Top Fighters Market Blogs of 2022
Who doesn’t like a good “Top 5” list? Whether you agree with the ranking or not, it always provides you with some good fodder to consider or argue with your friends about. In that spirit, I’m throwing in my list of the Top Fighters Market Blogs of 2022.
Yes, I wrote them all, and yes, I’m biased. But whether you’re brand new to jiu-jitsu, or a seasoned veteran, these are blogs that I think are well worth a good re-read… or read, if you’re encountering them for the first time.
So, without further ado… here are the top five(ish) blogs – in no particular order – from Fighters Market this year:
When you’ve been training for as long as I have, sometimes you forget about the struggles you had as a white belt. Sometimes you intentionally forget. The white belt years were not pretty, for anyone.
But as an instructor, I see many, many others fiercely addicted to jiu-jitsu but absolutely frustrated by the white belt journey. Many quit before that glorious moment when “things start to make sense.” This blog contains what I consider to be the most useful advice for anyone starting their jiu-jitsu journey. Tips such as “slow down” and “don’t be afraid to ask” will help make those excruciating months just a little bit less painful and awkward.
SERIES: What do the BJJ Belt Colors Mean
This is a two-part series that I actually really enjoyed writing. Why? Because it made me think about each of my own stages of the jiu-jitsu journey, and how that compares to journeys of others that I have come to know on the mat.
For me, the belt colors say a lot about where an individual is in his/her growth, and the kinds of challenges he/she is experiencing. So, in this blog, I give the reader a general idea of how long each belt level lasts (remember, there’s going to be a lot of variation here, depending on the academy), what to expect, and some useful things to keep in mind when you are going through that belt.
Oooo, yes, this one is near and dear to my heart. At the academy that I train at, I’m the enforcer when it comes to personal hygiene. And I do so for largely selfish reasons. The last thing I want is to have to spend time away from the mat because someone was inconsiderate or negligent about their own disgusting skin ailment.
I personally feel like these tips shouldn’t have to be said. But, unfortunately, they do. That’s just the world we live in. While reading this blog, keep in mind one thing: in jiu-jitsu we’re all up in each other’s business… so what you have, you’ll share to others, and what someone else has is going to be shared with you.
As I’ve aged, I’ve come to realize the gravity of the saying “work smarter, not harder.” In jiu-jitsu, this is all the more important, and not just for “Master” level athletes like myself. For all you young, limber whipper snappers, too. There’s only so much time that you can put into the mat before your body starts to break down. And you don’t want to be 23 years old with two knee replacements and a fused neck.
So, the best trick to improving your jiu-jitsu without destroying your body? Do other shit. Do yoga, strength train, bike, play chess, get into video games… anything else. Some of these might not seem like they’d help, but you’d be surprised. Oh, and drink water and get proper sleep.
SERIES: ADCC World Championships – The Numbers
This is another two-part series… and one in which I really got to nerd out on. It’s no secret – at least with those I train with – that I love the ADCC ruleset. I believe it’s the most exciting ruleset in jiu-jitsu. I’m also a huge numbers nerd. I love me a good statistic.
So, when the most anticipated event in jiu-jitsu - the ADCC World Championships – happened last September, I did what anyone in my position would do: I crunched the numbers. What was the most common submission? How many were veterans, and how many were making their ADCC debut? What was the average age of the competitors? Well, you have to read them to find out:
Did you like these? Find them useful or interesting? Think they’re full of baloney? Whatever the case may be, I hope it has inspired you to write your own blogs and create your own Top 5 list. You don’t have to be a black belt to share jiu-jitsu knowledge.
