Reflections of a zebra belt Coloured belts commonly serve as visual markers of stages on our jiu jitsu journies. It is also possible to break down our progress into further stages. One stage that is interesting to look at is the so-called "zebra belt". This is the four stripe white belt who is near the [...]
It’s been a while. It’s weird. I used to see you almost every day. I used to put on my gi in a rush. I used to put on my belt, looping it around my back, and tightening it firmly around my waist in front of me. I thought about my stripes, and what they [...]
If we are going to learn Jiu Jitsu, we are probably going to do it in an academy that pairs us with a training partner in almost every class. As a result, it is important to understand how to be a good training partner. To this end below are five suggestions that aim to improve [...]
The sport and discipline of Jiu Jitsu has grown internationally. The consequent opening of many academies in cities around the world means that Jiu Jitsu is now a sport that can be practiced almost anywhere. As long as we pack a gi, a rashgaurd, and our belt, we can train all over Rolling in new [...]
One of the hardest things about jiu jitsu is facing fears that come with the sport. There are different kinds of fears we can have. Beginners might fear being too out of shape to start. Those further along might fear they are not good enough, or the hard training and physical demands of the sport. [...]
While no one could deny the effectiveness of Brazilian jiu jitsu, the more subtle aspects of the martial art have not always been promoted. Specifically, why jiu jitsu is referred to as the “arte suave” in Portuguese, or the “gentle art” in English? Some confusion about how jiu jitsu can be considered “gentle” is understandable. Afterall, [...]
As with any intense sport which is practiced regularly, injuries in jiu jitsu can and sometimes do occur. There are ways to minimize the occurrence of injuries, and the human body is able to recover from almost any injury that occurs in training, but injuries are still often looked as a negative part of the [...]
While the jiu jitsu student/coaching relationship seems straightforward (payment for instruction), the reality is coaching jiu jitsu is a complex and personal thing. Accordingly, there are some hidden aspects to coaching jiu jitsu that are important but not obvious. Part of this is on purpose, a good coach wants your priority to be your [...]
When it comes to success in jiu jitsu, the simple truth is that coaching matters. This is the reason why some academies are so successful in producing world champions, and why many head instructors trace their lineage with pictures of their coach and their coach’s coach on the dojo wall. Respect is given as an [...]
The Secret Sauce: How competition helps your jiu-jitsu game Whether you are new to jiu jitsu or a veteran, one question you will eventually consider is whether to compete. This is a natural question because our development in jiu jitsu is relational. We train not just to get better compared to people who are not [...]
