Anvar Mammadov, Author at The Anvar Method

A vintage-style digital illustration of a muscular man in gym shorts standing confidently in front of a barbell rack. The bold, black headline reads: “Should You Hire a Personal Trainer?” The image is rendered in sepia tones with thick outlines and minimalistic detail, evoking a classic instructional poster aesthetic. The character’s posture suggests confidence, guidance, and readiness to coach.

Should You Hire a Personal Trainer? Here’s the Real Answer

The Start of My Fitness Journey (And Why I Wish I Had a Coach Back Then) I was 13 years old when I first got the spark. No fancy gym memberships. No YouTube tutorials. No Wi-Fi. Just a few blurry calisthenics videos shared between friends via Bluetooth—the old-school way. These guys were ripped, strong, and moving their bodies in ways that looked superhuman to me and my friends. Out of all of us who watched those videos, I was probably one of the few who decided to actually do something about it. Fast forward 20 years—and here I am, still on the journey, still learning. Still reading books, listening to podcasts, asking questions, studying the experts. And yes, still making mistakes (but a lot fewer than before). If I could go back in time and hire a personal trainer? I would’ve done it in a heartbeat. It would’ve saved me years of trial and error. Saved me...

25 August, 2025 / 0 Comments

Flat-style digital illustration featuring a stylized, muscular male figure performing a deadlift with perfect form. Surrounded by anatomical icons highlighting major muscle groups, the image includes bold text that reads “The Real Purpose of Your Muscles – Not Just Looks.” Designed with clean lines and a muted color palette, it emphasizes functional strength and movement over aesthetics.

The Real Purpose of Your Muscles (It’s Not Just About Looks)

There’s a Reason You’re Built This Way There’s wisdom in how The Creator designed your body. Every part of you—your muscles, organs, senses—has a specific purpose. Your eyes face forward to see where you’re headed. Your nose is between your eyes and mouth so you can smell what you eat. Your core? It stabilizes your entire structure so you can stand tall, lift, push, pull, and move. Muscles aren’t decoration. They’re functional tools built for real life. Pecs move your arms across your body. Biceps pull your arm in. Triceps extend your elbow. Erector spinae protect your spine during lifting. Core muscles brace your torso under load. Every muscle has a job. None of this was random. Why Injuries Happen (And Why Most Are Preventable) Here’s the hard truth: Most injuries happen not because of freak accidents—but because your body wasn’t prepared for the force it experienced. We’re talking normal stuff: Lifting your kid Picking up a box Playing casual football Cleaning the house If your muscles are weak—or your neural...

18 August, 2025 / 1 Comment

Digital illustration of a focused male martial artist in a grappling stance, with bold text overlay that reads 'Ego: Enemy or Ally?'. The design emphasizes the internal struggle between pride and discipline in Jiu-Jitsu and life.

Ego: Your Ally in BJJ, Gym Training & Everyday Growth

Ego in Jiu‑Jitsu, gym, and life shows up everywhere… Ego—it's a powerful force.It's not strictly bad or good; it can push you to greatness—or drag you into drama. Since day one in Jiu-Jitsu, I heard: “Leave your ego at the door.”Fair enough. BJJ humbles any human. But it’s also a human behavior worth exploring. As I like to say: “The observant person finds many teachers.”I’m driven by reflection—learning from every roll, every failure, every conversation. Ego shows up everywhere: on the mats, in the gym, in our lives. Let’s dive in. 1. Ego in Jiu-Jitsu: Poker Face? Not Possible. In BJJ, ego never leaves the room—but how you use it matters. 🔴 The Bad Ego After 13 years of rolling, I’ve seen it all: The friendly athlete outside class who turns into a ruthless grinder when the gi goes on. A partner who bites or scratches intentionally. A Black Belt slapping a blue belt with a fast wristlock—and blaming them instead...

11 August, 2025 / 0 Comments

Flat-style digital illustration of a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner in a white gi, confidently performing a technique during training. Surrounded by simple, abstract silhouettes of other students on a tan background, with bold black title text: "How to Get Better at Jiu-Jitsu (Without the BS).

