Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been very popular in MMA in the past couple years. Much of this fame can be attributed to the UFC but there’s something unique about this sport: it works. There have been many other popular combat martial arts over the years, but few have shown proven applicability in combat sports. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is unique in the fact that it became famous BECAUSE of its applicability. Despite its enormous and growing fame, few people understand the origins of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

In 1882, Judo was founded by Jigoro Kano separated from Japanese Jiu-Jitsu in two important ways: it became a sport and also a physical fitness regime. In 1904, Kano sent one of his most promising students, Mitsuyo Maeda overseas to promote the sport of Judo. Maeda frequently challenged boxers, savate fighters, and fighters of various martial arts disciplines to compete against his Judo. Finally, in 1914 he arrived in Brazil and trained there until 1917 where he performed in a circus that had gained the attention of Carlos Gracie – the son of a wealthy entrepreneur in Brazil. Carlos Gracie practiced Judo under Maeda for a few years and also trained with his brothers, teaching them the lessons he practiced with Maeda.

In 1924, Helio Gracie moved in with his brothers where they practiced and taught Judo. Helio was a particularly frail teenager and was prohibited by doctor’s orders to practice Judo with his brothers. Because of his frailness, he was forced to adapt certain techniques into his own form, eventually developing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. It’s important to note that although Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is derived from Judo, the distinction between Judo and Japanese Jiu-Jitsu wasn’t made until years after the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, which is why they developed the name Jiu-Jitsu instead of the more accurate Judo.

Gracie (Brazilian) Jiu-Jitsu became popular in 1993 when Royce Gracie participated in the first Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC) tournament. After an impressive display of Jiu-Jitsu, Royce swept the tournament and forever immortalized the Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu system of fighting.

If this didn’t get you pumped up to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I don’t know what would! Luckily for you, we here are Sampa BJJ have the perfect solution: Come try out our Free 30 Day Trial! We’re dedicated to teaching you the wonderful art of Jiu-Jitsu and there’s no downside. If you don’t see any progress or you’re not satisfied with the training in anyway, you have absolutely no obligation to us. There’s no deposits, no squabbling on our part, and we’re very friendly people. You have nothing to close. Begin your 30-Day Free Trial today!

Depending on who you ask, there’s certainly a wide variety of opinions of MMA. Some people think it’s a fantastic sport with a lot of promise, but others are uncomfortable with the amount of physical contact that a participant endures during competition. Regardless of your stance on the issue, there’s certainly no debate that MMA is a growing sport. More than ever, parents are enrolling their kids in MMA classes at an ever increasing rate. So, is it a good idea to enroll your child in MMA classes?

MMA is very fitness intensive; there is a high-degree of activity required of the participant and this leads to improved fitness results. There is no one on the face this planet who would tell you this is a bad thing. One of the benefits of MMA training is improved cardiovascular fitness due to aerobics training, which we at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu accomplish through jump rope training, calisthenics exercises (such as push-ups, “jumping jacks”, sit-ups, and light-jogging). Medical research has shown that children should not weight train until at least age 12, so the kind of training that Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu provides is a safe and healthy alternative to weight training.

As most parents surely know, children tend to lose interest in activities very quickly. After a short period of time, they may find that they are not actually interested in the activity they picked out for a number of reasons. Here at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we do everything we can to provide a safe and effective environment for your child to learn martial arts, and we also do everything we can to make sure that your child stays interested in the sport. We make training fun. While repetitive drills and persistent reiterations of the same technique may work wonderfully for training adults, we completely understand that children are entirely different creatures. We do everything we can to make sure that we mix up the activities and the training here so that your child always has something fun to look forward to when they come in to train. We promise that your child will have so much fun that they will be excited to come and train at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, while still gaining all the benefits of improving in a respected sport.

Once you decide that mixed martial arts will benefit your child, the first thing you need to do is find a decent coach with lots of experience. Fortunately for you, the search ends with Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Our coaches have decades of combined experience in martial arts. Professor Renato has been teaching since the age of 15-years-old and belongs to numerous jiu-jitsu associations throughout the world. If you’re looking for legitimate and certified training in the San Gabriel Valley, you won’t find a better place than Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Training here at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is also risk free, now with our 30-day free trial. If for whatever reason you are not satisfied with the training your children received, or you find out that your child wasn’t interested in training in MMA, you have absolutely no obligation! It truly is 30 days risk free! You’re not going to find a better deal in the San Gabriel Valley, I promise. 

