Two and a half minutes into my first jiujitsu roll, I wanted to quit. Not just quit the round—quit jiujitsu entirely. I couldn't breathe. My arms felt like concrete. And the worst part? I wasn't even losing.

That moment changed everything.

The Beginning

When I first started training at Grapple Academy, Greg emphasized that the only way to get better at jiujitsu was through mat time. I took that to mean "rolling". Whether he meant it that way or not, early on I placed the highest value on live sparring against a resisting training partner.

Unfortunately, we were in the middle of COVID, so we weren't rolling. Instruction and drills only. There's a lot I could say about that era but I'll skip to the part where we were able to actually start rolling…

I remember my first round very clearly. I could not believe how exhausting it was! This was like no cardio I had ever experienced before. As someone who prides himself on functional fitness, and as someone who thought he could fight, this did not sit well with me!

Not to mention that I felt like a coward for wanting to tap because I was tired. I wasn't even losing! "Who does that?" I thought. It was much later that I found out that a lot of people (maybe everybody) experiences that at some point.

Nevertheless this started my mission to improve my conditioning for jiujitsu and increase my mat time. What follows is my journey and some of the lessons learned along the way. I hope it can help others who are on the path as well.

Limited Training Time

Throughout most of whitebelt my schedule only allowed me to train jiujitsu once a week. As such, I did my best to supplement my jiujitsu with solo drills. It's not "mat time" but it was the next best option. Break falls, bear crawls, triangle bites, shrimping, penetration steps, technical get ups, shoulder rolls, sprawls and burpees.

I should also mention that I own Baltimore Kettlebell Club and at this point had been a trainer for about 15 years. I already had a good strength & conditioning program in place. The exercises mentioned above were to compliment my routine, not replace it. If I only had 1 hour a week to work on my fitness off of the mats, I think kettlebell training would have still been a better option. I say that in a completely biased, but professional opinion :)

Anyway, once a week I set aside time for my jiujitsu drills routine and had an open invite for people to join me. By this time I had moved my gym right next door to Grapple Academy Martial Arts (GAMA). Nobody really came until it was time for stripe testing and we'd use the time to review the moves in that unit of the curriculum.

Occasionally a higher belt would stop in and show some stuff. Sometimes people would come in and we'd do some light rolling. Eventually there started to be a couple people who came fairly regularly.

Then one day Mike Turpin showed up and never left. I'll get back to him later. But this was the genesis of  "Underground Grappling".

When Am I Ready to Compete?

That was a question I asked Greg when I was nearing the end of whitebelt. His answer was "when you can do 5 rounds". At the time I could do about 3 rounds with breaks between them, rolling with people I outweighed by 50+ pounds, and maybe 1-2 rounds with someone my age and weight.

So that was my first goal - do 5 rounds with no breaks. I didn't place any other stipulations on it. They didn't need to be comp rounds or with any particular body type or belt rank and I didn't need to "win". Just do 5 rounds.

In order to get 5 rounds in I had to adjust my schedule and go train during less than ideal times. Also, if I wanted a lot of training partners as one of the few heavyweights in the gym, I had to develop a game that didn't deter everyone else from rolling with me.

Guard play it is, and I'll do my best to not use my strength. Maybe the smaller guys won't use their speed? And the younger guys won't use their energy against me?

Of course, everyone uses their natural attributes. Although it seems like strength is the only one people complain about or expect you not to use. Yes, relying solely on strength (or any other physical attribute) is not the way to technical mastery. If the only tool you have is a hammer, it's probably a good idea to get some more tools. Save the hammer for when it’s really needed!

Competition Intensity

5 minutes in a competition is a lot harder than five-5 minute rounds. You don't account for the adrenaline dump in the training room. But on the competition stage with friends, family and teammates watching… there is much more pressure!

Competing gives you a new level of intensity that you become comfortable with. You can tell who competes, even casually, in the training room. There is a different feeling of what is acceptable rolling with these people. To the non-competitor it may feel mean or aggressive, but to the competitive folk it's just good training.

