100-kilos position, or Cem-Kilos in portuguese. Hearing this position called this resonated with me because it totally made sense. In the Jiujitsu for women seminar, Professora Caren chose to use the word luscious instead of heavy to describe the side control and mount position. Here is a little explanation of why from one of the students in attendance:

Haha, Yes Luscious! Basically she was going over the concept of embracing and loving your body. As well as using it to feel heavy ( putting weight on your opponent so that you are able to control their movement to some degree). I loved that she delved into the discussion about the stigma that society has that ladies have to be light and not take up space...so on and so forth. She brought up the fact that in Jiujitsu its a positive to feel "heavy" on your opponent and she described it as "being Luscious" Thank You again Caren, you are so amazing!

     What a wonderful and empowering message to own your body and train with confidence! See you on the mat! 

Eliot Kelly

EDH Jiujitsu 

916.595.4064

The Mat is a Mirror: Jiujitsu Lessons from Professora Caren Camblin

     A few days ago we had the opportunity to host Professora Caren Camblin from Santa Cruz. She taught a women's only jiu-jitsu class followed by a jiujitsu class for teens and adults. This was the first time for El Dorado Hills Jiujitsu to host a female black belt. Here is a little background on Professora Caren Camblin:

     Professora Caren Camblin received her Black Belt from Claudio França in 2010 after 14 years of training. She holds a masters degree in philosophy from Stanford University and her philosophical training deeply influences her approach to practicing and teaching jiu-jitsu.  Her primary interests are in the underlying principles of jiu-jistu, and how the realms of self-defense, art, and sport intersect.  Caren's teaching style is relaxed, collaborative, detail-oriented, and a bit cerebral.  She is forever open to questions and to troubleshooting problems on the spot.

     Caren is a Core Lecturer at University of California, Santa Cruz and she serves on the governing board of the nonprofit Nonviolent Communication Santa Cruz. Her husband, Mike Roberts, is also a Black Belt under Claudio França. 

     One of the concepts Professora Caren Camblin shared with the students during the seminar was on the reflective properties of the mat. The "mat is a mirror" of how you are feeling, your strengths and weaknesses, your frustrations, fears, excitement, pessimism and optimism, your joys and satisfactions, the list goes on. Training and being on the mat is a time of reflection, a time to see who you really are and assess or reflect on the things that you are feeling and going on around you. (I'm probably butchering what Professora Caren said with my limited vocabulary... SORRY Sensei!) Interestingly, this is a concept that is also embraced in the study of Yoga. I've heard some masters say that Jiujitsu has it's origins in India where the Martial Art or lifestyle of training included elements of jiujitsu, yoga, and  medication. (Could anyone help me expand on this?) 

Thank you Professor Caren Camblin for sharing with us the lifestyle of Brazilian Jiujitsu. We look forward to seeing you again soon! 

Eliot Kelly

916.595.4064

EDH Jiujitsu