Jiu jitsu gives you the challenge you need, not the challenge you want. One reason it provides so much personal growth is because we cannot hide from ourselves, jiu jitsu’s demands, and the truth BJJ mirrors. For true change and true growth, we must clearly see who we are in […]
This is a phrase that is often heard among jiu-jitsu practitioners implying that their participation in jiu-jitsu has similar effects to going to therapy. While these effects can definitely be experienced, it is important to clarify the distinction between something being therapeutic, which is when something has a healing or […]
As a clinical psychologist, I support the work people do to improve self-esteem, to better themselves, and to take responsibility for their mental health and life circumstances. However, there is a general flavor to the self-help industry—especially those that include martial arts and sports—that ignores the impact of systemic racism […]
Ironically, I didn’t fully comprehend how amazing yoga is for BJJ practitioners until I was no longer training BJJ. When I started my yoga teacher training, I hadn’t trained BJJ regularly for about four years. However, as I continued to learn about the kinesthetics of yoga and how the […]
Have you ever wished you could shut your brain off and quiet the racing thoughts? Or could experience peace in the midst of any circumstance? Or easily tap into your inner strength at any moment? When faced with obstacles, it’s easy to think the best way forward is to simply […]
ESSENTIAL [ uh–sen-shuhl ]adj of the utmost importance; necessary; basic; indispensable, necessary. This word is undeniably a key buzzword associated with the current pandemic. What exactly is essential? Supermarkets? Gyms? Liquor stores? In New York State, several gyms,such as fitness centers and martial arts studios, have recently joined forces to […]
To train or not to train….that seems to be the question these days. Just when it seemed like things might be getting back to normal, another wave of COVID19 numbers spike – and while many of us may have differing views on whether to return to training or continue avoiding […]
To say that lockdown hasn’t been easy would be a severe understatement. Even as some communities have begun to reopen, one of the hardest parts continues to be the isolation, particularly from the practice and community of BJJ. For me, not having BJJ as an outlet and as an […]
Often in life, people want to reinvent themselves from the ground up, but very few achieve that. Many of us struggle with darker parts of ourselves which hold us back from becoming the person we want to be. However, this isn’t the case with Danielle Walker, a blue […]
In general, athletes, especially jiu jitsu players, are familiar with drilling technique. In the current pandemic situation, we are required to find a different form of drilling. That means, scaling back or changing the format of physical training while staying home. For some, it’s a difficult transition; for others, […]