Pressure, Pinning and Escaping

I was introduced to Mike Turpin at my second competition. He was a brown belt at the time, very active in the heavyweight division, and had a similar background in strength sports as I did. He showed up at my gym one day for the open invite and it was just him and I. He asked if there was anything I wanted to work on and I said "pressure". I wanted to learn how to use pressure; from one big strong guy to another.

I didn't know at the time that was something he was really good at, or that we were going to spend the next 4 months, mostly just him and I, working on pressure, pinning and escaping.

That sucked. Being stuck under someone who knows how to distribute their weight properly is suffocating. Your chest feels like it's in a vise. You can't move. You can't breathe. And every attempt to escape just makes it worse. Four months of that will either make you or break you.

Understanding how to use pressure is a useful skill in pinning. It's also a way to cook people and take their will. Tapping to pressure is the worst!

On the other hand, learning to deal with pressure, either by escaping or relaxing, is something that you need to learn as a grappler unless you want to lose just about every round.

If you do not learn how to relax under pressure, you will find it very difficult to increase your mat time. The same thing goes for giving pressure, do it relaxed or you won't be able to do it long.

Breathe

One word that Turpin etched into my mind, and he only said it once, was "breathe". I was trying to pin him with pressure and like a max effort powerlift I was holding my breath.

As simple as it sounds, most people don't breathe properly while grappling. Holding the breath, shallow or erratic breathing; you're going to gas yourself out like that. Control your breath.

It's going to be difficult to control your breathing if you're not in good cardiovascular shape or you have little-to-no muscular endurance. Work on your fitness, and control your breathing.

This might be the single most important skill for increasing mat time. You can be in great shape, but if you're holding your breath or breathing erratically, you'll still gas out. Conversely, controlling your breathing can extend your rounds even when you're tired. It's that important.

Gauntlet and Shark Tank Rounds

After those initial 4 months training with Turpin a consistent group had started to form. Dan, Pete, Brennan, Chris, Matt, Joe and maybe a couple others that I'm forgetting.

Either way, now we had enough people to start doing shark tank rounds. Usually it was 2 or 3 minutes, or whenever Turp called "switch", and right into the next round. No rest. We call these “shark tank rounds” and did them every practice, especially leading up to my bluebelt promotion.

The belt promotions at Grapple Academy consist of a 20, 30 or 40 minute gauntlet. The gauntlet is essentially an extended shark tank - rolling with a fresh partner every minute. 20 minutes for bluebelt, 30 minutes for purplebelt, and 40 minutes for brownbelt. Blackbelts have been tried and tested enough already and therefore don’t require a gauntlet for promotion.

My bluebelt gauntlet was the most difficult thing I had ever done at the time. I still hadn't fully learned to relax and control my breathing. But the gauntlet forced me to. It opened up a new level of conditioning for me.
​
Blue Belt: Just Don't Quit"

Just don't quit"

That was the only advice Greg had for bluebelts in his blackbelt promotion speech. He meant "don't quit jiujitsu" and I knew that, but I took it a step further. Don't quit at open mat is how I interpreted it.

My overarching goal throughout bluebelt was to get as many rounds as possible every time I trained. "First one on the mat and last one off" is what I strove for.

Depth Over Breadth

I got to the point where all I wanted to do was roll. It was as if I didn't want to learn anything new. Not because I knew everything, far from it, but because I already knew too much that I couldn't put into practice. I figured what good is knowledge of technique that I can't do in a live roll?

I'd rather be really good at just a few things than crappy at a bunch of things. An inch wide and a mile deep.

Expert Level

I gradually built up my mat time over the next two years as a blue belt. I learned how to pace myself, I practiced controlled breathing and I was intentional about relaxing in bad positions.

By the time I was ready to be promoted to purple belt I could easily do 10-14 rounds, without rest, in nogi (which is a little faster), with guys my size and/or with higher skilled grapplers.

