The DrillBuddy Blog

Train Smarter

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

beginners fundamentals lifestyle gyms progress travel

The Best BJJ Gyms in Austin (A Traveller's Drop-In Guide)

Austin is where the Danaher Death Squad split landed, and both halves are still here: Gordon Ryan's Kingsway in the north, the old B-Team room in the south. Here's what nine Austin academies actually charge, who teaches there, and why the two most famous ones have both changed their names.

August 1, 202626 min read

travelgyms

The Best BJJ Gyms in Rio de Janeiro (A Traveller's Drop-In Guide)

Every lineage on your certificate traces back to about ten square kilometres of this city, and the rooms are still open: Hélio's academy, Carlson's third floor in Copacabana, the mat Gracie Barra started on. Here's who teaches where, how to actually book a class when nobody publishes a price, and why the whole thing runs on WhatsApp.

July 31, 202627 min read

travelgyms

The Best BJJ Gyms in San Diego (A Traveller's Drop-In Guide)

San Diego has quietly become the centre of gravity for competitive jiu-jitsu in America: Legion, the Ribeiro brothers' academy in Pacific Beach, Atos, the 10th Planet Freaks. Here's what each one costs, who teaches there, how drop-ins actually work, and why you'll need a rental car.

July 28, 202623 min read

travelgyms

The Best BJJ Gyms in New York City (A Traveller's Drop-In Guide)

New York has more world-class jiu-jitsu per square mile than almost anywhere on earth — Renzo's blue basement, Marcelo Garcia's academy, Unity's competition room. Here's what each one costs, who's behind it, how drop-ins actually work, and where to buy a gi when yours is still in the wash.

July 26, 202621 min read

game-planbody-type

How Your Body Type Should Shape Your BJJ Game

Long levers, short and stocky, heavy and strong, light and flexible: your build doesn't determine whether you can be good at BJJ, but it should absolutely shape which guards, passes, and submissions you build your game around.

July 13, 20267 min read

hygieneinjury-prevention

Common Gym Infections in BJJ and How to Protect Yourself: A Mat Hygiene Guide

Ringworm, staph, impetigo, mat herpes: grappling puts you in close contact with more skin and more sweat than almost any other sport. Here's what these infections look like, how they spread, and the hygiene habits that actually prevent them.

July 7, 20267 min read

appstraining-tools

The Best BJJ Apps in 2026 (and Why the Best One Is Free)

Training journals, drill timers, technique libraries, instructional platforms — there's an app for every part of your BJJ life, and most of them charge a monthly fee for the good stuff. Here's an honest tour of the best BJJ apps, and the case for the one that costs nothing.

July 2, 20266 min read

beginnerskids

BJJ Is for Everyone: What the Gentle Art Gives You at Every Age

Seven-year-olds learn discipline, office workers learn to think under pressure, and sixty-year-olds keep their balance and their friendships. Here's why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu might be the most age-proof sport there is, and what the research says about it.

July 2, 20267 min read

fitnessweight-loss

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

historycompetition

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

nutritiondiet

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

injury-preventionstrength-training

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

injury-preventionlongevity

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

conditioningcardio

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

fundamentalsdrilling

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

habitssolo-drills

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

competitionintermediate

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

progressbeginners

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

progressplateaus

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

conditioningbeginners

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-guardfundamentals

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-gibeginners

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

guard-passingfundamentals

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

escapesmount

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

training-journalprogress

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

escapesside-control

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

submissionsbeginners

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

solo-drillsconditioning

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

progresstraining-frequency

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

beginnersgetting-started

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

learningmemory

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