Since most of our BJJ learning is being done online at the moment, I have put together a list of some of my favourite BJJ Youtube Channels & Videos for you to learn from for free!
Online learning is an important addition to class time and useful for expanding your understanding and knowledge of Jiu-Jitsu quickly especially by watching Youtube videos, However many students often don’t know which YouTube videos are most reliable to follow as anyone can upload content and the information might not be that great, potentially even with incorrect details. So I have put together a list here of the most reliable sources where I know the content and details of the channels & videos are going to be the real deal that will help you improve your BJJ. Enjoy!
1) Pure Art BJJ
We have a large amount of videos on our own club YouTube channel, featuring both instruction of techniques from class and our competition matches, Be sure to subscribe to be notified of new releases as by learning from these videos, you will be studying the same content taught in class.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsNQVhuIrWNpdpie6Jit7rw?
2) Tom Barlow and Chelsea Leah
My current Instructors and head coaches of the Escapology BJJ Team whom we are affiliated to.
Toms Youtube channel features lots of good informative videos from him and Chelsea, full of great techniques and useful details and information to enhance your training. Make sure to subscribe to be notified of their latest videos to watch and learn from.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/themightybarlow
3) John Danaher
John Danaher’s knowledge, teaching and level of Jiu-Jitsu detail is second to none, his videos are fantastic, and go deeper than anyone else into the why and how of how BJJ techniques work and their overall place and usage in your game plan, touching heavily on strategy and tactics, these teachings go way beyond simple techniques. Almost a philosophy lesson on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Watching his videos and absorbing his teaching will have a dramatic effect on your BJJ progress.
Most instructional videos with him are on Bernardo Faria’s Youtube channel
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/bernardorochajf
JRE MMA Show #11 with John Danaher – A great breakdown and lesson on the strategy and gameplay of BJJ. With a great explanation of positional hierarchy.
4) Rickson Gracie
One of the absolute best of all time, anything you can get with Rickson is gold, instructional videos with him show details rarely shown elsewhere and have a strong focus on both self defence and competition, he also provides great advice on breathing and mindset.
Youtube Search: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rickson+gracie
5) Roger Gracie
One of the all time best in competition Jiu-Jitsu, 10x world champion Roger Gracie has absolute top level BJJ, based on tight solid fundamental basics done to a very high level. He shows great small details for the most basic of moves and any teachings from him are very effective and will make a great difference to your game.
His Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzzPYM_7831CcSHaHsyinWw
6) Rener & Ryron Gracie
Brothers Ryron & Rener are sons of Rorion Gracie (Creator of the UFC) and share great informative videos full of authentic technical details and information that has been handed down straight from the original Gracie Jiu-Jitsu family source and staying true to those original ideals, the technical information shared features a strong emphasis on the use of leverage over strength. They also have a great emphasis on using Jiu-jitsu for self defence rather than just competition. They are highly entertaining and easy to watch and learn from. Highly recommended.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/GracieBreakdown
7) Eddie Kone
Great Solid Effective Jiu-Jitsu and Excellent Instruction videos from Eddie Kone, a Royler Gracie black belt based in London, UK with a great focus on both self defence and competition usable techniques. The videos have a great level of detail and always have a good explanation of the important fundamental details with a strong adherence to the original knowledge passed down from the source.
Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9PLGaE7Vj7THyp9gIJsz7g
8) Nic Gregoriades
Nic is a Roger Gracie Black Belt and teaches great highly detailed top level technique in a relaxed and sometimes deep and philosophical way. He shares a lot of useful knowledge which you can absorb and learn from
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/jjitsubrotherhood
9) Roy Dean
A student of Roy Harris, Roy Dean is a martial artist and BJJ instructor who offers many great high quality, professional and often long format videos, featuring both rolling and technique, the videos often showcase and teach a great level of technical skill with good adherance to the details. There is plenty you can learn from his videos.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/uchideshi
10) Henry Akins
A Rickson Gracie Black Belt, his instructional videos feature lots of effective technique passed down from the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legend with good teaching and thorough explanation of the details as well as a focus on the invisible aspects of the moves and how to best use leverage in order to avoid relying on strength
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=henry+akins
Also check out the great techniques shown in the videos below.
