Choking and Changing: The Evolution of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in the 21st Century

A Conversation with Daniel Frank

As an ever-evolving martial art, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) has undergone significant transformation over the past two decades. I’ve had a front-row seat to all of this change over the last 25 years, making jiu jitsu an enormous part of my life.

To discuss how jiu jitsu has changed during the 21st century, I needed to talk to someone who has been as deeply enmeshed as me, and—in fact—who is on the mats day in and day out, completely obsessed with teaching and training in the martial art, while also considering the bigger picture: gym management.

Daniel Frank is the main instructor at Revolution BJJ, and a partner of mine in the venture. He loves the art of jiu jitsu as much as anyone I’ve ever met, and I’ve met a lot of obsessed jiu jitsu practitioners. His passion shows through in his teaching style and dedication to improving his craft.

Today, I wanted to share some of Daniel’s observations about the rapid changes within jiu jitsu we’ve both seen, what Daniel is seeing “on the ground” today, and where we both see things going.

The Multi-Faceted Roles of a BJJ Instructor

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is much more than a sport or martial art—it's a lifestyle. And for instructors like Daniel, the teaching role is multifaceted, filled with an array of responsibilities that go beyond the mat.

As Daniel says, the BJJ instructor "has to juggle between being an educator, an athlete, a therapist, a janitor, an advertiser, a coach, a leader, and a student." Each of these roles brings its unique challenges and rewards and contributes significantly to the overall BJJ experience.

The role of a BJJ instructor extends far beyond merely demonstrating techniques. As educators, we impart both the intricate technicalities and the broader philosophy of jiu-jitsu. Our role as athletes requires us to maintain a high level of physical condition (trust me, Daniel is a workout machine), and we need to stay updated with the evolving sport.

As therapists, we offer a listening ear to students facing personal challenges on the mat… and sometimes off the mat.

Revolution BJJ is insanely clean. Hygiene is a core value. As a result, the custodial duties of a BJJ instructor are a part of our culture, helping to ensure that the gym is clean and inviting. Setting the tone for gym culture isn’t easy or automatic, and it requires a lot of work, all of the time.

Finally, as perpetual students of the art, we foster an environment of continual learning, remaining open to new techniques and strategies. I like to learn from Daniel when I can, and Daniel will learn from me. We also learn from many other black belts.

The job is undoubtedly demanding, but it's the passion for the art of jiu-jitsu that drives instructors like Daniel to embrace these roles day after day.

The Journey from Practitioner to Instructor

Embarking on the path of teaching BJJ was a natural progression for Daniel. With his background in education and years spent teaching at various school levels, he was not entirely new to the nuances of teaching.

Incidentally, both of my parents (hi mom!) were teachers, and I’m certain I learned a lot of their craft by way of observation. In a sense, both Daniel and I were destined to become teachers of some sort.

What drove Daniel to teaching, however, was more than just his prior experience. He found a deep-seated passion for BJJ.

“As a purple belt, I began filling in for classes as an instructor and took to it naturally. I have been inspired by all of the instructors I have had throughout my career, and they all have inspired me to be a better instructor.”

His previous instructors played an instrumental role in kindling his love for teaching the sport and continuously inspire him to improve his craft. It's the effect of these personal influences that define the type of instructor Daniel has become today—dedicated, passionate, and always striving to be better.

These days, for both Daniel and me, it's not just about imparting knowledge; it's about fostering an environment of shared learning and mutual respect.

Evolving Landscape of Jiu Jitsu

Over the last two decades, Daniel and I have witnessed a dynamic transformation within the world of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. The art has evolved in leaps and bounds, becoming more global, dynamic, and accessible than ever before. Daniel notes, "Jiu jitsu has become a lot more dynamic since the days that I began. Practitioners are moving more and discovering new positions and new techniques daily."

In the past, the jiu jitsu community was somewhat insular, scattered across different regions, with communication and knowledge exchange proving a challenge. However, with the advent of emerging technologies, the barriers have been broken down, and jiu jitsu has truly reached a global scale.

“Twenty years ago, jiu jitsu was still in little pockets around the globe that did not communicate well with each other, or the outside world. Emerging technology has helped take jiu jitsu to a global level and connect anyone who would like to try the art.”

This rapid spread of knowledge has significantly impacted both practitioners and instructors. Today's practitioners have a wealth of resources at their disposal—online tutorials like BJJ Path (my attempt to create an encyclopedia for our jiu jitsu techniques), global competitions, instructional DVDs, and more.

The learning curve that once took years can now be traversed at an astonishing pace. Despite these resources, the essence of jiu jitsu—the patience, practice, and perseverance—remains unchanged.

