Look within the school. There are people from all walks of life at our gym including business owners. These people have trained with you. They are your teammates and your friends but they may not share the same desire to compete. These are the first people you may want to ask for sponsorships. Usually this will be a business expense or tax-write off for them and they will get the satisfaction of helping out one of their buddies.

If you and your coach don’t feel comfortable soliciting from within, you need to consider outside businesses and institutions. This requires a little more effort and preplanning on your part. There are many things that you need to factor into your decision on whom to approach and how to approach them. The first step is researching potential sponsors. Find someone who is a good fit for BJJ. A music store or ballet dance studio is probably not the best place to look. Realistically, for a sponsor who doesn’t know you, this will be a business opportunity and they need to get something out of this deal. A local sports bar that airs UFC fights may be a better fit. You need to formulate a letter that explains why they will benefit from sponsoring you and what you can do for them. If you were going to the World Championships, you can tell them how many competitors will be there. You can tell them how many spectators will be there. Explain how many magazines, websites, journalists and worldwide viewers will be watching this event. Tell them how many people train in your gym and that live in the community, who are following you. Tell them how by sponsoring you, their business will be getting a return on their investment. Prove to them that you are a sound business investment. Be confident and persuasive and professional. Above all, be honest and do not promise or make claims that you can’t guarantee and back up. This is a legitimate business partnership and if you wish to be sponsored continually by them, you need to work for them.

Once you find some suitable sponsors that seem to make sense for a Jiu Jitsu sponsorship, you need to figure out whom to contact regarding your potential sponsorship with them. Before you send them a letter, drop them a line or even stop by in person. Normally a business will not bother reading or responding to a letter from a stranger asking for money. Remember that in the letter, they will most likely not be able to understand your drive, passion and enthusiasm for the sport. However a short and sincere phone conversation and introduction will let them know to expect a package from you in the near future.

In the letter you send them afterwards, you should include a breakdown of what the money you request will be going towards, i.e. Travel, lodging and registration fees. Also include some info about who you are and your competition record. They need to know why sponsoring you will help them get a return on their donation and how you will help them for their contributions. This has to be in more than just a logo on your Gi. In today’s age of internet marketing, you can explain to them, that you will be mentioned on your Facebook page, your website or Blog if you have one. You will put them as a web link on your signature and mention them in Jiu Jitsu forums and if you win, you will proudly mention and display who they are. You will wear their patch and make youtube videos and get their name publicized as much as yours. Let them know that your name is out there and theirs will be out there with it!

Another must is having a well written letter. If you have the grammatical skills and persuasive ability of an angry 10 year old, get a friend to help write it. A professional organization will only respond to you if you are presenting them with a well organized and well written proposal. There are probably plenty of people in the academy that would be willing to help you out in this endeavor.  When writing the letter, don’t sound desperate and do not beg for money. Some people include pictures of themselves during tournaments. This is a personal preference, whether or not you include one. The idea behind this is they will see a good photo of you in action and understand the environment you compete in and where they may be advertising. Do not include a picture unless it presents you in a positive light and try to have a good photo taken with a decent camera if you decide to go this route. It would be counterproductive to give them a cheap, blurry Polaroid of you in the locker room with a plastic medal around your neck!

This brings us to the point that the process of trying to find a sponsor should begin well ahead of time. Some companies have major red tape and protocol to sort out before deciding on granting you sponsorship. If you are patient and prepared, you may be successful. When asking for funds, remember, it’s better to get one big sponsor than to have a dozen small contributions. You don’t want to look like a patchwork quilt on the mat with 15 small logos and patches on your gear! When you approach an organization you feel has good potential, ask for more money than you actually need. This will give you some room to negotiate ad still leave all of your expenses covered for the tournament. You also don’t want them to feel as if they are getting some second rate competitor. Exude confidence in your ability as a competitor and person so that they feel as if they are sponsoring a quality contender and individual. Remember the work you put in to BJJ on the mats…that’s the person they are getting when they sponsor you. Let them know that.

If you follow these steps and you do get sponsorship, keep them updated periodically as to how you are doing and how training is going. Emails and letters and periodic phone calls will remind them of the fact that you appreciate you partnership and this may help maintain the relationship you build with them for years to come. If you don’t work for them in some capacity, you can probably forget ever getting money from them again. It’s typically easier to get sponsored by an upstart equipment company compared to an established Jiu Jitsu gear company with big named fighters sponsored by them or a local business not related to the sport. You may be able to obtain lots of free gear and equipment, but this probably will not cover the costs of a major competition. It will however help offset the expenses involved in training and can translate to more money in your budget for competitions.

