On Saturday January 13th, Procel Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu celebrated another milestone as we promoted our academy’s first student to Black Belt. This prestigious honor went to our very own Coach Caitlin Procel. Caitlin is not only a student of our academy, but also an instructor in the academy who helps lead our Kids and Adult Program. […]
Today, we celebrate 5 years of Procel BJJ. Since we opened our doors in 2018, our academy has experienced tremendous growth. From our humble beginnings at Grassroots Community Space to our current location at the Brunswick Center, each year brought valuable lessons to take away as a business owner, instructor and practitioner of the martial […]
To the parents or teenagers reading this post, the story shared here is from one of our 16yr old students who had trained with us for over a year and a half. As her instructor, I couldn’t be more proud of how much she has matured during her time training at our academy and how […]
On Sunday, September 18th our students competed at the NJBJJF Summer Challenge. We had 6 total competitors for the day. Many of which, were competing for the first time. Happy with the overall performance as there was a lot to be proud of. Professor Brian – ? 1st Place This is Professor Brian’s 4th competition […]
As school comes to an end this year and kid’s start to get ready for the summer break, we had a select few students stand out with their performance, attitude, and consistency in their training. Some of our students have been with our academy since we first launched our Kid’s Program and have grown tremendously […]
Say Hello To a New Wave of Blue Belts ? On Thursday, June 30th 2022, our academy held a summer belt promotion for our students. If you have never attended a belt promotion ceremony, it’s a memorable moment where we get to acknowledge our student’s hard work and consistency in their efforts to master their […]
On Sunday, June 26th our students competed at the NJBJJF Spring Challenge. We had 7 total competitors for the day and were able to come away with 6 medals as a result of our student’s hard work. Professor Brian – ? 1st Place Feels great seeing our leader in action testing himself against other talented […]
At what point should you stop defending a submission that targets your joints? When it causes you to grunt in pain? When you hear a “pop”? Some of us will go to great lengths to defend the submission in training. If this sounds like you, then you should be asking yourself, “What will I gain […]
What can Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu do for you? One of the many benefits training Jiu-Jitsu at our academy can offer you is the gift of improved overall health! Here we have one of our students Des, who achieved an amazing milestone since joining our academy. At 55 years young, Des has lost over 20lbs since […]
Instead of wasting energy in things beyond your control, invest your full effort into things you can control, such as: Your Attitude Your Environment Your Effort Find yourself an environment that has you in a constant state of progress and personal development. Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art that promotes positive personal development with every class. Call […]
“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill Whether developing perfect timing on your offense or sharpening your defense, keep your persistence on the task at hand. Each repetition gets you closer to the end result you’ve been working so hard for. Develop the focus and determination to […]
One of the benefits you gain through training Jiu-Jitsu is training your mind to keep calm when things around you appear to be chaotic. Just as life throws you unexpected plot twists and challenges, your training sessions on the mats can do the same as no one training partner is the same. Whether it’s escaping […]
What’s Our Favorite Dessert?….Banana Splits Of Course! We celebrate #NationalDessertDay a little differently here on the mats. While most #BJJ practitioners favor an #acaibowl as a go to source for a refreshing sweet treat there isn’t a submission named after it….Luckily for us, there are banana splits for everyone! Drop a comment below with your […]
When you start training BJJ for the first time you discover how much fun it is. You get excited learning how to apply your very first submission. Your confidence starts to build by learning how to escape dangerous positions against someone much larger than you. You build friendships on the mats with your teammates and […]
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great” – Zig Ziglar For many of our students that walk through our doors for the first time Jiu-Jitsu can seem overwhelming…mainly because of the crazy scenarios you play out in your head. You soon come to realize it’s not […]
So you just took your 1st BJJ class ever and you had a blast experiencing the class and took the next step by joining your academy. That’s great and we’re excited for you! You’re going to start planning a training routine to get the most out of your BJJ training and that is helpful so […]
Ever heard, “You fight like a girl” ? The general public may interpret this as something negative and insulting. But training martial arts, such as Jiu-Jitsu redefines that phrase into something more positive and powerful. That means you’re confident in the face of adversity. That means you’re strong enough to stand your ground. Women who […]
An obstacle is simply a temporary struggle that either: – Ignites the in you to take the challenge head on and overcome it. Or – Overwhelms you with stress and frustration . Jiu-Jitsu instills the mindset of finding a solution to obstacles facing you both on the mats and in life . If you want […]
How can a brand new White Belt in BJJ be considered courageous?? Here’s some food for thought. When you start anything new for the first time, it’s normal for things to seem intimidating and overwhelming… But like anything in life you wish to get good at, it takes: Discipline Effort Consistency Only then, will you […]
Lack of knowledge or understanding creates fear. When fear is present, not everyone is confident enough to take the right type of action. Life is meant to challenge you and it comes at unexpected moments. So instead of falling victim to fear and doubt when presented with an obstacle, develop the confidence to face it […]
Not everyone is built to endure the pressures of life as many seek a way out or give up. Use that concept to your advantage! Training Jiu-Jitsu is a challenge for both the body and mind which is why it’s commonly referred to as “Human Chess”. When you know how to stay one step ahead […]
