Ask any black belt what they wish they'd done earlier and plenty will say the same thing: write things down. Jiu-jitsu throws a huge amount of detail at you. There are grips, angles, timing and small adjustments, and most of it is gone by the next class. A training journal is the cheapest way to keep it.
The problem is that most journals die within a month. People write too much, it becomes a chore, and they stop. Here's a simpler approach.
What to write after class (2 minutes)
You don't need a full write-up of every technique. Capture three things:
- What was taught. The position and the technique, e.g. "Knee cut pass from half guard".
- The one detail that clicked. The thing you'd tell a training partner: "Underhook the far arm before cutting the knee through."
- What you're unsure about. A question to ask your coach next time.
That's it. A short entry you actually write beats a perfect one you skip.
What to write after rolling
Rolls are where you find out what really works. Note:
- Where you spent most of the roll. Bottom half guard? Top side control?
- One thing that worked.
- One thing that kept happening to you. Getting passed the same way three rolls in a row is the most useful thing you can write down.
You don't need to record every roll. Your hardest roll of the night is usually enough.
Rate yourself, honestly
A simple 1–10 rating on the technique you drilled ("how confident would I be hitting this in a roll?") makes progress visible. When the rating for your armbar from guard goes from 3 to 6 over two months, that's real progress, and it's motivating to see.
Review weekly, not daily
Once a week, spend five minutes looking back:
- Which positions did I train most?
- What keeps going wrong?
- What should I ask my coach, or drill, next week?
This is where the value is. Patterns only show up when you look across sessions.
Paper or app?
Paper works if you'll carry it. An app is easier to search and review, and you can log on the drive home.
Prymo is a free BJJ training journal app built around this approach. Use Quick Log to say what happened after class, and Prymo AI sorts it into Focus, Wins, Struggles and Reflection. You can also pick techniques from the Gi and No-Gi skill libraries and rate them, and weekly and monthly insights help you spot the patterns.
Free BJJ journal template
Copy this into a notebook or your notes app:
Date / class / Gi or No-Gi:
Technique taught:
Detail that clicked:
Question for coach:
Hardest roll: where I spent it / what worked / what kept happening:
Confidence (1–10):
Keep your BJJ journal in your pocket
Log a class by voice in seconds, track your Gi and No-Gi skills, and see your progress over time. Core journal free. Prymo AI free for 14 days.