Best Ways to Memorize BJJ Techniques: 6 Learning Habits That Actually Stick

Q: What is the fastest way to memorize BJJ techniques?

Combine three things: capture the technique in a structured format (steps, key details, cues), revise it briefly the night before you train, and drill it in class the next day. That capture → revise → drill loop is what turns a technique from a video you liked into a movement you own.

Q: Are flashcards actually useful for BJJ?

Yes, if you frame them well. A flashcard like 'Back escape — key detail?' that you have to answer from memory before flipping is far more useful than re-watching the video. The catch is that most people don't sustain building the cards, which is why a tool that generates the card for you tends to win in practice.

Q: Do I still need a coach if I use a retention app?

Absolutely. An app can help you remember what a technique looks like and what the details are, but it can't correct your posture, your grips, or your timing under resistance. For real feedback and safety, train at a legit academy with a qualified coach. BJJ Memo is a revision tool, not a replacement for mat time.

TL;DR. Most grapplers forget techniques because they never revise them, not because they're slow learners. The best ways to memorize BJJ techniques combine active recall, structured notes, and spaced revision — not just re-watching instructionals. This guide compares six honest options (physical notebook, YouTube playlists, Notion/Docs, Anki, generic note apps, and BJJ Memo) so you can pick the habit that fits how you actually train.

You don't forget the guard pass your coach showed on Tuesday because you're bad. You forget it because by Thursday nothing has reminded you of the two grips, the head position, or where your hips were supposed to be. Memory in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not about talent — it's about cues, structure, and revision.

This is a comparison of the six tools most training grapplers actually use to try to retain what they learn. No hype, no fake reviews — just an honest look at where each option shines and where it breaks down.

Key takeaways

You forget BJJ techniques mainly because you never revisit them in a structured way — memory needs cues, not more content.
A physical notebook is cheap and reliable but hard to search, and it can't show you the visual moment of a technique.
YouTube playlists capture videos quickly but bury the actual detail inside long instructionals with no revision system.
Notion and Google Docs are flexible but require you to design the whole capture-and-review system yourself.
Anki is powerful for spaced repetition but has a steep setup cost and no built-in link to grappling video.
BJJ Memo is purpose-built for turning YouTube instructionals into revisable technique cards, at the cost of being newer and mobile-only.
The right tool is the one you'll actually open the night before training — pick the habit you can sustain.

Founder disclosure

I build BJJ Memo, so I have a bias. I've tried to keep this comparison honest: real strengths of the other options, real weaknesses of mine. If you leave with a better paper notebook system and never install our app, that's a win — retention is the goal, not the tool.

Who each option is for

Every grappler learns differently. Before comparing features, be honest about how you actually study.

Physical notebook — for people who think best with a pen, don't want another app, and mostly review class notes rather than YouTube instructionals.
YouTube playlists / "Watch Later" — for people who binge instructionals and just want a bucket to save them in.
Notion or Google Docs — for tinkerers who enjoy building their own database and want deep customization.
Anki (or other flashcard apps) — for hardcore self-learners who already know spaced repetition and are willing to invest in setup.
Generic note apps (Apple Notes, Evernote, Obsidian) — for people who want fast capture and don't need BJJ-specific structure.
BJJ Memo — for grapplers who study YouTube instructionals and want structured technique cards with revision built in.

Comparison table

Option	Best for	Video-native	Structured technique cards	Built-in revision	Search & tags	Setup cost
Physical notebook	Class notes, pen-first thinkers	No	Manual	Manual	Weak	Very low
YouTube playlists	Hoarding instructionals	Yes	No	No	Basic	Very low
Notion / Google Docs	Custom personal systems	Embed only	If you design it	If you design it	Strong	High
Anki	Serious spaced-repetition users	Manual embed	Manual (as cards)	Yes (SRS)	Strong	High
Generic note apps	Fast capture	Links only	No	No	Medium	Low
BJJ Memo	YouTube-based BJJ learning + revision	Yes	Yes (auto from video)	Yes	Yes (BJJ-specific)	Low

[source] placeholders should be attached by an editor to any competitor-specific claim above before publication.

Strengths of each option

Physical notebook

A notebook is bulletproof. No login, no battery, no subscription. Writing by hand also forces you to encode the technique in your own words, which is a genuinely powerful memory tool. Many world-class competitors have kept training journals for decades. [source]

YouTube playlists

Zero friction. You already have YouTube open — one tap and the video is saved. For pure collection speed, nothing beats it. Playlists also travel with your account across devices. [source]

Notion / Google Docs

Infinite flexibility. You can build a full personal database with positions, submissions, tags, embedded videos, and linked notes. If you enjoy the building as much as the training, this is fun. [source]

Anki

Anki is the gold standard for spaced repetition. If you commit to it, the science of active recall + spacing is genuinely one of the strongest memory techniques available for any skill, including grappling details. [source]

Generic note apps

Apple Notes, Evernote, and Obsidian are fast, familiar, and let you drop text, links, and photos anywhere. Great for jotting down a coach's cue the moment you leave the mat. [source]

BJJ Memo

BJJ Memo is built around one specific workflow: paste a BJJ YouTube URL → get a structured technique card with steps, key details, and tappable timestamps → save it in a searchable library → revise it before your next session.

