tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22673024400316562682024-03-05T15:03:46.350-06:00Natto NinjaYou may not believe in Ninja... but the Ninja believe in you!NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.comBlogger825125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-34782336921424771692019-06-10T13:57:00.001-05:002019-06-10T13:57:15.394-05:00The Initiative The very first black belt I trained under was Rodrigo Vaghi. When I was a white belt Rodrigo was at the gym before a seminar. He was watching me roll with another white belt. After the round was over Rodrigo took me aside and said "When you are rolling, if the guy opens your legs, you are getting passed. But, if YOU open your legs, you are playing open guard. Do you understand?" I said yes. I understood the words that he said. What I didn't understand was the MEANING of the words that he said.<br />
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I said I understood, because, if you take the words at pure face value, the meaning is obvious. To the uninitiated, someone telling you that is kind of a "duh!" moment. To the uninitiated, they may even think that if their legs are opened they are playing open guard.<br />
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What he was telling me, however, had nothing to do with how to enter in to open guard. What he was trying to tell me about was the Initiative. When rolling, the person who is enacting their plan and working their game is the one in control. Thus, if you are training correctly, you should bet thinking a step or two a head of your current movement. In this case, opening your legs to start open guard. Therefore, your opponent has to react to your movement, and is therefore a step behind. In this case, YOU have the initiative. <br />
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Conversely, if you have your legs opened, your opponent has the initiative, and is working towards the pass. YOU are reacting to him by moving in to open guard, and therefore are a step behind him.<br />
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The initiative changes back and forth in a good roll. As you become more and more experienced, you learn ways of countering movements, and regaining the initiative, and you learn and experience typical ways to defend or counter movements and you are then ready to defend against these movements and maintain the initiative.<br />
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This is a difficult concept to grasp. I don't normally tell white belts about it. They just don't have the experience to get what I am talking about. The talk of the initiative, goes right above their heads. I normally introduce this to my purple belts. They typically have enough experience to start to grasp what I am talking about. It is at that belt, normally, that they begin to understand drilling just isn't something you do in between the warm up and rolling. Drilling is that vital time where you learn the basics of a movement and how to execute it in a situation. The more you drill, the more automatic your movements become. The more automatic your movements become, the less you have to think about them, and can, therefore think more steps ahead, and therefore, maintain the initiative.<br />
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Let's take a simple movement, and start on the ground. My movements in a scissor sweep begins by off balancing my opponent, opening my guard and putting my legs in to the correct position, while controlling the outside arm. I then move my opponent's center of gravity up on to my leg, and sweep with the outside leg. As my opponent falls, I move forward strongly in to mount, still controlling the outside arm. As I complete the mount movement, moving my knees as high as I can in to my opponent's arm pits, I push what was the outside arm across my opponent's body and move into an "S" mount. Finally, I finish by swinging my outside leg around my opponent's head and finish with the armbar.<br />
Easy enough? Now I drill that over and over and over and over again. Until I don't need to think about the movements. When I hit this series in rolling, I don't need to think about anything, it just happens. My opponent goes from being in the top position to defending an armbar before he knows what happened. This is the initiative. <br /><br />If the initiative changes, the situation changes completely. A common mistake for lower belts to make is once their guard is broken open, they move their legs in to a scissor sweep position. Then they wonder why their scissor sweeps never work. They have lost the initiative, and are several steps behind. They are fooling themselves in to thinking they are playing open guard, when they are, in fact, being passed.<br />
<br />I think a lot about who has the initiative after rolls. I try to go over in my head where I gained and lost the initiative during the roll. It helps to figure out where I need to work and how my game needs to adjust to different body types and styles.NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-47224856809433147852019-05-29T13:10:00.000-05:002019-05-29T13:10:04.060-05:00Being "Dangerous"Men, often young men, want to be thought of as "dangerous." They do things to make them selves look intimidating. Lift weights, shoot guns, train martial arts. The want in their head the thought of "I'm a bad ass."<br />
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Many martial arts feed of this desire. Interestingly enough, nearly all martial arts gym have something in their advertisement about confidence and self defense. Unfortunately, most martial arts do not do what is necessary to ensure that their practitioners are actually dangerous. It takes hard work to be dangerous. It takes constant testing and preparation. The simple and unavoidable fact is that many martial arts are as easy as possible because they want to give their students a feeling of being dangerous, with as little exertion as possible. <br />
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This is spoke about and hidden within the walls of the gym as how to keep membership. A typical BJJ gym is not run like a collegiate wrestling team because the vast majority of paying members would walk out if it was. Many "fighting gyms", gyms that support and train actual sport fighters, have classes and sessions for "normal" members, and competition classes for their more elite fighters. Competition classes, just like the collegiate wrestling teams, are normally by invitation only. The intensity is much higher, and so is the repetition.<br />
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In a typical Judo class, you might work on 3 to 4 techniques in a class, then do some rondori to work out how the throw might work in a live environment. Same with a typical BJJ class, Tae Kwon Do, you name it. You get a few reps in for each technique, before moving on to something else.<br />
The overall result is that you know a good deal of techniques, but you don't really know how to execute a single technique very well.<br />
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In a competition class you are likely to work a single technique until the point of exhaustion. The focus of the competition class is to be able to execute that technique perfectly in all situations. <br />
This kind of thing does not, and never will sit well with the general public. If you take martial arts, take a look around at everyone after a technique has been demonstrated. Questions will be asked about "how many times do we do this?" After executing about 5 to 10, students will be looking around the room wondering "what's next?"<br />
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In my own class, I became dissatisfied with showing a series of techniques over the course of a week, then asking a student to review and do the techniques of that week towards the end of the class on the last day. Many could not recall or execute the techniques. This told me that they weren't learning. If they weren't learning, they couldn't incorporate the techniques in their own game, let alone defend against them.<br /><br />So I changed it up. I started doing one technique a day, with the focus of the week on expanding on that one technique. Many more repetitions.<br />
I implemented 2 weeks of technique, followed by two weeks of sparing with questions.<br />
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What I found was that the technique taught in class was used during the two week sparing sessions. I found that the techniques were retained and incorporated. I found that students were much more confident in the techniques, and were able to try them out in their typical games.<br />
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I also found that the students felt much more "dangerous." The felt like they could actually DO the technique against someone.<br />
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All was not rainbows and unicorns, though. They didn't "like" the drilling weeks. Those were "boring." They would much rather have the sparing weeks. However, most realized that without the drilling weeks, they wouldn't have had the new techniques with which to use in the sparing weeks.<br />
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It solidifies a single idea. Men wish to be dangerous. But many don't want to put the time and the effort in to being dangerous. To defeat other men in physical, unarmed combat, you MUST be able to work your techniques against a strongly resisting opponent. A man will never, ever just give you his back. You must TAKE his back. To take his back, you must drill and prepare and be ready for his resistance and defenses. You must be able to take his back with him actively NOT wanting you to take his back. <br />That takes time and practice. The group of people willing to put in that practice is thin. NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-87279418448348885332019-02-14T15:29:00.002-06:002019-02-14T15:30:13.624-06:00Old Man Meniscus Tear - Getting Back to BJJ Part 4 - Cleared for Return... Sort of...I am cleared by the surgeon to return to sport!! But... He didn't like where my VMO muscle looked like. So he wants me to wait a few more weeks to build it up some more.<br />
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The knee is still sore in the medial side I can't yet do a full pigeon pose, or sit comfortably on my heels. That is just going to be how it is. It takes a very long time for me to heal now, and that is to be expected. What we did prove is that I CAN heal. It just takes a good long time. Surgeon says that I should be back to pre-injury levels of pain and flexibility in a year. Until then... Keep stretching. Keep working.<br />
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I have a plan to come back. I'll start with movement drills and basics. It will be about 7 months out, and I have lost everything. Timing, cardio, flexibility, you name it. I'll need to start from near scratch. That sucks. But that is the way it is. The good news is that I'll be getting a really good workout for the next several months before my cardio catches up and I get back to some form of equilibrium.<br />
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I won't roll for another two or three months. I'll drill during the rolling sessions. The guys can use me as a rest period as I work on recovering. Then I'll start rolling very very very carefully. I foresee lots of tapping.NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-26773202365924131642019-02-14T15:21:00.002-06:002019-02-14T15:21:37.381-06:00In Trouble Again...I'm in trouble at work again... I should learn just to keep my mouth shut.<br />
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I went in to the office kitchen to make a sandwich for lunch. A woman, she is single, obese, and trying to find someone, was there. As I walked in she looked me up and down.<br />
She remarked that she thought I had lost weight.<br />
I said that I had dropped about 10 pounds.<br />
She asked me how, because she knew I had been injured and haven't been doing my regular work outs... And then she began to cry. She told me that she had been trying to lose weight for so long, but she just can't. It wasn't fair for someone "thin" like me to be able to lose weight so quickly, easily, and without working out.<br />
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She was crying... I took pity on her, and I wanted to help. So... I took a look at her lunch. Fried chicken tenders with Cheetos and a small spinach salad with ranch dressing. Total calorie count something like 900 to 1000.<br />
My sandwich and potato chips about 500 calories.<br />
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So... I said that the plan for losing weight is deceptively simple. You need to take in fewer calories than you burn. I told her that it is easy to find a rough estimate of her Resting Metabolic Rate, to give her an idea of how many calories she burns in a day doing nothing. Take that number, and take in fewer calories that that. Because she spends the day doing more than nothing, she will always end up with a net calorie deficit. Her body will take care of the rest. Losing weight is an energy problem, nothing more. Nutrition is a completely different story.<br />
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She looked at me slightly offended, and said that it wasn't easy to lose weight. I said that I knew that very well. I said that the plan is simple. The execution is difficult. Your body doesn't want to lose weight. It likes the weight.<br />
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She is now looking at me more than slightly offended, and said that her body doesn't like the weight! But it is hard to lose weight because she gets hungry.<br />
To that I said, trying to use logic to soothe the offence, that hunger is the tough part. You have to have the will to get past the hunger for to get to your goal. The hunger is the worst as you start. It gets better as your body adjusts to the calorie deficiency.<br />
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She is more offended now, well... No longer offended. Now she is angry. She asks if I think that "overweight" people don't have self control or discipline.<br />
