r/BJJWomen

anyone else notice this 😂😂 it’s so strange

I'm trying to add regular strength training in, like 3 days per week, it's been about 4 weeks. But if I do it on my off days from BJJ, then I have no rest days at all. I train 2 classes M and W which are karate then BJJ fundamentals back to back. Just BJJ Fri sometimes(during comp season) and just karate Sat consistently. I usually walk 3-4 miles on Sundays with weighted vest, and was previously walking with weighted vest or doing cardio Tues/Thurs and/or practicing karate material. I've been training 2 years and I'm a 2 stripe white belt cause I suck and I'm weak, and having trouble with things sticking in my head cause 2-3x per week isn't enough repetition for me. Been trying to do the weights Tues, Thurs, Sat but my muscles are so fatigued for M and W that I'm gassing out faster.... But I'm the weakest woman in class... No longer the smallest thanks to a new white belt a little bit smaller than me I think but good God she's strong. I just don't know what to do. Also during summer break I could add in a daytime BJJ on Tues/ Thus to help me retain knowledge/skills better but then I really really don't know when to do weights.. I'm 5'3" 135 lbs for reference. Could probably kick some butt picking a fight in WalMart with randos but compared to other BJJ women I'm pitiful.

I want a pair of long, higher waisted underwear that I can wear on their own comfortably under my gi and also use in the bath/sauna without becoming completely see through or exposing myself too much.
Men’s boxers aren’t an option because of the pocket.
Any recommendations or experience please?
Signed, a thick girl who wants to reduce laundry.

Curious to hear from others especially women. I do a lot of open mats and drop ins, in my area a lot of people know me but when I go somewhere new, I’m always trying to strike a balance of intensity.

I feel like my first priority when going somewhere new is to show that I’m friendly and not spazzy. So maybe I go lighter than I should, I’m not bringing my A game, I’m mostly staying defensive and flowy and complimenting people and tapping.

But, I’m also a very small woman and I wonder if that affects this, if the way I roll makes people think they need to go easier on me. The flip side would be I go in trying to do my best jiujitsu and not letting people have anything if it’s not really there. Which maybe would mean they turn it up and have a higher impression of my level idk. I’ve definitely been to places where it felt like I had to prove myself, and only after I turned it up a bit I got the “oh okay” response and it felt like I gained some respect.

When you visit somewhere new, how do you determine your intensity level? Do you feel these type of dynamics? Curious to hear other people’s experiences.

For context, I just started training again a few weeks ago after taking 10 years off (and having three kids). I've got exercise-induced asthma and take Ritilan and Guanfacine for ADHD. When I trained as a teenager, I would have problems with asthma where I would need to use my inhaler, but it's been a lot worse this time around where I get very easily winded for the rest of the 90-minute class after using the inhaler.

I had some people suggest using my inhaler before the class starts and that my issues with hyperventilating after could be related to my heart rate being high. I tried using the inhaler before class Friday (which was life-changingly awesome because I didn't have my normal breathing problems), and I also wore my smart watch to track my heart rate... Which sat at 180 for most of the class and got up to 194 at one point. 😬 And I didn't even feel like it was as intense as I normally train.

My instructor is awesome and keeps things moving the whole class but typically not at insane pace (I'll self-excuse from faster-paced drills if my breathing is having problems). So I'm pretty sure I'm the problem here...

I haven't done much exercise for the last decade, but I wasn't in bad shape because I'm pretty active already just in normal life.

I realize the inhaler is a stimulant and the Ritilan is also a stimulant, but this does seem a bit excessive. I really want to be able to train the whole class without having to sideline myself. I've been working on my breathing and trying to keep that in check, but I'm at a loss when it comes to lowering heart rate. Any thoughts or ideas?

Man here…

My girlfriend is training with me, and has found that the new mats are a little rough on her lower extremities.

She typically wears yoga leggings, but the yoga leggings are catching on the mat and causing more issues than they solve.

I mentioned spats to her and she was open to them, but I’ve got no idea where to start looking for women’s gear.

She’s shorter (5’3”) and has the most amazing curves I’ve ever seen, for body type reference.

Looking for some advice from you amazing ladies on brands and/or sites you all use I can point her to to see if she likes any of the spats.

Thanks in advance!

