Grapplers tend to be an enthusiastic group, as I described in an earlier story. In fact, many of them will likely be training throughout this holiday week, which is supposedly dedicated to family. And some ... Continue Reading
Interview with Emily Kwok: Leading the Way for Women in BJJ
Females and little guys in the Brazilian jiu jitsu game are among the most tenacious athletes in any sport. One of the mantras in BJJ is “position before submission” and as a small person, it can be tricky ... Continue Reading
Sally’s BJJ Holiday Wish List
EDITOR'S NOTE: We know how hard it is to gift shop, so we thought we would help you out with ideas. Coach Sally, who writes BJJ and MMA articles, provided us with her BJJ wish list to get you ... Continue Reading
Interview with Stephan Kesting: Educating the BJJ World
Warning: Stephan Kesting is a trained professional in a closed cage. Do not attempt on a real bear. Stephan Kesting is a black belt in a couple different martial arts, but he is known primarily for ... Continue Reading
How to Hip Escape: A Fundamental BJJ Movement and a Low-Cost Mode of Transportation
Hands are good things in many contexts. We use them to drive, to type, to make contact with the people we love, to eat and drink, and to feel our way in the dark. That combination of wiggly fingers and ... Continue Reading
Explosive Strength Circuits for MMA and BJJ
In almost every MMA fight, there will be takedown attempts and scrambles on the ground. Technical skill is the most important part of a fighter’s game but when matched against an opponent with an equal or ... Continue Reading
12 Reps with Valerie Worthington, BJJ Black Belt and Instructor
EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome to our newest feature - 12 Reps. In each appearance of 12 Reps, our coaches, writers, and occasional guests will be answering the same twelve questions each time. Go "into the ... Continue Reading
5 Ways Competition Preparation Is Like College
I have advocated elsewhere that Brazilian jiu jitsu be treated like an academic discipline. I have argued that the domain of BJJ is complex and sophisticated, can claim experts who explore and contribute ... Continue Reading
How to Build Grip Strength for BJJ
Grip strength is an important part of Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) but often is not given as much training time as it deserves. In the DVD set, How to Defeat the Bigger, Stronger Opponent (HDBSO), featuring ... Continue Reading
3 Workouts to Build Explosive Strength for BJJ
Brazilian jiu jitsu is a martial art that was developed to allow a smaller, weaker person to protect him or herself from a larger, stronger opponent by using leverage. As BJJ practitioners develop ... Continue Reading
How Parents Can Best Support Their Kids in Athletics
In part one of my discussion with experienced kids’ coach Jen Flannery, she discussed the characteristics of effective coaches of kids, as well as the appropriate ages and expectations for kids in athletic ... Continue Reading
Expertly Novice: What Neil Peart Has to Teach Us about BJJ and Life
For some time now, I’ve been wanting to write about Neil Peart, the drummer for the rock band Rush. I hadn’t done so because I hadn’t quite figured out how to make the connection between BJJ and why he ... Continue Reading
Athlete Journal: Valerie Worthington, Entry 8 – The Not-Training Sessions
EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome to the Athlete Journal of world-class grappler Valerie Worthington. Follow Valerie as she trains and competes in various events over the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition season. ... Continue Reading
Athlete Journal: Valerie Worthington, Entry 6 – Back to Work
EDITOR'S NOTE: Welcome to the Athlete Journal of world-class grappler Valerie Worthington. Follow Valerie as she trains and competes in various events over the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition season. ... Continue Reading
Tell Me How It Happened: The Ways People Find BJJ (or It Finds Them)
People from all walks of life train Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Some people make it their life’s calling; others fit it in around other obligations. But by God, they fit it in. Everyone who makes the decision to ... Continue Reading
