New

MAT-START

ConditioningByDre

Jiu Jitsu
Coach
Andrea Conti

If you're new to lifting but serious about improving your BJJ, MAT-START is your gateway to building real strength without burning out on the mats. This 4-week program is designed specifically for BJJ hobbyists who are novice lifters, helping you develop a solid foundation in strength, mobility and plyometrics while keeping you fresh for rolling.

What to Expect:

-2 sessions per week: Just enough to build strength without interfering with your BJJ schedule

-Beginner-friendly structure: Learn proper lifting technique and develop confidence in the gym

-Grappling-focused strength: Improve mobility, core stability, grip endurance, and total-body strength

-Injury prevention: Strengthen key muscles to reduce injury risk and keep you training longer

-Smart programming: A structured, no-BS approach that fits seamlessly into your BJJ routine

No fluff. No wasted energy. Just the essential strength work you need to move better, feel stronger, and perform at your best.

Features:

2 sessions per week

Must use TrainHeroic App to view and log training

24hrs support through App and email

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Build the foundations
Build the foundational strength needed for better control and stability on the mats.
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Improved Injury Resilience
Strengthen key muscle groups to reduce the risk of common BJJ injuries.
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Efficient & Beginner-Friendly
Just 2 sessions per week (3 at tops), so you can lift without burning out for your BJJ specific training.
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Get confident in the weight room
Learn proper technique and progress through basic lifts that support your training.
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Better Conditioning
Every sessions is designed to improve strength endurance and the cardio that you need to maintain power throughout long rolls
Features
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Programming 3 days per week
Daily strength, conditioning, and skill training that’s accessible and challenging for BJJ athletes of any level or background
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Exercise Video Guidance
Instructional videos to guide your practice and make execution easy
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Detailed, expert instruction
Coaches instructions who will hold you accountable and provide the feedback you need to grow
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Delivered through TrainHeroic
Sweating over a PDF is obsolete. Your coach and team will push you harder, know you better, and keep you going longer, all through an app
Equipment
Required
Dumbells // Kettlebells // Bench // Cardio equipment
Recommended
Barbells // Swissball
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Sample Week
Week 1 of 4-week program
Sunday
Session 1

Warm-up

A

3 Rounds Push up to Down Dog x 8 Dynamic Squat to stand x 8 Split Stance altrenating Pogo Hops x 15 each

B1

Tempo Goblet Squat

3 x 10

B2

Chest-Supported DB Row

3 x 12

C1

Bulgarian Split Squat

3 x 8

C2

Incline DB Bench Press

3 x 12

D1

Banded Deadbug

3 x 30

D2

Farmer's March in Place

3 x 30

Cardio

E

Choose your favorite cardio (like bike, run, row or ski-erg) 1' easy pace then: 6 x 30sec hard / 1min very, very easy For the "hard" portion of the intervals, these should be done at a speed that's 7-8 / 10 difficulty at the end of the first interval (they'll get harder from there!). Try to breathe through your nose only. You should be able to complete all intervals at the same speed. Record your speed to reference in the future.

Tuesday
Session 2

Warm-up

A

3 Rounds Elbow to Plank Push-ups x 8 Lateral Lunge to OH reach x 8 Forward/Backward Pogo Jumps x 30

B1

Kettlebell Deadlift

3 x 10

B2

DB Bench Press

3 x 12

C1

Dumbell Romanian Deadlift (RDL)

3 x 12

C2

Pull Downs

3 x 12

D1

Shoulder Taps

3 x 30

D2

Straight Leg OH Sit Ups

3 x 10

Cardio

E

Choose your favorite cardio (like bike, run, row or ski-erg) 1' easy pace then: 5 x 1min hard / 1min very, very easy For the "hard" portion of the intervals, these should be done at a speed that's 6 / 10 difficulty at the end of the first interval (they'll get harder from there!). Try to breathe through your nose only. You should be able to complete all intervals at the same speed. Record your speed to reference in the future.

Thursday
Session 3

Warm-up

A

3 Rounds Short Copenhagen Plank - 30sec each 1/2 Kneeling Pallof Press - 30sec each Superman Hold - 30sec

B1

Half-Kneeling DB Shoulder Press

3 x 10

B2

DB Reverse Lunge

3 x 10

C1

DB Row

3 x 12

C2

Stability Ball Hamstring Curl

3 x 12

D1

Supine Plate Neck Flexion

3 x 20

D2

Close Grip Push-Up

3 x 10

Coach
coach-avatar Andrea Conti

I am an athlete, passionate and assiduous practitioner of combat sports and student of the S&C world in general. I hold a Master degree in Sport Science and my mission is to help as many practitioners as possible like me to take better care of themselves outside of their specific training.

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Build Strength & Roll Better in 4 Weeks!

Get a clear and structured plan with simple, effective exercises designed for BJJ hobbyists. No guesswork, just the right guidance to help you build strength, improve mobility and while staying injury-free while keeping up with your training. Easy to follo

Get MAT-START
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FAQs
Who is this program for?
Literally for any level athlete who wishes to understand how to program their strength training in combination with a busy jiu-jitsu schedule. All videos are attached to each exercise so it's straightforward to follow
How to make the most of this program?
This style of programming has helped many athletes I've worked with. Nutrition and sleep must be taken into account when following a strength program for better recovery and faster gains.
Why full-body sessions and supersets?
Supersets are really helpful for time efficiency and intensity. Hitting each muscle group 2x/week is the minimum standard for muscle growth and retention, a busy Jiu-Jitsu schedule means more recovery so best to spend less time in the weights room each week and get it all done in 2-3 sessions.
How many weight sessions should I perform each week?
Minimum 2 sessions, 3 at max: the program include an extra one if you're able to do it
How hard should I push?
The program uses a RPE scale of 1-10 (eg. 9/10 extremely difficult and 6/10 felt like a nice medium weight). But what's more valuable is understanding the correct technique and where your body is in space when performing any exercise. This will lead to better progress on the long run.
How much time do I need to commit each week?
Maybe at the beginning you'll need more time to figure out the exercises but every session is designed to be time-efficient, with the workouts lasting around 50 minutes. You’ll be training 2-3 times a week, making it easy to fit into your existing BJJ schedule.
The Proof
verified-athlete-avatar JP Landero

BJJ Brown Belt - NOGI Champion

Verified Athlete

"Andrea changed the way I looked at strength training. For me it was important to train strength and power but not compromising or even take away the Jiu Jitsu sessions. His programs allowed me to train every day on the mat without feeling exhausted and giving my best"

verified-athlete-avatar Jinsoo Han

BJJ Purple Belt Competitor

Verified Athlete

"Extraordinary unique program. Focused on grappling, not only Jiujitsu, this program is amazingly effective. Highly recommend to people who have no idea where to start from because professional and passionate feedbacks will satisfy you in various aspects also!"

verified-athlete-avatar Marta Pankiv

MMA Italian Amateur Champion

Verified Athlete

"Andrea's programs took my strength and power to a whole new level. I’m hitting harder, controlling the clinch, and dominating exchanges like never before and it fits perfectly into my specific training routine. He didn’t just improve my MMA game, he made me a force to be reckoned with."

verified-athlete-avatar Mimi Tian

BJJ Blue belt

Verified Athlete

"Working with Andrea has been very satisfying. He goes above and beyond to ensure that you receive the best customized training suited for your needs and skill level. As someone who was looking to improve my overall cardio, strength, and power, I found that the results were incredibly beneficial!"

MAT-START