Ohana BJJ

Want to train with us at Ohana? - If you haven’t visited us before and have any questions, please reach out to us via our IG, FB, or Website (link in Bio) - You don’t need to ask permission or book to train before you visit us - All of our classes are suitable for anyone, but if you are a complete beginner please focus on our fundamentals sessions - Make sure you bring an ID (or have a picture of it on your phone) to show at reception for a visitor pass - You will need to pay to train - We don’t mind what gym or affiliation you’re from, or what logos/patches you have on your clothing - We have Gis available to rent, and buy, along with soap, mouthguard, etc. Anything we don’t have, BKK Fightgear is on the 17th floor and has anything you might need - Remove all jewelry prior to training, and make sure your clothing is free from anything sharp (zip pockets, plastic edges) - We have showers for use, you will need to bring your own towel & toiletries - Hygiene - Thailand is hot and humid, shower before training and always wear freshly washed, clean gear. If you don’t, you’ll be asked to. You have been warned. - If you have any skin infections, please do not train. You will recover faster, and it keeps everyone else on the mats safe. - There is 2-hour parking in the building should you need it #bjj #bangkok #martialarts #mma #brazilianjiujitsu #thailand #corporateevents #teambuilding #selfdefence

Maintaining Momentum: The Key to Breaking Deadlocks It’s common to face challenging encounters that turn into prolonged deadlocks, where neither you nor your opponent is gaining much ground. These moments can feel stagnant, yet they’re often punctuated by brief windows of opportunity—sudden chances that can lead to significant advantages. Building and sustaining momentum in these situations is essential, as it shifts your opponent onto the defensive and opens pathways for you to advance your position. A frequent error is launching a strong attack only to pause at the first sign of resistance. This breaks the momentum you’ve worked hard to build and gives your opponent time to recover. Instead, this is precisely when you should press forward. Even if you’re feeling the strain, your opponent likely is too—and by sustaining your drive, you force them to expend even more energy, making it more likely they’ll concede position. Consider a scenario where you’ve secured a deep collar grip and begin passing your opponent’s guard with an aggressive knee slice. Your opponent quickly frames and shrimps, slowing your progress. Many athletes hesitate at this point, unsure how to overcome the resistance. However, this is exactly when you need to keep the momentum going. Rather than stopping, switch directions or chain your attacks; transition to a leg weave pass or a long-step. This constant pressure forces your opponent to defend multiple threats without a break, and gradually wears them down. Eventually, their resistance wanes, allowing you to pass and secure a dominant position. The goal isn’t just to start strong but to maintain momentum until you reach your objective. Once you’ve secured the position, you can take a moment to reassess, conserve energy, and prepare for the next phase. Momentum is a powerful tool in BJJ, and learning to harness it can make the difference between a win and a loss. Photo @youwillpeak #bjj #martialarts #thailand #brazilianjiujitsu #grappling #technique #momentum #keepgoing @rvcasport

Come join us for a no-gi seminar with Mason Fowler on November 16th #bjjseminar #caioterra #masonfowler #bjjasia #bjjbangkok #nogi #selfdefence #lifelonglearning #combatsportsthailand

Dual Forces: The balance between order and chaos is crucial for skill development and personal growth. Just as the brain’s hemispheres manage opposing forces, BJJ requires a similar duality. On one side, there’s the structured understanding of techniques—drills, positions, and sequences that form a solid foundation. This is the “order,” where repetition and discipline turn movements into reliable actions. On the other side lies the unpredictability of live sparring, where opponents behave unexpectedly. This “chaos” forces practitioners to adapt, react, and improvise, finding stability amid unpredictability. True development happens at the intersection of order and chaos. Drilling provides stability while sparring drives growth. Focusing too much on technique can make a practitioner rigid, and unable to handle the fluid nature of a roll. Conversely, relying too heavily on improvisation can lead to sloppy execution. The key is balancing routine with unpredictability. When this balance of structured learning and a willingness to embrace the unpredictability of sparring is struck, it opens the door to a state where movements are instinctive, reactions swift, and progress is most apparent. This balance is also essential in coaching. Coaches must protect students through defensive techniques and controlled environments, while also pushing them into challenging, chaotic situations to promote growth. A good coach strikes this balance, creating resilient, adaptable practitioners capable of handling the erratic nature of BJJ. Ultimately, this serves as a metaphor for balancing order and chaos. Training demands embracing both stability and volatility with progress coming from walking the line between the two. This balance not only hones technical skills but also builds mental and emotional resilience, preparing practitioners for challenges both on and off the mats. #bjj #thailand #balance #training #martialarts #grappling #selfdefence #teambuilding #employeepackage

