A culmination of simple “tips” and advice I’ve developed throughout many years of trial, error, and invaluable experience. Things I wish I would have known when I started this venture 17 years ago. As with anything, this comes from my own experiences, is based on my perspective, and may not pertain to you or your specific situation. However, if a single piece of advice within is able to help someone, it was worth the time I spent writing it. 

I believe a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy (or any martial arts studio for that matter) should be a sanctuary free from all forms of drama and negativity we encounter daily in the outside world. When we put on our uniforms we should become one in the same, regardless of race, sexual orientation, political views, or the like. It’s important to remember our ability to have an opinion doesn’t make us unique, the ability to learn from one another and maintain a relationship despite our differences does.

It’s important to remember that a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy should be somewhere to escape from the stresses of your everyday life, a place to get away from the arguments, financial issues, political debates, and the like. The academy should be your sanctuary and the mats a vehicle to transport you far away from such daily worries!

What if I were to tell you, that contrary to popular belief, it is possible to train regularly and remain relatively free of major injuries? What if I also told you that everyone should be able to continue training into their 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond? If they have the right mentality and adopt an efficient approach to training this is absolutely possible. I’m already beginning to sense your skepticism and can picture you rolling your eyes as I continue to type, but just bear with me.

One of the most important yet overlooked (and under trained) attributes you possess is your mind. This holds true in many facets of life however most of those who actively participate in a form of competition will most easily identify with the concept from that perspective. Mental preparation is actually one of the easiest assets to train, however most of us never make the time to do so. Whether due to laziness, procrastination, or disbelief, it’s often the afterthought when it should be priority number one. Mark my words, all of the conditioning and technique in the world means nothing when your mind betrays you.

On many occasions I’ve driven over 6 hours round trip to attend seminars taught by Rafael Lovato Jr, Saulo Ribeiro, and his brother Xande just to name a few. In my eyes, that’s a relatively short journey to learn from some of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners in the world! No matter what level I reach, I’ve always made an effort to continue my growth through participation in seminars whenever possible.