Home Blog Page 10

Is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Overrated? Our Opinion

The world of mixed martial arts (MMA) has grown and evolved in many ways since it was first recognized as an organized sport with the creation of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993.

With a number of different fighting styles being allowed to be put into play, the UFC created an environment for fighters of all different styles to try their hand in the ring.

One of the most popular fighting styles used in competition is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). Some people may question whether or not BJJ is overrated and we’re here to discuss that.

Is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu overrated? No, the martial art of BJJ is not overrated for various reasons and is still used consistently throughout MMA today. It is also useful in several situations outside of competition as well. 

BJJ is considered a foundational martial art in the world of competitive fighting.

Meaning that it provides a sufficient base for fighters when it comes to grappling and submissions.

A fighter who has been well trained in the sport of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will have an advantage when taking their opponent to the ground.

The tactics provide a fighter the ability to put their opposition into submission and take the win. 

Why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Works

BJJ became a new martial art in the year 1925 when the first school opened in Brazil by Geo Omori.

One of the unique characteristics of BJJ is that a student can train in an environment that will simulate a real fight.

But the benefit is that the sport can be executed safely enough at the same time to effectively train students while avoiding injury. 

Ex-Navy Seal, Veteran, and Public Motivational Figure Jocko Willink calls the Jiu Jitsu a superpower. Knowing the right moves, knowing the proper strategy and executing them correctly give any fighter an advantage in a competition.

Having the ability to put your challenger in a chokehold after you get them to the ground can quickly end a fight in favor of the fighter who knows BJJ.

Not only is BJJ a popular martial art that continues to bring in new students, but it also provides an environment where people of all walks of life can partake and learn what is called the best martial art in street defense.

So, not only does the fight style help you on the mat in a competition, but it can also benefit any person who ends up in an unwanted position of having to defend themselves.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that is not dependent on strength or power to be effective. BJJ is similar to chess. The fighter has to execute the right move at the right time in order to be effective without having to use a high level of strength.

It actually provides a fighter with the opportunity to beat their opponent even if they are larger and stronger.

The martial art was created to give smaller opponents a chance to take down and submit their challenger

The Differences Between BJJ & Other Martial Arts

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

BJJ is a unique fighting form. Students of any age can take part and learn valuable technique in the world of self-defense.

It also teaches new fighters discipline, which is essential in any martial art forms. But what makes BJJ unique is that the moves do not require any kicking or striking.

The art relies on moves used to get an opponent onto the ground, then submit them using various holds that give the fighter the ability to apply as much pressure as they choose to cause pain or choking.

Once the fighter in submission has had enough, they can choose to tap out and end the fight.

Judo

Judo is the martial art that is the most similar to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

The art also relies on grappling and holds, as opposed to punches and kicks.

With an ability to use personal preference, a fighter must use the element of surprise through meticulous planning.

The art of the takedown is heavily relied upon in Judo, which gives the fighter the chance to put their opponent into various holds in an effort to make them submit. 

Check out this article BJJ vs Judo

Taekwondo

Taekwondo is the one martial art in today’s fighting fellowships that is most commonly used.

Having a great benefit when executed properly, taekwondo gives a fighter the ability to cultivate their kicking styles.

It can be difficult to master this art since it focuses mainly on spinning kicks, roundhouse kicks, jumping kicks, side kicks and head-high kicks.

These are challenging to land on a worthy opponent, but a fighter who is learned in this martial art can be a huge threat to their opponent.

Muay Thai

Muay Thai has a special place among fighters in the world of MMA.

It combines the art of grappling while coupling it with dangerous tactical strikes.

Being called the art of eight limbs, Muay Thai can leave an opponent decimated if they are not properly trained to defend themselves against the various skills used to defeat a challenger.

Kicks, punches, elbows, knees, and various holds are all a part of the art form and serve to give a fighter many tools to choose from when fighting.

Boxing

Boxing can be a great fighting strategy in MMA when coupled with some of the other fighting styles that are used in the UFC.

By cultivating various types of punches, a fighter can leave their opponent stunned, giving them the unique opportunity to incorporate their other fighting styles to make a move that gets the other fighter to the ground.

BJJ is great for this. Being the primary fighting style that MMA fighters use for striking, boxing also places tons of importance on footwork as well.

Boxing footwork allows a fighter to close the distance and make their move using a combination of punches to damage their opponent.

Karate

Karate is one of the most common fighting styles used in MMA today and for good reason.

Not only does karate incorporate striking by punching, kicking, elbowing, and use of the knees, it also maintains open-palm techniques.

The palm-heel, knife-hand and spear-hand are all open-palm techniques used in karate.

When executed properly with the right timing, the opponent will have severe difficulty reading their strikes and rhythm. 

MMA

With a mix of different fighting styles, a fighter in MMA has the ability to combine abilities that allow them to become a worthy opponent.

BJJ is a huge part of the combination of fighting styles because it’s one of the art forms that relies heavily on the takedown, grapple and chokeholds that cause a fighter to submit.

It can be like the cherry on top of a fight because, in many bouts, it ends up being the fighting styles that allows a fighter to come out victorious.

Check out this article BJJ vs MMA

To conclude on the main point…

BJJ is not overrated. In fact, it is and will always be an important part of the world of MMA.

With a unique style that allows a fighter to submit their opponent, BJJ has been used many times over in professional fights.

The special characteristic of BJJ is that anyone can take part. Learning the discipline through mastering the art form also serves to benefit other areas of life too.

A person’s self-confidence will increase, they will learn to better set goals in their daily life; they become better listeners, their focus becomes better, and self-esteem increases.

These are just some of the ways that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will benefit a person’s everyday life. 

Team work and conflict resolution are also key elements in BJJ. Learning to work well with others easily transfers to daily life in such a positive way.

And conflict is an unavoidable aspect of life. BJJ gives us the chance to properly handle these elements of life in a way that will always be seen as worthy. 

Check out our article “Jiu Jitsu For Self Defense? Why BJJ Is Great For Self Defense”

10 Tips and Tricks Every BJJ White Belt Should Know

0

When you are just starting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, it can seem intimidating, especially when there are people around you that seem to know what they are doing.

As a white belt, you are learning all the basics and trying to retain all the information being given to you.

10 tips and tricks every BJJ white belt should know: 

  1. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes
  2. Master the movement first
  3. Relax while training
  4. Correct gripping
  5. Escaping side mount
  6. Listen to your instructors
  7. Learn the basics
  8. Ask questions
  9. Don’t look only for submission
  10. Become a master at defense and escaping

There are many tips to help you in the white belt phase of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. In this article, we will discuss ten essential tips to help benefit you as you are learning the basics of BJJ. 

1. Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes 

The number one thing you should keep in mind as a BJJ white belt is not to be afraid of making mistakes.

Mistakes are how we learn. Errors provide you with an opportunity to learn and then improve, and this applies to any mistake.

Even the smallest mistake can teach you a big lesson. 

It is crucial to start with the recognition of error and then learn how not to make that error again.

Don’t beat yourself up over it; you are still in the learning process, and you should not be focused on perfecting everything at once.

Accept it and move on.

2. Master the Movement First

A problem people run into is trying to attempt more complex movements without mastering the fundamentals beforehand. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu white belts need to first focus on the fundamentals before trying to attempt the more complex actions.

A few examples of fundamental movements are bridging, shrimping, getting up, or sweeping. 

Bridging and shrimping are the two most important movements that link everything together.

You need to understand that bridging needs to be perfected before you can learn how to escape a bad position, and shrimping should be developed on both sides. 

  • Bridging – Bridging is when you are lying on your back with your knees up, and you raise your hips to make a bridge shape.
  • Shrimping – Shrimping is mobility while on your back and using your feet to move you around.
  • Getting up – When moving to a standing position you want to use a technical stand up, the important aspect is making sure your head will not be compromised.
  • Sweeping – Sweeping is when you will use your feet to take out your opponent’s base and legs which usually leads to gaining a better position.

Being able to get up to a standing position and being able to finish a sweep are basics that should be learned before trying more advanced positions or submissions. 

Being able to put these fundamentals together smoothly will be a mark of advancement for a white belt. 

3. Relax While Training

If you are unable to relax while you are training, you will most likely become exhausted too early and feel overstrained, which can lead to injury.

Going into Jiu Jitsu with a competitive mind instead of a relaxed one will slow down your progress. 

You can always tell an experienced Jiu Jitsu practitioner from a beginner just by noticing how relaxed they look going into even the most intense rolls.

They can go in having a clear mind and controlled breathing. 

When you are tense, begin taking rapid, shallow breaths, and rely solely on your strength, you will run out of energy much faster than your opponent.

When you become exhausted, your opponent will be able to force you into submission much quicker. 

Any position in which you are not going to lose control of the advantage or immediately gain a lead is a moment you should take to breath.

If you feel stressed going into class, set aside a few moments to take deep breaths and center your mind. 

4. Correct Gripping

When grappling against an opponent, you will need to grab ahold of them. Many beginners don’t realize the importance of having a good hand grip.

Effective gripping has three essential components of it – hand strength, efficient gripping, and where to grip.

Hand Strength
The muscles in your hands need to be appropriately trained to give you proper grip during Jiu Jitsu.

Some exercises can help you strengthen your hands:

Kettlebell swings
Rope climbs
Rope pulls
Pinch hold weights
Claw hold weights
Efficient Gripping
Even if you have a significant amount of hand strength, if you do not have an efficient grip, your forearms will begin to weaken, causing you to lose grip. 

Some hand grips are:

Pistol grip – grabbing onto the GI with your pinky closest to their wrist, grab as much material as if you are holding a pistol handle
Spider Grip – grabbing the GI sleeve with the four fingers curling inward at the first knuckles
C grip – grabbing with your four fingers and curling inward like making a letter “C”
Monkey grip – grabbing with the top of your four finger’s joints
Where To Grip
An essential component of gripping is where you should grip. 

No matter how secure your grip is, if you are not gripping in the right spot, you will not get the right amount of leverage.

The best areas to grip are:

Collar Sleeve ends
Lapels
Pant cuffs (fingers never inside pants)

Hand-to-Hand Gripping

With grappling, you want to have a proper grip on the opponent’s clothes, but you also want to have excellent hand-to-hand gripping skills.

This allows you to have a strong hold on your opponent and prevents them from being able to break your hands apart.

The hand-to-hand grips you should learn are:

  • Gable grip – Common grip for body locks, defending armbars, and armlocks 
  • Butterfly grip – Helpful with Greco throws and half guard
  • Gokor grip – Used in moves where the elbows need to come together, Darce Chokes, and Japanese neckties 
  • S-grip – Used when the opponent is too large to wrap around and to defend armbars
  • Seat belt grip – Used for back control, front headlocks, anklelocks, and guillotines

If you would like a visual guide on these hand grips, you can check out “A Visual Guide to Hand-to-Hand Grips in BJJ,” published by Inverted Gear.

There are several different gadgets you can use to strengthen the muscles in your hands. 

5. Escaping Side Mounts

Being able to escape side mounts is one of the most critical parts of Jiu Jitsu.