Luis Castillo – 1^st Place Teens Gi Expert Division (16-17)

-3^rd Place Teens No Gi Expert Division(16-17)

Ivan Miranda- 3^rd Place Men’s Gi Blue Belt Division

Jason DeHerrera- 2^nd Place Master’s Gi Novice Division

-2^nd Place Masters’ No Gi Novice Division

Congratulations, Eddie!!

Henry throwing The 10th Planet Gang Sign

We are beyond excited for and proud of Henry Martinez, who has been asked to fight in the UFC this Saturday! For those of you that don’t know, Henry is the Coach of our jits program here at Undisputed, which is the future home of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu.

10th Planet is the lineage of Tait’s jiu jitsu and has been studied by Henry as a Ronin for years. It can be seen in Henry’s grappling and MMA fights. Henry won his last fight on January 21st by a triangle from the back in the second round. Henry is listed as being 8-1 with only two of those wins being decisions…he’s a finisher!

The UFC called on January 26th and asked Henry to fight Matt Riddle on the 4th of February! Henry is usually competitive at 155 and will fight at Riddle’s weight of 170 for this bout, which won’t faze Henry, as he has even fought at 205 in the past!!  There’s nobody more game for this this short notice fight! We can not wait to watch Henry’s debut fight for the UFC!!!!!

Jackson’s Fighter Henry Martinez Steps in to Face Matt Riddle at UFC 143 | MMAWeekly.com

10th Planet Santa Fe, reppin' hard and comin' soon!!!!!

In other exciting and awesome news: Luis Castillo took first place in his division at the Robertson Cardinal  Classic Tournament in Las Vegas, NM. This was a state wide high school tournament. Weezy had 6 matches in 2 days and took FIRST PLACE. We are so proud of you Weezy!!!! BAM!!!

He says his goal is to place in the State Championship and we totally believe in him!

Our champ!!!

To become involved:

• Click on the links below to join the USA Jiu Jitsu Association

• Donate to help support the national bodies

• Participate in events

http://www.usajj.com/jiujitsu-students/register-form.php http://www.usajj.com/jiujitsu-schools/register-form.php

Over the course of my lifetime I’ve made so many sacrifices in the name of trying to be the best athlete I could possibly be. I’ve learned to sacrifice my time with friends and family in return for more time in the gym. I’ve sacrificed friendships and relationships because of my belief that my actions and achievements might possibly have a lasting impact on the world around me. And I’ve sacrificed popularity and monetary gain simply because I love what I do. All my sacrifice has lead me to great heights and I have achieved so many of my goals but how do I know I gave up the right things? Truth be told, I don’t know that I’ve given up the right things. I’ve seen my siblings grow up seemingly over night because I’ve devoted so much time to athletics. I’ve seen friends and girlfriends come and go because I’m so hell bent on being the best and people don’t like feeling neglected. I’ve watched friends and family surpass me in financial success because I’m so determined to achieve my goals that I’ve never really cared what the consequences are and I’m not willing to give up.

People say nothing worth doing is ever easy. Well the road I’ve chosen has not been easy. It has been a very long, lonely and isolated road. I’ve chosen the road most people would look at and walk away from because they look at it and think, “No thank you. That is too hard.” Nothing is too hard. It’s not easy and it only seems to get harder and harder but I push forward because I believe. I believe in myself and what I know I’m capable of. And I believe that some day I will be the best and that I will have a lasting impact on the world and the people around me. So have I made the right decisions? Have I sacrificed the right things? Only time will tell. All I can do is hold fast to my belief in myself and keep moving forward. One thing is certain. Without sacrifice there is no gain. What is it that you want in life? Now what are you willing to give up to get that? Are you willing to sacrifice? If you are, then the world is yours for the taking. Now go get it!!!

Henry Martinez

We have decided to form a competition team. What exactly is that, you ask? Well a competition team is a group of jiu jitsu practitioners within the school that dedicate extra time and training to go compete. Now, everybody is welcome (and encouraged) to be part of the competition team. That being said, if you commit to being a part of the team, you will have to honor certain requirements that come with it.

Those requirements include (but are not limited to):

You must compete at every local tournament.

You must compete at at least 3 prestigious tournaments in a calendar year. (Worlds, Grappler’s Quest, NAGA, etc.)

