08/09/2026
I talk a lot about improving cardio in Jiu-Jitsu, and obviously cardio matters. If you improve your conditioning, you increase your ability to work harder and recover faster.
But there’s something worth thinking about: if you train yourself to be able to work harder, most of the time you’ll just work harder.
You get a bigger gas tank... so you use more gas.
That's not necessarily going to improve your performance... but there’s another side to this coin, and that’s becoming more efficient.
As your Jiu-Jitsu improves, you start realizing how much energy you used to waste. You squeezed things that didn’t need squeezing. You fought pressure instead of redirecting it. You used strength where positioning would have worked better. You made three movements to accomplish something that only needed one.
That’s a different kind of conditioning.
Instead of just increasing how much work you’re capable of doing, you’re decreasing how much work it takes to accomplish that thing.
And that’s an important distinction. If all I do is increase my ability to work harder, I may simply just be training myself to be better at just working hard. But if I become more efficient, I can actually make more progress while doing less work.
The best answer, of course, is to develop both.
Build the cardio so you have a bigger reserve when you need it, but keep improving your technique so you need to draw from that reserve less often.
Now you’re attacking performance from both ends... more energy available, and less energy required.
Bigger gas tank AND better MPG!
On the mat and in life, effort matters... but efficiency will allow your effort to take you further! ___________________________________________
JOIN THE TEAM ☎️ 701-866-8773
Try a 🆓️Class🆓 ️@ FargoBJJ.com
___________________________________________
08/02/2026
It was awesome to have our long time student, instructor and Blackbelt Kal Johnson back on the mat with us today.
Kal has been an integral part of the team not only as a student and Adults and Kids instructor, but as a vital part of the leadership during the period back when the Academy solidified its Core Values, Cultural Direction and Coaching Methodology.
Kal lead from the front successfully competing in Jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and Mixed Martial Arts competition!
It was an honor to share the mats again for a day, and present Kal Johnson with the first stripe on their Blackbelt.
⬛️🟥⬜️🟥🟥🟥⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️
07/31/2026
Huge congratz to Ali for earning his 1st stripe!
07/16/2026
Huge Congratz to Brenden for earning the Bluebelt! Brendan started at the Grand Forks gym, them moved to Fargo this Feb and has been crushing it.
And huge congratz to Big Blake! Who has been a student in and out with us since the old school 13th Avenue days!! We finally were able to hold him down long enough to wrap a purple belt on him!!! A collective sigh of relief was heard by all Bluebelts within a five hundred mile radius.
___________________________________________
JOIN THE TEAM ☎️ 701-866-8773
Try a 🆓️Class🆓 ️@ FargoBJJ.com
___________________________________________
07/11/2026
It's always a good time when family is in town!
Big thanks to fellow Easton Black Belt Dr. Vass, M.D. for dropping in and training with the Saturday morning crew.
Amal Easton
07/11/2026
July is wrestling time in Fargo.. and we've already started seeing our annual friends popping in!
Highlights for the week have been the legendary Pat Tanaka of WWE and WWF fame stop in with our resident wrestling legend to be, Taylor.
It was amazing to hear his stories from the pro wrestling days working with all the big names... and at 65 years old, watching the product of New Japan Westlings famously brutal training academy go through the motions with Taylor was inspirational!
And no July would be complete with Big Mike returning and giving the NoGi class some great wrestling tips to work on.
07/01/2026
Huge night last night at Fargo BJJ!
Congratulations to Greyson on earning his blue belt. Greyson has been training hard for a while now, both in BJJ and wrestling, and now that he’s turned 16, he’s officially able to wear the adult rank.
Well earned buddy!
And a big congratulations to Colin on earning his brown belt. Colin is one of our most active peer group leaders... constantly available for training, helping with coaching, and to answer questions or support other students.
Both of these guys represent our academy values extremely well, and we’re proud to have them on the mats with us.
Congratulations, Greyson and Colin!
___________________________________________
JOIN THE TEAM ☎️ 701-866-8773
Try a 🆓️Class🆓 ️@ FargoBJJ.com
___________________________________________