Field notes
JIUJITSU.
IN PLAIN ENGLISH.
A field guide to your first steps on the mats, and to the way we coach: every round live, no warm-ups, no drilling. Practical answers, fewer mysteries, and a little more confidence walking in.
Gi vs No-Gi Jiujitsu: The Real Differences
Gi and no-gi jiujitsu share the same positions but reward different grips, pace and pressure. A straight comparison, plus which one to start with and why.
Read the guideWhat Is Rolling in Jiujitsu? Live Sparring Explained
Rolling is live sparring in jiujitsu: both people resisting at an agreed intensity. What it is for and how hard to go.
Read the guideHow Often Should You Train Jiujitsu?
How many jiujitsu classes a week you actually need: realistic frequencies for beginners, why consistency beats volume, and the signs you are overtraining.
Read the guideJiujitsu Belt Ranks Explained (Adult Order)
The adult jiujitsu belt order (white, blue, purple, brown, black), what each rank represents and how stripes work.
Read the guideWhat Is an All-Levels Jiujitsu Class?
An all-levels jiujitsu class puts beginners and experienced grapplers on the same material. How it works and the trade-offs.
Read the guideWhat Is Brazilian Jiujitsu? Positions and Purpose
Brazilian jiujitsu is a grappling art built on position and leverage: controlling someone on the ground, then finishing.
Read the guideWhat Is a Submission in Jiujitsu?
A submission is a choke or joint lock that ends the exchange when your partner taps. The main categories, why position comes first, and why tapping is routine.
Read the guideWhat to Wear to No-Gi Jiujitsu (First Class)
What to wear to your first no-gi jiujitsu class: rash guard, shorts without pockets or zips, and a mouthguard. What to avoid and why it matters on the mat.
Read the guideIs Jiujitsu Good for Beginners? An Honest Answer
Whether jiujitsu suits a complete beginner: what makes it accessible, what genuinely makes it hard, the age and fitness questions, and who tends to quit.
Read the guideWhat Happens in Your First Jiujitsu Class?
A walk-through of a first no-gi jiujitsu class at On Top: arriving, how the live rounds are structured, and what is actually expected of a total beginner.
Read the guideWhat Is No-Gi Jiujitsu? A Plain Explanation
No-gi jiujitsu is grappling without the kimono: rash guard and shorts, no cloth to grip. How it differs from gi training.
Read the guideIs Jiujitsu Good for Self-Defense?
What jiujitsu genuinely gives you for self-defence (control, escapes and composure) and the honest limits: multiple attackers, weapons and hard ground.
Read the guideYOUR NEXT CHAPTER STARTS HERE
THE HARDEST PART?
WALKING IN.
We’ll take it from there. Try a class, meet the team,
and find out what you’re capable of.
One free class. No commitment to join.