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Reflect on Your Game #1: Breathing for Jiu Jitsu

Reflect on Your Game #1: Breathing for Jiu Jitsu

I have been considering how we can best progress our Martial Arts through reflection. The purpose of the series is to have the Martial Arts practitioner look critically on an aspect of their current game so that when you do come to train you have some clarity and focus that will hopefully accelerate our progress. It is critical to control one’s breathing when starting Jiu Jitsu in order to both think clearly and to increase endurance. Well controlled breathing will be metered and metronome like with a general maintenance of rhythm. Oftentimes, the new practitioner will hold their breath to increase their flex and ....
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Kids Martial Arts and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Seattle!

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We proudly serve the Seattle, Shoreline, and Mountlake Terrace areas! Come see the programs and deals we have to offer. Kids Martial Arts, BJJ, Muay Thai Kickboxing and SO MUCH MORE! Fill out the "Request Information" form on the side of the page and stop in for a visit today! Don't forget to click below to visit us on our social media pages!! Facebook Google+ Twitter Instagram ....
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An Analysis of Closed Guard

While I am not of the belief that there is a “best guard” I am of the belief that each guard has its strengths and weaknesses. This blog series will analyze each of the most prominent guards and will hopefully give you an idea of their strengths and weaknesses so that you may use the right tool for the job! Let’s take a look at closed guard…
Closed Guard

1. What range is the guard effective?

Closed Guard is effective when your opponent is very close, on the ground and his on the knees. It can be difficult to force a high level player into the closed guard as they will have better base the posture away from the bottom players attempts to pull them down.
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What is the Best Jiu Jitsu Guard?

One question that I am consistently asked throughout my years of teaching Jiu Jitsu is “Which guard is the best guard?” The modern Jiu Jitsu player has so many options thanks to the creativity of its practitioners and the proliferation of techniques through the internet from Berimbolo, De La Riva, Closed Guard, Inverted Guard, Half-Guard, Deep-Half Guard, Spider Guard, Universe Guard, ect…how can we make sense of all of this?!?! The advice that I give to students is that there is no “best guard” but rather that each guard has its strengths and weaknesses. In this Blog series I will break down each of the most prolific guards and discuss them by using ....
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Opportunity Costs and Jiu Jitsu l How to Progress in Jiu Jitsu Efficiently

Our lives are governed by the simple fact that we all operate using a limited resource: time. If a person does one activity he/she is necessarily neglecting another. The intent of this article is to shed some light on how to get the most progress in Jiu Jitsu out of the time you have to train and will examine the opportunity costs in Jiu Jitsu from different perspectives: from setting aside training time to opportunity costs while training, to opportunity costs when sparring. Successful people in any discipline have dedicated an enormous amount of time to their craft. Research done by Malcom Gladwell suggests that 10,000 hours are needed to master a discipline, equivalent to training 3 ....
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Patrick Glen Walsh

I have been training in mixed martial arts for over a decade now, and visited Mat Chess today for the first time. It offers excellent Brazilian Jiujitsu and wrestling instruction, with high percentage techniques taught with attention to detail. The instructors are skilled, friendly, and helpful. Also, their kick boxers were some of the best I've seen in the state thus far.

Joshua Prigg

I try to visit Mat Chess when ever I'm in Seattle . They have great programs for BJJ, wrestling and Muay Thai. Andrew is a great instructor and I always pick up some valuable knowledge during his classes. What I really like about Mat Chess is the laid back, friendly environment. If I lived in Seattle, it would definitely be my second home. Thanks for the great training guys.

Ethan Frye

Great gym with a great staff. Andrew runs a tight ship at Mat Chess. Very supportive and involved coaching staff there. They have a great BJJ program and an amazing Muay Thai program as well. The atmosphere is very humble and focused. No major ego's in this gym. Everyone knows their place and it makes the learning experience that much more fruitful. All the coaches have a deep and very technical understanding of their craft and make no reservations on dispensing knowledge. Mat Chess is doing big things. Keep it up!

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