Stepping Up The Pace

I've been having computer problems lately, so I have been relying on my iPhone to do all of my social networking. Staring at a small screen can be literally miserable after a while, so it has made me less reliant on my Facebook and Instagram accounts to cure my boredom. The other day I caved in when I found a blogger app for my phone though, and I just couldn't help but get back to writing.

I am finally back on the east coast, getting back into my normal training schedule. California was fun, and I really appreciated being able to train with some high level people. I had the chance to train with a couple of women, like Angelica Galvao, at Atos in San Diego. It was a great experience to be able to roll with somebody from another academy, who is also extremely talented. However, Alliance Atlanta is my home, and it always will be. There's something that you just can't find anywhere else, and that's the people that you train with and the atmosphere that they create.

My teammates and professors, Jacare and Lucas Lepri, are all so supportive and truly inspire me. They make all of the struggles and hard training days worth it through their teaching and respective attitudes that they show on the mats every day. Especially being a woman, it's nice to have a teacher that wants you to succeed just as badly as he does everybody else. Your team truly starts to become your family after a while. Even though I go to jiu jitsu to train, I am rewarded with so much more at my school. Especially during the competition season when training is at its most intense level, it's very important to have people to help push you and motivate you.

Worlds Jiu Jitsu Championship is just around the corner, and everybody at the gym is really starting to step up the pace. Every day at Alliance is now filled with hard training sessions that end with everybody exhausted from the hard work that they put forth, lying on the mat, and dripping in sweat. It is such a great feeling to push yourself past what you are comfortable with. That is when you can truly feel yourself improving.

A Mundials camp will be held in Atlanta the week of May 13th. I feel so priveleged to be able to attend the camps at Alliance Atlanta because there are always such great athletes that come to train at the school. It is always a surprise as to who will be the "guest bjj athlete" that will help teach techniques at the camp, but it is, without a doubt, a great experience and oppurtunity for me and all of my teammates. Only four more weeks of intense training until everybody is put to the test as they step onto the mats in Long Beach, California. Until then, I'm just embracing the struggle, staying focused, and keeping my eye on the prize.
--Morgan Beverly

Train, Train, Train

Recently, I made the decision to takesome time off from school and invest that time into training more jiu jitsu.Although I realize how important school is, it’s just not something that I wantto do at this point in my life. I wasn’t focused on my schoolwork, so I justdecided that I needed a break. I think it is vital for people to use their lifeto do what makes them happy, whatever that may be.

My normal week now consists of about 25 hours of training. Monday through Thursday, I wake up around 5:30am to trainthe morning class from 7am-8am, followed by some strength and conditioningcircuit training. Then, I attend two classes at night—usually for about 3hours, from 6:30pm-9:30pm. Fridays, I train either the noon class or the nightclass, which are both about 1-2 hours long. Saturdays, from 11am-2pm, I am ableto train both the intermediate and advanced classes. Lastly on Sundays, I go toJenn’s gym for their open mat from 12pm-2pm. By the end of the week,my body is pretty worn out from all of the heavy training, and I’m starting toget all of the horrific jiu jitsu features, like the signature “spider guard”knuckles.

It’s funny. I don’t realize how muchthat I actually train because I enjoy it so much. Then, I hear comments from myteammates like, “Damn girl, you just live at the gym now,” and it makes me laugh.I guess I don’t realize how much my life has changed in these past couple ofmonths.

I had a spontaneous urge to travelback to California for a week to train jiu jitsu with some top competitors, torelax, and just hang out with my boyfriend, Keenan Cornelius. Sometimes it’snice to have a change in a repetitive schedule to keep you motivated, whilestill being able to train hard and work towards your goal. I’m really excitedto be able to train with some new people who can really push me and help me toimprove my game.

