Champions Blog

Have you ever noticed that Coach sometimes tells everyone to slow down? That can seem a little confusing. Isn't jiu jitsu supposed to be fast? Not at first. When we're learning something new, trying to go as fast as we can usually causes problems. We skip steps. We lose our balance. We forget our grips. We make mistakes. Imagine trying to build a LEGO set as fast as possible without looking at the instructions. You might finish quickly... But it probably wouldn't look the way

Losing in practice is not the same as failing. Losing gives you information.

What makes a good drilling partner, and why are they important.

Sometimes in jiu jitsu class, we practice the same move more than one time. Sometimes we practice it a lot. That might feel boring. It might feel like you already know it. It might make you wonder, “Why are we still doing this?” That is a fair question. The answer is because doing something once is not the same as knowing how to do it. You might be able to do a move one time when your coach is helping you. You might be able to do it when your partner is staying still. You mig

Let's face it, jiu jitsu can be hard. Not because you are doing something wrong. Not because you are not trying. Jiu jitsu is hard because another person is trying to stop you. That is one of the things that makes jiu jitsu different from a lot of other activities. If you are practicing spelling a word, the word does not try to change. If you are riding a bike, the bike does not try to stop you from getting on it. But in jiu jitsu, not only is your partner trying to stop you

Base is how you use your body to stay balanced and hard to move. Have you ever stood with your feet really close together while someone gently pushed you? It is hard to stay balanced. But if you stand with your feet a little wider, bend your knees, and keep your body strong, it is much easier to stay up. That is base. In jiu jitsu, base can come from your feet, knees, hands, or how your weight is placed. Good base helps you stay strong. Bad base makes you easier to move. If y

A frame is something that gives shape and support. The frame of a house helps hold the house up. It gives the house structure. Without a strong frame, the house would not have the shape it needs. A frame in jiu jitsu works in a similar way. It gives your body a strong shape. That strong shape helps you protect your space. Sometimes in jiu jitsu, your partner is too close. Maybe they are trying to hold you down. Maybe they are trying to pass your guard. Maybe they are using pr

In jiu jitsu, tapping is one of the most important things you can learn. Tapping means “stop.” It does not mean you are bad. It does not mean you are weak. It does not mean you failed. It means you are training smart. When we train jiu jitsu, we practice moves with a partner. Sometimes your partner might get to a position where your arm, leg, neck, or body is stuck. If something hurts, feels too tight, or you know you cannot safely get out, you tap. Your partner stops right a