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Well, fuck, I think to myself. I've stepped all the way into it now. There is no way to extract myself at this point. Well intentioned or not, I've managed to hit the hot button on all fat people. Discipline and Self Control. If you had more of both, you wouldn't be fat. The simple answer is "yes" but as all things, it is more complicated than that. The problem is that your body is sneaky. Like I said it WANTS to keep the fat. It LOVES the fat. Back in the good old days it NEEDED the fat, because it never knew when it would get fed again.<br />
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I said that I didn't mean for it to sound like I was saying she was not disciplined or had no self control. What I was saying is that hunger is hard to deal with. I told her what I do. I pointed to her lunch. I asked if this was a typical lunch.<br />
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Very angry now, she said that it was. I said that if this was typical, then why not try to reduce it by one chicken tender and 1/4 of the Cheetos? That isn't that much food overall, but, if that is typical, the reduction in her weekly calorie count would be significant. Overall, she would sacrifice nothing in terms of taste or restricting what she wanted to eat. Eating a slightly smaller portion would make a good difference in her overall diet.<br />
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At this point she just left the room. I knew I was in trouble, because she was angry. Sure enough, I got called in by my boss. I was fat shaming her. I don't even know what that means.<br /><br />The long and the short of it is this... Keep your mouth shut, and weigh loss is an energy based problem. With an energy based solution. Take in less than you use. The bigger the deficit, the more weight you will lose as your body fights to get in to equilibrium. <br /><br />Not taking in as much as you use has two avenues to success. Burn more, i.e. exercise and move more to increase energy demand, thus burning more, or control your self and take in less. In both cases self discipline is at the core of success. What does that mean for the overweight? You have to have MORE self control than the person NOT losing weight. To be truly successful, you must eat less and exercise more, at first. Then, when you have reached goal weight, you must maintain your lifestyle at that level. If you exercise less, but keep taking in what you were, you will gain weight. If you eat more, but exercise the same, you will gain weight. If you body metabolism changes for the worse, you will gain weight. Keep a scale and weigh yourself regularly. Make little changes when the scale moves too high. This is lifestyle change, and self discipline. <br />
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I wasn't fat shaming the poor woman. I wanted to help her. But, people want to hear comforting lies over the hard truth. They want you to say, "Oh, I'm sorry for your glandular problem." Not, your glandular problem is an excuse that you use to over eat.NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-28881972606756561222018-11-30T13:37:00.001-06:002018-11-30T13:37:04.179-06:00Old Man Meniscus Tear - Getting Back To BJJ - Part 3 - First YogaI'm a big fan of Yoga. It really is a great way to do stretching that is just dynamic enough to keep your body warm and loose. It has really great benefits for life and for BJJ.<br />
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The best way to practice is to find a good studio and do a small class. You have to look to find the good ones, because, just like finding a legitimate BJJ gym, there are a lot of unqualified people selling crap out there.<br />
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If you don't want to look for that kind of place, or you just want to do some on your own, check out <a href="https://www.yogaforbjj.net/" target="_blank">Yoga for BJJ</a>. This is run by Sebastian Brosche a black belt under Eduardo Rios. Sebastian is an active competitor, and really knows what movements and poses are good for BJJ. Being a long time Judo and BJJ practitioner, he knows exactly where we get injuries, and what hurts. His system is highly recommended.<br />
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So, today I started back with Sebastian and went through the beginner videos 1 and 2. My knee did better than I expected, but it just hurts like hell when I try to sit on my heels. It is going to be a long recovery.<br />
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By the end of 20 minutes my hips and back felt good, and my knee was feeling better. I have taken it much too easy these past few months, and I haven't done much stretching, or working out for that matter, at all. My excuse was that I was letting my let heal, but there wasn't anything stopping me from stretching or doing upper body workouts. So... There's that. <br />
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Pigeon position sucked. It was really difficult. I didn't try very hard, but there is a lot of pain there. I'll have to keep working in to it slowly. NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-52241618264577164692018-10-15T13:13:00.003-05:002018-10-15T13:13:43.143-05:00Old Man Meniscus Tear - Getting Back To BJJ - Part 2 - The First WorkoutI'm supposed to do light jogging as part of my recovery. I have also been cleared for very light calisthenics. Nothing that will twist or put pressure on the knee. So, I laced up the running shoes and hit the road this morning. <br />
Pretty much the only thing I have been able to do lately has been pushups, so the cardio work of running was a welcome change. It felt like I was getting back to some sort of training. <br />
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However... Being an old guy, the cardio goes quickly. I've been out of commission for nearly 2 months and the light jogging was difficult. I ran for about 10 minutes, and it wasn't easy. <br />
My knee didn't give me much trouble but it took a few minutes for the knee to warm up and to get my stride going.<br />
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Interestingly enough, it isn't the flex of my knee that is giving me the issues. It is the extension. I have about a -3 degree hyper-extension of my left knee. My right knee isn't there yet, so the inability to extend my leg to the correct position changes my stride. Makes it difficult to get a steady comfortable rhythm going. After my knee loosened up it was a much easier run, but I didn't have much gas in the tank.<br />
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After the run, I did some stretching. Trying to get my hamstrings back to where they were. Difficult... With no workouts and very little stretching, my flexibility has suffered.<br />
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This seems to be a running theme... As I get older, it takes longer to heal, and fitness aspects seem to regress much quicker. Like my cardio and my flexibility. I'll need to make sure to stretch more often. Perhaps start doing the Yoga for BJJ course... If my knee can take it...NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-23056372043829267122018-10-05T16:38:00.001-05:002018-10-05T16:38:18.434-05:00Old Man Meniscus Tear - Getting Back To BJJ - Part 1 Six weeks ago, on a Thursday, I was walking down the stairs in my house when I heard a POP in my right knee. I couldn't straighten my leg. It was painful and the knee felt "wrong."<br />
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My neighbor is an Orthopedic Surgeon, and I immediately called in the neighbor favor. He cam over took a look and said it was most likely a bucket handle tear of my medial meniscus. He called his nurse, and made me an appointment with one of his partners for the next day, Friday.<br />
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That doctor said pretty much the same thing, and that he wanted me to get an MRI, but he wanted to make sure he could get me in to surgery as soon as possible, so he scheduled me for surgery on Tuesday. I got the MRI an hour later and three hours later the surgeon was calling with the confirmed diagnosis of a bucket handle tear of my medial meniscus. Complicating maters, the meniscus was caught in the notch of the knee joint that that was what was preventing my knee from straightening out. <br />
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Bright and early on Tuesday I was asleep and under his knife. During surgery, he decided to do a repair of the meniscus rather than remove it completely. An interesting choice, I am 44 years old. Normally with a guy my age, they would just remove the meniscus. But, the surgeon thought he could get a good repair. Overall, it is better to repair than remove, but my chances of having it heal properly are not as good as a younger person. If it doesn't heal correctly, I'd have to go back in to surgery and have it removed. <br />
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Here we are 6 weeks out. The surgeon is pleased with my healing and I'm doing well at PT. I have regained 135 degrees of flexion, which is what a "normal" person normally has. The problem is, I'm not a normal person. I am a BJJ black belt. <br />
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I had the therapist measure my left leg to give them a feel for what normal is for me. I had 160 degrees of flexion in my left knee unassisted. I have -3 degrees of hyper-extension. These are the numbers that I need to get to.<br />
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I am trying to calmly go through PT, knowing that the hard work is ahead. I have to wait until my meniscus is healed enough to start to begin the very painful very difficult work of sitting on my heels. I'm not looking forward to it.<br />
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The key here is that I need to take it very slow. I can't rush things. It will be at least another 4 months before I can even think about going back on the mats, and likely a year before I can be rolling hard again. Very difficult for me, because, as an aging grappler, I know my days on the mat are numbered. I have maybe 5 or 6 years of competent competitive rolling left. After that, the young guys will start to blow through me, and my wins stop being improving a technique or getting that submission I have been working on, it will be simply surviving a match.<br />
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My mantra has always been "Let it heal." Have to take my own advice.... But it is driving me insane. I won't start sitting on my heels until the surgeon gives me the green light... Hard to wait.NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-72106478333681481862018-01-12T10:55:00.000-06:002018-01-12T10:55:10.134-06:00How to Ask for a RaiseYou want more money. You think you deserve more money. There is ONLY one way you will get a significant raise out of your company. You have to ask for it. The worst they can say is no. I have never ever heard of a company firing someone for asking for a raise. You just have to have the intestinal fortitude to walk in your manager's door and ask for it.<br />
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How do you do that???? First, know that, if you are a good worker, your manager WANTS to give you a good raise. It is difficult to find workers who are just satisfactory. Someone who does their job well, is an amazing find and you want to keep them happy. So, look your self in the face and ask some very introspective questions. <br />
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<ul>
<li>Am I a good worker, or do I just do the minimum it takes to get the job done? </li>
<li>When I complete a job is it just "good enough," or is it well done?</li>
<li>Do others come to me for help, or do they come to me as a last resort?</li>
<li>Am I a good supportive team member? Do I aid others on my team, even if I am busy?</li>
</ul>
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This helps set your mind for what is the next step. If you can answer those questions truthfully, and the answers are "yes," you can move on to Phase II. <br />
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Don't think about WHY you NEED the raise. Hopefully, you have a good relationship with your manager. Your manager, as your friend, DOES care about your financial wants and needs. However, realize that, even if you report to the owner of the company, your manger needs to justify your increase in pay to the "company." The "company" doesn't care about your personal financial wants and needs. All the company cares about is money. Even if you work at a touchy feely non-profit, the business cares about MONEY. That's it. That's all. <br /><br />
So, when you make your case for a raise, you must make it in terms that the company will understand and appreciate. You have to make the money case. BUT, you need to make your case such that the company will want to spend more on you. Your case needs to be about what you have done in the past, AND about what you will do in the future. If you make your case about what you have done, the company rubs its hands together and says, "What a bargain I have! I got the work of three people for the price of one!!" Make your pitch too much about the future, and the company says "Let's see all of this pan out before we invest."<br />
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The best way to start is to write it all out. Start first with the past. Write out your major accomplishments and how they have benefited the company. You have to use examples of measurable success, and how they have monetarily befitted the company. Developed software that increased productivity by 50% and saved the company $1.2 million. This sets your current value, and how the company has benefited from your work. <br />Then put your goals for the next two years. Again, they should be measurable and monetary. This shows your future value. This is the time to compare your duties to how much it would cost to replace you. <br />
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Next, how much are you going to ask for? Have a number in mind. Just don't say "a raise." Also, realize that the number you ask for may not be approved, but a lower number might. So, always ask for a little bit more than you want. But, don't shoot the moon. If you want 10%, but ask for 50%, you are going to be disappointed. Your number should be realistic enough that the company feels like it can make a counter offer. It should not be so high that the company scoffs and just walks away. <br />
