What Nobody Tells You About BJJ | My 1st Year Lessons

[@StephenVTran]

What do you think? Also, here’s why Jiu-Jitsu is so addictive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e6vCnZaffrxog8ksi=I0zJtJwmN0WCGoL6 CHAPTERS: 00:31 Ego exists, watch out for people that actually try to hurt you 01:32 Injuries and prevention tips 02:49 Skin diseases 04:00 Size and strength are major factors 05:05 Steroid usage

[@badxradxandy]

yeah let's hear your positives

[@saulm58]

First, of all, very interesting video. Thank you! About the positives, I think they are constantly emphasized everywhere... But maybe some viewers may want to hear them from you.

[@StephenVTran]

@@saulm58yeah this is true I hear the positives everywhere, but maybe I can give the perspective of why it’s addictive and my personal growth from Jiu jitsu. Hopefully I can make it interesting! Thank you to both of y’all

[@AlenBarbul-qx3hn]

sadly i think i can't do bjj becuase of my work i cant have infections or disease :(

[@StephenVTran]

@AlenBarbul-qx3hn it’s not like we get it all the time but it is a risk for sure

[@AleksandarPopivoda]

Great message. One thing you forgot and that is a big deal, at least based on my experience, is the feeling of being broken down the next morning. After every rolling-intensive training, you will be waking up in a significant pain that is pulsating throughout your whole body. It does not last long, usually 1 to 2 hours, and can affect whatever you are doing that morning, particularly if you do a physical job or any type of weight-lifting workout or resistance training. As you age, particularly after your 40's, this can become a big deal.

[@PauloBerni699]

Im 60 and practicing the past 25 years. After Saturday morning open mat, where I may spend over an hour rolling one round after another, i will be wiped out until the afternoon.

[@StephenVTran]

I may be lucky that this type of pain is only soreness for me the next day after Open Mat. I can still do physical activity but I need a LOT of rest if I’m going to workout again the next day

[@GrapplingAutist]

Your body adapts to the work load. We train 5x/week at my gym, no drilling, everything live. We're fine.

[@truejjc]

It gets worse every 5 to 10 years 🤣🤣🤣.

[@tearsintherain6311]

It was like that the first few months but after you train more days a week you become used to it and start stretching all the time. Warm up and stretch it every day to avoid that even if you’re not doing bjj because it starts to happen to you as you age regardless

[@mrorbit2u]

I've never rolled with a person that wanted to hurt someone. I've definitely rolled too hard with someone with much more experience than me and I had to be put in check, but that was my own fault for trying to roll too hard. I try to roll at a pace where you can actually learn. Its taken years to get to this point because we all will be put in check at one time or another🤷‍♂️

[@StephenVTran]

This is such a great point, are you spazzing out and someone’s just reminding you to slow down is a great question to ask yourself. I personally have rolled with a blue belt who was trying to hurt me and did - I got caught in an armbar and tapped immediately but this person held on for a second too long. I thought to myself, maybe I’m just being a wussy and rolled with them again and the same thing happened although I tapped earlier and my elbow snap crackled and popped. I talked to a different white belt the next week and told him I was taking it easy because I got injured. He asked me where it happened and I said here at the gym, and he asked me if the person I rolled with was this particular blue belt. We both just looked at each other like “dang you too?” I’ve also talked with people at different gyms that had similar experiences.

[@Seegie16]

I have and t made me quit a gym. There was this D3 semi finalist almost champion blue belt that would try to physical punch his way through my defenses to get a collar to choke me. After months of taking punches then getting my ribs popped i was out. Gym owner and him where boys, both lifelong wrestlers and the dude would hurt even the women without any repercussions so I was out

[@StephenVTran]

Good call, that culture will lose good people

[@wrestling4jiujitsu]

Ego definitely exists... but on the flip side: one of the coolest things about BJJ is watching people gain confidence in their ability over time. I especially love watching the people who show up on day one with absolutely no idea how to use their body at all. They start off uncoordinated, weak, timid, and fragile; but then they become something substantial, someone that you actually have to contend with. It is really cool!

[@StephenVTran]

This is so true, it’s really cool to see people grow and kids come out of their shells

[@jedsanford7879]

on the ego tip, I definitely reccomend never turning down the opportunity to roll with purple or higher belts. Im a white belt and blues can go pretty hard on me, but those flow rolls with purples and browns are so helpful and also dont fuck me up the next day. Dont be intimidated by the belt, its the whites that will hurt you and wear you out.

[@tearsintherain6311]

Confidence is the polar opposite of ego my dude, ego is how we cope about our insecurities, even if we ourselves think we are being confident, if it’s ego then it doesn’t come from real confidence

[@wrestling4jiujitsu]

@@tearsintherain6311 🙂

[@StephenVTran]

@@jedsanford7879oh yeah that’s just the name of the game, you’re gonna get smashed when you’re new but sometimes there’s people that just want to hurt you or don’t know that they’re hurting/injuring their partner from my experience. Can confirm that white belts are the most dangerous species in the gym lol. Sorry for the late response!

[@johnklingensmith493]

I’m 60 now and don’t train any more but man you are right on with everything you said! I was in a good school and still had some super aggressive guys and I learned the hard way.

[@StephenVTran]

Trust me I learned too, I rolled with some people even after they snapped my arm. Their ego put me in danger by holding on too long to submissions after the tap, my ego put me in danger by rolling with them again

[@markmcgoveran6811]

@@StephenVTran I lost my other comments during somehow cuz I can't run the computer very good. You are correct but you're not one-hundred-percent understanding. You walked in and you tell them you got six years experience in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. The owner should announce the second you come through the door choke out. If you hire a BJJ guy and you don't know that he wants to choke somebody out that everybody in the club chokes each other around the guy might be kind of slow if he's been choked out of choke somebody out you need to understand that as a bar owner. If you let one customer harm the other you are liable. Some of these pouncers cruise around dishing out vicious beating for ego and go to prison and cost of bar owner the entire bar when they get too heavy-handed. You have a liquor license it's a privilege to have a liquor license in my people come in your establishment by liquor-by-the-drink. If you are abusing that privilege by an inch they put you out of business quick. If you're a bouncer don't choke somebody out if you're just out on the street don't choke somebody out even if you think you need to do that to be nice to him or whatever it's a felony most places. It's worthless to have a self-defense claim in court on a choked out.

[@Whattayareckon]

Been doing bjj since 1997, I could not agree with you more. Well done mate.

