BJJ promotes the principle that a smaller, weaker person using leverage and proper technique can successfully defend themselves against a bigger, stronger assailant. BJJ can be trained for self defense, sport grappling tournaments (gi and no-gi) and mixed martial arts (MMA) competition. Sparring (commonly referred to as "rolling") and live drilling play a major role in training, with a premium placed on performance, especially in competition.

Achieving a dominant position on the ground is one of the hallmarks of the BJJ style, and includes effective use of the guard position to defend oneself from bottom, and passing the guard to dominate from top position with side control, mount, and back mount positions. This system of maneuvering and manipulation can be likened to a form of kinetic chess when utilized by two experienced practitioners.  A submission hold is the equivalent of checkmate.

Sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu focuses on submissions without the addition of strikes allowing practitioners to practice at full speed and full power, resembling the effort used in a real competition. Training methods include technique drills in which techniques are practiced against a non-resisting partner, isolation sparring where only a certain technique or set of techniques are used against full resistance, and full sparring in which each opponent tries to submit their opponent using any legal technique. Physical conditioning also plays a major role.

WESTSIDE Fight Team coach Matt Hamilton skilled in Sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA and teaches controlled forms of grappling with the addition of striking to prepare and teach Mixed Martial Arts. One of the main reasons WESTSIDE continues to attract the best professional MMA fighters is a direct result of the training and the coaching staff.

Both Matt Hamilton and Roli Delgado have fought professionally and continue to be involved in all details of WESTSIDE fighters and training progress.