IV after cutting weight

Cutting Weight for BJJ Competitions Hurts Performance

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Is cutting weight a good idea or should you not cut weight for BJJ competitions! That is the question for today’s video. And this is one that comes up all the time.

People often hear about how much others will shed weight prior to matches and MMA fights. And so they often think that they NEED to cut weight for competitions and tournaments.

Shannon who is a 4 stripe Blue Belt is getting ready for a local BJJ tournament in 5 weeks.

And she is on the cusp of 2 different weight classes. At this local BJJ tournament there is a 141 weight class and a 152 weight class. And her walking weight is 146.

This is with her training Brazilian Jiu-jitsu 6 days a week, eating well and feeling high levels of energy!

So she is signed up for the higher weight class for the Brazilian Jiujitsu competition and is wondering if it’s even worth it cut the weight.

Because she is so close to either or, honestly if she knows how to cut weight. She’d be find for her matches.

No Stranger to Cutting Weight

IV after cutting weight

Getting an IV after cutting weight for an MMA fight.

During many of my early BJJ competitions and all of my MMA fights. I cut anywhere from 6-20+lbs.

In the picture of me in the grey shirt. I’m receiving an IV following a weigh in.

I weighed in at 184.9 and the next day fought at 204.

 

 

 

In the picture below I was fighting at 205lbs. During that even I weighed in at 201lbs. This was because the scale that I used at a local weight lifting gym (that had a sauna) purposely altered their scales to be heavy in order to make guys feel like they were making gains. . .

I know right?

So I cut extra weight accidentally.

By Monday follow the fight I was up to around 230lbs.

 

 

 

Should You Cut Weight for BJJ Competitions

But in this video I touch on some basic ideas why I would encourage her NOT to cut weight for her upcoming BJJ competition.

One of the big reasons is that if she starts to shed some pounds while she is in the process of upping her training volume. This can lead to a lot of negative effects.

Think about the inverse relationship. When we are training for a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu competition our volume in training and intensity is going up! But if we are busy shedding pounds. We are then reducing the fuel our body has to make these things happen.

I also touch on a few other topics.

If you’re in a similar situation. I hope the video helps!
Chewy
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BJJ Match Break Down

1 Way I Used BJJ Videos from White – Brown Belt (Free Video)

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One of the most helpful things for my abilities in BJJ. . .was finding someone to model after. 

 

I did this a lot from White – Brown Belt! And I did this by watching BJJ videos!

 

I would typically search for BJJ videos with someone of a similar body type. . .

 

Or

 

I would look for someone who had a style I wanted to emulate to some degree. 

 

And I would watch as much of their matches and rolling as I could get my hands on.

 

In the early days this often meant watching grainy VHS tapes (yeah I’m old).

 

Watching someone roll or in competitions has some advantages. 

 

The biggest is that you get to see what really works and how it works under live conditions. 

 

Sometimes techniques look a little different in those conditions than in a nice calm setting where they demonstrate them in a BJJ video.

 

I like to find and pick them apart so I can use them!

 

Knowing this. . .

 

In my Get a Grip – Grip Fighting system I’ve prepared several match breakdowns for you to watch. 

 

This way as you watch the various grip fighting techniques through the course.

 

You can also watch me use those same techniques to snag my takedowns and control the match.

 

I’ve prepared a sample page and free BJJ Video for you

(Click here to watch the Free video I’ve prepared for you)

 

During the video you’ll see me use several different takedowns quick succession.

 

My 1st set of takedowns simply didn’t work. . .

 

And I had to go through them again!

 

I included these types of breakdowns to help give you a better idea of how the grip fighting techniques look in ACTION!

 

In the hopes that it gives you something to model. Just like I’ve done over the years!

 

I hope you enjoy the breakdown.

 

And if you’d like to see additional match breakdowns displaying me using grips and my takedowns.

 

Then grab the Grip Fighting Series today!

 

And if you’re not already. . .

 

Start watching matches and breaking down their techniques and styles so that you can use them for your own game!

 

Talk soon!

