Hi, I’m Ruben Avila; a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Purple Belt, Writer, PS3 Gamer, Amateur Videographer, Web Designer, and Marketing Specialist.
In addition to writing for this BJJ Blog: I also have contributed to BJJ.org, Jiu-Jitsu Magazine, and maintain all things web for my BJJ Academy.
I absolute LOVE grappling!
Although it tires me out like no other activity…
And, my goal with this particular blog is to share my jiu-jitsu experiences and through them hope to give you something unique and full of value.
So sit back, relax, grab a cup of coffee (don’t forget your laptop!) and join me as I walk through the what, the how, and the why of jiu-jitsu!
Keep Calm and stall to victory, LOL.
My Grappling Story
I trained in the art of Jiu-Jitsu for the very first time in the spring of 2007. I started out training only twice a week at a local martial arts school. As a white belt the grappling program I was in, only offered two days a week. In addition, at the time, I was much more interested in resistance training (lifting weights) and creating my physique (body building). Thus, most of the time, I only trained once a week. Regardless, I was able to climb the ranks to blue belt in a very short time due the quality of instruction I was receiving and the mental training I was doing away from the mats. I did not compete as a white belt (still regretting that today), and I have never been an outstanding athlete. In fact, I was a pretty mediocre athlete in high school (and a small high school at that). After receiving my blue belt, I was walked away from BJJ due to some injuries, academic priorities, and professional obligations. Since then, I made the return to BJJ in January of 2012. Ultimately, I was interested in expressing myself in the martial art of Jiu-Jitsu and having as much fun as possible while doing it. Being a competitive person, having fun for me means expressing techniques fluidly, correctly, and consistently in training as well as winning in the more competitive avenues.
Like I said, bjj is a great way to burn calories.
But, it was never my original intent or explicit goal to become an amateur bjj grappler. Instead, I saw bjj grappling as an opportunity to do the things that I really wanted to do: travel, achieve elite level fitness, and satisfy my competitive nature.
Since then I’ve learned quite a bit about Jiu-Jitsu, the strategies required to become successful, and the art, science, and practice of: grappling.
And so, I became a bjj player, amateur bjj fighter, bjj grappler, jiu jitsuoka, or martial artist. Whatever you prefer to call it.
On the podium with my instructor showing our medals. At the 2012 IBJJF Phoenix Open, my first tournament ever.
You are probably one as well (at least I’d assume so if you are reading this blog)! My guess is that you’re either one today or you want to be one someday (perhaps very soon).
Team Up With This BJJ Blogger (Me) Through Your Journey
My ideal audience, truth be told, would be people starting to get into jiu-jitsu. For me, that encompasses anyone doing a google search for local jiu-jitsu academies in their area as well as the blue belt who is well on his way to attain his purple belt. So join me! We’ll have a lot of fun, I promise! And, it might just be educational as well.
If you have ever asked yourself:
- What do I need to do to improve my jiu-jitsu?
- How do I become a legitimate grappling competitor?
- What’s should I be eating to enhance my Jiu-Jitsu performance?
- How do world champion bjj instructors teach jiu-jitsu?
- Why am I still getting smashed in training?
- What is the best bjj advice?
..You’re at the RIGHT place! I don’t believe in spam, in fact I HATE other blogs that spam you on social media sites or email. I also hate when other blogs talk about the same things everyone else is talking about. We don’t need to read the exact same content on 3-6 different websites. So, I invite you to find a way to remain updated on this blog that suits you. Whether it be social media like facebook or google+, or it be by email or rss feed. Whatever your choice is, choose one and keep yourself updated.
Posts I’m Most Proud Of:
- When you are feeling crummy about your progress in jiu-jitsu.
- Don’t know how to wash your bjj gear? Check this out.
- Washing your bjj gear part 2! The black & dark stuff.
- The day I received my purple belt in bjj.
- My growing list of recipes for recovery and weight loss.
Stay Connected!
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