Private Lessons or Group Classes: The Best Way To Learn Bjj?
I had a brand new student to bjj (How new? I had to demonstrate how to tie the white belt!) who started taking private classes as his introduction to jiu-jitsu. Most …
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20 years in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu : What I've Learned
The popular and longstanding Men’s fashion and lifestyle magazine Esquire has a regular feature called “What I’ve Learned” where they ask an older man for his life experience and personal …
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The Gracie Barra Curriculum: The Best Way to Learn Bjj
Recently, I have had several students tell me that they enjoyed learning bjj in a program that followed a curriculum. I asked them why they felt it was better for them? …
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Experiment! Your Own Jiu-jitsu Laboratory
The instructor has a large role in the student’s progression of bjj, especially in that first year of training. As the student gains experience, they should take on a larger …
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Learn By Teaching? How teaching beginner's basics will deepen your learning!
In some academies, the instructor will often pair a new student with a blue belt or student who has been around the mats a while. Especially in larger academies, more experienced …
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The Dirty Dozen
The 12 Most Important Techniques For You To Learn When Your Start BJJ Out of thousands of bjj techniques on YouTube, which select few should a student beginning their study …
Bjj Seminars: Why You Should Go!
Most bjj academies, even those with an advanced black belt professor of jiu-jitsu, will hold a seminar or two every year. A high level bjj compeititor or instructor will roll through …
A Great Training Method For Your Takedowns
Many bjj students also supplement their training with judo, and many bjj blackbelts also hold advanced ranks in judo. During my last training trip to Gracie Barra in Rio de Janeiro, …
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How Smart Students Use Their Instructors
The majority of classes in bjj academies around the world are structured the same way: warmup, technique instruction and then positional sparring or free rolling. But this is not the only …
3 White Belt Guard Mistakes
In recent weeks Gracie Barra Blog has published several articles on developing your guard. In the first couple of years of learning to defend the guard, there are certain mistakes that …