Best BJJ Cup 2023: Top 3 Safest Groin Guards and Which to Avoid
Have you ever experienced a knee to the groin while not wearing a cup for BJJ or any other groin protection?
Groin injuries are among the most common injuries in BJJ. It is not only very painful but also extremely dangerous as damage to the groin can lead to serious complications and impotence.
On the other hand, a cup can be uncomfortable and cause more damage than good if not used properly.
We recommend from personal experience to always wear a cup when training or competing in BJJ. Therefore, we prepared this in-depth review and user guide for the most popular groin protection choices including video showcases.
Best BJJ Cup in 2023: Our Choices
DiamondMMA Short with built-in Jock System
Best Overall
ShockDoctor Core Supporter with Bio-Flex Cup
Best Affordable
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BJJ Cup FAQ
General Sizing and Fit Advice
Sizing and fit are the most important aspects when choosing a cup system. Without correct sizing and fit a cup is not safe for use!
Shorts and Jockstrap
Make sure to pick the smallest size that comfortably fits you.
To be protective, the cup must be held in place by the brief or jockstrap system. If the cup shifts or moves away from the body when you move, it can cause more damage than good.
A cup that is not secured in place can cause your genitalia to be jammed between the cup and your body. On the other hand, a knee to groin without protection isn’t pleasing either. You can avoid both issues by wearing a cup with the right supporter and optimal fit. Make sure to pick the right size and product!
Cup
Most cups seem plenty in size when you look at them at first. However, the way most cups sit on the body, your genitalia must fit in the lower part of the cup (see image below) as most cups sit rather high. Therefore, most cups feel small.
Most brands reserve their smaller cup sizes for youth products, and you don’t have to worry about selecting the cup size. We will go into detail for each specific brand later in this article.
What are the Best and Safest Cups for BJJ?
There are several different formats available for BJJ Cups. From personal experience we recommend choosing a hard cup and avoiding briefs that do not have an integrated jockstrap system.
You should always go with a supporter in jockstrap format or even better compressions short with an integrated jockstrap system.
We evaluated the following cups by the most important factors for a good BJJ cup:
- Safety
- Quality
- Fit & Comfort
- Durability
We have tested all the following products by ourselves through our daily Jiu Jitsu training. Therefore, we can give practical advice and long-term reviews. Let’s start with the overall best BJJ cup:
#1 DiamondMMA Short with built-in Jock System
Pro:
Con:
Safety, Fit and Comfort:
If you want maximum safety without sacrificing comfort, you should go with the DiamondMMA Short with built-in Jock System. It feels great, holds up very well and you will never have to fear injury again.
Their patented quad strap design acts like suspenders, creates tension and keeps the cup flush to the body while moving. This eliminates the number one source of injury while wearing a cup for BJJ!
To our knowledge there is no other brand that provides a similar system and we have no complaints about fit and comfort at all.
Quality and Durability:
The DiamondMMA cup system is a premium product that delivers premium quality. You really get what you pay for: the highest quality on the market. If you plan to keep doing Jiu Jitsu for many years, the investment is worth it.
After many intense training sessions, we could not detect any damage to supporter or cup. Also, the shorts did not become loose over time. Without a doubt this cup will last you for a long time.
Sizing:
Sizing of DiamondMMA Shorts is done by waist size as follows:
DiamondMMA provides an adult cup and a youth cup option:
| Top to bottom | Width | Depth | |
| Adult | 6.75” | 4” | 2.25” |
| Youth | 5.5” | 3” | 2” |
#2 ShockDoctor Core Supporter with Bio-Flex Cup
Pro:
Con:
Safety, Fit and Comfort:
We hardly had any issues with the ShockDoctor cup. In rare situations when force was applied from the side, the cup can shift a little bit. However, this did not lead to injury and the cup provided safety in training and competition.
The cup fits well although it is rather small and narrow which makes it very comfortable for the thighs especially with the soft material around the edges.
Quality and Durability:
We have used the ShockDoctor Core Supporter with Bio-Flex Cup for about a year in almost every training session and it held up great. There is no damage and the fit stayed nice and tight.
Sizing:
Sizing of ShockDoctor Supporters is done by waist size as follows:
#3 Venum Challenger Supporter with Cup
Pro:
Con:
Safety, Fit and Comfort:
The supporter system works similar to the ShockDoctor system described above. It works fine and offers plenty protection.
The biggest differences to the ShockDoctor product are the shape and material of the cup. Venum’s cup is made of harder material and has a wider shape. Therefore, it can be uncomfortable for the legs/thighs. However, the shape of the cup comes down to personal preference.
Quality and Durability:
We have used the Venum Challenger Groin Guard and Support for a few months, and it held up great.
Sizing:
Sizing of Venum Supporters is done by waist size as follows:
What BJJ Cup to Avoid?
ShockDoctor Core Compression Short with Cup Pocket
One cup system we did not like is the ShockDoctor Compression Short with integrated cup pocket.
As there is no jockstrap system integrated, the lower end of the cup tends move away from the body. Therefore, the genitalia are at risk to get jammed between the edge of the cup and the body.
However, the product quality is great and ShockDoctor delivers a comfortable compression short.
Please keep in mind:
The advice on this page is based on our own experience with the products and product fit as well as preferences vary from person to person!
Conclusion
We recommend giving the DiamondMMA Short with built-in Jock System a try, if you can afford it. There’s definitely no better solution on the market right now.
If you want to save money while still getting a solid product, we recommend trying the ShockDoctor Core Supporter with Bio-Flex Cup. It does its job and most people enjoy the fit of the cup.
In the end it is up to you if you want to wear a cup or any other groin protection during Jiu Jitsu and grappling training or competition. We recommend at least giving it a try.
We hope this article helps you stay safe and decide which cup protects your groin the best.
