Welcome to the third and final installment of Tales from the Mat, the arqeonarchitecture Halloween blog series.

For all of those who believed the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy to be a warm, safe place… we’re here with a word of caution. Be vigilant dear reader, because while your academy might be fine… now… there are dangers that lurk all around. Join us as we show you exactly what can happen when you play footlocks with strangers.

Read on, if you dare…. Muahahahahhahahah.

The Newcomer

It’s a cool October afternoon when Kyle gets off of work. Windows down, enjoying the crisp autumn air, he’s heading to the jiu-jitsu academy to train. It’s been a long week and he needs to engage in some simulated murder.

As he parks in his usual spot, he notices a vehicle in the lot with a Louisiana license plate. A new guy.

As inconspicuously as possible, Kyle scans the mats for any unfamiliar faces as he sets his gear bag along the wall. The stealth is unnecessary. He locks eyes with the man.

He’s an average looking white guy in all other regards but one: the man’s eyes shine with an eerie gleam. Almost red. Unnerved, Kyle glances quickly away.

“He’s probably stoned,” Kyle thinks, trying to calm his escalating heartbeat. 

The head instructor introduces him as “Andrew” and welcomes the new black belt into the gym. Andrew’s lips barely twitch, in what could have been called a friendly smile. Maybe.

As the head instructor begins demonstrating the technique, Kyle feels the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. He glances over the heads of the instructor and his uke, finding Andrew’s unblinking gaze fixated on him. Not on his face. But on his legs.

“What is with this guy?” Kyle thinks, unsettled.

The Suspicious Red Bump

Kyle successfully avoids Andrew for drilling, but as soon as the music cranks up for live rounds, he looks up to find the man looming over him, mere inches away. There is no escaping.

“Want to roll?” Andrew asks, a slight Cajun tilt to his words.

What can he do? Andrew is a black belt, and Kyle a lowly purple belt. Yeah, he might be able to get away with skipping warmups, but he can’t refuse to roll with an upper belt. It’s just not done. Not unless he wants to look scared… which in fact, he is. But that’s beside the point.

Kyle stutters something to the affirmative.

The buzzer rings. Andrew pulls guard, his intense gaze locked on Kyle’s legs, hungrily it seems.

Uncomfortable, Kyle looks down, away from those sinister looking eyes. That’s when he sees it: an angry red spot, on the inside of Andrew’s thigh, partially concealed by long, curly hair.

Noooooo. No, no, no. That can’t be what he thinks it is… surely not.

He freezes in place. Horror stories of rampant infections, hospital stays and time off the mat play through his mind. 

The paralyzing fear is his undoing. Andrew takes that moment to invert underneath him, snatching Kyle’s leg into honey hole. The bite around his thigh is inhumanly strong…

But then… then he feels a very different sensation. 

Bitten

A bite – an actual bite?? – coming from the vicinity of the suspicious red bump on Andrew’s leg, where it pressed skin-to-sweaty-skin against Kyle’s own.

A silent scream of shock, of pain, echoes through Kyle’s mind. His wide eyes fix in terror upon the other man.

He isn’t sure which is more terrifying: the thought of how - how?? - the spot is possibly attaching itself to Kyle’s leg, chewing into his flesh, or the look of abject pleasure that washes across Andrew’s features. It smoothes the lines of his face, making him appear younger, somehow. 

“Surely, I’m imagining it,” Kyle thinks, frantic.

Suddenly, Andrew’s thin, bloodless lips stretch across his face in glee as he reaches back, hooking Kyle’s heel with the blade of his forearm. He locks it tight, a mere second before slamming his hips into the side of Kyle's leg.

This time, the scream is audible.

The other students gather around, as Kyle writhes on the floor, holding his knee. Andrew, unperturbed, sits off to the side. His eyes gleam brighter, blood red. 

The Transformation

Kyle is driven to his home, refusing the offer to be taken straight to the hospital. “It’s not that bad,” he lies. It’s that bad. But he doesn’t have health insurance.

He lies on his couch, a couple frozen slabs of steak – the only thing he had – wrapped around his knee with a t-shirt. He examines the angry red spot on his thigh, touching it gingerly. 

He doesn’t feel so well. Besides the throbbing pain in his destroyed knee, he feels feverish. Sweat beads across his forehead. His skin prickles. He shivers, then shudders.

He hobbles to the medicine cabinet and downs a half-empty bottle of nighttime flu remedy. A shower, maybe? He stands as long as he can under the scalding water, still shaking uncontrollably.

He scrubs the red spot. It bleeds. Then, suddenly, it stops. The crimson droplets almost seem to be sucking back into the welt.

“I’m hallucinating,” he thinks. Bed. That’s what he needs.

He crawls out of the shower on all fours… all threes, actually, dragging his injured leg behind him. Halfway across his room, just as his hand reaches up to the mattress, everything goes black.

The next morning, he awakes. His knee feels fine. Perfect even. Better than it ever has. He feels great. Better than great… amzing. Powerful. And… hungry.

Epilogue

Three months later, Kim rolls up to the building in her white 4-Runner. She’s heard a lot about jiu-jitsu from her old roommates, and she’s finally ready to give it a try.

Parking, she looks up at the sign.

“10^th Planet, huh? I wonder what that’s about.” 

She grabs her bag and walks through the open front door. She looks around. 

All heads turn toward her, as one. Their eyes glow bright red, intense, staring at her ankles. 

“Welcome,” Kyle says silkily, at her side. She stifles the feeling of trepidation, as he guides her deeper into the academy. 

Enjoyed this tale? Don’t forget to read the first two installments:

• The Zombie Toenails
• The Sweat Blob

Welcome to the second installment of Tales from the Mat, our spooktastic Hallowen series!

If you’ve thought the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy is a warm, safe place to be… guess again. Join us as we take a step inside an academy whose less-than-optimal standards of cleanliness proved to be its downfall.

Read on, if you dare…. Muahahahahhahahah.

The Beginning

Loud music blares from the open doorway of the jiu-jitsu academy and filters out into the cool October night. The occupants inside are absorbed in their acts of simulated murder, grunting and breathing heavily, grabbing, pulling and pushing their opponents in search for that elusive, satisfying tap.

Sweat pours down their faces and splashes to the already drenched tatami, seeping into the cracks between the mats. Feet slide, slipping in the puddles before they gain purchase; the puddles, by now, a stew of bodily fluid and bacteria from every member of the academy.

A loud ring sounds, announcing the end of the round. “Time!” the instructor calls out, disengaging from his own partner and swiping wet tendrils of hair from his face before calling for his students to line up against the wall.

He makes a few statements about training hard and living a good life – funny, considering his own marriage is in shambles due to his predilection for pretty white belt women – before bowing everyone out.

He calls for several of his lowly white belts to grab the disinfectant spray and the mops… which are chronically unwashed and reused time and time again, left in the closet to “dry” with suspiciously curly dark hairs sticking to their surface.

This time is like every other… except it’s not.

From the Depths of the Mat

For years it has waited, biding its time in the far corner of the academy, in the recesses where the wall mats meet the floor mats. The hardest spot to clean, even for the most diligent… which our friend the head instructor is not.

That’s where one lowly, harmless bacteria had transformed itself.

Each day, every sweat-filled training session, it had grown stronger. Slurping the dregs of the mat into itself, absorbing the noxious brew of sweat, skin cells, hair and sometimes – those delightfully delicious sometimes – blood…

As its strength grew, so did its hunger.

It was no longer satisfied with what seeped between the mats. It had made a decision. Tomorrow it would feast.

The Hunt

It’s an evening just like any other. The open mat is in full swing at the jiu-jitsu academy. A 90’s rock mix is blaring on the speaker as students are preoccupied with grappling each other, their faces contorted in exertion, their focus narrowed in on their opponents.

The smell of sweat is already heavy in the air. Alluring to the creature who lay beneath. It makes its move.

It bubbles out into the light, toward the nearest pair: a former wrestler, long past his prime and several weight classes heavier, rolling with a lanky teenager with a mop of greasy hair on his head. It slurpes over the wrestler’s foot, testing, tasting. The very air is so moist that the wrestler doesn’t notice.

He tastes goooooood. Salty, pungent, decades of Hot Cheetos and Diet Coke oozing out of his pores.

The blob suddenly washes over the both of them, absorbing them into its toxic body, their flesh and bones quickly decomposing. Whatever cry for help that might have been uttered was swallowed up by the heavy beats of Rage Against the Machine.

Nobody heard, nobody noticed, too absorbed in their own training. Two-by-two, the blob makes its way around the mat, reveling in the individual tastes of each human. Only the vegan tastes a little off, but it eats that one, too.

As the music ends, only one pair remaines: the professor and his partner. “Time!” He calls out, adjusting his belt as he stands. Then he looks up.

The mat is empty, except for the now huge blob looming over him, its body a gelatinous mix of blood, hair, gi fragments and partially digested body parts. He has no time to scream before it washes over him, too.

With no more tasty treats left on the mat, the blob oozes out of the academy and slips down the into the nearby storm drain.

The End... Or Is It?

Blue and red flashing lights illuminate the windows of the BJJ academy the next morning, in response to the flood of calls from frantic family members.

The police had found the academy door wide open, vacant, music still blaring into the crisp air. Gear bags were still scattered about where they had been left by their owners the night before. Flip-flops still haphazardly lined the outside of the mat. Nothing appeared to have been stolen. There was no blood on the mat.

Even with the door left open throughout the night, the inside of the academy still smells faintly of sweaty rashguards that had been left inside a vehicle overnight. The smell emanates from the mats.

Ten feet below the street level, the blob makes its way slowly through the sewer… following the intoxicating scent of another dirty BJJ academy.

As we dive into the spookiest month of the year, it’s only right that we tell some scary stories of our own.

In general, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy is a warm, safe place to be… most times. But there are those rare few times that transform the BJJ mat into a veritable house of horrors. Many have tried to forget, have tried to pick up the pieces of their lives, but their experiences lend themselves as cautionary tales for the rest of us.

This month, we’ll be sharing a few of these stories. Read on, if you dare…. Muahahahahhahahah.... [*read as evil laugh*]

An Average, Everyday Joe 

It was an average fall day, the air crisp and clean, the leaves beginning to change colors and the smell of pumpkin spice following all the basic white girls down the street. Joe – an average, everyday guy, with his average, everyday name and an average, everyday job – clocks out of work, his gym bag slung over his shoulder. He’s on his way to jiu-jitsu.

Flash forward to the BJJ academy. Everyone watches the instructor show the first move of the night: a berimbolo. How exciting. Joe has always wanted to learn the berimbolo (though he mispronounces it every single time). The instructor counts 1, 2, 3 and the room vibrates with the clap. But this time, unlike all the other times, the sound was somehow ominous… [*cue dun, dun, dun sound*]

Joe shakes off the feeling of foreboding and looks around for a partner as everyone pairs up to drill. Oh no. Ohhhh nooooo, he thinks. He was too late. The only unmatched partner was “that guy.”

“That Guy” 

Greg. The twenty-five year old "still-finishing-my-degree" college student who had just been kicked out of his mom’s basement and had not yet figured out how to wash his own clothes properly. But that’s not what scares Joe the most. No, not by a long shot. As disgusting as someone else’s funk is – a funk that seeps into your own gi within minutes of the briefest of contact – that took second seat to what was most troubling about Greg.

Joe’s pupils dilate as he stared in horror at Greg’s feet.

Long, jagged, yellowed, toenails curve out from the beds of Greg’s toes. Did Joe imagine it, or did they seem to be reaching toward him?

But what could Joe say? He was a lowly white belt, while Greg had just been promoted to blue… could he say something? Oh no, he didn’t want to cause a scene. He didn’t want Greg to be insulted and take it out on him during rolls. It’s one thing to have to roll with “that guy”; it’s another thing altogether when “that guy” decides to keep you in his triangle for the entire round.

No, he couldn’t say anything. It’s fine. It’ll be fine. It’s just a few drills. He’ll be fine.

Joe slowly, reluctantly walks over Greg. Greg, oblivious to his “that guy”ness, wipes his dripping nose with his gi sleeve and fist bumps Joe before plopping on his butt to go first.

It’s fine. It’ll be fine. It’s a mantra in Joe’s head. Greg enters into de la riva and grabs a hold of Joe’s pant leg to begin. 

The Incident

The next few seconds pass as if in slow motion. Joe’s eyes fixate on Greg’s toenails as he lands on his butt. Then they widen in horror as, instead of Greg’s foot curling around his hip as was shown, it instead arches toward his face. 

No, he wasn’t imagining it. Greg’s toenails WERE reaching for him. The jagged edges growing longer, as if the deadened cells were like fingers reaching for him. 

Noooooooooooooo... [*in slow motion, very cinematic like*].

The squelch of toenails ripping into his cheek reverberates in Joe’s head and he lets out an inhuman scream of disgust, pain and horror. Everyone stops what they’re doing and looks.

“Uh. Sorry man,” Greg says. He doesn’t sound sorry. He sounds exactly like the kind of guy who would mooch off his parents as long as possible. He sounds exactly like the kind of guy who spends hours playing video games but couldn’t be bothered to Google “how to wash your gi.” He sounds exactly like the kind of guy who wouldn’t care enough about his training partners to bother cutting his toenails in the first place.

Joe slowly rises, his eyes fixed on nothing at all, walks to the locker room, washes the raw, jagged cuts with soap and water, grabs his pack and leaves without a word.

The Transformation

That night, Joe is restless. He had showered several times, scouring his face with every antibacterial soap he could find. He had huddled under the streaming water, shaken by his memory of the incident. Those toenails. Those putrid, horrifying toenails. They had REACHED for him.

Sleep. That’s what he needed. Yes, sleep, he thinks.

But it would not come.

He feels hot. Then cold. He starts to sweat, then shivers uncontrollably. The gashes on his face itch. He can’t keep his own fingernails from relieving the unrelenting itch. So itchy. So, so itchy! It won’t stop! Why wouldn’t it stop?! He lets out a tortured wail… and then there is darkness. 

