Category: BJJ

You’ve just increased your training days but you can’t afford another gi just yet. You need to wash and quickly dry your gi to be ready for the next training session. But, you’re wondering, what is the fastest way to dry my gi? Here’s everything you need to know about drying your gi fast after washing it.

How comfortable you are in your gi determines how you perform. A gi should feel comfortable on your body because you will be wearing it for hours on the mat. A well-dried gi is a comfortable gi. Here are a couple of methods you can use to dry your gi, the last one being the fastest;

• Hang Your gi to Dry on a Clothing Line
• Use a Fan
• Iron with caution
• Use a gi rack
• Use a dryer
• Combine drying methods

However, before diving into discussing the fastest way to dry your gi, here are a few things you need to know about how to wash and care for your gi.

Things You Need To Know Before Washing Your GI

One mistake during the washing stage and you won’t have a gi to dry at all. Here are some important things you should know about washing your gi. 

1. Never Use Bleach

Stubborn stains on your gi can tempt you to use bleach. Regardless of how tough a stain is, DO NOT use bleach. Using bleach to wash a gi causes the fibers of the fabric to become weak. Over time, the fibers deteriorate. When you see someone’s gi tear right in the middle of a fight, chances are that the individual used bleached on the gi at some point. There are alternatives that you can use.

2. Consider Vinegar

Yes, vinegar. The best part about this hack is that vinegar is quite affordable and is easily available. Vinegar will help you with that tough stain you want to remove from your white gi. Use just one cup of it along with your usual laundry detergent. Vinegar will whiten, soften, and freshen your gi without damaging it.

You do not have to worry about the smell. After evaporation, vinegar disperses and the smell disappears. To remove a stain, spray some undiluted vinegar on it and then wash the stained part. Vinegar is much more effective on white gi’s.

3. Lemon Juice

Lemons possess many benefits and one of them is that lemon juice can help with whitening your white gi’s. Just like vinegar, use lemon juice when you need to remove a stain on your gi, and the gi will not only whiten but will also smell fresh.

4. Baking Soda

Use of baking soda is another amazing hack that you should embrace if you want to soften, whiten, or freshen your gi. Half a cup of baking soda combined with your detergent will leave your gi thanking you. To remove a stain, mix baking soda and water to create a paste and then apply that paste directly to the stained area. It works best on white gi’s.

5. Dishwasher Detergent

The dishwasher detergent is an easily available product if you do not already have it in the house. Dishwasher detergent helps with whitening white gi’s. However, it is important for you to make sure that the detergent is chlorine-free. Chlorine acts as a bleaching agent and can cause your gi to fade. It can also affect the quality of the fabric. Once again, try this on your white gi.

6. Wash Gi’s By Themselves

As the saying goes, better safe than sorry. You might assume that none of your other clothes bleeds but color bleed is a common occurrence. Never mix your gi (especially your white one) with regular colored clothes when washing.

Discovering that your favorite white gi turned purple or pink is not humorous.

Not only is stuffing clothes alongside your gi dangerous for your gi but it also harmful to your washer. Filling your washer with many clothes can reduce the efficiency of the washer. A gi is heavier than normal clothes and stuffing it with other clothes can create banging sounds or even cause a washer to stop completely.

7. Use Cold Water When Washing Your GI

If you do not want your gi to shrink, then wash it with cold water. Washing a gi with cold water possesses several other benefits. It is a good way of preserving colors, removing stains, and conserving the integrity of clothes. 

In case of a stubborn stain, you’ll have to soak your gi in cold water with a detergent of your choice. Here is how you can soak your gi in case of stubborn stains;

• Fill a tab and make sure the water does not drain.
• Add your washing substances
• Mix it up using an available tool such as the handle side of a broom
• Immerse your white gis in the tab
• Use the broom as if you were washing using your hand
• Soak for as long as you possibly can 
• Transfer to a washing machine and wash normally

Let’s face it, a quality gi costs quite some money and if you only have one, you do not want to have to wear a wet gi because you washed and dried it the wrong way. Therefore, take extra caution when washing your gi.

The Fastest Way to Dry Your Gi

Now you know some basics about how to wash and care for your gi. Here’s a look at the fastest way to dry your gi.

1. Hang Your Gi to Dry on a Clothing Line

Using a clothesline in the open is one of the most effective ways to dry your clothes. Therefore, hang your gi on a clothesline. However, you need to be careful when air-drying your gi under direct sunlight. Ultraviolet rays have both positive and negative effects on clothes. The rays destroy bacteria on your clothes and sunlight also helps remove any odors that might have been present on your gi. However, if you expose your gi to too much sunlight it might shrink and fade

Hanging your gi outside when the weather is both sunny and windy works well and fast. Hang drying your gi not only helps in fast drying. It also helps in maximizing the life of your gi and minimizing shrinkage. 

2. Use a Fan 

Using a fan sounds like an obvious solution that many would think of, but if you are here, it means that maybe this idea has not yet crossed your mind. Consider hanging your gi in the same room with a fan. You can also decide to hang the gi on a hanger and set two fans next to it in opposite directions. Your gi should dry within a few hours.

However, there is a downside with using a fan. Fans can result in a stiff gi that feels like cardboard.

3. Iron With Caution

Ironing is definitely one of the fastest ways to dry clothes, but you should be extremely careful when ironing your gi. Ironing a gi can ruin patches and the fabric. If you must iron, turn your gi inside out and do not iron over patches.

4. Use a Gi Rack

You can look up how a gi rack looks like on Pinterest and try making one or have someone make it for you. When you use a gi rack, hang your gi without placing the sleeves over the other body of the gi. The sleeves hang freely away from the other parts of your gi; thus, your entire gi dries faster. A gi rack is not complicated to make.

5. Use a Dryer

If you do not mind shrinkage, then you can try using a dryer to dry your gi. The advantage of a dryer is that it does not cause your gi to become stiff.  A downside with this method is that it can cause shrinkage. You can try using the lowest settings on the dryer to protect your gi. You can also choose to air-dry your gi for a while and then put in a dryer on medium heat for around five minutes to soften it.

Also, try using a tumble dry but without any heat if you are worried about shrinkage. Include a fabric softener in the process.

6. Combine Drying Methods

You might think that unhanging your gi when it starts raining and putting it in a basket with other clothes then drying it at a later time is wise. Doing so might result in your gi smelling, and that means that you will need to re-wash it. In the end, your gi will take longer to dry.

Instead of unhanging a wet gi and keeping it balled up in a bag or basket with other clothes, try unhanging it and use a fan or dryer to dry it further. When you remove your gi from the clothesline, and it is not yet dry, hang it in a room with a fan and let it dry indoors. 

You can also embrace the use of a clothing line plus the gi rack. For example, when it starts raining, unhang your gi and hang it indoors on the rack that you made or purchased. The main thing to remember here is that you should not store a wet gi claiming that you will hang it later.

There you have it. Apply any of the methods and your gis will love you for that. Your gi is your armor and armor needs care so it can protect you. As much as you want it to dry fast, remember to always take care of it in the process.

As a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, your gi is your uniform. When it comes to maintaining that gi, it is important to wash it after every use. Even if you only had a light roll, you need to wash your gi every time you use it.

It is important to understand why you need to wash your gi regularly and other gi maintenance tips, so let’s dive into why.

