The question of how women can best develop their BJJ skills is a topic of ongoing discussion. According to BJJ legend Kurt Osiander, a fourth-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, NoGi world champion, and multiple-time PanAm champion, the answer is clear: train with men.
During a recent appearance on the BJJ Fanatics Podcast, Osiander shared his perspective on the importance of women training with male training partners. “It’s important for women to train with the males because it develops their technique against bigger, stronger opponents,” explained Osiander.
This philosophy stems from practical reality. In most BJJ academies, female practitioners are typically outnumbered by their male counterparts. Rather than viewing this as a disadvantage, Osiander sees it as an opportunity for women to refine their technical skills against physically stronger opponents.
“Unfortunately, there’s usually not that many girls in schools. Some have a lot and some don’t have very many,” Osiander noted. “Just training with your male counterparts, that are like your size or a little bit bigger, will be just as good because they’re going to be stronger and usually heavier than you. If you can move them around, you’re going to be able to move the girls who are in your weight class around easily.”
This approach, according to Osiander, contributes to the development of what many consider to be exceptionally technical jiu-jitsu among female practitioners. Without the ability to rely on brute strength, women often develop razor-sharp techniques that emphasize leverage and proper body mechanics.
“Women’s jiu-jitsu is just some of the most pure jiu-jitsu there is because it’s just razor sharp technique,” Osiander observed. “It’s usually because there’s not as many female training partners for these ladies to train with, so they have to adapt their skills against people that are usually heavier or larger because it’s mostly guys they’re training with.”
For women preparing for competition, this training methodology can be particularly valuable. When facing opponents in their own weight class and gender division after regularly training with larger male partners, many women find themselves well-prepared for the challenges of tournament fighting.
Osiander, who currently teaches at LamorindaJiu-Jitsu in Lafayette, California, and at Ralph Gracie Academy in San Francisco, has long been known for his straightforward, no-nonsense approach to teaching the art. His perspective on cross-gender training reflects his broader philosophy that effective jiu-jitsu comes from challenging oneself against difficult opponents rather than seeking the path of least resistance.
For female BJJ practitioners looking to elevate their game, Osiander’s advice is clear: embrace the challenge of training with your male teammates, focus on developing technical proficiency rather than strength, and use these experiences to prepare yourself for success both on and off the competition mat.
