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Couples That Roll Together ...

Posted by Rilion Gracie · February 08, 2018

Well, after many years teaching martial arts and observing my students behaviour, I can complete the sentence of the post subject by telling you that couples that roll together stick together for a long time!

Well, that's not hard to explain at all. Both of them are making a commitment to learn something together under the same umbrella of principles and values. In practical terms, that also means they’re always on the same page when it comes to training schedules, food choices and physical goals.

By having a common desire to learn self-defense, get healthier or stronger, they have chosen to share the same journey (and of course, reach their destination) together in a teamwork.

I believe that this bond is the secret to making relationship more solid, specially in a world of so many volatility when the matter is the heart.

You can say that this would apply to any sports or activities a couple decides to embark together. But in the case of a martial art, there are several unique aspects that can represent a plus in a relationship:

1) Training Jiu-Jitsu, MMA or any other martial arts, trains you to stay calm and optimistic, even in the toughest moments. Being optimistic drives their positive energy to support each other. Therefore, they are able to take on life’s challenges together.

2) They will be happy and stress free people. Apart from the fact they will earn more time to enjoy themselves together, an intense workout gives them lots of energy to power up the day! This is all thanks to the endorphins that their brains release. Besides giving them that boost of extra energy, these hormones have a deep impact in the mood, increasing your level of happiness reducing stress. It's really a physical thing.

3) They will never run out of things to do or to talk about. Imagine sharing a passion for Jiu-Jitsu with your significative other! Your UCF nights are now so much more fun! You've got company! And even better, they can apply and practice the techniques they see on TV or Internet anytime, anywhere ... And most importantly, as they progress in the learning they will become even closer to each other, as they will have a deeper mutual understanding. They will know their strengths and weaknesses during the trainings. When they finally get to this point, supporting the partner whenever needed, out of the mats, will become even more natural.

4) And last but not least, if things get real bad and they want to fight (sometimes it happens ...), there will be always an open mat nearby for them to do some sparring and maybe, who knows, fixing things up on the BJJ way (LOL).

A special thanks to my friends, a real Jiu-Jitsu couple, Rafael and Sara Torres for the super nice picture! Hope you both love this post as well!

And as this blog post is featured at Gracie Essentials website for the Valentine's Day, I can not finish without inviting you to visit our store and take a look at all the supplements and vitamins that will keep your heart beating strong!

Hope you all LOVE it!

Master Rilion Gracie

"Butterflies" in your Stomach Before a Match?

Posted by Rilion Gracie · November 09, 2017

**How the enteric nervous system role in our belly goes far beyond just processing the food we eat*.**

It doesn't matter how experienced athlete you are, I am pretty sure you already experienced that familiar feeling of "butterflies" in the stomach before an important race or competition.

This sensation comes from an often-overlooked network of neurons lining your gut that is so extensive some scientists have nicknamed it our "second brain".

A more detailed understanding of this mass of neural tissue, filled with important neurotransmitters, reveals that it does much more than merely process digestion.

In fact, your gut is in direct connection with your brain and partly determines our mental state and plays important roles in certain diseases throughout the body.

This whole system contains over 100 million neurons, more than in either the spinal cord or the peripheral nervous system. This enornous amount of neurons in the enteric nervous system enables us to "feel" the inner world of our gut and its contents.

Much of this "intelligence" is used for complex daily tasks as breaking down food, absorbing nutrients and expelling of waste moving everything on down the line in a synchronized chemical process and rhytimic muscle contractions. This is a very complicated process and scientists found out that about 90 percent of the fibers in the primary visceral nerve, carry information from the gut to the brain and not the other way around (!!)

Besides that the "second brain" also informs our state of mind in many situations and a big part of our emotions are probably influenced by the nerves in our gut. Butterflies in the stomach, signaling in the gut as part of our physiological stress response, is just one example.

In fact 95% of the body's serotonin is found in the bowels. Antidepressant medications that increase serotonin levels, also provoke gut issues as a side effect. Irritable bowel syndrome—which afflicts millions of people —also arises in part from too much serotonin in our entrails, and could perhaps be regarded as a "mental illness" of the second brain.

Researches are currently investigating how the "second brain" mediates the body's immune response. We know that at least 70% percent of our immune system is aimed at the gut to expel and kill foreign invaders.

