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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 09:58
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 12:26
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 14:12
Women Self-Defense Classes in New York City 04 Jan

Women Self-Defense Classes in New York City

in Self-Defense by Ronin Athletics Team

Having taught martial arts in New York City for the past 2 decades we often receive inquiries from ladies that want to learn how to defend themselves should they encounter physical threats that are commonplace in an urban setting like Manhattan.  Often, they inquire about our Kickboxing program and how learning the kick and punch combinations can teach them to fight.  While our Kickboxing program is a great workout and lots of fun AND is the same training format we used successfully in Kickboxing matches in the ring, what most newcomers aren’t aware of is – IT’S NOT A PROGRAM FOR SELF-DEFENSE.

Read More Posted at 07:42
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 13:58
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 07:38
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 07:40
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 14:08
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 09:58
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 11:16
The 32 Principles of Jiu Jitsu: Making Deposits (Part 2 of 3) 28 Sep

The 32 Principles of Jiu Jitsu: Making Deposits (Part 2 of 3)

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

In most jiu-jitsu classes, there is usually one student who excels at learning new moves, improvising new techniques, and figuring out how to escape from holds without explicit instruction. It doesn’t mean that they are the strongest or fastest or the most advanced fighter. In some cases, they may even be white belts. However, these students seem to just inherently understand things other students do not.

Read More Posted at 06:54
The 32 Principles of Jiu Jitsu (Part 1 of 3) 21 Sep

The 32 Principles of Jiu Jitsu (Part 1 of 3)

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

From an outsider’s perspective, jiu-jitsu may look like a lot of grappling and complicated chokeholds. To the white belt who may have spent just finished their first week of classes, they may not feel all that different. Performing certain moves can require more than a dozen steps and learning how to employ these techniques fluidly and effectively can take years of practice. As one gains a greater appreciation for the amount of dedication, knowledge, and skill that goes into becoming a great fighter, one is likely to gain a greater appreciation for why jiu-jitsu is called a martial art.

Read More Posted at 07:11
Ego-less Sparring 22 Jun

Ego-less Sparring

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

Gracie Combatives is a program designed for adults who are new to jiu-jitsu. It teaches the essential techniques of jiu-jitsu through careful instruction, allowing students to develop their reflexes and learn how to incorporate moves while in a real-world fight scenario. What may come as a surprise is that students often take classes for months or even up to a year before they begin sparring.

Read More Posted at 07:44
Powerful Principles 14 Jun

Powerful Principles

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

Learning to be a student of principles starts with reading between the lines when you’re learning moves and technique. It means that you’re not just following the steps for each move like you’re putting together a piece of furniture. 

Read More Posted at 11:56
The Four Elements of Jiu Jitsu 07 Jun

The Four Elements of Jiu Jitsu

in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by Ronin Athletics Team

The core objective of jiu-jitsu is survival. More than beating your opponent or learning proper technique, jiu-jitsu is a form of self-defense that teaches practitioners how to survive a fight, whether it is during an MMA match or a street fight.

Read More Posted at 07:29