Ricardo Castaneda - JiuJitsu Magazine

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Ricardo Castaneda

The White Belt Curse

The White Belt Curse

Most jiu-jitsu practitioners can recall their first days of training, falling in love with the art, and expressing the desire to start training as often as possible. For most jiu-jitsu beginners, the intent is to be there frequently, training hard in order to maximize progress and get ahead

The Do’s and Don’ts of Training through the Holidays: ‘Tis the Season to Stay Moving

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The Do’s and Don’ts of Training through the Holidays: ‘Tis the Season to Stay Moving

The holidays are a tumultuous time for training jiu-jitsu. This is the time of year where most people completely fall off the self-improvement grid and opt instead for glorious feasts and more rest days than training days. This is not limited to jiu-jitsu practitioners. For everyone, the

Do’s and Don’ts Being a Lifelong Practitioner

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do's and don'ts

Do’s and Don’ts Being a Lifelong Practitioner

Flow States - Optimizing Your Jiu-Jitsu Experience

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Flow States - Optimizing Your Jiu-Jitsu Experience

The state of optimal mental and physical performance a person experiences when “in the zone” is also known as a “flow state”. Flow states are reached when an athlete or performer has reached a peak state of total immersion and enjoyment with laser focus in a task. In a state

How to Relax for More Effective Jiu-Jitsu

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jiu-jitsu mindset

How to Relax for More Effective Jiu-Jitsu

Getting the Fight to the Ground

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do's and don'ts

Getting the Fight to the Ground

Getting the fight to the ground is the first step to jiu-jitsu practice since the ground is where we can neutralize our opponent’s strength and size advantages. Takedowns, thus, are an essential part of learning jiu-jitsu. The truth is; however, most people are quite uncomfortable with takedowns.

Work Your Neck! - Iron Neck Review

Work Your Neck! - Iron Neck Review

4 Supplements EVERY Grappler should Take [Plus a BONUS]

4 Supplements EVERY Grappler should Take [Plus a BONUS]

As the head instructor of a jiu-jitsu academy, I field many questions about training jiu-jitsu. Most of the time, new grapplers want to know about techniques, concepts, and other philosophies that will help them improve. Further, I’m even asked about lifestyle habits such as how I eat,

Overcoming Plateaus

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do's and don'ts

Overcoming Plateaus

A typical learning curve is characterized by a slow start, rapid acceleration, and finally, the dreaded plateau. At first, most people have difficulty learning a new skill because many of the initial concepts are foreign. In jiu-jitsu, this is akin to learning the names of positions and techniques as

What You Can Control in Jiu-Jitsu: Focus Internally and Stay the Course

One of the biggest challenges to learning the Gentle Art is the inability to control most things jiu-jitsu throws our way. In jiu-jitsu, just as in life, there are many situations beyond our control. Events come up that keep us off the mats, we train with partners that

Giving and Receiving Training Advice

One of the wonderful things about training Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is that there is an endless amount of methods and variations for just about every technique. The near infinite ways to train and practice gives rise to multiple perspectives that are never right nor wrong. Throughout our journeys, we will

do's and don'ts

Overcoming Fear of Failure in Jiu-jitsu

Achievement motivation is the need for an individual to show competency in a skill area. For someone practicing jiu-jitsu, achievement motivation would be a central tenet for the practitioner to behave in a way that leads to effective learning and application of the Gentle Art. Research into the psychology

Buyers Guide: Meal Replacement Bars

If you are an athlete, eating can be a full-time job. The more active you are, the more calories you burn, and replacing those calories is crucial to maintain performance, overall health, and wellbeing. In order to raise caloric intake, many people turn to meal replacement options for their

The Psychology of Healthier Eating for Jiu-Jitsu

The Psychology of Healthier Eating for Jiu-Jitsu

Implementing Long-Term Changes One Habit at a Time Eating well is important for general health and critical for athletic performance. If you put garbage into your body, you will put garbage out. In jiu-jitsu, eating right can have a significant impact in performance and recovery, and the more