Beyond the Mat blogBrazilian jiu-jitsu, explained plainly. New posts on learning, coaching and what actually helps beginners.https://www.beyondthemat.appenGi or no-gi: which should a beginner start with?https://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/gi-or-no-gi-for-beginnershttps://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/gi-or-no-gi-for-beginnersGi or no-gi is the same game with the grips removed. Here is what actually changes, which one to start with, and why the answer matters less than people online will tell you.Sun, 18 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTgino-gibeginnersdid you knowBeyond the MatThe most important BJJ escapes for white beltshttps://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/bjj-escapes-for-white-beltshttps://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/bjj-escapes-for-white-beltsAn escape is not a scramble. It is three things in a fixed order: make space, get a frame in, recover a position. Here it is, position by position.Thu, 15 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTescapeswhite beltfundamentalsBeyond the MatYour students forget between classes. That is a memory problem, not a coaching problem.https://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/your-students-forget-between-classeshttps://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/your-students-forget-between-classesCoaches re-explain frames, hips and weight every single week, and beginners still quit before blue belt. Here is why the gap between classes is the real problem, and what a club can do about it.Sun, 11 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTcoachesclub ownersretentionteaching BJJThomas MouleyWhat your child is learning in kids BJJ when it looks like playhttps://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/what-your-child-is-learning-in-kids-bjjhttps://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/what-your-child-is-learning-in-kids-bjjFrom the side of the mat, kids BJJ looks like rolling around and giggling. Here is what is actually being learned, what to watch for, and how to talk about it at home.Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMTparentskids BJJmartial arts for childrenBeyond the MatHow to remember what you learned in BJJ classhttps://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/how-to-remember-bjj-techniqueshttps://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/how-to-remember-bjj-techniquesYou drilled it on Tuesday and it was gone by Thursday. That is normal memory, not a bad memory. Here is how to keep BJJ techniques between classes, with or without an app.Sun, 27 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTlearning BJJwhite beltmemoryspaced repetitionBeyond the MatGuard passing is a concept, not a movehttps://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/guard-passing-is-a-concepthttps://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/guard-passing-is-a-conceptYou learned three guard passes and none of them work in sparring. That is because passing is a problem to solve, not a technique to copy. Here is the concept every pass shares.Thu, 24 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTfundamentalsguard passingwhite beltBeyond the MatDuolingo built a habit machine. A BJJ app has to do something harder.https://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/gamification-and-the-streak-traphttps://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/gamification-and-the-streak-trapGamified learning apps get accused of teaching people to protect a streak instead of learning the thing. Here is why that trap exists, and why an app built around two classes a week is a different problem.Sun, 20 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTgamificationlearningproduct decisionsstreaksThomas MouleyWhat Beyond the Mat is, and what it is nothttps://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/what-is-beyond-the-mathttps://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/what-is-beyond-the-matBeyond the Mat is a free BJJ learning app with five-minute 3D lessons you can rotate and look at from any side. Here is exactly what it does, what it costs, and what it will never try to be.Sun, 13 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTabout the app3D lessonsiOSAndroidfree BJJ appBeyond the MatMost beginners quit BJJ within two years. Confusion is the reason.https://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/why-beginners-quit-bjjhttps://www.beyondthemat.app/blog/why-beginners-quit-bjjOver 80% of BJJ beginners quit before blue belt. It is rarely fitness or toughness. It is not understanding what is happening during sparring. Here is why, and what fixes it.Sun, 06 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMTwhite beltretentionlearning BJJThomas Mouley