Do your research. Take a look on job sites to see what the comparable in your experience and duties are. Don't limit yourself to just your job title, look at your duties, and compare with other jobs that have similar duties. Mark this down in your pitch notes. Also look at the cross duties your perform. If you have duties that cross different disciplines, note how much it would cost to hire a dedicated person to perform those duties.<br />
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Now you are ready to ask. Don't ambush your manager. Set a time and a meeting. Meet in a conference room. Try not to meet somewhere that your manager has a perceived air of power over you. Their office, or your office for instance. <br />
<br />You don't need a power point, but make your case in a pointed, logical way. Be prepared for counters and some defensiveness from your manager. Your tone should be one of friendly negotiation. Don't plead, or demand. Demanding will put your manager in full on defensive mode, and, if you make it sound like an ultimatum, it will definitely hurt your chances for future raises or promotions. Pleading makes you look weak. This will hurt your chances for risky and important projects. <br />
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This is a touchy subject for them as well, because, more often than not, they do not have the unilateral power to bless a pay raise. They have talk to someone else. <br />
Speaking of talking to someone else, don't do it. Your asking for a rise should be between you and your manger. No one else. Don't bring it up, don't discuss it with anyone at work.<br />
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Finally, be prepared if the answer is "no." What are you going to do? Think of alternatives. In your research, try to find a job title that better describes what you are doing. That way you can argue in the future that you title's comps are higher than what you are paid.<br />You could start looking for another job, and use your research in your salary negotiations.<br /><br />
Or, you could ask why the raise was rejected, and try to find out what you need to do to turn that answer to a yes next time. Sometimes, the answer is budget considerations. Sometimes, the company is preparing to do something and needs the resources elsewhere. Sometimes, the reason is YOU. Raises aren't given to adequate performers. They are given to linchpin high performers. If you aren't a linchpin, work hard to become one. NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-63480760882122734762018-01-09T09:21:00.002-06:002018-01-09T09:21:55.248-06:00Don't Mess Around. END THE THREATOne of the guys at the gym got in to a street fight. He was able to dominate the other guy, take his back and get him in to a rear naked choke.<br />
Instead of choking the guy out, he just held him in this control position until the Police arrived. However, the guy being choked gouged at his eyes, hit him, and even managed to smack him with a reverse headbutt that bloodied his nose.<br />
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So... What should he have done? First foremost and always, Your head must be kept tight against your opponent's neck. This prevents the reverse headbutt and greatly reduces the force that they can throw in to a punch. <br />
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Now to the point... When you are in a street fight, end the threat. Even if you completely dominate your opponent. This isn't the gym. If you catch a choke, CHOKE HIM OUT. Don't talk to him. End the threat. You don't know if the guy is armed and is taking his time pulling out his weapon. End the threat.<br />
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When you fight, you MUST match the brutality and savagery of your opponent. Otherwise, you will lose. And when you lose, you could lose your life. It is the same concept when you carry a weapon. If you carry it, you must be absolutely confident that you will use it if you have to. There can be no hesitation. <br />
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There are some things to consider, however... If you get a joint lock, especially a leg lock, and you finish the technique, i.e. you break the joint, you better have a very good case for that person going to cause you great bodily harm. For whatever reason, a jury will look at a broken nose, busted teeth, and other broken bones in the face caused by strikes MUCH differently than a broken elbow or dislocated shoulder. <br />
A destroyed knee needs as much justification as shooting someone. <br />
<br />
With that in mind. If you feel like you are dominating, get to the back mount position. Find the choke. Choke him out. If you must, move to mount and drop elbows. Be careful with joint locks, but if they are there and the guy has the potential to do you real damage, break it, and call your lawyer.NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-76418154742477369162017-12-19T16:31:00.000-06:002017-12-19T16:31:05.958-06:00Another New Car?The wife wants me to buy a new car... She is driving our 2013 Audi A4, and she wants me to get rid of our trusty 2007 Mazda 3.<br />
<br />
My response to her was that if we look to do that, we should look to trade/sell our Audi. That would get us something like $15K to $20K. Trading/selling the Mazda would get us something like $2K... Not really significant when you look at the cost of a new car. She didn't want to give up the Audi so soon, AND what if we want to have another baby? We would need to look for an SUV or minivan or something. SO... What if you want a new car, don't want to keep it for a while, AND you don't have very much equity to use for down payment? LEASE!!!<br />
<br />
Here are the requirements:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Gotta have all of the cool tech</li>
<li>Gotta have All Wheel Drive</li>
<li>Gotta have a largish cargo area</li>
<li>Gotta have 4 doors</li>
<li>Gotta have some additional room for growing baby and car seat </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
Here is what I am looking at...<br />
<br />
<h4>
Audi A5 Sportback</h4>
from $42,600<br />
252 HP<br />
3,704 lbs<br />
0.29 Drag coefficient<br />
24/34 MPG<br />
7 Speed Transmission<br />
186.3 / 79.9 / 54.6 Length / Width / Height<br />
39.4 / 37 Headroom front/rear<br />
41.3 / 35.1 Legroom front/rear<br />
55.7 / 54.5 Shoulder room front/rear<br />
21.8 / 35 Cargo capacity (cu ft)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://audimediacenter-a.akamaihd.net/system/production/media/37524/images/775dbbf8656352f9451817c1ffa8411a8f70c8d1/A169167_full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="800" height="226" src="https://audimediacenter-a.akamaihd.net/system/production/media/37524/images/775dbbf8656352f9451817c1ffa8411a8f70c8d1/A169167_full.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
Mercedes Benz GLC 300 4Matic Coupe</h4>
from $46,600<br />
241 HP<br />
4,001 lbs<br />
0.31 Drag coefficient<br />
21/28 MPG<br />
9 Speed Transmission<br />
186.3 / 82.5 / 63.1 Length / Width / Height<br />
38 Headroom (in)<br />
40.8 / 37.3 Legroom front/rear (in)<br />
57.3 / 56.5 Shoulder room front/rear<br />
17.6 / 56.5 Cargo capacity (cu ft)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://assets.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalAssets/Vehicles/Models/2018/GLC300C4/Features/2018-GLC-4MATIC-COUPE-021-MCFO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="349" data-original-width="620" height="180" src="https://assets.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalAssets/Vehicles/Models/2018/GLC300C4/Features/2018-GLC-4MATIC-COUPE-021-MCFO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
BMW X4</h4>
from $47,600<br />
240 HP<br />
4,130 lbs<br />
0.36 Drag coefficient<br />
20/28 MPG<br />
8 Speed Transmission<br />
184.5 / 74.1 / 63.9 Length / Width / Height<br />
39.3 Headroom (in)<br />
40.4 / 34.8 Legroom, front/rear (in)<br />
57.2 / 56.0 Shoulder room, front/rear<br />
17.7–49.4 Cargo capacity (cu ft)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/bmw/x4/2015/oem/2015_bmw_x4_4dr-suv_xdrive35i_fq_oem_5_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="213" src="https://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/bmw/x4/2015/oem/2015_bmw_x4_4dr-suv_xdrive35i_fq_oem_5_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
All of the cars are comparable in terms of price and specs. The Audi stands out in terms of tech (the most bad ass of the bunch). I was surprised to see that the overall head room was comparable between all three. I would have thought that the MB and BMW would have won that battle.<br />
<br />
Overall look, I have to go with the Audi as well. The lines are clean and it looks aggressive with out getting dated or weird. The BMW and MB look like beefed up cars... A lot like an AMC Eagle that a friend owned in High School...<br />
<br />
What gets me is the MPG. All cars are the All Wheel Drive option. All have turbocharged 4 cylinder engines. The Audi has a slight edge in HP, but they are all about 245 HP. <br />
The MB and BMW are significantly heavier, 300 and 400 lbs respectively, than the Audi. That, and the drag coefficient, make for a big difference in MPG. <br />
<br />
I like my current Audi, and being at risk of being called the "Audi family," I don't think I can go wrong with the A5 Sportback. Just have to find a way to keep the price around that $42K...NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-91097829537159300222017-12-12T16:23:00.002-06:002017-12-12T16:23:44.563-06:00Why Iron Fist Sucks Iron Fist and the Defenders have been out for a bit, so I feel it is OK to talk about them without worrying about spoilers for anyone.<br />
<br />
I was really excited when I heard that Iron Fist was coming to Netflix. Then I watched the first season of Daredevil. Then I was chomping at the bit. If Daredevil was this badass, Iron Fist, the Living Weapon, the pinnacle of Martial Arts, should be insanely off the hook.<br />
<br />
I heard Finn Jones was starring and I wasn't too worried. Charlie Cox of Daredevil wasn't know for his Martial Arts, and he made DD look amazing. <br />
<br />
Then it premiered. My expectations were high. I was devastated. It wasn't the story. It wasn't the angle they took for Iron Fist. That was all OK. They played up the whiny rich kid angle way too much but that's fine.<br />
<br />
The fight scenes that featured Jones just stunk up the room. No energy. No talent. With out trying to exaggerate at all, my 43 year old non-acting, inflexible, fat ass could have done a better job. EVERYONE, including Rosario Dawson, did better then the supposed "Living Weapon." He was terrible. Awful. Unforgivable.<br />
<br />
What's worse is that Marvel had a change things when the filmed The Defenders. They KNEW that Jones was terrible. They did NOTHING. There were times in The Defenders where Charlie Cox and Finn Jones were in the same fight scenes. I can't even remember watching Jones. I remember Krysten Ritter's Jessica Jones movements more than I remember Jones. Ritter's moves basically consisted of her throwing someone in to a wall. <br />
<br />
The best scenes in BOTH shows where when secondary characters, Iron Fist is the primary in both shows, fought. Davos, played by Sacha Dhawan, was amazing in Iron Fist. I was actually cheering for the bad guy when Danny/Davos finally faced off. That fight SUCKED, because Dhawan was obviously holding back for the craptastick Finn.<br />
The Electra/Daredevil fight in The Defenders was incredibly badass. NOTHING that Finn did was badass. Even the should have been insane Luke Cage/Iron Fist fight. Just terrible.<br />
<br />
There will be a season 2 of Iron Fist... I will watch it, because of the interconnection between the Marvel Netflix series. I hope they teach Finn some Martial Arts, or have other people fight his battles. Because he sucks.NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-262717595573948792017-09-27T15:26:00.003-05:002017-09-27T15:34:53.547-05:00How To Escape MountOne of the most fundamental positions in fighting is the mount position. As children my brother... and my older sister, used to put me in this position all of the time. It just feels right.<br />
<br />
Mount is achieved when you pass your knees above your opponent's hips.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bjjee.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/bjj-mount-position.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bjjee.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/bjj-mount-position.jpg" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>This is one of the most superior positions in all of fighting. You can punch, choke, or go for a myriad of submissions from here. Escaping this position, therefore, is a primary, fundamental skill that must be mastered to progress as a fighter.<br />
<br />
First and foremost... If you are mounted, you messed up very seriously previously to getting to this position. You must attempt to avoid getting in to this spot with strong escapes and movements in one of the inferior top positions previous. But... I well know, that is MUCH easier said than done.<br />
<br />
Secondly, when you train and drill this position, realize what a powerful position it is. Getting out is very very difficult. If you do escape, you are likely to be in a bad position afterwards, just not as bad as you were before.<br />
Because you are in such a bad position, realize that you are going to get mauled before anything positive happens. Most of the escape positions involve you moving your arms away from defending against punches and chokes. Know that if you are in a situation where you can be hit, you WILL be hit, likely several times, before you complete the escape.<br />
<br />
<h2>Beginning the Escape - Theroy</h2><div>When mounted you MUST defend first with your grappling. You have to make your opponent adjust their position according to your movements. This means disrupting their balance with hip pops and movement.<br />
You MUST avoid allowing your opponent get his knees in to your armpits. If that occurs, you are in very deep trouble, as he has taken away your ability to use your most powerful muscles and your center of gravity to disrupt his balance.<br />
If they DO get their knees in to your armpits, you must attempt to move them back down on to your waist, BEFORE you can begin your escape movements. Otherwise they will be too high on you body to catch their legs.<br />
