The Dojo Blog

In his final writings from the Reigando cave, Miyamoto Musashi spoke of "The Void" - a state of no-mindedness where technique transcends conscious thought. This concept, known as "Ku" in Japanese, finds profound application in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu...

When we roll, there comes a moment where thinking stops and pure reaction takes over. This is not mere muscle memory, but something deeper - a state where your body moves in perfect harmony with the opponent's energy, finding openings that the conscious mind could never calculate fast enough...

Guard passing is one of the fundamental skills that separates beginners from intermediate practitioners. Today, we'll explore five high-percentage guard passes that every white belt should master...

• The Knee Slice Pass - Your bread and butter
• The Toreando Pass - Speed and pressure combined
• The Stack Pass - When you need to shut down flexible guards
• The Leg Drag - Modern and effective
• The Over-Under Pass - Pressure passing at its finest

"I'm too old to start." "I'm not flexible enough." "I need to get in shape first." These are the most common concerns I hear from prospective students. Let me tell you why each of these beliefs is not just wrong, but actually backwards...

The Japanese concept of "Shoshin" or beginner's mind is not a weakness - it's a superpower. When you start BJJ with no preconceptions, you absorb techniques like a sponge. You ask questions without ego. You tap early and tap often, learning from every submission...

Tournament day. Your heart races, your palms sweat, and suddenly every technique you've drilled for months seems to vanish from memory. Sound familiar? The samurai faced this same challenge before battle, and their mental preparation techniques are surprisingly applicable to BJJ competition...

The concept of "Zanshin" - continuing awareness - teaches us that the match begins long before we step on the mat. Your preparation, your warm-up, even how you tie your belt - all of these are part of the combat ritual that prepares your mind for battle...