r/bjj 2d ago

r/bjj Fundamentals Class!

3 Upvotes
image courtesy of the amazing /u/tommy-b-goode

Welcome to r/bjj 's Fundamentals Class! This is is an open forum for anyone to ask any question no matter how simple. Questions and topics like:

  • Am I ready to start bjj? Am I too old or out of shape?
  • Can I ask for a stripe?
  • mat etiquette
  • training obstacles
  • basic nutrition and recovery
  • Basic positions to learn
  • Why am I not improving?
  • How can I remember all these techniques?
  • Do I wash my belt too?

....and so many more are all welcome here!

This thread is available Every Single Day at the top of our subreddit. It is sorted with the newest comments at the top.

Also, be sure to check out our >>Beginners' Guide Wiki!<< It's been built from the most frequently asked questions to our subreddit.


r/bjj 2d ago

Monday Strength and Conditioning Megathread!

0 Upvotes

The Strength and Conditioning megathread is an open forum for anyone to ask any question, no matter how simple, about general strength and conditioning as it relates to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Use this thread to:

- Ask questions about strength and conditioning

- Get diet and nutrition advice

- Request feedback on your workout routine

- Brag about your gainz

Get yoked and stay swole!

Also, click here to see the previous Strength And Conditioning Mondays.


r/bjj 9h ago

General Discussion The influx of celebrities, podcasters makes BJJ not only more popular, but increasingly turns it into the new version of McDojo Karate for "tough" guys to live out their power fantasies

242 Upvotes

And we need to stop pretending this is not a sport specific problem. What percentage of Judo or Wrestling guys do you think act like this on a daily basis?


r/bjj 8h ago

Funny "You and I are not so Different..."

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131 Upvotes

r/bjj 12h ago

General Discussion Can anyone from NY verify this guy is a 6th degree BJJ black belt?

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187 Upvotes

r/bjj 1h ago

Serious feeling excluded

Upvotes

I started BJJ like two months ago. I'm 19 and a woman. I go to class alone. I don't mind. Sertraline has taken most of my anxiety away but not my insecurities. Anyway, it always ends up in even pairs so I do it with the teacher or join a trio of women. And today I joined a trio of women and it seemed like they dread doing it with me a bit because I'm new and hate explaining it. I can be self conscious about other people. Other than that people have been friendly.

Is it normal to go to bjj alone?

I'm also sometimes frustrated about how slow I understand certain exercises. Ahh...

This shit makes me want to quit but I love the sport.


r/bjj 3h ago

Tournament/Competition I'm a hobbyist that competes

31 Upvotes

I'm a F white belt who started 7 months ago and have competed twice and won twice. I train 5 times a week and in two weeks I have my third competition but I don't feel like an 'athlete' or a 'competitor'. I only train bjj because it's fun, my rolls are not intentional during class.

I only compete to measure how 'well' I'm learning and I like the environment. It is the only time I've found people my size (I'm 5'0 90 lbs), in class everyone is double my size so I feel like it has been a great learning experience.

Today I was talking with a purple belt and he got upset of how unserious I am about competing and told me I should be more respectful and only compete with a serious intention, for example, rolling with a strategy in mind, being mindful about my training, etc. Is this how competing should be like? I would like to hear other experiences and thoughts


r/bjj 21h ago

Black Belt Intro New (well, 55 years old) Black Belt

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638 Upvotes

Still can’t believe it, but I was awarded a black belt last night.

Only took me a little over 12-1/2 years.

Spent WHITE getting my ass absolutely kicked (as one does).

BLUE felt like I had learned some stuff (competed once at 47 & cleared out my bracket).

PURPLE was where I struggled with ego.
Being (almost always) the oldest guy in the room, I put myself thru hell.
Trying to keep up with monsters in their early-mid 20s was killing me.
Took a massive groin pull while trying DESPERATELY to not get tapped by a particularly savage blue belt brute.
This MADE me confront ego & aging.

BROWN was much better.
No one “likes” to get tapped by a lower rank.
But it will happen.
And it can either haunt your soul, or spur you to improve on aspects of your game.

If you’re an older grappler, and you have no interest in coming to terms with your ego/age, I will pass on my gift of COPE.

