| By the time you get to the end of this article, you will | | | | Another advantage could be that you are able to |
| fully understand how important it is to have a jiu jitsu | | | | force moves on opponents. Often it happens that you |
| workout routine. | | | | could be very close to finishing your opponent, but his |
| Because I spent so much time and money studying | | | | defense is too good. Thus, leaving both of you at a |
| books and DVDs about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu moves and | | | | standstill. |
| techniques, I thought it was just going to clean house | | | | Then what? |
| when I actually start to grapple with other beginners | | | | You could power your way to getting the tap, if you |
| once I joined. | | | | are strong enough. I've had to do that a number of |
| I've never been more wrong in my entire life! | | | | times. |
| The amount of times that I was caught in the simplest | | | | You've probably heard the old adage, "If you have to |
| of submissions were mind-boggling! It was | | | | force a move then it's a bad jiu jitsu." But whether or |
| EXTREMELY humbling to say the least. | | | | not you use power or technique to win a match... |
| "Why?" You may ask. | | | | It is still a win! |
| Because my cardio and stamina or absolutely horrible! | | | | The last and my most favorite advantage is flexibility. |
| Pay close attention. In a moment, I'll tell you why fitness | | | | Anyone who knows anything about grappling, |
| is very important to all BJJ fighters. | | | | submission wrestling, MMA, or jiu jitsu will tell you how |
| There are just too many advantages to being a well | | | | important flexibility is. What if you were blessed with |
| conditioned BJJ fighter. This article will cover three of | | | | natural flexibility? For a beginner it would be a saving |
| them. The three I'll talk about today are: mental clarity, | | | | grace for not knowing proper technique. |
| ability to force moves, and better flexibility. | | | | But what if he had a giant beer belly? If that's the |
| Mental clarity is what I want to talk about first because | | | | case, then so what if your hamstrings easily let you |
| it is the most obvious. Studies show that when you are | | | | touch your nose to your knees, your stomach would |
| tired your mind goes into autopilot. And while on | | | | be in the way. Which makes breathing in those |
| autopilot, the moves you make will be the ones that | | | | positions very challenging, to say the least. |
| are instinctual. | | | | If you look at yoga masters they don't have a lot of |
| A BJJ black belt with over 15 years experience will not | | | | body fat. That's because it would hinder their flexibility |
| have this problem, because proper techniques have | | | | and dexterity. The same can be said about BJJ |
| been drilled into so much that they are instinctual. But | | | | fighters. |
| the odds are, if you're reading this article, you're not a | | | | I'm sure there are an infinite amount of advantages |
| black belt. And most of your instinctual moves will | | | | when it comes to being a well conditioned BJJ fighter. |
| consist of movements that give openings to your | | | | Just three of those advantages are: mental clarity, |
| opponents. | | | | ability to force moves, and better flexibility. |
| Take arm bars for an example. When you get arm | | | | How many times have you been a submitted during a |
| barred from the mount position, it's usually because | | | | match just because you gassed out? What are you |
| you had your arms stretched out when they shouldn't | | | | going to do to avoid that in the future? The answer is... |
| have been. I have been caught by this on many | | | | Find a jiu jitsu workout routine that will up your game |
| occasions, even when I knew not to do it. Because I | | | | and help you outlast your opponents. |
| was too darn tired to think! | | | | |