BJJ Memo vs Notion: Which Is Better for Building a Technique Library?

Q: Is Notion good for storing BJJ techniques?

Yes, if you're willing to build and maintain the database yourself. Notion is flexible enough to hold technique names, embedded videos, position tags, and linked pages. The harder question is whether you'll actually revise what you store — many grapplers build the perfect template, log twenty techniques, and then never open it again.

Q: Can I use Notion and a BJJ app together?

Yes. A common hybrid is BJJ Memo for fast capture of techniques from video and the pre-training revision moment, with Notion for long-form game plans, scouting notes, and training journals. They solve slightly different problems and complement each other well.

Q: Will any app replace a good coach?

No. A technique app is for retention between sessions. For real feedback, timing adjustments, and safety, train the move at a legit academy with a qualified coach. The app helps you remember what you learned there — it doesn't replace being there.

Q: Is a paper notebook still a valid option for BJJ notes?

For some grapplers, yes. Paper has zero friction for writing but higher friction for revision — you have to carry it, flip through it, and it doesn't link to video. If you love the physical act of writing, keep the notebook. If you mostly review on your phone before class, a digital tool fits the moment better.

TL;DR. Notion is a flexible, free workspace that can hold BJJ notes if you're willing to build the system yourself. BJJ Memo is a purpose-built app that turns YouTube videos into structured Technique Cards, organizes them by position, and surfaces them for revision. Notion wins on general flexibility and desktop writing; BJJ Memo wins on video-to-card speed, position-first organization, and pre-training revision. Pick Notion if you love building templates; pick BJJ Memo if you want to spend that time on the mat.

If you've searched "bjj notes notion vs app", you've probably already tried a Notion database or two. Maybe you built a beautiful template, filled in a dozen techniques, and then stopped opening it. This article compares Notion against a purpose-built BJJ library tool so you can decide what actually fits how you train — not just what looks good on a Sunday afternoon.

Founder disclosure. I'm one of the people building BJJ Memo, so I'm clearly not neutral. I've tried to flag every place Notion is honestly better, and the "weaker" section below is mandatory, not decorative. Use this as a starting point, not a verdict.

Key takeaways

Notion is a general-purpose workspace; BJJ Memo is a mobile app built specifically for storing and revising grappling techniques.
In Notion you design your own BJJ database, tags, and templates; in BJJ Memo the structure (position, steps, timestamps) is already there.
BJJ Memo converts a BJJ YouTube URL into a Technique Card with transcript-based steps and tappable timestamps.
Notion handles long-form writing, linked docs, and desktop editing better than most mobile-first apps.
If you keep abandoning your notes, the problem is usually revision — not the tool — so pick whichever one you'll actually open before class.
A hybrid setup works: BJJ Memo for capture and pre-training revision, Notion for long-form game plans and journaling.
Neither app replaces mat time or a qualified coach; both are for retention between sessions.

Who each app is for

Notion is for grapplers who already love Notion for other parts of their life — work, study, personal wiki — and want one more database for BJJ. It rewards tinkerers. If building a template is part of the fun for you, Notion will feel like home.

BJJ Memo is for grapplers who don't want to build anything. You train, you watch instructionals, you forget. You want to paste a URL, get a clean Technique Card, and have the app remind you to revise it the day before class. If your actual bottleneck is "I never open my notes," BJJ Memo is designed around that specific problem.

If you're brand new to taking BJJ notes at all, start with our broader piece on how to take BJJ notes that work before you commit to a tool.

Comparison table

Dimension	Notion	BJJ Memo
Primary purpose	General workspace	BJJ technique library and revision
Platform	Web, desktop, mobile	iOS and Android (mobile-first)
Setup effort	You design the database and templates	Structure is pre-built around BJJ positions
YouTube → structured card	Manual: embed video, type notes yourself [source]	Paste URL → auto-generated Technique Card with steps and timestamps
Position-first organization	Possible via tags/views you build	Native: positions, submissions, guards
Revision/reminder flow	Build your own with reminders/dates [source]	Built-in review flow for pre-training recall
Long-form writing / game plans	Excellent	Shorter card-based format
Collaboration/sharing	Strong (shared pages, workspaces) [source]	Personal library focus
Price	Has a free personal tier [source]	See the app store listing for current pricing
Offline access	Partial on mobile [source]	Mobile-native, library-browsing focus

Remember. The best BJJ note tool isn't the one with the most features. It's the one you'll actually open the morning before class — pick for revision habits, not for aesthetics.

Strengths of each option

What Notion does well

Flexibility. You can model anything: positions, opponents, seminars, game trees. If you can imagine the schema, Notion can hold it. [source]
Desktop writing. Typing long-form breakdowns on a laptop beats thumbing them into a phone. For big game-plan documents or scouting reports, Notion is comfortable.
Linking and backlinks. You can connect "knee cut defense" to "frames" to "half guard recovery" and jump between them. [source]
Free personal tier. You can start without paying anything. [source]
Portability. It's a general tool, so your BJJ workspace lives next to the rest of your digital life.

What BJJ Memo does well

Zero setup. The schema is already BJJ-shaped. You don't spend a Sunday designing a database before you can log your first armbar.
Video-to-card capture. Paste a BJJ YouTube URL and get a structured Technique Card — steps, key details, tappable timestamps for the visual moments.
Mobile-native. Most grapplers check notes on a phone before class, not on a laptop at home. The app is built for that moment.
Revision as a first-class feature. The flow is designed around reviewing techniques before training, not just storing them.
Position-first mental model. The library is organized the way grapplers already think — side control, half guard, back control — not the way a generic database wants you to think.

