It is not a surprise that we are sitting here writing an article on known other than Jake Paul. He has proven to be a master at ruffling feathers and keeping the public’s attention. Recently, Paul signed a massive contract with the PFL to help promote professional fighters to new heights. Whether Jake is in a boxing ring or now an MMA cage, he will bring a massive crowd of people who want to see the spectacles that he always seems to put on. But is Jake Paul really fighting MMA?
The Problem Child was spotted recently training BJJ with some big names in the jiu-jitsu community… does this mean his MMA debut is right around the corner?
Professional Fighters League
Paul and the PFL CEO Peter Murray have created a pay-per-view division called “PFL PPVC Super Fight”, which it guarantees the fighters will receive 50% of the revenue generated from its events. This is huge for the fighting community as it has been a notorious fact that they, repeatedly, get left out of the money-making equation when it comes to putting on these events.
Fighters all around the world are going to get a great chance to showcase their skills and get paid the way they deserve to be paid in the new league known as the PFL. The PFL is a league that fights for fighter advocacy and equal fighter pay. PFL fighters have a bright future ahead of them with the likes of Paul joining their force.
We are excited to watch some fights from the PFL. Male and female fighters around the world are going to get the opportunity of a lifetime to get the eyeballs they have been looking for all their career. Imagine the talent that arises down the road. This is an exciting time to be a PFL fighter and the show has yet to even begin.
Is Jake Paul Doing MMA?
It is not a secret at this point, Jake Paul does a fantastic job at keeping our attention time and time again. Just recently Jake Paul, the youtube gone undefeated boxer, broke the internet with his groundbreaking deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
From the looks of it, it seems like Jake is on his way to fighting in the cage against some top-tier talent. MMA fighters looking to make a name for themselves will be clawing for the opportunity to step into the ring with the likes of Jake Paul.
The Problem Child better known as Jake Paul is not shy of a bit of controversy. It is not a surprise that he is a master at ruffling the feathers of people who seem to want to see the dude get knocked out. Recent Paul signed a massive contract with the PFL to help promote professional fighters to new heights. Whether Jake is in a boxing ring or now an MMA cage, he is going to bring a massive crowd of people who want to see the spectacles that he always seems to put on.
The Problem Child was spotted recently training BJJ with some big names in the jiu-jitsu community… does this mean his MMA debut is right around the corner?
Is Jake Paul Doing MMA?
It is not a secret at this point, Jake Paul does an amazing job at keeping our attention time and time again. Just recently Jake Paul, the youtube gone undefeated boxer, broke the internet with his groundbreaking deal with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
From the looks of it, it seems like Jake is on his way to fighting in the cage against some top-tier talent. MMA fighters looking to make a name for themselves will be clawing for the opportunity to step into the ring with the likes of Jake Paul.
Paul has already been taking the fight community by defeating multiple mixed martial artists in the boxing ring. Now he is taking his talents elsewhere, and his MMA debut is right around the corner.
Jake Paul Jiu Jitsu Training
Recently a video surfaced on Twitter of Paul getting some time in on the mats. He was training with some pretty big names in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu space. Mo Jassim, the Head Organizer of ADCC and Mike Perez a high-level BJJ athlete were giving the Problem Child some lessons to help him up his grappling game before he starts taking on serious talent.
Paul’s first opponent has yet to have been named but something tells us that whoever steps into the ring with him is going to get some serious publicity. Everyone wants to see the Problem Child fall, and when he fights the world tunes in.
If his MMA career is going to be anything like his boxing matches, we know we will be tuning in! It is undeniable that Paul is a good fighter and is always putting on an excellent show for the audience in and out of the stadium!
Professional Fighters League
Paul and the PFL CEO Peter Murray have created a pay-per-view division called “PFL PPVC Super Fight”, which it guarantees the fighters will receive 50% of the revenue generated from its events. This is huge for the fighting community as it has been a notorious fact that they, repeatedly, get left out of the money-making equation when it comes to putting on these events.
55% of Grapplers polled fro our audience stated that they could take on a gator and come out on top. Our Instagram is a great place to find all kinds of grappling-related content and soon a great place to find all kinds of gear! We recently took to our audience with the question,” what animal could you fight and win against” and here were our results!
A Poll on Grapplers
We recently ran a poll on our audience to what animal grapplers thought they could beat in a head-to-head match and the answer was shocking. It is not a secret that people who partake in grappling-based martial arts have increased confidence, but going head-to-head with animals doesn’t seem too farfetched for most.
Fighters worldwide have been notorious for throwing some wild answers to the question, “what animal do you think you could beat in a 1-on-1 fight” and it is no surprise that our audience fit this mold. Training alone must be doing something to get these types of answers!
We took to our audience and the results were pretty shocking. With over 500 people voting on the poll majority said that a gator would be their animal of choice to face (and win) in a fight! Following closely behind the gator we can see that a monkey or gorilla would be the next animal of choice to grapple against and come out on top.
Now if we had to pick the animal of choice to go up against we would probably side with it being a gator or a bear. We all have seen Khabib wrestling with a bear as a child so its not out of our minds to think that we could hop in there for a couple of rounds with a cub or two!
Our audience of 15,000 followers on Instagram is a set of grapplers from all walks of life in all areas across the globe. Doing these polls is a fun way to engage our community and look further to understand what makes them happy and what runs through their head.
Pick The Gator Success is Inevitable
Maybe its good to conclude that gators are the only animals on this list without real long limbs or sharp claws. Disregarding the talons on all these animals it’s a pretty clear and easy choice of which animal would be easiest to take on amongst the list we provided.
All jokes aside, no animals were harmed in our little experiment and it is probably not the best idea in the world to wrestle any kind of wild animal.
We’re not sure if even the greatest grapplers in the world right now would have the right mind to go up against a wild animal but something tells us that Gordon wouldn’t have any issues with a gator if they went to battle.
Maybe with enough training we can all take on and defeat a wild animal. It’s definitely an item that is added to our bucket list at this point!
What about you?
If you had to wrestle one animal and had to come out with the win, which one do you think you could take on successfully?
The form you have selected does not exist.
Arizona is not only a state that has been on everyone’s radar for their travel destination but it also seems that Brazilian Jiu-jitsu’s next hub could be sprouting up in the state. The state of Arizona is a beautiful desert oasis that hosts a number of attractions that bring people from all over the country. To add on top, Arizona Brazilian Jiu-jitsu seems to be exploding in popularity! Both kids and adults across the state are falling in love with the sport every day and leading the movement is none other than AZBBJL, Arizona’s Premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tournament host!
https://youtu.be/om63tgaVKCA
AZBJJL: Arizona Jiu Jitsu
The Brazilian Jiu-jitsu scene in Arizona is something to keep an eye on for the coming years. In Arizona, Brazilian jiu-jitsu is exploding in popularity with over 20 schools across the valley! Last season for the state was remarkable and people were captivated by the competitive scene that AZBJJL, the premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu League in the state, hugely dominated.
AZBJJL fosters the budding community that is growing within the state by keeping track of the top academies for both the kids and adults divisions, here is how last season turned out:
Last season in the adult division, Kiko France snuck away with the best competitive gym in the state by a close margin! This season is looking to be just as exciting for the academy. Will there be a newly crowned champion in the state for 2023?
In the kid’s division, the competition scene was dominated by Refuge BJJ with Ares East Mesa right behind!
For both children and adults the competitive Brazilian Jiu-jitsu scene is spurring into something that people should truly keep their eyes on. There is a ton of talent across the state and there seems to be so much more room for growth.
Kicking Off the Season
The 2023 season is about to get started for AZBJJL and they are looking forward to another competitive and fun year. On February 11th, AZBJJL will be hosting the opening tournament of the year at Bell Bank Park, a new sports facility that is attracting all kinds of attention for te state’s athletic scene.
Future Events for 2023
Here is what the schedule looks like this year for AZBJJL:
February 11th – AZ INTERNATIONAL OPEN
April 15th – Kid’s Cup (Spring)
April 15th – Copa Bela ( All Female Jiu-Jitsu Tournament)
June 24th – AZ State
August 12th – Novice Cup & No-Gi State
October 14th – Southwest Classic
December 9th – Masters Cup & Kids Cup (Fall)
If you are like one of the millions that plan on visiting Arizona this year be sure to check out some local schools! Across the valley, you can find an academy that will welcome you with open arms!
Cameron
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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All the rage in the health and fitness industry is mixing both cold and heat therapy to help boost our body’s performance. Whether we just enjoy the mental workouts that both have to offer or if you are a professional athlete, the benefits of having a cold immersion and heat therapy routine are boundless for recovery times and overall health support. In this article, we will be breaking down the benefits of using a sauna and cold plunge!
Here is how to boost your mood with your Cold Plunge routine:
1. Get Ready: Before you take the plunge, make sure you have everything you need to make it comfortable and safe. Wear a swimsuit or other appropriate clothing and prepare towels, warm clothes, and anything else that will help you transition after the immersion.
2. Prepare your Mind: Take a few moments to relax your mind and body before taking the plunge. Practice deep breathing exercises and use calming visualizations to focus on the positive effects of Cold Plunging.
3. Take the Plunge: When you’re ready, step into the water slowly and adjust to its temperature with controlled breaths. Make sure you are completely submerged in the cold water for at least 30 seconds before coming out. You may want to repeat this process several times if needed until your body adjusts to the temperature.
4. Reap the Benefits: Cold Plunging can help relax tense muscles, reduce stress levels, improve circulation, boost your immunity, and even aid in weight loss! The Endorphins released from Cold Plunging also help to improve mood and alleviate depression symptoms over time.
Here ARE the mood-boosting benefits that you can do during a hot Sauna session:
1. Spend time in the sauna. Taking the time to sit in a sauna can help quiet the mind and relax your body. Just 10-15 minutes can be enough to achieve a sense of calm and lift your spirits.
2. Listen to music or read a book. Many people find listening to music or reading a book while in the sauna to be soothing and restful. Pick something that is calming and enjoyable, such as classical music or an audiobook, so it will help you get into the right frame of mind for relaxation.
3. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your sauna session. It’s important to stay hydrated while using a sauna, as you will be sweating more than usual. This helps promote detoxification which can improve mood and energy levels.
4. Breathe deeply and focus on positive thoughts while in the sauna. Focusing on positive thoughts can help reduce stress levels and promote feelings of contentment and happiness. Deep breathing also helps your brain relax, which can make you feel more at peace with yourself and life in general.
5. Use aromatherapy oils or scents. During your sauna session for further relaxation you can add aromatherapy oils or scents. Certain scents, such as Lavender and Chamomile, have been known to have a calming effect on the mind and body. Adding them to your Sauna session can help you reach a deeper state of relaxation.
The Science and Benefits of Contrast Therapy
Saunas and Cold Plunge benefit Thermal regulation and is an energy-intensive process in which your body processes heat and will reduce stress levels. Saunas or hot dips are good ways to incorporate heat regulation into your routine. If your body alternates between hot and cold, your muscles will improve the control of temperatures during physical activities. Cold exposure or ice baths can help in recovery, cardiovascular health, and mental stability.
Practicing Water Therapy combined with a hot Sauna or Steam Room will increase the capacity of the body to regulate heat, circulate and improve mental toughness. You will see so many benefits from these extreme temperatures that you can easily become one of the many Cold Plunging enthusiasts who love cold therapy, a nice ice bath which are all forms of a Cold Plunging Technique
Yes, it is generally recommended to use a sauna before taking a Cold plunge. The combination of the two temperatures can help with muscle recovery and provide some health benefits. Cold therapy and heat therapy has been known to help boost blood flow and improve overall recovery times after tough workouts.
How Often Should You Sauna and Cold Plunge?
The frequency of sauna and Cold Plunge sessions will depend on your individual goals and needs. Generally, it is recommended that you incorporate saunas and Cold Plunges as part of a balanced health routine two to three times per week. If you are recovering from an injury or illness, it may be beneficial to do more frequent sessions. Always consult with your doctor before beginning any new wellness routine.
Mental Health Benefits of Having a Sauna and Cold Plunging Routine
Regular sauna use can boost your mood and reduce stress levels due to its calming effects. The heat of the sauna helps to relax the body, soothe tense muscles and improve circulation which in turn triggers the release of endorphins that reduce stress and promote feelings of tranquillity.
2. Reduced Anxiety:
Cold plunging stimulates the release of Norepinephrine, a hormone that has been shown to have anti-anxiety properties, leading to improved mental states.
3. Improved Sleep Quality:
As well as helping you relax both physically and mentally, regular sauna and Cold Plunging sessions can also help you sleep better at night due to the increased levels of Endorphins released throughout the process, resulting in improved sleeping habits.
4. Improved Cognitive Function:
Studies have found that regular sauna use leads to improved cognitive function due to it being an effective way of reducing stress, improving relaxation and boosting blood flow which helps carry more oxygen to your brain cells – all beneficial factors for our mental health.
5. Increased Mental Clarity & Focus:
Regular cold plunges can help improve mental clarity and focus as they flood your body with oxygen-rich blood while reducing anxiety and improving relaxation. This can help clear your mind, allowing you to focus on tasks more efficiently.
Overall, a regular sauna and Cold plunge routine can be incredibly beneficial for your mental health as they help reduce stress levels, improve sleep quality, boost cognitive function, and increase mental clarity and focus.
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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Training martial art is a transformative thing for many people but discovering which one is right for us is a hard decision to make. We firmly believe that choosing a grappling-based martial art (wrestling, BJJ, Judo, Sambo) or a striking-based martial art (boxing, kickboxing) is the way to go, they are the most realistic when it comes to real-world application. BJJ practitioners around the world view their martial art are the most superior because it is one that has stood the test of time. In this article, we will be taking a closer look at the two grappling-based martial arts and comparing them to one another.
In Judo, techniques are much more focused on standing rather than being on the ground like its counterpart in BJJ. In Judo, you will fight your opponents in a standing position and win the match by throwing your opponent to their back. Standup game and mastering the ability to get your opponent on their back are the most important parts of Judo.
When looking at the differences between Judo and jiu-jitsu, the fact that you fight standing seems to be the key difference. In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, you will start standing, but most of the matches you have will be done on the ground. Groundwork and ground techniques are the bread abutter of jiu-jitsu and by the time you become a BJJ black belt, ground fighting becomes second nature.
Most of the grappling techniques you will encounter training jiu-jitsu focus on locks or chokes that get your opponents to tap out. Typical BJJ clubs will teach ground fighting techniques such as how to escape if someone mounts you to the ground or how to work a submission if you are in a side-control position.
Judo and BJJ are two martial arts that are great for martial artists to learn together. There are many things that you can take away from Judo that can be directly applied to your BJJ game and make you a more all-around martial artist. Judo requires a different set of skills compared to BJJ, but generally speaking, the steep learning curve of either martial arts gets cut down when you practice one or the other.
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Some key differences in Judo vs jiu-jitsu will have to be in the scoring system that is in place for both respective grappling arts.
Scoring System: Judo
In Judo competition there are five different ways to secure a victory.
Throw an opponent with considerable force and speed leading to the opponent’s back hitting the ground
Pin and hold your opponent to the ground for 20 seconds
Chokes
Arm and Joint Locks
Referees Decision
Judo competitions rules are by the International Judo Federation (IJF). In Judo you have one goal in the match: scoring an ippon (one full point) or two waza-ari (half point). An ippon is scored by throwing your opponent to the ground in a forceful way but leads to them hitting their back on the ground. Throwing someone on their side results in a half-point (waza-aris).
Scoring System: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
In BJJ, grappling techniques are used to control opponents and score points while on the ground. You can win a match in BJJ in two ways:
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Judo and jiu-jitsu share many similarities although they do have some distinct differences especially when it comes to progression. As a beginner in both martial arts, you will start out with a white belt and work your way up to a black belt.
In Judo, there are a higher number of belts that follow this order: white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, and black.
Typically, Judokas progress through belts by demonstrating a specific set of techniques but it is important to note that the rules of progression depends on the Judo clubs instructor. This is not necessarily the case of how progress is made or shown in a BJJ club.
Competition rules and regulations for BJJ are set by the Internation Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). A BJJ practitioner that finds themselves competing will also find themselves very familiar with the competition rules that is in place by the IBJJF.
Uniforms
Both traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Judo uniforms look very similar but they have some minor differences that should be noted. Both martial art forms wear a uniform known as a Gi which could be interchangeable with the word kimono.
The Judo gi is slightly heavier and a bit more durable than the standard kimono in other martial arts like Karate since Judo is a martial art that is predicated on throwing and gripping. On the other hand, the BJJ gi is far more durable and heavier than the Judo kimono because there is much more dynamic movement and grip needed in BJJ.
Judo’s progression system is similar to Brazilian jiu-jitsu’s but there are noticeable differences. In judo, there are 6 belts before reaching your black belt and two more after that, for a grand total of eight belts in the system.
BJJ has a similar color scheme but just less amount of belts to reach along the way.
Gear
As stated earlier in the article, both BJJ and Judo train in uniforms known as the Gi but Brazilian jiu-jitsu has a new budding form known as no-gi where practitioners train in uniforms more similar to what is common in wrestling. The no-gi uniform is simply a rash guard and BJJ shorts.
The kimono in Judo is slightly heavier and is built to withstand throwing and gripping.
BJJ practitioners have more colors to choose from when it comes to their uniform whereas Judo’s Gi is only white.
