Are You a Martial Artist?
Most people who are outside of the world of brazilian jiu-jitsu tend to think of martial arts in the traditional sense. Starched white gis or black ninja pyjamas, lots of bowing …
4 Tips to Stop Getting Submitted
Bjj legend Renzo Gracie famously said that “sometimes you are the hammer, sometimes you are the nail”. The “nail” part is particularly true in your first year of training when you …
Why It is Ok To Do Fancy Techniques!
A common theme in both the articles on Gracie Barra blog and also when you talk to one of those old professors who have black belts so old they are …
The Correct Attitude to Roll (Especially with your Instructor!)
One of the universal complaints among more experienced students of bjj is of the mythical “spaz”. Aka known as: “Let’s just go easy Guy” until the roll starts and he leaps …
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Specific Training: A Great Training Method
In Gracie Barra schools, students start their introduction to live rolling through specific / positional training. The students start in a certain position with clearly defined rules / objectives and train …
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How Your Black Belt Professor Can Help You Build Your "A Game"
In my previous article What Is The Role of Your Professor in Your BJJ Training? I outlined some of the less obvious ways your black belt professor helps you develop your bjj. This …
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Self defense vs. sports bjj : How Important is Self Defense Training in BJJ?
Visit any bjj internet forum and there most certainly will be a debate on learning jiu-jitsu for the street / self defence vs. learning pure sports jiu-jitsu. Grandmaster Helio Gracie himself …
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Details! – The Idea of Advanced Basics
More and more, when I have conversations with advanced belts who have been training for several years, they say that they have returned their training focus to the “basic” techniques. Hip …
The Emotional Roller Coaster of Jiu-jitsu Competition
I spent four days watching the best jiu-jitsu practitioners in the world compete at the IBJJF World Championships. Each fighter has his or her own story to tell. They come …
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A Few Words on Tapping in Training
One of the best pieces of advice for new students to bjj is to tap early and tap often. Most of us who have been training for more than a …