Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Karate, Taekwondo, or Jiu-jitsu, which is Best?

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Karate, Taekwondo, or Jiu-jitsu, which is Best?

This is an article full of shopping advice. If you’re shopping for a martial arts school, for training, then you’ve come to the right place.

Professor Eliot teaching Kids NoGi in 2011

I’ve been studying the martial arts since I was in 6th grade, I’m a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, I wrestled at UC Davis, a division 1 school, and have had the opportunity to work at some of the most prestigious wrestling camps in the country. In addition to training martial arts, I teach. I'm currently working towards a Masters degree in teaching Japanese as a foreign language and have been a teacher, teacher's assistant, and tutor for more than 10 years.

Here are three piece of advice for you, regardless of the kind of martial arts you might be interested in:

• It’s the coach, the teacher, that makes the “style,” not the other way around. Look for a coach you respect, look for a teacher you feel you have rapport with. If a martial arts teacher treats you poorly, leave. If he or she treats you with respect, you might be in the right place.

• Find a teacher that has a kind of training that speaks to the kind of training you like to do (or think you would like to do). If the class is too easy or too slow for you, say so. If it’s too hard core, consider finding another teacher (or at least address the issue with the instructor). Some teachers will use apparatus to train, some will only need mats or mirrors or a hardwood floor.  If you have the luxury of choices, then choose a kind of training that fits your fitness level and interests.

• Every good school offers and introductory program that allows prospective students to try classes before they enroll. If a school does not offer a free trial class or classes, don't enroll.

(Note: Click this link or call this phone number 916.595.4064 to get a one-week free trial program at our school)

• Don’t sign any sort of long term contract for lessons with an instructor until you know him or her very, very well. If you know the teacher, go ahead and support them. If you don’t know the teacher, simply wait until you do. If a school owner tries to pressure you into a long term or high ticket contract, find somewhere else to spend your money.

In the end, in today’s world, most martial arts teach many of the same things. Remember however, it’s not “the martial art” that teaches you, it’s the teacher. Look to his or her experience and demeanor before you look at the style.

See you on the mat!

EDH Jiu-Jitsu

916.595.4064

Coaching Concepts: Understanding Linguistic Psychology as you Teach

     I was listening to a lecture series by Steven Pinker, a researcher of psychology at Harvard University, and realized the importance of word choice while teaching, coaching, or instructing. The lecture was based on linguistic psychology, and focused mostly on how the words and sentences we use are recognized, processed, and interpreted by our minds. When you begin to think about the idea, it's a pretty interesting field of study. When we teach, we use our words to express our thoughts, actions, and explain things to help clarify problematic areas. When we learn, most of us would have difficulty recalling what we heard or read word for word. However, we would be able to explain the content of the subject matter in concepts and ideas. A beautiful example of teaching/coaching/instructing by the use of concepts would be the shampoo bottle:

Wet Hair, Lather, Rinse, Repeat

     We know the "Repeat" doesn't mean continue to do it over and over again. It's a one time process. We also know that "Wet Hair" is a one time process and doesn't need to be redone after the first time. Although the words alone don't form a sentence, it is able to relay the concept it a short and concise manner. The learner is able to understand/interpret the words and carry out the process.
     As instructors of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, Judo and the physical art of grappling it is essential we are able to communicate with our students with effective word choices, and explain the concepts while allowing the students to fill in the blanks and read between the lines.

Eliot Kelly

(916) 595 4064

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