Blog

Mikey Musumeci — first American-born male IBJJF black belt world champion, the famous pizza diet, the footlock game, and his rise to no-gi stardom.

A plain-English BJJ glossary for beginners — positions, movements, submissions, gi terms, and gym culture words like oss, roll, and flow, defined honestly.

Takedowns for BJJ when you hate standup — why gyms neglect it, wrestling vs judo entries, three high-percentage options, and honest guard-pulling talk.

Leg locks in BJJ, honestly — why they were taboo, what changed, where beginners should start, what's legal at your belt, and how to keep partners safe.

Half guard for beginners — how BJJ's old survival position became real offense, the underhook battle, the knee shield, and what to focus on first.

The armbar explained — its judo lineage, how it works from mount, guard, and back, why control beats extension, and when to tap to protect your arm.

Why the rear naked choke is grappling's highest-percentage submission — back control, the seatbelt and hooks, and blood chokes explained honestly.

The triangle choke explained — its judo roots, how the mechanics actually work, the mistakes every beginner makes, and how it changes from gi to no-gi.

What a BJJ blue belt really means, how long it takes (usually 1.5–2.5 years), what coaches look for, and why so many people quit after earning one.

New to no-gi jiu-jitsu? A beginner's guide to no-gi BJJ: how it differs from gi, what to wear, the grips and style, and how to start training submission grappling.

What does it take to earn a BJJ purple belt? An honest look at the purple belt in jiu-jitsu: the typical timeline, what skills it represents, and IBJJF age minimums.

Is Brazilian jiu-jitsu hard to learn? An honest look at how difficult BJJ really is — physically and mentally — why it humbles everyone, and why almost anyone can still do it.

Not sure what to wear to jiu-jitsu? Here's exactly what to wear to a BJJ class — for your first trial, gi classes, and no-gi — plus what to bring and what to avoid.

A factual profile of the Ruotolo brothers, Kade and Tye: twin American grapplers and ADCC, ONE Championship, and Craig Jones Invitational champions redefining modern jiu-jitsu.

A factual profile of Roger Gracie, the 10-time IBJJF World Champion widely regarded as the greatest gi competitor in BJJ history: his record, ADCC titles, lineage, and MMA career.

A factual profile of Gordon Ryan, the American submission grappler widely called the greatest no-gi competitor of all time: his record, ADCC titles, team, and legacy.

Injured but don't want to quit BJJ? Here's how to keep training safely around common injuries, when to rest, how to communicate with partners, and how to come back smart.

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.

Should you play top or bottom in BJJ? An honest look at the pros and cons of top pressure vs guard play, and how to decide which game fits you as a beginner.

Guard passing is one of the hardest skills in BJJ. Here are the principles that make passing work — pressure, posture, grips, and patience — plus beginner mistakes to fix.

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.