I’ve always been a huge proponent of mental discipline as well as physical discipline. Although my physique isn’t quite where I would like it to be (due because of laziness on my part!), college has made sure that my mental physique hasn’t suffered at all. Any professional would agree, a large part of any sport is mental as well as physical. Luckily for everyone, there’s some excellent books that assist in developing the mental game in your MMA training.

“Zen in the Martial Arts” by Joe Hyams – I read this book when I was very young – about 10 years old. I couldn’t quite grasp all the concepts within, but I knew they were worth something. To give a little bit of background to this book, the author spent time training with Bruce Lee and many great martial arts of his time. Bruce Lee taught the author much of what he knew about martial arts and meditation. Throughout the book, the author argues that meditation and mental focus is just as important as physical perfection. Given the anecdotes he gives the reader, it’s difficult to argue with his reasoning. This book was a huge entry point into mental discipline for me and it wasn’t until years later that I truly learned to appreciate this book for what it was: a fantastic introduction to mental discipline and focus. I plan on reading this again soon; it truly is an amazing and insightful book.

“Got Fight?” by Forrest Griffin – Although Forrest Griffin isn’t the most successful fight on the face of the planet, he’s surely the most every-day-man appealing kind of one. This is partially because he’s highly intelligent and possesses self-deprecating humor that would challenge even the most depressed comedian. Fortunately for us, he combines these two elements with his fight experience to provide an excellent book for any aspiring mixed martial artist. Griffin’s book is both an autobiography of his own experiences in MMA and also an inspirational memoir of all the mental lessons he’s learned throughout his career as a mixed martial artist. The book is very well-written and contains quite a bit of humor to keep the reader interested and entertained.

“Why I Fight” by BJ Penn – This autobiography by BJ Penn is an excellent introduction and encyclopedia of everything BJ Penn. It documents his rise from your average joe to a black belt jiu-jitsu artist. Everyone has heard his nickname “The Prodigy”, but the way BJ Penn describes his journey, you have to wonder if he was truly a prodigy, or simply someone who was just willing to work exceptionally hard. This book contains a lot of the techniques and motivations that kept BJ Penn going throughout his career and is definitely worth reading if you’re an aspiring mixed martial artist. I highly recommend it.

Here at Sampa BJJ, we are offering a 30 Day Free Trial! We are so confident that you will see improvement and be satisfied with your results that we are offering a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee – If you aren’t satisfied with your results, you pay us nothing. There’s no deposits to be made and you owe us nothing! It’s that simple!

1.) To improve your self-confidence – It’s no mystery that self-defense improves confidence in fighting, but it also improves confidence in other aspects of a person’s life. Proficiency in self-defense requires quite a bit of dedication and hard-work. Like anything else in life that a person works hard for, the result is always something to be proud of. After many grueling hours of practicing technique and working hard in the gym, the result is almost always a more proficient, well-rounded and physically intelligent individual, which is something that anyone can be proud of.

2.) Physical training will improve your ability to focus for longer period of time – Numerous studies have been conducted that show a correlation between fitness and an improved ability to concentrate. Being a college student, I very heavily rely on my ability mentally focus for long periods of time. Whether it’s during a lecture, a test, or just studying, I need to be able to focus on material long enough to comprehend it, interpret it, and then regurgitate that same information on a test. Unfortunately there’s no secret formula to improving your focus but physical training can certainly give you the kind of self-discipline that can help you get to the point where you want to be.

3.) You will gain the ability to defend yourself – Should a situation arise in your everyday life where you need to defend yourself against a person who intends you harm, the training you receive at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will be priceless. Don’t wait until something happens to you to begin training in self-defense; be proactive. If somebody is going to attack you, odds are they’re not going to wait until you’re sufficiently prepared and ready for a fight; they’re probably going to attack you when you’re off guard. The training you will receive here at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu could potentially save your life; it will prepare you for situations when an attacker catches you off guard.

4.) You will become more fit and have more energy as a result – There’s no denying that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a sport all in its own, but one thing that it has with other sports is the level of conditioning you will receive as you become more experienced and move through the ranks. There’s no denying that fitness is a very important thing to focus on; numerous studies have shown that people who are more fit, tend to lead more active, longer, and healthy lives in the long-run. The fitness benefits you will receive from Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s training will ensure that you see the same benefits you would from participating in any other sport. You will learn to defend yourself and become more fit – it’s truly a win-win situation.

5.) You will make new friends – Here at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we place an emphasis on friendship and a safe environment. The people you meet here will always train with respect towards one another. This typically leads to friendships outside of the gym. It is definitely a major benefit to training. The more time you spend training, the more recognizable faces become and the better the relationships that are forged will become as a result.