The transformation from wanting to quit at 2.5 minutes to regularly doing 14 rounds didn't happen overnight. It was incremental—adding one more round, then another, learning to relax a little more each time, controlling my breathing a little better. The gauntlets helped. The shark tanks helped. But mostly it was just showing up and refusing to quit.

Apparently once you reach purple belt that is the beginning of what is considered expert level jiujitsu. Purple belts compete in the "expert division" in nogi, most tournaments require referees to be at least a purple belt, and that's the minimum rank Greg requires for anyone instructing at Grapple Academy.

To be clear, I do not think I am a jiujitsu "expert" but I will claim an expert level of conditioning for jiujitsu. I'm not positive but I believe I hold our academy's record for longest gauntlet at 42 minutes. That's 42 minutes of non stop rolling with fresh partners every 45 seconds. Let that sink in—from wanting to quit at 2.5 minutes to surviving 42 minutes of continuous grappling. That's what mat time builds.

In the end, I set out on a mission to increase my mat time in order to get better at jiujitsu and I feel like I have achieved that. This is not a "box checked" kind of goal, but now something to maintain. I currently get in about 20 rounds per week and I plan to maintain that schedule as best I can.

Summary

Mat time is still the only way to get better at jiujitsu, especially when you're just starting out. You have to get more reps in and you need the conditioning to do it.

Remember it's not just physical conditioning but the mental aspects as well. The invisible jiujitsu. Intensity of effort, pacing, breathing, relaxing, will power, intentionally pursuing whatever it is you're working on.

These are all things to practice while doing jiujitsu.

Key Takeaways
​
For White Belts:

• Everyone wants to quit their first few rolls. You're not a coward. You're normal.
• Set a goal: 5 rounds without breaks. Then work toward it.
• Supplement with solo drills if you can't get to class often.

For Everyone:

• Control your breathing. Seriously. This matters more than you think.
• Learn to relax under pressure. It's a skill you can develop.
• Focus on depth over breadth. Get really good at a few things.
• Compete if you can. It teaches you a new level of intensity.

The Real Secret: Mat time builds mat time. The more you roll, the more you can roll. Start where you are. Add one more round. Then another. Keep showing up.

See you on the mats!

Best, 
​
-Dan Cenidoza

As we get older in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, something quietly shifts. The belt still feels like it matters, but it stops being the reason we train. Whether you’re a blue belt, purple belt, brown belt, or black belt, the reality is the same: time, recovery, and life outside the gym start to shape your jiu jitsu far more than promotion timelines ever will. And that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it might be the most honest version of jiu jitsu there is. At the time of this blog, I'm 43. Way passed my prime in athleticism and recovery, but still out there ticking and achieving goals.

The Myth of the Next Belt - Belts give structure. They give direction. They give people something to aim at. But for older practitioners, chasing the next belt can become misleading. You don’t train at the same frequency as a 22-year-old competitor. You don’t recover the same way. And life responsibilities don’t pause because promotion season is coming. When the belt becomes the goal, frustration follows. When growth becomes the goal, your jiu jitsu gets better.

Longevity Is the Real Achievement - At any belt rank, longevity should be your ultimate goal.
For older practitioners 2026 goals might look like:

• Training consistently without injury
• Rolling in ways that protect the body
• Choosing smart partners and smart rounds
• Improving mobility, strength, and recovery

Skill Over Rank - Jiu jitsu doesn’t reward speed as we age, it rewards understanding.
Older practitioners, regardless of belt, often develop:

• Cleaner timing
• Better positional awareness
• More efficient movement
• A calmer approach to bad positions

Instead of asking your coach, or even yourself, if you are close to the next belt, a better question is,
“Can I solve problems more calmly and efficiently than last year?”

