Blog

Rickson Gracie is the Gracie family's most mythologized fighter — invisible jiu-jitsu, Japan vale tudo, and why his ideas still shape how BJJ is taught.

Marcus 'Buchecha' Almeida won more IBJJF world titles than anyone before him — here's how a kid from São Paulo became the greatest heavyweight ever.

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 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.

Choose classes your real week can support, make a backup plan, and return after a missed session without creating training debt.

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.

Confirm the class, fee and visitor rules before you travel. Then make clear agreements with the people sharing the mat.

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.