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HAYABUSA JIU JITSU MASTERY COLLECTION

Building Elite Confidence the Georges St-Pierre Way

Building Elite Confidence the Georges St-Pierre Way

Georges St-Pierre is one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. It’s a reputation that has taken many years of diligence and persistence to establish. In his career, St-Pierre has earned a 26-2 ledger, avenging each of his losses. During that span, he won a historic nine consecutive title defenses in the UFC’s welterweight division and went on to be only the fourth person to hold a belt in two separate weight classes. He claimed that distinction after beating Michael Bisping at the end of 2017 for the middleweight title. In all his success, it wasn’t just physical prowess that made it possible. It has been a deliberate effort by St-Pierre to concentrate on building an elite level of confidence and focus. St-Pierre is adamant about the importance of confidence when competing. Confidence, he explains, is like a credit card. You can have all the money in the world, but if you don’t have a way to access that money, it can’t help you when you need it. Even if you possess a world-class level of athleticism and skill, without confidence you can’t access that potential when you’re in a fight. Circling back to St-Pierre’s credit card metaphor, in essence you’re wealthy, but with no access to what’s in your bank. Confidence acts as a credit card to access the ability. As simple as it sounds, there must be something in the bank to withdraw. In this case, confidence without ability creates a disconnect. If you are confident when you enter a fight, but you don’t have the skills gained through training, you’re in trouble. By changing myself from the inside out, I changed my environment as well. As a child, St-Pierre was bullied, which led him to pursue a form of self defense. During that tough period of his life, he would walk with his head down and his shoulders up high, making him a target for bullies. But as he began to develop skills through martial arts, there was a marked change and the harassment faded. He wants others to learn from his lessons and the first teaching is: Fake it until you make it. Outwardly present confidence and it will permeate in several ways. He pointed out, be more confident in your posture, change the way you walk and talk. Make eye contact while talking to others and shake hands firmly. There are elements of that notion he carried with him into the MMA world. He said he puts on a mask before each fight, allowing him to escape into a state of confidence. He explains humans are very similar to animals. Predatory animals seek out prey that appear weak. By putting on this proverbial mask, it allows the wearer to disguise any weakness, while gaining a positive change in how one is treated. That will, in turn, allow feelings of confidence to settle in. “What martial arts gave me is the confidence,” St-Pierre said. “I knew that I knew how to defend myself and … it created more confidence in me. I knew I needed to put on a mask because when you play poker or you’re going to fight, you can’t show your weakness. By changing myself from the inside out, I changed my environment as well.” For him, having that confidence mixed with his martial arts ability held a direct correlation to his MMA career. Visualization is another key component in fostering a new level of confidence. St-Pierre urges people to always imagine yourself achieving your goal, whether it’s winning a tournament or beating an opponent. Do this as much as possible. Negative thoughts are natural and can creep in at any moment, but it’s important to visualize turning the match around before it’s done. Doing this ensures you see yourself winning consistently before there is even a fight. “I act like it’s impossible for me to fail,” St-Pierre said. Once inside the cage, St-Pierre, like most professional athletes, has incorporated an excellent level of focus. He is able to ignore the unimportant commotion, while honing in on the necessary information in a fight. For instance, during a bout St-Pierre is able to pay attention to the time left in the round, the advice of his corner, and even the advice of the opponent’s corner, all while contending with an adversary in front of him. The ability to process what is happening with a detailed level of focus can allow a person to avoid an overload of information. You’re able to block out the crowd noise or how you were feeling earlier in the day. Instead, you’re keeping pace with the task at hand. Developing that focus comes in two forms that work in conjunction with the other. The first is to have a simple, well-rehearsed game plan. And secondly, focus only on things that you can control, ignoring what you can’t. According to St-Pierre, it’s imperative to have a clear, simple, and practiced gameplan to focus on during a match. One point of focus for St-Pierre against Bisping was to “Stay all the way in or all the way out.” It was a simple plan, allowing for a clear direction. More importantly, there was no way that psyche could be clouded through overthinking. In the lead up to a fight, only focus on things inside your control, while eschewing those things that can’t be controlled. Thoughts on headaches, how you slept the night before or the opinions of others, to name a few, should be jettisoned. What you should focus on is the execution of your well-rehearsed game plan. These are all things that helped a kid, once the victim of schoolyard bullies, transform into one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time. Georges St-Pierre | Versatile Georges St-Pierre | Versatile 2019-11-06 Peter Lee Thomas | Warrior In A Garden Peter Lee Thomas | Warrior In A Garden 2020-01-01 Seeking Sobriety Led to Muay Thai Seeking Sobriety Led to Muay Thai 2019-12-12

