Is BJJ Dangerous? This Is All You Need To Know!

Is BJJ Dangerous? This is a question I often hear. It mostly comes from concerned parents of kids, or family members of adult members. It is also something people sneak in whenever they have their introductory class. The answer to that has to be an honest one, at least according to me. To that extent, I usually tell people that BJJ is no more dangerous than any other sport or athletic activity. That, however, has always been based on my experiences and not scientific evidence. However, when I did some research, I must confess I might be wrong about that answer.

The real answer is actually something that will probably surprise you. however, let’s come to the conclusion together by going through the data that is available out there. In combination with personal experiences, we can come to a quite conclusive answer to the question “is BJJ dangerous”? While I don’t expect people to agree based on personal experiences, the evidence is there to support the claim that while there are dangers to training Jiu-Jitsu, they are far from being even near what people think.

Is BJJ Dangerous?

Where do I start? Everyone who has been injured in training or competition will definitely claim that BJJ can be dangerous. Those that have quit the sport as a result of such an injury will probably be most vocal about it. And yet, when it comes to figuring out the answer to the question is BJJ dangerous, things are not quite as black and white. There are, of course, plenty of variables to consider. In that sense, I’ll try to paint the fairest picture in regard to this question, even though I am obviously quite biased when it comes to this crazy sport.

In comparison to other martial arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu actually has the fewest injuries per competitor. Granted, the study reflecting these only covered combat sports and competitions, but give that competing is the highest paced aspect of the sport. Basically, as expected, MMA has the highest percentage of injuries, with Wrestling, Taekwondo, and Judo all coming in before BJJ.

*Studies: Assessment of Injuries During Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Competition

In search of the most complete answer to the question is BJJ dangerous, let’s look at as many possible variables and the evidence available before we draw a conclusion.

Training BJJ

When it comes to injuries sustained in training, studies have found that people do get hurt regularly while training. However, most of those injuries are insignificant and have to do with the frequency of training. Compared to other martial arts, people that train BJJ do so with an average of four training sessions per week, doing lots of sparring in all of them. The addictive nature of BJJ means people spend more time on the mats and come to train even when they are tired or fatigued, which leads to injuries. That, however, does not make BJJ training dangerous, at least not more than any other sport, and not just a martial art.

*Studies: Prevalence of Injuries during Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training

BJJ Sparring / Competition Training

This is a huge variable that needs to be covered more by studies in order to provide a better answer to the question is BJJ dangerous. However, from what we can gather so far, all-out sparring (AKA rolling) and competition training do account for most of the injuries in Jiu-Jitsu, especially when takedowns are also part of the exchanges. The bottom line is that competition is always going to be slightly more dangerous than any form of training, whether it is recreational or competitive.

*Studies: Injury prevalence in Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes: Comparison between different competitive levels

Competing in BJJ

Basically, everything we covered so far shows that competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu carries the highest risk of injury compared to every other aspect. However, in accordance with the first study we cited, BJJ competition injury rates are actually the lowest when it comes to combat sports, and actually, other sports as well. Even compared to football, the injury incidence in BJJ competitions is lower per 1.000 athletes.

*Studies: Incidence of Injury Among Male Brazilian Jiujitsu Fighters at the World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2009

Injury Prevalence In Jiu-Jitsu

While it is becoming clear the Jiu-Jitsu training and competition is no more dangerous than another sport, or perhaps even safer, the fact remains that injuries still happen. Knowing which injuries are more prevalent than others, and which techniques are the most common “culprits” will allow coaches to lower the incidence. With that, questions like “is BJJ dangerous” are going to become a thing of the past.

The body parts that take the most damage in Jiu-Jitsu seem to be the elbows, followed by the knees, ribs, and feet. This is in correlation with the armbar as the most common source of injuries to the elbows in competition. However, other studies, some conducted in training and others in competitive environments. came to slightly different conclusions. In one, knees are the most prevalent, which has to do with falling injuries due to takedowns more than anything else. Other studies cite shoulders, the ribcage, elbows, knees, feet, and toes. Basically, it all comes down to the same, with the extremities and ribcage being the common sites f injuries in BJJ.

*Studies: Assessment of Injuries During Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Competition / Injury rate and pattern among Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners: A survey study / Injury prevalence in Brazilian jiu-jitsu athletes: Comparison between different competitive levels /Prevalence of Injuries during Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Training

What Belt Level Is The “Riskiest”?

While belt level does not necessarily mean a greater or lesser risk of injury, there is some data that suggest blue belt as the most common time to get an injury in BJJ. That doesn’t make the sport dangerous, as most of those injuries are minor. Studies suggest the same when it comes to competition, although the inclusion of leg locks after a certain belt level also means brown belts might wonder is BJJ dangerous? Having them train leg locks from day one as opposed to waiting until they’re eligible to do them is a great way of ensuring they can completely remove themselves from this statistic.

*Studies: Incidence of Injury Among Male Brazilian Jiujitsu Fighters at the World Jiu-Jitsu No-Gi Championship 2009

Ego

Probably get the biggest reason for injuries in BJJ, and the subsequent question is BJ Jdangerous is ego. unfortunately, the ego is not quantifiable and measurable, so there are no studies that can demonstrate just how dangerous ego is. That simply means that people are the biggest danger to themselves and not the sport or environment they engage in. With good coaches that know how to manage this in people, injury rates plummet. Luckily, most BJJ advanced belts are great at dealing with ego, having had to tame theirs along the way.

Other Important Factors

There are of course, other factors that we might consider when trying to figure out is BJJ dangerous. For example, there have been attempts to figure out whether or not choking can be a source of CTE. The bottom line here is that there is nothing to worry about. Other factors such as age might have a role to play, but they are far from being a huge factor in the overall assessment of how or even if, Jiu-Jitsu is dangerous.

The Definite Answer

So, all in all, is BJJ dangerous? I am going to revise my original answer that it is not more dangerous than any other sport and declared that it is actually safer than most other martial arts, and contact sports. From both personal experiences and the data that is available via peer-reviewed studies, it is not hard to see that Jiu-Jitsu is very safe, and is getting safer by the day. new training methodologies and the fact that the sport is evolving constantly mean that people are figuring out how to stay completely safe while training at high speeds and intensities. NOT many other sports can claim a similar thing.

7 Ways Of Passing Guard That Shouldn’t Work…But Do

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One of the toughest parts of Jiu-Jitsu is passing guard. In fact, it is so hard sometimes, that we take it all too seriously, and thus ensure that we have no chance of actually passing. That said, there are so many guards out there in BJJ that it is next to impossible to come up with specific and highly effective passes for each and every one of them. However, that has not stopped people from trying, which just ends up with a bunch of one-off techniques that are not really helpful in getting past the legs.

I am a fan of understanding the ways in which passing guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu works. That said, even if we knew all the principles unless e apply some techniques, we won’t be actually able to get past people’s guards. However, that doesn’t mean that we have to be overly serious or methodical every time we do it. As long as we understand our goal and the principles that will get out there, we can be creative, and even funny with our means of passing guard. the best thing about such an approach is that it works… like a charm!

The Lost Art Of Having Fun In BJJ

Something that I really love doing when training Jiu-Jitsu is goof around. Not all fo the time, of course, but some of it, if not most, for sure! And yes, I even do it in competition rolls and live matches! it is just fun to be able to do something completely out there, and perhaps even have it work. It is what pushes innovation forward, very often without actually looking for something. In fact, I do think we suffer from the phenomenon of “fear of trying” n BJJ at the moment.

What that basically means is that we are stuck trying to perfect and solve techniques out there that we see others do. We see Gordon Ryan doing heel hooks, Kennan cocoon wrapping folks in their GIs, Faria passing guard with extreme pressure ease and we try to replicate it all. Most often, our success is not even close to what we see. Why is that?

That is because we are not trying to achieve a goal (i.e. pass a guard) but rather apply a tool (a specific guard pass we saw online). Oftentimes it is just like trying to fit a square peg in a proud hole – it won’t work. Well, not without force, anyway. How do you think people came up with such moves as worm guards and specific heel hook grips? They did it by trying different things and not by trying to apply one thing to all situations.

The secret to actually trying things is not being afraid that you will fail. Because you will. that is for sure. How do you manage to try stuff and not be afraid to fail? Do fun stuff that you wouldn’t otherwise do. Why just try the same old passe over and over again when you can try a different approach to passing guard?

7 Fun And Unusual Ways Of Passing Guard That Shouldn’t Work

The following seven examples of guard passes are stuff that you probably consider to be an extremely low percentage. You would be right, most of the time. However, if you set the proverbial table right, they will be exactly the moves you need to get past those pesky legs. The best part is that it won’t matter if you’re trying to pass the guard of your garden variety blue belt or Bruno Malfacine himself – at least once, one of these passes will work like a charm.

There are plenty of reasons why a passing guard like this is effective. Turning around and jumping with your butt in the opponent’s face is something you wouldn’t try too many times. And yet, when you try it, you’ll actually get past the legs as if the best guard the bottom person as was a joke. Why not look into seven such passes that might end up changing the way you see passing in general? Don’t forget to see them done in the video at the end of the article.

1. Sit-In-Mount pass

This pass is actually one I am using quite a lot, and it works! there are certain technical nuances behind it, but they won’t matter unless you’re in the perfect mindset to actually give this pass a try. All you need to do is whenever you see both feet of your opponent on the ground, and they have no grips on your legs, is to slide your hips forward and land straight into mount!

You can hold the opponent’s sleeves but it works even better when they are holding both of yours. The surprise factor is much bigger that way. You need t also be as relaxed as possible when doing this. From a technical standpoint, remember to stand on your toes as you project your hips forward – that way they will go further than if your feet are planted.

2. Shin Surf Pass

Also, a pass that seems like it shouldn’t (and wouldn’t) work, and yet, it does. It works particularly well against opponents in butterfly or other seated guards when you are half-kneeling. Of course, that table has to be set again, in terms of grips, but once you are there, all you need to do is place the near side leg’s shin as if you are doing knee on belly. Pushing off with the other leg will see you surf straight into the Knee On Belly position in an impressive and pretty effortless manner of passing guard.