I think it’s essential to train withpeople from other gyms. A lot of people are very opinionated about other teamsand gyms, but I don’t quite understand why. Just simply training with otherpeople can’t hurt you in any way. It will only make you better. Limitingyourself to just training with the same people constantly can become boring attimes. Most schools have a specific style or game that they teach, so byrepeatedly training against somebody with only one game, you are only preparingyourself to go up against that certain style of jiu jitsu. In competition, youcompete against people with such different styles than what you are used to, soit’s important to train with other people so that you are constantly adaptingto different styles of jiu jitsu.

I’m also excited to be able toactually train with Keenan for a week. I say that now, but when I’m stuck in hisside control being uncomfortably crushed and/or cross choked, I feel like Iwill take back that comment. All of his helpful tips and techniques make itworthwhile though. It is very motivating to have a boyfriend who is sodedicated to the sport. Because of my decision to train more, I have beenreceiving a lot of negative comments from people about what I should be doingwith my life, but Keenan has always supported my goals because he understandsthat jiu jitsu is what makes me happy. Even though we have a long distancerelationship and we don’t get to see each other often, I’m very appreciative toalways have him there for me and constantly pushing me to keep on strivingtowards my goals.

Having a week away from my home andnormal schedule will be good for me, physically and mentally. I will be able totrain hard throughout the week, all while being able to enjoy California andeverything it has to offer. 

--Morgan Beverly

Is Violence The Answer?

I am writing a paper on danger and violence of MMA for my literature class. The question is being posed as to whether or not it is as dangerous and violent as it appears. The answer is no.This sport is based just as much on defense as it offense. Fighting is viewed much differently by the audience than we do as fighters.

Here is my intro:

“I would like to ask the reader to take a moment and decide for himself or herself: What is safety? How can we equally justify what is and isn’t safe? As simple as it may be to give a definition for safety, defining its role in life is controversial. Danger has aspects that are unseen. Is driving from point A to point B safe, or should we just sit at home so we don’t get hurt? The implication in a person’s argument, being based off of the idea that a sport can have such dire consequences of injury, implies they don’t think injury is acceptable or debatable. Does it make it more or less safe that the situations the fighter may face are some of the most extreme of any sport? MMAis just as much about defense as it is offense. This means that when everything thing takes its place, MMA could be considered one of the safest sports someone can come across. “

Morgan and I are both madly in love with what we do. Studying Jiu Jitsu and Mixed martial arts are the best things to ever happen to us. It is a lifestyle. This is the life we live andsomething we will never stop pursuing. I wanted to address the question violence as it is seen in the sport. There is obviously going to be a level of danger in martial arts, but the point I want to make is that fighters are not violent people. I have yet to meet a fighter that walks around hoping to just hurt someone. This is a sport, and just like any other sport, a MMA fighter is just fighting to be the best.

My ultimate hope is to be the best115lb women MMA fighter. I don’t look forward to inflicting any sort of pain. I simply hope to submit or knockout. I love people! Every person is a creation of God, and I don’t fight because of any love for violence. I think our bodies are capable of so much more than most people think. I know some of you guys can understand that. The things that we can learn in this sport is incredible, and it is even more incredible when we get this kind of control. We live in a world where we can't control very many things, but we can control our body and build it up to do amazing things.  

Everything in life is unpredictable.There is always going to be a chance for error or danger. I am so happy to saythat I am a part of a family where we overcome all of our obstacles and chase after our dreams. There is no greater accomplishment in life than working your heart out to achieve the things you love.

-Jennifer Darr

BJJ Is Taking Over Abu Dhabi

You know that point that you reach, when you’ve been awake for so many hours, that you just don’t feel tired anymore? Well, I’m way past that point. I’m now in a delusional state where I feel like my head should be heavy on my pillow, and yet, I still feel wide awake after pulling an all nighter to watch the Abu Dhabi World Pro Championships. Today was the day that the brown and black belts had the chance to prove all of their hard work has paid off as they stepped onto the mats to compete against some of the best competitors in the world.

