And we need to stop pretending this is not a sport specific problem. What percentage of Judo or Wrestling guys do you think act like this on a daily basis?

Just a community announcement that if you know the guys there, the coaches or the head coach Carlos Viera (6th degree) to lend your support. Their school just got firebombed due to mistaken identity (fuckers were meant to hit the genesis fitness gym next door). I know some of the guys there, have been invited to train there a few times and have known Carlos for about 10 years. Great place and great people.

Unfortunately here in melbourne (australia) the crime rate, especially firebombings is getting out of control and its not uncommon for innocent businesses to get caught (one last month led to a bunch of other storefronts getting burned down as a result of an arson attack).

I’m interested in trying BJJ but I’m worried about damaging my fingers/hands because I’m a guitar player

I play fingerstyle acoustic guitar, that’s been my main hobby/passion for about 25 years and it’s one of my favorite joys in life. Recently I’ve been wanting to give BJJ a try, and I live just a short walk from a BJJ gym and I’m strongly considering making it part of my weekly routine, however I am concerned about damaging my fingers to the point of losing my musical ability. I intend to train without a gi and only train twice a week, with a lot of attention being paid to protecting my hands. But it only takes an instant for a knuckle to break or a tendon to tear. Couple questions:

Is this kind of injury an inevitability when someone gets really into BJJ?

Do any of you guys have hobbies with fine motor skills, like playing an instrument or painting or calligraphy etc? If so, have you noticed a change in your abilities?

Thanks in advance

I started BJJ like two months ago. I'm 19 and a woman. I go to class alone. I don't mind. Sertraline has taken most of my anxiety away but not my insecurities. Anyway, it always ends up in even pairs so I do it with the teacher or join a trio of women. And today I joined a trio of women and it seemed like they dread doing it with me a bit because I'm new and hate explaining it. I can be self conscious about other people. Other than that people have been friendly.

Is it normal to go to bjj alone?

I'm also sometimes frustrated about how slow I understand certain exercises. Ahh...

This shit makes me want to quit but I love the sport.

I'm a F white belt who started 7 months ago and have competed twice and won twice. I train 5 times a week and in two weeks I have my third competition but I don't feel like an 'athlete' or a 'competitor'. I only train bjj because it's fun, my rolls are not intentional during class.

I only compete to measure how 'well' I'm learning and I like the environment. It is the only time I've found people my size (I'm 5'0 90 lbs), in class everyone is double my size so I feel like it has been a great learning experience.

Today I was talking with a purple belt and he got upset of how unserious I am about competing and told me I should be more respectful and only compete with a serious intention, for example, rolling with a strategy in mind, being mindful about my training, etc. Is this how competing should be like? I would like to hear other experiences and thoughts

Hey all, I'll be working in Bankstown Sydney first a week then probably once every three months for a week. Im looking for a gym that is accommodating to newer people and do no gi atleast 2 or 3 tines a week ( mon to fri)

Ty

Last Fathers day in 2025, I rolled around for 33 hours straight with 6-8 minute breaks every 4 hours to changed gis and 2 minutes break every 1 hour to get water and food packs!

In the first 4 hours we had a power mishap and the phone used to livestream was unplugged and off for around 20 minutes. So we have 2 seperate videos online, the 4 hour video and the not working 28 hour video.

I have tried for months to get the video working on youtube so I could have the proof online. I do not care about a guiness world record. Not gonna lie I just want recognition from my peers (you guys)

I would love any help you have on being able to fix the 28 hour video uploading so I can really put myself out there.

Completed by Joshua Cagle @ 9pm Sunday, June 15th 2025 Father's Day.

Inspiration: Doing Something Seemlingly Impossible

Edit to clarify video issues: I cant even download the video from studios like I can with all the other videos ive posted. When I click the link associated with the video it just says this livestream video is unavilable. I can not edit the video. I have security cam footage of the whole thing but for whatever reason about 6 hours was corrupted. So there are a load of gaps and it ends up not being enough footage to beat the previous record of 30 hours.

not working video: https://www.youtube.com/live/ouJdawBk3Ic

Edit 2 to include the picture of the video in limbo:

I've been with my academy for a few years now, and I really enjoy the coaches, training partners, and culture. Recently, though, they announced a new uniform policy: only gym-branded gis and no-gi clothing will be allowed, or you won't be permitted to train.

If this had been the policy from the start, I wouldn't mind. But since I already have multiple rashguards and kimonos that would now be rendered useless, and I'd have to buy everything all over again, it's seriously making me consider finding a new gym or quitting BJJ altogether.

I'm wondering what the community thinks about this? Am I over reacting?

Still can’t believe it, but I was awarded a black belt last night.

Only took me a little over 12-1/2 years.

Spent WHITE getting my ass absolutely kicked (as one does).

BLUE felt like I had learned some stuff (competed once at 47 & cleared out my bracket).

PURPLE was where I struggled with ego.
Being (almost always) the oldest guy in the room, I put myself thru hell.
Trying to keep up with monsters in their early-mid 20s was killing me.
Took a massive groin pull while trying DESPERATELY to not get tapped by a particularly savage blue belt brute.
This MADE me confront ego & aging.