3. Step-Through Pass

This one will make training partners unfriend you on social media. It is so simple that it will offend people. Actually, this pass is the perfect example of the mindset you want to cultivate when trying new and fun stuff. It si so simple and obvious that both you and your partner won’t expect ti to work. That, as ti happens is also exactly why it works!

All you need to do for this pass is thread the leg in between any guard configuration and place the foot next to the opponent’s hip. Stay wary of leg locks and you’ll end up in knee on belly with ease once again. You literally just step your foot in between the opponent’s thigh and hip and glide past the legs.

4. Step Drag

This one is a variation of the leg drag that is actually much more powerful than the original. The original leg drag does allow for some leeway before you settle in the leg drag checkpoint position that comes before the pas. For this variation, you’ll do things in an easier manner. After you get the grip on the leg you’re going to drag across, you use your leg to step on the free leg and pin (staple) it to the ground. In fact, the action of stepping on the thigh will actually make your partner enter a leg drag position, and open up a direct way of passing guard.

5. Submission Passing

This is more of a concept rather than a particular pass, but you do need to mess around with it because it is one of the best ways of passing guard. The idea si that you thirteen with a submission (a guillotine, a kimura, a wristlock, a leglock…) and use the threat of that submission to get past the legs. It is a dilemma attack that will surely land you one of the two – a tap to a pass. Using a guillotine that to get to the Truck position and finish a leg lock or go for the back is a great example.

6. Spinning Arm Drag Pass

Most people, especially old-school coaches will tell you to never turn your back to an opponent. I have one question for them all: Why? In regard to passing guard, spinning around is actually a very viable and effective option.

An example si the arm drag pass against a seated guard / shin-to-shin guard. The position of the opponent’s arm means you can grab an arm drag. What you get from such a grip is a handle, which you use as a pivot point to spin around the leg they are holding and end up behind them. You get a pass and you also get the back. Easy!

7. Kimura Trap Passing

While this falls under the submission passing category, it still deserves a mention of its own. The thing with the Kimura grip is that it is so powerful that once you have it, you can pretty much do any dumb thing that comes to mind and get away with it. For example, you can just roll forward once you acquire the Kimura grip on an opponent that is in guard. You’ll end up[ quite far with your legs, but still be connected to them via the grip,. Not just that, but they will be powerless to come up top or do anything to stop you from getting a position of dominance.

The best part about this method of passing guard si that the Kimura grip is often readily available when people play guard. Just look for it next time you roll

*Video Source: “Knight Jiu-Jitsu” YouTube Channel

All In All

Have fun when passing guard! The worst thing that can happen is you get swept or submitted. So what? You’ll still have a smile on your face and that means you actually retain the knowledge of what went wrong as opposed to spazzing around as if your life depends on it. Give some crazy passes a chance and enjoy the results. then take that mindset and apply it to everything else in BJJ: sweeps, submissions, escapes, transitions. have fun!

Hidden Benefits Of BJJ That Can Change Your Life

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BJJ is fun and all, and people enjoy coming back to training. If you take an outsider’s to look at it, you’ll probably be wondering why people enjoy getting tortured so much that they crave for more and you can’t get them out of the gym, even in pandemic times? The truth is, Jiu-Jitsu is not just fun. There are plenty of benefits Of BJJ training, some of which are probably well known to everyone,. However, it is those not-so-obvious ones that you might not even discover until you’re years in, that can really impact your life in ways you’ve never imagined.

All martial arts out there, and pretty much any other sports claim they are the perfect fit for everyone. That would mean people of all ages, sexes, professions, athletic abilities, etc. The thing is, with most sports, and particularly martial arts, this is mostly a marketing trick to get people to sign up. With Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu it is the truth. Granted, you will need to figure out the right academy that truly offers BJJ classes organized in a way for everyone, but they are out there. It is the benefits of BJJ training that are the real draw for people, and not just the training itself. It is exactly the benefits that you get from the training that crossover to all other walks of life that make it possible for everyone to train Jiu-Jitsu, and love it!

BJJ Benefits You Already Know Of

Some of the Benefits of BJJ are quite well known, but still, it wouldn’t hurt t go over them again. There is rarely a sport out there that offers so much in terms of physical and mental integration during each training session. On top of it all, Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu means you get both a fitness component, and you get to train a martial art. the second part can further yield different benefits depending on your goals.

For example, if you want to be a competitor, you get to train like one and take part in sports competitions which can be BJJ, grappling or MMA. If you are more focused on self-defense, you get that too by training in Jiu-Jitsu. Oh, and it is fun and unusual, and if you are lucky enough to be in one of the progressive gyms that don’t mind evolving, you’ll be in for the time of your life!