-Chewy

 

training with a knee injury

Can You Train BJJ With a Knee Injury ?

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Can You Train When You’re Injured ?

We’ve all been there before. 

 

Training is going well. . .

 

and then BAM. . . you get injured. 

 

And a knee injury can be one of the worst.

 

So what do you do when you’re injured? How do you still train and progress?

 

Yesterday, I drilled with one of my young up and coming Blue Belts.

 

He’s primarily a No Gi grappler and has been killing it in competitions. 

 

He also lost over 100lbs with BJJ training!

 

Right now, he has a knee injury and so we worked around it. 

 

Have a Knee Injury, Try This . . .

 

1 thing that we focused on was grip work. 

 

If you look at my Chewjitsu instagram stories right now, you’ll see he and I grip fighting on my story. 

 

We did this for two reasons. 

 

1. Because his knee is hurt and this puts little pressure on it. But benefits his entire game. 

 

2. He’s better in No Gi and wants to improve his gi game. And to be good in the gi you have to grip fight! 

 

So we spent a large portion of the grip fighting session working on the techniques I outline in my Get a Grip grip fighting system. 

Click Here to get started with your Grip Fighting techniques today.

 

And for you, if you ever experience a knee injury or something that prevents 1 part of your game.

 

Don’t get too down on yourself.

 

Instead, think about how you can work on another part of your game.

 

There’s always something you can do. 

 

Some of my biggest break throughs have come as a result of being limited on what I could do. 

 

Talk Soon,

-Chewy

 

P.S Btw, I’ll be in Atlanta this weekend for the Atlanta Open. If you’re there and you’d like to say hey or grab a picture together. Feel free to do so! 

BJJ Motivation

Overcome Lack of Motivation for BJJ Training

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Do you ever lack motivation for BJJ training? If so, how do you overcome it?

 

What keeps you motivated?

 

I recently received a couple of BJJ motivation questions related to motivation for training. 1 from Zach, a BJJ Blue Belt who is having some of the Blue Belt blues and is lacking motivation for training.The other from Perk Kar on the Chewjitsu Instagram, who said, “lack of motivation how do we overcome it?”

You Don’t Want The SPARK of Motivation

In this video I do my best to share the idea that motivation for BJJ is not what you need to keep training consistently. Most people think of motivation as some sort of divine spark that is supposed to hit you and propel you forward to do the thing that you know you need to do or that you want to do.

I personally hate that spark and find a different type motivation far more useful for long term consistency.

Create Your Own Motivation for BJJ

In this Chewy ramble video I share the idea of creating your own motivation for BJJ training. You can become a powerhouse of motivation. But it’s not something that magically comes to you. Instead you create it by taking action and moving forward towards whatever it is you want.

 

If you’re talking about Brazilian Jiu-jitsu training. Make a ritual and schedule. And stick to that damn thing. If there is a secret to getting better and staying motivated. It’s keeping your disciplined habits and schedules together.

 

Having the structure to fuel your Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is far more helpful than any spark for training motivation. Because you wield it. . . it’s yours. And instead of being so dead set on some long term goal. Your goal should be your rituals and schedule. Keep them alive and enjoy the little victories and the big ones will come.

 

Hope this video helps you with your BJJ motivation problem. Now go get into the gym and train your face off!
-Chewy
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Why I Don’t Use Neck Cranks During BJJ Training

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Are Neck Cranks (and in particular the Can Opener) Dick Moves in BJJ?

Well it depends. . .

As always, what classifies a Dick Move is usually if the person’s intent who is executing the technique.

That said, when it comes to day-to-day training in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. My objective is to train hard. But make sure my partner is healthy and safe. And Neck Cranks have the ability to do some nasty stuff to the neck and the discs in the spine.

Because of that fact. I often avoid them.

Typically speaking, once your neck is injured. It’s never quite the same.

So for myself and my Brazilian Jiujitsu training partners. I avoid them for the most part.

I typically stick to submissions that I can finish cleanly, that aren’t dependent on pain to get the submission.

