MEET A FOX: Adaptive Athlete RJ Nealon on Cerebral Palsy, Accessibility, and Representation in BJJ
Two things have been true for RJ Nealon for virtually his entire life. One, ever since suffering a stroke at birth, he’s lived with cerebral palsy: a condition that limits...
MEET A FOX: ADCC Youth World Champ JJ Bowers Talks PGF Goals, Teases MMA Debut
When a teenage JJ Bowers put ADCC veteran Keith Krikorian to sleep at Combat Jiu-Jitsu Worlds, audiences everywhere sat up and took notice — and for good reason. An ADCC...
The Complete Grappler Hygiene and Skin Health Guide
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a close-contact sport. Sweat, friction, shared mats, and skin-to-skin contact create a perfect environment for bacteria and fungus to spread. If you train consistently, hygiene is...
How Do You Prevent Acne From Jiu Jitsu?
Best Practices to Prevent BJJ Acne 1. Shower Immediately Wash with warm water and gentle cleanser as soon as possible. 2. Change Out of Training Clothes Do not sit in...
How Do You Treat Acne From Jiu Jitsu?
Step 1: Identify the Type Is it: Fungal (itchy, uniform) Bacterial (inflamed whiteheads) Hormonal (deep cystic) Friction-based (jaw/neck irritation) Treatment depends on cause. Over-the-Counter Options For Bacterial Acne: Benzoyl peroxide...
Is BJJ Acne Hormonal?
Can Jiu Jitsu Trigger Hormonal Acne? Indirectly, yes. Intense training can: Increase cortisol (stress hormone) Disrupt sleep Affect menstrual cycles Alter testosterone levels These changes may increase oil production. Where...
What Is Acne Mechanica in BJJ?
What Is Acne Mechanica? Acne mechanica is acne caused by: Friction Pressure Heat Sweat It is common in contact sports. Why Does Jiu Jitsu Cause Acne Mechanica? In BJJ: Your...
What Is Fungal Acne in Jiu Jitsu?
What Is Fungal Acne? Fungal acne is not traditional acne. It is caused by yeast (Malassezia) overgrowth, not clogged pores. It appears as: Small red bumps Itchy irritation Clusters on...
Does Jiu Jitsu Cause Acne?
Can Jiu Jitsu Cause Acne? Yes. Jiu Jitsu can contribute to acne due to: Sweat buildup Mat bacteria exposure Friction (acne mechanica) Hormonal stress from intense training Many adult grapplers...
How Should You Wear Your Hair for an IBJJF Tournament?
Are There Hair Rules in IBJJF? The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) does not specify exact hairstyle requirements. However: Hair must not interfere with safety Hair accessories cannot contain metal...
How Do You Protect Your Hair in Jiu Jitsu?
Why Does Jiu Jitsu Damage Hair? BJJ can cause: Breakage Frizz Matting Hairline stress This is due to: Friction Sweat Constant pressure Repeated tying and re-tying 5 Ways to Protect...
What Is the Best Hairstyle for Jiu Jitsu?
What Is the Best Hairstyle for Jiu Jitsu? The best hairstyle for jiu jitsu is: Tight braids secured close to the head. Specifically: Cornrows French or Dutch braided pigtails High...
Are Press-On Nails Allowed in IBJJF?
Can You Compete With Press-On Nails? Press-on nails are generally discouraged for jiu jitsu. Why? They can: Pop off during grip exchanges Lift under sweat Create sharp edges Leave adhesive...
BJJ Tournament Prep Checklist for Women
What Should Women Bring to a BJJ Tournament? Here is a complete checklist for competition day: Essentials IBJJF-legal gi IBJJF-approved rash guard Mouthguard Belt ID A bag to hold your...
What Happens If You Fail IBJJF Nail Check?
What Happens If Your Nails Are Too Long at IBJJF? If an official determines your nails are unsafe: You will be required to trim them immediately Your match may be...
Can You Have Acrylic Nails in Jiu Jitsu?
Can You Train BJJ With Acrylic Nails? Technically yes — but it is strongly discouraged unless they are: Very short Rounded Filed smooth Long acrylic nails are unsafe for grappling....
IBJJF Nail Rules Explained: What Will Fail Inspection?
What Are the IBJJF Nail Rules? Under International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) competition guidelines, athletes must: Keep fingernails and toenails trimmed short Remove sharp edges Ensure nails do not pose...
How to “Nail” the Perfect BJJ Manicure (Without Failing Your Next IBJJF Nail Check!)
Picture this: you’ve just gotten the most beautiful manicure done, but the minute you hit the mats, your nails start chipping. Worse yet, they’re scratching up your teammates whenever you...
Getting Started with Jiu-Jitsu: What Every Beginner Should Know
Maybe you’re looking for an effective form of self-defense. Maybe you’re already a seasoned athlete looking for extra training in a new sport. Or maybe you’re just interested in improving...
