четверг, 30 ноября 2017 г.

Yaroslav Blazhko: “It’s necessary to achieve the maximum results, rather than enjoy the fifth or sixth place”


Regular training and strict schedule – just in such tempo Yaroslav Blazhko has been leaving during last five years. 
He received degree of lawyer but one day realized that he wants to fulfill his potential in sport. And it was a right decision because Yaroslav gets only prize-winning places at all-Ukrainian and international jiu-jitsu championships. Recently, he came back with the gold medal from the European tournament which took place in France.
Despite busy schedule of trainings, Yaroslav has found some time for the interview. He told readers about his sport carrier start, why he wants get only first places and what his dream is for now.
From gymnastics to jiu-jitsu
For five years I have been going in for jiu-jitsu. At first I was engaged in Taekwondo. And one day I started to train with Ievgen Skyrda and I cached the interest of jiu-jitsu. In our city (Kropivnitskiy) Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was opened in 2013. Thus, I began to do only this kind of sport. Jiu-jitsu has caught my fancy from the beginning. I understood that I am fascinated only by fight. The majority of action we made on the mat, in other words, fight takes place on the ground. It reduces the risk of serious injuries.
Also, I used to go in for gymnastics in the past. But Brazilian jiu-jitsu has become my lifestyle. I am busy now with development of our club and own trainings. And sport also has changed my common lifestyle. For example I can`t eat even a piece of junk food because it can effect negatively on my results during the competition. My family fully supports me, because my father also a sportsman.
He helps me in issues that concerns sport. My father brought me up as a real athlete since my childhood. I started to do an exercises on the bar since I was four. So, of course, he likes what I do now.
I studied at the university and could be a layer. Being on the third course of the law university I got acquainted with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. And I realized the unnecessity of my law degree (smiling). Of course, I got my diploma but it wasn`t necessary for me. I understood that work with documents is not mine.
Of course, I didn’t have such busy sport schedule when I studied in the university. I was engaged in the sport club but I even didn’t think it would become the deal of my life. I realized that I want to work only in sport sphere. Things turned out, I focused more on training than my education. I don’t regret about my higher education since I have received a great experience.
Regular trainings for victory
I have lost during my first competition on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2013. And after that, I realized that it is necessary to practice more. So step by step I reached the level which I have now. I try to show the best results all the time. In our club, athletes, who prepare for competitions train in separate groups all the week. In addition, we have morning trainings before the competition. Thus, we train two times a day.
Sunday is a day off for us. But we spend it on the base or clean the hall if it is necessary.
I can`t say that it`s difficult to live in such rhythm. I don’t have problems with my physical condition. I feel great. If we get tired in the middle of the week, the coach gives us time to recover. And then we work using all our potential. But we don’t have much time to rest, thus we try to work in the most productive manner.
Daily schedule
I wake up around 9:00, have my breakfast and go for morning training. After the training we clean gym hall. FFrom 12:00 to 15:30 we have a free time, and I can have some rest. Training for children begins at 16:00 and ends at 19:30. After that I have a time for own training. As a rule, I finish at 22:00. And only after that I can go home.
In order to achieve maximum results, you need to give yourself 100% to this sport.
It is impossible to rest and at the same time develop and improve your results. You should spend all your strength during the training. We will be able to have a rest later. For example, we can rest retiring on a pension.
All my life I associate with sport. We want our club to be the best one in the world. Now we are the best ones in Ukraine, but we try our best to move towards Europe.
Trainings with children
The Federation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been working in our city since 2013. And our club – since September, 2014. More than 120 children were engaged in the trainings during the last two years. There are already champions and winners of the National Competitions among them. We try to bring up world champions.
I also train children. At first it was a little difficult for me but now I am completely happy with my work. It is needed to find the necessary approach to each child. I guess I am successful in this sphere.
We also explain parents that fight can`t be without injury. And there is nothing to worry about. We teach little boys to be real men. We also train girls. Sometimes they have even more fighting spirit than boys. Everything happens but we haven’t had serious accidents in the younger group (children aged from three to six years).
I think people should do what they like. You can`t go to work only for material aim because nothing will come of it. Those guys who work in the “Borets” club put all their heart and soul in the trainings. Thus, the first of all it is necessary to have a desire to work at the highest quality level.
Participation in the national and international competitions
I have already participated in many competitions. I even can`t remind all the national ones. We competed during the European Championship in Portugal last year. There I managed to win the second place.There was also European Championship in April and it was held in Rome. There I won a gold medal.
In late April, right after the Rome we flew to the World Cup in Abu Dhabi (UAE). There I won three fights, but lost the fourth on points. We decided that we need to have more practice. We will try to get the first place during the next tournament.
I don’t upset after the loss. I just realize that I must correct some mistakes, maybe to train more and better. Psychological condition is also very important. If athlete drains before the competition he will not have great results. In such case you have already lost before the fight.
The right physical spirit is the most important. You shouldn’t think and estimate the opponent during the competition. It is necessary to do what you can and don’t think more.
Benefits of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Sport is very important in our life. Some people believe that job and education must be on the first place. And, it isn’t so, actually. After 30 it can be some problems with health. You need to exercise in order to avoid such problem. And it can be done along with other areas of activity.
There is no age restriction in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Yurii Kompan for example trains in our club.  He is 45 years old but he successfully performs at competitions. At the same time, there is only some man in Ukraine who does Jiu-Jitsu after 65 years old. All depend from your mind. And the age doesn’t matter in this issue. If you like fight, you can do it even after 60 years old. I want to emphasize once again, that our sport is considered the least injury-causing.
You can start jiu-jitsu at any age and with any physical form. The jiu-jitsu is such type of fight where the physical vigor isn’t on the first place. The athlete with perfect physical form doesn`t always win. The most important thing is technique. Therefore, it is necessary to think first of all and understand that victory is achieved not only by strength. Everything depends on properly selected vectors. Flexibility also has the influence.
Athletes have such thing as “absolute weight category”. At first I compete with the athletes who weight 70 kilograms. If I get the top place, I will compete with athletes who win in other weight category. We always try to get first places. It once again confirms that weight doesn’t make a difference.
Impressions from the last international tournament
About 20 athletes performed in my weight category during the international tournament in France. I beat the athlete from France in the fourth final fight. All opponents had an advanced level of training. Sometimes some problems can arise during the competition. Generally, when the opponent uses the technique which block my actions.
And in those moments, you should think how to get out of this situation. It`s important to control everything. And I coped with it.
The aim
We hope our club will be the best one for children and adults where they can practice their skills on the highest level. Thus, our county can become a leader in this sport as we have strog fighters.

