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History of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

BJJ is a grappling-based martial art developed largely by Helio Gracie and Carlos Gracie. Brazilian jiu jitsu uses distance control, leverage, positioning and a variety of submissions developed to control and submit bigger and stronger opponents. Here is a brief history of this amazing martial art. We’ll describe its origins, and how it came to Brazil through this article.
Who are the Gracies and how did Brazilian Jiu Jitsu come to be?
Much of modern day BJJ is attributed to Helio and Carlos Gracie. The BJJ world recognize Helio as the father of modern BJJ because of his contributions and development to the martial art. In truth, it was Carlos who brought judo into the ....
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Why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the Best Martial Art for You

Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) benefits people from every walk of life. From childhood to adulthood, and from young women to elderly men, it is the best martial art for street defense due to many factors. It is effective against larger, stronger opponents. BJJ also gives you the control necessary to inflict only as much damage as the situation calls for. Here we’ll discuss this and more when describing how BJJ is unlike other martial arts.
Brazilian jiu jitsu was created to give the smaller individual an equalized playing field because BJJ is not based on strength or power. Much of present day BJJ techniques can be attributed to Helio Gracie. Helio was not a large man. In fact ....
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Get better at Jiu Jitsu and Improve Your Life with These 9 Tips

A common question that we hear at Dark Horse Jiu Jitsu is, “How can I make the most out of my journey and training?” There are no two ways about this, you have to take care of yourself if you plan to continue training. This means getting plenty of rest, eating well and above all listening to your body. No muscle group is exempt from being sore as both BJJ and Muay Thai will work parts of your body you do not usually use. Not only will it test your body but these combat sports ingage you mentally as well. So what can you do to make your training easier to manage? We have compiled some great tips that will help greatly improve your experience during your journey.
1. ....
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Strength in BJJ: A Blessing and a Curse

Relying on strength in BJJ is a surefire way to slow down your progress. While you can only get so much stronger, your technical skills in a martial art like Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) have almost no limits. By focusing on improving your techniques, it won’t matter how big or strong an aggressor is. BJJ emphasizes positioning, leverage and the application of larger muscle groups working together on smaller joints, ligaments and appendages to control and submit the opponent. This is why you can defeat the largest of aggressors with the correct techniques.
The Early Practitioner’s Curse with Strength In BJJ
At the beginning of your BJJ journey it is hard to have a ....
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Setting Martial Arts Goals

Success is no accident in the BJJ gym . How do you achieve your martial arts goals? Dark Horse uses the S.M.A.R.T. system within regularly scheduled goal meetings. Understanding goal setting and learning how to use the S.M.A.R.T. tool is going to greatly improve your ability to achieve what you want out of life. We will help you establish and achieve the goals you have in mind. We will break down how to set and achieve goals here.
Are goals important?
Simple answer: YES! Goal setting helps you achieve your desires, your dreams and your plans by giving a defined path in how to do it. What kind of goals should you set for martial arts? Here are some common goals we hear ....
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19 Sep 2018
What is the Belt Path of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Martial Artist?

We use belts as milestones of learning and these belts are earned through hard work. The BJJ belt is one the hardest journeys in martial arts respected and revered in the combat sport world. Many compare the purple belt of Brazilian jiu jitsu at the same level as a black belt from other martial arts.
How long does it take to get a BJJ black belt?
It can take anywhere from eight to twelve years to earn your black belt, given that you spend consistent time on the mat, limit any injuries, and closely follow the goals for your development. We will break down some of the key details of belt progression in Brazilian jiu jitsu through this article. If you view Brazilian jiu ....
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Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Positions

As a new student to Brazilian jiu jitsu (BJJ) you will find a new vocabulary of terms and concepts that may be unfamiliar to you. Here is quick list of some of these words.Becoming familiar with these will give you a head start for classes.
What are the positions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
There is a loosely hierarchical system of positions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the fundamental positions are listed here: Mount Back Control Side Control Knee on Belly Closed Guard Half Guard Open Guard
Mount
At the top of the positional hierarchy, and the most dominant position in BJJ. In a self defense situation, this position allows you to rain down fists or ....
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What is Muay Thai?

Muay Thai, also known as Thai boxing, is a striking based martial art focusing on strikes using the hands, elbows, knees, shins and feet. Muay Thai’s uniqueness comes from 100’s of years of developing the use of the hardest parts on the human body as a weapon: elbows and knees with fists and feet. The idea behind Muay Thai is to use the body as a weapon. The Thai wanted to emulate the melee weapons of war like the mace, hammer, axe and staff. What is now Muay Thai was originally referred to as the “Art of Eight Limbs” because of the use of elbows and knees (Two hands, two feet, two elbows, two knees). Use of the elbows and knees allows Muay Thai to be used ....
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8 Things You Should Know For Your First Month of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

You have decided to pursue martial arts in Longmont, and are headed into your first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class. WOW! Can you feel that? The adrenalin? The excitement? The nervousness? Yes, you may experience one or more of these, regardless, Congratulations! What can you expect when you step on the mats for the first month of your Brazilian jiu jitsu journey (BJJ)? That first time on the mats can bring up any multitude of physical and emotional responses. I will try to take some of the anxiety away and share what the first month will be like, based on my experience.
What should you expect from your first month of BJJ?
The first month of BJJ is filled with learning a ton of new ....
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2 Aug 2018
Which Martial Art is Best for Me?

To determine the best martial art for you, you must consider whether you enjoy or want to learn grappling (wrestling), striking (stand up) or a combination. The great news is Dark Horse offers both through our Brazilian jiu jitsu and Muay Thai classes. On top of that, many of our membership programs give you access to both. So, you have decided martial arts is your choice to improve your health through a good fitness program. If you have not trained a martial art before, or even if you have trained, you may have some questions. What is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? What is Muay Thai? Are either or both of them the correct choice for me? The simple answer is ‘yes’. One of, if ....
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