We’re so committed to giving you the benefits outlined above and we’re so confident that you’ll see results that you’re proud of, we’re offering a 30-Day Risk Free Trial. That’s right. There’s no obligation, no deposit required, and no contracts to sign; you simply come in and try out our program for 30-Days Risk Free. If you come in and train and decide this program isn’t for you, you will owe nothing. Now you don’t have an excuse – come in for your free trial today.

1.) To improve your self-confidence – It’s no mystery that self-defense improves confidence in fighting, but it also improves confidence in other aspects of a person’s life. Proficiency in self-defense requires quite a bit of dedication and hard-work. Like anything else in life that a person works hard for, the result is always something to be proud of. After many grueling hours of practicing technique and working hard in the gym, the result is almost always a more proficient, well-rounded and physically intelligent individual, which is something that anyone can be proud of.

2.) Physical training will improve your ability to focus for longer period of time – Numerous studies have been conducted that show a correlation between fitness and an improved ability to concentrate. Being a college student, I very heavily rely on my ability mentally focus for long periods of time. Whether it’s during a lecture, a test, or just studying, I need to be able to focus on material long enough to comprehend it, interpret it, and then regurgitate that same information on a test. Unfortunately there’s no secret formula to improving your focus but physical training can certainly give you the kind of self-discipline that can help you get to the point where you want to be.

3.) You will gain the ability to defend yourself – Should a situation arise in your everyday life where you need to defend yourself against a person who intends you harm, the training you receive at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will be priceless. Don’t wait until something happens to you to begin training in self-defense; be proactive. If somebody is going to attack you, odds are they’re not going to wait until you’re sufficiently prepared and ready for a fight; they’re probably going to attack you when you’re off guard. The training you will receive here at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu could potentially save your life; it will prepare you for situations when an attacker catches you off guard.

4.) You will become more fit and have more energy as a result – There’s no denying that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a sport all in its own, but one thing that it has with other sports is the level of conditioning you will receive as you become more experienced and move through the ranks. There’s no denying that fitness is a very important thing to focus on; numerous studies have shown that people who are more fit, tend to lead more active, longer, and healthy lives in the long-run. The fitness benefits you will receive from Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s training will ensure that you see the same benefits you would from participating in any other sport. You will learn to defend yourself and become more fit – it’s truly a win-win situation.

5.) You will make new friends – Here at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we place an emphasis on friendship and a safe environment. The people you meet here will always train with respect towards one another. This typically leads to friendships outside of the gym. It is definitely a major benefit to training. The more time you spend training, the more recognizable faces become and the better the relationships that are forged will become as a result.

We’re so committed to giving you the benefits outlined above and we’re so confident that you’ll see results that you’re proud of, we’re offering a 30-Day Risk Free Trial. That’s right. There’s no obligation, no deposit required, and no contracts to sign; you simply come in and try out our program for 30-Days Risk Free. If you come in and train and decide this program isn’t for you, you will owe nothing. Now you don’t have an excuse – come in for your free trial today.

1.) To improve your self-confidence – It’s no mystery that self-defense improves confidence in fighting, but it also improves confidence in other aspects of a person’s life. Proficiency in self-defense requires quite a bit of dedication and hard-work. Like anything else in life that a person works hard for, the result is always something to be proud of. After many grueling hours of practicing technique and working hard in the gym, the result is almost always a more proficient, well-rounded and physically intelligent individual, which is something that anyone can be proud of.

2.) Physical training will improve your ability to focus for longer period of time – Numerous studies have been conducted that show a correlation between fitness and an improved ability to concentrate. Being a college student, I very heavily rely on my ability mentally focus for long periods of time. Whether it’s during a lecture, a test, or just studying, I need to be able to focus on material long enough to comprehend it, interpret it, and then regurgitate that same information on a test. Unfortunately there’s no secret formula to improving your focus but physical training can certainly give you the kind of self-discipline that can help you get to the point where you want to be.

3.) You will gain the ability to defend yourself – Should a situation arise in your everyday life where you need to defend yourself against a person who intends you harm, the training you receive at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu will be priceless. Don’t wait until something happens to you to begin training in self-defense; be proactive. If somebody is going to attack you, odds are they’re not going to wait until you’re sufficiently prepared and ready for a fight; they’re probably going to attack you when you’re off guard. The training you will receive here at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu could potentially save your life; it will prepare you for situations when an attacker catches you off guard.

