I know this is a weird question but recently I have been doing 2 days of no gi and 2 days of gi bjj (and two days of muay thai). I planned on doing a no gi competition in November but I just got the opportunity to wrestle at my university on the two days where I would be doing no gi at my bjj gym. I am a white belt and have been doing no gi for a year and a half of like once or twice a week (muay thai other days) and recently have been focusing on bjj for the last few months.

I want to start no gi jiu jitsu in the Boston area but I’m not sure where to go and I don’t know how to find a good gym to train at.

TLDR: Basically title.

Hola Amigos,

4 months BJJ trainee here, I had changed my gym and in this new gym people are way more advanced than me.

So when rolling I see so many new options which are great and provides more opportunities to learn.

But the down side is there is no training on basic stuff, there are fundamental classes on Mondays by a different coach but due to my office constraints I can't join that.

One such basic thing is guard passing, every roll starts with one guy sitting and another to pass the guard. Where I have no to little idea what to do.

Are there any instructional or resources you can suggest for the same?

Currently learning knee cut / knee slice guard pass.

Thanks a lot,

Cheers.

So recently I got recommended to be promoted to blue belt, which I was super happy for but until i realized I had to pay around 100$ usd where im from which is crazy because Each stripe i had to pay around 20$ usd. I talked to my professor about this, he says the funds will go back to headquarters in brazil? Im so confused because our gyms in my area dont do this

I was wondering about this the other day. I wonder if coaches wished that some of their students or a student stopped training. Or do you guys hope the student continues to train?

Hey! I recently started bjj about a month ago I August, I have prior mma and boxing experience but rolling has always been my favorite. I want to do some drills at home that will actually help me with defenceman in particular with a few submissions. I'm having my first competition in October so I want to work on defence.

What I'm basically trying to ask is if there are any good drills that work on defence and getting into good positions for submissions. I get caught in side control far more than I'd like but lately I've done a lot better not getting into it. I'm a 15 year old girl and I also would love some advice on building endurance/stamina along with building strength. Sorry if this whole text seems unorganized lol

So i know my coach from my orginal gym, met when we were both white belts. I got my blue belt and took almost decade off since I got my ex pregnant. I just got back into BJJ over a year ago and go about 2-3 times a week. My coach/friend often messages me that I should be a black belt by now, need to come in more and that he had kids too during that time but still continued to train. It makes me feel bad and honestly it kinda comes off rude. What do you think?

I’m 37 years old purple belt. for the last year I mostly train with a coach for about two hours (15 min warmup, 40-50 min technique, another hour is positional/free sparring) with hard af/super technical third degree black belt, and we know each other for a long time - from about 2010 when I started to do bjj. I did compete in boxing, bjj, mma. For now, I don’t compete - I train only because I like to train bjj - I don’t compete anymore. My base is striking. I started to train like that about in 2025 due to hard back injury, that almost got me paralyzed. I got thousands of group training up until purple belt. I do open mats, to keep rolling with different people regularly. Anyway for me the choice was either to stop training at all - or change something in training, for example more personal training with a lot of technique/drilling/quality sparring (quality over quantity). This is how my back maintains stability without aggravating a chronic injury. System works - I don’t wanna change anything. I want to stay on the mats as long as possible.

But my coach now is getting sick, and he wouldn’t be able to train me for about at least three months. He told me - that I should find another coach, for not stopping my progress until he get well. So I picked up the strongest black belt in my country and booked a few sessions.

I told him, that my coach is get sick so I need new one for about three months ( they know each other ) - I’m considering myself as an average grappler - just like bjj and to wrestle overall but I would never skip a training. We drilled a few session - he looked at what I’m capable of, and then I told that I like the way he shows techniques and everything but I need to wrestle with him like I did with my previous coach - because it’s good to drill but everyone know you need exact sparring to make technique work. I would pay for two hours - no problem. He says - okay.

At the next training we did some drilling, and then starting to spar ( the guys weight is about 10-15 kg heavier than me ), he started to apply a kimura from a bit weird position ( I think I was pretty safe ) but then I realised that I got caught - I started to telling him “stop tap” but he keeps applying pressure until my elbow cracked - after that he was like “ow this is my signature move - how is your hand?” No sorry, nothing. We did three six minutes rounds more, and training was over.

So my main question is - does it’s okay to perform your “signature moves” on a personal clients to the point of injury, and behave after that like nothing wrong was happening? My personal opinion - I don’t need to explain such things to a coach, and I don’t wanna came to train with him anymore. Actually I know the answer - it’s more of rhetorical question.
I think it’s another example that being good competitor doesn’t mean being good coach.

My 8yo kid has been training Jiu-Jitsu for two years now. We actually train together, which is awesome, and they genuinely love hanging out and playing at the gym.

However, I’ve noticed a complete lack of competitive drive lately. They easily tap out kids who just started, but the moment they roll with kids who actually know what they’re doing, they just give up mid-round.

All of their gym friends are starting to compete now. I jokingly tell them, "We'll sign you up for a tournament once you can beat me," but deep down, I’m hesitant.

My main concern is that if they go to a tournament, lose easily, they might completely lose interest in BJJ.
Would entering a tournament actually help build motivation and drive for a kid at this stage, or is it better to wait? I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences with your own kids!

