Inverted Gear Blog
Tag: Matt Kirtley
Laying the Groundwork for a Mobility Practice [Part 1]
Are flexibility and mobility the same thing? When and how should you stretch for BJJ? In this first post in a new series on mobility training for BJJ, Matt answer these questions and clears up common confusions about stretching.
Accelerate Your Learning by Turning Drills into Games
Matt is back this week with how you can improve your drilling practice using the research on motor learning and the value of games.
Get More Gains Out of Open Mat
I’m going to make a bold assumption: You want to get better at BJJ. (I must be a mind reader.) Open mat can be a secret weapon in your training if you use it right. These tips will help make sure you do.
How to Wash, Dry, and Shrink (or Not Shrink) Your Gis
So you've got a fancy new gi and you want to do everything you can to keep it looking good and fitting right for a long time. Here's your guide to washing, drying, and shrinking (or not shrinking) your gis. Do I need to do a vinegar soak before washing a new gi for first time? No. This is not necessary for new gis. This practice comes from the idea that you need to "set" the dye so it does not run in the wash. Some gi companies may have problems with extra dye on their fabric so they can get a supersaturated color, and that first soak and wash helps remove dye that would run off, but the vinegar doesn't do...
How to: Tie Your BJJ Belt (Now with the Power of GIFs!)
Who knew belt tying was such a hot button topic? I shot this picture for 10 Things to Stop Doing at BJJ (A Picture Guide): And boy was I surprised by the rage it drew. "If belt rank doesn't matter, it shouldn't matter how you tie it! As long as it stays tied, who cares how you do it!? So what if I'm a purple belt who never learned to tie my belt!" Belts only cover two inches of your ass and [insert all the usual cliches about belt rank not mattering] but I still felt people out there could benefit from being shown two ways to tie the belt, one quick and easy, and the other deluxe way for special occasions. The...
Don't Sabotage Yourself
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a tough sport, both physically and mentally, and it’s hard enough without working against yourself. Here are four ways I see jiu-jiteiros self-sabotage: Psyching yourself out As a beginner, you are humbled on a daily basis. As a defense mechanic, it is common to develop a self-deprecating attitude and assume you were going to fail anyway. This may take the sting out of it, but it also becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. This negative attitude comes out in ways like telling higher belts things like “oh man, time for a beating” when you’re squaring up to spar. Speaking as a higher belt, I hate hearing these defeatist comments. Don’t let your opponent beat you before you’ve even fought....
Your Guide to the Best of the Inverted Gear Blog
We may not be able to solve all your problems, but odds are good we have your BJJ ones covered.
10 Things to Stop Doing at BJJ (A Picture Guide)
Meet John Q. Whitebelt. He's your everyday BJJ white belt. John does a lot of stuff wrong -- he is just a white belt after all. But you can learn from John's mistakes. Here are 10 things John does that you should not do at class.
Game Sense in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Thanks to Black Friday deals, I built a new PC and started playing Overwatch, the team-based competitive shooter. While I’m still a dirty scrub at that game, I have enjoyed looking into the world of professional players to pick up tips. A concept that comes up frequently is “game sense,” and it has applications to BJJ that I want to talk about here. Stick with me even if you're not a gamer -- it will be worth it. Game sense is the ability to understand the current state of the game and predict what the opponents are going to do so you can act accordingly. Your mechanical skills are your aim, movement, positioning, reflexes, etc., while game sense is the...