The Next Morning

The next morning Joe awakes. He feels… fine. Actually. Not too bad at all.

He rises, looks back at his bed, the sheets twisted and soiled with sweat, his pillow covered with red splotched, crusty pus.

Eh, he’ll wash them later.

He lumbers to the bathroom to take his morning piss, closing his eyes as the stream splashes and splatters all over the seat and floor.

Eh, he’ll clean that up later.

He looks at his reflection in the mirror. The gashes are still angry and red, oozing a bit and with fresh red crosshatches where he’d itched them. His hair is plastered to his head and greasy. He glances at the shower.

Eh, he’ll shower later.

He rifles through the dirty clothes hamper to find yesterday’s work clothes. His gi is lying on the floor where he’d dropped it after returning home. He gives it a whiff.

Eh, still good. 

He looks at the clock before he walks out the door to begin his day. It was 11:30am. He usually starts work at 9.

Eh, it’ll be fine.

Epilogue

It was not fine.

Weeks later, we find Joe living in his parents’ basement after losing his job. The gashes on his face are now just a pink lines across his cheek. He’d picked up playing video games until late into the night. A couple times a week, he puts his unwashed gi in his gym bag and heads to his local jiu-jitsu academy to train. He is now “that guy,” and his toenails have grown out… long, jagged, yellowed… searching for their next victim.

Let Joe's story be a word of caution to all my readers out there… cut your toenails. And stay tuned for the next spooky installment of Tales from the Mat…

If you’ve been practicing jiu-jitsu long enough, you’ve probably started to dream about opening a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy of your own one day. It happens to all of us. Why not turn our passion into our profession?

However, starting a jiu-jitsu academy is not easy. Running it – and running it well – is even harder. A jiu-jitsu academy is a business, just like any other. And like any other business, the failure rate is high. Only about 25% of businesses make it past 15 years; 20% fail in the first two years, 45% in the first five, and a whopping 65% in the first 10! 

Yes, that’s intimidating. But there are things that you can do to help your jiu-jitsu academy succeed, and keep from becoming one of those statistics. 

For the last 15 years, I’ve trained all over the world, in hundreds of different academies; some for months and years, some for just a day. Over the course of this time, I’ve been able to see what works… and what doesn’t. In this multi-part series of BJJ Academy Dreams, I will give you some tips and ideas that will help your academy thrive.

First and foremost… location is everything.

Saturation Rate

One of the first considerations in opening a BJJ academy is: how many other jiu-jitsu gyms are already in your area?

Depending on the size of your city or town, “your area” may be considered differently. For example, if you live in a big city, where there’s a high population density, your area might be an individual neighborhood or borough. That’s why in bigger cities, you can have more academies closer together. In this case, distance is gauged more in commute time than physical distance. In contrast, smaller towns have lower population densities, and smaller populations in general. It doesn’t make sense in a small town to have two jiu-jitsu academies just down the street from each other. That is unless each jiu-jitsu academy offers very different services, hours, and cultures... which cater to different people.  

Demographics

Understanding of your area’s demographics is incredibly important in the success of your jiu-jitsu academy.

Demographics refers to the characteristics of a given population, such as age, sex, income, etc. The most successful businesses include an in-depth analysis of an area’s demographics in their initial business plans. It’s what allows business owners to determine that, no, a high-end luxury storefront doesn’t make sense in a neighborhood where the income is below the poverty line. A jiu-jitsu academy is no different. In fact, jiu-jitsu is a luxury for most people; so, unless you plan to focus on a non-profit model (which is absolutely an option), if you put your academy in a low-income area, expect many of your students to struggle to pay their memberships. 

When deciding where to put your jiu-jitsu academy, you’ll want to choose a spot where there is a decently large population of "younger people" (between the ages of 20 and 40) with disposable incomes. If you want to have a big kid’s program (and you should, more on that another day), find a place where there are a lot of young families.  

Size of Facility

The size of facility you want to begin with will put a huge constraint on your location; and vice versa. There are only so many commercial areas that will offer a lot of square footage for a reasonable rate. And even fewer that are in desirable areas. 

Most academies start small out of necessity. The bigger the space, the higher the rent, and the more students you’ll need to just break even. Starting small enables you to cover your expenses with a fairly modest student body. However, if you start small and you’re successful, you’ll quickly outgrow your space. Then you face the hassle of locating a new space, possible construction costs, and closing the academy for a period of time to move all your mats and address other - often unanticipated - start-up needs.

If you’re looking to open a large academy, but you’re on a budget, the more industrial areas of your town will appeal to you. However, as I’ll explain below, this may not be the best course of action. If you want a large academy and you have tons of capital, well, finding the optimal spot is probably less of an issue for you.   

Foot Traffic and Nearby Amenities

Another, lesser appreciated, consideration for your BJJ academy is the amount of foot traffic there is in your desired area. This is closely related to the availability of nearby amenities.

The more people there are shopping, eating out, engaging in various other entertainment activities… the more visibility your academy has to potential students. And maybe it’s not the person passing by your window who decides to join, but he/she may tell someone else, “Oh yeah, there’s a jiu-jitsu place by the [insert fun place here].” Additionally, your students will also benefit from nearby amenities. Your  jiu-jitsu moms will be able to drop their offspring off and get their errands done nearby. Maybe there’s a nearby watering hole that your students like to frequent after a tough Friday night open mat. 

Parking

Lack of sufficient parking is not a deal-breaker, but it is definitely a downer. If you found a sweet location, that ticks all the other boxes, but it has only four dedicated parking spots… you’re going to run into conflicts.

At the very least, your students will spend an unnecessary amount of time finding an open spot, and arrive to class chronically late. They might end up parking in an area they’re not supposed to and get a hefty parking ticket from a disgruntled parking enforcement officer who cares not one whit what belt they are. Your neighbors may even end up hating you, and engaging in all kinds of passive aggressive behaviors – such as towing – simply because your students are frequently taking their very limited parking spots.

Hopefully, I’ve been able to convince you of the importance of location in starting your Brazilian jiu-jitsu academy. Stay tuned for the next edition of BJJ Academy Dreams…

Welcome to the third installment of the arqeonarchitecture Breakdown series, brought to you by everyone’s favorite social scientist black belt. 

Shoulder locks are everywhere, especially once you know the underlying principles that connect every single one of them. They’re one of the most underrated submissions in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu arsenal. Not the sexiest by any means, but one of the most accessible. In fact, most shoulder lock submissions come via another attack – an armbar or triangle – in which the opponent, busy defending the first submission, leaves him or herself open for the shoulder lock.

Understanding how a shoulder lock works – the underlying principles – will help you both recognize their opportunities, as well as make any required adjustments to effectively and efficiently execute them.

So, let’s examine this most underrated submission:  

A Shoulder Lock Defined

Have you ever tried to describe a shoulder lock to someone who has no knowledge of Brazilian jiu-jitsu? No? Give it a try. It’s harder than you think. Most people begin explaining how to execute one, rather than what exactly it is. 

No matter what shoulder lock you do – americana, kimura, omoplata, platas of other kinds – they are all shoulder attacks. More specifically, they seek to hyper-rotate the shoulder in the shoulder socket, past the point in which the ligaments allow it to move.  

A Friendly Anatomy Lesson

Understanding the anatomy of the body – how it’s put together, how it’s supposed to move, and most importantly how it’s not supposed to move – will give you a deeper understanding of how submissions work.

The shoulder is a ball-in-socket joint, created by the head of the humerus (that single, long bone of your upper arm) and a shallow depression on the end of your scapula. The bones are held into place by various ligaments, tendons and muscles of the rotator cuff. While their orientation allows for the shoulder to be the most mobile joint in the human body, they are not infallible. This is especially the case if you orient the arm in such a way to restrict their movement.  

It’s All About the Angle

So how do you orient the arm to restrict the shoulder’s movement, and therefore compromise the mobility of the shoulder in the shoulder socket? It’s all about the angle.

Humor me in a quick demonstration on your own body. Hold your arm out, completely straight, away from the side of your body. Now twist just your thumb around. When the arm is completely straight, most people will be able to get at least 180 degrees of rotation in the shoulder. Now make a 90 degree bend in your arm, and try to rotate your forearm around.  You’ll be lucky if you get barely more than 90 degrees of rotation. Okay, now bend your wrist as close to your shoulder as possible – making an acute angle – and try rotating again. You’ll get even less.

The angle of your arm is what constricts your shoulder’s rotation in the socket. The more acute the angle, the more restricted the movement, and the faster and more efficient your shoulder lock will be. Every single shoulder lock you’ll ever see relies on this most basic principle.

Black Belt Bonus Tips

Of course, what would my breakdown be without a few super secret – shhhh – black belt tips in executing the shoulder lock?

• If there’s an armbar, there’s a shoulder lock – In attacking the armbar, you’re attacking the elbow joint. The shoulder lock is an easy 90-degree (or more!) bend away. In fact, your opponent will often do all the hard work for you. In trying to escape the armbar, they’ll actively put that bend in their arm, allowing you just a few adjustments to hyper rotate the shoulder in the shoulder joint. The easiest example of this is an armbar from side control, which, with just a bend, quickly becomes either a kimura or armericana from side control.
• Aim for the back of the head – When you’re seeking a kimura-oriented shoulder lock (one in which the wrist is pointed down toward the torso and not up toward the head), try to put your opponent’s wrist on the back of his/her head. This will allow you to keep the shoulder lock close to your opponent’s body and maintain a nice acute angle without having to consciously think about it. 

Want more BJJ Breakdowns? Check out these:

• The Complete Armbar Breakdown
• The Complete Triangle Breakdown

When you get a diverse group of people together, there are bound to be behaviors that you just don’t agree with. The jiu-jitsu academy – the Brazilian jiu-jitsu community in general – is no exception.

Diversity is what makes the jiu-jitsu community so amazing. The mats attract people from all walks of life, all backgrounds, all career trajectories… everyone comes together to share their passion for the gentle art. But because everyone comes from very different places… they may have very different views on what’s okay, and what’s not so much.

Even so, jiu-jitsu is a community. Just as with any type of community, anywhere in the world, communities tend to develop their own social rules and norms, some of which are unspoken. This is what helps to maintain order. So, wherever its members might have come from – and whatever may be the rules and norms they typically follow in their everyday life – they are expected to adapt to those of the mat. 

But, expectations don’t always align with reality. There are always a handful of individuals - *cough* purple belts *cough* - who tend to be the biggest violators of BJJ’s Biggest Pet Peeves:  

Intentionally Missing Warm-Ups

Mandatory participation in warm-ups isn’t usually a formal rule on the jiu-jitsu mat… at least for most BJJ academies. I’ve definitely witnessed many an athlete who was turned away from competition class because he or she arrived well after the start of class. But this is rare. 

But because it’s not a formal rule, you get individuals who repeatedly, and intentionally, miss warm-ups during regular classes. I get it. Most warm-ups consist of dumb, monotonous movements, with little variation day-to-day. But that’s not the point. For one, the purpose of a warm-up is to warm your body up so that you don’t injure yourself during regular training. Those dumb, monotonous movements serve an important purpose. Additionally, in being part of a jiu-jitsu academy, you’re part of a collective. If you decide not to do what the rest of the collective is doing, you’re sending an implicit signal to the rest of the group that you think you’re special or better than the others.

It’s not a good look. Don’t do it.

Wearing Stinky Gear

I cannot stress enough: jiu-jitsu is an intimate sport. Not “intimate” in the bedroom sense (well… depending on your relationship with your training partner). Intimate in the sense that you are up-close-and-personal with another human being. You’re breathing on each other, sweating on each other, and in some cases your face is dangerously close to their personal bits.

You do not want to be all of that with someone who hasn’t sufficiently washed his or her training gear. Maybe it’s an honest mistake. Maybe the gi or rashguard is at the end of its life and he/she can no longer get the funk out. More than likely, however, it’s because that person – usually a teenager fresh out of his parents’ home – thought they could get one more use out of it before washing. 

Don’t be that person. Wash after every use, and know when to toss.

Going to the Restroom Barefoot

In line with the above, another pet peeve is when someone gets off the mat, barefoot, goes to the restroom, barefoot, and returns to the mat to roll. There is no possible excuse to justify this violation.

And if you’re inclined to argue, imagine this: you’re in a room full of people – mostly guys – and they all have varying levels of urinary accuracy. There will be droplets on the floor. If they are dry and unnoticeable, you’ve just rehydrated them with your sweaty feet. Then you return to the mat, where your feet have just transferred that bit of human biology directly to a surface in which you and your training partners will be rubbing your faces.

You’re welcome for that visual. Wear shoes when you're off the mat. 

Being on Your Phone

This pet peeve is just as applicable to professors as it is to students, and I see it violated time and time again. There’s a big difference between using your phone as a timer or to consult notes, and scrolling through Instagram or answering messages that could wait until after class. Don’t kid yourself either, everyone knows which one is happening when it happens.  

For students, this is less of a violation. The odds of you being on your phone during regular instruction is low. You’ve paid good money to be there, and you’re there to learn. The times I have seen students get up to answer a phone call, it’s because they’re on duty or they have a family or work emergency. This violation is more for professors. You are getting paid to be there; you should give your students your undivided attention and dedicate your time to guiding them through their jiu-jitsu journey. Even outside of drilling, you have a responsibility to be alert and attentive, in the case that you can prevent a mishap or injury on the mat.

So put that phone up. It’s just an hour, hour and a half max. Enjoy being disconnected and in the present moment.

Not “Rolling Light”

I am not saying that rolling hard in general is a pet peeve. You can roll as hard as you want, as long as both parties are aware that this is going to be one of those rolls. If you’re in a competition class, this doesn’t have to be said. If you’re in a regular class, a little forewarning is always appreciated.

What this pet peeve is really about is when you’re training partner explicitly asks to “roll light” -or more commonly, mentions being injured or coming back from an injury – and then proceeds to roll with you like it’s the finals at Mundials. Not only is this a dick move, it can also potentially be unsafe. By giving your training partner an unrealistic expectation of the intensity of the roll, you’ve changed how he/she might react to your sudden onslaught, which may put him/her in a more compromising position that he/she would not have normally been in.