How to Improve Faster in Jiu-Jitsu (No Gimmicks, Just Results)

Jiu-Jitsu Isn’t a Shortcut—Here’s Why There’s this myth floating around in the martial arts world: “Jiu-Jitsu is different. You don’t need conditioning. You can skip warm-ups. You can train less and still get ahead.” Sound familiar? Yeah—complete nonsense. Let’s be clear:Jiu-Jitsu is not magic. It’s a skill—and like any real skill, it demands reps. BJJ came from Judo. Judo came from classical Japanese jiu-jitsu. It’s built on leverage—so a smaller person can defend and submit a bigger one. But somewhere along the way, leverage became an excuse. “I don’t need to drill.”“I don’t need strength work.”“I can just roll and figure it out.” That mindset will keep you stuck at the same belt… or worse, injured and out. What Makes BJJ Unique (And Why You Still Need Work) Yes—Jiu-Jitsu is different from other martial arts: No striking Slower tempo than wrestling or judo Technical ground game You can "rest" in some positions That makes it beautiful for people who aren’t naturally explosive. But leverage isn’t a replacement...

04 August, 2025 / 0 Comments

A 2D digital illustration with a bold centered title that reads ‘How to Be the Most Interesting Person in the Room’. The background shows a symbolic silhouette of a confident man standing tall in a crowd, representing authenticity, wisdom, and presence.

How to Be the Most Interesting Person in the Room (Without Tricks)

Why Some People Command Attention (And How You Can Too) Ever seen that one person at a gathering? The one whose words make the room quiet—everyone leans in, even when someone else is speaking. People call it charisma.I call it earned credibility. It’s not about storytelling hacks.It’s about having lived something worth talking about. My Proof: Not Hype, Just History People listen when I speak—not because of gimmicks or titles—but because I’ve lived through: 13+ years in martial arts, including a BJJ black belt 20 years of strength training: from calisthenics to CrossFit Deep dives into nutrition: intermittent fasting, high-fat, low-carb Lived in 3 countries, dealt with racism, bullying, and near-death experiences Foster care background, fluency in 5 languages, and finding Islam along the way These aren’t “talking points”—they’re real.And they give me something worth sharing. The list of experiences is long, but this post isn’t about me. It’s about how you can build that kind of presence too. 1. Build Expertise (Broad...

28 July, 2025 / 0 Comments

Money Can’t Buy This: The Priceless Things That Truly Matter

Chasing Growth: Why I Started This Journey I can’t pinpoint exactly what sparked my obsession with self-improvement. Maybe it was childhood adversity. Maybe dropping out of high school. Maybe it was the chip on my shoulder from always feeling behind. But at 13, I discovered a simple truth: 👉 If I put in the work, I get results. That was all I needed. I became addicted to growth—strength training, books, martial arts, psychology, spirituality, business, sales, nutrition. If it helped me level up, I consumed it. As Jim Rohn said: “How tall does a tree grow? As tall as it can.” So why limit myself? Why should you? The Myth of Buying Success Some people get lucky. Born rich. Smooth path. Good for them. But here's reality: The most valuable things in life aren’t for sale. They cost something deeper: discipline, time, effort. Here are three things money can’t buy—but you can earn. 1. Health & Strength (Earned, Not Bought) You can’t swipe a card and buy...

21 July, 2025 / 0 Comments

A digital illustration of four bearded Muslim men in traditional clothing standing together outdoors, symbolizing the importance of choosing good friends and supportive community.