Three aspects to this are essential to succeeding – protecting your neck, bridging, and shrimping – and you must learn how to combine the guard replacement and knees escape. 

You always need to protect your neck to prevent you from being choked out, even if you can master an escape, it will not be valid if your opponent has you in a chokehold.

With bridging and shrimping, you want to focus on being able to combine these two and perform them at the perfect timing. 

The next thing you should work on is mastering the guard replacement escape and the go-to knees mount escape. 

A few side escapes with videos are:

6. Listen to Your Instructors

As a white belt, you should remember the importance of listening to your instructors, including the higher belts.

They are there to help you with your learning process. 

When you are starting, you have no idea what is going on, and you can learn plenty from the people trying to teach you.

Your instructors were once in your place, and they know what needs to be done to improve.

Go to class and absorb all the information given to you.

When your instructors give you constructive criticism, it is not to be mean but rather to provide you with tips on how you can do better.

Even if it seems like they are singling you out, don’t take it personally and listen.  

7. Learn the Basics

When you are starting as a white belt, it will be tempting to want to learn anything and everything, but it is essential first to learn all the basics of Jiu Jitsu. 

Ten basic moves you should focus on perfecting are:

  1. Side control escape – This is a highly used move where you learn to move your hips from the bottom and creates the basis of all escapes.
  2. Scissor sweep – The most basis of all sweep techniques that allows you to break your opponent’s balance and get an advantage. Scissor sweeps work effectively in conjunction with other moves.
  3. Triangle choke – A signature submission move that comes in handy when you are up against someone larger than you. 
  4. Cross collar choke from guard – From the ground, this grip is a starting point before performing any attacks or sweeps.
  5. Bridge and roll escape vs. mount – This move utilizes your strongest muscles – thighs, hamstrings, glutes, and lower back –to push your opponent off of you rather than pushing them away with your arms, which beginners are inclined to do. 
  6. Mount position – This is a mighty, complicated move that is essential in Jiu Jitsu and should be mastered. There are three types of mounts: low mount, technical mount, and high mount.
  7. Americana lock – Common lock in grappling, which entails the attacker taking control of the opponent’s arm.
  8. Toreando guard pass – This is named after the motion a bullfighter does to avoid the bull as it rushes in.
  9. Hip bump sweep – The perfect sweep for when your opponent is on their knees
  10. Armbar from guard – This move gets confused with gripping, shifting, adjusting, and swiveling, so it is crucial to learn the difference.

8. Ask Questions

A common mistake white belts make in BJJ is not asking questions.

Asking questions is how you can begin to learn something, so when your instructor shows you a move and asks you if you understand, come up with a follow-up question that can help you learn. 

Being able to ask questions to understand why a technique works will allow you to improve your skills and understand how more advanced techniques work.

It will also help you learn about yourself and what works best for you.

As suggested by a BJJ practitioner, here are eight questions you should ask your instructor:

  1. Which techniques will work better for my body type?
  2. How do I get competition ready?
  3. Am I ready to compete?
  4. Why does this move work?
  5. Why am I unable to make this move work?
  6. When is the best time to move on from a move?
  7. How can I improve?
  8. How should I connect moves?

9. Don’t Look Only for Submissions

In Jiu Jitsu, the goal is to beat your opponent into submission, but as a white belt, you shouldn’t expect to do this when you’re first starting out.

You need to be okay with losing because it is a way to help you learn and improve.

Instead of focusing on trying to get a submission on your training partner, you should focus on defense instead.

Don’t be discouraged if you do not win every match.

This is a learning opportunity, and you may even be able to pick up on what they were able to do to beat you. 

Tap on Your Partner, Not the Mat

Although the goal is to win, you need to understand that losing will help you learn, so you should go into any match with the mindset that you may have to submit.

When you are put into a submission, it is important to know how to tap out properly.

If your partner puts you in a submission, tap on them, and not the mat.

It is common for your partner to be so focused that they may not see you tapping on the mat, so it is essential to make sure they feel you tapping out. 

Another thing to be aware of is that if your opponent can’t see or hear you tapping on the mat, they may adjust to a tighter grip to get you to submit. This can often lead to you passing out or getting injured. 

If you are in a situation where both your arms are trapped, stomping on the mat repeatedly is another way to make it known that you are submitting.

If they do not realize that you are trying to tap out, giving a verbal message is another option

Don’t Wait Until It Hurts

Another thing with accepting that you may not win the match is making sure that you know your limits and do not push yourself.

As a white belt, you are still learning about your body and how much you can take.

Take it easy in the beginning. 

It is common for a white belt to think that just because something is not hurting enough, they can still escape.

Even though they may still be able to escape, they can end up injured from it, keeping them from being able to train for a few weeks.

Most locks and holds are not supposed to be very painful, they are meant to prevent you from being able to break free, so if you push too hard, you will end up popping something.

Some less painful holds are toeholds and heel hooks.  

10. Become a Master at Defense and Escaping

Working on your defense is a critical factor as a BJJ white belt.

When you are going up against an opponent, even if they are more advanced than you, you want to have a strong defense to help prevent them from being able to submit you. 

It will be beneficial to start on the bottom when you are going up against someone to learn the different guards and escapes.

Whenever you are put into submission, analyze what you could have done to get yourself out.

Learn what works and doesn’t work for you. 

Escaping from The Bottom

When starting as a white belt, you will notice that there are many different escapes for specific situations and that the principles of these moves are all similar.

When you are on the bottom, you want to look for ways to create space. 

Ways to create space are:

  • Bridging and shrimping 
  • Use your forearms to push your opponent 
  • Roll to your side

Once space has been created between you and your opponent, you will want to keep your hands in a defensive position.

You should keep your elbows held as tightly in as possible and try to hide your arms to prevent your opponent from grabbing you.

In Conclusion

Being a BJJ white belt can feel intimidating, but you should understand that everyone has been in the same place.

Your instructors and the more advanced belts are there to help you learn and improve, so it is vital to listen to them and ask questions whenever you have them.

Stay relaxed during this process, and don’t be scared to make mistakes; those mistakes will help you learn.

Focus on the basic movements of Jiu Jitsu and learn to master those before moving on to more advanced techniques.

Check out this great article we have “Brazilian Jiu Jitsu etiquette, what to know when training BJJ”.

10 Tips & Tricks to Improve Your Jiu Jitsu Rolling Sessions

0

What is rolling in Jiu Jitsu? Sparring in Jiu Jitsu is often referred to as “Rolling”. This is because it looks like you’re rolling around on the ground with another person.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the most popular martial arts practiced in the world. Having roots in ancient Japan, it has evolved from Judo to what is now known today. 

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a grappling form of martial arts that can be seen in MMA, self-defense, and street fighting. 

With a few tips and tricks, you can significantly improve your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu rolling sessions.

10 Tips & Tricks to Improve Your Jiu Jitsu Rolling Sessions:

10 Tips & Tricks to Improve Your Jiu Jitsu rolling Sessions
1. Focus on Using Techniques You Learn Instead of Strength 
2. Communicate with Your Rolling Partner 
3. Understand That You Will Not Win Every Time You Roll
4. Have a Great Understanding of Your Body
5. Try to Set Different Goals Each Time You Roll
6. Switch Up the Partners That You Use As Often As You Can
7. Know Your Roll
8. Make Sure You Practice Combining Different Moves
9. Ask for Feedback after Your Roll
10. Don’t Be Afraid to Tap Out Early

While many of these tips are for use on the mat during your session, there are also tips that you can use to improve your sessions off the mat as well. 

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that is continuously evolving based on new techniques and new practitioners. 

Let’s talk about why rolling is essential in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and how you can up your game on and off the mat!

10 Tips & Tricks to Improve Your Jiu Jitsu rolling Sessions 

Similar to other things, the more you practice, the better you will become. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is no different! 

Rolling is one of the best ways to practice the art, and it is encouraged in Jiu Jitsu as a whole. Once you have learned the basics of learning the technique, you are ready to roll. 

To get the most out of your Jiu Jitsu rolling session, here are ten tips and tricks that can have a significant impact on your performance. 

  • Focus on Using Techniques You Learn Instead of Strength
  • Communicate with Your Rolling Partner
  • Understand that You are Not Going to Win Every Roll
  • Have a Great Understanding of Your Body
  • Try to Set Different Goals Each Time You Roll
  • Switch Up Partners You Roll With
  • Know Your Roll
  • Make Sure You Practice Combining Different Moves
  • Ask for Feedback after Your Roll
  • Don’t Be Afraid to Tap Out Early

We are going to break these down further to explain how these tips can help you. 

There are also a couple of tips that you can use off the mat to enhance your Jiu Jitsu rolling even further! 

Taking the time to do your best in a roll can help make you a better BJJ student, and it can severely cut down on the risk of injury you face.

What is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Commonly Used For?

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a martial art that formed out of Japanese Judo. It is a full-contact grappling sport that is often seen in self-defense, combat fighting, and professional fighting. 

BJJ combines traditional techniques with modern movements to create this unique martial art. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can commonly be seen in MMA events like UFC, Bellator, OneFC on a large scale. 

What makes BJJ so different is that there are no intentional strikes as there are in other martial arts. 

The sport uses compression locks, joint locks, and chokes as a way to win a roll or spar. 

If you are training for self-defense or MMA, there may be strikes that you learn.

Why Is BJJ Still So Popular?

What draws many people into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is that it is known as a martial art for everyone. 

Strength is not something that is focused on in BJJ, and it allows even someone who may be small in stature to still be able to learn and succeed at the art. 

Since the majority of the work is done on the ground, it allows someone’s technique to show instead of their height and weight.

BJJ has become one of the most practiced self-defense sports in the world due to there being no size restrictions. 

It is something that someone can start with no experience in any sort of martial art. It is also widely considered as the safest martial art out there. 

Many people who practice BJJ look forward to sparing as the most exciting part of the training.

BJJ also has a strong sense of community, among other martial art forms. Connecting with your peers is partially from sparring with everyone in your group, but also because most people are there for the same reasons, which makes everyone have similar goals.

Why are Rolling Sessions Important in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

You spend hours learning the ins and outs of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, right? 

Well, rolling is the perfect way for you to put the skills that you are trying to learn to the test. 

By sparring, you or your coach can see where your strengths and weaknesses are. Not only is it a great way to know that you understand the art, but it is also a teaching approach that shows you how you will use the skills in real life. 

There are different degrees of rolling, which all have different names. Flow rolling and hard rolling are two of the most popular variations.

Flow rolling is often used to practice or to warm up, and hard rolling is usually used to prepare for a competition or professional fight.

When you spar with multiple partners, you will come away with a better understanding of where you are as a practitioner BJJ. 

You can refine your technique and see what works for you. Sparring has quite a few advantages that make it a necessary part of any martial art training.

Some training facilities will not allow new people to spar initially. They may require you to train a few months or achieve a certain level before you can participate in live rolling. Waiting to roll is so that you know the technique to reduce the risk of injuring yourself or your partner.

