Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) community has been rocked by recent developments at B-Team Jiu-Jitsu, one of the sport’s most prominent teams. Jacob “Jay Rod” Rodriguez, a standout competitor and younger brother of co-founder Nicky Rodriguez, has been banned from the team following serious misconduct allegations involving inappropriate behaviour towards female members of the gym.

The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world is no stranger to drama, but recent claims from a former Gracie University instructor have sent shockwaves through the community. Evandro Nunes, a respected black belt and once a prominent part of the Gracie University team, has gone public with a series of explosive allegations about the culture and practices behind one of the sport’s most recognisable brands.

Australian Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu icon Kit Dale is set to make waves once again, stepping in as a late replacement for the highly anticipated Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2) Team Misfits Australasia trials. With just two weeks’ notice, Dale replaces top brown belt Josh Allsopp, bringing his wealth of experience and signature style to this elite event.

Felipe Pena, widely regarded as one of the premier Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes in the world, has publicly expressed his strong desire to participate in the upcoming Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2). With his proven ability to compete at both under and over 99kg weight classes, Pena would be a formidable addition to any team. His recent triumph in the over 99kg division at ADCC 2024, where he secured three submissions in four matches, solidified his reputation as a top-tier competitor.

One of the world’s leading no-gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu teams, formerly known as New Wave Jiu-Jitsu, has officially undergone a complete rebrand and will now be known as Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu. This significant change marks a new chapter for the elite team, though it is not the first time this renowned group of competitors has adopted a new identity.

Gordon Ryan, widely regarded as the most dominant no-gi grappler of his generation, may be stepping away from competition for good. At just 29, Ryan has amassed an unparalleled record, including ADCC absolute titles and multiple superfight victories, becoming the face of both the Danaher Death Squad and New Wave Jiu-Jitsu. However, recent comments from his long-time coach, John Danaher, have sent shockwaves through the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) community, suggesting that Ryan’s competitive career could be over.

John Danaher, the renowned coach of New Wave Jiu-Jitsu, has potentially unveiled his team’s lineup for the highly anticipated Craig Jones Invitational 2 (CJI 2). With months still to go before the event, many competitors from other teams remain unconfirmed, but New Wave has now joined Team Misfits Australasia in revealing the majority of their roster. Danaher shared this exciting update during a recent interview with FloGrappling, narrowing down the list of open spots for the competition as anticipation builds.

The trial date for Henrique Otávio Oliveira Velozo, the Military Police Lieutenant accused of murdering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend Leandro Lo, has finally been set. This long-awaited development comes nearly three years after the tragic incident that shocked the global Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) community. Lo’s untimely death in August 2022 left an indelible mark on his family, friends, and practitioners of the sport worldwide, who continue to mourn the loss of one of BJJ’s most celebrated athletes.

A recent scientific study has shone a spotlight on the effects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) on kids, specifically looking at aggression, self-control, and pro-social behaviour. This area has been gaining traction in recent years, even though the benefits of martial arts for youngsters have been spoken about for ages. Just a few years back, a study on BJJ confirmed that the sport positively impacts a kid's executive functions, like inhibition control.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) has grown exponentially over the past decade, evolving from a niche martial art into a global sport with thousands of passionate practitioners. However, as the sport matures, so too does scrutiny of its governing bodies—particularly the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF). Recent calls for the IBJJF to pay top competitors have reignited debates about fairness, athlete compensation, and the organisation's role in advancing professional BJJ.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) has seen a significant transformation over the past quarter-century, not just in techniques and popularity, but also in the controversial use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). This issue has become increasingly prevalent, affecting the integrity of the sport and sparking debates within the BJJ community.

If you train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you know that good gear matters. Whether it’s rash guards, spats, or gis, the right apparel should be durable, comfortable, and—let’s be honest—look sick.

To find out which brands are killing it in both quality and design, we asked around the Aussie BJJ community—coaches, competitors, and casual rollers—to see which labels they rate the highest. Here are the top five that came up again and again, with one clear standout taking the #1 spot.