No. 8 has long been regarded as the luckiest number in Chinese culture. With pronunciation of 'Ba' in Chinese, no. 8 sounds similar to the word 'Fa', which means to make a fortune. It contains meanings of prosperity, success and high social status too, so all business men favor it very much.
We are not doing business and I don't speak chinese but I still wish you luck and success in your Jiu-Jitsu journey. So here are 8 things to avoid in Jiu-Jitsu.
1 - Comfort Zone
Avoid your comfort zone. During sparring, don’t choose only lower belts and lighter people. Jiu Jitsu promotes the concept that a smaller, weaker person can successfully defend against a bigger, stronger assailant by using leverage and proper technique. Roll with a bigger person is a must! Be Cool under Pressure.
2 - Don’t talk during rolling
Every gym has “that”guy. Talking in the middle of training is not the right time. Do you have a question? Ask after. It’s a Human Chess game, correct? Focus! Connect your mind to the game.
3 - Long Nails
Trimming your nails is not only a good hygiene habit. It could also help with the grips. The best day to trim is when you’re off from Jiu-Jitsu. YES Choke NO Scratch!
4 - Dirty Gi
Dirty Gi is not a good sign of hygiene. Wash your Gi! Stinky Gi is full of germs and bacterias that cause diseases. You need your training partner, don’t push him away with your smelly Gi.
5 - Heavy Meal before Jiu-Jitsu
Your body needs at least 1 hour to digest. Double the time for heavy meals. Energy to digest or Energy for Jiu-Jitsu? Which one your body will pick first?
6 - Start training on your butt
During sparring, start on your knees. If you are a guard player, pull and sit after the fist bump. Both players should start rolling on their knee as a sign of respect. Remember, Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art.
7 - Hurt your training partner
Train Hard but train Smart! Training porrada style, does not mean to break your training partner’s arm. You need your training parter to get better in jiu-jitsu, take care of him. Don't forget, Karma is a bitch.
8 - Cursing
The mat is like a temple and cursing is forbidden. Almost in every school the mats are full of different people. Seniors, adults, kids we are all sharing the mats together. Be a good example to the young guns. Respect your Sensei!
Remember, Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art First and a sport Second.
Best of luck,
Oss