 

That said, it is important to understand how neck cranks work and how to defend against them in BJJ so that you are able to adjust to them. Because you never know if someone is going to use a neck crank on you!

Can Opener Neck Crank Counter

In this video I show some simple counters to the Can Opener technique. 1 is an easy adjustment of the grips and arms. The other is a sneaky armbar that will catch the person with the can opener neck crank by surprise!

 

BJJ Dick Move Comment Reply

In this video I also reply to some of the comments I received about my stance on neck cranks in BJJ and for training purposes.

The primary comment I touched on here regarded the idea that all submission are the same. Safe if done properly and tapped early. Which I agree with.

But I explain in more detail my stance on neck cranks in particular.

 

Hope you enjoyed the videos!

-Chewy
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My Problem Period with Wrestling Based BJJ Takedowns

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So I’ve told you about the upsides to having Wrestling to work in unison with my Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

 

Would you like me to tell you the downside of it, and tell you about a time when I struggled to score the takedown? 

 

When I was. . . at times. . . forced to pull guard because I had no other battle ready technique at my disposal?

 

Well then, here goes.

 

My Wrestling Takedowns in BJJ Stopped Working

Starting at around about the time of my Purple Belt. I found that the arsenal of takedowns that I used from White to Blue began to flicker out when I had matches in the Gi (No gi wasn’t an issue).

 

By flicker out I mean, sometimes they’d work, and other times they wouldn’t. 

 

What determined this in large part were the use of the grips of my opponent’s. As many of you know. I went on a sort of Grip Fighting adventure later on in my BJJ career.

 

But at this point I was struggling. 

 

This KILLED my morale during a match. 

 

I’m sure it would be kind of like a tank hitting another tank with a direct hit. There’s smoke and some cheers from the crew. And then through the smoke and fire emerges the same vehicle pressing forward. 

 

I’ve read memoirs of men speaking of this sort of thing and the way their heart would just sink into their gut.

 

This is what it felt like during the middle of the battles I’d find myself in during a match. 

 

I’d fire off with my old tried and tested takedowns. And after exhausting them all. My opponent was still standing ready to go.

 

And it would be at these points during a match where I KNEW it was going to be a long slog of a match.

 

There would be no easy victory and I was doom to play on my opponent’s movements. A reactive game. . . which is always a terrible thing.

 

Sure I could defend takedowns effectively but I wasn’t able to get them myself. This resulted in terribly boring matches where myself and the opponent would dance around back and forth with no real progress.
Image
[My 1st Purple Belt Competition]

 

To give you an idea. . .

 

During my 1st Purple Belt competition. I couldn’t take down my opponent in the finals who was 30lbs lighter than me. Which is a shot in the gut for someone who prided himself on having good takedowns.

 

I beat him only after he pulled Guard.

 

I tried several takedowns but his grips stopped everyone of them. One of his grips was so strong that it tore the collar of my gi.

 

I Felt Embarrassed to Win This Match

 

Another match in particular at Brown Belt, which was probably one of my low point in regards to takedowns played out like this.

 

It was a 7 minute match. Myself and my opponent locked up. . . and we spun around in a circle with half assed takedown attempts on both sides.

 

I eventually got an advantage for an ugly high level double leg attempt. Then I stalled out for a minute to win (I stalled because I was scared of losing. Another story for another time).

 

I won and ugly ugly match. . . by an advantage.

 

As the ref raised my hand I looked down at my feet in embarrassment. I even apologized to my opponent after we shook hands following the decision.

 

Not only was I afraid to go for the win. I couldn’t even use what was once my best asset for competitions.

 

TAKEDOWNS!

 

It was like I had lost part of my identity. 

 

2 Friends Helped Me Recover My Takedowns in BJJ

Following this match and for the next 2 years I went deep into redeveloping my takedowns to involve the style of fighting that I was encountering.

 

During this period, as is the case in many cases. I was able to pull myself together and make things happen. But only with some serious help.

 

1 came in the form of a Japanese judoka and BJJ Purple Belt who opened me to proper grip fighting.