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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on grappling while Judo emphasizes throwing techniques rather than groundwork. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is dynamic and requires constant movements, unlike Judo. Judo has fewer physical demands.
Which martial art is better can be a silly question to ask in 90% of cases but if you are serious about training and becoming a better overall version of yourself it is something to definitely contemplate. Striking techniques and more defensive techniques are something that both judo and BJJ lack.
If you are serious about your combat training, you will know that having submission techniques, self-defense techniques joint locks, and various chokes in your back pocket only makes you feel more secure.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu vs Judo: Which is Right for You?
One of the biggest discussions around the martial arts community is what is better for self-defense, Judo or Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and which is best for you to train. To many people new to martial arts, Judo and BJJ will look similar.
Which one is more popular? Should you do BJJ, Judo, or train both?
What is the Difference Between Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
The main difference between Judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu can be understood further when looking at the following list below.
Techniques
Judo and BJJ share many similar techniques like joint locks, chokes, and throws. The main difference is how these moves are executed. Judo is more focused on throwing techniques and getting their opponent off balance to get them to the ground, in BJJ you are more focused on chasing after submissions and groundwork.
In Judo, when you forcefully throw someone to their back and their shoulders are on the ground you have effectively won the match, this is known as an ippon. Many of you train BJJ already and know that this is not the case in Brazilian Jiu-JItsu, there is a whole scoring system in place if a submission is not locked in and if someone taps out the match is over. The only way to get someone to tap is to lock in some kind of submission that forces it upon your opponent.
90% of BJJ matches are on the ground or end up on the ground at some point. In fact, in many sparring sessions practitioners will opt to start on the ground to make the rolling environment safer for those around them to work on specific positions.
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Judo works and maybe the better self-defense martial art over BJJ. Unlike Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Judo focuses on getting your opponent to the ground from a standing position. While you could argue that judokas may not know what to do on the ground as well as someone that trains BJJ, it is important to note they also do have some locks and chokes in their back pocket.
Standing techniques are extremely valuable for a self-defense scenario. We will always start on our feet but have a high likelihood of ending up on the ground. Training in some kind of grappling sport is better than not training. Both Judo and BJJ are very valuable skills to know and are great ways to protect yourself and get into excellent physical shape.
Judo vs Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: Which is More Effective
Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are the two most popular martial arts on the planet. Although they may share many things in common, in many ways the two martial arts are very different when you look deeper into grappling sports.
Judo vs Brazilian Jiu-jitsu can seem like a silly topic to most because comparing two martial arts to one another is like comparing apples to oranges, the philosophies and styles are completely different and the reasons someone trains are entirely different.
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Examples of Different Types of Grappling Disciplines
Brazilian juju – jujitsu submissions.
No-GI Jiu – Jiu-Jitsu.
Sumo Russian sambo.
Greco-Roman Freestyle Wrestling.
Shuachi Chiao.
Judo
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Benefits of Learning BJJ
BJJ is one of the most famous martial arts disciplines to learn. This is due to the massive popularity of the UFC and influencers like Joe Rogan talking about the benefits of training. BJJ involves ground fighting techniques and various submissions that include arm locks, leg locks, and chokes.
BJJ is mart art that is credited to teaching many aspects of life to the people that take the sport seriously. BJJ has been proven to lift people out of bad places and completely transform their lives for the better. The gentle art is taught all across the globe and these days finding BJJ schools is just a simple Google search away.
For this reason, we believe that it is wise to have a wide range of martial arts training under your belt. It never hurts to be well-rounded and only improves your game in both respective sports.
The Future of Martial Arts: Judo vs Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Right now, people can argue that judo is more widely accepted because of its presence as an Olympic sport but the rise of Brazilian jiu-jitsu should not go unnoticed. BJJ is the fastest-growing and most popular Martial art in the world thanks to people like Joe Rogan and the UFC bringing it to the masses.
No-Gi BJJ will dominate the grappling competition world in the United States. Most Judo clubs will have 10 to 15 people on a mat at a time while most BJJ schools have 20 – 30 or possibly a completely packed house!
Can BJJ Beat Judo?
BJJ practitioners may be more effective on the ground but Judeka’s are still better off if they are standing. Judokas are more adept at ground fighting than BJJ Practitioners. More often than not, Judo’s moves can be superior to BJJ techniques in a fight.
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Looking at the differences between judo and BJJ makes the similarities more apparent as well. Both judo and BJJ share the fact that they are grappling-based techniques that help people learn self-defense that can make them feel comfortable in their bodies. When you start training either of the martial art forms you will most likely start off with
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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Judo and Jiu-jitsu are both grappling-based fighting styles that are widely popular around the world. Arguably, these are the two most famous grappling martial arts due to their popularity in the Olympics and the Rise of organizations like the UFC. Judo and BJJ are similar in the sense that the fights will clinch with opponents, work for takedowns, and submit their competition. In this article, we will take a further look at Judo vs. Jiu Jitsu.
Judo vs. Jiu-Jitsu: Key Differences
Judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu are two of the more famous grappling arts in martial arts. BJJ and Judo are arts that can be used for self-defense purposes and have many things in common with one another when looking on the outside.
But as we dive deeper into the two martial arts, we find that there are key differences that separate the art forms in a way that most novice martial artists would not pick up.
To begin Judo is a martial art that primarily focuses on throwing techniques and stand-up game. The goal of a Judoka in competition or any match is to successfully throw your opponent on their back in a forceful manner. This process wins you a match, gives the person who did the action a full point and has a name called an ippon.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is entirely different in its approach to how matches are won. Like Judo, BJJ is a grappling-based martial art but primarily focuses on grappling, ground techniques, and finding the optimal solution to get your opponent to submit to your techniques.
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Scoring System: Judo
The rules and regulations of Judo are governed by a federation known as the IJF (International Judo Federation). Majority of the rules for competitions are fostered by this group and regularly updated when the time is needed.
In Judo competition there are five different ways to secure a victory.
Throw an opponent with considerable force and speed leading to the opponent’s back hitting the ground
Pin and hold your opponent to the ground for 20 seconds
Chokes
Arm and Joint Locks
Referees Decision
Judokas win points through a system called waza-ari this is:
When you throw an opponent on their back but not enough force
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Judo and jiu-jitsu share many similarities although they do have some distinct differences especially when it comes to progression. As a beginner in both martial arts, you will start out with a white belt and work your way up to a black belt.
In Judo, there are a higher number of belts that follow this order: white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, and black.
The rules and the scoring system of judo go hand and hand. To win matches you must successfully get your opponent of their back in a forceful manner or dominate them and control positions.
Typically, Judokas progress through belts by demonstrating a specific set of techniques but it is important to note that the rules of progression depends on the Judo clubs instructor. This is not necessarily the case of how progress is made or shown in a BJJ club.
Competition rules and regulations for BJJ are set by the Internation Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). A BJJ practitioner that finds themselves competing will also find themselves very familiar with the competition rules that is in place by the IBJJF.
Depending on the competition one finds themselves competing in the ruleset will change. For example, if you are competing in ADCC, JJWL, or IBJJF tournaments the rules will vary very slightly but most things are the same. It is important to read up on exactly what is allowed and what is not allowed when you decide to compete.
Similarities: Judo and Jiu Jitsu
After looking at the differences of the two grappling-based martial arts, it is much easier to see the similarities that the two have.
It is very common for Judokas and practitioners of BJJ to be well-trained in both martial arts because in a lot of ways the two complement each other. Brazilian Jiu-jitsu mixed with Judo and wrestling makes you a formidable opponent to anyone. Being well-rounded in the art of taking people to the floor and being able to control any situation is an underrated skill.
We know plenty of people we personally train with that do this and are leaps and bounds ahead of those around them.
Uniforms
Both in BJJ and Judo you will find people wearing traditional kimonos known as a Gi. The Judo Gi usually only comes in one color, white, and is slightly less durable when compared to the BJJ gi which was built to withstand a lot more action.
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Judo vs Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: What is the Better Martial Art?
This may seem like a silly question to ask but if you are looking to get into martial arts and start your journey, it is valid. Many people in the community of martial arts will go online and give you a million reasons why their martial art is the best or why other martial arts would not work in a “real-world situation”.
We are not here to spew out nonsense like this.
The best martial art to choose is usually one that fits your budget and where you are in your journey. We have done kickboxing and practice BJJ regularly at this point and we firmly believe that BJJ is far superior to anything we have seen.
Good martial arts are street tested and proven over time and nothing to date can really hold a candle to what Brazilian jiu-jitsu has been able to do. We are not the only person who holds this line of thinking and are joined by the likes of Joe Rogan in our opinion.
But, if you are serious about training it is always good to take on multiple disciplines because each one has something to offer… except karate, don’t do karate.
Judo vs Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu For Self Defense
One of the main reasons people get into martial arts, to begin with, is that they want to have some form of self-defense training under their belt. It is common for people that join the community to start for this reason.
Judo For Self Defense
Clearly, the focuses of the two martial arts are completely different. Judoka like many BJJ practitioners trains in multiple martial arts to hone their skills. Being that Judo is an Olympic sport it should not go unnoticed that Judo is much more widely practiced than Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (for now).
Judokas’ main objective when competing against someone is to get them on their back with a flashy, unpredictable takedown or throw. The goal is to unsettle your opponent rather than overcome them.
In Judo, you are in the standing position almost all the time unless you find yourself losing the match in which case you are on your back. Judo is a good way to work on your stand-up game (without adding striking to the mix) and teaches its practitioners how to get someone off-balance and to the ground effectively. For this reason, many believe it is a solid choice when it comes to using martial arts for self-defense purposes.
The likelihood that you find yourself in any kind of altercation is very slim to begin with but looking deeper it may be safe to say that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the better of the two for a situation that needs to be handled, let’s examine further.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for Self-Defense
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling-based martial art that mainly focuses on joint locks and ground control over an opponent. Many critics of the sport say that BJJ lacks in its ability to teach its practitioners how to properly strike and lacks in teaching takedowns.
While some of the criticism is valid, we believe these claims are mostly hearsay in today’s world. Most Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu schools teach their students’ wrestling techniques and many who take on the sport, to begin with trained wrestling at some point in their life.
Many situations that call for a breakup or break out of a fight end up on the ground and this is where Brazilian Jiu-jitsu really gets to shine vs Judo.
When you train Brazilain jiu-jitsu you are constantly getting live looks in the form of sparring of someone who is actively resisting you and trying to advance themselves in a position that makes you submit.
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If you are proficient in both takedowns and having your way while on the ground it is hard to not look at yourself as a tough opponent in competition settings. Be warned though, training multiple martial arts does require commitment and possibly a full-time training schedule.
The Benefits of Cross-Training
If your goal is to get into MMA, cross-training is the most important thing you can do.
What martial art you choose to pursue is 100% up to you but our guess is that you will be training BJJ and maybe good enough in Judo. Every fighter at the highest levels knows and is close to being high-level BJJ, it is a must-know martial art for a fighter in the UFC.
Martial arts has already been proven to get you into excellent shape so cross-training only puts you into a smaller category of humans that can do extraordinary things. If you decide to go down this path it is of utmost importance that you take care of your body because it will take a beating from gym to gym.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Judo are two of the most popular grappling-based martial arts that people will take on in their journey. We believe that having the confidence from training in martial arts is something that many more people are waking up to the idea of. Every day we are seeing more people enter the transformative world of martial arts and love seeing discipline grow to what almost seemed destined.
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It is very easy to see that the two best grappling arts are BJJ and Judo. Implementing Judo into your BJJ game will make you much more effective at getting people to the ground and ultimately controlling a match.
Whether you are training for self-defense purposes or just because you enjoy improving yourself in this way, BJJ and Judo are two of the best grappling arts that any beginner could pick up!
Cameron
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has experienced several modifications since its inception and has birthed new forms of the sport. In more recent years, a new form of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has been formed and later coined Combat Jiu Jitsu (CJJ). Combat Jiu-Jitsu uses mixed rules for BJJ and MMA and has grown massively in popularity.
WHAT IS COMBAT JIU-JITSU?
Combat Jiu-Jitsu is a modified version of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu in which open palm strikes are acceptable. This new ruleset creates a hybrid martial art between MMA and BJJ. CJJ uses core techniques from its counterpart in Brazilian jiu-jitsu but with the inclusion of open-palm striking to make it more realistic. In this article, we will go over CJJ’s popularity growth, history, and where it is headed!
The Basics of Combat Jiu-Jitsu
Combat Jiu-Jitsu is just Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with open-palm striking. Just like BJJ, Combat Jiu Jitsu uses submission holds such as chokes and joint locks to force the opponent into tapping out.
History of Combat Jiu-Jitsu
Combat Jiu-Jitsu was created by Eddie Bravo, who also was the man behind 10th Planet Jiu-jitsu. Eddie has been said to have developed Combat Jiu-jitsu because he felt as though that Brazilian Jiu-jitsu was losing its realism in the growth of the sport. Adding open hand strikes to the mix not only created a massively popular sub-version of BJJ but also made BJJ a more true form of self-defense.
Back in 2017, Eddie put CJJ to the test at a jiu-jitsu competition. In the four-person tournament hosted by competitors, the watches ended up being very entertaining and exciting for the crowd. This was the birth of the now-known and popular form of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.
The rules in CJJ are not as complex as those in BJJ, one of the main differences in the rule set is that Combat Jiu-jitsu is not on a scored point system. The only way to win a Combat jiu-jitsu match is to win by submission to by TKO (technical knock-out). Creating a submission-only style of play calls for more excitement in the sport, in CJJ guard pullers cannot butt-scoot their way to victory!
CJJ matches are single rounds that last 10 minutes. If a round ends without a submission or a TKO, the match will go into overtime where EBI rules will overtake. In CJJ you are only allowed one minute of stand-up grappling before the referee flips a coin and asks you to start on the ground. The winner of the flip gets to choose whether they will start in a top position, butterfly guard, or bottom with double under hooks.
It is important to note that open palm slaps are only permitted if the opponent is on the floor. There is no stand-up striking allowed in Combat Jiu-jitsu. Closed fist punches are prohibited in CJJ and will result in disqualification if done so.
The Purgatory Position in Combat Jiu-Jitsu Rules
The purgatory position in Combat Jiu-jitsu is when one person stands and the other is on the ground. You are allowed to stay in this position for 30 seconds and anytime spent in this position over this time limit will be added to the overtime round.
This rule was added to prevent stalling. Standing in an opponent’s guard is not considered a purgatory position. It is when the two athletes are completely disconnected from one another. Standing strikes are prohibited. CJJ only permits open-hand slaps when one or both competitors are on the floor.
Technique is the most important aspect of BJJ/grappling performance. But want to increase your chances of landing submissions, finishing takedowns, and maintaining position? This program will have you man handling your opponents making them ready to tap.
This is the official ruleset from EBI so to familiarize yourself with the way overtime rounds are scored and/or won, be sure to check out this page.
KEY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TRADITIONAL BJJ AND COMBAT JIU JITSU
The only key differences that can be observed between CJJ and BJJ are striking, overtime rules, and the point system. Other than these three components, Combat Jiu Jitsu is very similar to traditional Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Combat Jiu-Jitsu has exploded in popularity amongst the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community. The sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was already on a meteoric rise in the United States and it is surprising to see a whole new form of the sport blossom within the community. The Combat Jiu-Jitsu World League and the competitive scene around the new form of jiu-jitsu are in their infant stages but the growth should not go unnoticed. Matches can now be watched on replay using the UFC Fight Pass!
Combat Jiu-Jitsu vs BJJ
CJJ combines the best things about BJJ and adds in striking to mix to create a healthy medium. A CJJ match is
If MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu had a baby it would be Combat Jiu-jitsu. We believe this form of BJJ gives the community something to fall back on when naysayers say comments like “BJJ won’t work for self-defense situations”. CJJ is a great way to dispel that rumor and offers a “more realistic” form of the sport that we have grown to love.
WHO FOUNDED COMBAT JIU JITSU
Combat Jiu-Jitsu was established by 10-time World Champion Jiu-Jitsu Athlete Eddie Bravo. When Eddie began developing Combat Jiu-jitsu, he criticized the moves of competitors at higher levels.
Eddie has remained firm in promoting a newly developed hybrid form of jiu-jitsu. It began relatively slowly and has gained a huge following since then. Nowadays it is easy to see elite jiu-jitsu athletes on top stage trying to hit palms to their opponents with an ensuing choke.
FAQs About CJJ or BJJ
Is jiu-jitsu effective in a fight?
Yes, jiu-jitsu is effective in a fight. Is it going to save you from every situation? Probably not.
A true martial art will give you every opportunity to prepare you for that situation and BJJ will do just that.
UFC Fight pass is the best place to watch Combat Jiu-Jitsu Matches.
Final Thoughts
The best way to understand CJJ is by looking through a no-gi lens. CJJ is no gi competitions with only open palm strikes. Closed-fist striking techniques are prohibited in CJJ.
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Cameron
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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Brazilian jiu-jitsu is one of the fastest-growing martial arts in the world right now! More and more people are waking up to the idea of stepping onto the mats and taking responsibility for health in new ways. In Jiu-Jitsu, there are two styles of play: No-Gi and Gi. In this article, we are looking at the types and comparing them to one another!
Types of Brazilain Jiu-Jitsu: Gi vs NoGi
When taking on the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu it is important to note that there are two main styles of play that you will need to get accustomed to, this is No-Gi and Gi BJJ. The main difference that people notice is the attire that you were in each style of play. When training in Gi Jiu-Jitsu you are competing against someone else in a uniform known as a Gi or more commonly referred to as a kimono.