Growth Isn’t Linear, and That’s Okay - One of the hardest lessons in jiu jitsu is accepting that progress slows with age. But slower progress doesn’t mean stalled progress. I understand that people plateau and that's at any age, but it doesn't mean you're done. It means:

• You can work on fewer techniques and understand them more deeply.
• You can roll with less ego. 
• You can train more intentionally
• You can make smarter decisions under pressure. 

A slower climb will create better jiu jitsu over time. 

Teaching, Helping, and Leading at Every Rank - You don’t need a black belt to have impact. Older practitioners often become anchors in the room. Heck, almost all of our adult class instructors are over 40. But there's more that you can do, even if you're not a coach on the roster:

• Help newer students feel welcome
• Model controlled, safe rolling for the students approaching their 40's or newer students in their 40s-60s and beyond. 
• Sharing perspective instead of dominance with newer students
• Leading by consistency rather than rank. 

Leadership isn’t about the color around your waist, it’s about how you show up for others. 

Competition Isn’t Mandatory to Grow - For older athletes, competition is a choice, but certainly not a requirement. It's also damn near impossible to get a match sometimes without coming down 2 or 3 age brackets, and when you do, you get to be a highlight reel for the other competitor. 
Progress can come from:

• Testing yourself in hard rounds
• Executing clean, simple jiu jitsu
• Coaching teammates

You don’t need a podium to prove your jiu jitsu works.

The Truth About Belts - Belts are milestones, not meaning.
They don’t reflect:

• How long you’ll train
• How much you love the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
• How many people you help
• How well you move at 40 years old, 50 years old, 60 years old
• How calm you stay under pressure

These are the things matter loooong after black belt. 

The Real 2026 Goal 
No matter your rank, the real goal for 2026 is simple:
Train longer. Move better. Think clearer. Leave the academy better than you found it.
If a belt comes along the way, great. If it doesn’t, and you’re still training, improving, and enjoying the process, you’ve already won.

That's all I got for now - see you on the mats.
- Greg

Follow me in IG: instagram.com/greglewjitsu
Follow GAMA on IG: instgram.com/grappleacademy

I’ve been teaching BJJ for over a decade at Grapple Academy. I’ve seen thousands of students walk through the door, nervous, excited, and usually a little lost. And I’ll tell you something most people forget - being a white belt is the best time you'll ever have in Jiu-Jitsu.
​
As a black belt, my path is about refinement, pressure-testing, and the endless pursuit of mastery. I say endless because there's no such thing. But the white belt? Yours is about discovery. It's a special time. It's chaotic yet beautiful, and as your instructor, I want to share what I see when I look at you.

The first few months are a whirlwind. You’re trying to remember the difference between half guard and side control. You feel clumsy, exhausted, and probably sore in muscles you didn’t know existed. That overwhelming feeling is completely normal - it’s part of the process.

• You are a blank slate: This is a good thing! You don’t have bad habits to unlearn. Every technique, every concept is like a download to your hard drive (or maybe cloud for the younger generation.) Soak it all up like a sponge.
• The "Survival Phase": Your only job right now is to survive the roll and show up to the next class. Forget submissions. Forget "winning." Focus on a few things, like guard retention and posture. If you can breathe and keep your arms tight, you're winning the white belt game.
• The Humility Test: You will tap - a lot. I promise. You will get submitted by people smaller than you, older than you, and maybe even those who have only been training a few months longer. Jiu-Jitsu is the ultimate ego-check. Embrace the tap as a lesson learned, not a failure. Cliche, I know.

Your goal right now isn’t a specific belt color; it’s building the foundational habits that will carry you for years.

1. Be Consistent, Not Intense: Don't train seven days a week and burn out in two months. Find a realistic, consistent schedule (two or three days is perfect) and stick to it. Consistency is the single greatest predictor of success in BJJ. I talked about this in my last blog.
2. Ask Questions (The Right Ones): Don't just ask, "What move was that?" Ask, "Why did I lose my position there?" or "What should my hands be doing right now?" Focus on the principles, not just the steps.
3. Find Your "Why": Why are you here? Is it fitness, self-defense, or simply a challenge? The reason you started is the fuel that will keep you on the mats when things get hard. Granted, your why will likely change over time as you evolve.