Your gi is your uniform as a BJJ practitioner. It is made of woven cotton and consists of a jacket, pants, and a belt. You use it to represent yourself and your school, which is why it is critical to take proper care of it. 

Part of taking care of your gi is making sure you wash it after every use. The sooner you wash it after practice, the better. The main reason for this is that your gi is covered in sweat and bacteria from your skin. If you don’t wash it, that bacteria can spread and infect your gi. This infestation can cause infections and even spread disease. 

One of the most common diseases that can be spread is Staphylococcus Aureus, also known as a Staph infection. Staph lives on your skin and can spread onto your gi and the mats through sweat. The bacteria can live for a while and will try to get into your body through cuts or direct contact. A person infected with Staph will get blisters or crusty skin that is sensitive to the touch. These are highly infectious, and you can quickly spread your infection to others if you’re not careful.

In addition to the already mentioned blisters and crusts, Staph’s other symptoms include red and itchy skin, boils or clusters of boils, painful eyelids or eyes. While Staph isn’t usually life-threatening, it can develop into a severe infection. Plus, due to it being incredibly contagious, you would have to sit out practice for a while if you test positive. With all the danger you face, it is probably worth just making sure your gi is clean.

How to take care of your GI

The gi is one of the oldest forms of martial arts uniform. It was created by Dr. Jigoro Kano to be a sturdier replacement than the Samurai kimono. The uniform is made up of an overcoat, a pair of string cloth pants, and a belt. The belt is used to inform rank. In BJJ, there are five belt levels, white, blue, purple, brown, and then black. The BJJ gi has been modified over the years to be a tighter fit and is more focused on the ground grappling of the sport as opposed to Judo throws.

Most gi’s are made with dense cotton fiber. This means that they are sensitive to certain cleaning products, like bleach. It also means that they can shrink when washed with hot water. It’s important to make sure that your gi is washed in cold water. Otherwise, you might end up with a child-size gi. If you are machine washing your gi, try to make sure it is the only piece of clothing in the wash. Gi’s are usually a thick piece of clothing and could damage your washing machine by overloading it. 

Another reason is the risk of color spill messing with your gi. You don’t want your beautiful off-white gi to become some pink monstrosity. This may sound silly, but it’s crucial when remembering that the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) has regulations about appropriate gi colors. Those colors are royal blue, white, and black. Your gi must be consistent throughout as well.

Now you may be questioning how viable it is to wash your gi every time you train. Surely your gi would take unnecessary wear from the washing? That’s a fair point, and there are some ways to address that issue. 

The first is the most obvious, have spare gi’s. Having two or three gi’s that you can switch between would reduce the amount of wear on each. However, gi’s are expensive, and it might not be possible for you to afford more than one. Another possible answer is investigating whether or not your school has no-gi classes. If you’re able to train half the time without a gi, then you’re already limiting half of the wear on your gi.

Another thing you can do is hand wash your gi. If you are washing it by hand, you severely limit the amount of stress put on the gi over machine washing. While handwashing is a luxury few have the time to afford, it may be worth it to wash your belt by hand. It’s quite possible to lose or damage stripes in a machine wash, so handwashing prevents that from happening.

Be a good representative of your school

By wearing your gi, you are representing your BJJ school. If you don’t wear your gi correctly or don’t take care of it, you tell the world that your school isn’t worth respect. The same goes for your training partners. You cannot say you respect your training partners if you’re showing up with a filthy, stinky gi.

The same can be said for your opponents. No one wants to roll with the stinky guy who never cleans their gi. Your gym will also not appreciate having all of their efforts to maintain a hygienic space undermined because you’re too lazy to wash your gi after practice.

All in all, it’s simply not worth the risks connected to not washing gi. So make sure you are washing your gi after every practice. 

Tips on how to wash you gi

As said before, using bleach to wash your gi is a bad idea. This is because bleach can damage the fabric and cause it to wear out faster. Therefore it’s a much better idea to use softer chemicals to ensure your gi’s longevity. A couple of bleach alternatives can be found right at home.

1. Baking Soda

Baking Soda is a great way to clean your clothes. You can add about half-a-cup to a load, and it will do wonders. Baking Soda is great because it is cheap, available and is easy on your clothes and washing machine. It also has no scent, which is a plus for anyone you roll with. If your gi is in real bad shape, feel free to soak it in some baking soda for an hour or two before you wash it. 

2. Vinegar

Using about a cup of vinegar in the wash can get rid of all the bacteria on your gi. It also works as a softener, so your gi will come feeling a lot better. Just make sure you have no baking soda in your washer, or you might accidentally make a volcano. The only problem with using vinegar is there may be a hint of the smell on your gi, but it’s worth it. Just make sure you are using white vinegar, as other forms may stain your gi.

3. Vodka

While it may sound strange, it is worth remembering that alcohol is a disinfectant. While it may not be worth the price, if you’re in a pinch, a few shots of vodka in the wash won’t hurt. It’s not going to be able to lift any stains, and people you roll with might think you have a problem, but if you have nothing else, vodka can help you keep your gi clean.

Another thing you can do to preserve your gi is to make sure you hang it to dry. While this may cause the gi to feel stiff when you put it on, it’s just a better way to maintain the fabric.

Cleanliness is now more critical than ever.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, it is critical that you take proper hygiene measures. Failing to do so could shut your entire gym down. While COVID is not a bacteria, it is able to live on surfaces for long periods. One such surface is the fabric of your gi. COVID really likes material. It seems, and trace amounts can be found on cotton for up to seven days after exposure. That means it’s vital, for the sake of your health and the health of those you train with, to wash your gi after every use.

As a practitioner of the gentle art, keeping your gi clean should be a matter of pride. If you are proud to be a member of your school, proud to represent your teachers in tournaments, then you should wear your uniform with pride.

It’s a good idea to remember that your gi is an expensive investment in yourself and you should make sure to treat it that way. Make sure to hang it up. Swap gi’s after each practice. You probably paid a lot of money for your gi, and it likely has sentimental value, so do yourself a favor and take care of it.  Wash your gi after every practice. Keep yourself clean, your gym clean, and everyone safe.

Whether you’re foot sweeping or hooking legs, the art of knocking the opponent off their feet is a deep and involved topic. Even the term foot sweeps is a blanket term that covers many techniques. Some are straightforward and easy to grasp. Others are a little more complex. 

The main ingredients, if you will, of the foot sweep are:

1. The sweep.
2. The footwork.
3. The arm works.
4. Timing.

Each one plays a role and helps you get the results you want which is having the opponent off their feet. The sweep has to be done in a quick and fluid move. Don’t hesitate or change your mind mid-move. That can result in an awkward kick that might backfire as the opponent takes advantage of your own lack of balance.

This article covers the underlying concept of foot sweeps, what you need to know about the various techniques, and how to master them. 

The Theory Behind Foot Sweeps

Foot sweeps are some of the most versatile and ubiquitous techniques in MMA. In theory, they’re easy and simple enough. You focus on the leg where the opponent got their body weight, dislodge it from under them and use a push or pull to speed up the process. Down the rival goes, and you’re on top of them. Works like a charm every time. Or almost every time. See, there are many moving parts here and it doesn’t always go according to plan. What you need to keep in mind is that you can use the foot sweep either when you’re on the offensive or when you’re feeling cornered and need a quick way out.