4.) You will become more fit and have more energy as a result – There’s no denying that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a sport all in its own, but one thing that it has with other sports is the level of conditioning you will receive as you become more experienced and move through the ranks. There’s no denying that fitness is a very important thing to focus on; numerous studies have shown that people who are more fit, tend to lead more active, longer, and healthy lives in the long-run. The fitness benefits you will receive from Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s training will ensure that you see the same benefits you would from participating in any other sport. You will learn to defend yourself and become more fit – it’s truly a win-win situation.

5.) You will make new friends – Here at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we place an emphasis on friendship and a safe environment. The people you meet here will always train with respect towards one another. This typically leads to friendships outside of the gym. It is definitely a major benefit to training. The more time you spend training, the more recognizable faces become and the better the relationships that are forged will become as a result.

We’re so committed to giving you the benefits outlined above and we’re so confident that you’ll see results that you’re proud of, we’re offering a 30-Day Risk Free Trial. That’s right. There’s no obligation, no deposit required, and no contracts to sign; you simply come in and try out our program for 30-Days Risk Free. If you come in and train and decide this program isn’t for you, you will owe nothing. Now you don’t have an excuse – come in for your free trial today.

Now we are offering a spring break camp that will happen in the mornings form 9  to 10:30 am (Mon, Wed, Fri) starting in April.  Regular afternoon brazilian jiu jitsu classes will still happen. If your child during spring break will feel bored, you can now enroll him or her to our Fun Spring Break Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and mixed Martial arts camp for kids.

It is very important to say that Sampa’s Children spring break camp is open to all Sampa’s students and non-students. So Call us Now 626-335-4971 and provide to your child a great time learning a skill, self defense and great values, plus a great, great time with friends during the kids martial arts spring break camp.

It is also very appropriate to announce that on Saturday 7th we will be hosting an EGG HUNT for our kids – children mixed martial arts program. The EGG Hunt will happen at 11 am to 12 pm. We are looking forward to it!.

If you are not a Sampa student yet call us now and start participating of our 30 days free trial and of all our special events such as Easter Egg hunt and Sampa’s spring break kids BJJ and MMA Camp.

          If you haven’t seen it already, I would highly suggest that you check out the documentary “Driven” which documents the rise and fall of former 3-time UFC champion Jens Pulver. The documentary begins three days prior to Pulver’s last fight as a professional MMA fighter and follows him as he trains, talks about his childhood, and expresses the feelings and emotions he’s endured through his roller coaster career as a professional fighter. From growing up being constantly neglected and abused by his father, he has come a long way and made great strides to become one of the greatest UFC Lightweight champions to ever live. Several times throughout the film, Pulver credits his ability to overcome the odds and triumph against adversity to the focus he acquired while training MMA. His story is a very inspirational one and serves as an example of how to hard-work and dedication can pull a person out of the most strenuous of circumstances.

          For those of you who don’t already know, Jens Pulver is a former 3-time Lightweight champion in the UFC. He is credited as the founder of the Lightweight division in the UFC as well as the first Lightweight champion. Born and raised in Maple Valley, Washington, he endured a very difficult childhood growing up because of his physically abusive father. He stated that one of his few escapes was his wrestling training and tournaments. He won two state championships for his High School, then went on to wrestle for Boise State University. It was in college that Pulver was introduced to MMA. He began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and kickboxing. Four short years after beginning his mixed-martial arts training, he began his UFC career. He holds notable victories over BJ Penn, Cub Swanson, and many, many more. As a matter of fact, he is one of only two people to defeat UFC legend BJ Penn in the Lightweight division. Jens Pulver has since retired and currently lives in Nampa, Idaho with his wife and son. He is a candidate for the UFC hall of fame.

           If one lesson can be taken away from Jens Pulver’s story, it’s that hard work truly does pay off; his relentless dedication to the sport helped him improve in many other aspects of his life. Here at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we know all about the importance of hard work, dedication, and persistence. Because of this, we’re offering a 30-Day Free Trial! You can try any of our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, or Fitness classes for 30-days! If you don’t see results, there’s no obligation! Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu also specializes in teaching women’s classes, children’s classes, and martial arts classes for people over 40! Schedule your Free 30-Day Trial Now!