Advantages of Rolling in Jiu Jitsu

  • Helps you understand how to distribute your weight during fights.
  • Gives you a better understanding of what angles and moves work best with your technique.
  • Sparring is a great way to learn how someone may react to a specific move that you use.
  • Allows you to learn how to control your emotions during a fight.
  • You can begin to know how to predict what moves may be coming at you.
  • Is a great way to gain respect from peers and trainers. 
  • You can try new moves without feeling like you are risking injury.

Don’t Spar Until You are Ready

Many trainers will tell you that you should not begin rolling until you are familiar with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. 

Your first roll is not going to be ideal, even with training in other martial arts. 

It is something that could possibly turn you away from BJJ, or you could also accidentally get injured by not knowing what you are doing or how to respond to certain moves. 

You can definitely give it a try when you first start, but you are going to be at a significant disadvantage due to a lack of knowledge of various techniques. 

At first, you do not know any moves or positions. You are also unaware of the risks of your movements and what to expect from your opponent. 

Some training facilities use the Gracie Barra Approach, which does not allow new practitioners to participate in spars until they have achieved at least three stripes on a white belt. 

While Gracie Barra’s 3 stripe rule seems a little excessive, you should consider getting a few classes under your belt before rolling for your first time.

Learning the bare basics in BJJ can take up to a few months, but it ensures that the individual knows what they are doing for the safety of them and others in the group. 

10 Ways You Can Improve Your Jiu Jitsu Rolling Sessions?

Sparring or rolling is an integral part of your Jiu Jitsu training. 

It is the perfect way to know exactly where your skills are, and even if your training facility is suited to your needs. 

There are many ways that you can improve the skills that you possess in Jiu Jitsu, and many of them require no additional effort from you at all.

Focus on Using Techniques You Learn Instead of Strength

Jiu Jitsu focuses more on the actual technique than strength. It is known for saying that the size of the opponent will not matter. 

In your sparring, you are trying to perfect your skills. In this art, technique is more important than physical attributes. 

A common mistake among those who are new to BJJ is to try and use their strength if they lack technique, which can lead to injury. 

Your main goal for every roll should be to perfect at least one move each time. 

Nailing a new move or combination of moves means you can continue on your journey and move onto the next lesson.

Communicate With Your Partner 

Again rolling is an integrated part of training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The best way to get the most out of your spar is to make sure that you talk to your partner. 

You can explain to them what you are trying to work on, and what they think as an opponent. 

Since you are both trying to work on your technique take the time to work on yourself. 

If you are new to rolling or sparring, make sure you let your partner know if you are feeling uncomfortable or unsure on what to do.

Understand That You Will Not Win Every Time You Roll

In rolling, you are not trying to win the match. Your focus needs to be on your actions and your body while you are in a match. 

If you happen to “win” a Jiu Jitsu rolling match against a teammate, don’t celebrate this, move on and continue to work on your technique. 

Rolling is meant to prepare you for real fights and to help you see what you need to work on. 

You also should not be afraid to lose spars, and you can use it as a learning lesson. 

The roll between you and your partner should not be to beat the other one, and it should be to work on your skills in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Have a Great Understanding of Your Body

As with any sport, you need to make sure that your body is in the best shape that it can be. You don’t need to be in shape to start BJJ, you will get in shape by doing Jiu Jitsu and you will stay in shape as you continue training. 

You also need to be able to understand what your body’s limits are in terms of what you are actually able to do. 

Knowing your body is an easy way to help your trainer know where you need work, and you are also more likely to prevent any injuries that can come from rolling. 

Knowing your body is essential to your technique as well. If you find yourself running out of energy early in the roll, or a specific part of your body gets fatigued, it may mean that you need to work on that outside of sparring.

Try to Set Different Goals Each Time You Roll

While rolling, make sure that you are creating goals for what you want to work on. 

A goal could be to combine different moves while your match is going. You can work with your trainer or a journal to set goals that you want to work on. 

Setting specific goals can help you perfect techniques or movements that you are looking to improve. 

Establishing a goal is also an easy way to know how far you want to go into your roll. 

A good idea could be to try and incorporate at least one new technique per week. Creating goals can also make sure that you stay focused throughout your roll.

Switch Up the Partners That You Use As Often As You Can

If you are really looking to improve your roll, then make sure that you are sparring with as many people as you can. 

You should try and practice with different people to get the most experience you can. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses, which can help you learn to identify yours. 

Before you spar with someone, make sure they are looking for a roll with a similar style, and be sure to communicate what you are trying to work on. 

Before you choose a rolling partner, make sure that your training facility has no restrictions on who you can and cannot choose to be your partner.

Know Your Roll

We talked earlier about how there are different styles of rolling in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. 

You can use a flow roll if you are looking to work on your technique or just to practice with your peers. 

There is also rolling hard, which is mostly reserved for preparing for competition. 

Your roll goes back to communicating with your partner to make sure that you are both expecting to get the same thing out of a spar. 

A rule of thumb in Jiu Jitsu is to stay at least two moves ahead of your opponent to make sure that you are in control of the roll.

If you’re not sure on the training partners pace just feel them out to gauge what your intensity should be from there you can choose to step it up or dial it back. 

Just be careful engaging in a hard roll where ego’s might get the best of you and possibly your training partner.

Make Sure You Practice Combining Different Moves

If you are practicing the same moves over and over again, you aren’t going to improve much elsewhere. 

By keeping a journal or some sort of record of movements you are trying or combining, you can make sure that you are not just repeating the same moves again. 

Combining different moves can help you understand what moves work best together, and you can also learn how to react to what your opponent is doing as well. 

Some movements in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can be hard to transition in from another move. Combining different movements can help you identify moves that can be used as great as finishing moves.

Ask for Feedback after Your Roll

Rolls are meant to help you. You can easily ask your coach or another training partner in your group if they can watch your match to give you any feedback on your technique. 

Although your partner can offer feedback to you after your spar, having someone on the outside is a great idea. 

They can watch your movements from the outside to see where you are making mistakes. 

They can also help you identify how you react to specific movements. 

You can set up a camera or cellphone to record your rolls so you can watch the tape and spot areas where you can improve.

Don’t Be Afraid to Tap Out Early

By now, we know that sparring is not all about winning. You are looking to help your teammate improve their skills and your skills as well. 

Since winning is not what a good roll is about, don’t be afraid to tap out of the match early.

If you think you have succeeded in finding your weakness in a match, or that you have already achieved the goal that you set, tap out! 

Tapping early when you’re sparring is also a great way to prevent any possible injury or overexerting yourself during the match.

Tips and Tricks to Improve Your Jiu Jitsu Rolling Sessions Off the Mat

There additional tips that you can use to improve your BJJ skills of the mat as well. 

These are things that you can do to prepare for a roll, or they are just things you can do to improve your overall health. 

You can get nervous before you go into any sort of roll, but being as prepared as you can will cut down on the anxiety.

Keep a Jiu Jitsu Journal

We mentioned how useful a training journal could be earlier. 

Not only is it a great way to make sure you know where you are in your training, but it can have a significant impact on your spars. 

You can keep track of what moves you are using, the goals you have created for yourself, and your progress. 

A training journal can be a physical journal that you keep in your gym bag, or you can just keep one on your phone.

Check out our article “BJJ Journal: What It Is And How Can It Help You Improve?“.

Track Your Strength and Weaknesses

A good Jiu Jitsu coach should be able to help you know what you are excelling at, and what you need to work on. 

You should also keep track of them on your own. Strengths and weaknesses don’t have to just be on the outside. 

How you feel performing a move can make a significant impact on how you complete it, and how you incorporate it into your BJJ routine. 

Your strengths and weaknesses do not have to be relative to the specific move you are trying to do, and it could also be reflected in the actual strength of your body and stamina.

Watch Other People Roll Jiu Jitsu

Watching your teammates or other people in rolling Jiu Jitsu is a great way to see the variety in their technique, as well as how they transition into moves throughout a match. 

You can also watch how they react to different types of moves. You can watch rolls at the facility where you train, or you can watch high level competition matches on Youtube. 

Watching other rolls is something you can do anywhere, which makes it easy to incorporate it into your training routine.

Understand the Theory Behind the Technique 

If you are serious about improving your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu skills, then you need to make sure you understand the technique beyond just training. 

In Jiu Jitsu, you are ultimately trying to immobilize your opponent instead of beating or injuring them. 

Knowing the significance in the martial art that you are doing will allow you to connect with what you are doing. Take some extra time to research the history behind BJJ. 

What are Some Reasons You are Not Improving in Your BJJ Training?

If you are currently training in BJJ but are not seeing any changes, there may be a few things that you are not doing that are really holding you back. 

As with any martial art, dedication is an essential part of training and get have negative results if you are not serious about your growth. 

You are Not Practicing Enough

Dedication is vital to your success in anything. 

If you are trying to improve your technique truly, then you need to make sure you are spending the appropriate amount of time training. 

You should be training at least twice per week if you are trying to stay familiar with the art. If you are looking to grow your skills, then three to four days a week is often what is recommended.

If you only go to a few classes a month, not only is everyone going to be ahead of you, but you may not remember what you were taught. 

It can also show to your trainer that you are not as serious as others who are training. On the opposite spectrum, you may be training too often. 

Training too often could result in injuries that cause you to take breaks that can interrupt your training.

Check out our article “How Often Should You Train In BJJ? Here’s The Truth“.

It is Not the Right Form of Martial Art for You

If you are dreading going to your training, then Brazilian Jiu Jitsu may not be for you. 

Although BJJ is actually perfect for everyone, the training and technique may not be what you are looking for. 

If you do not have the time to dedicate to the martial art, then you may want to either take a break or even move on. 

It is something that is meant to improve the quality of your life, not have a negative impact on it. 

Additionally, if you are finding your training to be boring or not looking forward to it, then you may want to discover more martial arts.

Your Body is Not Ready 

The good thing about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is that you can start no matter your physical fitness level. 

Most training facilities have different levels where you can start training. 

If you are having difficulty with basic moves, you might need to dedicate more time to getting your body in shape. 

Doing some physical activity outside of your training will not only improve how you can perform, but it will also have a significant impact on how you feel before, during, and after. 

You Are Not Setting Realistic Goals

Goals are an essential part of getting the most out of your spar sessions in BJJ. 

They help you stay on track, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and they make sure that you are following technique. 

The goals that you are creating should be realistic goals. While beating everyone in your training facility may be something you hope to do, that is not a realistic goal. 

A realistic goal would be to try and master one technique each week. It is something that is attainable with practice and will actually make a difference in your abilities.

The Meaning of OSS: Origin, Significance and Usage

0

If you are a practitioner of BJJ, then you’re probably very familiar with the term “OSS!”. All day everyday in BJJ you hear people say it, in class, in messages, and all over social media but you’re not sure what the meaning of OSS is.

Well, what exactly does OSS mean? OSS means anything and everything. It’s a term used in BJJ and other martial arts circles that is a way of greeting and demonstrating respect to others.