If you want more context on video workflows specifically, see our comparison of BJJ technique apps vs YouTube playlists.

Where BJJ Memo is honestly stronger

These are structural reasons, not adjectives.

Capture speed from video. In Notion, you embed the video and type notes manually. In BJJ Memo, pasting the URL produces a structured card. That difference compounds over months — the lower the friction, the more cards you'll actually make.
Pre-built BJJ taxonomy. Side control, mount, back, half guard, closed guard, open guard, standing — the categories exist on day one. You can't get the schema wrong because there's nothing to design.
Revision loop by default. Notion will store notes forever but won't remind you to look at them unless you build that yourself. BJJ Memo is built around the "open it before class" moment.
Mobile-first UX for the gym context. You're not sitting at a laptop in the changing room. The quick-browse experience on a phone matters more than desktop power.
Specific to grappling. General tools serve many jobs averagely. A single-purpose tool can make one job — storing and revising techniques — feel sharp.

Remember. The flexibility of Notion is also its tax. Every hour you spend tweaking a database is an hour you didn't spend watching film or drilling.

Where BJJ Memo is honestly weaker

This section is mandatory because the honest answer is: it depends on what you need.

No full desktop editor. If you want to write a 2,000-word scouting report at a laptop, Notion is still better. BJJ Memo is mobile-first by design.
Less flexible schema. You can't invent entirely new entity types ("camps," "nutrition logs," "competition brackets" with custom fields). Notion will bend; BJJ Memo is shaped specifically for techniques.
Not a general workspace. If you want ONE app for work notes, recipes, journals, and BJJ, Notion covers more surface area.
Younger ecosystem. Notion has years of community templates, YouTube tutorials, and third-party integrations. [source] A purpose-built app will always have a smaller ecosystem than a general one.
Collaboration is lighter. Notion is excellent for shared pages between training partners or teammates. [source] BJJ Memo's primary focus is a personal library, not a shared workspace.
Platform coverage. Notion runs on web, Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android. [source] BJJ Memo focuses on iOS and Android.

If the honest answer for you is "I actually want a journal and a technique app," check BJJ journal vs technique app before deciding.

Final recommendation by user profile

You're a working adult, train 2–3x a week, love Notion already. Stay in Notion for long-form game plans and journaling. Add BJJ Memo on your phone for fast video-to-card capture and the pre-class revision moment. The hybrid is probably best for you.

You're a white or blue belt drowning in information. Don't build a database. You need to lower friction, not add it. BJJ Memo's pre-built structure means you can log your first technique in under a minute and start a real revision habit.

You're a competitor building a game around specific positions. Use BJJ Memo for the raw technique library (so you can revise reliably in the week before a match) and a longer document — Notion or otherwise — for your actual game plan and opponent scouting. See how to build a BJJ scouting report for the scouting side.

You're a coach wanting students to review class. Notion is awkward to push to a group of students who don't already use it. A technique app with shareable cards fits the "students actually open it" problem better — see our coach's guide.

You already have detailed Notion BJJ notes. Don't throw them away. Keep Notion for the archive and start new captures in BJJ Memo. Over time, the one you open before class wins.

Remember. Pick the tool you'll open the night before class, not the one that looks best on your laptop screen on a Sunday.

Frequently asked questions

Is Notion good for storing BJJ techniques?

Yes, if you're willing to build the database and keep up with it. Notion is a flexible workspace — it can hold technique names, embedded videos, tags for position, and linked pages. The real question isn't "can it store BJJ notes" (it can), but "will you actually revise them." Many grapplers build the perfect template, log twenty techniques, and never open it again.

What's the best place to store BJJ notes if I watch a lot of YouTube?

If most of your learning comes from YouTube instructionals, a tool that converts videos into structured notes saves hours. That's the specific job BJJ Memo was built for: paste the URL, get steps and timestamps, revise before class. If you prefer typing manually, Notion works too — it will just take you longer per technique.

Can I use Notion and a BJJ app together?

Absolutely. A common setup: BJJ Memo for the fast capture of techniques and the pre-training revision moment, Notion for long-form game plans, scouting notes, and training journals. They solve slightly different problems, so a hybrid is often the honest best answer.

Why do I keep abandoning my BJJ notes, regardless of the tool?

Usually it's not the tool — it's the lack of a revision trigger. If nothing reminds you to open your notes before class, you won't. Pick a tool with a built-in revision flow, or set a recurring calendar reminder tied to your class schedule. For a deeper fix, see our guide to why you forget BJJ techniques and how to use spaced revision.

Will any app replace a good coach?

No — and nothing in this article suggests it should. A technique app is for retention between sessions. For real feedback, timing, and safety, train the move at a legit academy with a qualified coach. The app helps you remember what you learned there; it doesn't replace being there.

Is a paper notebook still a valid option?

For some grapplers, yes. Paper is zero-friction for writing but high-friction for revision — you have to carry it, flip through it, and it doesn't link to video. If you love the physical act of writing, keep the notebook. If you mostly review on your phone before class, go digital.

Try BJJ Memo and keep training honestly

If your main problem is "I watch instructionals and forget them by the mat," that's exactly what BJJ Memo was built for: turn any BJJ YouTube video into a Technique Card and revise it before your next session. Download BJJ Memo on iOS or Android and start a real library this week.

And the usual honest line, because it matters: an app is a retention tool, not a coach. For real feedback and safe technique, train at a legit academy with a qualified black or brown belt. BJJ Memo helps you remember what you learn there — it doesn't replace the mat.

Last updated 2026-10-16.