I'm at my wit's end with hairloss, almost to the point I just want to shave off all my hair! Does anyone have any tips and tricks for how they've managed to stop losing hair during training. I've been training consistently for around 1 year at this point and I've been trying many strategies for protecting my hair but I'm still losing upwards of 50 strands after classes. I have quite fine, straight hair, around armpit length. These are the things I've tried so far, really would appreciate some further advice:

-Tight braids
-Loose braids
-Dutch/french style braids
-Checking iron levels
-Oiling hair before training
-Ponytail or bun hairstyle
-Protective hair/scalp hair (rosemary oil, aminexil, good shampoos/conditioners)

I've tried looking for other posts regarding this but Im seeing strategies I've already tried, Im really getting stressed over this! Feels like I'll be bald eventually >~<

For variety's sake, I bought one of my school's white gis.... After two weeks the knees are permanently dirty looking, and I wash after every wear. Any tips? Or should I just resolve myself to the reality of having permanently dirty pants?

I completely tore my ACL a couple of months ago and have been out of BJJ ever since. PT has been going well and my range of motion and strength are much better.
My PT cleared me to do gentle BJJ drilling when I feel ready (still working on being able to sit on my heels before I try this…haven’t been able to do that since the injury).

Anyone out there go fully back to BJJ without surgery after an ACL tear? How did it go? Any lasting problems?

Surgery sounds so painful and it takes such a long time to recuperate…I’m wondering if I really need to do that to get back to where I was before snapping my ACL. I’d love any feedback from those who went non-surgical OR those who opted for surgery on how BJJ is going.

Thanks!
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[supprimé]

I’m a white belt with around 8 months of training, but honestly my journey has been really inconsistent and lately it’s been affecting me mentally a lot. It’s not necessarily that I completely disappear for months, but I go through periods where I reduce my training a lot, stop showing up as consistently during the week, and then I feel like I fall behind everyone else.

I’ve struggled with depression for a while and I’m currently on medication trying to improve my motivation and consistency overall. What feels weird is that I genuinely like jiu jitsu. I enjoy learning, I like the environment, and I think about training all the time, but I still end up disappearing for a couple weeks here and there, especially when life gets emotionally heavy.

Recently I also went through a breakup/separation that affected me pretty badly, and after that I stopped showing up again. Now I’ve been away for over 2 weeks and I feel embarrassed to return because I already struggle with fundamentals a lot. Sometimes during class or rolls I feel like everyone around me is way more advanced, even newer people seem to connect concepts faster than I do, and I end up feeling like I’m slowing my partners down because things need to be explained to me multiple times.

I think part of my inconsistency comes from frustration too. I feel behind for the amount of time I’ve trained, then I disappear because I feel discouraged, then I come back feeling even more behind.

At the same time, recently I met a friend from another academy and he invited me to a few open mats there. I had never really gone to open mats before because I was too intimidated, but surprisingly I felt really comfortable there. There were more newer belts, people were welcoming, and I even met the coach. It reminded me that I actually do enjoy this sport and want to keep training.

But now I’m kind of stuck in my head about everything and wondering if anyone else has gone through this cycle during their first year. I keep thinking about returning, but sometimes I feel like I haven’t earned my place there because of how inconsistent I’ve been and how slowly I improve compared to others.

And i dont know if i just need some encouragement or i just need to do muay thai for a month instead.

Honestly im really tired of being bad at this. Im tired of always being one of two women on the mats im tired of being the default partner for anyone under the age of 20 im tired of new people treating every roll like its ADCC finals. And nothing grinds my gears like another white belt trying to give me tips when ttheyre 5in taller and 50lbs heavier. Also i got my 3rd stripe 6 months ago and then did really really badly at my first and only competition in february so im kind of feeling all around bad.

Additionally theres been some drama at the gym and my favorite training partners arent coming at the same times as me anymore so its just not as much fun. My gym is run by a super trad guy who insists upon belt tests (which i wont be paying for idc that much about a blue belt. Hes also been in the DMs of every woman at the gym. Infuriating) and gives long winded explanations for drills when i just want to roll and figure stuff out myself.

Ive been cross training at a gym thats further away from me and im considering just fully making the switch because i think i just have more fun over there. But god i do hate a 40 minute drive. I just needed to get that off my chest. If you've been here let me know.

I'm fairly green (~5 months in), recently got my second stripe. I attend a mix of the women's-only and co-ed classes.