How would you personally rank these BJJ pet peeves? And most importantly, are you a chronic violator?

Kids and Brazilian jiu-jitsu go together like peanut butter and jelly, like macaroni and cheese, like spaghetti and meatballs… okay, so I might be hungry right now.

Regardless, there’s no denying there’s a certain magic that happens when kids start training jiu-jitsu. They have such enthusiasm, fearlessness, and an ability to grasp things so quickly, that they are able to execute techniques and complex movements that most adults could never hope to. But no matter how “into” jiu-jitsu a child might be, it’s important to keep the classes fun. Too much of just technique can risk burning them out.

Peppering in some BJJ games – that are entertaining, competitive and incorporate skills that translate to jiu-jitsu – is a great way to keep any young mat monster engaged.

Here are five Kid’s BJJ games that I love, and how to play them:

BJJ Belt Races

• How to Play: This game requires half as many belts as there are kiddos. If you don’t have belts, you can also substitute any kind of medium-sized object that is easy for them to grab onto, but it’s best with belts. Line the belts up half-way down the mat, with half the students on one side and half on the other, paired up so that children of approximately equal size and/or level are across from each other. When you say “Go”, the kids have to race across the mat to grab the belt and bring it back to their side. Often little tug-of-wars happen, in which the kids can use their jiu-jitsu to steal the belt back. To make it more exciting, you can start the kids off in different positions; on their bellies, lying on their backs, facing away from the belt… anything you can think of!
• Skills Developed: fast reflexes, grip strength, strategy

Grab the Tail

• How to Play: This game also requires belts (or some sort of strip of cloth), and is best played in the gi, but can also be played with no-gi if all the kids have their belts handy. Each child tucks an extra belt into their own belt, so that it hangs down like a tail. Pair up the kids and have short rounds (no more than a minute or two) in which the kids have to try to pull their partner’s “tail” out from his/her belt. To make it more competitive, you can have a penalty for the loser of each ground.
• Skills Developed: strategy, problem solving, grip strength

Sock Grappling

• How to Play: This game is similar to Grab the Tail, but is a bit more dynamic. It requires a bunch of spare socks, the bigger the better (for increased entertainment value…). Each child will get one sock to put on whichever foot they choose. Just as with Grab the Tail, you’ll pair the kids up and have short rounds, in which they will try to pull each other’s socks completely off their feet. The difference with Sock Grappling is how it typically plays out. It goes quickly to the ground, and the kids tend to employ far more jiu-jitsu in trying to win the game.
• Skills Developed: strategy, problem-solving, creativity, fast reflexes

 No-Hands Sumo

• How to Play: This game will require a bunch of extra belts, enough to create several “rings” on the mat. You can also use athletic tape to mark off each area, as long as it’s not the super sticky tape that’ll leave adhesive on the mat. Line up a group of kids of similar size and/or rank at each ring. Two children will face off inside the ring, with their hands tucked into the back of their own belts (if they’re wearing their gis) or clasped behind their back. The goal is to get the other kid to step outside the ring without doing so him/herself. The winner stays in to face the next child, with the losing child going to the back of the line.
• Skills Developed: balance, base, strategy

Knights and Horses

• How to Play: Pair up all the children, either by similar size, or with a smaller kid paired up with a larger kid. One kid goes on all fours to be the “horse” and the other kid sits on his/her back to be the “knight”. Once you say go, the goal is for the knight-horse pair to try to topple another knight-horse pair (once the knight’s hips hit the mat, they lose). This allows for some really interesting and creative grappling strategies on behalf of both the knight and the horse. You can split the class in half and have one team face off against the other, or throw them all together to have a king-of-the hill style play!
• Skills Developed: balance, strategy, problem-solving, cooperation

We hope you enjoy these five BJJ kids games options, and remember: have fun!

It’s hot out there. Like, really hot. The kind of hot that saps any motivation you might have for doing anything, let alone training. If you’re like me, you’d love nothing more than to reverse-hibernate, splayed out in front of the air conditioning, binge-watching the latest television series until it’s time to sleep 

But summer is also the best time to get in some awesome jiu-jitsu training. Whether you’re getting ready for the major Fall tournaments, or just staying bikini – or mankini – season ready, you have to change your training regime to adapt to the higher temperatures.

Even if you’re one of the lucky few whose academy offers A/C, you might appreciate the following tips for staying cool during summer training.  

Drink Plenty of Cool Water

It goes without saying that during the summer you need to drink more water than you would have during any other time of the year. The average person should drink about two liters every day (that’s about half a gallon for my ‘Merican friends). During the summer months, that should be increased to 2.5 liters. But that’s the average person. If you’re training every day, you should drink another 1-2 liters, packed with plenty of electrolytes to replace the salts that are lost through your sweat.  

Of course, putting ice in your water will help to cool your internal body temperature faster than regular water. There are two different camps on whether ice water is good for you when you’re overheating. Public media cautions against it, suggesting that you might pass out. But generally, medical professionals encourage cooling down quickly. Whichever one you believe, hopefully you’re aware enough of how your body feels to prevent getting to the point of overheating before you hydrate and rest. In which case ice water for training should be totally fine.  

Wear Ultralight Gis… or No Gi at all

Unless you’re a masochist – hey, no judgement here – switch to ultralight gis during your summer training. Your typical gi is made up of a mid-weight 425-480 GSM pearl weave jacket and 10oz cotton pants, while an ultralight gi can feature a jacket as low as 375 GSM with 8oz cotton or ripstop pants. It may seem like a minuscule difference, but it does make a difference. Especially at round five or six.

Or… and my favorite option, is to just wear “no gi” at all. See what I did there? I’ve always been a big proponent of training both gi and no-gi during your jiu-jitsu career. Skills obtained in the gi will help your no-gi game, and vice versa. The benefits of switching to no-gi during the summer is no-brainer: less heavy clothing weighing you down and trapping your body heat.  

Roll Near the Fan

A super-secret black belt tip to staying cool during summer training? Roll near the fan. I know, shocker, right? Unfortunately, if you’re farther down the totem pole of belt levels, this may not be a choice for you, as the higher belts will likely have already claimed this prime real estate.

But as you probably already know, jiu-jitsu is a dynamic sport. People tend to migrate across the mat. If you’re extra clever, you might be able to slyly direct that migration toward the fan or air conditioning vent. Make it a game. Figure out which techniques might aid in that endeavor (think: berimbolos and ninja rolls). That way, you kill two birds with one stone; you get access to that sweet, sweet cool air and improve your technique.

Cold Plunge

Staying cool during training isn’t limited to on-the-mat activities. You’ve probably noticed that as it gets warmer, it may take longer and longer to cool off afterward. This can have an effect on your psyche, as you feel less and less inclined to train over the course of the week, because it takes longer and longer to “feel good” afterward. This is especially the case if you actually have a day job. 

A cold plunge does double duty. Not only does it provide a quick – and, well, nearly painless – way to quickly cool off after a hard training on a hot day, it also provides numerous health benefits for athletes. And you don’t need a high-tech cold plunge at hand. I’ve seen everything from an inflatable kiddy pool and an agricultural stock tank, to a top-open freezer and even a large trash can. All you need is water and ice.

We all know you’re not going to take a break from training when it gets hot. It’s hard enough to get BJJ athletes to rest when they’re injured. Hopefully these tips for staying cool during summer training will help you stay a bit more comfortable on the mat as the thermostat climbs to those triple digits.

Competition is stressful, whether you’re a brand new competitor or a well-seasoned warrior. However, it does become easier with experience and preparedness.

Knowing what to expect, having everything you might need, and feeling confident goes a long way toward not just surviving jiu-jitsu competition, but also thriving and proving yourself to be a serious contender.

“That’s easy for you to say,” might cross your mind. Yes, I’ve been at it a while. But precisely because I have, I’m able to impart some key survival tips to help even the most knock-kneed white belt survive his/her first jiu-jitsu competition. 

Here are my top tips for surviving your next competition:

Fight at a Realistic Weight

This is and will always be my number one BJJ survival tip: fight at a realistic and reasonable weight. In the jiu-jitsu community, it’s very easy to get caught up in the “weight cutting” hype. 

It’s not just an affliction in the sport of jiu-jitsu either. In wrestling, competitive weight lifting, boxing, and any other sport that has weight divisions, there will be this obsessive compulsion to be the strongest person in that weight category. How does that often play out? By people cutting anywhere from 5-30 pounds in a relatively short amount of time. Unfortunately, there’s a fine line between cutting just enough weight and feeling strong in your division, and cutting too much weight and having no energy for your opponent, or worse.

It would be ideal if we all fought at the weight we naturally walked around at. If you think about it, your best rolls at the gym or academy are typically when your body is well-hydrated and has all its nutritional needs met. But if you insist on cutting, I highly encourage you not to cut more than 5-10 pounds over the course of a two-month period. If you’re dieting, do it right, and do it safely.

Bring Extra Everything

Bring more than you might ever possibly need. You do not want to be about to enter the bullpen and realize that you forgot something. You might still be able to compete without whatever it is, but you’ve just pulled your head out of your game mindset. And if you’re a naturally anxious person, you’ve just started the ball rolling for an avalanche of anxiety that will ensure anything but success on the mat.

If you’re at a gi tournament, bring an extra gi (or two)… that fits differently – a little looser, a little longer – than the one you plan on competing in. Bring an extra set of clothes; unless you’re okay stewing in repeatedly dry-then-wet-then-dry gear that’s flavored with that special competition-nervous sweat. Bring two day’s worth of water and other fluids. No, you will likely not drink it all, but you will have plenty enough for yourself and for some poor under-packed soul on your team. Pack a range of snacks. All the snacks. Snacks you don’t even think you want. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve shopped during a weight cut, then once I was weighed in, desired anything but what I’ve brought with me.

It might seem overkill, but no one’s ever said “Damn, I wish I hadn’t been so prepared.”

Plan to Use the Restroom Frequently

As soon as you arrive to the competition venue, orient yourself as to where the restrooms are. You will be using them, and often.

Scientists aren’t entirely sure why athletes have an intense need to pee before a competition. But there are some theories. One is that the pre-competition nerves active our primal fight-or-flight response. When this happens, "under stress, the [central nervous] system is activated to operate at a higher level of sensitivity, meaning that it takes less to activate the reflex," Dr. Alan Wein, a professor of urology at Penn Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Another idea is that when we become nervous, our muscles tense, which may include our bladder, according to Dr. Tom Chi, an associate professor of urology at the University of California, San Francisco.

Regardless of the reason – and regardless of whether you’re a seasoned mat warrior or a brand new competitor – you’ll need to wee far more often at the tournament than you would normally. Do yourself a favor and do it as often as you can, so you don’t end up worrying about accidentally tinkling on the mat in front of tons or your friends and strangers. That, in and of itself, will take you out of your game mindset.

Be Yourself

The most successful athletes are those who don’t change their habits between the training environment and the competition environment. They train just as they would compete, and they compete just as they’ve been training.

This is actually deceptively hard. It’s too easy to get caught up in the behavior of those around you when you’re at a tournament. Say you’re a lower belt, and you see one of your idols slapping his/her face in the bull pen or pacing like a caged tiger. Please. Don’t. Copy. That. At least not at first. Odds are that person has developed his or her quirks – and believe me, we all have them – over years of experience in the bullpen. Just because it works for them, doesn’t mean it will work for you. Don’t worry, with enough time, you’ll develop your own weird proclivities and superstitious routines.

The worst thing you can do for your performance – both before you fight or during – is worry about whether you’re doing something right. Be yourself. Just do you. The rest will fall in place. 

Hopefully these four BJJ competition survival tips will help you to have a more relaxed and pleasant competition experience. Train hard, but always, always remember: have fun.

When you’ve been in the jiu-jitsu community long enough, you come to recognize that there is no single “jiu-jitsu style”… Instead, there are several different BJJ styles. 

Both on and off the mat, we as humans like to differentiate ourselves via our style choices. Even at academies that have strict uniform requirements – which, boring as it may be, you gotta admit makes for nice group photos – we find ways to demonstrate our individuality. On the mat, we define our style via our choice in gi color or brand, patch style and placements, no-gi kits (plain, outlandishly designed, or somewhere in between), and even our hairstyle and toenail polish color. Off the mat, our style choices span the spectrum of street style… but there still tends to be a bit of jiu-jitsu melded in.

There are outliers, of course, but most of us fall into one of the following five BJJ style categories:  

Preppy Player

Just as it sounds, you’re all about that classic – but “very now” – well-tailored look.

• On the mat: You like to wear a crisp, clean, almost new (if not new) gi, from a well-known jiu-jitsu gi brand, for which you likely stood in line and paid way too much for. Your gi color is always white, black or blue (none of that tie-dye business), but it will NEVER clash with your belt color. No thread is out of place and you can’t abide a single tear or stain. If your rashguard and shorts aren’t black, they’re probably black. Or black.
• Off the mat: You look like you belong in a team picture with the Mendes Bros.

Justa Jock

You’re an athlete, through and through... and you like to show it.

• On the mat: Your gi fits well, but it might be a tad too tight… to give yourself that slightest edge against your opponent and to show off those magnificent glutes you’ve been working on. And your rashie and shorts will absolutely be the same... for the same reason. You're less strict about gi color – grey and camo might show up in your collection – but also none of that tie-dye shit. You might even take pride in a few holes and rips, because it shows that you train hard. Hoo-rah. 
• Off the mat: You prefer a t-shirt (ALWAYS with some jiu-jitsu related design or logo plastered across it), casual joggers in sports fabric, and athletic shoes… just in case you need to pump out a quick high-intensity workout in the middle of the parking lot or grocery store.

Other-World Weird

In jiu-jitsu, us weirdos thrive... and we embrace it to the extreme.

