A lot of you have messaged asking for public playlists.

I’m gonna have Paul assist in putting together a black metal one for y’all…but in the meantime I’ve got a great Trapanese rolling playlist that we use for circle of honor sometimes.

Just go follow my profile on Spotify and I’ll make any future ones for Devotion public/and clearly labeled.

While we were setting up the new fulfillment station today, we found 4 copies of issue 1.

They’re up on the site, first come first serve!

Belt promotions are great - everyone likes recognition and the invigoration that comes from the new challenge of a fresh colored belt around your waist.

Done right, they reward undeniable skill, and let you know that those masters who sit in the lofty places above you have decided you were ready to be named into a new rank of progression.

But - they’re not worth all that much if you spend your time stepping on the fingers of those coming up behind you.

A promotion is, like so many things, a call to service.

It’s your job to help lower belts drill their techniques- it’s your job to show up diligently, consistently, to put in time on the mats, to put in work and add your vitality to this art, to your school or temple, to your training partners.

There’s a lot of ways to earn your belt.

Even after you’ve earned it.

Life, like grappling, is about being able to see positive options even from the worst of situations.

If we are tenacious enough, and don’t allow ourselves to mentally surrender to a bad position, we can still win the day.

If you keep winding up in the same negative places, ask yourself why you keep winding up there, and play the best defense of all:

Learn how to stop it before it happens.

If that fails, look for the quickest and most effective way to turn things around and go on the attack.

It ain’t over until you tap.

Sign up for our weekly email TRIAD

Having a blast getting introduced to De La Riva these past few weeks.

I’ve never had any coaches show me this over the years, and I’m now seeing the disservice they did me.

As a taller competitor, this guard is already changing my game, and giving me such a great new tool when it comes to guard retention, sweeps and back-takes.

Paul showed 4 different techniques this week from DLR.

Try this super simple, easy sweep on your partners tonight!

All Devotion Zines and Hanuman Bundle Pre-Orders have shipped! ✌🏻

OPWW Rasguard Preorders are slated to ship the middle of next week.

Enjoy the new merch, and as always, thank for the continued support! 🙏🏻

Something for you fans of retro and dark synthwave. Been adding tracks to this one based on tracks played at Devotion…fiigured since it’s over an hour, I’d make it public for you guys.
Will keep adding to it!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/11Nr0cRW025v7UiRu26CZY?si=4Ksfx8trSvKB7aJhEnZOgA

90 degrees and extreme humidity makes no gi nights feel more like swimming than grappling.

Tonight was no gi De La Riva with a focus on the underhook control and standup sweep or back take/crab ride.

Then a slip and slide of leg lock attacks, front headlock hell and wretched wrist locks.

Tomorrow:

⭕️

PSA -

We just emailed the link to the mantra for those who ordered the Hanuman prayer flags and malas.

Some deliveries failed because you provided us with an incorrectly typed or fake email address.

If you didn’t receive it (PLEASE check junk/spam etc first) let us know and we will send wherever you like.

Shared from a @lovatojrbjj on IG.

Amazing video - hit me hard.

Hope y’all enjoy it too.

Hey white belts!

https://youtube.com/shorts/4R33z9__PBU?feature=share

The other day my brother posted a video of a Lovato JJ belting ceremony where the individual was compared to the samurai sword.

I enjoyed it and was reminded of a quote I’d heard “the samurai’s sword is the vessel of his soul.”

If we consider Jiu Jitsu our sword and swordsmanship, then to develop our Jiu Jitsu is to develop our soul.

This requires a great deal more than simple physical training.

https://youtube.com/shorts/rIj6r5l5jBI?feature=share

“Hey white belt, don’t teach me Jiu-Jitsu.”

https://youtu.be/yT5bLRPCCXQ

Drop a 👍 write a comment, sub, share it, y’all know the drill.

ULTRAS

In soccer culture, there is a fanatical sub-set of fans who go to great lengths to support their team and increase morale.

These tactics include elaborate displays of esprit de corps ranging from shouted slogans to banner drops, songs, choreographed stunts and more.

I’ve always wondered why there’s not more energy in the stands at Jiu Jitsu events - mostly it’s just the team watching their team, rather than bringing out fans and friends.

We got locally known for having a big group that shows up to all our comps, who very vocally (but respectfully) make their presence known.

These aren’t people who even train Jiu Jitsu, for the most part.

They come out to show loyalty, to bring up the energy levels, and cheer on their team.

We started calling our crowd of supporters ULTRAS as something of a joke, but they’ve become a big part of our culture at competition and Jiu Jitsu events.

In issue 5 of Devotion Mag, we will dive deeper into this idea, as well as the culture surrounding our temple.

Medieval Japanese samurai would burn incense in their helmets, so if they were decapitated in battle, their head would smell good.

While we don’t expect to have our heads removed during training or competition, this nobility and respect can be extended to training partners and opponents.

The gi and the person should be clean at all training sessions - this is a ritual, and the training ground the temple. Treat it accordingly.

I use light, clean smelling essential oils on the inside of my gi top - as they heat up from training, the smell improves rather than deteriorates.

I also burn incense where I hang my belt or my gi, and use oils or scented rubs on the belt as well.

Chewing gum or making sure your oral hygiene is on par is important as well.

Fingernails and toenails should be inspected prior to training as well.

These small things make a big difference, and when our mind and environment are clean, our brain is more receptive to learning.