It is that time of the year when you just want to curl up at home, with a warm drink in hand, and binge-watch a bunch of movies. Well, why not switch it up this year and give a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu documentary (or ten) a try? After all, they’re all free and easy to steam. Enjoy the ultimate list of titles you should look into below!
Why Watch A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Documentary?
Nowadays, there are lots of ways in which you can learn Jiu Jitsu. While there’s no going around actual training and rolling in a gym, it doesn’t also mean that you can’t progress and learn BJJ in the comfort of your own home. It has become a standard nowadays for grapplers to own at least a few instructional DVDs featuring some of the best athletes involved in our sport. I won’t even start opening the can of worms that is YouTube and all the millions of BJJ-related videos there.
There’s also another way to learn, though, or even better, to start developing questions that you will then try and answer on the mats. Watching a Jiu Jitsu documentary will not only allow you to learn new things about the sport, but it’ll also help you do it in a fun and entertaining way. While not many people see documentaries as learning tools, they are actually extremely useful in such a fashion.
A BJJ documentary usually tells a story, either a specific one or covering the sport and its evolution in general. Whether you are looking to expand your knowledge on the origins and development of Jiu Jitsu, or looking to learn the stories of some of the most prominent figures in the world of grappling, BJJ documentaries contain all the answers you’re looking for.
Types of BJJ Documentaries
Before we go into the ultimate list of free BJJ documentaries that are at your disposal, let’s talk first about the few different types of documentaries you can expect to encounter. Remember that the Jiu Jitsu documentary movies’ genre is still expanding, and at a quick rate, so by the time you’re reading this, there might even be more movies available for streaming. In any case, they’ll most likely represent one of the following categories:
Storytellers
These are documentaries that usually focus on one person, one academy, or one particular event that has taken place. Their focus is to tell a specific story, often involving as many relevant people as possible, in order to paint a clear picture. These types of documentaries, especially those focusing on the accomplishments of some of the greatest competitors in Jiu Jitsu are extremely helpful in learning more about the sport, by watching everything these top athletes have gone through in their lives in order to succeed in BJJ. Storytelling BJJ documentaries are my personal favorites.
General Documentaries
These are the types of movies that focus on the sport from a more general perspective, i.e. exploring how the sport evolved, how it spread through the US, for example, or how it impacts people’s lives. Documentaries like this are easy to watch, they contain tons of useful info and lots of rolling and technical sections, plus they’re great to help spread the word about Jiu Jitsu to others.
Documentary Series
These are becoming very popular lately. They focus on different aspects of a person, team, or another Jiu Jitsu subject and are divided into episodes, further organized in seasons. These types of documentaries are highly entertaining and provide an interesting insight into the BJJ lifestyle. Documentary series can have a general focus, but most often are of the storytelling variety.
Mini Docs
For those short on time (or patience), there is always the option of watching mini-documentaries. They last up to 20 minutes and cover the same subjects as regular-length documentaries, just usually with a faster pace. These usually focus on fighters, telling the story of a particular event, preparation for an event, or just one match.
Best BJJ Documentaries to Watch
Given all the categories of BJJ documentaries outlined above, where do you start? Let’s take a look at X of the best free Jiu Jitsu documentary movies to add to your 2022 watch list.
ROLL: Jiu Jitsu in SoCal
- Type: General
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: Eat Films
- Length: 1 hour 16 minutes
A Jiu Jitsu documentary from 2014 that takes a look at the state of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in South California. This part of the world is considered to be a Mecca for Jiu Jitsu, given the sheer number of high-profile black belts that live and work in the region.
The film takes a “behind the curtains” look at the BJJ lifestyle in California, shown through the prism of academy owners/instructors of the highest caliber. Some of the notable athletes featured in this documentary are Chris Haueter, Scott Nelson, Eduardo Telles, Saulo and Xande Ribeiro, Kurt Osiander, Leo Vieira, Buchecha, and others.
The narrative includes interviews, gym, and competition footage, as well as old footage depicting some of the earliest known Gracie challenge matches. The documentary is a self-funded project by Eat Film and Progress Jiu Jitsu.
Choke: A Rickson Gracie Documentary
- Type: Storytelling
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 360p
- Production: Manga Entertainment
- Length: 1 hour 38 minutes
Shot in 1995, this legendary Jiu Jitsu documentary tells the story of Rickson Gracie’s preparation for his Vale Tudo title defense in Tokyo, Japan. The camera crew follows exclusively behind the scenes, documenting everything that the undefeated Rickson does while preparing to face off in the 8 men no holds barred tournament.
