Keeping Positive and Keeping Fit in Lockdown

Keeping Fit and Setting Goals During Lockdown

For many of us, being in lockdown means that the days seem to roll in to one. For those of us that own gyms, work at gyms, or set our internal clocks to training BJJ, everything can seem a bit out of kilter. For some of us, there is the uncertainty of what the future will hold, for others, the separation from family members can be stressful, and, for others, the lure of the Olympics can mean that we are glued to our couches.
So how do we stay motivated during this lockdown?
​One of the NSW BJJ Federation founders, Professor Paulo Guimaraes, shares his views about keeping fit and setting goals during lockdown.

How Has COVID-19 Affected You?

All of the fitness industry was hit hard by the lockdown in 2020 and everyone working from home. No one has really returned to the Sydney CBD, so a lot of gyms in the city have really struggled to stay open. Most gym owners, whether BJJ or otherwise, are in the same boat, but there is a lot of support in the BJJ community, so we are all looking out for each other. However, what was great to see was that everyone was quick to return to the suburban gyms as soon as they were allowed to get back on the mats. 

At the Federation, we saw a massive growth across the State in new gyms opening under legitimate black-belts and accredited affiliations. This has been awesome as we are maintaining the high standard of BJJ across the State. We have noticed that at all of the suburban and regional gyms, both kids and adults were back in force and were keen to enter into competitions and to develop their skills. Our Autumn Cup had a record number of entrants, and the level of community support in maintaining social distancing meant that we had a great and safe competition. 

So how are you keeping fit this lockdown?

I surf and do sit ups and stretch everyday. I grew up surfing in Rio, Brazil, and surfing is the best way for me to keep fit when I can't train BJJ. I was surfing in Lombok just before COVID-19 lockdown last year, and since then, I have spent the last two lockdowns surfing every day at my local beaches in Sydney. I haven't spent this much time in the water since I was a kid.

And Setting Goals?

Moving somewhere warmer would be great! However, for quite a few years now the Federation has been wanting to offer more support for our rural and remote gyms. We tend to focus on the city gyms, but it would be great to grow the entire NSW BJJ community. So, I have been spending a lot of time planning how we can grow the Federation. This year, it is our 20th Anniversary. We have come so far from small competitions with only a few competitors, now we have a massive competition circuit and seeing how many kids are training BJJ is awesome. 

Any advice?

For those in lockdown, keep training at home if you can and keep exercising even if it is just doing sit ups and push ups at home. Get outside and get some fresh air, if possible. Watch fights and instructional videos online, learn about the history of BJJ, and use this time to learn more about the sport. Rest and recover your injuries, if you have any, so that you are ready to roll when the gyms open again in Sydney. For everyone else in the State, keep training hard! And we will see you soon at the comps!