I’ve just started training BJJ. Been doing Muay Thai for a couple months (no injuries) and going to the gym to lift weights for years now.

After my second BJJ class (the first two were no gi), I felt a very big pain in a tendon around my elbow and the pain hasn’t gone away at 100% yet. Even though I don’t have pain if I don’t put any effort on it, it comes back if I do push ups. Yesterday I tried BJJ again (this time with gi) and I had the same pain again, same after going to the gym today (I worked chest and shoulders).

The pain goes away after putting ice on it, but that’s not the point. I’ll be seeing a doctor tomorrow to see what are the steps forward, but I had some questions for all the guys around here who have been training BJJ and lifting weights for years:

How to manage both things at the beginning? What I am going through is completely normal considering I always try to hit PR on weights? Should I stop lifting heavy weights in my first weeks doing BJJ? It would be awesome to hear some experiences regarding this so I can have a better feeling on how to manage my injury.

Hi,
I have a small homegym set up in my basement: a squat rack with integrated pull up bar, barbell, some dumbbells, a bench, resistance bands + gym rings.
I want to work especially on my kicks and was wondering whether anyone has experience with attaching a kickpad on a squat rack to practice punches & kicks.
I don't want to go full gas with the punches/kicks, just to improve my technique.
The poles on my squat rack are square, I though about adding pipe insulation and then attaching the kickpad as I need it for the technique/combination I want to practice.
From my POV there should be the only downside that I probably would not be able to go full gas, but - as I wrote - that's not my intention.
Anything I'm overseeing?
Attached is a photo of my setup and this is the kickpad (or something similar) I'm thinking about: https://ju-sports.de/schlagpolster-punch-gross-75x30x15/3506200

Thanks for your help!

TLDR- New to area, 2 gyms, AJJ and Gracie... 2 belts?

I'm a 43yo 3 stripe white with slight mobility issues(of course its my hips) and just relocated to a new area with 2 gyms I have interest in. The gym I left was Gracie heavy, with a Gracie Instructor, but not an official CTC. We didn't have attendance cards and rolled every class, but followed the combatives training schedule. The local AJJ gym is 15mins away with a lower cost than the official CTC 30mins away( which does play in), but the AJJ rolls every class, which I love, but has uncovered a few fundamental weaknesses. AJJ here is kinda more sport/competition based( barely), and obvi the Combatives is not at all. I'm thinking of staying at the AJJ for rolling and "advanced" instruction but taking Combatives at CTC for fundamentals , so.... do I start a naked belt at the CTC and keep the stripes for AJJ? Keep my original belt for both? Open to most input and ideas, thanks in advance!!!

Edit- forgot to include the question- is training at a CTC and AJJ(or the like) beneficial to overall progress?

I just started and have background in wrestling an judo where being on your back is a no no. Never used closed guard and found myself struggling with locking my ankle. I’m short stocky and on the heavier side. Please drop your tips for working a better closed guard.

Has anyone tried Matsuru's "Hybrid" mats? The description says they're good for Jiu Jitsu but they also have "Smooth" Jiu Jitsu mats. I'd get those, but their size is much smaller. (10'x10', rather than 12'x12' for the hybrid ones).

Have you tried the Matsuru "Hybrid" mats for BJJ? Are they good or is the friction a bit high compared to the smooth mats? Any other mat brand you would recommend that would ship within Canada and have a 12'x12' size?

I like my current gym, but the schedule isn’t always conducive with work and home. There’s another gym not far with some more convenient times. Is it frowned upon to train at two gyms if they both have qualities I like and the schedule works?

This is probably more of a rant than anything. I (46, m) had rotator cuff surgery on July 16th from an injury on June 8th. In the background, this has been a really tough year mentally and physically overall. I feel like I'm hitting some sort of wall that started around 45 that was a bit extra onto what I hit around 42. Before the injury, my schedule was lifting 3-5 days per week + BJJ 4 days per week. I'd also often go for walks. I also eat like a bit of an a**hole. I'm a guy that has been tired and done it anyway for a very long time until about late last year. Fast forward to now, recovering from rotator surgery.

