Category: Training Philosophy

Coach’s Corner Coach Mike Palladino The name Marcelo Garcia is synonymous with BJJ. In the first decade of the 2000’s a quiet young man with a large smile burst on to the Jiu Jitsu scene. Marcelo’s Jiu Jitsu was ahead of its time, to many, he appeared to be from the future. After retiring in […]

On Becoming Coachable * Contributed by EGA Black Belt and Coach, Joe Pomarico   In every major combat sport, from novice to the professional level, competitors rely on a coach or series of coaches for guidance before, during, and after competition. Competitive Jiu Jitsu is no different, and having an experienced coach is a necessity […]

Just. Show. Up. So you’ve done your research, reached out, had your consultation, signed the waivers, paid your first month’s tuition, and have maybe even purchased your gear. So what now? Get to your first class!! Now that you’ve made the decision to join us, we encourage you to seize the moment and just…begin! The mat […]

  Developing Confidence A dive into Dr. Nate Zinsser’s book The Confident Mind. Follow this series to learn from where confidence stems, how to cultivate confidence in your life, and how this translates as a student of Jiu Jitsu. Contributed by Matt Smith*   This is the second in a series of posts on the concept of confidence […]

  Back Control This video may be an oldie, but is definitely a timeless goodie! So through technique, a scramble, or maybe even a miracle you have found yourself on the back of your opponent. Now what? We need some hooks, a solid harness, effective head positioning, and a plan of attack. Mike Palladino breaks […]

  Developing Confidence A dive into Dr. Nate Zinsser’s book The Confident Mind. Follow this series to learn from where confidence stems, how to cultivate confidence in your life, and how this translates as a student of Jiu Jitsu. Contributed by Matt Smith*     What is confidence? Merriam-Webster defines confidence as, “a feeling or consciousness of one’s […]

Coach’s Corner I am frequently told by both students and parents about their experiences regarding the benefits of Jiu Jitsu. There are few things that make me feel more fulfilled as a teacher and practitioner than these success stories. Recently a parent, whose child had been enrolled in Jiu Jitsu a couple of years ago, […]

Back & Leg Training for BJJ Contributed by Lou Torres   A few weeks ago we brought you So You Want To Lift? where Coach Lou broke down strength training exercises, and their relationship to BJJ, for the entire body. This week Lou sits down to specifically address legs and back.  While your legs and […]

Coach’s Corner   Practice and the Importance of Approach In 2015 I read a book called Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise by Dr. Anders Ericsson. Ericsson, coining the term “Deliberate Practice,” was the world’s leading expert on “experts.” In his research he identifies two major types of practice of which I’d like […]

“Off the Mats” is a series dedicated to enhancing your BJJ game…off the mats! From strength and conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, to injury prevention and rehab, we will share ways to improve yourself and your BJJ game from many different aspects of life.   So You Want to Lift? Contributed by Lou Torres*   There’s […]

  Escapes From Turtle   Grapplers of all levels find themselves in the bottom Turtle position from time to time. As a primary position in BJJ, we need to have a solid plan of escape when our opponent starts securing a Front Headlock. Mike Palladino goes over two effective escapes from Turtle; the Arm Reversal […]

Let’s Talk Competition Prep!   Have you ever competed or thought about doing so? For our very first Feature Friday, we hear from active competitor and Purple Belt, Ashley D’Aversa. Ashley shares what the weeks leading up to competition look like for her and shares some encouragement for you! Contributed by Ashley D’Aversa* Competition is […]

Coach’s Corner   Promotion = Progress.   As a coach, it is such a rewarding feeling and experience to oversee the development of an individual from the very beginning of their journey all the way through their advanced development. A promotion in rank is a marker of your progress and development. Whether you’re being promoted […]

“Off the Mats” is a series dedicated to enhancing your BJJ game…off the mats! From strength and conditioning, sports psychology, nutrition, to injury prevention and rehab, we will share ways to improve yourself and your BJJ game from many different aspects of life. Contributed by Lou Torres*   Going into the summer months we naturally […]

As people grow older, they begin to find ways to be more productive and make use of their time. For senior citizens, in particular, they find that there is even more time they need to utilize and want to do so effectively. Many will go out and find other jobs while others will pursue hobbies […]

As both a teacher and competitor myself, I enjoy observing the room to see who is practicing Jiu Jitsu with the goal to win vs who is practicing with the goal to improve. I must admit that for the first few years of my training, I thought every roll was a competition. I viewed my […]