How To Improve Your Jiu-Jitsu When OFF The Mat
Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most difficult activities a person can undertake, period. Thats because the learning curve is so steep, and there is both a physical toll on your body as well as a mental toll on your brain. As a result people are always looking to gain an edge or advantage anyway they can to help their Jiu-Jitsu performance by changing what they do off the mat. So we’ve got you covered with a short list of things you can do that will “move the needle” in your Jiu-Jitsu game: 1. Rest and Recovery. You have to give your body time to recover from beatdown it just endured. You just spent anywhere from 90-120 minutes defending yourself from a human being; don’t think you can go home and act like nothing happened. Make sure you're getting at least seven hours of sleep; any less than 7 hours and your body won't fully recover making it more prone to injury and or illness. Additionally you will want to take a rest day in between classes (at least until your conditioning improves) so that you can come back refreshed and focused. 2. Stop smoking! 🚬 It should be a no brainer, but you would be amazed at how many students I have come into the gym smelling like Marlboro Reds. Smoking is not only dangerous to your lungs and longterm health, but it will dramatically inhibit your Jiu-Jitsu performance. Quick Confession: I was a smoker when I started Jiu-Jitsu. I remember telling my wife “Either I’m gonna quote Jiu-Jitsu or quit smoking because I can’t do both”. Ten years later....I made the right decision. 3. Stretch. This is something most grapplers (myself included) are guilty of not doing enough. Jiu-Jitsu is a game of technique and not muscle, so being flexible is going to pay off just as much as being strong. Be sure to stretch your hamstrings, quads, chest, etc. Everything that you use in the art of Jiu-Jitsu as this will, (again) prevent injury and improve your performance on the mat. 4. Supplements. This was one of the biggest game changers in my grappling as I approached closer to the ominous age of 30. I routinely kept going to class in my young 20s thinking, "Oh, it's fine. I'll just need to work harder. I need to push through it," and I would not supplement. I got sick frequently (suffering from sinus infections every 6 weeks) and I started to get injured more frequently. Fortunately my partner, Coach Mohammed, owned a GNC and was able to point me on the right direction. I started taking several supplements such as vitamin C, probiotics, fish oil, creatine, glutamine, and protein. Supplements serve a very direct purpose so it’s important that you consult your local nutrition professional for more information. 5. Weight Training Strength does not beat Jiu-Jitsu, but strong Jiu-Jitsu beats weak Jiu-Jitsu. If you make time to lift at least one to two days a week in addition to your grappling, you will be find complex moves such as bridging or takedowns will become easier. Overview This list may seem daunting and unnecessary but the life of a Jiu-Jitsu fighter has never been characterized as one who “follows the herd”. See you on the mats. ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Fox BJJ Brown Belt Under Danny Alverez Instructor/Owner At Metro Jiu-Jitsu (Southgate, Mi) Metrojj.com 734.225.6230