          If you haven’t seen it already, I would highly suggest that you check out the documentary “Driven” which documents the rise and fall of former 3-time UFC champion Jens Pulver. The documentary begins three days prior to Pulver’s last fight as a professional MMA fighter and follows him as he trains, talks about his childhood, and expresses the feelings and emotions he’s endured through his roller coaster career as a professional fighter. From growing up being constantly neglected and abused by his father, he has come a long way and made great strides to become one of the greatest UFC Lightweight champions to ever live. Several times throughout the film, Pulver credits his ability to overcome the odds and triumph against adversity to the focus he acquired while training MMA. His story is a very inspirational one and serves as an example of how to hard-work and dedication can pull a person out of the most strenuous of circumstances.

          For those of you who don’t already know, Jens Pulver is a former 3-time Lightweight champion in the UFC. He is credited as the founder of the Lightweight division in the UFC as well as the first Lightweight champion. Born and raised in Maple Valley, Washington, he endured a very difficult childhood growing up because of his physically abusive father. He stated that one of his few escapes was his wrestling training and tournaments. He won two state championships for his High School, then went on to wrestle for Boise State University. It was in college that Pulver was introduced to MMA. He began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and kickboxing. Four short years after beginning his mixed-martial arts training, he began his UFC career. He holds notable victories over BJ Penn, Cub Swanson, and many, many more. As a matter of fact, he is one of only two people to defeat UFC legend BJ Penn in the Lightweight division. Jens Pulver has since retired and currently lives in Nampa, Idaho with his wife and son. He is a candidate for the UFC hall of fame.

           If one lesson can be taken away from Jens Pulver’s story, it’s that hard work truly does pay off; his relentless dedication to the sport helped him improve in many other aspects of his life. Here at Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we know all about the importance of hard work, dedication, and persistence. Because of this, we’re offering a 30-Day Free Trial! You can try any of our Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kickboxing, or Fitness classes for 30-days! If you don’t see results, there’s no obligation! Sampa Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu also specializes in teaching women’s classes, children’s classes, and martial arts classes for people over 40! Schedule your Free 30-Day Trial Now!

Editor’s Note: Renato Migliaccio, the newest FiveOuncesOfPain.com columnist, is a decorated martial artist, holding black belts in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (under the late Ryan Gracie). Additionally, Migliaccio also is considered one to the top lightweight MMA prospects not signed to a major organization with a perfect record of 6-0.

In his guest columns that will appear periodically on 5 Oz., Migliaccio will provide his insider’s perspective on martial arts training. In his second submission, Renato talks about the importance in being honorable and staying true to your team and instructor.

For more information on Renato, please visit sampabjj.com.

The other day, a friend of mine who has studied Kung Fu for many years told me that “Sifu” is not a Chinese word for a teacher but rather has a greater meaning of that of a teacher who is also a father. I believe in the principle of that meaning, as there is no value for anything that anyone teaches you.

People can take a lot away from you but not what you have learned. Most of the times, a BJJ teacher will help you by teaching you a technique; reinforcing that patience is a tool for the progress; and by showing you that losing is part of the game but while at the same time never allowing you to be comfortable with a loss.

An instructor should always motivate you on and off the mat. An good instructor will always be mindful of your safety and always will bring your confidence to the highest point. If this is not the level of instruction you are experiencing, then it means that he or she is not a good example of what being a true black belt is all about.

Earlier, I referenced how important it is to respect lineage. For me, I learned from Ryan Gracie, who learned from Carlos Gracie Jr., who learned from Carlos Gracie who learned from Mitsuo Maeda.

For me, personally, I don’t need a certificate for someone to prove to me that they are a legitimate black belt if they respect their lineage. However, other people are different. In the times we currently live in, there are those that are so obsessed to get their black belt that they jump from school to school in order to take a quicker and easier path.

Many people abandon their roots and forget their loyalty if they become frustrated with their instructor if they see someone who has not trained as long as them achieve a belt promotion before they do. The mistake that some of them are making is that they sacrifice tradition in order to receive a quick promotion from a school or team with no history or lineage.

And by changing schools or teams frequently, you might be able to take some short cuts and you might find yourself surrounded by many other fellow students. But by not respecting a lineage and having patience, you might find yourself at a school in which you are surrounded by a large group of people that are not your friends. Those who remain loyal and don’t jump from a team at the first sign of frustration will be rewarded in that they will remain with a school or team that has become a second family — a family that will sacrifice themselves for a higher goal: their friend’s success. The jumpers will never know such a feeling of family. And in many cases, those that jump in order to get their black belts quicker has a tendency to leave his or her “master” because the belt itself is all that mattered and they forget about everything that comes with it.

But this is where the big mistake in my previous article. They might find themselves with a black belt but they will also find themselves in a situation where they need to show a certificate to be taken seriously because their belt has no lineage, no school, or team to back it up. Sadly, they not only need a belt but also need a piece of paper.

