"I'm 43, a father of three. Is there any point in me starting?" The question I get every week, and the answer that surprises everyone: in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, starting after 35 comes with the biggest advantages of all.

A complete guide to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu self-defence in Tel Aviv and Netanya. Why women choose BJJ, how Gracie Jiu Jitsu differs from Sport BJJ, and how to start. 36 years on the mats.

Seventy per cent of beginners quit between months two and four. After 16 years of teaching, I can spot the five mistakes on day one, and every one of them is fixable.

Tapping is not losing. It is the mechanism that lets you train for decades instead of months. Why tapping early protects you, and how to do it right.

How long does it really take to reach blue belt? The five stages every student goes through, and the honest reason most people quit before they get there.

Most injuries on the mat come from ego, not technique. The five areas most at risk, and the habits that keep you training healthy for years.

Feeling like you are getting worse despite training consistently? The Dunning-Kruger effect explains why that feeling is often a sign you are on the right track.

What Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu actually is, how Gracie Jiu Jitsu differs from Sport BJJ, and who it suits. A complete guide from a black belt with 36 years on the mats.

By: Professor Itay Leibovich | Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt | 36 years training, 16 years teaching Date: March 2026 Reading time: ~8 minutes Categories: Beginners Guide, Gi vs No-Gi, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tel Aviv “Itay, I am confused. I have two friends who train Jiu-Jitsu. One of them trains in a Gi, the other one in a tight rash guard. They both say they do BJJ. What is the story?” That was Danny, a new student who googled “BJJ near me” and turned up for a trial class at the

Seven women at a Tel Aviv Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy explain, in their own words, why they started and why they stayed.