In general, there are two types of foot sweeps. You have the inside sweeps and outside sweeps. Let’s dive deep and explain what each type means and why you’d choose one over the other.

The inside foot sweep is the one where your own leg goes across your body to connect the opponent’s foot and take them off balance. The opponent is on the move and their foot is not resting on the ground. So you’re just preventing that foot from landing on the ground. In other words, you elongate their step, cause them to lose balance and a little push sends them tumbling down.

The outside foot sweep has your foot connecting with the outside of the opponent’s foot and causing them to lose their balance. Most often you won’t have to choose which type to execute. As soon as you get an opening, you go for it.

Foot sweeps are common in many MMA sports. Judo is by far the one that employs it the most. But you can also find it used in sambo, no-gi, and others. If the sport allows takedowns, then most likely you’ll see the players resorting to foot sweeps more often. This is especially true where the sport allows leg attacks. We focus here on no-gi styles.

How to do Foot Sweeps

When it comes to foot sweeps, one thing should get your utmost attention. That’s timing. More than any other factor, timing is by far the most crucial aspect that can make or break a foot sweep. Why is timing so important? Because you don’t have much of an opportunity.

Unless your opponent is totally defenseless and clueless, chances are, you won’t get a big window to perform a foot sweep. Most often the opponent realizes they made a mistake exposing themselves or leaving themselves open to a foot sweep and then immediately takes precautions. So if you’re waiting for the right moment, it passes really fast.

This is where being quick on your feet and being alert for such opportunities becomes crucial in your game. So how would you go about executing this intricate move and get it right every time no matter how narrow your window of opportunity is? It’s simple, you need to know the different components of the foot sweep.

The main ingredients, if you will, of the foot sweep are:

• The sweep.
• The footwork.
• The arm works.
• Timing.

Each one plays a role and helps you get the results you want which is having the opponent off their feet. The sweep has to be done in a quick and fluid move. Don’t hesitate or change your mind mid-move. That can result in an awkward kick that might backfire as the opponent takes advantage of your own lack of balance.

The footwork is equally important. While you might not have trouble performing an outside foot sweep, when it comes to footwork, the inside foot sweep can be problematic. Kicking the opponent’s foot from under them is not easy this way. Most often you cause a loss of balance but the opponent will not actually fall. This is where the arm work comes in.

Since the full weight of the opponent’s body is on one or both legs, you won’t always be able to trip them. Not without the help of your arms anyway. Here you have two options. Either push the opponent to tip them over or pull them toward you and accelerate their fall. The better grip you have over the opponent the better the outcome.

And finally, you have the timing. Time it right, and you can send the opponent on their back with less effort. It’s all about picking the fraction of a second when they’re shifting their weight of wobble about as they gain the center of their balance. That’s when you’re most likely to succeed in your attempt at a foot sweep.

Effective Techniques against Foot Sweeps

We have seen how effective the foot sweep can be. Done right, it takes your opponent off their feet and opens the way for a full mount. But what if it happens to you? What if you opponent sees an opportunity and sweeps you off your feet? You need to be prepared to prevent that from happening. Here are some techniques to help you.

Shrimping

Shrimping is a technique you practice to strengthen your core muscles and improve your balance so that an opponent doesn’t take you down when you least expect it. Here’s how you use shrimping for best results.

Plant one foot on the floor and raise the other one in front of you. Turn your body opposite to the planted leg while you tighten your core muscles. Hold your breath and maintain this posture. Breathe deeply. Now reverse the position. Do it with the other leg.

Do this exercise as often as you can. It helps you gain control over your balance and posture. Make sure to keep the raise leg straight in front of you. 

Grip

Another technique has to do with your grip. One thing you often hear from BJJ players is that they don’t have a strong grip. We talked in a previous article about how Judo cross-training can help you become the master grappler you dream of being. It also gives you a steely grip that makes it easy to take down any opponent no matter how firm their feet are on the ground.

But if you don’t have the time or inclination to try out Judo, here are a few exercises to help you strengthen your grip like the best Judokas.

• Do chin ups often. They strengthen your grip and build your arms. Another variation is to use a towel with the chin ups and vary the distance to work out all your shoulder muscles.
• Walk around with a kettlebell dangling from a towel. Be careful you don’t hurt your lower back or pelvis muscles if you swing the kettlebell too wide as you walk. Do this exercise for a minute or so at a time then take a break. Avoid doing it when you’re tired since it can lead to injuries.
• Practice grip fighting. It’s a unique way of fighting where you only use your grip to dominate your opponent. It’s fun but also very powerful.
• Do more deadlifts. Your grip will benefit a lot from this since it handles most of the weight as you deadlift. You also get an overall improved body strength and power.
• Ask a partner to act as a balancing weight. Lie on the floor on your back, your opponent stands or bends over you. Grab them by the lapels and lift yourself up. This is one of the most powerful exercises to work on your grip.

Foot sweeps are more common than you might think. The thing is they tend to happen so fast, if you are not paying attention or even if you blink you might miss them. But when done right they can be an effective way to take you opponent down and launch an offensive attack that gets you the submission you work so hard for.

When we talk about the legality of Judo throws in BJJ, most of the original Judo throws are perfectly legal. But the fact that a throw is legal doesn’t mean it’s good or effective in BJJ. The stance, posture, and even goal of the throws in Judo are totally different than their counterpart in BJJ.

Take Sumi gaeshi as an example of a legal Judo throw that works well on the BJJ mat. It’s easy to execute and quite effective. It also fits with the defensive nature of BJJ more than it does with Judo. Even BJJ novices can learn this throw and add it to their repertoire. But other throws such as Uchi mata, Ippon seionage, and hip throws while still legal, are not suited for BJJ.

We’ll cover some of the most common Judo throws that you should consider taking seriously. We’ll steer clear from others which though perfectly legal, will not help you on your BJJ progress. You should also weigh in the pros and cons of every throw and choose the one or ones that work best for you.

Sumi Gaeshi (Corner Reversal)

Sumi Gaeshi is as original as they come. In Judo it’s considered one of the basic throws that students learn early on. And while you can still use it in your BJJ practice, you need to be a little cautious in your approach to this one. On the surface, it looks easy enough, but there are ripples of deceptiveness underneath that if you’re not aware of can turn against you.

The way you go about this throw is to force your opponent to do a forward throw. You start it from a sitting position and do a back throw.  You end up on top of your opponent which opens the path for a good offensive tactic. But how do you get to that sitting position?

Usually when the opponent launches an attack where they try to do a leg takedown. Your best defense is to sit down grabbing their belt and perform Sumi Gaeshi. Your opponent will literally not know what hit them until it’s too late. The best part is, with Sumi Gaeshi you can either end up in full mount or at least in half guard.

One thing to add about this throw is that it is being used less and less in Judo. Not because it’s less effective. On the contrary, it gives you a great advantage. But since in Judo leg takedowns have been banned, you don’t see many players using this throw. The opportunity for it doesn’t come up often. But in BJJ, it is still practiced widely and its popularity is growing every day. 

