I have trained Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for 10 years. It was one of the first regular segments I featured way back in 2018 on STEEM. I figured the blockchain was a great place to permanently share the beginners curriculum for the world to share at will. I can't remember if I was a blue belt or maybe a fresh purple belt back then but the progression goes white, blue, purple, brown, black and then demigod.

How it's going

Earlier this year, I was asked to hang up my tattered and comfy purple belt to make way for my brown belt. I have never been in a hurry to progress through belts as having a close group to train with, learn how to choke a bitch, and stay in shape is good enough for me.

How It's Gone

This image may lead you to believe I am an absolute killer and I compete incessantly, beating the best of the best. Definitely not true as competition is a trial for me and I only do it for the sake of personal evolution and serving as an example for the others at the academy. Either way, I have done more than my share of learning on the way to any winning.

BJJ in Covid Times

This https://stratfordbjj.com crew has resiliently powered through a tough couple of years with Covid as I cannot imagine an easier way to spread that than grappling with someone. Lockdowns, secret garage training sessions, reopening, vaccination passports, limitations, full open and now a lockdown again. Tough enough on the personal side when so much of your physical and mental well-being relies on this pastime. Imagine what that is like for the owner of the academy, not being able to do business as usual while still only a few years into building an independently owned business in a small town.

Here you can see a snip of what we miss so much. Just over 3 minutes worth of some of our advanced partners open sparring, or, as we call it, 'rolling'.

BJJ Content

Back to the curriculum, that was a while ago. I assembled all of the posts in one for that one-stop shopping reference here https://steemit.com/steemitbjj/@zekepickleman/white-belt-bjj-curriculum-all-in-one-place Turns out, there is a copy on at least one other blockchain here! @zekepickleman/white-belt-bjj-curriculum-all-in-one-place

Here was the first video we did, of the first class of the white belt curriculum years ago. Humble beginnings and great memories. The main message is becoming aware and protecting yourself in the street. Perfect place to start and a great thing to keep in mind as you sink into the sport jiu jitsu mindset.

With the latest lockdown, we are working on leveraging the free time, upping our technology game, and recording the Blue Belt Curriculum! Not a universal one per se but the one we follow because of our lineage and the one we have used across the globe from Brazil.

Get Moving!

Here is the first video which is a great group of exercises to not only make you more active and agile, but made fun for the kids too. It is also a test of the new filming technology. Either way, we are hoping for a return to operation around Jan 26th but are prepared for an extension of the lockdown, or at least big restrictions for fitness facilities like ours.