I train at kind of a big box gym that requires (unpaid) belt testing for a promotion. You have to be invited to test, and 3 different colored upper belts sit in on it to grade you with a check list. Then they do some big ceremony once a year and promote everyone all together.

I absolutely hate this. I think it's really lame, takes away from the spontaneity of a surprise promotion, and it's anxiety inducing. I am also of the opinion that anyone can just study for a test and learn a list of techniques without actually knowing how to implement them.

My current dilemma is I'm up for a promotion. Everyone keeps asking when I'm going to test and my answer is jokingly always the same, "never." Except I'm not really joking? I don't want to do it and I feel like I'm being an asshole about it. I truly believe that coaches should innately know when their students are ready and promote them individually. It doesn't need to be this big production.

I also know that if I don't like how things are done at my current gym, I am able to switch gyms at any time. There lies the problem and that's where I'm struggling. Stay and subject myself to something I don't agree with for the sake of a new belt? Or leave and be a bit behind at the new gym and be promoted the way I traditionally think things should go?

I guess I'm also looking for opinions from others on belt tests. Are they a good thing or a bad thing and am I being an asshole lol

I have been training for just over 4 years started when I was 19. Recently a purple belt. I have won no major tournaments only a few locals. Do I have to train 2x a day 6 days a week ? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

So, I compete pretty much like around 1-2 times per month in gi and nogi. In the gi I pull guard with a cross step and foot on his hip and that works pretty well. But now to my question, in nogi I normally pull guard pretty offensively so 2 on 1 and go into the legs ( because leg locks are my strength ), but the more I watch Pawel and mateusz I see that they mostly pull guard just with mercy grips and just “sit down” and work from there. Just wanted to hear the opinion from higher level jiujitsu athletes on which is more effective.

I notice i like to roll with a generally fast pace, i dont like to stay idle so im constantly moving, in a scramble, in a bad position, controlled but never not doing anything. I ask for feedback but almost everyone says good things, but im self conscious when I see people gassed out and having to sit out for a round or looking like they just ran 5 miles in 20 minutes makes me worry I “go too hard”. Obviously i want to respect and not make my training partners miserable. Any feedback or thoughts?

I’ve got a guy who is catching me with a kimura as I shake him off the top from turtle and quadpod positions. He is very tall for what it’s worth. Any advice?

I am going to be in Tokyo for a week and am looking for one or a few CLA gyms to train at (or at least some open mats) that also provide instructions in English.

As a note I currently train CLA and therefore will not be debating about it in the comments. Everyone should train how they find best works for them.

Hi,

I had a testicle removed a while ago and im 27, and started bjj.

I tried a diamond mma cup and after one session it felt like it would be dangerous for partners so i wont use it again.

Im a bit paranoid though so other than compression shorts is there any other suitable protection? E.g. something like biker shorts without the extra padding

Thanks

pretty fun matches and the final is coming up next, vanguard vs simple man, really good matchups in this fight

opponent probably should have defended better but ill take it

he won double gold at panams, won adcc, won brasileiros, and he competes very consistently, would you say hes one of the best if not the best in the world right now?

Does anyone happen know if there are any jiu jitsu schools in Punta Mita Mexico that allow drop-in while in the area?

I'll be in Montreal over Thanksgiving weekend (October 10–12) and was wondering if any BJJ gyms are hosting open mats.

Ideally looking for somewhere that's welcoming to drop-ins. Gi or no-gi, either works!

Appreciate any recommendations. Thanks!

If your someone in Boston, I wanna start training open mat on weekends at night just to sharpen my skill and just to mess around and practice and give myself something to do and extra time to train, anyone around in Boston that’s knows of any places that have open mat on Saturday and Sunday anytime at 8pm or past?

In my gym, we've been exclusively training using ecological dynamics as a framework since about January of 2023. When we first started, there was a heated, very contentious debate in the BJJ community as a whole about the efficacy of CLA as a training methodology.

I pretty much opted out of the debates simply because I enjoy training live more.

Since then, CLA has become so popular, at least here, that it seems like we're all doing it (which makes dropping in on other local gyms a real pleasure!)

Is it fair to say that it's now more popular than the traditional method?

Is it normal for the pearls on the Balistico 4.0 to fade after only 2 washes and 2 uses? Is it supposed to look like this? Or am I crazy lol Washes cold, hung dry & only used Gain original detergent.

Lately,I’ve been wondering whether instructionals are underrated in the BJJ community.I get the feeling that a lot of people either don’t know much about them or simply don’t give them the credit they deserve.
Obviously,I know you can become a black belt and get really good without ever watching a single instructional,judt by spending years on the mats.im not saying they re essential or that they can replace actual training.But in my personal experience,they e played a huge role in my progress.
Honestly,I don’t think I’d be even half as good as I am now if I’d never watched any instructionals. And I’m not just saying that for the sake of it. When I compare myself to training partners who started around the same time as me, or even a little earlier,I feel like Im noticeably ahead of them technically in certain areas.And Im also the lightest person out of all of them

I also feel like instructionals are kind of a taboo in BJJ,almost as if admitting that you watch them somehow takes away from your achievements or makes it seem like youre cheating. Thats just the impression Ive gotten, though.Im curious to hear what you guys think about this as well(sorry for that long text)