O-Soto-Gari (Major Outer Reap)

One thing about the O-Soto-Gari is that it’s so basic, many players get it in one or two attempts. However, it’s not that effective unless the opponent is totally defenseless or doesn’t try anything to block you. So how do you go about performing O-Soto-Gari?

The logic and sequence of movements are both simple. Start on your feet facing the opponent. Grab the opponent by the lapel and sleeve forcing them to lean in that direction. Put your back into the grabbing so that the opponent has no choice but to lean on their leg. Next, you raise your leg as if you’re kicking a ball then as you bring it back you aim for their ankle. 

This is usually enough for the rival to lose their balance and fall on their back. In Judo you get an ippon and win the game then and there. But in BJJ it’s a different story. You still get two points for knocking the opponent off their feet, but it also gives you the opportunity to have a headlock or even land with knee on belly situation.

Keep in mind that on the mat, the throw might not hurt the opponent much. But if you find yourself in a confrontation in the street, O-Soto-Gari is so powerful, your opponent will not recover from it especially if you’re fighting on asphalt or even concrete. There’s also a possibility that they will hit their head on the ground and save you the trouble of finishing them off.

De Ashi Barai (Advanced Foot Sweep)

If you want to get the De Ashi Barai right, you need to pay extra attention to your timing. A fraction of second too early or too late will render the throw harmless or worse, it could backfire and land you in trouble. And you need to do it when your opponent is on their feet. If they’re bent over, it won’t work.

Start by getting a good grip on the lapel and opposite sleeve. This gives you a good stance and prepares you to perform a quick move that startles the opponent and leaves them defenseless. Now move your foot under their sleeve side and perform a swift sweeping motion that takes them off their feet completely. 

At the same time you’re doing two things simultaneously. You’re pulling at their sleeve while pushing up their lapel. It’s a swift motion similar to turning a wheel with both hands. At some point, the opponent will be in the air with your arms guiding them in their fall.

Done properly, you’ll have the opponent on their back and you in a knee to belly position. The advantages here are huge and you can choose what course to action to take from there. 

Ouchi Gari (Major Inner Reap)

Even though Ouchi Gari is a 100 percent Judo throw, it actually can be used in BJJ more effectively. Why? The simple answer is that many BJJ players have this knack to assume a stance where their legs are wide apart and their upper body is bent. I think you know where I’m going with this. This is the perfect throw to perform on a player in that stance.

You start with a collar and sleeve grab. A good grip is essential for the success of this throw. But rather than swept them off their feet as you would do with the previous throws, this one requires you to collide with your opponent. Use your momentum to push them backward. 

As you shove them back you hook one of your legs behind theirs. It doesn’t matter which leg you hook. Use the more convenient one and give them a good push. Now they’re helplessly on their back and you’re on top. Keep in mind that you might land in their guard.

Many players start their pass at this time while the opponent is flustered. While the advantages are not as overwhelming as in other throws we covered here, it still gets you an opening and cuts a lengthy confrontation short.

Tomoe Nage (Circle Throw)

In BJJ a strategy that involves both pulling guard and throwing at the same time might seem a little too risky. This is true for both novices and experienced players alike. However, with that risk comes huge rewards. We already saw how Judo throws get you in an advantageous position where your opponent is on their back and you’re on top in a full mount position. Think about how much work you need to do to get there without that throw.

Tomoe Nage is one of those Judo throws that when applied in BJJ lets you pull guard and throw at the same time. How’s that even possible? Well, you need to execute this tricky move before the opponent pulls guard. Otherwise, it loses its effectiveness.

The move starts with a good grip on the opponent’s lapel and triceps. Now do the next few moves very quickly. Sit down fast and plant your foot in the opponent’s stomach. Still maintaining a good grip on their Gi, you pull them over your head and throw them behind your back. 

Now comes the good part. Perform a somersault to launch yourself in the air and land on your opponent’s back. In many cases, you could find yourself in a mount position. It doesn’t get better than that, right?

An alternative outcome is that you land in the open guard. So even without a complete throw, you have a good opening to launch an effective offensive. 

As we have seen, many Judo throws works very well for BJJ while others not so much. The point to take out of this article is that you should have an open mind. Some Judo throws are better left to Judo players since they have little to no effect on a BJJ mat. Other throws have faded from the Judo realm due to changes in the rules but still have their place and use in a BJJ class.

One of the first things that a BJJ student learns at class is how to escape ground control situations. It’s crucial not just for their progress but to establish a good foundation that will help them become a well-rounded player in the years to come. 

While using the bridge and hip movements are important steps to escape side control,as a white belt you also need to master other escapes such as escape from mount, escape from back mount, and pass closed guard. Each helps you get out of a tough situation and turn the tables as it were on your opponent.

So how would you go about learning and mastering these escapes? This article takes you on a technical journey that lays it out in simple terms, how to get yourself out of a tight spot and surprise your opponent right when they thought they were this close to winning a submission.

Side Control Escape

One of the most vulnerable positions you can find yourself in early on is to allow your opponent to have side control over you. It just gives them great advantages. Even for a white belt it doesn’t take a lot of experience for the novice player to turn that advantage into a huge win especially when they transition to knee on belly. Meanwhile you’re left helpless and on the defense. So how do you make your escape from this delicate position?

You can start by using your forearm. It creates a barrier between you and your opponent preventing them from taking full advantage of the position or rendering your defenses useless. Your forearm creates enough space for you to wiggle your hips and make your escape leaving your opponent flustered on the mat. 

If your arms cannot get the job done and pave the way for your escape, you can use the bridge maneuver. It is more powerful and doesn’t require strong arms to get it done. Arch your back into a bridge and push the weight of your opponent off you and make your escape. 

The last tip to keep in mind is to maintain a safe distance for your arms. Even while grappling, your arms need to have enough space to allow them their full movement without getting entangled. If you lose control over your arms, no matter what position you are in, you can neither mount a defense or an offensive against your opponent.

Escape from Mount

If side control puts you at a great disadvantage, you should never allow your opponent to have their way from a mount position. Simply put, a mount position gives the opponent the power of using their full body weight on your torso area. This makes it even more difficult for you to escape.

You probably have tried this the first time not with a classmate but with your teacher. Most teachers do this to prove a point. With the full bulk of their weight on your torso, you know that escaping is almost impossible. However, you can still escape from mount no matter how heavy or bulky the opponent you’re up against is. 

The first thing you need to do as your opponent leans on you is to get them off balance. That may be easier said than done, but you’ll need every fiber in your body to get them off you. What you need to focus on is to adjust their center of gravity so that it’s not squarely placed on your torso.

You can try the same maneuvers we mentioned that work with side control escape. Pushing with your arms while wiggling your hips can create the kind of momentum you’re looking for. It displaces the opponents legs and thus gives you an opening into throwing them off your back.

Once you have created this shift in dynamics, it would be easy for you to build on it, extract yourself out of the critical position and gain enough momentum to launch an offensive.

Escape from Back Mount

Having the full weight of your opponent on your torso can be a heavy burden to throw off, but it’s really nothing compared to trying to escape from the back mount. It is by far the most dominant position in BJJ and you’ll need to give it everything you got just to make your way out of it and not have your opponent transition it into something that makes your chances of escape less attainable. 

The reasons the back mount is such a tough position to escape is that your opponent has their legs hooked around your waist. That puts a stop to any attempt to use your legs, hips, or back to create any leverage or help you out of this difficult position.