 

The 2nd came from my past. My old training partner (who outranked me in the beginning) and the person whom I owe my Chewy nickname. His name is Mike.
Mike was a talented wrestler. An All American Wrestler in High School and wrestled for a Division 1 college (for those of you outside the U.S that means he was good). He was also a Purple Belt in BJJ at the time of my funk.
Mike was also one of my original battle brothers on the mats.

 

He was one of my 1st training partners.

 

He was in my corner cheering me on during my 1st competition.

 

And in the beginning he was sort of the verbally abusive older brother that would rag on me

 

and at the drop of a hat would be there for me if I needed anything.

 

He was also the one that gave me the nickname Chewy (after I spazzed out on him). The nickname started off as “You big dumb wookie.”

 

Mike and I have been through a lot over the years. . .
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[My 1st competition]
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[Me Whispering Sweet Nothings Into Mike’s Ear before battle]
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[Mike and I double medaling together in 2010)
During this funk of mine. . .

 

Mike ran Wrestling classes at the gym which I started coming to wearing my Gi.

 

We worked together to adjust the wrestling he and I had learned to make use of the grips or at least get around them.

 

The result of this was fantastic. 

 

I came back from this period with a newly developed style of takedowns that had been blended with my style of Wrestling and BJJ. It was a hybrid style of standup that had been pieced together for BJJ.

 

As I continued to compete. . .

 

My effectiveness with takedowns began to shoot up.

 

I found myself scoring takedowns left and right. And even using Guard Pulls in a more aggressive and takedown oriented manner.

 

At the same time I was teaching everything to my students and I watched them flourish as well. Everyone from White to Black.

 

And. . . I’ll tell you. It was nice.

 

It was nice being able to step on the mat and know that I COULD take the match where I WANTED it to go. If I wanted to get the takedown I would. If I wanted to play off my back against someone, I would.

 

I was able to dictate my destiny on the mat, rather than play reactionary to someone else’s attacks.

 

It was on my terms. Even when I lost. In most cases, I lost on the battlefield positioning I had chosen.

 

Most People Don’t Have Reliable Takedowns for BJJ

 

This is contrast to many who compete or even roll like I used to. 

 

They lack a true step by step approach to their takedowns.
 

 

They dance around aimlessly with no real focus. 
 

 

They can’t score the takedowns that they want. 
 

 

And they’re either forced to pull guard or they have ugly matches that leave them frustrated, like I was a Brown Belt. 
 

 

Worst of all is that many are scared of takedowns all together for fear of injury.

 

And I believe this is due to the fact that most people LACK a systematic approach to their takedowns. 

 

You don’t want to be any of these people do you?

 

Right now, I’m doing an early release of the system of takedowns I developed for my game and for my students.

 

It’s a great system of takedowns specially designed for the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu player.

 

I’ve included both Gi and No Gi variations in the hopes that you don’t end up like I did. Great in one sub set of BJJ and poor in the other.

 

Even if takedowns just aren’t your thing and it’s an area that makes you uncomfortable.

 

We can make them your thing!
-Chewy
P.S. In addition to the system of takedowns already laid out. We will be doing a live seminar style format and additional content based on input from those who take part in the early release.
Those who wait to order will not have access to the live options and input.
[Me, exhausted but victorious, and $1000 richer. Due in part to my ability to dominate takedowns in the Black Belt invite division]
BJJ takedown won me this one

 

 

 

 

 

The Gi Confused Me During My 1st BJJ Match ( Wrestling for BJJ )

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bjj gi

1st BJJ Match

My 1st match in BJJ has kind of a funny story behind it. I didn’t know how to stand properly! I had not idea how to use my Wrestling for BJJ.
The picture above is from that match.
1st, I was wearing my coaches BJJ gi. The gi that I had didn’t have any team patches on it, so he insisted that I wear his.
So I have this gi on and it still feels completely foreign to me. I had wrestled and so grappling felt fine. But I really hadn’t worked in the gi that much. And so I felt kind of out of sorts.
In my 1st match of the tournament I was placed in a Pigtail match. For those of you who haven’t wrestled this maybe a foreign term. But basically I had to win a match just to get into the normal bracket.
I’ll never forget it. I walked up to center of the match and as I stood there waiting for the ref to give us the go ahead to begin the contest. I didn’t know how to stand. 
 
