Entries by savarese

Taking notes in Jiu-Jitsu

Taking notes in Jiu-Jitsu Taking notes in Jiu-Jitsu is something I am a big believer. First of all, I am a believer in the notion that to a large degree, Jiu-Jitsu is a knowledge game. Of course, knowledge is not the whole story. Until KNOWLEDGE is translated into SKILL, it is of little practical value […]

Joint lock submissions in BJJ

Joint lock submissions in BJJ When it come to Joint lock submissions in BJJ, don’t be in a hurry to extend the limb. There are two ways to submit an opponent in Jiu-Jitsu, chokes and joint locks. Overall, I believe chokes are the more effective of the two but joint locks are still a truly […]

BJJ: Are you casual or are you serious?

BJJ: Are you casual or are you serious? BJJ: Are you casual or are you serious? One of the first things we ask a new student who wants to become a student here at Savarese BJJ Academy (www.njbjj.com) is “are you casual or are you serious?” Casual vs. Serious: It’s important to know what your […]

Managing your emotions in BJJ

Managing your emotions in BJJ Today I want to talk about managing your emotions in BJJ. Emotional state management in Jiu-Jitsu and even in life for that matter is a critical skill to develop. It’s something we really focus on at Savarese BJJ (www.njbjj.com). Jiu-Jitsu rewards you when you give attention to “the main thing”. For […]

Improvement has a cost in BJJ

Improvement has a cost in BJJ Improvement has a cost in BJJ. Let be honest, improvement has a cost in almost everything we do, not just BJJ. First of all, it takes time and effort to make something better. It’s also hazardous because trying to make things BETTER might actually make them WORSE. With that […]

Principles in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Principles in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Learning the principles in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the foundation of our art. All the best Academies and Jiu-Jitsu teachers everywhere don’t just teach “moves”, they teach principles of the art. With regards to Jiu-Jitsu technique, fashions come and go. What is popular today can be replaced by tomorrow. But underneath that […]

The first points of contact in BJJ

The first points of contact in BJJ Today, I want to talk about the first points of contact in BJJ….hands and head. Hands and head is something we talk about this a lot at Savarese BJJ (www.njbjj.com). When you first make contact with an opponent, whether it be standing or from seated guard situations, the […]

Always dictate the pace in BJJ

Always dictate the pace in BJJ Always dictate the pace in BJJ, this is something I preach almost every single class here at Savarese Jiu-Jitsu Academy (www.northnjbjj.com). Create a strong initial threat and you will own the next move almost 100% of the time. If you can put your opponent under extreme pressure with a […]

Legs vs head in BJJ

Legs vs head in BJJ Fighting legs vs head in BJJ, specifically your legs vs their head, is one of the best forms of control in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. here at Savarese BJJ Academy (www.njbjj.com), one of the basic features of Jiu-Jitsu is the notion of controlling greater strength and aggression with lesser strength and aggression […]

Fatigue is the ultimate submission in BJJ

Fatigue is the ultimate submission in BJJ Fatigue is the ultimate submission in BJJ. We all have our favorite submission holds, but people who get tired will eventually “break”. The legendary football coach Vince Lombardi had a great quote about this…”Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” In time, I hope you develop at least five […]