10th Planet Watch – 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Van Nuys Blog

This is a great article by ADCC vet, David Avellan. It talks about many of the same principles I believe in! It talks about discipline, motivation, consistency, goals etc. IT’S a MUST READ!!!

Underground Blogger David Avellan, along with his brother Marcos, founded South Florida’s Freestyle Fighting Academy (FFA) in 2001, and has trained fighters for the UFC, WEC, Bodogfight, EliteXC, Strikeforce, among many other promotions.

Most people that begin martial arts do not have it.

They come to the martial arts with the idea of learning it, not realizing how important it really is.

Every person who quits doesn’t have it.

Those that stick with it begin to develop it.

Like a muscle, it grows stronger with use.

With it you have the power to accomplish anything you desire.

What is it?
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Discipline

It is the single, most important aspect of developing greatness.

To be able to reach the high levels of aptitude required for championship level performances, you must be able to stick to a structured training regimen for a long period of time.

The path to greatness is very treacherous – filled with dangers and wicked twists that will throw off all but the few souls that possess the will and the discipline to stay the course.

Being disciplined means that no matter what is happening in your life, you will complete the task you set out to do every day.

It doesn’t matter if you are tired, sick, grumpy, have a hot date, have work to do, or (add your favorite excuse here) – you do what needs to be done.

When you have your own team of trainers, you don’t require that much discipline. Your coaches ARE the discipline. They will call you, contact your family, or even come to your house to make sure you train.

To be a self-made champion, you need to have discipline. While this can be a challenge, the rewards of having a high level of discipline are well worth the price of attaining it.

The Challenge

When you first start a new program, it is easy to stick to it. You are excited and pumped up to get results and have fun.

As time passes, the initial high fades. That is when your discipline (or lack of it) will kick in.

Those of little discipline quit quickly. They find all sorts of excuses to not fulfill their duties.

Those with discipline buckle down and stay with the program.

They have to push themselves out of bed, hype themselves up, and get their butt moving.

The hardest part is deciding to follow through. Once they are in the gym, it is relatively easy.

How do you Develop Discipline?

Discipline is like a muscle – it develops with use.

You train for discipline just as you would setup a weight lifting program, by increasing the difficulty gradually over time.

A simple way to start is by giving yourself a daily task to perform that is easy.

For example, set out to do 20 pushups every morning when you wake up.

This is not very challenging (physically), but you will find that sticking to this can be mentally challenging.

One day you will get up and be in a rush to do something. As a result, you forget to do it. Then you just drop the whole regimen altogether, deciding that will start over again tomorrow…

…And we all know how long in the future that tomorrow will be.

The key to developing discipline is consistency. You HAVE to do what you set out to do. No ifs or buts.

To keep yourself accountable, write down your discipline challenge and place it on a wall that you will see every day. This will be your reminder to do your task.

Start off with a simple task, such as:
•    20 pushups
•    20 sit ups
•    1 mile run
•    20 repetitions of your favorite technique

Once you master this challenge and are able to stuck with it for at least 2 weeks, add another simple challenge or increase the difficulty of your challenge (instead of 20 pushups, do 30).

In this fashion you will continue you to develop your discipline, but there is one more thing required.

Motivation

The reason it is easy to start something new is because you are motivated.

You watched a UFC and got pumped up to “train UFC” and become the next Anderson Silva.

In those first few weeks, you are riding the high of your initial motivational source.

However, motivation is like a cup of water with a leak.

Over time, your motivation drains out of your body and before you know it, you could care less about becoming a UFC champion.

Even someone with superb discipline would have a hard time rationalizing the effort required to stick with a tough program without the proper motivation.

So how do you stay motivated?

Simple, keep filling up that cup!

You need to have a wealth of motivational sources. Think of them like wells of water.

A good motivational source can supply you with endless amounts of motivation.

A bad motivational source gets tapped out with a few uses.

Motivation goes hand in hand with getting or visualizing results. When you picture yourself with the UFC belt around your waist, and the feeling you would have being known at the baddest man on the planet, that might motivate you to train hard.

Everyone is different, so you have to find out what motivates you. You then want to protect these sources and make sure you can call upon them whenever you need to.

Motivational sources can be:
•    Books
•    Movies
•    People
•    Objects
•    Memories
•    Goals
•    Results

Once you have a sufficient amount of sources to keep you motivated, you can truly begin the process.

