I still remember the first time I got stuck in side control because my hips refused to move. I was a blue belt, rolling with a smaller white belt, and I couldn’t shrimp out, not because I didn’t know how, but because my body wouldn’t let me. My hips felt like rusty hinges. That moment hit me hard. It wasn’t a lack of technique. It was a lack of flexibility & mobility for BJJ. If you’ve ever struggled to recover guard, felt your shoulders lock…  Read More

Ever tried to finish a sweep but your hips just wouldn’t fire? Or maybe you felt your grip slipping during a tight scramble? We’ve all been there. That’s where strength training for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu comes in, not to turn you into a bodybuilder, but to make every movement stronger, smoother, and more controlled. Many people still believe “technique beats strength,” and while that’s often true, here’s the catch: when skill levels are equal, strength wins. Even legends like Roger Gracie built serious functional power to…  Read More

If you’ve ever walked past a gym with “BJJ” on one door and “Japanese Jiu-Jitsu” on another and wondered, “Aren’t these the same thing?”, you’re not alone. I asked that same question over a decade ago. Back then, I showed up to my first class in flip-flops (don’t judge!) thinking all “jiu-jitsu” was just fancy wrestling. Boy, was I wrong. That’s why I wrote this guide. Whether you’re brand new to martial arts or just curious about the BJJ vs Japanese jiu jitsu debate, you’ll…  Read More

If you’ve ever walked into a gym and heard someone say “American Jiu-Jitsu,” only to leave more confused than when you arrived, you’re not alone. I remember my first time hearing the term. I was rolling in a no-gi class in Austin, sweating through a tough sparring round, when a new student asked, “Is this American Jiu-Jitsu?” I paused. “Well… it’s complicated.” That’s why I wrote this guide. Let’s cut through the noise and answer the real question: What’s the actual difference between American Jiu-Jitsu…  Read More

If you’ve ever stood outside a martial arts school, heart pounding, palms sweaty, trying to decide between the quiet intensity of a jiu jitsu mat, the sharp kiai of a karate class, or the lightning-fast kicks of taekwondo… you’re not alone. I’ve been there. Years ago, I walked into my first BJJ gym with zero experience, wearing borrowed pants and a t-shirt. I got tapped out in 30 seconds. But that moment started a journey that changed my life. Today, as a brown belt and…  Read More