In light of the BJJ Competition Season we will be starting a news series about what is probably the most neglected aspect of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu lifestyle: nutrition. We will kick off this discussion with the most important part of any diet: hydration. We will start with some interesting facts.

-75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated
-When dehydrated, we often mistake thirst for hunger. So if you ate an hour ago and you feel hungry, try a glass of water.
-It takes about two days to fully recover from dehydration, assuming you are drinking plenty of water in those two days
-8 glasses a day could be too much or too little; stay tuned
-Although caffeinated drinks, carbonated drinks, and alcoholic beverages contain water, your body actually loses water trying to process these drinks, so limit yourself to one or less of these beverages per day.

So how much water is enough water? 8 Glasses a day? Well the answer is, it depends. The rule of thumb is 1/2 of an ounce for every pound you weigh. So for someone 200lbs 8 glasses a day is not enough. For someone 100lbs, it can be too much. It is also important to replace what you have lost in exercise. Especially for BJJ practitioners, training in the gi can lead to much more water loss. 1-2 cups of water per hour training should be plenty but test it for yourself. Weigh yourself before training, and after training, and see how much you lost. You should drink 16oz of water per pound you lost in your workout.

It can be difficult with our busy lives to stay on top of our water drinking so here are some tips on keeping hydrated. Try to always choose water with each meal. Drink at least one glass of water with each meal or snack. Carry a water bottle everywhere you go. Keep one in your car, at the office, and at home. You can find refillable water bottles at target or wal-mart for just a couple bucks. If you are a heavier person, try one of the half-gallon containers. Also, not all water needs to come from drinking water. Try some uncarbonated, sugar free flavored drinks like crystal light or flavored water. Fruits and vegetables also tend to be high in water content. Increase your fruit and vegetable content and you can actually get as much as 20% of your hydration from these foods. Most importantly, thirst should not be a sign to drink water. Being thirsty means it is already too late, so try to stay on top of it throughout the day! So the lesson this week, hydration is the key to a longer, healthier life with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. We look forward to seeing everyone hydrated, and training hard!

See you on the mats!

GBA STAFF

We had a great turnout for the 3rd Year Celebration Class, lots of good training and lots of well deserved promotions and Graduations. Congratulations to everyone who received stripes and belts on Saturday, you all deserved them. See you n the mats.

We are all set to celebrate our third year together as an Academy. Lots of good things to share tomorrow at the noon class. Be sure to wear your white Gracie Barra Gi for the group picture which will take place at 2:00 p.m.

There will be several Graduations/Promotions tomorrow after the class, so be sure to invite your family and friends to come visit the academy. Afterwords there will be some nice cake and coffee (Provided by Morningside Coffee) and soft drinks provided by Pepsi Americas, for all to share. Then for those who would like to, we can all go out for an early dinner at a local restaurant.

Cold and Flu Season is quickly approaching, so we need to “up” our good hygiene efforts! In addition to keeping your body clean, please remember to respect your bjj partners at GBAR and keep your Gi’s clean, too! Please also use the hand sanitizer before and after stepping on the mats!

(Located where you pick up your attendance cards and near the water bottle holders)

If we all do this – remind your kids as well – we should be able to “roll” through this season easily! Additionally, if you or your child is sick, it’s ok to miss a class! This way we can keep colds and flu’s to a minimum at the school! Thanks for your consideration!

Difference between martial art and martial way:

A martial art is the study of an art that emphasizes only physical techniques. Perfection of technique is the primary concern. A martial way emphasizes the study of both physical techniques and a philosophical or mental aspect as well. Perfection of the self is the primary concern.

Martial arts information and definitions

A martial art is any skill that can be applied in warfare. The word martial means “military.” So, a martial art is a military art. Most people don’t really consider that when they think of the martial arts. The first things that usually come to mind are leaping, kicking, punching, blocking, inverting elbows, twisting necks, throwing, and sword fighting. That is a very narrow view of the martial arts, though. Did it occur to you that horsemanship, javelin throwing, archery, spear fighting, halberd fighting, wrestling, knife fighting, rifle, shotgun, and pistol shooting, demolitions, logistics, and battle strategy are all martial arts? Anything that a soldier might do in battle is a martial art.

Various forms of self-defense, usually weaponless, based on techniques developed in ancient China, India, and Tibet. In modern times they have come into wide use for self-protection, as competitive sports, and for exercise. Jiujitsu teaches skills that enable one to overcome a bigger, stronger opponent. Other popular forms of martial arts include kung fu, karate, and tae kwon do, all of which emphasize blows with the feet and the side of the hand, another for of martial art is kendo, in which leather-covered bamboo “swords are used, and aikido, which uses wrist, elbow, and shoulder twists and graceful falls; it is noncompetitive and incorporates various spiritual concepts. All styles emphasize allowing ki (cosmic energy) to flow through one’s body. This belief in ki connects aikido with t’ai chi ch’uan, a meditationlike discipline that emphasizes slow, graceful body movements. The most popular form of individual exercise in China, t’ai chi is often performed publicly in large groups; it has been claimed to reduce stress and lower blood pressure. Judo, a Japanese sport created in 1882, makes use of jiujitsu principles. Capoeira, a dancelike Brazilian discipline, is gaining in popularity.

martial

Pronunciation: ‘mär-shl

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Latin martialis of Mars, from Mart-, Mars

Date: 14th century

1 : of, relating to, or suited for war or a warrior

2 : relating to an army or to military life

3 : experienced in or inclined to war : WARLIKE

- mar.tial.ly / adverb

Martial Arts

The term “martial art” is used in (at least) two different ways. This can be confusing. Some dictionary definitions only make things worse.

The dictionary definition handy at the moment defines a martial art as “Any of several Oriental arts of combat or self-defense, as karate, judo, or tae kwon do, usually practiced as a sport.”

Typically this group uses “Martial Art” in one of two ways:

1) The first definition is a generic one, which defines a “Martial Art” as the study of any kind of combat and/or self-defense techniques.

This definition includes non-oriental arts like boxing. This definition includes both those arts practiced primarily as a sport, and those arts practiced primarily for self-defense. This definition includes those arts that emphasize only physical technique. This definition also includes those arts that emphasize a philosophical or mental aspect in addition to physical techniques. In its broadest usage, this definition includes learning how to drive a tank or drop bombs out of a plane as a Martial Art. This explains the somewhat facetious references you will see to “Gun Fu”, the martial art of learning how to use firearms (implying, as the dictionary definition does, that a martial art must be oriental to be legitimate).

2) The second definition is much narrower, and draws a distinction between a “Martial ART” and a “Martial WAY“. To offer a gross simplification:

A martial art is the study of an art that emphasizes only physical techniques. Perfection of technique is the primary concern. A martial way emphasizes the study of both physical techniques and a philosophical or mental aspect as well. Perfection of the self is the primary concern.

art

Pronunciation: ‘ärt

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English, from Old French, from Latin art-, ars — more at ARM

Date: 13th century

1 : skill acquired by experience, study, or observation

2 a : a branch of learning: (1) : one of the humanities (2) plural : LIBERAL ARTS b archaic : LEARNING, SCHOLARSHIP

3 : an occupation requiring knowledge or skill

4 a : the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects; also : works so produced b (1) : FINE ARTS (2) : one of the fine arts (3) : a graphic art

5 a archaic : a skillful plan b : the quality or state of being artful

6 : decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter

synonyms ART, SKILL, CUNNING, ARTIFICE, CRAFT mean the faculty of executing well what one has devised. ART implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power . SKILL stresses technical knowledge and proficiency . CUNNING suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing . ARTIFICE suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature . CRAFT may imply expertness in workmanship .

Gracie Barra: Organized Like a Team, Fighting Like a Family!
We at Gracie Barra strive to teach more than Martial Arts.

We at Gracie Barra strive to teach more than Martial Arts.