• On the mat: Tie-dye gi? You betcha. Niche, collectible, or custom-designed gi from your dude in Pakistan? Absolutely. Avant-guard patches featuring anything from aliens to unicorns, mushrooms, blunts, and a replica of your child’s drawing of a shark (at least you think it’s a shark?). Sure enough! But you probably spend most of your time in a matching rashguard kit featuring flying cats pooping rainbows.
• Off the mat: You’d fit in at any 10^th Planet gala or Eastern European rave. 

Bold BJJ Boaster

You live and breathe jiu-jitsu, every day, every moment, and everyone needs to know about it.

• On the mat: You have, probably, every gi and no-gi kit from every known jiu-jitsu brand on the planet. And every single one is patched up like Nascar with the logos of your academy and every sponsor and jiu-jitsu product you’ve ever had or tried (and some you hope will recognize you with a sponsorship if you tag them in enough pictures). You always tape your fingers with that itty bitty finger tape, whether you’re training gi or no-gi, and whether your fingers hurt or not.
• Off the mat: You’re probably still wearing your gi pants, asking some unsuspecting cashier where the acai is at your local supermarket. You’re definitely wearing a t-shirt that says “Jiu-Jitsu."

Style? What Style?

You’re just trying to survive life (okay?!!) and jiu-jitsu is the only thing that’s keeping you from going all Dexter on everyone.

• On the mat: You’re lucky if your gi pants match your jacket. Actually, it’s a surprise when they do. You’re not sure where you got them either… from the arqeonarchitecture sale section, that friend of a friend of yours, or from the lost-and-found box at your academy. 
• Off the mat: Meh, who cares. 

You might be one or more, or none of these at all... What's your BJJ style? 

Welcome to the second edition of the arqeonarchitecture Breakdown series, brought to you by your favorite social scientist black belt.

As I mentioned in the first edition – The Complete Armbar Breakdown – despite the impressive, and sometimes overwhelming, body of techniques in modern jiu-jitsu, there are just a handful of core principles that underlie them all. Some of these apply to Brazilian-jiu-jitsu in general, and some apply specifically to certain submissions and positions. 

In the previous article, I explained how this worked with the armbar. An armbar works the exact same way, whether it’s from guard, from top-side control, inside the triangle guard, etc. Understanding how an armbar works – the underlying principles – will allow you to make the necessary modifications to execute, no matter how far removed it is from the textbook scenario.

So, let’s examine every lanky BJJ practitioner’s favorite: the triangle.   

The Triangle Defined

Let’s return to the exercise in which you try to describe ALL triangles, as succinctly as possible, to someone who doesn’t know anything about jiu-jitsu. Go ahead. It’s hard, right? You probably found yourself explaining how to get into one, but not necessarily summarizing the defining characteristic of all triangles. 

For one, all chokes – no matter what kind, triangles or otherwise – work to constrict the airway, the arteries and/or the veins of the neck, or both. In all triangles, this constriction is created by compression on three sides of the neck; two of the sides by one of your legs, and the third side by some other obstruction or vehicle of force.

A Little Anatomy Lesson

This breakdown wouldn’t be “complete” if I didn’t delve a bit further into the specific bodily structures mentioned above. Jiu-Jitsu is often referred to as “anatomical chess.” As such, a deeper understanding of human anatomy will provide a competitive edge on the mat.

As mentioned, one way to execute a choke is to constrict your opponent’s airway, often called an “air choke”. This is accomplished by squeezing the trachea – also known as the windpipe – which is the large tube made of rings of cartilage that connects your larynx to your lungs. As you breathe, your lungs pull oxygen through this tube by way of your nasal pathways or your mouth.

Why is this important? Specifically, every single cell in our body needs oxygen to be able to carry out the functions it is designed to do. Without oxygen, our cells die… and we die. And according to research, it takes only 33 pounds of pressure to close off the trachea. To give you an idea of how little that is, the average grip strength is approximately 73 pounds for men, and 44 for women.

Another way to execute a choke is to constrict the veins and/or arteries running alongside the trachea. Specifically, these are the carotid arteries (the pipes delivering oxygenated blood to the brain) and the jugular veins (the pipes that move de-oxygenated blood away from the brain. We’ve already discussed how important oxygen is for the cells. It is also important that deoxygenated blood is carried away from those cells because they also transport waste products, such as carbon dioxide, back to the lungs to be respired out. 

If this natural circulatory process to the brain is interrupted, it will cause unconsciousness. If interrupted for too long… brain injury or even death can occur. Particularly for the carotid arteries, it takes as little as 5.5 pounds of pressure, for as little as 10 seconds, to put your opponent to sleep.

The Third Side

When you think about the typical “textbook” triangle from guard, you know that your thigh forms one side, with the back of your knee close against the side of your opponent’s neck, and the length of your lower leg across the back of his/her neck forms the second side. To finish the triangle, you know that your opponent’s arm should cross his/her body to form the third side. The combined compression of all three sides constricts the air and blood ways.

But not all triangles must be – or are – finished this way. For one, and the most common, is if your opponent wraps his/her arm around your thigh, preventing you from passing the arm across and closing off the third side. Or, think about a triangle from the back. Your leg provides the two sides alongside the neck, making the arm across the neck redundant. The third side in this scenario is alongside the back of the neck. Or, what about a no-arm-in triangle?

In each of these, you must make modifications to account for the third side. For example, in the first scenario you might use your fist against your opponent’s throat to replace the arm (same thing with the third scenario). Or you might reverse your triangle lock to the “incorrect” side, so as to apply pressure in such a way that his/her shoulder drives into the side of the neck, regardless of the thigh wrap. In the second scenario, you might recognize the leg against the back of the neck merely served to help push the neck toward the front V of the triangle, and you can simply push the head away from you with your hands.   

Once you understand that you simply have to address the three sides in some way, you’ll find yourself coming up with any number of creative adjustments. And hey, you might even invent a new technique!

Bonus Black Belt Tips

What would a breakdown be without a few spicy black belt bonus tips? Here are a couple of my favorites:

• No Ballerina Feet - With your foot on the ground, lift you’re the front of your foot, keeping your heel in place. This activates your “hook”. But also notice how that simple movement engages the muscles of your calves and hamstrings. The most common error I see people make with the triangle is failing to activate their hooks, which weakens their ability to execute a quick and effective submission. Remember: no ballerina feet.
• Boycott Thigh (Knee) Gap – Another problem I see – especially with you long-legged people – is too much space between the back of the thigh and knee and your opponent’s neck. This defeats the whole mission of using your legs to compress around the neck. Boycott that gap by pulling your lower leg across their shoulder until you get connection. Then, depending on how much “extra leg” you have on the other side, you might also consider locking your triangle further up your shin, to eliminate space on the other side.

That’s all I have for you today. Happy training, and stay tuned for another arqeonarchitecture in-depth breakdown.

It’s that time of year again… Spring cleaning.

Most people dread it, some look forward to it, but regardless, it’s a necessary part of offloading all that crap from the past year – or, hey, years… COVID, am I right?. Can I still use that as an excuse? Meh. I’ll do it anyway.

While spring cleaning for your home and personal wardrobe is a no-brainer, have you thought about spring cleaning your BJJ game? If you’re spring cleaning one part of your life, why not all parts of your life?

So what does that mean in a jiu-jitsu context? Read on to find out…

Clean Out Your Jiu-Jitsu Closet

First of all, let’s get the obvious out of the way. We accumulate a lot – I’m talking A LOT – of actual jiu-jitsu related stuff. Don’t worry; there’s no shame there. It happens to the best of us.

But even the best of us should stop and think about we are actually using and enjoying the stuff that we have, or just holding on to it. And even if we are using it… is it actually serving us?

Here are some things to consider when you’re trying to decide what should stay and what should go:

• Is it still… fresh? – No, not in the sense of being stylish. I’m talking about funk. Fabrics retain bacteria over time… and sometimes no amount of washing will completely eliminate it. If, five minutes into practice, you’re “clean” gi or gear no longer smells like it… there’s your answer.
• Does it fit? – Just stop. Don’t hold on to things that don’t fit, in the off chance that they do fit at a later date. That’s some psychological gymnastics you don’t need in your life. Does it fit now? Today? If not, get rid of it.
• How old is it? – Fabric breaks down over time, especially with consistent use. Styles change. Maybe you While older items tend to collect “sentimental value” over time, if it’s not a family heirloom or an item you tend to make into one, let it go.

The best part of cleaning out your jiu-jitsu closet? You get to make room for awesome new gis and gear. 

Let Go of Your A-Game Moves

Spring cleaning doesn’t only have to be about stuff. Spring cleaning can also be about your actual jiu-jitsu game – those set of techniques that you’ve come to favor over time.

Yes, we know that triangle from spider guard is your go-to. Yes, we know you can hit it on just about everyone. Congratulations, give yourself a pat on the back. Now, when you’ve finished with that, think about whether your A-game moves have actually caused you to stagnate… or *gasp* become a boring roll.

Think about how cleaning out your game will allow space for you to master other techniques and evolve as a jiu-jitsu practitioner. All that time spent going straight to your A-game, subbing your opponent, then doing that again and again... could be better spent trying something new, failing at it, trying again, failing a little less at it, and trying again.

It’s called growth, and while it may suck at times, eventually it makes you a stronger, smarter player on the mat.

Toss Your Ego

Now we’ve come to the big one. Spring cleaning your jiu-jitsu game can also mean cleaning out some of those thoughts and behaviors that aren’t serving you. You know, like your ego.

And yes, I know that ego isn’t inherently a bad thing, but for the sake of this article, let’s focus on the standard negative conception of the ego… that little voice that whispers that you’re better than that person, that what’s-his/her-face shouldn’t be able to tap you, or so-and-so disrespected you in some arbitrary way on the mat and now you must either ignore him/her or smash him/her to pieces every time you roll.

We all have this ego – man, woman, young, old, white, black, brown, human, alien, amorphous blob, whatever. We all have it. Additionally, the hierarchical system in jiu-jitsu tends to exacerbate it. And no matter what your favorite BJJ hero might say, jiu-jitsu does not kill it. That’s a load of bull. And, in fact, some people allow it to grow on the mat. 

However, you can consciously work on minimizing your ego. Here are some thoughts that might help:

• Your jiu-jitsu doesn’t make you better or worse than anyone else. Being able to tap everyone on the mat doesn’t make you a good human being in the grand scheme of things.
• Being tapped by a lower belt doesn’t undermine your worth. Acting like a jerk afterward, however, does.
• Everyone is fighting their own personal battles. Have compassion. Even if you don’t necessarily like, get along with, or share the same beliefs as him/her.

Think about spring cleaning your BJJ game as a time to shed your skin and become a new person, as well as a new and better jiu-jitsu practitioner.

The greatest creation of the internet was not the internet itself… it was the meme. These innocuous-looking combinations of random images and text are jam-packed with cultural nuance and cleverly crafted humor.

They have brought so much joy, worldwide, and within every discipline and social group imaginable. Yes, some are terrible, but others have the power to pull a laugh from the depths of your soul while you sit on the toilet. 

So, I’ve decided to do all the heavy lifting – you’re welcome, it was quite the sacrifice – and select the best 20 BJJ Memes of all time.

Here they are, in no particular order:

The beauty about Brazilian jiu-jitsu is that anyone can do it. And everyone who does it finds their own style, their own game, and becomes proficient at their own set of submissions. This is absolutely beautiful.

However, cool as it is to see this or that jiu-jitsu athlete doing some unorthodox submission time and again to his or her hapless opponents… I’m looking at you Ruotolo Brothers… there’s no denying that there are a handful of submissions that you tend to see the most.

These are what I consider the “highest percentage” BJJ submissions.

But in a world where there are now probably millions of jiu-jitsu practitioner, training in academies large and small around the world, how can we definitively say which ones they are? This is where social science research methods come into play. And lucky for you, you have a bona fide social scientist in residence. You’re welcome.

So, what are the highest percentage BJJ submissions in Gi and No-Gi jiu-jitsu?

Highest Percentage Submissions in the Gi

The good folks at BJJ Heroes regularly puts out some pretty awesome data on jiu-jitsu. If you’re a big numbers nerd – like I am – check out their “Crunching Numbers” articles. Their recent edition on the 2022 IBJJF World Championships offers the following as the highest percentage submissions (from the Adult, Male Black Belt division) for Gi jiu-jitsu. I’ve added my thoughts on each. 

1. Sliding Collar Choke – As the essential 101 choke of Gi jiu-jitsu (the one you probably learned your first day of class), it’s easy to see why this is in the number one spot. I can imagine every Gi practitioner has repped this submission thousands of times before they reach black belt.
2. Other Chokes – As the article doesn’t offer the raw data, I can only assume that “other chokes” includes a variety of chokes utilizing the Gi that didn’t easily fall into one or another category. With the Gi, there are so many more ways to choke someone versus in No-Gi. So, it makes sense that chokes would make up the two highest percentage Gi submissions of last year’s Mundials.
3. Armbar – The superstar of joint-lock submissions, even people who only know jiu-jitsu through UFC know the armbar. For jiu-jitsu practitioners, this is another one that has generally seen thousands of reps and successful taps in the academy.
4. Straight Ankle Lock – This one surprised me, as I would have guessed triangles would have taken a top spot. My best guess is that with the increased focus on leg locks in No-Gi jiu-jitsu, the IBJJF-friendly straight ankle lock has experienced a resurgence. 

Highest Percentage Submissions in No-Gi

To analyze the highest percentage submissions in No-Gi jiu-jitsu, I look to last year’s ADCC World Championships. As an avid ADCC fan, I’ve already crunched the numbers in a previous blog post, “ADCC World Championships - The Numbers Pt. 2.” The results?

