BJJ Guide: Everything to Start, Improve and Last on the Mat
This BJJ guide brings together everything you need to know to start training, improve your game and stay on the mat for years to come. Whether you’re curious about the sport, a complete beginner or an experienced practitioner, you’ll find practical answers here: where to begin, how to choose an academy, what the belts mean, which techniques to prioritize, what gear to buy, and how to take care of your body.
This isn’t a theoretical overview. Every article is written by practitioners, tested on the mat and designed to be immediately useful. In other words, it’s the BJJ guide we wish we’d had when we started.
Getting started with Brazilian jiu-jitsu
The first step is often the most intimidating. Is BJJ for me? What happens in a first class? Do I need to be fit before starting? In reality, anyone can begin — at any age and any fitness level.
Our complete guide to your first BJJ class answers all these questions. You’ll also find advice on choosing your first academy and an explanation of why BJJ is booming in France.
For parents, our article BJJ for Kids details the benefits of the discipline for young people: confidence, discipline, respect and emotional management.
The BJJ belt system explained
The belt system is the backbone of progression in jiu-jitsu. From white belt to black belt and beyond (coral, red), each grade represents a milestone: technical skills, tactical maturity and time invested on the mat.
Our article BJJ Belt System: Meaning of Each Belt explains each grade in detail, including promotion criteria and average timelines. Specifically, here’s the standard progression:
| Belt | Average time | What it represents |
|---|---|---|
| White | 0-2 years | Discovery, survival, learning the basics |
| Blue | 2-4 years | Building a game, first competition experience |
| Purple | 4-7 years | Technical depth, developing a personal style |
| Brown | 7-10 years | Refinement, teaching, competitive maturity |
| Black | 10+ years | Technical mastery and knowledge transmission |
These timelines are averages — every journey is unique. What matters most is long-term consistency.
Fundamental BJJ techniques
BJJ is a sport of positions before it’s a sport of submissions. In other words, before looking for the finish, you need to understand and master the basic positions — especially the guards, which form the backbone of the ground game.
Our technical guides cover the principles, variations and common mistakes for each position:
The closed guard — The first guard every beginner learns. It teaches distance management, posture breaking and initial attacks (armbar, triangle, omoplata). It’s the foundation of playing from bottom.
The half guard — Often a position beginners end up in by accident, it becomes a formidable weapon once mastered. Underhooks, sweeps, back takes — half guard is an essential technical crossroads.
The De La Riva guard — A dynamic open guard, ideal for sweeps and back takes. It requires more coordination but opens up a world of offensive possibilities.
More technique guides will be added regularly. To discover the legends whose styles shaped these positions, visit our BJJ Legends section.
Training methods: how to improve in BJJ
How do you improve when you can’t train every day? That’s the reality for most practitioners. Our guide How to Improve Training Twice a Week offers a complete method: video study, weekly training plan, 4-week cycles and FAQ.
The principle is straightforward: it’s not volume that makes the difference, it’s method. Arrive with a clear goal, choose your partners wisely, deliberately work your weaknesses, then consolidate off the mat with video and note-taking. Ultimately, two well-structured sessions beat five sessions without intention.
BJJ gear: a practical guide to equipment
Gi, rashguard, no-gi shorts, ear guards, gym bag — BJJ gear can quickly become overwhelming for beginners. In this section, we publish honest comparisons, reviews and buying guides to help you make the right choices.
Our first gear articles are coming in 2026: best gi comparisons, kimono care guide, how to choose your first rashguard, and gift ideas for BJJ enthusiasts. In the meantime, our beginner guide already includes essential first-purchase advice.
Lifestyle: nutrition, injuries and recovery
Brazilian jiu-jitsu doesn’t stop at the mat. Nutrition, injury prevention, muscle recovery, mental game — everything surrounding the practice directly influences progression and longevity.
Lifestyle articles are coming throughout 2026: common injuries and prevention, nutrition before and after training, managing frustration, returning after a break, and training BJJ at 40 and beyond. BJJ is a marathon, not a sprint. Consequently, taking care of your body is part of the game — especially if you want to still be rolling in 10 or 20 years.
BJJ rules and quizzes
Understanding the rules means understanding the sport. Whether you’re preparing for your first competition or simply want to follow a match with clarity, our articles and interactive quizzes cover the essentials:
The IBJJF point system — mount, back control, guard pass, sweep, takedown and knee on belly explained. Referee gestures and commands — so you’re never lost matside. Match outcomes — submission, points, advantages, DQ. And everything about the referee’s role.
Each article comes with an interactive quiz to test your knowledge. Furthermore, if you’re considering competing, check out our complete BJJ competition guide covering the CFJJB circuit, registration and practical tips.
BJJ glossary
Guard, mount, sweep, armbar, omoplata, berimbolo… BJJ vocabulary blends Portuguese, English and Japanese. It’s not always easy to follow when you’re starting out. Our glossary therefore gathers the essential terms with clear definitions and concrete examples.
It’s a reference tool to consult regularly — and it will be expanded over time with new terms and positions.
In summary
This BJJ guide is designed to support you at every stage of your journey. Whether you’re putting on your first gi or preparing for your next belt, the goal remains the same: improve intelligently, last on the mat and enjoy the practice.
All articles are regularly updated and new content is added each month. If you could only read one article to get started, make it this one: Starting BJJ — A Complete Guide to Your First Class.
Follow all BJJ news on BJJ-Rules — France’s #1 Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu media.
Read also: BJJ belt system explained | Improve training twice a week | BJJ competition guide