It is here where you will be at your most vulnerable. Your elbows will be exposed. You need to uncover you face and neck to get your elbows in the best position to move your body up/move their body down. It is at this time where you will get your nose broken, or you will get choked out. Beware, and try to time your movement to minimize the amount of damage you will take.</div><h3>Best Time to Start is Before They are Finished</h3><div>The BEST time to begin your escapes is just before your opponent finishes moving to mount, before they can solidify their position. This takes timing and experience. You have to know when to stop defending the mount and start escaping it. I would rather give up position escaping a position early than start escaping a position too late. </div><div><br />
</div><h2>Escape Number 1 - Hold and Roll</h2><div>This is one of the easiest and most intuitive of the mount escapes. Essentially your isolate an arm, block the same side leg and roll. However, there are subtleties to the escape that you must be aware of. </div><h3>Angle</h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.infighting.ca/wp-content/uploads/1970/01/How-to-Bridge1-759x500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://blog.infighting.ca/wp-content/uploads/1970/01/How-to-Bridge1-759x500.png" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="759" height="210" width="320" /></a></div><div>When you begin your roll, you must BRIDGE!! Not straight up, but at a 45 degree angle. I turn my head until I am looking at the mat. I then take the roll to my inside shoulder. NEVER just roll linearly. Your opponent will base with the arm you have not isolated, and shut your movement down.</div><div><h3>Leg Placement</h3><div>One of the most difficult aspects of this escape is the leg placement in the roll. Your inside leg threads UNDERNEATH your outside leg. This sets your hips and your center of gravity in to a position to complete the escape. It makes it very difficult for your opponent to stop your movement. The natural movement is to step over with your outside leg. This movement is slower and much less powerful than the leg thread movement. </div><div><br />
</div><div>If all goes well you end up in your opponent's guard. This is known as the Rickson Gracie mount escape. No one better to demonstrate it than the man himself:</div><div><br />
</div><br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oZXKnT4RweE?feature=player_embedded"></iframe><br />
</div>Pay special attention to when Rickson's opponent is giving him a hard time. Rickson demonstrates the leg thread movement effortlessly.<br />
<br />
<h2>Escape Number 2 - Knee Elbow Escape</h2><div>The Knee Elbow Escape involves a very special shrimp movement. To execute this correctly, you must first "umpa" to knock your opponent off balance, then you have to shrimp, while keeping as much as your back on the ground as possible. Expose too much of your back, and your opponent snaps in to an "S" mount and your goose is well and truly cooked.</div><div>The movement begins with putting the shrimping leg on the ground. Your same side elbow then is placed on the closest knee of your opponent. </div><div>You then start an oblique crunch to push your opponent's leg backwards, while you simultaneously push your hips upwards. As this happens, you stick your shrimping leg knee in to the space between your opponent's instep and shin. Your goal is to bring your elbow to your knee. This places your opponents's knee in between your legs, giving you the half guard position.</div><div><br />
</div><h3>Leg Placement</h3><div>Many of these movements must be executed simultaneously, or in such close proximity for them to be essentially the same movement. This is true with the umpa and the shrimp movement. Leg placement is difficult for the student at first, because the two movements have the direct opposite leg placements.<br />
<br />
The umpa requires that both feet be on the ground. The hips are then raised explosively upward. Once the maximum height has been achieved, the leg that you will be shrimping into needs to be set flat on the ground. This is to pre-position it to move the knee in to the space between your opponent's instep and shin at the ankle joint.<br />
So, the idea is to explode upward, then fall back to the mat while extending one leg. The other leg remains in the umpa/shrimp base position.<br />
<br />
The knee of the straighted leg then begins to move upward. What is important is that the knee remain flat on the ground. It is imperative to the escape that your knee fit in to this area and pass all the way in. The knee moves forward until it meets the escapee's same side elbow.</div><h3>Body Position</h3><div>One of the big dangers with this position is your opponent moving to "S" mount.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://atactv.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/S-Mount-project-320x180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://atactv.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/S-Mount-project-320x180.jpg" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="320" /></a></div>Most of the time, this happens when the bottom person lifts their shoulder off the ground too much.<br />
Another big danger is that as you place your elbow on his knee you expose your face to punching. To counter both of these, you are going to do an oblique crunch.<br />
<br />
How do to an oblique crunch? Try this. Lay on your back with both feet on the ground, knees in the air. While keeping your back on the floor, thread your left hand through your left leg and touch your right ankle. Do the same for the other side. This is an oblique crunch, and a fun exercise you can do for warm ups.<br />
<br />
You have your elbow down at your side, your hands high to protect your neck and your face. You execute your umpa that knocks your opponent off balance. As you flatten out your leg and begin to move your knee upwards, you begin your oblique crunch that places your same side elbow on your opponent's knee. You then begin pushing your opponent's knee backwards in to your upward moving leg.<br />
This pincer movement forces your opponent's leg between your own, and you close for half guard.<br />
<br />
Ritchie Yip has an excellent video on how to execute this movement.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_D_Sl_OHii4?feature=player_embedded" ></iframe><br />
<h3>Half Guard</h3>When I teach this escape, I like to continue on to the Half Guard part of it. It is necessary to think of the half guard escape as part of the mount escape as a whole, because, without teaching and training the movements as a whole, students tend to make it to half guard and stop. This allows their opponent to begin their own half guard escapes. By teaching everything in the same movement, a more complete escape can be envisioned where the escapee ends up in a superior position.<br />
<br />
After completing the knee elbow escape, it is important to immediately switch your hips outward, and search for the underhook with the elbow push arm. More often than not, you will end up in a very low half guard. The two escape strategy that I use here is first the foot grab escape, followed by the roll under escape. Stephan Kesting, as always shows these two movements with excellent detail.<br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/l12Rm-4yvOA?feature=player_embedded" ></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pOrAwh9iL34" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
<h2>Put It All Together</h2><div>How do black belts escape the mount? They chain their movements together. When I roll 99% of the time I use the above two movements to escape the mount. I normally start with the roll escape then, if I'm stopped, I immediately move in to the knee elbow escape. The two complement each other very well. The important point is that I never stop moving. I'm always trying to disrupt my opponent's balance so that they cannot begin their submission movements. They are always dealing with my movements, trying to grapple me. If they miss or if they pause, I have them, and I escape.</div><div>It is important to note that you mustn't spaz out. Your movements to disrupt must have purpose. If you are simply flopping around like a dying fish, you cannot take advantage of your opponent's mistakes, and execute your escapes. </div>NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-78837249595528622412017-08-04T10:34:00.000-05:002017-08-04T10:34:14.528-05:00House Renovation - What You Need to Know if you Know NothingWe are finishing up on a medium sized house renovation. I want to say major, because we are spending major money... Anyway, background and scope is this:<br />
<br />
<h2>
Background</h2>
We found a new construction house in the neighborhood we wanted to live in. Prime location. The house was someone else's dream house, who couldn't afford to actually keep it. They realized this just as the house was finishing up, so we got a high end, custom house that had some very obvious sacrifices made to finish to sell. Two of the most obvious were the kitchen and the outdoor porch area. <br />
<br />
The kitchen area is a combined kitchen/dining/living room open concept. The stove is a 36" Viking Professional. High end and expensive. The refrigerator is an Fhiaba built in. Idiotically expensive. So expensive that I would have never in my life bought such a thing had it not been in the house already... The island had a very large butcher block counter top, with the rest of the kitchen having Alabama White marble counter tops. Very expensive. <br />
<br />
The floors are all natural hardwood taken from trees that were on the property before it was cleared to build the house. They are extraordinarily beautiful. It is difficult to find old growth wood for flooring, like the old days, but somehow they pulled it off. <br />
<br />
The fireplace is large with a bench like brick front. The bricks were all kilned in Birmingham, and were reclaimed from some old buildings around town. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">BUT...</span><br />
<br />
The cabinets were all Ikea. As inexpensive as you could get. There were no overhead cabinets. And all of the cabinets were drawers. <br />
There was no backsplash. Just painted walls. <br />
The oven hood was the smallest that could pass inspection... and it was about an inch off center... and it vented in to... nowhere. <br />
The marble counter tops are gorgeous. We love them. They are impractical as all outdoors. Everything stains them. They scratch and chip easily. They need to be regularly sealed.<br />
<br />
The fireplace bench protrudes about two feet in to the living area significantly shrinking the already scarce space. <br />
<br />
The outdoor porch area was... Just a roof with supporting telephone pole like columns, and pea gravel floor. <br />
<br />
The fireplace firebox protrudes about two feet in to the outdoor area, again significantly shrinking the already scarce space.<br />
<br />
It was obvious that the family had intended something much more grand. When we bought the house, we knew that we would have some work to do. Now... A little look in to my crazy. I hate fireplaces. I think they are outdated and should have been eliminated with the outhouse. Wood burning fireplaces are even worse because they add smoke, soot and additional cost in firewood to the mix. <br />
So... That is what we are doing.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Scope of Work</h2>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Kitchen</li>
<ul>
<li>Replace all cabinets with custom wood cabinets</li>
<li>Replace all counter tops with marble looking quartz</li>
<li>Replace and extend cabinet around the built in refrigerator with a place to put small appliances.</li>
<li>Replace hood with stainless steel 42" Viking hood with 1200 CFM vent that vents outside.</li>
<li>Replace refrigerator door with stainless steel door.</li>
<li>Add two overhead cabinets</li>
<li>Add tile back splash </li>
<li>Reduce the footprint of the island to allow more dining space</li>
</ul>
<li>Living room</li>
<ul>
<li>Remove fireplace</li>
<li>Add 16' sliding glass door to porch area</li>
<ul>
<li>Gives an 8' open area when both doors are open</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<li>Porch</li>
<ul>
<li>Remove telephone poll supports</li>
<li>Frame and screen in porch</li>
<li>Add ceiling, recessed lighting, and 72" ceiling fan</li>
<li>Add polished concrete floor.</li>
<li>Add concrete pad on one side of the porch for grilling</li>
</ul>
<li>Landscape</li>
<ul>
<li>Add sod and plantings as needed</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
So a good sized project with a lot of moving parts.</div>
</div>
<h2>
What to Know if You Know Nothing</h2>
<div>
I know nothing about construction. It isn't my area of expertise. I don't know how much things cost, or how much time they take. What I do know is that it is MY house. I am signing the checks, so I am the ultimate boss. Me. Never ever ever forget that. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So the first thing you need is a contractor. But not just any contractor. You need to know things about your contractor. You need to ask around. You need to meet with people and really interview them.</div>
<div>
I needed someone who was honest, felt the same about quality of work, could accurately manage my expectations, who could deliver on time, and who could guide my wife and I to the decisions that we had to make.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Everyone knows about the horror stories of the renovation that drags on and on and on. Or get something they didn't ask for. I don't what that. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, what do you ask? How do you find this person?</div>
<h3>
Contractor</h3>
<div>
First thing first. You have a conversation to find out how well the contractor listens. You need someone who will listen to you, not talk over you, or try to force their opinion on your. You need someone who isn't afraid to be HONEST with you about the scope of work, or the costs, or even if you are being unrealistic. So, ask their opinion on what you are planning. You can tell if someone is telling you something you want to hear. </div>
<div>
