BJJ Resources

Most of you know what BJJ is and likely practice it. Some do jiu-jitsu because it’s cool, others like it as a sport, and others believe it’s an effective self-defense…

Wrestling has been a part of human culture and a way to prove dominance without severely hurting someone since the beginning of time. There are countless styles worldwide, but the…

The uniform of a sport is often enough for it to be recognized instantly. This is true for all sports, but few competition attires are as symbolic as the one…

Freestyle wrestling is the worldwide practiced version of wrestling where grabbing the legs is allowed. In the USA, wrestling is also held in high regard and is an integral part…

Oftentimes, a martial art can be instantly recognized through a still image because of the fighting stance used. The way the body is positioned when standing reflects what the offensive…

Brain damage has long been considered a worry only for boxers, whose trade is punching people in the head. In recent years, studies have shown that many more athletes, like…

The debate about which is better for actual fighting – combat sports or self-defense systems is never-ending. Both sides have strong proponents, although both sides have different degrees of visual…

Jiu-jitsu and wrestling often look like polar opposites despite both being grappling styles. In wrestling, you do everything in your power to avoid getting your back on the ground, while…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is far from the only “native” martial art in the South American country. There are several styles, some more obscure, others better known, but the most popular outside…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is thriving in no small part thanks to its highly competitive nature. Tournaments are a vital part of it, and the nature of BJJ and the competition structure…

We live in a time where we get to choose what to do with a good portion of our time. Out of the many hobbies and pastimes, martial arts have…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a fighting system based on technique, leverage, and body mechanics, but some have described these techniques as a better way to apply strength. So, while technique is…

Few things in life are as nerve-racking as competing in combat sports. However, the rewards of personal achievement cannot be overstated, so people continue to overcome their fears and step…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu and mixed martial arts are inextricably linked because the latter was largely created to demonstrate the efficiency of jiu-jitsu against other styles. But 30 years after the first…

For millennia, the cauliflower ear has been a symbol of wrestlers, grapplers, and fighters. Some wear their mangled ears with pride, while others do everything in their power to prevent…

Joe Rogan is a big-time celebrity and an influential figure in combat sports. He has been a core part of the UFC since 1997, and his podcast guests, including a…

The debates about which martial art is the best and comparing styles are as old as martial arts. The problem is not everyone agrees with the criteria. But martial arts…

There isn’t a single jiu-jitsu practitioner who doesn’t want to get better faster. Or even better, immediately. For better or worse, the second is impossible, and spending time on the…

Strikers can knock people out while grapplers choke them out. When someone loses consciousness through a hold on his neck, this is usually due to a blood choke. But what…

A grappler’s most dangerous weapons are his strangulations. While strikes and joint locks can be endured with strong enough will and determination, choking someone out of consciousness brings finality to…

If you’ve grappled more than a few times, you likely know what mat burn is. The red blistering skin is usually not a big deal, but it’s painful, uncomfortable, and…

If someone is starting jiu-jitsu today, they may quickly think there has always been gi and no-gi BJJ and that the no-gi competition scene was always similar to what we…

Like many other sports, especially combat sports, jiu-jitsu was male-dominated for the longest time. But gradually, more and more women fell in love with the gentle art, and thanks to…

While Kung Fu sparked the martial arts craze in the Western world in the 1960s and 70s, today, many other styles have greatly surpassed it in number of practitioners and…

No other critique of the effectiveness of BJJ is more common than that it is terrible against multiple opponents because going to the ground in this situation is suicide. I’ve…

Aikido has a worldwide following and is among the most popular martial arts. But while in the 20th-century style vs. style, battles were more theoretical, and Aikido was thought to…

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu’s success, both technically and in terms of popularity, was made possible largely because of its fearlessness in taking on challenges from other styles. This way, BJJ has proven…

Fighting off your back is a significant thing that makes Brazilian jiu-jitsu unique among grappling martial arts. But even if you can be dangerous from the guard, getting on top…

Keanu Reeves has starred in some incredible movies and is a household name everywhere in the world, but in recent years, his role as John Wick has made him a…

Every Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner has wondered how long it takes to get a brown belt. Even as white belts, when this phase seems so far flung into the future, we…

Making a numbered list of fighters is always challenging because it’s inherently biased and not objective. We can count the number of titles which is the only hard data we…

Few fighting styles are as different as Brazilian jiu-jitsu and taekwondo. The few common things are that both have a well-developed competition scene and a similar traditional uniform. The differences…

Personal hygiene is crucial for a sport with constant body-to-body contact like BJJ. This includes clean bodies and apparel to minimize the chance of nasty bacteria spreading and causing serious…

