Changing the Way I Roll Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
august 27, 2021 | WORDS BY benji silva
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a very unique sport that takes not only physical but mental effort as well.
At the professional level, we are constantly searching for the best approach to strength & conditioning in order to separate ourselves from the competition. I’ve personally experimented with countless training methodologies through my 14+ years of training and competing in search of this advantage.
A little over 3 years ago, I reached out to my buddy and founder of NCFIT, Jason Khalipa. I asked if I could come in to try out some of his functional fitness classes. After a month of coming in 4-5 days a week, I really started seeing (and feeling) the crossover benefits to my BJJ practice. My strength, cardio, endurance, and lactic tolerance increased tremendously.
At my Jiu Jitsu practices, I noticed I could push hard rounds without having to worry about burning out early. This stamina is important for combat sports athletes, because we have so much to be thinking about during fights, and don’t have the time or luxury to wonder if our conditioning is going to hold up. Removing the fear of getting tired and not having to throttle to save energy, are abilities we all seek to achieve, especially at the professional level.
I realized the NCFIT programming was a game changer when I was able to relinquish this fear on the mat. After a year into training with NCFIT, I won the Nogi Double Gold at the San Jose International Open, 2nd place at Nogi World Championships, 3rd place Nogi Pan American Championships, and multiple super fights. I largely attribute my competitive successes to NCFIT’s programs, not just for the physical aspect but the mental as well.
Learning how to suffer and become comfortable with being uncomfortable while lifting and conditioning has helped me prepare my mind for the battles in competition.
When things get tough in a match and my body is redlining, having a bulletproof mind is what separates winning from losing. Learning to stay focused under that type of pressure and pace is an unstoppable skill set to have in combat sports. NCFIT has helped me achieve a lot so far in my competitive career, and I’m beyond excited to see what we can conquer together in upcoming competitions this year!
