Has Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gone mainstream… and lost its edge?

In this episode of Black and Blue: A Jiu Jitsu Podcast, we ask the question: Is BJJ still cool? With celebrities training, every second gym offering jiu jitsu classes, and TikTok clips flooding your feed, has the once-gritty subculture of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu become too polished, too commercialized, too… ordinary?

We compare BJJ’s evolution to the rise (and watering down) of other once-underground communities like karate, comic book culture, tattoos, and biker gangs. Is it a natural part of growth, or is something authentic being lost in the hype? We share our thoughts on the rise of influencer black belts, Instagram rolls, celebrity practitioners, and how the BJJ scene has shifted from raw dojo energy to branded lifestyle.

Whether you’re a day-one mat rat or a new white belt loving the current scene, this episode digs into the cultural identity of jiu jitsu, past, present, and future.