If you are a little older, it’s likely that you have kept a journal or a diary at some point. This is an excellent practice in itself, even in the…

Super teams have been a big part of combat sports. Bringing together the top fighters is the epitome of the saying iron sharpens iron, and no single team has been…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu and wrestling may be grappling sports, but they often seem exact opposites. What is a core concept of one means a sure loss in the other. Many people…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu has one of the toughest ranking systems to progress through, and each belt is a hard-earned honor and reward. With the rapid growth of no-gi BJJ and submission…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a dangerous sport, and many injuries can happen during training or competition. But more insidious are the nasty germs and bacteria lurking in every gym’s warm and…

Many people believe the black belt is the final rank in Brazilian jiu-jiu and martial arts using a belt ranking system in general. Not only do black belts have degrees,…

BJJ is regarded as one of the most effective self-defense systems, allowing smaller and weaker individuals to defend themselves against larger, stronger attackers. But how much does size matter in…

Krav Maga and Brazilian jiu-jitsu may not have much in common but are often compared because they are advertised as great self-defense systems. So how do they stack up to…

It can be hard to follow all the rules and names in the grappling world for people immersed in it, let alone for casual viewers. For example, the terms submission…

Anyone even remotely interested in BJJ and martial arts has heard of the Gracie family and probably knows their role in creating and spreading the style. This is why it…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai owe much of their popularity to mixed martial arts. BJJ became the premier grappling style in MMA, while Muay Thai covered the striking aspect, and…

BJJ is in the business of rearranging limbs, and chokes stand at the top of the submission hierarchy. This places the precious neck muscles and cervical vertebrae under frequent pressure…

One of the beautiful things about BJJ is that the nature of training means we can get by with very little protective equipment compared to MMA guys and strikers. Aside…

Whenever two people willingly fight, some rules are in place, even if they are not enforced. Biting, eye gouging, clawing, and similar techniques are considered dirty, are banned, or heavily…

The Brazilian jiu-jitsu belt system is not perfect, but it shows the proud traditions of the martial art and still presents tangible goals for practitioners. While the blue belt is…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu has been a crucial part of mixed martial arts (MMA) since its infancy, and it still is today. But it is also an individual martial art and combat…

Injuries are an inevitable part of every sport, even more so in martial arts, where, regardless of how safely they are trained, each technique’s original intention is to hurt an…

The triangle choke is one of the most common and versatile strangulations in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and one of the most visually recognizable ones. The move originates in judo and has…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing are two of the most easily distinguished combat sports, and even someone who sees them for the first time will instantly see they are entirely different….

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a highly competitive sport, and tournaments play a significant role in its popularity. Even white belts and beginners have frequent opportunities to compete against people of similar…

BJJ has evolved into a worldwide combat sport with an enormous scene ranging from complete beginners to elite athletes competing professionally. Different levels and organizations do things differently, but how…

The world of self-defense is full of fake styles and imaginary debates, despite the insurmountable evidence we have on the matter. One style that has a stellar track record and…

Where there are rules, there will be people trying to exploit them. As much as martial arts are an honorable pursuit, winning medals and trophies is daunting, and shady tactics…

Few submissions are as versatile as the kimura lock in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Its uses from the bottom, top, and side make it very common at levels, and it’s a favorite…

Grappling has many forms worldwide, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and catch wrestling are two of the most prominent submission-based styles. With rich histories behind both, they enrich the other in today’s…

The guillotine is a classic choke in many martial arts, including BJJ. It is intuitive, prevalent, and effective at all levels. But why is this choke named after an execution…

The striker vs. grappler battle has been a major draw in fighting even before the days of MMA. Fighters have always wanted to prove their style was the best, but…

BJJ offers infinite ways to subdue, control, injure, or main an opponent, but neck cranks are among the most painful ones and have the potential for long-term damage. This has…

The blue belt in BJJ is perhaps the most important promotion because it’s the first belt you’ve earned and signifies you are no longer a beginner. While the black belt…

Workout fatigue is a sweet feeling after you’ve spent yourself on the mats and feel tired but satisfied. But the soreness the next day is very far from pleasant and…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu has helped many people reach their fitness goals, lose weight, and get in good shape. Everybody loves a success story, and the BJJ academy is the home of…

Competition is the best way to test your skills and elevate your BJJ game to the next level. Rolling in the gym is one thing, but competing offers a different…

While Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a very technical sport, the elite levels of competition are being increasingly dominated by very muscular athletes. But does BJJ build such muscles? BJJ training on…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu and simply jiu-jitsu also spelled Jujutsu, are often used interchangeably. While the name is the same, Brazilian jiu-jitsu and traditional Japanese jiujutsu are two different martial arts. But…