One way to help your gut to balance the system is providing more "good bacterias" to balance the loss caused by stress, fatigue, bad eating habits. A powerful probiotics complex with the right bacteria strains can be key to your health and wellness. Gracie Essentials G-40 GUARD PROBIOTIC COMPLEX is a supplement that contains live bacteria that are good for your health. We usually think of bacteria as something that causes diseases. But your body is full of bacteria, both good and bad. Probiotics are often called "good" or "helpful" bacteria because they help keep your gut healthy. With over 70% of your immune system being housed in your digestive tract, the product is sure to help create a healthy digestive system and support a stronger immunity and overall health.

So after all, whether you are a professional athlete or just an sports enthusiast, it is time to pay more attention to that so-called "gut feelings".

OSS!

Rilion Gracie

* credits to Scientific American Magazine https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/gut-second-brain/

The Number One Reason Why Fighters Quit

Posted by Rilion Gracie · October 19, 2017

Unfortunately many academy owners don't even know that they are losing members because of this simple reason. A few steps can help the instructors and the students to keep up with their training routine.

How Probiotics Can Boost your Fitness

Posted by Gracie Essentials · September 04, 2017

Research shows that probiotics can control the good and bad bacteria in the gut. It also protects the gut against digestive issues and inflammation. However, now research has shown that probiotics might provide more benefits than what was known before. Below are ways in which a probiotic supplement can help improve your fitness.

Nutrient Absorption

Probiotics can help maintain optimal health of the gut lining that leads to better nutrient and energy absorption. The gut lining is made of cells that control the absorption of nutrients, and at the same time gets rid of waste. That’s why it is important to keep the cells of the gut healthy at all times.

Immunity

Athletic activity and regular workout can put a stress on your immune system. Majority of the immune system resides in the gastrointestinal tract or GI. By regularly taking probiotics pre and post-workout, you are able to maximize your immune activity without having to compromise your performance during workout. The good bacteria produce compounds that can help prevent oxidative stress, inflammation, and infection. These factors can help you recover faster, and get the most out of the workout.

Diet and Weight Loss

A good diet plan involves the balance of vegetables, hearty grains, and fruits. You might not know it, but the fiber from the foods is also raw material probiotics that can be utilized to make vitamins. Consuming at least 60 grams of fiber each day will allow you to get 10 percent of your daily caloric requirements without having to add more calories.

Improves Mood and controls Cravings

The good bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract produce dopamine and serotonin. Over 75% of these hormones of our entire body are located in the gut. These are two hormones that help elevate the mood. By taking probiotic each day, you will be able to get into the “good” mood to workout. But that is not all! With low serotonin levels, you will feel those famous cravings for carbs, especially during the night. That’s why when you eat that delicious chocolate bar you feel so happy and satisfied … your “mood” is fed by serotonin!

Produce Nutrients

Gut bacteria and probiotics produce various nutrients as a by-product of their metabolism. For instance, probiotic bacteria produce vitamins B, and K. Indigestible fiber is also metabolized from the diet into short chain fatty acids (SCFA) that are used by the gut cells, and help in feeding other tissues and organs. With a healthy gut, you are able to generate 10 percent of the daily caloric requirement through the production of SCFA.

Anti-Inflammatory

Last but definitely not the least; probiotic can help prevent inflammation of the gut lining. It has been observed that strenuous workout can result to gastrointestinal problems, such as diarrhea, because of the inflammation of the gut lining. Probiotic can prevent this from happening. It protects the gut, which allows you to exercise without worrying about problems with your gastrointestinal tract.

Probiotic supplement can help in both recovery and performance. And that’s how it can boost your overall fitness. And through the right supplement, you’ll get a good dose of good bacteria that will help the body perform at its best.

Gracie Essentials Official Launch at World Masters

Posted by Gracie Essentials · August 28, 2017

Gracie Essentials Product line was officially launched during the last weekend Aug 24 - 26th at World Masters IBJJF Championship in the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The company's booth became one of the main attractions of the event where the athletes and visitors could meet and take pictures with the legends of Jiujitsu.

The booth received the legends Rilion Gracie, Roggan Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Carlson Gracie Jr., Carlos Gracie Jr., Marcio "Macarrao" Stambowsky, Leão Teixeira, Mauricio Motta Gomes and many competing athletes.

gracie essentials

Visitors were able to enjoy the Gracie Essentials products tasting and thr highlight of the event was our exclusive Gracie Whey Açai, the whey designed for jiu-jitsu and mma fighters. Many athletes also stopped at our booth prior their fights to get some Gracie pre-workout.

On the last day of the event Renzo Gracie offered an open seminar to all participants and we transmitted via Facebook and Instagram Live to our followers.

Also during the event IBJJF certified several Coral Belt Masters, including Master Rilion Gracie.

Gracie Essentials

Visit our Social Media channels to check the nice pictures and videos of the event.