BJJ

BJJ black belt Chewjitsu tackles the gi vs. no-gi belt debate. He explains why a grappler's rank reflects universal skills, not just proficiency in one uniform, and makes the case that a brown belt is always a brown belt.

Which reigns supreme in an MMA ground fight: wrestling's control or Jiu-Jitsu's submissions? This article dives into the debate, featuring insights and pivotal UFC moments that shaped the answer.

Should you train jiu-jitsu in a gi or go no-gi? This article explores the key differences, traditions, and practical benefits of both styles. Learn why some fighters stick to the gi for technique and tournament preparation, while others prefer no-gi for MMA or self-defense. Discover expert insights from top coaches to help you choose the right training approach.

Mastery in mixed martial arts isn’t just about showing up — it’s about consistent training paired with focused ambition. This article breaks down the long road to earning a black belt, why consistency alone won’t make you great, and how setting specific goals in every session can elevate your game to championship levels.

Carlson Gracie transformed Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu by breaking from tradition and fostering a competitive training culture. Unlike the formal methods of earlier Gracies, Carlson introduced group classes, live sparring, and innovative techniques that laid the groundwork for modern MMA. This article explores why his impact on BJJ remains unmatched and why he is considered the most influential Gracie fighter.

Every martial artist has a unique temperament that shapes their fighting style. Some excel with patience, wearing down opponents and waiting for the perfect moment, while others thrive on aggression, overwhelming their rivals with relentless pressure. This article explores how personality influences jiu-jitsu strategy, how legends like Royce and Renzo Gracie embody different approaches, and how you can refine your own style for maximum effectiveness.

Success in MMA is about mastering unpredictability. Drawing parallels between jiu-jitsu and the art of throwing a curveball, this article explores how technique, speed, and strategy give fighters an edge. Learn from Firas Zahabi’s insights on developing unique styles and why surprise is key to dominating in combat sports.

One of the most enduring strategies in any martial art is to wear down your opponent’s energy until they make mental mistakes that you can then exploit. With jiu-jitsu, this kind of strategy is often more defensive—you force your opponent to attack, and then use technique to defend and escape from holds until they’ve tired themselves out. In mixed martial arts fighting, it’s far more common to take a more aggressive approach, and to wear down your opponents with a constant barrage of strikes.

Your first visit to a martial arts gym is never easy. It doesn’t matter your age, your athletic ability, or your gender; it takes a lot of courage to commit to trying something new and following through with it. It can be especially terrifying if you’ve had no experience with combat sports (or even contact sports) and enter into a space where you will be expected to fight another person.

You’re never too old to start doing jiu-jitsu. True, it’s never easy to walk into any space as a novice when you’re in your forties, fifties, or sixties. However, with jiu-jitsu this is more a matter of leaving your emotional comfort zone than putting yourself in physical danger, especially when you train with accredited instructors from the Gracie Academy. If you can overcome the familiar narrative that you can only start doing things when you’re in your teens or twenties, and that you can’t have a career, a family, and new interests, you can learn jiu-jitsu.

Police reform continues to be a hot-button issue, but just about everyone can find common ground on two things: Police officers should only use force as a last resort, and they should strive to never use force that is excessive. Using excessive force violates the rights of the citizens they are sworn to protect and frays trust between departments and communities. When people don’t trust their local police departments, crimes go unreported and public safety suffers.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu has a long history that stretches back to the start of the twentieth century. The martial arts traditions on which it is based, primarily Japanese jujitsu and judo, date back several centuries. The growth in Brazilian jiu-jitsu’s popularity has paralleled the rise of mixed martial arts fighting, largely due to the success of the early Ultimate Fighting Championship in the 1990s.

Getting to the level of black belt is no easy task. Even in the best-case scenario, it takes between one and two years to advance from one belt to the next, and those who reach the level of black belt typically have dedicated close to a decade to their jiu-jitsu training. 

Learning a martial art takes time. While it may be easy to learn a single move or a few techniques to defend yourself in the event of an altercation, developing a systematic knowledge of self-defense and really learning the mechanics and dynamics of a fight is a lifelong process. However, how quickly you become good is not solely a function of how much time you can devote to training. It’s also about learning how to train efficiently and effectively.

Which martial art best prepares you for a street fight? It’s a question that comes up in any discussion about martial arts and it’s been debated endlessly for hundreds of years. No surprise, it was brought up on Lex Fridman’s podcast during an interview with John Danaher, who is often considered to be one of the best coaches in jiu-jitsu and MMA fighting.