Fighter — top_cat

So you've survived your first few weeks of jiu jitsu. You probably still don't know what to do with your hands, you may or may not have mastered how to tie your belt, you've discovered that you need more than one jiu jitsu gi, and you're starting to recognize some of the standard jiu jitsu lingo. 

Now you're wondering what all this "drilling" stuff is about. Don't worry, we got you... 

Drilling 101

As I've mentioned before, drilling is the part of jiu jitsu training that consists of many, many... many repetitions of a technique or set of techniques. The idea is that if you do something often enough, it becomes "muscle memory" and it takes less conscious effort to do it in the future. 

Now this may sound pretty self-explanatory... "Just do it a bunch of times, right?" Well, yes, but there are some subtleties that you should be aware of that may not always be vocalized:

For the Love of God, Start Slow

The worst thing you can do is try to drill a technique as fast as your professor or coach showed it to you. The only reason they can do it so fast and smooth is because they've done it a thousand times already. Until you've spent as many untold hours on the mat - and have developed the same jiu jitsu acumen - you're not going to look that good. Worse, if you try to go full speed, you're bound to skip some key steps, and you ultimately won't learn how to properly execute the technique. So start slow, go step-by-step. Nobody's going to think less of you for it... we've all been there. Once you begin to get the hang of it, then pick up the tempo.

No, XX Times Each is Not Enough

My biggest pet peeve is when someone - anyone - does a technique a few times and then sits there with his/her partner until the professor calls time. It's said that you have to practice something "between 500 and 5,000 times" before it becomes reflex. If you're there on the mat already, use that time wisely. Make some progress toward that first 500. Otherwise, you'll give the impression that you don't really care enough to put in the work. Few things are more insulting to the person who took his/her time to show you that technique. 

Drilling Outside of Class

Drilling isn't just an activity reserved for that 30 or so minutes during class between warm-ups and sparring. You can drill anytime, anywhere. In fact, it's highly encouraged that you drill outside of class. You can't possibly get your 500-5,000 reps in entirely during class hours. So find a buddy and schedule in some time - an hour at the very least - during the week to work on some of the techniques that you've learned recently and/or those you would like to improve upon. In fact, you might even get lucky and some upper belt will happen by and give you some additional pointers. 

Levels of Drilling

There's no single way to drill. Indeed, there are "levels" of drilling: 

• Single Technique - Just as it sounds, this involves doing a single technique (one sweep, one pass, one takedown, one guard pull, one submission, etc.) over and over again.
• Sequential - This involves linking two or more techniques together, and doing that over and over again. For example: start standing, pull guard, go straight into a sweep, right into a pass, finish with a choke. Then doing that series over and over again.
• Responsive - This takes sequential drilling to the next level, whereby your partner changes the scenarios a little bit. For example, if the sequence is to go from pass to back take, your partner may give you a different guard to pass each time. This kind of drilling is especially useful for the days leading up to tournaments. 
• R&D - This is a more relaxed, open-ended kind of drilling, where you and your partner may do a combination of all of the above, working on a specific technique and exploring any and all scenarios that might arise. This involves a lot of discussion, and you may or may not break a sweat. 

Now that you have a better understanding of the world of drilling, we hope you can see how incredibly beneficial it is to your jiu jitsu journey. 

Train... and drill... on. Oss.

Here at Fighters Market, we pride ourselves on stocking the best brands in the industry. So what would we be if we didn't offer products from one of the most recognizable brands in sport jiu jitsu? 

Kingz Kimonos has been producing top quality gis, no-gi gear, and apparel since 2011. However, in recent years, they've really begun to ramp up their investment in R&D and quality control, in an effort to both set themselves apart from the rest of the competition, and give their customers a product that really works on the mat. 

The magic behind the brand is that nearly everyone there trains, and most of them compete... so they know what works, what doesn't, and what the evolving needs are of the modern jiu jitsu practitioner. They essentially have their fingers on the pulse of the jiu jitsu industry, and they're able to both keep up with the trends, as well as set some off themselves.  

For example, have you checked out their Balistico 2.0 gi, yet? This thing is one indestructible piece of battle armor... which is probably why they gave it a military-influenced theme. The jacket features 100% preshrunk mid-weight 480 GSM cotton, patented Coolmax shoulder lining - to keep you cool even during the most rigorous training - and specially designed NO-GRIP sleeve lining (a second layer of ripstop material sewn into the bottom portion of the sleeves, which help prevent your opponent getting a solid grip). 