Didn’t know how to stand???
Of all the things to be focused on right before the match started I was like, “How do I stand??? I’m not in a singlet, I’m in a gi!!!”
So what do I do? I for some reason decided to stand like my favorite 2 dimensional video game character. Ryu from street fighter. Even writing this I feel like just palming my face and shaking my head.
For some reason, since I had the gi on I felt like I was supposed to stand very different to my normal wrestling stance.
I had somehow completely ignored the whole tournament around me to notice the close resemblance to wrestling. I had completely forgotten that I had rolled in the gi from the feet a bit (granted I had only been training for 2 weeks at this time).
And while there are some adjustments needed to crossover the Wrestling to a BJJ match. It looked more like a wrestling stance then Ryu from street fighter.
As soon as the match started muscle memory took over. . . thank god.
I locked up in a traditional head and arm tie. From there I did a duck under, achieved a body lock on my opponent and lifted him into the air and brought him to the match and secured a Keylock / Americana for my 1st BJJ win in competition.
I would go on to place 2nd in that tournament. I won 3 matches in total. All by the same method. Takedown to side control along with an ugly keylock.
The match I lost was against a superior wrestler who put me on my back where I quickly reverted into a turtle lying on it’s shell in the sun.
Why am I sharing this story?
I’m sharing this amusing story to illustrate a few things.
1. Even though I was out of sorts in my heavy cotton pajamas. The muscle memory I had developed from drilling and wrestling took over. When I couldn’t think straight, my body simply just acted. 
2. After 2 weeks of BJJ I was able to do incredibly well in my 1st competition. On basic takedowns and top control alone. 
As I’ve progressed I’ve always felt comfortable on the feet. And being able to control the takedown games more times than not has allowed me the advantage of either going for the takedown or even shaking things up and pulling guard aggressively and throwing off my opponent who expects me to wrestle.
As a coach, takedowns are something we work on every single week. And our team does very well with our ability to achieve the takedown but also our ability to counter wrestle. We aren’t satisfied to lay on our backs and let someone achieve top position. They’re going to have to fight for it!
And in a couple of days I’m going to open up my favorite takedown techniques that I use in my own gameplan and takedown system, as well as the most valuable and easy to use techniques from the feet that work with my students.
I’m excited about it because after several surveys. Takedowns, wrestling and how to work from the feet seems to be a area that many of you want more knowledge from, and I’m excited to help.
I’ll continue to share more details about the video series and I will be Launching it this Friday for those who are interested, November 17th.
As I’ll be explaining. I’m doing a short opening window for the 1st launch because I want to work with a smaller group more directly to get feedback and do some live events.
But more details will come soon. 🙂
Hope you enjoyed the story of me struggling in the gi for my 1st BJJ competition match.
Talk to you soon!
-Chewy

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Quitting BJJ Because It’s Hard? (What Did You Expect)

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Have you ever been frustrated and contemplated quitting BJJ? This is a situation a buddy of mine, Mike (who is a coach), is having with one of his students.

In the situation. There are two BJJ White Belt students. In the video I’e attached, I call them Student A and Student B. Both have about the same training in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu but yet one of the students seems to be flourishing while the other is having trouble at every turn. One has won several competitions while the other hasn’t even won 1 single match.

This problem has recently become even more pronounced when the Bjj practitioner with less time under his belt was bumped up to a higher skill level at a BJJ tournament while the other stayed at the beginner level.

The White Belt student who was moved up to the intermediate level for the competition won 2nd place while his training partner lost again.

My buddy Mike who coaches Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and is a friend of mine. Was asking, “What would you say to a student who is in this spot and is on the verge of quitting BJJ?”

So in this video I try to address this sort of issue where someone is thinking about quitting.

Has any BJJ Black Belt Ever Said It’s Going to Be Easy?

Firstly, I would ask someone who is frustrated.