Fitness

From a fitness standpoint, you won’t know how much BJJ helps you get into shape until you take some time off. No seriously. When you first walk into the gym, even if you’re ready to run marathons, win the CrossFit games or lift insane amounts of weight, you’ll die at about halfway through your first roll. After training for a few months, provided that you are regular, things will slowly become easier. While you will see clear benefits on your body, you will also notice that all your athletic abilities have improved.

Fitness benefits of BJJ training include improved flexibility, increased relative strength, better cardio, a unique endurance, and if you train long enough, strategic use of explosive power and the ability to control your breathing.

If you take some time off of BJJ though (which I don’t recommend), you will notice all the fitness benefits the moment you walk back in. While it will take considerably less time to get them back, you’ll become aware of just how much BJJ has made you fitter overall.

Stress Relief

The one common feeling people share after training Jiu-Jitsu is being calm and collected. After fighting for your life (in a safe environment), for a couple of hours, everything else seems unimportant. It is, especially when you realize how vulnerable you are and that there’s always someone that can beat you.

When you come to think of it all, all the stress you bring from everyday life stays right there on the mats. There is nothing that will blow some steam off like fighting with another person/. The only catch is you won’t get t hurt when doing it in BJJ, and you can still go quite drastically. Afterward, you’re just so Zen that almost nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

Community

A huge benefit of BJJ is becoming part of a very unique community. While all communities can claim to be unique, the Jiu-Jitsu one has a huge virtue you can always rely upon – being incredibly supportive. Basically, wherever you find yourself in the world, if you turn to BJJ folks for anything, they’ll go out of their way to help you. it is not really something that any other community can claim, especially not on a global level. I mean, even at tournaments where people fight each other, the respect, courtesy, and overall chill vibes are unlike any other place on Earth.

Self-Defense

In this context, there’s not much to say. Every martial art will teach you things about self-defense. Yes, even Aikido. Jiu-Jitsu self-defense won’t have you train scenarios and the likes but will teach you how to be comfortable in a fight. That is more than most other martial arts or self-defense systems out there can claim to be able to achieve. With lots of self-defense situations in real life ending up on the ground and in extremely close contact, the list of benefits of BJJ training in this department alone is too big to go over.

In all honesty though, if you want to be able to fight, BJJ alone won’t cut it. You’ll need some standing training as well, and your best bet is taking up MMA training in addition to BJJ classes.

Discipline

Discipline is a big thing in martial arts. However, the way they teach it is pretty old-school and is similar to a military-style discipline. In this sense, BJJ classes are quite looser in terms of drill sergeant-type behavior. However, the discipline you get to learn from BJJ is just as, if not more strict, as the one you learn from traditional martial arts. You simply get to figure out that you need to abide by certain principles if you want to grow and learn. That is a huge lesson that many people fail to learn in modern society.

Safe Sparring

This is a unique benefit of BJJ that really elevates it above most other combat sports ou there. I say combat sports because martial arts sparring doesn’t come even close to that of boxing, wrestling, kickboxing or MMA. BJJ, of course, falls under this category. The thing is that going live with someone is next to impossible without getting injured in any of the other combat sports.

Enter BJJ with a unique way of sparring that allows you to actually go 110% and still end up safe at the end of it, along with your training partner. Even more so, you get to do it again wi that different person, and you get to do it several times a week, if not every day. Plus, as I mentioned before, everybody can do it. ti is the only sport that will provide a safe sparring environment for a powerlifter and a 100 lbs girl to train like they’re fighting, and still emerge uninjured from it all.

6 Benefits Of BJJ That Go Past Sports

You basically area ware of all of the above benefits of training BJJ even if you are not training. They’re quite obvious, or you’ve heard lots about them from your Jiu-Jitsu friends. However, there’s huge value in those benefits of BJJ that are not so obvious and are not just about what happens on the mats while you are training. These are the benefits that make you grow as a person and will help you with your daily life.

1. Better Habits

One thing we’re not aware of in modern life is how much of the things we do are just habits. The thing with habits is they can be highly productive, or completely hedonistic. In both cases, there is a reward, albeit a very different one.

One of the most important benefits of BJJ is creating positive habits. For example, coming to training regularly will teach you that doing something hard is actually a great way to feel much better about yourself than doing something easy. Pacing up a gym bag to train at the start of your day is a great way to make going to BJJ a habit, and let BJJ teach you all about good habits along the way. for example, the habit of not listening to what people are saying, just like you do when your instructors speaking.

2. Problem-Solving Skills

People always talk about this, but somehow, you cant’ really pinpoint it. Let me help. Compare the first time you were caught in the mount with the last time. Is there a difference? Of course, there is. The first time you were panicking to get out and digging yourself a deeper grave in the process. Now, even though you might be up against a black belt, you’re tactically trying to solve the puzzle and deflect their attacks as they come. That is high-level problem-solving. Under pressure. In a simulated life or death situation. Problem-solving doesn’t get better than that.

Once again there’s a habit here, or better yet, the confidence of knowing you are capable of solving anything, no matter what the circumstances are.