[@StephenVTran]

Thank you sir! Hope I can do bjj for a long time 🙏

[@TrishCanyon8]

I (140lbs) partnered with a 250lb whitebelt who when she did trap&ROLL she didn't land on her knees. She she landed on my 71 y/o hip. I'm still sore. New people can be clumsy and dangerous. HEY great channel!❤❤❤

[@StephenVTran]

Hey thank you! And yes, white belts are the most dangerous species in the gym. Hope you feel better!

[@cherokeeoutlaw2.011]

​@@StephenVTranman bro that's so true , white belts are the most dangerous and most important people in BJJ

[@christian_12346]

Holy fucking shit 250 jeeeez. I feel ya tho I 130 male was rolling with a 60 year old 6'8 280 pounds and I literally could not move.

[@streetbs3586]

Lol 250 was it a TRANS sick 🤢

[@streetbs3586]

A female white belt 200lb+ farted on me once when she was in mount 😂

[@aeneas116116]

For skin issues… you can use Defense soap, make sure you wear long sleeves and cover up as much skin as possible. Change out your clothes immediately after class and shower

[@StephenVTran]

Yeah I 've never used Defense soap but I've heard great things

[@lenseofclarity9997]

Loved this clip. I'm almost 61 years old and will start bjj in the new year. Lots here to take away and use. Many thanks.

[@StephenVTran]

Awesome, best of luck to you! It's a fun activity

[@christy-q8j]

no you wont. anytime you say " I WILL start something at so and so time" you arent gonna start it.

[@Thesierrasnurfer]

Start now! Don’t wait.

[@Ymirson999]

Very well done. Articulate, honest, vital and to the point. Good job.

[@StephenVTran]

Thank you!

[@Nnip9]

Speaking as an old man just starting: good video! Very well spoken. You have a gift . . .

[@StephenVTran]

Wow thanks for saying that! I hope you enjoy the journey

[@benmorphey321]

There's a fine line between Ego and Competitvness. Nobody wants to hurt you, but at the same time nobody wants to lose.

[@StephenVTran]

For sure, nothing wrong with tough rounds at all, I should’ve specified that there are people who actually want to hurt other people which I’ve run into several times, like a blue belt who snapped my arm after I tapped

[@benmorphey321]

@StephenVTran Shit, that's just negligence. Some people just go so much harder then others. As I get more experienced (purple now) I find it a lot easier to mirror an opponents intensity.

[@KazX37]

Excellent lessons man. I just made it through my first week. Definitely can see how some of this is relevant already especially others not checking their egos. I feel that some are intimidated by me as I am someone who comes with lots of size and strength. Which, as you indicated is a major advantage for me already.

[@StephenVTran]

Congrats on your first week bro! You’re gonna get better and better, and your size and strength will carry you extremely far but you become extra dangerous if you can use technique along with all of that 👍 Edit: also, dial back on the folks you have an advantage over and you’ll be able to work technique while letting the other person work too

[@KazX37]

@@StephenVTran thanks man, appreciate the positivity and advice. Super excited to see where this journey takes me. Really enjoying training

[@Brukner841]

I'm curious, what size, height?

[@KazX37]

@@Brukner841 5'9" 210lb

[@thirdaccount106]

That’s good you give the new comers and the even the people who don’t know a warning because this stuff is important.

[@thousandlocks3258]

You are absolutely right about size a lot of jiu-jitsu don't like to here that. Helio Gracie's version was modified for him by him first.

[@StephenVTran]

Yeah and I forgot to mention that it doesn’t mean you can’t beat bigger, stronger people, it’s just that size & strength play a factor in every roll

[@seanheisey8645]

Fight Scrub is an absolute must to keep your skin clean after a roll. Coming to Amazon and other outlets very soon!

[@smorgasborgas]

Ive only done 2 classes so far but it’s so cool. Im excited to keep going

[@StephenVTran]

That’s awesome man! I remember being hooked to it too the first time. stay safe and have fun

[@AdamT-88]

I find the thing about ego very true in the bjj community. I did Bjj for 2 years and most people had massive egos. I've since swapped to Judo and there's practically no ego. The people I train with at judo now who have egos are bjj guys. Also as far as injuries are concerned I damaged my rotator cuff in bjj so injuries definitely happen. Also yes size can matter especially if that person is very good. Great vid.

[@StephenVTran]

Yeah I believe it’s gym culture and bad apples that either make BJJ great or suck. That’s awesome you found a place in judo, just as fun to do and why not do something you’re gonna enjoy for longevity? Thanks for the kind words!

[@ludoka58leo]

My first martial art is judo...still consider myself a judoks but had to give it up. I couldn't take the pounding..switched to bjj a few years ago.love it.

[@HDvids101]

Good video. All this needs to be shown...everything needs to be shown.

[@StephenVTran]

Thank you!

[@nilehawkins7878]

Its starts with the instructor. They set the standard. They keep the gym safe and respectful. A shower before and a after class. If they have a shower in ya gym use it. It only takes 3-5 mins.

[@Esnara2085]

These are the first steps to becoming a modern day fighter. 1. When speaking to others often greet them by calling them “brother” use this often throughout the conversation. 2. To properly end conversation again use “brother” and say something about carrying on until “Valhalla” 3. Always seek to adorn oneself in attire decorated in skulls, old style script and with passive aggressive phrases 4. Talk frequently of tactical awareness and your EDC while comparing bug out bags with your fellow badas* club members 5. Always refer to yourself and fellow badas* club members as warriors. For extra credit use “brother” and “warrior” in the same sentence. 6. Point out that anyone that disagrees is subservient and must not have ever been in “the $hit”. 7. Use the phrase “tip of the spear” and “landing on the X”

[@StephenVTran]

This was extremely detailed, brother 😂

[@Esnara2085]

⁠@@StephenVTranhahaha. Yeah man, I love to roll as well but I get annoyed with all the tough guy stuff associated with it. It’s good exercise and discipline but not reason for postering. Good video.

[@ralfybaby]

Haha!! When I was young and into martial arts, everybody had a "secret style" or had a teacher who knew a "secret style ..." 😂

[@alexvucinic]

Everything true so far, but knowing it you can prevent a lot for longevity in BJJ. Good video.

[@StephenVTran]

Thank you!

