BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu)and Pool
- Thread starter Pete
- Start date
I've tried Jazzercize and Zumba, but that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was a little rough. The rear naked choke hurts! :grin-square:
All kidding aside, if your body is toned, it has to help the mind. After all, once you acquire the mechanical skills in pool, the rest is mind power, the ability to block out distractions and get in that zone, to include positive thinking. This holds true in Jiu Jitsu as well as pool. :wink:
I'd say it should definitely help.
People that practice this discipline have fewer air-barrels fired at them.
...and they win more disputes about iffy hits.
I started weight-lifting about 4 years ago and it's really hard to say what the impact is. In the beginning (and after a long lay-off from lifting), the soreness definitely hurts my game. If I'm sticking to my routine (3 times per week), there's very little negative effect. The positive is, it takes less effort for me to have a 23mph break and I'm more accurate on my break. On the other hand, I'm occasionally nursing something, right now my left shoulder is a little tender. Before any big events, I'll usually shave-off about 20% and focus more on cardio. Although I haven't won anything big recently, I'm convinced the added energy can only help.
Hey Pete, I started BJJ about 8 months ago and although I don't play much pool anymore, thought I'd chime in.
You will be extremely sore for a while. I remember being sore every single day for 2 months (I was not in good shape when I started). You'll have bruises that will hurt when you brush your teeth, you'll have tons of small injuries. Elbows will be tweaked, neck will hurt, fingers and toes will begin to feel like you are 85yrs old.
Alot of that will start to go away as you get better and as your body gets used to getting tackled and choked all the time.
So yes, it will affect your game negatively at first just by the physical toll BJJ can take on your body. But after a few months, you start getting in really good shape and I bet that will help your pool game.
Keep Calm and Roll Jiu-Jitsu
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BJJ is great and there's a lot of aspects about it that would help anyone's pool game. As long as you train smartly it's shouldn't hurt your pool game at all.
I would recommend tapping early when caught in kimuras and armbars since they can sprain your elbows and shoulders. I would also watch my grips with the gi and try and not get your fingers caught accidentally. I've had all of these minor injuries and it sidelined my pool game a little bit.
I would recommend tapping early when caught in kimuras and armbars since they can sprain your elbows and shoulders. I would also watch my grips with the gi and try and not get your fingers caught accidentally. I've had all of these minor injuries and it sidelined my pool game a little bit.
I tend to agree with you, Taco.
I feel that tai chi would greatly benefit any pool player.
How old are you? That matters. I remember being in judo with a bunch of youger opponents. They would pop right up after being thrown whereas it would take made a few extra seconds. The ground games are very similar but the throws hurt sometimes. You can't tap in the middle of being thrown. I was usually sore the day after class but fine the next day.
As a long-time Tai Chi adept I couldn't agree with this more.
The improved balance, mental focus, and breath control during motion will certainly come in handy. The integration of various body parts in a progressive manner during a move will train the body to feel the proper timing in almost every physical activity. To me, timing is the essence of a great pool stroke. Lastly, as you learn to relax your weight into your feet, your stance will gradually become steady as a mountain. We all know how important a solid stance is to delivering a straight stroke.
I've studied a few external ("hard") martial arts as well, wrestled competitively in high school, even boxed a bit in my youth, but none of them did much for my overall sense of balanced well being like Tai Chi provides. Plus, it is a martial art, although the applications of the moves in the form may take a bit more time and dedication to learn than most folks have the patience for.
Here's a video of a very accomplished Tai Chi practitioner from Toronto applying his art in a demonstration against a senior student of some MMA school. If you aren't impressed with how easily this chubby Canadian turns his opponent into various pretzel-like shapes against his will, you aren't ready to seriously study BJJ IMHO.
Trust me, most of these holds and traps would easily dislocate a shoulder, snap an elbow, or break a neck if that was the desired result. And if that's not enough for you, there are hundreds of potent hidden strikes throughout the form once you reach a very advanced level.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDIb9TWy-78
Once learned, this stuff is all very practical, and may allow you to leave pool hall in one piece if things go wrong, without having to throw a single punch or break a sweat. And no bail bondsmen or lawyers will need to get involved during the aftermath.:wink:
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Thanks for the responses guys. I am 44, and not in the best shape by anyones standards. That is why I am thinking of it to be honest.
