Nicky Rodriguez recently shared a unique strategy that helped him win the $1 million prize at the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI).

The CJI was organized in such a way that the competitors had rest between rounds – it wasn’t all one continuous round, but there were pauses in-between.
Which allowed for better recovery, usually done in a way of consulting with coaches and drinking water.

However, Nicky Rodriguez did neither of those things.
Instead, he focused on something he feels was much more important.

Here’s what Rodriguez had to say:

In between rounds, I just look to catch my breath as good as possible.
I feel like if you’re chatting with your coaches or sipping water, that’s not the way to do it.

This focus on breath work allowed Rodriguez to stay composed and maintain his edge throughout the tournament.
He explained that staying mentally free and not overthinking his opponents is key to his success:

I perform best when I’m carefree, living in the moment, and not overanalyzing the situation.

Rodriguez’s emphasis on breath control isn’t new to the world of grappling. Rickson Gracie, a legendary figure in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, famously practiced daily breath work to enhance his physical and mental resilience.

Gracie believed that controlled breathing was essential to maintaining composure and endurance, even in the most challenging circumstances.