From my perspective, the white belt is the most significant rank. It takes courage to step onto the mat. It takes commitment to keep showing up after getting handled. If you commit to the journey, keep your ego healthy, and stay consistent, you will look back on this time with a appreciation. This is the hardest part, the most fundamental part, and the place where you build your foundation.

Your exactly where you should be!

-Greg

Jiu-Jitsu isn't just a hobby. For many of us, it's a passion, a lifestyle, and a crucial outlet. The mats offer physical challenge and mental escape, however, life outside the academy doesn't pause. We still have demanding jobs, family commitments, and an endless to-do list. So, how do you manage to pursue your passion for BJJ without feeling like you're constantly dropping balls?

As someone training for 17 years, I'll give my best advice. This wisdom is not because I did, or still do it perfectly. It's advice given from my successes and failures alike.

1. Realistic Scheduling: Quality Over Quantity
One of the biggest pitfalls is trying to train too much too soon, especially when you’re already stretched thin.

• Assess Your Actual Availability: Look at your week truthfully, and see what hours work best for you and your family, and other commitments. 
• Start Small, but Stay Consistent: If you can only commit to two days a week consistently, that’s far better than aiming for five and burning out after two weeks.

2. Communicate and Coordinate with Your Support System
Your family (and sometimes even your boss) needs to be on board for this to work.

• Talk to Your Partner/Family: Explain why BJJ is important to you. Discuss your training schedule and how it might impact family time. Maybe you train while your partner has their hobby, or you take turns with childcare. My wife recently got into TRX, and Mobility Training, so we are both thinking alike, and finding ways to compromise our own time.
• Calendar Everything: Use a shared family calendar (we use google) to mark your training times, work deadlines, and family events. This transparency helps avoid conflicts and fosters understanding. We've been doing this for as long as I can remember.

3. Maximize Your Time on the Mat
When you have limited mat time, make every second count.

• Arrive Early, Stay Focused: Get to class a few minutes early to warm up and mentally prepare. During class, minimize distractions and fully engage in drilling and rolling.
• Have a Goal: Even if it’s just one thing, try to focus on a specific technique or concept during rolling. This deliberate practice yields better results than just showing up. What I always say is "roll with a purpose."
• Active Recovery: Utilize your rest days for active recovery like stretching, yoga, or light cardio to keep your body loose and ready for your next session.

4. Embrace the "Off-Mat" Learning
You don't always need to be on the mats to improve your Jiu Jitsu.

• Watch Instructionals (If your brain woks this way): Utilize your downtime to watch BJJ instructionals, or even quick IG videos. Visualize the movements and scenarios.
• Journal Your Rolls: After a training session, take a few minutes to jot down what worked, what didn't, and what you want to focus on next. This isn't a list of people you tapped, but a list of what you can improve on, and how you're improving.
• Read BJJ Content: Blogs, articles, and books about Jiu Jitsu strategy or philosophy can keep your mind engaged and deepen your understanding. Which is what you're doing right now.
• Mental Drills: Spend 5-10 minutes visualizing techniques or common positions. This "mental rolling" can be surprisingly effective. It's hard to grasp this concept right away, but as time goes on and you pick up more skills, this becomes easy. I probably do this 100 times a day. Ok, maybe 50. But still, I drill and even roll in my head.

5. Be Kind to Yourself
Life happens. There will be weeks where work projects are intense, kids get sick, or unexpected events throw off your schedule.

• Don't Beat Yourself Up: Missing a class (or even a few) isn't the end of your BJJ journey. It's a marathon, not a sprint. Even taking off weeks at a time is OK. The journey doesn't have to be linear. As long as you enjoy training, it doesn't matter what belt you are or how long it takes to earn the next one. 
• Listen to Your Body: Overtraining or pushing through severe fatigue can lead to injury or burnout. Sometimes, a rest day is the most productive thing you can do.
• Re-evaluate Periodically: Your life circumstances will change, and so should your schedule. What worked last year might not work now. Adjust, but keep moving forward. 

