We know by now that jiu-jitsu can be an amazing tool to help people improve both their physical and mental health. Physical transformations are particularly inspiring, and so a few weeks ago, we asked our readers to send in their own before-and-after pictures showing what jiu-jitsu has done for them. We received numerous responses from people all over the world ranging from white belt to black belt and everywhere in between, and now, we’re happy to present some of our readers’ submissions.
These photos are proof that everyone’s body and journey is different. Some people are able to quickly lose weight, while others take years. Some people look half their size after losing a small amount of weight, while for others, the change is less noticeable despite having lost more pounds. For some, weight gain through recovery from an eating disorder is the goal. Regardless of what you look like, jiu-jitsu can teach you to take care of your body and love it for what it can do.
Note: The timespans accompanying each submission do not necessarily indicate the time that’s passed between one photo and the other — don’t assume that someone jumped from white to purple belt in six months just because they lost all their weight in that time!
1. Roy Solis, brown belt, 80 lbs in six years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/transform1-1024x1024.jpg)
2. Shermaine Chng, blue belt, 22 lbs gained in 3 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t1-1024x1024.jpg)
3. Cyril Jeff Smith, blue belt, 80 lbs lost in four years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t2-1024x1024.jpg)
4. Jeremy Such, blue belt, 115+ lbs lost in 2.5 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-13-1024x971.png)
5. Juan Perez, purple belt, 70 lbs lost in 10 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t3-1024x1024.jpg)
6. Joe Ansaldi, white belt, 130 lbs lost in 10 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-14.png)
7. Remington Aldrete, white belt, 60 lbs lost in 6 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t7-1024x687.jpg)
8. Kenneth Kim, blue belt, 45 lbs lost in 2 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t8-1024x1024.jpg)
9. Michael Bridges, blue belt, 150-160 lbs lost in about 2 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-15-1024x415.png)
10. Jennifer Taylor, blue belt, 55 lbs lost in 3 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-16-1024x480.png)
11. Lance McDowell, blue belt, 180 lbs lost
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-17.png)
12. Brett James, white belt, 61 lbs lost in 6 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-18.png)
13. Brandon Robinson, purple belt, 115 lbs lost in 4 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-19-1024x730.png)
14. Jay Ray, purple belt, 104 lbs lost in 4 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t14-1024x1024.jpg)
15. Steve Ovalles, purple belt, 94 lbs lost
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-20-1024x762.png)
16. Lowell Talbot, blue belt, 150 lbs lost in 5 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t16.jpg)
17. Gerry D., blue belt, 155 lbs lost in 5 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t17.jpg)
18. Angelina F., 30 lbs lost in about 2 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-21.png)
19. Keith Barnett, white belt, 51 lbs lost in 9 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-22.png)
20. Brennen Sanders, blue belt, 29 lbs lost in 8 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-23-1024x936.png)
22. Sean Johnson, 45 lbs lost in 8 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-24-1024x569.png)
23. Lukas Menne, blue belt, 80 lbs lost in 2 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-25.png)
24. Kristopher Lozeau, purple belt, 130 lbs lost in 3 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-26.png)
25. Kevin Bruce, brown belt, 138 lbs lost in 6 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-27-1024x464.png)
26. Angela Boyle, blue belt, 25 lbs lost in 3.5 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-28-1024x1024.png)
27. Marq Fos, blue belt, 45 lbs lost in 3.5 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-29.png)
28. Adam Bruce, blue belt, 33 lbs lost in 18 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t28-1024x1024.jpg)
29. Oni Perez, blue belt, 73 lbs lost in 4 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-30.png)
30. Christy Cook, brown belt, 50 lbs lost in 1 year
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t30.jpg)
31. Keenan Craven, blue belt, 75 lbs lost in 10 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-31-1024x771.png)
32. Danielle Palmateer, blue belt, 80 lbs lost in 9 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-32-1024x973.png)
33. Josh Olliff, blue belt, 26 lbs lost in 18 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-33-1024x924.png)
34. Mike Hanson, purple belt, 74 lbs lost in 4 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t34-1024x1024.jpg)
35. Kenny Gunter, 80 lbs lost in 9 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t35-1024x1024.jpg)
36. Carlos Felan, blue belt, 40+ lbs lost in 10 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-34.png)
37. Jamie Houston, brown belt, 60 lbs lost in 9 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t37-1024x1024.jpg)
38. Jacob Chavarria, brown belt, 55 lbs lost
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-35-1024x484.png)
39. Michael Garcia, white belt, 65 lbs lost in 18 months
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-36-1024x586.png)
40. TJ Kownack, purple belt, 87 lbs lost in 6 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-37.png)
41. Manny Gomez, blue belt, 80 lbs lost in 3 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-12.png)
42. Josh Palmer, black belt, 140 lbs lost in 12 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-38-1024x403.png)
43. Melody Fortunato, blue belt, 35 lbs lost in 1 year
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-39.png)
44. Jason Alessio, blue belt, 65 lbs lost in 1.5 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t44.jpg)
45. Clay, blue belt, 80 lbs lost in 3 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-40-1024x578.png)
46. Tasha, blue belt, 70 lbs lost in 1 year
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t46-1024x1024.jpg)
47. Alexander Hernandez, 30 lbs lost in 3 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-41-1024x685.png)
48. Sarah Hunt, blue belt, 90 lbs lost (40 while training BJJ) in 4 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t48-1024x1024.jpg)
49. Dave, blue belt, 150 lbs lost in 5 years
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/t49-768x1024.jpg)
50. Kathy Biasi, 48 lbs lost in 1 year
![](https://www.jiujitsutimes.com/wp-content/uploads/image-42-946x1024.png)
51. Ryan McGuire, blue belt, 110 lbs lost in 14 months
![](https://scontent.fadl4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.15752-9/57430328_349804522549314_4858461812619739136_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&_nc_eui2=AeG6QZvgKq_mVGrB4ydqn-wnnSOKRknu_nfuWClUyzjC2Tr-8633Ozz8llEY1sa5KZcunuSMXrhprtbfj8LnXORdUXD-3tLbUrQyidRJUhMUxg&_nc_ht=scontent.fadl4-1.fna&oh=2ef15f6246ebd417c84166765d7ecbe4&oe=5D332CB4)