Fighter — cat_Lifestyle

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.

If you're plugged into social media, you know the value of a great quote... something that really embodies that picture of you relishing a hard-fought victory, hanging your head in humble defeat, laying exhausted in a puddle of your own sweat, or doing other jiu jitsu type things.

Or maybe you haven't made the leap into the 21st century - you don't know what a "selfie" or a "tweet" is, and couldn't care less - and you just simply like good motivational advice from one of the jiu jitsu legends. 

Whichever one you are, we've compiled a short-list of the 10 best BJJ quotes of all time (according to us, and in no apparent order): 

1. "There is no losing in jiu jitsu. You either win or you learn." - Carlos Gracie, Sr.

2.  "Jiu Jitsu is perfect. It’s humans who make errors." - Rickson Gracie

3. "The art of Jiu-Jitsu is worth more in every way than all of our athletics combined." - U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt

4. "If you want to be a lion, you must train with lions." - Carlson Gracie, Sr.

5. "If you ask me what belt I am today I’ll tell you that I’m a white belt that never gave up." - Jean Jacques Machado

6. "My opponent is my teacher, my ego is my enemy." - Renzo Gracie

7. "Always assume that your opponent is going to be bigger, stronger and faster than you; so that you learn to rely on technique, timing and leverage rather than brute strength." - Helio Gracie

8."No aspect of jiu jitsu is invented, only discovered. Every possible submission, sweep or throw already exists... progression is a matter of revelation, we have to learn to see what is there." - Francisco Mansor

9. "Jiu jitsu and martial arts do not build character, they reveal it. We are all born with unmeasurable courage and determination, but it is as we go through the trials of rigorous training that we rediscover those gifts." - Ricardo Almeida 

10. "Jiu jitsu is the science and art of control that leads to submission." - John Danaher

There's really only one thing a jiu jitsu nut wants... and that's more jiu jitsu gear. But shopping for that special something can be intimidating. Especially if you don't already train. A1? What size is that?? Does your friend/sister/dad/second cousin want an illustrated rashguard... or something more simple? What is this "spats" nonsense? Are those leggings or tights? 

Wonder no more! Give the gift of Fighters Market with our handy electronic gift cards! 

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So you bought yourself a brand spanking new gi. Congratulations. Now how do you care for this thing, so that you can get the most use out of it without accidentally killing it?

Here’s how:

• To shrink or not to shrink

Whether you’re in-between sizes, or you like your gi to fit a bit more snug, you may want to shrink it. You can do this with a cotton or hemp gi, but not so much with your ripstop pants. If you do opt to do this, don’t just go blasting your brand new - and potentially expensive - jiu jitsu gi with hot water and an industrial grade dryer. It’s hard to go back from over-shrinking your gi. Most gis are made from 100% cotton, and during construction, the cotton fibers are put under tension - basically pulled and straightened before they’re woven together. Heat releases this tension, which allows the fibers to relax and reduce to their natural size. So instead, take your time and monitor the shrinking process. Start with washing hot and air-drying, then if you need to, add heat and tumble dry low. Rarely will you require high heat… but, hey, it’s your gi. Do with it what you want.

• Wash your gi (i.e. don’t be “that guy”)

Assuming your gi is the size you want it, you now have to keep it clean without destroying it. First rule of jiu jitsu club: wash your gi after every use. Yeah, some guys say they can get two training sessions out of their gis, but once you sweat - even a little bit - the naturally-occurring bacteria in your skin makes themselves at home in your gi. At the very least, you’re gi will smell a little funky during the second practice. At the worst, you risk spreading some kind of skin fungus or infection. So wear once, wash once, and repeat. In the process, wash in cold and avoid bleach or harsh detergents. This prevents the natural fibers from breaking down, diminishing the lifespan of your gi.

• A little heat goes a long way

The preferred method of drying your gi is letting it air dry. Take care air-drying in direct sunlight, however. While the sun’s ultraviolet rays have a natural anti-bacterial effect, it can fade colors and the heat can potentially shrink the cotton fibers. However, depending on where you live - humid climates, for example - this might not be an option at all. The “air dry” setting on your dryer is a great alternative. Tumble drying low is fine, if you want to tighten up the fibers, but avoid leaving it in too long. Finally, unless you want to give your gi to your kid sister, avoid drying on high heat. Not only does this shrink it mercilessly, the heat can also damage the fibers - regardless of whether it’s cotton, hemp or polyester - diminishing the lifespan of your gi.

• That questionable stain

Blood, grease, hair dye, or that bit of chocolate cookie you ate after training… whatever it is, you’re guaranteed to get some kind of stain on your gi. Before you mourn your pristine gi and throw it in the wash with a gallon of bleach, try to spot clean it first. For a white gi, a tiny bit of bleach applied directly to the stain and allowed to sit for a few minutes prior to washing isn’t going irreparably bleach the rest of your gi - including your colored embroideries or patches. For both white and colored gis, if the stain is oil-based, work a mix of vinegar and dishwashing fluid into it before washing. Most hair dyes will wash out fine, but if you’re worried, the vinegar/dishwashing fluid also works in this case as well. If all that doesn’t work, call your grandma. She’ll know what to do.

• It’s aliiiiiiive….

You heard it: that terrifying ripping sound. Maybe you squatted a little too low the day after Thanksgiving, or your training partner was a little too aggressive with his/her lapel game… whatever it was, your trusty gi has finally ripped. Don’t give up on it just yet. Depending on the size and location, some tears can be repaired. If you’re not confident in your own patching skills - remember, you need to add another strip of fabric behind the tear to anchor your stitches - take it to your nearest tailor. They’ll be able to tell you if it’s salvageable. I had a gi that I brought back from the dead a record six times. I called it the “Franken-gi.”

• The dreaded “gi funk”

Everybody experiences it. It’s a constant battle… one that you will ultimately lose. However, you can postpone the inevitable with a few good habits and tricks of the trade. First of all, and referring back to No. 2 in this article, wash your gi after every use. The sooner, the better. If you can risk the slight shrinkage mentioned in No. 3, air drying your gi in the sun before you wash it is also useful in keeping the odor-causing bacteria at bay. Adding a bit of vinegar to your wash, or even soaking a stinky gi in a vinegar/water solution prior to washing can also help. If you’ve let it get too far, and you’re desperate, you can hit it with industrial grade carpet and fabric cleaning detergent (the kind you get at Home Depot). If all else fails, throw caution to the wind and wash it with bleach, but expect it to come out with off-color patches and embroideries. Eventually, you will have to make the decision to just let it go. It’s hard, I know, but the last person your training partner wants to roll with is the person with the funky smelling gi.

Train on. Oss.