brazilian jiu jitsu Archives - Page 2 of 3

Product Review: 93 Brand “Goose” Grey Jiu Jitsu Gi

Marmac Athletics BJJ Instructor Scott Nauss was sent 93 Brand’s “Goose” grey gi a few months ago for review. 93 Brand is a new Brazilian jiu jitsu label based in the United States that has also recently ... Continue Reading

5 Ways Doing Karaoke Can Benefit Your BJJ Training

Over the weekend, I went with some friends to a karaoke bar. Not the kind where you get your own private room. The kind where you go on stage in front of God and everybody, where it’s just the backbeat, ... Continue Reading

A Hotter Mess Than I Thought: 5 More Things I Wish I Had Known When I First Started Training BJJ

I had so much fun writing my last piece about things I wish I had known when I started BJJ, and I got a positive enough response to it, that I decided to write about five more things I wish I had known ... Continue Reading

5 Things I Wish I Had Known When I First Started Training BJJ

They say hindsight is 20/20. I frequently observe, in my own training journey, and in the training journeys of others, actions that reveal how we sometimes don’t know what we don’t know. In other words, ... Continue Reading

How to Spot a Toxic Martial Arts Club Environment

Martial arts can attract people who feel helpless in their lives. They may have been abused mentally or physically as children and learning martial arts can help them to feel a sense of control. It can ... Continue Reading

How to Take Useful Notes in BJJ Class

Several times recently, I’ve been asked by teammates and visitors to my academy for suggestions on how to take notes on grappling technique. The people who have asked me have seen me poring over my ... Continue Reading

The Best BJJ Gear for Women: No Gi, Gi, and Random Girl Necessities

Aside from all of the technical knowledge we work to acquire as we begin training Brazilian jiu jitsu, most of the required (or desired) gear is only available online so we also have to learn what to buy ... Continue Reading

From the Experts: How to Attract and Retain Women in BJJ

A few weeks ago, my editor Becca told me that fellow Breaking Muscle contributor Sally Arsenault wondered if I’d be willing to write a story about how to attract women to BJJ and how to keep them there ... Continue Reading

A Love Letter to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Dear Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: We’ve been together for many years, and while my love for you has transformed over time, it has remained a constant in my life. We’re facing some difficulties and doubts ... Continue Reading

It’s the Art: How an in-the-Moment Decision Continues to Pay Dividends

Photos provided by David Brown Photography. Several years ago, I was training with a man who had significantly less jiu jitsu experience than I. Indeed, at that time I had probably more than twice ... Continue Reading

How to Choose the Right BJJ Coach For You

Photos provided by David Brown Photography. Brazilian jiu jitsu/submission grappling is an increasingly popular sport that is one of the component sports of the mixed martial arts (MMA) we see in ... Continue Reading

Camp Is Campy: Why I Love Teaching Women’s Grappling Camp

I don’t typically look to dictionaries when I want to define a term. But I had to follow up on one of the definitions I found of “camp” on dictionary.com: Consciously artificial, exaggerated, vulgar, ... Continue Reading

Dear Coach: Broke My Wrist in BJJ But Want to Train!

Dear Coach, I been training BJJ for about four years and have recently begun training muay Thai and MMA. A couple of weeks ago I broke my scaphoid and I'm not sure how long I'll be away from the MMA ... Continue Reading

All Apologies: How Often Is Too Often to Say We’re Sorry?

I apologize a lot when I train jiu jitsu. When I CrossFit, too. Sometimes it’s completely warranted. “Coach, I’m sorry I’m late to class. I ran into traffic.” Absolutely appropriate. “Hey, spotter friend, ... Continue Reading

Athlete Journal: Valerie Worthington, Entry 14 – You Think This Story’s Over But It’s Ready to Begin

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 13 – Back To Love

Athlete Journal: Valerie Worthington, Entry 12 – Just That

Athlete Journal: Valerie Worthington, Entry 11 – 5 Things I Plan to Do After Worlds

A Weekend At The Mundials: As Described By Me

Trying to describe what it’s like to compete at the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) World Jiu Jitsu Championship is kind of like trying to share the details of a dream. You can explain ... Continue Reading

Athlete Journal: Valerie Worthington, Entry 10 – Prepare to Feel Unprepared

I’m Gonna Need to See Some ID – No, Some Other ID

I’ve had the opportunity to train at a variety of grappling academies. Eventually word gets out that I have a PhD. Some people’s reactions are funny; they get a little indignant and ask me why I never ... Continue Reading

Athlete Journal: Valerie Worthington, Entry 9 – Serenity Is Not Just a Joss Whedon Movie

Athlete Journal: Valerie Worthington, Entry 7 – I Got Nothing

What’s Your Game Face?

When preparing for a big performance of any kind, whether it’s an athletic contest, an artistic endeavor, or a workplace presentation, individuals tend to “psyche themselves up.” Just watch any Rocky- or ... Continue Reading