At the start of 2019 we launched PreRoll, our first pre-workout specifically engineered for Jiu Jitsu.
Since its release, we've had a lot of interest about what ingredients are in it, why we chose them, and what makes PreRoll such a great choice for the Jiu Jitsu athlete.
L-Arginine AKG and Betaine Anhydrous are some of the heavy-hitters when it comes to power and endurance in our formula.
L-Arginine AKG increases nitric oxide production resulting in increased vasodilation. This means it widens your blood vessels to increase blood flow to the muscles and lower blood pressure.
Betaine has been shown in studies to increase muscle power and endurance. It is a methyl donor and an osmolyte, meaning it balances fluid levels inside and outside of cells, preventing cell death by shrinking or bursting.
One customer mentioned in a review, "I love the effects of arginine for extended cardio endurance and performance during rolls." We're glad it's doing its job!
The next big addition for us was our Focus Blend. We wanted something to give us increased concentration while trying to process complex Jiu Jitsu techniques.
Taurine is an essential amino acid with a wide variety of benefits to the human body. For focus, it binds to the brain’s GABA receptors which play a key role in controlling and calming the central nervous system.
L-Theanine has repeatedly been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in individuals in high pressure situations. When paired with caffeine, it is believed to increase attention and focus during demanding tasks.
One customer said, "My mind feels calm I feel focused and it's very easy for me to focus on my technique." That's the focus blend at work!
We wanted to add clean energy sources without that shaky, jittery feeling - so we chose caffeine, guayusa, maca, and guarana.
Caffeine is one of the most studied performance enhancing supplements of all time and consistently has been shown to increase both strength and endurance. As it metabolizes, caffeiene has an influence on vasodilation, triggers fat oxidation, and decreases airway constriction in the lungs (in other words, opening up ventilation). It works by stimulating the central nervous system, the heart, muscles, and the centers that control blood pressure.
Guayusa is noted for its ability to raise energy levels without increasing stress or jitters thanks to its theobromine content.
Maca raises long term energy and has promising results in studies for enhanced endurance.
Guarana see has been shown to increase alertness, energy, and mood. MRI scans have shown that guarana increased neurotransmitter traffic in the areas of the brain responsible for memory and attention processing.
One customer enjoyed said of the formula, "I have energy but don't get all spazzy when I roll" which is exactly what it is designed to do!
Electrolytes are minerals with an electric charge. They help the body to maintain proper hydration as well as balance pH levels, move nutrients into cells and waste out, and generally making sure everything in the body functions correctly.
These electrolytes are especially important for athletes because they are easily lost through sweat. Deficiency in electrolytes can cause cramping, fatigue, weakness, tingling, or confusion.
We added small amounts of the electrolytes Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, and Potassium to make sure your body has what it needs for your session.
Calcium is the mineral known for bone health, but also functions as an electrolyte in the body. It helps with nerve signaling, blood clotting, hormone secretion, muscle contraction, and normal heart function. If the body doesn't get enough calcium, it will pull it from the bones, potentially weakening them over time.
Magnesium causes your muscles to relax. It also allows muscles to take in oxygen and plays a role in maintaining a normal heartbeat. Insufficient magnesium may negatively affect athletic performance and can cause weakness and even muscle spasms.
Sodium aids in fluid retention and plays a central role in nerve and muscle function, as well as blood volume and blood pressure control. If you don't consume enough sodium, you can become dehydrated or your blood pressure may drop.
Potassium plays a vital part in hydration and muscle contraction, including the heart and digestive muscles. It plays a major role in proper heart function.
You'll also notice only 1g of carbohydrates per serving. This was important for us to cut down, as carbohydrates are sugars which can make you crash - so for the sake of endurance we kept this to a minimum.
You may notice that some typical pre-workout additives aren't in PreRoll. Here's some of the things we left out and why they didn't make the cut:
Excessive amounts of caffeine. We added 100mg, the amount found in an average cup of coffee. Many pre-workouts will have up to 300mg, plus other stimulants. We wanted our energy blend to carry you through a class, not have you bouncing off the walls during drilling.
Beta-Alanine (BA). "Why did you leave out BA?" is one of the most common questions we receive about PreRoll. A common pre-workout additive for good reason, studies show Beta-Alanine helps with muscular strength and endurance. However, many people get a strong tingling or itchy sensation after consuming BA. We didn't want people receiving false signals from their body while grappling - especially in competition.
Artificial Sweeteners. We wanted a product sweetened naturally so we chose to use Stevia.
Artificial Dyes and Flavors. Your body deserves the best we have to offer, so we stayed away from these artificial ingredients and used natural fruit powders instead. Think of healthy pomegranate, beet, raspberry, acai, cranberry, and strawberry for a complex taste profile and antioxidant defense.
Of course, as with anything, the proof is in the pudding. Our customers have been loving PreRoll, saying it helps them concentrate on their technique during rolls and give them a boost of energy without the jitters. Hear what customers are saying by going to check out PreRoll here and scrolling down to the reviews.
Have some feedback on the choices in our pre-workout? We'd love to hear your thoughts, simply send an email to us at team@goldbjj.com with any questions or comments you'd like to share.