“Choke” is a very powerful documentary, capturing the reality of the early days of MMA and how fighters lived and prepared in the weeks leading up to their performances. The movie shows glimpses of the daily routines, personal lives, the interactions with their families, the technical and physical aspect of preparing to fight, the pre-match atmosphere of the dressing rooms and many other things that most people that watch MMA are not aware of.
Some notable names appearing in this movie include Todd Hayes, Kim Gracie, Kron Gracie, Helio Gracie, Royler Gracie, Yuki Nakai, Gerard Gordeau, Koichiro Kimura, and others.
Kurt Osiander – My Goal Is Not Just To Teach You Jiu Jitsu
- Type: Storytelling
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: Stuart Cooper Films
- Length: 43 minutes
There is no doubt that Kurt Osiander is one of the most charismatic and controversial people in Jiu Jitsu. “Born and bred” at the notorious Ralph Gracie gym in San Francisco, Kurt tells his own JIu Jitsu story in this documentary.
The movie alternates interviews and training/competition footage as Kurt tells his own, unique Jiu Jitsu story. He shares some crazy stories in what is (in my humble opinion) one of the best, yet most underrated Jiu Jitsu documentary movies of all time. There’s really no way to capture the essence of Kurt’s character unless you watch this documentary for yourself.
Eddie Bravo: Building An Empire
- Type: Storytelling series
- Platform: YouTube (ep1, ep2, ep3)
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: FloGrappling
- Length: Total time 55 minutes (3 episodes, ~20 minutes per episode)
In 2016, FloGrappling gave everyone an insight into the world of Eddie Bravo and 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu like never before. The documentary series has three 20-minute episodes that cover different aspects of Eddie Bravo’s empire.
The first episode covers the origin story of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu, how Eddie ended up falling in love with the sport, and how he made his dream a reality through hard work and dedication.
The second episode takes us on a virtual tour of the 10th Planet HQ gym in Los Angeles, outlining all the resistance his brand of Jiu Jitsu gets in the BJJ community at the time. It also covers another artistic side to Bravo – his love for music.
In the final episode of this Jiu Jitsu documentary series, we get a behind-the-scenes look at EBI 5, the invitational submission-only tournament invented and organized by Eddie.
Jiu-Jitsu Lifestyle: Arte Suave Vol 1 and 2
- Type: General
- Platform: YouTube (part 1, part 2)
- Quality: 360p
- Production: N/A
- Length: Part 1: 1 hour 57 minutes; Part 2: 1 hour 49 minutes.
A Jiu Jitsu documentary about the BJJ lifestyle in Brazil in the early 2000s. The movie covers lots of training academies, like Nova Uniao, Gracie Barra, Brasa Team, TT academy, and others. Both parts include reports, interviews, training, rolling, conditioning sessions, theory, tactics, and more.
Not nearly as famous back then as they are now, part one of this documentary literally shows who is who of BJJ celebrities in their early days: Xande Ribeiro, Marcelo Garcia, Ricardo Vieira, Ronaldo Jacare, Daniel Moraes, Roger Gracie, Felipe Costa, Rodrigo Comprido, Leticia Ribeiro, and more. You can even spot brown belts Andre Galcao and Cobrinha.
Featuirng in part two are Royler Gracie, Ronaldo Jacaré, Alvaro Romano, Kid Peligro, Demian Maia, Felipe Costa, Rodrigo Comprido and Leo Vieira. This part covers the evolutionn of Jiu Jitsu and birth of MMA as well.
“Anatomy of a Fighter” – The Way of Jiu-Jitsu
- Type: Mini-documentary
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: Will Harris Productions
- Length: 18 minutes
This is a mini-documentary shot as part of teh “Anatomy of a Fighter“ series. The series focuses mostly on MMA fighters and boxers, in short, 20-minute documentaries. This edition is all about Jiu Jitsu and how some top competitors live the lifestyle.
The documentary features Roberto “Cyborg” Abreu, Rubens Charles “Cobrinha” and Renzo Gracie. It covers different aspects of teh everyday life of professional Jiu Jitsu competitors and professors: teaching, competing, philosophy, motivation, rolling, etc. Of course, they all talk about their love of BJJ too.
Rolled Up
- Type: Series
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 720p – 1080p
- Production: Budo Videos
- Length: 40 minutes per episode (48 episodes)
One of the oldest, if not the oldest Jiu Jitsu documentary series. Shot between 2011 and 2018. It features Budo Jake as a brown, and later black belt, interviewing some of the most famous athletes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. On top of answering his questions, all his guests also teach techniques, as well as roll with Jake.