1. Rear Naked Choke – For those who practice both Gi and No-Gi jiu-jitsu, you know how much easier it is to finish an RNC in No-Gi. Additionally, without the Gi jacket, the RNC is most practitioners’ Plan A submission once on the back.
2. Armbar – Again, it’s expected that the armbar will always – and maybe forever – be in the top results, for the same reason as described above.
3. Heel Hook – Unless you’ve been living in a hole the last couple years, heel hooks are, “like, so hot right now”. When properly understood, heel hooks are one of the quickest and effective ways to get a tap. Not only that, but when you’re attacking the legs, your entire body is focused on one of your opponent’s limbs.
4. Guillotine – Much like the RNC, when your opponent doesn’t have the Gi on, the guillotine choke is so much more accessible. Additionally, in No-Gi jiu-jitsu, if your opponent is able to defend the guillotine, you have nice little transitions to a host of other submissions (like the D’arce or Peruvian necktie) or you can use it to advance your position.

By studying a sample set of the population, you can say something about the population as a whole. That is social science in a nutshell. Using available data on the breakdown of submissions at two of the largest tournaments of last year, we can get a pretty good idea of which submissions are currently the highest percentage.

Is this the end-all be-all conclusion? Absolutely not. The sample size is somewhat small, for one. Bigger data sets will come along which may indicate different results. But for now, it’s a pretty good approximation of the highest percentage submissions in BJJ at the moment. If you think this is bull hunky, let me know. I’d love to hear it.  

Did you see what I did there? Armbar… “break”down…

Aside from having puns for days, as both a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and a social scientist, I’ve made it my mission to study the art of jiu-jitsu and all the systems within it. One thing that I’ve found is that there are a handful core principles underlying jiu-jitsu generally, as well as every submission and position individually.

What does that mean? Let’s take the armbar for example. It means that whatever the entry, whatever the position, however you finish it… an armbar requires just few key elements. If those aren’t addressed, it’s no longer an armbar. And in understanding what these elements are, you will be able to execute an armbar – effectively and efficiently – no matter what crazy position you might find yourself or how your opponent might be defending against it.  

Armbar Defined

First of all, let’s begin by defining an armbar. Go ahead, take a second to think about how you’d explain an armbar to someone who has no idea what jiu-jitsu is. I’ll wait… tick tock, time’s up. If you said something to the effect of “an armbar is a hyperextention of the elbow joint”, you’re right.

Regardless of the type of armbar, ultimately an armbar is applied by understanding that the elbow bends one way, and not the other. When you bend it in the opposite direction, there’s a point at which it wants to stop moving. That’s the breaking point. Keep forcing it in that direction, and you’ll get the tap.

That, or you’ll end up breaking the arm. And by “breaking”, I mean you’ll cause a strain, sprain, or even a tear in the muscles or ligaments supporting the proper movement of the elbow joint, and possibly a dislocation of the bones. All of that sucks, by the way, and requires extensive recovery time. So, I don’t suggest trying it in the name of science. Just take my word for it.

Three Core Elements

Now, understanding exactly what is an armbar, we can now think about how to effectively apply it.

Properly applying an armbar requires three core elements: 1) immobilization of the wrist, 2) immobilization of the shoulder, and 3) applying pressure in the opposite direction of the elbow. If any one of these three are missing, the odds of getting the tap are extremely low. Not entirely non-existent, mind you. Exceptions to the rules and weird shit happens in jiu-jitsu all the time. But if you want to have higher than a 5% chance of getting an armbar submission, you do need to focus on those three elements.

Immobilization of the Wrist

When you first learned how to armbar, your instructor probably emphasized keeping the wrist glued to your chest and the thumb pointing out. More than likely, your instructor did not explain why.

The “why” is that by doing so, you immobilize the wrist, which positions the elbow in line with your hips, which is the surface that will be exerting pressure on the elbow to hyperextend it. If you don’t immobilize the wrist, the wrist can rotate, which in turn allows your elbow to rotate – because the elbow will be more or less in the opposite direction as the thumb – away from the line of your hips. This could then foil your armbar attempt.   

Immobilization of the Shoulder

Again, when you first learned how to armbar, your instructor probably emphasized getting your hips as close to the shoulder as possible and pinching your legs around the arm. All great details. But why?

This has to do with immobilizing the shoulder. Just as the bones of the your forearm connect to both the wrist and the elbow, the long bone of your upper arm – the humerus – connects to both your shoulder and the elbow. If you don’t immobilize the shoulder, your shoulder can rotate, allowing your elbow to rotate away from the breaking pressure, as well as your body to rotate to a better position to defend (hitchhiker escape, anyone?).

Pressure in the Opposite Direction of the Elbow

Finally, once you have both the shoulder and wrist immobilized, the final ingredient in finishing an armbar submission is to exert pressure in the opposite direction of the elbow. Often this is with your hips, which are incredibly powerful. 

But what happens if everything is not textbook perfect? What if the elbow is still not in line with the hips, although you do have those other two ingredients locked down in some way? You can still finish the armbar. Say the elbow slipped and is now pointing to your thigh. Recognizing that all you have to do is exert pressure against it, you can adjust by turning and pulling the wrist across your waist, so that now your leg is acting as the same surface that your hips were.

And there you have it! You’ve just learned the underlying principles behind every single armbar you’ll ever apply in your entire life. Hopefully this armbar breakdown will have given you a deeper understanding of the proper execution of an armbar, will enable you to make those necessary modifications, and will increase your success rate for finishing armbars on the mat.

Happy training, and stay tuned for another arqeonarchitecture in-depth breakdown.

Although most of a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu match occurs on the ground, it doesn’t start there. You might be one of the best jiu-jitsu technicians in the world, once you’re on the mat, but if you don’t know some essential BJJ takedowns, you’ll always start at a disadvantage.

So, what is one to do? Both wrestling and judo offer countless takedown options. If you have the time and incentive, practicing one or both of them along with jiu-jitsu would be ideal. But that’s not an option for most of us. Not only does that mean an extra monthly tuition, but wrestling and judo training is not for the faint of heart. It’s hard. And your body will hurt.

But if you want to elevate your jiu-jitsu game and consistently hit the top of the podium, it’s unavoidable. What you can do, however, is train smart. You really only need to know a few good takedowns to set yourself apart from the rest.

Don’t know where to start? Here are six BJJ-friendly takedowns you should master:

Single Leg Takedown

Everyone should have a solid single leg takedown in their arsenal. There are many variations of a single leg takedown – different entries and different ways to finish – but they all fundamentally focus on controlling and elevating your opponent’s leg, to off balance him or her.  

Double Leg Takedown

For those looking for something a bit more explosive and Instagram-worthy, a nice double leg takedown is a must have. The trick to a great double leg takedown is to get your own hips close to and underneath your opponent’s in order to achieve the necessary “lift”.

Ankle Pick

Another essential wrestling takedown, one that requires a bit more finesse, is the ankle pick. Executed properly, a good ankle pick will elicit some serious admiration from the crowd. Just as with the prior two takedowns, there are many variations, but a favorite – sneaky – one of mine begins with a fake guard pull.   

Arm Drag to Trip

If you’re intimidated by takedowns that require level changing – or maybe your knees aren’t as good as they used to be – a great alternative is the arm drag to leg trip. This is especially effective when you can time the arm drag to just before they tie up with you, utilizing the opening they create.

Uchi-mata

If you know anything about judo, you’ll definitely have heard of an “uchi-mata”. One of the original 40 throws in judo, it means “inner thigh reaping throw.” A powerful throw, it utilizes your hip and a back swinging leg to load your opponent and toss him or her to the back in a big, impressive movement.

Drop Seio Nage

Finally, a judo throw that is guaranteed to make the crowd go wild is the drop seio nage. Another one of the original 40 judo throws, “seio nage” means “shoulder throw” or “loading onto the back throw.” While some might be wary of the move, thinking it exposes the back too much, if executed well, there’s no stopping it.

Whether you’re a serious competitor or a humble hobbiest, these six essential BJJ takedowns are guaranteed to take your jiu-jitsu game to the next level.

With a new year… comes a fresh start to hit those competition goals. If COVID taught us anything, it’s to not take life for granted. Don’t wait to change careers, don’t wait to take that bucket list trip, don’t wait to enrich your life with exciting new things. Because you never know when some other epic catastrophe will hit and you’ll find yourself back, locked up in your house and bartering off your kid brother for a single roll of toilet paper.

This should include with your competitive jiu-jitsu career. Whether you’re a veteran BJJ athlete, who has amassed tons of shiny IBJJF medals, or brand new to the competition scene… I highly encourage you to make 2023 different.

Don’t just opt for the same-old tournaments this year. Sure, do those, too, if that’s what you dig. But liven up your 2023 plans with some competitions that challenge you differently, offer some novel experiences, and which give you some warm memories for when the next apocalypse comes.  

Don’t know where to start? Here are four must-do BJJ competition options for your 2023 season:

A Local Tournament in another State or Country

If you’re a frequent competitor at your local tournaments, you’ve likely discovered that you end up fighting against the same people, over and over again. While this might be useful in gauging your growth since the last time you faced him/her, it can also be monotonous. It’s like training with the same people… eventually you’ll know their game, they’ll know yours, and essentially the same match plays out each time with little to no variation.

The beauty in going to a tournament in another state is that you’ll face people that you might never have fought before. Not only is this more challenging and exciting, but it will also show you where you might have holes in your game, as your opponents may have strengths in areas in which you don’t regularly get experience. Already travel out-of-state? Shake it up with a tournament in a completely different country! Bonus points if you can’t speak the language.

Luckily, Smooth Comp has made it easier than ever to do this. Yes, they don’t manage all jiu-jitsu tournaments out there, but you can find a ton of local and international tournaments in their system.

ADCC Open

You don’t have to a BJJ heavy-hitter to enjoy the novel ruleset of the ADCC. Last year, ADCC announced that, in addition to their regional ADCC Trials events – in which winners get the opportunity to be one of the select few ADCC World Champion event competitors – they will be doing regular Open events.

Why should you enter an ADCC Open? Because their ruleset is an awesome mix of points-based and sub-only. The first half of your match is submission only, which allows you to hunt for submissions without any concern for your opponent securing a lead via points. Then, the second half of your match is points-based. The hybrid ruleset forces you to adapt and adopt new strategies to win, which you might not have employed in a regular IBJJF style tournament… essentially, it makes you evolve as a competitor.

While the availability of nearby ADCC Opens is still minimal, you can follow them on Instagram or browse their upcoming tournaments on their website. If you’re feeling really ambitious, combine two opportunities in one and hit an international ADCC Open!  

EBI Style Tournament

Likewise, an EBI style tournament exposes you to a non-traditional ruleset. This one was devised by Eddie Bravo of 10^th Planet fame for his original EBI tournaments, and has since been adopted by several other jiu-jitsu promotions.

The EBI ruleset is a submission only, with unique overtime rules in the case of no submission. If that happens, competitors receive a choice of two positions in overtime: spider web, in which the attacker begins in an armbar position, or the back. There can potentially be three overtime rounds, in which the competitors each have an opportunity to attack. If the first person submits during one of the rounds, the other person must submit in a shorter amount of time. If neither person submits in all overtime rounds, the “escape time” is summed up, and the competitor with the fastest escape time wins.

Just as with the ADCC Open tournaments, a different ruleset challenges you in new ways… allowing you to evolve as a grappler. Where can you enter an EBI style tournament? Here are a few options:

• High Rollerz
• Submission Challenge 
• Bullpen Submission Series
• Finishers Sub-Only
• Midwest Finishers

Team Tournament

Less common, but wildly entertaining, are team-style tournaments. Just in the last few years these have been gaining traction in the BJJ competition scene.

Teams are typically composed of three to five members, and are sometimes co-ed. Rulesets differ, as it seems different promotions are feeling out what works best and is the most exciting for viewers. For example, Kazushi Sakuraba’s Quintet is a 5-on-5, winner stays in ruleset. So, you could potentially have one team member plow through the entire opposing team. Others, such as Subversiv's 3x3 event, allows the team to pair off their members with members from the opposing team, in one-on-one matches that accrue points for the team depending on the outcome.

Many of the team style tournaments are by invitation only, but promotions are often looking for teams to fill their brackets. So, if you’re a decent colored belt and you can get enough friends together to form a team, don’t hesitate to reach out to the promoter.

Some examples of promotions that do or occasionally do team-style tournaments are:

• Subversiv
• Submissions on the Shore
• Finishers Sub-Only

Whatever you decide to do this year, please do one thing: make 2023 the best year yet. Push yourself, evolve, become more. One way to do that is committing to one – or all – of these must-do BJJ competition ideas.

The holidays are upon us. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Rohatsu, Yule, or… whatever you might celebrate… for everybody, it’s generally a time for reflection.

And while the “naughty or nice” list is associated most often with Christmas, I’m sure everyone can agree that reflecting back on the year should entail whether we were very “nice” or very “naughty”.

Our behavior on the jiu-jitsu mat should be no exception.

So, with that in mind, I’ve developed the arqeonarchitecture Official Naughty or Nice Challenge, with some common things I see on the mat, and their corresponding point values.

Tally your totals to see where you stand… only count each one once (if you've done it at least once during the past year). 

NICE:

NAUGHTY:

YOUR SCORE:  

20+ Points: Well look at you! Not only are you a gem of a human being, but you are definitely an asset to your home academy. Don't worry, your genuine selflessness does not go unnoticed, and you are surely a favorite among your teammates. 

10-20 points: Good job, friend. You have a tendency to do good deeds at your academy, which will surely earn you the respect of your peers and teammates. You have a keen sense of what's not acceptable, and you always, or at least mostly, steer clear of them. 

1-10 Points: You're in one of two camps here: 1) you generally just cruise by, contributing minimally to the academy community, or 2) you've done just enough nice things to offset your naughty mishaps and stay in the black. Either way, think about how you might be just a teeny bit better. 

Negative 1-10 Points: Oh boy. You're either a purple belt, or a brand spanking new white belt. If you're not a white belt, then you really need to reconsider some of your actions. It's expected that a white belt will commit some faux pax's... but an upper belt? C'mon. 

Negative 11+ Points: Good grief. If you've wondered why you don't get asked to roll very often... wonder no more. In all likelihood, you're probably the "stinky guy" that both women and white belts hate to roll with. Do better. 

How'd you do??? Share the Official BJJ Naughty or Nice Challenge with your friends and see where you rank!