In the Sport of No-Gi BJJ, athletes wear a Dri-Fit shirt known as a rash guard along with training shorts similar to the shorts that MMA Fighters wear. Many enjoy No-Gi grappling due to the breathable attire that they are able to wear.
The differences between the two styles of play run deeper than just the attire you find yourself wearing. Things that work in Gi Jiu-jitsu may not work in No-Gi and vice versa. Many people lean toward a preference for style as they get more into the sport but for the most part, it is ideally important to be competent in both.
Most schools in the United States these days offer both styles of play as classes throughout the week. It is very uncommon to find a school that trains strictly Gi, but the same cannot be said about its counterpart. There is an affiliation known around the world as 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu founded by Eddie Bravo. They specialize in No-Gi BJJ and specifically train in the fast-paced martial art.
Where can I get Jiu-Jitsu gear?
If you are looking to invest some money into your BJJ attire in order to feel comfortable and look great on the mats, look no further than the list below.
One of the big differences between Gi and No-Gi BJJ is the setups for attacking an opponent. Because the Kimono is easy to grab, establish grips, and adds more friction to the encounters, you have it is much easier to grip opponents and control movements when compared to No-Gi.
Certain guards like the spider guard are very popular when training in Gi BJJ. At the highest levels, this guard position is used to control your opponent’s posture and gives an athlete the ability to make quick movements and slick attacks. Just from a 30-minute training session in No-Gi, you will realize the spider guard is not nearly as effective because it is much easier to slip out of positions like this when you are wearing a shirt and some shorts
Many things that work in Gi-BJJ will not translate well into No-Gi. On the contrary, many techniques found in No-Gi BJJ do translate over very well when in the Kimono. In our opinion, training No-Gi makes you a better offensive player in the traditional sport of Jiu-Jitsu. When you know how to be creative and get into favorable positions without the friction of a gi, it just makes it that much easier to establish dominance with it.
Key Difference: Rulesets
Numerous rules differ in Gi and No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. It is important to you understand what style is being played and what ruleset is going to be enforced throughout the matches of a competition. One common technique that is banned in IBJJF Gi Tournaments is the heel hook. In the ADCC ruleset (No-Gi style of play) the heel hook is one of the most common submissions that you could get.
Make sure you read and understand the rules at play before you decide to compete. Your coach should be aware of the differences between Gi and No-Gi BJJ as well!
Key Difference: play styles
As stated previously, in the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, there are two main play styles that athletes incorporate into their game. The first style is called playing guard. This is where you are on your back manipulating your opponent’s movements and working for submissions.
On the contrary, there is what’s known as playing the top game. This style incorporates takedowns and guard passing in order to submit your opponent from a dominant position. When you try out for Gi classes, you’ll notice the majority of athletes are playing guard. Due to the grips of the kimono, the majority of Gi Jiu-Jitsu players typically play guard. It is easier to manipulate your opponent’s body with strong grips.
On the other hand, the majority of No-Gi grapplers enjoy playing on top, Due to the difficulties of getting grips in No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu, dominating from the top is a lot easier.
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No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu is one of many Japanese martial arts that focus on incapacitating your opponent through joint locks and chokes rather than strikes. Some of these submissions include heel hooks, arm bars, chokes, etc.
Mixed Martial Arts incorporates grappling from sports such as No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu and Judo along with striking styles from Kickboxing and Muay Thai. An MMA fighter must master both striking and grappling in order to be effective in the octagon. No-Gi practitioners focus solely on grappling and submissions.
Similarities Between No-Gi and Gi
At the end of the day, the two styles of play are still Jiu-Jitsu. Although they are not the same in the way you approach problems that arise, for the most part, the styles of play have many things in common.
Should I Specialize?
This is a pretty personal question that one would need to come to answer for themselves. We believe that you should not pigeonhole yourself by specializing in one style over the other. To be a well-rounded Jiu-Jitsu athlete you need to be training both Gi and No-Gi. There is nothing wrong with having a preference of which you like to train most but you should not ignore one style of play over another.
Our goal is to be the best athlete that we can be, in order to do this we have to train in combat sports and be proficient in many different situations. We highly suggest that anyone who is serious about getting good at Jiu-Jitsu and wants to claim the ranks adopt all of the techniques from each sport and train both No-Gi and Gi BJJ. As we stated earlier, most gyms these days offer both styles of training throughout the week, how often you show up and train is dependent on your goals and ability to commit to the sport.
It’s crucial to understand that both of these play styles will be important for your growth in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Getting to a high level in this sport will take years of training in both styles and mastering techniques that are suitable for their styles of play. When you embrace learning from both styles, you will find that many techniques are similar by nature or can be translated completely.
No-Gi Vs. Gi: Which works better in a street fight
There is no doubt that BJJ training will enhance your ability to defend yourself. But which style is more beneficial when you find yourself in a real fight? Take a look at a Gi competition online, what do you see? As stated previously, those who train Gi BJJ typically utilize the guard in competition. This style may be beneficial in tournaments, but it is not nearly as good of an idea in a real fight. Staying off your back in a dangerous scenario is very important. Playing guard outside of the dojo is a great way to get your head bounced off the concrete.
Due to the play style taught in the sport, No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu is a way better style to utilize on the streets. Being able to take someone down, control them, and even put them to sleep without needing grips, is a very beneficial tool to have while street fighting.
Along with that, not many people on the streets are going to be wearing a heavy cotton jacket depending on where you live. If someone who is wearing only a T-shirt and shorts starts to try and fight you, you need to be able to defend yourself without grabbing clothing. No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu is much more beneficial in a fight due to the lack of needing Gi grips in order to execute techniques.
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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Brazilian jiu-jitsu is the fastest-growing martial art form in the world right now. It is very likely that you or someone you know trains in the sport. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a grappling-based martial art that focuses on leveraging an opponent’s body weight against themselves. It is very common for BJJ martial artists to be trained in two different styles, no-gi jiu-jitsu, and gi jiu-jitsu. These two styles of play result in two completely different ways of handling or attacking opponents. In this article, we will discuss the differences between the two styles of play that are common in jiu-jitsu today.
Nogi vs Gi Jiu-Jitsu
There are two ways to train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. You can train or compete in either No-Gi or Gi-style jiu-jitsu. The Gi is a kimono uniform that most BJJ practitioners wear when they are competing. The style of no-gi jiu-jitsu has increasingly grown in popularity and is slowly taking over the attention of the BJJ community over the traditional way of competing in the Gi.
One of the biggest differences between training no-gi or gi style jiu-jitsu is the clothing you are wearing. When training in the gi you are wearing a kimono known as a gi, because of this there are many more styles of play that can be introduced.
From lapel chokes to guards the style of play just due to the clothing is drastically different. Usually, the gi you wear creates a ton of friction so it is much easier to lock in positions that are hard to slip right out of when compared to no-gi jiu-jitsu.
No-gi is what it is, it is jiiu-jitsu without the kimono. In this style of play you are usually wearing a rash guard shirt, some combat shorts without pockets, and maybe some spats for style points. Some people do no-gi without the rash guard but that is more of a preference thing.
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Techniques
Another key difference between the two styles of play is the techniques that can be utilized in them. When we started to take no-gi more seriously we started to notice a lot of things that go well in the gi are much harder to execute without it.
It is not news that jiu-jitsu is a sweaty sport. Because of this fact slipping in and out of positions is much easier to accomplish when doing no-gi vs gi. Try locking in a heel hook when your entire rash guard is wet from sweat and your arm is drenched… it is nearly impossible in the moment.
When you compete in tournaments, the rule sets for gi vs no-gi style of play is completely different. You should take the time to educate yourself on the specific ruleset of the tournament you plan on competing in because ADCC rules are much different than IBJJF Gi rules.
For example, heel hooks are a move that is banned from IBJJF Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Tournaments, but many no-gi BJJ events such as ADCC welcome the heel hook as a viable technique to use. The majority of the submissions that Gordon Ryan has these days are the heel hook!
Attacks and Defense
Offensive moves in the gi rely on grabbing onto the fabric of the gi. A gi helps fighters gain control of their opponent, set up takedowns, and put themselves in an advantageous position.
A position that is very commonly used in the gi would be the spider guard. The spider guard is an open guard that allows you to lock your opponent’s arms by using your legs and arms. Guards used in Gi BJJ, like the spider guard, really only work on people that concentrate on using the Gi. It would be extremely difficult to pull this guard position off without grips to establish a dominant position.
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Getting good at no-gi will make to a better Offensive player
Makes you more creative with submissions
Cons
Very few gyms exclusively train no-gi
Easy to slip in or out of a submission
Training Both Gi & No-Gi
Training in both no-gi and gi-style BJJ is important to build a well-rounded style of play. To rank up in BJJ you will need to show proficiency in a number of techniques and positions and training both styles of play will get you introduced to them more quickly.
Most schools across the United States these days offer both styles throughout the week. There has been a huge surge in the no-gi style of play because of ADCC, schools like 10th Planet, and top-tier athletes almost exclusively training in this style of play!
Whichever style you decide to learn and lean into, make sure to focus on being well-rounded. It is very common for people to lean more towards a specific style of play but mastering BJJ will take focus on developing in both Gi and No-Gi BJJ.
Which is More Effective for Self-Defense?
There are many opinions surrounding the legitimacy of BJJ as a form of self-defense in a street situation. 99% of the time, in these self-defense situations people will not be wearing a kimono and will more than likely have thinner clothing and for this reason, we would say that no-gi is probably a better choice strictly for self-defense.
Eddie Bravo, the founder of 10th Planet jiu-jitsu, believes that no-gi is more effective but others like ChewJitsu, a prominent Youber in the BJJ community, argue that a gi is essentially compromised of pants and a jacket, making the outfit more authentic.
It s crucial to understand that both of these play styles will be important for your growth in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. Getting to a high level in this sport will take years of training in both styles and mastering techniques that are suitable for their styles of play. When you embrace learning from both styles of play you will find that many techniques are similar by nature or can be translated completely.
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a martial art that is taking over right now. The sport’s popularity is growing rapidly and new tournament circuits are popping up left and right. When training BJJ you will realize that there are two styles of play; a style that is done in a kimono known as a gi and a style that is done in rash guards and shorts, known as the no-gi style. In this article, we talk briefly about the two styles, some differences that arise, and whether or not you should be training in one of the other.
No Gi BJJ
No-gi Brazilain jiu-jitsu is one of two styles of play that can be found in the martial art. No-gi is a style that is normally completed in just a rash guard and some MMA or board shorts. Sometimes athletes that compete in this style of play do so without a rash guard on.
No-gi has grown in popularity because of popular Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournaments like ADCC. ADCC put no-gi on the forefront of everyone’s mind because it is essentially the Superbowl in the sport of jiu-jitsu. No-gi has grown so much that the traditional BJJ Federation known as IBJJF recently started holding No-Gi tournaments.
Gi Jiu-Jitsu
Traditionally, Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes have always competed with a kimono known as a gi. Training in the gi opens up many more move sets to be played and is deemed the traditional way to train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
There are many differences between the two styles of play. One of the bigger ones is the techniques that one can play and get into. The Gi truly does open more opportunities to get stronger grips on a person and set different types of guards or chokes up. Due to the friction of the Gi, it can be harder to slip in and out of bad (or even good) positions when training or competing.
No-Gi has become more popular over the past few years because of athletes like Gordon Ryan who almost exclusively compete in no-gi tournaments. ADCC is one of the largest tournaments in the community and it is only done without the Gi.
Training no-gi will make you a better offensive player because you have to be a little more creative with your setups or attacks because of how easy it can be to slip out of positions due to sweat. Techniques like arm drags, heel hooks, various wrestling takedowns are good things to work on that will improve your no-gi game. We post regularly on our Instagram all kinds of techniques and over that can be accomplished in both styles of play so be sure to follow us there!
It is important to note that the ruleset between the two styles is different and before entering any competition you should understand what can and can’t be done. Different techniques and moves are prohibited in Gi tournaments that can be done in no-gi tournaments. Consult with your coach to understand the rules at play before signing up for your next competition.
Training Both
We believe that it is better to not pigeonhole yourself into one style of play when training jiu-jitsu. The goal here is to be a well-rounded player that can accomplish many things on the mat. The only way to accomplish this really is to learn both styles of play and build a game that is suitable for both.
You should be training both Gi and no-gi. Do not get too fixated on training one over the other. Today, most gyms offer classes that teach both styles of play. The games that you play are really different but once you get a hang of it you realize that it is just jiu-jitsu. Many things you will do in one style will carry over to the next one and you will surely be able to build a well-rounded set of attacks or carry a solid defense.
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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If you are into the sport of jiu-jitsu we can make some positive assumptions about who you are as a person. You are probably someone who has a bold character, loves to learn, and is willing to make sacrifices for your future. If this fits you, you know that BJJ seminars will be an important part of your journey to becoming a black belt. In this article, we break down what a BJJ seminar is and how you can get access to hundreds of high-level athletes in a matter of minutes!
What is a BJJ Seminar?
A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu seminar is essentially a class that is taught by another black belt from another gym! These black belt instructors can be world champions or long-time practitioners that are willing to travel around the world to share their knowledge!
If you are serious about getting the most out of your Brazilian jiu-jitsu training seminars are a great investment. Typically a seminar is about an hour or two long and a great way to connect with people in the community. BJJ seminars typically have a great turnout at our gym and get about 40-plus people to sign up and spend an evening learning from someone new.
One of the best aspects of jiu-jitsu is the community that is in place. Everyone is willing to learn from others, participate in challenging workouts, and invest in their own skillset.
We believe that attending these seminars is a great way to support black belts that continue to give back to this community after reaching the highest point of the sport! Not all seminars are hosted by Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts, sometimes when there are up-and-comers who are eager to spread their knowledge to others!
How to Make the Most of a BJJ Seminar
The best way to make the most out of your experience with a BJJ seminar is to record everything, write down notes in between important points, and stay focused! Go introduce yourself to the person that is putting on the seminar, the people putting on these seminars love meeting people and getting to know your story!
Personally, we are visual learners. Recording seminars allow us to go back on points that we may have missed or just flat-out forgot. It can be overwhelming trying to cram everything in our heads having videos on our phone is super helpful to go back on!
BJJ Seminars From Home
BJJ seminars are great to attend in person, but it is not every day that you have a super high-level black belt come into your gym. Technology today allows us to get instant access to almost anyone with a touch of a couple of buttons from the comfort of our own homes. Why not bring the seminars where we spend the majority of our time?
That is why Jiu-Jitsu X was created! Jiu-jitsu X is an online Brazilian Jiu-jitsu educational company whose mission is to help empower people to level up their game! With this, we can now get access to some of the brightest athletes in our sport for a very affordable price!
Are you a competitor looking to level yourself up? If so, check out Jiu-JitsuX. It is the best bang for your buck and has hundreds of videos from top athletes all around the world!
Should I Invest in Doing a Seminar?
This is a pretty personal question and before I answer it you have to ask yourself what your goal is.
Personally, our goal is to be the best BJJ athlete that we can be. With this in mind, we understand that sacrifices and investments of our time/money are going to be needed! If you are looking to be better at this sport we 100% believe that investing in seminars or online instructionals is something you should do!
If your goal is to not get better or your not really committed to the sport of jiu-jitsu, we personally do not see the point in making the investment unless you just want to support your favorite athlete!
Making the most of your experience at a BJJ seminar is necessary to pull all those nuggets of knowledge from the resident black belt that took the time to teach you! Not every day will you get the opportunity to meet and learn from these individuals, so you have to do your best to absorb all the information you can. Staying focused can be challenging that’s why we suggest taking videos, notes, or even investing in online instructionals to help retain the information!
Cameron
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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Tapping out is very common in the combat sports world. We are firm believers that you should be tapping out early and often when the stakes are low but maybe consider differently if you put yourself in high-stakes situations like competitions. Tapping out is a way to voluntarily end a match because your opponent got you into a position where they were threatening real injury or you experienced massive discomfort.
Training Jiu-Jitsu or MMA
Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA are the fastest-growing sports in the world right now. With the popularity of the UFC going exponential over the past couple of years, more people are venturing into the sport for themselves.
The explosion in popularity of BJJ in the United States is hard to go unnoticed. Everyone seems to know someone who trains the sport regularly and won’t shut up about its benefits! Those on the fence about doing the training themselves may find themselves doing a bit of research to know what they will get into. A key component to most combat-based martial arts is the meaning behind tapping out.
When you train or watch combat sports you may see someone tap their opponent a number of times and then the referee steps in to call the match, this is an indication of a tap out happening. Tapping out is very common and should be used regularly when the stakes are not high, by that we mean when you are just casually training.
When you are competing there is a bit of a different mindset that we like to adopt when it comes to tapping out but for the most part, you should always be tapping out early to prevent injury.
When you start training, chances are you don’t want to stop. The biggest thing that will stop people from reaching their goals or potential in their respective sports is an injury that could stem from either riding a submission too long or not taking recovery seriously. Here we will focus on the idea of not tapping out fast enough.
You should tap out when you find yourself in a dangerous situation, especially in a low-stakes situation like training. Having an injury that puts you out for weeks is not worth it. In a competitive situation with stakes, you should consider the risk and do your best to fight off a submission.
There is no shame in tapping out, it does not make you weak. It allows you to have longevity in a sport that you love. If you are training with a good partner, the chances you get hurt are low but accidents always happen. Better to be safe than sorry.