You must be at every competition specific training day.

You must be a pro member of the 10th Planet website.

Now then, who wants some?

I’ll start from the beginning. The term Jujutsu was created in the 17^th century in Japan as a term for a variety of grappling-related disciplines. Originally Jujutsu systems were not systems of unarmed combat but combat methods that included striking, throwing, restraining and weaponry that allowed an unarmed or lightly armed samurai to fight a heavily armed and armored enemy on the battlefield. With time Jujutsu evolved and branched into many different styles and sport forms that were more focused on unarmed combat.

Judo was the first Japanese martial art to gain international recognition. The founder of Kodokan Judo Kanō Jigorō studied several forms of Jujutsu growing up and later stated that “By taking together all the good points I had learned of the various schools and adding thereto my own inventions and discoveries, I devised a new system for physical culture and moral training as well as for winning contests.” Kanō Jigorō is credited with developing a practice kimono called the keikogi (keiko meaning practice, gi meaning dress or clothes). The kiekogi is relevant to the everyday kimonos worn by the Japanese in the 19^th century.

Kanō Jigorō would later send one of his five Judo experts Mitsuyo Maeda overseas to demonstrate and spread his style to the world. Maeda travelled to many places around the world displaying the art before landing in Brazil. It was in Brazil that he met Carlos Gracie, a troubled teenager that Maeda took under his wing and taught his style. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is largely identified with the Gracie family and the Gracie’s have been training in the gi ever since.

The Jiu Jitsu gi is similar to the Judo gi with a few slight differences. Jiu Jitsu regulations allow for tighter cuffs on the pants and jacket, and the skirt is shorter. This allows the practitioner to benefit from a closer fit, providing less material for an opponent to manipulate. Team, sponsor, and manufacturer’s patches are often more prominently displayed on a Jiu Jitsu gi than would be allowed in judo. A judo gi may be worn for BJJ tournaments, but a Jiu Jitsu gi will not meet guidelines for a judo tournament.

Jiu Jitsu is continuing to evolve and is being applied prominently in MMA where many gi techniques do not translate very well thus forcing competitors to focus on developing no-gi techniques; but, even the most vocal no-gi practitioners such as Eddie Bravo are black belts in the gi. So should you train in the gi? I would say the answer is up to you. Learn the classics or join the rebels evolving beyond the old-style “practice uniform?” I say both.

Ruben Rivera

Although some people are of the opinion that we are basically machines, I have found this to be far from the truth. We are complex creatures with sub- personalities. We have inner critics and inner protectors inside of each of us. For most people the inner critic is a dominating presence, continually looking for anything to find fault with. It takes small feelings , insecurities or failures and magnifies them into actual issues, punishes you for your shortcomings, ignores context and rarely credits you for your efforts and progress.

Just like in everyday conflicts we need to stand up for ourselves. We need to acknowledge our weaknesses or misdeeds, put them into perspective, search for any valuable lessons, encourage ourselves to keep getting back up when we’ve been knocked down and, most of all, to sometimes tell that inner critic to just shut up. That inner protector can help you see your faults without dragging you into a pit of despair.  The only useful purposes of guilt, shame, or remorse are learning and growth – not punishment. Anything past the point of learning is just masochism. Excessive guilt and negativity actually gets in the way of your contributing anything to society by undermining your energy, mood, confidence and self worth.

I know, easier said than done. Constantly questioning ones self feeds insecurity, which often manifests in our relationships with others. Its ok to be self-critical but when that criticism spills over to your public life and you start being that way with others, it can destroy relationships just as easily as anything. It’s ok to push yourself. It’s ok to strive for greatness. It’s also ok to forgive yourself. Life is supposed to be a struggle, a lesson, and an adventure. We are supposed to fall flat on our faces, we are supposed to raise our hands in triumph and we are supposed to grow. So pick your self up, shake yourself off and get back in the game.

Ben Sandoval

With competition fresh in every athlete’s mind that competed this past weekend I know that there are lots of thoughts rushing through everyone’s minds. After competitions I often see an abundance of people beating themselves up over not winning some sort of award or not placing high enough. While competitors all train to try to be the best and receiving awards can be extremely gratifying, we should all keep in mind that winning is not everything.

I’ve been wrestling competitively since I was three years old. Over the years I have had my share of great success and my share of what can be viewed by many as great failure. I, myself, have even have viewed many of my performances as failures but I have learned, with the passage of time, that the only way I could have ever failed would be if I would had given up. And believe me, there have been times I’ve wanted nothing more than to just give up.

