The Next Time Your Train BJJ, Try This Breathing Technique

In today's video I share a simple breathing exercise to try the next time you're rolling in your BJJ gym. It's a simple idea that can help you slow down your pace, not be so pazzy (if you're a white belt) and even help you out last someone else.

I started doing this type of breathing back in 2018 after reading a couple of books that got recommended to be from a friend. And initially it was a struggle to breathe in the way I talk about in the video. But now after doing it for several years it's much more natural and I've noticed it's given me a clear advantage of my opponents in competitions and some of my training partners in the gym.

Hope the video is helpful to you. And good luck with trying the exercise the next time you roll.
-Chewy
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If you’d ever like to train with the team and I. Check out my gym Derby City MMA in Louisville,KY.

[katsamajoto]

Hey Chewy this is completely irrelevant from this video but I feel like it should be said. I went by your gym while I was out of town and I just want to say it was one of the most pleasant experiences I've had during my Jiu Jitsu journey! You were out that day and the gentleman running class was extremely punctual and treated me like I was a regular student, he also taught me one of my new favorite half guard passes! Anyone thats nearby should drop by its a wonderful place to train.

[ajpegram]

I started doing this maybe two months ago and it's improved my focus during rolling exponentially. Rather than reacting and panicking in difficult situations I am able to breathe through it and clearly think about what I need to do to improve my position. Still a work in progress but definitely advise people to try

[shyfly]

Thank you brother. I was getting destroyed by this brown belt and he said I could feel your breathing/heart beating extremely hard. I held off from being submitted but there wasn’t much left in the tank. I’m definitely going to start using this. Not gassing out is half the game for me.

[EvolveNowYoga]

if you want to learn about breathing I recommend the book "The Oxygen Advantage" by Patrick McKeown and the books by Wim Hof! Also learn about Yoga, there is a lot of useful techniques for BJJ too!!

[emhawkins]

Combat breathing, if you aren't familiar with it look it up. Works very well for brining heart rate down in survival stress situations, and will also work in social stress situations. My resting heart rate is 50-52.

[stirlingjacobs]

Something thats helped my breathing in BJJ a lot is try to only breathing through my nose while rolling. Its very hard at first but eventually it just becomes second nature. At this point I only need to breathe out of my mouth when going full speed. Great video!

[zacatye]

Great tips. When I was a musician in marching band we would perform a similar exercise to help lower heart rate where after performing more intense cardio like sprints, we would breathe in and out at a set speed, trying to push how slowly you could do it. Surprising how quickly slowing down the breathing would slow down the heart rate.

[FR-tyvn]

Fantastic stuff - exactly Rickson’s strategy when he fought - when his heart rate was at 90, the other guy was at 130 or so…

[lovefluidart]

Everybody should breathe through their nose. Love this, thank you

[CharlieJesper]

Recently I have had extreme trouble with controlling my breathing, thank you for making this video!

[dylansullivan]

Thanks Chewy, this is one of my biggest issues. Great advice!

[MichaelSmith-blpx]

Really cool tips thank you. I'll forsure try all these techniques.

[EderBJJ]

Going to try this out. Thanks, Chewy!

[MinhaFamiliaAQBJJ]

Awesome advice man. Even after all these years every now and then I will catch myself breathing hard. And it's not necessarily because of cardio I find that it happens more when I roll with people of my rank or higher. Like when my Old Coach comes down I feel like I did on day one and I tend to freeze up, start breathing hard because my adrenaline starts going, and I have trouble firing off! The adrenaline one DEFINITELY plays a roll with your breathing! I have to catch myself, close my mouth, take a few quick breaths through my nose while keeping my core tight and exhale slowly. It helps me out a lot 👃 👃

[tommack]

Great video! Thank you. Thanks Wim Hof also 👍

[DeepCFisher]

Dude this is such a huge tip for me. I'm a new white belt andi was just thinking i need to slow down

[shrimuyopa]

If you ever watch some of Marcelo Garcia's old matches he only breathes through his nose. It's also a way of looking fresh, even when you are tired.

[FalkorBrenton]

Thanks for the tip bro I needed this, I’m a white belt in Bjj and I’m still pretty new to all the stuff I’ve been going through with my classes, whenever I try one on one with someone I usually breath through my mouth not my nose much and I usually just poop out by 3 minutes later lol. Anyways thanks for this I’ll be practicing that more often 👍

[jmoletsgo]

Tried it last night. Made it through 3 rounds of sparring, had to go mouth-breather for the rest though. I'll keep testing, thanks Chewy!

[markmceathron]

Looking forward to you coming here to Decatur and participating in the PGF.

I'm a 45 year old white belt, that has been sedentary for about 15 years. My BIGGEST issue with my training is my breathing.

I tap out just from hyperventilating, and I do this very very quickly. Within 3 minutes. I forget to breathe at all. Like, I legit just forget to breath. Every expenditure of energy happens with my body holding my breath. Then, I hyperventilate short shallow breaths and then I'm quickly suffocating.

This has resulted in me getting full body cramps and being in agony, while trying to drive home.

I feel like this makes me a terrible training partner. Nobody gets a full roll with me.

The worst part is that I KNOW what is happening. I am just powerless to stop it.

It's made me give up altogether.