BALLS

Men like balls, they like to play with them, blow them up, kick them, throw them, hit them and do numerous other "things" with them. I am no exception.

Lately I have been using a large 'blow up' ball to exercise on. The ball I am referring to is the Swiss ball also know as the exercise ball, balance ball, birth ball, body ball, ball, fitness ball, gym ball, gymnastic ball, physio ball, pilates ball, Pezzi ball, sports ball, stability ball, Swedish ball, therapy ball, or yoga ball. For a more detailed description check here.

Many of the top Jiu-Jitsu athletes today are using them in training including Leo Vieira, Andre Galvao, and Abmar Barbosa.

Here; Galvao and Vieira demonstrate their skills on the Swiss ball. The footage below was taken from the Japanese Submission Spirits VM, available in the UK from Scramble Stuff.



As you can see the Swiss ball is a great 'fun' work out especially for Jiu-Jitsu. Since I have started to use it I have noticed an improvement in my balance, movement, coordination and weight distribution in the grapple.

A word of warning, the Swiss ball takes a while to get used to, so it is best to start off on a matted area under supervision. I nearly went through the glass coffee table in my old flat. I have also head 'bongoed' whilst trying to perform a 180 back flip at the academy.

Exercise balls retail from around £20 upwards and are available from most sports retailers, I have included a rough ball sizing chart for starting out.

Sizing guidelines for exercise:
Your Height: Ball Size
Under 5'2" (1.57m): 45cm ball
5'3"- 5'8" (1.60m-1.72m): 55 cm ball
5'9" - 6'2" (1.75m-1.88m): 65 cm ball
Above 6'3" (1.90m): 75 cm ball

Submission: Triangle

As part of my blog I will have a regular "Submission" feature where I will highlight some of my favourite submissions, with examples of them being pulled off in competition. Today's submission is the triangle.

Search the net and you will find many definitions of the submission, here is my favourite.

"Submission using the legs in the form of a triangle. A triangle choke (called Sankaku-Jime in Judo) is a type of figure-four chokehold which strangles the opponent by encircling the opponent's neck and one arm with the legs in a configuration similar to the shape of a triangle. The technique is a type of lateral vascular restraint that constricts the blood flow from the carotid arteries to the brain."

Well enough of the drivel, lets see the technique in action.

Below, GB Black Belt and highly decorated featherweight Jiu-Jitsu maestro Mario Reis shows us how the technique should be done. Pay close attention to the set up.



In the 2009 World BJJ cup Braulio Estima used the submission to choke out Marcelo Garcia, again pay close attention to the set up.



Finally, if you are still craving for an extra triangle fix, check out this Ryan Hall (aka Ry-angle") highlight



So there you have it the triangle, so good they named a vast area of ocean after it.

World of Movimento Lento - Shocker Jiu-Jitsu

So, here we begin with the journey into the world of 'Movimento Lento'. With a plethora of blogs available in the public domain, many of which bore me to tears, I decided to start my own. I will be covering a wide range of subjects and random musings that will be held together (vaguely) by a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu thread. The men in white coats may be coming for me, but at least it will make for an interesting read. My adventure into 'geek-dom' starts today. Hold on!!!