Is Training in a Hot BJJ Gym with No Air Conditioning Beneficial ?

Today's video comes from Silas who's curious about potential benefits to training in a BJJ gym that doesn't have air conditioning. In the video I share some ideas that might be useful to him in his Brazilian Jiu-jitsu training based on his question. I also share some potential benefits to training in a gym without AC.
That said, I personally like having a gym with air conditioning so I can control the temperature so it doesn't get too hot and impede training.
Either way, hope the video is useful to you if you had a similar question.
-Chewy
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Intro/Outtro Music : bknapp.bandcam...
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[@Hugh-jaynes]

"There's no AC in the streets"- probably some no-gi only dude.

[@RahzeeAlibaba]

100%

[@a.g.6973]

Imagine you go to fight a guy and he just sits down on his ass in 50/50 and says “I dare you to come down here”

[@michaellee6713]

@@a.g.6973 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@tomazrodrigues7006]

😂

[@trxscreed]

Constantly dripping sweat on my partners faces. It's become part of my game.

[@stevemac8859]

Classic BJJ eye submission

[@StylebendersDog]

Yummy 😋

[@noahpessefall366]

You are the worst type of person😂😂😂

[@samstunts8313]

It’s the only reason I every try to get top

[@DannyAmerican]

Our friends in Brazil are laughing at us as we speak

[@riffsliftsandfishfan3401]

Training while wearing Gi in the Philippines feels like wearing a sauna suit. The burn is brutal. It was hard at first but yeah, tough conditions create tough people.

[@KomakoSemonovich]

Can you tell me where your gym at?

[@riffsliftsandfishfan3401]

@@KomakoSemonovich in ormoc, Leyte. It's a small gym dedicated to bjj, boxing, kick boxing and yawyen.

[@yaugernet]

I’m sending this to my coach if it agrees with my preconceived notion lol

[@laluzdelsol7587]

Haha this guy uses the internet. You don't do research to learn, you do it to validate your beliefs!

[@jdeck1111]

Taking a nap in FL without AC is nearly impossible lol Props to that guy

[@buckboogie5477]

Definitely makes you tougher mentally and physically with no ac,,, I can’t train any other way... it’s not suppose to be comfortable!!!,,,

[@buckboogie5477]

How many gyms you been to that have the ax on!!??🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

[@buckboogie5477]

Ac

[@prandz420]

Adam Hull just train longer in an uncomfortable environment. You only have so many hours in the day not like you can just train 10 hours a day in air conditioning anyway

[@erasylnash6697]

@@prandz420 how am I supposed to train takedowns if mats are swimming pool? Or standing passes are hard to hit cause floor is so damn wet

[@prandz420]

@@erasylnash6697 get zebra mats not whatever stupid ones that a lot of gyms have that turn into an oil slick in 5 seconds. Mats shouldnt become slippery from training. Very rarely have problems on zebra mats and they arent even the most grippy mats out there

[@XxJERICHOHOLICxX13]

I don’t know if it’s actually beneficial, but there’s something special about training in a “crappy” gym. It’s got a Rocky Balboa vibe.

[@nicholasneyhart396]

Yeah. My gym has no heat and cold showers because they can't afford a industrial water heater. Man that sucks in the cold northeastern winters.

[@coloradoclif]

Had a gym that I went to several times while out of town for work that would crank the heat up to 100+. It was very obvious that the guys who trained there were pretty sloppy with a lot of stuff because they were so used to being extra slippery. The mats also got super slippery. Not my preference at all. Minimal gain (maybe?) for a bunch of needless discomfort.

[@DGold109]

There's 2 schools of thought, the heat makes you tougher and then you compete in a climate controlled environment and it'll feel a lot easier. On the other hand training in climate controlled environment allows you to handle more volume, more training and more technique thus making you better overall. Some coaches are moving away from altitude training for this reason.

[@prandz420]

Only so many hours in a day to train the argument doesn’t work in my opinion

[@johngalt9181]

Also having air-conditioning controls humidity helping to deny fungal growth in the gym. Sure you get a harder work out but it doesn't help when you have to sit out for 4 weeks because of something dumb like ring worm.