Tapping out is easy.
You can pat the person you are going live with twice or verbally yell the word “tap” to end the match. It’s important to know that you can use these two methods interchangeably because there will be times your hands may be tangled or a time when you can mutter a word (a choke is getting locked in).
Am I Weak For Tapping Out?
The quick answer to this question is no.
In all honesty, the people that end up lasting in the sport long term are those that tap out early and often when they are training. Most injuries will occur in training. You risk serious injury when you do not expect a choke or submission to come in and try to push through.
This is just not worth it in the long run especially when there is nothing on the line.
Competing in Jiu-Jitsu Tournaments
We are big believers that people should compete when they train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It is the best way to put your skills to the test and push yourself to new heights against people in your age range and with similar skill levels.
The only time you should be hesitant to tap out is when you are competing; even this can be a gray area conversation.
Tapping Out Early and Often
Our coach’s philosophy for longevity in the sport of jiu-jitsu is to tap early and to tap often. It is the easiest way to prevent injury or set yourself back on training. Other grappling-based Martial Arts like MMA are in a league of their own when talking about tapping out.
Tapping out is not a sign of weakness but should be used when you are training or run the real risk of getting hurt. Tapping out in a competitive match when something is actually on the line is an in-the-moment decision that gets made and can leave you with a painful feeling of inadequacy or embarrassment. Everyone that trains in combat sports has or will be submitted. The quicker you can come to terms with this the longer you will be able to train!
Preventing Injury
Getting injured is the worst and finding ways to prevent them at all costs will exponentially help with the growth of your game. The less time you spend time injured the more time you can spend training and perfecting your craft.
Preventing injury is a combination of these things:
Supplementation – CBD for pains, Fish oil for joints, Protein for faster recovery
What are the stakes?
Understanding what is at stake when you tap out is important. When you tap out you are saying that your opponent has got you in an uncomfortable spot and you want to give up the match.
When competing, it is understandable to push the limits of your body and try to get out of bad spots if possible. If escape is out of the question, humble yourself and take the loss.
Let the Ego Go
In our opinion, there is no shame in getting tapped out. Those that are against someone tapping out may be putting their athletes or themselves at risk of serious long-term injury. Although we believe that you should push through adversity in matches and do your best to get out of the chokes of threatening positions, we also believe that long-term health is the most important part of combat sports.
Let the ego go in these situations. The ego is a good thing to have for fighters but also can cloud your vision of what is important at the moment. Protecting yourself and your body along the way is one of the most important aspects of training jiu-jitsu or any other combat-based martial art like MMA.
Tapping out is the best way to prevent long-term injuries from creeping into your life. The last thing you want is to run the risk of a tear or fracture just because we were hard-headed in the moment. Move on to the next round, learn the lessons that were presented in that match, and grow.
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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If you are training frequently in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu community you will hear the word “OSS” thrown around from time to time. When you hear it you may scarce your head and ask yourself, “what does that even mean?” In this article, we break down the meaning of “OSS” and in what situations you could say it for yourself!
OSS Meaning: What Does “OSS” Mean?
When looking at the meaning of “OSS” its important to understand the context in which it is being used, the word can range from a term to celebrate victory to answering a question and acknowledging an opponent’s skill.
OSS is a generic word widely used in the Brazilian Jiu-jitsu community. The word is derived from Japanese martial arts and is a particularly enthusiastic way to say “yes” or acknowledge something or someone. It is very similar to the U.S. Marines when they say “OOH-RAH”.
The second definition of the term “OSS”, also known as “ossu”, is a shortened version of the word Oshi Shinobu, which conveys the idea of “persevering when pushed”. In other words, never giving up, having determination, being gritty, and being able to withstand the most grueling sets of training.
Simply put, “OSS” means to never give up. In the BJJ community, we push each other very hard to become the best versions of ourselves. Many people that adopt this character quality will say OSS and either bow before their opponent or their instructor.
There are many ways of using this versatile word; there is no singular true meaning or definition.
Origin of the word
Research suggests that the word was first used in Asian culture less than a century ago by the Imperial Japanese Navy during the times of World War II.
Military personnel in an officer’s academy would use this word as a showing of respect to their fellow soldiers and superiors who were fighting in World War II. Some even used it as a “Good Morning”!
Learning a second language can be very beneficial especially when it involves your sports origin! If you want to learn more about Japanese culture and vocabulary, click here!
How do you pronounce the word “OSS”?
There are two different ways to pronounce the word “OSS”. Depending on who you talk to and where they are from they may pronounce it as (OH-SS). The other abbreviation that is commonly accepted is “Osu” (OH-SUE).
Why Do People Say OSS?
People say “OSS” for a number of reasons when rolling on the mats. OSS takes on various different meanings but it is mainly a positive word to way.
At the end of an American or Japanese martial arts class, everyone is usually shaking hands saying “OSS” or right before their sparring sessions they do a quick fist bump and say “OSS” to show that they are ready for the match and to lay down a baseline level of respect for their opponent.
In many sources, “OSS” is defined as a manifestation of Ki energy, or a different kind of strength, indicating that someone is ready to fight! Many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Practitioners use this word as a sign of respect.
Is Saying “OSS” Offensive?
Absolutely not!
As we stated in the previous paragraphs, “OSS” is a word that is widely used as a sign of respect and honor for those with that you are about to roll!
The Respect on The Mats
The respect found for another person in the world of martial arts goes beyond words and it can only be explained when you do this firsthand. Jiu-Jitsu is a sport that builds the mental, physical, and inner strength of the individuals that embrace it.
Carrying on without giving up is a hard thing to do but those that stick around and climb the ranks in the sport will experience something that cannot be found anywhere else.
Determination, building strong spirits, respect, and discipline are what people in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community embrace. They choose to live their life in a way that embodies these core principles. Here at the Grapplers Graveyard, we firmly believe that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is for everyone, and eventually, more people will start to see the benefits this sport has on those that join the community.
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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You never want to be in a situation where someone is yelling at you that you’re about to “catch these hands”. If you do find yourself in this predicament you should at least be prepared in some way, shape, or form.
Catch These Hands
The term “catching these hands” is a common term in today’s world. Basically, it means to fight or initiate an ass-whooping on someone else. It is essentially a verbal assault you use before you and another person are about to throw down and things get physical.
While we never advise you to go out and seek these types of encounters, being able to “throw hands” is a very important skill that every man and every woman needs to possess. It is no secret that as the years have gone on, the world has grown increasingly more violent. The number of crimes and physical attacks we are seeing today is something any responsible human being should not just throw under the rug. But where do you start?
You cannot (and should not) go running around fighting random people to learn how to protect yourself. We believe that there are three aspects to defending yourself and that every person should be well-equipped to perform these tasks. Those three components are striking, grappling, and basic firearm use.
Mental Benefits of Training Self-Defense
Many people do not understand that learning how to protect yourself has a huge impact on your mental health. Walking around feeling anxious about your surrounding is not a way you should live your life. Constantly having to look over your should in fear will drive you insane and creates an environment of distrust.
When you learn how to fight you become much more aware of your surroundings. Since we started taking jiu-jitsu classes our social awareness has skyrocketed. We used to be the individual that was always walking around anxious of the environment we were in. After constantly being scared of the world and what was being thrown in our faces by the news, we decided to take action into our own hands and take up the self-defense trio!
When you learn how to grapple, throw punches, and the basics of shooting you have a better idea of what danger is like. Constantly training with someone trying to attack you is a great way to harden your fight-or-flight muscles and become ready if you were forced to throw hands with a stranger!
Handling the stress and pressure of a situation like this is something no one is ever prepared for but I would rather be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war!
Striking
Learning how to throw proper punches must be at your mind’s front. One of the biggest rebuttal points of training jiu-jitsu is that you do not have a great way to take people to the ground (which is arguable at best) and that most people who train jiu-jitsu cannot throw a proper punch (which is another debatable point).
To avoid this criticism, take on some boxing classes. When you are training jiu-jitsu takedowns are an essential part of the game, that’s why most gyms these days offer some wrestling curriculum throughout the week. Really, the only thing you have to go out of your way to learn is the striking aspect.
Fire Arms Training
The unfortunate truth of the world is that most people will never fight fair, today, it does not seem like people have any kind of morals when it comes to these situations. Get some time under your belt at a local range and learn to practice responsible firearm training!
Avoid Conflict at All Costs
Avoiding conflict is a must. The world is rapidly experiencing a ton of change and it is leaving a lot of people in bad places. It is unwise to pick fights with people.
We always believe in being good to those around us. Don’t pick fights, don’t bully, be kind, and be generous to those that may be struggling right now.
The Power of Self-Defense Training
Self-defense training is going to be a big component in people’s personal lives in the coming years. We predict that as people continue to carry about their mental and physical health they will stumble across martial arts as the fun, new, and exciting way to become more physically and mentally fit!
We believe you should mix the two to be more well-rounded. This is what we plan on doing as we get more mat time under our belt. Right now, we train jiu-jitsu about 6 days a week and have extensive firearm practice so once we hit our purple belt or maybe in the later stages of our blue belt, we will pick up some striking at an MMA or boxing gym!
Choosing the best martial art to pick up is a pretty personal question but we believe the best ones to train are either boxing/kickboxing or jiu-jitsu. The only issue with boxing is that you will get hit in the face and getting live sparring matches can be on the dangerous side.
Training jiu-jitsu has been a game-changer for us personally. We get live matches every night when we attained the advanced classes.
Throwing hands with random people is something 95% of people will never experience but in the odd case, you find yourself in these situations you should be prepared. The best way to prepare yourself for these types of situations is to actively seek the discomfort of training the way we outlined in this article. At the Grapplers Graveyard, we firmly believe that the world would be a better place is people took on grappling sports and striking practice. More respect to your neighbor would be given when people realize another person is trained!
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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Thousands of people have discovered the life-changing benefits of jiu-jitsu and have gone on to lead incredible lives. At the same time, for all the known benefits of jiu-jitsu and the transformational life effects, the reality is, people will still quit no different than they would quit their diet, quit their workout routine, quit school, quit their relationships, or anything else that yields personal improvement. In this article, we will discuss some of the transformative benefits of jiu-jitsu.
Top 8 Benefits of Jiu Jitsu
Learn Self Defense
Learn how to handle stress in a new way
Getting outside your comfort zone
Weight loss
Community
Have a new relationship with your ego
Build Discipline in Your Life
Become a stronger minded person
1) Learning Self Defense
Jiu-jitsu is a grappling martial art that focuses on submissions and ground-based techniques. One of the main reasons people join jiu-jitsu gyms is for the self-defense aspect that is ingrained into them. There have been many instances where everyday people use the skills they have learned inside the four walls of a jiu-jitsu gym to protect themselves from an aggressor.
Although you can never fully prepare for a situation like this, having experience doing jiu-jitsu is always going to be a benefit over not having the experience! When you learn self-defense a byproduct of that is an increase in self-confidence. It is a good feeling to know that you can at least de-escalate a situation no matter the circumstance you may find yourself in.
2) Handling Stress and Problem Solving
The nature of jiu-jitsu is violent and stressful.
When you are training you are going against someone who is actively trying to impose their will on you. This is a stressful encounter that does take some time to get used to but the rewards of staying consistent with it reap massive rewards.
After training jiu-jitsu for a couple of months and regularly showing up, you will be an excellent on-the-fly problem solver and learn practical ways to manage the stress that may come up in your life. If you can learn to stay calm while someone is trying to choke you you can learn how to stay calm in 95% of situations in the outside world!
The best part about training jiu-jitsu is the fact that a lot of these lessons you don’t pick up unless you embrace the sport fully. When you do so it can completely transform how you view the world!
3) Getting Uncomfortable
Putting yourself in uncomfortable situations or getting out of your comfort zone entirely has many benefits. When you decide to get comfortable with the uncomfortable things in life that used to scare you no longer have a grip over your mind. The power that this will give you as a human being in this world is immense and should not be underestimated!
4) Physical Benefits – Weight Loss and Getting Ripped Fast
We started doing jiu-jitsu because lifting weights is just boring. It is very easy to slack off and just go through the motions. When you are training in a sport that requires you to use your entire body at all times and think through problems on the fly, it is very difficult to not take each moment seriously. We burn thousands of calories while training in one-hour sessions in our gym’s intermediate/advanced classes.
5) Create Great Bonds
We have several reasons why we chose to train jiu-jitsu but one thing that truly kept us around is the people we met and have been able to bond with over the past several years. The community of jiu-jitsu practitioners continues to grow each year as more people realize how powerful the sport is for your mental and physical well-being. When you run into strangers that also train jiu-jitsu it is like you meet a long-lost friend. You immediately understand what the person in front of you has gone through and that you two have common ground in loving this sport!
6) Managing Ego
Jiu-Jitsu is a sport that will introduce you to one thing everyone on the planet has, an ego. Managing ego is a tough thing to do and not many people go out of their way to be humbled. When you participate in the sport, you will be humbled and if you plan on sticking around for the long term you will need to cultivate a good relationship or understanding with your ego.
Time and time again the ego gets in the way of our greatest blessings. You may run into that issue from time to time but because you have learned the necessary skills to manage those outbursts, you’ll feel much more prepared for a situation when the ego could get in the way of a blessing.
7) Create Discipline in Your Life
One thing that we have benefited most from jiu-jitsu is creating a structured way of doing things in our life. We have built our life around our training and it makes life much easier when we know what exactly needs to get done and when we have time to accomplish it.
The more disciplined you are free you become.
It is an odd dichotomy that the world has in place but holds very true through our experience. When you decide to stay disciplined and not let excuses get in the way of your workouts or training sessions this same mentality will spill over to your everyday life. The way you do one thing is the way you do all things!
8) Build a Strong State of Mind
It takes a real special person to stick with the sport of jiu-jitsu.
You have to commit to yourself, commit to your school, and continue to show up putting your body on the line in order to improve. These are powerful choices that slowly morph you into an individual that can get things done. No one is perfect and no one wants you to be perfect. Everything is a journey and when you put one foot in front of the other beautiful things happen.
Other benefits
Increase Confidence
Increasing your confidence is a formula. When you pick up skills and become competent at something it is impossible to not have confidence in that thing. Because Jiu-Jitsu is a skill-based sport it will actively force you to get competent at something fast.
Knowing that you can fight and protect yourself in a dangerous situation if it were to ever arise, is a confidence booster in itself. No matter what anyone says about “jiu-jitsu not working” we are here to tell you they are wrong and it gets proven over and over again.
Handling Stress, Pressure, and Decision Making
Jiu-jitsu is a sport that teaches you how to handle stress, handle pressure, and make decisions while in those situations. Brazilian jiu-jitsu has been deemed as the sport of “human chess” it does not get that name by accident.
Handling stress and pressure is something that we have to do on a daily basis. Our everyday job can be stressful at times and jiu-jitsu has helped us learn to make solid decisions while under this type of pressure. Without learning these lessons on the mats we would have a hard time handling everything we do without be overwhelmed.
Embracing A New Lifestyle
The jiu-jitsu lifestyle is one that is full of pleasant surprises! From meeting new people, embracing new beginnings, and shifting the way you wat you will completely morph yourself into the best version of yourself.
Training jiu-jitsu has a ton of perks. Being able to defend yourself, being well-equipped for stressful situations, learning to love being uncomfortable, getting into excellent shape, and being able to make friends along the way are just a few to be named.
Jiu-Jitsu is very good at weeding out people with bad habits so cultivating strong principles from the start is something that everyone should immediately pick up when deciding to train! The Grapplers Graveyard is a website that is dedicated to helping martial artists not only level up their jiu-jitsu but also level up their life. The sport’s transformative nature is a message we want to instill in people worldwide!
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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Everything in life is a competition. To stand out in the world you have to rise to the occasion and put yourself out there. Putting yourself out there to fail is a big deal because it proves to others and yourself that you are serious about what you are looking to accomplish. Jiu-Jitsu has been a sport that has done this exact thing for us and there is no better way to put yourself out there than to participate in tournaments. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about the competitive BJJ organization, Jiu-Jitsu World League!
WHAT IS THE JIU-JITSU WORLD LEAGUE?
Jiu Jitsu World League is a competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu organization that ranks fights through a series of tournaments using innovative technology, data, and events services. Jiu Jitsu World League has hosted massive tournaments all around the United States at this point and is planning to continue this trend going into 2023.
Using their software they are able to rank academies and competitors all across the United States and match them up with top talent in an arena suited for combat.
Pricing For Events
Competitors:
It is important to note that if you are a competitor, prices increase as you get closer to the event. They seem to start out at $89 and then build their way up as you get closer to the competition date.
Spectators/Guests:
Adults (18): $20
Teens (13-17): $10
Kids (4-12): $5
What Type of Brackets Does JJWL Use?
Jiu Jitsu World League’s Tournaments are all double elimination for brackets 4 or above, so if you lose before the finals you can compete again for 3rd place.
So if you lose, the best you can do is 3rd place. To win first place or second place you have to win. We like this tournament style a lot. Most tournaments we have competed in till this point has been single elimination and it is never a good feeling when you put months of training in just to lose in the first or second match you have and be done.
For Gi Competitions
If you are competing in adults Gi tournament, you can wear a rash guard under your gi! You are not limited to just wearing blue, black, or white Gi’s when you compete. You can compete in any gi that is a solid color!
