JT Torres is one of the most accomplished lightweight BJJ athletes of his generation, who’s won ADCC and IBJJF titles. He’s also an owner and a head coach at his Essential BJJ academy; known for his entertaining style on the mats and in-depth knowledge of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game.
In an interview with BJJ Eastern Europe, JT talked about many interesting things; one of them being the great importance of stretching for Jiu-Jitsu athletes. Here’s what he had to say:

Something I do engage in my Jiu-Jitsu practice… Or, more specifically, after my strength and conditioning workouts is stretching. My strength and conditioning coach, John Marsh – he actually won the master World’s earlier this year – he has opened my eyes to stretching.

It helps with recovery and it helps with just keeping you healthy and not injured. Stretching is key. If there’s something that I could advise to everyone who’s reading this and who’s looking to improve their Jiu-Jitsu, I would say that is stretching after working out. And even during Jiu-Jitsu, it’s super important.
It’s going to help you recover, it’s going to help those muscles to continue feeling good and to avoid injury. I highly recommend it.

He also went on to explain the importance of hard work:

One last thing I’d like to share with the readers is that hard work works. There’s nothing that you can do to replace hard work if you want to accomplish anything in life, on and off the mats. You’re going to have to work hard for it.

Make sure to read our full conversation with JT Torres – and get many more insights for your BJJ game – here.

YOGA FOR ROCKS EXPLAINED – STOP FEELING STIFF AS A ROCK!

• This program will give you the foundation you need to establish a regular recovery practice at home, on the mats before / after training, before competition and especially when you feel sore after open mat.
• Sebastian’s years of both judo and jiu jitsu experience have taken him around the world, so he knows just how challenging it is for grapplers to stay flexible and injury free.
• Yoga for BJJ’s message is that we all do 100% of jiu jitsu with the one body we haveregularly is important.

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