Strategy Gaps: It’s easy to get caught up in focusing on tactics without fully grasping the underlying strategy. Many spend countless hours searching for the perfect guard pass, submission setup, or sweep, believing that these specific techniques hold the key to success. They immerse themselves in instructional videos, articles, and seminars, thinking that mastering every detail will unlock their progress. However, even the most polished tactics will fall short if they haven’t first built a solid foundation of movement and form. This parallels strength training, where people often obsess over sets, reps, or volume, assuming that the right combination or a new program will make all the difference. Yet, they overlook the importance of fundamental movement patterns and consistency, which are critical for real progress. In both BJJ and strength training, focusing on advanced tactics without addressing foundational issues creates a gap between effort and results. In BJJ, success comes from consistently refining your own movement, posture, and awareness on the mats. It’s not just about accumulating techniques—it’s about mastering the basics and ensuring your movements align with your overall strategy. If you’re constantly chasing new techniques but ignoring weaknesses in your foundation, you’ll struggle to turn tactics into a cohesive game plan. Progress comes from bridging this gap. By continuously honing the fundamentals and integrating them into your broader strategy, you can elevate your game. This self-awareness and commitment to strengthening your foundation will make every tactic more effective and help you avoid the frustration of stagnation. #bjj #strategy #tactics #bridgingthegap #thailand #martialarts #judo #grappling #progress #corporateteam #employeebenefit

The Dynamic Nature of Success: The idea that success can be measured along a single dimension—like strength, flexibility, or technique—doesn’t hold up. Athletes with abilities that vary across multiple dimensions provide a powerful lens for understanding. BJJ isn’t a discipline where one rigid path leads to proficiency; it’s a dynamic environment where individuals succeed by leveraging their unique strengths and adapting to different situations in different ways. The Myth of Fixed Abilities: It’s easy to assume that an athlete’s performance reflects their fixed abilities. However, context plays a significant role. A grappler might excel in certain positions or scenarios but struggle in others, even with opponents of similar skill. For example, someone might dominate from top control but falter in guard, depending on the opponent’s style. This variability challenges the notion that any athlete has a fixed set of abilities that determines their success across all areas of the game. Take, for example, two athletes of similar level: one thrives in dynamic scrambles and open guard situations, while the other excels in tight pressure passing and top control. When they face each other, their individual strengths can either amplify or negate the other’s effectiveness. The first athlete may struggle against the tight pressure of their opponent, finding it difficult to create the movement they typically rely on. However, if the match shifts to a fast-paced, back-and-forth scramble, the roles reverse, with the more explosive athlete now gaining the upper hand. What works in one situation may not work in another. A guard pass that works against one opponent might fail against someone with a different body type or strategy. Performance isn’t just about the individual; it’s a blend of their traits and the environment in which they’re performing. This constant adaptation highlights that success in BJJ doesn’t stem from mastery of one singular approach, but from being able to apply different strengths in various contexts. Photo @youwillpeak #bjj #success #grappling #contextisking #stylesmakefights #thailand #martialarts #growth #employeebenefits #employeeactivity

Customizing Your Journey BJJ training isn’t one-size-fits-all. Each practitioner carves out their own path. While many assume there’s a ‘normal’ progression—mastering techniques in a linear fashion—this overlooks the unique development process each individual goes through. One person may thrive in guard systems, while another excels in pressure passing. There’s no single ladder of success; each person is on their own winding path. The best practitioners embrace their strengths while working on weaknesses in a tailored way. A personalized approach that allows flexibility in skill development is far more effective than sticking rigidly to a curriculum. Breaking Free from Normative Thinking The idea of a ‘normal’ path in BJJ can be limiting. Standardized approaches assume everyone progresses the same way, ignoring individual differences. Some excel at submissions early, others at positional control. There’s no single timeline for success. This also applies to personality. Assuming traits are fixed overlooks how people adapt based on context. For example, introverted does not mean passive, and may act assertively in competition. People aren’t static—they change with their environment, and this adaptability should be embraced. Consider two practitioners: one, with a background in yoga, naturally gravitates toward guard play, using flexibility to set up submissions. The other, a former wrestler, prefers top control and pressure passing. If both followed the same curriculum, they’d miss the chance to refine their strengths. Instead, a personalized approach allows them to build on their strengths while gradually improving the other side of their game. Charting Your Course To reach your full potential, you must recognize that there’s no universal way. Success comes from personalizing your journey, playing to your strengths, and refining your weaknesses.  The takeaway: BJJ rewards adaptability and diversity, not a singular type of athlete. Embrace the jaggedness of your development, and recognize that your unique traits are where your strength lies. #bjj #martialarts #grappling #growth #progress #adapt #beyou #ohana #brazilianjiujitsu #thailand #teambuilding #employeebenefits