So many emotions took place on the mats in Abu Dhabi today. I had the privilege to watch some huge names in the jiu jitsu world, such as Rodolfo Viera, Marcus Almeida “Buchecha,” Andre Galvao, Lucas Lepri, Leandro Lo, Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles, Keenan Cornelius, Gianni Grippo, Mackenzie Dern, Gabi Garcia, Luanna Alzuguir, Beatriz Mesquita, and many more. As the whole jiu jitsu community watched each match through a live feed, people from all over the world were able to experience the victories and losses of the best in the business. You could see the heart and determination in the men and women through the matches that were decided by only a small amount of points or advantages. What stands out the most though is the good sportsmanship between all of the competitors. With the conclusion of each match, there is an obvious respect between both athletes as the winner was determined. That’s what is so great about jiu jitsu. It teaches you more than just a way to compete and succeed, but also how to overcome adversity and failure.

It is truly inspiring, as an up and coming jiu jitsu athlete, to see such talent and respect in the jiu jitsu world. It makes me want to just head to my jiu jitsu school and train so that I can continue to progress and one day, be as successful as these athletes that I have watched today. It is also great to see the increase in the involvement of women, since jiu jitsu was once seen mainly as a man's sport. I truly enjoyed watching the black belt women compete and prove to the world that jiu jitsu is something for everybody--no matter what size, ethnicity, or sex.

Don’t forget that tomorrow around 9am (Abu Dhabi time), the competitors will come back to the mats to compete in the Open weight divisions. Be sure to tune in to cheer on all of the competitors at the following link:

http://vod.dmi.ae/jwplayer/player.htm?channel=dubaisports
--Morgan Beverly

"Little Girl" Jiu-Jitsu

Being one of the smaller athletes in my gym, I find myself getting frustrated with my size and how it disadvantages me whenever I roll. No matter how hard I try to keep up with some of my teammates in my jiu jitsu school, I just get myself stuck in awkward situations where I end up uncomfortably pinned to the ground. This always happens because I give them the opportunity. I find myself trying to play the same game that I play with smaller people, which can be a bad idea. It really used to bother me when this would happen. I was never mad at my teammates for doing so, but the fact that I had allowed myself to get into that position really bugged me. I knew I had to create a new mindset for myself and mentally realize that my size wasn’t the issue. I have to work extra hard on my techniques because I can’t depend on my strength while rolling with people who can overpower me.

Through jiu jitsu, you learn how to use techniques and your body weight, no matter how much you weigh, to perform moves and grapple in a beautiful way. When you do a move, you use your body weight and technical details. It’s almost like using an “action-reaction” philosophy. You can make your opponent move one way, so that you can force them to move another way more easily. You have to learn how this philosophy works, especially if you’re smaller. You can’t just try to muscle your way in and out of things. You have to use your head. You have to think.

How am I going to be able to use what I do have against my opponent in order to win? I can use my agility to move around my opponent. Because I am smaller, I can move quickly without getting easily fatigued. Eventually, I can adapt to this way of thinking and learn how to efficiently pass. I can also use my smaller build to get underneath people and work my guard. Jiu jitsu was made in ways so that a smaller person could realistically beat somebody bigger than them. Technique is key in order to do so though. Strength is important, but having a good knowledge of the essential techniques is what excels jiu jitsu athletes into improving their game.

When you see yourself falling into a rut and becoming frustrated with your performance, take a step back and analyze your game. What am I doing wrong? What am I constantly confronting and how can I fix this problem? Instead of making excuses about why you are not doing well, look at yourself and change what you are doing. Think of it as a positive learning experience as to what you can do for yourself in order to succeed. If it's important to you, you will find a way. If it's not, you'll find an excuse. 

--Morgan Beverly

What Are You Passionate About?

