Answers from a BJJ Black Belt

Owen Livesey

Q. Can you tell us about your background and how you got started in Jiujitsu?

A. I’m from a small town in St Helens. It’s a big rugby town so from 5 years I played rugby. When I was 8, I was shown Judo in school, I went and did this too and then ended up pretty successful with it and pursued that over rugby. 

Q. What advice would you give to your younger self starting your jiujitsu journey? What advice should they ignore?

A. My advice to anybody starting Jiu Jitsu would be do it for the right reason. That being, you enjoy it. If it becomes more serious than that, then do what needs to be doing to get you where you need to get. They should ignore people when they tell them what they want to do isn’t realistic. 

Q. In your experience, what Intensity of training is best for learning? And how is this achieved? I.e. what proportion is drilling, sparring " light", And intense sparring across a session /week.

A. If we’re looking specifically at learning, I’d say 60 - 70% is the best intensity. When I say this, I don’t mean agreeing with your partner that it’s a ‘flow roll’ not this at all. Just yourself when rolling, in your own head, 60 - 70%. Try things, don’t go wild with them, experiment, bring in new skills. There is also a time and place though. It can’t all be play. As a match comes there is time we need this higher intensity and Pushing more towards your A game. Drilling is essential, regardless of the things out there at the moment. You absolutely need a mix of it all. It’s how you drill which is important. Drill, spar specifically and spar open. 

Q. How often are you experimenting with new moves and positions vs working on existing and established techniques within your arsenal?

A. I do now have a set game plan. I have set concepts and positions I live by in specific positions however I’m always constantly looking to build branches off of these positions and always looking to develop. I spar high intensity wise but always playful and relatively open. I have no issue making mistakes and being caught in training.

Q. Do you have any advice on recovery/preservation for BJJ, or any practices you wish you implemented earlier?  

A. Just listen to your body. When you’re tired, just rest. By this i don’t mean a little bit tired, I’m like this everyday. By this, i mean, if you ignore it, you may end up ill tomorrow. We all know how this feels. Take a day off. Sleep as much as you can. 

Q. Do you use strategies or game plans for upcoming matches or competition? If so can you provide an example?

A. I don’t use strategies or game plans for my matches. I focus on myself. Just being fully prepared and applying my game the best I can. I feel after proper preparation where I am now I can hang with most when I do me right. 

Q. Pre competition nerves is a thing a lot of people struggle with. Do you have any advice/tips on how to deal with it that you or your students implement?

A. I’m just a big believer in preparing correctly. My confidence comes from preparation. Everybody is nervous, it’s absolutely normal but if you’ve prepared correctly, you have less to worry about. Also, if you’ve prepared correctly are ready, if you lose, there’s nothing else you could have done, just get better.

Q. Strength and conditioning can be the deciding factor in a match with opponents of equal technical skill, do you do any Strength & conditioning? Can you give any insight as to what that looks like?

A. I do strength and conditioning. I do an upper body day and a lower body day. I use a mix of strength and power training and I get my conditioning from rolling on the mat every day. My strength and power work is basically lift something heavy, throw something fast and jump fast.

Q. When preparing for a match/competition what does your training look like? (Eg 8 weeks out, training twice a day etc)

A. My training does not change for a competition. I train all year round. I’m constantly looking to develop all year round. I’m ready to go all year. I’ll take a few days off before completion to give the body a rest and that’s about as far as it goes. 

Q. What’s something you now know, that you wish you knew earlier in your Jiujitsu journey? (techniques, training methods, business advice)

A. That as soon as you start to get success. A lot of people are going to try and drag you back. Be ready for that but know that they’re only doing it because they want to do what you are doing but they’re simply not prepared to do what you have done to get it. Normally, you’ll always get what you deserve so never question it and keep doing you.

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