I understand that people are hesitant to train with white belts, often for valid reasons. I don't *think* I'm a dangerous/spazzy white belt since my professor will sometimes pair me up with the brand new preteens who join our women's class when they don't have somebody else their age to be paired with (I have mom vibes/patience). I also get a lot of feedback to be *more* aggressive and to be less concerned about hurting my partners, that they can handle the pressure better than I think.

Recently, I was paired up with a blue belt who I've trained with before, and they asked the professor right in front of me to train with somebody else, so we were shuffled around.

First, I one hundred percent agree that nobody should train with somebody if they don't want to. I'm not offended at the request at all. But I *would* also like to know if there's something I need to address. If this person just wants more of a challenge during class, totally fair. But if I'm doing something that makes them feel unsafe, I would want to know so I can try to improve on that.

Is this something that I should ask the professor about? Or are professors likely to let you know if you need to work on something that's causing people to be uncomfortable working with you?

Feel free to tell me I'm overthinking it or offer any thoughts/feedback.

So background is I’ve been training for a few years. My first martial art is actually Thaiboxning but then I started MMA and grappling. I’ve always been cross training until about a year ago. I moved to my small hometown and was just gravitating towards bjj, although I’ve been missing doing other martial arts, bjj felt right. So I’ve been a white belt for a while since I haven’t been consistent in one place. I’ve been competing and done really well. But this weekend I got one gold and one silver and I don’t know, I just wasn’t happy. Didn’t feel that great feeling of winning I’ve had before and just wanted to go home in all honesty. I feel like it’s just become about getting it done, moving to the next comp. Chasing that blue belt. I’ve totally lost the joy I used to feel and the curiosity in learning.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? What did you do? How did you go about it? How do I find the joy in the sport again?

heyyy everyone i just signed up for my first ever competition im so nervous !!! any advice or tips to follow before starting or during it ?

also how aggressive should i be or expect others to be ?

I (36 F) have been doing BJJ for 2 years now. I love it and I always enjoy it even though I suck (yay white belt!), am overweight, struggle with flexibility, and forget the fundamental skills we learn as soon as I learn them. It is a blast and something I treasure being able to do.

I played sports my whole life but I have suffered injuries and weight gain over the last few years that have slowed me down significantly. I was pretty consistent with attending BJJ the first few months but had a drop off last year and then, after I hurt my calf in my other hobby this summer, have been struggling to go back regularly. At most I've only been able to go a couple times a month if at all, and it's been very intermittent at best.

I am ashamed of my shortcomings and find reasons not to go. I struggle to get my head into training or retain information when I do train, and I am trying to build the discipline to go but haven't been able to get into it. Any advice?

TL;DR: I need advice on getting back into BJJ after injuries and what to do to counter the lack of discipline to just go train.

Hi, I’ve been doing nogi for a year, never did Gi, my gym only has 1 weekly class of Gi, I do 3 to 4 times a week nogi, not (yet🤷🏻‍♀️) doing competitions.
Haven’t yet done a Gi class for 2 reasons;

1. Is it worth investing in a Gi if it’s only 1 weekly training?
2. Afraid my fingers joints will not like it, is it worth it? Will my nogi skills improve by doing gi?

(For context, Im 49😁)
Would love to hear your opinions.
Personally I am leaning towards going for the once weekly Gi, mainly afraid my finger joints will be annoyed by it.

I’m going to preface by saying I’m almost 12 months postpartum and been training for around 6 months.

At my gym higher belts are a bit more cliquey but I still try to say hi and bye to everyone before I leave and have maintained a friendly relationship with them.

After class I was saying bye to everybody on the way out to the door when one of the guys said to me “are you okay?” I said um what he said “are you okay?” And *rubbed his hand over his belly*. I said um yeh.

Did this guy just try to ask me if I’m pregnant?

I have been so insecure about not having dropped much baby weight as I’m breastfeeding and my body is still holding on to a lot of weight. I think about my weight at least once every 5 minutes and have really pushed myself to continue breastfeeding for my babies sake, when in reality I would love to jump on glp1’s lol. So this has really had be down in the dumps this afternoon.

Why are men (or anyone at all) still asking women if they’re pregnant? I don’t think he meant to be mean but it’s honestly ruined my whole day.

Rant over