I'm super excited to have opened up the web application version of Reel BJJ for public Beta feedback. Reel BJJ is a video management application for athletes and coaches who want to get the most out of their Brazilian jiu-jitsu videos. (Try it now--there's a free trial.)
Why create a jiu-jitsu video app? The answer is simple. There is an amazing library of jiu-jitsu content available from a number of sites such as BJJ Fanatics, GrappleArts, Grapplers Guide, BJJ Library, and Gracie University--the list goes on. In fact, in a recent interview with Bernardo Faria on BJJ Fanatics, Mikey Muscimeci made exactly this point. The content available to people wanting to learn techniques is seemingly endless. However, the way video is used for learning jiu-jitsu hasn't changed--most people just watch an instructional through and hope they remember the best parts. The mission of Reel BJJ is to change the way people think about learning jiu-jitsu via video.
In short, Reel BJJ can help everyone (athletes, instructors, coaches, or hobbyists) get the most value possible from video content. The first main feature of the Reel BJJ Beta release is called Reels (and before anyone gets upset with me, I created Reels a while back, so yes, it was before Instagram stole my thunder). Reels allow anyone to quickly (and easily) create highlights from their jiu-jitsu videos and then just watch the parts of the videos they want to review. (You can see how Reels work in this short walkthrough video of the Reel BJJ Beta.)
Some of the most common scenarios for Reels would include:
- Techniques you'd like to learn
- Techniques you'd like to try before class
- Review footage of your sparring rounds
- Review footage of your competition matches
- Researching opponents for upcoming competitions
- Creating a game plan of techniques
The key, of course, is that Reel BJJ users can do this without any software install or video editing. Users can add videos from YouTube, Vimeo, or even upload their own videos, and then create highlights. Naturally, you'll want to add notes to your highlights, so Reel BJJ has a cool notes features that was just shipped.
It's important to note that Reel BJJ does not download videos from streaming services, or violate their terms of service in any way. The videos remain at the source and aren't altered in any way.
I'm excited to see what will happen. The Beta feedback so far has been fantastic. For example, here's some feedback from Thomas Lisboa.
"It's unbelievable how jiu-jitsu is constantly evolving. That's why I was so excited when I discovered Reel BJJ. I can select the parts I liked most in a course and review them. For those who like to study jiu-jitsu, regardless of their level and goals, Reel BJJ is the evolution of jiu-jitsu study." - Thomas Lisboa (Head Coach of Alliance BJJ Vancouver)