And since introducing their newly designed women's cut, they've been rocking the women's market ever since. Plus, unlike most brands which offer one or two - or no - women's gis, they feature the women's cut in almost all of their gi models - the Basic 2.0, Comp 450 V5, Nano ultra-light, and Balistico 2.0 - and have size options from F0 to F5, so you're bound to find something that fits you well and looks sharp on the mat. 

You might have noticed that their No-Gi gear has started to take on a new "timeless yet edgy" look. That's because they've also invested heavily in their design team, so they can bring you the freshest and most stylish gear out there. I mean, check out their Crown 3.0 Ranked Rash Guard!

But don't take our word for it... have you seen their impressive roster of sponsored athletes?! You know Leandro Lo - one of the biggest names in the sport jiu jitsu industry right now - wouldn't just trust any old brand. 

With so much momentum going already, you can be sure to expect some really cool things coming out of Kingz in the coming year! So stay tuned...

Train on. Oss!

Look across the mats of any Brazilian jiu jitsu competition and you'll see a wide variety of gi brands, but only a few seem to dominate the market more than the rest. One of these is Tatami. And the gi of choice for a lot of these competitors? The Tatami Estilo. 

As I've said before, there's a reason a gi is in it's umpteenth version... because it's a good one. Most jiu jitsu practitioners are an interesting mix of die-hard brand loyalists and demanding connoisseurs of well-fitted gis. It's really hard to find a "former" Tatami fan. Why? Because the brand delivers. But those same fans aren't hesitant to make their preferences known. If a gi model doesn't fit, they won't buy it, and it fades from the lineup. 

Now in its - incredibly - sixth edition, Tatami Estilo 6.0 is one of those gis with serious lasting power in the market. 

The Tatami Estilo has always been a competitor-friendly gi, featuring a durable mid-weight 550 GSM pearl weave jacket and 12 oz canvas pants. Sure, you can find gis with lighter jackets and pants, but remember: the lighter the material, the shorter its lifespan. Tatami designed their gis, and particularly their Estilo, to last, no matter how hard you train or how many times you step on the competition mat.  

The Estilo also features a nicely tailored competition cut: roomy enough in key areas (such as the shoulders) to allow unrestricted movement, but more streamlined in others (the sleeves and lower pant area) to keep your opponent from getting a solid grip. The jacket's unique Y-shaped jacket vent also creates a more fitted silhouette, so you look as sharp as James Bond in a fine Italian suit. 

The best part? The Tatami Estilo features an impressive range of sizes, accommodating just about any body type and size. In addition to their standard men's sizing, they also offer "S" (short), "L" (long), and "XL" (extra-long) sizes. Among the first brands to do so, they also offer a cut especially designed for women, offering the standard women's sizes, as well as "C" (curvy) and "L" (long) fits. 

Want to know more? Check out their promotional video below: 

Let's face it: jiu jitsu isn't like playing patty cake. Despite it's name, it's really hard not to get some kind of injury over the course of your journey in this sometimes not-so-gentle martial art. If you haven't had at least some kind of tweak or sprain yet, you either haven't trained long enough... or you're not training hard enough.

Either way, at some point in your jiu jitsu career, you will have to become familiar with taping. We're here to make sure you're doing it right. Read on... 

Types of Tape

Not all tape is the same. While you might be most familiar with that white, "felt" athletic tape (often left littered across the mat after a training session), there are many types used for athletic support. Which one you choose to use depends on what you're looking to do. In the last decade, kinesiology tape has become a mainstay in the athletic community for relieving pain, reducing inflammation and providing flexible support to any area of the body imaginable. These benefits come from the tape creating "a microscopic lifting action," pulling the skin and fascia away from the inflamed muscle, relieving pressure from the lymph and blood vessels, as well as the nerves that trigger pain responses, essentially activating "both neurological and circulatory healing mechanisms." However, some injuries require more rigid support, preventing the injured joint from moving in a way that could aggravate the injury.  

Preparation

Especially if you're using kinesiology tape - which can cost a pretty penny - you don't want to just slap it on willy-nilly. In jiu jitsu, we sweat. If you haven't properly prepared the area, that tape is going to come off within the first few minutes of the roll. Before you tape up, make sure your skin is clean, dry and free of any oils or creams, so that it sticks well. A pre-tape adhesive spray is also an option if you really want some lasting power. If you're a hairy dude (or dudette, we don't judge), you should also consider shaving the area to be taped, which also makes the adhesive stick better... and helps prevent any painful removal. However, some resources say to avoid shaving, as "hair follicles have receptors, which give your brain feedback."

