You can drill berimbolos ’til your hips explode, but if your corner can’t guide a match you’ll still walk home with participation pics.

In this episode of The I Suck at Jiu Jitsu Show, I(@thejoshmckinney) flip the camera to the coach’s side: how to build a battle-ready team, run chaos-free tournament days, and yell the right words when everything’s on the line.

Inside you’ll get:

Pre-tourney prep: rule-set hacks, positional sparring that actually matters, and the “Hail-Mary” plan every squad needs.

Individual dialing-in: managing nerves with ISAJJ breathing, stopping dumb weight cuts, and scouting that first opponent.

Game-day systems: team HQ setups, synchronized warm-ups, match-time tracking, and why assistant coaches are your secret weapon.

Live-match coaching: one-voice recognition, “next-fight” cueing (underhook, keep ’em flat!), time awareness, and a stealth code-word for stalling.

Post-match debriefs: 15-second fix-it notes between rounds and big-picture goals that keep momentum rolling long after the medals.

Whether you’re a seasoned professor or the blue belt who drew the short straw to coach Saturday, this blueprint will help your athletes compete calmer, smarter, and—most importantly—win more matches.

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Ralph S.J. Koijen

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