I have been covering Gordon Ryan as a “journalist” since the beginning of his career, well before professional jiu-jitsu garnered attention from reputable news sources. I’m not a professional writer; I’m just a guy who loves jiu-jitsu and enjoys blogging that happened to write for a few decent online publications at a time when no …
A promotion to brown belt is a promotion to the elite level of jiu-jitsu. It signifies an advanced understanding of the art, and very few practitioners will achieve it. You have developed your style and can confidently play from top and guard positions. The thousands of hours of mat time paid off, and your ego …
Everyone knows I love completive jiu-jitsu. It’s obvious after being in my presence for a short time because I never shut up about it. Talking about my grappling accolades is my favorite pastime. But now, I own an academy, and my competition compulsion has shifted to my student’s success on the mats. And with the …
Guard passing is an essential element of any serious jiu-jitsu practitioner’s game. However, despite many prominent members of the professional jiu-jitsu community recently marketing instructionals promoting their passing systems, there is still a recognizable lack of interest in becoming a formidable guard passer amongst academy students. The rise of submission-only grappling and subsequent re-establishment of …
Guard Passing Won’t Make You Famous, But It Will Win You Titles Read More »
The first time I met Mike O’Dowd felt like the first time I’ve met many other military “operators,” a slang term used to describe members of elite special forces units. They always seem to be unassuming. The images of these soldiers often differ drastically from the gloried heroes displayed on the big screen or in …
What I learned From Training Three Days With A Navy Seal. Read More »
The most important day of anyone’s jiu-jitsu Journey is the first day they step on the mat. That day you receive your white belt signifies a willing commitment to face the unknown. A friend might have endlessly talked about BJJ changing their life, or you’ve finally seen enough UFC events at the Wing House to …
The first day of any jiu-jitsu practitioner’s journey is always the most important. The moment any grappler decides to step on the mat signifies the beginning of a new lifestyle. Many people start training jiu-jitsu for different reasons, and the allure of an academy takes many shapes. Some are interested in losing weight or learning …
The phrase timing is complicated in the art of jiu-jitsu. It’s defined as, “the choice, judgment, or control of when something should be done.” But that interpretation does little to explain the intuition required to understand how to implement those choices. Timing concerning jiu-jitsu is thouht to …
The recent developments in the Marcel Goncalves scandal have come from nowhere for most of the BJJ world. But those connected directly to the story over the last three years are relieved that finally, someone dared to address it publicly. Mo Jassim, Head Organizer for the ADCC, went on a highly viewed Instagram bombardment aimed …
The Remarkably Maddening Story Of Marcel Goncalves Read More »
Saturday’s knockout defeat at Dustin Poirier’s hands seems to answer so many questions concerning Conor McGregor and his legacy. The former two-division champion turned business mogul from Ireland captivated our interests for the last half-decade. So, seeing it all come crashing down around him offered me a mix of cathartic schadenfreude and sadness. The McGregor …