Balancing Jiu Jitsu, work, and family is an ongoing challenge, but it's one that many successful practitioners navigate. By being intentional with your time, communicating openly, and staying flexible, you can continue to pursue your passion for Jiu-Jitsu and enjoy a fulfilling life both on and off the mats.

Our team name, Team Balance, is a constant reminder that my identity is not that of a Jiu Jitsu black belt. I'm a family man, a real estate agent, a coach, a business owner, and a black belt. 

​-Greg

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for mental health might seem counterintuitive. How can voluntarily putting yourself in uncomfortable, often physically demanding, and even vulnerable positions help with mental well-being? 

I'll break down how Jiu Jitsu can help you fight and overcome stress, anxiety, and depression.

1. Being Present: Away from your regular anxiety

One of the most immediate benefits of BJJ is its demand for absolute presence. When you're rolling, especially when someone is trying to choke you or submit you in any way, your mind has no room to wander to yesterday's mistakes or tomorrow's worries. You are forced into the moment. This intense focus is a powerful antidote to anxiety, which often thrives on constant worry about the past and future. The mat becomes a sanctuary where the external world, with all of its stresses, fades away for an hour or two. Some of us call this a "flow state" when you're rolling. This flow state is incredibly therapeutic.

2. Physical Exertion:  A natural mood booster

It's no secret that exercise is a powerful antidepressant and stress reliever. BJJ takes this to another level. A typical class involves warm-ups, drilling, and intense rolling (sparring) – a full-body workout that taxes both your aerobic and anaerobic systems. This physical exertion releases endorphins and elevates mood. You leave the gym tired, perhaps a little sore, but also with a sense of accomplishment.

3. Problem Solving Under Duress: Building resilience

Every roll in BJJ is a complex puzzle you're trying to solve (or prevent from being solved on you). You're constantly adapting, strategizing, and making split-second decisions under pressure. This trains your brain to approach challenges in a new way. Learning to stay calm when you're in a bad position, to strategize your escape, and to persist even when things are difficult builds immense mental resilience. This resilience doesn't just stay on the mat, it spills over into how you handle life's other stressors. You learn that discomfort is temporary and that with patience and effort, you can navigate tough situations.

4. Community and Connection: Combating isolation

Depression and anxiety often thrive in isolation. BJJ academies are unique communities. While the training is individual, the journey is shared. You submit each other, help each other learn, and share a common bond forged in sweat and shared effort. This sense of belonging, of being part of a "team" where everyone is striving to improve, can be incredibly supportive. Forging genuine, face-to-face connections in an iPhone, social media, world is a powerful battle against loneliness.

5. Achieving Small Victories: Boosting self-esteem

Jiu-Jitsu is humbling. You will tap -- a lot, especially as a beginner. But amidst the taps, there are countless small victories: finally hitting that sweep, defending a submission, holding a dominant position, or simply understanding a new concept. These incremental successes, achieved through consistent effort, build genuine self-esteem and a sense of improvement. You see tangible proof of your progress, reminding you of your capability and strength – both physical and mental.

6. Healthy Outlet:  For aggression and frustration

Instead of bottling up stress or anger, BJJ provides a safe and controlled environment to channel those intense emotions. The physical exertion and the focus required can be a healthy release, allowing you to leave negative feelings on the mat and walk away feeling cleansed.

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BJJ is not a magic cure, and I'm no doctor or psychologist. It's important that if you are struggling with severe stress, anxiety, or depression, seeking professional medical or therapeutic help is crucial. However, for many, the gentle art offers a powerful complement to other forms of care.