I still have my moments I just want to give up. I don’t know how to give up though.

When I was eight years old my parents took me to the United States Junior Open Championships wrestling tournament in Oklahoma City. The event is held in a huge livestock arena and hosts upwards of probably two thousand athletes. Opening ceremonies allow all the kids to come out with other competitors from their home state and wave their state flag. The event staff does their best to make the kids feel like they are competing in the Olympics. This was one of the most prestigious wrestling tournaments for junior wrestlers at the time and was always one of the focal points of my year because we would go every year. This particular time though had a profound impact on me for the rest of my life.

This particular year things were kind of tight financially for my family and my parents were not even initially sure we would be able to go to the tournament. In the end, my parents made it work and decided that we would drive out to Oklahoma City after my dad got out of work on Thursday night so we could be on time for weigh-ins Friday morning. So when my dad got home we packed up and were off on our eight hour drive to Oklahoma City.

We pulled into Oklahoma City right at 6 o’clock in the morning right on time for weigh-ins. I made weight and we went to eat. The tournament started at 9 o’clock and I was the first match on my mat. I went out, shook hands with my opponent, got taken down, got a half nelson put on me, got rolled to my back and got pinned. When I got up I looked straight at my dad and he was just shaking his head in disappointment. As I walked off the mat my dad told me, “Okay you are going to have to try harder this next match. Just going out there and laying down will not cut it. If you don’t, we are going to have to go home.”

Forty minutes later, with my dad’s words fresh in my mind, I was warming up getting ready to wrestle again. I’m going to try harder, I don’t want to go home and most of all I don’t want to let my dad down. It was never an issue in my mind at this point of letting my mom down because win or lose she was always be supportive of me and always told me I did good. I was ready to go out there and destroy my opponent but scared as hell to let down my dad and scared as hell of having to go home.

They called my name when I was up. I had to wrestle a kid from Tuttle, Oklahoma who wasn’t particularly bigger or even meaner looking than me so it gave me some confidence. I went out and shook his hand, got taken down, got a half nelson put on me, got rolled to my back, and got pinned. I was already terrified to turn and look at my dad before I got up. I looked at him and he was shaking his head even more frantically and looked really mad. As I walked up to him he just said, “Go get your stuff. We are going home. You didn’t even try!” Oh did I cry. I didn’t want to go home and seeing the disappointment in my dad’s eyes hurt me. I just wanted him to be proud of me.

He walked up to the stands with me all the while telling me how I didn’t try and that we were never going to do this again. I was done wrestling. We got to where my mom was sitting and I thought for sure I would receive some sort of reprieve from my mom. Guess what she said…”You didn’t try. You just lied there like a beached whale. Get your stuff, we are going home.” Wow! Not what I expected from my mom. Now I really felt like I was worthless. I let down the two people in the world I wanted only to make proud. Obviously since I let my parents down, I let everyone else around me down and was just a disappointment to the entire world. That broke my heart. No medal, disappointed everyone, and now I had to go home. That was it! In my mind I decided I would never ever let anyone down again. I would try as absolutely hard as I could in everything I do and never give up no matter what the circumstance. I would never allow myself to feel like this again. I would be the best. Did I become the best over night? Nope. In fact I lost several times after that. But I never gave up.

My story might be a bit harsh, but it illustrates my point well. If I had banked everything on winning and only winning, I would not be the man I am today. I very easily could have decided that facing things like the possibility of letting people down was too great and decided to just quit. That experience was traumatic in many ways for me but it also drove me to new heights I would have otherwise not known possible for myself.

Do I have lots of awards? Yes. Does it feel good to receive awards? Yes. They just don’t define us. In the end it is not the awards that we receive that should be valued but the experiences that those awards represent. The experiences are what we learn from and what makes up our lives, not the awards. I have more awards than I could display in any one room of any place I’ve ever lived and the majority of them are sitting in boxes in the shed at my parents’ house collecting dust.

Winning isn’t everything. The losses may hurt, but it is each of those sad painful losses that get us to each happy and proud winning moment as we learn and improve. Do not be discouraged by losing. Embrace it and learn from it. Use it as a tool for building rather than a tool of destruction. Be proud that you have the guts to step out from the stands and be on the court. Most people spend their lives living in the stands. The stands are a safe place to view and criticize but always remember that no game has ever been won from the stands.

Henry Martinez