Although most BJJ practitioners can’t tell you what OSS means or what its origin is. For this article we are going to breakdown what the true meaning of OSS is. From its several alleged origins, the definitions, how to use it in a sentence, and if it’s overused.

Where Did OSS Come From?

There are multiple alleged origins for where the term OSS comes from and its true meaning. Here are some of the more known origins from where OSS may have come from.

Onegai Shimasu

The original term for OSS was actually OSU, but it is pronounced OSS. Hence why it eventually transitioned to OSS to match the pronunciation.

OSS/OSU is the shortened version of “Onegai Shimasu.” In Japanese it is used as a greeting to start a game. Also it is used as an invitation or request for a partner to play a game with another person.

The term may have not even started in martial arts. In many Japanese history books, the term OSU comes from the Officers Academy of the Imperial Japanese Navy. Members of the academy apparently greet each other with the term OSU.

This is an expression that is commonly used in everyday speech in Japanese. Basically translated to English this to “do me a favor” or “hey, do me the pleasure of doing something for me.” When someone says this phrase in Japanese it is to show gratitude when asking for something.

Onegai Shimasu is often used in Japanese Karate dojos. The instructor could say the phrase when they start class and ask for acknowledgement if the class understands a technique. Karate students may also say it to greet each other, partner up to practice the technique.

Some students don’t waste time saying the entire phrase and will just say OSU. They do the same thing for the expression  that ends class Otsukaresama Deshita, shortening it to Tsukare.

This theory for the meaning of OSS relates to the next origin theory.

The Good Morning Theory

OSS/OSU could’ve possibly came from a test Japanese linguistics Professor Mizutani Osamu did.  He did a test where he would greet random people in the morning.

Professor Osamu would say a traditional term for good morning in Japan “ohayo gozaimasu” and note each response he received.

The results of the responses showed many would return the greeting with the same phrase, but others would say something different.

Many people would respond with a shorter term “OSU” to save time saying hello. Osamu noted that it was mostly masculine men that would say this phrase to return his greeting.

This much like in BJJ that’s mostly made up of men and greet each other with OSS! Another possible theory for the origin of OSS.

The Kyokushin Theory

In Kyokushin Karate, they use the term OSU that comes from the longer phrase “osu no seishin.”

For Kyokushin practitioners, the term OSU is a combination of two different kanji. The verb osu, which means “to push” and shinobi which means “to endure/to suffer” or “to hide.”

Put together, they make a compound word that can mean many different things depending on the interpretation. It could mean these list of phrases below.

Combat Spirit”

“The Importance Of Effort”

“The Necessity To Overcome All Obstacles By Pushing Them Aside”

“Advancing With A Steady Positive Attitude”

“Not Showing Suffering”

“The Spirit of Perseverance”

So basically in Kyokushin Karate, they use OSU/OSS to verbally remind themselves to keep pushing.

Oshi Shinobu

This theory for the origin and meaning of OSS is very similar to the one in Kyokushin Karate. It is a verbal way of manifesting “ki energy” or a different kai.(strength)

In the book “Go rin no sho”(Book of Five Rings), the author Miyamoto Musashi explains shouts like OSS/OSU. Samurais in battle would shout phrases to muster inner strength on three occasions.

One before combat, one when attacking, and another to celebrate victory or express sadness in defeat.

Who Brought OSS To BJJ?

The person that is generally credited with bringing the term OSS to BJJ is Grandmaster Carlson Gracie Sr. He is said to have taken the term from other Japanese martial arts like Karate and Judo.

He meant for the term to be used as a sign of respect between BJJ practitioners. Also to show a sign of respect to the martial arts that came before BJJ.

Meanings for OSS in BJJ

For OSS, like with OSU in Karate, the expressing has different meaning and uses in BJJ. Here below are three meanings for the term OSS

  • Respect
  • Response
  • Encouragement

Respect: Oss is a way to show respect to your coach and teammates in BJJ. When a class starts, the coach usually begins with a bow and saying Oss. In some schools, they might end class by also bowing and saying OSS before they get dismissed.

You also use it to greet your teammates and say goodbye to them. It shows that you are their friend and respect them.

Response: OSS is also used as a response. When a student is asked if they understand something, they sometimes respond with OSS. This means they understand or are ready to perform the technique or roll.

Encouragement: The term OSS can be used as a term for encouragement. Telling a student or teammate to keep trying don’t give up. 

Here’s an article on “Brazilian Jiu Jitsu etiquette, what to know when training BJJ”.

Examples Of OSS Used In Conversation/Situations

Below is a list of ways the term OSS is used in BJJ class. There are 3-4 specific times that the term gets used in BJJ class.

Greetings/Class Intro and Outro: After all the students and teachers say hello to each other, the class is ready to begin. All of the students are lined up with the instructor up front. 

He will talk to the students for a little bit before bowing the class in and everyone. Then after class is completed some schools will line back up, bow out and say OSS again.

Acknowledgement and Understanding: OSS will also be used after the instructor performs and explains the technique for class that day. The coach will ask if they understood their explanation and if they did, they’ll respond with OSS.

An example: So, that is how you do an armbar. Any questions? No? Okay Go! OSS!

Partner Drills And Rolling: The other time you’d use Oss in class is when you’re communicating with your partner. It is common to hear the term during drilling and rolling.

When teammates partner up and start drilling, you may hear OSS used along the lines of: “Wanna partner up? Cool. OSS!” or “Hey, good technique partner. OSS!” 

In rolling, you can say OSS before the roll starts and after. “Good training(slap/bump) OSS! Also, something at the end of the roll like, “Hey, good roll man. OSS!”

When Is It Okay And Not Okay To Use OSS

There are some do’s and don’ts when using OSS. Here are some things to remember about using OSS in conversation.

  • Keep OSS At The Gym: The gym of BJJ school is just about the only place where it is okay to use OSS. Nobody wants to hear you saying Jiu Jitsu lingo outside of class. It’s for talking Jiu Jitsu only and not normal conversations.
  • Only Use OSS With BJJ People: Nobody outside of the gym is going to understand you if you say OSS. If you say OSS to your girlfriend/boyfriend, they’re going to roll their eyes and tell you to shut up.

Is OSS Overused?

There is a time and place to use OSS. At the BJJ school and with your training partners. That’s it.

Some practitioners get way into saying OSS. These overzealous BJJ people will always try to insert OSS into everyday conversations.

On social media it is a big joke in the BJJ community. There are many memes that have been made on BJJ people over using OSS.

A common one shared on Instagram has a serial killer looking for his victim. When he can’t find him, the serial killer shouts OSS! And the victim shouts it back.

But honestly does it really matter if OSS is overused? Not really. 

Sure people who overuse it are kind of dorks. Putting it on every social media post and ending all of their conversations with it but who are they hurting? Nobody it’s just harmless fun.

BJJ practitioners use words like OSS to demonstrate their camaraderie and show respect towards each other. If you use it that means you are part of the BJJ community and enjoy training.

Hopefully this information gives you a better understanding of the meaning of OSS and where it comes from.

Now train and use OSS correctly…

OSS!!!

Neck Bridging: Is It Safe? Here’s The Truth

Is neck bridging safe? Neck bridging can be a safe exercise for Jiu Jitsu students and competitors, but it should be practiced with extreme caution. Do not attempt neck bridging on your own without professional instruction and supervision – especially the first time you try it. 

Every muscle group is important in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, but the neck is one group that can often be overlooked. 

The neck and spine don’t typically come to mind first when thinking about the most important muscles, for looks or function. But this group is very important in combat sports and mixed martial arts, especially Jiu Jitsu. 

Often times competitors end up on the ground in positions where they are forced to push off with their back and neck to escape.

Unfortunately, many BJJ students overlook strengthening their neck muscles or are just too scared of injuring a very important part of the body. 

It’s true that the neck muscles and vertebrae of the spine are very sensitive, but they still must be strengthened and can be worked out without fear if you know what you’re doing. 

Jiu Jitsu competitors need to strengthen their neck to avoid injury when grappling.

Neck bridging is one of the more popular exercises for BJJ practitioners and wrestlers, but it is also very misunderstood. 

Students who are new to the sport may have seen more seasoned Jiu Jitsu practitioners at their gym performing the exercise and felt ready to jump right in.

Before doing that, however, there is a lot to know, because there are plenty of mixed opinions in the BJJ community regarding the safety of bridging onto your head and neck. 

Let’s try and break it down to present a fair assessment of how safe is neck bridging overall.

What is neck bridging and why do it?

For BJJ grapplers and wrestlers, neck and back strength can be very important, especially in competition. 

When a Jiu Jitsu match or training session requires you to work on our go to your ground game, the neck can be dangerously close to meeting the mat with a violent force. 

Pushing off the mat with your neck can also help to break free of an opponent’s hold. Without any strengthening exercises, the neck is not meant to take these forces. 

Neck bridging has become a popular method to work on neck muscle strength for Jiu Jitsu practitioners.

There are two ways to bridge onto your neck and head – backwards (stomach to ceiling) or forwards (stomach to mat).

A backwards neck bridge looks similar to a gymnast’s backbend, while a forward neck bridge is similar to the first steps of getting into a handstand position.

Both make your neck stronger, but pose injury risk if not done correctly.

To perform the forward neck bridge, kneel on all fours on your mat. Place your head between your hands, then raise and straighten your knees behind. 

Roll back onto forehead until your nose touches the mat, then reverse forward until your chin touches your chest.

The execution of the rear neck bridge is similar, except you begin lying on your back and roll backwards.

How can you hurt yourself?

The potential for injury exists pretty much every time you set foot into a BJJ gym to train. 

It’s a contact sport, and there can never be a 100 percent guarantee something won’t go wrong while sparring or training. 

Even with this understanding, Jiu Jitsu practitioners need to feel confident they are not opening themselves up to excess risk when they try new exercises and techniques.

Without proper technique and positioning, you can hurt yourself bridging onto your neck. 

Getting into the position with your neck and head pushing into the mat introduces huge amounts of axial compression and shear forces into your neck and spine. 

In competition, your head might meet the mat in a violent way at some point, so you do need to be prepared for these moments. 

The goal, however, is to get that preparation done without injuring yourself.

To understand the risks involved with neck bridging, Jiu Jitsu practitioners first need to understand how the neck works and what muscles the exercise is targeting. 

The goal of neck bridging is to strengthen the cervical muscles of the neck. The primary function of these muscles is to resist motion while keeping the head aligned to receive sensory feedback. 

They’re stabilizer muscles – not intended to support the entire body. By pushing with force into the mat, we are asking these muscles to perform a task they were never intended to do.

This can create problems, especially if the neck has not already been sufficiently strengthened with other exercises. 

In addition to overstraining the neck muscles, bridging can potentially injure vertebrae and the discs that separate them. The discs serve to absorb compressive forces on the spine – but they have their limits. 

The potential for injury when bridging onto the neck is very real, and BJJ students should only attempt this exercise after first receiving careful instruction and supervision until they have mastered it.

The pros and cons of neck bridging

The biggest pro when it comes to neck bridging is that it will strengthen your neck in a sport-specific way for Jiu Jitsu competition and sparring. 

