Friday, January 13, 2012

Ask a Champ: Alec Baulding

The Stats


Age: 22
Belt: Brown
Weight class: Middle Weight
Length of training time: 7 yrs.
From: Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia
Nicknames: Cofrinho (piggy bank in Portuguese)
Affiliation: Alliance

2011
IBJJF Pan Jiu Jitsu Brown Belt Middle (2nd)

2010
IBJJF World Championship Purple Belt Middle (1st) Absolute (2nd)
IBJJF Pan Jiu Jitsu Purple Belt Middle (1st) Absolute (1st)

2009
IBJJF World Championship Purple Belt Middle(2nd)
IBJJF New York International Open Purple Belt Middle (1st)Absolute (1st)

2008
IBJJF Pan No-GI Championship Purple Belt Middle (2nd)
IBJJF Pan Jiu Jitsu Purple Belt Middle (3rd)
 
Journey Jiu-Jitsu: At what age and how did you start training Jiu-Jitsu?

Alec Baulding: I started training Jiu-Jitsu when I was 15. I was always pretty good at school but I wanted to do something different, something that I would be great at. I remember looking online to see which martial art was the best and back in those days there was a website called Bullshido that raised this question quite a lot. So I watched a lot of videos and went on a lot of forums and Brazilian Jiu -Jitsu seemed to be the best. Luckily I live in Atlanta, where there aren’t a lot of schools so Alliance came up first. I truly believe that I was meant to do Jiu-Jitsu, because the way that everything in my life has positioned me. Somehow I was able to keep training, and I was able to go to college right in the city so that I could continue training at Alliance HQ. 

JJJ: You are known as Jacare’s prodigy, how did you first take to training? Explain some of the initial highs and lows you had? Did it help that you didn’t have to take a Mecca to Atlanta like some of your other teammates?

AB: I sucked for about 6 or so years then things started clicking. I have some blue belt matches on the Internet that still make cringe.
There have been too many highs and lows to count. Jiu-Jitsu is a marathon and not a race. However, the best day of my life was when 

I received my brown belt on the same day that Master Jacare was promoted to red and black belt.

I think starting at Alliance I was able to develop a great base and to have awesome training partners. I really think that everyone there can become a world champion.

JJJ: How has Jiu-Jitsu changed you as a person?

AB: Jiu-Jitsu has made me into the man that I am today. I have had so many mentors at Alliance that I feel confident that I can do anything.  Besides making tons of friends, Jiu Jitsu has made me a smarter person and has developed in me a work ethic that won’t stop until I accomplish my goals.  I might still be shy but I feel that I will become a Renaissance man.

JJJ: What do you feel is your strongest position and favorite submission? What have you struggled with? Jon Thomas is known for his guard at Alliance, what would you say you are known for?

AB: I think I’m known to be better on top but I play a lot of guard. It really doesn’t matter to me.  I like all submissions but I usually get a lot of chokes. I am horrible at triangles though because I’m short.

Inside the academy I think I’m known for being smooth. 

 JJJ: What positions are you working on now?

AB: I have been doing a lot of work with shrimping and I always create new moves whenever I step on to the mat.
 
JJJ: Jiu-Jitsu is a sport where you drown until you eventually learn how to swim. With so many carnivores roaming the plains at Alliance HQ, how hard is it to become a stand out? What is the training environment like there?

AB: Standing out at Alliance HQ doesn’t just mean that you are a great competitor and have some tournament wins under your belt, but that you are educated and have talents outside of Jiu-Jitsu. Most of my training partners are college educated, love learning and have mental prowess in addition to physical prowess.  The world champions at our school have degrees in mathematics, mechanical engineering, biology, and religious studies.

During tournament season things get very crazy and there are a lot of characters. Emotions run high and every roll, positioning training and warm up is like a world championship match.  But outside of competing Alliance is truly a family.  I like to think of it as the world’s greatest experiment because there are so many different types of people and somehow we all converged at the academy and really forged unique and life long bonds. I don’t know of any other place where this occurs. 

JJJ: You hear a lot of elite fighters speaking about training 3-4 times a day, eating clean, and avoiding many other vices. How true is this for you? As a college student, what does your average training day look like? What do you do to prepare for a competition? Do you condition, do hot yoga, lift, drill, etc?

AB: I’m probably the most straight laced person in the Academy, but I make a conscious effort to let myself have fun. During tournament preparation all of that is normal and I probably won’t stray from eating healthy or training an excessive amount for a good 6 months.

I normally just go to school, making sure to eat healthy and to drink water throughout the day:  go to the academy teach the kid’s class for 2 hours, take an hour study break and then train. Most of the guys at Alliance are in school or have jobs. Only a few are able to train twice a day and live the play boy lifestyle.

My training methods change every year, but I add a lot of body weight exercises and I just started lifting and of course a lot of drilling and watching videos.

I was doing hot yoga but I had a crush on the instructor’s daughter that did not work out. I should probably start up again…

 JJJ: Jiu-Jitsu is getting to a level where athletes are beginning to take a traditional approach to training like watching tape or researching potential opponents and seeking assistance from fitness professionals. Do you incorporate this and other methods into your training?

