I’ve been sitting back and dissecting my game and realized a major flaw. For a few months now, I’ve been working on staying less tense during stand up and staying calm on the ground. It sounds really strange to keep yourself relaxed during a fight but the only person who can tire me the most is myself. I remember one night where I did just 3 minutes of mitt work, but I was completely drained afterwards. It was due to my tense fighting stance. I know for a fact I can do 5 rounds of mitt work at Camp Asia with no problem, so cardio wasn’t an issue. I’ve had this issue during boxing training also, a tense boxing guard.

In Jiu Jitsu if you’re too tense and not breathing, you’re as good as done if you can’t get a submission in a minute. I can’t stress enough the importance of keeping your hands up but keeping your muscles relaxed. A tense boxing guard will not protect you anymore than a relaxed guard. So breathe, keep your head clear and your muscles relaxed. Just remember, tense muscles require a lot of energy.

Some tips

• Breathe, breathe, breathe. Practice training with your mouthpiece in.
• Shadowbox and keep your muscles loose.
• When punching, don’t tighten your fist until you connect with the punch
• Get a good stretch routine before and after class.
• Yoga will help you breathe and increase flexibility.

Related posts:

1. Camp Asia (Part 1) – Mitt Work
2. Ringside Heavy Hitters Review
3. 9 Lessons I’ve Learned From Jiu Jitsu So Far