What’s your story?
How did you stumble into this thing called Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?
Let me tell you mine:

It started back on December 12, 2015 – UFC 194: Aldo vs. McGregor. Me and my brother were fighting for the remote (classic). We were aimlessly flipping through channels, looking for something to watch, when we landed on this intense-looking fight. Two guys, one in black shorts, one in white, were throwing down inside a cage. I read the names: Rockhold vs. Weidman.
At first, I thought it was boxing. But then, they started punching on the ground and I was like “Wait, what the hell is this?”
That was my first taste of MMA. And my first introduction to grappling.
After the event, we couldn’t stop talking about it. We googled, we argued, we deep-dived – and that’s when we found it:
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The thing that made the stuffs on the ground we watched make sense.
So, fast forward. I step into my first BJJ class, hyped as hell. But instead of pulling off cool submissions, I got:

• Crushed 💀
• Gassed out 😵
• Mentally nuked 🧠

Maybe you’re feeling that too, right now. Maybe after you first class.
Confused. Exhausted. Wondering if you made a mistake.
But don’t worry: everyone starts there. You’re not alone.
If you just finished your first roll, congrats. You joined the 1% of people who actually showed up, got flattened, and said:
“Yeah! I’m coming back”.
That’s where the real BJJ journey begins.

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😵 WTF Just Happened? Understanding the Chaos

So you just finished your first roll and your soul left your body for a bit? Yeah, welcome to BJJ.
Don’t worry if you’re confused. Most of us had no idea what was happening either. Let’s break it down:

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is a martial art from the grappling family.
Wait, grappling has a family now?

Yep. In MMA, we usually split things into two main fighting styles:

• Striking 👊 Punches, kicks, elbows, knees – damage from a distance.
• Grappling 🤼‍♂️ Closing the gap, hugging like it’s your girlfriend, dragging people to the ground, and controlling them until they can’t do shit.

So yeah, BJJ is pure grappling. No punches, no kicks – just position, pressure, and submissions that make grown men tap like toddlers.

Why It’s Terrifying (In a Cool Way)?

Picture this: you’re in a fight. You get taken down. Within seconds, some guy wraps his arms around your neck like a cursed scarf. Five more seconds, and it’s lights out.
Next thing you know, you’re staring at the ceiling with your training partners gathered like it’s your funeral.
That’s why we “tap out”.
Tapping is the universal signal for:
“Hey, my bones/breath/soul are about to quit – please stop”.
You can tap their body, tap the mat, tap the air,… just make sure they get your message. Respect the tap.

Size? Doesn’t Matter (Seriously)

One of my coaches is built like a barista. First time I rolled with him, I thought: “Oh cool, I’ll go easy”.
Plot twist: I got folded like laundry.
That’s the power of BJJ. Timing, technique, and leverage >>> raw strength.
And that’s not just a meme, it’s been proven. Ever heard of Royce Gracie?
Skinny Brazilian. Stepped into early UFC events. Choked out guys twice his size and changed martial arts forever.

Moral of the story?
If you’re wondering what the hell just happened during your first roll. That was BJJ doing exactly what it was designed to do. Now you’re in it. Let’s keep going.

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📚 BJJ 101

Before I even stepped on the mats, I was already confused. Not by the submissions or the weird crab walk warmups, but by the terms: “Roll” vs. “Sparring”?
Are they different? Yes, but also, no. 😵‍💫

Here’s the deal:
In BJJ, people usually say “roll” – it’s when you and your training partner go live and try to apply what you’ve learned. Kinda like building a LEGO set without the instructions.
In MMA, they say “sparring” – usually means light striking and full simulation.

Same thing, different context.
Both are just friendly fights where nobody’s trying to get murdered (hopefully).

The Positions That Will Repeatedly Haunt Your Sleep

Now let’s talk about what actually happened when you got folded like a camping chair. Here are the basic BJJ positions, where you’ll be stuck 90% of the time as a beginner:

• Mount – Imagine about riding a horse. Now imagine you’re the horse. Your opponent’s sitting on your body, throwing his weight to you belly or chest.
• Side Control – Feels like a tree fell sideways onto your ribs. Can’t lift your body. Can’t move. Can’t even breathe. That’s how you’re being side controlled.
• Closed Guard – You’re stuck between someone’s legs and not in a fun way. They’re hugging your hips with their legs like an octopus.
• Back Control – You’re wearing a human backpack, but instead of carrying your books, it’s choking you out. You can’t see them, but you definitely feel their creepy arms on your neck.