“Did anyone ever tell you Brazilian Jiu-jitsu was easy?”

I mean , has a BJJ Black Belt ever told you that it  was going to be easy? Oftentimes Black Belts will say that all they are is simply a White Belt that never quit. And that is the truth in many cases. And even for those that were naturally gifted for BJJ training. What they are trying to say is that to succeed in BJJ, you have to have perseverance. You’ve gotta be willing to get into these tough situations and be ok with that.

Along with that, in this video I share some details about how I was in a similar situation early in my start as a grappler, and have been many of times and how I’ve dealt with it.

Anyways, watch the video! I hope it helps!
-Chewy

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Chewjitsu Grey Gi

The Chewjitsu Grey Gi Order Has Started!

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Be a part of the 100 and get a Custom Grey Chewjitsu Gi!

I’ve been talking about this order for a while on my YouTube Channel and it’s finally here!

I’m super excited about this!

My students and I have been rocking the Grey and Black Gis for over a year and we love them. And through the videos a lot of people have expressed that they want one.

I’ve been super busy with seminars, teaching and my own training that I haven’t had a chance to get it going.

But starting today we are launching the gis!

If you’d like to order a gi click the links below. Pay close attention to the links depending on if you are an International or U.S Based Customer.

I wasn’t able to figure out how to separate all the shipping prices for the variations. So there will be two different prices. The higher price for the International page covers most of the additional shipping charges.

Included with your purchase is

  • Custom Grey Chewjitsu Gi
  • Travel Gi Bag
  • You’ll also receive an email after the Gi order is done with a video series of my favorite prehab / rehab exercises along with some of the supplements and dieting techniques I use to keep up a high level of training. It’s included just for the 100 people who purchase the gis!

Pre-Order a Grey Chewjitsu Gi (Those of you living in the U.S) 

Pre-Order a Grey Chewjitsu Gi (Those of you living Outside the U.S)  

Chewjitsu Grey Gi

Chewjitsu Grey Gi Mock Up

 

 

Thanks!

-Chewy

BJJ Tournament

Prove Your Doubters Wrong ( 1st BJJ Tournament )

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Do You Remember your 1st BJJ Tournament or Competition

Do you remember getting ready for your 1st Brazilian Jiu-jitsu competition or tournament? Do you remember the nerves associated with preparing and getting ready to step out on the mat against a complete stranger ready to go 100%?

If you do, then you remember it’s scary!

I remember my 1st Wrestling match which was my 1st taste of competition anxiety and the self doubt associated with it. It was tough. I didn’t feel like I was getting ready for a sports competition. I felt like I was preparing for my end. I couldn’t even imagine life after the tournament. It just consumed my thoughts.

 

White Belt Getting Ready For His 1st BJJ Tournament

Our White Belt friend Alex, recently sent me a message asking about how to deal with the fact that he is nervous for his 1st BJJ tournament. But in addition to that, and making it worse, is the fact that his friends who do not train are incredibly negative and telling him he isn’t good enough. This si tough because they are his friends and so their opinions are very valuable to him and mean a lot. So this is hard for him to deal with.

Keep in mind it’s his friends who don’t train Brazilian Jiujitsu that are vocal about his abilities. Not his friends that do train. He says that his friends who do train are incredibly supportive. In fact, they say he’s going to do incredibly well.

What To Do With Doubters

In this video I talk about various situations I’ve experienced in my life where doubters were there, ready to cut me down. Experiences like losing weight, stepping into BJJ and MMA, getting into the gym business and even starting my YouTube channel.  I’ve have doubters in everything I’ve ever done in my life that was difficult but contained a worthy goal. And in many cases the doubters were the people that I truly care about the most. I share how I dealt with these issues and how I overcame them.

Hopefully this advice is useful to Alex for anyone who is struggling with doubters in extreme situations like a Brazilian Jiujitsu tournament or anything that’s challenging in their life.

Thanks!
-Chewy

P.S the passage I referenced in the video was. . .

“As you proceed through life,
following your own path,
birds will shit on you,
Don’t bother to brush it off.”

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