Steve Maxwell is the modern day American guru on fitness, an NCAA div 1 wrestler, Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt (Under Relson Gracie) and one of the original investors in the UFC. His accolades go on and on. In this interview Steve chats candidly about a series of topics ranging from self discipline, outer and inner self, forgetting the past and the collective.

The Tatami Estilo 5.0 gi was released in April 2015. It is a pearl weave competition level gi. The Estilo was designed for the high-level competitors. They are easy to order over the internet and worn by many. In this article, we are going to put the Tatami Estilo 5.0 under the microscope and test its worthiness.

There is something special about the Jiu Jitsu fighter that treats their gi with respect. This type of athlete comes to their school with the gi folded up and the belt wrapped around. I think this level of preparation shows that this fighter is thinking about Jiu Jitsu on and off the mat. Most importantly, this is a show of respect for the art, the school and oneself. This show of discipline made me think of some other things we should be doing as a community.

In this article, we explore ‘How to get a blue belt in BJJ‘. Brazilian Jiu-JItsu is a difficult and unintuitive sport. Unless you did Judo or Wrestling before you really cannot compare it to anything you have done before. Without some proper coaching, you can spend years at white belt. It is very easy to make mistakes in this sport. Read this article to streamline your promotion. This is not a list of hacks or loopholes in your Jiu Jitsu blue belt. Unfortunately, There is no short road. So tighten your belt and prepare for work!

This week we jump into the topic of the best martial arts for kids. I was having a drink with my neighbor when he told me his 9-year-old son was getting bullied. He asked which was the best martial arts for kids. Over the years I have been asked this question many times by family, friends, and coworkers. It made me think about which martial arts are best for kids to learn. My knee-jerk response is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu but I know that other martial arts have their virtues. I’ll elaborate:

Firas Zahabi is grappling training coach for many top level MMA fighters like Kenny Florian and George St. Pierre. In this interview Firas lays out the foundations of his philosophy. If you are serious about training you need to watch this video! Many of his thoughts are very applicable to successful lifestyle.

Getting in a street fight is never a good idea. But if you have too here is a short list to sharpen your skills around. This list is about the most effective ‘Street Jitsu’ techniques.

Ok before we move on any further… I won’t be testing if the War Tribe Gi Kevlar Reinforced can withstand a gunshot. But not a bad idea, Maybe in a future review. When I first heard about this Jiu Jitsu gi I was certain that a kimono maker had figured out a new cheesy gimmick. I was skeptical. Purchasing the gi went easy enough. Some gi makers have a crappy distribution and a cheap website. That wasn’t the case here. They even stock their product on Amazon. So points there.

Just like all other sports, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has an etiquette, and Jiu-Jitsu etiquette is closely followed. Offend the rules and the consequences could be bad enough you may have to leave the school. So pay close attention.

One of my favorite sports sayings is “The Ref will moderate the written rules. Your competitors will moderate the unwritten rules.” Here is a mix of written and some unwritten rules. I’ll do this in order of ‘guideline’ to ‘essential’.

Your first day of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu should put a couple butterflies in your stomach. Starting something new is always exciting. Nothing can wreck a new experience like showing up unprepared.