[@Dadaadad268]

@@johngalt9181 best keep your pants on

[@johngalt9181]

@@Dadaadad268 that's not how me an the boys like to roll. No pants only

[@Dadaadad268]

@@johngalt9181 😂

[@pauloomss]

I am from the Amazon region In Brazil. All training sessions with no AC. Hot and wet weather 90% of the time. I see no problem training even at noon. Normal training conditions for me.

[@mpforeverunlimited]

Which state?

[@BlahBlahBlah12323]

I remember training with no AC. it was 115 degrees in there, and we trained mostly gi. 2hr open mats. I miss it, and wish we could do it again, but AC does help business wise.

[@carlosmggt]

The timing of this video is perfect. I just moved to a new gym, and there's no aircon there either, the windows can't even be opened, it gets so hot. My cardio's not where it's usually at already, but there it's even worse haha. Hopefully it'll prove to be good conditioning.

[@jesuscabrera5599]

My team and I train above a liquor store in their attic. No ac. No heat. Have been doing it through the pandemic. Tough training makes tough competitors is all I can really add.

[@deanshields8031]

I train in Mexico where it’s late 30s early 40oC with no AC and training GI was hard to adapt to.

[@jesuscabrera5599]

Where in Mexico? I’m going in august to compete!

[@deanshields8031]

@@jesuscabrera5599 I train in Yucatán, where will you be competing?

[@mpforeverunlimited]

Nice bro. Ive been in jalisco since January working on my boxing

[@Docinaplane]

Thank you for this discussion! Back in the day, I trained karate with no AC, and it was HOT! I never questioned it, just trained. Thinking back, I think it was a good thing and made me tougher.

[@keegantomlinson3406]

This man gave us a scientific lecture for a yes or no question 😂

[@masonscott3518]

No it’s a bad idea. For many reasons. The gym my dad I used to go to was easily over 100 degrees in the summer. One day when we were rolling the combination of the exertion and heat made him have a heart attack. He ended up being hospitalized and needed emergency surgery. Granted, my dad is in his 50s and has had a couple heart attacks in the past. However, It totally could have been avoided if the gym owner would have had some AC. Also, the constant sweating and not being able to push yourself as hard out of fear of getting heat exhaustion is extremely annoying. When I roll I want to ROLL. Not worry about getting or giving someone a heart attack or heat exhaustion.

[@Raumance]

Benefits of training with AC: It's better.

[@camfraley]

For those who don’t train gi, like myself. I love it when it’s at sauna level heat. I feel like we can warm up faster, and the heat gives an intensity for sure.

[@kedah2398]

Ha! Come to AZ, I’m at an old school Carlson Gracie and there’s NO AC at no time ever… take that back, only for the kids! 110-115 outside feels like you’re in AC, no bullshit! We’re all used to it but when out of towner’s visit, it’s kinda funny cause you could see heat putting a beating on them! I’m sure I’d be the same if I train in North Dakota in the winters.

[@Damin-Danger-Ledford]

We do this too. It's hard core, but through some research i found out it has benefits to the connective tissue in the body. Heat helps push blood to tissue beyond muscle to start the repair. Who knows, maybe Coach is toughening us up.

[@justincrimmins4525]

I’ve trained in conditioned and unconditioned wrestling, boxing and bjj gyms in fl. I find that warm or hot gyms prevents injuries to muscles. Promotes better conditioned lungs and mental toughness. My boxing trainer swears by hot training in preparation for boxing fights under lights. Lights become hot and wilt the ac trained fighters. The best wrestling states are cold ones, because they’d rather be in a heated room than out in the cold. The question really is wet or dry heat. I prefer a humid heat for combat sports over a dry heat. Dry heat is far more exhausting and draining.

[@yerrboi6842]

Wait there are gyms with AC????? Mine doesn’t even have a big fan

[@ericoseid9612]

The place I train at turns up the heat and closes the doors. I've grown to really love it. When I train in a cool room I feel like my muscles/joints are less supple and more prone to injury. Probably bro science but I like it anyway.

[@flatstanley6232]

Living is socal where its 90-110 all summer is hell even with a swamp cooler and fans.