I am not suggesting you should accept everything your instructor does or say. However, you need to recognize early in your training that a school or instructor might not be right for you and move early in your training so that you are able to find a true home and build the kind of roots that can only grow over the course of time. Waiting until you have reached brown or belt black level to break away is the wrong time to leave. Obviously, there are some exceptions to this rule, but more often than not, you should be loyal to the one who promoted you to black belt.

When people in Brazil get mad because a partner or a student is now training at another school is understandable. Especially when the student that has defected is either not ready for their promotion or is not mature enough to having decided to train at a different school.

This person actually is looking for something in another school and most of the time they don’t know what they are looking or what they are looking for already exists in their school but they simply can’t see it.

For example, usually a lot of purple belt students are not fully mature, so they go to another school and they learn habits at this other school which sometimes are not so welcome in their own school. And right there is usually where a big problem starts that ensues to a breakup. This is where maturing comes in, because a good student will always be able to visit another school and not cause conflict at their regular school or guest school because they are respectful there and know the differences between schools.

In Judo, you can train in another school but it is mandatory that you ask your teacher first. If you teacher does not believe you are ready to train outside the school, you will not receive permission. But this is where ego becomes a problem. There are times when a teacher will not allow you to go to another place just because it can hurt his or her ego. Or, the ego issue falls squarely onto the shoulders of the student. Who, despite being asked permission and having been denied, still takes it upon themselves to visit another school because they do not respect their teachers and feel like they can do whatever they want.

In conclusion, you have to find a good instructor that you believe in. Once you have formed that trust, you must show faith in your instructor even when times are not always good. A good instructor will reciprocate and show faith in you even when times are not good. It is when a team can endure not just success together but failure as well in which a true sense of family is formed. Without the family ties, you will have no sense of belonging and a belt with a history and lineage that will easily become lost.

So find a good school, a good instructor, a good environment, and start to belong to something you believe in.  When you achieve all of these, you will find it easy to put trust into the choices your instructor makes for you. Do not doubt or be consumed in negative energy, because this is the first step towards a break up. And in time, things will only manifest and you will begin to feel you do not need your instructor or your school, which will only lead to greater problems.

Sampa Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts is now offering a 30 Day FREE Trial to try out our gym. You will be pleased when you see our facilities, meet our friendly staff and instructors and begin learning great techniques and getting the best self defense of your life. Make an appointment to get your FREE PRIVATE LESSON valued at over 150$ today. Children’s Programs are Available. Anyone can learn the same techniques as Strikeforce and UFC superstars, even YOU!!

“If you are not yet a member at Sampa Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and started changing your life – than what are you waiting for? – check out your30 days free trial offer!!!!

Editor’s Note: Renato Migliaccio, the newest FiveOuncesOfPain.com columnist, is a decorated martial artist, holding black belts in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (under the late Ryan Gracie). Additionally, Migliaccio also is considered one to the top lightweight MMA prospects not signed to a major organization with a perfect record of 6-0.

In his guest columns that will appear periodically on 5 Oz., Migliaccio will provide his insider’s perspective on martial arts training. In his second submission, Renato talks about the importance in being honorable and staying true to your team and instructor.

For more information on Renato, please visit sampabjj.com.

The other day, a friend of mine who has studied Kung Fu for many years told me that “Sifu” is not a Chinese word for a teacher but rather has a greater meaning of that of a teacher who is also a father. I believe in the principle of that meaning, as there is no value for anything that anyone teaches you.

People can take a lot away from you but not what you have learned. Most of the times, a BJJ teacher will help you by teaching you a technique; reinforcing that patience is a tool for the progress; and by showing you that losing is part of the game but while at the same time never allowing you to be comfortable with a loss.

An instructor should always motivate you on and off the mat. An good instructor will always be mindful of your safety and always will bring your confidence to the highest point. If this is not the level of instruction you are experiencing, then it means that he or she is not a good example of what being a true black belt is all about.

Earlier, I referenced how important it is to respect lineage. For me, I learned from Ryan Gracie, who learned from Carlos Gracie Jr., who learned from Carlos Gracie who learned from Mitsuo Maeda.

For me, personally, I don’t need a certificate for someone to prove to me that they are a legitimate black belt if they respect their lineage. However, other people are different. In the times we currently live in, there are those that are so obsessed to get their black belt that they jump from school to school in order to take a quicker and easier path.

