Articulate BJJ

The forced Hiatus: Dealing with time off the mats.

In the larger perspective of almost a decade grappling two months out of training doesn’t seem like much, but when thrust upon you involuntarily due to injury or illness, it can at times be unbearable. How can we learn to take advantage of a forced training hiatus? What kind of lessons can be gleaned and what can we still develop when we are unable to get on the mats? Continue reading

SMART goals for 2021

With the beginning of another year, many seek to either re-affirm current goals or create new ones. Regardless, it’s imperative for us just to set goals, but to understand how to set goals. SMART Goal setting is one such way to set intentional, successful foals for oneself. Continue reading

Have you checked out the podcast yet?

If you haven’t yet, make sure you check out the podcast on Anchor.fm, Spotify and anywhere else you listen!

The aim is to create companion episodes for written articles; exploring topics with more depth and discussion.

Thanks for reading and listening.

Oss.

The New Era Hyperlyte 2.0 by Hyperfly

Always looking for new ways to push the limits of Gi performance, Hyperfly has done it again with their newly updated Hyperlyte 2.0. The combination of their market leading lightweight technology and competitive performance create an essential workhorse; both for your regular gi rotation or saving yourself your next weight cut at competition time.

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The Rule of Minimum Requirements

A practitioner is required to perform a specific sequence of movements correctly if they wish to execute any technique with success. On the surface this seems to be a simple task, however any respectable practitioner understands the difficulty of correctly performing a technique against a fully resisting opponent. For any technique to be performed successfully, there are certain essential movemen…

At its core, grappling is a practice in moving your body through space. Learning how (and when) to move through space forms the foundations for developing balance, coordination and our greater understanding of our body’s physicality. I’d like to take some time today to explore these pillars and how one might better practice spatial learning.

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Ignorance is not bliss

Even skeptics- in declaring that nothing can be known for certain- used uncertainty as a heuristic for seeking out answers. To assume that not knowing, or even actively ignoring, the answer is better than the alternative is the ultimate shame in the eyes of any thinking individual. 

Ignorance is the mass around which a vast array of the modern world’s issues orbit. One might argue that there are…

Ignorance is not bliss

Even skeptics- in declaring that nothing can be known for certain- used uncertainty as a heuristic for seeking out answers. To assume that not knowing, or even actively ignoring, the answer is better than the alternative is the ultimate shame in the eyes of any thinking individual. 

Ignorance is the mass around which a vast array of the modern world’s issues orbit. One might argue that there are…

Training & The Scientific Method.

It’s remarkable, yet no coincidence, that the development of martial arts follows the same steps as the scientific method. The same logic that has produced our understanding of much of the world has lead to the development of martial arts. Using the scientific method to approach our own individual training has many benefits too.

The purpose of this article is two fold; discuss & chart the…

Training & The Scientific Method.

It’s remarkable, yet no coincidence, that the development of martial arts follows the same steps as the scientific method. The same logic that has produced our understanding of much of the world has lead to the development of martial arts. Using the scientific method to approach our own individual training has many benefits too.

The purpose of this article is two fold; discuss & chart the…

In January of 2019, there wasn’t any hesitation when I was asked if I wanted to fly to Los Angeles. I’ve talked about my trip previously here, but there was one moment -caught in the photograph above- that perfectly signposted a corner in my journey with martial arts.

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Unlike a performance art or strict science, grappling presents a constantly changing puzzle that needs to be solved in the form of a fully resisting opponent.

Much of art and science can be considered an individual pursuit, with the practitioner honing a skill or developing theory on their own. A martial art is distinctly different. There is always another party in the equation, that of the…

In trying times such as these, you would be justified in feeling upset, angry or even depressed. Many of the things that bring us enjoyment are no longer possible when presented with an epidemic and the responses put in place by respective governments.

The stoic Zeno might have had a different response; fortune has presented us with an opportunity for more time to reflect. According to the stoic-…

Going Viral: Thoughts on Viral Techniques and ‘Fluff’

One of the rare upshots in a time of panic buying, social distancing and lock downs is that I’ve finally reclaimed some writing time. My aim is to still provide you with something to read that will hopefully provide some food for thought (and something to keep myself occupied).

With Covid 19 ‘going viral’, I thought this would be an excellent parallel to the viral trends we see that circulate…

Whether you’re training gi or no gi, your fingers and hands are bound to take punishment when grappling. Preventing hand & finger injury (or rehabbing current injuries whilst saying on the mats) is made a whole lot easier with the use of finger tape. Samurai Tape is one brand providing a high quality tape for grapplers’ hands & fingers. 

The japan-based company currently produces a 15 yard…

Two types of Pressure

If you’ve done BJJ, or any other martial art, you’ll likely have heard the term “Pressure”. 

But what is Pressure? Why does it hold such a mystical reverence in the consciousness of martial artists? The exploration of this topic will lead us to a better understanding of the concept; illustrating two important ‘types’ of pressure we see in application. 

Strap yourself in, I’ve had one too…

Within every community there is an ‘Egosystem’. This is the idea that there is a structured hierarchy that exists independently of physical authorities. The Egosystem is a hierarchy that is structured by things like reputation, social standing, others’ perceptions of oneself and, as is often the case, merit & achievement. 

You can proclaim to be as woke or enlightened as you like, but no…