Blog

Should you compete in BJJ? An honest look at the pros and cons of competing in jiu-jitsu, what you gain, what holds people back, and how to decide if it's for you.

Consistency, not talent, is what makes you good at BJJ. Here's how to build a lasting jiu-jitsu habit, beat motivation dips, and keep training through a busy life.

Which supplements actually help your jiu-jitsu? An honest look at the supplements worth considering for BJJ — protein, creatine, electrolytes — and the ones to skip.

Recovery is what lets you train BJJ hard, often, and injury-free. A practical guide to recovering after jiu-jitsu: sleep, nutrition, hydration, mobility, and soreness.

Mobility makes your jiu-jitsu better and keeps you injury-free. A practical guide to stretching and mobility for BJJ: what to focus on, when to do it, and key areas.

Does lifting help your jiu-jitsu? A practical guide to strength training for BJJ: what to train, how to avoid overtraining, the best exercises, and recovery.

More BJJ students quit at blue belt than any other rank. Here's why the 'blue belt blues' happen, the real reasons people leave, and how to push through the plateau.

Skin infections like ringworm and staph spread on dirty mats and gear. Here's how to prevent them in BJJ: showering, washing gear, covering cuts, and spotting issues early.

BJJ, wrestling, and judo are all grappling arts, but they're very different. Here's how each one works, their strengths, and which is best for you to start with.

Is Brazilian jiu-jitsu effective for real self-defense? An honest look at BJJ's strengths, its limitations, and how to train it so it actually transfers to the street.

The full BJJ belt order — white to black — with realistic timelines, stripe and degree systems, IBJJF age and time minimums, and the kids' belt ladder. A clear, honest guide.

How to walk into a strange gym, train respectfully, and leave a good impression. The rules nobody publishes — but every host gym notices.

Open mat is where most of the actual progress happens. A guide to what it is, why it matters, and how to use it whether you're new or twenty years in.

An honest map of the BJJ belt system — how long each belt takes, what stripes signify, and how to think about progression without losing your mind.

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.

Some techniques define the art. From the triangle choke to the berimbolo, these are the most iconic BJJ techniques — their origins, mechanics, and why they've shaped how the world grapples.

BJJ was born from self-defense, but modern sport BJJ has evolved beyond its roots. Here's an honest look at what BJJ offers for real-world self-defense and where its limitations lie.

Competing in BJJ transforms your training. From registration to match strategy, here's everything you need to know about entering your first tournament and beyond.

Some cities just have better BJJ. Higher gym density, more open mats, deeper talent pools, and a culture that treats grappling as a way of life. These are the best U.S. cities for training.

Beyond technique and competition, BJJ carries a rich culture shaped by Brazilian heritage, martial arts philosophy, and the unique bonds formed through shared struggle on the mats.