For instructors, the challenge now is to stay in tune with the ever-changing landscape of jiu jitsu. In the past, a black belt could have an encyclopedic knowledge of the techniques in the sport. Today, that’s simply impossible. With new techniques and concepts sprouting up every day, the role of the instructor is to stay adaptable and receptive to change. "The instructor does not have to be an expert in all aspects, but should be aware of the ever-changing jiu jitsu world," Daniel highlights. This ability to adapt and evolve with the sport is what sets successful instructors apart.

The Present

The operational side of running a BJJ gym is a realm that often stays out of the public eye but is integral to maintaining a successful and thriving gym environment. The balancing act of managing a gym involves various aspects ranging from logistics and business planning to fostering a healthy community.

"Running a gym is like running a small business, you have to think about all aspects - operations, marketing, customer service, and even finance," says Daniel. All these facets are interdependent and crucial for the gym's smooth functioning. In addition to juggling these roles, as instructors, we still have to maintain our edge on the mat, keep up with new techniques, and continue to provide high-quality instruction.

Incidentally, I think most folks think a BJJ gym owner (or manager) does jiu jitsu with 90% of their time, and the “other stuff” 10% of the time. In fact, it’s much closer to an inversion of that ratio, with the overwhelming majority of an owner’s/manager’s time spent on activities we probably did not initially have much interest in doing.

But the good ones understand that everything is related, and the quality of training stems from a great culture and a smoothly functioning business environment. The great ones are actually able to pull something like this off on a large scale.

Ensuring consistent quality of instruction while managing all these aspects can be a tricky endeavor. The quality of instruction can directly influence the gym's reputation, attracting new students and retaining existing ones. "You're not just running a business, you're also nurturing a community. Every decision you make can impact the gym's atmosphere and the students' experience," Daniel adds.

“It's essential to ensure that everyone feels like they are part of the community," says Daniel. "The goal is to create a space where everyone supports and learns from each other.”

Despite these challenges, Daniel enjoys the business aspect of running the gym. He shares that the administrative tasks, although sometimes tedious, are also opportunities to learn and grow. "Just like in jiu jitsu, there's always something new to learn in running a gym. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities."

"Watching students progress, seeing them overcome their challenges, and knowing you played a part in their journey—that's the ultimate reward," says Daniel. And I wholeheartedly agree.

The Future

What the future holds for jiu-jitsu, and more specifically for Revolution BJJ, is a topic that continually piques our interest. As practitioners who have experienced the sport's evolution over the years, Daniel and I are enthusiastic about what the future might bring.

I’ve always tried to do my part to integrate new technologies into our gym over the years. We did the simple stuff like having waivers stored in the cloud in the early 2010s, and have continued to try to leverage technology for the students to learn better. BJJ Path is just one small example.

"We're just at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the growth and development of jiu-jitsu," Daniel notes. "The sport is constantly evolving and changing, and I think we'll see even more innovation and growth in the future."

This innovation isn't just limited to techniques and training methods. It extends to the entire culture and community of jiu-jitsu. The global BJJ community has grown exponentially over the years, and this growth is expected to continue. Jiu-jitsu, once a niche martial art, is now becoming mainstream.

“I think we're going to see a much bigger, broader jiu-jitsu community in the future," Daniel predicts. "With more people getting involved in the sport, we'll see a lot more diversity, innovation, and expansion.”

As for Revolution BJJ, our primary focus remains on providing quality instruction and fostering a supportive, inclusive community. We'll continue to adapt and evolve as the sport does, and we're excited to be a part of this journey.

"One of the things that I'm most proud of is the community we've built at Revolution BJJ," Daniel shares. "I look forward to seeing it continue to grow and evolve, just like the sport itself."

And even though the roles of an instructor and gym manager can be incredibly demanding, neither of us would trade it for anything else. Because for us, it's more than just a job—it's our passion.

“I love what I do, and I can't imagine doing anything else," says Daniel. "Every day is a new challenge, a new learning experience. And the best part? I get to share my passion for jiu-jitsu with others."

This sentiment is shared by both of us. We have been fortunate enough to turn our passion for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu into a vocation, and we are excited to see where this journey will lead us in the future.

In the last two decades, the medium by which jiu jitsu information was propagated the most has evolved from VHS to DVD to streaming videos. In 1997, you waited a few months to see grainy camcorder footage of a jiu jitsu event in Brazil. By 2010, you could see moves on YouTube the same day they were introduced to the world.

Where is this interconnectedness taking us over the next 25 years?

I’m going to speculate about that soon. We’re going to talk about creating an AI BJJ instructor, and what that will actually take to pull off. We’ll also speculate about technological trends vis a vis learning more broadly, as this article enticingly hints: