Blog

Good enough not to get smashed, not good enough to beat the belts above you, and the novelty's gone. Why purple stalls, and what restarts it.

There are over 3,000 BJJ instructionals and 5,800 hours of them. Most people get worse results from buying more. Here's how to pick one and study it properly.

What it takes to get a BJJ black belt — the honest 10-year average, why it's slower than every other martial art, and who actually makes it there.

BJJ brown belt explained — why the belt between purple and black is about refinement not accumulation, its "dangerous belt" reputation, and honest timelines.

Butterfly guard explained — why this unglamorous seated guard ages better than any other, how hooks and elevation work, and when beginners should learn it.

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.

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.

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.

A blueprint for picking the positions, transitions, and submissions that become your game — and how to drill them so they actually show up under pressure.