Blog

The social side of BJJ that nobody explains — what it means to be part of a "team," how friendships form on the mats, and why community is the thing that makes the sport stick.

What to look for in a kids jiu-jitsu program, what to avoid, and how to tell whether your child will benefit. The honest parent's guide.

How jiu-jitsu has shifted in the last decade, where it's headed, and what to expect as a new practitioner walking into the sport today.

San Diego is the deepest BJJ city in the United States. Here's a guide to picking the right gym out of the dozens — by neighborhood, lineage, and what you're actually looking for.

LA is the spiritual home of no-gi BJJ in America. Here's how to find the right room, whether you're a beginner or a competitor.

Saulo Ribeiro won across weight classes and rulesets. His longer contribution asks how a champion's knowledge becomes something another person can learn.

Two ADCC titles explain part of Leo Vieira's influence. The rest involves teaching, Checkmat, and the move from winning matches to shaping the sport.

Sharing a ride to jiu-jitsu does not mean sharing a pace, a belt schedule, or a reason to train. A practical approach for families with two students.

Remove the colored fabric and the room still needs trust, teaching, and a way to recognize progress. A thought experiment about rank in BJJ.

Braulio Estima's 2009 ADCC double gold was more than a medal count. Two brackets show the different problems a complete tournament run has to solve.

The quiet technician, the enthusiastic beginner, the useful skeptic: seven familiar training roles and how to make the most of each pairing.

Romulo Barral's career connects elite gi guard work, an ADCC title, and academy life. The interesting part is how those achievements differ.

Hannette Staack's record includes ADCC double gold, but her own interviews reveal an equally persistent commitment to students and teaching.

Robert Drysdale won world titles in the gi and at ADCC. His books and interviews open a different question: how did jiu-jitsu become this sport?

Keenan Cornelius's lapel experiments made his reputation. His ADCC medals, instructionals, and San Diego academy tell a wider story.

Tammi Musumeci's world titles stand on their own. Her legal career and public reflections make the story wider than the family name.

Enjoy the special gi. First, check the fit, care, and actual use—because a release timer cannot decide whether a uniform belongs in your week.

Ryan Hall's ADCC medal, TUF title, and Penn submission reveal more than a signature move: the challenge of reaching it against resistance.

A quiet student needs room to train, ask questions, and choose partners without being pushed into performing an outgoing personality.

A practical guide to sharing rides to BJJ: pickup times, costs, clean gear, extra rounds, and getting everyone home without an awkward negotiation.

Jeff Glover beyond the highlight clip: ADCC results, deep-half teaching, Glover’s Travels, and the competitive work behind the unusual positions.

An open-mat timer can organize rounds without organizing your life. Plan useful training, breaks, questions, and a departure you can actually keep.

Three adult world titles in three weight classes, plus the wider competition and teaching work behind Claudia do Val’s record.

When a favorite BJJ partner disappears from class, keep the friendship open, respect their reasons, and find a new rhythm for your own training.