Who doesn’t like a good “Top 5” list? Whether you agree with the ranking or not, it always provides you with some good fodder to consider or argue with your friends about. In that spirit, I’m throwing in my list of the Top arqeonarchitecture Blogs of 2022.

Yes, I wrote them all, and yes, I’m biased. But whether you’re brand new to jiu-jitsu, or a seasoned veteran, these are blogs that I think are well worth a good re-read… or read, if you’re encountering them for the first time.

So, without further ado… here are the top five(ish) blogs – in no particular order – from arqeonarchitecture this year:

BJJ White Belt Survival Tips

When you’ve been training for as long as I have, sometimes you forget about the struggles you had as a white belt. Sometimes you intentionally forget. The white belt years were not pretty, for anyone.

But as an instructor, I see many, many others fiercely addicted to jiu-jitsu but absolutely frustrated by the white belt journey. Many quit before that glorious moment when “things start to make sense.” This blog contains what I consider to be the most useful advice for anyone starting their jiu-jitsu journey. Tips such as “slow down” and “don’t be afraid to ask” will help make those excruciating months just a little bit less painful and awkward.

SERIES: What do the BJJ Belt Colors Mean

This is a two-part series that I actually really enjoyed writing. Why? Because it made me think about each of my own stages of the jiu-jitsu journey, and how that compares to journeys of others that I have come to know on the mat.

For me, the belt colors say a lot about where an individual is in his/her growth, and the kinds of challenges he/she is experiencing. So, in this blog, I give the reader a general idea of how long each belt level lasts (remember, there’s going to be a lot of variation here, depending on the academy), what to expect, and some useful things to keep in mind when you are going through that belt.

• Part One
• Part Two

BJJ Guide: How to Prevent Skin Infections

Oooo, yes, this one is near and dear to my heart. At the academy that I train at, I’m the enforcer when it comes to personal hygiene. And I do so for largely selfish reasons. The last thing I want is to have to spend time away from the mat because someone was inconsiderate or negligent about their own disgusting skin ailment.

I personally feel like these tips shouldn’t have to be said. But, unfortunately, they do. That’s just the world we live in. While reading this blog, keep in mind one thing: in jiu-jitsu we’re all up in each other’s business… so what you have, you’ll share to others, and what someone else has is going to be shared with you.     

4 Non-Jiu-Jitsu Things to Do to Improve Your Jiu-Jitsu

As I’ve aged, I’ve come to realize the gravity of the saying “work smarter, not harder.” In jiu-jitsu, this is all the more important, and not just for “Master” level athletes like myself. For all you young, limber whipper snappers, too. There’s only so much time that you can put into the mat before your body starts to break down. And you don’t want to be 23 years old with two knee replacements and a fused neck. 

So, the best trick to improving your jiu-jitsu without destroying your body? Do other shit. Do yoga, strength train, bike, play chess, get into video games… anything else. Some of these might not seem like they’d help, but you’d be surprised. Oh, and drink water and get proper sleep.

SERIES: ADCC World Championships – The Numbers

This is another two-part series… and one in which I really got to nerd out on. It’s no secret – at least with those I train with – that I love the ADCC ruleset. I believe it’s the most exciting ruleset in jiu-jitsu. I’m also a huge numbers nerd. I love me a good statistic.

So, when the most anticipated event in jiu-jitsu - the ADCC World Championships – happened last September, I did what anyone in my position would do: I crunched the numbers. What was the most common submission? How many were veterans, and how many were making their ADCC debut? What was the average age of the competitors? Well, you have to read them to find out: 

• Part One
• Part Two

Did you like these? Find them useful or interesting? Think they’re full of baloney? Whatever the case may be, I hope it has inspired you to write your own blogs and create your own Top 5 list. You don’t have to be a black belt to share jiu-jitsu knowledge.  

As the shopping season – where discounted deals trigger compulsive desires to acquire fresh, new gis for, well, yourself – winds down, there’s always one question that reigns. What can I do with all my old jiu-jitsu gis?

Some of us wear them down to tattered shreds. Others toss them out at the first sight of wear or funk. Some even keep them into perpetuity, neatly folded and permanently housed in the closet where they occupy space but don’t pay rent.

Unfortunately, these options don’t make the best use of old and unwanted gis. So here are some alternatives:

Donate to a Non-Profit Program

The best, and most altruistic, option to give new life to jiu-jitsu gis are to donate them to a worthy non-profit program.

As jiu-jitsu has grown – and has become more costly – more programs have popped up providing free or low cost jiu-jitsu training to kids and adults in low income areas. Of course, these programs often run on volunteer help and shoestring budgets. And due to the relatively high cost of jiu-jitsu gis, it’s often difficult to keep the students suited up. It’s not uncommon for students to have a single gi.

So, you can be sure that your unwanted gis will be greatly appreciated. Make sure any donated gis are gently used and washed. You might even take the extra step in removing your sewn-on or hot-pressed logos (a hair dryer and tweezers works well for the latter).    

Don’t have any programs nearby? Here are some options:

• Samurai School – Austin, TX 
• Level Up BJJ – Los Angeles, CA (and others)
• Gis for GIs – Hampstead, NC
• Terere Kids Project – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Guardian Gym – Bay Area, CA (and others)
• Kids World BJJ – east Los Angeles, CA

Recycle It

Another option that’s becoming more popular – not just for your gis, but for all your used fabrics – is to recycle them. When we think of “recycling” we often think of plastic, paper and glass… but fabrics – especially cotton – can also be recycled.

You have essentially two options to recycle your gis. The first is to send them to a company that recycles fabrics. These companies then shred the fabrics and respin the material into yarn again. Some cities will have a textiles recycling program, but yours does not, here are some alternatives:

• American Recylers
• Thousand Fell 
• Goodwill (yes, they also recycle!)
• TerraCycle

The second recycling option might surprise you: compost your gis. Cotton is a natural, biodegradable material that helps to hold water in soil. That doesn’t mean that you should just toss your gi in the compost bin… as with all your compost, the smaller the pieces, the easier and faster they break down.

Get Crafty

A final option – and one of my favorites – is to get crafty with your old gis. 

Think about it: your jiu-jitsu gi is made up of large swaths of uninterrupted fabric. There’s a lot that you can do with it. Some require needle and thread (which, c’mon, isn’t that difficult), but some just require a bit of ingenuity.

Here are some options:

• Gi material bag or backpack – For those who are handy with a sewing machine… Make yourself a new gi or gym bag, made from gis! It doesn’t even have to be that complicated; just a simple drawstring bag is surprisingly easy to craft.
• Cool blanket or throw – You’ve seen people make quilts out of their old university or IBJJF t-shirts, right? Do the same with your gis! Cut them up into squares, sew them together, and put a soft liner on the back.
• Pots for plants – You don’t even need to sew this one. Cut the sleeves off, tie off one side with string, and walha! This is especially useful for cultivating seedlings in your greenhouse. If you want to add a bit of structure – and waterproofing – to it, you can always spray paint the outside of it with your favorite color.
• Grip trainers – Not sure how many grip trainers you need in your life, but at least one gi will find new life this way. You don’t even need to cut it up, if you don’t want to. Just throw an old gi jacket over a sturdy beam and you instantly have makeshift equipment for rows or pull-ups.
• Shop rags – At the very least – especially for those really used, ratty gis – you can cut them up into handy squares, to use for shop or household rags.

Really, the possibilities are endless if you have a strong imagination.

The point is: don’t just toss your old gis in the landfill or keep them so long that you become a candidate for Hoarders. Do the world a favor – and accrue some major Karma points – and donate, recycle, or repurpose your old BJJ gis.

It’s that time of the year again… the biggest shopping holiday worldwide: Black Friday.

For Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, it’s the opportunity to stock up on all the latest and greatest products, at a fraction of the price. It’s the time to inventory your current stockpile of gis and no-gi gear – throw out all the ratty, over-used items – and refresh your collection with crisp, new goodies.

Your training partners will thank you. And at 25% off (automatically applied at checkout), your wallet will thank you, too.

So, what are some of the hottest deals this year? Read on…

NEW PRODUCTS

This year brought some cool new products from some of our favorite jiu-jitsu brands.

Kingz The One Vice

Just recently, Kingz rolled out a hot - we're talking Miami hot - new colorway for one of their most popular - and our favorite - jiu-jitsu gis... The One Vice. Regularly priced at $130, snag this bad boy for only $98! Available in both men's and women's cuts!

Kingz Kore Women’s No-Gi Collection

We love when the jiu-jitsu industry shows the ladies some love... and we couldn't be more excited about the amazing Kingz Kore Women's No-Gi Collection. Featuring a sports bra, long line shorts and spats, all made from super comfy Supplex material, and offered in four beautiful colorways: black, stormy blue, seafoam green and dusky red. Regularly priced between $50-$45 each, you can get the whole set for just $105!

Maeda Prism Gi

Bold colors and overly designed jiu-jitsu gis aren't everybody's cup of tea. Which is why the subtle pops of color on the Maeda Prism Gi are super on-point. Fresh, but still classy. Regularly priced at $140, get it now for just $105!

TRIED-AND-TRUE PRODUCTS

But this holiday is not just about the new stuff... it's also about stocking up on your tried-and-true favorites! 

Kingz Kore Jiu-Jitsu Gi

We're all about getting more people on the mat... but the sometimes hefty cost of gis is a barrier for a lot of folks. The Kingz Kore Jiu-Jitsu Gi is another of our favorites for that reason... not only is it super lightweight and withstands some serious training... but it's always one of the most affordable gis on the market. Regularly priced between $90 (I know... crazy), you can snag one for as little as $68 buckaroonies! 

Maeda Red Label Jiu-Jitsu Gi

Another affordable gi that withstands the test of time is the Maeda Red Label Jiu-Jitsu Gi. Now in its third version, it's a super classic gi that melds traditional aesthetic with modern design. Regularly priced at $100, add it to your gi collection for only $75!

Arm Bar Soap

If there's one product - aside from your gi and no-gi gear - that's indispensable... it's soap. And in our lofty opinion, Arm Bar Soap Company makes the best, most delicious smelling soap out there. So stock up now, "ya filthy animal." Regularly $6-$7 a bar, get them for as little as €4.50!

CLEARANCE ITEMS

And don't forget to haunt our Clearance Sale! All those juicy products that we already put on sale... yeah, they're an extra 25% off, too! Yahoo! 

Here are some of our favorites... 

Loyal Superlight Jiu-Jitsu Gi

Kingz Convertible Backpack

Choke Republic Jiu Jitsu Old English Snapback Hat

 Happy shopping everyone! 

Those who have already started on their jiu-jitsu journey don’t need to read about the benefits of BJJ. You already know. You’ve likely felt them on your first day, week or month. This blog is not for you.

This blog is for you who are just now considering that you might like to try it. Maybe you have a friend or a relative who has been hounding you ceaselessly to step on the mat. Maybe you saw a UFC on television, and it sparked your curiosity. Maybe you’re in a rut and looking to make a major change in your life by trying something new and scary. Maybe you just want aggressive hugs from perfect strangers, and jiu-jitsu seems like best way to get that without having the cops called on you.

Whatever your interest, you’ve hopped on the internet to research whether it’s worth your time and effort.

Let me tell you why it is…

Physical Benefits

Any kind of activity in which you’re moving your body is going to have some physical benefits. Because let’s face it: humanity has fallen into a terrifying rut of sedentary lifestyles and lethargy. As hunter-gatherers, we moved all the time. (Yes, we were also eaten by saber toothed tigers and died from minor infections, but that’s beside the point.) Today, we all don’t move enough.

However, jiu-jitsu offers a special array of physical benefits that few other activities can boast. For one, jiu-jitsu is both a cardio and strength training workout, especially for women. Every match, you’re constantly pushing and pulling large amounts of – resisting – human body weight, in addition to having to move quickly and nimbly into or away from attacks. Two, jiu-jitsu develops a keen bodily awareness. You learn how to fall, roll, twist, drop and pop back up to your feet. When do we do these kinds of things in our everyday life? Three, jiu-jitsu teaches you how to control your breathing. If you gas-out at the beginning of a match, you’ll be useless against attacks from your better-winded opponent. If you hyperventilate while being squished under your opponent, and you’ll either pass out or, at the very least, fail to properly think through an escape from that position. 

Social Benefits

Worldwide, but especially so in American society, communities are fracturing. No longer do we live surrounded by immediate and extended family; no longer do we know the names of all our neighbors; no longer are we expected to have active roles in the functioning and betterment of our local communities. Sure, there are exceptions (think: some small towns). But most of us have become isolated amidst a sea of people.

Jiu-jitsu is more than just a physical activity. It is a community made up of an incredibly diverse population of people, from a wide variety of backgrounds. When you join a jiu-jitsu academy, you’re joining a microcosm of that. Janitors, electricians, students, lawyers, doctors, professional gamers, cops, weed dealers… you’ll find someone from every profession sharing the mat with you at one time or another. Within the jiu-jitsu community, you will find your best friends. You’ll find people that you vacation with, share your successes and struggles with, and with whom you can trust to watch your precious Fido while you’re out-of-town.

Psychological Benefits

Depression, PTSD, suicide… all are at record highs, particularly in the United States. I am not qualified to speak as to why this is the case, but I can say that anecdotal evidence suggests that jiu-jitsu offers a potentially powerful method of therapy for individuals struggling with their mental health. Even those who would not categorize themselves as such, still have to manage the everyday stresses from work, family, life, etc. Jiu-jitsu is a perfect therapy for that, too.

The physical and social benefits already discussed all have significant psychological implications. When you look and feel better physically, you typically feel more confident and self-assured. When you’re surrounded by a group of friends with whom you share the passion for jiu-jitsu, you feel more loved and supported. Additionally, jiu-jitsu forces you to be present. You don’t have the luxury of worrying about life’s challenges, when you’re aggressively hugging someone who intends to tap you before you tap him/her. The skills you develop in managing your anxiety on the mat, translates directly to off-the-mat scenarios; breathe, relax, think through your options, and act. 