3. You Can Do More

This has to do with confidence yet again. If you are a hobbyist athlete, looking to just do some fun activity, you’re probably not seeing yourself doing Imanari rolls into inverted heel hooks or Tornado guard sweeps. The thing is, after a few years, these things won’t seem like they’re Cirque De Solei stuff, but something fundamental. And the most beautiful thing about it is that you get to apply this skill to everything in life. All it takes is knowing you can do more!

4. Progressive Learning

A skill that is lacking in today’s modern society. People want to become experts overnight, and YouTube ads that promise this can happen are not helping. Well, if you want to learn BJJ, you will need about 10 years, if we take the black belt as the highest metric of learning progress in the sport. Learning with the method of delayed gratification is the mark of having a growth mindset, which is exactly what you will need in Jiu-Jitsu. Every belt level is a different milestone and you get to use everything you learn at previous levels in the new ones you reach. the moment you take this ability outside of the gym, you will be amazed at what you can accomplish.

5. Improved Mental Health

This is something I really stand behind as being a part of the most underrated benefit of BJJ. Mental health awareness is rising, and it is something that BJJ contributes to largely. namely, Jiu-Jitsu training can be extremely helpful to get you through a bunch of issues, ranging from depression to anxiety, from panic attacks to overcoming certain phobias. Take it from someone who has experienced the power of BJJ in resolving such issues.

6. Leaving Comfort Zones

If I could pinpoint one thing that Jiu-Jitsu will certainly make you aware of, it is that living inside a comfort zone is not fun. It is just comfortable. Just the way being in mount is. However, when you get too comfortable, someone will buck and throw you off, and then, you have no die what to do. Well, in BJJ, you don’t have the choice of staying in mount all the time. You will have to defend, you will have to escape and you will have to tap. And if you want to grow, you will have to try new things, as scary as they are. Once you know how to do this in the safe environment of the gym, you’ll be able t take it out and apply it to everything else you do.

Final Words

The benefits of BJJ do not start or end with the ones I covered above. They are [retty much endless and can be both obvious and quite inconspicuous. Furthermore, they can be related to the sport, or extend far beyond the confines of a gym. In any case, regardless of the reasons, you’re training Jiu-Jitsu, or your goals you will benefit from rolling around with sweaty people wearing funny pajamas or brightly colored thighs immensely.

The Best WRESTLING DVDs And Digital Instructionals

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Wrestling is one of the oldest forms of the competitive battle for humans that allows for real exchanges without the potential for damage. This is perhaps why it has been around since people can remember – it was both a great skill to poses on the battlefield, as well as a great way t pass the time. To this day, wrestling is pretty much the foundation of every grappling-based martial art in the world. It comes in many different varieties and almost every culture in the world has its own version of wrestling. These are just some of the reasons why the following list of wrestling DVD instructionals is so huge – there s so much to learn about it!

Grappling is a vast aspect of martial arts. However, you look at it, though, there’s an aspect of wrestling in each grappling martial art or fighting system in existence today. Wrestling is everywhere and does have so much to offer to grapplers. It doesn’t matter if you are just looking to be a wrestler, an MMA fighter, or a well-rounded BJJ grappler – you need to learn more about wrestling. That is precisely what you can expect to happen if you pick up any of the 100+ wrestling DVD instructionals reviewed below!

The Best Wrestling DVD Instructionals Collection

How do you go about picking the best wrestling DVD out there? You don’t. There’s no one best wrestling DVD instructional out there. In fact, the best you could do is try to figure out one for every aspect of wrestling, but even then, you wouldn’t be able to compile a precise and comprehensive list. Namely, wrestling has to do with a lot more than just takedowns.

While most people mostly think of wrestling as a means to an end in terms of getting a fight to the ground, wrestling is a lot more than just that. There is immensely complex grip fighting, upper body positioning, clinching, entries into takedowns, mat returns, counter takedowns, pinning, transitioning, escapes … Virtually every aspect of grappling you can imagine is included in wrestling. And yes, that also means submissions, although that is more in the domain of catch wrestling rather than freestyle or Greco-Roman wrestling.

The approach we took to organizing all the wrestling DVD instructionals out there for everyone was to first focus on the ten best volumes that have been proven to help people improve radically in very little time. They offer a full introduction to wrestling, for beginners, and a whole host of tactics, tricks, and detail for those that are more seasoned. Moreover, they feature world-class coaches that have proven over and over again, at the biggest stages of combat sports, why wrestling is an essential skill that you simply must-have.

TOP 10 WRESTLING DVDs

Our top ten playlists of wrestling DVD instructional features some names from the grappling world you are bound to know, as well as some you might not be really familiar with unless you’re into pure wrestling. In any case, among the top ten, you’ll find everything required to build a top wrestling game – from fundamental mechanics to advanced setups, pins, and finishes.

Gold Medal Wrestling by Henry Cejudo

The little magician Henry Cejudo is the one that opens up our best wrestling DVD instructional guide. Henry is a famous UFC champion and one of the best wrestlers alive. In this particular instructional, he explores the fundamentals of wrestling, going through everything he did to win Olympic gold.