[@MAYMOX]

He’s such a STUD!!!!! 👍👍👍💪💪

[@tristangarcia6135]

I preferer a hotter room to train in because of how easy i am able to warm my body up and stays lose. Helps prevent injuries.

[@makenjikarate]

Great story, I always find yoga is a must and great challenge for any athlete

[@scottanderson2796]

Train every Friday night in my garage in FL no ac great weight loss program

[@Zermillion]

Dude, such a well informed answer. Thanks!

[@bisnaguitogames683]

I first started training in a gym located in Northern Brazil with no AC or fans (very warm part of Brazil, amazon forest and shit). People there would train hard all day every single day and do multiple cardio sessions together with bjj throughout the day. That's definitely not the smartest way to train, but it certainly works for them. Not once I heard someone complain about the weather or skip a day because it was too warm/didn't have AC. You just get used to it I guess...

[@fnotlive5322]

my gym gets so hot that it kinda feels like a sauna, im a fat fuck but now i can roll for like 30 minutes without stopping

[@moonknight4659]

IM SURPRISED YOU DIDNT MENTION THE CONDITIONING ASPECT OF A HOT ROOM. I TRAIN IN A HOT ROOM ON PURPOSE JUST TO BUILD MY CARDIO FROM IT. IT REALLY DOES WORK FANTASTIC RESULTS

[@lula8347]

Brazillians that trainning in noon sees the title of the video: is a normal trainning

[@inabi-kun113]

As someone with neurodermatitis I actually hated training in my former gym in summer with no AC.. 😅 Sure, it makes you mentally tougher and all that stuff but seeing a dermatologist on a regular basis because your skin not just has to deal with friction but with a high amount of sweat, heat and humidity, is no fun 😅 The risk of getting Ringworm or staph would've gotten higher and it even got worse when some people from my gym decided to not care about hygiene. This obviously never kept me from training though but still I wish that some training partners could care a little bit more about cleaning theirselves before training and hygiene overall...

[@patrickwontor2061]

Makes sense that increased heat and sweat increases skin infections

[@Aabbbbbbba]

Fuck that, that will majorly increase the chance of passing out. If I pay good money to train I don’t want to train in a sauna.

[@orlanskimer]

Here in Puerto Rico we do open mats at 12 noon. It builds character lol

[@Eternalnight198]

You should do 100 push ups, 100 sit ups, 100 squats every single day and do it all in a room without AC

[@KKSuited]

Our old wrestling room had an enormous industrial heater. Most of the time, it would stay a normal temperature, maybe 75 to 78 after everyone gets in there sweating. But when it was time to start cutting, we cranked that bitch up and had it 90+ in there in dead winter. That's what heat is good for. Sweating. Make yourself tougher in ways that doesn't involve daily heat exhaustion.

[@pvlapa]

I don't think I can train in a gym with an AC again. My muscles feel like jerky, and i can't get going. Class ends and I feel like I didn't even warm up.

[@jaketheasianguy3307]

In striking art, using the sweat on your face to lubricate your gloves and punch through everyone's defense is fun

[@stevemac8859]

Evil genius

[@LukeBernardi]

If you don't do AC you need a dehumidifier or fan system

[@jtaylor4972]

Personally I physically can't do it, my body gets heat exhaustion really easily, and I end up with a migraine.

[@stevenhsu5703]

Chewie at a bikram yoga class .... rawr

[@jaytheexplorer9016]

Every time I sweat heavily, whether BJJ, hot yoga, sauna, whatever, I have to take a potassium pill (in addition to lots of water, obv) or I will get bad muscle cramps. Bananas don't seem to help for whatever reason.

[@Geoffcwest]

A hot gym mite be good for keeping your muscles warm which may help reduce some injuries, just a theory. It's very hot where I live and train and our gym has a.c but Its never been turned on since I've been training there

[@railroadtrash09]

I go to a mma gym in TX. No AC is also their thing.

[@nicolecato634]

It can lead to heat exertion.

[@arturofernandez725]

@4:00 I move like that! I like to think of myself as a coffee grinder and everyone around me is coffee beans

[@timsimmons7916]

The best reason to turn off the AC, is to get more room on the mat because fewer students join.