That is the number-one reason to consider adding it to your strengthening routine.

Strengthening your neck to prepare for competition will make you less likely to suffer a serious injury if you end up in a compromising position on the mat.

Unfortunately, the biggest con to these types of exercise is that there is a high risk of injuring your neck while doing them. Some people just flat out can’t handle neck bridging at all.

The potential strength gains that may be achieved through neck bridging just may not outweigh the risk of injury for most recreational BJJ students.

Alternatives to neck bridging

Luckily, there are several safer alternatives to neck bridging that can still strengthen the target muscles effectively.

Consider the following instead of neck bridging:

  1. Lie flat on your back and slowly lift your head a few inches off the ground. Slowly rotate your head back and forth, moving your chin towards your chest and then back towards the ground. You can start with 20 reps and increase as your neck gets stronger.
  2. Using an exercise bench, lie with your head off the back of the bench. Place a towel across your forehead and set a weight on top of the towel. Determine the weight based on your own level of strength. Move your head back and forth similar to the first exercise.
  3. Lie on your back as in the first exercise, but for this exercise, turn your head side to side from shoulder to shoulder.
  4. The prone cobra also strengthens the neck, but also involves the shoulder girdle and upper back. It is effective for strengthening multiple muscle groups. To perform this exercise, lie face down on the mat with your arms at your side, palms down. Pinch your shoulder blades together and lift your hands from the floor. Slowly roll your elbows in and lift your forehead off the mat about an inch. Hold for 10 seconds and then perform as many reps as your comfort level allows.

Neck strengthening harness workout

If your BJJ school offers weight training or strength and conditioning classes, chances are that you’ll find a neck strengthening harness.

These things look like a medieval torture device but they provides and excellent neck work out and will definitely help you build neck strength in no time.

If you have a home gym, neck harnesses are fairly cheap. If you’re looking to add a neck exercise to your workout routine you can find neck strengtheners online priced around $10-$50.

Here’s a great neck strengthening harness that’s made by Grapplearts which is shown their video here:

Iron Neck – Advanced Neck Strength Training Device and Rehabilitation Machine

We have not had the chance to try this thing out and we’re hoping our readers can leave some feedback on it if they have used this Iron Neck trainer.

With a hefty price tag of $299 and apart from one complaint saying that it wouldn’t stay inflated and another saying it’s expensive, the Iron Neck has really good reviews.

If you decide to try this out please let us know how you liked it.

See Iron Neck on Amazon

So, is it safe? Here’s the truth

There are risks of injuring your neck when practicing neck bridging. 

This is an extremely sensitive area of the body, and the potential gains don’t necessarily outweigh the risks, especially for non-competitive Jiu Jitsu practitioners. 

Do not attempt neck bridging on your own without professional instruction and supervision – especially the first time you try it. 

You’ll also need to know your own limits. Not every neck or spine is built to handle the stresses of bridging, no matter how long you’ve been practicing BJJ. 

So while neck bridging can be called “safe” under certain circumstances, keep in mind that there are alternatives to build up neck strength that are less likely to result in injury.

Check out our article on the most common injuries in BJJ and this WebMD articles on sports related neck injuries.

Will BJJ Get You In Shape? Here’s What You Need To Know

Will BJJ get you in shape? Absolutely! From losing weight to enhancing coordination, there are several positive physical effects of training in BJJ.

So, you need to get in shape but aren’t one for the boring corporate gym atmosphere that leaves you feeling like physical activity is a chore.

Enter Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It’s more than just a sport or a form of martial arts.

It’s a lifestyle that will change your life in physical and emotional ways. Around the world, thousands of people train in BJJ. And it’s not just because it’s a positive hobby to take up and a great way to learn self-defense.

It’s a popular workout alternative that keeps your mind off the pressures of needing to stay physically active. 


Here’s what you need to know. 

Will BJJ Get You In Shape? The Physical Benefits of Training 

Any current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu student will tell you that training in the sport leads to significant changes in their physical appearance.

Weight loss, increased flexibility and coordination, improved endurance, enhanced muscle strength, and increased spatial awareness are just some tangible benefits of the sport.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will change your body in ways you never expected. You won’t just get in shape, you’ll benefit from better overall health when you commit. 

Is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Training Dangerous? 

Before you jump into the art of BJJ feet first, it’s essential to understand that there are some risks of injury that come with the sport.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu isn’t dangerous overall, it’s actually one of the safest forms of martial arts. But, like any form of physical activity, you can get hurt while training.

The most common injuries associated with BJJ are:

  • Lower back injuries 
  • Shoulder injuries
  • Knee injuries
  • Injuries to the ears
  • Sprains and strains
  • Pulled muscles
  • Neck injuries

If you’re interested in learning about the most common injuries in Jiu Jitsu check out this article we wrote covering all of them.

As long as you listen to your instructors and practice with caution, you should be ok.

If you’re worried about getting injured, talk to the people you train with and explain your concerns. If you have any ailment or injury you are nursing, be sure everyone at training is aware.

This will help you avoid further damage. As always, be sure you check with your healthcare provider before you commit to training.

They’ll address any medical risks you may have and give you great advice on how to keep yourself from getting injured at all. 

The Physical Advantages of Training BJJ

Exercise is important. That’s no secret. It seems like everywhere we turn, a new exercise trend is promising to change your life for the good.

While most people workout to look a certain way, staying in shape is essential for more important reasons.

Students rarely walk through the doors of a BJJ studio looking to lower their blood pressure, improve their heart health, or deal with their high cholesterol.

But the best part of getting in shape with BJJ is the benefits you don’t see. Every time you step onto the mat, even the times when you submit to your opponent, you’re getting in better physical shape with BJJ. 

While some physical improvements are easy to see, it’s often the results you can’t see that make the most significant change in your life. Here are some physical advantages of training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:

1. Weight Loss

It should come as no surprise that consistently showing up to train will lead you to become fitter and more athletic.

One of the most apparent physical advantages of the sport is the significant drops you’ll see on the scale.

What many new students wonder is how BJJ training can promise to be a great way to lose weight when it’s just a form of martial arts? It’s all techniques, transitions, and submissions, right? 

Yes, the techniques, forms, and learning aspect of BJJ is part of the curriculum.

But a considerable part of your training requires constant drilling and practice. Repeating those techniques over and over again until you’ve mastered them is part of the routine.

And it’s that repetition that is one of the most physically intensive workouts in the fitness world. 

But what if you’ve got a lot of weight to lose? One of the biggest misconceptions about training in BJJ is that you need to have a certain level of fitness to start.

As long as you have no medical issues that limit your physical activity, it doesn’t matter what type of body composition you are when you begin the sport.

If you’re worried, talk to your healthcare provider before you begin. Still, no one is too heavy to train in BJJ.

If you want to lose some serious weight, you’ll be dropping pounds without even realizing you’re working hard. 

2. Increased Strength

When you make Brazilian Jiu Jitsu part of your life, you’ll become stronger physically and mentally.

Building muscle is a whole part of the process, primarily when you practice regularly. Much of BJJ training involves grappling, which works all the body muscles.

Not only will you build strength through training, but you will also notice a significant improvement in muscle tones. That’s why famous celebrities like Demi Lovato and Ashton Kutcher have jumped into BJJ with such enthusiasm. 

In addition to increasing your muscle strength, BJJ improves your flexibility. This will help give you more freedom to remain physically active in other aspects of your life.

The more you practice, the various stretching exercises will help increase flexibility and move your muscles in ways you were never able to before you started training. 

3. Enhanced Coordination

One of the greatest things about BJJ is that it teaches students to use different parts of their body as one cohesive unit.

In today’s society, Americans tend to lead sedentary lives. Whether you sit in a chair in front of a computer all day at work or relax on the couch right after you ate a full dinner, our physical habits are getting worse and worse.

This doesn’t just affect a person’s weight and overall health, but it has a detrimental effect on coordination as well. 

When our mind and body aren’t working together regularly, they get out of sync. Even the best athletes can become clumsy and unathletic.

BJJ encourages body synchronization and enhanced coordination. You’ll re-learn how to use all parts of your body to work together as a unit.

Mobility, strength, flexibility, and physical fitness all work together to gauge your power, test your limits, discover solutions, and achieve things you never thought possible. 

4. Increased Focus

While the increased focus is generally a mental effect of getting in shape, it plays a significant role in our physical outcomes.

Rolling on the mat, guard passes, submission techniques, and transitions are all physical movements that require us to remain mentally aware of what we’re doing.

BJJ students need to stay focused and think about every move they make. This doesn’t just help improve your mind, but it also keeps you more coordinated and athletically inclined.

You’ll be sharper, faster, more powerful, and find better success in your physical aspirations. 

Additionally, our bodies need our mind to get in shape. The mind is just as much a muscle as any other muscle in your body. One of the major challenges people face when trying to get in shape is the limits set by a poor attitude.

You can physically go to the gym or get the workout done, but you mentally agonize over putting in the time and work. Eventually, many students let their mind trick them into quitting the process.

Getting in shape with BJJ helps to clear the mind and return you to a more balanced mental state. It’s also a great stress reducer, bringing you an inner peace that focuses on the greater picture-the importance of maintaining a proper level of physical fitness. 

5. Improved Overall Health

Many people turn to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a form of physical fitness. You want to look better in the mirror, fit into smaller clothes, or get ripped.

That’s all great, but many people overlook the overall health benefits of the art.

Consistent training in BJJ has impressive benefits for your overall health. BJJ training:

  • Lowers cholesterol levels
  • Increases endorphin production
  • Improves respiratory system functioning
  • Normalizes insulin and blood sugar levels
  • Reduces risk of diabetes
  • Improves heart health
  • Improves sleep

Among others, all these physical benefits lead you to better health overall.

Since BJJ is an excellent form of aerobic exercise, you can get your cardio in during your training sessions to keep your heart in good shape.

You’ll notice that you feel better and have more energy as your body circulates more oxygen to your blood.

As you improve your overall fitness level through BJJ training, your blood pressure and high cholesterol levels will decrease.

The balanced workouts will lead to better sleep patterns, further improving your overall health. Plus, you’ll be happier and more confident. 

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a great way to get in shape. Not only will you lose weight and increase muscle strength, but you’ll improve flexibility and coordination and benefit from better health overall.

If you’re committed to putting in the work, the physical benefits of the sport will leave you feeling healthier and happier.

BJJ isn’t just a great workout to improve your physical fitness level, increase endurance, and get fit, it’s a way of life that will change you as a person for the better. 

Check out this Healthline article on the many benefits of cardio aerobic exercise here.

Combat Jiu Jitsu: Here’s Everything You Need To Know


Over the last few years, the landscape of BJJ changed dramatically with a new competition style called “Combat Jiu Jitsu.” 

What is Combat Jiu Jitsu? Combat Jiu Jitsu is a new form of BJJ competition that allows open handed strikes on the ground. Combat Jiu Jitsu was conceptualized by Eddie Bravo to bring more excitement to BJJ competition by incorporating the palm strikes into the EBI rule sets.

