Over the past few decades, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) has undergone substantial change, with practitioners consistently pushing the limits of physical conditioning, technique, and strategy. As 2025 approaches, new trends are starting to emerge that could influence how BJJ is taught and practiced. Here are the top BJJ trends to watch in 2025 and how they’re changing the sport, from innovative training techniques to state-of-the-art equipment.
1. More Emphasis on Leg Locks and Submissions in Advanced BJJ Techniques
In recent years, leg locks—once thought of as specialty techniques—have become increasingly common. As athletes continue to incorporate these advanced submissions into their sports, 2025 should see even greater attention paid to them. Examples of these submissions include heel hooks, knee bars, and ankle locks.
This trend has been influenced by the emergence of NoGi training as well as modifications to the competitive environment. In order to remain competitive, practitioners are progressively learning leg locks, which are becoming essential elements of a well-rounded BJJ game. Learning how to execute leg locks will be crucial to your future BJJ endeavors, regardless of your level of experience.
2. Using Technology in BJJ Instruction
Every part of our life is changing due to technology, and BJJ is no different. By 2025, more athletes and academies will be using technology to improve their training. Smart mats and other wearables that track movement and give feedback are becoming standard equipment for practitioners. These gadgets may track important parameters like timing, pressure, and weight distribution and provide real-time analysis to assist athletes in improving their methods.
In BJJ training, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) are also beginning to gain traction. While AR overlays offer step-by-step instructions and technique corrections during practice, VR may replicate grappling scenarios, enabling practitioners to “spar” with virtual partners. Through this technological integration, practitioners can hone their abilities in novel ways and gain a greater comprehension of their performance.
3. BJJ’s Importance for Mental and Physical Well-Being
BJJ will continue to gain popularity in 2025 as a way to improve general health in addition to being a combat art. Because of BJJ’s physical advantages, which include enhanced cardiovascular health, strength, flexibility, and weight management, practitioners are using it more and more. However, BJJ’s positive effects on mental health are now becoming more well acknowledged.
Because it necessitates a great deal of focus and concentration, BJJ is renowned for its meditative qualities, which can help lower stress and enhance mental clarity. BJJ is being used by many practitioners to treat mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. In 2025 and beyond, the BJJ community will continue to be shaped by this combined emphasis on mental and physical health.
4. The Development of Cross-Training and BJJ Conditioning
The practice of adding cross-training to BJJ players’ routines is becoming more popular as they become more specialized in their training. By 2025, there will be a greater focus on BJJ-specific conditioning, fusing conventional strength and conditioning with drills tailored to the sport. To increase explosive power and endurance, training programs are include exercises like resistance band work, sled pushes, and kettlebell swings.
In order to supplement their training, many BJJ athletes are also pursuing other martial arts and fitness disciplines. By combining diverse grips, takedowns, and tactics into their BJJ practice, practitioners can develop a more dynamic and well-rounded skill set by cross-training in judo, sambo, and wrestling. This pattern reflects the increasing understanding that athletes who possess a variety of skills have more success on
5. A Greater Emphasis on BJJ for Women
The number of women practicing BJJ has been rising consistently, and in 2025, this trend is not expected to slow. More women are starting their own gyms, mentoring younger practitioners, and participating in big contests. Women-only activities, such as seminars and classes, are becoming more and more in demand.
More encouraging and challenging training environments for female practitioners are being developed as a result of this emphasis on inclusivity. With events devoted to exhibiting female skill, women’s BJJ competitions are also becoming increasingly well-known. The increase of female BJJ competitors is a movement that is empowering women in martial arts and other fields, not merely a passing fad.
6. BJJ’s Expansion in Schools and Youth Programs
Around the world, more youth programs are emerging as the advantages of BJJ for kids are well understood. Because it fosters discipline, focus, and confidence, BJJ is predicted to remain a popular option for kid-friendly activities in 2025.
While private academies are providing specific training for children, many schools are starting to include BJJ into their physical education curricula. Youth BJJ is becoming more and more popular as a way to teach kids important life lessons like respect, tenacity, and dispute resolution in addition to self-defense. In many areas, BJJ is becoming a vital component of youth development.
7. Hybrid Training Models: Combining Online and Offline Instruction
Online training has grown rapidly since the COVID-19 epidemic, and this hybrid paradigm is here to stay in 2025. Numerous BJJ schools are integrating online resources with in-person training, providing technique breakdowns, instructional videos, and virtual classes to enhance in-person education.
With the support of seasoned trainers, practitioners can now receive training from the convenience of their homes thanks to this trend. Virtual instruction provides a practical and adaptable option for people who travel regularly or reside in places without a BJJ academy close by. By 2025, the combination of online and in-person training is probably going to be a standard practice in the BJJ world.
8. BJJ as a Journey Throughout Life
Last but not least, one of the biggest developments in BJJ for 2025 is the increasing understanding that BJJ is a lifetime activity. Even though BJJ events and competitions are significant, more practitioners are viewing BJJ as a long-term strategy to enhance their physical and mental health. With practitioners continuing to train well into their 40s, 50s, and even 60s, the belief that BJJ is for people of all ages and ability levels is becoming increasingly embedded in the community.
There will be more programs created especially for senior practitioners as a result of this change in perspective, which will see BJJ as a lifelong adventure with an increased focus on mobility, joint health, and recuperation. BJJ will be viewed more and more as a means of maintaining mental acuity, physical fitness, and an active lifestyle.
In terms of martial arts innovation, BJJ is in the forefront in 2025. The sport is changing in fascinating ways, from the popularity of sophisticated moves like leg locks to the incorporation of technology and the increased emphasis on diversity. These developments will influence the direction of BJJ as it develops further and provide practitioners of all skill levels and backgrounds with fresh chances to practice, compete, and succeed.