I am a long time Martial Artist (over 20 years, more like 30). Years ago I tore out my knee and gained tons of weight. That's when I took up pool. But now I am back into MA but thinking of trying a new direction.
As for help with power, that's not something I was thinking because I agree that pool is not a game of power, but fine small motions. I just didn't know if people had really adverse effects from BJJ.
Once again, thank you...
Pete
I am a long time Martial Artist (over 20 years, more like 30). Years ago I tore out my knee and gained tons of weight. That's when I took up pool. But now I am back into MA but thinking of trying a new direction.
As for help with power, that's not something I was thinking because I agree that pool is not a game of power, but fine small motions. I just didn't know if people had really adverse effects from BJJ.
Once again, thank you...
Pete
The guy throwing the punches in this video is throwing them at 10% speed and with no power. What would happen if the younger kid went in for a double leg takedown, slammed him on the ground and proceeded to slap on a rear naked choke or pound his face into the pavement?
This is why you don't see any Tai Chi "masters" in the UFC. MMA fighters only use techniques that work, mainly striking, wrestling and jiu-jitsu. No forms, katas, horse stances, none of that.
Now, for balance, self-confidence, agility, flexibility and overall health (and your pool game), I'm sure Tai Chi is a great discipline. It's just not going to work against a trained fighter. Remember UFC 1?
My back has forbid me to partake of anything that can end up in me getting tied up like a pretzel.
4 wheeler and dirt bike riding, any type of wrestling or grappling martial arts, twister, break dancing and certain sexual positions have all been banned until further notice. :sorry:
4 wheeler and dirt bike riding, any type of wrestling or grappling martial arts, twister, break dancing and certain sexual positions have all been banned until further notice. :sorry:
Did you expect them to have a full-out fight at a public expo? lol Tai Chi responds with only as much speed and power as is used by the opponent. If the guy throwing the punches threw them at full speed and power, he just might have gotten his neck broke when that power was used against him. If anything, IMO the guy in the video was being gentle with the student. I've been put into many of those holds by master practitioners. You can't do a damn thing but fold to the ground once you are in their control, and you don't feel the trap until you are already in it and it's too late. It's stupefying, and pretty embarrassing, dangling and flopping like a fish while a guy half your size holds you there with no effort while he smiles and talks to the onlookers.
I don't recall UFC 1, was it a supposed Tai Chi master against a BJJ artist? I do remember, however, renting like 5 of the first tapes that came out on VHS about 10-15 years ago. Time after time, I slowed the tape down and watched as a "defenseless" opponent lay on his back and received multiple head punches... that all missed the mark. Yet, the ref stopped the "fight".
There was one time where a guy delivered a "knockout" punch (more invisible in slow-mo than the infamous punch Ali threw against Liston) that sent the opponent frozen and motionless but semi-upright against the side of the octagon, like a still figure in a macabre tableau. I have seen hundreds of real knockouts in boxing matches, and have never seen one time where a guy that was unconscious and motionless laid anywhere but flat on the canvas. Too many other similar things for me to ever take this stuff seriously.
I'm not saying that some of these guys don't possess world-class fighting skills, I just don't think they actually use them with real intent in these most of these matches. There'd be a lot more guys leaving on stretchers if they did.
The impact of BJJ on your pool game is negligible. If there is any effect, it would have to be mental toughness and stamina. BJJ is very strategic, and it takes a lot of patience to execute at higher competitive levels. You have to bait your opponent into positions that are advantageous to you so that you can apply and execute the submission.
To each his own I suppose. Glad to see you are actively involved in traditional martial arts. Keep it up and stay safe on the mats!
It seems clear to me that you haven't really watched any decent amount of Mixed Martial Arts with the claims and assertions that you are making. I've watched since the beginning, and I've participated. MMA is as real as it gets, don't kid yourself into thinking otherwise. Just for an example, the link below is to the medical suspensions after UFC 159 this past weekend.
http://www.sherdog.com/news/news/UFC-159-Medical-Suspensions-Jon-Jones-Out-Indefinitely-with-Broken-Toe-52105