Why Choking with One Hand is Better
One-handed chokes are superior.
There are many reasons why this is true, but the three I’ll detail in this article are enough to make any submission grappler reconsider a preference for two-handed chokes.
One-handed chokes in action. Some examples in sparring sessions and in competition.
Let’s kick things off with reason #3.
Training BJJ While Sick
You wake up in the morning with a tickle in the back of your throat. You’re a little congested and you have a slight headache.
What’s going on here?
Maybe it’s allergies. Perhaps you slept with your mouth wide open and you’re a little dehydrated. Who knows.
Jiu Jitsu... I can't miss class...
You go about your day and things don’t get any better. You took some allergy medication, drank plenty of water, and even took a nap. But, nothing seemed to help.
This will probably fix it.
BJJ class is tonight and it’s all you’re thinking about. There’s no way you’re letting a stupid little cold stop you from training – you’re tougher than that. You can’t let little setbacks like this stop you from training, can you?
The scenario above is something many of us go through. We get a cold (or worse) and we imagine ourselves toughing it out through training because we don’t want to miss any training. That’s dedication, right?
Day Two of BJJ Training
Did you survive your first day of training? How was it?
Many people walk away from their first day of training somewhat bewildered. There was so much to learn, and it felt like drinking from a fire hose. It’s made even more challenging if you’re a little out of shape.
If that sounds like you, don’t worry about it! It will get better. This article is going to help prepare you for day two of training and make sure you continue down the right path.
Day two of training should focus on two things: people and drills. Let’s explore these two a little further starting with the people focus.
Why You Should Take Notes After BJJ Training
Did you take notes in school? I’m guessing you answered “yes”. If you answered “no”, I imagine school was very difficult for you. The reason why is because it’s hard to learn anything but the simplest of tasks without jotting down a few notes.
You see, taking notes is an essential tool for everyone trying to learn something new.
Taking notes isn’t just for the classroom. It's an essential part of your BJJ training. There are at least three great reasons why you should absolutely be taking notes or logging your BJJ training. Let’s explore these reasons starting with number 3 on the list, remembering more of your training session.
Day One of BJJ Training
"I wish I would have known that before I started!"
Beginning any new sport or athletic endeavor can be pretty overwhelming. There's so much to learn and oftentimes people don't know where to look for answers. This is especially true in BJJ.
"I wish I would have known that before I started!"
I've heard new students to BJJ express sentiments just like this hundreds of times before. Well, I've heard enough. This resource is for every new BJJ student that wants to be prepared for their first day of training.
BJJ Techniques You Should Focus On
Focus on mastering techniques that are suited to your body, your size, and your ability.
Jiu Jitsu techniques are fun to learn and drill. They range from the really simple to the complex and flashy - but, which techniques should you spend your time mastering? This is an important question because we only have a finite amount of time to drill. We need to ensure we spend that time wisely.
New BJJ practitioners often make the mistake of just trying to copy the “playbook” of their instructor. This is a bad idea most of the time. Your instructor didn’t just copy his instructor, and neither should you. In fact, you shouldn’t copy any single person’s playbook. What works for them may not work at all for you. And what you excel at, they may struggle with.
So, what should you do?
Balance, Pressure, and Leverage for BJJ
Balance, Pressure, and Leverage (BPL) are your keys to success in BJJ. You must learn how to manage your BPL in every phase and possible position. By effectively managing your Balance, Pressure, and Leverage and undermining the BPL of your opponent, you will progress from phase one to phase four of the ideal BJJ fight flow and be victorious. Let’s explore these three concepts in greater detail, starting with balance.