Category Archives: Health & Nutrition
How to Train BJJ, even with an Injured Arm (Drill)
This article and video are about how to train and continue to make progress in BJJ when you’re dealing with an arm injury.
Now I hope that you go through your entire BJJ career without ever suffering a single injury. But this is a contact sport, and therefore you’re probably going to get a little banged up from time to time. (more…)
20,000 lbs of snow and the true meaning of self defense...
This is a rather rambling post; in the words of Mark Twain, “I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.”
First, and most importantly, I really hope that you had a great Christmas (or alternate celebration of your choice). And that you got to spend time with friends, family and loved ones.
Next, congratulations on surviving the Mayan Calendar Apocalypse! (more…)
How Not to Break Your Neck Doing Takedowns
There’s no getting around it, all contact sports are inherently dangerous. And it’s hard to have more contact in a sport than in MMA.
Now it’s true that MMA might not be the most dangerous contact sport – that dubious title could arguably go to boxing or pro football – but in the past few years there have still been been some very, very serious injuries in MMA related to takedowns… (more…)
Preventing Achy Elbows (and Getting a Killer Grip)
A lot of grapplers have creaky joints, and tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are just two of the most common overtraining injuries you’re likely to encounter at the club. Here’s one grappler’s solution to his grappling-induced elbow problems. (more…)
Here’s a reader question that turned into quite the 3-way discussion….
Q: Hi Stephan, I twisted my foot badly around 18 months ago. I tore a load of ligaments and was out of action for a bit. (more…)
'Making Weight' - The Effects of Dehydration on Physiological Functioning
Many combat sport competitors cut weight. Many fighters cut 20 or more pounds, and then rehydrate, trying to put most of those pounds back on between weigh-in and competition. (more…)
Yoga for BJJ: A Personal Challenge
An individual seeking to become a complete martial athlete cannot afford to leave the ancient practice of yoga out of his/her training regimen. No other exercise addresses and develops as many physical AND mental attributes as yoga does. (more…)
Perfect Peaking 1: Preventing Overtraining in MMA, BJJ, and Submission Grappling Training
By Stephan Kesting
Originally published in Ultimate Athlete, March 2003
The hard time for the training is already passed” – Rickson Gracie in Choke, before the 1995 Japan Vale Tudo Fighting Championship (more…)
PERFECT PEAKING PART 2: Tapering and Peaking for MMA and Grappling Competition
By Stephan Kesting
Originally published in Ultimate Athlete, June 2003
Introduction
| “Proper planning and preparation prevents piss-poor performance” - the 7 “P’s” of the British SAS (more…) |
19 Tips on Lifting Weights for Martial Arts
In the not-so-distant past weight training was discouraged for martial artists. “It will make you slow”, “it will make you muscle-bound”, and “all you need is technique” were common opinions from the ‘experts’. (more…)
Torn ACL Info for BJJ / MMA / Judo / Grapplers FAQ (ver 1.2)
Stephan’s Note: The following FAQ was first published on the mma.tv forum by ‘The Stewed Owl.’ I thought it was so valuable that I contacted the author and asked him if I could republish it on Grapplearts. He kindly agreed, so here it is!
This FAQ is a work in progress, since the topic of ACL injuries comes up so often. I will refine it and add links when I have time, including the posted experiences of other MMA.TV members such as eabeam and tyrian. (more…)
Yoga for Grappling, the Secret of Champions
“I was relaxed doing yoga and this gave me the equilibrium to fight well”
- Wallid Ismael commenting on preparing, and winning, his Jiu-jitsu match against Royce Gracie, December 1998
Introduction
You don’t have to look far to find yoga in grappling. (more…)
The Care and Treatment of Ringworm
What is Ringworm?
Ringworm is actually a fungus, not a worm. The first symptom of ringworm is severe localized itchiness. Basically it starts out as a little, red, itchy pimple. Soon this grows to solid pink circles on the skin, usually between the size of a pimple and a quarter. (more…)
Getting Big And Strong On A Vegan Diet
by Mike Mahler, RKC
I thought that this article was a nice counterpoint to the usual nutrition-for-bodybuilding articles one reads in magazines and on the internet. While I am not a vegetarian myself it IS something that I respect and aspire towards. (more…)
by Martin Rooney, MHS, PT, CSCS, NASM
Have any of you ever watched a weight class fight in which one fighter looks far bigger and heavier than the other even though they weighed exactly the same amount the day before? (more…)
Cauliflower Ears in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Stephan’s Note: the material in this article comes from a number of sources. The photo and the first perspective were contributed by The Fightworks Podcast (more…)
Michael Jen BJJ Interview
Stephan’s Note: Michael Jen is a BJJ Black Belt based in Northern California. He’s contributed a LOT to the art via his videos, seminars and forum posts, so I was glad to get his input on improving your BJJ skills (and it turns out that it’s all YOUR responsibility). (more…)
No cauliflower for you!
Some grapplers think that cauliflower ears are a status symbol.
Others think that it’s gross.
Some people can train for 20 years and still have perfectly shaped ears.
Others need to wear headgear all the time or their ears start getting lumpier and lumpier.
(more…)
Don't make this classic training error!
About 10 years ago I was talking to a pioneer of early MMA. This fighter trained all the time, even between fights.
But whenever he had a fight coming up he’d go absolutely mental and grind himself down into an exhausted mess. (more…)
Life in Hollywood North, and an Important Article
I’ve got to be quick with this blog post. We’ve been in studio almost continuously for three days, filming what might be my most ambitious video project ever.
And we’ve got to get back at it really soon. (I’m super excited about this project btw. (more…)
When it comes to supplements, most people either take nothing at all or far too many!
And most serious grapplers go through a phase of taking tons of supplements in hopes of boosting their jiu-jitsu game. (more…)
Lose Fat or Gain Muscle First?
Although I take my own nutrition very seriously, I don’t normally get involved in the weight loss field – it’s just not my area of specialization (‘dammit Jim, I’m a grappler, not a nutritionist…’) (more…)
A bunch of people have recently emailed me, basically asking if I’m still alive. I haven’t been sending out my normal volume of grappling tips and beginner lessons recently, and they want to know why! (more…)
My 23 Year Nutritional Streak, Broken...
I have this thing against Mc Donalds’ Restaurants. It’s partially the taste, partially the poor nutritional quality of the food, and partially because the multinational logo of “billions and billions served” drives me nuts. (more…)
The last blog post (Choke Recovery in Grappling) prompted some lively discussion and debate when I posted it on the Sherdog Grappling Forum and on MMA.tv. I also received a number of emails on the topic. (more…)
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