Natural Selection Evolution is nature’s ultimate problem solver, where strength doesn’t come from uniformity, but from diversity. This principle holds just as true in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where success often depends on your ability to adapt, think creatively, and incorporate different perspectives into your game. In nature, diversity emerges through mutation. In BJJ, we achieve it by embracing various strategies and styles. This diversity goes beyond just techniques—it’s about how different experiences and ways of thinking shape our understanding of the art. Technique and Perspective Many practitioners follow a single path, copying what their coaches or favorite competitors do. While this is a natural starting point, it can lead to a game based on imitation. When everyone trains the same way, we face a “replicant problem”—where instead of finding unique solutions, people get stuck in predictable patterns, limiting their growth. A lack of diversity in your approach can cause you to falter when faced with new positions, unfamiliar opponents, or unexpected strategies, those so, relying on routine solutions may leave you struggling to adapt. Creative Solutions Every individual brings unique experiences, abilities, and mindsets to the mat—and this diversity should be embraced. Just as a diverse ecosystem thrives, a diverse training environment encourages growth. Innovation comes from a variety of ideas. Some athletes rely on explosive athleticism, while others prioritize timing and precision. These differences aren’t weaknesses—they’re strengths that make the art more dynamic and adaptable. The most creative solutions often come from those who don’t fit the mold, offering fresh perspectives on familiar problems. In the end, diversity in thought, approach, and technique makes us better practitioners and problem solvers. By embracing variation and creative thinking, we avoid the blind spots that come with a rigid, “paint-by-numbers” approach. Just as adaptation is the key to evolution, embracing diversity in BJJ will help you succeed in the ever-changing landscape of martial arts. #bjj #bjjmindset #martialarts #grappling #thailand #teambuilding #corporatebenefit #employeebenefit

A Balanced Approach It’s tempting to focus on short-term efficiency. The allure of quick wins, immediate progress, and the satisfaction of seeing techniques work in live rolls can be powerful motivators. However, short-term efficiency is not the same as long-term optimization; understanding this distinction is crucial for developing into a well-rounded and effective practitioner. Short-term efficiency revolves around relying on what works now. These are the techniques and strategies that bring immediate success through your current physical attributes, preferred positions, or the weaknesses of your opponent. For example, a strong practitioner might gravitate towards power-based moves, using strength to force submissions or maintain dominant positions. While this approach can yield quick results, it can also foster a reliance on advantages that may diminish over time. Focusing solely on short-term efficiency can also lead to stagnation by neglecting techniques that require more time and effort to master, creating gaps in your game that more experienced opponents will exploit. Additionally, as your physical attributes change or as your training partners adapt to your strengths, the techniques that once worked so well may lose their effectiveness. In contrast, long-term optimization involves developing a game that will serve you well over a lifetime. This approach requires investing time in mastering fundamental techniques, even when they don’t bring immediate success. It demands patience, a willingness to experiment, and an understanding that progress is not always linear. Long-term thinking encourages you to work on areas of your game that have the potential to become strengths. For example, instead of relying solely on power to pass guard, you might spend time refining your timing, leverage, and precision. Short-term efficiency can be a valuable tool for building confidence and gaining experience. However, it’s essential to balance it with long-term development. This balanced approach ensures that you’re not only succeeding in the moment but also building a foundation for sustained progress and adaptability as you grow. #bjj #martialarts #brazilianjiujitsu #bjjthailand #bjjbangkok

Switching from Control to Submission Choosing when to switch your focus from control to applying the submission requires a keen sense of timing, awareness, and adaptability, which once mastered lets you apply submissions with precision while ensuring you stay in control. Control is the foundation that allows you to dictate the pace and direction of the match, and force your opponent into unfavorable positions while conserving your energy. This not only frustrates your opponent but allows you to observe their reactions and tendencies, gathering information that will be invaluable when you transition to a submission attempt. Knowing when to shift from control to submission lies in your ability to read the situation and anticipate your opponent’s responses. A few indicators that it might be time to pursue a submission are: Fatigue: As your opponent tires, their defenses weaken, making it harder for them to resist or escape. Position: Your opponent is in a compromised position, such as with a limb in isolation, or their posture broken. Desperation: Your opponent is making larger movements in their attempt to escape or improve their position, creating gaps you can exploit. One word of caution: overcommitting to a submission without adequate control can backfire. You risk losing your position, allowing your opponent the opportunity to reverse or escape. It’s essential to recognize when a submission attempt is lost and return to control rather than stubbornly pursuing it. For beginners, it’s wise to focus more on control, gradually developing the ability to transition smoothly into submissions as your timing and technique improve. For advanced practitioners, the line between control and submission becomes more fluid, allowing for seamless transitions based on the flow of the match. Photo @youwillpeak #bjj #thailand #martialarts #ohana #grappling #brazilianjiujitsu #submission #control #mindset