Does the high level of competition Jiu-Jitsu that is currently all around us, negatively affect the self-defense side of Jiu-Jitsu? Now, before anyone gets too triggered, I would like to make it clear, Gordon Ryan or Cyborg Abreu, aren't losing a street fight to "average Joe," outside a local pub. I also don't think they would jump for Imanari …
First BJJ match breakdown
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEruFT0eaRk&feature=youtu.be This was my first Jiu Jitsu match as a white belt, back in 2018. It is a fast match, so don't blink. "My name was called and I quickly stripped down to my NoGi attire and took to the mats first. But my original opponent didn’t show up when he was announced, so I …
White Belt Mentality
Have you heard the term "white belt mentality?" If you've been training a martial art for a while, of course you have. It gets posted to social media pages, printed on posters and I'm sure this wont be the only article about the concept. The first time I heard the term I was like, "Yeah, …
Gracie Survival Tactics
"If you train worst case scenarios consistently, they will no longer be worst case scenarios"-Rener Gracie GST- Gracie Survival tactics is a jiu-jitsu based defensive tactics training, geared toward law enforcement. Though I'm not a sworn LEO, I am a first responder, as a campus Security Officer, and I was able to talk my way …
This thing still on…
Hey! It's been well over a year since my last post....so much for consistency huh. So here are some quick updates before I just hop back in and start posting new articles. Since my last post in March of 2019 this is what has happened; I got a promotion at work, my wife got pregnant, …
Why gas out when you can fuel up?
"Our bodies are our gardens our wills are our gardeners." Jiu Jitsu isn't about being the fittest guy on the mat, I get that. That being said who wants to gas out after each roll and have to rest the next round? Not me. That would cut into half of the allotted time for live …
First Snuggle Struggle Competition.
“In real life, strategy is actually very straightforward. You pick a general direction and implement like hell.” - Jack Welch I knew that Jiu Jitsu competition would be more fatiguing than a practice roll and a higher pace, but I thought I had prepared for that. I increased my cardio in the gym and had worked …
Ezekiel in the dark.
“Those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything.” ― George Bernard Shaw I haven't published anything in awhile, so this post if just going to be a quick anecdote from a recent (now a few weeks ago) NoGi Jiu Jitsu class, in which I totally bullshitted an awesome choke. So I am sure many …
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Belt
Ways in which The Lord of The Rings is like Jiu Jitsu. NERD ALERT! This article may not be everyone's cup of tea...but it was sure fun to write. "Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky, Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone, Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die, One for …
Is This How You Flow?
"Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it."- Lao Tzu Art by Justin Flores For a guy who loves control, I really know how to go with the flow...or maybe not. Is it even flow if I have little to no idea of what I am actually doing? I have …