Wrestling Fundamentals From The Bad Guy by Chael Sonnen

Mr. bad Boy himself, Chael Sonnen is a household name in combat sports circles. Despite being one of the most entertaining fighters in the octagon, and instigator of mayhem, Chael also has a very high level of understanding of grappling, and most of all, wrestling. In this instructional, he covers all the fundamental aspects of takedowns, pins, escapes, and some combinations that are essential if you’re looking into learning how to wrestle.

Ultimate Askren Wrestling by Ben Askren

Ben Askren’s highly recognizable funk style of wrestling is a proven method of victory, both in the octagon and on the wrestling mats. In this 10-volume instructional, you will literally learn everything about each and ever more important aspect of wrestling, from stance and motion, all the way to some Crazy attacking combinations.

Defending No Gi Takedowns by Nick Rodriguez

Nick Rodriguez is another name you might recognize as one of the monsters of the Danaher Death Squad, giving everyone that faces him a very difficult match. Well, he may be a purple belt in BJJ, but he certainly is a highly experienced wrestler, as you would suspect. All of his wrestling concepts in terms of takedown defense are laid bare in this wrestling DVD. Master this easy system and you’ll hardly ever be taken down again, whether it is wrestling or BJJ.

Finishing The Single Leg Takedown: The Art of Chain Wrestling by Cain Velasquez

Another monstrous wrestler who you might recognize from the UFC. Cain was probably the most daunting UFC heavyweight ever and remains on the top of UFC wrestlers to this day. In this instructional, he offers a direct line to mastering one of wrestling’s most recognizable moves – the single-leg takedown. And he really does spare no details in doing so.

Wrestling For BJJ by Hudson Taylor

This wrestling DVD has helped me improve my game extremely. Even though you might not really recognize the name, Hudson is a real beast on the mat when it comes to wrestling. While still a blue belt in BJJ, he does have elite-level wrestling experience. In this DVD, he shares more than just takedowns, covering highly interesting and useful pins, leg rides, mat returns, etc., which are all meant to help BJJ athletes get better at wrestling.

The Cradle Machine by Ed Ruth

One of the best moves that wrestling has to teach every grappler out there has to be the cradle. It will help you get pins in wrestling, tie opponents up in BJJ, make sure you keep top position and utter dominance and wrestling, etc. It is a very powerful and versatile position that Ed Ruth breaks down to the tiniest detail in this wrestling DVD instructional.

Mastering Wrestling Defenses & Counter Attacks by Bo Nickal

Bo Nickal is one of the most recognizable names in modern day wrestling. He is fast, he is explosive, he is versatile and very, very technical. In this two-part instructional, Bo covers the crucial approach to wrestling defense, both standing and on the ground. Even more importantly, though, he covers counters to some of the most common wrestling moves which will turn your defense into offense in the blink of an eye.

Chain Wrestling Takedowns by Nazar Kulchytskyy

This DVD is intended to help people who already have an understanding of the takedown portions of wrestling connect everything into a meaningful and easy-to-use game. Chain wrestling is pretty much like submission chaining – it connects moves into each other, often creating loops that are quite impossible to get out of. If you have at last some knowledge of wrestling, then you definitely need to check this four-part instructional out!

The Bottom Formula: Escapes and Reversals by Bryan Pearsall

Finally, one for all the Houdinis of grappling out there. If you did not know, most of the escapes in any grappling martial art have a lot to do with wrestling, given that it was the first pinning art out there. In this wrestling DVD, Bryan Pearsall covers all the escapes and reversals you’ll ever need to stop your shoulders from hitting the ground simultaneously or to wiggle out of the toughest bottom position spots!

List Of Every Wrestling DVD Instructional Out There

The above instructionals might be the top 10 Wrestling DVD choices, but you are far from limited only to them. Let’s take a look at around 100 more titles that will teach you how to wrestle.

High Level Takedowns and Mat Control for Grapplers by Henry Cejudo

Once again a Henry Cejudo instructional kicks things off, this time covering both takedowns and different aspects of mat control and ground fighting.

Precision Foot Sweeps by Steve Mocco

One of the best ways to get people to the ground is foot sweeps. Most people want to throw or take people down, but they don’t realize that the easiest way to get someone to the ground is to trip them. that’s exactly what you get from this instructional!

Hand Fighting Fundamentals by Steve Mocco

You won’t be able to do much in either BJJ or wrestling if you can’t win the grip fighting battles. This wrestling DVD instructional contains all the secrets to winning most hand fighting exchanges you engage in.

The Iron Claw by Steve Mocco

One of the best wrestling DVD instructionals out there. Claw grips are a huge part of wrestling and heavily underutilized in other combat sports. That makes this particular DVD a silver bullet if you master the contents inside!

Effective Greco Roman Wrestling by Pat Smith

Greco Roman wrestling is one of the oldest styles of competitive wrestling. it is a highly complex and diverse system whose fundamentals have been thoroughly explained over the four volumes of this DVD.

Championship Wrestling Fundamentals Cowboy Offense by John Smith

A very cool 6 part DVD instructional covering pretty much everything that someone who is new to wrestling should know. It comes with a cool twist, though, courtesy of John Smith.