Discipline Building Process

1.    Write down your discipline challenge (20 crunches)
2.    Write down your key motivation for completing the challenge (I want to get six-pack abs)
3.    Post them somewhere where you will see them every day.
4.    Complete your challenge every day, no matter what happens.
5.    When you are struggling, read your key motivation, visualize the results, and get pumped.
6.    Once you mastered the challenge, increase the difficulty or add a new challenge.

Believe and Achieve,

David Avellan
http://www.DavidAvellan.com

Link to article

First, ‘Id like to give props to the 6 new blue belts! It’s not easy to get a blue under me, so when you do, you know you’ve earned it. Every student’s journey is different, for me, the criteria for each person to get their blue belt is different. I want to see the student is proficient in all the major positions, and submissions. I want to see a strict, consistent training regiment, even if it’s twice a week. I want to see them building a game plan and constantly revamping it. I want to see them helping their team mates, and having a positive attitude in class. Loyalty is big, are you helping the team get better, or are you only concerned with your progression? Effort, do you train hard, show up on time, go one more round even if your mind says no. The list goes on and on.

Not every promotion is a belt rank. Today, I promoted Mike Frausto to competition Co-Captain. Mike has shown amazing ability in competition, training and teaching. He has show exemplary leadership abilities and at the same time, remained humble and egoless. Mike himself has all the makings of a champion and a black belt, at the same time, he also has the traits to one day be a world class coach.

Congrats gang!!!

Blue Belts
1- David Alvarez
2- Gabe Calvento
3- David Hah
4- Bhimerjeet Kahlom
5- Bill Reusch
6- Daniel Godinez

***Competition Co-Captain – Mike “Lobes” Frausto

I had the awesome privilege of cornering the first ever Combat Jiu Jitsu match held at Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles. This may be the next thing that ties Jiu Jitsu into MMA. Maybe one day we’ll see big names in jiu jitsu use this as a stepping stone into getting into full blown mma.

Want to learn Jiu Jitsu? www.10thplanetvannuys.com

After going 0-4 in his last 4 UFC appearances, Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy picks up a victory in devastating fashion. After a seesaw battle for the first 3 minutes of the first round, Hardy lands his signature finishing move, the big left hook, that sent Duane “Bang” Ludwig, crashing to the canvas. After raising his hands in victory, The Outlaw, pounced on a rattled Ludwig, and finished him off with ground and pound. After some very disappointing outcomes in the past couple of years, his puts Dan back on track. The 10th Planet family salutes our British friend, Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy!

10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Van Nuys sees it’s first MMA champion! Congtatulations to “Gorgeous” Georgie Garcia as he becomes the first ever, U of MMA, 145lbs champion. His victory was heralded by the promoters as, “the most exciting match the promotion has ever had in it’s history.” This was also the first time in the history of the sport, an MMA show had been held at the Nokia Theater, at L.A. Live, in downtown Los Angeles. The even was running side by side with the Kings and the Clippers playoff games. The atmosphere down there was electric.

The battle between Georgie, and his opponent, Chris Bonilla, was an epic back and forth battle. Bonilla came out strong, and went right after the 10th Planet Van Nuys and Saekson’s Muay Thai product. Bonilla, had no fear of the undefeated fighter. After some great exchanges on the feet, Georgie used his San Fernando wrestling pedigree to take his opponent to the mat. Bonilla, showed he had dangerous jiu jitsu off of his back, and was able to lock in, what might be a game ending triangle. It looked like Georgies perfect record, along with his aspirations for the title, were in jeopardy. Fighting through the fact that all the blood was being blocked from flowing to his brain, Georgie was able to find a way out. Just when it looked like he was out, Bonilla transitioned masterfully to an armbar. Georgies arm was stretched out completely straight, and again it looked like he could be finished. HIs mental fortitude and never say die attitude kicked in and he ripped his arm out of the submission. At this point, his opponent looked gassed. Going for the submission took everything he had. This was the turning point in the fight, although Bonilla would never quit, and would continue to come on strong, Georgie was just too much for him. Both fighters scrambled back to their feet where towards the end the round, where Georgie, feeding off the energy of the crowd, would grab a head and arm throw, and toss his adversary’s feet high into the sky. The round ended with Bonilla landing on his head upside down pinned against the cage with Garcia ground and pounding from a schoolyard headlock position. This was much to the delight of the huge crowd that had come out to see these men do battle in the main event.