These episodes are a great way to gain an insight into the view of grappling of some people that are not often in the spotlight of the BJJ community, like Gokor Chivichyan, Terere, Michael Langhi, Tony Pacenski, Scott Epstein, Shaw Williams, etc.
Renzo Gracie Legacy
- Type: Storytelling
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 480p
- Production: Satchel Films
- Length: 1 hour 18 minutes
A 2008 documentary about the legendary Renzo Gracie, son of Robson Gracie. The movie focuses on Renzo’s career, starting with his last bare-knuckle fight match (Pentagon Combat) in 1997. The story then follows his Pride fighting years in Japan, between 1997 and 2003, before focusing on some of Renzo’s great superfights, like his BJ Penn battle in 2005.
Given that Renzo’s brother Ryan died in 2007 aged just 33, there’s a very emotional segment in teh movie where Renzo talks about his beloved brother. Throughout the movie, lots of Gracie family members appear, some of them giving interviews, while others are just shown in relation to Renzo’s lifestyle throughout the 10 years he was active as an MMA fighter.
Franjinha and the House of Paragon
- Type: Storytelling
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: Revolution House
- Length: 40 minutes
Do you know who Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller is? Even if you’ve never heard of him, you certainly know some of his star students, like Jeff Glover and Bill Cooper. You might also know of this Paragon Jiu Jitsu academy, one of the best in the world. Well, this JIu Jitsu documentary tells the full Paragon story,
In the movie, Franjinha speaks about his early days of training in Rio under Romero Calvacanti, his world championship titles, his move to California, starting the Paragon gym, etc. Many of e instructors currently teaching at Paragon also share their thoughts about Franjinha throughout the documentary.
The Saint of Crackland
- Type: Storytelling
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: Grappling Central
- Length: 33 minutes
A very compelling Jiu Jitsu documentary about the efforts of one man and his wife to help steer the youth of one of the toughest neighborhoods of São Paulo in the right direction using Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
The area in question is known as Cracolandia, a notorious area in the largest city in all the Americas (12 million people). Considered more dangerous than even the favelas, this area of the center of São Paulo that has been taken over by gangs that control the crack trade in the city. With almost everyone on drugs in the area, there’s little hope for kids and teenagers.
Through the Novos Sohnos Social Project established by Lael Rodrigues, a BJJ black belt who teaches kids Jiu Jitsu, and his wife Joana, who is teaching ballet. Both teach for free and this movie shows how their establishment works.
The movie is in Portuguese and English, with subtitles available for the Portuguese-speaking portions.
The Gentle Art of Travel
- Type: Storytelling
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 2160p
- Production: Stevie Antoniou
- Length: 1 hour and 13 minutes
If you’ve never heard of BJJ Globetrotters, it is about time you crawled out from underneath your rock and visit one of their BJJ camps. As you’re getting ready, you can watch the documentary they recently released that covers an entire year of their camps, as well as the BJJ Globetrotters’ origin story.
The movie follows BJJ Globetrotters founder Christian founder around the world, as he shares the story about the selection of each camp location, cool travel stories, and some very personal experiences. This is essentially a very originally put-together travel documentary with lots of rolling and partying footage, interlaced with interviews.
Hélio Gracie Documentary – Story
- Type: Storytelling
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 480p
- Production: The Biography Channel
- Length: 47 minutes
A 2010 biographical documentary about Helio Gracie, one of the founders of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The documentary covers every aspect of Helio’s life, from early childhood and his fragile health to discovering Jiu Jitsu through his brother Carlos, to some of his greatest fights, like the Mashako Kimura match at the Maracanã Stadium.
Featuring in interviews are Rickson Gracie, Rorion Gracie, Kyra Gracie, Pedro Valente, Reilla Gracie, and Ed O’Neil, to mention a few. There’s also a lot of old footage, mostly of Helio’s matches, but also of some instructionals, and most importantly, rolling with the other Gracie family members.
This Jiu Jitsu documentary is in Portuguese, but English subtitles are available, courtesy of the Valente brothers.
Stuart Copper’s Mini-Docs
- Type: Mini-documentaries, storytelling
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: Stuart Cooper Films
- Length: 74 movies ranging from 6 to 45 minutes in length
Stuart Cooper is arguably the best BJJ documentary maker in the world. He has been putting together documentary movies about fighters and events for the better part of ten years. Stuart’s movies feature some of the best ever in BJJ, including Dean Lister, John Danaher, Keenan Cornelius, Cyborg, Rafael Lovato Jr., Braulio Estima, GSP, and many others.