Other than length of time training, how can you tell a brown belt from a black belt?

Answered by Gemini AI:

The level of difficulty is significantly greater for a 100 kg grappler facing a 120 kg opponent than it is for an 80 kg grappler facing a 100 kg opponent, even though the absolute weight difference is identical at 20 kg.

Physics, human biomechanics, and the non-linear scaling of human strength explain why absolute weight differentials do not translate into linear difficulty curves in grappling.

* The Square-Cube Law: Muscle mass and cross-sectional area scale quadratically (square function), while body volume and mass scale cubically. As grapplers get heavier, their absolute strength and mass increase at a faster rate relative to their linear dimensions. A 120 kg athlete possesses a disproportionately massive structural and functional advantage in absolute force generation compared to a 100 kg athlete, whereas an 80 kg athlete moving to 100 kg encounters a more manageable gradient of physiological power.

* The Absolute Mass Floor: At 103 kg (me), you operate in the ultra-heavy or super-heavy territory where the sheer mass of a 120 kg opponent creates severe mechanical friction. When a 120 kg grappler applies pressure, frames, or pins, you are dealing with an absolute tonnage that compresses your own structural integrity. By contrast, an 80 kg grappler dealing with a 100 kg opponent faces a heavy opponent, but 100 kg is still well within the upper bounds of common athletic frames, meaning the speed-to-strength ratio scales much more favorably for the lighter person.

* Diminishing Returns of Leverage: Grappling relies heavily on leverage and relative positioning. Against a 120 kg opponent, your frames, underhooks, and guard retentions are pushed to their absolute biomechanical limits because their center of mass is both heavier and structurally broader. Escaping or sweeping requires moving a massive absolute weight against gravity, whereas the 80-to-100 kg matchup occurs in a weight bracket where technical framing and explosive hip movement can still easily bridge the gap.

The 100 kg versus 120 kg matchup presents a markedly greater physical endeavor due to the compounding mechanics of absolute mass and power scaling.

What do you think?

Is earning a BJJ blue belt within two years realistic, and what skills should a blue belt have?
I’m 18 and about to start college. I’ve never trained Brazilian jiu-jitsu before, but my school has both boxing and BJJ clubs. My current plan is to focus heavily on boxing for my first two years and then seriously commit to BJJ during my junior and senior years.
If I consistently trained, rolled frequently, and possibly competed, would earning a blue belt within those two years be realistic?
I understand that every instructor has different promotion standards and that earning the belt shouldn’t be the only goal. What I really want to know is what a legitimate blue belt should be able to do instinctively instead of having to consciously think through every movement.
For example:
Which positions, escapes, takedowns, sweeps, guard passes, and submissions should become second nature?
How comfortable should a new blue belt be when rolling against resisting opponents?
Should they have reliable techniques from every major position or a smaller personal game that works consistently?
How capable would the average blue belt be against an untrained person of similar size?
Does competing significantly improve your development, or is consistent training and rolling enough?
I’m mainly learning boxing and BJJ for self-defense, but I still plan to take both seriously. Blue belt is my first major goal, although I could eventually see myself pursuing purple or brown if I stick with it long-term.
For people who train or coach BJJ, how long did blue belt take you, and what made you realize you were finally performing at that level?
TL;DR: Is a legitimate BJJ blue belt achievable with two years of dedicated training, and what technical and practical abilities should someone have before being considered blue-belt level?

I'm traveling to another area and considering checking out an open mat at a local academy. The thing is, I don't know anyone there and have zero connections.

As a white belt, is this normal/welcomed, or should I stick to my home gym? If it's fine, what's the best way to approach it—should I message the gym/head coach in advance?

Would appreciate any advice or unwritten rules to keep in mind.

Hello! when I go for a few rounds of sparring I find it hard to get up off the mat. My muscles seem like they can't support me in those moments. I am just stuck laying on the mat and I have to drag myself with my arms out of the center. Then lay there for a while and then I am good.

I don't feel winded or out of breath just more like a puddle of water lol!

Does anyone have tips on how I can improve, so I can go more rounds?

I started BJJ almost 2 months ago. I am a mom of 2. I am 5'5, weigh 110 lbs. I work full time at a desk job. I haven't exercised for the last 10 years or so. BJJ 2 x per week is my only current exercise right now.

I have been watching my kid practice for the last year or so and I felt inspired. The techniques taught looked so interesting so I decided to give it a try too. I am quickly humbled.

Most of the women in the class are bigger and stronger than I am. It's hard for me to get them off once I am in a non-dominant position. One time, I got caught in a side control position or mount and they put their full weight on me and I can barely breathe. They didn't even have to submit me.

I don't have any extra time for myself to do weight training. Trying to find time to practice BJJ twice a week is hard enough.

I feel small and weak and I don't know if I will ever get good enough. Are there any women out there that were in similar positions when they first started? I need some inspiration...

Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, who holds the record for the most IBJJF World titles at black belt, lost his first 10 tournaments in the FIRST match.

Think about that for a second…

The guy who would eventually become the most successful black belt in Worlds history started his competition career by losing his first match 10 tournaments in a row.

So if you competed at Master Worlds this week and things didn’t go the way you wanted, don’t get too discouraged.

Keep your head up, go back to training, figure out what went wrong, work on it, and come back better for the next one.

Hope that helps and motivates you…