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.

5 more weeks to IBJJF Master’s Worlds.

“You fight like you train.”

Even though sport style has largely taken over Jiu Jitsu, our school still favors an old school approach of battling for top or back control and submitting from the superior position.

Chris Haueter famously said to “think street” while you train Jiu Jitsu - for me this means always looking for limb control and putting yourself into a defensible or dominant position that allows you to avoid strikes and deliver your own while grappling.

This method of training has gotten me through a lot of real world situations safely, as practice creates habits.

Last week in our email “TRIAD” we discussed the ancient Mongolian wrestling art, Bokh.

A reader sent in a cool mini-doc on Indian mud-wrestling, and the similar discipline and training protocols, that I think you will enjoy.

Check it out here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CgXMZNat5-D/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

If you aren’t subbed to Triad, do it:
https://berkanoinitiative.activehosted.com/f/24

New Hanuman Tank - exciting drop coming soon, tank and some other extras! Keep your eyes peeled, make sure you’re following us on IG, here and most importantly the email, link is a few posts above ☝🏻

From Paul, with hate.

First hour of Spotify black metal playlist for your rolling torment.

I’ll keep updating this even though it’ll be a little “basic” since many of the really good bands aren’t on Spotify.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/73DhBKEn73fN4OYIxTqRNq?si=Jlx_e1GHQ5SPcRP_t3w1fg

Here’s some more from Paul.

For chill, long rolls or drill sessions/flow rolling -

Ambient/droning black metal, doom, and strange/beautiful stuff from around the world.

Rites of the stoned barbarian; songs for the dreaming samurai.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5ParTjLyJqlwBu1S8H0czf?si=KWVRBQ5oTvq4wK2zTLlAQQ

First look at the cover of the new Devotion Magazine issue, coming out later this month.

Some great pieces in this one, along with some good (and humorous) street fight stories, and plenty of other stuff - looking forward to sharing with you all.

Design work by Thee Crooked Hand