MEET A FOX: Joslyn Molina on Earning ADCC Trials Bronze at Age 13, Balancing Teen Life, and What’s Next
The day I sit down to chat with the youngest ADCC Trials medalist in history, she’s in the midst of celebrating her fourteenth birthday. “I feel like right now, currently,...
An Honest Reflection 2025 | By Gaidama Founder and CEO Kendall Vernon
If I had to describe 2025 in one sentence, it would be: 2025 was the year I learned how to be with the chaos without becoming it. Honestly it was...
The Ultimate Jiu Jitsu Gift Guide 2025
If you’ve ever tried shopping for a Jiu Jitsu athlete, you know it’s no easy task. Between training schedules, gear preferences, and “that one rashguard they’ll only wear on comp...
MEET A FOX: Teen Phenom Jett Thompson Chats PGF Victory and Future Legacy
Jett Thompson isn’t even twenty years old yet, but this past year, he won over PGF audiences – not to mention season 8’s lightweight title – with a consistently dominant,...
MEET A FOX: No-Gi Pans Champ Ana Mayordomo Discusses the Road to Her Own Personal Wimbledon
When Spanish-born Ana Mayordomo – clad in a strikingly bright, tennis white Gaidama set – secured her victory at the 2025 ADCC European Trials, she struck gold not just for...
Choosing Great Over Good: Exploring The Gaidama Difference
Alongside the rise of jiu-jitsu on the world stage comes the rise of jiu-jitsu gear. Happily, today, we have more jiu-jitsu gear – and, importantly, jiu-jitsu gear of reasonably quality...
Essential Moves for Women Starting BJJ
So, you’ve started your jiu-jitsu journey. Maybe you walked into a jiu-jitsu gym near you, signed up for female jiu-jitsu classes, or a friend encouraged you to try it. Now,...
In Conversation With Kendall Vernon, Gaidama Founder & CEO
Introduction: A Word from Our CEO 2024 marked another consecutive year of doubled year-over-year growth for Gaidama. Four years of doubling our revenue from the previous year and finally emerging...
BJJ Competition Tips: Mindsets, Rulesets, Nutrition, and More
Jiu-jitsu competition preparation may seem daunting to the uninitiated, but with the right strategies and mindset in place, you’ll be rolling like a pro on tournament day in no time....
Benefits of Jiu-Jitsu for Women: Physical, Mental, and Beyond
Benefits of Brazilian jiu-jitsu positively impact everyday life for a wide range of demographics – but female practitioners in particular have sung the praises of the gentle art. There are...
Breaking Barriers: The Rise of Women in Jiu-Jitsu
Once upon a time, aspiring female athletes were hard-pressed to find even one or two other female practitioners on the mat in your average Brazilian jiu-jitsu class. While other popular...
A Weekend With Gaidama: The Making of the Fourth Annual Epic Open Mat
I’m hanging out with some of the most elite submission grapplers on the planet, and we’re all deeply engrossed in a conversation about, of all things, the art of capturing...
Dress for Success: Gaidama’s Guide to Your 2024 No-Gi Season
We’re no strangers to dressing athletes of all levels for the competition mats. With both the rapidly growing ADCC Open circuit and the IBJJF’s 2024 no-gi season in full swing,...
How Foxes Took Over ADCC 2024: A Gaidama Story
Here’s a fun piece of trivia for ADCC 2024 enthusiasts: what do the promotion’s brand new women’s open class division, two of the North American Trials winners (and now newly-minted...
MEET A FOX: ADCC Contender Lyzz Mitrovic Shares Mindset, Motivation, and Competition Methods
Here’s a fun fact about ADCC West Coast Trials winner Lyzz Mitrovic: at her very first tournament, a small local in-house, she was the only woman who signed up –...
MEET A FOX: ADCC Contender Mo Black Explains Why Pressure is a Privilege
Morgan “Mo” Black is a force to reckon with. Though she’ll be making her ADCC Worlds debut this year, the black belt competitor is no stranger to the spotlight. She’s...
An Anniversary Story: Gaidama Owner Chats Humble Beginnings, Teases Future Plans
June 2024 heralds the start of another summer for most of us – but for Gaidama founder and CEO Kendall Vernon, the month holds an additional special meaning. This June...
Summer Shopping Spree: The Gaidama Girl’s Apparel Guide
As temperatures rise with the arrival of summer, Gaidama’s here to make sure you’re dressed for sunnier seasons – whether you’re training hard on the jiu-jitsu mats, or relaxing on...
The Gaidama Shopper’s Ultimate Guide to Father’s Day
Got a jiu-jitsu dad in your life? With Father’s Day just around the corner, there’s never been a better time to check out Gaidama’s rapidly growing men’s gear and apparel...
“Gaidama is an Everyone Club”: Founder Discusses Launch of New Men’s Apparel Line
Sartorially conscious gentlemen of the jiu-jitsu world, you have new reason to rejoice: leading women’s jiu-jitsu gear line Gaidama – known for high-quality construction, comfort, and unique, fashion-forward design –...
The Gaidama Girls’ Guide to Packing for BJJ Class: What’s In My Gear Bag?