Whatever your reasons are for being interested in jiu-jitsu, one this is guaranteed: you will – without a doubt – experience all three of these benefits of BJJ. So take that first step onto the mat. You’ll never regret it.

For the vast majority of jiu-jitsu practitioners, the leading BJJ dichotomy is “gi jiu-jitsu” versus “no-gi jiu-jitsu.” But for competitors, it is may be less about gi versus no-gi, and more about points-based jiu-jitsu versus submission-only. Of course, there are hybrids of the two – such as ADCC style tournaments – but generally, it’s a pretty clear division.

In this blog, I discuss what the IBJJF “points-based” system is all about, why you should care, and even give you some pro-tips on points-based strategy.

Read on…

Why Do We Even Care?

The short answer is: competing under a points-based ruleset demands a distinctly different strategy than competing under a submission-only ruleset.

As the name suggests, submission-only rulesets are all about that definitive finish. Whatever the submission may be – a choke, armbar, leg lock, etc. – obtaining the tap from your opponent is the ultimate goal. It doesn’t matter if you had been absolutely dominated, position-wise, throughout the rest of the match. The submission rules all. A complete underdog can come from behind and snatch victory from his or her opponent.

This can make for some very interesting and exciting matches.

A rules-based ruleset, however, is more nuanced. Of course, the submission still signals a definite victory, but there are many other ways to win. And this is where – everything else being equal – the cleverer and/or more experienced strategist will prevail.

“But submission-only rulesets require strategy, too!” Yes, they do. But for the most part, your goal is quite clear in submission-only: get a submission. You know that… but so does your opponent. Additionally, a submission requires action… an in action lies opportunity for your opponent to escape or apply a submission of his/her own. But in a points-based ruleset, a win can arrive by capitalizing on a slight advantage, and then deciding when no action is the more prudent tactic.

Doesn’t that make for boring matches, though? Well, yes, sometimes. A lot of the time, actually. So, keep that in mind when you bring a non-jiu-jitsu friend or family member to a tournament “to watch.” I wouldn’t subject that kind of torture on anybody.

But if you’re a fan of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, you might better appreciate this strategy, particularly in light of the entire tournament or career of the jiu-jitsu practitioner. A boring match with a tough opponent may be what is needed to advance to the next round, or even win the finals and claim that coveted championship title.

IBJJF Points Explained

Initially, the IBJJF ruleset was the jiu-jitsu ruleset. And it still serves as the primary ruleset for most points-based tournaments. But today, there are many different points-based rulesets. It seems like every new promotion tries to tweak the ruleset a bit, in order to set themselves apart from the rest, or make the matches more exciting.

But we’re going to focus on the IBJJF ruleset here. Just understand that not all tournaments follow it exactly, so don’t just assume that you’re competing under an IBJJF ruleset if you enter a local points-based tournament.

Always check the ruleset to confirm.

So, What ARE the Points?

The IBJJF makes their ruleset pretty clear on their website, with their Rule Book, Technical Fouls & Illegal Moves Poster, and videos. But I’m going to go a step further and give you some pro-tips on how to secure them.

Takedown Points – 2

When both athletes are standing, and one causes the other to fall to the mat and remain there – on his/her back, bottom, side, or knees – for at least three seconds. This can be achieved via several wrestling or judo techniques.

• Pro Tip #1: Force your opponent to move before initiating the takedown. A body that is stepping or off-balance is much easier to takedown than one that is static.
• Pro Tip #2: Follow your opponent down. This allows you to use your weight to help keep him/her on the ground for the required time.

Sweep Points - 2

When the athlete on bottom with his/her opponent in a guard, inverts the position so that the opponent is now on the bottom, and remains there for at least three seconds. 

• Pro Tip #1: Create action in the opposite direction of where you would like to sweep. This will cause your opponent to compensate in your desired direction, and makes him/her easier to sweep.  
• Pro Tip #2: After sweeping, control your opponent’s hips – if you land in guard – or elevate his/her foot – if you land on your feet. This will hinder your opponent’s ability to get back up after being swept.

Knee on Belly Points - 2

When the athlete on top – and free of any guard – puts his/her knee across the opponent’s torso area, with the other knee off the mat, while his/her opponent is on his/her back.

• Pro Tip #1: Don’t fully straighten the non-knee-on-belly leg. Keep some angle in the knee, so that you can easily follow your opponent if he/she tries to shrimp out from under you.
• Pro Tip #2: Control your opponent’s shoulders and hips, to keep him/her flat on the back, when establishing the position. This inhibits his/her ability to shrimp out from under you.  

Pass Points – 3

When the athlete in top position manages to go around or through the bottom athlete’s guard, and maintain side control or north-south position for at least a period of three seconds.

• Pro Tip #1: Focus on the hips. If you limit your opponent’s ability to move his/her hips, you inhibit his/her ability to maintain the guard.
• Pro Tip #2: Focus on the hips, again. Once passed, either pin his/her hips flat to the mat or twist his/her hips away (keeping his/her shoulders flat on the mat), to inhibit his/her ability to re-guard.

Back Take Points – 4

When the athlete controls the opponent’s back, torso to back, with both feet in between the opponent’s thighs and un-crossed, and maintaining that position for at least three seconds.

• Pro Tip #1: Keep your chin on your opponent’s shoulder. This helps prevent you from giving your opponent the space he/she needs to escape.
• Pro Tip #2: Pinch your heels to your own butt. Your opponent’s legs will be in the way, so you won’t actually connect your heels to your butt, but it will help inhibit your opponent’s ability to move his/her hips to escape.

Mount – 4

When the athlete in top position, free of his/her opponent’s guard, sits on his/her torso with one or both knees on the mat.

• ProTip #1: Pin your opponent’s shoulders to the mat. Most mount escapes require your opponent to be on his/her side. Keeping his/her shoulders flat on the mat inhibits his ability to escape.
• ProTip #2: Pin your opponent’s hips flat to the mat. For the same reason as above, keeping his/her hips flat on the mat inhibits his/her ability to turn to the side.

The most enviable jiu-jitsu practitioner is equally fluent in both submission-only and points-based rulesets. So, whether you’ve never competed before, or you pride yourself in being a submission-only competitor, competing in a points-based ruleset is an instrumental part of becoming an exceptional and well-rounded jiu-jitsu practitioner. 

It has been a week now since the greatest event in jiu-jitsu history: the 2022 ADCC World Championships. 

As the excitement dies down, chatter surrounding the athletes' performances, their techniques and strategies, and all the "shoulda-woulda-couldas" bubble over in academies around the world. 

To stoke the fire even further, I present to you - my dear friends - another round of juicy statistics. This set of infographics focuses on the methods in which the athletes secured their wins.

You'll see what percentage of total wins were by submission versus score or referee decision. I've broken down the submissions into type, so that you can see which submissions dominated this year. And to stir the pot a bit, I've included some breakdowns by Brazil vs USA, and by the top five winning'est teams. 

Enjoy, and for additional delicious statistics to feed your nerdy mind, check out our friends at BJJ Heroes. 

ADCC Win Stats

ADCC Submission Stats

ADCC Top 5 Team Stats

Last weekend the most anticipated event in jiu-jitsu history took place: the ADCC World Championships.

A sold-out crowd in Las Vegas watched 97 of the world's top athletes take to the mats, where they battled it out in outrageously stacked divisions, for a chance to add that single-most prestigious title to their grappling resume. Spectators were not disappointed. The work of Mo Jassim, Seth Daniels, and Shawn Fowler and their teams, with their professional level production and entertainment, raised the bar for jiu-jitsu events, worldwide, to a whole new level. Even the folks at home watching on FloGrappling could not have imagined a better way to spend their weekend.

Aside from a few incredible upsets and several history-making moments, this year's ADCC World Championships also stood out as being probably the most diverse yet. 

More than any prior ADCC, this year saw more countries represented - 20 in all, based on country of birth - and had the widest age spread, from Cole Abate at 17 years of age to Cyborg Abreu at 42. The number of debut competitors to veterans was also notable, with 54 athletes stepping onto the ADCC World Championships stage for the very first time, compared to 43 ADCC veterans.  

To illustrate this, I did a bit of digging and crunched the numbers... bringing you these sweet infographics to give some insight into the athletes that made up this year's ADCC World Championship cohort. 

Huge thank you to BJJ Heroes for keeping such a deep database of jiu-jitsu athletes and their accomplishments. 

ADCC World Championships - Veteran Status

ADCC World Championships - Age Breakdown

ADCC World Championships - Country Breakdown

Welcome back. I felt it was necessary for that initial knowledge of what the BJJ belt colors mean to settle in. Because at this point in your jiu-jitsu journey, blue and purple are tangible, within reach.

Now let’s talk about the much more coveted brown, black and red belts. 

Before I go on, I must note that just because someone has a higher belt than you do, does not give them any special power. They might be better at jiu-jitsu than you are, but that’s simply a matter of time on the mat. It does not make them a better person than you are. It does not give them the right to treat you poorly. Having a black belt on the mat does not mean that person is a black belt in life. Keep that in mind.  

Brown Belt

Brown belt is the last colored belt before black belt in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu system. At this belt, you’re both excited about being so close to black belt, but also terrified to become one.

Having your brown belt is like being a lieutenant in your jiu-jitsu academy. You have enough experience that the other belts look up to you for guidance and inspiration. You may even teach classes and privates. On a personal level, you’ve found your “game”, and you will spend much of your time perfecting it, in addition to collecting more high-level techniques. You’re now able to string together more complex techniques and experiment with different ways of advancing through positions.

At this point, you’ve probably been training for five to eight years, and you’re looking at another one to four years at brown belt. Don’t rush it. Enjoy brown belt. You’re in that perfect position in the academy where you can tap most of your training partners, but you’re still getting your ass kicked by a few others – notably the black belts. This keeps you honest, and keeps you growing.

Black Belt

For many, black belt is the goal. Everybody wants to be a black belt. The thing is, once you get there, you realize just how much you still have to learn.

After anywhere from six to 15 years (or more… there’s no judgement), you become a black belt. Some receive their black belt in less time, but those are very few exceptions. Why such a range? Because every jiu-jitsu practitioner’s path to black belt is different and unique. Those who compete tend to arrive at black belt earlier. This is because there are more opportunities to gauge that individual’s progress relative to those from other academies. If that person is absolutely killing it on the competition scene, he or she needs to move up a belt level. Another reason for this is – in my opinion – is that every tournament is also worth about three months of training. The more you compete the easier it is to see where you need to grow.

But not all jiu-jitsu practitioners choose to compete. And that’s totally okay. Their journey to black belt will be a bit slower, and will be determined largely through their performance on their home mat and the contribution they make to the jiu-jitsu community and the journeys of others.

What must be emphasized is that just because you become black belt, doesn’t mean that you know everything. Or that you are expected to. And a black belt on the jiu-jitsu mat doesn’t mean that person is a black belt in life, at work, in relationships, etc. There will always be opportunities to learn and grow. That’s the beauty of jiu-jitsu.

Red Belt

Right up there with unicorns, dragons and mermaids is the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu red belt. Most jiu-jitsu practitioners will never receive their red belt in their lifetime.

Once you receive your black belt, stripes are awarded approximately every three years, regardless of how little or often you train (unless you completely quit jiu-jitsu altogether). A black belt can have up to six degrees. According to the IBJJF system, it takes approximately 31 years to transition from black belt to red and black belt, and you cannot become a red and black belt until you’re the age of 50. No telling if this may change… as more and more people are becoming black belts before the age of 20. 

One spends approximately seven years at red and black belt, before receiving a red and white belt. He or she will then spend approximately 10 years there, until finally, ultimately – maybe – receiving the highest belt awarded in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu system: red belt. This belt cannot be awarded to anyone younger than 67 years old.

How many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu red belts have there been? According to the most recent list published by BJEE in 2019, only 55. And several of them are no longer living.

For most in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community, jiu-jitsu is more than a sport or a hobby. It becomes a life-long obsession, a lifestyle, a part of their identity. The BJJ belt level ranking system is just one thing that illustrates that.

Even if you’re brand new to the sport of jiu-jitsu – or martial arts in general – you know that the BJJ belt color means something. Thanks to The Karate Kid, at the very least you know that a white belt is a beginner, and a black belt is a not-so-beginner.

But what do all those other colors mean? Is it like other martial arts? And how does one “level up” from white to black belt?

Never fear, my dear white belt (because if you’re asking yourself those questions, you ARE a white belt), all your questions will be answered here… or at least a few of them. No guarantees. 

BJJ Belt Colors in General

Like other martial arts, BJJ belt colors signify where one is at in their progression from beginner to master level. However, not all martial arts use the same colors.

Specifically, in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the standard progression is white, blue, purple, brown, black, red and black, then finally red. Oh yes, there are indeed belt levels past black. And that’s just the adult belts. Kid’s belt levels include gray, yellow, orange, and green – and variations between – but we won’t be getting into that.

The time between belts are also unique to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Unlike in karate, where you can blaze your way to black belt in as little as two years, BJJ takes much more time. But this also depends on your academy, whether you’re a competitor or a hobbiest, and how often you train. Some jiu-jitsu artists have received their black belt in as little as three or four years, but most practitioners earn it after eight to 15 years of training.

White Belt

From the moment you step on the mat for the first time, you are a white belt. The absolute beginner. Lowest of the low. Just kidding, kind of. You are the lowest rank on the mat. But good news: everyone has been there.

Most people stay at white belt anywhere from six months to two years. The variation among white belt is always very interesting. A lot of white belts have no previous martial arts background – or even experience in sports of any kind – and thus spend a lot of their time developing body awareness and learning how to move properly. Then there are some white belts who come from wrestling or other martial arts background, and just plow their way through the rank.

But don’t worry, one of the beautiful things about jiu-jitsu is that the competitive edge between former “athletes” and non-athletes tends to level out later… especially for those who follow these tips.

Blue Belt

Blue belt is the first big moment in your jiu-jitsu career. For many, this is the point at which they say to themselves, “Welp, that was fun,” and call it quits forever. For others, it’s the much needed “you don’t suck” boost they needed to keep at it.