The beauty of MMA lies in the infinite number of possible ways to fight and win; taking someone down and choking him out is one of the best ways to…

Many different grappling martial arts have found their way into mixed martial arts. They are used to different extents, but MMA has become a unique sport with unique specifics on…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu has seen an incredible rise in popularity over the last 30 years alongside the advent of modern MMA. Still, with that rise, it has also branched into different…

BJJ practitioners spar or “roll” daily, and you may often hear them using the term “flow rolling.” But what does flow rolling mean in BJJ, and how does it differ…

Though known as a ground fighting system, each BJJ exchange begins on the feet. You may wonder what type of techniques athletes utilize to advance to the ground and does…

Calling all BJJ enthusiasts, are you a practitioner of the gentle art seeking some inspiration and motivation? Look no further! We’ve gathered 51 of the most inspiring quotes from BJJ…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu started as a self-defense fighting system created to defeat all others through grappling. But in the last few decades, different sub-styles have emerged, including a highly competitive grappling-only…

In BJJ and Sambo, two deadly martial arts are proven in MMA, real-life situations, and sports competitions. Both have excellent arguments for superiority, and each has strong sides and flaws….

BJJ attracts more and more practitioners by the day. Different people have different reasons to start training, but each hopes to gain some benefits. But do you know what they…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is best known for the numerous submissions practitioners use to dominate opponents on the ground. But not everyone knows each submission is only available from certain positions you…

The differences between striking martial arts and grappling are apparent and easy to see. Still, comparing styles from one domain gets more complicated. Being two of the most popular grappling…

BJJ may be the best grappling martial art and one of the better self-defense systems out there, but it still covers only half of what fighting is. The other half,…

If you are new to BJJ or considering joining the classes, you may have encountered the term “open mat.” You may wonder what BJJ open mat is and how it…

BJJ is among the fastest-growing martial arts and a popular grappling sport worldwide. But is BJJ an Olympic sport? Brazilian jiu-jitsu is not an official Olympic sport, nor is there…

Achieving a black belt rank in BJJ is the ultimate goal of every student. If you are a beginner just starting, you might wonder how long it will take to…

The word BJJ is everywhere in the combat sports world. It has even transcended that realm, with many celebrities training in and popularizing it. But do you know what the…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo are two of the premier grappling martial arts, sharing a common root and overlapping techniques. However, the closer you look, the more differences you will find….

If you spend more than a few hours in a BJJ school, you will probably hear the phrase “OSS” a few times. The word is also commonly used in other…

Aging is a complex biological process, and it comes with certain limitations. You may wonder, can you start training BJJ at 50 years of age? Is it safe? BJJ is…

BJJ is among the fastest-growing combat sports, and one of the key reasons behind this trend is the low injury rate. But is BJJ the safest martial art? How dangerous…

In the chaotic world of martial arts, things can get confusing quickly, and you can often hear people mixing one term with the other. And one of the most common…

Two prominent grappling martial arts, wrestling and BJJ, have huge followings of practitioners, many of whom look to improve their ground game by cross-training. The popularity and accessibility of jiu-jitsu…

There are many ways to hurt another human using your body, and they can be roughly divided into two main categories, striking and grappling. Striking is throwing punches and kicks,…

Colored belts that signify the wearer’s rank have been synonymous with martial arts since Jigoro Kano first introduced them to judo in the early 20th century. The concept is so…

Even relatively experienced BJJ competitors can get lost in the sea of weight classes under various organizations and rule sets. The IBJJF especially has different weight divisions based on gender,…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu is one of the most popular martial arts on the planet and a fighting system that has proven itself time and time again in mixed martial arts and…

Brazilian jiu-jitsu has many different ways to advance to the ground. Practitioners utilize throws, trips, and takedowns; the other popular way is by pulling guard. But what does pulling guard…

Although BJJ is considered one of the safest martial arts, many people think this form of grappling imposes a significant risk to your health. But is this true? Is BJJ…

BJJ and Karate are two conceptually different martial arts, with BJJ focusing on grappling and Karate on striking. But who would win between BJJ and Karate in a one-on-one unarmed…

BJJ has become the world’s premier grappling system, and chokes and joint locks are its specialties, not punches and kicks. BJJ is most well-known as a sport, but modern competitions…

All martial arts have a solid element of self-defense, at least on paper. But when confronted by reality, most fall short of their promises. Brazilian jiu-jitsu claims to be the…

This article is to answer the question: why do people wear spats for BJJ? I thought BJJ spats were just for warmth… …until I saw people wearing spats for BJJ…

In this article you’ll find the definitive answer to the question: are grappling dummies worth it? More importantly you’ll find out: WHEN are grappling dummies useful. How to make grappling…