You need to get a sense as to how this person does business. Do they accept that this is YOUR house, YOUR project, and YOUR standards of quality? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Find out if the contractor uses subcontractors and for what work. Then find out if they use the SAME subs on each job. That is important to know.</div>
<div>
Ask about how he schedules his jobs. Does he have multiple jobs going at the same time? If so, how many crews does he have working. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Next, get references. But not just good references. Ask them for three references. One that loves them, one that is a return customer, and one that hates them. Then call all three. Get as personal as you can with your questions and the job that was done. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ask:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Job completed on time</li>
<li>Costs, estimate accurate or not?</li>
<li>Work quality</li>
<li>Quality of the crew</li>
<ul>
<li>Were they working or standing around playing with their phones?</li>
</ul>
<li>Overall project management</li>
<li>HONESTY OF THE CONTRACTOR </li>
</ul>
<div>
Get in to the nitty gritty as far as the reference is willing to go. Even the customer that loves them will have somethings they don't like. If you can live with that, you are good to go.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Subcontractors</h3>
<div>
This is where the rubber meets the road. Subcontractors are specialists in a certain aspect of your job. For instance, on my job we needed </div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Masons</li>
<li>Cabinet maker</li>
<li>Landscapers</li>
<li>Tile people</li>
<li>Floor people</li>
<li>HV/AC</li>
<li>Window mill-workers</li>
<li>Painters</li>
<li>Concrete</li>
<li>Electrical</li>
<li>Plumbing</li>
</ul>
<div>
It is likely that your job will have this many and more. The important thing to know here is that each one of these subs has their own agenda and time line. Most renovations get hung up on the subs. So, when you are finding your contractor, it is very very important to find out how much work is done by the subs and how much work is done by the contractor directly.</div>
</div>
<div>
Find out who the subcontracting companies will be. If the contractor is cagey about who will come, you DON'T want that contractor. You need time to check in to those companies.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What you are looking for is a contractor that consistently uses the same subcontractors. Why? Leverage. Think about your own job. Which customer is treated better and given preferential treatment? The large customer that keeps coming back or the first timer that you aren't sure that will ever come back? Companies bend over backwards to keep large customers happy. A contractor that uses the same subcontractors every time IS that big customer. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Case in point. When the slab was poured for our porch, there was a problem. There was a slight bulge in the concrete that wouldn't allow the sliding door to go in. The solution was to break down the slab and re-pour. Because my contractor does the majority of his concrete work with this same company, they were out the next day early and working late breaking up the slab and re-pouring the concrete. The contractor had the leverage, and the relationship to get the work done and keep us on schedule.</div>
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The main reason you want a contractor using the same subs isn't the problem fixes above, though. It is the schedule. With a strong relationship the contractor can get the subs to come when he wants them to according to his schedule, not the subs. This means that you won't get the long delays between work. </div>
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<h2>
Decisions</h2>
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There are a lot of decisions to make. Your contractor will help you get through them. Your contractor, in the planning phase, have drawings for you to look at. They should come on to your job site and show you what things will look like with tape or string or something that you can walk around at different angles to make your final decisions.</div>
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You will need to make decisions on colors. This needs to be done as soon as you can. You need to make decisions on placement. You even have to make decisions on what kind of cover you want for your electrical outlets.</div>
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A good thing to do is to look at your current house and living area. Get in very close. Everything you see is a decision you have to make. Trim, paint, plastic, placement, size, shape, etc etc etc.</div>
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<h2>
The Work</h2>
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When the work begins... It will be DIRTY. Very dirty. Dust EVERYWHERE. It will be noisy. Bangs and saws and motors and everything else. There will be smells. Wet paint. Floor varnish, etc. <br />You will lose the use of the part of your room that work will be done in. Your electric bill will be much higher. If you are doing work in the summer, and you have your AC on, people will be in and out of your house, so your AC use will be much higher.</div>
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<h3>
The Workers</h3>
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The workers... It is unavoidable that you will have some shady looking people working in your house. That is the nature of the business. That isn't the worst part. The worse part is that the workers will treat your property like crap. Trash will be everywhere. They don't pickup after themselves. YOU must be the trash enforcer. You must make it clear that you will not accept abuse of your property or your grounds. Make it clear that they are to throw away trash in to a designated pile to be hauled away, or they must bring cans or something to put personal trash in. Be insistent. It is your house, your rules. Be very clear on what is acceptable. Some construction debris around the site are inevitable and unavoidable. Have some discretion, but obvious stuff, cans, bottles, etc. Be firm.</div>
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Smoking... Some of the workers will smoke. If you don't smoke in your house, make sure that everyone knows that the home is a no smoking zone. Zero tolerance. I set up a smoking area for them. I did not allow any smoking on or near the materials that would go in the house. I was very firm about this. Again YOUR house. YOUR job. YOUR RULES. If they give you static, simply ask them if they would like to be paid for the job. This is something that you have to jump on EARLY. You can't pull it on them half way through the job. </div>
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Once it is established that YOU are the ultimate boss, things are set. The workers will listen to you.</div>
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Intoxication</h3>
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You may run in to a situation where a working is intoxicated on the job. Let the contractor know immediately. It is a safety and liability issue for both you and the contractor. If you are uncomfortable about confronting the intoxicated person, you have the right to revoke your invitation to anyone at any time. Talk to one of the other workers. If need be, call the police. Let that be your last resort, though. Get with the foreman or your contractor before you do that, unless you fear for your or someone else's safety. If you do call the police, do so quietly. You don't want to have the intoxicated person become more agitated by announcing that you are calling the police.</div>
<h2>
Final Product</h2>
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Before you call the job complete, or a section of the job that a sub does that is complete, go over every inch of it with the contractor. If ANYTHING is not to your liking, let the contractor know so that they can fix it. This is an important thing to keep in mind. This is YOUR job. YOUR house. The job is done when YOU say it is done. You have the right to be as picky as you want to be. Once they leave the job, they are gone and you must pay to have anything corrected. Be anal. Be specific. Don't worry about anybody's feelings. The only person that matters is YOU. The only feelings that matter are YOURS.</div>
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Be sure that the job site is cleaned and finished to your satisfaction. There will be construction debris everywhere, and the workers will not be good about cleaning it all up. Again, be insistent. Make sure that you are understood and that you won't accept the job being done before everything is looking beautiful. </div>
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<h2>
Overall</h2>
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If you take anything away from this, take this: It is YOUR project. You must live with it. Make sure that you have something that you will enjoy. You must take ownership of the project at a personal level, because it is very personal. This is your house. </div>
NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-50089982221894359262017-07-05T12:15:00.002-05:002017-07-05T12:15:53.988-05:00Working Through Impostor SyndromeOne of my friends saw my blog posts and mentioned how he liked my honesty on dealing with Impostor Syndrome. I asked "Dealing with the what now, whondrome?"<br />
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Doing a bit of research, it is a subject that comes up quite a bit in BJJ. Largely due to the length of time it takes to progress, and the not so subtle fact that you get absolutely SMASHED for a good long length of time. It puts you in the mind set of "I will never be as good as INSERT GUY HERE." When you achieve the rank of said guy, you feel like you are a poor substitute for him/her. You feel like you don't really deserve the rank/praise, and that any moment, you will be revealed for the pretender you are. <br />
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When I started BJJ, I rolled with our black belt, Rodrigo Vaghi. He crushed me. Stole my will to live. Then he did it to the next guy. Then the next guy. Then the NEXT guy. That was my understanding of what a Black Belt was. What I didn't know was that Rodrigo is an elite black belt. One of the very best. What I didn't know was, had I gone to his academy in Rio, I would have seen that he would crush their black belts the same way. <br />
<br />
Others have written about the same thing:<br />
<a href="https://www.invertedgear.com/blogs/inverted-gear-blog/impostor-syndrome-why-and-how-to-neutralize-it" target="_blank">Valerie Worthington </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bjjee.com/articles/cope-feeling-youre-undeserving-promotion/" target="_blank">Nick Chewy Albin</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://higherjiujitsu.com.au/higher-blog/2017/4/11/imposter-syndrome" target="_blank">Higher JiuJitsu</a><br />
<br />
I have taken some time to really think about it. To pull out my soul and take a good look. I realized that I'm just starting my journey. I have passed the minimum qualifications to become a black belt. I have a good idea of base, and a basic understanding of leverage. My fitness is good. It's time to play.<br />
<br />
For the last few months, I have started to "play" with my jiujitsu. I've begun to open myself up and try different positions, different movements. I am also taking time to drill the basics consistently. I've completely given up on always having to be the guy who wins. I can lose, as long as I learn. By concentrating on the basics, and drilling them I have strengthened and deepened my knowledge of them. So, when I get in to trouble after trying a new position, I can fall back on what I know works.<br />It is something that I should have done a long time ago. <br />
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I feel that now I am trying new things, I have expanded my game. Best of all, I'm having more fun.<br />
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I know that I won't be what my mind's eye expects of a black belt. But I also know that I am not undeserving of the rank.<br />
<br />NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-30801386940173896062017-03-28T12:48:00.001-05:002017-03-28T12:48:12.338-05:00Mind = Blown!!Sometimes you hear something and it completely changes your way of thinking. In Jiu-Jitsu, you must always be thinking, re-evaluating your game and improving your weaknesses. <br />
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My instructor in Oklahoma, Giulliano Gallupi, said something to me once that didn't make a lot of sense at the time, but as I progress in BJJ, it becomes more and more mind blowing. He told me "In guard, if you open your guard, you are playing Open Guard. If your opponent opens your guard, you are getting passed."<br />
"Of course." I thought at the time and dismissed it. I didn't think deeply on what his actual meaning was. What he was actually talking about was who has the initiative in the movement. This is very important, because reaction time is always slower than initial action. I also KNOW when the initial action is started. <br />
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Using the Open Guard/Passing Guard example, if I open my guard and place my feet on my opponent's hips I can then execute my next movement as my opponent is reacting to the opening of my guard. I am one move ahead. If my guard is opened by my opponent, I am reacting to the opening of my guard, trying to get to a spot where I can play open guard. All the while my opponent is moving to pass. My opponent is one move ahead. <br />
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Now let's apply this concept to escapes and sweeps. In side control, I like to shrimp to my knees.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cfmLyjvxNFA" width="560"></iframe><br />
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I then base with one arm down, opposite foot comes out to and the same foot as the arm down shoots forward to take butterfly guard. This looks like a sit out, but instead of coming to the outside, you end up in half-guard.<br />
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Once there, I'll do the sweep of my choice. If I have an underhook and an overhook, I'll go for the standard butterfly guard sweep.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3aH8aNK08ds" width="560"></iframe><br />