[@Tj_Campbell.mma420]

How am I not subbed I always thought I was

[@bjjbrawler1]

I'm a faucet of hot liquid salt when in mount

[@KinneticLife]

Come train in Guam

[@wrestlingscience]

Only benefit in my opinion is less injuries. Other than that it’s pointless and takes mental energy from learning to just trying to survive. I don’t recommend it

[@angmori172]

So you're saying electrolytes are what the body needs?

[@saljitsu4698]

hey guys my first competition is coming up in 17 days, any tips would be greatly appreciated

[@xkidmidnightx]

I get hurt way less with no AC. I don’t like air conditioning and I’m in the Deep South. As long as there is airflow it’s all good

[@MrChrislombard]

you guys have air conditioning in your gym??? Luxury

[@LearnTheLandScandinavia]

I had my first jiu jitsu competition on Sunday and in my first match I adrenaline dumped really bad and it really impacted my performance technically and physically. Any tips on controlling adrenaline?

[@BenjaminToTheMoon]

my trainer closes all windows on purpose hot asfff

[@Auovix]

Damn never been this early before The only thing I ever noticed in cool temperature is I felt more stiff until I warmed up and when its a hot and humid summer we double up on mat care to avoid the growth of fungus/bacteria since they thrive in that kind of environment. We don't have to worry about that so much in the cols winter months

[@Chewjitsu]

When I think of AC I think of still a warm room. Maybe just not ridiculous hot. I've never been in a gym that was what I would consider cool or cold. That would suck.

[@shades6768]

Hi

[@-eea32]

Hi

[@SpongeGod12]

Louisiana here no ac no training haha

[@intaniik5743]

My gym just opens up the doors and allows the air to come through, stays like 70-75 ish id have to say

[@jessm8734]

... is it bad if I say I don’t care even if it is? 😂😂😂😂 I’ll get good at bjj despite the AC because I don’t like it without it

[@toaster816]

Chewy my dude where can I send in a question? No social media here.

[@coopboulton]

A building with no AC in it should be a state crime Florida.

[@samm1555]

Haha. This was today

[@thomassimmons8117]

Hi chew, I'm a 40 year old ,seven month ,white belt. I love jiu jitsu, always been a fan since Royce Gracie s, MMA debut. I'n the last month in a half, one of my senior instructors have been extra rough during the rolls with me specifically. I mean noticably rough. For example this last time (yesterday), he knee on bellied me over and over again untill I almost shit myself, then after he tenderized me, he mounted then rattled my head back and forth before cross collar choking me. He doesn't do this to the other WB. And I feel that I'm being tested or something, he's a four year blue belt and has me by 80-100 lbs. I wonder if I back down from rolling with him or ask him why he has been treating me different during the rolls I'll fail or something, do u have any advice?

[@ianj4389]

It benefits the gym owner so they don't have to pay high electricity bills. Hygiene wise it's terrible.

[@gregorytorricellas873]

Train like you fight. You never know when you’ll get attacked by a snowman or a fire salamander 🤨 Hot gyms are what happens when little dudes screw with the thermostat to make bigger dudes overheat 🤔

[@Augustin54]

HEAT. SHOCK. PROTEINS.

[@fsamp9969]

If you want to become one punch man, I think it can be very beneficial

[@solaire3870]

Would taking water mixed with dextrose/glucose be beneficial in such humid environments during class? When i workout in humid environments i feel like im going to pass out and have passed out once. Is taking it easy the best way to prevent this?

[@stevemac8859]

First benefit of not having AC: not having to pay for AC

[@hunternelson1679]

O man keeping it 70 and training? Oooof im from nd and its 70 outside rn qnd im dieing from heat lol.

[@Morpheah]

Is Nick gonna mention his own hot yoga experience? Let's find out!

[@Nethezbet]

I'm in Phoenix, you can piss right off with that garbage lol

[@skyflyer900]

Upper 70s, low 80s???? Wtf. That is way too hot. The gym will be like a sauna. 75f MAX.

[@bradn.2287]

low 80’s id pass out 🤣

[@drdiscostu]

Pro tip: freeze your water/powdered electrolyte bottle. It will thaw a bit and you get ice cold drink. Then you have a large ice block inside a plastic bottle and yon can fill it up at the gym tap and presto you again have ice cold water.

