Beginner’s Guide to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
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White Belt Problems
How to Learn BJJ Faster
- How can I learn BJJ faster?
- How many times per week should I train BJJ as a white belt?
- What can I do at home to get better at BJJ?
- Does BJJ have a standard curriculum?
- How can I remember all the techniques I’m taught in BJJ?
- How can I get my BJJ black belt faster?
Common Problems
- How do I stop bigger, stronger opponents from beating me?
- How do I deal with a strong spaz?
- How do I deal with claustrophobia when I’m in bad positions in BJJ?
- Is it normal to be extremely sore after training BJJ?
- How can I do BJJ if I have social anxiety issues?
- I gas out and get exhausted really fast when I spar. What can I do?
Dealing with Frustration
- I don’t feel like I’m getting better at BJJ. Is this normal?
- I feel frustrated and discouraged about BJJ. Is this normal?
- Is it normal to plateau while training BJJ?
- How do I get out of a slump when training BJJ?
- What can I do to get better at BJJ when I’m injured and can’t train?
- How do I get back into BJJ after taking a long break?
Sparring and Tapping
- What am I supposed to do when I spar?
- I haven’t been able to make anyone tap. Is this normal?
- Should a BJJ black belt ever tap to a lower belt?
- Should a lower belt student ever be able to tap out a higher belt in BJJ?
- Should a BJJ student be able to tap their instructor?
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 101
The Gracie Family
- Who founded Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
- Who is Carlos Gracie?
- Who is Helio Gracie?
- What’s the difference between Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
The BJJ History section has more about the Gracies and other important BJJ figures.
BJJ vs Other Martial Arts
- What makes a martial art effective?
- Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu a sport or a martial art?
- Why does BJJ focus so much on grappling and ground fighting?
BJJ Compared to Other Styles
- What’s the difference between traditional martial arts and BJJ?
- What’s the difference between Japanese jujitsu and BJJ?
- What’s the difference between judo and BJJ?
- What’s the difference between 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and BJJ?
- What’s the difference between sambo and BJJ?
- What’s the difference between catch wrestling and BJJ?
Many other martial arts are compared in the BJJ vs Other Martial Arts section of this site.
Cross-training BJJ
- Should I do BJJ if I’m already doing a striking martial art?
- I’m already a black belt in another martial art. Why should I do BJJ?
- Will wrestling help me in BJJ?
BJJ for Self Defense
- Does BJJ prepare you for self defense?
- Does BJJ work in a street fight?
- Does BJJ work against multiple attackers?
- Does BJJ work in a knife fight?
- Does BJJ work against guns?
- How does BJJ deal with dirty fighting?
Belts and Promotions
Belt System
- What are the belt ranks in BJJ?
- Why do some BJJ belts have stripes and what do they mean?
- Do you have to do a test to get a belt promotion in BJJ?
- Why do some black belts have red bars at one end?
- Why do some adults earn green belts in BJJ?
How Long It Takes to Earn a Belt
- How long does it take to get a blue belt?
- How long does it take to get a purple belt?
- How long does it take to get a brown belt?
- How long does it take to get a black belt?
- How long does it take to get your first stripe in BJJ?
- How do I get a blue belt in BJJ?
MMA and No-gi
- Should I train gi or no-gi?
- Is no-gi more realistic than BJJ in the gi?
- Is BJJ in the gi more technical than no-gi?
- Should I train BJJ in the gi if I want to do MMA?
BJJ for Kids
- Is BJJ good for kids?
- What is a good age for a kid to start BJJ?
- Is BJJ a good martial art for my son?
- Is BJJ a good martial art for my daughter?
- What are the BJJ belt ranks for children?
Are You Ready to Do BJJ?
- Should I get in shape before joining a BJJ school?
- Can I start BJJ if I’m out of shape?
- Can I start BJJ if I’m overweight?
- Can I do BJJ if I’m a small person?
- Can I do BJJ if I’m a bigger person?
- Can I do BJJ if I’m a woman?
- Can I start BJJ if I’m older?
- Do I need to be flexible to do BJJ?
- Do I need to be strong to do BJJ?
How to Find a Good BJJ School
- How do I find a BJJ school in my area?
- Are there differences between BJJ schools?
- Why is BJJ more expensive than other martial arts?
- Is it OK to train at multiple BJJ gyms?
Who Can Teach BJJ
- How do I know if a BJJ instructor is legit?
- Does a BJJ instructor have to be certified to teach?
- Do BJJ instructors have to be black belts?
- Can blue belts teach BJJ?
- Can purple belts teach BJJ?
- Can brown belts teach BJJ?
Getting Ready for Your First Class
- What is a normal BJJ class like?
- What should I bring to my first BJJ class?
- Will I spar during my first BJJ class?
- How should I act at my first BJJ class?
- I have a uniform from another martial art. Should I wear it to my first BJJ class?
Buying a BJJ Gi
- What is a good first BJJ gi to buy?
- Can I wear any kind of gi I want as a white belt?
- Do white belts have to wear only white or blue gis?
- What’s the best cheap BJJ gi?
- How do you wash a BJJ gi so it doesn’t shrink?
- How do you shrink a BJJ gi to fit better?
BJJ Instructionals
- Can I learn BJJ from books, DVDs, videos, etc.?
- What are some good BJJ instructional DVDs for white belts?
- What are some good BJJ books for white belts?
- What are some good BJJ channels on Youtube?
Competing in BJJ
Tournament Rules
Preparing to Compete
- Should I compete in BJJ tournaments as a white belt?
- How do I get ready for my first BJJ tournament?
- How do I deal with being anxious and nervous before a BJJ competition?
- What should I eat before going to a competition?
Tournament Organizations
BJJ in the Olympics
Strength and Fitness
- Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu a good workout?
- Will I get in shape by doing BJJ?
- Will I lose weight by doing BJJ?
- Will I gain muscle by doing BJJ?
- Is Crossfit good for BJJ?
- Is yoga good for BJJ?
Diet and Nutrition
Health and Hygiene
Cauliflower ear
- What is cauliflower ear?
- How do I avoid getting cauliflower ear?
- I’m getting cauliflower ear! What can I do?
Ringworm
Staph infection
- What is a staph infection?
- How do I avoid getting a staph infection?
- I got a staph infection! What can I do?
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