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If I have double underhooks, I'll start the roll over pass and if he bases with his arms, I'll take his back.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c-LkiJuxgEc" width="560"></iframe><br />
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This all starts with my intention to escape. I start the bridge and shrimp. My opponent moves to retain side control, reacting to my bridge. I scissor my legs and get to my knees. As my opponent reacts to my change in position, I am already moving to butterfly guard. My opponent now has to sit on his knees to counter the butterfly. As he begins his movement, I have already selected, and have begun my sweep. With the intention to escape, and getting to my knees I immediately was three steps ahead of my opponent who was still reacting to my initial shrimp.<br />
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Another excellent example is in the baseball bat choke from the bottom of side control. In this movement, I ALLOW my opponent to pass. BUT, I must make sure that it is ME who is controlling the initiative.<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VvpOSN2PnW0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
<br />
Here, Magid Hage sets his hands in guard, and baits his opponent to pass. He allows the pass to occur, on his terms, and springs the attack.<br />
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That is all well and good, however, this concept becomes more powerful when I am in the middle of defending my opponents movements. I RETAKE the initiative by deciding when my opponent can complete the motions of his movements. In these moments I move from being passed/attacked to becoming the attacker. <br />
An excellent example of this is the "Ghost Escape".<br />
<br />
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7mj3H83yIZE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br />
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In the first part of this video Kenneth Brown shows us the escape. The outside arm overhooks the opponent's outside arm. Bridge to make space, then the inside arm shoots underneath the body. Then you push on the body of the opponent while using your legs as a pendulum scissor movement. The momentum of the movement along with the push from the arm moves you in a circle and out of side control. The second half of the video demonstrates what I am talking about in this pass. The opponent begins a cut pass. They have the initiative, they have begun their pass, and have put their knee outside ours and have effectively stapled our leg to the ground. Knowing that the next movement will be the slide in to kesagatame, Kenneth recognizes that he will be passed and needs to take steps to recover the initiative. He moves to his side to take control of the sliding leg. At the same time he gets his ovehook, and moves his inside arm in to the push position. He then allows the pass to progress. Because he is in charge, he knows when the pass is going to occur. As the pass completes, he initiates his movement and is able to turn into his opponent in butterfly guard. <br />
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When you are training, who has the initiative? Are you playing open guard, or are you being passed?NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-25075880199538416882017-03-15T11:29:00.001-05:002017-03-15T11:29:31.108-05:00How Not To Become a Crappy Black BeltIn BJJ you have various things that you need to be learning and doing at the various belt levels. Your ability to learn and execute these things will determine your success in competition and in the gym.<div>
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<div>
As a white belt you job is to learn base and apply it to the basic movements of Jiu-Jitsu. Whoever has the the best knowledge of base in a white belt competition will be able to overcome the majority of his opponents, because they will be able to execute their passes, set up submissions and counter the other guy's game. Even if your opponent knows more than you do, if you have a better base you are much more likely to counter his movement.</div>
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As a blue belt your job is to deepen your knowledge of base and the basics, but add endurance and stamina. Put two Blue Belts with equal base and knowledge in a match and the one with better endurance is going to win. At Blue Belt you will be smashed and smashed and smashed. You will need to learn how to defend and keep going. You will learn how to attack and chain those attacks together. Base is always important, but keeping your movement rolling is the key to success at this level.</div>
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As a Purple Belt your job is to develop a game. You should already know what positions seem to work well for your body type. The idea now is not to focus on those positions and drill so that you feel absolutely safe in those positions. Then progress on to some very specific movement in those positions that you get some "signature" submissions from. From there, instead of just looking to "escape side control" you are moving to escape side control in to a sweep/movement that will put you in to my game. You see this in upper level matches, their movements are dedicated to directing their opponents in to their specific game. </div>
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At Brown Belt you refine and solidify your game. All focus is toward that game. You explore new moves and other movements for the sake of defending them or using them to focus your game. You hear the complaint, "You always use XYZ pass to XYZ submission." Your drills are designed to put you in bad situations, so that you can escape, and progress directly to your game. Your game movements are drilled to the point that even though someone may know exactly what you are going to do, they can't stop it.</div>
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At Black Belt your game is at the point where it is as natural as breathing. Your flow is always, naturally, moving you into and around your game. Your drilling is for the various "branches" of counters and movements of your game. Instead of hitting XYZ pass to XYZ submission, you hit XYZ pass to XYZ submission, then flow seamlessly in to XXY submission because XYZ was blocked in one way or another. This is natural movement, no thought was required to move submissions they just appear.</div>
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Where did I go wrong? At purple belt, I didn't develop a game. Sure I have positions and stuff that I really like and that are my "go-to" but... I have too much fun with new positions. I keep trying them, drilling them. It means that my execution isn't where it should be. A good black belt is able to teach the positions, but also has their specific game that is attuned to their use and their body. A good black belt says "Ok, we are going to go over lasso guard to triangles." when their game is closed guard to top position to mount submissions.</div>
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My problem is that because I want to try so much stuff all of the time, I really have no defined game. I get beat by those that do. When I run in to someone with a specific, refined game, I get served early and often. </div>
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So, what am I to do? Well... I need to build a game. I need to focus on it. I know what my game should be, I just need to take the time and drill dirll drill. But... I don't want to. I want to practice all of the new stuff, while tying it together with the old stuff. I want to drill a cool way to get to the berimbolo off of a traditional half-guard pass, and I'll throw in a kneebar just for fun. <br />I am a hobbyist. I'm 43 years old. BJJ is not only my exercise and workout, but my decompression and fun. I'm not competing anymore. I really don't "have" to create and solidify a game at this point. BUT... If I do want to represent my school and my belt when I train other places, I do need something to execute... </div>
NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-15345395809557868662017-03-07T12:52:00.001-06:002017-03-07T12:52:53.468-06:00Confessions of a Crappy Black BeltI promoted to Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on Saturday. I am having lots of conflicting thoughts and feelings. <br />
On the one hand, I feel that I deserve the belt. I have been training for 12 years now, and I feel that I have put the time in on the mat, paid my dues, took the injuries, and that my knowledge level is on par with most Black Belts.<br />
I know the positions, I know the movements. I can teach and execute them.<br />
I'm not pushing any innovations, but neither am I behind in the new movements.<br />
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I know the rule set and scoring for IBJJF and the other most common tournaments. I can run a fight camp and make sure that the students in the class are ready to compete at their level.<br />
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Functionally, my technique is good enough to overcome all but the higher belts at my gym, and I have worked favorably against others at other gyms. When young, strong, athletic, wrestlers with no BJJ experience to speak of come to the gym, I am able to hold them off and finish them.<br />
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I know that in the overall bell curve of BJJ Black Belts, I am not at the bottom of the curve.<br />
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But, on the much bigger other hand, I don't feel that my ability to apply technique is at the Black Belt level. I don't "feel" like a Black Belt. Of course, my promotion is not up to me. It is up to my instructors. Samuel, who runs the gym feels I am at the Black Belt level. Rodrigo Medeiros, Samuel's instructor stated that he feels that my technique is at the Black Belt level and allowed the promotion. But I don't feel worthy of the belt.<br />
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This is very different from my promotions to Black Belt in other martial arts. I promoted to Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do not more than 4 years after starting. The same for Hap Ki Do. It is fun to note that I stayed longer at Blue Belt in BJJ than I did in training for Black Belt in both Korean Martial Arts. <br />
Despite the time factor, the big difference between the Korean Arts and BJJ was that I was at a school with a lot of TKD and HKD Black Belts. It wasn't something over the top to see and train with a Black Belt. They weren't mythical figures who's technique was so much better than my own.<br />
However, when I started BJJ, my instructor was a newly promoted Purple Belt. Just having a Blue Belt was very very special. The Black Belts I knew were directly from Brazil. They were former world champions, trained by the Gracie family, at the Gracie gyms in Brazil. <br />
These guys were top of the food chain in Brazil, and accepted the sacrifice of moving to a different country because they loved BJJ, and wanted the art to grow. <br />
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However, if I would have looked back at their gyms in Brazil, what would I have seen? I would have seen that the majority of Black Belts would have been just like I am today. Guys with jobs. Guys who have been training for years, who have the technique, but do not, nor will they ever, have the ability of the guys who went to the U.S. to teach. They are hobbyists. Just like me.<br />
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So, while I don't feel worthy of the belt, and I know for a stone cold fact that I would get my clock cleaned by many purple/brown belt competitors, I am still a Black Belt representing the BJJ Revolution and Carlson Gracie Jr. gyms through Samuel. I will do my best to represent them and be worthy of the rank bestowed upon me.NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-62178661620860636452017-02-27T08:54:00.002-06:002017-02-27T08:54:26.867-06:00A Lot Happens in Two Years...Ummm.... Well... Yes. So... <br />
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<ol>
<li>We bought a house and are living in Birmingham.</li>
<li>We conceived, carried, and had a baby daughter.</li>
<li>I was promoted to Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.</li>
</ol>
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So... Yeah... More on being a Black Belt than the other stuff.... </div>
NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-5529152511644510942015-03-18T13:53:00.003-05:002015-03-18T13:53:59.071-05:00Start A Gym??I ran a class a couple of days ago and one of the students remarked, "You are a great teacher. You should start your own gym!!"<br />
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Many high ranking Martial Artists have a fantasy about starting their own gyms. I admit that I have entertained that idea as well. However, there are several factors to being an owner/operator of a gym that many people don't realize or don't know about. <br />
To open a gym you need more than just a talent for teaching.<br />
<h3>
It's Just Business</h3>
When you open your own gym, first and foremost, it is not just a gym. It is a business. As such, it has the same problems that starting any small business will have. You have to come up with a business model. You need to come up with start up funding. You need to find a suitable location. You need to obtain the minimum equipment to open. You need to figure out a price structure that will, at minimum, keep the doors open and the lights on. You need to come up with a marketing plan.<br />
These are heavy topics, an they must be addressed before moving on.<br />
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<h3>
McDonald's, Burger King, or Bob's Burgers?</h3>
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Next topic is franchising. Buying in to a franchise can ease much of the process of opening the doors. Franchises allow you to piggy back on an established brand, and trade on their name. Many also provide Point of Sale software, as well as subscriptions to membership services that you can use to track your student/customers.</div>
