To a dedicated Jiu Jitsu goer an injury can feel like a death sentence.  BJJ is more than just a hobby for many of us, it becomes a way of life, an extended family, a source of potent inner happiness and peace.  Sometimes though, an injury will sideline us, even in the times we feel the best we are still vulnerable to this possibility.   Injuries can vary greatly in severity, amount of time off, and interventions for the injury.  Outside of the normal medical interventions (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, physical To a dedicated Jiu Jitsu goer an injury can feel like a death sentence.  BJJ is more than just a hobby for many of us, it becomes a...

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  No matter what way you look at it and no matter how seasoned a competitor you may be, competition is stressful.  Many times we spend weeks, months, even years, all training for a single competition.  When you spend all this time preparing for a single event, you motivate yourself each day by reminding yourself of the approaching competition.  It’s no wonder why its so stressful when you finally arrive on the day of the tournament. Many people claim to have the perfect routine or plan to combat the anxiety of competition, but I believe the right answer for you will be unique and different than anyone else’s.  Some people have a hard time staying too calm when they compete,...

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Hello Panda Nation,   It’s been a while since you heard from us, but it’s been PANDAmonium at Inverted Gear HQ! Here’s a nice big update for all our loyal pandas out there.   Panda Nation Athletes at the PANDAmerican Jiu Jitsu Championship! To recap some of the things our awesome athletes have been doing, we’re happy to say that two of our sponsored athletes placed at the Pan American Jiu Jitsu Championships! Megan Nevill of the Gracie Elite Team placed second in women’s adult black belt middleweight, and Rachel Demara of the Big Brothers Academy took third place in women’s adult black belt medium-heavy. Good job ladies! Also, we’re happy to introduce John “The Show” Cho to Team Panda....

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  After you suffer a loss in competition it’s easy to feel like your loss on the mat extends into every aspect of your life. Making yourself vulnerable and putting yourself out there sometimes inevitably leads to disappointment and failure, but there are some things that can help you get back on the mat in a positive state of mind. Know that every failure brings with it a seed of equivalent opportunity. The great writer Napoleon Hill, writer of Think and Grow Rich, repeated this theme over and over again in his book about successful people.  He showed countless stories where successful people met failure head on, and saw those failures as stepping stones towards success. Every time you lose...

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