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JIU-JITSU’S POPULARITY BOOM
Jiu-jitsu has been exploding in popularity the past few years. We started not too long ago but it is very easy to notice when you start seeing massive competitive leagues form like JJWL or AZBJJL.
We believe the popularity of jiu-jitsu has exploded due to a number things.
Back in 2020 when we were all locked down, some of the only sports we were able to watch on TV was the UFC. I liked watching UFC fights before 2020 but I became absolutely obsessed with the fighters in 2020, the thrill and excitement of adults going at it were unmatched compared to any other sport. But how does this relate to BJJ?
Not very many people want to volunteer to get their face punched in at a UFC gym so what is a great alternative that the majority of people can do? Jiu-Jitsu. Jiu-jitsu is truly the everyday person’s sport. It is a martial art that anyone can do and one that anyone can sign up for! This is why we think it is exploding in popularity! Mix in the fact that adults are opting their kids out of sports that could cause CTE down the road and you have a recipe for explosive growth as an industry!
WHY YOU SHOULD COMPETE IN JIU-JITSU TOURNAMENTS
Jiu Jitsu is a competitive sport by nature. Each night you go into your training you are directly competing with those that show up in that class, but the importance of testing your skills in a live scenario is extremely important for the improvement of your game.
We can kind of fall into a trap when we do not compete, we can feel as though we are getting better when compared to those around us, but the real test is how we do against those that we do not get ample opportunities to beat.
Competing in tournaments is fun.
There is nothing like the adrenaline rush of walking onto the mats right before you go in front of a crowd of people. JJWL’s is double elimination is great for fighters because it gives adults and children an opportunity to still compete for something even if their first or second match does not go as they planned.
Fighters should consult with your coach before signing up for a tournament. They will give you the green light on whether you are ready or not to jump into the competitor lifestyle.
There is a huge difference in speed when competing. The likelihood that you gas yourself out is pretty high if you are not mentally prepared for what you are signing up for. I know going into 2023, we are really looking forward to the competition circuit in our state.
Weigh-ins happen up to an hour before your first scheduled match.
What Happens if I Miss Weight?
You will be disqualified if you miss the cut. JJWL gives you till the Sunday before the event to change your class if you think you will not make the cut.
JIU JITSU WORLD LEAGUE APP
JJWL has an app on the app store where you can view all your personal stats, check dates, and even sign up for events!
Jiu-jitsu World League is an exciting innovation added to the industry. We are truly witnessing sport blossom with other competition events like ADCC, IBJJF Worlds, and now JJWL exploding in popularity. We cannot wait to see how the industry evolves over time and look to be at the forefront of all the news, the latest products, and exciting new changes!
Find the top-rated BJJ Gi's here. Helpful information on what to look for, how to find the best gi, and which brands suit you best based on your budget!
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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So you made it out of the beginner stage huh? Well, congratulations, the fun is just beginning! The next stage (and longest stage) you will find yourself in is the blue belt. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a journey that is more than worth it for a number of reasons. More people each day are waking up to the fact that Brazilian jiu-jitsu can, and will, change the life of the practitioner that takes the lessons learned on the mats and applies them across their life. Let’s take a deeper look into the first belt that BJJ practitioners receive after showcasing a higher skill level.
In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the blue belt represents that you have mastered the basics and proven to yourself and your instructor you have been extremely effective in many positions and show competence with several techniques. In this stage, just like all the others, new challenges and struggles will be introduced and it is your job to not only be aware of them but make it through the other side. How deep is your resolve? Let’s go deep into the jiu-jitsu blue belt and talk briefly about the blue belt blues.
BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU BLUE BELT
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt is the first huge accomplishment that you will receive on your journey through Jiu-Jitsu. Typically this belt takes about two years for someone to achieve. By no means is this an easy thing to accomplish. Time, dedication, and consistent effort are needed to get here.
Just like in the white belt stage, blue belts will receive stripes on their way to the next belt color which is purple. As the belts get darker the expectations of what you are capable of rising with it. Blue belts should actively compete and test their skills against people outside their training grounds, this is an excellent way to progress faster and showcase to those around you that you are ready for the next level.
It is common to get to this stage and feel a sense of imposter syndrome. Sometimes we feel as though we are “not ready” for that next belt and this is normal. Rest assured that your coach sees something in you if they move you up the ranks, no instructor in the BJJ community gives out belts to people who they do not think are worthy of it.
If this is the way you are feeling, keep pushing, and be sure to not fall into the blue belt blues!
What Are the Blue Belt Blues?
Due to the nature of the sport of jiu-jitsu and the fact that it is so hard to rank up, most people will make it their biggest goal to accomplish getting a blue belt. What happens when people achieve a huge goal that they set out to achieve? Well, sometimes they slip into a slump or even go a complete 180 and lose interest entirely. This is what the blue belt blues are.
In your journey through the sport, you will have many ups and downs and for a good number of people, their first real test is at the blue belt stage. The “blues” is a term that signifies feeling uninterested, down, and to a degree depressed about something. It usually occurs when something that we have been focusing on actually materializes. After we accomplish a big goal and the grind is “over”, no matter how great it was, we often are left with a feeling of emptiness.
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Due to the nature of the sport of jiu-jitsu and the fact that it is so hard to rank up, most people will make it their biggest goal to accomplish getting a blue belt. What happens when people achieve a huge goal that they set out to achieve? Well, sometimes they slip into a slump or even go a complete 180 and lose interest entirely. This is what the blue belt blues are.
In your journey through the sport, you will have many ups and downs and for a good number of people, their first real test is at the blue belt stage. The “blues” is a term that signifies feeling uninterested, down, and to a degree depressed about something. It usually occurs when something that we have been focusing on actually materializes. After we accomplish a big goal and the grind is “over”, no matter how great it was, we often are left with a feeling of emptiness.
When you apply the term “blues” to jiu-jitsu it is easy to guess what is going on. The blue belt blues is not something to be dreading and most people will experience it. The blue belt stage is the most important stage you will go through in your journey through jiu-jitsu and also happens to be the longest.
Most people will find themselves at this stage for at least a year and a half up to three years.
How to Prevent Blue Belt Blues
Now that you understand what the blues are, let’s talk a little bit about how to prevent them from happening. The real answer on how to get through this stage is to honestly just muscle through it. BJJ is not going to get any easier and these moments where you do not feel like going forward are really where your character is going to be forged.
Do not take things so seriously. Why put pressure on yourself to get to the next stage faster? What is the reason you are feeling the way you are about jiu-jitsu? A couple of years down the road you will look back at this moment and realize that it was a great blessing to have gone through something that challenged your resolve. You will make it through the other side a better player and a better person.
Continue to have fun on the mats and always lean back on your why. In those moments in life where you start to question why you are doing something, going back on your why and the original reasons you started is a great way to get over the hump and make it through any kind of rough patch.
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It is recorded that only about 10% of white belts will make it to the blue belt level before quitting. Those that stick it out to this stage and continue to train BJJ will showcase a well-rounded skillset and have put ample amount of mat time on their backs.
Getting to the Next Level: Blue Belt
The second adult rank and your first big promotion while training Brazilian jiu-jitsu will be the Blue Belt level. The blue belt is a representation of an intermediate adult ranking, you are clearly better than a beginner but not quite at the level of expertise as a purple belt level practitioner, brown belt, or a black belt.
A blue belt promotion is a big deal. you have showcased to those around you that you have what it takes to move up the ranks in this BJJ journey. Your dedicated training, technical knowledge, and fundamental understanding is what move you to this stage. You should be proud of yourself for accomplishing this goal.
How Long Does It Take To Get A Blue Belt In BJJ?
Typically it take about two years of consistent training to get your blue belt. It is not common for a promotion to happen under 12 months but it can happen if someone has a good amount of wrestling experience. It is common for someone to get a promotion in between that 12 – 24 month timeframe after consistent amounts of training.
Trials and Tribulations
The learning curve from the blue belt to the purple belt is much steeper than the previous stage. At the blue belt you already know basic techniques, sweeps, how to impose your will, and much more now the learning has to be taken into your own hands and you have to go deep to take your game to the next level. Sometimes your school may not have the curriculum to get you to that point so it is on you to seek out that knowledge and gain the expertise necessary to advance.
This belt can be very frustrating because you can experience many plateaus along the way. Getting to the next stage will not be easy and along the way, you will have many days where you feel like you are not getting any better or in some cases getting worse. You will have to push through these moments. Maybe your teammates are getting much better or maybe you had an off day, either way, trails will come but you must see them through. You are chasing after a belt (purple) that shows the first signs of expertise, this is no easy feat. The skills needed to get to the next level are much deeper than you may think.
What Should I Focus On As a Blue Belt?
Find 1 or 2 Positions to develop a high level of offensive strength
Do not neglect your defense. Defend and escapes from various positions
Technique is the most important aspect of BJJ/grappling performance. But want to increase your chances of landing submissions, finishing takedowns, and maintaining position? This program will have you man handling your opponents making them ready to tap.
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Why Do People Quit at Blue Belt?
People quit for all types of reasons. To pinpoint one exactly would be impossible. Brazilian jiu-jitsu is not an easy martial art to rank up in but if you have been reading along you knew this from the beginning. Nothing worthwhile in life is easy anyways… if you continue to go after easy things, why are you even training Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the first place? You should have picked up pickleball if you wanted easy.
The fact of the matter is if you are a blue belt you could probably beat up 90% of people if you found yourself in a bad situation and needed to use BJJ for self-defense.
Is Blue Belt Hard to Get In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
The blue belt is not hard to get in Brazilian jiu-jitsu if you stay consistently training and get a good amount of mat time in. Do not be that guy (or girl) that is cocky the entire way to your blue belt, it is not a cake walk and the biggest factor in the decision to promote you is typically the time you’ve spent actually working on your craft.
Moving from white belt to blue belt you have showcased that you can hang with very experienced practitioners, you have well-rounded skills, strong defensive positioning, and are generally considered qualified to instruct lower-ranked students.
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BJJ Belt System: Getting to Purple Belt
Getting to the purple belt might be the most challenging aspect of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The longest stage that someone will be in most cases is going to be the blue belt level. It is common for people to be here for 2 – 4 years depending on how often someone trains.
To be a purple belt-level practitioner you must remain consistent with your training, work on refining your technical knowledge and perfect almost all fundamental techniques. On your way to the purple belt, even more, people will be weeded out. The funnel keeps getting smaller and it is said that only 10% of blue belt-level practitioners will make it to this stage.
Purple belts are considered high-level practitioners alongside their peers of brown belts and black belts. BJJ practitioners will look up to you in the gym as you start to move through the ranks, it is important to set good examples for those around you as your progress into being a more experienced practitioner.
BJJ is going to be a long and wild ride. You should feel accomplished that you made it to a stage that only 10% of white belts make it to. Being where you are and being fully present in the moments, whether they are good or bad will be a game changer. Quitting should not be an option for you, you did not come this far only to come this far. The blue belt is the most important stage of your jiu-jitsu journey and I can guarantee you that you will make it through this!
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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How Often Should You Practice BJJ? Asking yourself what your goals are and how much time you can commit to the sport is the key to finding the answer.
Goals
What are your goals for training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? Are you just wanting to try it out for a year? Maybe you want to be a professional athlete? Whatever your goal is with the sport it is important to iron that question out first.
Once you have ironed out what you are looking to get out of jiu-jitsu it is time to evaluate how much time you can dedicate to achieving said goal.
Time Commitment
How much time can you dedicate to Jiu-Jitsu? At the end of the day, this is not something you will get good at overnight. It takes about 6 months to get the training wheels off and to feel like you somewhat know what you are doing. Jiu-jitsu very quickly becomes a lifestyle. It is important to look at what you are currently balancing and ask yourself if you could get into the dojo at least get 3 – 4 times a week. If you have a full time job or a family to take care of, it may be difficult to get the proper amount of training. Although it may be difficult, practicing BJJ at least a few times a week consistently makes room for a lot of progress in your game and technique.
We get it, life happens, but it is important to understand what you are signing up for. The road to getting your black belt is a long one. Every instructor has a different philosophy on how they will promote their students but the two things that always underline a promotion are time training and dedication to the craft.
Finding out your optimal training frequency comes down to answering the previous questions in this article. If you have narrowed down what you are looking to get out of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu both individually and in a competitive sense, then the answer should be pretty clear.
Competitors
If you are a competitor you should be at least training 3 – 4 times a week minimum.This will not be getting you to high levels though. The best in the world are usually train BJJ multiple times a day up to 5 – 6 days a week. This amount of training will allow for rapid progress but also calls for an extreme level of time commitment that not all people have.
Getting to the point where you are paid to compete in this sport takes true commitment and sacrifice. If you are not constantly training, your competition is.
If you are more of a hobbyist and looking to just stay in excellent shape by practicing a fun and useful martial art, you should be getting 2-4 training sessions per week, minimum. If you go at this pace your blackbelt is in reach within the next 7 – 10 years.
Once you have ironed out your goals and ability to commit you will then find the answer to how often you should practice BJJ. If you concluded that you want to compete at a high level just training technique is not going to be enough. You will need to balance a healthy mix of strength training into your routine as well as have a structured nutritional guide that you follow!
What time of the day is the best for training?
Morning: The early hours of the day can be an incredible time to get a training session in. Not only will BJJ wake you up, but doing something you love first thing in the morning is a great way to boost your mood!
Afternoon/night practices: A training schedule consisting of afternoon practices can benefit a martial artist immensely. There are many advantages to training later in the day. For one, practicing before bed can allow for a better quality of sleep. As many know, sleep is incredibly important for recovery after a hard training session. Along with that, practicing technique while fatigued due to a long day can increase endurance and mental strength.
Quality of training
Mastery of Martial arts requires years of high-intensity practice. While this may be true, not everyone wants to become a professional athlete and master the art of BJJ. No matter what your goals are with Jiu Jitsu, high-quality BJJ training is essential when progressing in the sport. Martial arts training should consist of proper warm-ups, pressure-tested BJJ techniques, and live rolls (sparring) with good training partners that keep you safe while pushing you past your limit. Quality training is essential when progressing through your BJJ journey.
Recovery
No matter how often you practice, your free time should be filled with rest and recovery. Most students have trouble finding a sweet spot between activity and recovery. Overtraining and undertraining are both very real problems that can result in a lack of progress for the athlete. So how do you properly recover from tough, continuous practice? Well, rest days coupled with a healthy diet and enough sleep should allow you to make it through the week of hard rolls. Cold plunges should be attempted more than two times a week in order to reduce inflammation in the body. When it comes to progression in BJJ, recovery is just as important as practice.
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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Working out at the gym is boring. It’s already a challenge these days to be a busy adult. What if I told you there was a way to get into the best shape of your life, have a blast doing so, and become a better person? Look no further because we have you covered! Jiu-Jitsu is a martial art that has been exploding in popularity all across the United States for the past 5 years! There are so many benefits of jiu-jitsu for adults of all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. In this article, we talk about some of the benefits of training in this martial art as a busy adult!
BENEFITS OF BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU FOR ADULTS
1) Increased Cardiovascular Health
Jiu-Jitsu is excellent for those looking to get into the best shape of their life!
Rolling around on the mats and getting a sweat in for one hour a day will drastically increase your cardiovascular health and physical strength! It is very common to start BJJ with bad cardio, but the more frequently you go the quicker you gain the endurance you need to stay competitive with your training partners!
You do not need to be in shape before you start doing jiu-jitsu, it will be a sport that will get you to that point!
Many people that have started were not in the best shape but after starting, quickly found themselves there.
2) Huge Amounts of Stress Relief
There is something about jiu-jitsu that is extremely relieving. The constant exposure to the stress of going full speed when fighting someone who is trying to overpower you has the reverse effect on how we feel. Getting yourself uncomfortable makes you calmer in stressful situations or environments.
In a world where everything is given out so cheaply, we have a responsibility to ourselves and the people we love to seek discomfort in the ways we train. Sharpen iron with iron is a quote that our gym lives by and it’s a philosophy that I personally embody with the way I train.
Jiu-Jitsu has a night-and-day effect on my mood. Finding jiu-jitsu has been something that has helped my mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
Several people who train jiu-jitsu use it as an outlet from the outside world. In a world that offers so many negative things as outlets, jiu-jitsu has been a positive one for many all around the world!
3) Boost Your Confidence
When you walk around knowing that you are trained in a martial art you feel extremely comfortable in your skin. It grounds you as a human. Jiu-Jitsu is no different, one thing that differentiates this martial art from others is the fact that you are more prepared for real-world situations.
Nothing on the planet has made us feel this way since we started our journey on the mats.
We live in a world that is on the brink of chaos. It feels less and less safe to walk around and just be a human these days. With a country that is continuing to find itself divided, we need to be able to defend ourselves and those we love.
When you train jiu-jitsu, if something bad were to break out you would be able to handle it. Jiu-jitsu is a that gets you comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Almost all of the skills learned in jiu-jitsu can be applied to work or real-world situations.
When you learn any skill and get competent you gain unshakable confidence. Who doesn’t like feeling confident in their abilities? Jiu-Jitsu will teach you how to acquire skills if you are young and will help you gain more as an adult.
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4) Brazilian Jiu Jitsu: The Game Referred as “Human Chess”
Intelligent people love Jiu-Jitsu. The people that get addicted to the sport are likely very smart. It takes a lot of brain power to know how to react and move your body in a way that applies good pressure and takes advantage of favorable positions.