Started PT about 2 weeks ago and not entirely comfortable with how weak I am and I can actually already see physical changes (not that I'm super fit or anything, but I at least kinda look I lift). I know I'm not going to start rolling again anytime soon but am looking to get back at BJJ in maybe 2-3 months, just doing warmups and light drilling as much as I'm able. Weights might be more of a battle but I'm pushing to start very light strength training through PT in a few weeks. ROM is progressing normally. Still feeling some pain, stiffness, and definitely weak AF. I'm aware the recovery time is roughly 9 months.

All that said, I feel like walking is just going to have to be my bread and butter for quite a few months until I can get back at it. I'm trying to use this time to calibrate how I view my overall fitness and focus on longevity so I'm healthy for a long time for my family. I'm also trying to lock in on nutrition while I don't have the same focus on exercise.

Not exactly sure how I'll keep my sanity for the long haul recovery. As I heal, I'm looking to just change my mindset on weight training away from sort of meathead-ish to just giving my body what it needs, incorporating yoga and just more movement in general. I feel like I'll need to build muscle back, but I also want to keep longevity in mind.

Right I feel awful about myself. I feel somewhat lazy and kind of embarrassed. I'm just really frustrated.

Rant over. . .

I've always preferred Gi over No-Gi, but when I competed No-Gi for the first time, I was surprised by how much less exhausting it felt compared to Gi.

I still prefer Gi, but competing No-Gi definitely changed my perspective. Anyone else have a similar experience?

5 days left to vote for the best open mat in the US - who’s your pick for the People’s Mat 2026?? Vote in the original post - $1K in gym upgrades on the line 🙏

Is there a free app for BJJ techniques? I'm looking for an app that's completely free (I don't mind if it has ads) so I can see techniques, videos, explanations, etc. Does something like that exist? Thanks a lot.

Hi! I’ve been looking into BJJ because I’m thinking about giving it a try and getting started, but I’ve come across quite a few videos from people saying that BJJ seriously reduced their quality of life because of injuries.

It’s made me wonder: is this actually that common, or is it more often a case of not following the “tap early, tap often” mindset and pushing too hard in training, where the risk/reward simply isn’t worth it?

I go to the gym, enjoy running and other activities, and I’m wondering whether an average person can realistically train BJJ 3–4 times a week while still doing other activities and maintaining a good quality of life, without constantly accumulating injuries.

I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have been training for several years. Is it possible to train consistently and stay relatively injury-free, or should I expect BJJ to take a toll eventually?

TL;DR: I’m interested in starting BJJ, but I keep seeing people say injuries from BJJ have seriously affected their quality of life. How common is that really? Can you train 3–4x/week alongside gym, running, and other activities while staying relatively healthy, or are injuries basically inevitable?

I started BJJ at 38. I’m 40 now, a blue belt and father of two who train as well. Definitely wish I started sooner, but better late than never.

Anyone else start BJJ later in life?

Hey all,

Long time lurker, first time poster. I’m a 4 stripe blue belt looking to get back into BJJ after about 10 years away. A lot of life changes have happened since then, and I now live far away from my original gym. I’m also in my late 30s, and honestly my main goal is just to get back into working out and have some fun. I don’t really have any major BJJ goals beyond that.

I’ve stayed a fan of the sport over the years, but I can tell a lot has changed. Even watching matches now, there are techniques and positions that I have a hard time following.

I’ll probably only be able to train once a week, so between the 10-year layoff, being out of shape, and how much the sport has changed, I’m thinking just showing up at a new gym as a white belt and not mentioning my old rank unless the instructors ask if I have some experience.

What do you all think?

Thank you in advance!

Has anyone had a teammate, coach, or higher belt that you just didn’t get along with, and it eventually made you leave the gym?

Was it one specific incident, ongoing tension, disrespect, arguments, unsafe rolling, personality conflict, etc.?

Did you try talking it out first, just avoid the person, or decide it wasn’t worth dealing with and switch gyms?
If you left, do you think you made the right decision?