In this article, we are going to break down everything you need to know, from its origins, creator, rules, and also the biggest competition, and famous grapplers that participate in these competitions.

To ease reading a bit we’ll occasionally refer to Combat Jiu Jitsu as CJJ throughout this article.

Who Created Combat Jiu Jitsu?

From the mind of none other than 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu creator Eddie Bravo.

After creating EBI (see below), he got the idea to create Combat Jiu Jitsu. A new form of competition that takes BJJ back to its roots of why it was created.

We will get into everything about Combat Jiu Jitsu later in the article. But first, we need to detail how it came to be.

Detailing the competition Bravo made prior to CJJ and what all inspired it.

EBI(Eddie Bravo Invitational)

Eddie Bravo has always been a huge critic of BJJ competitions. He believes that sport Jiu Jitsu is not how the martial art should be taught or practiced. 

Jiu Jitsu competitions were not meant to be won by points or advantages or limited the type of submissions allowed.

Eddie wanted to create his own type of competition. One that was a sub only competition and where all submissions were allowed.

What he came up with is the Eddie Bravo Invitational. A no-gi invitational tournament with the biggest names in BJJ, check out our article on the difference between gi and no-gi BJJ.

It has grown immensely in popularity in the last few years. It is now the standard for no gi sub only BJJ competitions.

Thanks to EBI, some of the most grapplers today were able to make a name for themselves. Like BJJ athletes from the Danaher Death Squad, Craig Jones, and the 10th Planet Freaks.

Rules of EBI

Here are the rules and structure of an EBI match.

  • One 10 minute round
  • No Points
  • Submission Only
  • All Submissions Are Allowed

If at the end of the 10 minute regulation there is no submission, the match goes to overtime. The overtime is basically a 3 round shootout.

Each competitor gets a dominant position. They either have to submit their opponent or ride them out. If there are no submissions within the 3 overtime rounds, the competitor with the longest ride time wins.

Birth of Combat Jiu Jitsu

After the success of EBI, Eddie Bravo had the opportunity to create his other pet project. This would be having BJJ competitions that include striking. 

Not like MMA that has strikes from standing that include punches, kicks, elbows, and knees. It was something a little different.

This type of competition would be somewhere between MMA and BJJ.

Influences For Combat Jiu Jitsu

Below are the main things that influenced Bravo to create this type of competition.

MMA

Eddie Bravo got into Jiu Jitsu because of his love of MMA. It was the whole reason he made the 10th Planet System. He wanted to make a style of Jiu Jitsu that was tailored to be used in MMA.

A lot of what you see in CJJ are the ground n pound scenarios you’d see in MMA. Minus the closed fists and elbows you’d see in an MMA fight. 

Just open palm strikes to open the opponent up for a submission. Many MMA fighters past and present are even participating in this style of BJJ competition. Look for many more to continue participating in events in the future.

Old School BJJ Training 

In the last decade or so BJJ training has transitioned to more of a sports based style of training. Gearing more towards training to get points and advantages.

This is much to the chagrin of BJJ traditionalists that believe this not how BJJ was meant to be trained. They believe that BJJ training is supposed to be more realistic.

In their view BJJ was created for self defense. In some old school academies, they would include strikes in some of their classes. Open palm striking for their students to be aware that they need to defend themselves, while on the ground.

CJJ mimics a lot of what that old school type of training is. Except the rolling is competitive and competitors are trying to hurt each other. 

Pancrase

For many longtime fans of combat sports, they noticed something very familiar about Combat Jiu Jitsu. The strikes look a lot similar to the old Japanese hybrid wrestling promotion of Pancrase.

In Pancrase, there were no gloves and competitors could only do open hand strikes. A lot of the grappling was very similar to what you see in CJJ today.

There are of course a few key differences between Pancrase and CJJ. Pancrase rules allowed striking from standing that included kicks.

Also in CJJ, competitors aren’t allowed to wear speedos and wrestling boots like was the regulated uniform in Pancrase.

Rules Of Combat Jiu Jitsu

The rules of Combat Jiu Jitsu are similar to that of EBI rules.

  • 10 Minute Round
  • No Points
  • Submission Only
  • All submissions are legal
  • If there’s no sub in regulation, the match goes to EBI overtime rules.

These rules are the same as EBI rules. Here are the extra rules and structure of Combat Jiu Jitsu.

  • Strikes: The only strikes permitted are open hand slaps or palm strikes in Combat Jiu Jitsu.
  • You are only allowed to strike on the ground.
  • You can strike to the face or body.(No groin shots)
  • Striking is only allowed when both competitors are on the ground. If one competitor is standing, neither are allowed to strike.
  • A “downed” grappler is a grappler on both knees or on their butt.
  • Standing grappling will go on for 1 minute and after that a horn will sound. When the horn goes off both grapplers are stood up and a coin flip is done. Winner of the coin flip decides to be on top or bottom. This I referred to as “the get down rule.”
  • Purgatory Position: This when one grappler is on the ground doing a leg entanglement or guard and a standing competitor isn’t engaging. In this purgatory position, they’re allowed to stay here for 30 seconds and any more time will be added to overtime. This is to deter stalling and extra time will stop being added once the top competitors knees hit the ground.
  • If the competitor is in a leg entanglement or standing and engaging this is not a purgatory position. If they break out the guard or leg entanglement, they have 10 seconds to engage before purgatory time starts.
  • On top of submission and decision. A competitor can win their match by TKO, ref stoppage, and doctor stoppage.

Combat Jiu Jitsu Referee

In a normal EBI match, the referee would be Eddie Bravo. Eddie does not officiate CJJ for a few reasons.

Since there are strikes in CJJ, the state athletic commission needs to be involved. They must abide by regulations and a state licensed referee is designated to officiate.

A referee that usually officiates MMA is assigned to work CJJ style matches. Known refs such as Dan Mirgaliotta and Herb Dean have officiated past CJJ matches.

Combat Jiu Jitsu VS Normal BJJ Competitions

There are quite a few differences between Combat Jiu Jitsu and  normal BJJ competitions. Here are the biggest differences.

  • Striking: There are absolutely no striking in normal BJJ competitions. This is the major difference between Combat Jiu Jitsu and normal Jiu Jitsu competitions.
  • Submissions: In normal BJJ competitions that are sanctioned by the IBJJF, you are restricted on the types of submissions. There are no heel hook, reaping, cranks, or slicers allowed in IBJJF competitions. All submissions are legal in Combat Jiu Jitsu.
  • Points/Advantages: There are no points or advantages given in Combat Jiu Jitsu matches. IBJJF style BJJ competitions keep track of points/advantages and a competitor can win by these if there’s no submission.

Combat Jiu Jitsu VS MMA

As we said earlier, CJJ gets a lot of inspiration from MMA. But there are huge differences between the two types of competitions. Here are the major differences between the two listed below: 

  • Striking: In MMA, punches kicks, elbows, and knees are allowed. Combat Jiu Jitsu only allows open palm strikes.
  • Where you can strike: An MMA fighter can strike from standing or on the ground. In CJJ, competitors are only allowed to strike when both fighters are on the ground.
  • Match Time: A professional MMA match consists of 3:5 minute rounds and 5 rounds for championship fights. A Combat Jiu Jitsu match has a 10 minute regulation with 3 overtime rounds. There are no overtime rounds in MMA.
  • How matches are won: In both competitions, a competitor can win by submission and TKO. Where they are different is that in MMA, a fighter can win by judge’s decision. There are no judge’s decisions in Combat Jiu Jitsu.

The First Combat Jiu Jitsu Matches

The first test run for Eddie Bravo’s CJJ happened in 2017. We first heard Eddie Bravo throw the idea of having a BJJ competition with palm strikes on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Six months later we would have the first taste of Combat Jiu Jitsu.

On an EBI card that was headlined by a welterweight tournament that included Ritchie Martinez and Wagner Rocha. Combat Jiu Jitsu would be introduced to the world.

A four man tournament with the winner being crowned the Combat Jiu Jitsu 135lb champion. This four man tournament featured Nick Honstein, Chad George, Sheridan Moran, and JM Holland. 

The future rested in the hands of these individuals. How this tournament went dictated what the future would hold for CJJ.

It turns out that these three matches brought some of the most exciting moments of the night. The crowd was into the matches and were raucously louds.

There were also some laughs from the audience. Some of the crowd thought it was funny that the competitors were spastically attacking each other with open hand slaps. Like bad ground n pound in MMA.

After the event some jokingly called Combat Jiu Jitsu “slap jitsu.” But all in all, the experiment was a positive one. The groundwork was laid down and Bravo knew how to make Combat Jiu Jitsu better.

Bravo would continue to sprinkle in CJJ bouts into his EBI show, while secretly planning a big event.

Combat Jiu Jitsu Worlds

Eddie’s next idea would be something he would call Combat Jiu Jitsu Worlds. There would be two 8 man tournaments in the lightweight and and bantamweight divisions.

These tournaments were inspired by other tournament style BJJ championships like ADCC and IBJJF Worlds. Only with Combat Jiu Jitsu rules in place.

Top grapplers in the world like Vagner Rocha, Nathan Orchard, Chad George, Wilson Reis, and Ben Eddy competed.

This night was filled with a lot of exciting action with most of the matches being won by TKO and submission.

The bantamweight final had Chad George vs Sidemar Honorio. The match would go back and forth with no winner in regulation. George was able to take Hornorio’s back and submit him in overtime becoming the first Combat Jiu Jitsu World Bantamweight Champion.

In the lightweight bracket Vagner Rocha and 10th Planet standout made it to the tournament final. Rocha was dominant throughout the match. Getting mount and throwing relentless strikes before the ref stepped in to stop the fight.

CJJ Fight Night Problems

In early 2019, Eddie Bravo announced the most anticipated Combat Jiu Jitsu event would take place in late February. He assembled a star studded card that included a 4 man heavyweight tournament of MMA and BJJ champions.

It included Josh Barnett, Fabricio Werdum, Rustam Chsiev for what was supposed to be the biggest show ever. 

Unfortunately in putting on combat sports events things don’t work out. All 4 original competitors in the tournament pulled out either due to injury or other circumstances.

This left Bravo scrambling to find replacements to save the show with everyone in his main attraction out of action.

The replacements Bravo got world BJJ champ Yuri Simoes, MMA fighter Kevin Casey, and grapplers Jon Blank and Stephen Martinez. Womens BJJ world champion Beatriz Mesquita was also added to the card in a special attraction match against EBI veteran Kayla Patterson.

The show saw Yuri Simoes winning the inaugural heavyweight tourney beating Martinez by escape type and Blank by kneebar. Mesquita would also beat Patterson by kneebar in the co-main event.

Not the event Jiu Jitsu fans were hoping it to be, but these things happen in grappling. Bravo made a positive out of a negative and learned from the experience.

Combat Jiu Jitsu Worlds 2019 Events

After the disappointing Combat Jiu Jitsu Fight Night, Eddie went back to work and started work on the next installments of the Combat Jiu Jitsu Worlds in 2019.

