Brazilian Jiu Jitsu guides
Longer pieces about training rather than about a single technique — what to expect, what to measure, and how the parts of a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu game fit together. Written to stay true for years rather than to be current this month.
Drilling vs rolling — why you need both
They do different jobs and are not substitutes. Most training plateaus come from quietly neglecting one of them for months.
Gi vs no-gi — what actually changes
Two versions of the same sport that feel different to train and reward slightly different things. What changes, what does not, and which to start with.
How often should a beginner train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
The number matters less than most people think, and consistency matters far more. Here is the reasoning, including why more is not simply better in the first year.
How to build your own Brazilian Jiu Jitsu game
At some point technique collecting stops working and you need a game — a small connected set of things that reliably lead into each other. How that actually gets built.
How to measure progress in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Progress in grappling is real but almost invisible month to month, which is why so many people who are improving are convinced they are not.
Technique vs strength in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
The slogan is repeated so often that it has stopped being examined. It is largely true, in a specific way, with real limits — and the limits are the part that helps you train better.
What is rolling in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu?
Live sparring against a resisting partner is the part of training that makes the art work, and the part beginners most misunderstand. What it is, what it is for, and how not to get hurt.
What to expect from your first Brazilian Jiu Jitsu class
Most of the anxiety about a first class comes from not knowing the shape of it. Here is the shape of it, including the parts people find surprising.
Why beginners get so tired in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Runners and lifters routinely gas out in their first few months and conclude they are not in shape. They usually are. What is missing is the ability to not use energy, which takes longer to build than fitness does.
Why Brazilian Jiu Jitsu works
The claim that a smaller person can control a bigger one is unusual enough that it is worth explaining properly, rather than repeating. Most of the answer is about what the ground does to a fight.
Why tracking your training changes what you learn
Memory is a bad witness to a training session. Writing down what happened turns a vague sense of how it went into something you can act on — and usually contradicts what you thought.