[@DiePr]

As a woman I can tell you that I came across a guy who repeatedly "accidently" touched my breasts. I yelled across the whole gym once that this is not my shoulder. Then he said I'm hysterical but he stopped ever since, also I'm not rolling with him anmore. Just another thing from the female perspective... Also I think it's a downside that BJJ focuses on competition and not on self-defense skills. Some stuff you really shouldn't use in a self-defense scenario, like sit up guard for example, you'll get kicked in the face.

[@StephenVTran]

Yeah I hate that it’s a reality but women do gotta watch out for creepers. My school has a women’s only program that focus on self defense/jiujitsu. For self defense, yeah I don’t think too many people will find success in pulling guard or looking for deep half guard in the street. I may pull guard in the gym if I’m tired lol. But yeah take what’s useful and leave what’s not, just like in striking arts you’re not gonna have 16oz gloves or no kicks allowed etc

[@evperry]

I'm extra careful in rolling with women and I mean an extra careful. Some guys are just total idiots.

[@wrestling4jiujitsu]

Funny story: My daughter started training at 16 and about a year into it, she talked me into trying. (As a former wrestler, I fell in love with it). One of my first classes I was standing there talking with my daughter and one of the female brown belts came over really pissed off because she thought I was a creepy 45 year old guy flirting with a teenager in the class. Once we all realized what was going on, it was pretty funny. I definitely appreciated the way our gym community handles that kind of thing. But I know not every gym has the same culture. I am glad you were able to handle the situation.

[@MrCmon113]

@@evperry I'm not at all. I take care not to HURT my partner - male or female, but if you're afraid to inappropriately touch someone in a wrestling style in which people frequently sit on each other's faces, you're at the wrong place. I see women get hurt and have to take breaks all the time - so that's where your concern should be.

[@MrCmon113]

@@wrestling4jiujitsu Your gym sounds horrible. I've never been in an environment in which people police the age gap of partners in conversation.

[@aeneas116116]

Great video!!! Very knowledgeable and wise info

[@StephenVTran]

Thanks for saying that!

[@badxradxandy]

1. Yes, your own as well by not tapping to someone because you think they're not as good as you and you shouldn't get "beat" by them 2. Warm up on your own before class and do yoga in your free time, you can drink coffee but take extra water with it 3. Skin... shower before and after, yeah you mentioned it good for you dude also wash all your stuff immediately after including your belt 4. Lift weights and get bigger if being small bothers you ;) 5. Don't try to keep up with roiders or compare yourself to them.

[@StephenVTran]

Great points man! 100% agree

[@badxradxandy]

@@StephenVTran hell yes my dude, I am deep into the blue belt blues right now but never give up never stop training

[@ludoka58leo]

I am a 67 yr old wb...i am atleast 20 yrs older than anyone in the academy..everybody kicks my ass...I compare myself to myself...if I can through a roll without being submitted I consider that a victory.

[@micker9830]

Take it easy the first month or so. Let your body get used to it slowly. I went full speed, in my first practice and I could barely turn the key to my car. I almost quit, because I was like, I'm not gonna feel like this every time! It go way better and I never got any serious injuries. I broke my hand and realized it half way through rolling, but I think I had done that during Muay Thai class somehow, never even realized it was broken, until I couldn't grip anything lol.

[@StephenVTran]

Yes! Start too strong and you’ll burn yourself out. Crazy you didn’t notice your hand broken, at least you know you can count on it if you ever broke it in a fight lol

[@magcitrate]

Shower before and after rolling. Check your entire body, especially where you can’t see- use a large mirror. Tap early.

[@StephenVTran]

Yup! I stopped showering before class though because I read somewhere that I was getting rid of the "good" bacteria that prevented infection, this was after 10 months of showering before and after class though

[@CreamCrosby]

Shower with water only. It’s the soap that destroys good bacteria

[@kaaakaa-c2g]

Great video man. Especially the injury part sucks. I would recommend going about fifty to sixty percent strength when rolling and focus more on techniques and flow rather than winning. Also, check your own ego as well, because as you get better you grow more ego. I realized that about myself.

[@phuckfumassters]

This is how instinctively trained from the beginning. My max is 80% and I rarely go that far. I'm usually at 50-60% when going 'hard'. I believe this helped me avoid major injuries to myself and my training partners. Even my 1st coach kept saying I'm going to make you go harder. Looking back he was trying to turn me into a mat bully to fit his tough guy gym culture.

[@kaaakaa-c2g]

@@phuckfumassters that's a terrible culture bro. My instructor grilled us about going too hard and trying to win rather than learn

[@StephenVTran]

Thank you! And yes there’s a time and place to go 100% and that’s competition, if you’re going more than 80% on your training partners, just why? I never go more than that either, I match intensity and don’t mind tough rounds but yeah ego gets everyone hurt

[@testtube9423]

Great video Stephen! Says this purple belt.

[@StephenVTran]

Hey thanks man!

[@evperry]

Look up defense soap and scrub down three times after you off of the mat. I wear full rash guard as well. My gym is very good with wiping down the mats after the major rolls and after my private lessons the instructor wipes it out as well.

[@StephenVTran]

Thank you, yeah I always roll with long sleeve rashies and even spats under my gi pants (that’s me in the b roll in the part where I talk about injuries) and I’m the guy that cleans the mats on no gi nights and open mat nights 😂 I still think I got ringworm from my sisters cat, or it could’ve been at a different open mat I went to cause I rolled there for nearly 2 hours plus another hour before I got home and showered. 😅

[@itsalmostanorange]

The skin issues are the one thing keeping me from really getting into the sport. Some of my partners definitely smelled like they hadn’t showered after a full work day of hard labor lol

[@StephenVTran]

Man it sucks when you gotta roll with the smelly gi person 😂if it’s smelly enough they usually get told. But yeah skin issues are real. I know some people that use coconut oil on their hands before class to prevent ringworm, but I have zero clue how that works

[@statictech7]

I trained for 7 years and i can tell you how to resolve that. Be very outspoken about it. I told many training partners that im not rolling with them because they stink. I told them it’s disrespectful to everyone here. I bleached the mats after practice every time i was there to make sure it got done. Martial arts isnt a sport. You are there to learn to stick up for yourself and others. So dont just run away from the problem. Face it head on.

[@Gimmeabreak460]

@@statictech7well said

[@infoguy1978]

@@StephenVTran why cant people in bjj wear rubberized socks. its unhygenic to have people putting their feet on you or laying where peoples bare feet have been. theres a reason why you cant be barefoot at a trampoline place, because its unhygenic.

