bjjproblems.com — every take, since 2013

Competition and The Phantom Menace

Josh, a wrestling coach I used to train with, told me there were two competitive personalities to adopt in a tournament. He used an analogy to the lightsaber fight from The Phantom Menace to demonstrate. I can’t remember exactly how he put it so I will paraphrase. It starts with

Hammer vs. Nail

No matter where you are in your Brazilian Jiu Jitsu journey you would have heard the phrase, ‘Some days you’re the hammer and some days you’re the nail’. You may have heard it at your academy, seen it embedded on an inspirational Instagram post or perhaps you’ve muttered it to yo

Jiu Jitsu Changed My Life

Five years ago, I was a few months shy of my thirty-eighth birthday - and miserable. I was blessed with a lovely wife and an infant son, but was disgusted with myself. During my mid-30’s a stressful job (government attorney), poor diet, and a sedentary lifestyle had led me to con

For The Last time, I Dont Do Karate: An Open Letter

It all started on the fateful day when you appeared in the break room, coffee cup poised in the small talk position, and sidled in toward me like you had some grand secret.

Ask BJJ Problems

Here at BJJ Problems we get lots of questions from readers, asking if we have solutions for their BJJ-related woes. Here to answer them as always is our advice columnist, A Guy Who Took a Long Time Off and Is Self Conscious About His Rank.

Rafa Mendes: An Extensive Haircut Study

There have been exuberant amounts of Rafa posts lately, many of which cover his sensational instagram posts, his magnificent technique, or his phenomenal career. However, many of you have failed to realize the significant impact a good haircut has had on his career. In this study

Strengthen Your Ego - Improve your BJJ

Everyone in jiu-jitsu at some point hears some variation of the advice, “Leave your ego at the door.” What this is getting at is that people shouldn’t come to jiu-jitsu expecting to smash everybody. After all why would you want to participate in a sport where a day one beginner c

Buchecha Online: New BJJ Learning Portal Now Live

Over the weekend Marcus Almeida Buchecha announced the arrival of his new instructional website, ‘BuchechaOnline’. Visitors to the site are able to explore content available but a subscription is required to watch the videos.

Yoga For BJJ: Why You Should Start Today

You’ve probably heard about the fundamental benefits of yoga such as; improving flexibility and mobility, developing strength and balance as well as encouraging relaxation. These are all great in itself but yoga has so much more to offer, especially to a BJJ practitioner. Whateve

Staying Motivated in BJJ

Conclusion Motivation is something that waxes and wanes for all of us. Hopefully after you read this post you’ll get a boost of motivation to keep hitting the mats. I have found that BJJ training has been nothing but a positive in my life. I get (and provide) value by training in

Why is "Pulling Guard" mocked in the BJJ community?

A lot of folks don't seem to understand that there's a separation between these three things. If you're good at one, it will make it easier to be good at the others. If you practice two, then you'll most certainly be able to apply that knowledge to catch up with the third. The si

What to do when someone goes unconscious from a choke

Getting choked out happens in the world we have created for ourselves. It's so common that most of us are aware of what to do in the case that it does - and we can all laugh at it whether we're the choker, chokee or just an observer.

John Danaher explains why he always wears rashguards

First, they are very comfortable, Second, they are easily washed and dried. Third, they are extremely low maintenance/wrinkle free/easily packed for travel etc. Fourth, being a low friction material, they are well adapted for wear under a jacket. Fifth, They enable me to comforta

Ronda announces "I would love to have a chance to be the Jiu-Jitsu world champion".

Motorcycle Rider subdues road-rager with Knee-on-Chest

Moldova's Valeriu Duminica shows an incredible transition from takedown and into submission

Roger Gracie returns to competition to defeat Rodrigo Comprido with simple, effective Jiu Jitsu

"Water can flow, or it can crash." Here's some flowing...

BJJ First Aid Essentials

Someone bugging you at the bar? Use Jeff Glover's "Bar Darce"

Mackenzie Dern wins first World Championship as Black Belt

How to replace the rope drawstring in your gi pants. (BONUS: How to put your pants on)

Top BJJ & Grappling matches of 2015 [Part 1]

Maynard James Keenan, of Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer receives his Purple Belt

Women to look out for at 2015 Worlds

Pretty slick way to trap the bottom arm for RNC

Eddie Bravo has re-uploaded EBI 3

The Psychology of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

A poem for Jiu Jitsu

COPS, USING AN ARMLOCK, SLAM WOMAN’S FACE AND SAY SHE “PUNCHED” THEM, GET REFUTED BY VIDEO