So, if you're looking for an unconventional way to improve your mental health, to challenge yourself, and to find a supportive community, perhaps it's time to step onto the mats. You might just find that your journey to mental well-being starts with a slap and a fist bump.

-Coach Greg

Getting caught in submissions is part of training. The real skill is knowing when to fight and when to tap, and the difference can protect your body, build your game, and extend your time on the mats. Younger students seem to struggle with this more. It might be an ego thing, but it's likely they haven't accumulated the injuries us older grapplers have just from being alive longer.

Tap Early, Tap Often 

• If you don’t fully understand the submission,  tap.  EXCLAMATION POINT! ! <---- THIS RIGHT HERE. If you're new, you better be tapping often! 

Your ego wants to fight everything. Your body doesn’t. Injuries from stubbornness don’t make you tough. They make you unable to train, knucklehead!

When It’s Okay to Fight
As your understanding grows, so does your timing. You can fight a submission if:

• It’s not locked in yet - there’s space to move or posture out.
• You understand the mechanics - and know where the danger zone really is.
• You’re in comp mode - and know your limits.

When to Tap Immediately

• It’s fully locked in – no escape, just damage incoming.
• You feel pain, pressure, or popping – the body’s last warning.
• You don’t understand what’s happening – confusion is a big risk for yourself.

- Live to roll again. Learn what caught you and take it as a lesson. Talk to your training partners and your coaches!
​
Tapping Is Progress, Not Failure

• You made a mistake, and your partner or opponent caught you. Fix your mistake.
• Also, it's OK if you feel like a failure for losing. It doesn't mean that you are a failure, but I don't want to tell you you can't feel that way. It's part of growing, and makes you hungry to improve - As long as the feeling doesn't linger on, and you can get back on the mats right away to improve. 
• The tap is part of the process. Fighting everything out of pride only slows your growth - and ends your career early.

Final Advice

• Learn submission mechanics - talk to your coaches a lot. That's why we coach.
• Develop timing and awareness - through rolling, drilling, & constraints led approach  (CLA) classes. 
• Ask questions after getting caught. - talk to your training partners. Heck, most competitors will tell you the setup sequence and finish they used to beat you immediately after the match. 

Be technical. Tap smart. Train longer. I've tapped at least 4 times in the 17 years.
-Greg

I forgot that I owned this blog, and I haven't posted in 6 years!! Today, I decided it was time to start writing again, and this has been a topic on my mind for the last few weeks. I've been chatting it up with a lot of my students recently, and this seems to be a common discussion. So what better topic to restart my blogging journey with than consistency.  Maybe with my own advice, my blog can become successful as well!

​When people start their jiu jitsu journey, they often obsess over techniques, gear, and belt promotions. But there’s one factor that outshines all others: consistency. Whether you train three times a week or six, the most important thing is that you keep showing up.

Why Consistency Matters More Than TalentNatural athleticism and talent can definitely give someone a head start—but they only go so far. Jiu jitsu is a complex, ever-evolving art that rewards those who put in time, not just those born with great reflexes. Regular, steady training gives you the repetition needed to internalize technique, timing, and strategy. Missing a week here and there might not seem like a big deal, but over time, inconsistency adds up...  so does consistency.

How to Stay Consistent Without Burning OutConsistency doesn’t mean going all out every single day. In fact, that mindset can lead to injury or burnout. Here are a few practical tips to stay consistent long-term:

• Set a realistic schedule. It’s better to train 3 days a week for a year than 6 days a week for a month and then disappear forever.
  
• Listen to your body. Show up even when you’re tired. You'll make some of your biggest strides, but know the difference between being tired, being sore and being injured.
  
• Train with purpose. Don’t just roll - come in with a goal for each session. It could be as simple as working on guard retention. 
  