The first was in May with the bantamweights again, August with the welterweights, and November with the middleweights. Overall the events were again met with positive feedback, but the attention stayed about the same.

Combat Jiu Jitsu 2020

This year, there are so far 2 planned events for this year. The first one is the Combat Jiu JItsu Worlds 2020 Featherweight tournament.

The featherweights will compete Match 8th at the Orpheum Theatre in LA. This tournament will include Reigning champ Richard Alarcon, Geo “freakazoid” Martinez, and legendary footlock specialist Imanari. It’ll definitely be an exciting card and a good start to the year for the competition.

The next event is set to take place in September, which will be a special event. It will be the first Combat Jiu Jitsu event that will be a team competition.

Bravo got the inspiration from the Quintet BJJ competitions that his 10th Planet team competed in and won. So far, there are no teams announced, but the event is still 6 months away and is still being planned.

No EBI Events Planned

If you aren’t a fan of Combat Jiu Jitsu and prefer EBI, there is bad news for you. As of now, there are no EBI events planned in the near future.

Bravo has put all his attention on making Combat Jiu Jitsu blow up. Who knows if he’ll succeed, but CJJ has carved out its niche within combat sports.

Where To Watch

You can watch Combat Jiu Jitsu events on the UFC Fight Pass.

All of the events are on there for you to view, as well as the next event March 8th 2020. 

You can also find alot of them on YouTube as well.

Conclusion

That cover everything we could think of and we hope you enjoyed the read.

With upcoming CJJ events in 2020 we will do our best to keep this up to date and add to it as this side of the sport grows.

Thanks for reading and if you enjoyed this please share, comment and subscribe!

How Long Does It Take To Get A Blue Belt In BJJ?

How long does it take to get a BJJ blue belt? You have to show proficiency in a number of basic techniques and train a certain amount of time. The average person can usually obtain a BJJ blue belt after 2-3 years of training Jiu Jitsu. Each BJJ school has different requirements and you have to prove to your coach that you’re ready for a blue.

For this article we are going to break down everything that goes into getting a blue belt. Everything from the usual time frame and techniques you need to know.

We’ll also go into things that could shorten or lengthen your time to get to blue belt.

What Do You Need To Get A BJJ Blue Belt?

Before we get into how long it could take, we’ll list the requirements to be a BJJ blue belt.

Each school has a few different things they require, but they pretty much have the same core requirements.

Techniques You Should Know

Below is a complete list of all of the techniques a BJJ blue belt must know.

Every school has it as a prerequisite that their white belt students know these moves before earning their blue belt.

  • Submissions From Guard: Know and perform these basic submissions from guard. These submissions include armbar, triangle, guillotine, kimura, and omoplata. Maybe also gi chokes that could include a cross choke or lapel choke variations.
  • Sweeps From Guard: A BJJ blue belt has to know a number of sweeps from guard. Hip bump, scissor, butterfly, flower, spider, etc.
  • Guard Passes: Know how to do a variety of different guard passes. From passing closed guard, open guard, spider guard, and De La Riva Guard.
  • Takedowns: Blue belts need to know basic takedowns that include single and double leg takedowns.
  • Judo Throws: Know around 3 basic Judo throws. Drop Seio Nage, Osoto Gari, and Koshi Garuma for example.
  • Escapes: A blue belt needs to know how to escape from bad positions. Elbow escapes and reversals from mount and side mount.
  • Basic Solo Drill Movements: Knowing how to do basic movements in solo drills is another must for white belts going to blue belt. Elbow escapes, front rolls, technical get up, etc.
  • Basic Self Defense Techniques: Finally knowing how to use BJJ in basic self defense situations. Defending punches, grabs, and back takes are something every BJJ practitioner needs to know.

How Long Does It Take To Get A BJJ Blue Belt?

The typical time to get a BJJ blue belt is between 1-3 years. A year to a year and a half is the normal amount of time to get a blue belt. In extenuating circumstances, the time it takes to get a BJJ blue belt could take longer.

Here’s the International Brazilian Jiu Jjitsu Federation Graduation System belt rankings breakdown.

How To Get A BJJ Blue Belt Within A Year 

For white belts that want their blue belt within a year have to do a few things. Here is how you can get a blue belt within the normal time frame.

  • Train Consistently: It is as simple as that. If you want to get your BJJ blue belt, you have to train as much as you can. Two classes is usually the average for most students, but if you’re dedicated and have time 3+ is even better.

Training also goes beyond just attending class. You have to put time in outside of class drilling and doing conditioning for BJJ. If you want that blue belt within a year, you’re going to have to make time and work for it.

  • Compete?: This doesn’t go for all schools, but it will definitely help your efforts in trying to achieve a blue belt. Competing is a live action test of your skills. By actively competing this can show that you have the skills to be a blue belt. 

Winning tournaments may factor in, but it honestly isn’t that important. What is important is that your coaches see that you’re committed to BJJ and trying to better your game.

  • Try Not To Get Hurt: This may sound silly, but try not to get hurt. If you are shelved with an injury this will definitely add time on to your wait time. A bad injury could even add a year or more, so be careful.

Things That Could Make it Longer To Get A Blue Belt

Since there’s things to keep you on track for a blue belt, there are also things that can prolong it. Below is a list of circumstances that could make you wait a little longer than for that blue belt.

  • Not Training Regularly: To get a blue belt within a year, you need to train regularly and if you don’t it’ll take longer. White belts that only train maybe one time a week or less will have a longer wait for their blue belt.

The reason they don’t train as much could be lack of dedication or a busy personal life. Either way, they will have to wait a little longer for their blue belt.

  • Injury: As we said in the other section try not to get hurt. But if you do that is rather unfortunate.

Injuries will put you on the shelf and will definitely extend your stay at white belt. It’s not your fault, but that is the nature of this martial art. You’ll just have to wait it out and get back when you can.

  • Move Locations or Schools: If you move from your current location or change schools this could also be a factor. When you move to another area for example it can take you a while to get settled and find a new school. The new BJJ school you choose could have different standards, so this will also factor into the time.
  • Family: Having a family will definitely factor into the time it takes to get a blue belt in BJJ. Especially if you are or have a newborn. Ask your teammates that have kids and they’ll tell you it takes some to get back with a new baby.

Factors That Could Speed Up The Time To BJJ Blue Belt

There are two particular factors that will go into someone getting their blue belt in BJJ earlier. Here are the two factors listed below.

  • Prior Training: This is someone that has prior experience in a form of grappling like Judo, wrestling, or no gi Jiu Jitsu. They already have a base no part of the fundamentals of BJJ. They just need to make a few tweaks and they’ll be at blue belt quick.
  • Talent: You can’t teach talent. Some people are just gifted at BJJ and advance faster than others. 

They excel in class and at competition. If you are one of these lucky people, then good for you. You got a gift, so don’t stop training.


Things To Remember About Pursuing A BJJ Blue Belt

Remember these important before you worry how long it takes to get a blue belt in BJJ. These are the biggest things that go into your journey to a blue belt.

  • Train: The main requirement for all BJJ schools is the same and that is you gotta train. The more you train the better. This shows your instructors that you are dedicated and are working towards earning your BJJ blue belt.

Even after you get a blue belt, guess what you’ll have to do for a purple belt? That’s right, you gotta put even more training in. Never forget that putting your time in training is the most important thing you can do to advance levels.


  • Focus On The Rolls And Technique: Do not focus on the belt. You don’t know when it’s coming, so don’t stress about it. Focus more on the rolls and technique in class.

Your technique and how you perform rolling is far more important than a belt. Each technique and roll gives you the chance to better your BJJ game, so focus on that.

  • Have Patience Don’t worry about the time it takes to get the belt and enjoy the journey. Know that BJJ is a process and not every gets rankings at the same time. 

Everyone has a different path in BJJ. One person can get a blue belt in a year and it takes another person three years. Have some patience and your time will come.


  • It’s Just A Belt: At the end of the day, the belt is just part of the uniform. As you put more time into your training, the belts become less important. What is important is that you keep training and always work to improve your technique.
  • Jiu Jitsu Is Fun: Remember that Jiu Jitsu is supposed to be fun. Once you make it about earning belts, you slowly start to lose your passion. If you’re not having fun, then you need to reevaluate your view on Jiu Jitsu. 

Overview

These are all the factors that go into the length of time it takes to get your blue belt. Also along with helpful advice, the important thing however is this. 

Don’t worry about how long it takes to get a blue belt in BJJ. Just focus on your training, and enjoy the journey.

Now that you know how long it takes to get your blue belt, maybe you’ll want to know “How Long Does It Take To Get Good At Jiu Jitsu?”.

Here’s Why Jiu Jitsu is the Best Martial Art for Kids

0
An audio version of this blog post to take with you on the go!

When parents being looking into self defense for their children, they often ask themselves, what’s the best martial art for kids?

Martial arts have been around for thousands of years. That’s why most parents already know that there are significant benefits to enrolling kids in martial arts classes.

Is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu the best martial art for kids? Absolutely. BJJ creates well-rounded, disciplined, respectful children who are ready to face the real world independently as they grow. 

Not only does the regular practice of martial arts instill confidence, respect, and discipline in children, but it also keeps kids active in a seemingly sedentary lifestyle.

As kids become more and more likely to sit at home playing video games, watching TV, or scrolling through social media.

Enrolling them in any form of martial arts is a great alternative. It provides physical, social, developmental, and psychological advantages. 

Each form of martial arts has its own specific benefits. But with so many types of martial arts to choose from, how do you know what’s the best for your child?

From encouraging socialization to improving fitness, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is hands down, the best martial arts for kids. Not only will your child learn some of the primary life skills needed for their future success, but they’ll have fun doing so.

The enjoyment of the sport helps your kids quickly forget that they’re working and learning through the process. 

Let’s take a closer look at why BJJ is the best form of martial arts for your child. 

So here’s why we believe Jiu Jitsu is the best martial art for kids.

What is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a form of martial arts that focuses on the skill of controlling your opponent by learning techniques that force him or her to submit.

It is based on grappling and ground fighting with origins in Judo and Japanese Jujutsu.

The form of martial arts we know as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu today was adapted, modified, and perfected by Carlos Gracie for decades. The use of the art on the professional MMA scene has given Brazilian Jiu Jitsu a steady rise in popularity over the years.

BJJ professionals pride themselves in the skillful use of gentle submission tactics, allowing even the smallest students to gain submission over larger opponents. 

Jiu Jitsu teaches students that a smaller, weaker individual can successfully defend themselves against a bigger, stronger, heavier opponent.

By using leverage and weight distribution to bring your opponent to the ground, BJJ students learn techniques that don’t require punching and kicking for submission.

Students then learn joint locks and chokeholds to defeat their opponents. From learning BJJ as a form of self-defense to competitive fighting, this form of martial arts isn’t just a method or a sport.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a way of life that has a powerful impact on the lives and future success of children involved in the sport. 