Another problem has to do with your vulnerable neck. With the opponent behind you and your arms practically useless, they have a great opening to apply pressure on your neck. The opponent might also choose to go for a choke that brings the confrontation to a swift and inevitable ending. 

Needless to say that with both the top and bottom halves of your body fully under the control of your opponent, neither your experience nor the lack of experience on the part of your opponent have much to do to help you out of this situation. Even advanced players find themselves so vulnerable when they are under the mercy of the back mount position. 

So how do you get yourself out of this one? 

First you need to untangle your body out of the hooks of the opponent. The hooks are what keeps you vulnerable and prevent you from escaping. So it’s normal that this is where you focus your efforts to escape. Apply pressure with your hands on the wrists of the opponent as you wiggle your waist out of their hooks. 

Once you are free, you can now recover and improve your position. One of the first things to do once you’re out of the hook, is to try the bridge maneuver. The bridge allows you to turn the tables completely. Instead of having the opponent in control, you force them to the ground and now you have the upper hand. 

Even if the opponent still got you hooked, a bridging movement eliminates any remaining advantage the opponent has along with the hook. This paves the way for you to launch your own offensive. This becomes easier as you get them on their back on the ground and with a few hip movements, you can totally escape and gain the upper hand.

Whether you’re trying to escape side control, mount or back mount positions, you need to keep in mind that the only common denominator in all these escapes is your breathing. Don’t panic no matter how insurmountable the hurdles seem to you at the time. You need all your wits by you and your breathing will help you calm your mind down.

Being slow and deliberate is the best policy to get you out of it. Don’t rush it and try to evaluate the situation, gauging your opponent’s weak points as you plan your defense. As we have seen the bridge maneuver is usually the go-to move to turn the tables on your opponent. But if you don’t pick the right moment, you might tip your hand and waste the golden opportunity to escape a tough situation.

Some players, especially beginners resort to sheer force to break out of the lock. But as we have seen, when you get your opponent behind your back with almost full control over your top and lower body, raw force will not help you much. 

Your tactic should be to make your move as explosive as possible. Pressing or struggling against the opponent’s lock only makes things worse. And since the opponent has a positional advantage, your futile attempts to escape give the rival the opportunity to transition into something that gives them tactical advantage. 

Finally, escaping the tough position is only half the battle. Once you’re out of it, quickly take advantage of the momentum to launch your offensive. Your opponent is still flustered and before they recover, you can get the upper hand and put them on the defensive.

Being a while belt in BJJ doesn’t mean that you’re totally clueless or defenseless in the face of an adversary. It’s true that you don’t have many techniques down yet, but don’t be too quick to write off the amount of knowledge you garnered over the short time you attended classes.

To get you up to speed and help you become the all around great BJJ practitioner you hope to be one day, we outlined 5 submissions that you as a white belt need to master. These are:

1. Kimura from side Control

2. Straight Arm Lock From Mount

3. Triangle from Guard

4. Guillotine choke

5. Head and arm chokes

But why these specific submissions. As you can see they prepare you for any situation you might find yourself in whether on or off the mat. They also lay the ground for future improvement and other advanced techniques that you’ll pick up as you progress through the colored belts. So without further ado, let’s delve into each submission in depth.

1. Kimura from side Control

The origins of kimura go all the way back to Judo and the early beginnings of catch wrestling. As far as shoulder submissions are concerned, it’s one of the most powerful. That makes it a bit tricky to master. But once you get the ins and outs of it, you’ll come to appreciate its usefulness and the boost it brings to your game.

Kimura is named after a famous Japanese fighter who beat Gracie in one of the most memorable matches on record. Kimura employed this shoulder submission and not only did he get the submission he was gunning for, but also broke Garcie’s arm in the process.

From there the kimura was developed into a full fledged submission position and was even named the kimura trap. So what’s it all about?

You start from a closed guard and take advantage of the common mistake many novice players in that position make. When the player places both hands on the mat, that’s your cue to go after the near wrist. Once you got that hand secured, perform a secure hook over the pinned arm with your other arm.

This quickly develops into a powerful grip that some experts often refer to as the chicken wing. Not only does it give you control over the opponent’s arm but it keeps it at a precarious 90 degrees which makes it hard for the opponent to act or start a defensive maneuver. 

One defense is to try to straighten the arm or keep it from being locked in that right angle shape. However, you should counter with increasing the pressure on the arm and the front of their shoulders. From there, the way to a submission is more than possible. Very few people can handle this pressure for long.

2. Straight Arm Lock From Mount

This is by far one of the most common submissions that have come to be associated with BJJ. When people think of a BJJ submission, most often than not, this is the one they’re thinking of. So what makes it so popular, nay ubiquitous, in the world of BJJ?

Two things actually. One its deceptive simplicity. The other is its power. Now you might be fooled into thinking this technique is easy enough to pick and master in one sitting or one class. But you couldn’t be wrong. The nuances of the submissions give it its enduring quality and make it one of the favorites of all BJJ players, novices and experts alike. 

The thing about the arm lock is that it works in the same way the arm bar does. The only difference is your body is in the opposite direction. Here, you’re using both your hands to apply great pressure on the opponent. So when should you use this technique?

Most experts recommend you apply it when you’re on top. It works best from the top position. Most notably the mount position. The strategy to reach there is simple. Start with americana. This puts the opponent on the defensive but also opens them to a straight arm lock attack. 

Remember, whatever the position you go for, always aim to trap the opponent’s arm. Once you have it secure, then you can proceed to apply your pressure and open the path for submission.

3. Triangle from Guard

When you’re looking to expand your repertoire of submissions or maybe you just haven’t found the submission technique to call your favorite yet, then the triangle from closed guard is the right one for you. It’s effective, it’s versatile, and it works almost every time. 

There’s a reason this submission technique is introduced way early in your BJJ practice. It’s a fundamental component of any BJJ study, and it’s also one of the hardest to master. I mean there are brown belts who still find this technique a little tricky. Does this mean that you’ll need long and many years to perfect it? Most likely. Does that mean you should be wary of it or approach it with caution? Not at all. The more time you spend on the triangle from closed guard, the more you’ll come to love it.

The secret behind its power and popularity is that it can both set up submissions and lead to submissions. It doesn’t require a lot of strength to perform it (which if you remember is at the core of BJJ). And finally, you can make it work almost in any situation. So how do you do it?

The thing to keep in mind is that setting up this technique can make or break it. If you get this step right, your success is guaranteed. You can shift to the technique from a failed sweep, or when the opponent attempts to pass the guard. The situation on the mat is always fluid which is where experience comes in.

Any time you see an opportunity to set up the triangle from closed guard, don’t hesitate to take it. The upside here is that your opponent will never bait you with a set up. It almost happens out of oversight on the part of the rival. But once you see the opening, go for it. 

Finishing the triangle is a tricky move. This is why so many players need to spend a long time practicing it and trying to get it right. But you’ll get there. 

4. Guillotine choke

Another fundamental technique that goes back to the early days of BJJ. It takes its name from the famous French execution apparatus that remained in action until the second half of the 20th century. The guillotine allows you to secure the opponent’s head under your armpit. Then you reach out your forearm and wrap it around their neck. In all appearances it looks like the opponent’s head is caught in a guillotine.

