Jiu-Jitsu is an art that can be practiced throughout a lifetime. It doesn’t matter when the journey begins just as long as it starts. As mentioned in previous entries, practitioners come in all shapes, sizes and backgrounds. Some rely on athleticism, some rely on technique, while others use a combination of both. It’s common for […]
Continue readingAs you progress through your jiu-jitsu journey, it’s hard to forget the highs and lows of when you first started. There are countless moments were I felt frustrated, asked myself why am I doing this, and for fleeting moments – wanted to give up because I didn’t think I would ever “get it.” If you […]
Continue readingIn life there are people we admire, look up to and draw inspiration from. The first word that comes to mind is, hero. A hero is defined as someone who is courageous with good qualities. To every yin there is their yang, and for a hero their yang is a villain. A villain is someone […]
Continue readingI was talking with a close friend of mine the other day who is in the middle of his successful MMA career. We were having discussion about some fighters who just got cut from the roster and were wondering what they were gonna do with their lives. This really got me thinking about long term […]
Continue readingWorld Clan kicked off 2017 with its first stop at Impact Jiu-Jitsu in Clackamas, Oregon. With over 100+ in attendance plus 17 black belts from around the Pacific Northwest, the mats were overflowing with people, great techniques, and, as always, good vibes. Jiu-Jitsu in the Pacific Northwest is a special thing. Not only did academies […]
Continue readingIf you were to ask me what I remember of my first BJJ class, I probably could not give you a definitive answer. But the one thing I do remember is how nervous I was because it was way out of my comfort zone. Like trying anything new for the first time, BJJ can be […]
Continue readingPeople new to martial arts are often vulnerable and wouldn’t know a good academy from a bad one, especially if they have not tried multiple academies before choosing the one that is right for them. There are many red flags of a toxic martial arts academy. From cult-like behavior to using physical and mental control […]
Continue readingWith the 2017 comp season well underway, and with one of the largest BJJ competitions just around the corner next month (Pan Ams), there is much more to preparing for competition than just the physical aspects. Aside from strength and conditioning, dieting, and tough training sessions, in order to be successful in competition, the athlete […]
Continue readingFor some strange reason, jiu-jitsu can bring out the best and the worst in people. In our own academies, there are a multitude of personalities that can present a challenge to their training partners and instructors. The following is a short list of the common personalities that we may encounter on the mat: The Drill […]
Continue readingOtherwise known as the “Blue Belt Curse,” this phenomenon is common amongst all academies no matter how hard instructors try to prevent it. You may even know someone who fell victim to it and never made it back to training. Or you are suffering from it yourself (or have in the past). The first question […]
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