Years ago people had to wait for the Sunday paper to read the comics. But now with the internet, anyone can create and share entertaining posts! Most Brazilian Jiu Jitsu memes are esoteric, and are not easily understood by people who don’t train. Others might only be funny to those who have been in specific positions.
Training BJJ will open up a whole new world of memes for you to look at in between rounds at the gym! This article will show you some classic memes and explain the new ones!
Key Themes of BJJ Memes
Oftentimes the best memes are grounded in truth. What makes them funny is the person reading them has something to connect with. Although a LOT of things can happen in a BJJ gym here are some of the most common themes:
Spazzy White belts
“White belts with good intentions have done more damage than black belts with bad intentions.”
John Danaher
It’s known throughout a gym that the brand new white belts might care more about winning than learning. That being said, sometimes hysterical memes are produced from the things they do.
Guard Pullers
There is nothing more annoying than when you’re hoping to show off your clean drop seo-nagi that you’ve been practicing for competition, and your opponent pulls just guard the moment you slap hands. Although sometimes pulling guard may be the best option, guard pullers have developed a reputation for avoiding engagement and not playing aggressively.
Purple Belts
The rank of purple belt is the first advanced rank in BJJ. Purple belt and is known for being one of the most competitive belts. But for some reason purple belts are notorious for showing up after the warm up part of class has just finished. As a result, the internet has decided to punish them by making an endless number of memes about it.
Craig Jones
If you follow any of the news going on in the BJJ world, Craig Jones is a former member of the Danaher Death Squad, and known for being a very successful competitor. He is also known for being one of the more eccentric personalities in BJJ. He routinely wears a rashguard that says “subscribe to my only fans” and has recently been seen sporting one that says “Mexican Ground Karate.”
Craig Jones has full embraced the BJJ meme culture; here are a few covers of his BJJ Fanatics instructionals:
Japanese Names
There is a trend of BJJ practitioners using the Japanese names for moves instead of the English names. While all gyms are different, it’s funny to see how many BJJ practitioners will act when you use an English name for a position or move.
Heel Hooks / Leg Lock memes
Learning to pass the guard is one of the most fundamental yet challenging parts of BJJ. However once a practitioner practices leg locks, you don’t always need to pass the guard anymore. This makes it extremely tempting to just go right ahead and use one on a lower belt instead of trying to pass their guard.
Heel hooks in particular also have developed a misplaced, sinister reputation because you don’t feel the pressure until it’s too late. Many gyms won’t even begin teaching them until purple or brown belt.
Injuries
Injuries are one of the “uncomfortable truths” about BJJ. They are also wonderful subjects for memes! If you have been training a while, undoubtedly you’ve rolled with someone who seems to always be suffering from a concussion you never saw happen. Or he keeps saying he will come back once “his wrist feels better.”
Dating a BJJ Practitioner
One thing BJJ practitioners share is the urge to go to practice no matter what! Sometimes it can even be hard for a serious BJJ competitor to have a relationship because they would rather go to practice than go on dates!
Upper Belt Memes
Rolling becomes different as you rank up. You’ll learn what rolling light actually feels like when you add more techniques in your arsenal. You’ll also come to understand even more esoteric BJJ memes! Upper belts are notorious for “coaching” lower belts when one gets close to a submission. The joke is they do this to mask the fact they were close to being submitted!
Competition Memes
At some point during your BJJ journey, your coach might want you to compete. Gearing up for a competition can be intense – especially if it’s your first one! Competitions are hot and cold considering sometimes you go and you might not perform to your expectations. Other days you might outperform yourself! Those “five dollar” medals do feel good!
Just BJJ Things
Obviously not all BJJ memes fit squarely into a category, but just training a few months is enough to understand most BJJ memes! BJJ gyms are hubs for good memes and it’s fun to share them with your teammates. Here are a few more to make you laugh!
Top BJJ Meme Accounts to Follow
If you are suffering from having some “stale memes” showing up on your feed, here are a few accounts that post some fresh content that you can follow right now!
Conclusion
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is more than a sport, it is a community and a lifestyle. BJJ memes are a silly, but cherished part of the sport – making light of the absurdities of our shared passion.
Even if you don’t think the latest internet trend is funny, BJJ meme accounts can also be places where you get news and updates about what’s going on in the BJJ community. They can also be places to go to when you just need to laugh a little on a bad day!
Jack is a D who holds a bachelors degree in English Literature. He enjoys traveling, reading, and the Bow and Arrow choke. One day he hopes to teach English overseas and become a published author.