But is it effective? Very few people manage to escape it. As you tighten your grip over the rival’s head and neck, you apply pressure on their carotid arteries. Now the opponent has two options: either to tap out or pass out. In either case you get your submission.

But that’s not all what the guillotine has to offer. It will not be the powerful technique it is today if variations were not introduced and improvements to the technique added over the years. Some notable variations that you should be open to learning include the 10-finger guillotine, the arm-in guillotine, the high-elbow guillotine, as well as the one-handed guillotine. 

The best opponents to use the guillotine against are wrestlers. They’re known for their grappling power and aggression, but once you get a wrestler locked in the guillotine, they simply have no defense against it. 

5. Head and Arm Chokes

There are many head and arm chokes that you can master and add to your arsenal of techniques so early in your BJJ journey. One of those is the d’arce choke. It has gained popularity over the recent years. You usually start by locking your wrist bone into the opponent’s neck and aim to lock their arm and neck with your arm. With the other arm you push the opponent’s head down. Lock your arms and keep your elbows close for maximum pressure. 

The anaconda choke is one other technique that falls under the head and arm chokes. It is similar to the d’arce choke except that you usually reverse the order of attach. Instead of going from neck to arm, you do it the other way round. You start with the arm and go for the neck afterwards. For best results, try to finish it with a gator roll. It will take you a few tries to get this one right. But then you can resort to it whenever you feel the odds stacked up against you.

The competition between catch wrestling and BJJ and which is a better or more well-rounded sport has been plaguing practitioners of both sports for years. Some allege that catch wrestling makes stronger players while others maintain that BJJ is by far the superior of the two sports. So who’s right in this debate?

While catch wrestling has produced some strong and highly skilled players over time, BJJ players have nothing to worry about. BJJ is a better discipline with more comprehensive rules and techniques that prepare the player for just about any combative situation they find themselves into. BJJ also has grappling on its side which is an art in and of itself.

But what exactly is catch wrestling? How did it appear on the stage? And what makes it stand out and claim to be equal to if not superior to BJJ? This article looks at this unique form of wrestling, it’s history, and what it has that BJJ doesn’t. 

What is Catch Wrestling?

While catch wrestling seems to match BJJ in its emphasis on grappling among other techniques, the one thing that makes catch wrestling unique is its laser focus on submission. It doesn’t have a points system the way BJJ or Judo does. Instead, every match has to end with one player forcing the opponent to submit. Only then will there be a winner and the match comes to a conclusion.

So how do you get your opponent to submit in a catch wrestling competition? There are only two ways for that. The first is for the opponent to tap out. That’s easier said than done. When you consider the ego of a catch wrestler, then you know that each will fight to the end. A player only taps out when they know they have no ounce of energy left in their body.

The other way to submit is to say “enough!”. It’s as simple as that. But of course, it’s never that simple. Again ego comes in the way and only when the player finds that they’re getting hammered mercilessly would they say the magic word. 

Chokes are not allowed in catch wrestling. Even though the sport has few agreed on rules, and inside the ring almost anything goes, the fact that chokes don’t count is surprising. However, if two players agree to compete against each other and allow chokes, then it very much counts.

This just shows how flexible, and almost chaotic, catch wrestling is. In fact, it used to be even more chaotic in the not so distant past. Back then the rules were defined by the players right before the competition. Whatever they agreed on became the law of the game at least until the match was over and one of them prevailed over the other. But how did catch wrestling come into being?

How did Catch Wrestling Evolve?

The origins of catch wrestling are shrouded in mystery. Some historians pinpoint it to miners and dock workers who used to engage in friendly, and sometimes not so friendly, games of grappling. They were mainly looked at as a pastime more than a sport or even a competition even if some betting was involved.

But it was mainly British sailors who laid the foundations of catch wrestling. Back when the British Empire covered about 70 percent of the old world and ships were sailing from port to port nonstop. It is often speculated that between the 15th and 19th centuries, British sailors managed to visit every port known to man, interact with the locals, and learn some of their techniques.

This is where the different grappling techniques of catch wrestling came into existence. The name of the sport “catch wrestling” refers to the old name of “catch as much as you can”. Basically you grappled with your opponent and once you got a lock on a part of their body, you worked on it until you forced them to submit in one of the ways we described earlier.

And it was the British who introduced this new and rules-free sport to the United States. When the US was a British colony, many workers settled there and introduced some of their British traditions to the locals. One of those traditions was catch wrestling.

At first the reception to the new sport was lukewarm at best. Maybe it wasn’t as exciting as, say, boxing. What’s certain is that it was mainly performed during carnivals and on fairgrounds. Many people considered it as an open act for the main event. Moreover, the catch wrestler was open to challenges from the carnival attendants. To say that things got out of hand sometimes is an understatement.

BJJ vs Catch Wrestling

With that colorful past behind it, it’s no wonder that catch wrestling would look at BJJ as a rival. Even though BJJ is a discipline that focuses on self-defense and has always been taught in academies, it has some common grounds with catch wrestling.

One of the shared values between the two sports is their focus on submissions. It’s true that one sport, BJJ, has almost a rule for everything from the dress code to promotions, while the other is almost devoid of any form of laws and set rules, still, they both have a fascination and should I say, respect to submissions. 

But that’s really where the shared values end really. Even though catch wrestling and BJJ put a lot of weight on achieving submissions, the way they both approach it couldn’t be any different. Let’s take catch wrestling first. It tries to finish the competition as fast as possible. There’s no point in holding back and abiding your time. From the moment the game starts, you relentlessly go after your opponent and try to get them to submit.

Compare that to BJJ with its fine techniques and the way it approaches grappling. Nothing is hurried or rushed. You wait for your opponent to make a mistake then you exploit that mistake and work your way patiently toward scoring a point or maybe winning the competition. Every move is evaluated, every action is predetermined. There’s nothing haphazard with BJJ.

Another thing to consider is how the position plays a major role in BJJ. In fact, it can be said that positional control is paramount in the tenets of BJJ as a discipline. Catch wrestling on the other hand has nothing of the sort. It’s all raw and brutal aggression. You rely on your strength to see your way out of the competition.

BJJ takes a lot of time and preparation to set up a submission. But when you finally get there, everything falls into position and the outcome is almost guaranteed. Of course, you’ll have to get your techniques down to an art and look for a chink in your opponent’s armor to strike. As we said, with BJJ it’s more of a calculated risk and techniques. Catch wrestling is anything but.

Leg Locks in Catch Wrestling

This is one aspect of the sport where catch wrestling has the upper hand over BJJ. Leg locks have been around for some time now, but recently they gained prominence in catch wrestling thanks to their effectiveness. 

In fact, leg locks are just one of the many lower body techniques that catch wrestling excels at. So isn’t BJJ incorporating that crucial grappling technique in its plethora of techniques as well? Well, remember what we said about the rules of BJJ and how they dictate everything from what you wear to how you get promoted? It’s these same rules which prevent BJJ from allowing leg locks into the hallowed walls of its academies. 

Other locks that catch wrestling considers part of its repertoire include knee bars, Achilles locks, and toe holds. All of them are perfectly legal and wrestlers use them every chance they get. 