When I say jiu jitsu has changed my life, I truly mean it. I used to watch people do jiu jitsu and think, this isn’t for me. How could I possibly enjoy a sport where I try to make my opponent tap from pain? It seemed silly to me to want to do that, but the day that I stepped onto the mat changed my way of thinking from then on. Sure, it was a little uncomfortable at first, having to be up close and personal with somebody that I didn't even know. I just met this person, and he was literally choking me until I couldn't breathe. It's definitely something you have to adapt to, but after I began to train more regularly and jiu jitsu classes actually became a daily routine, I could see a change in the way i looked at the sport. 

 The mats became more than just a place where I worked out and learned about jiu jitsu. It became a place where all of my problems were solved. I didn’t have to worry about anything that society or the world threw at me. I could just train, and focus all of my mind and heart into this crazy art where I literally roll around choking people for fun all day long. Imagine, every day, being able to experience the way that the human body moves, working muscles you didn’t even think you had. I have to physically and mentally overcome so many barriers. I have had to adapt my body to this sport, enhancing my flexibility, cardio, and strength in order to just roll with my partner. I also have to be mentally aware, and think about what my opponent is going to do even before they do it. My mind adapts to the techniques, and it become so natural. I see my partner doing something, and my mind automatically makes my body do something as a counter. It’s such a crazy learning experience, and it never gets old. There’s such a broad spectrum of things to explore. I just get so happy when I hit the mats, no matter how my day has been. My body races with endorphins and adrenaline every time. 

When I started, I would have never thought that something like this could become such a huge part of my life. It has become so important to me that I literally revolve my daily plans around my training schedule. Jiu jitsu has become a lifestyle for me. I never want to leave my jiu jitsu school. I just want to train endless hours out of each day of the week. Whenever I am not training, it’s all I think about. It became this mind-boggling obsession that overwhelmed my thoughts.  

 Nowadays, people are too afraid to follow what they love to do. That is why I am taking a risk to do the one thing in my life that I am passionate about. I know I will be judged, and most people will not understand. They will try to talk me out of my decisions because it's not what is expected by society, but I've never been one to just follow the crowd. I've always tried to be my own person, so here I am now, just on the road to achieving my dream. To be a champion, you have to believe in yourself when nobody else will. 

--Morgan Beverly

Overcoming Obstacles

There is something in life for everyone to be passionate about and live for. For me, that would be MMA. Training is my passion, and it is something that I cannot live without. It didn't take long for me to discover how much you have to want something in order for it to happen. You cannot just be interested in an achievement. You have to fully pursue it. Every person has their own individual view on how you should live your life, what is and isn't acceptable, and what choices you should or shouldn't make. But because everybody has different dreams and a different idea of what life really is, there is not one single answer. For me, I will never be content with mediocrety. I want to be the best. I think we can push our bodies past what most people think. Being a girl fighter can be extremely tough in many ways, but I have never doubted my belonging to the sport. I will be the womens 115lb champion before I rest. Fighting for a dream that many cannot understand will always bring conflict, but if you look past that and look at the beauty this lifestyle brings to us, it is more than worth the fight. Great things happen by fighting for the dream.
However, I have learned very quickly how hard this sport can be, both physically and mentally. In everything we do, there will always be setbacks. There will always be something to make your goal a little more difficult to achieve. I have been thinking, and I have figured out that those obstacles actually make us love this passion ever more. When you get hurt or held back from something you are working towards, it makes you want to prove something. You want the world to know you are stronger and better. That no matter what comes at you, you can handle it and beat it. More importantly, you want to prove to yourself that you can handle everything that comes your way in order to achieve the ultimate goal of being the best. 

When someone is passionate about something, they cannot get enough of it. The world is not perfect, and just because you love something doesn't mean that the world will go easier on you. The best are not the best because they just wanted to be the best. They are not the best because they wanted a cool experience. They are the best because they couldn't live without something they loved. Every time they got knocked down, they got right back up and hit harder. To be the best, you cannot get discouraged. You have to take what is given to you or look at what has been taken from you, and figure out how to work with those circumstances. Nothing is handed to you without flaws. The objective is to be the best, not at what you do, but to be the best at handling every obstacle that comes with a goal. 

--Jennifer Darr