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The Modern BJJ Athlete: Balancing Training, Style, and Lifestyle

The Modern BJJ Athlete: Balancing Training, Style, and Lifestyle

Sam Smith
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has evolved.What was once an underground art is now a global movement shaping athletes, influencers, and entire communities. Today’s BJJ athlete is not just someone who trains...
REEN x Checkmat Essex: Open Mat

REEN x Checkmat Essex: Open Mat

Sam Smith
Tagged: REEN
REEN teamed up with Checkmat Essex to host an open mat that went beyond just rounds. It was about community, connection, and shared intent on the mats. The session brought...
🥋 The Guard: Breaking Down the Most Complex Position in Jiu-Jitsu

🥋 The Guard: Breaking Down the Most Complex Position in Jiu-Jitsu

Sam Smith
Keywords: BJJ guard types, closed guard vs open guard, best guard for beginners, types of jiu-jitsu guards Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is often described as a game of inches, angles, and timing...
Survive, Escape, Improve: The Beginner’s Game Plan for Rolling in BJJ

Survive, Escape, Improve: The Beginner’s Game Plan for Rolling in BJJ

Sam Smith
Rolling (sparring) is where everything you’re learning in class starts to come alive. But for beginners, it can feel like chaos — you're tapping, you're tired, and you're not sure...
Start Strong: 5 Essential BJJ Techniques Every Beginner Should Master

Start Strong: 5 Essential BJJ Techniques Every Beginner Should Master

Sam Smith
1. The Hip Escape (Shrimping) Why it matters:This is your escape hatch. The hip escape teaches you how to move your hips away from pressure — a key principle in...
The Psychology of the Tap: Ego, Learning, and Letting Go

The Psychology of the Tap: Ego, Learning, and Letting Go

Sam Smith
Tagged: REEN
In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, tapping isn’t defeat. It’s feedback. Yet for many athletes—especially in the early stages—it can feel like failure. You get caught. You tap. And your instinct might...
How to Build Confidence Through Jiu Jitsu (Not Just Rank)

How to Build Confidence Through Jiu Jitsu (Not Just Rank)

Sam Smith
Confidence isn’t something handed to you when you get your next stripe. It’s built round by round—through repetition, adversity, and showing up when it would be easier not to. At...
Train with Intent: How to Maximise Every Roll

Train with Intent: How to Maximise Every Roll

Sam Smith
Tagged: BJJ Gi No REEN
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it’s easy to fall into a rhythm: show up, warm up, drill, roll, go home. But showing up isn’t the same as showing up with intent. If...
Building a BJJ Lifestyle: How to Integrate Jiu-Jitsu into Your Everyday Routine

Building a BJJ Lifestyle: How to Integrate Jiu-Jitsu into Your Everyday Routine

Sam Smith
Tagged: BJJ REEN

How BJJ Fits as a lifestyle; not just a sport.

The Champion's Mindset: Winning Without the Medal

The Champion's Mindset: Winning Without the Medal

Sam Smith
Tagged: BJJ REEN
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, it's easy to measure success by medals, stripes, and belts. We celebrate the victories, post the podium photos, and chase the next achievement. But there’s something deeper...
The Rise of Women in BJJ — And Why It’s Just Getting Started

The Rise of Women in BJJ — And Why It’s Just Getting Started

Sam Smith
Tagged: BJJ Gi No REEN Woman Women
Not long ago, walking into a BJJ gym as a woman meant being one of the only—if not the only—female on the mats. Fast forward to today, and the landscape...
Beyond the Belt: What BJJ Teaches You That Life Doesn't

Beyond the Belt: What BJJ Teaches You That Life Doesn't

Sam Smith
In the world of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, progress isn’t measured by how loud you talk or how much you bench—it’s measured by your ability to stay calm under pressure, adapt,...