Getting Started with BJJ Note-Taking: A Complete Guide

If you've been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for any length of time, you know the feeling: you learn an amazing technique in class, drill it repeatedly, maybe even hit it during rolling... and then a week later, you can barely remember the setup.

Sound familiar?

Why Most BJJ Practitioners Don't Take Notes

Despite the obvious benefits, most BJJ practitioners never develop a consistent note-taking practice. The reasons are always the same:

• "I'm too tired after training"
• "I'll remember it"
• "I don't know what to write"
• "My notes are a mess"

Here's the truth: the difference between a good training session and actual progress is what you do after you leave the mats.

The Science Behind Note-Taking

Research shows that students who take notes retain 50% more information than those who don't. This isn't just about writing things down—it's about active processing.

When you take notes:

1. You encode the information (initial learning)
2. You consolidate the memory (moving it to long-term storage)
3. You create retrieval cues (making it easier to recall later)

This is exactly what you need for BJJ, where techniques build on each other and small details make huge differences.

What to Capture in Your Training Notes

The Essentials

Every training note should include:

• Date and time - Track your consistency
• Who you trained with - Partner history matters
• What you worked on - Positions, techniques, concepts
• Key insights - The "aha" moments that clicked

Going Deeper

Once you have the basics, add:

• Problems you encountered - What didn't work
• Questions to explore - Things to research or ask your coach
• Game plan adjustments - How this affects your strategy
• Physical notes - Injuries, fatigue, recovery needs

The 5-Minute Post-Training Framework

You don't need to write an essay. Here's a simple framework that takes just 5 minutes:

1. Quick Stats (30 seconds)

• Partners: John, Sarah, Mike
• Rounds: 6
• Duration: 90 minutes

2. Main Focus (1 minute)

• Worked on: Triangle from guard
• Coach emphasized: Controlling the angle before finishing

3. Key Details (2 minutes)

• Setup: Break posture → high guard → angle off → throw leg over
• Mistake I made: Trying to finish before securing the angle
• Adjustment: Get perpendicular FIRST, then squeeze

4. Wins & Struggles (1 minute)

• ✅ Hit the triangle twice on John
• ❌ Got passed repeatedly - need to work on guard retention

5. Next Session (30 seconds)

• Ask coach about defending the triangle
• Drill guard retention with Sarah

Common Note-Taking Mistakes

Mistake 1: Too Much Detail

You don't need to document every single movement. Focus on the critical details that make the technique work.

Instead of:

"Started in closed guard, grabbed the sleeve with my right hand, then grabbed behind the head with my left hand, then..."

Write:

"Triangle from closed guard: Posture break → angle → leg over → squeeze"

Mistake 2: No System

Random notes in random places make it impossible to review and learn from your training history.

Solution: Use one consistent system (notebook, app, or tool like Avanço)

Mistake 3: Never Reviewing

Taking notes without reviewing them is like going to class without drilling. The magic happens in the review.

Solution: Review your notes before every training session (2 minutes)

Digital vs. Paper Notes

Paper Pros:

• No battery needed
• Fast and flexible
• No distractions

Paper Cons:

• Hard to organize and search
• Can't add photos/videos easily
• Easy to lose

Digital Pros:

• Searchable and organized
• Can include media
• Backed up automatically
• AI can help structure and enhance

Digital Cons:

• Requires device/app
• Can be distracting
• Learning curve

My recommendation: Start with whatever you'll actually use. Consistency beats perfection.

Making It Stick: The Review Habit

Here's the secret that transforms note-taking from busywork into a superpower:

Review your notes before every training session.

This takes 2-3 minutes and:

• Refreshes your memory on recent techniques
• Helps you set intentions for the session
• Creates connections between concepts
• Identifies patterns in your game

Advanced: Using Spaced Repetition

Once you're comfortable with basic note-taking, consider using spaced repetition to lock in techniques long-term.

This means reviewing:

• New techniques: Daily for a week
• Recent techniques: Weekly for a month
• Established techniques: Monthly forever

Tools like Avanço automate this with smart flashcards that know exactly when to remind you.

Start Simple, Stay Consistent

Don't try to implement everything at once. Here's your action plan:

Week 1: Just write down what you worked on after each session Week 2: Add key details and insights Week 3: Add wins, struggles, and next steps Week 4: Start reviewing before sessions

In a month, you'll have a training journal that actually helps you improve faster.

The Bottom Line

BJJ is a marathon, not a sprint. The practitioners who progress fastest aren't always the most athletic or the most talented—they're the ones who systematically capture and review what they learn.

Five minutes of note-taking after training could be the difference between plateauing and breaking through.

Start today. Your future self on the podium will thank you.

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