AB: I have a lot of friends that like to watch video. Chris Moriarty and Jon Thomas live by it, but I will watch a match and get fixated on only one technique and will work on that technique for months. So I have to be careful to maximize my time. I very rarely research opponents because I would rather do something more fun.  

I wish I could afford a fitness professional. There are some in Atlanta but you can imagine the budget of a poor Jiu-Jitsu college student. If you know someone hit me up.

 JJJ: A lot of times in Jiu-Jitsu, you never get any pure BJJ guys, especially those that are winning! Have you trained any other martial arts or sports, and if so how did they help you in BJJ?

AB: I started out doing Tae Kwon Do and then I found Jiu-Jitsu, before that I just played normal American sports like football, basketball, etc.

JJJ: Do you think it is imperative for anyone serious about training BJJ to compete?

AB: Yes, everyone should try to compete at least once just to try it out and to see how they react under pressure. There are so many professionals and parents that just want to put on a kimono, not get hurt and learn a little bit of technique. You can be passionate about Jiu Jitsu and not be a world champion!

JJJ: What do you feel is the most important physical attribute to take with you into a competition?

AB: Endurance is the most important physical attribute, how else can you manage the insane amount of matches. Other than that, having heart might be the overall best.

JJJ: You were a competing purple belt for well over 2 years; did that contribute to your success over the years? Did it make the transition from purple to brown easier?

AB: I think I received my purple way too early. Actually, I got it right as I was starting college in 2007. I learned a lot of tough lessons as a purple belt.  I mostly remember training a lot and losing a lot but it was a lot of fun. It also happens that Cobrinha moved to Atlanta around that same time period and that had an immeasurable impact on my game.  The way my game is just takes me a while to improve, I know some guys that win everything at their new belts, but for me it is a long process of trial and error. My transition from purple to brown was surprisingly smooth. I did not win as much as I wanted to, but I had a lot of excellent experiences, especially fighting at Abu Dhabi Pro and advances in my drilling technique. Growing pains I guess. 

JJJ: What made you start competing in the first place? How much of a priority is it in your life?

AB: I started competing because it is a rite of passage at Alliance. Jiu-Jitsu is a science for us, so a lot of the moves that work for the advanced guys are taught to the lower belts.  This is why Alliance has such a distinctive style.

Jiu-Jitsu has always been one of my top priorities, I remember always arranging my schedule around my training so there are a lot of things that I missed out on while growing up. If you want to be the best, you have to sacrifice a lot and this is something that any of the long time competitors can verify for me.  Other than all the serious stuff, my life pretty much revolves around Jiu-Jitsu, all of my friends train, I make a living teaching it, and it is something that I will continue doing for the rest of my life. 

 JJJ: What matches have been significant in your career? Which ones did you learn the most from?

AB: I think my most notable match was against Willie Leonard from Team Lloyd Irvin, because no one thought I could win. My most significant win in my career was wining the Pan absolute and my weight class as a purple belt. I had a lot of setbacks in the years past and that was the confirmation that I all my hard work was paying off and that I was getting pretty decent.

I don’t know about other competitors but I always learn something new from my tournament matches be it a new technique or mindset.

JJJ: Speaking of absolutes, you have won many titles, yet you are only a middleweight? What do you attribute to your success in the open weight division? And how do you train for it?

AB: I wish there was some secret. I have been getting paired up with the big guys for a long time and have lost count of how many times I have been squished and smothered by our big guy gang. If I were to attribute anything, it would be to desperation.  If there is a 280 lb guy trying to past your guard you have to develop a good guard to survive.

JJJ: Do you go into competition with a game plan, or do you wing it and allow your technique to manifest itself?

AB: Each competitor is different. If I know of the person then I will try to nullify their strong points, but I really think of Jiu-Jitsu as an art form and like the natural flow. Whatever happens happens.

JJJ: What are you thinking the moment before you step on the mat in your first match and your finals match? Are they the same?

AB: I used to get really nervous, almost like shivering, but now I have learned to use those emotions to make me better.

JJJ: You are perhaps one of the most complete competitors at your level, this seems to be a trait that runs in the Alliance family. How important is it to be able to do everything, and how did you develop it?

AB: At the end of the day, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art and an effective one at that. That means that all practitioners should have proficiency on their feet doing takedowns, passing guard, playing guard and of course everyone should know the key self defense techniques that make Jiu-Jitsu unique.

I would like to think that I am well rounded because of my old school instructors. 

JJJ: What formula would you give to anyone wanting to place at a major competition?

AB: (effort x time)+support=success

JJJ: In my last competition, I was choked out cold. Have you ever been choked out in competition?

AB: Not so far, I tapped my first time in competition at the Abu Dhabi Pro Trial last year…I bet you won’t get caught with the same move next time right?

JJJ: Oh Yeah!

JJJ: A new year has started, meaning a new year of grappling competitions will commence. What are your goals for this year and what tournaments do you plan to compete in?

AB: I’m busy trying to finish up college and starting a new business, but I hope to do the Pan Ams and the World Championship. It’s like a big party!
 
