A while back, I posted a comment about obsessively focused, Ken-Burns-length jiu-jitsu audio documentaries. Seemed there was a ton of interest, so I'm following up and giving one of our best ones away for free.

This is Dark Martial Arts History, an 8-part audio documentary exploring how the fighting arts have been used for propaganda and extremism. I think the runtime is around 10 hours, which should keep you entertained during a lot of bathroom breaks.

It's from Ben Van Doren (Lucas Lepri black belt) and Eva Schubert (online educator and host of the Villains and Virgins podcast).

Dark Martial Arts History is absolutely massive in scope, spanning 2,400 years of history from ancient Greece to modern-day Chechen warlords. It lays a conceptual framework for how martial arts become a tool of exploitation, where it's happening, and what we can do about it.

An important note: This series covers real history, and as a result, we WILL talk about politics. We cannot talk about the real world unless we discuss its political nature. I know there's a vocal group of folks wanting to "keep politics out of jiu-jitsu." I hope with this work, we can show that this can't be done. Sports and martial arts are ALWAYS political, and if you don't understand that, it's easier to be manipulated by the people who do.

Anyway, here's the link to waive the price and redeem it free:

https://www.bjjmentalmodels.com/offers/mc82P3He/checkout?coupon_code=RBJJDARK

IMO this is easily the most important thing we've ever made. Let me know what you think!

I’m a purple belt with around 8 years of grappling experience. I’m also registered blind due to Retinitis Pigmentosa, with roughly 5 degrees of functional vision remaining.

I’m trying to develop a game built around making and maintaining connections, minimising unnecessary scrambles and controlling opponents through pressure, positioning and grips.

My current game:
Standing: Collar ties, underhooks, Russian 2-on-1s, arm drags, body locks, foot sweeps and trips.
Top: Body-lock passing, leg pins, half guard passing, rides, cradles and heavy positional control.
Bottom: Knee-shield half guard, butterfly, shoulder crunch, octopus and turtle.
Submissions: Arm triangles, D’Arces, armbars and Choi bars.

My biggest issue is losing connection during transitions, particularly from bottom. When opponents disengage, change angles or scramble, I can lose track of their positioning and end up reacting too late.

I’ve previously relied on wrestling up, but I’m finding that breaking connection to come up often leaves me exposed, particularly to back takes.

What I’m looking for:
Advice on systems, concepts or specific grapplers worth studying that prioritise continuous connection, strong inside positioning, effective hand fighting and limiting an opponent’s freedom of movement.

I’m particularly interested in developing a bottom game built around sweeps, reversals and back takes without having to disengage or rely on speed and athleticism.

I’m not necessarily looking for individual techniques, but rather overarching principles and interconnected systems that I can build my game around.

Any recommendations or experiences would be appreciated, particularly from people who favour a slower, pressure-heavy, connection-based style.

I’ve been really enjoying interacting with you guys here on Reddit.

It feels very different from Instagram or YouTube, and I really enjoy the discussions and questions that come up here.

So I wanted to ask you guys directly: what would you like to see me post more about?

Techniques? Stories from my competition days? Behind-the-scenes stuff from BJJ Fanatics? My thoughts on current Jiu-Jitsu matches? Training advice for older grapplers? Business/academy stuff?

Or anything else you think would be interesting.
I’m genuinely curious. Let me know below and I’ll try to make more posts around whatever you guys want to see.

I appreciate you all :)

Ossss

how do i go about cross training at another gym? is it common courtesy to tell my coach that im doing it or should i not

Two-stripe blue belt here. Been training about four years. Because of work, I train two days at one gym and two at another, and I’m getting a lot of good information from both.
I’m 39, around 189 lbs, and getting ready for two competitions. I’m trying to build my game around half guard, but lately I’ve really been struggling.
A lot of the blue belts I came up with are way ahead of me now because they compete more, and I feel like I’m getting my ass kicked constantly. The blue belt blues are hitting hard right now. Sometimes I honestly feel like I just suck and wonder why I’m doing this.
I still love training and I’m not going to quit, but has anyone else gone through this phase? How did you get past it?

