Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a great way to explore character. We can learn a lot from someone based on their Jiu Jitsu. The movements and systems they choose on the mat while rolling showcases their underlying personality. We can learn even more about OUR character by using Jiu Jitsu as a tool for self-analysis. How
What To Do When Falling Short Of A Goal In BJJ?
Well, it finally happened. I missed a step towards achieving a goal. A Tuesday went by and I didn’t create a new blog post. Just like skipping your first college class, attending the rest of the classes is going to be a problem of willpower and not self-discipline now. Beginning of the year I set
What To Focus On While Rolling
A huge piece of the puzzle in Jiu Jitsu improvement is what to focus on while rolling. In a previous post I briefly discussed the differences between performance mode and learning mode, and this post is going to go more in depth in how to apply these concepts to improve. The majority of training partners
What Do Top Level BJJ Black Belts Do Differently? (Video)
Rolling with a top level black belt is a completely crushing experience sometimes. What is it that makes them feel superhuman? Over the years I’ve visited with others on this topic and put together a few concepts that have changed how I approach my Jiu Jitsu. Thanks Brian Stuebner for helping me connect with these
Jiu Jitsu Stories – “Woman Puts Life In A Chokehold”
One of my students sent me a letter that made my month. I have been teaching a women’s only class for over a year now and loved every minute of it. The transformations I have seen in spirit and body have been amazing. Nothing is more satisfying than when a woman puts life in a
Yuri Simoes Taught Me About Intensity For Nice Guys
The first time I saw Yuri training, I learned a lot about myself before we ever even spoke. One of his biggest strengths was one of my biggest weaknesses. He knew how to train with intensity. (If you missed the interview with Yuri, go back and see it here!) I Remember It Like It Was
Jeff Glover Unknowingly Made My Jiu Jitsu Fun Again
“So this is how a cat juggling a ball of yarn must feel,” I thought. I looked up at the ceiling, my back on the mats, and used my hands and feet to juggle a giant ball. Jeff Glover was teaching us his stability ball drills. This moment would have an enormous effect on my Jiu
My Biggest White Belt Mistake
The longer I train, the more patterns I see repeat themselves. Just like a child goes through stages as they grow up, Jiu Jitsu practitioners pass through several levels. There were several horrible mistakes that I made early on at white belt, but one stands out as my biggest white belt mistake. I see EVERY
Was That A Neck Crank Or A Choke?
An upper belt just tapped you with a D’arce choke. They immediately ask, “Was that a neck crank or a choke?” It just felt like death to you so… Why Does It Even Matter? The goal is always to choke our opponent. If our opponent is resisting the choke, and it is properly applied, eventually he goes
Your Individual BJJ Journey – The Quest For Answers
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]hite belts are always asking questions about how to improve their Jiu Jitsu. There is an underlying insecurity to these questions. They don’t want to go down a wrong path, they don’t want to learn it wrong. They don’t want to “waste” mat time. How do I know? Because I did it too. They are