Metro Jiu-Jitsu

$50,000! That’s a conservative number I would place on the value that the Jiu-Jitsu community has benefited me since starting. I know many grapplers whose number would be even higher. When you start training Jiu-Jitsu you are not only learning practical self defense, getting in shape, and building confidence (though all three come with the territory). But you are building INSTANT and deep rapport with thousands of people whom you may have never been crossed paths with otherwise. These connections will open a multitude of massive doors that would have otherwise been padlocked shut (with the key thrown away). A Case Study: Charlie & The Gold Shop In another life I was a jewelry/precious metals 💍 broker specializing in customer relations. I tried relentlessly for months to get my foot in the door with one of the largest gold shops in the city. But the owner (who we’ll call Charlie) wouldn’t return my calls (of course) and despite laying on some heavy charm I got nowhere with his blockers. (Blockers are what I call administrative assistants whose sole job is to run interference between the boss and salesmen). After months of this I was at class talking with a Brown Belt who just happened to be best friends with the Charlie. I asked him to give me a referral. “Just tell him to give me a shot” I believe were my exact words. Guess who CALLED ME the next morning? Charlie went on to be one of our largest clients. But you don’t need to be a business man to benefit from the Jiu-Jitsu community? Do you need a doctor? 👨‍⚕️. I’ve grappled with Dozens. How about a Realtor? 🏡. Consider it closed! Hair Stylist? 💇‍♂️ My wife & I go to the same salon......(and I’m confident enough to admit that 😂). Need A Police Officer? 👮🏿 👮‍♀️ 🚓. Which city? Legal Advice? 👨‍⚖️. Will a Harvard graduate work? 📜 My web developer was obtained through my Jiu-Jitsu network 🌎 . My marketing agency was referred to us by a close fellow Brown Belt. 🤓 🥋 And last but certainly not least, my current partner and and Head Instructor of Metro Jiu-Jitsu was created after 10 years of training together. 🤙🏻 The only reason I bring up these professional contacts is because for some people there is not enough value in the self-defense, incredible workout, personal relationships, and friendships that Jiu-Jitsu brings. Some people are driven simply by the almighty dollar. 💵. Now money shouldn’t be the main reason you train Jiu-Jitsu; however I am absolutely being conservative. When I say the value that Jiu-Jitsu has brought to my life easily exceeds $50,000. The amount I've paid to train Jiu-Jitsu and compete in Jiu-Jitsu is over $20,000. If it was a stock fund, that’s a return on investment of $30,000 over 10 years...or 15% APR. (Which is stellar!) So if it's not enough for you to learn self-defense, get in shape, make friends, build confidence and improve mental health through Jiu-Jitsu.....then maybe you will be motivated to try train knowing that it will benefit your career. See you on the mats. ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Fox BJJ Brown Belt Under Danny Alverez Instructor/Owner At Metro Jiu-Jitsu (Southgate, Mi) Metrojj.com 734.225.6230

It's no secret, Americans are stressed, chronically stressed in fact! According to the APA, “America is at a critical crossroads when it comes to stress and our health.” The following statistics of American’s stress levels are so alarming you would expect them to be plastered all over CNN on a regualr basis rather than being swept under the rug: -44% percent of Americans report their stress level has increased in the last five years.  -1/3 of American kids have reported symptoms associated with stress such as anger, trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, stomach pains, etc.  -Ironically despite elevated stress levels, self-care also is not at the top of American's priority list. 40% of Americans would rate their health as very good or excellent. 54% of Americans agree that physical fitness or physical activity is good for them while only 27% were happy with the level of exercise they were getting. If that wasn’t depressing enough (pun intended), 2/3 of Americans either overeat or undereat as a result of the stress they are under (neither are healthy solutions obviously). While there are many ways that people “manage” stress; Jiu-Jitsu has proven to systematically reduce & relieve stress. We’ve compiled a short list of reasons why that is: 1. Physical Release Jiu-jitsu offers a physical outlet to release stress while giving you a good workout and releasing endorphins. Endorphins are the “feel good” hormone that we get from food and exercise. However there’s something just slightly more satisfying about landing an armbar versus doing 5x5 sets of deadlifts. 2. Network, Network, Network. In the Jiu-Jitsu community you obtain a network of people who are genuinely concerned for your wellbeing and want you to be healthy on and off the mat. It's an incredibly vital support system that is hard to find anywhere else. 3. Mental Reset Button Frequently, after attending Jiu-Jitsu class, people have reported clarity of mind and mental focus. A feeling of being refreshed and renewed with and ability to deal with the added stress of life. 4. A Disciplined Life Jiu-jitsu is not something you will enter into lightly. It's not like a gym membership where you sign up and easily forget to go because the investment is minimal and the accountability system is even less. Jiu-jitsu is going to require you to invest your time and resources; but it will pay off extreme dividends in your overall mental and physical health (unlike your side venture in Bitcoin). Bottom Line If you're experiencing severe health issues as a result of stress, you owe it to yourself to visit a local Jiu-Jitsu Academy and try it out for at least 12 months. After all can you really put a price on your health? See you on the mats. ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Fox BJJ Brown Belt Under Danny Alverez Instructor/Owner At Metro Jiu-Jitsu (Southgate, Mi) Metrojj.com 734.225.6230

Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most difficult activities a person can undertake, period. Thats because the learning curve is so steep, and there is both a physical toll on your body as well as a mental toll on your brain. As a result people are always looking to gain an edge or advantage anyway they can to help their Jiu-Jitsu performance by changing what they do off the mat. So we’ve got you covered with a short list of things you can do that will “move the needle” in your Jiu-Jitsu game: 1. Rest and Recovery. You have to give your body time to recover from beatdown it just endured. You just spent anywhere from 90-120 minutes defending yourself from a human being; don’t think you can go home and act like nothing happened. Make sure you're getting at least seven hours of sleep; any less than 7 hours and your body won't fully recover making it more prone to injury and or illness. Additionally you will want to take a rest day in between classes (at least until your conditioning improves) so that you can come back refreshed and focused. 2. Stop smoking! 🚬 It should be a no brainer, but you would be amazed at how many students I have come into the gym smelling like Marlboro Reds. Smoking is not only dangerous to your lungs and longterm health, but it will dramatically inhibit your Jiu-Jitsu performance. Quick Confession: I was a smoker when I started Jiu-Jitsu. I remember telling my wife “Either I’m gonna quote Jiu-Jitsu or quit smoking because I can’t do both”. Ten years later....I made the right decision. 3. Stretch. This is something most grapplers (myself included) are guilty of not doing enough. Jiu-Jitsu is a game of technique and not muscle, so being flexible is going to pay off just as much as being strong. Be sure to stretch your hamstrings, quads, chest, etc. Everything that you use in the art of Jiu-Jitsu as this will, (again) prevent injury and improve your performance on the mat. 4. Supplements. This was one of the biggest game changers in my grappling as I approached closer to the ominous age of 30. I routinely kept going to class in my young 20s thinking, "Oh, it's fine. I'll just need to work harder. I need to push through it," and I would not supplement. I got sick frequently (suffering from sinus infections every 6 weeks) and I started to get injured more frequently. Fortunately my partner, Coach Mohammed, owned a GNC and was able to point me on the right direction. I started taking several supplements such as vitamin C, probiotics, fish oil, creatine, glutamine, and protein. Supplements serve a very direct purpose so it’s important that you consult your local nutrition professional for more information. 5. Weight Training Strength does not beat Jiu-Jitsu, but strong Jiu-Jitsu beats weak Jiu-Jitsu. If you make time to lift at least one to two days a week in addition to your grappling, you will be find complex moves such as bridging or takedowns will become easier. Overview This list may seem daunting and unnecessary but the life of a Jiu-Jitsu fighter has never been characterized as one who “follows the herd”. See you on the mats. ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Fox BJJ Brown Belt Under Danny Alverez Instructor/Owner At Metro Jiu-Jitsu (Southgate, Mi) Metrojj.com 734.225.6230

