Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ): belts, rules, positions and submissions
BJJ explained for judoka and beginners alike: belts and stripes, IBJJF rules, guards, passes, control positions and core submissions.
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ): origins, rules, belts and basics
Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) explained for beginners: Gracie and Maeda origins, core principles, gi and no-gi, the belt system, competition rules and how to start.
BJJ armbar: from closed guard, mount and the back
The BJJ armbar from closed guard, mount and back control: hip placement, thumb up, the pivot that makes it work and the mistakes that let the arm escape.
BJJ back control: hooks, seat belt and finishes
BJJ back control explained: the hooks, the seat belt grip, collar chokes and the rear naked choke, then the defense to escape without getting choked.
BJJ belts: order, minimum ages and time at each rank
All BJJ belts for adults and kids: the official IBJJF belt order, minimum ages, minimum time at each rank and how long promotions really take.
BJJ black belt: how long it takes, minimum age and degrees
How long it takes to get a BJJ black belt, the IBJJF minimum age of 19, the six black belt degrees and what comes after with coral and red belts.
BJJ blue belt: what it takes and why so many people quit
The BJJ blue belt is the first real milestone: the level coaches expect, minimum age, how long it usually takes and why so many blue belts quit.
BJJ closed guard: break posture, attack and pass it
BJJ closed guard step by step: breaking posture, armbar, triangle, kimura and scissor sweep, then how to open and pass the closed guard safely.
BJJ gi buying guide: weave, sizing, IBJJF colors and shrinkage
How to choose a BJJ gi: how it differs from a judo gi, pearl vs gold weave, A0 to A5 sizing, IBJJF legal colors and how to wash it without shrinking.
BJJ guard passing: the 4 families every passer needs
BJJ guard passing explained: toreando, knee cut, over-under and smash pass, how pressure really works, and what a pass is worth under IBJJF rules.
BJJ half guard: underhook, sweeps and how to pass it
BJJ half guard explained: low and high half guard, winning the underhook, the classic sweeps and how to flatten and pass half guard from the top.
BJJ mount: how to hold it, attack from it and escape it
The BJJ mount position: how to stay on top without getting rolled, the main attacks from mount, and the two basic mount escapes, upa and elbow-knee.
BJJ purple belt: minimum age, expected level and real timeline
BJJ purple belt explained: IBJJF minimum age of 16, at least two years at blue, the technical level coaches expect and what changes once you wear it.
BJJ stripes: how stripes work on a jiu-jitsu belt
BJJ stripes explained: why there are four, where they go on the belt, how coaches award them and what a stripe really says about your level.
BJJ techniques for beginners: the first 10 to learn
The first Brazilian jiu-jitsu techniques to learn: guards, escapes, passes and submissions, in the order a good coach teaches them to new white belts.
BJJ vs judo: the real differences and why to train both
BJJ vs judo compared: standing vs ground, rules, grips, belts and training culture. What each sport gives the other and how to combine them.
First BJJ class: what to expect, what to bring, how to roll
Your first BJJ class explained: how the session runs, what to bring, the hygiene rules everyone follows and how to behave in your first roll.
First BJJ competition: a white belt's guide to tournament day
Your first BJJ competition: registration, the gi weigh-in, divisions, the IBJJF points you need to know and how to handle the adrenaline dump.
Gi vs no-gi BJJ: differences, rules and which to start with
Gi vs no-gi BJJ: what changes in grips, submissions, IBJJF rules and uniform, and whether a beginner should start with the gi or without it.
Guillotine choke in BJJ: variations, details and defense
The BJJ guillotine choke: arm-out, arm-in and high elbow variations, the wrist position that makes it tight and the defense to use before it's too late.
History of Brazilian jiu-jitsu: from Maeda to the Gracies and UFC
The history of Brazilian jiu-jitsu: Mitsuyo Maeda, Carlos and Hélio Gracie, the 1951 fight with Kimura, UFC 1 in 1993 and the birth of the IBJJF.
IBJJF rules: BJJ points, advantages, penalties and match times
IBJJF rules explained: BJJ points for each position, advantages, penalties, match length by belt and which submissions are illegal at each level.
Japanese jiu-jitsu vs Brazilian jiu-jitsu: the real differences
Japanese jiu-jitsu vs Brazilian jiu-jitsu: shared roots, very different training. Origins, how each is practiced today, key differences and which to pick.
Kimura in BJJ: the shoulder lock from guard to control
The kimura in BJJ: the shoulder lock from closed guard and side control, the kimura trap as a control system, its judo name ude-garami and its origin.
Rear naked choke (mata leão): technique and defense
The rear naked choke in BJJ (mata leão): arm placement, the hand behind the head detail, common mistakes and defense, plus its judo cousin hadaka-jime.
Triangle choke in BJJ: setup, angle and finish
The BJJ triangle choke step by step: the setup from closed guard, the angle that makes it tight, the mistakes that kill it and the defenses to know.