Ukrainian young champions. Sport among children and youth


“A sound mind in a sound body!” is a common motto among athletes and people who keep a healthy lifestyle.

These words are also familiar to small citizens of Kropivnitskiy city (Ukraine). Today Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has been actively developing there. After 7-year- old fighter from SC “Borets” / ZR Team has won at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship which in Abu Dhabi children have seen at practice that persistence and hard work bring great results.

Today SC “Borets” actively invites children for classes of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The head coach and founder of the club Ievgen Skyrda says, sport is very important and not less than school education. Moreover, sport in young age has a set of advantages. Ievgen says that he likes to work with children. He notes that classes with kids inspire and motivate him a lot. “We are aimed at high sport results. I think that in the nearest future our club will become one of the strongest ones not only in Ukraine but in the world. In order to achieve such goal, it`s necessary to start with children. That’s why we mainly train children”.
Recently, SC “Borets” was visited by representatives of the BioTexCom center which is a club’s sponsor. It became the whole event for children. They were presented T-shirts, made a photo shoot and interviewed.
Girls also train in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu section. “Girls are also members of our club. At first, I was against it but later I understood that it isn`t a strength sport. Most parents don’t understand why their daughter should visit trainings on fight. But it is very useful for their development and health”- Ievgen Skyrda says.
Coaches explain jiu-jitsu is a kind of philosophy. It is not just only a fight. Sportsmen meet on the mat and without use of blows. It is known, that this martial art is based on principals where person with poorly developed constitution can successfully defend himself and beat stronger opponent out if he will use proper techniques.
It happened so, that martial art is associated with fight at once. But jiu-jitsu fighters don’t beat each other. The body-checks aren’t used in this sport. If you know the rules of jiu-jitsu you will be able to stand up for yourself in any situation”- Ievgen Skyrda says.
It’s also worth noting that children enjoy trainings very much and always come to the gym with a big pleasure. Coaches teach them endurance, willpower, respect towards people, culture. In a word we help children to develop a sound mind in sound bodies.
Victories of young Ukrainian athletes on the world sport arena inspire participants of the club and give more desire to train and win. It should be reminded Ukrainians have shown a great result this year at the World Jiu-Jitsu Championship which was held in Abu Dhabi. 14-year-old sportsmen, fighters of “Borets” club Serhii Krasovskyi and Serhii Rusnak became the world champions on Brazilian jiu-jitsu among juniors in Abu Dhabi. After the victory at the World Championship, Serhii Krasovskyi and Serhii Rusnak will receive financial grand on regular basis from sponsor, the BioTexCom center. The hard work brings young athletes their first results in sport career.
Earlier the victory rhythm was set by 7-year-old Nikita Petushinskyi. He is also member of the “Borets” club. This spring Nikita became the world jiu-jitsu champion in his age category!

среда, 29 ноября 2017 г.

Victory at every cost! How to become the world’s best fighter at the age of 14


Fourteen-year-old Serhii Rusnak and Serhii Krasovskyi have already been practicing jiu-jitsu for several years. At the age of 14, they both have already become world’s jiu-jitsu champions. And boys are not going to stop there.
Young athletes repeatedly won numerous all-Ukrainian competitions. But for today, their greatest achievement is the victory at the World Championship in Abu Dhabi.
Coach Ievgen Skyrda analyzed boys’ fights and is pleased with their result. According to him, just in a few years Serhii Rusnak and Serhii Krasovskyi will become the best fighters in the world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. But they need to practice twice as harder to reach such a high goal.