Championship Wrestling Fundamentals Cowboy Defense by John Smith

The perfect companion of the instructional above is this one, covering the other aspect of grappling – defensive tactics.

The Complete Over-Under System by Zack Esposito

One of the most commonly used grip configurations in grappling is the over-under. This is the wrestling DVD instructional that will teach you all about it.

Introduction To Youth Wrestling by Zack Esposito

You don’t have to be a kids coach to look into this instructional. While it will help you develop amazing classes for kids it is also perfect for complete beginners – it will teach you stuff that works at literally every level of grappling.

Championship Riding Systems by Zack Esposito

Learning how to do wrestling style rides is a skill that will make dealing with the turtle and controlling the back much easier for BJJ and MMA folks. Of course, it is a mandatory skill to have if you’re purely into wrestling.

Upper Body Takedowns For Grappling by Adam Wheeler

One of my favorite wrestling DVD instructionals that covers clinching from every possible aspect, and removes shooting for the legs as the only means of taking the fight to the ground.

Fundamental Folkstyle Wrestling by Adam Wheeler

Another one by Adam Wheeler, this time covering folkstyle wrestling fundamentals over four volumes very rich with content.

Takedowns to Back Control by Nick Rodriguez

Nick Rodriguez blends wresting with Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in this instructional that perfectly ties together wrestling takedowns and BJJ back control

Dominating The Front Headlock by Dan Vallimont

One of my personal favorite wrestling positions is the front headlock. This Dan Valmont wrestling DVD instructional covers everything on the subject of the front headlock, from fundamentals to advanced.

The Russian Tie Formula by Dan Vallimont

The Russian tie is one of the most reliable ways of controlling people in wrestling, both standing and on the ground.

Effective High Crotch Attacks by Dan Vallimont

The high crotch is a wrestling classic, often used to finish takedowns when double or single leg attacks fail. That does not mean you can’t go straight for it though, and this is the DVD to teach you all about it.

The Underhook Formula by Dan Vallimont

Underhooks are irreplaceable as a means of control in combat sports. Unsurprisingly their roots are in wrestling and there are plenty of details that determine how successful you are with them.

Clearing Ties and Creating Action by Dan Vallimont

Winning grip fights will only work if you grip first, or are able to clear grips off of you and get dominant ones. Plenty of that in this wrestling DVD.

Next Level Defensive Fundamentals by Dan Vallimont

While most of the instructionals we cover are offensive, you can’t hope to be well-rounded as a grappler without defensive capabilities and tactics as well.

Single Leg Seat Belt Series and Mat Returns by Kyle Cerminara

The single leg takedown is one of the most utilized moves in grappling for a good reason – it works. However, it is not an easy move to master, as there are plenty of details o it. You can learn them all from this DVD.

The 2 on 1 Encyclopedia by Georgi Ivanov

The 2-on-1 (a.k.a. the Russian tie) as we mentioned, is one of the most effective ways of controlling people. This DVD is a true encyclopedia on the subject, with a very original system of organizing the information that makes it ultra-easy to use.

Effective Hand Fighting Explained by Georgi Ivanov

Another instructional covering the very underestimated art of hand fighting in grappling.

Magic Mat Work by Hudson Taylor

This is a wrestling DVD instructional that does not have a single takedown in it. This is because it covers mat work and ground control in extraordinary detail.

Dynamic Wrestling Takedowns For BJJ by J’Den Cox

This is an instructional that looks into footwork and movement as much as wrestling techniques for taking people down. Awesome for competitors.

Float Like a Butterfly by J’Den Cox

The secrets of not just taking people down, but also remaining in control of the top position without having to pin people down.

Defense Wins Championships by Kyle Dake

A defensive side to wrestling, but one that will ensure you can be safe for long enough to start using your offense and beat everyone.

Dynamic Wrestling Trips and Kick-Ups by Kendall Cross

One more wrestling DVD instructional that looks into the art of trips and kick-ups to get people to the ground.

Highlight Reel Upper Body Takedowns and Throws by Reece Humphrey

Upper body takedown to surprise people from the closest possible distance and get iron-clad control and unstoppable takedowns.

Highlight Reel Takedowns by Reece Humphrey

A takedown blueprint to connect all the most effective takedowns in a system that is as attractive as it is functional!

Perpetual Motion Offense by Jason Nolf

In wrestling, as long as you move, you can be safe and set up explosive and sudden attacks. The perpetual motion offense wrestling DVD will teach you how to achieve precisely that.

Total International Takedown Systems by Valentin Kalika

A wrestling DVD instructional that contains four volumes full of takedown options stemming from all over the world.

Winning First Contact by Zach Tanelli

Once again, focus on grip fighting by making sure you win the first contact of every exchange so that you can do what you wish with your opponents.

Scientific Shots by Ed Ruth

Shooting for takedowns is an art of itself within the art of wrestling that you have to master if you want to be successful as a grappler.