When someone can pass your guard and secures the next dominant position, your job as the person on bottom becomes significantly harder as now you have to work your way out of a bad spot. Some BJJ practitioners enjoy playing a variety of open guards which can frustrate the guard passer as well but if […]
One of the most frustrating part of passing someone’s Guard is actually trying to break it open first. When you train or compete against someone who is very strong from that position, it can cause you to feel one step behind since they’re likely doing a great job controlling your posture and even weakening your […]
“Be precise. A lack of precision is dangerous when the margin of error is small.” Every technique repetition you drill in class serves a purpose. Do you commit focus on making your reps count or do you go through the motions without much thought? The mats never lie. Discipline yourself to committing the right amount […]
What our academy means to us: Our Happy Place . . Our Safe Haven From the Stress of Everyday Life . . Our Home Away From Home . . Our Training Lab . . Our Place of Belonging . . More than just a place to learn martial arts, our academy serves as a place […]
Whether you are new to learning the Half Guard position or if this happens to be one of your favorite positions to attack or pass from, it’s important to have a fundamental understanding of what you need from this position. When battling in Half Guard, a big advantage is to win the under hook. This applies […]
Have you noticed in martial arts everyone bows? When you started training Jiu-Jitsu, has anyone taken the time to explain to you why we bow? A student who doesn’t understand why we bow is missing out on the component of their journey of self discovery and philosophy. Bowing in the martial arts is a very […]
So how clean is your BJJ Gi??? BJJ teaches you to form good habits. One of which is how to care for your training gear so you can extend the lifespan of each uniform. Far too often, some bad habits BJJ practitioners fall victim to is letting their uniforms stay in their laundry hampers throughout […]
In a martial art that has great participation by men, we enjoy shining the spotlight on women who do BJJ as they are the dedicated few who seek a path less traveled. These women are the individuals who gravitate to environments that will challenge them to become mentally and physically better. Women who seek opportunity […]
Adversity and the failure that often results from it should be expected in the process of succeeding and they should be viewed as critical parts of it. In fact, there are many benefits of adversity. Consider these reasons to embrace adversity and persevere through it: Adversity Creates Resilience Nothing in life breeds resilience like […]
So you just signed up at a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy and you’re ready to begin your martial arts journey. The next question is, what gear do you need to pack? Depending on your school’s class schedule, they will likely advise you of the uniform you’ll need for each class as described in their academy dress […]
Whether you are a new student starting your journey in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or have been a consistent student of the game for years, it is important to remember the roots of how Jiu-Jitsu gained it’s popularity in the USA, the origins of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu as it emerged from Brazil, and the influential family members of […]
Whether you are new to the BJJ scene or have been training for quite some time, we like to provide some best practices regarding personal hygiene that should be practiced by all who step on the mats: Always Wash Your Gi After Every Class: Jiu-Jitsu exposes us to close contact with our classmates during training. […]
The momentum of 2019 is carrying over into 2020 as Procel Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu prepares for its Grand Opening on January 3rd. Procel Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is ran by owner and head instructor Brian Procel. He started teaching introductory Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes for adults and children in downtown Jersey City since December of 2018 out of Grassroots […]
On December 3rd, 2019 Procel BJJ celebrated its one year anniversary of teaching Jiu-Jitsu to the community of Jersey City. The year has flown by and it has been a rewarding experience being able to meet so many people around the neighborhood and create an impact on the community. With the growth of our kid’s […]
Here are 7 abilities of achievers that enable them to fail, not take it personally, and keep moving forward: 1. Achievers Reject Rejection – Keep the right perspective when things don’t go as planned. Take responsibility, but don’t take failure personally. 2. Achievers See Failure as Temporary – This is not a hole you are […]
Whether you are the self driven individual or the person who lacks direction, factors such as your environment, your mindset and the people you surround yourself with will have a significant influence on the habits you build. This applies to the lessons our students learn on the mats and to the relationships they have with […]
Get a New Definition of Failure and Success The difference between greatness and mediocrity is often how an individual views a mistake. One of the greatest problems people have with failure is that they are too quick to judge isolated incidents in their life and label them as failures. Instead, we need to keep the bigger picture […]
Look at the way any achiever approaches negative experiences and you can learn a lot about how to respond to the idea of failure. After reading through our 2 lists, determine which one you best describes your approach to failure: Failing Backwards: Blaming Others Repeating the Same Mistakes Expecting Never to Fail Again Expecting to […]
Throughout your fitness journey there will be moments you will encounter roadblocks or hurdles that can temporarily derail you from progress. These can easily discourage people from believing their goals are attainable. Whether your obstacle be physical or mental, you need a positive source that can help drive you to SMASH through that barrier. What […]
Motivation will give you the boost of energy to get started, BUT it won’t last forever… If you’re waiting for motivation to get you going, there’s a good chance you might be waiting for a while. If you’re relying on motivation to get you to close to achieving your goal, it might feel out of […]
If you are looking for a way to improve your health or get in better shape, you may not need to hit the gym. Instead, you should head to our martial arts school. Martial arts could be the fitness solution that you have been searching for. Discover the benefits of martial arts for both men’s […]