-
You Are How You Train
You are how you train
By: Emily KwokIt’s very common for even the best of us to get locked up when it comes to personal expression. This is true of life in general, but the mats give us the rare opportunity to see where we are literally challenged and liberated.
At the beginning of our BJJ career, […]
-
You Will Alienate Some
You will alienate some.
By: Joe Hannan
Your dedication might alienate those closest to you. Some people will never appreciate Jiu Jitsu. They’re probably not reading this post. But should someone close to you need convincing that your newfound practice is worthwhile, this entry is a good place to start.
Family, friends and significant others, for the most part, […]
-
The Sound of Sweeping
The Sound of Sweeping
By: Val WorthingtonTeaching jiu-jitsu is a complex task, and the necessary skills extend beyond the actual exchange of information and assessment of performance, each of which is complex in and of itself. There are interpersonal interactions, which involve making people feel comfortable and welcome. There is logistics, which includes planning a good […]
-
Dedicated, not Obsessed
Dedicated, not obsessed.
By: Joe HannanI see Jiu Jitsu everywhere I go, especially in the movements and play of animals. I think about Jiu Jitsu all day, a constant narrative of if he does this, then I do that, running through my head. Sometimes, I mix it up, and the narrative gets switched to, if I […]
-
Friends Fight Together… La La La La: The Main Line United In-House Tournament
Friends Fight Together…La La La La: The Main Line United In-House Tournament
By: Val WorthingtonI love Flight of the Conchords. They sing a song called Friends, in which they talk about all the things friends do together. When you train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, one of the things you do is fight together, sometimes in the academy and […]
-
Forget Winning and Losing
Forget Winning and Losing
By: Joe HannanI’m told there’s at least one in every gym. This person goes by many names, most of which aren’t suitable for prime time. If you’ve ever rolled with this person, you know what you’re in for the second you engage. Their rigid posture, desperate struggle for grips and tendency to […]
-
You Will Find a Community
You will find a community
By: Joe Hannan
Like our ancient ancestors, the Jiu Jitsu player has a community behind them, united by a common fear, a common struggle. Psychology supports this notion that a sense of community is the cure to many of the mental disorders we encounter in our lives. As mentioned earlier in this […]
-
Countering BJJ Frustration with Stoicism
Countering BJJ Frustration with Stoicism.
Bye: Joe HannanI let my sweaty head fall with a thud against the ocean blue mats that lined the walls of Performance Jiu Jitsu. I don’t remember the roll, but I’m sure it had been savage and swift, with multiple tapouts and lots of flailing around. I might have even let […]
-
The Art of Learning the Cross Collar Choke
The Art of Learning the Cross Collar Choke
One of the most significant things I’ve learned about BJJ was the cross collar or lapel choke from closed guard. It’s the first submission I learned and on the rare occasion that I’m working with a newly minted white belt, the only submission I teach. The choke itself […] -
Women as Instructors
Women as Instructors
By: Val WorthingtonIn recent years, I have started to think about what I call Women’s Jiu-Jitsu 2.0. The 1.0 version was just getting women on the mat. Just getting them to believe they deserved to take up space and learn and avail themselves of all that jiu-jitsu has to offer. The community still […]
