Fighter

One of the most terrifying - and rewarding - experiences in jiu jitsu is your first competition. Even if you had been active in some other non-martial art sport sometime in your life, competing in Brazilian jiu jitsu is an entirely different animal. It's just you, your opponent, and a fight to the DEATH! Just kidding... though for some of you, it might actually feel that way. 

We know your first competition can be daunting, made even more so by so many unfamiliar aspects. We're here to shed a little light into the competition scene, and what to expect, so you can perform your best and hopefully make your first competition a position one. Read on... 

"Am I Ready?" 

The biggest obstacle every first-time competitor faces is the "Am I ready?" question. This powerful query has prevented more jiu jitsu practitioners from registering for a tournament than any other reason combined. The truth of the matter is this: you don't know until you actually get out there. Jiu jitsu is a lifelong journey, in which everyone has their own path and their own pace. There are no milestone markers that dictate when you are or are not ready to compete. While your professor can counsel you on how ready you might be, the true gauge is out there on the competition mat.

Pre-Competition Jitters

EVERYBODY gets them; even those superstar black belts who have been competing since they were in diapers. The trick is managing your jitters so they don't get the best of you before you even step on the mat. Pre-competition jitters are entirely mental. Maybe you're worried about how "ready" you are, or you're afraid to fail in front of your professor, friends and family. The best way to combat these jitters is to identify the underlying fear, and convince yourself - through positive affirmations - that they are unfounded or out of your control. Feel like you're not ready? "I am as ready as I'll ever be. Let's do this." Fear that you might fail? "Everybody knows the hard work I've put in. Win or lose, nobody can take that away."

Uniform Requirements 

Every jiu jitsu promotion has a set of uniform requirements for competing. Make sure you are aware of what they are, and that your gi, rashguard, shorts/spats, etc. are fully compliant. The last thing you want is to go to check-in and get turned away because your gi is too small, your belt is tattered, or your patches are illegal. Not sure? Ask a higher belt (preferably someone who has compete often and recently). And regardless of whether you think you're on the borderline, it's always a good idea to bring a spare uniform that you know falls well within the requirements. 

The Bullpen

Oooo... scary. Not really. It can be confusing, however, if you've never experienced it before, which, if you're reading this, I assume you haven't. Here's the deal: get there about an hour before you're expected to fight, hang out until you're allowed to check-in and step on the scale (make sure you're on-weight because some competitions only give you one chance to weigh-in before disqualifying you), hang out some more until your mat person calls your name to bring you to your mat, you might hang out a bit more waiting for the fight before you to end. Don't leave the bullpen without telling your mat person, or you can be in for a scolding if he/she can't find you. Use all that hanging out time to loosen up and calm your jitters. You might only be there 15 minutes or you might be there 1 hour. Patience is a virtue. 

Win or Lose

The most important thing to consider when you're deciding to compete for the first time is this: win or lose, you will be among the 10-15% of jiu jitsu practitioners who have the courage to go out there and put their skills to the test. That's something to be proud of. And if that's not enough, know that it's widely agreed that a single competition is worth three months on the mat in your own academy. You find out where you stand among others of your same rank, you learn what you're doing wrong, and what you're doing right. And that is priceless. 

We hope you find this information useful and that it motivates you sign up for your first competition. See you on the mat!

Oss. 

One of the longest running jokes in the BJJ community is that of some newbie showing off a jiu jitsu technique that he/she "saw on YouTube"... something that looked really cool online, but once exposed to ruthless truth of the jiu jitsu mat proved to be as full of holes as a piece of Swiss cheese.

Nevertheless, YouTube is in an invaluable resource to a jiu jitsu practitioner's study regime, and there are a ton of good, and very valid, channels out there. The question is: which ones are the good ones? Well... we've compiled a list of our top 10 favorites (in no particular order):  

FloGrappling (30K+ subscribers, 240+ videos)

While the bulk of FloGrappling's content is locked up in their own website's subscription service, they still offer more than 240 videos - and counting - for free, on their YouTube channel. Because FloGrappling focuses on the sport jiu jitsu industry, the value in these videos for BJJ study is in the real-life application of techniques in the competitive arena.

BudoVideos (83K+ subscribers, 810+ videos)

Before there was FloGrappling, BudoVideos was pretty much the main provider of jiu jitsu video content in the industry. Co-founded by Jacob "Budo Jake" McKee, a BJJ black belt and 3rd degree aikido black belt, BudoVidoes has over 800 videos on YouTube. With instructional videos, interviews, and podcasts featuring all of the jiu jitsu scene's greatest names, it's definitely a channel worth following.

IBJJF (66K+ subscribers, 1,570+ videos) 

Especially if you're a competitor, or just a competitive jiu jitsu fan, there's no better place to access - free of charge anyway -  the sport's greatest IBJJF black belt matches than the federation's own channel. They've even organized their videos into playlists by event, making it easier to find that match everybody was talking about in the locker room last night. 

