JJ Pugsley's Blog
Understanding the Principles of BJJ Techniques
Before the chaos of panic shopping and quarantines ensued, I taught a seminar at a local UFC gym here in Colorado. One of the key points I tried to emphasize throughout the seminar was to understand the principles of any given technique a student learns. I would go so...
Jiu-Jitsu as Therapy
While I am certainly no expert on clinical therapy I do have a modicum of experience from formal education and internship in clinical psychology. For that reason I wanted to share my thoughts on the benefits of Jiu-Jitsu for reducing anxiety and stress along with...
Breathing for BJJ and life
One of the most important aspects of jiu-jitsu is the ability to remain calm under pressure. If you have ever been trapped on the bottom of a larger opponent's side control you have undoubtedly felt that tinge of panic and claustrophobia that come with it. The key to...
Hygiene Tips for Your BJJ Practice
As all fighters know, hygiene is an important part of practicing martial arts. If you’re new to MMA or to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you should take some time to learn good hygiene practices. Here are some hygiene tips for your martial arts practice: Keep Your Gi Clean When...
Reasons Why Kids Should Learn BJJ
Some parents are just looking for a way to keep their children busy, others want them to learn self-defense. No matter the reasoning, it’s a great idea to sign your kids up for jiu jitsu classes because the benefits of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training are immense and will...
Is BJJ Practical for Real Life Self-Defense?
Some people who sign up to learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu want to get in shape or learn a new skill. Some people, however, want to learn how to defend themselves in a real-life conflict. So, the question that gets asked is often, “Is Jiu-Jitsu practical for self-defense?”...
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Finger Tape: What Grapplers Need to Know
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and it isn't hard to see why. The grappling discipline provides practitioners with a means of making friends, getting in shape, and learning valuable self-defense techniques—self-defense...
The Benefits of Exercise for People with PTSD
People with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) tend to have low rates of exercise. This may explain why many people with PTSD have been found to be at high risk for a number of physical health problems. These physical health problems include obesity, heart disease,...
Fighter Spotlight: Dominick Cruz
Dominick Cruz is an American Mixed Martial Artist and fights in the bantamweight division. He participates in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, was the final bantamweight titleholder of World Extreme Cagefighting, and is a two-time UFC Bantamweight Champion. Cruz is...
Under Pressure: Coaching Students in the Heat of the Moment
The number of reasons why I began dedicating so much of my time to coaching Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is endless. The art is so multifaceted: your mind and body are both so fully engaged, and observing students refine these skills and push themselves in the right direction is a highly rewarding process.