[@robertfaulk3505]

@@StephenVTran Face the problem of smelly partners by reporting it to the coach/management. I rolled with a female whom smelled so bad, l refused to roll with her the next time on the mat. I reported the issue to management. One commenter is correct, tell your partner that he/she stinks. I didn’t tell my partner because l didn’t want to embarrass her.

[@afrizzyy]

Thanks for making this video dawg been thinking about it for a minute but injuries have kept me sidelined from a lot of athletics

[@StephenVTran]

Man I feel you, I’ve been out for a month and counting cause of injury. If you can find a great culture gym and great partners who know how to keep you safe, that’s where you get the full benefits of Jiu jitsu.

[@ajgrant94]

The person that hurts you(for real) after you've told them your new and they didn't care anyway, say nothing to them, just hurt them back, only "moreso" It's amazing how they won't screw with you anymore and how their "ego" vanishes.

[@StephenVTran]

Sometimes they leave may leave you no choice, but I still feel bad about the one time I turned it up cause the guy was trying to hurt me- I never hurt him, I only gave him a really difficult time only to find out he was newer but really physically strong and probably didn’t know how to use his strength with caution in sparring

[@truejjc]

Exactly, size and strength do matter when they are trained and in BJJ. That only applies if they are untrained or there is a significant experience gap. They will deny steroid use but it is true. Excellent explanation of BJJ for novices 🤙🏼.

[@StephenVTran]

True, size strength and experience/skill all play a factor. Thanks man!

[@micker9830]

It applies always, someone who is a lot bigger and stronger than you, will be much harder to fight, than a smaller person. BJJ has this fallacy that you can be tiny and weak and beat these big guys who are untrained easily.

[@StephenVTran]

@@micker9830 yeah you gotta have some level of strength to take on the big guys, and I see smaller people tap bigger untrained people all the time. But it’s definitely not easy

[@micker9830]

@@StephenVTran Skill is most important, but strength and size is very important in BJJ. People get the impression that strength and size doesn't matter in BJJ, and it does.. It's not just leverage and position. I think Royce Gracie, beating big guys in UFC1, gave people the impression that strength wasn't needed in BJJ or size doesn't matter. Yeah, if you go against a guy who has no grappling ability, sure, but against someone who isn't a complete newbie, it matters a lot.

[@pedrocols]

Crazy I started practicing Judo back in 1986 and loved it. I had a friend at the time that was a wrestler and was teaching me the basics. Unfortunately, I stopped practicing shortly after and I never thought BJJ would become so big.

[@StephenVTran]

Man I feel like it’s growing more and more popular by the year. That’s pretty cool though, I’m sure you still got some moves!

[@pedrocols]

@@StephenVTran I am just 5' 4" and I have short limbs and used to get destroyed in Karate sparring. However, in Judo it was pretty much total dominance...lol

[@StephenVTran]

That stocky strength is real! Haha

[@nicolasalpuin5175]

so true! nothing to add, i fully agree. new follower from uruguay.

[@StephenVTran]

Hello my friend! And thank you, from Texas! 🤝

[@nicolasalpuin5175]

@@StephenVTran can u make a video about mixing all the grappling sports? or about combat sambo (khabib?). thx.

[@StephenVTran]

@@nicolasalpuin5175 yeah sure! It’s crazy you say that cause anyone that does bjj knows that it’s turning into a combination of all grappling arts. Thank you for mentioning that!

[@hams_oldway]

Great video! From everything you say, you really are a true martial artist

[@StephenVTran]

I hope to remain true. Thank you!

[@Stevo_YouTube]

Excellent advice Steven!

[@StephenVTran]

Hey thank you Stevo!

[@overrideFunction]

All of these are definitely true. Although i personally don't think steriod usage at the highest level should be a surprise and it really isn't relative to anyone that doesn't want to be a world champ.

[@StephenVTran]

Yeah I forgot to mention that I feel like it could surprise some people because of how rampant it is, and the at it’s best not to compare themselves or think they have to use peds to keep up

[@overrideFunction]

@@StephenVTran oh yeah, comparison is definitely a common issue in BJJ and can lead to so much frustration. I get that!

[@yanisapostat]

I am a purple belt competitor and I totally agree about everything in this video.

[@StephenVTran]

Thank you bro!

[@yanisapostat]

@@StephenVTran purple belt * the only small small thing I disagree is making excuse to not roll , I think at some point you have to be ready to say " I refuse to roll with you because ..." it just happened to me for the first time after 7 years of training I submitted someone a lot and he was agressive with me told me " you gonna see next time what I will do to you " I said " nothing will happen es because we will never roll together again " I would have never said that If I wasn't prepared, reading threads on the subjects thanks .

[@StephenVTran]

Great points! It comes down to context and I should’ve added a lot more, I was hoping this would help the new people but you’re right, you need to be upfront with people when it comes to stuff like that. Great call

[@rays14ful]

Believe me. I have experienced this for years. 20 years ago the guys just wanted to break my bones and smash my head. I have life long pain and injuries from that.

[@StephenVTran]

It sucks man but there’s good and bad people in everything. I hope you heal, I’m also injured right now

[@yumpyup469]

Watching this with a fresh neck injury lol I always tell the new ppl it’s not about if u get hurt it’s about when in this hobby/sport. Reason why I never go over 80% in rolls.

[@StephenVTran]

Dude I actually feel you, I got tripped backwards while in a front headlock and injured my upper back/neck which is the only way I found time to make this video lol. I never turn it all the way up neither. Heal up soon

[@MrCmon113]

Neck training is underrated outside of aesthetics / wrestling.

[@StephenVTran]

BRB I’m getting the iron neck thing Joe Rogan had as soon as I’m good to go

[@2815marionwood]

I am on my 6th month in, everything you said is true. One tip Please Wash your GI!!! and I take a shower before and after. I rolled with a guy who stunk! His body order tapped me out. also take time to recover! And loved the tap early tip! THX

[@StephenVTran]

Yes please wash your gi AND your belt

[@shommershabbots9862]

Gas tank is huge from what I’m learning. I’m strong from weights, but my gas tank is low. And being new, I have more strength than some of the guys training me, but they always outclass me, then teach what I keep doing wrong. I’m luck to have found a good gym to start in.