BJJ Scout (59K+ subscribers, 95+ videos)

Are you the ultimate jiu jitsu nerd? Fascinated about the step-by-step breakdown of certain techniques - particularly in the sport jiu jitsu community - and why they work? Nobody does it better than BJJ Scout. Recently, BJJ Scout has transitioned from the use of text and arrows to illustrate details, to including a stilted automated voice dub, but the information is still top-notch.

Gracie Breakdown (355K+ subscribers, 200+ videos)

Hosted by Ryron and Rener Gracie, Gracie Breakdown is another channel that offers technical breakdowns, and initially gained notoriety by breaking down jiu jitsu moves employed in in UFC bouts. In recent years, this channel has expanded into including BJJ lifestyle and tip videos, as well as highlighting the application of jiu jitsu in real-life situations.

Chewjitsu (62K+ subscribers, 450+ videos)

Run by Nick Albin, a Renato Tavares black belt, Chewjitsu is chock-full of jiu jitsu and grappling instructional videos, as well as training and competing tips and thought-provoking - and entertaining - philosophy, such as "What is a 'Dick Move' in BJJ." 

Keenan Online (62K+ subscribers, 200+ videos)

From the mind of one of the jiu jitsu community's most intellectual - and dryly humorous - practitioners, Atos black belt Keenan Cornelius, Keenan Online offers a plethora of instructional videos, breakdowns, match highlights, and... some other stuff that can only have come from the mind of Cornelius. 

Jason Scully (107K+ subscribers, 150+ videos)

Black belt Jason Scully was one of the first jiu jitsu practitioners to jump on the online instructional bandwagon, with his website The Grapplers Guide. Our favorite part of his YouTube channel is his collection of "Short But Sweet" series of instructionals, featuring a ton of submissions, defenses, drills, etc. in short, 4-8 minute videos. 

Stephan Kesting (243K+ subscribers, 490+ videos)  

Like, Scully, BJJ black belt and combat submission wrestling coach Stephan Kesting has also been at the instructional game a very long time, with his own website Grapplearts, in addition to his YouTube channel. And with an astounding 243K subscribers, it's obvious he delivers. 

Stuart Cooper Films (58K+ subscribers, 210+ videos)

There can't be a discussion about jiu jitsu videos without talking about BJJ black belt and documentary filmmaker Stuart Cooper. Renowned for his exceptionally produced highlight videos and deeply personal biographical documentaries on some of the sport's most iconic athletes, Cooper is a legend in the BJJ community. 

BONUS: 

Enter the Dojo Show (302K+ subscribers, 240+ videos)

For the more serious practitioners, we present the crowning jewel to your jiu jitsu study: Enter the Dojo Show. While it doesn't focus entirely on Brazilian jiu jitsu, it contains invaluable tips and techniques for any martial artist. Check out their BJJ-related videos here.  

Happy studying! Oss.

Developing good habits isn't just for your business or love life. Whether you have ambitions to make jiu jitsu your livelihood, or it's just a weekend/evening hobby that keeps you from killing your co-workers, developing good habits is crucial to laying the foundation for a long and successful career. 

There are undoubtedly lots of habits that could be considered important, but we've compiled a list of the five that we consider to be among the top. Check them out...

1. Consistency

Competitor or not, consistency is the most important habit for a successful practitioner. That doesn't mean that you have to step on the mats every single day, or that you have to be "ready for war" each time that you do. Consistency will be different for everybody, but whether that means six days a week or two, keep it up... rain or shine, whether you feel like a million bucks or something the cat drug in. When the class is over, you'll never regret having done it. And sometimes, you might even find that you learned the most when you felt your worst. 

2. Drilling

Sure, Kit Dale might not believe in it - and it might be the most mind-numbing part of your jiu jitsu routine - but there's no denying the science of muscle memory. If you perform a specific task repeatedly enough times, it takes less and less conscious effort for your brain to instruct your body do that task in the future. This is incredibly useful during jiu jitsu competition or rolling/sparring, when you often have a split second to react appropriately to your opponent's attack or defense. How do you develop muscle memory in jiu jitsu? Through drilling.

3. Study

Unless you were one of those whiz kids who aced every class in school without doing a lick of homework, you had to actually study in order to learn the material and pass the tests. Right? Same thing with jiu jitsu. You can't expect to learn all there is to know just by attending class. Indeed, you might see a technique, then not ever see it again until it pops back up in the curriculum sometime next year. So study is your best friend, and today there are so many great resources at your disposal; anything from your own academy's online website, DVD's, books and magazines (do kids these days even read anymore?), to the ultimate repository for free visual knowledge: YouTube. Basically, there's no excuse not to study.

4. Rest

This is a big - and highly underestimated - one. Yeah, you may be "OMG SO EXCITED" to have found jiu jitsu, but simmer down, white belt. Training every minute of every day does not equate to an exponential increase in knowledge and ability. There is a point at which retention will level off, and there's also a point at which increased training is actually detrimental to your progress, both for your mind as well as your body. Rest is absolutely crucial for preventing mental fatigue, keeping your immune system healthy, allowing your muscles time to recuperate and/or repair, and allowing you to step on the mat ready for the next challenge. 

