As a continuation of my public notebook: I started a new daily blogging challenge to begin solidifying the learning that I’m doing while training jiu jitsu.

Notes: Saturday August 31st

On Saturday August 31st I met Alberto Gallazzi to attend his women’s self defense seminar and graciously-gifted private lesson.

Women’s Self Defense

The seminar, hosted by both Alberto and my black belt, covered situational-awareness mindset and the ability to physically escape being grabbed.

As Alberto talked, he discussed the importance of awareness over everything. Watching people–considering what they’re wearing, where they’re from, what they’re doing. Watching your environment–where is the nearest exit, what is the area known for. Awareness of your appearance–am I wearing fancy clothes, do I have a lot of items tying my hands up, am I wearing shoes that make it difficult to run?

Paying attention to these things and responding accordingly will greatly reduce risk of negative circumstances before they have the chance to occur.

• Jiu Jitsu has potential to instill negative habits when it comes to certain self-defense scenarios.
• Kim’s Game. Building situational awareness.

Drilling:

My instructor ran us through drills of grip breaking, hand fighting, dropping weight, and running away applicable to self-defense.

Personal Private Lesson

Alberto kindly met with me for a private lesson, these are the questions I had set up to ask him:

1. Analyzing my body type, can you provide insight into my long-term game—in terms of general attack and defense principles?
2. Do you see any apparent weaknesses in me? (Some muscle needs to be stretched or strengthened, I’m not moving properly in X way)
3. What solo exercises and stretches should I be doing every day?
4. Can you tell me about Margherita’s development into competition and worlds? —What is the roadmap you would make to get me there?

He was very generous with his time and I walked away with a lot of new insights.