At one point in the fight Georgie faked the shot, and came over the top with a monstrous overhand right that sent his opponent crashing to the canvas. He swarmed the dazed competitor, throwing brutal shots from the guard on the ground. Respecting Bonilla’s excellent ground game, Georgie was a bit tentative in going all out and trying to finish the fight. Bonilla, was able to recover from onslaught, mount a comeback, and would lock in what could be a game ending kimura. Yet again, Georgie was able to scramble out of it and land a WWE inspired double leg take down that dazzled the crowd. Georgie seemed to have an answer for everything Bonilla threw at him. George landed take down, after take down, and combination after combination, he controlled the ring like a true general. At the end of the fight it was clear to most people who one the fight, including “Big” John McCarthy and the other 2 judges, who in the end, had it scored for unanimously for the New 145lbs champ, “Gorgeous” Georgie Garcia!

In other notable fights on the card, 10th Planet Van Nuys’s Mike “Lobes” Frausto and Mike “Tipz” Venturella both were on the card and had exciting fights. Both fighters have made huge adjustments and improvements to their respective games. Both look fight and compete again soon. I’m extremely proud of those two, they’ve come a long way and constantly surprise me with how good they’ve become. Also on the card,10th Planet’s heavy weight freight train, Amir Allam fought to a draw, showing his durability, outstanding wrestling and superior ground skills. Erik “Compella” Cruz fought and won the inaugural Combat Jiu Jitsu fight by RNC with one second left in the first round. Combat Jiu Jitsu is Eddie Bravo’s brainchild which sees Jiu Jitsu with ground and pound. It has recently been sanctioned by CAMO in California, and this was the first one we’ve seen on a show. The idea seems to be to lure Jiu Jitsu players into MMA without having to learn striking ri ght off the bat, allowing MMA training wheels to be applied to their game.

Thanks again for reading our newsletter! If you’d like to come down to try out classes, please go to our website www.10thplanetvannuys.com. Thank you for your continued support, and we’ll see you on the mats.

For years nobody ever understood what it was I did for a living. I used to be a Drum and Bass DJ. That meant for most people, if anybody was getting married, I was the first person they’d call to ask if I would play at their wedding, or at the reception. For those of you who don’t know, it’s about the equivalent of asking your local death metal band to play the lobby of a swanky hotel, because the guy in the cubicle next to you, is a musician. Now, I teach at 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Van Nuys for a living.  Instead of being asked to DJ bar mitzfas, now I get the drunk chick at parties asking me “You do Jiu Jitsu? That’s soooo coool, I’d like to tone up for summer, can you teach me? Please be my personal trainer.”

I’m with my uncle today visiting my sick grandmother at her home. My uncle is one of my biggest supporters. He has watched me coach, and he’s been to tournaments with me, but I’m not exactly sure he has much of idea of what I do. He’s always trying to help, bless his heart, but seems to always miss the mark.

So, My uncle was wearing a Pacquiao vs Clottey shirt that he’d gotten from a friend of his. One of the Filipino nurses commented on his shirt. I cringed thinking about the next part. My uncle thought she was talking about me, and bragged to the cute nurse, that just like Manny Pacquiao, that I’m an awesome kickboxing fighter trainer. To his credit, I do coach mma, but only the grappling portion. He then made some reference to me training gladiators. It’s too bad he didn’t say something about human cock fighting, that would have been good. Everybody kind of looked at him weird. Then, in desperation he grabbed my head, and gave me a noogie. Everybody was even more puzzled now. I felt like the teenage girl who’s dad bursts in to the sleepover, with a wig, and a guitar, trying to be a part of the gang.

I said “No, she’s talking about, Pacquiao, Manny Pacquiao. You know the boxer? She’s talking about your shirt.” The nurse agreed and we both gestured towards his shirt.

“Oh yeah? Cool, that’s cool.” He said. You know one of those
“sure sure, whatever you say” things you do when you don’t understand what some foreigner is saying, and you want to just get out of the situation, as soon as possible. It was like that, except everybody was speaking English.

“Pacquiao isn’t a kickboxer, he’s a boxer. Pretty much one of the best on the planet. You don’t know him? Really?” I said, in disbelief. I know my uncle used to be a huge Mohammed Ali and boxing fan in his day.

“Oh? The only kickboxer I know is you. hahahah” My uncle said, while punching me playfully, yet a bit nervously, in the stomach.