5. Cleanliness

Jiu jitsu is one of the few physical activities in which you get really up-close-and-personal with your training partner. It is so important to maintain a certain standard of cleanliness, both for your sake, as well as that of your teammates. Preventing the spread of illnesses and skin-borne infections is the obvious benefit, but there's also a little thing called human decency. Nobody wants to roll with the stinky guy/gal, and it's hard to improve in a partner-based activity, if you suffer from a lack of partners.

If you already actively cultivate these five habits for successful jiu jitsu practitioners, then congratulations. If not... hopefully you'll put them to use. 

Train on. Oss.

There are few debates in the jiu jitsu world more heated and polarizing than that of gi pant material preference. I mean, we've seen jiu jitsu players nearly come to blows over it! 

Well, not really... but in all seriousness, an individual's preferences on the material of gi pants does tend to be very particular. There are few bjj players in the community who don't care either way; people either prefer cotton, or prefer ripstop. 

So what's the difference? We'll tell you: 

Cotton Pants

Cotton is the most traditional material for jiu jitsu gi pants... and really for all kinds of martial arts kimonos, as cotton fabric manufacture has been around for thousands of years. In the Brazilian jiu jitsu gi market, two different kinds of cotton fabrics dominate: twill and duck. Much like in gi jackets, those two terms refer to the weave. Duck (sometimes called "canvas") has a standard square basket weave, and twill (of which "drill" is a variation) has a more diagonal weave. Because these fabrics are made from 100% cotton, they will shrink, depending on how you wash and dry them. This is because the cotton fibers are stretched during weaving, and when heat is applied, they retract to a more natural state. 

Ripstop Pants

Ripstop was developed during WWII for the manufacture of parachutes, replacing silk, which was much more costly. It soon became a material of choice for military uniforms, camping gear, sporting equipment, and... Brazilian jiu jitsu uniforms. The ripstop made for jiu jitsu gis are often made from a polyester/cotton blend, with stronger reinforcement fibers woven in a cross-hatch pattern throughout, giving ripstop its distinctive look. Because of the synthetic makeup of the fabric, ripstop tends to shrink less - and sometimes not at all, depending on the cotton-to-polyester ratio of the fabric. As its name suggests, it is also a very durable fabric, highly resistant to tearing. 

The Verdict? 

The preference for cotton versus ripstop jiu jitsu pants really comes down to feel and performance during grappling. Cotton is a much softer fabric, and has a bit of stretch, especially when wet (with sweat, of course). Because jiu jitsu involves a lot of contortions of the body, unrestricted range of motion is key, so some practitioners like to have a bit of stretch in their pants. Ripstop doesn't have as much give, and tends to be a bit stiffer, which can be an issue, depending on how tight you like to wear your pants. However, ripstop also tends to be harder to grip, which is why a lot of competitors prefer ripstop pants. 

The best way to determine your preference is try them both. The old adage "If you never try, you'll never know" applies to both your jiu jitsu practice, as well as your jiu jitsu gi pants. 

Train on. Oss.

We've all experienced it. That dreaded moment when - after months of training, weeks of cutting weight, and too many hours getting your gi perfectly patched up - the gi checker says it's illegal. Not the fit... which is an entirely different crisis... your patch. 

Out come the scissors, and your beloved academy patch, brand logo, or dedication to your mom doesn't get its deserved publicity on the mat.

That sucks. To help you avoid this situation, we decided to give you the short-and-sweet on gi patching regulations for the major jiu jitsu promotions. Read on...

IBJJF 

As you can see, IBJJF gives you plenty of surface area for gi patches. It is important to note the areas in which you cannot patch: below the elbows, underneath the belt, around the knees, and 15cm from the bottom of the pant hem. The reasoning behind this that these are "high-grip" areas, and patches - which are often made from material that has less texture, making it harder for your opponent to grab - in those areas would provide an unfair advantage. You might as well be fighting no-gi in that case. In my personal experience at IBJJF tournaments, I've seen more people fail gi check for fit and wear (tattered belt or lapel) than I have for excessive patching.

UAEJJF

You'll note that UAEJJF has similar patching regulations, for the same reason. There are some key differences, however. Gi brand logos (but no other patches) are allowed within the 15cm area from the bottom of the hem, but they must be fabric patches, not embroidered, and cannot be more than 36cm square. Be careful with embroidered gi brand logos in any other area of the gi (thigh or jacket skirt, for example)... sometimes they'll pass you through, sometimes not. Patches along the side of the pant cannot be wider than 10cm. UAEJJF gi checkers are also very picky about BJJ patches that just barely creep into the non-patching zone (especially around the knees).

Better Safe Than Sorry

Most local promotions follow the IBJJF and UAEJJF gi regulations, but be sure to check each event's rulebook to make sure. Also, if you happen to have a gi that you think might be borderline, don't assume the gi checker will give you the benefit of the doubt. It's always wise to bring a spare, ultra-minimally adorned gi whenever you compete... just in case. 

Train on. Oss.