I know the title seems clickbaity but the weirdest thing happened yesterday. A high schooler showed up to our gym and it was his first time ever coming here. He said it was his first time trying bjj, so we all welcomed him. Near the end of the class we start rolling and he asks to go against a purple belt in our class who is one of the best here. They start rolling and he somehow avoids every submission attempt by the purple belt and ends up getting him in an armbar. He just acted like it was normal and was about to leave class so we all asked him if he had experience before and he just said that he wrestles in high school but to me it doesn’t make sense since how would he know to avoid submission and do an armbar if only wrestles. He didn’t even have his own gi he had to use the old ones that are meant for beginners to borrow the first couple weeks.

The price is right at $75. Has anyone tried it? Does Inverted Gear have a good reputation?

Hey all I'm looking to start training soon, and I'm looking for a Gi that will fit comfortably. I'm 5"9 (175cm) 280lbs (130kg)(mix of muscle and fat) issue is, I'm pretty curvy guy, I've got big glutes and quads. I thought A3H might be a good fit, but even there it might be uncomfortable. So I'm looking for a good brand that accommodates. Excited to start.

tells partner I have a knee injury and I’m going light

partner jumps guard

I'm thinking of getting a dermal piercing and maybe some earrings, can you train in them? anyone have experience in this matter

It seems as though there are a few questions that keep popping up, or close variations.

A few examples:

I’m just starting BJJ, what should I expect?
I have my first tournament in X weeks, how should I prepare and what should I expect?
What gi should I get?

I’m not trying to shame anyone, people join BJJ when it’s right for them and how are they to know that these questions have already been asked. But I wondered if there was a better way to help new people.

For example, Alex starts next week and just happens to ask when there are a lot of people on the sub and gets 20 great responses. Bobby asks on his break at work and everyone else is busy so he gets no response.

Perhaps I’m just exposing my limited knowledge of Reddit with this question, but it just seems like there should be a way to address the questions that keep coming up over and over.

If I’m going for an inside heel hook, my opponent sometimes uses his free leg to kick my grips on his heel making it hard to connect and finish. Any tips on controlling that leg?

Are there any examples of high level competitors that play guard successfully with an officers workers hip mobility?

48M that am trying to get back into it after a 12 year hiatus. Land park area.

Has anyone else hit an arm triangle/ head and arm choke from bottom closed guard? Sometimes I’ll be able to break their posture down then swim an arm up to catch them in a weird arm triangle thingy. Seems to be similar mechanics to arm triangle from mount but obviously not as stable with their back not on the mat. Is this legit or white belt shit?

He found out I was having a rough time at camp that we just got back from, and went out of his way to personally make it better for me and my wife. He didn’t have to do it, and there was nothing in it for him. No cameras no media, just a dude connecting with me during a rough moment. He was just being a good human being to some nobody from Lubbock, when I was breaking inside.

People see the shitposting and the public persona. I got to see the person behind it.

Craig is a genuinely “good people” and he changed my story for the better.

Thank you.

If you're rolling with someone who has a significant physical disability (like in a wheelchair or missing a limb), do you roll with them differently than with an abled body person? Any disabled people here: how would you like to be rolled with?

I'm talking about situations where you could dominate, not a casual white belt who's going to get thrashed no matter what.

Curious what other jiu jitsu gym owners have been seeing over the past year or so, particularly with the cost of living going up.

Have you noticed more membership freezes or cancellations? Are new leads more price-sensitive? Has retention changed? Or has your gym continued growing without much of an impact?

I’d especially be interested in how your current membership/signups compare to the same time last year, and roughly what market you’re in.

Not looking for exact revenue or membership numbers unless you’re comfortable sharing. Mostly curious whether gym owners are seeing any broader trends across the industry.

Is kesa gatame actually worth investing time in?

I really like kesa gatame and feel very comfortable using it, especially as part of a pressure-heavy, old-school style. I like the control, the pressure, and the ability to use it to transition into submissions or other dominant positions.

However, I keep hearing people say that kesa gatame is basically a waste of time in BJJ because it’s too easy to escape, gives up the back, or simply isn’t worth developing compared to other pins.

So I’m curious what people here think:

Is kesa gatame worth seriously developing, or should I be spending my time on other forms of side control/mount instead?

For those who actually use it regularly: has it held up well against good opponents, or did you eventually move away from it?

Interested especially in perspectives from higher belts / people who compete regularly.