Nicky Rodriguez, a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athlete for B-Team Jiu Jitsu, recently won the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational BJJ tournament and scored $1,000,000.

Nicky could be seen preparing for his first match, finding calm and focus in breathwork.

Rodriguez stayed calm and focused throughout the tournament by paying attention to his breathing. He said that not overthinking about his opponents and just going with the flow is the key to his success: “I perform best when I’m carefree, living in the moment, and not overanalysing the situation.”

“In between rounds, I just look to catch my breath as good as possible,” Nicky explained to Tim Welch. He was focusing on maintaining a consistent breathing rhythm to enhance his performance. Prior to the match, he practised the Fire of Breath technique.

Rodriguez isn’t the only Jiu-Jitsu practitioner incorporating breathwork into his training. Jiu-Jitsu legend Rickson Gracie has emphasised the importance of daily breathwork, considering it a cornerstone of his practice and overall well-being.