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With that ease comes many catches... Many franchises require that you sell only their brand of merchandise. You like Atama Kimonos, but you affiliate with Gracie Barra? Sorry, only Storm Kimonos are to be sold here. <br />Many franchises also require you to teach a specific curriculum, or movements a very specific way. Franchises also limit you to who you can have visit for seminars to only those within the franchise.</div>
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<h3>
Tournaments</h3>
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Unless you are starting some silly Martial Art that doesn't have competitions, your students will eventually want to compete. Even if you don't want to go to these tournaments, you need to make connections and find out where and when the are so that you can schedule training time. You need to make sure that your students are ready. </div>
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You are the representative of your school. You have to GO to these tournaments. You must coach your students. Remember the first topic, you are running a business. Tournaments are advertising. If you aren't there, your students will see the schools that have a coach at the tournament. You will lose students if they see that another school will be more supportive to their goals than you are. If you are not there, you have no opportunity to show that your school is better than the other schools, and will not attract new students. </div>
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Tournaments are very important. If you want to keep your school going, you are going to need to organize a team and go.</div>
<h3>
Time Requirements</h3>
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You can't just have one class a day, when it is convenient for you. Your class times must be at the times that you can attract the most students. This normally means you need one early morning class, one lunch class, an early evening class, and a late class. </div>
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Do you want to segregate your beginners from your graduate students? Another class time.</div>
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Don't forget, to make money you will need to do private classes.</div>
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Tournaments, 4+ classes a day, cleaning requirements, business paperwork requirements, marketing requirements, contractor requirements, private class requirements, and don't forget, you are the spiritual leader of your gym. You need to make personal time with your students. That means weekend outings to watch combat sporting events. Boxing, MMA, Kickboxing, if its on, you can bet your students will want to watch it with you.</div>
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Many times overlooked is your own fitness. YOU need to look the part of a Marital Arts instructor. That means you need to work out. You need to be able to take on any one that comes through the door. You need to be ready to physically impress the dad with a beer gut that has watched too many JCVD moves that his 5 year old can learn from you. Time time time time</div>
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Kids Classes </h3>
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If you want to be successful, you will need to have children's classes. No two ways about it. You may want to train adults, but kids are what keep the doors open.</div>
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Now teaching children isn't so bad. What is bad is their parents. From the mom that wants to be very sure that you aren't teaching her little angel about anything other than Jesus, to the dad who wants his 3 year old son to never ever, under any circumstances, tap out. You must deal with them in such a way that keeps the money coming in. </div>
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Starting your own gym can be very rewarding. But it must be seen as a full time job. If you have a career, starting a gym is nearly impossible. Would I start a gym someday? If was the only option left to me, and then I would look for a full time instructor willing to put in the necessary time. I want to train, but I don't want to run. </div>
NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-90449253603412975762014-12-29T13:42:00.001-06:002017-02-27T09:05:46.149-06:00Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu BeltsI was promoted to Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at a seminar on 12/6/2014. My instructor dropped some hints before the seminar, making sure I would attend, complementing my technique, only matching me up with other brown belts in sparring, and then talking with them privately after my roll. So, I wasn't completely surprised when he called my name.<br />
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<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/BJJ_Brown_Belt.svg/220px-BJJ_Brown_Belt.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/BJJ_Brown_Belt.svg/220px-BJJ_Brown_Belt.svg.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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What I wasn't prepared for was the emotions that came with my promotion. I started BJJ in Omaha, Nebraska at a time when the closest black belt was in St. Louis, Missouri. The highest ranked student in the state was my instructor, a guy who had just promoted to Purple belt. That Purple belt has since been promoted to Black Belt, but the lasting impression of him destroying me as a Purple belt has stayed with me all these years. <br />
On that day I had just been promoted OVER that instructor. It is silly and unproductive to live in the past, but I have a hard time accepting that I am worthy of the belt. <br />
At my current school, I am not the best brown belt, but I am not the worst one either. I am about in the middle of the group, which is where you want to be for a newly promoted belt. It tells you that your promotion was legitimate for your school. So, skill-wise I know I am worthy. I teach classes, I help out the lower belts, so I know that maturity wise I am worthy. <br />
However, deep in my soul, I am still that White Belt getting smeared all over the mat. It makes me feel like my promotion was not deserved. The problem is that I will never rid myself of these thoughts. BUT... I have found that these thoughts are not uncommon in BJJ.<br />
<br />
Belts in all martial arts mean something. However, they don't mean what the lay person think they mean. A belt does not measure how quickly and effectively you can beat someone up. Universally, they mean that the practitioner has spent the minimum required time training, and has acquired the skill that instructor deems worthy of that belt. Essentially, the belt is the instructor announcing to the world, THIS PERSON REPRESENTS MY MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THIS SKILL LEVEL.<br />
Most martial arts, and even in BJJ, a time requirement is set on when you are eligible for your next belt. In Tae Kwon Do, the time requirement was 2 months per belt, until you got to green, then you had stripes that you had to test for, but the time between stripes was 2 months. If you test every time you are eligible, it takes about 4 years to achieve a black belt.<br />
Most old school BJJ academies have no testing requirements. You are promoted when your instructor thinks you are ready. The time varies from student to student on their belts. My progress has been slower than the mean. I spent more time as a Purple belt than I did in all of my color belts in TKD. I don't expect to be presented a black belt for at least another 4 years.<br />
<br />
This long time frame makes the BJJ belt seem that much more important. However, it is also the time frame that causes many people to leave BJJ. I am now a Brown Belt. There are fewer Brown Belts in BJJ than any other belt rank. It is the rank before black belt and the one hit hardest by attrition. Attrition starts at white belt and it whittles down practitioners until the final color. However, the brown belt holder is also the most likely to complete the journey through the color ranks to achieve Black Belt.<br />
<br />
Anyway... Here I am. People often try to attach meaning to the belts, but you really can't. The meaning is deeply personal, but I will share what my journey so far has been.<br />
<br />
<h2>
White Belt</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/BJJ_White_Belt.svg/1920px-BJJ_White_Belt.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c4/BJJ_White_Belt.svg/1920px-BJJ_White_Belt.svg.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Learn positions</li>
<li>Learn submissions</li>
<li>Learn transitions</li>
<li>Learn how to act</li>
<li>Learn how to react</li>
<li>Learn how to tap</li>
</ul>
<h2>
Blue Belt</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/BJJ_Blue_Belt.svg/220px-BJJ_Blue_Belt.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/BJJ_Blue_Belt.svg/220px-BJJ_Blue_Belt.svg.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Apply submissions</li>
<li>Learn how to pass</li>
<li>Transitions become natural</li>
<li>Gain endurance</li>
<li>Learn defense</li>
<li>Learn when to apply and when to conserve strength</li>
<li>Lean introspection so that you can improve your game</li>
</ul>
<h2>
Purple Belt</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/BJJ_Purple_Belt.svg/220px-BJJ_Purple_Belt.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/BJJ_Purple_Belt.svg/220px-BJJ_Purple_Belt.svg.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Pass is natural</li>
<li>Submissions are natural</li>
<li>Deep introspection to learn about yourself</li>
<li>Focus shifts from learning moves to move details</li>
<li>Game is defined</li>
<li>Strength conservation is natural</li>
<li>Defense is natural</li>
<li>Learn how to attack</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
This is my journey. Other journeys are different. That is why the meaning of the belts are different for each person. </div>
NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-10707869809598364102014-02-26T08:06:00.000-06:002014-02-26T08:06:12.890-06:00ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕCome and get them. Spartan King Leonidas I's response to the Persians request that they throw down their arms at Battle of Thermopylae.<br />
<br />
It is a rallying cry for gun owners. Unfortunately, it has come time to put up or shut up in Connecticut. <br />
<br />
What's going on? Well, last year Connecticut banned "Assault Weapons" and all magazines that hold over 10 rounds. They don't really know what an Assault Weapon is, but anyway that's not the point of this post.<br />
<br />
The CT Government gave gun owners, who lawfully purchased and registered their guns (This is an important point, because this law only applies to legal gun owners. Illegal gun owners wouldn't register their guns... why would they? They are illegal!!!), until January 1st to register their now illegal guns and magazines. Many people sent in their registrations, but they didn't arrive at the post office until after January 1st, so they were not postmarked until after the deadline. So, the Governor of Connecticut, Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, without the consent or approval, read illegally, taking a cue from the President, simply said that gun owners had until the 4th of January. <br />
This, of course, was meaningless to many gun owners, because only the State knew they were not in compliance with the law. The owner received no notice that they were late.<br />
<br />
Now the fit starts to hit the shan. Letters are now going out to owners saying that they didn't make the cut. They are now required to turn in their guns.<br />
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<img src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/1904016_671094282946634_1320930849_n.jpg" /><br />
<br />
So... If they don't turn in their legally purchased and owned property the Government will confiscate them. They know where you live. They know you own the weapons, because you tried to follow the law.<br />
<br />
What happens now? Are the people of Connecticut Lions or Sheep? Will they stand on a line and challenge the CT State Police to Molon Labe, Come and take them?<br />
<br />
I find myself wanting them to be Lions and have the State of Connecticut back down. What I know will happen is that they will be Sheep and turn in their guns. <br />
<br />
What will happen is that the state will make an "example" of some of the owners. The State will burst in the gun owners house like a military force, with military weapons, and take all of the once legally owned guns, and kill anyone who might resist in the slightest way. <br />
<br />
Freedom is dead in America. It died a long time ago. If you have to ask permission to do something it is not a right, it is a privilege. What has been proven time after time in DEMOCRAT controlled states is that we own weapons at the pleasure of the Governor and the State Legislature, and sometimes the Mayor of your city.<br />
I want this situation to end without ANY American blood being shed. It won't happen. A Law Enforcement Officer, or citizen WILL die in CT during a raid. Gun grabbers will use it as an example that ALL guns need to be taken away. Then America will have to decide. The new Persians, in the form of our own Government will be at our gates. What will we do? Will we be Lions or Sheep?<br /><span style="font-size: large;">ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ</span><br />
<br />NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-50731878812470114782014-02-18T08:32:00.002-06:002014-02-18T08:32:39.449-06:00Unmentioned Benefits To Training Martial ArtsYou have heard all of the benefits to training Martial Arts. <br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Self Defense</li>
<li>Discipline</li>
<li>Exercise</li>
<li>Lose weight</li>
<li>Comradery</li>
<li>Blah blah blah blah</li>
</ul>
<div>
There are many benefits that are never mentioned, because people would never sign up. Nobody wants to hear about these, because they cause the practitioner to look deeply into their soul, and find out WHO they really are.</div>
<div>
Imagine how that conversation would go:<br />MA Instructor: In addition to the above stated benefits, this will also cause you deep introspection that will cause you to really learn what kind of a person you really are.</div>
<div>
Prospective Student: Fuck you dude, I just wanna learn how to FIGHT!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
