I sat on the edge of the mat and watched a match between two skilled grapplers. A beautiful dance of control and resistance was going on as muscles strained and sweat poured out. As one player tapped, giving way to the other player’s skill, John Danaher’s words kept playing in my head: “It’s such an […]
How Jiu-Jitsu taught me to stay calm in the chaos of life. Before I started Jiu-Jitsu, I had no idea what it was like to really be under pressure. I thought I could handle anything life threw at me and deal with stress. Soon, though, each time I stepped on the mats, I saw how
The most important rule that changed how I do Jiu-Jitsu and life in general In the beginning of my Jiu-Jitsu journey, I was crazy about submissions. I was eager to learn all of them—armbars, chokes, and heel hooks. It felt like a race every roll to see how fast I could knock someone out. But
I had no idea how much Jiu-Jitsu would change me mentally, emotionally, and spiritually when I first started training. Rickson Gracie’s words hit me hard the first time I heard them; “Jiu-Jitsu can support you in terms of giving you more confidence, giving you more capacity to handle stress, handle emotions…” I was just a
“I didn’t think that getting on the mats would help me come out of my shell.” I’m Emma, and this is how Jiu-Jitsu helped me get over my shyness around other people. Since I can remember, being around other people has always been the hardest thing for me. Meeting new people, starting talks, or even
Lessons from the Mats! So, I’ve been teaching physics to middle schoolers for over twelve years. Imagine trying to explain motion and energy to a bunch of 12 to 14-year-olds who are more interested in the next school dance than Isaac Newton. It’s fun but definitely keeps you on your toes! About six years ago, I started
“I thought constant exhaustion was just part of life—until Jiu-Jitsu showed me it wasn’t.” Hello, my name is Tom, and this is how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu helped me get over being tired and find my energy again. I have always been the type of person who says “yes” to everything. I did everything—work, family, and side
I was smashed, humbled, and hooked after my first BJJ class! Every day, more and more people around the world decide to start training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. They hear from friends or family about all the physical and mental benefits it offers — and yeah, that part’s true. BJJ is awesome. But here’s the problem: A
“I never expected Jiu-Jitsu to be my way of making new friends, but it changed everything.” Hey, I’m Emily; after relocating to a new city, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu helped me find community. I relocated to a new city for work around one year ago. The fresh start delighted me, but I had no idea how lonely
“I thought my health was sliding away, but Jiu-Jitsu helped me take it back.” Hi Carlos, this is how Jiu-Jitsu helped me recover my health from years of letting it slide. My health started to deteriorate when I reached the middle of forty-years. Though years of negligence caught up with me, I had always been