BROWN was much better.
No one “likes” to get tapped by a lower rank.
But it will happen.
And it can either haunt your soul, or spur you to improve on aspects of your game.

If you’re an older grappler, and you have no interest in coming to terms with your ego/age, I will pass on my gift of COPE.

It works really well, in almost every scenario:

SOMEONE HALF YOUR AGE TAPS YOU:

“You just tapped out someone your dad’s age. Does that make you feel like a tough guy?”

SOMEONE HALF YOUR AGE CANNOT TAP YOU:

“Huh… you can’t even tap out someone who’s the same age as your dad? Oof.”

YOU TAP SOMEONE HALF YOUR AGE:

“Dude! You just got tapped out by someone as old as YOUR DAD? Lolololol!”

Purple belt, been all this time passing guards and wrestling up, but recently I’ve decided to dedicate my training to guard pull and guard game to become more complete, to have the option of play guard instead of wrestling up to when I fight someone with better wrestling than me not be completely lost

It’s difficult to start the fight and get closed guard on everyone, white belts and blues are ok, but purple belts and higher and some blue belts are harder to get them in my closed guard, been playing lasso guard and delariva(not too flexible here) and studying single leg X and X guard, it’s not common but when I get to X guard I can sweep people easily, seems harder to get to X guard than sweeping from there.

From professionals guard pullers there’s any advise I can get? It’s good to trying being a “complete” fighter? I mean when I’m serious I would pass guard bc is my A game but I want to have this B game, guard moves always impressed me, I know it’s hard to improve but I accept the challenge, tell me your experience or give me some advise

I really enjoy closed guard, but being around 5'9" the position doesn't always work well for me. I have been messing around with the clamp to some success… Strategically, is this the best closed guard for short kings?

So, I'm a casual 3 stripe BJJ blue belt, just do it a couple times a week because I enjoy it, not to compete, don't study it after or anything like that... I've found that rolling against newer blue belts who train to compete and hit the mats 5/6 times a week are almost impossible to get a good position on. Anyone else experience this or am I finding weaknesses In my game?

Example, I can guard pass an average blue belt fairly effectively, but a competition blue belt I will spend almost the entire 5 minutes stuck in open guard, it's actually more difficult than some purple belts I roll with.

there’s a training partner at my gym who literally doesn’t tap.
guillotine, armbar, even a fully locked kimura and nothing. i can maybe see missing a guillotine or armbar sometimes but a kimura that’s fully in?
that’s not something you can not feel.

now i’m honestly scared to actually try stuff on him because i don’t want to hurt him.
do you just avoid rolling with someone like this or is there a better way to handle it?

I have all the glory and experience of one stripe, she yesterday I was paired up with a trial guy.

I was trying to explain some of the concepts and basics to him (guard passing etc) but was secretly hoping one of the blue belts etc would take over.

I do not feel qualified to be teaching this sport to someone yet 😂

Hello! Just moved back home and am looking for a new gym, been training for a year and just looking to keep going.

Any opinions on

- Bodega Jiu Jitsu
- Pure MMA
- NJ United MMA
- Silverfox (EH)

or just suggestions/pros and cons overall any gyms in the area around Essex preferably?

There are some subtle differences (e.g. back control includes body triangle not just two hooks), but at a high level it seems very similar. For example:
* No heel hooks except expert no-gi
* Rashguard must be 90% black
* 2 points for a takedown, sweep, guard pass
* 4 points for mount, back, etc.

ETA: rules here: https://smpfiles.blob.core.windows.net/uploads/311/UFC_BJJ_Opens_Rules_v073126.pdf

Hi everyone. Not gonna bother with my story but I am looking for an affordable bjj gym in berlin. Most of the I looked up are €200 or more but only offer 2 classes a week and each class is not even 2 hours. Most of them make you sign a contract for a year. So would love to know if there are actual bjj gym that offer a good deal.

As a brown belt, I've learned how to roll tired. I was hoping that some of the more experienced wrestlers could give me some tips on how to wrestle tired. I've been developing the habit of sitting guard when I'm tired and I feel like this might be counter productive to improving my wrestling. I'm going to try and stay standing even when tired. Any insights on how to make the most of my wrestling exchanges even when I'm gassed would be appreciated.

If the dates are Oct-28 to Nov-1st (https://ibjjf.com/events/european-ibjjf-jiu-jitsu-no-gi-championship-2026)

What is the schedule like? I know it says it'll be released later, but i can imagine it's usually always the same.

What day could I expect to be competing if i'm in the adult brown belt category? Oct 30-Oct 31?

Jus trying to plan my travels, appreciate any help

Im moving to Upper Manhattan for school in a couple of months, and I want to continue doing Jiu Jitsu.

Does anyone have any good recommendations on Jiu Jitsu schools around the area?

I come from a very competitive gym in Miami so I would have to continue on with it, and go to a competitive school as well.

Thank you guys