Internet Forums and BJJ Growth

Before social media, online forums like Sherdog, The Underground, and dedicated BJJ boards played a crucial role in spreading techniques and news. These communities allowed practitioners to discuss training, share competition footage, and debate strategies. For many outside Brazil or the U.S., forums were their first real access to BJJ culture.

While sometimes chaotic, these platforms created a global dialogue that accelerated the sport’s growth. Legends were built through word of mouth, training videos were circulated, and the sense of belonging to a worldwide community helped fuel BJJ’s expansion into remote regions.