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TL;DR
- The best BJJ training journal is the one you will still open in month six, so pick for size and layout first, brand second.
- Two good paid options: a hardcover leather-bound log if you want something that lasts, or an A5 planner-style notebook if you want lighter and more flexible.
- A $3 notebook or a notes app works fine if you write the same five lines after every class.
I lost a whole year of technique notes once. They lived in four different phone apps, a napkin, and the back of a gym flyer. When I wanted to remember the half guard entry my coach showed me in March, I had nothing. That is when I started keeping a proper training log, and it is the single cheapest thing that improved my jiu-jitsu after 40.
If you are shopping for the best BJJ training journal, here is what I look for, two options I can point you to, and the five lines I write after every session.
What the best BJJ training journal has to do after 40
A younger grappler can get away with remembering everything. Most of us over 40 cannot, because we train around work, kids, and bodies that need more recovery than they used to. A journal does three jobs for us that it does not do for a 22-year-old.
First, it holds techniques. One or two details per class is enough. Second, it tracks how your body responded: sleep, sore spots, how your knee felt on Thursday. Third, it shows patterns. When your shoulder complains every time you train three days in a row, a page of notes will tell you before you figure it out the hard way.
So the layout matters more than the cover. You want enough room to write two or three sentences, a spot for a body check-in, and a size you will actually carry in a gym bag.
The five lines I write after every class
Keep it under three minutes or you will quit. Mine looks like this:
- Date and class type: gi, no-gi, drilling, open mat.
- One technique, one detail: not the whole sequence, just the detail that made it work (hip angle, grip order, where my head was).
- One thing that got me caught: a sweep I ate, a pass I could not stop.
- Body check: energy out of 5, plus anything that felt off.
- One question for next time: something to ask the coach or drill solo.
That last line is what turns a diary into a training tool. If you want the full method for turning notes into skill, I wrote it up in how to remember BJJ techniques. This post is the gear side of the same problem.
Option 1: a hardcover journal built to last
The Practitioner’s Journal is a hardcover, leather-bound BJJ training log that also covers grappling and wrestling. It is the one I would hand to someone who treats jiu-jitsu as a long-term thing and wants a record they can look back on in five years.
Who it suits: the person who likes a physical object, writes by hand, and will keep it on a shelf next to belts and medals. Who it does not suit: anyone who wants to toss it in a wet gym bag every day without worrying about it. A hardcover is nicer to own than to abuse, so I would keep it at home and write in it after you get back from class.
Option 2: an A5 planner-style notebook
This Jiu-Jitsu Training Journal is an A5 planner-style notebook set up to log techniques, goals, and rolling notes. A5 is roughly the size of a paperback, which is small enough for a gym bag and big enough to write in without cramping.
Who it suits: the person who wants goals and rolling notes on the same page and does not want to design their own layout. If you have tried blank notebooks and stalled because you did not know what to write, the structure helps. Who it does not suit: people who like complete freedom. Pre-printed prompts can feel like homework if you would rather doodle guard diagrams.
The free option works too
I will say this plainly: a journal does not make you better, the habit does. A cheap spiral notebook, a notes app, or a stack of index cards in your gym bag all work if you write after class. If you are not sure you will stick with it, start with something free for a month. If you are still writing after four weeks, buy the nicer one as a reward.
The one thing I would avoid is scattering notes across several apps. Pick one place. Retrieval is the whole point.
How to choose between them
- Size: if it will not fit in your bag, it will live at home and you will stop writing. A5 or smaller travels best.
- Structure: prompts help beginners and busy people. Blank pages help people who already have a system.
- Durability: gym bags are humid and rough. Hardcovers survive better, but you need to be gentle with leather-bound covers.
- Space to write: you want at least a few lines per session, not a tiny box.
- Your honest habits: if you hate writing by hand, use a notes app and skip the purchase entirely.
A ten-minute weekly review makes the journal pay off
Writing is half of it. Every Sunday I flip back through the week and look for three things: a detail that showed up more than once, a position where I keep getting stuck, and any body note that repeats. That list becomes my plan for the next week of drilling.
This is where a journal pairs well with how you split your mat time. If you are unsure how much to drill versus roll, my post on drilling vs rolling after 40 covers it. And if your notes keep showing the same tired, sore pattern, that is useful information to bring to a coach or a healthcare professional. A journal is a record, not a diagnosis, and persistent pain deserves a proper look rather than another page of notes.
Making the habit stick
Consistency is the real problem for most of us, and I go deeper on it in how to stay consistent with BJJ. For journaling specifically, three tricks have worked for me. Keep the book in your gym bag next to your belt so it is there when class ends. Write before you shower, while the details are fresh. And lower the bar on bad days: a date and one sentence still counts.
If you want the bigger picture for training smart in your 40s and beyond, start at the BJJ after 40 guide.
FAQ
Is a BJJ training journal worth it?
Yes, if you write in it consistently. Even two or three sentences after each class help you keep technique details, spot recurring problems, and notice how your body responds to training.
What should I write in a BJJ journal?
Keep it short: the date, one technique and the key detail, one thing that went wrong, a quick note on how your body felt, and one question to ask your coach or drill later.
Should I use a notebook or an app for BJJ notes?
Use whichever you will actually open after class. Paper is easy to sketch positions in, while an app is searchable and always on your phone. Avoid splitting notes across both.
How long should a journal entry take?
Aim for under three minutes. If entries take longer, you will likely skip them, so use a fixed template and write only the main details from that session.