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#251 In Jiu Jitsu We Trust

As a Jiu Jitsu instructor, it is common to receive visits from combat athletes versed in other disciplines such as wrestling and judo. What almost never fails to occur during sparring, is an immediate attack from the Jiu Jitsu-newcomer with a great degree of power and strength. Against an intermediate level of Jiu Jitsu fundamentals,Continue reading “#251 In Jiu Jitsu We Trust”

250: Jiu Jitsu and Chess: A battle for inches.

It’s interesting to compare one of the oldest strategy games in chess, alongside a combat art like Jiu Jitsu which has a high demand for technical and strategic ability. Like Jiu Jitsu and many other combat arts, Chess shares some striking similarities. You will hear players use the same terminology in reference to a matchContinue reading “250: Jiu Jitsu and Chess: A battle for inches.”

#249 Keep BJJ Simple Stupid

As a young BJJ practitioner I often found myself drawn towards the many different techniques BJJ had to offer, whether it was berimbolos, de la riva guard, x guard, etc. I believe that as a lower belt it is important to leave no stone unturned when it comes to learning techniques. After all, you don’tContinue reading “#249 Keep BJJ Simple Stupid”

#248 Jiu Jitsu: Arte Suave

If you have been a Jiu Jitsu practitioner for sometime, you have like encountered the Portuguese phrase “Arte Suave” which translates to Gentle Art, a common colloquium for Jiu Jitsu or BJJ. It’s origin stems from Master Jigoro Kano’s principle of “gentleness controls strength” one of the most important tenants of Jiu Jitsu. Though strengthContinue reading “#248 Jiu Jitsu: Arte Suave”

#247 Jiu Jitsu Vibes

It was once explained to me by Saulo Ribeiro that Jiu Jitsu academies are made up of Poodles, Labradors and Pitbulls. The poodle is the person that may have summoned every ounce of courage just to walk inside the academy, while the labrador being the more confident version who plainly enjoys the art, whereas theContinue reading “#247 Jiu Jitsu Vibes”

#246 Jiu Jitsu Flow

During your Jiu Jitsu Journey you will eventually begin to hear the term “flow” being thrown around. Despite it’s many interpretations, Flow can described as constantly searching for “the right way” or “the best way” to do something. In the words of Jigoro Kano “Maximum efficiency and maximum effectiveness”. Flow means searching for the wayContinue reading “#246 Jiu Jitsu Flow”

#245 3-point shooting and Jiu Jitsu

Have you ever marveled over the 3 point shooting of an amazing talent such as Steph Curry? It is a beautiful thing to watch him being guarded by one and occasionally two players before throwing up a seemingly impossible shot only to watch it float right through the net. What you should know is thatContinue reading “#245 3-point shooting and Jiu Jitsu”

#244 BJJ Mood

For those of us who practice BJJ, there is no denying the overwhelming physiological and emotional benefits. Many of us however, simply notice an improvement in mood, a more relaxed state, better sleep and a “runners high” after beginning to regularly attend class. Furthermore, there is an ever growing amount of evidence not only towardsContinue reading “#244 BJJ Mood”

#243 Jiu Jitsu is Simple

There is a saying in Jiu Jitsu, quoted by the legendary Saulo Ribeiro which I believe holds true to this day. It goes “Jiu Jitsu is simple, we make it complicated”. In your quest for improvement you will find this wisdom to benefit you greatly in a complex topic as Jiu Jitsu that spans aContinue reading “#243 Jiu Jitsu is Simple”

#242 What’s stopping your BJJ progress?

For most of us participating in Jiu Jitsu and life, there are things we want to accomplish. Maybe it’s achieving a black belt, winning the world championships or simply feeling confident that you can protect yourself against most aggressors. On a fundamental level, many of us also understand that our goals are largely a productContinue reading “#242 What’s stopping your BJJ progress?”