Remember. No tool memorizes techniques for you. It just makes revision cheap enough that you'll actually do it.

Where BJJ Memo is honestly stronger

These are reasons, not adjectives.

It turns video into structure automatically. A 25-minute Lachlan Giles breakdown becomes a card with the steps, the key details, and tappable timestamps of the moments that matter. You don't have to pause, rewind, and type — which is why most people never do it.
It's BJJ-specific. Positions, guards, submissions, and grips are first-class concepts, so your library organizes itself in a way Notion or Anki won't without hours of schema design.
Revision is the default, not an add-on. The review flow surfaces cards before you train. You don't have to remember to remember.
The capture cost is low enough to survive real life. After a long day, you'll paste a URL. You won't sit down and hand-craft an Anki deck.
It lives in your pocket. Most grapplers open their phone the night before class or on the way to the gym — that's exactly when a technique card is most useful.

Where BJJ Memo is honestly weaker

This section is mandatory because it's true.

It's newer. A paper notebook you filled every day for five years contains more of your voice than any app on earth. If you already have that habit, keep it.
It's mobile-only right now. If you prefer a desktop workflow with two monitors and a keyboard, Notion or Obsidian will feel better.
It's centered on YouTube. If most of your learning is in-person coaching notes, seminar drawings, or paid instructional platforms that aren't on YouTube, a general-purpose note app may cover more of your intake.
It doesn't replace a coach. No app watches you roll and tells you your elbow is flared. For real feedback, you still need mat time with a qualified black belt.
Spaced repetition is simpler than Anki's. If you're an SRS power user with a custom deck workflow, Anki will still out-tune us on pure algorithmic depth. [source]

Remember. The best system is the one you'll still be using in six months. A modest habit beats a perfect one you abandon in three weeks.

Final recommendation by user profile

You mostly take notes from class, not video → keep a physical notebook, and optionally photograph pages into a note app so you can search them later.
You binge YouTube instructionals → use BJJ Memo for the capture-to-revision loop, because that's the exact workflow it was built for.
You already love Notion / Obsidian and enjoy building systems → build a positions-and-submissions database and stick with it; the discipline matters more than the tool.
You're an Anki power user → keep your deck, and consider pairing it with any BJJ-specific tool for the video side of your study.
You're brand new to BJJ and overwhelmed → don't pick five tools. Pick one. Read our beginner guide to remembering BJJ techniques and commit to a single habit for 60 days.

For deeper reading on the retention side of the game, see our notes on how to study BJJ instructionals and building a personal BJJ game.

Remember. Position before submission. Structure before speed. Revision before adding new material.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I forget BJJ techniques so quickly?

Most of what you learn in a single class fades in the following days because you never actively recall it. Memory research consistently shows that recall — not re-exposure — is what locks a skill in. Watching the video again is not the same as trying to remember the steps first, then checking. Structured revision closes that gap.

What is the fastest way to memorize BJJ techniques?

Combine three things: (1) capture the technique in a structured format (steps, key details, cues), (2) revise it briefly the night before you train, and (3) drill it in class the next day. That capture → revise → drill loop is what turns a technique from a video you liked into a movement you own.

Are flashcards actually useful for BJJ?

Yes, if you frame them well. A flashcard like "Back escape — key detail?" that you have to answer from memory before flipping is far more useful than re-watching the video. The catch is that most people don't sustain building the cards. That's why a tool that generates the card for you tends to win in practice.

Do I still need a coach if I use a retention app?

Absolutely. An app can help you remember what a technique looks like and what the details are, but it can't correct your posture, your grips, or your timing under resistance. For real feedback and safety, train at a legit academy with a qualified coach. BJJ Memo is a revision tool, not a replacement for mat time.

How long should I spend revising before training?

A few minutes is enough. Skim two or three technique cards from positions you expect to be in that night — a guard you're working on, an escape you keep missing. Short, focused, right before training beats a long study session on a rest day.

Is BJJ Memo free?

BJJ Memo is available on iOS and Android. Check the app store listings for the current plans — we deliberately don't quote prices in blog articles because they change.

Try the capture → revise → drill loop

If you already study BJJ from YouTube, next time you save an instructional, don't just "Watch Later" it. Turn it into a technique card in BJJ Memo, file it in your library, and open it on the drive to the gym. That single habit is worth more than any tool comparison.

Teacher disclaimer. BJJ Memo helps you remember and revise what you learn. It doesn't replace your coach. For real feedback, correct technique, and safe training, work with a qualified black belt at a legit academy — no app changes that.

Last updated 2026-09-27.