According to young winners, in future they both plan to become coaches in order to enable other children to achieve what they have reached now. Boys opened up about their first experience in big sport, what helped them to win in Abu Dhabi and what exactly they need in order to achieve their main goals. These and other detailed below.
Serhii Rusnak
I have been practicing jiu-jitsu for four years and I must confess that this sport has changed me quite a lot. First training I attended upon the advice of my older brother. As a result, I was amazed with almost everything I saw and heard. Ievgen (coach) explained and showed me everything in details. Thanks to him I began to train and achieve something meaningful in my life.
Serhii Krasovskyi
I started my training two years ago. That time I even didn’t think that I could achieve such great results. Before jiu-jitsu, I was engaged in gymnastics, football, judo, but I didn’t gain such high scores. Most of all I enjoy the fact we are like one big family in our sport club. I think I’m blessed with a great coach who helps and encourages me to achieve the relevant results.
Impressions of the World Cup
Serhii Rusnak
We took part in numerous all-Ukrainian Jiu-jitsu tournaments. In particular, we were at the Ukrainian Championship, as well as at competitions that took place in Ivano-Frankovsk, Odessa and Zaporozh’e cities. Together with Serhii Krasovskyi we have always been at the top. However, it was a kind of challenge for us to compete at the World Championship in Abu Dhabi. Firstly, fighters from other countries had higher training level. Secondly, our opponents used slightly different technical training. However, anything could stop us and we tried our best to win. We didn’t think about second or third places. I realized how much was invested, so I didn’t have margin for mistake.
Serhii Krasovskyi
I believe we showed such result thanks to our trainings which lasted for at least six hours. Thus we were fully prepared for such high rhythm and pressure. To say the truth I was nervous a little during the world competition. But I already had an experience of the Ukrainian championships, which helped me a lot. Also I would like to express special thanks to the psychologist who worked with us, thanks to her I felt a surge of confidence.
Factors of victory
Serhii Rusnak
I think our victory in Abu Dhabi is an absolute merit of our coach. Ievgen invests tons of nerves, energy and he spent all his time training us. Some athletes, who failed, excused their defeat with lack of sufficient funding. But I think it’s just an excuse. To achieve our goal all we need is a partner and a mat.
Serhii Krasovskyi
We wouldn’t have such success without our coach. It is difficult to fight with laziness on your own. And our coach is a man who always inspires and motivates us.
Trainings above all
Serhii Rusnak
I became a world champion, but still there is always something new to learn. After the training together with Serhii, we enjoy watching how the senior fighters train. Thanks to this, we manage to adopt new techniques. Moreover, I think that we shouldn’t relax, even after the victory in Abu Dhabi. There are still a lot of competitions ahead. That’s why now, on the contrary, we need to train even more and harder. And put twice as much effort and patience.
Serhii Krasovskyi
There is no point to go home right after the training and just go to sleep. Watching trainings of more experienced athletes, we can learn many interesting information and see advanced techniques. All the time we continue to improve our results and do our best in studding jiu-jitsu philosophy.
Goals
Serhii Krasovskyi
For today my main goal is to achieve a black belt. I also want to become the champion of Asia, Europe, America and Brazil.
Serhii Rusnak
I used to want to become a world champion. Recently I have already achieved this goal. Now I’ll try to get a blue belt in jiu-jitsu to get an opportunity to fight with older athletes. I want to be the best fighter.