[@StephenVTran]

Your cardio gets better as your technique gets better and your mind/body gets used to being in an intense state. Eventually you’ll combine both technique and strength and you’ll be a huge problem. That’s awesome man, a good culture is everything

[@futbolalbiceleste7796]

I remember when I was a student at University, there was a heavy weight judoka among us who loved to intimidate others with his size and strength. It is sad to see people like that in martial arts. They learn the techniques but not the philosophy behind and they cultivate their egos.

[@StephenVTran]

Yeah they miss out on what martial arts can actually give themin terms of self development, but we can't help them and they surely can't help us sadly. Take the good with the bad

[@emnul8583]

I've been religiously using an anti-fungal soap after every training session since the very beginning of my BJJ journey and haven't had a single skin issue thanks to that. Highly recommend Defense soap or Armbar Soap Co.

[@StephenVTran]

People have told me about those soaps but I haven’t tried it yet, thanks for the recommendations!

[@DiscoStu950]

how long have you been training?

[@whitelinesinthesky7050]

Very accurate assessments here my friend.

[@StephenVTran]

Thanks man!

[@ytbenavraham9553]

I am a member of a jiu-jitsu I lived in UK and had to train at another school. Won't be specific. I was rolling and a guy was winning the sparring. I was going to tap but he lost my arm. Then I got on top straight away used Ezekiel Choke. He didn't like me getting him in this position. Two options for him tap or sleep. I don't train anymore it was like going to war. I'm back in 🇺🇸 now. Relaxing enjoying life without jiu-jitsu

[@StephenVTran]

Yeah it really is war sometimes, and with war comes the battle scars lol. That’s cool you quit man, I totally understand and I don’t judge anyone for leaving bjj. There’s more to life, and I do wanna keep bjj in my life as long as I can stay healthy

[@Djudo-q9x]

I'm a upper blue belt. When I was a white belt I got mount on another white belt. I got a Ezekiel choke on him and got the tap. He was so mad literally tried to break my thumb during the choke, once he tapped he literally fucking pushed me off him. I'm noticed during roles everybody told me to stop spazzing out and slow down.

[@tommyrq180]

One thing I’d add is that some people are just not cut out for combative sports like BJJ, even on a basic recreational level. Everyone says it’s great that they’re trying, which is fine. But some people I can tell from day one that they’ll never develop a basic minimum needed to learn, advance, be a good partner, etc. They just don’t have it. For example, to be a good partner you have to be able to vary resistance. Some people’s maximum isn’t even a minimum for the partner to learn. Many of them keep showing up because nobody will tell them the truth. (Same goes for a-holes who can’t regulate themselves-they’re more destructive and hard to deal with.) It’s not for everyone. Combative sports require a certain capacity for strength, flexibility, hard work, pain, humility, technical savvy and mental resilience. Some people just don’t have it and will never benefit from being outliers in the gym.

[@ludoka58leo]

I am an active 67 yr old heavyweight one stripe bjj wb with several yrs experience in judo as well.i am in bjj for the long haul..there are teammates i absolutely won't roll with.

[@TheTattooedRonin]

Been training for a year at my gym! Yes to a lot of these! A good soap can help so much for skin infections so far after a year of rolling no issues! They have wrestlers soap online i use defenders soap and so far so good.

[@koraamis5568]

If you practice any martial art or sweaty contact sport, it can be a good idea to go to regular check-ups with a dermatologist, as if it was a dentist or so, it wont hurt and also good for preventing other stuff like skin cancer and what not. And if you already have regular check-ups, tell your dermatologist that you practice this kind of sport.

[@StephenVTran]

Very true! They see this type of thing all the time too, don’t try to diagnose yourself 😂

[@apoleonschneider]

Great video man. I got impetigo also. That thing sucks so bad. My beard was never the same, I always get some rashes after shaving when before I never had any problem.

[@StephenVTran]

Yeah that impetigo was bubbling on my knee cap, it took a while to go away. Did you shave first then get it? I feel like our skin is more sensitive after shaving and more susceptible to that stuff

[@apoleonschneider]

@@StephenVTran I meant that after getting that impetigo, whenever I shave, going to the mat or not, I get a rash. And before bjj I never had that rash. It's definitely something that lives in my skin now LOL. I took antibiotics for the impetigo though and have antibiotic lotion for the rash.

[@capofodedor7399]

Great advice man,I’ve been doing it for 15 years and yes I agree with everything you’re saying,stay humble,stay safe and grow ,wish you white belts all the good luck 💪💪

[@StephenVTran]

Thank you brother!

[@tiomark1172]

This was awesome!!! Been on jiu jitsu over 10 years and this is all so true!! Great job my man

[@StephenVTran]

Thats such a good amount of time, and thanks man!

[@puali00]

Good video dude .. I like your style.

[@StephenVTran]

Thanks man! Really appreciate you tuning in

[@woodensquid560]

Hoping to start BJJ this week I think an infection scares me more than an injury tbh

[@StephenVTran]

Hope I didn’t scare you off, but yeah look into gut health and just keeping your hygiene good 🙏

[@woodensquid560]

@StephenVTran maybe worried is better wording Starting a 7 week trial tomorrow night

[@StephenVTran]

@@woodensquid560 whoa that’s a long trial! Have a great time man, you’ll be just fine 👍 let me know what you think after your first class, because you usually know right then and there if you hate it or love it.

[@woodensquid560]

I loved my first class

[@StephenVTran]

Oh man, welcome to the club! Now you see why 😂

[@Coolman1985]

Really good video Stephen

[@StephenVTran]

Thanks for saying that! Hopefully I can make them better

[@Brickswol]

Shower before and immediately after every training session is essential.

[@StephenVTran]

I did this and still got the nasties, that’s why I started looking up gut health and trying to eat more probiotics etc

[@MisterQ007]

also most people progress slowly because life pulls you away from training. Work. Family. Friends. Travel etc. BJJ is a marathon not a sprint. Some people are white belts for 6 months. Others for 4 years. Don't worry about it just train and progress on your own timeline and have fun and make friends

[@StephenVTran]

This is so true! Life Happens, just be safe and have fun 👍

[@KierenLefevre]

Interesting take on the sport and awesome work having a year under your belt is awesome. I'd like to add to the conversation about injuries. One of the best things you can do to reduce your risk of injuries is to do some form of S&C work off the mats (the more 'BJJ specific' the better). Studies show that by doing S&C you reduce your risk of acute injury by 30% and overuse injuries by 50% which is huge. As far as steroids are concerned, I think that this is an issue for high-level competitors but will be essentially a non-factor for the everyday hobbyist and something that shouldn't really be dwelled on for most people IMO. I personally am against PED usage in BJJ completely, and I think as a community we have the power to impact change in the long term if it's something we are collectively against.