The smartest people we know both on the internet and in our personal life train Jiu-Jitsu. Some notable people who do (and the list continues to grow) are Joe Rogan, Lex Fridman, and Mark Zuckerberg (love or hate this guy he’s a smart human).
These guys are just a small handful of highly intelligent individuals who chose Brazilian jiu-jitsu as their form of exercise. Chances are extremely high that most people who decide to partake in this sport have high IQs.
If you are in sales, law, or finance we almost guarantee you will enjoy Brazilian jiu-jitsu JUST based on knowing the types of individuals that have these types of careers.
5) You’ll always be challenged
Brazilian jiu-jitsu is more than just a physical challenge, it is a martial art that will push you mentally as well. It is hard to find ways to use ourselves physically and mentally these days, especially in the form of exercise.
Most people that get into jiu-jitsu are getting into their later years of life. We are not 18 anymore and running around on the courts or tackling each other a field is just not plausible to keep our body healthy, so how can people who care about staying healthy and want to stay mentally sharp do just that? Well, jiu-jitsu.
Finding good training partners will be the way to take yourself to the next level. Iron sharpens iron and on those mats, you will find a stronger opponent. People will push your critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities in a healthy way. Grappling is a great way to push yourself and a great way to have fun while doing so. Whether you are on a weight loss journey or looking to just improve your overall health, that first class will be something to remember.
Our day-to-day life can get stressful. Work is not the easiest and trying to start a business from the ground is not for the weak. When we train, nothing else matters in the outside world. Jiu-jitsu acts as a real escape for us and has been a fantastic way to level upon many fronts so we can tackle those stress points in our life head-on.
6) Brazilian Jiu-jitsu Builds Strength And Flexibility
Grappling involves putting all your muscles in your body and increasing strength. It also means that if you constantly push or stretch the body you are more resilient. Your endurance in combat can grow significantly.
The main benefits you will see will come in the form of physical health and problem-solving skills. Training Brazilian jiu-jitsu is a dynamic way to exercise that acts as both cardio and strength training. Other sports may not provide this type of exercise.
7) There are progression and mastery opportunities
Brazilian jiu-jitsu uses a belt strip system that runs from white to black belt. Getting to your black belt is a lifelong pursuit that many will not see to the end. The stripe system is a great way to keep you motivated to rise through the ranks and show progress in your skill set.
When you master basic positions and see the progress you are making firsthand in the live sparring sessions your self-esteem goes through the roof. I know it feels good to get better at something because I see it in my own training sessions.
We want to train Brazilian jiu-jitsu for the rest of our life just because it is the first sport that we have taken on in our lives that gave us a real shot at mastering something. The goal of reaching the highest level is what keeps us coming back, no matter how long it takes.
8) Lose Weight
Brazilian jiu-jitsu has been a fantastic way for lots of people to lose weight FAST!
After getting a couple of beginner classes under your belt you should be looking to start training in the intermediate or mixed levels classes. This is where all the magic happens and you really start to see the health benefits that Brazilian jiu-jitsu has to offer.
The physical benefits you will see after you train consistently are hard to find anywhere else. yes, you could go start lifting weights but the gym is too easy of a place to get distracted and go through the motions. The mental focus that it takes to do this physical activity should not be underestimated, it is just one of the many reasons why we fell in love with the martial art in the first place.
The average age of a white belt is 29 years old and there are plenty of people that are around the age of 40 that train. After spending significant amounts of time on the mats a lot of the people you roll with will truly become your friends. There is an unspoken brotherhood for those that train BJJ and you can notice this when you start to hop around to other gyms.
Everyone, no matter were you go, is always so welcoming to those tat come in and train. Regardless of where you are from, you can find your tribe while training Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The only thing you have to make sure of is being a good partner that people actually want to train with, otherwise, you may get smashed by the local mat enforcer!
As you progress in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu the experience will give you valuable leadership skills that will help you in the rest of your life.
This is something that we have only started to notice recently. When you show up and train often, you start to get recognized in the gym who is taking your training seriously. As that happens, you typically get promoted to a higher rank. By default, people look up to those who are higher belts than them because they have knowledge that someone else may not possess at the time.
If you were a natural leader growing up, you will thrive on the mats if you take your training seriously and put forth your best effort to progress.
11) Brazilian Jiu-jitsu develops your problem-solving skills
Learning how to problem solve on the fly is everything that encompasses Brazilian jiu-jitsu. You do not have to train to become some world-class athlete (although the possibility is there) you can just train to become a better overall human.
When rolling, you are actively solving problems that arise while someone else is doing the same exact thing. This acts almost like a delicate dance that two people have to put on in the 5-minute rounds that you will work in.
12) Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu builds discipline
Training on a regular basis takes a level of commitment that most people in the world are just flat-out not going to want to do.
When something is easily attained, nine times out of 10 it’s not worth the prize. We love the fact that not many people training martial arts because it gives us a real edge over those that don’t. Every day we are putting out best foot forward, pushing ourselves mentally and physically, and applying discipline to our life, can other people say the same thing?
The gap between those that make this martial art a lifestyle choice and those that will not show up at some point or another. We are actively making the choice to become the best version of ourselves and through the discipline, we have learned from BJJ we will reach it.
13) Learn Humility
The quickest way to get humbled is to get smoked by someone half your age and half your size. This may be something that we experienced firsthand…
If you come in with an inflated ego it will get checked very quickly, especially in the intermediate classes. Now, there is nothing wrong with having an ego, it is what keeps you coming back and wanting to progress in the martial art but there is an issue when you let this line of thinking cloud your vision. Many people quit Brazilian jiu-jitsu because they cannot handle the consistent amount of ego check you will have in the first 6 – 8 months of training.
Humility is a beautiful thing but just because you learn how to check your ego does not make you a person who lacks self-confidence. In many ways, checking the ego leads to being a more self-confident person.
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Jiu-jitsu is for adults of all ages and creeds, inside those four walls, you will run into many people from many different walks of life! It is very easy to make excuses on why you are not ready but just know no one is completely ready when they start anything new!
Choicesare the only things that allow us to move past our excuses and a great example of choosing a greater lifestyle is none other than Alex Martinez, CO-Owner of Ares East Mesa BJJ Academy. We had the pleasure of interviewing jiu-jitsu black belt instructor and navy veteran, Alex Martinez this last weekend to talk about his journey.
Alex is a great example of a human that went from a dark place to loving what he does daily and finding purpose! Putting personal excuses aside to change for the better is no easy task but doing so has changed the lives of millions that decide to take the leap each year.
Starting Something Later in Life with Alex Martinez
Weighing in at almost 250 lbs, Martinez was in bad shape, both mentally and physically. Alex was convinced, out of spite by his wife’s co-worker since he would not shut up about it. Martinez painted a picture of a time when he had to take breaks after walking up a flight of stairs.”I had no desire to do anything. At one point I thought I was going to die from a heart attack from just walking up the stairs.”
“This sport changed my life,” said Alex, ” I do not know where I would be if I did not discover the sport and committed to it”. Outside of the changes in the mirror, Alex recalls that the mental aspect of the sport was the most impactful to him. “The mental changes have been the biggest difference for me. I am a better husband, father, and friend because of the lessons I have learned on the mats.”
Those that do join and stay committed find something you cannot find anywhere else. The brotherhood formed around this community and the personal benefits of jiu-jitsu is unmatched. No other martial art will give you the feeling I am explaining. The average age of an adult starting jiu-jitsu in the United States is 28 years old and we have personally seen people walk in at the age of 60!!
We firmly believe that jiu-jitsu is the best tool that someone can use to make themselves better humans. We were meant to be athletic, our bodies were forged in times when it was a necessity to be able to hunt, run, and fight. Jiu Jitsu gets us back to our primal roots and allows us truly tap into our human potential.
Alex got his black belt under 4x IBJJF World Masters Champion Paul Nava who also runs a gym based out of Phoenix, Arizona.
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Fuji BJJ spats are renowned for being the best compression spats in the market. These spats are crafted with high-quality materials, typically a blend of polyester and spandex. This combination offers a perfect balance of comfort, flexibility, and durability.
Over the last decade, the number of gyms across the United States has grown exponentially (thank you Joe Rogan and the UFC).
All you have to do these days is Google and call your local gym to get started. In our case, we found our gym through an Instagram Advertisement!!
When you call, be sure to see if they offer some free classes before you commit, the gym is clean and beginner-friendly. If you do not want to do this yourself, we will tap into our existing network and find you the BEST gym in your area!
You should not sign up if you hate having fun, don’t want to dedicate yourself to learning a skill, love to make excuses, or don’t get along with other people. Many of the lessons you will learn on the mats will translate directly into your daily life and help you change positively.
Why Every Adult and Child Should at Least TRY Martial Arts
Martial arts is something that could benefit anyone who walks through the door. Whether it is a child who was bullied, a kid who may not be the biggest, an adult that let themselves go, or just someone looking to protect themselves from danger, there is room for you here at a Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym.
Martial arts (specifically Brazilian jiu-jitsu) is truly for everyone. If you have not yet, give it a try you may end up enjoying it so much you stick around as we did.
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Cameron
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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You probably have seen your favorite MMA fighter with a gnarly-looking ear right? Most people who participate in martial arts, whether boxing, MMA, judo, or BJJ, may get cauliflower ear. This is a common injury in BJJ. Let’s dive into what cauliflower ear is and how to prevent it!
BJJ Injury: What Is Cauliflower Ear?
Cauliflower ear is a deformity of the outer ear that may occur after injury to the ear.
Cauliflower ear may occur when blood that collects in the outer ear after an injury isn’t drained properly or becomes infected. Common causes include injuries from sports, such as wrestling, boxing, or mixed martial arts. Truthfully, it’s not as gross as it sounds (or looks). All that our ear is made of is cartilage so when that cartilage gets damaged, blood flows to it making it look a little more puffy or sensitive to touch.
Some people may get turned off when they initially see it but if you get it in the martial arts world, it is a badge of honor.
How Do We Get Cauliflower Ear?
You earn cauliflower ear by putting time on the mats (and by not wearing headgear). The ear deformity is one of the most common BJJ injuries that almost all grapplers at high levels experience. Your instructor probably has it and all the people in the MMA circuit have it.
Injuries are bound to happen when you are rolling around and getting violent with people on the mats. This is just one of those things. You can get cauliflower ear in BJJ by the Gi rubbing against your ear too hard or by someone accidentally hitting your head/ear area. You will know when you are starting to get it. Your ears will be sore for days on end and they may be pretty sensitive to touch. When people continue to touch or damage the ear while in this stage the deformity can worsen so be careful (as much as you can be).
Repeated hits to the ear in contact sports like wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, or boxing cause athletes to develop cauliflower ear. After getting a hematoma on the ear due to trauma to the ear the ear will have a permanent deformity. Some cases of cauliflower ear are worse than others but after the swelling and blood has gone away from the auricular hematoma the ear’s natural shape will be gone and you will be left with the deformity.
If you want to prevent this from happening the best way to do this is to wear protective head gear. It is not necessary to have but when the soreness does come around it may get pretty uncomfortable to train. We consider protective head gear as an essential item if you train in any kind of grappling sport.
Common ways to get auricular hematomas are in a wrestling match or a competitive martial arts tournament and possibly in training.
How Common is Cauliflower Ear in Jiu-Jitsu?
Almost all combat sport athletes will have some cauliflower ear. It is so common for grapplers and people who practice other martial arts to have the ear deformity. We believe that this injury is no big deal, it is part of what you signed up for.
The best way to protect yourself from getting it is to put on headgear when you train. That can be a bit annoying at times so truthfully you can just throw it on when your ears are feeling a bit tender. Wrestlers will have to wear headgear a bit more frequently due to the amount of friction that occurs in the sport.
Is it Possible to Train in BJJ and Not Get Cauliflower Ear?
Yes, it is.
We have very minimal cauliflower ear and train 4 -5 times a week. Sometimes training twice a day. Injury prevention for something like cauliflower ear is easy, just put on the headgear when you get sore ears and you will be okay.
We were personally not comfortable having a completely mangled ear but still wanted enough as a symbol of our hard work on the mats.
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Ways To Prevent Cauliflower ear
You can prevent cauliflower ear by not training martial arts entirely or wearing headgear while training. Headgear (gold bjj headgear review) can be uncomfortable to wear at times but if you do not want your ear to look mangled or avoid this common BJJ injury, it will have to be the sacrifice you make.
Here is a quick list of some ways to prevent Cauliflower Ear:
(Bonus) If you get the deformity, drain it, and use magnets (Or EarSplintz)
Treating Cauliflower Ear
The treatment for cauliflower ear is pretty simple. When you start to notice your ear getting sore or tender to touch you have a couple of options. The options are to relax on the amount of time you train, get headgear and start to wear it, or do nothing. If you do nothing your ear will eventually swell if it keeps getting hit (the likelihood of this happening is high).
Some people may not want to walk around with a mangled ear some may see it as a trophy. The choice is yours on what you want to do.
We do not believe having cauliflower ear is a big deal. It does not affect anything on how the body functions. It may look funky but we would argue that having this ear deformity is a badge of honor. When you see someone out and they have cauliflower ear you know they are a warrior. If you see someone on the street and they have this do not pick a fight with them, you will most likely be fighting someone who is trained!
How to Properly Drain Cauliflower Ear
Properly draining the most common ear injury in grappling sports (known as cauliflower ear) is done typically in two ways. The first way is through a medical professional who is certified to drain the blood for the auricular hematoma. You would think this is the best route in most cases but we have heard that some medical professionals have never drained it before making the experience less desirable then it already is. Most people who get Cauliflower ear go for the second option and that is finding a wrestling coach or someone in their circle who has drained the ear injury before.
Typically through experience, coaches will take on treating wrestler’s ear. Blood stored in cauliflower ear needs to drained using a clean syringe and you must make sure the area is clean so no infection occurs.
Typically combat sports athletes are the most affected by cauliflower ear. Again, we will state this in the article a million times, this injury is not life-threatening or really even that serious. It can only get pretty serious with repeated direct trauma to the ear cartilage, leading to severe swelling and medical attention. The only time you may see this happen is at the highest levels of MMA matches. This type of damage can lead to hearing loss and may need surgical correction.
Signs & Symptoms
The symptoms of cauliflower ear include the following:
Swelling of the ear
Blood accumulation on the ear cartlidge
Redness of the ear
Soreness and sensitivity of the ear
How Painful Is Cauliflower Ear?
Well, it is definitely not a pleasant feeling we can tell you that. We have a bit of cauliflower ear on our right ear and when we first got the hematoma it was uncomfortable to even lay on that ear on a soft pillow. We experienced all of the symptoms listed above but did not go the route of draining the blood from the ear because we did not have that much accumulation, to begin with.
The part that was probably the most painful was when we would think our ear’s cartilage was completely healed and would train without protective head gear and get a direct hit to the sensitive area. The re-accumulation of blood to our already existing cauliflower ear was probably the most pain we had experienced in the process of getting the ear deformity.
Lesson learned there though. Now when we feel it coming back on we have no shame keeping the protective headgear on and tight.
Just like any other contact sport, you are putting your body on the line. It is important to take your nutrition and recovery very seriously so you can keep yourself on the mats and away from injury.
Joint Injuries
In no-go BJJ contests, elbow and knee problems are more prevalent. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts have been known to have the most joint issues mainly because most black belts are up in age. It is important to know that anyone at any stage can experience some type of joint injury that takes them out for an extended period of time.
If you ever find yourself in a situation where you have sore joints or muscles we highly recommend that you start to take recovery very seriously. As you train Brazilian jiu-jitsu you will notice that your body may ache in ways that it never has before. Taking care of your body is something that we are very adamant about especially as a combat sport athlete.
It is necessary that you take the time to still do strength training and workout large muscle groups to lower the risk factors of severe injuries occurring. Spend some time in a cold plunge or sauna after tough training weeks, they have been proven to be great ways to help boost recovery time and help prevent those common injuries.
Everyone is gonna get hurt at some point. When you do, we have you covered. Get the A to Z guide on managing acute injury ranging from rehab exercises and timing to nutrition and supplements to peptides.
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Neck Injury
This is a far more serious injury that could possibly occur while training Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Not to scare those that are on the fence of taking on the sport, but this is just a reality of what you may be signing up for. We have written previous articles on how important it is to choose good sparring partners when you are training and this type of injury can be prevented by these small decisions in the gym.
Now, you cannot always prevent everything and there is a really good, and pretty recent case of a neck injury having widespread reach to those in the community. Ben Kunzle was a very advantaged BJJ fighter and was in preparation for a world championship run when he had a neck injury that left him paralyzed (source). Ben slipped in a spot of sweat and what was supposed to be a clean throw turned into a horrible accident.
Injuries happen all the time in the sports world. Whether it’s novice athletes or advanced athletes, risk factors are always going to be there when you are putting your body on the line. Combat sports is not for the faint of heart but there are many ways to keep the injury rate low by taking injury prevention very seriously.
CBD, proper supplementation, proper nutrition, weight lifting, cold plunging, and spending time in the sauna are great ways to keep yourself fresh. Neck injuries are not common but some soreness can occur if you get caught in any kind of crank or guillotine.
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Shoulder Injuries
Most injuries that occur in a BJJ gym are from those that stay too long in submissions and do not tap out right away or when someone jerks (or spazzes) into a position a bit too quickly. A common culprit of the injured tone is typically the arm of the shoulder.
