This article discusses nutrition as a high percentage move in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Let’s lay the ground work, no pun intended, with a definition of a high percentage move. High percentage moves are moves with strong statistics that back their chance of success.
So how does that relate to nutrition? It relates to nutrition in that nutrition is a variable in the human performance / Brazilian Jiu Jitsu equation that you can control, provided you have the knowledge and discipline to execute it.
I usually say, “If I can control it, and if it’s a known influencer of success then I pay attention to it.”
This can be compared to the 80 / 20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle.
Many competitiors in many sports, including Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are walking away from percentage points in what I call “the success equation” by ignoring nutrition as a key variable. Although high quality nutrition is a high percentage move, it is not convenient. That’s OK. Success in any given project usually isn’t convenient.
In our society unless you are clear about what you will and won’t eat, you may find yourself eating whats easily available.
Another way of looking at it is, what’s convenient usually isn’t successful.
Is high quality nutrition the same for everybody? No. Everybody is, in varying degrees, biochemically unique. Nutrition is not cookie cutter, one size fits all. As an example, some people can thrive on a vegan or vegetarian diet. Others don’t.
Why is nutrition a high percentage move in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? Nutrition is a high percentage move in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu because nutrition is the raw material your body uses to repair tissue and microtrauma, regulate inflammation, build neurotransmitters, optimize biochemical and metabolic pathways at the cellular level. digest food, detoxify organ systems, squelch free radical activity and the list goes on.
Race car drivers use high quality fuel in their race car. You are a human race car. What is the quality of the nutrition you use to feed your body?
Macronutrients, proteins, carbs, fats, water, electrolytes, micronutrients, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, antioxidants, phytochemicals, amino acids, essential fatty acids etc. All are player in the nutrition equation. All have the potential to influence how well your body works on the matt and off the matt, in both the short term and the long term. The plot thickens due to synergism either on the upside or the downside based on how macronutrients and micronutrients are combined and in what volume.
I mention both short and long term. To progress in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or any discipline you have to be in the game long enough to evolve your game. That happens by getting huge numbers of reps which takes years. Any sport requires massive numbers of reps in order to push skill sets from the conscious mind to the subconscious mind. From conscious competence to unconscious competence. The subconscious mind is that place where you no longer think about it to execute it. In varying degrees it’s on automatic pilot.
High quality and well managed nutrition will influence the health and well being of your human race car so that you’re capable of training for many years, accumulating reps, evolving your game and fulfilling your potential.
In closing, congrats to Nova Uniao, Arizona and Gustavo Dantas for their 1st Place trophy win at the 2012 All Americas Jiu Jitsu Tournament promoted by NABJJF. Nova Uniao, Arizona won the adult division with 20 competitiors and 18 medals.
Joe Sale, CNS, CSCS
Call Optimum Performance / Human Performance Systems today at 480-241-2621, and mention this article by Joe Sale, CNS, CSCS, Nutrition as a High Percentage Move in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and receive a free consultation with Joe.
About Joseph Sale
Joseph Sale, CNS, CSCS, is a board certified nutrition specialist and a nationally accredited physical conditioning specialist. His educational credentials include a Bachelor of Science and a Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine. Joe has been an adjunct faculty instructor and guest lecturer at numerous colleges, universities, and corporations covering human anatomy, physiology, performance nutrition, corporate performance, and precursors to musculoskeletal sports injuries among other topics. He’s been a guest expert on radio and television and is the author of the Optimum Human Performance Course.
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