[@alekcarrera7794]

Yoga sounds so bad ass now lol

[@JuiJitero]

Lol.. is this gym in macdill?

[@MrStrongBro]

I take it he hasn’t watched One Punch Man yet. Saitama never trained with heat or ac! 😂

[@gaelmontes6245]

I have a question, so next week I'm gonna go to a jiu jitsu class and more than likely start training and this week I´ve jogging for an hour everyday and getting 30 minutes of stretch before the jog and 10 minutes of stretch afterwards do you think it's agood idea or should I wait until I start training?

[@stupidandboot4507]

You're probably fine unless you're old/not athletic and your body is beat up from the running. Just make sure to take it easy because newer guys are way more prone to injuries cause you don't know how to move

[@intaniik5743]

Honestly, the only way you're gonna build up stamina and endurance for rolling, IS BY ROLLING!!!! You should just get to classes a little earlier and stretch before your class starts

[@intaniik5743]

You should wait atleast a couple weeks or so to work out while also going to bjj, if you work out or eat bad, you're performance is gonna be bad and you won't be able to keep up

[@gaelmontes6245]

@@intaniik5743 thank you very much, I’ll try to do so

[@gaelmontes6245]

@@intaniik5743 okay I’ll keep that in mind

[@nbueno793]

y'all have AC ? lol

[@bigdopamine9343]

No

[@Chewjitsu]

No what?

[@anonoumos]

No... (AC) *passes out before finishing sentence*

[@דודישראלי-ל1ל]

No my coach need to stop with that bulshit lol

[@bigusdickus123]

Hot gyms are the worst kind of heat stroke.

[@Goggalor1990]

No. You don't need to give yourself heatstroke to be good at BJJ. That belief is so outdated and stupid. Also, there are plenty of other ways to build mental toughness. Hot is one thing, but if you're literally having to bring a whole first aid kit full of s*** to hydrate and not pass out between rounds and your technique is sloppy af because your literal muscles aren't working it's not making you any better imo.

[@badxradxandy]

It helps the owner's wallet by being a cheapass and not running the a/c when you need it.

[@Chewjitsu]

Maybe. But some in industrial spaces literally don't have one.

[@Vandalvisuals]

I seen the title and instantly thought of the crew at daisy fresh ( pedigo submission fighting) 😂

[@rollinOnCode]

the answer is NO! Hell NO! I can not stand hot humid weather- especially with heavy cotton gi.

[@rafacssergio]

I'm brazilian, black belt, no AC my whole life. Yeah, you get tougher, but it sucks lol

[@bookofdaveandsteve]

Humans can cope in lots of environments. But variables interact and dehydration is never good 🤷

[@joewhite8079]

I like ac it's very nice im switching to a no ac gym now and it will suck in 6 months when summer starts.

[@erikgonzalez4396]

I love training with no A/C, makes me focus a lot more on my breathing and technique

[@santiagosegovia8756]

I'm a wrestler it gives PTSD or nostalgia

[@KKSuited]

@@santiagosegovia8756 bruh for real. Sauna flashbacks will wake you up in a sweat

[@nickshotgun3760]

We train in Hawaii with no ac, some days no fan as well, a lot of people complain but I’m just fine

[@DDIAZ-we4dz]

God i just started training in a hot gym. Shit sucks. I'm a very in shape dude. In my last gym I could do 8,9,10 or more rounds of hard sparring. Room was air conditioned. Stayed at a solid like 65 to 70 degrees. It was great. If I had a failure it was always because my muscles were too tired to continue. Now it's the opposite. I feel like my muscles still have plenty to give but I'm so hot that I feel like I cant breath. I cant catch my breath. Now I'm stopping after like 2 rounds because I just cant breathe anymore. The guys I train with there are all used to it so they hit me with a certain level of intensity that I try to match but at that rate in the hot room I got a solid 30 seconds before I'm struggling to breathe again and im drenched in sweat. And I end up feeling like I cant put in any work because the environment limits me too much. I really hope I get adapted to it soon otherwise I dont know I'm supposed to be able to improve if I cant work at all.