Circle & Friends: Why Who You Surround Yourself With Shapes Your Life

A Friend Pulls (For Better or Worse) There’s an Arabic saying:“A friend pulls.” Meaning: a friend will influence your direction—whether good or bad. I speak five languages (and a bit of a sixth), and I’ve found versions of this wisdom in every culture I’ve encountered. The phrasing may change, but the truth stays the same. Take a moment to reflect on your life—the habits you’ve formed, the hobbies you’ve picked up, even some of your major life choices. If you trace them back, you’ll likely find a friend at the beginning of the trail: The friend who introduced you to training or martial arts The one who got you into smoking or drinking The friend who inspired you to pray, learn, and grow Or the one who led you into vices or poor decisions One of the most beautiful sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ captures this dynamic perfectly: “The example of a good friend and a bad friend is...

07 July, 2025 / 0 Comments

Success Requires Sacrifice: Why Everything Has a Cost

Success Requires Sacrifice: Why Everything Has a Cost Why You’re Stuck (And Why You Keep Lying to Yourself) Let’s cut the crap. You’re not “too busy” or “waiting for the right time”—you’re afraid. Afraid of failing. Afraid of what people will think. Afraid of how hard it might actually get. “I’ll start tomorrow.” “Next week will be better.” “New year, new me!” Weeks become months. Months become years. And the real culprit? You’re scared to begin. And you’re afraid you’ll quit—or worse, fail. Why Success Requires Sacrifice (The Cost Mindset) You’ve heard the phrase: "Everything worthwhile comes with a price." Whether it's losing fat, earning a black belt, or financial gain—it demands sacrifice. And without understanding that cost, your goals slip through your fingers. Why Things Without a Cost Aren’t Valued Have you ever dismissed free advice, then paid for a session and shown up prepared? Same info—different mindset. Free = no investment = no commitment. When you put real skin in...

23 June, 2025 / 0 Comments

A minimalist digital illustration of two Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners sparring on the mat, with muted beige tones and abstract geometric lines symbolizing controlled movement, safety, and injury prevention.

How to Prevent Injuries in Jiu-Jitsu (and Stay on the Mats Longer)

The Injury Loop (And How to Break Free) You’re finally picking up momentum in Jiu-Jitsu… Then boom—another injury. The nagging elbow that never seems to heal. The shoulder tweak that keeps coming back. You take a break to heal, but now your skills are slipping. Ever caught yourself thinking, “Is it always going to be like this?” You’re not alone: Around 68.8% of BJJ athletes report at least one injury causing two weeks off in a 3-year period youtube.com+15pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+15submissionshark.com+15bjjselfhelp.comen.wikipedia.org. Another study shows 5.5 injuries per 1,000 hours of training—most happen during sparring scienceforsport.com+2pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov+2bmjopensem.bmj.com+2. If you want to stop repeating this injury loop, you need a plan. 1. Train Smart: Choose Your Partners Wisely To learn how to prevent injuries in Jiu-Jitsu, start by training smart, not recklessly. Trust is key. When practicing deep submissions or escape drills, your partner must respect your safety. Elite grapplers maintain a consistent, trusted core of training mates, not random irregulars. 2. Tap Early, Tap Often Tapping early...

21 June, 2025 / 0 Comments

Minimalist illustration of a man climbing a slope while stacking labeled blocks—Faith, Strength, Skill, and Discipline—symbolizing the process of building high value as a man through consistent self-improvement.

Why Skills Matter More Than Size (And How to Build Real Value as a Man)

When Size Becomes an Excuse Not long ago, I was encouraging a guy to try Jiu-Jitsu.We were mid-conversation when he hit me with this: “But Coach… haven’t you seen how big he is?” He was talking about another guy in the class. Let’s call him Joe. Joe wasn’t a giant, but he was well-built—muscular, strong, clearly someone who had put time into training. And yet, Joe was new. He had maybe a week of training under his belt. But he was already obsessed with learning the art. So I looked back at the guy and said: “Exactly.” Joe had physical strength—sure.But now he was stacking another skill: technical ability. That’s the game most men don’t even realize they’re playing. It’s not about size. It’s about how many skills and assets you’re stacking. Skills Over Size: The High-Value Game Here’s the real issue: The guy who said that wasn’t making an observation—he was revealing a limiting belief. The assumption was: If I’m not built like...

10 June, 2025 / 0 Comments