11) Andre Galvao
Multiple time world champion Andre Galvao is one of the best on the planet, His Atos academy has produced many modern high level competition medalists and he awarded Chelsea Leah as well as Keenan Cornelius their black belts. Very competition based, The technical concepts, ideas and moves shown in his videos are often at the cutting edge of modern new school Jiu-jitsu whilst still teaching and based on the solid concepts of the old school. Learning from his videos will add lots to your game and are well worth studying.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2uvUWTuQXq1k5DOZhzJ8VQ
12) Braulio Estima
One of the best in the world, Braulio is a multiple world champion as well as addc champion, he is the coach of Tom Barlow and shares great technical, knowledge concepts and insights. You will learn lots of useful knowledge and information from him
Youtube Search: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=braulio+estima
13) Renzo Gracie
John Danaher’s instructor, Renzo has great Jiu-jitsu and is an entertaining character as has a real fighters mindset, he has a wealth of knowledge about fighting and technical videos with him show many great moves and details, The legacy Documentary below is a great watch, filmed over 10 years, it follows Renzo during this period and provides great insight into the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Youtube Search: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=renzo+gracie
14) Carlson Gracie London
Great solid technical instruction with effective moves and details from the guys at Carlson Gracie London.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbMjapFKatZSA-TIm8g5diQ
15) Firas Zahabi
Head MMA coach at TriStar Gym, Firas Zahabi is a big name in MMA and is one of the main coaches of the Legendary Georges Saint Pierre. He is also a BJJ black belt under John Danaher and his technical instruction videos are excellent, breaking down moves and strategies with good explanation of why they work and the details and concepts used.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/tristargymcanada
16) Keenan Cornelius
I find Keenans videos good for expanding your current horizons of BJJ with lots of new concepts and innovative ideas, they feature a lot of experimental concepts so are useful for cutting edge information.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/fritzdagger
17) Lachlan Giles
Lachlan Giles runs one of the best BJJ gym’s in Australia and is a top level competitor with many great wins, he also taught the well known Craig Jones.
His videos feature many great techniques and solutions to moves and have good focus on No-Gi as well as Gi so are particularly useful for developing your game for both.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVX5F9uZyzzSI9juQRp_2Hw
18) Fabio Gurgel
Fabio Gurgel is one of the old school Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu greats, Joint creator of the alliance team, and his info is the real stuff and great to learn from.
Youtube Search: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=fabio+gurgel+bjj
19) Mendes Brothers
Legends in BJJ Competition and Multiple Time World Champions, the Mendes Bros, have had a strong influence on Tom Barlow & Chelsea Leah’s Jiu-Jitsu, and their videos are full of cutting edge, highly detailed videos on modern competition Jiu-Jitsu.
Art Of Jiu-Jitsu Academy Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJNi-p8f0nnB3cf_ujYm3Fg
20) Kurt Osiander
Old School BJJ Veteran Kurt Osiander, has a channel full of humorous, quick simple no nonsense videos in his move of the week series, where he outlines the basics of solid tried and tested techniques. Kurt is quite a character and his videos are pretty entertaining as well as showing some solid fundamental options to use when rolling.
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtmoqK-8MPiq4Vs_X2deDbg
21) Saulo Ribeiro
5x world champion, Saulo Ribiero is one of the all time greats, a veteran black belt under Royler Gracie. His videos always offer valuable insights, concepts, techniques and knowledge and ideas to apply to your game,
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=saulo+ribeiro
22) Xande Ribeiro
7X world champion and younger brother of Saulo, Xande earned his black belt from him and has top level BJJ, his instructional videos are well worth learning from and offer great technical details and concepts to add to your grappling.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=xande+ribeiro+bjj
23) Marcelo Garcia
5X World champion and 4X ADCC Champion, BJJ legend Marcelo Garcia shares plenty of video content on his YouTube channel, very conceptual in essence, its great for enhancing your overall understanding of Jiu-Jitsu.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/MarceloGarciaAcademy
24) Mauricio Gomes
The father of Roger Gracie, Mauricio is another old school BJJ great and one of the first people to bring Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the UK, any knowledge from him is going to help improve your game.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnNpYoEZ0IKxdoEY-NUFkGA
25) Roy Harris
Roy Harris is a veteran old school martial artist, with a huge amount of time on the mats in the art of BJJ, and masses of effective & tested knowledge to share.
His YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbmQJOVi7cUTXIImvz0yYzg
26) Chris Haueter
Another real old school guy, Chris Haueter shares masses of effective knowledge with a good focus on the practical usage of BJJ, highly recommended.
Youtube Search: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=chris+haueter+bjj+
27) Bernado Faria
5X world champion who has trained extensively with Fabio Gurgel, Bernardo’s videos are great and teach effective techniques and concepts as well as being enjoyable to watch and easy to follow. His BJJ Fanatics channel also features material from lots of guest instructors who also offer full length instructional on his BJJ Fanatics website.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/bernardorochajf
28) Raspberry Ape Podcast
A great BJJ Podcast from London based black belt Daniel Strauss, he interviews many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu legends in his video podcasts, many of whom are UK based guys, you can learn lots about the early history of BJJ in the UK and masses of Jiu-Jitsu knowledge in general from their stories, very entertaining and addictive to follow, the podcasts usually range 2-3 hours long with each person, they date back much further in just audio on Apple Podcasts so be sure to listen to those ones as well, you will learn lots from watching them.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/raspberryape
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-raspberry-ape-podcast/id1120266837
29) Stephen Kesting
BJJ Blackbelt Stephen Kesting, runs Grapplearts.com, and makes some great Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructional videos in an easily explained manner, often with guest instructors.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/StephanKesting
30) FIT Jiu Jitsu Jordan/ Samy Aljamal
I’ve found these videos from this guy technically great with lots of effective and impressive techniques that I haven’t seen elsewhere.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSOURCEmmaJORDAN
31) BJJ Scout
Awesome video analysis and super technical breakdowns of some of the Best BJJ and MMA fighters, it shows great concepts and techniques by slowing down video footage of them in use by the big names of the art.
Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxfojO_vFixa73v2M7OP-Lw