Stuart’s movies are usually short, ranging between 10-20 minutes. His movies include interviews and footage of grapplers competing and/or training. Some of the documentaries focus on preparation for certain events, like ADCC or super fights, covering everything athletes do when they’re getting ready to face the best in the world.
Daisy Fresh – An American Jiu Jitsu Story
- Type: Storytelling series
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: Stuart Cooper Films
- Length: 2 seasons, 10 total episodes, ~40 minutes per episode
In my opinion, this is one of the most entertaining Jiu Jitsu documentaries to emerge in the past 10 years. The series has two seasons containing 5 episodes each. The first season is available for free through FloGrappling (the second is available for a fee through the same service).
The series focuses on the Pedigo Submission Fighting team that lives and trains together in Mount Vernon, Illinois. It consists of a group of grapplers that have come together to live in the gym, pretty much giving up on anything else in life. They have next to no income, do not have jobs, and do nothing but grapple and rest.
The series follows a few different grapplers as they train, compete and figure out how to keep doing the only thing they love – train BJJ in a Covid-stricken world.
The “Daisy Fresh” tag is actually because the gym is in a building that used to be a laundromat, and the gym owner Heat Pedigo thought it would be funny to keep the old laundromat sign.
Letters To My Father – Rayron Gracie
- Type: Storytelling
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 2160p
- Production: Allen Alcantara
- Length: 28 minutes
A very emotional Jiu Jitsu documentary in which Rayron Gracie addresses the death of his father, Ryan Gracie, and life without him.
Ryan Gracie died in prison when Rayron was six. In this tear-jerking documentary, Rayron sits down, and starts reading a letter to his father, speaking about their relationship during his early childhood years and how much impact his father has on his life. The documentary contains footage of Ryan and Rayron together, as well as training and competition footage showing both father and son training and competing in Jiu Jitsu.
Legacy: A Roger Gracie Documentary
- Type: Mini-documentary
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: Daniel Amaral
- Length: 16 minutes
A short documentary about one of the greatest grapplers of all time – Roger Gracie. The only person to submit all his opponents while winning both ADCC and IBJJF gold, Roger retired from his competitive BJJ career in 2017. His final match was against the up and coming to BJJ “wonderboy” Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida. This movie focuses on that final Roger Gracie professional BJJ match.
With amazing behind-the-scenes access, this documentary shows Roger’s locker room preparing for a match. The movie shows him warming up and drilling, as well as rolling and discussing strategy with Renzo Gracie.
There is also footage covering the epic match with Buchecha. The best part about this documentary is that it is narrated by Roger Gracie himself.
Invisible force – Jiu Jitsu Documentary
- Type: General
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: Matt Hurchick
- Length: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Tony Pacenski is a black belt under Rodrigo “Comprido” Medeiros. IN this movie, he goes back to his hometown for his 20-year Anniversary Seminar Tour, teaching what Rickson Gracie refers to as “invisible Jiu Jitsu”.
Throughout the documentary, there’s footage of Tony teaching and rolling, mostly in teh Gi. There are also periods where he gives interviews, talking about his BJJ experiences, his book, and his work on the Jiu Jitsu Global Federation with Rickson Gracie.
Jiu Jitsu Strong
- Type: General
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 2160p
- Production: Bobby Razak & Mohammed Al Hosani
- Length: 30 minutes
A Jiu Jitsu documentary that has many legendary grapplers talk about what Brazilian Jiu Jitsu means to them.
This documentary was released in 2020, right as the pandemic was greatly influencing the world and in particular, those making a living off of sports. In moving interviews, you’ll hear stories of how people lost their business and livelihoods, but also about how the Jiu Jitsu community come together strong to help those in need.
Featuring in the movie are Robson Gracie, Renzo Gracie, Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro”, Marcelo Garcia, Kyra Gracie, Rubens “Cobrinha” Charles, Romulo Barral, Joe Rogan, Eddie Bravo, Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza, Ricardo Liborio, Andre Galvao, Kid Peligro, Royce Gracie and Rodrigo Gracie
A White Belt Story
- Type: Mini-documentary
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: NYB Media
- Length: 20 minutes
Chirag Dave is a 26-year-old white belt, training out of Primal MMA. The movie follows him as he prepares for his first-ever tournament at Grappling Industries, Toronto.