Know Your Body

The most important thing in taping an injury - or even to prevent an injury - is to know the structure and operation of your ligaments (the bands of elastic tissue around your joints that connect bone to bone). That makes it much easier for you to determine where to place your strips tape in order to support whatever body part it is you're trying to target. Failing to do so will most certainly fail to provide the support you intended, and could even cause more injury by impeding the natural movement of your joint. You don't have to be an expert physical therapist, but you can do some research so you have some basic knowledge of the affected area.  

Notes on Applying

There's no shortage of step-by-step guides and videos out there on exactly how to tape a specific injury, so I'm not going to go into detail on that. However, here are a few guiding principles that you should follow while taping: 

• When taping around a limb, avoid applying the tape perpendicular. Because our limbs aren't the same circumference down the entire length, taping across creates uneven pressure at the top and bottom of the tape. This is not such a problem with stretchy kinesiology tape, but still a good rule to follow. 
• Don't tape too loose or too tight. Loose taping doesn't provide the support needed, but taping too tight will restrict the blood flow below the limb. Some tape loosens up a bit after taping, but if you're starting to lose feeling to your extremities, or if the tape is irritating your skin, remove it immediately and try again. 
• Research, research, research. You can't become a taping master overnight. There are a ton of great taping guides out there from real sports physical therapists. Use them. 

Taping Guides: 

If you haven't already browsed the links peppered throughout the article above, check out these great resources for more information and taping instruction guides: 

• "Strapping and Taping" by Sports Injury Clinic
• "Taping Guide" by First Aid 4 Sport
• "Kinesiology Tape - the Facts" by TheraTape
• "How, When, And Why To Use Athletic Tape" by BodyBuilding.com

Remember, the best way to avoid injury is to tap early, and tap often. However, sometimes shi... "stuff" happens on the mat. Being knowledgable about taping and how to do it effectively will help you get back on the mat in no time!

Train on... safely. Oss. 

There's nothing like some good ol' motivational videos to get you fired up to do something great with your life, whatever it may be. While jiu jitsu itself has no shortage of intrinsic motivation, there are still those moments you might need some inspiring words, paired with dramatic music and exciting visuals, to get you off your tush and out on the mat.

So rather than spend hours of your precious mat time on YouTube looking for the perfect video to do just that... we've done it for you! Check out our top picks: 

ADCC 2011 Highlight 

This is the first video that came to mind when I decided to do this blog. One of the videos that put renowned jiu jitsu filmmaker Stuart Cooper on the map, the ADCC 2011 Highlight still gives me goosebumps every time I watch it. Featuring the some of jiu jitsu's most legendary fighters of all time, and paired with the powerful tunes of The Jezabel's "A Little Piece", Cooper's highlight perfectly captures the the incredible visuals and raw emotions of one of the most prestigious grappling tournaments in the world, the ADCC Championships. 

The Spirit Of BJJ: IBJJF 2017 World Championships

Not only has FloGrappling taken media coverage of sport jiu jitsu to an entirely new level, but their exclusive front row seat and large professional team of videographers, editors and graphic designers has enabled them to capture some of the most powerful and exciting visuals of the sport's greatest jiu jitsu event - the IBJJF World Championships - and harness them into what I think is best jiu jitsu highlight video ever produced. Even someone who has never stepped foot on the mat - who doesn't even know what jiu jitsu is - would be hard pressed to resist the urge to compete after watching this.  

JiuJitsu - A Way Of Life

Another Stuart Cooper gem (there are a lot), this one speaks to the heart of every jiu jitsu practitioner out there, competitor or not. Featuring dialogue from some of the most iconic personas in the jiu jitsu community - Roberto "Cyborg" Abreu, Andre Galvao, Dean Lister, Rafael Lovato, Jr., Joe Rogan - this video speaks to the power of jiu jitsu: it's not just a hobby, it's a life-changing force in one's life and a never-ending journey.   

Essence of Jiu.Jitsu

It's easy to see why this video, uploaded by Checkmat black belt Marcio Reis, has over 2.2 million views. Set to Awolnation's "Sail" (probably one of the most-used songs for sports highlight videos of any kind), this video highlights all those gritty, behind-the-scenes moments of endless, exhaustive drilling and training that goes into the making of a jiu jitsu champion.

Of course, there is a ton of awesome jiu jitsu related motivational and highlight videos out there, so don't be surprised if you suddenly find yourself hours-deep into YouTube...

We proudly take credit for that. 

Train on. Oss.