Packing your gear bag for jiu-jitsu – not to mention keeping that bag remotely well-organized – can feel overwhelming on the best of days. Between gi day, no-gi day, and...
Supporting the Girls: A Field Guide to Gaidama Sports Bras
While Gaidama may be best known for top-notch jiujiteira gear like rashguards, spats, and grappling shorts, we ladies know that during a hard roll, even the best rashguards on the...
Gaidama Founder Chats New Made-in-America Label: Kendall Vernon on Creating New Jobs and Supporting Small Business
In the years since Gaidama founder Kendall Vernon established Brazilian jiu-jitsu’s now-beloved women’s gear brand, she’s had the pleasure of seeing her product cross international borders. The global footprint...
Gaidama | 2023 Review & 2024 Vision
A brief summary of our key successes and lessons learned from 2023 plus an outline of our goals and plans moving into 2024 Growth 2023 marked our third year of...
Inside Gaidama’s Epic Open Mat: Women’s BJJ Stars Assemble
This fall, Gaidama closed out the season with one of their biggest events of the year: an epic open mat and photoshoot that united this brand's incredible sponsored athletes from around...
The Female Grapplers’ Holiday Gift Guide
It’s that time of year again! With Christmas right around the corner, a lot of us are scratching our heads over our own personal Santa shopping lists. However, thanks to...
Studio to Street: Everyday Fashion for Female Grapplers
While we pride ourselves on building the best jiu-jitsu gear for women on the market, we also know you’ve got a life beyond the mats. Unheard of? Perhaps! But we’ve...
Introducing the Ultimate Gi for BJJ Girls
If you’ve been wondering what the best gi for women in jiu-jitsu is, we politely invite you to call an end to your search at long last! Gaidama has...
The BJJ Girl’s Guide to Dressing for Competition
Jiu-jitsu tournaments are a great opportunity for the growing number of female grapplers in the sport to test their competitive mettle. However, with jiu-jitsu competition having been even more traditionally...
Women in BJJ: 5 Activities to Improve Your Jiu Jitsu
As much as we all love hitting the mat for a good hard jiu-jitsu training session, every grappler can benefit from mixing other activities into her training regimen from time...
Can I do Jiu Jitsu on My Period? | Training BJJ on Your Period
Wondering if it’s possible, appropriate, or even tolerable to train BJJ on your period? You’ve come to the right place! As a team of brown and black belt women in Jiu Jitsu, we are experts on the matter of BJJ and periods.
Jiu Jitsu Acne | Treating Acne From BJJ
Jiu Jitsu can certainly play a role in the unexpected development of acne in adults. However, there are several preventative measures and treatments for all kinds of acne that can help grapplers reclaim a healthy skin.
Your First Jiu Jitsu Class: What to Wear, Bring, & Expect
If you’re reading this article then you’ve made a life changing decision and taken the first step towards a new beginning! Starting something new can be uncomfortable if not intimidating....
4 Ways to Get Better Faster at Jiu Jitsu
It’s in the best interest of Jiu Jitsu that there is no easy way to the top. The arduous path we all must take preserves the integrity of the sport and the respect of its authority in the martial arts world. However, as with everything, there are actions we can take to optimize our results and affect our performance. Study, testing (competing), focus and intentional practice, and consistency are indisputable ways to make the most out of your time and accelerate the improvement of your Jiu Jitsu.
The Difference Between BJJ Spats and Athletic Leggings
There are a lot of similarities but several key differences which separate grappling spats from traditional athletic leggings. Pockets, zippers, fabrics, and stitching are the primary differences while Gaidama has introduced other features such as a stay-put waistband, a sweat-wicking liner in the saddle, and no center crotch seam to further distinguish the two and optimize spats for grappling sports.
Jiu Jitsu for Women: Self Defense, Community, & Confidence
Jiu Jitsu is one of the most popular combat sports on the planet. It's increasingly accessible (with more Jiu Jitsu academies on average per city than Starbucks), it's one of...
Training Jiu Jitsu Through Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
This blog is an account of my own personal experiences grappling while pregnant and/or nursing through two pregnancies, including the challenges I faced, products I used, and how I kept myself and my babies cared for without sacrificing my Jiu Jitsu.
5 Pro Tips to Defunk Smelly Grappling Clothes
Get deeper cleans and preserve the longevity of your spats, rashguards, sports bras, and gis by following these 5 simple steps. Odor-causing bacteria thrives in damp workout clothes (especially your super-soaked...
Best Hairstyles for Jiu Jitsu
Ahh.. The age-long problem of Jiu Jitsu hair. Unless you’re rocking a buzz cut like Thug Rose Namajunas or another short-enough-to-not-be-a-problem-in-jiu-jitsu style, this article is for you. Generally speaking, braids (of...
2022: Reflections, Progress, & Lessons Learned (plus things to look forward to in 2023)
In this blog I reflect back on 2022: Another consecutive year of doubled revenue, tremendous evolution, and exciting opportunities, but also another year of rookie mistakes, financial setbacks, and challenges. I...