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Fabio Holanda | An Architect of Confidence

Fabio Holanda | An Architect of Confidence

The pathway to gaining a sufficient level of confidence in Jiu Jitsu has a deliberate pattern — at least it does to Fabio Holanda. Holanda, the head instructor at Brazilian Top Team Canada and a black belt since 2001, began to pick up on those cues as a teenager in Brazil and later as a young adult in Montreal, Canada. “I started to coach [when] I was a blue belt,” Holanda said. “My coach … I used to attend his class and after, was one of my friend’s classes and then I had my class after. So I always trained with my coach and then I taught after.” Known in the Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts world as “Mastermind,” Holanda points to several dots that connect, undergirding what it takes to become confident in the martial art. First, there must be consistency when it comes to training. A student has to be dedicated to the sport and practicing on a regular basis. Naturally, apprehension will be there, especially for those new to Jiu Jitsu, but as drilling and techniques become ingrained, a student will then begin to believe in themselves and their skills. As that experience builds, so does the rank and belt color. And as a Jiu Jitsu player’s rank elevates, so does their role on the mat. In Holanda’s system, those with blue belts and higher teach. It’s a method he incorporated after moving to Montreal in 2004. Shortly after his arrival, Holanda began training at the Montreal Wrestling Club with coach Victor Zuberman. “He was like, as a coach, my idol,” Holanda admitted. “He had a system there.” That system at the wrestling club was simple: Grapplers with a higher level of experience were paired with those who had less time on the mat. From there, it became a give-and-take exchange. Knowledge and technique were shared and eventually perfected, helping both wrestlers. When you’re helping someone, it helps you to concentrate on the details. At BTT Canada, headquartered in Montreal with multiple locations in the country, blue belts teach white belts, purple belts teach blue belts and below, brown belts teach purple belts and below, while black belts teach brown belts on down. “When you’re helping someone, it helps you to concentrate on the details,” Holanda said. “When I started to teach as a blue belt, I’d go to my coach’s class and I would really focus on what he was saying because I wanted to send the message exactly the same. That makes you more technical because you have to help the others. …. Any of my black belts can teach anywhere.” Holanda admits occasionally he hears complaints about the repetitive nature of the system. Some call it boring, but their tune changes when it’s their time to play the role of instructor. “As soon as they start to teach, they go, ‘Oh my God, it’s so good,’” he said with a laugh. “The system is so good because it really helps to teach.” Speaking of being taught lessons, Holanda’s introduction to Jiu Jitsu came in an eventful way. He admits to having an affinity for fighting as a kid and in 1994, friends in his northeast Brazilian town of Natal, convinced him to come to a Jiu Jitsu class. Both were already blue belts. As he was waiting for class to begin, Holanda and one of those friends were already on the mat. It was then his friend put him a triangle choke and began to laugh. “I’m like why are you laughing? I still can punch you from here,” Holanda said. “So he actually choked me out cold. Then I woke up. I was very impressed and at the same I was like, man, I was fighting without knowing those things. I just want to learn that.” Although his initial thought was to apply those skills to the fighting he was doing in the street, his mindset quickly changed and the unofficial fights stopped. Once Holanda received his black belt in 2001, he moved to Rio de Janeiro where he lived and trained at the Brazilian Top Team facility. Established in Rio de Janeiro in 2000, Brazilian Top Team (BTT) founding members include: Murilo Bustamante, Ricardo Libório, Mário Sperry and Luis Roberto Duarte. While there, Holanda coached and competed in tournaments. He continued competing once he moved to Montreal in 2004. During his career on the mat, Holanda won numerous tournaments, including: Brazilian Northeast Championship, 2004 NAGA (New Jersey), Quebec City’s Brawl at the Old City, Brazilian Championships, Brazilian Northeast Championship, RN State Championships, and more. He also ventured into professional fighting, garning a 6-6 record in those sanctioned bouts. Holanda also served as Jiu Jitsu coach for 2014’s The Ultimate Fighter Nations: Canada vs. Australia. So how did he gain that “Mastermind” monicker? It came courtesy of a manager of MMA icon Georges St-Pierre and former professional mixed martial artists Patrick Cote (23-11 pro MMA record), and Jonathan Goulet (former pro MMA fighter that went 23-12 overall, including four wins in the UFC). “All those guys used to train under me, so their manager gave me that nickname, the Mastermind, because I’m always making the game plan,” he said. Part of that game plan, no matter the level of experience, is to keep things simple. An example of that came during a major tournament in 2003 where one of his students qualified for the finals. As the bout to determine his student’s opponent was about to start, Holanda told his pupil to rest, while he scouted the match. Holanda noticed the eventual winner constantly used a collar drag with his right arm. He later told his student to be mindful of the collar drag and to pass on his opponent's right side, neutralizing the move. The student listened, later scoring 2 points on a double-leg takedown, which led to a 2-0 victory. “That’s why I say sometimes, Jiu Jitsu is like life. It’s simple,” Holanda said. “We make it complicated. You always look to complicate everything that we do, so it’s the same thing with Jiu Jitsu. You make it simple: Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, get your position, don’t lose your points. Stay in a safe position.” It’s in that same simplicity confidence can be found. Just be prepared to commit, learn and teach. Bruno Fernandes Has the Recipe for Success Bruno Fernandes Has the Recipe for Success 2020-02-07 Building Elite Confidence the Georges St-Pierre Way Building Elite Confidence the Georges St-Pierre Way 2020-02-07 Finding Jiu Jitsu's Big Picture Ryron Gracie | Finding Jiu Jitsu’s Big Picture 2020-01-02 Warrior In A Garden Peter Lee Thomas | Warrior In A Garden 2020-01-01

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FEATURED PRODUCTS

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The Machado Method

An in-depth look at Jiu Jitsu basics by Carlos Machado (8th Degree Coral Belt).

Ground Fighting Series

Neil Melanson, the Ground Marshal, demonstrates techniques that can be used in a variety ways with devastating effect.

Ground Fighting Series: Attacks Inside The Guard

Ground Fighting Series: Attacks Inside The Guard

In this video, Neil Melanson explores attacks inside the guard and teaches a simple, yet underused toe hold technique that will certainly expand your toolkit. ABOUT NEIL MELANSON Neil Melanson, the grappling coach at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, specializes in Jujutsu, catch wrestling, guard, leg locks and triangle chokes. His style is born in the hybrid Hayastan Grappling System, which combines elements of Judo, Sambo, Jiu Jitsu as well as Greco Roman and Freestyle wrestling. Melanson has trained under Gene LeBell, Gokor Chivichyan, and Karo Parisyan (who awarded him his black belt). Throughout his career, Melanson has trained some of the top fighters in Mixed Martial Arts, including: UFC Hall of famer Randy Couture, three-time Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler, former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, Gray Maynard, Todd Duffee and Goran Reljic, among others.

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Ground Fighting Series: Kimura Trap Misdirect

Ground Fighting Series: Kimura Trap Misdirect

Neil Melanson, known to legions of fans and grapplers as The Ground Marshal, goes back to the basics in this episode. Watch as he explores using the Kimura grip, misdirection, your legs and hips to finish your opponent. Often, you’ll hear Neil say: "Improvise, adapt and overcome." We believe that’s the perfect mindset to adopt while sparring and training. ABOUT NEIL MELANSON Neil Melanson, the grappling coach at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, specializes in Jujutsu, catch wrestling, guard, leg locks and triangle chokes. His style is born in the hybrid Hayastan Grappling System, which combines elements of Judo, Sambo, Jiu Jitsu as well as Greco Roman and Freestyle wrestling. Melanson has trained under Gene LeBell, Gokor Chivichyan, and Karo Parisyan (who awarded him his black belt). Throughout his career, Melanson has trained some of the top fighters in Mixed Martial Arts, including: UFC Hall of famer Randy Couture, three-time Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler, former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, Gray Maynard, Todd Duffee and Goran Reljic, among others.

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Ground Fighting Series: Peruvian Neck Tie for MMA, No-Gi, Jiu Jitsu, and Grappling

Ground Fighting Series: Peruvian Neck Tie for MMA, No-Gi, Jiu Jitsu, and Grappling

In this video, Neil Melanson first describes his three-finger grip technique and why he’s convinced it's a superior grip in certain situations. He later shows how that three-finger grip can help with his gnarly variation of the Peruvian Necktie. Finally, Melanson gives some great advice on how you can be innovative with your techniques. ABOUT NEIL MELANSON Neil Melanson, the grappling coach at Syndicate MMA in Las Vegas, specializes in Jujutsu, catch wrestling, guard, leg locks and triangle chokes. His style is born in the hybrid Hayastan Grappling System, which combines elements of Judo, Sambo, Jiu Jitsu as well as Greco Roman and Freestyle wrestling. Melanson has trained under Gene LeBell, Gokor Chivichyan, and Karo Parisyan (who awarded him his black belt). Throughout his career, Melanson has trained some of the top fighters in Mixed Martial Arts, including: UFC Hall of famer Randy Couture, three-time Bellator Lightweight Champion Michael Chandler, former UFC champion Vitor Belfort, Chael Sonnen, Gray Maynard, Todd Duffee and Goran Reljic, among others.

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