When I was first learning how to teach, certain “best practices” were common knowledge. These were the “right” ways to be a good teacher, run a good class, and design a good curriculum. You see these in the teaching g...
Posted on April 25, 2019
Matt Kirtley
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Over my years in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, I’ve come up with a theory of four archetypes for like-minded jiu-jiteiros that I call The Competitor, The Scholar, The Hobbyist, and The Traditionalist. Let me describe these arc...
Posted on April 10, 2019
Matt Kirtley
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Sometimes life gets in the way of BJJ. Accidents and injuries will knock you out of training. When you are sidelined with an injury, illness, or even a blessing like a new baby or a job promotion, it’s easy to go stir...
Posted on March 27, 2019
Matt Kirtley
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We all want to discover the “secret” to quick gains. That’s why we buy DVDs, go to seminars, and get private lessons. That’s how fitness companies sell us workout gizmos and dietary supplements. And if we’re being hon...
Posted on February 12, 2019
Matt Kirtley
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Several years ago, I became interested in a vegan diet for ethical and environmental reasons, but at the time, I did not know anyone else in BJJ who was vegan or eating a plant-based diet, so I was not sure it was pos...
Posted on January 29, 2019
Matt Kirtley
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For many white belts, earning a blue belt can seem like the ultimate prize, but it can also be the source of so much anxiety. This guide will show you the right way to approach setting goals around belt ranks.
Posted on January 19, 2019
Matt Kirtley
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Learning to see the concepts behind techniques accelerates your learning by leaps and bounds. In his latest blog post, Matt talks about how to shift into this concept-based mindset.
Posted on December 12, 2018
Matt Kirtley
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Are you struggling as a white belt? The good news is you’re not alone and you’re not unique in your challenges. In this article, I’m going to lay out many of the struggles white belts experience, including ones that g...
Posted on November 06, 2018
Matt Kirtley
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Being able to reverse engineer a technique gives you deeper understanding of it and helps you develop counters. Matt explains how to adopt this critical mindset in his latest blog post.
Posted on October 24, 2018
Matt Kirtley
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Staying clean and healthy is fundamental to a good training experience. This guide will make sure you don't miss mat time due to stinky gear or itchy rashes.
Posted on October 09, 2018
Matt Kirtley
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Matt goes back to basic basics in this week's blog post about the bedrock concepts of BJJ. This is a must-read for new white belts.
Posted on September 25, 2018
Matt Kirtley
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Matt hit the six year milestone as a black belt this year. What has changed over that time?
Posted on September 11, 2018
Matt Kirtley
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