вторник, 28 ноября 2017 г.

Sport is vital for children and teens!

Many parents don’t realize all sport importance in children life. Adults very often put an education at the first place but, nevertheless, sport, especially for teenagers, is extremely important.


It goes side by side with education and it cannot be said what is more important, especially in today’s world.


Sport is vital for teens for the following reasons:

– During the growing age and puberty person’s constitution is formed and thus it is important it to be formed normal and healthy. And sport will help to form great healthy constitution of body.

– Sport gives self-confidence and teaches to be the winner, to bite the bullet and deal with failures, rise from knees when it is needed.

– Sport protects children from negative influence of street companies. Teenagers just will have no time and wish for bad habits spending free time in the gym.

– Sport helps to find real friends from all over the country who are involved in common deal.

– Sport makes person healthier! Especially it concerns nowadays when it is difficult to find high-quality food products. Children who go in for sport can overcome the obesity and other diseases thanks to regular sport activities.


– Finally, sport, especially martial arts, teaches to stand up for yourself physically if it is needed. Of course coach always teaches to avoid conflicts but everything could happen and teenager always will be ready to protect himself.

понедельник, 27 ноября 2017 г.

Ukrainian fighters at the “Ukraine National Pro” championship!



The prestigious international “Ukraine National Pro” championship was held in Odessa, Ukraine, recently. The championship was held under the UAEJJF authority.

The most competitive fighters of Brazilian jiu-jitsu have shown their great technical skills at the Ukrainian sports arena. Moreover, the winners of the Championship got a chance to take part in the World Championship which will be held in April 2018.

Ukrainian fighters of SC “Borets” / ZR Team Kropivnitskiy participated in the “Ukraine National Pro”. Once again Ukrainian fighters have shown they are one of the best jiu-jitsu sportsmen and proved their high technical skills! In general, sportsmen of the SC “Borets” / ZR Team took 7 gold, 4 silver and 1 bronze medals!


http://jiu-jitsu.news/ukrainian-fighters-at-the-ukraine-national-pro-championship/

пятница, 24 ноября 2017 г.

Ukrainian fighter will participate in the “South America Continental Pro”

Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter, Serhii Krasovskyi, will participate in the prestigious international tournament “South America Continental Pro”.

Ukrainian fighter from the SC “Borets” / ZR Team will travel to Sao Paulo, Brazil and take part in the two-day tournament from February 24 to 25. The championship will take place in the “Esporte Clube Sírio” sport complex. It’s not the first time 14-years-old Serhii Krasovskyi will represent Ukraine at the major tournaments abroad. Young fighter has already successfully competed and won gold at prestigious championships in London and Abu Dhabi.

The “South America Continental Pro” championship is managed by the UAEJ Jiu-Jitsu Federation and draws hundreds of high caliber fighters every year. Also, this tournament is a part of the UAEJJF World Ranking and Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Qualifying Series.

Evgeniy Skirda: “I am not a deep pocket but I have a labor of love!”