Many people abandon their roots and forget their loyalty if they become frustrated with their instructor if they see someone who has not trained as long as them achieve a belt promotion before they do. The mistake that some of them are making is that they sacrifice tradition in order to receive a quick promotion from a school or team with no history or lineage.

And by changing schools or teams frequently, you might be able to take some short cuts and you might find yourself surrounded by many other fellow students. But by not respecting a lineage and having patience, you might find yourself at a school in which you are surrounded by a large group of people that are not your friends. Those who remain loyal and don’t jump from a team at the first sign of frustration will be rewarded in that they will remain with a school or team that has become a second family — a family that will sacrifice themselves for a higher goal: their friend’s success. The jumpers will never know such a feeling of family. And in many cases, those that jump in order to get their black belts quicker has a tendency to leave his or her “master” because the belt itself is all that mattered and they forget about everything that comes with it.

But this is where the big mistake in my previous article. They might find themselves with a black belt but they will also find themselves in a situation where they need to show a certificate to be taken seriously because their belt has no lineage, no school, or team to back it up. Sadly, they not only need a belt but also need a piece of paper.

I am not suggesting you should accept everything your instructor does or say. However, you need to recognize early in your training that a school or instructor might not be right for you and move early in your training so that you are able to find a true home and build the kind of roots that can only grow over the course of time. Waiting until you have reached brown or belt black level to break away is the wrong time to leave. Obviously, there are some exceptions to this rule, but more often than not, you should be loyal to the one who promoted you to black belt.

When people in Brazil get mad because a partner or a student is now training at another school is understandable. Especially when the student that has defected is either not ready for their promotion or is not mature enough to having decided to train at a different school.

This person actually is looking for something in another school and most of the time they don’t know what they are looking or what they are looking for already exists in their school but they simply can’t see it.

For example, usually a lot of purple belt students are not fully mature, so they go to another school and they learn habits at this other school which sometimes are not so welcome in their own school. And right there is usually where a big problem starts that ensues to a breakup. This is where maturing comes in, because a good student will always be able to visit another school and not cause conflict at their regular school or guest school because they are respectful there and know the differences between schools.

In Judo, you can train in another school but it is mandatory that you ask your teacher first. If you teacher does not believe you are ready to train outside the school, you will not receive permission. But this is where ego becomes a problem. There are times when a teacher will not allow you to go to another place just because it can hurt his or her ego. Or, the ego issue falls squarely onto the shoulders of the student. Who, despite being asked permission and having been denied, still takes it upon themselves to visit another school because they do not respect their teachers and feel like they can do whatever they want.

In conclusion, you have to find a good instructor that you believe in. Once you have formed that trust, you must show faith in your instructor even when times are not always good. A good instructor will reciprocate and show faith in you even when times are not good. It is when a team can endure not just success together but failure as well in which a true sense of family is formed. Without the family ties, you will have no sense of belonging and a belt with a history and lineage that will easily become lost.

So find a good school, a good instructor, a good environment, and start to belong to something you believe in.  When you achieve all of these, you will find it easy to put trust into the choices your instructor makes for you. Do not doubt or be consumed in negative energy, because this is the first step towards a break up. And in time, things will only manifest and you will begin to feel you do not need your instructor or your school, which will only lead to greater problems.

Sampa Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts is now offering a 30 Day FREE Trial to try out our gym. You will be pleased when you see our facilities, meet our friendly staff and instructors and begin learning great techniques and getting the best self defense of your life. Make an appointment to get your FREE PRIVATE LESSON valued at over 150$ today. Children’s Programs are Available. Anyone can learn the same techniques as Strikeforce and UFC superstars, even YOU!!

“If you are not yet a member at Sampa Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and started changing your life – than what are you waiting for? – check out your30 days free trial offer!!!!

Have you ever felt like your ju jutsu, jiu jitsu, jiu-jitsu or jui jitsu (whatever you want to spell it…) or mixed martial arts game wasn’t getting any better? Like you were working hard and seeming to stay in the same place? Are you consistently performing better than some people and consistently getting controlled by other people? There may be a reason for this and it is not that you are not getting better.

The reason is relative progression. What does this mean? This means that as you are training, working hard, learning, and, yes, getting better, so are all your teammates. As you are improving, they are improving at the same speed. They are getting better right along with you. You are all getting better, stronger, smarter, and faster. So you stay in the same, relative, position to them.

Sometimes , this can be frustrating. When we work hard, we like to be rewarded by seeing that we are getting better. So, when we cannot see the progression daily it can be frustrating. If this has happened to you or is happening to you, don’t worry, it happens to everyone. You are not alone in this.
What can you do about this? Is it always going to be like this? Are you ever going to feel like you are progressing? Let’s take these one at time.