The Submissions You’ll Tap to (Eventually)

Once your partner locks down a dominant position, they’re likely hunting one of these finishes — the “get out or tap out” moment:

• Rear-Naked Choke (RNC) – Classic. Comes from back control. That “creepy arms on your neck” I mentioned? Yeah. That’s this. Lights out around 5 seconds if you don’t tap.
• Triangle – They trap one arm, then snap their legs around your neck. You feel your brain’s signal dropping bar by bar. Usually happens from close guard, mount – watch for it.
• Arm-Triangle – Same energy as a triangle, but no legs. They use their arm and shoulder to compress your neck. Feels like your brain’s stuck in a hydraulic press.
• D’Arce – A cousin of the arm-triangle, but from the reverse angle.
• Guillotine – Another tight choke, watch out for the neck hurt because you’ll feel exactly like being cut your head off.
• Armbar – Either from mount or close guard. They isolate your arm, hyperextend the elbow, and basically threaten to turn it into a boomerang. Instant tap material.
• Kimura – This one go for the shoulder. They grab your wrist, crank your arm behind your back, and make you wish you stretched more. Pain incoming.
• Heel Hook – This one is the “nope” of submissions. Targets your knee ligaments via the heel. Twist + pressure = shredded ACL. Most gyms go easy here, but tap fast.

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❌ Don’t Worry About Submissions Yet

Let’s clear something up: chasing submissions as a white belt is the fastest way to gas out and get humbled.

And yeah, I get it – we all came in thinking: “I’m gonna tap someone today“.
But the truth is: “I got tapped by someone today“.
Hey, don’t be mad. You’re not there to win. You’re there to build.
Actually, I wrote a whole post just on why beginners should stop hunting for subs every roll – and focus on learning instead. If you’re still confuse, you might wanna give some time to check it.

Now ask yourself this:
Are you proactive or reactive on the mats?

• Proactive: You’re the one initiating: attacking, moving, never giving your partner a chance to breathe.
• Reactive: You chill. Let them move first. Then you counter, trap, or escape like a sneaky ninja.

Neither is wrong. Both work. Just know your vibe and lean into it.

I actually train under two coaches with totally different energy:

One is chaos in a training match. He rolls like he try to kill you and that exactly what he did: submitting us in 30 seconds. Pressure, speed, violence, all gas, no brakes.
The other? Total opposite. He’s built like a couch cushion and just lies there – chilling like he’s on a beach checking out girls. Then boom, you’re tapping to something you didn’t even feel coming. Pure chill death.

Moral of the story?
Forget the finish. Learn the flow. Submissions come later when your foundation’s built solid.

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🥋 How to Actually Learn BJJ (Without Losing Your Mind)

Common, you’ve probably done it. You hit YouTube, searched “best BJJ submissions” (hot keyword for a reason 😆), found a highlight reel or slick tutorial, and thought: “Cool. I’ll try that next class”.

Fast forward to class. You’re rolling, get passed like butter, and that sick move you watched? Gone. Wiped from your brain like browser history. So what happened here? Your brain betrayed you?
It’s not that your brain sucks – it’s the way you’re trying to learn. Watching isolated YouTube moves without understanding how they fit into your overall game is like collecting LEGO pieces without ever building a full set.

If you want to level up, then here’s the real plan:

• Build your system. What’s your favorite position? Top or bottom? Guard player or pressure passer? Choose a few techniques that complement each other and go deep.
• Find real instructionals. Look for coaches who teach structured systems, not just flashy tricks. Bonus points if they cover drills and pressure management.
• Avoid “YouTube Black Belt Syndrome”. Don’t chase the next shiny move. Learn how to break guards before you start hunting submissions like you’re Gordon Ryan (I would suggest you to go search for his name instead of submissions).
• Drill with purpose. Roll every class. You can’t theorycraft your way into skill. You gotta feel it in live rolls or it won’t stick.
• Learn to read pressure. Sometimes it’s not about the “right move” – it’s about feeling your opponent’s weight shift and reacting. Timing > textbook.

Think of it like this:

“A bad professor only gives you formulas. A good one teaches you how and why they work”.

And finally, keep in mind:
Consistency beats talent.

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⚙ What Gear Do You Actually Need?

Depend on:

If you show up for No-Gi class, wear whatever sticks to your body without sliding off. Rash guard, grappling shorts, spats or honestly, just a t-shirt and gym shorts. Some folks basically roll in pyjamas, and that’s fine – as long as you’re not flashing anyone or leaving a trail of skin behind.

If it’s Gi class, then you’re suiting up in a 3kg pyjama set. You pick the color (except for the belt color), but get ready to:

• Get grabbed.
• Get choked by said pyjama.
• Learn to love sweating into your own sleeves.

People will try to tear your sleeves off like it’s laundry day at a jiu-jitsu cult. And guess what? That’s part of the fun.

But listen up – none of this gear matters if you don’t bring the most important thing: Your ass to the class.
You can binge every BJJ tutorial on YouTube, buy all the flashy gear, have the cleanest mats in the world. But if you don’t show up, none of it sticks.

Bring your gear. But most importantly – bring yourself.

💬 Got Questions? Let’s Roll

If you’re just starting out and got questions – drop them in the comments. I promise I won’t choke you out for asking. Let’s turn this into FAQ time and help each other out.

Know someone thinking about starting their BJJ journey?
👊 Share this post with them. Pass the torch. Tell your story.

And remember:
Don’t aim for perfection in BJJ. Just focus on being better than yesterday.

Until next time!