Blog

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.

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.

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.

Saulo Ribeiro won across weight classes and rulesets. His longer contribution asks how a champion's knowledge becomes something another person can learn.

A Seattle BJJ shortlist should start with a usable class and a workable route. Compare beginner entry, visitor access, and the trip home.

Your BJJ experience helps, but a judo class has its own starting point. Learn the landing, the grips, and the rules before borrowing the throw.

A BJJ dummy can help rehearse familiar movements. Choose one for a specific job, with realistic expectations about what an unresisting partner cannot teach.

Rotating shifts need a different training calendar. Build a small menu of classes, keep one technical thread, and stop treating every changed roster as failure.

Three Boston academy starting points, the questions to ask before visiting, and a training plan built around the trip you actually make.

Two ADCC titles explain part of Leo Vieira's influence. The rest involves teaching, Checkmat, and the move from winning matches to shaping the sport.

Sharing a ride to jiu-jitsu does not mean sharing a pace, a belt schedule, or a reason to train. A practical approach for families with two students.

Guard pulling is a tactical choice with different costs under different rules. Separate competition strategy, training habits, and spectator preference.

Remove the colored fabric and the room still needs trust, teaching, and a way to recognize progress. A thought experiment about rank in BJJ.

Philadelphia BJJ options span different neighborhoods and training formats. Build a useful shortlist around the branch, class, and trip that fit you.

Braulio Estima's 2009 ADCC double gold was more than a medal count. Two brackets show the different problems a complete tournament run has to solve.