BJJ Insights

Independent BJJ guides, technique breakdowns, gear reviews, gym coverage, and news for grapplers of every belt.

Pillars

• Beginners — Everything you need to start your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu journey the right way.
• Jiu-Jitsu Gyms — How to evaluate, choose, and switch BJJ gyms anywhere in the world.
• Gear — Honest, hands-on reviews of gis, rashguards, mouthguards, and training gear.
• Techniques — Step-by-step technique breakdowns from white belt fundamentals to black belt details.
• Health — Strength, mobility, nutrition, and injury-prevention for grapplers.
• Profiles — Long-form interviews and profiles of black belts, coaches, and competitors.
• News — Tournament results, rule changes, and industry news from the BJJ world.

Latest articles

• How to Dry Your BJJ Gi Without Shrinking It — Air dry it, skip high heat, and your gi keeps its fit. A grappler's guide to drying a BJJ gi without shrinking, plus the dryer rules that actually work.
• Cauliflower Ear in BJJ: How to Prevent It and Treat It — I have cauliflower ear from grappling, and fixing it took a scalpel. Here's how you get it, how to prevent it with headgear, and when to get it drained.
• How to Choose a BJJ Gym: 7 Things Every Beginner Should Look For —
• Is BJJ Good for Self Defense? Everything You Need to Know —
• BJJ White Belt Roadmap: The First 90 Days —
• BJJ Belt System Explained: Complete Guide from White Belt to Black Belt —
• How to Escape Mount: Complete Guide for All Levels —
• BJJ Guard Passing Blueprint: A Simple Decision Tree —
• D'arce Choke: Setup, Finish, and Key Principles —
• The D'arce Choke: Complete Technique Review —
• John Danaher’s Masterclass: Core Principles, Training Philosophy, and the Evolution of Jiu-Jitsu —
• The Side Control Dominance Manual: How to Pin and Finish —
• Mastering the Mount: The Ultimate Guide to Control and Finishes —
• The Beginner’s Guide to the Double Leg Takedown: Safe, Smooth, and Effective —
• The Arm Triangle Choke: Perfecting the Bite and Finishing Mechanics — Master the Arm Triangle Choke (Head and Arm Choke) from mount and side control. Learn the precise setups, the importance of the 'bite,' and elite finishing mechanics.
• The Mental Health Benefits of Jiu Jitsu: Why It's More Than Just Fighting —
• How to Cut Weight for Wrestling and Jiu Jitsu Without Hurting Yourself — Cutting weight for wrestling or jiu jitsu? The evidence-based way to do it, what the research says is actually dangerous, and a free calculator to plan it.
• Mat Hygiene 101: How to Stay Healthy and Catch Skills, Not Staph —
• Best BJJ Gi for Beginners: 5 Picks Ranked for 2026 — We ranked 5 beginner BJJ gis by what survives your first year, not by price. Sanabul, Fuji, Elite Sports, Tatami, and Gold BJJ compared with cost-per-year math.
• The Ultimate Guide to No Gi Jiu Jitsu: Differences, Gear, and Strategy —
• The BJJ Foundation: 5 Core Concepts Every Beginner Needs to Know —
• 7 Essential Submissions Every White Belt Should Know (And How to Finish Them) —
• 5 Mistakes That Keep You a White Belt Forever (And How to Fix Them) —
• Guillotine Choke: Complete Beginner's Guide for BJJ — We tested the guillotine choke with white belts to find the fastest way to get the tap. Step-by-step setup, common mistakes, and FAQ. Updated April 2026.
• Elite Sports BJJ Gi Review (2026): The Best $60 Gi I've Rolled In — Honest Elite Sports BJJ gi review: the best budget jiu-jitsu gi for beginners. I trained in it at a live open mat and washed it hard. Is $60 worth it?
• The Americana: Break Shoulders and Force Back Takes — Master the Americana submission from mount. Learn the exact breaking mechanics, the biggest white belt mistakes, and how to use it to set up back takes.
• The Armbar From Mount: S-Mount Setup & Finishing Details — Master the BJJ armbar from mount. Learn why S-mount is the best setup, how to stop the spin out escape, and the biggest mistakes white belts make.
• The Kimura: Stop Takedowns and Break Shoulders — Master the BJJ Kimura submission. Learn the paintbrush finishing mechanic, the Kimura trap system, and how to use it to shut down wrestlers.
• Rear Naked Choke: The Ultimate Guide to Back Control — Learn how to master the Rear Naked Choke (RNC). We cover the backpack checklist, the straight jacket hand-trapping system, and the anaconda squeeze.
• Triangle Choke for Beginners: Easiest Setup From Closed Guard — Learn the easiest triangle choke setup from closed guard. We break down the exact steps, how to cut the angle, and why you shouldn't just squeeze.