They definitely go hand in hand. If you don't stay healthy, you can't train. Time put in outside of jiu jitsu training helps keep you healthy.

I think whatever that looks like for you, TacFit, yoga, weight training, running/walking, or something else, it all adds up and keeps you on the mats.

I also think that as you want to increase your mat time and you do other activities outside of jiu jitsu to stay on the mats, it forces you to eat better. This is just one more layer in staying healthy.

Advanced gi has 1 more week left in our de la riva series. We'll review a few techniques and incorporate some situational drilling. New block starting in May! 

I love the idea of combat jiu jitsu! 

I have a lot of freedom with the advanced gi class and I feel I sort of get to do this already. In the last few months my new approach is, make it a class I would want to take.

When planning an advanced class I'm always open to topics, but I try to find things we don't get to cover in a normal class, positions I see myself and others stuck in, or sometimes more current trends on social media. 

Once you have a base knowledge I think a class that forces you to explore and potentially pushes you out of your comfort zone it great, these are ones I enjoy taking and creating.

Also, Scott Tresch shock knives for drilling!

Sense of humor is definitely a good one too that is underrated!

Gi advanced it slowly wrapping up our de la riva block by finishing up our de la riva x series. This week and next are a great time to bring questions and lets work through those issues!

I think trust is a big one. I know that they won't hurt me and they know I won't hurt them.I also think there are different favorites for different reasons. 

I have some who are favorites when I am trying to work on defending certain techniques because those are their "go to" techniques.

I have other who are great to try things against. Often these are slightly smaller partners who are a bit more advanced. If it works with them I know it's a keep technique. However if it doesn't work I know I'm going to get beat up in the bad spot I just created, but I won't be smashed.

Sometimes, there are just people who are fun to roll with that become favorites or friends!

For me it largely depends on how many days I know I will have to train in a given week.Sometimes I'm working on positions. Sometimes I bring a unique goal if I know certain people will be there, like maybe not getting swept by person x. Lately, I have found my game plan for training is often what I am teaching. I find that by trying to use what I am teaching or will be teaching it can help to generate some additional interest. Often times I have some overall topic I am exploring and consuming content for so that will always be a focus in the background. When that's the case, I try to funnel everything I am doing to get to that position or move.

Miss last week? Check out the videos that got posted. 

This week we continue to explore the variations of de la riva, and will continue our focus on de la riva x.

I've always found 4 days to be my optimum but if you added in teaching I could see ideal mat time being 5-6 days.

Over 10 years this is what I have observed for myself.

2 days allows me to maintain.

3 days allows progress, but not necessarily the fastest.

4 days is optimal for allowing me the most progress but without over training. 

This week in advanced gi we continue our de la riva work, but look at some alternative version. So many different routes we can go depending on your preferred style. We will be exploring de la riva x this week.