Trial Lessons

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

The Loser’s Game 07 Jun

The Loser’s Game

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

In 1975, Charles D. Ellis, an investment consultant, writer, and founder of Greenwich Associates, published an influential article entitled, “The Loser’s Game.” As he explains in the below interview with Stephen Foerster, Ellis owes the insights explored in the article to Simon Ramo, who wrote in his book, Extraordinary Tennis for the Ordinary Tennis Player, that there are essentially two games of tennis. One of them is played professionals, which he calls the Winner’s Game. The second is played by amateurs, which he calls the Loser’s Game. Even though the mechanics look the same, the players use the same equipment, and the same rules are enforced, the games are completely different.

Read More Posted at 15:51
BJJ and Fitness 01 Jun

BJJ and Fitness

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

Many people are nervous about starting jiu-jitsu because they think they are too out of shape. They tell themselves that they just need a few weeks to do some weight training, get their endurance up, and drop a few pounds. Unfortunately, this is just one more hurdle to clear before coming to class, and it is one that people can put off indefinitely. It’s also a completely unnecessary.

Read More Posted at 17:01
Old School vs New School 26 May

Old School vs New School

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

Jiu-jitsu has steadily been growing in popularity within the United States for decades. Throughout this time, it has undergone a significant change. Thirty years ago, it was a martial art with a small but extremely committed group of practitioners, many of whom were professional fighters. Today, it is one of the most commonly practiced martial arts in the world with classes available to people of all ages and skill levels.

Read More Posted at 18:04
Jiu Jitsu helps to check one’s Ego 19 May

Jiu Jitsu helps to check one’s Ego

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

In a recent interview with Lex Fridman, Sam Harris talked about one of the benefits of jiu-jitsu that often gets overlooked. In addition to learning self-defense, taking up a martial art like jiu-jitsu has the potential to change the way that you think. In particular, it can help you learn to check your ego.

Read More Posted at 17:31
First Principles to Learning Jiu Jitsu 09 May

First Principles to Learning Jiu Jitsu

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

If you look the best fighters in the world, you’ll notice that they may all have different variations of technique and certain combinations they prefer, but they all are following principles that are part of the same system of jiu-jitsu. Broadly speaking, there are two ways to introduce this system to new students. The first focuses on teaching individual moves or techniques.

Read More Posted at 15:16
Ageless Jiu Jitsu 30 Mar

Ageless Jiu Jitsu

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

One of the great things about jiu-jitsu is that you can start doing it at nearly any age and at nearly any intensity level. This is not to say it’s always easy. It is a workout, it is exhausting, and there will be different kinds of torque put on your body that you will not be used to. Even if you are in great shape, you are going to put a strain on your body, and you will probably find yourself feeling depleted and sore after jiu-jitsu class. After all, you are going to be fighting with another.

Read More Posted at 22:43
How to get good at Jiu Jitsu.  Tips from Ryan Hall 15 Mar

How to get good at Jiu Jitsu.  Tips from Ryan Hall

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

During your first few weeks or months of jiu-jitsu, your mind will likely be occupied by one thought: How do I get better? Most people will tell you that the answer is to practice and put in your dues. As Ryan Hall told Lex Fridman in a recent interview, “I drilled a ton.”

Read More Posted at 13:58
Escaping Submissions 14 Feb

Escaping Submissions

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

Even though most people think of jiu-jitsu as being a fighting technique that focuses on submission chokes and holds, it is a form of self-defense. At its core, the primary objective in jiu-jitsu is survival. Before you even worry about forcing your opponent into submission or controlling the pace of the fight, you need to be able to defend against your opponent’s attacks. The Gracie philosophy is all about weathering the figurative storm, energy conservation, and striking only when the time is right. This means escaping submissions.

Read More Posted at 17:26
Does Jiu Jitsu Really Work in a Street Fight? 17 Jan

Does Jiu Jitsu Really Work in a Street Fight?

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

Jiu-jitsu is without question a tried-and-true fighting style. Ever since its inception in Brazil, jiu-jitsu practitioners have challenged all comers to show that proper technique is more important than strength or size in any kind of fight. This continues to this day, and countless fighters from around the world have relied on jiu-jitsu to become champions when fighting in mixed-martial arts tournaments.

But what about people who aren’t professional fighters? Can jiu-jitsu be used effectively in a street fight by an average person?

Read More Posted at 19:12
Jiu Jitsu – The Best Self-defense for Kids (part 2 of 2) 27 Dec

Jiu Jitsu – The Best Self-defense for Kids (part 2 of 2)

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

Playing jiu-jitsu can also involve teaching children simple moves that are solely defensive and can be used to prevent bullying. In the below video, Relson Gracie provides a great example when he asks some of Robin’s kids to break free of a neck grab or a wrist grab. These are safe, simple moves that children of virtually any age can learn and master.

Read More Posted at 18:58
Jiu Jitsu: Self-defense for Kids (Part 1 of 2) 20 Dec

Jiu Jitsu: Self-defense for Kids (Part 1 of 2)

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

A lot of parents may be hesitant to introduce their children to jiu-jitsu at a young age. For some, they worry that teaching their kids a martial art will send the message that violence is acceptable. Others may worry that their children could hurt themselves or others. Still others may want to enroll their kids in a martial arts class but may not know if jiu-jitsu is right for them.

Read More Posted at 12:38
Getting Better At Jiu Jitsu – Train as the WORST player in the room 13 Dec

Getting Better At Jiu Jitsu – Train as the WORST player in the room

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

When Grandmaster Rickson Gracie moved from Brazil to the United States in the late 1980s, he was arguably the best jiu-jitsu fighter in the world. Meanwhile, jiu-jitsu was still several years from breaking into the mainstream in the   Even in Southern California, where Rickson settled, there was only    interest in what was considered a niche, Brazilian form of martial arts. Many wondered how Rickson would continue to dominate given that he was leaving behind the best jiu-jitsu schools and the most highly skilled jiu-jitsu fighters in the world.

Read More Posted at 12:40
Why Jiu-Jitsu Is a Better Self-Defense for Kids 06 Dec

Why Jiu-Jitsu Is a Better Self-Defense for Kids

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

It’s unrealistic to expect a child who is fearful for their personal safety to stand up for themselves with confidence…  By giving the child the tools to defend themselves, they walk strong.

Read More Posted at 19:08
GJJ vs BJJ 18 Oct

GJJ vs BJJ

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

Having trained Jiu Jitsu in New York City since 2002 I’ve witnessed a microcosm of its evolution in NYC and its expanding community here.  Jiu Jitsu (by way of Gracie Jiu Jitsu) came on the map after UFC 1 - driving the message to all serious martial arts practitioners that they need to work on their ‘ground game.’  Simply knowing how to punch and kick wasn’t going to cut it.  Post-UFC 1 adopters were martial artists already proficient in some form of fighting and looking to supplement their skills with ground fighting.  Tough Jiu Jitsu training wasn’t such a high barrier of entry because these adopters were already experienced in the ‘sink or swim’ mentality during their years of hard training.

Read More Posted at 13:58
The 32 Principles: Achieving Artistry (Part 3 of 3) 04 Oct

The 32 Principles: Achieving Artistry (Part 3 of 3)

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

The 32 Principles represent different ways of achieving efficiency, which is the apex principle of Jiu-jitsu. The greatest Jiu-jitsu practitioners strive to expend as little energy as possible when on the mat. They know that conserving their energy, while letting their opponents waste theirs, will give them the best chances of survival.

Read More Posted at 15:16