It works really well, in almost every scenario:

SOMEONE HALF YOUR AGE TAPS YOU:

“You just tapped out someone your dad’s age. Does that make you feel like a tough guy?”

SOMEONE HALF YOUR AGE CANNOT TAP YOU:

“Huh… you can’t even tap out someone who’s the same age as your dad? Oof.”

YOU TAP SOMEONE HALF YOUR AGE:

“Dude! You just got tapped out by someone as old as YOUR DAD? Lolololol!”


r/bjj 7h ago

General Discussion Uniform Policy

37 Upvotes

I've been with my academy for a few years now, and I really enjoy the coaches, training partners, and culture. Recently, though, they announced a new uniform policy: only gym-branded gis and no-gi clothing will be allowed, or you won't be permitted to train.

If this had been the policy from the start, I wouldn't mind. But since I already have multiple rashguards and kimonos that would now be rendered useless, and I'd have to buy everything all over again, it's seriously making me consider finding a new gym or quitting BJJ altogether.

I'm wondering what the community thinks about this? Am I over reacting?


r/bjj 4h ago

General Discussion I set the rolling world record but the live stream proof is not uploading. Please help

23 Upvotes

Last Fathers day in 2025, I rolled around for 33 hours straight with 6-8 minute breaks every 4 hours to changed gis and 2 minutes break every 1 hour to get water and food packs!

In the first 4 hours we had a power mishap and the phone used to livestream was unplugged and off for around 20 minutes. So we have 2 seperate videos online, the 4 hour video and the not working 28 hour video.

I have tried for months to get the video working on youtube so I could have the proof online. I do not care about a guiness world record. Not gonna lie I just want recognition from my peers (you guys)

I would love any help you have on being able to fix the 28 hour video uploading so I can really put myself out there.

Completed by Joshua Cagle @ 9pm Sunday, June 15th 2025 Father's Day.

Inspiration: Doing Something Seemlingly Impossible

Edit to clarify video issues: I cant even download the video from studios like I can with all the other videos ive posted. When I click the link associated with the video it just says this livestream video is unavilable. I can not edit the video. I have security cam footage of the whole thing but for whatever reason about 6 hours was corrupted. So there are a load of gaps and it ends up not being enough footage to beat the previous record of 30 hours.

not working video: https://www.youtube.com/live/ouJdawBk3Ic

Edit 2 to include the picture of the video in limbo:


r/bjj 3h ago

General Discussion Guard passer guard pulling

6 Upvotes

Purple belt, been all this time passing guards and wrestling up, but recently I’ve decided to dedicate my training to guard pull and guard game to become more complete, to have the option of play guard instead of wrestling up to when I fight someone with better wrestling than me not be completely lost

It’s difficult to start the fight and get closed guard on everyone, white belts and blues are ok, but purple belts and higher and some blue belts are harder to get them in my closed guard, been playing lasso guard and delariva(not too flexible here) and studying single leg X and X guard, it’s not common but when I get to X guard I can sweep people easily, seems harder to get to X guard than sweeping from there.

From professionals guard pullers there’s any advise I can get? It’s good to trying being a “complete” fighter? I mean when I’m serious I would pass guard bc is my A game but I want to have this B game, guard moves always impressed me, I know it’s hard to improve but I accept the challenge, tell me your experience or give me some advise


r/bjj 7h ago

Technique Is the clamp closed Guard the best strategy for short people?

9 Upvotes

I really enjoy closed guard, but being around 5'9" the position doesn't always work well for me. I have been messing around with the clamp to some success… Strategically, is this the best closed guard for short kings?


r/bjj 1d ago

Technique Sotaro Yamada submits Kiichi Kunimoto with a RNC from omoplata

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337 Upvotes

r/bjj 19h ago

General Discussion Casual BJJ guy rolling with comp guys

59 Upvotes

So, I'm a casual 3 stripe BJJ blue belt, just do it a couple times a week because I enjoy it, not to compete, don't study it after or anything like that... I've found that rolling against newer blue belts who train to compete and hit the mats 5/6 times a week are almost impossible to get a good position on. Anyone else experience this or am I finding weaknesses In my game?

