This episode gets spicy.

We start with some controversial BJJ hot takes, including a heated (and hilarious) debate over whether a BJJ match is actually a fight.

We also discuss some other hot takes like:

• Most people training BJJ would lose a real fight
• The gym scoreboard isn’t real
• And blue belts are the most dangerous people in the gym

Then we debut a new segment:

Points, Penalty, or DQ.

We judge some of the most debated behaviors in jiu-jitsu culture, including:

• Coaching your partner mid-roll
• Starting rounds on your knees
• Celebrating when you tap a higher belt
• Posting podium pictures from a one-person bracket
• Wearing your medal out to dinner after a tournament
• Parents coaching over the athlete’s actual coach

Some deserve points.

Some deserve penalties.

And a few might be an automatic DQ.

In this week's episode, we attempt to de-mystify the world of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitions. We talk about what makes tournaments different, including size, rule sets, and prestige; what to look for in your first BJJ tournament; and where to sign up. We also do a deep dive into the world of IBJJF, explaining the seeding and ranking system and why they matter. Then we explore ADCC, another prestigious BJJ tournament, and talk about why many consider it to be the top-tier nogi tournament and what makes it different from IBJJF.

Resources for today's episode include:

Smoothcomp: Great place to start looking for your first BJJ tournament!

https://smoothcomp.com/en

Jiu Jitsu World League

https://www.jjworldleague.com/

IBJJF

https://ibjjf.com/

In this episode, we talk about the reasons for out recent hiatus, including moving homes, gyms, and going through renovations. We give a recap of our trip to Portugal for the 2026 IBJJF European Championships where Bailey brought home gold and Weslee brought home silver. Then we talk about the pros and cons of the constraint-led approach (CLA) to training brazilian jiu jitsu as well as what makes a good CLA game.