This belt has probably the widest disparity in skill levels… which becomes most obvious at tournaments. Part of the reason is that blue belt is typically the first grown-up belt for youngsters, who could easily already have eight plus years of training. Essentially, you could have some decently-in-shape 30-something with a job and several kids with a year of jiu-jitsu experience face a 16-year-old beast who has been training longer than some black belts. Fun, huh? 

Expect to spend anywhere from two to four years at blue belt. During this belt, your primary mission will be to accumulate an understanding and solidify your knowledge of all the major positions and primary submissions. You can think of it like building a house. White belt is where you poured the foundation, and blue belt is where you start framing it out. You can still see lots of open air, but you can start to see that, yes, this is the beginning of a house.

Purple Belt

If you’ve made it to purple belt, the odds of you sticking it out to black belt are pretty high. Not 100 percent, mind you. There are plenty of BJJ purple belts out there still using the “Yeah, I’m a purple belt” line to impress girls at bars, despite not having stepped on the mat in ten years. But the odds are better than they were when you received your blue belt.

Purple belt is fun. Enjoy all that it has to offer. This belt is when you start experimenting with techniques, figuring out what you like and don’t like to do, and start shaping “your game”. Yes, it will likely still be a lumpy semi-humanoid shape that only a middle-school art teacher would love, but it’s a start.

Purple belt will also offer plenty of frustration, too. Up until this point, you’ve become used to learning and growing nearly every step of the way. Now, you’ll start to see some stagnation. It’s not that you’re getting worse. As your techniques settle into your game, or you ignore some tried-and-true techniques to focus on the fancy new stuff, those signs of improvement will be more subtle.

Expect to spend anywhere from a year and a half to even four or more years at this belt. I’ve known plenty of academy owners who really like to make their purple belts wait. Or they want to allow them every opportunity to hit the top of the podium – even if means being accused of sand-bagging. And sometimes it’s just that purple belts are bouncing around to different academies, trying to find one that fits their goals better. In doing so, this will add time onto their belt, until their new instructor gets a better sense of who they are and where they’re at in their journey.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of “What Do the BJJ Belt Colors Mean”…

As jiu-jitsu practitioners, we share a lot on the mat. Laughs, growth, sweat, blood, tears… and skin infections. That last one we could do without, though.

The exact types of skin infections you can get from the jiu-jitsu mat are numerous. Some of the most common are: ringworm, impetigo, staph, MRSA, and herpes simplex. Each has their own special kinds of symptoms, rates of transmissibility, and cures. But that’s beyond the scope of this blog.

Instead, I want to focus on how to best prevent any and all skin infections, before they establish themselves. Because let’s face it: you don’t have any control over the actions of others, who may – knowingly or unknowingly – decide to train while infectious. But you do have control over what you do.

And here’s what you can do to prevent skin infections:

Always Wear Clean Gis and No-Gi Gear

I shouldn’t have to say this, but here we are… First and foremost, don’t be the source of infection-causing bacteria and fungi. Dirty, sweaty gis and no-gi gear are the perfect breeding grounds for microscopic organisms like these. And while you may have “let it dry out”, your BJJ gi or rash guard could still be harboring them.

So always, always wear clean gis and no-gi gear. Wash after every wear, no exceptions; no matter how much you “didn’t sweat in it.” Don’t know how to wash your gi? Here’s a guide.  

Take a Shower ASAP (or Wipe Down)

So, you’ve already been rolling around in your and everybody else’s sweat for an hour or two. Fantastic. You got your jiu-jitsu fix. Now go take a shower you dirty animal.

Fortunately, many academies now have showers (and maybe even separate locker rooms with showers for men and women… if you’re lucky). In that case, please make use of them. Even if it’s just to rinse off a bit before you drive/bike/walk home. Keep a small shower kit in your gym bag for just the occasion, complete with a pair of extra shower flops (because who knows how often the shower gets cleaned).

If your academy doesn’t have such amenities, then anti-bacterial wipes will be your best friend. Even if there is a shower, they should be your best friend. Defense Soap is one of our favorites, but there are a ton of other options out there.

Do Regular Skin Checks

Even the most careful can fall victim to a skin infection. But it’s far easier to treat – and get rid of fast – when it’s small. Not only that, but the sooner you identify it, the sooner you’re able to protect your training partners from the same fate by staying off the mat.

How do you check? First, make sure you always have a full-length mirror available. I’m talking to you, boys. A full-length mirror will enable you to easily check your entire body (and will also help you come to terms with your chicken legs and hopefully never skip leg day again). You can also have a buddy/girlfriend/boyfriend help you check any hard to see spots… and don't forget your hairline!

What are you looking for? It’s different for each infection, but basically any red, irritated, pus-filled or raised spots. It might just be an ingrown hair, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.  

Help Keep the Mats Clean

One of the most common sources for skin infection-causing bacteria and fungi? The mats.

Think about it: the mats may see hundreds of different people, each with their own sanitary habits, several times a day. They may get cleaned in between each class, but they may not. Even if they get cleaned, are they really “getting cleaned”? Is the disinfectant strong enough? Are the mop heads clean? Was the cleaning job thorough?

You may think that you have no control over this… but that’s silly. You can always offer to help clean. In fact, if you have any suspicion regarding the cleanliness – or lack thereof – of the mats, it is your civic duty to help. I don’t care what belt you are.

Spread the Word about Preventing Skin Infections

The black belt or head instructor at your academy doesn’t have to be the only source of crucial BJJ-related info. Especially if you’re a colored belt, you have plenty of experience and insight that you can impart upon your fellow jiu-jitsu practitioners… especially those brand new white belts.

I wish every academy could include a mandatory hygiene brief into their “introductory class” for brand new students, but that’s wishful thinking. Therefore, to ensure that everyone, from day one, is maintaining a minimal level of cleanliness on the mats, go ahead and take it into your own hands. If you see people wearing stinky gis, not clipping their toe nails, going days without showers, etc… say something. In fact, say something even if you don’t.

Preventing skin infections in jiu-jitsu is one thing for which it is OKAY to be the squeaky wheel.

So, you’re a BJJ white belt.

Maybe you’ve just started, had your butt royally kicked for the first time in your life, and found yourself hooked on jiu-jitsu. Maybe you’re several months in, coming back time and again to get tapped, over and over again. Or maybe you’re well on your way to your blue belt, bought your first fancy jiu-jitsu gi, but still find yourself staring blankly at your instructor when he/she is teaching. 

Whatever the case, know that every jiu-jitsu practitioner has been there. Over time, you learn the tips and tricks that help you progress from the lowly minnow to the ultimate mat shark.  But sometimes that journey can be long and… well… painful (depending on how long you wait to tap).

To give you a bit of a head start, I’ve compiled a few “BJJ White Belt Survival Tips” to help you along:

Monkey See, Monkey Do

Jiu-jitsu is a funny activity to get involved in. Not only do you have to learn these strange new movements – that you would never do in your normal everyday life – but also all the weird lingo, social nuances and customs that operate within the academy. It can be a lot. And often your fellow students won’t lay them all out for you at the get-go.

So, take things into your own hands; monkey see, monkey do.

Watch what the higher belts are doing, and try to mimic as best as you can. Notice where they walk barefoot and where they don’t. Where do they store their gear? Do they bow before stepping on the mat? Do they greet everybody else? Where do they line up? Pay attention to the way they do their drills. Yes, you’ll look silly the first times you attempt those movements, but you’ll look sillier if you just hang back because you “don’t know how to do that.” Pay attention and try. Hopefully a higher belt will take pity on you and show you step-by-step, but don’t just expect it.

Slow Your BJJ White Belt Ass Down

Don’t try to do anything at the same speed that the higher belts are doing it. Nobody expects that, so don’t feel pressured to do so. The reason they’re able to do it, is because they’ve practiced those movements – in some manner or form – numerous times before, and have developed the necessary coordination.

But you, my dear sweet white belt, have not. So, slow your ass down. 

When you try to go fast, you skip critical steps, your movements become sloppy, and you may even develop bad habits or end up hurting yourself or your training partner. Take your time and go step-by-step. As you become more proficient with the movements, you can put some speed on it. But as soon as it starts falling apart, slow it back down. Go as slow as you need to. Your jiu-jitsu journey isn’t a race.

Adopt a Higher Belt, and Don’t Be Afraid to Ask

The head black belt or instructor isn’t the only one on the mat from whom you can learn. Anyone – even another white belt – who has been there longer than you have, has something to share. Ideally, you’ll want to adopt someone who’s at least a rank or two higher.

Once you’ve found that person (or persons), see if you can pair up with them during technique. Take privates or schedule time to drill with them. If you’re drilling with another white belt, move to where they are drilling, so if you get lost, they’re within reach to help you out. 

Most importantly, don’t be afraid to ask, whether it’s your adopted higher belt, or anyone else. Most people will be happy to help, and happy to share their jiu-jitsu. All you have to do is ask.

Respect Everyone… No Exceptions

This one is a biggie. Whether they’re your same rank or higher, male or female, young or old, and whatever their ethnicity, religious beliefs, physical capabilities, political leanings and preferences… respect everyone that shares the mat with you. No exceptions.

Because of your common interest, you have come together to share the mat and learn jiu-jitsu. Leave your ego and biases at the door.

Deciding to start Brazilian jiu-jitsu will be one of the best decisions you’ve ever made. But sometimes at the beginning, when you don’t know what to do with your hands and you’re getting smashed by everyone and their grandmother, it may not feel that way. Hopefully these BJJ White Belt Tips will help you ease those first painfully – literally – awkward months.

Finding the perfect jiu-jitsu gi can be challenging. How do you know what’s a good “fit”? What size is best for your body type? What’s the deal with all the different fabrics?

Whether you’re new to the gentle art, or a long-time BJJ veteran, these are important questions. You want a jiu-jitsu gi that fits right, performs well, and fits your style and preferences… you want to find the “perfect jiu-jitsu gi.”

Admittedly, finding the perfect gi can be a bit of a trial and error process. But there ARE some things that can help you narrow down the field. What are they? Read on…

How Should my Gi Fit?

A good gi should fit like a well-tailored suit: not too baggy, but also not too tight. 

A jiu-jitsu gi that’s too tight will restrict your movement, diminishing your ability to retain or regain guard, move around your opponent, and even pass quickly and efficiently. You want to be able to move your limbs freely in all directions… at least to the limit of your natural flexibility. On the other hand, a BJJ gi that’s too baggy is also a detriment. It will get in your way, get caught up in your or your opponent’s movements, and make it that much easier for your opponent to catch and retain grips. 

When trying to find the perfect jiu-jitsu gi for you, keep these in mind:

• Your sleeves should hit at or slightly above your wrist with your arms stretched out in front of you.
• Your jacket should have plenty of room around the shoulders and armpits. Rotate your arms to check for any restriction.
• You should be able to a full squat without fear of splitting your pants.
• Your pants should be slightly baggy around the thighs and knees, allowing room for flexion.
• Your top should be able to fully close around your torso, with one lapel comfortably overlapping the other.

What Size Should I Get?

Now that you know HOW a gi should fit… how do you choose the appropriate size?  

Luckily, many gi companies now offer a wide range of sizes, as well as in-between sizes. Gone are the days were A1 to A5 was it, and tough cookies if they didn’t fit you.

For those on the small size, many gi companies offer down to size A0 or even A00, and up to size A6. For those lankier practitioners, consider “L” sizes to fit your longer limbs. For the huskier fellows, several gi companies have “H” sizes, which offer a bit more room in key areas. Many companies also offer women’s cuts. But take these with a grain of salt, as they’re often just the same unisex cut, just sized down. The best women’s gis account for wider hips and narrower shoulders, but women come in all shapes and sizes, so a unisex cut might even fit you better than a “women’s” cut.

Keep in mind that the length of your sleeves and pants can always be adjusted by a tailor. In fact, unless your jiu-jitsu gi fits absolutely perfect straight out of the box, you should really consider getting all of your gis tailored. When your gi fits good, you’ll feel good, and you’ll perform better (even if it’s just the placebo effect, it works, believe me).

A final point to make on size: jiu-jitsu gi brands don’t use standardized sizing charts. You might be an A1 in one brand, and an A2 in another.

What Fabrics make up the Perfect Jiu-Jitsu Gi?

Unlike your regular wardrobe, jiu-jitsu gi fabrics are limited to just a few very durable fabrics. But there are critical variations within that range that could be the difference between a “meh” jiu-jitsu gi and a perfect jiu-jitsu gi.

First of all, let’s consider the jacket. With very few exceptions, most jiu-jitsu gi jackets are made from a durable cotton fabric, typically in some variation of a pearl weave. There are some gis  jackets made from canvas or rip stop, but these are not IBJJF legal, so they’re few and far in between. There are several different types of jacket weaves, which we’ve already covered in THIS BLOG.

More important than the weave, is the fabric weight. This is typically given in the gi description with some number followed by GSM, which stands for “grams per square meter.” Lighter weight jackets will be between 375 and 425 GSM. Any lighter than that and the jacket is more prone to ripping. Mid-weight gis range from 425 to 480 GSM, and heavyweight gis – so called, double weaves – can go all the way up to 800 GSM (or more).

Jiu-jitsu pants typically come in two different types of fabric: drill cotton (kind of like a lighter and more flexible canvas) and ripstop (which is a tactical fabric made from nylon or nylon blends). Like gi jackets, pants come in different weights; usually between 8 oz to 12 oz. Cotton pants tend shrink in the dryer, stretch when wet, and get softer over time. Ripstop pants are incredibly tear-resistant, but as a result, don’t stretch or shrink at all, even if you want them to.

Finding the Perfect Jiu-Jitsu Gi…

Choosing the perfect gi for you really comes down to personal preference. Some people prefer the lightest gi they can get, while others like weightier and more durable gis. Some people like a baggier, more traditional fit, while others prefer a slimmer, more sport-friendly fit.

Whatever your preference, make sure that you can easily return and exchange your gis to avoid being stuck with an ill-fitting gi.