The Compound Effect of Just Showing UpEvery class you attend adds to your base of knowledge. Even bad days on the mat count. In fact, they count more—because that’s when you’re learning what doesn’t work, adjusting your mindset, and developing grit. The beauty of jiu jitsu is that it doesn’t need to be perfect.
Let's wrap it up!In jiu jitsu, and all grappling, we love exploring.  Whether it's specific techniques, or working tasks with specific constraints. None of that matters without consistency.
So here's the trick to getting better:
Go train. Even if it’s not your best day. Even if you're tired. Show up, and keep moving forward.
Because that’s what separates the day-one white belts from the black belts. There's nothing special to it.

-Greg

In 2015, I started playing worm guard. I bought the DVD from Keenan, but wasn't having much success. Fast forward four years, and I'm having a ton of success with it. It turns out that I lacked knowledge in sit-up guard and lasso guard, and by developing those two guards, worm guard became natural. The reason I'm teaching in this order is because it is the order in which I developed my particular jiu-jitsu game.  It will be very gi intensive! All guards will be about proper grips.

So here's the deal. Rather than go all over the place showing people different guards, it makes more sense for me to teach a bunch of it in one shot, at my academy, GAMA in Perry Hall, MD. It's going to be a 4 hour workshop, so eat a good breakfast. We are located in a shopping center with Mission BBQ and New Hand Dynasty, and Pho in the next building. Also, Fratello's Pizza and Outback Steakhouse are across the street, and Deniros Pizza is less than a 5-Minute drive north if you're looking for NY Style pizza. There's lots of good food here for after the seminar. Bring a light snack if you plan on staying the 4 hours. We have Honey Stinger Energy Waffles if needed ($1.25), and I'll have some fruit platters at no cost. Bring lots of water!

You do not need to come to all 4 hours! Feel free to come to one, two, three or all four guard units. It's $10 total whether you come to 1 or 4. Depending on your level, you may just want to pick up one or two sweeps or even one or two details from each guard OR you may want to get super detailed with one guard, and just pick up a few things from the others. Whatever your reasons are, I high HIGHLY suggest the full 4-hours! These 4 guards flow back and forth. Bring a notebook, and feel free to record any part that you'd like.

1. Sit-up Guard. - We are going to spend our time learning the proper grips needed for easy sweeps and takedowns. We will also address the usual counters that you will experience and how to beat them by being a step ahead. Wrestlers who hate gi tend to love situp guard because it is a very natural transition into the gi.
2.  Deep Half Guard - This requires very specific safety grips and leg placement. We will cover 3 series from bottom half all the way to submission. Deep half is good for those who are sick of getting roughed up on the bottom. It's a position that the smaller player can use against a larger opponent, or even a very athletic opponent. For those who are athletic, you will definitely be giving yourself an advantage for understating this guard.
3. Lasso Guard  - Probably the most detailed of all the grippy guards. We will cover a plethora of sweeps and traps as well as submissions that come from the lasso guard. Lasso is great for those who want to learn how to stop people from passing their guard easily. There is a lot to address to pass a good lasso, and a good lasso player can attack from many angles.
4. Worm Guard -  You brain will explode. Worm guard is great for those who want to completely stop their opponent from advancing. It will keep your opponent constantly on the defense trying to figure out what to do next. Worm guard seems complicated at first, but there are some basic concepts that I will show you that will not only work in worm guard, but all of your other guards.

Open to anyone, any belt level.

When:
Sunday, November 3rd 

Location:
Grapple Academy Martial Arts
4130 E. Joppa Rd. Suite 112
Nottingham, MD 21236
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We are in the back of the shopping center with Mission BBQ and Weis. Tons of free parking. 

All gi colors are fine. No shower here. 
Ages 13+ (need a parent to sign a waiver)

Most of us start training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for similar reasons. Either our parents got us into it when we were younger, we wanted to learn self-defense, we wanted to become a better overall martial artist, we used to wrestle, we love to compete, or we enjoy watching MMA and wanted to get involved in some aspect of it. If you fit into a different category, let me know. I'd love to hear it. Along with improving in jiu-jitsu itself, there are a ton of added benefits to training. Here are just seven of them: