Dear Legion,
In this fourth letter, we have some very interesting topics to discuss. We're going to highlight some competitions, explaining the magical Masters divisions, which enable older grapplers to get after it against people their own age.
We'll also look at a competition that is a local staple because of how well it is organized and its format.
This edition also has a guest mini-article! Coach Sunshine is known as the 6am coach at Legion. He also teaches a weekend class on Saturdays (it's at 10, not 6am, don't worry!), which is not well known or understood, he will aim to provide more clarity on what happens in that class.
In a new column, I will be sharing my cooldown routine featuring some post-training stretches that have been helping me reduce soreness after training and endure long bouts of sitting, typing out newsletters.
Lastly, I have a quick update on the experience at the CJI event judging a razor-close $1mil match. As well as the results of the book launch. I'm keeping that short and at the end because I already hit you with a rare Letters to the Legion 3.5 asking for some much-appreciated help.
Highlighted Competitions
August 29th to 31st: IBJJF Masters Worlds in Las Vegas
One of the coolest things about jiu-jitsu competition is that there is so much opportunity to scrap for people who are over thirty years old. The vast majority of people who compete in our sport do so in the masters category.
Masters Worlds is the biggest tournament in the world, with over 5000 people routinely competing, with many flying in from all over the globe. It is a part of an event called Jiu Jitsu Con, which features 4 separate tournaments on 24 mats!
The registrations for this year's tournament are closed and there are 8 Legionnaires competing. We wish them lots of luck in their conquests. I wanted to mention this tournament because it can be a focal point for next year for anyone looking to compete.
You can even end up competing against some interesting "hobbyists" 😊
The divisions are Masters 1-7. Masters 1 is people 30-35 years old, Masters 2 is 35-40 and so on. Masters 7 are people older than 61. Some of the world's baddest grandpas and grandmas can be found on these mats. It's not just this tournament that has Masters divisions, pretty much all do, including...
October 12th: Jiu Jitsu World League San Diego
Many of you are well acquainted with the JJWL in Del Mar. Any time they come to town we send a legion to compete and most times we leave with 10 pounds of plexiglass in the shape of trophies.
The reasons why we like and recommend the JJWL is because the competition is close, well-run and double-elimination (you're guaranteed at least two matches). Many members competed first at this tournament and there's still time to register. At the time of this writing, we have 27 competitors signed up (the record a few years ago was 83!). There are gi, no-gi, masters and kids divisions.
Google "JJWL" to sign up or ask your coaches for advice or guidance. They can also recommend "tune-up" tournaments leading up to this one.
Update: Just as I was entering the text into this software to send it to you, I went to the JJWL website to grab a link to include it in here and saw that the tournament is now sold out. Too bad, let's let it be a lesson to us for when they return to San Diego early next year.
Try This Cooldown Routine
Jiu-jitsu is my favorite activity, however it does come with a good bit of soreness, especially if you pair it with hours of sitting and typing away on your computer.
Since I know a lot of us are in the same boat, I want to share a cooldown routine that I started doing (again) recently. I used to do a good bit of yoga at some point, so I'm just taking 4 stretches and doing them for 1-2 minutes per side. Depending on how much time I have. Here are the stretches:
1. Wall Straddle
A super simple and relaxing stretch, you basically just lie there and breathe for 2 minutes. Feels great after playing a lot of guard, especially in the gi. Note: If you do this after a busy class, using our walls, please just make sure you are not in the way of the next class.
2. Pigeon Pose
We're into more noble birds like eagles, for example. But the pigeon stretch does help with throwing in hooks, which as you know is a nice thing to have in jiu-jitsu. The S-sit is another great option if your knees don't enjoy this stretch just yet. 1-2 min per side.
3. Couch Stretch
Now something for the hip flexors. The couch stretch is a great option, but if it feels like your hip is about to explode, you should definitely start with either your hands on the floor, hinging forward, or with a different kind of lunge. Inhale through the nose, long exhale through the mouth. 1-2 min per side.
4. Lumbar Twist
Your spine gets twisted a lot against your will, so it's a good idea to do it on your own terms. Bend the knees and look towards your outstretched arm. 1-2 minutes per side will do the job.
Do you have trouble sleeping after training? Then definitely try these out. This stuff does help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which should get you in a more relaxed state.
Coach Sunshine Demystifies His Saturday 10am Class (Guest Article)
My 10 am Saturday gi class is designed to help you get more out of your training. This class doesn't follow the classic warmup, drill, then roll structure. Instead, it has a blend of guided drilling, specific rolling, and games that make for both a fun and productive class. The goal is to have it build on the classes you've taken during the week.
The session also offers a unique opportunity to train with people from different programs, with whom you might not usually interact with. This is a great way to gain additional experience by training with people whose style and techniques you aren't as familiar with.
I am trying to encourage more white belts to join the class, if you have more than two stripes on your belt, you should definitely at least try the class. When you walk out at 11.30, you'll still have the entire weekend in front of you and the great feeling of having moved your body as well.
See you at this class on September 7th (canceled on 8/31 due to Masters Worlds). Jon
Labor Day Schedule Changes
At Legion we like to keep the schedule mostly unchanged for holidays because we find that lots of you members appreciate having the ability to train on your day off. That's why the schedule will be the same, except:
- No 6am class with coach Sunshine
- No kids classes at 4 & 5pm, they will be moved to 9am for this Monday only
- No beginner course group at 6pm
All other classes will be on the same schedule. This is a great opportunity to try out the 10.30am no-gi or 12pm gi, if you typically can't!
Personal Miha Update: Book & CJI
I'm sure many of you watched CJI and were super happy you didn't have to judge that $1mil match. I was not so lucky, haha. I wrote about the wild experience in this article.
The book reception has been awesome, I really appreciate the Legion for helping with that! The book reached #236/8,000,000 books, briefly, which is wild. The offer still stands: buy the book, leave an Amazon review and get the No-Gi Video Manual $200 course for free.
If you left a review already, please email me a screenshot to miha@legionajj.com, I'll get you access right away! This is what the full course looks like (below). It pairs with coach Sloan's classes like braids pair with his head!!!
P.S. Don't forget to glance at our events board, coach Andris has a new Board Game night coming up.