Two Cultures Collide: How Break Dancing Helped Improve My Jiu Jitsu Skills | Chris Ramos' Story
Submission Shark BJJ Interview
Chris has an impressive background in break dancing and I think it was amazing to see how the two cultures relate and how the movements from this type of dance can help improve your jiu-jitsu movements. Make sure you read the full article to get a better understanding of how the lessons you learn from break dancing can translate well into jiu-jitsu.
I remember hearing Joe Rogan talk about how Eddie Bravo's best students are breakdancers and they pick up the techniques surprisingly fast. Other great examples of break dancers that are also great jiu-jitsu practitioners are Tony Ferguson. His loose and unpredictable movements are a prime example of how having loose hips from break dancing can benefit your fight game. Have other sports helped you in your jiu-jitsu game? Let us know in the comments below!
Submission Shark Community | Instagram: @chris_ramos14444
Full Name: Christopher Ramos
Age: 27
Belt Color: white 3 stripe
Professor: Pablo Silva (Gordo/Renzo 4th degree black belt)
Short Term Goals: everyday porrada and too make it to blue but train and learn every day if it’s on the mats or watching footage
How long have you been doing jiu-jitsu for?
A year and breaking for on and off for 8
Where do you train BJJ out of?
Do you prefer BJJ in the gi or no-gi?
I enjoy both but prefer Gi
Have your instructors helped you in other aspects of life other than jiu-jitsu?
Most definitely, it’s a lot to list but he is also my roommate and the one to introduce me to jiu-jitsu
What are some lessons you learned from Brazilian jiu-jitsu that apply to everyday life?
Overall it’s been a good source of therapy for me, I feel calmer and able to handle tough situations better than before I started and It’s given me the ability to make solid connections with people.
How often do you train?
Gi 4 days a week and no-gi once a week
What made you want to start training?
Meeting my instructor/roommate and hearing his journey
Do you plan on training your whole life?
God willing, yes
What’s it about jiu-jitsu that makes it so addicting?
The ability of growth, everyday learning something new and testing myself
What has jiu-jitsu done for your physical health?
When I started I was around 195 pounds mostly fat and out of shape, a year later I’m 176 pounds, leaner and fitter than before.
Has jiu-jitsu benefited your mental health?
It’s given me better problem-solving skills and confidence to stand up for myself in tough situations.
If you could restart your jiu-jitsu journey, would you do anything differently?
I wish it found me at a younger age but better late than never haha
What’s your advice for someone that’s never tried jiu-jitsu before but is interested in trying it?
Drink the kool-aid
Do you have any aspirations in jiu-jitsu?
Overall to progress as a practitioner and person but specifically, I want to see where this life takes me. One day I hope to be a black belt, teach, compete, gain sponsorship(s) and share my love for this art
What’s your favourite BJJ move?
both jiu-jitsu and breakdancing moves.so far spider guard is my favourite position to play, theirs so many options from it between sweeps and attacks. With breaking my favourite move are swipes and backspins.
If you didn’t discover jiu-jitsu, where do you think you’d be now?
I believe I would be focused on b-boying/music work things like that
Would you like to see the sport become more mainstream?
most definitely, because it does have a sports element it can thrive with more commercial success.
Have any of your BJJ training partners pushed you to reach your full potential?
All the time especially the higher belts, with anyone I roll or go over technique with it’s always a learning experience
What makes you want to inspire and motivate others?
for the first time in my life I this is something I can fill heartedly say that I love and feel such a deep connection too. The grind, the brotherhood, the discipline. It makes me want to train hard and put my soul into it.
When you were first starting, what was the most difficult concept of jiu-jitsu that you had trouble getting?
At first how detailed certain techniques are but as time goes on it becomes more second nature.
Has break dancing helped your jiu-jitsu game in any way?
Definitely, with my dance background, I have certain physical intelligence that has given me a certain advantage. respectfully these are two different art forms but they do cross paths in certain ways.
Are there any similarities between jiu-jitsu culture and bboy culture? Please explain.
Both Bjj and bboy/hip hop culture are young in the public eye and are still growing and evolving.both disciplines require strength, flexibility and mental toughness if you wish to last. Lastly, they both showcase this beauty in a warrior nature.
If you had to choose between jiu-jitsu and breakdancing, which one would you pick and why?
As long as I’ve been dancing I would pick jiu-jitsu if I had to. Personally, I see way more avenues of possibilities in the future with Bjj as well as the authenticity of it. In a breaking battle you can put on a show and have an ego but in a jiu-jitsu tournament and even in a self-defence situation their nothing fake about it. Its life or death(or simulation of the act of dying).
Was there a difficult moment in your life where jiu-jitsu helped you get through it? If so, please explain.
Right, when I was introduced to Bjj I was experiencing a huge shift in my life and jiu-jitsu has been not only therapy for me but almost a blueprint on how to go forward and live my life the best I can.
What would you tell someone that is interested in learning break dancing but doesn't know where to start?
YouTube and do your research ;)
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