Dave G Jitsu

22/01/2022

What a great day out for the team at Equilibrium Martial Arts, lots of time on the mat and some great medals and memories to come away with. What a great team to coach.

04/11/2021

It's been a while since I posted but here's our calendar of events!

Open mat November 20th 11am at Origin
Christmas meal Dec 11th at 19:00 Willow Beck-Northallerton.
Gathering at Origin Dec 17th 18:30

10/09/2021

Great to see all the progress and happy faces at Equilibrium Martial Arts. They last few months have seen some great new additions to the studio and we are proud of all the continued work from the athletes.

Well done everyone.

We are hosting a free open mat for all tomorrow (Saturday 11th September) at Origin BJJ in Darlington. Come along for a great experience, some new Jiu-Jitsu knowledge and even a slice of cake!

19/08/2021

After three years the time has come for me to move on from DBMA. My last bjj class will be this Saturday the 21st of August at one o'clock.

I hope to see as many of you there as possible.

The impact of the pandemic has has been huge on many industries and gyms/martial arts have been particularly badly hit.

I'm grateful for the opportunity they gave me to develop myself as a coach and have really enjoyed my time there.

However change is the only constant and I've found since I've been teaching elsewhere too my own training has been limited.

There are other things I want to do (gained a black belt being one of them).

I'll no doubt see you guys on the mats.

You're all welcome at Equilibrium where I'll be teaching and at Origin where I'll be training.

I love you guys and it was a pleasure to teach you!!!

25/07/2021

Dave G Jitsu is proud to announce that on Sunday 1st August at 12:30pm we will be hosting Origin blackbelt and Head coach Dom Szikora at Equilibrium Martial Arts in Northallerton. Great chance for people to learn from a well respected local black belt.

Message me for more info.

We are please to announce on Sunday 1st August we will have a grand opening adults seminar at 12:30pm ran by the superb Head Coach of Origin BJJ in Darlington, Dom Szikora. This is a fantastic opportunity to train with a well respected black belt and should not be missed.

Message for more info and to book a space.

12/07/2021

When a penalty is awarded in during a football match the crowd tends to go wild as it’s a relatively easy way to score. On the training ground top players could probably hit the target with their eyes closed.
How then do we explain the fact that England failed to win a penalty shoot out when their goalie managed to save two of the opposing teams penalties? This should be considered a great opportunity.

In a word pressure. This is the great equalizer/handicap that makes cowards of out normally brave folk and reduces highly skilled athletes to sniveling wrecks.

Although everyone has some idea of what the term pressure means it’s useful for the purpose of discussion to have a working definition. One of the best definitions of pressure (in a sporting context) I’ve heard is having to perform a skill with a limited time or space.

This certainly applies to penalties, you are all taking them in a set space and the time is NOW!
Now what does any of this have to do with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Everything.

The purpose of all of the practice and the drills we do is to develop effective responses which hold up under pressure. This is one of the main reasons why some people find competition to be valuable. If something doesn’t work when the pressure is on then it doesn’t work.

I’ve found also that, amongst grapplers who don’t compete, there is a much greater chance that they become gym warriors in that they want to ‘win’ every second they’re training. This is counterproductive for two reasons.

Firstly if you’re going 100% or anything close to it then you’re limiting the scope for you and your opponent to play/experiment and thus the chances of developing new techniques.

Secondly if you’re resisting when your partner is drilling a new move then you’re cheating/limiting yourself. It makes it much less likely that they will understand or have developed the move enough to be effective. This means when resistance is added you have the illusion that you have great defense when, in effect, you’re doing the grappling equipment of blocking a punch when the person isn’t actually trying to hit you. This often feels good but only sets you up for a rude awakening when someone who is proficient at the move actually goes for it.

Fully resisting when you’re opponent is learning a new move or drilling is counter productive for them and you and only wastes time in which you could be getting better. Allow and assist your training partners to develop to be the best they can be and you’ll be helping to create an environment where you yourself can’t fail to improve.

A rising tide lifts all ships and practice really does make perfect!

08/05/2021

"In a fight only one of you can be comfortable. Your job is to transfer the comfort from your opponent to you".

Rickson Gracie

17/04/2021

Guard is the worst of the best positions if at all possible never use it.