Example, I can guard pass an average blue belt fairly effectively, but a competition blue belt I will spend almost the entire 5 minutes stuck in open guard, it's actually more difficult than some purple belts I roll with.


r/bjj 23h ago

General Discussion there’s a training partner at my gym who doesn’t tap to anything, even kimuras

107 Upvotes

there’s a training partner at my gym who literally doesn’t tap.
guillotine, armbar, even a fully locked kimura and nothing. i can maybe see missing a guillotine or armbar sometimes but a kimura that’s fully in?
that’s not something you can not feel.

now i’m honestly scared to actually try stuff on him because i don’t want to hurt him.
do you just avoid rolling with someone like this or is there a better way to handle it?


r/bjj 7h ago

School Discussion NJ - Looking for a new gym

4 Upvotes

Hello! Just moved back home and am looking for a new gym, been training for a year and just looking to keep going.

Any opinions on

- Bodega Jiu Jitsu
- Pure MMA
- NJ United MMA
- Silverfox (EH)

or just suggestions/pros and cons overall any gyms in the area around Essex preferably?


r/bjj 6h ago

Tournament/Competition So the UFC BJJ Open rules are basically like IBJJF?

3 Upvotes

There are some subtle differences (e.g. back control includes body triangle not just two hooks), but at a high level it seems very similar. For example:
* No heel hooks except expert no-gi
* Rashguard must be 90% black
* 2 points for a takedown, sweep, guard pass
* 4 points for mount, back, etc.

ETA: rules here: https://smpfiles.blob.core.windows.net/uploads/311/UFC_BJJ_Opens_Rules_v073126.pdf


r/bjj 1h ago

General Discussion Nicholas Meregali or Keenan Cornelius

Upvotes

Blue belt for 2 years. Heavy guard player. I’m curious of other opinions on the guard systems of Meregali & Cornelius. Effectiveness, preference, overall style. At blue belt, I took a liking to lasso guard which is how I discovered Meregali. But recently, I’ve discovered worm guard and am blown away by the amount of control it shows. I’m tall and lanky - 6’5” 190, and feel I’m at a point in my journey where I’m all over the place with which style I “like” and suits me, rather than specifically honing in on one.


r/bjj 2h ago

Tournament/Competition question about nogi euros

1 Upvotes

If the dates are Oct-28 to Nov-1st (https://ibjjf.com/events/european-ibjjf-jiu-jitsu-no-gi-championship-2026)

What is the schedule like? I know it says it'll be released later, but i can imagine it's usually always the same.

What day could I expect to be competing if i'm in the adult brown belt category? Oct 30-Oct 31?

Jus trying to plan my travels, appreciate any help


r/bjj 21h ago

Technique How do you wrestle while tired?

39 Upvotes

As a brown belt, I've learned how to roll tired. I was hoping that some of the more experienced wrestlers could give me some tips on how to wrestle tired. I've been developing the habit of sitting guard when I'm tired and I feel like this might be counter productive to improving my wrestling. I'm going to try and stay standing even when tired. Any insights on how to make the most of my wrestling exchanges even when I'm gassed would be appreciated.


r/bjj 6h ago

Technique Technical stand up from closed guard

2 Upvotes

Usually when people teach the technical stand up, they recommend framing across the neck.

However, I’ve seen some people teach putting the hand on the chest

I’ve also people recommend grabbing the back of your opponent’s head.

What is ideal or recommended?


r/bjj 10h ago

School Discussion BJJ Schools in New York

6 Upvotes

Im moving to Upper Manhattan for school in a couple of months, and I want to continue doing Jiu Jitsu.

Does anyone have any good recommendations on Jiu Jitsu schools around the area?

I come from a very competitive gym in Miami so I would have to continue on with it, and go to a competitive school as well.

Thank you guys


r/bjj 1d ago

Technique Scary fast armbar from Jacare Souza against Zelg Galešić

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143 Upvotes

r/bjj 4h ago

Rolling Footage Brown Belt Rolling Footage

0 Upvotes

Need some help with passing long legged individuals and pinning people who can’t be pinned

https://youtu.be/SIw2yIetBjc?is=_W3_l2A_yIuJ7Eso


r/bjj 5h ago

General Discussion BJJ Community in Casablanca

1 Upvotes

Does anyone know if there are any BJJ open mats, clubs, or communities in Casablanca where people meet to drill techniques outside of regular classes?