Reasons Catch Wrestling isn’t Catching up

With all this history behind it, catch wrestling has struggled to capture the imagination and interest of the populace. There are many theories that try to explain the lack of interest in such a vigorous and captivating sport. 

One theory is that the lack of rules and mercurial nature of catch wrestling prevent people from even knowing what the sport is all about or what it stands for. BJJ for example is a self defense discipline. But about catch wrestling? What does it stand for? The lack of a definitive answer puts players off. 

On a related note, many catch wrestlers don’t have an association that speaks for them or represent them on the international or even local arenas. This means there are no checks or regulations that govern the sport. As we said, anything goes. 

The lack of a governing body means that coaches have a free hand not just setting the rules, but also in when to start coaching and who can claim to be a coach. Many players simply switch to coaching without proper skills or knowledge. 

When you don’t have a system in place, that means the sport doesn’t have a shape or identity. Chaos seems to be the only law that has shaped the past and history of this sport and might also shape its future.

With all that in mind, one thing is very clear, no matter how aggressive a catch wrestler is, they’re by no means a match to a BJJ champion steeped in the techniques of the discipline and have truly earned their stripes.

Is a mouthguard a necessary part of your gear or is it just a cumbersome piece that distracts you and does no good whatsoever? This kind of debate has been raging in the world of combat sports for as long as the notion of safety became part of the daily discourse.

The truth is when you’re involved in a sport like BJJ or Judo where there’s a chance you get your teeth knocked out, then a mouthguard is essential. Consider the times you’ve been rolling with nothing standing between the mat or your opponent’s knee and your teeth but your lips. That will make you think that a mouthguard is more than an accessory. 

If that’s not enough to convince you of the importance of the mouthguard and settles that debate, this article delves deep into this topic, discusses the various opinions regarding this crucial subject, and also sheds light on the types of mouthguards and how to take care of it.

To Mouth-guard or not to Mouth-guard

When it comes to mouthguards, the experts differ and offer a wide variety of opinions. What’s more surprising is that the policies and regulations regarding mouthguards vary from one academy to the next and even from one teacher to the next inside the same academy. 

Some teachers would make it a requirement that all students should wear a mouthguard before they start the class. Others take a more lenient approach and make it a personal choice of every student. So what gives? It’s simple really. Not all BJJ practitioners are serious about the practice enough to worry about their teeth. So unless you have an MMA background and you’ve had your fair share of sparring, you wouldn’t value a mouthguard crowding your mouth area. 

Another issue has to do with individual differences. While some people plug in the mouthguard and immediately forget about it, other players have plenty of trouble with the accessory. So much so that some players find it hard to breathe. Others cannot open their mouths to talk without having the mouthguard slip out and fall. It’s a nuisance, to say the least. 

Due to all these problems, many teachers prefer to give the students the freedom to choose whether to put on a mouthguard or not. The logic of their thinking is that as the students get serious about their training, they will decide for themselves whether a mouthguard is necessary for them or not. But as you’ll notice, every BJJ champ tends to use a mouthguard whether they’re training, teaching, or competing. 

The Need for Mouthguards

The question must have crossed your mind before. Why is it that BJJ champs and even practitioners who walk around with belts of all colors except white are so anxious to wear a mouthguard? It’s not an accessory and it doesn’t make them look cool. It’s hidden inside their mouths. So why do they do it? It’s not for appearances, that’s for sure. 

Mouthguards serve a more practical purpose than making your teeth bulge. They cushion any impact your teeth might have when you roll. Rolling in BJJ is by far the most hazardous situation you can get yourself into as far as your teeth are concerned. Anything could happen. You fall on your face with the full weight of your opponent’s body on top crushing your incisors. 

A wild elbow or a stray knee could make contact with your mouth and dislodge a few teeth. I mean anything could go wrong. Another risk is if you roll hard or you roll with an overexcited and inexperienced player. Just think of your face crashing on the floor. The last thing you’d want is a few teeth coming out of your mouth.

Another issue that’s particular to grappling sports such as BJJ and Judo is the famous jaw clenching. One just can’t help it. You grab your opponent’s Gi by the lapels and pull them hard. While doing that your jaws automatically clench hard. Does that affect your teeth? You bet. If you have brittle teeth, then grinding your teeth or clenching your jaws will not help.

And a mouthguard is there to prevent that from happening. It protects the teeth from impact, falls, and flailing limbs. And it protects your jaws from clamping hard and subjecting your poor teeth to excruciating pain.

Types of Mouthguards

Now that we have established the need for mouthguards, the question is which type of mouthguard would work for you and give you the kind of protection you’re looking for. In general, there are three types of mouthguards. You have stock mouthguards, boil and bite mouthguards, and customized mouthguards. Let’s go through them in more detail.

Stock mouthguards are the most common types. As the name implies they are sold as is and can be found in any drugstore. They come in three sizes: small, medium, and large. You slip them over your teeth and they cover the top teeth. Stock mouthguards are cheap and are easy to replace. However, the downside is, they don’t fit just about inside every mouth. The lack of different sizes limits their usefulness. You might find it hard to talk with a stock mouthguard in your mouth. 

Boil and bite mouthguards are exactly what the name tells you. They come in one size but can be customized to fit just about any mouth as long as it’s in human form. When you buy one, take it home and drop it in a pot full of boiling water. The heat softens the material and makes the mouthguard malleable. Now slip it inside your mouth and bite your teeth on it. It will set and take the shape and size of your jaws and teeth. From here on out, you have a mouthguard tailored specifically for your mouth. Boil and bite mouthguards are also cheap and can be found everywhere from sports goods to drugstores.

Custom-made mouthguards are a little more expensive and have to be designed by your dentist. You pay your dentist a visit, they take your measures, and put an order for a mouthguard that fits your mouth like a glove. As you might expect this custom-made mouthguard will cost you a pretty penny. But on the upside, it’s made of better material and has better quality than your average boil and bite mouthguard. Also, it comes with a warranty, so if you have issues with it, your dentist will help you sort them out.

How to Care for your Mouthguard?

Just as you’d take precautions when putting on your eye contacts, a mouthguard needs plenty of care to prevent infections and help you maintain your oral hygiene. So to get the most out of your mouthguard regardless of its type and protect your mouth, you should follow the following tips.

• Always wash your mouthguard before and after you use it. Use cool water to rinse it thoroughly. Hot water can change its shape.
• Brush your teeth regularly and floss your teeth. The mouthguard can act as a farm for the bacteria already in your mouth.
• Brush the mouthguard with a toothbrush and toothpaste for better cleanliness.
• Check your mouthguard regularly for defects, cracks, or holes. If it’s a cheap one, then the material wouldn’t be good and it would need to be replaced regularly.
• Whether you’re using a custom-made or other types of mouthguards, always bring it with you to the dentist appointment to make sure the mouthguard is still in a good condition.
• After each use, store the mouthguard in a hard container and let it air for a while to prevent bacteria growth and infections.
• Don’t let your mouthguard fall in the hands of children or be accessible to pets. Not only will they damage it but might cover it with bacteria as well.

Another point to consider is that no matter how expensive a mouthguard is, it will not last forever. The more you use it, the more likely it will deteriorate over time. So don’t neglect to replace it when you see holes or cracks. It might save your teeth and keep your pearly whites intact.