Earning the rank of Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is no easy task. It's not like Karate or other traditional martial arts where you will see a 15-year-old Black Belt walking the streets and rocking their medals. Jiu-Jitsu is known for being a stingy art when it comes to belt promotions, and the reason is very simple. Jiu-Jitsu instructors and coaches want to maintain the highest possible standard so that the art will never become inflated or considered impractical. Any person who walks into a Jiu-Jitsu academy expecting to earn a Black Belt in a matter of 3-4 years is delusional. Even if you are an exceptionally gifted grappler, there are requirements and standards in place by the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) that mandate a certain time period for each color belt: TIME & AGE REQUIREMENTS According to the IBJJF graduation system a grappler must be a Blue Belt for two years before he is allowed to be promoted to Purple Belt. A Purple Belt must wait a year and a half before he can become a Brown, and a Brown Belt has to hold that rank for one year before he can get his Black Belt. There are also age requirements associated with each belt. You have to be at least 16 years old before earning your Blue or Purple Belt, at least 18 years old before you can earn a Brown Belt, and no one under the age of 19 is allowed to be promoted to Black Belt. ADDITIONAL STANDARDS Outside of the technical skill required to earn a Black Belt there is an unspoken debate about the level of character a Black Belt must hold. I know several instructors who hold very high standard for their students to earn a Brown or Black Belt; they believe it is not good enough to simply be a good grappler and a terrible person (a standard I agree with by the way). The instructor will observe what your character looks like ON and OFF the mat before promoting you to an elite rank, such as a Brown or Black Belt. Combine this standard with the Jiu-Jitsu’s extremely tough learning curve and it’s no wonder why people quit or lose interest after a year or two. To bottom line? If you are looking to get into Jiu-Jitsu; make up your mind right now that it will take 10 years to get your black belt and enjoy the journey. As I've said before, this is a tortoise race; jackrabbits don’t last. David Fox BJJ Brown Belt Under Danny Alverez Instructor/Co-Owner of Metro Jiu-Jitsu Metrojj.com 734.225.6230

3 Mistakes Beginners Make When Starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Jiu-Jitsu is designed to make you quit, however there are some common pitfalls you can avoid to ease the learning curve a little bit. ROOKIE JIU-JITSU MISTAKE #1: Blowing Their Engine Simply put, beginners are just over-training. They come in, they're excited about the sport and are training five, six, or maybe even seven days a week; and then you don't see them in two months because they've just burnt themselves out. They've blown their engine! Just like Brian O'Conner, in The Fast and Furious 1. He goes real hard in the first drag race and blows his engine and proceeds to loose his car to Dom. (Fun fact, Paul Walker was a Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt before he died and was awarded his Black Belt posthumously). So pace yourself and don't lose your car! Keep a sustainable training schedule. ROOKIE JIU-JITSU MISTAKE #2: Treating every match like the Abu Dhabi finals. Similar to mistake number one, beginners of Jiu-Jitsu often resort to their “fight” instinct rather than their “flight” instinct. They're tendency is to try an demolish everybody on the mat, no matter who it is. These new white belts are just going hard and they don't understand the concept of taking a second to pause and observe where they’re at, or what position they’re even in. Perhaps in their mind they can just muscle their way through. It's a common mistake that inhibits growth and also leads to injuries. ROOKIE JIU-JITSU MISTAKE #3: Failure To Focus On One Technique Most Jiu-Jitsu beginners are trying to drink from a fire hydrant. There's so much new information that it would be impossible to implement it all your first time around. One of the coaches might show three or four techniques a day. If they're coming four days a week, they're trying to learn and implement 12 new things. That's just honestly way too much for new white belts to grasp! Upon starting Jiu-Jitsu you should be focusing on learning one thing every time you come to class. One technique should be learned and applied every time you come to class. SUMMARY While this list was not exhaustive it’s a solid start to making sure you’re in Jiu-Jitsu for the long haul. The next step will be avoiding the Blue Belt fever. 🤒 😉 -Coach David Fox Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt Under Danny Alverez Metro Jiu-Jitsu Metrojj.com

Summer is here in Detroit! And with summer comes Bob-Jos frozen custard, family barbecues, 7/11 slurpees, and road trips with “Admiral Junk Food” as your co-pilot. How can one be expected to keep a sensible diet amidst such frequent and delicious temptation? If you simply MUST indulge in a cheat meal, you can at least lighten the blow to your diet by opting in for one of these tasty alternatives. LEAVE THE CANNOLI, TAKE THE ALMONDS Almonds are the “Youtube” of the food world; they’ve been around for agesHi and are finally exploding with popularity as you can find them at nearly every gas station and grocery store. Almonds are high in “good fats” which assist in heart health and curb those hunger pains for longer periods of time. PROTEIN ICE CREAM IS A THING Sometimes you just HAVE to splurge on a good ol’ American ice cream treat. We’re talking heavy cream, sweetened with sugar, and a cherry on top. In such cases I suggest ordering the smallest portion possible as it’s not difficult to rack up 1300 calories at places like Dairy Queen. For the other times where your sweet tooth just needs a little craving I like to grab a low sugar option, or even protein ice cream. With these selections you can eat a little bit more without doing the walk of shame to the gym the next morning. DRY HUMOR IS BAD, DRY CHICKEN IS WORSE Grilled chicken is one of the leanest and cheapest forms of protein you can get your hands on. But if you don’t know what you’re doing you can end up with a chicken breast that’s so dry it will look like a scene from the Griswold Christmas dinner. Thanks to the internet you can find dozens of marinades and recipes that give you a juicy, restaurant style chicken for a fraction of the price. ABOUT THE AUTHOR David Fox Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt Instructor/Owner at Metro Jiu-Jitsu (Southgate, MI) metrojj.com 734.225.6230

Why Jiu Jitsu Is For ALL Ages “Jiu-Jitsu is a young man’s game.” That’s the stigma associated with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the simple fact of the matter is it’s just not true. Recently a 72 year old by the name of Burbank Glendale received his Brown Belt and candidly states the obvious….”It’s never too late to be Savage.” We’ve created a short (but certainly not exhaustive list) of why men and women need can start Jiu-Jitsu at any age. YOU CONTROL THE THROTTLE People have this misconception about Jiu-Jitsu that they will be walking into a locked Octagon. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s worth noting here that there IS a difference between training MMA & training purely Jiu-Jitsu. Mixed Martial Arts involves hard strikes, big throws, & relentless matches. “The gentle art” of Jiu-Jitsu is far more fluid with emphasis on technique over muscle. You can always choose to increase your effort should you feel you need to. THE TIME SPENT ON THE GROUND REDUCES STRAIN ON THE JOINTS Very much like walking into a pool, you will feel gravity release it’s iron grip on your vertebrae when you take to the mat and begin practicing positions like the closed guard. YOU ARE MONITORED THE ENTIRE CLASS Most Jiu-Jitsu schools aren’t going to throw you into fierce competition training your VERY FIRST day on the mat. From a business standpoint it’s certainly not prudent; but more specifically, instructors will generally watch you the entire class to make sure you feel comfortable and are not getting into anything too hairy. YOU NEVER STOP LEARNING With age comes………redundancy. Example: A 50 year old Realtor may say “I’ve been selling homes for 20 years; I’ve seen it all.” A 50-year-old Black Belt would NEVER say “I’ve seen it all.” The extreme variety, complexity, and intricacy of Jiu-Jitsu is enough to keep the interest of even the most education adults for decades; for many people it’s the only area of their life where they experience this variety. CONCLUSION If you’re seriously desiring positive changes in your life, (no matter what stage you may be in) your age should be the last reason keeping you from seeking out a Jiu-Jitsu academy. About The Author David Fox Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Brown Belt Instructor at Metro Jiu Jitsu (Southgate, MI) Metrojj.com 734-225-6230

THE OBVIOUS Newsflash: Kid’s don’t know what’s in their best interest. If they did, we wouldn’t need to tell them 467 times not to eat food off the ground, or play in the street, or finish their vegetables. It’s our job as parents or guardians to choose what is best for our children; we are not supposed to simply ask the child what we should do next. Can you imagine what that would look like? “Would you like to go school today or would you rather stay home?” “Do you think we should have Swedish fish for dinner or tacos?” “Would you prefer to exercise, or do you want to keep playing Fortnite?” “Do you enjoy doing your homework? No? Ok sweety, I’ll tell the teacher.” Do you see how ludicrous that is? So many times at Metro Jiu-Jitsu we’ll sit down with parents and tell them how Jiu-Jitsu will keep their child from being bullied, teach them discipline, give them confidence, and help with their ADHD. At the end of the conversation the parent is excited and feeling hopeful. Then, almost like a bad memory coming back, they lose their hopeful attitude and say “I just hope they like it.” Come again? If your doctor prescribed a medicine that could help your child, are you not going to give it to little Johnny because it tastes bad? Of course not! You’re going to make him take every last drop. THE SOLUTION The fact of the matter is Jiu-Jitsu provides far more benefits to your child than any other activity for equal or less money and kids love it! Out of all the kids we’ve had come through Metro Jiu-Jitsu, never has a family quit because their child hated the art. On the contrary we’ve had parents bring their child to us from other sports like baseball, soccer or gymnastics because they couldn’t hold their attention. THE TAKEAWAY Your child is completely reliant on your ability to make informed decisions that are good for them. Leaving the decision making up to your child is doing them a disservice. If you want to see what see how Jiu-Jitsu is different from traditional kid’s activities, reach out to us and try a class for free. See you on the mats.