What was odd is, I’m pretty sure he knows who Pac-Man is, and I’m pretty sure he has a better understanding of what I do, as well. However, at that specific moment, for some reason, it must have, just all went out the window. Or maybe he was just trying to make me look good in front of cute nurses, and it took a nose dive. Or maybe, just maybe, in his own ironic, genius way, he was trolling me. You know, like he was imitating a bad romantic comedy movie, like the Bridgette Jones diary or something. Where he was playing the role of the wacky, off beat family member that embarrasses the hopelessly single character, in front of the sexy female. I’m guessing not, it was probably him just being a bit lost.

I want to know what your family thinks about what you do when you tell them, “I do 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu.” or whatever martial art you do. Somebody has to have another awesome story or two.

I’ve seen this picture floating around the nets. I love it, I think it’s pretty spot on.

It’s been a little over 4 years since I had full time employment at a very famous post production sound facility, Danetracks Inc. Since then I made the move to opening up my own 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu affiliate in Van Nuys, California. I left Dane Davis, for Eddie Bravo, sound design for Jiu Jitsu. I went from Protools to The Twister. I won an M.P.S.E for best sound in a game., but we lost in the UFC title fight vs. Georges St. Pierre in New Jersey. I went from working inside the big blue Danetracks building, to training at the Van Nuys MMA Super Center. I walked away from the position of editor, and took up the title of coach. I traded the vibrant colors of West Hollywood, for dreary strip malls of Van Nuys. I went from an Academy Award winning sound studio, to cornering Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy in his title shot. I gave up a Kensington track ball and gained a cage panel. I swapped out sound effects for bone-breaking techniques. I left motion pictures, for pay-per-view events. I said good bye to interactive media, and said hello to “As real as it gets.” I went from competing for jobs, to competing for the challenge. I exchanged an Aeron chair for a Zebra mat. I went from networking at E3, to competing in ADCC. to went from bicycling to work, to flying around the world. I was work in a room by myself, then i was teaching seminars to full rooms of people. Punching a clock, to punching a bag.  I went from recording the sounds of guns, to teaching how to use the body as a weapon.  I went from insecure and scared, to confident and brave. I went from employee to entrepreneur. I went from being downsized, to running my own budding business. In my mind, I’m starting to feel like a success.

Along the way I’ve fallen, I’ve stumbled, and I’ve contemplated quitting. What keeps me moving forward you ask? I find my motivation in the moments. It’s the thank you and a smile from a new student. It’s the grappler’s realization of his/her progression over time. It’s the advice of a mentor, it’s being humbled by a black belt. It’s the camaraderie of a team. It’s the direct result of hard work. It’s the responsibility of those times when you have to be a leader and a role model. It’s reaching a goal. It’s visualizing the yet to come. It’s the win of a fighter, it’s a hug from a competitor. It’s the student confiding in you. It’s giving, and receiving the gift of knowledge. It’s in solving a problem. It’s making a difference in somebody’s life. That’s what makes being a coach such a rewarding job for me.

Thank you to everybody that’s played a part in my journey. Good, bad, or other, you all all added to the storyline, I’ve learn so much from all my experiences, and I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I’m looking forward to what the future brings. I have a feeling the party is just getting started. Enter the Alpha-Black era.

Coach Alder Hampel

10th Planet Van Nuys

This past weekend, in Las Vegas, Nevada, 10th planet members from all over came together at NAGA (North American Grappling Association) and came out with awesome team victory! With a nibiru warrior from either Portland, HQ, Burbank, Riverside, or Van Nuys in every division from Novice to Advanced, and placing in every division! Every one of them trained hard this and earned every single victory out there. Congrats to everyone to competed and came out to support! On to the next one!

For the past month and a half over at 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Van Nuys, the competition team has been training for hours and hours on end for NAGA in Las Vegas on Saturday, March 10th. A training camp for a tournament is a huge key to success over at 10th Planet Van Nuys, whether it be no gi jiu jitsu or MMA. The team vibe has never been better, and the team is pushing each other to a whole other level when it comes to conditioning, drilling, and rolling in the gym. It is sure to sure on the mat come March 10th. Be on the look out for 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Van Nuys!

Want to learn RJJ Renato Jiu Jitsu? www.10thplanetvannuys.com

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu legend Renato Laranja, chokes Eddie Bravo unconscious!

Want to learn Jiu Jitsu, MMA, No-gi? www.10thplanetvannuys.com