Mouthguards and Braces

One other issue with mouthguards before we wrap up is the often asked question about braces and mouthguards. Can you wear a mouthguard when you have braces? Many new players who have braces wonder if they should wear a mouthguard as well or not.

The answer is yes you need to wear a mouthguard over your braces. Braces alone are not protection for your teeth. In fact, your teeth might be more vulnerable with braces around them. So you need to put on a mouthguard. But which type?

Since you have the braces taking up space in your mouth, a stock mouthguard most certainly wouldn’t fit. The same applies to a boil and bite mouthguard. Your braces will make the mouthguard unwearable. So the best option is to go to the dentist and ask them to have a mouthguard custom-made for you. At least that way you ensure you get a good quality one to protect your jaws and teeth.

Nothing says you’re committed and dedicated to your BJJ practice like showing up every single class in a clean Gi. A clean Gi implies that your BJJ belt is clean and washed as well. There’s no point going to practice with a dirty or stained belt that might give you and your classmates an infection.

To make sure your BJJ belt is looking its best all the time you need to wash it in lukewarm to cold water and rinse it in similar water. Don’t soak the belt since that will fade the colors and probably make the stripes come off. Both machine wash and hand wash are fine. But if you care about your BJJ belt, then gentle handwashing will give you the best results.

That said, there are many superstitions circling around the BJJ world about how washing and drying your BJJ belt might have adverse effects on your progress or performance in a competition. We’ll address all these misgivings and how you the best ways to wash and dry your BJJ belt.

How often should you Wash your BJJ Belt?

Let’s jump head first and deal with these rumors and superstitions that some players harbor around the topic of washing and drying your BJJ belt. It’s unfortunate that even some of the champions of the sport don’t have a healthy attitude toward their belt’s cleanliness. It just doesn’t give young practitioners the right impression about what BJJ as a discipline is all about.

Washing your belt is part of your general and personal hygienes. Just as you make sure to have a shower after every class and wash your Gi regularly, your belt should have the same care and maintain the same level of cleanliness as your body and Gi. It might be wrapped around your waist, but it still gets soaked in sweat, gets stained, and worse.

Some players go as far as to wash their BJJ belt every time they wash their Gi which is after every class. That might be more than your belt requires though. Once a month is more than enough. Even though your belt gets its fair share of rough treatment and grappling, that’s still not on the same level as what your Gi gets. Not to mention that the belt is often more sensitive to washing, detergents, and drying than the Gi. 

Another issue with belt washing is the prospect of the stripes falling off. It’s more than a possibility that when you pull your BJJ belt out of the washer dryer it will be missing some or all of your stripes. But we’ll deal with this issue later and show you how to take care of that pesky issue and keep your stripes intact.

How to wash your BJJ Belt?

So how would you go about handling this delicate task of washing your BJJ belt? There are a few things to consider and prepare before you dump your belt in the water. From the water temperature to the right detergent or chemicals, to whether to soak the BJJ belt or not. Let’s go through them one by one.

Water Temperature

The last thing you’d want to do is drop your BJJ belt in hot water. That shrinks the material and gets the stripes off the belt in no time. Experts recommend you use either cold or lukewarm water. Cold water is often the best since it maintains the structure and colors of the belt. Your belt will look brand new even after many washing cycles. You might need to use lukewarm water if the belt is particularly smelly or very filthy.

Machine Washing

Both machine and hand washing are fine as far as your BJJ belt is concerned. If you don’t like to get your hand wet especially in cold water, then your washer dryer will get the job done without a hassle. Use a gentle setting and don’t mix the belt with other items of clothing that would either shed color or lint. 

Hand Washing

Hand washing is always preferred over machine washing. At least for the BJJ belt. It’s a small item, doesn’t require a lot of scrubbing, and won’t take more than a few minutes to get it clean as a bell. Don’t leave the belt in the water more than it needs to. Rinse it well a few times. Don’t twist the belt to dispel the water, just fold it and squeeze it gently between your hands.

Detergents

Alfred Hitchcock once famously said that actors were a necessary evil. The same axiom applies to detergents. You just can’t wash without them. Although you have to be judicious and cautious with your approach to detergents. They’re good but they might do more harm to your BJJ belt. So you might want to invest in organic detergents. They’re mild by nature and don’t have an excess of chemicals that would damage your belt.

How to Remove Tough Stains and Blood?

Once in a while, you get in the kind of scrap that leaves you all bloodied. I’m not talking about getting mugged in a rough neighborhood. Even in the lofty classes of the BJJ academy, players get hurt and they bleed too. It’s not common but an inexperienced player trying an unusual move might lead to a bleeding nose.

Blood stains on your precious BJJ belt are something you’d want to get rid off at the nearest opportunity. And this is where it gets tricky. When blood dries up, it becomes harder to remove it. So before you tumble your belt in the washing machine, give it a good scrubbing by hand in cold water. If the blood is not dry yet, you won’t have trouble removing it. Then you can wash it as normal.

As for other tough stains, you might need to use a strong detergent. Again don’t try to wash the belt and hope the stains would come off in the washing. You’ll need to give it the hand treatment first. Organic detergents work wonders and don’t cause the belt to shrink or the stripes to come off.

How to Wash a Hemp BJJ Belt?

Some players prefer to wear Gis and BJJ belts made of hemp. Maybe it’s the comfort of the material or the texture. Whatever the case, if you’re wearing a hemp BJJ belt, you need to know it is way different than belts made of other materials such as cotton or polyester. 

For one thing, hemp belts tend to shed the fabric when you wash them. This happens when the belt is new and hasn’t been washed before. So you need to wash the hemp belt separately. It would be better if you stick to handwashing it for the first few times and not mix it with other items of clothes. 

Don’t use bleach when washing them either by hand or in the washing machine. This same rule applies to all other belts no matter what fabric or color. Bleach has a destructive impact on the color and material of the belt. As for water temperature, it should be cold since hemp is sensitive to hot water. 

Washing Colored Belts 

As you progress on your BJJ journey, your belts start to become more colorful. You start with a white belt which is easy to wash. Just wash it with other white clothes and you’re done. But when the purple color adorns your waist, it’s time to worry about how to wash your colored BJJ belt.

Colors do run. Be it your BJJ belt or other colored items. These things happen. So the best way to keep your peace of mind is not to mix colors. If your belt is purple, then wash it with similarly colored items. Throwing red socks or a brown towel in the mix is a recipe for disaster. As you know, your belt color is sacred. You can’t leave class with a blue belt only to show up for the next one with a purplish belt. 

How to Dry your BJJ Belt?

As for washing the BJJ belt, you have two ways to go about drying it. You can do it in the dryer or just hang dry it. Each method has its own advantages as well as drawbacks.

The easiest way to dry your BJJ belt is to hang it out on a clothesline. That way you let nature and the sun to take their course, blow the moisture out of the belt and leave it dry and crisp. This works better for white belts however more than colored ones. Just keep in mind when hanging the belt to avoid folding it near the stripes since that can make them crumble and fall.

Not everyone has enough space or sunlight to dry their clothes. In the winter months or if it rains a lot where you are, there’s no point in hanging your BJJ belt to dry. In this case, the dryer is a better option. The dryer doesn’t make your belt stiff. However, it does have the risk of separating the stripes from the belt.