How to improve your BJJ off the mats
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is addictive – which is why people from all across Sutherland Shire come to train at Gracie Miranda up to 5 or 6 times a week. However, if you want to optimise your game and extend your Jiu Jitsu lifespan, there’s plenty you can do off the mats too. Being a grappling […]
How long do I need to train martial arts to be a self defence master?
We’re lucky in Sutherland Shire: Compared to many places in the rest of the world, areas like Miranda and Cronulla are safe. But as anyone who watches or reads any news knows, that doesn’t mean we don’t have to worry about personal safety. That brings us to martial arts and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). Some […]
Will Sport Jiu Jitsu prepare me for self defence situations?
A new student from Caringbah recently asked me: “Does Sport Jiu Jitsu prepare you for defending yourself in the street”? Whilst my first reaction to this question is a resounding “Yes”. It is a little more complicated than that. Lets explore this subject a little further. Jiu Jitsu practicioners should feel that their training will […]
Gi vs No Gi
Since opening Gracie Miranda, we’ve had people from Cronulla and all over the Sutherland Shire start training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Every now and then we have students come in who only want to do no gi. They often site various reasons why they prefer no gi. Is no gi more practical? Let’s explore this topic. […]
The BJJ Time machine!
I was down at Cronulla in the Sutherland Shire recently and I ran into a friend. He asked me “If you could go back in time and talk to your white belt self, what would you tell yourself?” I thought that this was a great question and that I’d share my answer with you all […]
The great debate! Sport Jiu Jitsu vs self defence
Since starting Jiu Jitsu there has been a lot of discussion whether Sport Jiu Jitsu is a good thing. The root of this martial art is in self-defence. Meaning that practitioners can defend themselves in all manner of situations. Especially in the real world. Has the proliferation of sport jiu jitsu affected its real-world application? […]
Getting good at Brazilian jiu jitsu. How long does it take?
It’s a well publicized fact that Brazilian jiu jitsu takes a long time to get to your black belt. The average time it takes to achieve this is usually around 10 years. There are some individuals like BJ Penn and Kit Dale, who have amazing rapid rises up the ranks to very high levels. But […]
(Part 2): What should I expect when I start training?
Now that we’ve chosen where to train, what should you expect from your first few months of training? We know that its going to be hard. But to quote Fred DeVito “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you”. Physically its going to be demanding You will be sore in places you didn’t know […]
(Part 1): Choosing a Martial Arts academy? Which one should I choose?
This is a question I get asked a lot. Aside from choosing a martial art, what should you look for in a martial arts academy? There are many factors to consider. This is a vital step. You are going to commit time, effort and money into an academy, so you want to make sure you […]
Am I too old to start Jiu Jitsu?
Over my years of doing martial arts many new students have asked me, “Am I too old to start Jiu Jitsu?” Well the short answer is a resounding NO! I’ve seen men and women well into their 50’s and 60’s start Gracie jiu jitsu and get a new lease on life. I have friends who […]