The DrillBuddy Blog

Train Smarter

Drilling guides, technique breakdowns, and training insights to help you level up your Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Why BJJ Is One of the Best Ways to Lose Weight
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Why BJJ Is One of the Best Ways to Lose Weight

Treadmills are boring and most diets quietly fail because nobody sticks to them. BJJ burns serious calories, builds muscle, and, crucially, is fun enough to actually keep doing. Here's why grappling is such an effective weight-loss tool.

June 17, 20266 min read
The Most Influential BJJ Athletes of Every Decade
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The Most Influential BJJ Athletes of Every Decade

From Royce Gracie shocking the world at UFC 1 to Gordon Ryan's no-gi reign, here's how Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu's biggest names shaped the sport, decade by decade.

June 14, 20267 min read
What to Eat for BJJ: A Practical, Research-Backed Nutrition Guide
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What to Eat for BJJ: A Practical, Research-Backed Nutrition Guide

BJJ is part anaerobic sprint, part aerobic grind, and most people fuel it like neither. Here's what the research says about protein, carbs, hydration, weight cutting, and supplements for grapplers.

June 13, 20268 min read
Why Lifting Weights Is the Best Injury Insurance in BJJ
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Why Lifting Weights Is the Best Injury Insurance in BJJ

The research is unusually clear: strength training cuts sports injuries by more than half. Here's why lifting protects BJJ athletes, and how to build a simple program that keeps you on the mats.

June 12, 20267 min read
The Most Common BJJ Injuries (and How to Stay on the Mats)
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The Most Common BJJ Injuries (and How to Stay on the Mats)

Knees, shoulders, fingers, elbows, and necks take the most damage in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Here's what the research says about the most common BJJ injuries, and how to train smarter so you keep showing up.

June 9, 20266 min read
Does Running Help With BJJ? What the Cardio Actually Does
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Does Running Help With BJJ? What the Cardio Actually Does

Does running help with BJJ? Here's an honest look at how running affects your grappling cardio, when it helps, when it doesn't, and how to train it right.

June 3, 20264 min read
Why Drilling Beats Rolling for Beginners
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Why Drilling Beats Rolling for Beginners

Live rolling is fun, but repetition is what actually wires technique into your body. Here's why your first months should be drilling-heavy, and how to do it well.

June 1, 20261 min read
Building a Five-Minute Daily Drilling Habit
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Building a Five-Minute Daily Drilling Habit

You don't need a training partner or a gym to improve. Five minutes of solo movement drills a day adds up to real, measurable gains over a month.

May 20, 20261 min read
How to Prepare for Your First BJJ Competition
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How to Prepare for Your First BJJ Competition

Signed up for your first BJJ tournament? Here's how to prepare: from a focused game plan and competition drilling to weight cutting, nerves, and match-day tips.

May 14, 20263 min read
How Long Does It Take to Get Good at BJJ?
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How Long Does It Take to Get Good at BJJ?

How long does it really take to get good at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? An honest look at the belt timeline, what 'good' means, and how to progress faster.

May 6, 20263 min read
Why You Keep Hitting BJJ Plateaus (And How to Break Through)
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Why You Keep Hitting BJJ Plateaus (And How to Break Through)

Feel like you've stopped improving at BJJ? Plateaus are normal. Here's why they happen and a practical plan to break through and start progressing again.

April 28, 20263 min read
How to Stop Gassing Out During BJJ Rolls
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How to Stop Gassing Out During BJJ Rolls

Exhausted two minutes into every roll? Learn why you gas out in BJJ and the breathing, technique, and conditioning fixes that build real grappling cardio.

April 20, 20263 min read
Closed Guard for Beginners: A Complete Drilling Guide
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Closed Guard for Beginners: A Complete Drilling Guide

The closed guard is the first position every BJJ beginner should master. Learn the key details, the must-know attacks, and a drilling plan to make it yours.

April 11, 20269 min read
Gi vs No-Gi BJJ: Which Should Beginners Train?
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Gi vs No-Gi BJJ: Which Should Beginners Train?

Gi or no-gi BJJ: which is better for beginners? A clear breakdown of the differences, the pros and cons of each, and what to start with as a white belt.

April 2, 20263 min read
BJJ Guard Passing for Beginners: Principles and First Passes
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BJJ Guard Passing for Beginners: Principles and First Passes

Guard passing confuses most beginners. Learn the core principles of passing guard in BJJ, plus two reliable first passes you can drill and rely on.

March 24, 20263 min read
How to Escape Mount in BJJ: A Step-by-Step Guide
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How to Escape Mount in BJJ: A Step-by-Step Guide

Getting mounted feels hopeless, but it isn't. Learn the two highest-percentage mount escapes in BJJ: the bridge-and-roll and the elbow-knee escape.

March 12, 20263 min read
How to Keep a BJJ Training Journal (And Why It Speeds Up Progress)
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How to Keep a BJJ Training Journal (And Why It Speeds Up Progress)

A BJJ training journal is the cheapest upgrade to your game. Here's exactly what to track, how to do it in two minutes, and why it accelerates your progress.

March 4, 20263 min read
How to Escape Side Control in BJJ
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How to Escape Side Control in BJJ

Stuck under side control and can't breathe? Learn the framing, hip movement, and two reliable escapes that get you out from under side control in BJJ.

February 26, 20263 min read
The Best BJJ Submissions for Beginners to Learn First
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The Best BJJ Submissions for Beginners to Learn First

Overwhelmed by submissions? These are the best high-percentage BJJ submissions for beginners to learn first: safe, reliable, and easy to drill.

February 18, 20263 min read
12 BJJ Solo Drills You Can Do at Home Without a Partner
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12 BJJ Solo Drills You Can Do at Home Without a Partner

No gym, no partner, no problem. These 12 BJJ solo drills build hips, base, and guard retention from your living room, with a simple routine to tie them together.

February 9, 20264 min read
How Often Should You Train BJJ Per Week?
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How Often Should You Train BJJ Per Week?

How many times a week should you train BJJ to improve without burning out or getting hurt? Here's how to choose the right frequency for your level and goals.

January 30, 20262 min read
BJJ for Beginners: What to Expect in Your First Month
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BJJ for Beginners: What to Expect in Your First Month

Starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? Here's an honest guide to your first month of BJJ: what classes are like, what to bring, and how to survive the early grind.

January 22, 20263 min read
How to Remember BJJ Techniques After Class
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How to Remember BJJ Techniques After Class

You drill a slick move in class, then forget it by the next session. Here's a simple system to actually retain BJJ techniques and stop losing what you learn.

January 14, 20263 min read