Evgeniy Skirda has founded club of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Kropivnitskii city.
Evgeniy together with his sport team train children and raise sporty, health and wise youth in “Borets” club. Now the club is visited by more than 120 participants. Some of them are European and world champions. This work does not bring Evgeniy big financial profit; nevertheless he takes a great enjoyment in it.
Evgeniy has told us why he returned from Portugal to Ukraine, how he started doing jiu-jitsu and why he founded his own sport club in Ukraine.

About life in Portugal and return to Ukraine
“After graduation, I started to work and earn money. For some time I lived with my mother in Portugal, but being 15 years old I decided to come back to Ukraine. I want to live, work and develop at homeland. At the beginning of my second year abroad, I began to feel that I was going crazy. It was very difficult psychologically”.
“When I lived in Portugal, I turned onto computer technologies. At first I installed computers and satellite dishes and received my first money. Returning to Kropivniskii I started working in the advertising agency. Then I realized that I didn’t want to work for someone and started freelancing. In general, I started working at the age of 15. At the same time I studied at the Cybernetics and Technology College. Two years I studied and then realized that I do not need it”.
“After that I went to work in Moscow. I opened my own web design studio there, but in 2008 I again returned to Ukraine”.
“I’ve been fighting all my life. By the way, in Portugal I was engaged in judo. But there was unpleasant situation there, which became one of the reasons for my desire to return to Ukraine. I showed good results during the qualifying round, but I was not allowed to take part in the championship, because I was not a citizen of Portugal. A few weeks after that case I returned to Kropivnitskii. In Ukraine I started to work and go in for sport. One day I get serious knee injury, after which I discovered jiu-jitsu. This kind of sport is considered to be the least traumatic of all kinds of fighting, as the fight is mostly held on the mat”.

About trainings in the basement
“At first we trained with my friend in the basement, but then I realized that it is inefficient work. As a result, I found and contacted with the president of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu office in Kiev, Artem Sidorov, who became my first mentor. In 2013, he came to our city (Kropivnitskii) and held a seminar”.
“At that time this sport was not developed at all in our city. At the same time, it was very popular in the United States of America. There is a hall for jiu-jitsu in each American district and street while we had only one jiu-jitsu section for the entire region”.

About dependence on fight
“Honestly, I’m not keen on football or track and field. I like only fighting. When I have injuries, I force myself to lift the bar to maintain my physical condition, but I do it forcing myself. I like only to fight. Sport is my lifestyle. You know, every person must have something to be motivated with. I find motivation in training children. Thanks to this I can realize myself. And when there is no time for training, I even start to fall into depression”.
“Of course, work I’m doing now cannot be called my profession, as I do not get money for it. But it is not a hobby, but rather, a kind of addiction for me. All the time I think about our club’s development. Money is needed to pay renting and salaries to coaches. The income of the club is formed from voluntary contributions, and children from low-income families can train for free”.

To find motivation in children training
“Girls are also members of our club. At first, I was against it but later I understood that it isn`t a strength sport. Most parents don’t understand why their daughter should visit trainings on fight. But it is very useful for their development and health”.
“Jiu-jitsu is a kind of philosophy and not a fight. The meeting of sportsman takes place on the mat and without use of blows. It is known, that this martial art is based on principals where person with poorly developed constitution can successfully defend himself and win against stronger opponent if he will use proper techniques”.
“It happened so, that martial art at once is associated with fight. But jiu-jitsu fighters don’t beat each other. The body-checks aren’t used in this sport. You will know the rules of jiu-jitsu and you will be able to stand up for yourself in any situation”.
“We are aimed at high sport results. I think that in the nearest future our club will become one of the strongest ones not only in Ukraine but in the world. In order to achieve such goal, it`s necessary to start with children. That’s why we mainly train children”.

About success
“Once I had a dispute with my student on the topic of success. He believed that successful person must be rich. For me, successful person is those one who are happy and has everything he needs”.
“Yes, I do not have a villa or car, but I have my favorite deal and my team. I know what I do every day and I do it with a great pleasure, so I consider myself to be absolutely successful person”.