Many people start Jiu-Jitsu or other Martial Arts and look to reach the Blackbelt level as their ultimate goal. Now this is still agreat acheivment but it is far from the end – It’s just the beginning!

It means that you have learned many techniques and concepts. Now you need to break them down and really understand them, this happens in the repetition of teaching the techniques to others and building on them.

So yes, your Blackbelt is just the beginning, not the end.

There are many reasons people take up Jiu-Jitsu. Fitness has a different meaning depending on the reason. For example, competitive Jitsukas must take their levels of Jiu-Jitsu fitness very seriously, just as anyone involved in competitive combat sports should.

Stop looking for short cuts in gaining high levels of Jiu-Jitsu fitness. High levels of endurance, stamina, strength, speed, coordination and agility are required and that is on top of all the technical skills needed. This cannot be acheived without a great deal of discipline, effort and determination.

There are some excellent Martial Arts Conditioning programs around that will help you reach the extreme levels of strength and conditioning that are required to reach the top.

People involved in other forms of non competitive Jiu-Jitsu such as Traditional or Self Defense styles, will not need to attain such high levels of Jiu-Jitsu fitness, however, it has to be taken serious enough to cope with the demands of the art. Don’t use the classes to get fit, but get fit to cope with the classes, this way injuries are much less likely to become a problem.

If you fit the latter category and are looking to get into great shape without that competitive commitment then try a program like “Afterburn“, which is an extreme fat loss program and the exercises are awesome.

Welcome to MalcolmBale.com. I’ll be posting many articles on Jiu-Jitsu, Jiu-Jitsu techniques and Fitness Training for Jiu-Jitsu.

Jiu-Jitsu comes in many forms, many styles have been developed from it. Jiu-Jitsu forms the basis of Judo, Karate and Aikido. There are many different aspects to the art itself with Throws, Joint-Locks, Groundwork, Escapes and Strikes.

Once you become involved in Jiu-Jitsu, it is so much more than just a Martial Art or form of Self Defense, for many of us it really does become a way of life.

Like many combat sports, there are many areas of physical conditioning to develop for maximum effect. Skills and conditioning compliment each other, you would never reach anywhere near your potential if you do not have both. Strength, Endurance, Stamina, speed, power and agility are all areas that can be worked on to help improve the effect of your overall game plan.