Blog

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.