Can you do anything about this? The answer is yes. You can keep training  jiu-jitsu or mixed martial arts consistently. What you will see, is that as you train consistently, others will not be as consistent. You will start to see that you able to move easier and with less effort against those who are not as consistent. You will see that your abilities will start to match or surpass other’s abilities that previously were superior to yours. You will grow confident and patient knowing that, even if your progression is not always evident, your consistency will keep you moving forward.

Is it always going to be like this? Yes and no. Yes it will and you want it to be. You want your teammates growing right along with you. You need them to get better. They need you to get better. Growing together is one of the great things about  jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts

And no, because you will stop being frustrated and by this and learn to accept that it is beneficial to you and your growth.

Are you going to ever feel like you are progressing? Most of the time no. But, you are. You will see this most evidently when a new student joins class. You will see that you know a ton! After just a few classes, you know so much more than someone who knows nothing. You will see and feel this if you work technique or train with the new person. You will be shocked at what they do not know because to you it is beginning to become second nature. Then you will realize how much you have learned and how much you are progressing.

The takeaway for this is that if you want to get better, go to your  jiu-jitsu or mixed martial arts class consistently. If you want to see how far you have progressed, beat up on the new guy. No, no it’s not. The takeaway is that progression is going to be tough to measure. Much of the time it will feel like you are staying in the same place. The key is to realize this is a good thing. This means that, yes, you are getting better. It also means you are part of a strong jiu-jitsu or mixed martial arts team that is getting better right along with you.

Come and Try our 30 Days FREE!!! Sampa Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts is a place that welcomes beginners, children, women, family and over 40 years old. Visit www.sampabjj.com for more details!

My intention with these videos is to make up understand what type of martial arts we have at sampa Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Also we want you to check out the level of our instructions, and the way our classes are conducted!

Just a few Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and mixed martial arts schools in the country have a great youth program, they train mainly adults.

We are part of the 1% of the BJJ and MMA schools in USA and or in the world who have a special program for kids, children at age of 3-4, 5-8 year old, 9-12 yearsw old! Teens in other places they join the adults classes, not here, we have a special program for theens.

check the video out then call us now, 626-335-4971, we offer a 30 days free trial!

My intention with these videos is to make up understand what type of martial arts we have at sampa Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Also we want you to check out the level of our instructions, and the way our classes are conducted!

Just a few Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and mixed martial arts schools in the country have a great youth program, they train mainly adults.

We are part of the 1% of the BJJ and MMA schools in USA and or in the world who have a special program for kids, children at age of 3-4, 5-8 year old, 9-12 yearsw old! Teens in other places they join the adults classes, not here, we have a special program for theens.

check the video out then call us now, 626-335-4971, we offer a 30 days free trial!

My intention with these videos is to make up understand what type of martial arts we have at sampa Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Also we want you to check out the level of our instructions, and the way our classes are conducted!

Just a few Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and mixed martial arts schools in the country have a great youth program, they train mainly adults.

We are part of the 1% of the BJJ and MMA schools in USA and or in the world who have a special program for kids, children at age of 3-4, 5-8 year old, 9-12 yearsw old! Teens in other places they join the adults classes, not here, we have a special program for theens.

check the video out then call us now, 626-335-4971, we offer a 30 days free trial!

My intention with these videos is to make up understand what type of martial arts we have at sampa Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Also we want you to check out the level of our instructions, and the way our classes are conducted!

Just a few Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and mixed martial arts schools in the country have a great youth program, they train mainly adults.

We are part of the 1% of the BJJ and MMA schools in USA and or in the world who have a special program for kids, children at age of 3-4, 5-8 year old, 9-12 yearsw old! Teens in other places they join the adults classes, not here, we have a special program for theens.

check the video out then call us now, 626-335-4971, we offer a 30 days free trial!

We had a very safe environment as usual and everyone had so much fun training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Glendora.

In my point of view BJJ and mixed martial arts or MMA could be for everyone as long as the safety on training is the priority, it is two great sports and everyone should benefit from Them.

Watch the Video:

If you are not a Sampa Student yet try us out for 30 days, it is free! Yes 30 days free trial! Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA at Sampa is for everyone at Sampa Academy!

For more Pictures click on the link Below:

http/www.facebook.com/sampabjj

I will see you guys all this week!

If you are not a Sampa Student yet try us out for 30 days, it is free! Yes 30 days free trial! Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA at Sampa is for everyone at Sampa Academy!