[@StephenVTran]

Thank you! And man, those are such great points. I’ve neglected s&c for a while and I wish I added it in sooner. Yeah I don’t even think about steroids, but I know some competitors on the sauce. I think it may surprise or disappoint some new people when they see how rampant it is in bjj, like they might think they can’t be as good as anyone else on the peds, or they think they need it to keep up. I think it’s a good sign that some people are still getting popped and suspended in the ibjjf

[@Sunyayana]

Massive disagree on the PED issues. To begin, I think that "banning" PEDs for ANY and ALL competitive athletes simply creates a kind of prisoner's dilemma, where competitors will always use, do their best to avoid being caught, while then forcing other athletes to choose between enhancing their own performance and, therefore, logically improving the probability of winning (which isn't merely for ego, and also helps put food on the table, a roof over their heads, and financial stability for their families) - OR choosing to stay clean and potentially never reach their career aspirations (which, once again, may very well be to take care of their family - which is a morally virtuous motivation). In fact, this is a issue that I think should be resolved completely by having a culture where PEDs are no longer stigmatized, but accepted and their use is fully transparent. This would include the negative, damaging long-term affects. As for the argument that this will set a "poor example" for children who are getting into competitive sports, I also disagree. That argument is of the form, "if children see elite athletes on gear, they will also be more motivated to use gear." My counterargument is as follows. That children who are seriously pursuing an athletic career, which for ANY sport is fundamentally and radically cutthroat, will be funneled into an phase of research & experimentation with PEDs as per their relationships with other athletes, coaches, and their athletic heroes. Therefore, I conclude, that PED usage will be largely UNAFFECTED in terms of their per-capita usage among the general population, as well as the athletic population (including competitive athletes) no matter if PEDs were banned and culturally stigmatized, or fully legal and culturally accepted. If you would like a more in-depth set of arguments AGAINST the restriction of PEDs for athletic competitions, please go take a look at this 2-part video by the Olympic Weightlifting savage, Clarence Kennedy. This is a set of very well-thought out and clearly articulated arguments. kzbin.info/www/bejne/foKvqJirh7h3b68 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaqoqqyoeMiembs Once again, this isn't about any vague sense of moral or ethical superiority, or virtue signalling. I don't use PEDs personally. Why? Because the long-term health risks and damage is simply not worth it to me. I care more about overall health, longevity, and not fucking up with my natural hormone profile in a permanently debilitating way if possible. But does this make me, somehow, "morally superior"? I think not. As adult human beings, who are capable of rationality and making choices, who are ambitious, time-limited (the competitive lifetime of an athlete, for example), and mortal, I believe that deciding to use PEDs can be a perfectly logical, rational, and even morally/ethically justifiable decision.

[@KierenLefevre]

@@Sunyayana I think you raise some good points, have clearly considered this topic at length and presented your argument well. I have seen Clarence0's video series and the response videos. I disagree with him completely. I haven't fully fleshed out my thoughts on this topic but I will be creating an in-depth video on it or perhaps a podcast soon(ish). As a Summary of my position: - PED's in professional sport should be stigmatised. - There's a big difference between PEDs and TRT imo (just throwing it out there). - Anti-doping is a complex issue but more should be done, not less. - I do not agree with your standpoint about it not having a trickle-down effect and impacting impressionable youth in the sport. I think your opinion on this is naive. As a 'prominent' BJJ S&C coach I get approached regularly by people under 25 who aren't necessarily pursuing the sport professionally but just want to be more 'competitive' about the use of PEDs as they're considering it or have already started. - I standby my comments that PEDs should not have a place in professional sport. By legalising and encouraging it, there will be more harm done than good. And in most countries they are illegal, banned substances, why promote something that is illegal in many places? (Not saying it should be, just stating the reality). I could go on but this comment is already an essay.

[@Sunyayana]

@@KierenLefevre Thank you for responding in depth, and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter. I think this is a very good thing that we can have a civil discussion around the matter (coming from two athletes who don't use PEDs for that matter!). All the best and take care

[@phuckfumassters]

I rolled with one dude who wasn't a competitor but was strong as hell and a white belt at the time. I rolled with other strong people before so I know the feeling of strong people but this guy just felt different, looking back he was probably on steroids. It just felt different.

[@mykulpierce]

Just started at a new gym and another newish guy elbowed me in the head. Like he was working through our positions as if it were suddenly an MMA scenario.

[@StephenVTran]

It’s always the new people that are most dangerous, they have little control and awareness

[@02468]

Really great points!

[@StephenVTran]

Thanks!

[@Binspired6766]

Your comments made sense, thanks.

[@StephenVTran]

Anytime man! Thanks for watching

[@healtheworld2059]

Gordon Ryan santa claus mix !! Lmao 😂😂😂😂 That's so on point man ! Thanks for the laugh

[@StephenVTran]

Haha thanks bro!

[@kingmatrix1345]

Reminds me of the Greener case! Safety measures are a thing now due to egos in the gym. Rener was right by the whole thing when you roll hard! I let white belts side mount me when beginning the roll to teach them how to control their positions. Most higher belts just want to wipe the floor with white belts due to their egos!

[@StephenVTran]

Yeah that was an unfortunate case. Also I gotta say, I don’t let other white belts get anything just because they’re mostly spazzy and dangerous, I do it out of protection for myself lol

[@hanklohan]

Thank you, great insight!

[@StephenVTran]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sorelvio79]

I have no idea why the algorithm recommended this video, I guess because I watch MMA. Cool video. My dream match was to see Ngannou vs Lesnar both 350+ pounds of jacked pure muscle. 30 seconds of pure chaos :D

[@StephenVTran]

Glad you enjoyed! I’m a big MMA fan too, Francis vs Brock would’ve been crazy - 2 different eras of heavyweights. Kinda weird we’re about to see Francis box Tyson Fury. My dream matchup was always khabib vs Tony, but sometimes dreams don’t come true 😂

[@sorelvio79]

@@StephenVTran We already got the pandemics because of that, no need to wish for the world to end :p

[@StephenVTran]

@@sorelvio79hahaha 😂

[@lewisdogdson416]

If Brock can take Francis down, I’d like Brock’s chances. If.

