Plyometric Exercises for Athletic Performance

How to Use Interval Training to Supplement Your Sport

Have you ever felt like you’ve hit a plateau in your sport? Or maybe you’re just looking for that extra edge to boost your performance? Trust me, I’ve been there too. As someone who’s passionate about many different sports, including jiu-jitsu, hand balancing, and calisthenics, I’ve consistently found that cross-training is a game-changer. One of …

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bodyweight training benefits

Why I Still Love Bodyweight Training — So Many Years Later

  It’s hard to believe I started 12 Minute Athlete all the way back in 2013. Back then, I felt like I’d stumbled upon an unknown gem with bodyweight training and high intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts. I was so excited about the benefits of using our bodyweight to train that I founded a company …

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quick-HIIT-workout-example

Short Workouts, Big Gains: Making Fitness Work in Any Schedule

  We all have time to work out. Believe it or not, just 10 to 20 minutes of exercise a few times a week can significantly impact your fitness. Yes, even those 12-minute sessions can burn fat, build muscle, and boost strength as part of a healthy lifestyle. Think about it – we all find …

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Devoting Yourself to a Craft

Next week will be my one-year anniversary of training jiu-jitsu. What a journey it’s been. I’ve been a “fitness person” most of my adult life—beginning after college, I started working out to counteract all the sugary drinks and pastries I’d been consuming as a Starbucks barista. Though I originally got into fitness for appearance reasons, …

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Seven Things I’ve Learned After Seven Months Training Jiu-Jitsu

I attended my first Brazilian jiu-jitsu class a little over seven months ago. If you don’t know much about it, jiu-jitsu is a martial art based on ground fighting and is one of the fastest-growing combat sports in the world. Jiu-jitsu attracts a passionate and dedicated community, which is one of the reasons I first …

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krista stryker jiu-jitsu

Trying Vs. Regrets: Part Two of My First Jiu-Jitsu Competition

“Welcome to the women’s jiu-jitsu rollathon,” Pete, the owner of the MMA gym announces, instructing us to line up by the wall by rank. Six months into training, I’m still a total newbie in the sport, so I head toward the back of the line. There are about fifteen of us — more women than …

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krista stryker jiu-jitsu

Trying Vs. Regrets: Part One of My First Jiu-Jitsu Competition

I started crying on the way to my first jiu-jitsu tournament. It was the first time I was competing in the sport, and although it was an unofficial competition — a no-gi rollathon held at a local gym, nothing that will go on my record as a jiu-jitsu athlete — I was unbelievably nervous. While …

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Meraki Jiu Jitsu Academy

5 Universal Life Lessons from Jiu-Jitsu

Three months ago, after years of not understanding what the hype was about, I turned up at my first Brazilian jiu-jitsu class. I quickly became hooked. I’m not alone in my experience — people who train jiu-jitsu often become fanatics about it. Many end up training for years, decades even, — a feat that’s nearly …

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Krista Stryker and Rigan Machado

My Jiu-Jitsu Journey: Part One

Many of you may know this, but I didn’t start getting into fitness until the end of college. Since then, I’ve constantly pushed the limits of what I previously believed was possible for my talent and ability level. Along the way, I’ve transformed from someone who hated exercise and couldn’t do a single push-up to …

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When it Comes to Exercise, More Isn’t Always Better

The other day, I posted a screenshot of my Oura ring data on social media. I do this sometimes to be transparent and show that as a fitness coach, I follow my own advice. I’d had a reasonably active day, skateboarding, playing basketball, and running sprints, not to mention taking my dog on several walks. …

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