These benefits have nothing at all to do with the physical aspects of Martial Arts, and has everything to do with the spiritual aspect of Martial Arts. Now.. I'm not talking about meditation, Eastern Philosophy, Zen, Chi, Tao or any of that crap. Those are religious aspects that have been attached to many forms of Martial Arts, because they were practiced in religious institutions, or had to do with the moral aspects of using violence. This is not what I am talking about. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What I am talking about is how training can affect your personal knowledge of yourself. Who are you, really? Are you a bully? Are you an egomaniac? Are you a coward? Are you courageous? Are you kind? Are you tenacious?</div>
<div>
Who are you?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Training Martial Arts puts you in a position where all of these questions about yourself, and more are answered. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Example, if you are properly training, there will be a point where you are so tired that you can't lift your hands. Yet, there will still be time left in class. What do you do? Keep going? Quit? Your training partners will be urging you on. What do you do? Let them down? Who are you? When the chips are down will you just give up?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Better example, you are getting your ass handed to you on a silver platter. The guy you are rolling with has you in all of the control positions and there is not a damn thing you can do about it. He puts you in to side control and you can't move or breathe. He switches to knee on belly, and crushes the breath from you, you are sure your ribs are about to pop with the pressure. What do you do? Keep going? Quit? All you have to do to make it end is to tap out and say you are done. Who are you? Are you someone who just gives up? Are you just going to get angry and think the other guy is cheating? Who do you blame??? Your instructor? Your school? YOU???</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How can you take humility? Do you let your ego run your life? </div>
<div>
Example, You are a highly ranked member of your school. Everyone recognizes your ability and technique. Everyone respects you. There is a younger member of the school, who is a phenom. He is several ranks beneath you. His style is the perfect foil for yours. Your go to movements, that won you tournaments and countless matches in the gym have no effect, you are constantly on the defensive, and tapping every time to submissions that you never see coming.</div>
<div>
What do you do? Do you get angry with the kid? Do you refuse to train with him? Do you blame him for cheating? Can you leave your ego at the door? Can you ask the kid to work his game with you so that you can learn how to overcome it? Who are you?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Delphic Maxim states "Know thyself." Plato insisted the this was the the only way to true knowledge. Martial Arts will lay bare your soul, and show you yourself. Some embrace this opportunity, and use it to change themselves. Some can never recover from what they saw, and quit, never wanting to look again.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What will you do? Can you stand to know thyself? Who are you? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
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NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-3215190532491368482014-02-14T16:16:00.000-06:002014-02-14T16:16:03.587-06:00How Does Raising the Minimum Wage Cost Jobs?Raising the Minimum Wage can only be a good thing right? Only a heartless bastard would want to prevent people from getting a "Living Wage."<br />
<br />
Not really. Let's put this all into perspective.<br />
<br />
Mr. Jones owns a small grocery store. He employs 10 people, 6 full time and four part time. He has a three check out people, two sackers, two stockers, one team lead and two managers. The two of the sackers and both stockers are teenagers. The team lead is full time and acts as a senior member and assistant manager for the sackers and stockers. He also is in charge of making sure the produce is fresh.<br />
<br />
Mr. Jones has to make a certain amount of profit to keep his store running. Most of his profit is reinvested into the store the next year. This upkeep and the wages he pays his workers, along with the cost of materials regulates the price he charges for his wares. This cost is a little higher than the larger store 10 miles away, but the neighborhood comes to the Jones store because the extra cost is outweighed by the convenience of the Jones store, not to mention the social and community aspects of seeing your neighbors at their place of work. <br />
<br />
<br />
Mr. Jones makes a modest living, but is known around the neighborhood as a good employer. The teens in the area know that if they get a job at the Jones' store, they will be well treated, and they will make a little money.<br />
<br />
Mr. Jones pays his workers what they are worth to the business. The sackers make $3 an hour, the stockers $5. The team lead makes $10. The checkers make $8. The managers make a yearly salary, with a bonus based on the profitability of the business. Mr. Jones always gives a little extra at the holidays.<br />
<br />
Each worker has incentives to work hard, and contribute to the business. The sackers and stockers could make more money if they work up to stocker or checker. The team lead wants to be a manager, and the managers want the business to be profitable to increase their bonus.<br />
<br />
One year, the Government added a minimum wage of $5 an hour. <br />
<br />
This forced Mr. Jones to pay his sackers the same as if they were a stocker. The problem was that the sacker position is more of a "helper" position, and not worth $5 an hour to the company. In order to maintain his profit, Mr. Jones is forced to fire one of his sackers. The other sacker, now making as much as a stocker, really doesn't want to work at the grocery forever, so he starts to coast in his job. He has no incentive to show off what he can do to become a stocker. Mr. Jones now notices that his saker is much less inclined to help out, hurting his customer's overall experience. In addition to that, with only one sacker, working part time, he now has long periods in the day where his checkers must sack their own lanes, adding to their overall workload, hurting the moral of the check out team.<br />
<br />
The next year, the Government raises the minimum wage to $8 an hour. <br />
<br />
Mr. Jones can not afford to pay his sacker and stockers and maintain his profit margins. He fires all of his part time staff. The checkers now must sack their own lanes. The Team Leader must now do all of the stocking himself. <br />
The checkers, now making "minimum" wage, and being forced to do MORE work than before, have their moral completely disappear. They do only exactly what is required of them. <br />
Mr. Jones notices that without his sackers and the demoralized checkers, his customer's end experience is now vastly degraded. In addition, the produce is no longer as fresh as his team leader is now spending all of his time stocking shelves. He now has very little time to do the time consuming job of maintaining the produce.<br />
In Mr. Jones' customer's minds, it is now no longer worth the extra money it costs to go to the Jones store. The friendly experience they used to get there has been replaced by a general worker's malaise. No one greets them when they walk in the door. No one helps them get their purchases to their cars. Their sons and daughters are no longer given employment, and the once always fresh and appealing produce has been replaced by rotten and expired goods.<br />
The customers, simply stop coming to the store except to buy only forgotten goods.<br />
<br />
Mr. Jones can no longer afford to pay his managers a bonus. The holiday extras are a thing of the past. Mr. Jones is forced to eliminate one of his Manager positions.<br />
Mr. Jones has to make compromises on the upkeep of his store. <br />
The paint peels. The refrigerated aisles fall in to disrepair. The store begins to stink.<br />
<br />
After much yelling and wringing of hands about a "Living Wage" the Government raises the minimum wage to $10 an hour.<br />
<br />
Mr. Jones now has no choice but to get a loan and install an automated check out line. He can only afford to pay a single full time checker. The cost of the automation is so much that he must eliminate his manager position. He can not afford to pay another stocker at $10 an hour, therefore the produce issue is never addressed.<br />
<br />
A man who was once a proud owner an community pillar is now seen as a disgusting miser who allowed a great community business fall in to squalor. A man who once employed 10 people now employs only two. <br />
<br />
<br />
Raising the minimum wage costs jobs and destroys small businesses. Only the big box companies can survive. You want to promote business? You want to create jobs? Stay away from the minimum wage.NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-65996031450319022572014-02-11T07:59:00.001-06:002014-02-11T07:59:54.483-06:00How Stupid is the SAFE Act?These rifles are safe, legal and will help reduce violence committed with a gun:<br />
<img src=http://i1204.photobucket.com/albums/bb420/NYShaDe45/20131126_095225-1_zpseb397c02.jpg width=600 /><br />
<img src=http://cdn2.armslist.com/sites/armslist/uploads/posts/2013/11/08/2311102_02_frs_15_rifle_stock_safe_act_ap_640.jpg /><br />
<img src=http://www.northwoods-firearms.com/media/compliant%20m-4.JPG /><br />
<br />
These rifles are death machines, that only the Government should be allowed to have:<br />
<img src=http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/dangerroom/2013/02/KittyLarge.jpg width=600 /><br />
<img src=http://motherboard-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/content-images/article/the-wild-frightening-world-of-ar-15-modification/914f1ffab6f69fe0c198225ca9b5454b_vice_630x420.jpg /><br />
<img src=http://www.jimsgunsupply.com/DuraCoat/dc/Duracoat_hotpinkprincess_111409.jpg width=600 /><br />
<br />
These rifles have the exact same inner workings, fire the exact same round, and use the exact same magazine. The only difference is the cosmetics. How they "look." The SAFE Act calls a rifle an "Assault Weapon" if it has two of the following:<br />
<ul><li>Detachable magazine with capacity greater than 10 rounds<br />
<li>Folding or telescoping (collapsible) stock<br />
<li>Pistol grip<br />
<li>Forward grip<br />
<li>Bayonet lug<br />
<li>Flash suppressor<br />
<li>Muzzle break<br />
<li>Barrel shroud<br />
</ul>All of the "safe" rifles have at most one of the aspects above, the detachable magazine. All of the killer death machines have at least two and some have more of the aspects listed above.<br />
<br />
Of course, the "safe" rifles I chose to show are all black and scary looking, and the killer death machines are all pink, purple and feature Hello Kitty. This, for the ironically impaired, was to prove a point. These laws do NOTHING to prevent crime. They only serve to make it more difficult for law abiding citizens to legally purchase weapons. <br />
<br />
The issue is that lawmakers writing gun bans, have no idea what they are doing. They can't come out and announce a ban on all semi-automatic weapons, which is what they want to do. They must try and get around that by banning cosmetic aspects of rifles, that in no way affect the way the rifle works.<br />
<br />
Stupid people do stupid things because they are stupid.NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267302440031656268.post-48318436121355681132014-02-10T09:49:00.001-06:002014-02-10T09:49:31.604-06:00What The Hell Is Going On????The CBO released a report that stated that The Affordable Care Act “creates a disincentive for people to work.” The report predicted the law would lead to fewer hours worked, costing the equivalent of nearly 2.5 million jobs.<br />
<br />
How? Well, basically, the Government has rules set up as to how much money you can make, and how much time you can work before it STOPS paying you in the form of subsidies, tax credits, food stamps, medicare, etc. <br />
<br />
We have all heard the story about the old plumber who only works a set amount of hours for a set amount of money because any more and he would lose his Social Security payment. It's that but on a massive, nationwide scale.<br />
<br />
The Democrats come out and actually say this is a wonderful thing. Over the weekend Peter King said that "Americans work too much already." Jay Carney said that "Opportunity created by affordable, quality health insurance allows families in America to make a decision about how they will work, or if they will work." He seriously said that.<br />
Harry Reid said that it is a great thing, because Americans are no longer "locked" in to a job they don't want because of the health insurance. <br />
<br />
I read these quotes, and I stared at the pages in disbelief. I thought that perhaps I was reading satire, but no, they were actual quotes. <br />
<br />
I don't know what is going on any longer. Who the fuck is going to pay for all of this health care and food stamps and what not if we are shrinking the economy by people not working? The money has to come from somewhere. There is no such thing as a free lunch. You can't keep taxing the rich to make this up. You have to print money, or borrow it or both. <br />
<br />
I don't get it. The only explanations that make any sense at all are that this is a power grab designed to incentivise a majority of Americans to vote in perpetuity for Democrats. But even then that doesn't tell the complete story. A simple power grab doesn't justify destroying the nation that you are intending to grab the power of. <br />
Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi are NOT stupid. Quite the contrary, they are very very very smart. They must see the danger of overextending the debt out causes. The only thing that tells the whole story is that they WANT the United States of America to collapse economically. The WANT a constitutional convention that will recreate the nation.<br />
<br />
I don't want to think like a conspiracy nut, but... Just what the hell is going on here????NattoNinjahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12520650679471907940noreply@blogger.com0