Tying the belt -A simple but profound ritual in Brazilian Jiu jitsu (it isn't always all about smashing)
Basic way:
'Superlock' way:
Tying the Belt
It is a 'skill' that once practised and learned will be so simple and effortless.
Maintaining the uniform, keeping it worn correctly and tidy with belt tied is part of the discipline of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu but let's just for this moment take this simple act of tying our belt and dive into it alittle further, as for me, everytime I tie my belt I take alot more from it then simply holding my Uwagi (Gi top jacket) together. I start with.... When I dress for Jiu Jitsu, I put the trousers on, then the jacket and to hold the jacket together, I tie my belt. I reach for MY belt. The belt that has my colour and rank. It signifies my stage in this long continuous journey of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. All my efforts, sweat and blood, ups and downs all squeezed into this hard earned cotton belt. I take this belt and I go into the ritual of looping it around my body twice, measuring up ends and finally doing the knot which ends in a couple of hard tugs to not just tighten the knot but it signifies to me the end of the dressing and the start of the class / exercise / roll / etc.... Here we go!
Inevitables During the exercises, drills and spars, the uniform will undo and become untidy. This is an inevitable.
Reaction. Well...we simply tidy our selves and re tie our belt when it is possible to do so and carry on with the roll / drill / exercise / class.
WE make this happen. WE pick the belt off the floor. WE continuously repeat the process of tying the belt every time it comes loose or off. We answer an inevitable that is out of our control with our OWN inevitable that we create and control.
The significance of this does not escape me and reminds me to strive to apply this to my training, my rolls, my approach to my students, peers and life in general.
SO many things are out of our control and trying to get it all in control can be tough, tiring, breaking and often a futile effort.
Considering the options and solutions it will become clear that STOPPING seldom improves anything so the only sensible outcome is to move.
We gather ourselves, control what we can and we continue just as we do when our belt comes off.
For Jiu Jitsu Parents, I love this as a great and simple exercise / life lesson which I try to empower the child / children with. I hope this explains why I always make a bit of a thing every time I see a belt left on the floor or undone.
When it falls apart... no biggie.... regroup / reassemble and let's go. End?
At the end of a session or class. I start with undoing the knot of my belt. This deliberate action begins the undressing out of my Kimono and into other clothes. Though the end of the class, the undressing is also where my mind goes into evaluation mode and I think about my rolls, my training just completed. The untying of my belt congratulates me with a session complete and the beginning of what is to come next, what to improve and work on. It signifies the end of this and the start of that which will inevitably make me better.
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