THE BASICS
Today’s guest is BJJ competitor, coach and Youtube sensation Alec “Cofrinho” Baulding. He is a Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt under Romero Cavalcanti, holds many victories over top competitors and has won multiple competitions, including the 2018 ADCC East Coast Trials.
In this interview, we talk discuss his story, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s life changing ability, preparing for competitions, how to keep evolving your bjj game and so much more, all with a smile on your face. I am a big fan of Alec and you will be too after this interview!
LISTEN HERE
WHAT WE COVER
- Who he is
- How did he get into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Has he found a hack in training that has provided a massive return to his jiu-jitsu
- How can you learn to stay positive regardless if you lose or get tapped, how can you stop comparing yourself and have fun and improve
- What is a normal week like for a BJJ competitor, who coaches, and is a Youtube sensation?
- What does he think of the recent surge of celebrities doing BJJ?
- What is his motivation for BJJ? After all his success, why does he keep training?
- Why does he think the majority of drop-outs come from people at blue belt level
- What does he think makes a great student?
- How should you deal with a mat bully
- How does he build up a game plan, does he pick a plan for an opponent or does he have a general plan that works always for him?
- Where does his amazing and warm personality come from?
- How has BJJ changed Alec as a person?
- How did he find the transition from competitor to coach and back and forth?
- How does Alec recommend people should train for improvement and for a competition?
- How to keep evolving and improving as a BJJ competitor?
- How does he find cross-training different martial arts? How has it helped his BJJ performance?
- How does he relax away from the mats?
- What would he want his legacy to be and what does he want you to take from this podcast?
- DDP Yoga
- How can you find out more about him and keep in touch?
SOME THINGS TO REFLECT ON
- Martial arts are a great way to develop yourself, which teaches discipline, something that is sadly lacking in today’s society. BJJ is a great sport for children as it teaches them to remove their ego from their actions, show respect and be mindful of others and the learning experience. BJJ, in my opinion, makes kids better overall and more rounded adults.
- Experimentation has given Alec the best return from his training. You may be best suited to one style and performing, but by experimenting, you learn, gain experience and even if you don’t use it, you know how to deal with it. Try new things and absorb what works and forget the rest as Bruce Lee would say. You never know where the new items may take you.
- With BJJ you either win or learn. The only time you lose is when you give up. Concentrate on your own development and if you are better than last time rather than comparing yourself to others. When you can do this open and honestly, is when you will see the biggest improvement.
- You are never too old or unfit to start BJJ. You get fit by starting BJJ, you don’t need to be fit to start.
- Even the greatest BJJ practitioners will seek out coaches to assist with reducing their weaknesses. There is no shame in asking for help and getting a proper coach, or attending private lessons. You only really start learning BJJ once you get your black belt, as my coach says.
- Narrow your range of training focus at first, find a guard, sweep and submission that works for you and get comfortable there. Slowly build and adapt these and then add things in as you get more comfortable.
- There is a style of BJJ game for everyone, don’t copy, create your own style and success will come.
- You can always have a plan, but you need to be flexible and open to change. By dynamic and ready to adapt to the situation not your ego.
- You need to learn to take feedback. It is people trying to be helpful, not to be insulting. They want you to get better so lose the ego and be open to what they are saying and try the fix, it may make you a much better player in BJJ.
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