[@StephenVTran]

@@lewisdogdson416 I think if he fought the Francis that fought stipe the 1st time, he’d have a good chance for a few takedowns

[@sa7828]

Good video bud. Keep it up! :)

[@StephenVTran]

Thank you! I’ll do my best

[@Sr.D]

Ok, I'm blue belt 4 stripes, I'm my dojo you CAN'T literally refuse to roll, above all if a higher ranked it's asking you for, so when you CAN'T refuse a roll, and you know what the other guy usually do, just control your ego, beware and early tap if you feel like it.

[@StephenVTran]

I never refused a roll at my old gym, until I got arm snapped. Idk why but this blue belt had it out for me and other white belts, still good advice though

[@MOAB-UT]

Great tips. This is why I quit Judo. Saw students getting back injuries- no thanks. It was fun though and great for all the reasons you stated- self defense, exercise, feeling of belonging to a cool group- as silly as that sounds. It was social.

[@StephenVTran]

The camaraderie you feel in martial arts is second to none. You struggle, challenge, and spar with each other and grow together and that makes bjj so addictive, im about to drop a vid about it in a few days. But yeah judo is no joke, all combat sports have risks

[@MOAB-UT]

@@StephenVTran very true

[@joaomartinspersonalteacher859]

Always be careful with the people you train, the smaller you are, the more careful you need to be

[@StephenVTran]

100% agreed

[@maxwellmegagamer8535]

The night of the fight, you may feel a slight sting. That's pride fucking with you. Fuck pride. Pride only hurts, it never helps. -Marsellus Wallace

[@StephenVTran]

Truth

[@centristmiguel8581]

You made a good poiint about culture of the gym. We have a multi champion IBJJF Brazilian HW that owns our gym and he set a chill culture where all his coaches/professors set a tone of growth and technique over bullshit. He and they have zero tolerance for egos or disrespect. Are there egos? There are always egos but they get checked fast and even the one with an ego, the professors just match him with someone better. Dude was being an asshole a few weeks ago then a female HS wrestling champ checked him and tweaked his knee so he got really humble really fast. Good points. Glad a lot of what you highlighted isnt something our gym has much of a problem with. I'll just add that jiu jitsu isn't something you learn overnight. Our coaches/professors always tell every fundamental class and even higher ranked classes YOUR ASS NEEDS TO COME TO CLASS. Consistency on the mat is the name of the game "JUST SHOW UP"

[@StephenVTran]

Love it man, it always stems from the top - the leaders set the vibe and that’s true even in the workplace. Showing up is key, always the hardest part but it’s what makes the difference

[@zenmetsuzogo4005]

Wish I see this first before diving head first to BJJ. The ego part is sooo true. Went to a gym and fell in live with BJJ right away. And i got paired with a partner due to our size comparison. He and I are roughly equal in size and weight. he is slightly taller. 6 ft 220 lbs or more. He is so eager and he literally went aggressive on me. I would get bruises (not even from sparring). The bruises will be from just practicing a move together. I kept silent for weeks because the martial art culture was to not complain and just bear with it. After keeping it all in after a while, I can feel myself becoming aggressive. One day when we practice our moves together, as usual he went aggressive. But this time I resisted. Because he forced his move against my resistance, he broke his toe. The professor saw it and took us out. Now eversince they always reminded both of us to chill (mostly him though 😂). It is better now. But, I could have probably speak out more since he was a blue belt and I was a white belt with no experience.

[@StephenVTran]

Haha dude I’m not saying it’s a good thing he broke his toe, but hopefully he learned his lesson. Yeah it’s definitely ok to deny rolls, either rn at or switch gyms if the culture doesn’t care of their students get injured

[@ThaSilentOne420]

Size and strength overs comes the bigger guy when the enemy dont have the same skill set .

[@enriquespangenberg1934]

If the USADA takes action in bjj tournaments Gordon and company will vanish in the air. Great video!

[@Stray2Strong]

I don’t regret training taekwondo & kickboxing, BJJ is not my thing, a good punch kick I think wins any day not knocking on BJJ each his own

[@StephenVTran]

I like both, but I’ve been focusing on BJJ heavily. Thanks man!

[@VijayKumar-dn4pz]

Finally, some truth. I followed the sports of BJJ for years before going to a class. Unfortunately, I didn't know about any of this.

[@StephenVTran]

Yeah it’s tough to learn the hard way but it was the same for me

[@rudypat7410]

Do more videos. Maybe a one of your rolls with comentary. I think your channel will grow.

[@StephenVTran]

I do have some footage but I wanted to record better quality, I’ll have to do that. Thanks!

[@sirpibble]

Skin infection outbreaks are a failing of the gym, it falls at their feet 100% for 1 not keeping the environment clean By sanitizing all equipment that was used after every class 2 Not policing the mat and calling people out if they have a suspicious looking wound on their body, and just letting them cover it up instead of sending them home until it resolved It is in my policy which you agree to when you sign up that I can send you home for any reason if I'm concerned about your hygiene, That's from body odor to staph infections If you come in and your hair is looking too greasy I'm making you take a shower before you step on the mat or you can go home It's ringworm today and MRSA tomorrow if you don't stay on top of this stuff

[@StephenVTran]

It’s a snowball effect for sure, I defi they don’t fault my professor/owner because some people truly don’t know what they got on their skin until it starts to blister or get itchy like it did for me. I still think it was my sisters cat, or I got it from an open mat I went to

[@garrettzanin940]

Cool vid bruh. Just started about a month ago. I’m out due to poison ivy :( but I’ll be in soon!

[@StephenVTran]

Thanks for tuning in man - and that’s great! Heal up and you’ll be back in no time

[@elsuperpollo2273]

I wrestled in high school but BJJ isn't for me. I'm more into Muay Thai, Filipino kali stick and knife fighting and shooting firearms. Chances are if get onto a fight on the street not not going to waste time rolling on the ground if I can't end the fight with elbows, I'm reaching for a knife and maybe multiple knife, and last in self defense and I'm in a state that has castle doctrine and I'll leave it at that

[@StephenVTran]

That's awesome man, you already got a greatest base for anything which is wrestling so perhaps it's about how you wanna end a fight or what's available to you. I just personally enjoy grappling in general

[@daveclifford7895]

Great video 💪

[@StephenVTran]

Appreciate it!

[@dreknows]

I really think this good video my son joined and got knee in sparring I think it could been avoided and not that happy cuz his tooth was loose and palate fractured

[@StephenVTran]

Thank you, and man that sucks. Yeah elbows and knees and shoulders and heads do fly, but to get fractured? It’s rare but does happen. Hope he feels better

[@hexchad765]

Long sleeve rash guards help with the skin diseases

[@StephenVTran]

I have mine on in gi and no gi + spats, still got impetigo and ringworm though

[@hexchad765]

@@StephenVTran ouch. Definitely possible. I wash everything right after with bleach

[@StephenVTran]

I don’t regularly bleach mine so maybe that’s why too, but it goes at straight into the washer after practice

[@ricardohenry1]

Judo/jiu jitsu weren’t made for smaller people, it was developed by the samurai to engage another armed samurai after they lost their weapon. Kano adapted for use without armor once the samurai era ended. Helio was 6’4 and couldn’t get the leverage for the throws, so he focused mostly on the ground, that’s how BJJ was born. Jiu jitsu is like any other martial art and sport, when skill is near equal, athletic attributes matter. Jiu jitsu will work against almost any person regardless of size and strength, if they are untrained. Choose your sparring partners wisely

[@StephenVTran]

Great points! There’s a deep history to Jiu jitsu that I appreciate, I’ll be sure not to regurgitate what I’ve heard being said next time

[@MrCmon113]

Wikipedia says Helio was 175cm: ~5'9

[@StephenVTran]

Apparently he was the smallest in the family, similar story and reason for developing the art as jigoro Kano from what I know

[@ricardohenry1]

@@MrCmon113 you’re right, I got his height confused, but he was skinny any couldn’t get the throws and focused more on the ground

[@qazmko22]

Some of the most injury prone d-bags in BJJ I have ever rolled with are ALL non-teaching and non-dojo owning Brown and Black belts. There are weird blue, and white belts that will lightly injure you, but the worst I've see are from Brown and Black Belts.

[@StephenVTran]

The only explanation I can find for higher belts is maybe they feel they have to prove their rank and go hard? I’ve never been hurt by those guys in a serious way, just some tough rolls. Usually, it’s the blue belt and white beltscause they’re spazzy and just doing random dumb moves they saw online or something.

[@qazmko22]

​@@StephenVTran The teaching or Dojo owning, higher belts are almost always cool, they are tough but fair. The non-teaching and non-dojo owning higher belts are the ones that can be weird. I think it's the fact that they have to be accountable to someone, weather it be retaining students or being a positive leader.

[@StephenVTran]

That’s very true, they may even feel like a-holes if they go hard on their students

[@DreamcastQ]

So true about the skin issues, I didn't realize but they are So contagious and disgusting

[@StephenVTran]

Yeah it gets nasty sometimes, and hopefully you never get staph cause that’d be the worst

[@phykin]

Nailed a lot of things here!!!

[@StephenVTran]

Thank you 🙏

[@bossman674]

Spazzy white belt jumped guard on me and ripped my knee apart. Put me out for three months… so frustrating.

[@StephenVTran]

Dude I actually can relate. Strong spazzy white belt sprawled on my back and neck from front headlock (back towards the mat) and I’ve been out for a month. Hope you’re back at it

[@aaroncace]

There’s a placed called KnuckleUp Fitness by my home, I was going to join but go a bad vibe. Good thing I did not join, I ended up joining Gracie BJJ and they don’t do that there. But, with that said, if you rolling, things happen its accidents and that happens in all contact sports.

[@StephenVTran]

Trust the instincts! Good stuff man, hope you enjoy it

[@TheRoot2944]

Dear white belts not every round has to be to the death. Focus on your breathing and set objectives for yourself

[@StephenVTran]

It’s always the white belts going to war, smesh accordingly

[@Barneyfithlawman]

Cost, skin issues and reinjuring some herniated disc and such keep me from trying it. What is the typical cost of classes?

[@StephenVTran]

It depends on the gym but it can be anywhere from $150-$180

[@Djudo-q9x]

Most gyms will charge at least 20 bucks just to train for a day

[@cherokeeoutlaw2.011]

I've been doing this for a long time the best way to handle somebody asking you to roll and you not wanting to is just simply say naw I'm good 👍

[@StephenVTran]

True, a simple nah would work

[@richwhetton]

Although there are a lot of top athletes on steroids don’t think they all are. Despite what those who are on them want you to think not everyone is.

[@StephenVTran]

Yeah I think there’s outliers like the ruotolos or Mikey musumeci but they’re lifelong grapplers, I meant to add that it’s best not to compare oneself or feel like you need peds to keep up

[@stuff4232]

Saying ego is in jiujitsu is like saying the sun will always set and rise. Ego exists in everything ever made by humans. It’s unavoidable in everything

[@StephenVTran]

Very true, I meant the bad side of ego that can get us or our training partners hurt 👍

[@cookevillejiu-jitsu2113]

I don't really disagree with what you said. But, I don't think people need to hear about all of those things before starting Jiu-Jitsu. I think if you do that we are going to have a lot of Jiu-Jitsu schools shutting down. I don't run a competition focused school so steroids aren't really an issue here. I think we have had two skin infections on the mats in the 10 years I've been teaching. These things exist but are overblown IMO. As for the size and strength issue. It needs to be taken in context and explained.

[@StephenVTran]

I would never want to drive someone away from this beautiful martial art, I just wanted to remind people of the realities we face on a daily basis so that the negatives I talk about can be avoided as much as possible. For peds/roids, I’m kicking myself for forgetting to mention that it’s best not compare oneself or feel like you need it to keep up. You’re right, I should’ve added more context to size and strength and why it would matter along with skill and experience. Thanks for mentioning this! I’ll try to do a better job of bringing something more unique/unheard of as well as better info

[@nurkeevergriffith]

I noticed that this video has significantly more views than your other videos. Proud of you for 17k views bro keep up the great work. I've been wanted to start a KZbin channel myself and this encouraged me. Great video and great job again!!

[@StephenVTran]

Hey thanks so much man! Hopefully we’re only getting started. You should do it bro, I’m learning and growing as a communicator just by making vids on KZbin 👍

[@thefutureh]

what about concusions? will you get cte in future from bjj ?

[@StephenVTran]

I believe if you’re a competitor in bjj, your risk for getting concussed is higher than a hobbyist, because you’ll be in some intense rolls. There’s always a risk of getting concussed from a takedown or throw and not break falling (ukemi) correctly, just be careful on those. I don’t know about cte because I don’t think competitive bjj brains have been studied yet, but I do know one person who’s been mildly concussed from a throw.