Someone can jerk into a kimura, omaplata, or even an arm bar very quickly or aggressively and cause some serious injuries if you are not safe. Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes need to pick who they train with wisely. There is an intimate level of trust you have with training partners that sometimes is hard to gauge when you train with someone new. Always be aware of who you decide to trust in the gym because not everyone is trustworthy with your body.
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Ankle/Foot Injuries
These are probably the scariest injuries to watch. Whenever we see someone going for a heel hook or an ankle lock we cannot help but look away. We have seen too many videos surface on the internet of people letting their egos get in the way and staying too long in these submissions just to have their ankles or foot pop out of place. Makes us want to throw up just thinking about it…
Heel hooks are the new meta of the Brazilian jiu-jitsu competition world right now. It is known that heel hooks are a direct attack to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) and not submitting to this submission can lead to gnarly knee injuries. Severe injuries like an MCL or ACL should be taken up by a medical professional. The healing process for injuries like this is typically up to a couple of months.
Is BJJ hard on your knees?
A knee injury is a more frequent injury during a BJJ. It takes several months for a knee to stabilize after an injury. The largest knee injuries sustained during competition were MCL and LCL, and ACL. MCL is positioned in front (inside) of the knee while the LCL is on the outside of the knee.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu can be hard on the knees if you are prone to having sore ones. If you are in this boat, get a solid knee sleeve that is optimized for both comfort and protection. Our recommendation will always be anaconda (website) we love their sleeve and will continue to buy them until we get out black belt.
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Back Injuries
BJJ-related injuries come in all shapes and sizes. Probably the most irritating place to have any kind of soreness or discomfort has got to be back. There is really no kind of brace available that is built to help keep your back in shape so you will have to build a solid core to keep yourself from injuring this part of your body.
Can Brazilian jiu-jitsu cause brain damage?
The impact on the brain can cause brain damage but chokes can be a serious problem. Choke causes severe death when oxygen is stopped within 2 minutes.
How to treat a BJJ injury for the quickest recovery
The quickest way to recover is to train and prepare like anything could happen. It is unwise to stop weight training because it leaves room for injuries occurring. If you find yourself injured, whether it is muscle or joint, spend some time with some recovery tools like cold plunging, massage guns, or trying out CBD. If it is severe, you should probably go to a medical professional to get everything checked out and cleared.
How long after you get injured should you see a physiotherapist/physical therapist?
On the day of injury, our general recommendation is to adhere to this RICE protocol for at least 24 hours. Typically patients need physiotherapy and physical therapy within a day. The physiotherapists will start with gentle muscle mobilization with accelerated rehabilitation exercises.
Are injuries common in jiu-jitsu?
We believe that dings and bruises are very common but it is not common for someone in our gym to walk out with something that is going to leave them out for weeks at a time. If you have a healthy training environment injuries should not be happening very frequently.
We have been to gyms in the past that have large signs on the front that says “take care of your teammates” and the rule is taken very seriously. You do not want to be known as the guy that hurts people when they roll, there may be mat enforcers that smash you for showing any type of bullying behavior.
Is BJJ Worth the Injury Risk?
This depends on the individual in all honesty. We like to look at the positives before we look at the negatives to even begin with. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a mental and physical martial art that allows those that take on the practice seriously to completely change their life in a positive way. It is a great way to meet new people, get into the best shape of your life, overcome your mental hurdles, and learn new ways to problem-solve in real-time.
Are there risk factors that you have to be aware of? Absolutely.
But you could even say the same exact thing about Football or other contact sports in general.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Cauliflower ear is a very common thing to experience when you train BJJ, MMA, Boxing or various forms of contact sports like these. Cauliflower ear treatment is super simple and does not have to be over complicated. Preventing cauliflower ear is as simple as wearing protective gear when you feel the soreness coming on.
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Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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List of BJJ Essentials
So, you just started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu and checking off a list of essential items. Perfect, we are here to lay this out for you. Here is our list of BJJ essentials to wear while training this year.
First on the list of essential items that you will need is a Gi. Depending on how much you’re going to train when you start off, it is best to grab a couple of these. Personally, I have a rotation of three gi’s that I go through. This just helps with laundry loads and gives some a bit of variety when I am training throughout the week.
There are some great options to choose from but from the outside looking in the choices can be a little overwhelming because there are so many. Here is a quick list:
Find the top-rated BJJ Gi's here. Helpful information on what to look for, how to find the best gi, and which brands suit you best based on your budget!
Rashguards are going to be another staple piece of equipment that you will need when training BJJ. In this category, there are so many to choose from. Really, the only thing that will separate good from great is going to be price and design, from a material standpoint, most rash guards are good quality. Jiu-Jitsu gear is something we love spending money on (clearly) so if you don’t mind spending more for high quality there is definitely options for you.
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BJJ Shorts
Now, one thing here in the shorts category, you want to choose shorts that are tailored to grappling. What does that mean though? This means your shorts should not have velcro outfacing that could harm someone else and should not have pockets so anyone’s fingers get caught when rolling. Pretty simple right? You’d be surprised…
Personally, I like my shorts to be mid-thigh and not too long. I am not a fan of certain brands and how they look and feel on my body. I try to optimize for comfort as much as possible and again, don’t mind paying a bit more to get what I like.
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Why do you need high-quality, comfortable and classy BJJ shorts? Because when you’re on the mat, you’re in your second home, your battlefield and your safe haven. You want to always be prepared for what is going to be thrown at you and any and every hindrance in your way can result in your defeat.
Board short inspired, IBJJF legal fight shorts for No-Gi training. Made with a bit less stretch than their Classic Fight Shorts, the brand new Pacific Shorts will be your new daily go-to pair.
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FUJI is one of the most well-known brands in the martial arts space. If you are looking for a staple product and a high-quality pair of shorts, FUJI has you covered.
Why do you need high-quality, comfortable and classy BJJ shorts? Because when you’re on the mat, you’re in your second home, your battlefield and your safe haven. You want to always be prepared for what is going to be thrown at you and any and every hindrance in your way can result in your defeat.
Board short inspired, IBJJF legal fight shorts for No-Gi training. Made with a bit less stretch than their Classic Fight Shorts, the brand new Pacific Shorts will be your new daily go-to pair.
Spats are just like leggings. Spats are completely optional but I like to wear them both under my Gi pants and under my grappling shorts. One, they look cooler. Two, they protect me from having skin-on-skin contact with another sweaty human and limit the risk of contracting something like staph or ringworm (more so in nogi than gi). For this item you can optimize for going cheap, there is no real difference in spats unless you care about designs, they are all around the same price.
We would suggest getting a couple of pairs here so you have a rotation to go through when training.
Fuji BJJ spats are renowned for being the best compression spats in the market. These spats are crafted with high-quality materials, typically a blend of polyester and spandex.
Fuji BJJ spats are renowned for being the best compression spats in the market. These spats are crafted with high-quality materials, typically a blend of polyester and spandex.
Elite Sports offers premium gear without breaking the bank. Elite Sports spats are built for high-intensity workouts for both MMA and BJJ.
Mouth Guards
Wearing a mouthguard is optional at the end of the day. I haven’t experienced a situation where someone has severely had some damage but many people have had horror stories that could scare anyone straight. There is only one brand here that I suggest going with because everything else on the market is just cheap plastic.
If that is your cup or tea, go for it. The mouthguards from Impact Mouthguards are made with dentist-grade material and are good for those who have braces.
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BJJ Bags
Having a bag that is dedicated to slug around all your gear is going to be necessary. If you want to be old school and just carry everything in and out, again, be our guest, but that is not what we do. Bags are more of a preference thing, I just went and bought a Nike duffel bag from Amazon that works incredibly well.
The following gear items for to protect parts of your body that may start to get achy over time while training Brazilina jiu-jitsu. It is not a surprise, that BJJ is a physical sport that may have some wear and tear on your body over time. For us, our knees have always been an issue and taking shots (wrestling move) was always a bit on the harder side.
(Wrestling) Headgear
If you don’t want cauliflower ear, we suggest getting a pair of wrestling headgear. Don’t go for the cheap options here, we have tested and tried out about every set of headgear you could imagine and the cheap option is not worth it. Our personal favorite is going to be the Wrestling/BJJ headgear from Matman.
Fits well to the head, protects the ears, and has minimal movement when rolling around.
The Matman Wrestling Headgear is a classic, no-nonsense protective headgear that we genuinely love and train in ourselves—built to stay secure while you scramble, shoot, and defend. Its reliable fit, durable construction, and comfortable ear protection make it a go-to choice for wrestlers of all levels who want solid protection without bulk or distraction.
The Adidas Wrestling Protective Headgear is a durable, comfortable ear-protective headgear designed to help prevent cauliflower ear and other impact-related injuries while you wrestle. It’s a solid choice for athletes who want trusted protection from a reputable brand, combining a secure fit with breathable padding that stays comfortable through intense training and competition.
Cliff Keen Wrestling Headgear is another top-notch brand in the wrestling world. Their headgear is known for its exceptional quality and performance. Cliff Keen offers a variety of headgear options that prioritize comfort, protection, and style.
The Gold BJJ Headgear is a lightweight protective headpiece made to help reduce impact and abrasion during training without feeling bulky or restrictive. It’s a practical choice for grapplers who want simple, comfortable protection in live rolling or drilling while still maintaining awareness and mobility on the mats.
The Matman Wrestling Headgear is a classic, no-nonsense protective headgear that we genuinely love and train in ourselves—built to stay secure while you scramble, shoot, and defend. Its reliable fit, durable construction, and comfortable ear protection make it a go-to choice for wrestlers of all levels who want solid protection without bulk or distraction.
The Adidas Wrestling Protective Headgear is a durable, comfortable ear-protective headgear designed to help prevent cauliflower ear and other impact-related injuries while you wrestle. It’s a solid choice for athletes who want trusted protection from a reputable brand, combining a secure fit with breathable padding that stays comfortable through intense training and competition.
Cliff Keen Wrestling Headgear is another top-notch brand in the wrestling world. Their headgear is known for its exceptional quality and performance. Cliff Keen offers a variety of headgear options that prioritize comfort, protection, and style.
The Gold BJJ Headgear is a lightweight protective headpiece made to help reduce impact and abrasion during training without feeling bulky or restrictive. It’s a practical choice for grapplers who want simple, comfortable protection in live rolling or drilling while still maintaining awareness and mobility on the mats.
Awh, protecting the knees like a true old man (I am only 26). There are several options to choose from here and depending on your need of protection there is a little something of everything out there for you. Again, we have tested out several pairs and like to believe we have found some of the best to choose from.
Knee pads help prevent further injury on the knees and things like mat burn.
Now, if you really start to get addicted to Jiu-Jitsu (like I did) and decide to join the cult (like I did) you’ll want to possibly bring the practice home and get some extra training opportunities in when you can. At the end of the day, the only way you progress (as fast as possible) is by drilling technique and getting an ample amount of mat time, a great way to do that is to get the items that help do just that.
Grappling dummies
One grappling dummy to another, there really isn’t any huge difference in how they perform. They all will get the job done. What you really want to make sure you do is properly fill the dummy. The last thing you want is some limp noodle to roll around with at home, your kids and wife will look at you funny and you honestly could just find that at your local white belt class.
If you want to you can even use a punching bag as a way to drill if you wan to get unique in your approach.
If you end up getting a grappling dummy or a punching bag to drill on, chances are you are going to need mats. Unless you want to be the psycho that rolls around on the cement. You probably chew on nails too so remind me not to mess with you… Most jiu-jitsu practitioners will have some mats at home. Here are the best to choose from:
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Foam Rollers and Massage Guns
Recovery and taking preventative measures is going to be your new norm when you start training BJJ and it would be a sin for me to not talk about this side of the sport in a list of essential items. You can get really creative with how you look after your body through supplementing but we will focus more on the equipment side of things in this article. If you are interested in taking your overall nutrition to a high level check out our website (Best Supplements for Athletes).
The TheraGun Therapy Massage Gun is a handheld percussive therapy device designed to help relieve muscle soreness, stiffness, and tension through rapid, deep tissue stimulation. It delivers targeted pulses of pressure to increase blood flow, improve mobility, and accelerate recovery, making it popular among athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and anyone looking to enhance post-workout recovery.
The Renpho Active Massage Gun is a handheld percussive therapy device that helps reduce muscle soreness and speed recovery by delivering targeted, deep pressure to tight areas. It’s a great value pick for athletes and everyday users alike, offering effective tension relief and improved circulation without the cost or hassle of professional massage sessions.
The RAEMAO Massage Gun is a percussive therapy device that delivers deep, targeted pulses to help relieve muscle soreness, speed up recovery, and improve blood flow after workouts or long days. It’s a strong choice for athletes and casual users that don;t want to spend a fortune.
The AERLANG Massage Gun is a handheld percussive therapy device designed to help relieve muscle stiffness, reduce soreness, and boost recovery by delivering deep, targeted vibration to tight muscles. It’s a smart pick for active individuals and athletes who want an affordable, easy-to-use tool for at-home muscle care without needing frequent professional massage sessions.
The TheraGun Therapy Massage Gun is a handheld percussive therapy device designed to help relieve muscle soreness, stiffness, and tension through rapid, deep tissue stimulation. It delivers targeted pulses of pressure to increase blood flow, improve mobility, and accelerate recovery, making it popular among athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and anyone looking to enhance post-workout recovery.
The Renpho Active Massage Gun is a handheld percussive therapy device that helps reduce muscle soreness and speed recovery by delivering targeted, deep pressure to tight areas. It’s a great value pick for athletes and everyday users alike, offering effective tension relief and improved circulation without the cost or hassle of professional massage sessions.
The RAEMAO Massage Gun is a percussive therapy device that delivers deep, targeted pulses to help relieve muscle soreness, speed up recovery, and improve blood flow after workouts or long days. It’s a strong choice for athletes and casual users that don;t want to spend a fortune.
The AERLANG Massage Gun is a handheld percussive therapy device designed to help relieve muscle stiffness, reduce soreness, and boost recovery by delivering deep, targeted vibration to tight muscles. It’s a smart pick for active individuals and athletes who want an affordable, easy-to-use tool for at-home muscle care without needing frequent professional massage sessions.
Many people that start training jiu-jitsu are immediately hooked. Training BJJ has many benefits, many of which being, mental and physical. It is a given that you will lose weight and you may experience more mental clarity.
One thing you want to avoid though is skipping weight training. I know, I know, the gym is very boring and not necessarily something you may want to go to but you need to stay lifting weights or you may end up getting yourself hurt.
A couple of times per week will do the trick if you are mixing regular BJJ training in. If you end up getting more serious about your BJJ training the gym is going to be a must.
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Cameron
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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You probably have seen your favorite MMA fighter with a gnarly-looking ear right? Most people who participate in some kind of martial art, whether that is boxing, MMA, judo, or BJJ, may develop cauliflower ear. Let’s dive into what cauliflower ear is and some ways you can go about preventing it from happening!
CAULIFLOWER EAR JIU JITSU: WHAT IS CAULIFLOWER EAR?
Cauliflower ear is a deformity of the ear canal that may occur after injury to the ear.
Cauliflower ear may occur when blood that collects in the ear canal after an injury isn’t drained properly or becomes infected. Common causes include injuries from sports, such as wrestling, boxing, or mixed martial arts . Truthfully, it’s not as gross as it sounds (or looks). All that our ear is made of is cartilage so when that cartilage gets damaged, blood flows to it making it look a little more puffy or sensitive to touch.
Some people may get turned off when they initially see it but if you get it in the martial arts world, it is a badge of honor.
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HOW DO WE GET CAULIFLOWER EAR?
You earn cauliflower ear by putting time on the mats (and by not wearing headgear lol). The ear deformity is common amongst almost most grapplers that compete at high levels. Your instructor probably has it and all the people in the MMA circuit have it. Treating cauliflower ears is fairly simple. If you get it, to not irritate the damage further it is best to wear headgear or drain the fluid that is present.
When you are rolling around and getting violent with people on the mats injuries are bound to happen. This is just one of those things. The way you can get cauliflower ear in BJJ is by the Gi rubbing against your ear too hard or by someone accidentally hitting your head/ear area. You will know when you are starting to get it. Your ears will be sore for days on end and they may be pretty sensitive to touch. When people continue to touch or damage the ear while in this stage the deformity can worsen so be careful (as much as you can be).
Cauliflower ear treatment is as simple as it gets. Wear head gear and you will be able to prevent it from happening.
Ways To Prevent Cauliflower Ear
You can prevent cauliflower ear by not training martial arts entirely or wearing headgear while training. Headgear can be uncomfortable to wear at times but nonetheless, if you do not want your ear to look mangled it will have to be the sacrifice you make.
(Bonus) If you get the deformity, drain it, and use magnets (Or EarSplintz)
What are the signs and symptoms of cauliflower ear?
You will know when you are starting to get cauliflower ear or not. Typically the first sign that your outer ear is damaged is redness in the area and swelling around the area. When the cartilage is damaged from some type of way it can get very sensitive to touch. A simple gesture of resting your head on a pillow when cauliflower ear is starting to appear can be irritating.
Now it is important to notify the difference in symptoms of cauliflower ear. When the ear is initially damaged it may swell. In cases of serious trauma to the ear cartilage blood will rush to the ear causing a blood clot, better known as an ear auricular hematoma. Managing auricular hematoma is fairly simple in most cases. It is important if you are having a large amount of swelling to go seek treatment immediately. If left untreated you are at increased risk to suffer from intense pain. Draining the blood from the ear with a sanitized syringe is recommended.
