At our Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) academy in Chico, CA and Orland, Ca, we do not tolerate bullying. We actively work to help those who have become targets of bullies regain their confidence, provide a positive environment with a friendly group of peers, and teach them skills to protect themselves—while also emphasizing that Jiu Jitsu should only be used when absolutely necessary.

Women’s presence in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is growing rapidly both in local gyms and at a professional level. With athletes such as Bia Mesquita and Mackenzie Dern leading the way and cementing themselves as top-ranked Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athletes.

If you've heard Brazilian Portuguese words and phrases like, oss, parou, or combate in BJJ class and weren't sure what they meant, we have the perfect cheat sheet to help bring you up to speed.

You walk in the door of the academy and look around the room full of men and women in white, black, and blue gi’s. Today’s your first day of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and you have no idea what you signed up for. You are handed an extra gi and feel the thick material as you slip it on. This might just be the beginning of a great Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey. ​

Acai smoothies are the perfect after class, during tournament, or just because snack for Jiu Jitsu practicioners these days. I always look forward to the booths, with big ol' bowls full of pure acai sorbet and topped with hemp seeds, coconut shavings, coacoa nibs, fresh berries, and granola at the tournaments. They're the perfect fresh, light, and filling treat for any occassion.

In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, we sweat. Between warming up, drilling techniques, and rolling with partners, your gi can soak up quite a bit of sweat. If you don't wash your gi between classes, it can collect bacteria and odor that can cause your gi to become discolored and smell unpleasant. However, maintaining your gi can be a challenge.

As the leaves start to fall and everyone turns their attention to pumpkin spice everything, peak farmer’s market season is just about ending. In the summer in Chico, there are three different farmers markets that take place throughout the week. The most popular of course is Thursday Night Market.

It's pretty likely by now that you have at least tasted coconut water before; it's becoming quite the norm on grocery store shelves across the country. Whether it's your favorite drink or just so-so, coconut water has its fair share of health benefits and provides for a great alternative to super sugary drinks like soda.

When feeling sluggish, it's too easy to reach for a Redbull or Five Hour Energy to keep you going for the rest of the day, but getting a little mid-day pick-me-up should not compromise a healthy lifestyle.

Lima’s Rainbow Veggie Bowl is the ultimate healthy comfort food that's perfect for keeping you warm and satisfied throughout fall and winter. With red, orange, green, and purple, this contains almost all of the colors of the rainbow, and truly packs some great health benefits along with a heck of a flavor.