JJJ: Alliance has continued to blow many teams out of the water year after year by an impressive margin.What do you think separates Alliance from many other organizations?

AB: There are so many things that make Alliance so great. Everyone is family here and we are able to maintain that ego-free environment that is rare with schools with so many good guys. You have to experience it for yourself.

JJJ: You have some of the best instructors in the world today. What have you taken from the likes of elite teachers like Jacare, Fabio, and Cobrinha? How do you incorporate them into your daily life and training routine?

AB: Fabio is a great instructor, probably the greatest. Anyone that trains with him will become good and have great basics.

Cobrinha is awesome, he does things his way but he is such an effective instructor that his move to Atlanta increased everyone’s game exponentially.  I have learned a lot from him especially about the tenets of hard work and staying humble.

Jacare is my Mestre and I have nothing but respect for him and for all the time and effort that he has put into me and all of the other students. Jiu-Jitsu is his life. I know that we may not see eye to eye on some things, but Alliance is my family and I cannot imagine training anywhere else or with another team. All of my friends and family train there and it is truly a special place with a lot of great individuals.  

JJJ: Kids class at Alliance? Tell me how and when you got started with that? What should all kids’ class instructors incorporate into their teaching?

AB: This is my bread and butter. The current instructor Daren Roberts approached me and asked if I like working with kids. Before this, I was just a shy kid that did not have many friends at the academy and I really had a hard time opening up my shell. I would also like to note that before working with the kids Daren kicked my butt in my blue belt debut.

Our kid’s class is very structured because children love stability in the class to the point that we are able to accomplish all of our daily goals and have time for a fun game or training at the end of every training session. After almost 7 years of teaching the kid’s class along with Daren, I feel that we have truly been able to forge bonds with our students and their parents that go beyond just the normal teacher and student relationship. We really are a part of their families

I think the best thing that all kids instructors should do is just listen to their students. Children just want attention and affirmation from their role models and authority figures. 
 
JJJ: Do you feel that in order to be a good instructor you have to focus on it 100%? Same question for competing.

AB: This is a pretty open ended question. I believe some instructors are great teachers while others should just focus on the competition aspect. Luckily, there is a lot of in between.  However, when it comes down to competing you must give everything: time, money, social life. One of Jacare’s quotes is that the guys in Brazilian will sell their sister for the chance to compete and win. 

JJJ: With the advent of more and more Americans on the podium at white-brown, how long do you think it will take before Americans start winning at the black belt level? Do you think you will be a part of that generation?

AB: I think it’s happening now with guys like JT Torres and Lovato. The next shift won’t just be Americans winning but also European competitors placing very soon.

I hope to make my mark on Jiu Jitsu in the future. I’m taking a small break from training right now, but I have a lot of big plans for this year. 

JJJ: Being a black man, many of my family members and friends still think I do karate. Have you dealt with any of these issues? With a handful of blacks already making a name for themselves in the competition circuit (you, DJ, the Broadnax twins)  What do you think can be done to get more of us in the sport?

AB: I get asked this a lot, so I normally will reference the UFC, wrestling, or judo which are more mainstream martial arts. The only way people will learn is if you educate them and you have to realize that some people just won’t understand.  There are a lot of blacks that train; just at the HQ there are four black belts with years of experience. Back in 2004 Jiu Jitsu was really popular because of the UFC and and TUF, but I think the move will be towards MMA gyms since they are marketed more.

Jiu Jitsu is a very expensive art form, especially in Atlanta. I don’t imagine many inner city folks will be able to afford it. I was lucky in that my family supported me in my endeavors. My friend Kenny, one the black belts that I mentioned above runs a non-profit Jiu Jitsu school that teaches inner city kids and they are all really good. So maybe this is one way to reach a group that is often overlooked in the Jiu Jitsu community.

 JJJ: Last few questions, who is your biggest inspiration?

AB: I love watching the kids have fun training. You would be amazed at some of the techniques that they happen upon by accident and they genuinely have fun training.
 
JJJ: What do you feel is your biggest accomplishment in Jiu-Jitsu? 

AB: Being a good instructor is my biggest accomplishment. Winning is cool, but nothing beats teaching a class full of 4 year olds and them giving you a big hug after a great class.

JJJ: Any setbacks in 2011?

AB: I competed at the worlds last year but did not placeL. There is a picture of me being awesome on GracieMag from that tournament.  Talk about a set back!

JJJ: What do you do for fun besides train?

AB: Playing with puppies and watching Netflix. 

JJJ: Have you gotten any ladies with the “I’m a world champion” line? What other opportunities has BJJ given you? What countries has it taken you too?

AB: I wish, Jiu-Jitsu is not as cool in Atlanta as it is in California. Jiu-Jitsu has allowed me to get through college and to meet professionals outside of the mat like my friends David Leibowitz and Enan Stillman. I have done most of my traveling within the U.S., but I have been invited to go train with the Japanese Olympic judo and wrestling teams. How great is that!

JJJ: Top 5 songs ever, go!?

AB: Right now- Karate by Kennedy, Jail bait by PANTyRAID, Headlines and Make Me Proud by Drake
In the past- People of the Sun by Rage Against the Machine