After draining the ear or the swollen area, the cartilage that is left to harden is known as the cauliflower ear. There is typically a three-step process of how the injury occurs:
First: Trauma to the ear occurs
Second: The ear is swollen, tender, or red in the damaged area. Accumulated blood in any area of the ear can be drained with a syringe. Some wrestling coaches know how to do it themselves but it is always advised to seek a medical professional who knows what they are doing.
Third: After swelling goes down, the ear is possibly drained and what is left is a small deformity
HOW TO PROPERLY DRAIN CAULIFLOWER EAR
Properly draining the most common ear injury in grappling sports (known as cauliflower ear) is done typically in two ways. The first way is through a medical professional who is certified to drain the blood for the auricular hematoma. You would think this is the best route in most cases but we have heard that some medical professionals have never drained it before making the experience less desirable then it already is. Most people who get Cauliflower ear go for the second option and that is finding a wrestling coach or someone in their circle who has drained the ear injury before.
Typically through experience, coaches will take on treating wrestler’s ear. Blood stored in cauliflower ear needs to be drained using a clean syringe and you must make sure the area is clean so no infection occurs.
Treating Cauliflower Ear
The treatment for cauliflower ear is pretty simple. When you start to notice your ear getting sore or tender to touch you have a couple of options. The options are to relax on the amount of time you train, get headgear and start to wear it, or do nothing. If you do nothing your ear will eventually swell if it keeps getting hit (the likelihood of this happening is high).
Some people may not want to walk around with a mangled ear some may see it as a trophy. The choice is yours on what you want to do.
We do not believe having cauliflower ear is a big deal. It does not affect anything on how the body functions. It may look funky but we would argue that having this ear deformity is a badge of honor. When you see someone out and they have cauliflower ear you know they are a warrior. If you see someone on the street and they have this do not pick a fight with them, you will most likely be fighting someone who is trained!
Who does cauliflower ear affect?
Cauliflower ears affect most wrestlers, boxing enthusiasts, and most grapplers (BJJ athletes, sambo practitioners, even Judokas). The cauliflower ear was originally known as the fighter ear, anyone with an injury in their ears was always known to a tough individual who frequently fought.
Cauliflower ear is not a contagious thing, it is common for many people to even train in grappling or combat-based sports and never experience getting the injury. Typically cauliflower ear is avoided by those that frequently wear headgear.
It is important to note that cauliflower ear is a permanent deformity of the ear unless you go and get plastic surgery to get it fixed. In all honesty, it is not needed, you look more like a badass with it, plus why spend that type of money to fix your ear cartilage?
The only reason we think it would make sense to get plastic surgery to fix it is if you were an MMA fighter and had a portion of your ear cartilage come off or the deformity is causing issues with hearing.
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How is cauliflower ear diagnosed?
Cauliflower ear will be noticed, chances are you will not be diagnosed by a doctor. This is a common injury among those that grapple, wrestle, or participate in some kind of combat sport.
How painful is cauliflower ear?
After the ear cartilage is hardened, cauliflower ear does not really hurt at all. The part that hurts is when the ear is swelling and damaged. The initial injury to the outer portion of the ear is the most unpleasant part of the whole sequence.
Wearing protective headgear will protect you from further damaging the ear so when cauliflower ear is forming you will not have to sit out on practice. We cannot stress enough the importance of having a good pair of headgear in your training bag when you start to experience the tenderness for the first time and it can be pretty unpleasant to train when your ear is rubbing against someone else in live rounds.
How long does it take to recover from cauliflower ear treatment?
It depends on several variables including the severity and length of the injury. If the swelling is minimal and large amounts of blood are not collecting in a single spot on the ear typically all you have to do is wear protective headgear for a couple of weeks and the pain will go away.
If you have it severe enough and need incisions, people typically recover within 2 months after an incision or drainage. After surgery, the normal healing process can last up to four weeks. Your healthcare provider should be aware of your situation.
How much does cauliflower ear treatment cost (Surgery)?
The cost for cauliflower ear treatment is ~$3,100 if you go the surgical route to get the deformity fixed. The costs vary from plastic surgeon to surgery site to procedure type. Aside from the cost of the surgery, other expenses are possible as well.
Does cauliflower ear go away?
Cauliflower ears are usually permanent, although you can change their appearance by correcting otitis.
Can you get cauliflower ear from one hit?
If you receive enough blunt trauma to the ear, yes you can suffer an ear injury like an auricular hematoma. It is not common because it is typically a build-up on continuous irritation that cause the early stages of cauliflower ear.
Cauliflower ear itself cannot happen overnight since you have to first go through the process of damaging the ear, waiting for it to be tender or swell, and then harden into what is known as cauliflower ear.
Does cauliflower ear damage your hearing?
Mild cases of cauliflower ear should not damage one’s hearing. Now, if you continue finding yourself with an auricular hematoma on an already existing cauliflower ear the cartilage may start to clump in ways that impair your hearing abilities. It is not common to have this happen and not many people will experience the amount of trauma needed to hard this happen.
It is important to note that you can get punched in the ear in ways that damage the ear drum. In this case, hearing can be impaired. Check with a medical professional for further assistance if you have lingering questions about how cauliflower ear that is left untreated could impact your hearing capabilities.
Final Thoughts
We do not believe having cauliflower ear is a big deal. It does not affect anything on how the body functions. It may look funky but we would argue that having this ear deformity is a badge of honor. When you see someone out and they have cauliflower ear you know they are a warrior. If you see someone on the street and they have this do not pick a fight with them, you will most likely be fighting someone who is trained!
Current Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt training under Thiago Ximenez in Scottsdale, Arizona. Over 5 Years of BJJ Experience and experience wrestling, boxing, and more!
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Let’s face it, injuries are bound to happen in this sport. You may run into an asshole who cranks your arm the wrong way or that tries to do some kind of flying move and lands on your knee wrong. Or you may be an older practitioner whose body takes a little time to recover. BJJ injuries are not fun to deal with, but it is necessary to know how to prevent them.
It’s a good idea to account for it but there are many ways you can work behind the scenes to prevent them from happening in the first place. You never have to get ready for something you are always preparing for.
Most Common Injuries in BJJ
There are many ways to find yourself on the list of being injured when training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The fact about martial arts is that it can be tough on the body and you run the risk of getting hurt along the way, especially when you are rolling with someone who may take those training sessions a bit too seriously. Here are some common injuries in Brazilian jiu-jitsu:
Joint injuries or dysfunction (Acute Injury Rehab)
Neck or wrist injuries (Neck Rehab)
Practicing jiu-jitsu comes with some risk factors just like most things that involve strength training or combat sports. It is just part of what we signed up for. Knowing that, accept the risk factors that are on the table and try everything in your power to not end up at a doctor’s office.
Acknowledging that it is a possibility and that you are not invincible goes a long way in not only preventing injury but also maintaining those nagging ones. Nagging injuries are probably the worst ones to have to deal with but in this post, we will point you in a direction to help alleviate some of those pains that may occur.
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is a martial art where injury risk can be high but as the popularity of martial arts is rising every day it is pivotal that people training have access to information and resources to help solve some of these issues.
Research has shown that there is a huge emphasis on BJJ practitioners taking their injury prevention methods seriously. It is not very common for someone to not experience one of the listed injuries in their time of training Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Serious injury can occur if someone lets their ego get in the way or if they sit in submissions for too long without properly tapping out.
Are you suffering from a sports-related injury? Find an online rehab program to help solve the problem! We have partnered with sports med professionals with love 20 years of experience to provide you with in-class service!
Injuries from art form to art form vary in many ways so it is hard to say which martial art has the most injuries occur. In any sport, you are running risk when you put your body on the line. Brazilian jiu-jitsu training is not easy and from what we have seen most common injuries start in the training sessions. Picking good training partners is a great way to stay away from being injured.
Competition BJJ athletes run an even higher risk of getting hurt because they are going full speed against an opponent that is out to submit them. Injuries in Brazilian jiu-jitsu are not fun to deal with, typically the healing process is long and takes away from your training time. If you do find yourself injured from training it is advised to take some time to relax and not aggravate minor strains. The last thing you want to do is increase the injury rate and spend more time sidelined.
Neck Pain or Injuries in BJJ
There are certain body parts that you must be more cautious about than others and I believe he neck, back, and knees are just those.
Having any kind of serious injury to the neck or spine can put you out of commission for a very long time so if something feels off you must seek medical care. Damaging the neck bad enough could lead to permanent damage that cannot be reversed.
This information is not on here to scare anyone off from training a martial art like BJJ. It should be noted that if you are training with people that are not out to hurt you (aka being a good partner) the likelihood of something as dramatic as this happening goes down.
Injuries to Ligaments, Lendons, or Nerves
These are probably the most painful of all injuries because you feel sharp pain with every movement. We know this from first-hand experience when we hurt out knees in a live rolling session. If the pain is unbearable, medical treatment is advised. Please see a doctor if there is excessive swelling, bruising, or damage to a particular region of the body.
The areas that are most affected in these specific ways are going to be the following:
Everyone is gonna get hurt at some point. When you do, we have you covered. Get the A to Z guide on managing acute injury ranging from rehab exercises and timing to nutrition and supplements to peptides.
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Lower Back Pain
Rener Gracie has found lower spine pain injuries to be the most prevalent injury on the BJJ. If you are much bigger than your body and push the body into awkward positions, it is quite easy to pull muscle down the back or to lose a disc in your spine.
Lower back pain is the worst because when you have the issue its really hard to do just about anything. The crazy part about being injured in any way is that you realize how much of an impact it can have on day-to-day function if it progressively gets worse. If you find yourself in a position where you have real lower back pain from an injury you should seek advice from professionals that could help. We have partnered with Sports Medical Professionals with over 20 years of experience in the industry who have crafted online rehab programs for just about any kind of injury you could imagine.
Being a BJJ fighter opens you up to a world where the injury frequency may be more than you originally expected if you do not take care of your body in the right way.
Most of us do not work any form of shoulder mobility into our routine and over time it comes back to bite us in the butt. But it does not have to always be like that. If you have experienced shoulder issues in the past you know how much of a letdown they can be. It is not uncommon to see shoulder injuries pop up on the BJJ mats especially as we age.
Personally, when it comes down to injuries and taking preventative measures, we have even leaned into peptides like BPC-157 to help alleviate all the risks.
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How common are knee injuries in BJJ?
Knee injuries are probably some of the more common injuries people will experience in BJJ next to the shoulder. Wearing protective knee braces or sleeves is what we do and it provides us with the stability we need to all out in our rolling sessions.
If you are looking for a great recommendation for protective knee gear, we could not recommend Anaconda Fightwear enough. The design of the knee sleeve is cool and the stability we got from wearing it was like no other knee sleeve we have worn. We have been using knee sleeves for years because we have a jacked-up right knee but rolling around with this one made us feel very comfortable.
The only downside is that the velcro wears off fast, so it may be smart to buy two at a time.
How to treat a BJJ injury for the quickest recovery
Injuries are common for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu athletes. You may not be able to completely avoid them but there are ways to treat them and do your best so we can prevent serious injuries from creeping in.
If you find yourself injured you need to take a break and create a strong habit of having discipline. I know how challenging that can be, I recently went through this myself with an ankle injury I had. Staying away from doing live rolls while you are hurt is crucial to your recovery time and these moments should be taken very seriously if you do not want the issue to get progressively worse. In these moments it calls us to put our ego to the side and just rest.
I personally advise anyone who is hurt to still show up to class, not only are you still able to take in the instructions from the class but it also looks good in the coach’s eyes. Consider doing some online rehab lessons while live rolls are going on.
Avoiding BJJ Injuries Starts With Proper Stretching
Simple stretching or even basic yoga poses will be game-changing to keep you fresh and loose enough to avoid injuries that can keep you off the mats for an extended period. From personal experience, we suffer from having very tight hip flexors from sitting all day at a desk. Every so often during the workday, I may be sure to stand up touch my toes, and hold lunge poses to open up my hips.
Adding a real yoga routine is not in our cards at the moment so we just look up great poses that we can do that are recommended by ‘YogaForBJJ‘. Yoga is a common practice that most advanced athletes do but even novice athletes can benefit from adding a simple routine to what they are currently doing.
There are only positive side effects to adding yoga and proper stretching to your training. Not only will you be able to stay away from being injured when you take the practice seriously but you may also progress way faster.
When you are nimble and able to move in ways other people cannot you are inching toward advanced athletes’ territory.
Prevent injury by adding a 5-minute routine to what you already do. BJJ-related injuries are no fun to deal with and can even discourage you from continuing on with the sport. We want to see you continue moving forward on your journey and it starts with taking care of your body properly.
If you have not invested in one yet, get yourself a foam roller. They are small and compact enough to seriously store anywhere and while you are at it you should probably go for a massage gun as well. These two items (in our book) should be in everyone’s house regardless if you train in Brazilian jiu-jitsu or not.
A normal yoga class just isn't welcoming to sports/athletes/fit people, because they're not sedentary and weak, but often extra stiff, stronger than average, and have a different mindset and other needs than average Joe-Jane. Get 200 hours of training for free!
We are serious about getting to the point where we can train this martial art full-time and we understand that avoiding common injuries (that can be entirely avoided) is the name of the game. BJJ injuries (listed above) tend to be ones that linger for long periods of time. A serious injury does occur when you we are not taking the proper steps to prepare ourselves for what we are about to put our bodies through.
At the current time, we lift weights between 2 -3 times per week and train Brazilian jiu-jitsu about 4 -5 times. We do not go into the gym to ego lift. We work our muscles in a way that will result in making our movement in our sport more dynamic and explosive so we can compete with some of the best people in our weight class.
Technique is the most important aspect of BJJ/grappling performance. But want to increase your chances of landing submissions, finishing takedowns, and maintaining position? This program will have you man handling your opponents making them ready to tap.
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Personal Care with Hydration and Supplementation
With Brazilian jiu-jitsu training, Hydration is a must. It should go without words there. You need to be dialed in with nutrition if you want to keep yourself at peak shape to not only compete at high levels but also prevent injuries from occurring.
Drinking a gallon of water and maybe even throwing in some electrolytes is the route you can go here. Drinking a gallon can be a hard task, especially if you are starting from zero. This is no rush, if you cannot drink a whole gallon start with three 24oz glasses a day. Morning, lunch, and night and you will be ok.
You sweat a lot in this sport and dehydration is not fun to deal with.
Supplementation
If you haven’t supplemented before it will become a part of your routine when adopting this new warrior lifestyle. Protein powders, vitamin D, magnesium glycinate, boron, fadogia agrestis with tongkat ali, and pre-training supplements all allow us to biohack our bodies and get the most out of our training sessions.
If you are not a professional athlete, you should not feel ashamed at taking any supplements or enhancers that are meant to help you perform better. Whetehr that be on or off the mats.
If you have the capability of doing so, get your blood work done to see where you are lacking in regard to your supplementation. Through our own blood work process we discovered that we have high cholesterol and a lower-than-average level of testosterone for someone our age. This gave us the ammo to dial in a game plan with people who knew how to supplement properly so we could train longer and with more efficiency and energy.
Your body is a machine and it needs to be taken care of while you put it under this kind of stress. We have an article about the best supplements that any grappler could be taking, be sure to check that out.
To prevent more injuries from occurring you need to take your post-workout recovery seriously especially if you are getting up there in age. Adding a routine to spend some time in the sauna and adding cold water exposure is a great way to get the most out of your body.
We know quite a few grapplers who have taken cold plunging seriously and have a device in their homes. If you are on the fence of doing so check out the reviews we have written on all the top products in the market.
Whether you are a BJJ athlete, hobbyist, or enjoy spending time doing other recreational sports, spending time in a sauna and time in a plunge tub could seriously boost performance and recovery times. Spending just 20 minutes in a sauna can relieve stress, relax muscles, soothe aches, flush out toxins, and improve cardiovascular performance.
A regular dry sauna does the job here. If you have a local gym you go to that has an infrared sauna even better!
This goes without saying. The goal is to get you to stick with the sport and soak up all the benefits without having injuries hold you back from reaching your goals.
TAP EARLY AND OFTEN. Once again, it is never worth it to risk serious injuries. If there is nothing on the line (you’re not competing for a world title) you should be making sure you tap out when the time calls. Do not let your ego get in the way of your BJJ training, you will end up beating yourself up for doing it in the long run.
A very popular submission in today’s game are heel hooks. Popularized by many at this point, heel hooks are common submissions that people will go after even while training. If you get caught in one, for the sake of your knees, please tap. An ACL tear or a medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear is in your near future if you do not do so. A knee injury could set you back some time and knee injuries tend to take a toll on you mentally even after you have gone through the healing process. If you have not already received an ad from them, you should check out anaconda knee sleeves. We wear this thing almost everywhere. It looks cool and does the job, could not recommend a better knee sleeve.
Getting hurt on the mats can be a depressing thing. We all want to be in tip-top shape but do not want to be set back in our training. Do not let spazzy training partners or a wild scramble take you out for months at a time. The first time we were hurt all we wanted to do was punch a wall and scream. The items listed above are just some ways we can help and make it easier to come back better than before.
It is important to state that if the injury is serious enough please be sure to consult a medical professional. The things laid out in this blog are mainly for muscle and joint soreness, something serious like neck injuries or possibly low-back should be taken up with a doctor if the pain is unbearable!
Happy Rolling!
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