While being an ambassador within the BJJ community, some may not have realized much of Sebastian Brosche’s ability in the art of Jiu Jitsu (as well as his recovery) stems from the practice of Yoga – as he makes his mark within the ancient practice.
I had an opportunity to catch up with the BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) and Judoka brown belt from Sweden >> You can skip to the interview here or visit his website at (www.yogaforbjj.net).
Yoga for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) with Sebastian Brosche (Yogaforbjj.net)
Sebastian’s achievements in recent years within BJJ have pitted him at the peak of Europe’s top practitioners; with victories in Abu Dhabi, invitational tournaments (such as the Toukon challenge), and placing at the 2015 IBJJF Europeans (second in the adult, brown-belt middle-weight division and third in absolute).
His appearances on social media (facebook, instagram, youtube) have further won fans over, posting latest match videos, and Yoga Flows while occasionally shedding light onto pressing issues (such as the treatment of animals for food); he is one of a growing number of BJJ practitioners/athletes following a vegetarian (or plant-based) diet.
Discussion with Sebastian Brosche:
How often do you drill BJJ technique, spar rounds, practice yoga, or lift weights/condition per week.
Sebastian: I train yoga 3-5 sessions, BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) 2-3 sessions and weightlifting once a week. I am prioritizing work now, but am aiming to double everything next year.
There are many types of Yoga. Which type(s) in particular do you practice and why?
Sebastian: I practice Vinyasa Flow Yoga (moving with the breathe), since it is the most dynamic and strength building yoga I know. It gives me better fitness, isometric strength, improved balance, more flexibility and many other things.
For the young BJJ Practitioner, what age would you recommend practice of Yoga?
Sebastian: The earlier the better – absolutely. The problem with kids is that they are already flexible by nature, and recover from injuries very fast, so for them it is usually difficult to see the advantages of Yoga practice [in these early stages]. Also, the results you get from yoga are perhaps a bit more subtle than those you may get from weightlifting or drilling techniques, but if a young person practices yoga regularly it will benefit them immensely.
How and why do you feel Yoga translates over to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (or all sports for that matter).
Sebastian: My simple answer is that Yoga actually gives you more energy. Or rather, you eventually learn how to conserve energy and not waste it. For me, it is impossible to not gain benefits in strength, balance and flexibility, given the challenging sequences I [or one may] do; when you are completely present in your Yoga practice, your focus, concentration and the quality of movements also increase. It is impossible for me to describe how good this is for sports; it simply has to be experienced.
Have you been on any ventures to parts of India or Thailand or ‘other’?
No, I have not. For me Yoga is a compliment to my life and not my lifestyle. My fiancée and I are always staying a couple of weeks after the IBJJF Worlds in California to go to as many different yoga classes as possible, and that is always eye opening. If you find yourself in Santa Monica, go to a few classes. You will not regret it!
Do you believe Yoga allows us to obtain a more peaceful state of being?
Sebastian: Yes, I wholeheartedly believe that a conscious yoga practice allows us to remove fluctuations of the mind and find a more serene and harmonious state of existence. A world of peace and love is far from impossible, as long as we all start where we are, and avoid procrastination and fooling ourselves.
Do you believe in concepts such as the chakra, karma, spirit and the soul?
Sebastian: Belief is the right word, since esoteric questions (or rather, inquires) has no proof or definite answer. I believe that “karma” is our own conscience, and that we deep down always know if what we do is good or bad for others. If we do bad choices that hurt others, we will unconsciously find a way to punish ourselves. I do not know anything about the concepts of chakras, or energy centers. Regarding spirit and soul, I do believe that there is one part of our being that is beyond living and dying, and that when our body is finished, we in a way return to where we started. I am not anxiously afraid of dying, and I like to believe that death is the crescendo of life. At least that is a comforting thought for me.
What are your future plans in terms of Jiu Jitsu, your Yoga practice, and YogaForBJJ.net?
Sebastian: I am determined to win Abu Dhabi Pro and Worlds in brown. After that we will see if my Yoga is ready to be taken to the next level in terms of strength and challenges. Waking up early and going to bed early is for sure the biggest factor in this. As for yogaforbjj.net, my goal is post several videos every week, and to even work with it full time. Members of the website are constantly sending me good feedback, so it is definitely worth the work!
Here’s an advanced video compilation, displaying Sebastian’s abilities through the practice of Yoga:
YOGAFORBJJ.NET
As mentioned, Sebastian not only practices Yoga regularly, but operates a website called Yoga for BJJ (www.yogaforbjj.net), where he demo’s beginner, intermediate, and advanced exercises related to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – but suitable for any level of athlete. This is done using specific Yoga flows and vinyasa’s (the act of moving with the breathe) as well as teaching stretches for recovery, and injury prevention.
The videos for the premium membership ($14.00 (US) or $17.50 (CAN) / month) give you full access to videos: to further strength, movement and flexibility along with pre-competition and post training routines.
Yoga for BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) with Sebastian Brosche (Yogaforbjj.net)
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MUNDIAL ABU DHABI 2013 – Kit James Dale x Sebastian Brosche by X-COMBAT
Rickson Gracie in particular, touted the effectiveness of Yoga throughout his career, in increasing ones Brazilian Jiu Jitsu capabilities – let alone, the importance of the breathe as a means of conserving energy, maintaining focus and managing stress levels. Eddie Bravo and many other BJJ practitioners further emphasize the importance of Yoga style stretching.
REFERENCE
Yoga For BJJ (www.yogaforbjj.net)
Razi BJJ Blog: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Health & Fitness 