The Mat Times

TIPS, GUIDES &
REAL TALK

Everything you need to know about competing, training, finding gyms, and showing up prepared. Written by grapplers, for grapplers.

Featured

Mental Game7 min read

Training to Win vs. Training to Not Lose: The Mindset Gap Killing Your Game

Most competitors think they're training to win. They're not. There's a difference, and it's costing them matches they should be taking.

The RollCall Team

Jun 17, 2026

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Why Your Gym Is Producing Terrible Wrestlers (And How to Fix It)

Most BJJ gyms treat takedowns like a warm-up drill. That's why their students get slammed at their first competition and never understand why.

Jun 3

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Community7 min

Gym Loyalty vs Cross-Training: The Politics Nobody Talks About

Your coach hasn't said it out loud, but he noticed when you showed up with a different gym's rashguard. The unwritten rules of loyalty and cross-training are costing good grapplers training time they can't afford to lose.

May 27

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BJJ Basics

Your First Year in BJJ: A Brutally Honest Month-by-Month Breakdown

Everyone tells you the first year is hard. Nobody tells you exactly why, or what's actually happening to you. Here's the real timeline.

8 min

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Technique Lab

Why Your Guard Passing Sucks: The 3 Concepts Most People Skip

You've drilled the torreando a hundred times. You know the leg drag exists. So why does every decent guard player still make you look lost? It's not the techniques. It's three things nobody talks about.

7 min

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Technique Lab

The Most Underrated Submissions Nobody's Talking About at Each Belt

Everyone drills the same armbars and rear naked chokes. Meanwhile, these submissions are finishing matches at every level while most grapplers completely ignore them.

8 min

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Training Tips

3-4 Classes a Week Is Enough. But Only If You're Smart About It.

Most part-time grapplers waste half their mat time because nobody told them how to structure it. Here's how to actually get better on a limited schedule.

6 min

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Competition Prep

Why You Keep Losing in the First 30 Seconds and How to Fix It

Most grapplers lose their matches before they even break a sweat. The first 30 seconds aren't a coin flip — they're a skill set, and yours might be costing you everything.

8 min

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Gym Guide

How to Pick a BJJ Gym That Will Actually Develop Your Game

Most people pick a gym based on location and price. Then they wonder why they're still getting smashed the same way two years later. Here's what actually matters.

8 min

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Mental Game

BJJ Social Media: Useful Tool or the Ego Trap Killing Your Game?

You've watched 47 leg lock tutorials this week. You've rolled exactly zero times. We need to talk about what BJJ social media is actually doing to your development.

9 min

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Training Tips

Fuel the Fight: Nutrition Secrets Every Serious Grappler Needs Now

You've drilled the armbar a thousand times. But if you're gassing out in round three or feeling like death the morning after hard training, your diet is tapping before you do.

8 min

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Training Tips

Why Training Every Day Is Slowly Killing Your BJJ Progress

You're not tired because you're weak. You're tired because you've confused punishment with progress — and your game is stalling because of it.

8 min

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Find Your Next Tournament

Now that you’re prepared, find competitions running near you. Every IBJJF, NAGA, and independent tournament in one place.

Browse Competitions →

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Find the Right Gym

Looking for a new home gym? Browse verified BJJ academies near you with schedules, instructor info, and honest reviews from the community.

Explore Gyms →

TIPS, GUIDES &REAL TALK

Training to Win vs. Training to Not Lose: The Mindset Gap Killing Your Game

Why Your Gym Is Producing Terrible Wrestlers (And How to Fix It)

Gym Loyalty vs Cross-Training: The Politics Nobody Talks About

Your First Year in BJJ: A Brutally Honest Month-by-Month Breakdown

Why Your Guard Passing Sucks: The 3 Concepts Most People Skip

The Most Underrated Submissions Nobody's Talking About at Each Belt

3-4 Classes a Week Is Enough. But Only If You're Smart About It.

Why You Keep Losing in the First 30 Seconds and How to Fix It

How to Pick a BJJ Gym That Will Actually Develop Your Game

BJJ Social Media: Useful Tool or the Ego Trap Killing Your Game?

Fuel the Fight: Nutrition Secrets Every Serious Grappler Needs Now

Why Training Every Day Is Slowly Killing Your BJJ Progress

Find Your Next Tournament

Find the Right Gym

TIPS, GUIDES &REAL TALK

Training to Win vs. Training to Not Lose: The Mindset Gap Killing Your Game

Why Your Gym Is Producing Terrible Wrestlers (And How to Fix It)

Gym Loyalty vs Cross-Training: The Politics Nobody Talks About

Your First Year in BJJ: A Brutally Honest Month-by-Month Breakdown

Why Your Guard Passing Sucks: The 3 Concepts Most People Skip

The Most Underrated Submissions Nobody's Talking About at Each Belt

3-4 Classes a Week Is Enough. But Only If You're Smart About It.

Why You Keep Losing in the First 30 Seconds and How to Fix It

How to Pick a BJJ Gym That Will Actually Develop Your Game

BJJ Social Media: Useful Tool or the Ego Trap Killing Your Game?

Fuel the Fight: Nutrition Secrets Every Serious Grappler Needs Now

Why Training Every Day Is Slowly Killing Your BJJ Progress

Find Your Next Tournament

Find the Right Gym

TIPS, GUIDES &
REAL TALK

TIPS, GUIDES &
REAL TALK