5 Reasons Jiu Jitsu Is the Best Martial Art for Kids

When it comes to the best martial art for kids, BJJ takes the win for several reasons:

1. Discipline and Respect

One of the main focuses of BJJ is discipline and respect, personal attributes that can’t be taught from a book.

Any professional BJJ coach knows that these personal attributes aren’t built into our DNA. But with consistent practice and focused attention, they can quickly be developed in even the most challenging children.

While it’s great that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu teaches students to train and develop these essential qualities. It’s the extension of these attributes beyond the mat that makes Brazilian Jiu Jitsu so beneficial to students. 

Respect and discipline are necessary for every aspect of life. From BJJ class to school to work, they are the fundamentals of education and necessary for a peaceful existence throughout all stages of life.

Students learn to appreciate, respect, and honor their BJJ coaches and instructors on the mat and carry those same values into the educational setting.

This sets a foundation of respect for authority that is helpful throughout all stages of human development.

Instilling these qualities in children at a young age helps them go on to be successful in school and their careers as they grow older. 

2. Physical Benefits

Another significant advantage of enrolling kids in BJJ is the physical benefits.

Your child’s physical health and endurance will change right before your eyes.

Repetitive drills and exercises, sparring sessions, and learning new techniques keep your child on their toes physically.

And they’ll be so focused on the lesson that they don’t even realize they’re working out. They’ll gain flexibility, increase core strength, and improve their overall physical health. 

Even more, Jiu Jitsu is an excellent source of development for motor skills in young children.

It helps with advanced coordination and increased body awareness. From a young age, the fundamentals of movement learned in BJJ class will have long-lasting positive effects on your child’s physical development.

This also serves as a solid base for any other sport your child goes on to play as they grow, bringing them continued success throughout many parts of their life. 

3. Psychological Benefits

While teaching your kids to fight off bullies might not seem like the best option to combat the problem, learning to defend themselves has excellent advantages. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a great confidence builder.

The art teaches realistic movements and techniques that kids can use as a last resort in the real world.

The best way to help your kids defend themselves is to teach them to neutralize the situation and avoid injury or damage to themselves.

BJJ isn’t just a form of defense, it’s a discipline that unites all aspects of problem-solving and safety. 

In addition to building confidence, Jiu Jitsu sharpens the mind. It’s all about strategy, technique, training, and repetition.

This helps improve focus, build character, and instill the importance of being coachable and sticking things out.

Even when kids don’t feel like putting in the work, encouraging them to show up, again and again, helps them grow mentally and emotionally.

They’ll learn to accept failure as a life lesson and find ways to grow and learn from every experience, positive or negative.

Jiu Jitsu also encourages personal development and self-improvement. Children will learn at a young age that even adults have room to grow and learn.

They’ll see that if they put in the work, they can achieve anything. 

4. Creating Connections and Socialization

Building friendships with their peers, connecting with individuals of all ages, and learning good social skills are all solid reasons why BJJ is the best form of martial arts for kids.

Your child will be exposed to individuals of all ages who share a common connection with the sport.

Through their interactions, they’ll develop the social skills necessary for healthy childhood development.

They’ll carry these skills into their educational setting and use them to find success in relationships throughout many aspects of life. 

Why sign your child up for a bunch of different hobbies and activities that have them all over the place?

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu doesn’t just keep them physically fit and provide mental and emotional benefits.

It also helps improve your child’s social skills. They’ll learn to interact with all types of personalities and build lifelong relationships along the way. 

5. Foundation for Success

All benefits combined, enrolling your child in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, will provide them with the best gift a parent can give- a foundation for success.

The positive impact of training BJJ, the enjoyment of the sport, the physical, social, emotional, and mental benefits will bring your child a hobby that genuinely changes their life.

Along the way, BJJ will teach your child to handle anything they face in life.

They’ll learn to roll with the punches, find lessons in their failure, stay humble in their accomplishments, and never, ever give up. 

Through their classes, your child will build a comprehensive foundation for success.

When you choose Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for your child, you empower them with an entire toolbox of resources to turn to as they become more independent.

From young children to teenagers and adults, BJJ offers a fun hobby that improves physical help, builds confidence, teaches self-defense, and builds character.

Mostly, your child will be self-aware, learning to continuously put in the work to make a better life for themselves. 

Is My Child Ready for BJJ? 

Now, the next question is whether or not your child is ready to train with a BJJ school? The answer truly depends on each child individually.

There are several things to consider before you enroll your child in a BJJ school.

Some children start training as young as three or four-years-old. Others aren’t physically and emotionally ready until they are five or six-years-old. 

The key to success in martial arts for children lies in a parent’s ability to learn about the sport and understand and support the commitment involved.

We all want to mold our children into self-sufficient, successful adults. Give your child the foundation, and they’ll be on the right road to becoming an amazing human being.

Encourage and support your child, especially in their moments of struggle and failure, and they’ll develop the fundamental values they need to handle the ups and downs of life.

Whether it’s to promote physical activity, start a new hobby, learn self-defense, or improve emotional wellness. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an excellent resource for children of all ages.

BJJ doesn’t just develop healthy kids. BJJ builds happy, healthy family connections that last for a lifetime. And that’s just about as good as it gets. 

How Often Should You Train In BJJ? Here’s The Truth

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has become one of the most popular martial arts or combat sports practiced in the world today, and with good reason. 

The story of the origins and evolution of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are quite impressive, and the art continues to grow and expand 

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gyms are much more common, especially in any decent sized city.  Finding the best gyms in your area is pretty easy in the digital age.  Following through and getting started training is the next hurdle. 

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is very much a personalized martial art/sport in so many ways.  Everything from the type of game you play to how often you train is really up to you.  A good approach might be to do an assessment of where you are, and some goals on where you want to be in x amount of time. 

Read on to get some ideas on putting together your own personal roadmap to starting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. 

Where Are You Starting From?

This is a very general, but important question to ask yourself when you start your journey into Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  Honestly assessing where you are starting from can give you an idea on how to structure your initial training routines. 

Keep in mind: You don’t need to already be in shape to start training, and it’s never too late to start!

 Like most art forms, and especially physical ones, fundamentals are built on the foundations of proper technique, form, and repetition.  If you have a background in Wrestling, Judo, Karate, Boxing, or other combat sports Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will be very similar in the learning concepts.  

If you’ve learned a skill this way before, even something less physically demanding like golfing or playing an instrument, you will probably have an easier time riding the early learning curve.

Your Current Age and Fitness Level

It cannot be overstated that you do not already have to be in great shape to start training BJJ

I have been training for 7 years between a few different gyms, and I have seen men and women from ages up to 60 years old just getting started training BJJ.   These same people are still training regularly years later. 

 I’ve watched people come into the gym 50lbs or more overweight with zero inherent athleticism trim themselves down and become serious grapplers.  

Someone who is 18 years old and fresh from a high school wrestling program can expect to put in quite a bit more mat time starting out than someone who is 40 and has worked an office job their whole life.  

While they are initially something to consider, your age and fitness are less a factor than you might think once you have a few years of mat time under your belt.  

A few Things to Consider When Planning Your Training Regimen:

How Does Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Fit In To  Your Lifestyle?

Married with children and a demanding professional job?  Chain smoking bartender that burns the midnight oil? 20 year old video gamer who has never gone for a jog?  Single mom with 2 kids? 

I have trained with people in all of these situations, and many more nuanced and varied scenarios.  That is one of the great things about Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, is that people from all walks of life fall in love with it.  

There are not many places where lawyers, trash collectors, chefs, doctors, police officers, waitresses, and professional fighters will develop close friendships will regularly trying to dismantle each other.  

Most schools have morning and night classes depending on the size, many have morning, afternoon, and night classes available.  

Early on in BJJ your lifestyle will dictate how often you are able to train, but as many people progress they find that their training dictates their lifestyle.  Like any other passion or hobby, you will make time to do what you love. 

What Brings You To the Mat?

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is many things to many people.  Many people want to learn self defense. Some people want to become fighters. BJJ is simply a fun hobby  for others. 

There are endless paths that land someone at the door of an academy.  I have trained with several people that have survived some physical or emotional trauma and find martial arts training therapeutic.  

Whatever it is that initially draws you to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, most people find that practicing BJJ weaves itself into the fabric of their everyday life fairly quickly.  

How Much Time Do You Have?

Everyone lives life at a different pace, and has vastly different careers and responsibilities.  The amount of time you put in to being on the mat will directly translate into measurable progress, over a relative period of time.  

Like countless others I’m sure, when I started training as a white belt I would wonder “How long does it take to get a Blue Belt?” 

 Most people say 1 to 3 years, but really a better answer is that you get your Blue Belt when you become a Blue Belt. If you train one day a week, but sometimes miss class because you have other commitments, or life gets in the way, or whatever, that can translate to 2 or 3 classes a month.  

Imagine if you practiced playing the guitar only 2 or 3 hours per month. How long would it take to be able to play a full song?  How long until you could write your own?

This is one of the most determining factors, more so than age or fitness: How much time do you have, and how much you are willing to dedicate to training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?

Getting The Most Out of Your Training

Tier 1

For the true beginner to combat sports and physical fitness, those with families and career responsibilities, and people wanting to start off slowly.  

Take 2 Beginner classes a week in the early and latter part of the week so you are able to rest in between. 

 Expect to be very sore for the first couple weeks as your body builds new muscle fibers in uncommonly exercised muscle groups.  

Start small and give yourself room to recover and process what you are learning.  As you get more comfortable, add more classes. 

Tier 2

For the person who is in relatively good shape and likes to push themselves a little further, or those who are able to devote a little more time to training. 

Take 3 Fundamentals or Beginner classes a week, whenever you can fit them into your schedule for the first two months, and then assess if you’d like more or less. 

Most classes run around an hour and a half, so putting in around 5 hours a week training is a good start for something that is new to you.  

 If your school offers a drilling class ( a class where students work on fine tuning their movements through repetitive drills, without instruction or sparring) I would add that on as a fourth class.  In the early part of your training repetition is essential. 

Also, start small and allow yourself to recover and process what is being learned.  Take advantage of Open Mat times once or twice a month, building on that as you progress. 

Tier 3 

This would be for athletes, practitioners of other martial arts, those who plan to compete in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

Take 4 to 5 Beginner classes a week as your scheduling permits.  Most schools offer some Open Mat time for sparring or drilling; try to utilize that as well.  Much of your improvements will come from drilling and experimenting on the mats with your training partners.  

For those looking to soak up as much as possible, or people like me that become obsessed with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu right away,  10 hours a week worth of classes are the norm, often more counting the Open Mat time and squeezing in a couple two-a-day sessions. 

I highly recommend taking two days off per week, or at least make one day a light day and have one full off day.  Overtraining always leads to injury. 

Advice for Beginners operating at any Tier of training

  • Listen to your body. Rest when you need it.
  • Don’t skip two classes in a row just because you’re feeling lazy.
  • Focus on learning not winning. Expect to lose, expect to get discouraged.
  • Show up to class focused.
  • Put some effort into the warmups. This is how you build the hardware for your operating system.
  • It’s a marathon , not a sprint.  Train accordingly.