This year has been amazing, and it feels great to have over 80 posts now. To celebrate achieving my goal of writing every week this year (52 posts!) I’m going to revisit my 12 all time best posts. Each article on this list also includes loads of links to my other quality content.These are in
Mastering Jiu Jitsu Positions
“Position before submission” is one of the core tenants of Jiu Jitsu. It is one of the first sayings that a grappler learns. What does it really mean and how can we best focus on mastering Jiu Jitsu positions? Understanding the answer to this question is one of the big concepts that will eventually unlock
The Accidental Mat Bully In BJJ Class
I have met some amazing people through Jiu Jitsu. Most people are super respectful when they roll. Unfortunately there is a very small portion of the population who isn’t. This group of people tend to be those that go as hard as possible when training. They can easily become an accidental mat bully! There is
Elements Of A BJJ Gym’s Culture
A few weeks ago I wrote about how to research potential Jiu Jitsu gyms. The choices can seem daunting to someone who is new. At the core, there are 3 main elements of a BJJ gym that deeply effect culture. Analyzing these can help make the decision process easier. Training Style Teaching Style How The
Why Friends DON’T Start Training BJJ (But SHOULD)
Beginning my Jiu Jitsu journey is one of the best things I’ve done in my life. In spreading the word to others there are a few obstacles I find that stand in the way of new people who want to start training BJJ. Most of the reasons people don’t start training are actually based on
Which Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Gym Should I Join? How To Research
Finally, you’ve made the decision to start training Jiu Jitsu, but now you are having trouble figuring out which gym to train at. How can you even begin researching? Some potential grapplers let the excuse of not knowing where to start be an obstacle that keeps them from ever beginning their journey. I hope this
What Does “Relax” Mean For A White Belt?
One of the first huge breakthroughs I see White Belts undergo is when they understand what it means when the upper belts tell them to relax. This bland word “relax” means a very specific thing to the upper belt, but typically the White belt hearing it mostly ignores it as unimportant. In Jiu Jitsu the
Should I focus on submissions when rolling with higher belts?
Reader Question from Facebook: As a white belt, should I even try to focus on submissions when rolling with a higher belt, or should I just take the opportunity to soak up knowledge? Answer: One main formula for growth in training is referred to as Plus, Minus, Equal. The concept is that in order to
Balancing Jiu Jitsu And Life
People say things like “I don’t know how you find time to train Jiu Jitsu. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.” They are right. Balancing Jiu Jitsu and life isn’t easy. Training BJJ involves sacrifice. The difficulty and sacrifice is what fuels the personal growth and development though. I can’t imagine NOT finding
White Belts Should Tap Early In Jiu Jitsu
White belts hurting other white belts. Why didn’t he just tap? This is serious stuff. I looked across the mat and saw an experienced white belt leaning back for an armbar on a newer white belt. The armbar is definitely in, but the newer white belt keeps wriggling and trying to escape. I can see