Book Review: Becoming a Supple Leopard by Kelly Starrett & Glen Cordoza
Becoming a Supple Leopard: The Ultimate Guide to Resolving Pain, Preventing Injury, and Optimizing Athletic Performance by Kelly Starrett and Glen Cordoza is a lifesaver. This book explains how to avoid injuries through correct body mechanics, and is a blueprint to treating injuries that do arise. After my experience I consider it essential reading for anyone, especially those involved in body-brutalizing sports like Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo.
This spring, the past 25 years of abuse from judo, jiu-jitsu, skateboarding, and sitting at a desk came to a head and my hip / upper glute / lower back went on strike. I was pointed in Kelly Starrett’s direction by Andrew from Dig Deep BJJ and after watching some of the MobilityWOD videos, decided that I needed a copy of his book. The last month of putting these exercises to work has led me to believe that over the course of a lifetime, Supple Leopard will prove to be worth its weight in physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage, and acupuncture receipts.
Is Hand Health Holding You Back?
My name is Adam Glass. I am 30 years old and I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota. If you have heard of me before, it was probably not for BJJ. I am a white belt at Greg Nelsons Academy. BJJ is one of my favorite sports but that is not what I love most. I am a grip strength athlete and strongman. Many would make the argument I have pound for pound some of the strongest hands on the planet. My grip training roughly consumes 14-18 hours a week, 52 weeks a year. I tell you all of that to drill home one point – I know a lot about hand pain and how to resolve hand pain. I am going to share with you some of the best methods for improving your hand health and a few simple movements that will be high pay off for not only your BJJ but all areas of your life.
Many people who read this currently do not have hand pain and that is a good thing. Rather than pass this article over, I would like you to consider adding these movements to your training now. It is much easier to do these things and never get serious pain rather than develop pain and try to get yourself out.