Dave talks about what drives him, shares his conditioning and nutrition routine, as well as his hard BJJ training leading up to the tournament. The documentary also covers his performances at the tournament, as well as his thoughts and feeling after competing for the first time in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
The History Of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Untold Story)
- Type: General
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: Gustavo Gasparin
- Length: 24 minutes
Most of the history-focused Brazilian Jiu Jitsu documentaries focus heavily on the Gracie family. This one takes a slightly different direction, focusing more on the Japanese roots of the art. Based on materials made public by eh Brazilian National Library, this movie covers aspects of the roots of the Gentle Art that not many people involved in BJJ are aware of.
The movie explores the earliest history of Japanese Jiu Jitsu, starting from the samurai era. It goes on through the “pacification” of battlefield Jiu Jitsu, and it’s transformation into Judo, before covering never-before known aspects of its arrival in Brazil.
BJJ Lifestyle Documentary | Helvecio Penna: Never Stop
- Type: Mini-documentary
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 720p
- Production: Jits Inc.
- Length: 19 minutes
A documentary movie about one of the oldest active competitors, Helvecio Penna. Take a peek into the world of a Ricardo De la Riva black belt as he very successfully juggles family life, works, and competes against some of the best in the world while being over 50 years old.
The movie contains interviews with Pena, training and competition footage, and interviews with his training partners.
Fernando Terere Documentary
- Type: Storytelling
- Platform: YouTube (part 1, part 2, part 3)
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: BJJ Hacks
- Length: 27 minutes
Fernando “Terere” Augusto has one of the most inspirational stories in BJJ. One of the greatest competitors of his time, he was sidelined by mental illness and heavy drug use, almost losing his life. The amazing part of the story is his comeback from rock bottom to the podium of the world championship.
This Jiu Jitsu documentary outlines Terere’s rollercoaster journey and his imp[act on the development of modern Jiu Jitsu.
Gracie Garcia – BJJ Documentary
- Type: Storytelling
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: Raphael Pereira
- Length: 10 minutes
A look into the world of Nilton Garcia, a Roger Gracie black belt and founder of the European Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation. The documentary covers his Gracie Garcia gym, his Jiu Jitsu experiences, how he started training, and what BJJ means to him.
Ricardo “Rico” Vieira Documentary – A BJJ Lifestyle Special
- Type: Storytelling
- Platform: YouTube (part 1, part 2)
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: Jits TV
- Length: 28 minutes
Multiple world champion, co-founder of the Checkmat academy, and bother of the legendary Leo Vieira. In this feature documentary, you’ll earn all about “Rico” Vieria, a Romero Calvacanti black belt who has left a lasting impression on the world of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu both as a competitor and a professor.
JT Torres: It’s Essential
- Type: Mini-documentary
- Platform: YouTube (part 1, part 2)
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: Allen Alcantara
- Length: 17 minutes
JT Torres is a name that is very well known in BJJ circles. He is a World No-Gi champion and two times ADCC winner, and one of the most entertaining characters in teh sport. This Jiu Jitsu documentary covers the 48 hours leading up to the opening of JT’s new academy “Essential BJJ” in 2017.
Outta Nowhere – The Craig Jones Story
- Type: Mini-documentary
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: MMA Media
- Length: 19 minutes
How exactly did the second-best grappler in the world rise up so fast on the BJJ competition scene? Learn the captivating origin story of Craig Jones, as he skyrocketed from training in his friend’s garage to beating some of the best grapplers in the world at tournaments like ADCC and EBI.
In this documentary, Craig shares how he first found out about BJJ, how and when he decided to pursue it full time, and how he ended up being one of the top grapplers ever. Includes competition and training footage.
The No-Mad Chronicles: The Hand of God
- Type: Storytelling
- Platform: YouTube
- Quality: 1080p
- Production: Mihail Kunchev
- Length: 24 minutes
A moving and inspiring Jiu Jitsu documentary about a kid born without four fingers on his left hand who still decided to pursue Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. As a result of his will and dedication, he became multiple times world champion.
The movie documents his efforts at the 2016 Abu Dhabi World Pro in Dubai as Khalifa Nassrati won his first world title as a BJJ blue belt. Throughout the movie, Khalifa also shares his story about how he began training, and what inspired him to keep working and achieve amazing results.
Final Words
Watching a Jiu Jitsu documentary is a lot more fun than you might think. Try going through our list, and you’ll see that it will be very hard to watch just one – there are so many interesting and unusual stories in the world of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Get through them all and let us know which one is your favorite.
Ogi is a black belt that does Jiu Jitsu full time and is very passionate about anything grappling-related.
He is also the head coach of Enso Jiu Jitsu in Macedonia and an aspiring Globetrotter.