Defense Made Easy by Ed Ruth

No point in hunting for takedowns if you can’t stop them in the first place. This is instructional to make you unbeatable in that area of wrestling.

Smooth Wrestling Techniques by Ed Ruth

Stay loose, stay smooth, keep it flowing, and funky! This is the instructional that will teach you all about swagger when it comes to wrestling.

Aggressive Underhook Takedowns by Jacob Kasper

More on the subject of undehooks, this time in a more offensive and I daresay aggressive manner, courtesy of Jacob Kasper.

The Over-Under by Jacob Kasper

Kasper’s wrestling DVD instructionals should come as a set, give n that his over-under one builds off of the information in the underhooks instructional.

The Single Leg Takedown by Jimmy Sheptock

Four volumes full of key information on grips, posture, ways of finishing, and recovering the single leg takedown in wrestling.

Wrestling Entries for Grapplers by Kody Steele

Kody Steele will teach you how to enter into the moves you already know how to do, which is arguable, the most important part of any grappling exchange.

Overhoook and Underhook Mastery by Blaize Cabell

Over unders to enter into upper body control, set up takedowns, and stop people from getting you to the ground.

The Art of Misdirection Wrestling by Mario Mason

One of my favorite wrestling DVD instructionals ever. In it, Mario Mason shares the ultimate system to confuse and misdirect opponents while you are setting up your wrestling moves.

Bo Knows Takedowns by Bo Nickal

Bo Nickal is one of the top wrestlers out there. This instructional outlines his takedowns system piece by piece, with all the key aspects behind his explosive execution of moves laid bare.

Systemic Cradles and Pinning Combinations by Bo Nickal

Bo Nickal does not stop just with takedowns, continuing into a very effective cradle system that’ll help you pin and control everyone on the ground.

Ankle Picks From Everywhere by Bryan Pearsall

A real wrestling classic that is definitely not being as used as it should be. This wrestling DVD will help you re-discover ankle picks along with a bunch of ways to set them up and finish them.

Cage Control by Mick Hall

While this one is primarily meant for MMA fighters, learning how to control people up against a cage, ropes, or a wall is a grappling skill everyone needs to develop.

Underhook Domination by Gabe Dean

Another day, another underhooks wrestling DVD instructional. Over four parts, Gabe Dean shares some key secrets to making the single and double underhooks work for everyone.

The Basic Building Blocks Of Wrestling by Jacob Harman

Fundamentals of wrestling organized in blocks that are easy to learn and build upon.

Action Reaction Takedowns by Deron Winn

At the highest levels of grappling, the moment someone does a move the other person reacts looking to counter and directly flow into their own game. Learn this action-reaction aspect to wrestling to the tiniest detail, with the help of this DVD.

Creating Offense Everywhere by Zach Sanders

One of the most boring things is when two grapplers circle each other without engaging. This wrestling DVD will help you learn how to make people engage, and how to use smart offense to get what you want.

Wrestling Control Ties by Kerry McCoy

While wrestling might seem chaotic, especially in the sense of takedowns, there is a lot of control to it. This is the instructional that will teach you all about controlling grappling exchanges.

Unorthodox High Percentage Offense by Pat Downey

Be unpredictable with your attacks, thanks to the crazy combinations in this two-part wrestling DVD instructional.

Flipping The Switch by Helen Maroulis

Let Helen Maroulis help you flip the switch and turn every scramble into an advantage for you.

Takedown to Breakdown by Ethan Lizak

Don’t just take people down, make sure you break them down completely so they don’t even think about getting back up to their feet.

The BackPack System by Ethan Lizak

Whether you’re on the ground or standing when you get behind someone, become a backpack that is impossible to remove with this interesting system.

Creating Explosive Takedowns by Stephen Neal

Create explosive takedowns without having to rely on explosive power, but rather timing and precise movement.

Wrestle From Home Hand Fighting Drills & Workouts by Logan Stieber

Amazing hand fighting drills and workouts that you can do at home to improve your grip fighting skills.

World Championship Takedowns by Logan Stieber

Nothing but proven world championship level takedowns in this instructional that will turn you into a wrestling monster!

Defensive Dominance by Logan Stieber

Be dominant, but from a defensive standpoint, by building an impregnable fortress with these defensive tips and tricks.

The Armbar Blueprint by Logan Stieber

A blueprint to wrestling armbars, AKA bar arms which are highly underused in other areas of grappling rather than wrestling.

The Head Inside Single Leg Takedown by Tyler Caldwell

Keep your head on both sides during executing single legs. This is the instructional that will teach you all about posture, grips, and head position for single leg takedowns.

Quick Draw Defense by Tyler Caldwell

Be lightning quick with your defense, and surprise people with your speed in defending.

Creative Counter Wrestling Tricks by David McFadden

For those already familiar with wrestling up to a certain point, counter wrestling is the next logical step. learn how to counter attacks and turn the tables to truly become world-class.

Power Underhooks by Mike Letts

Another underhooks instructional, going in-depth with entries, control, and underhook based takedown entries.

The Wright Way Takedown System by Brandon Wright

An interesting take on setting up and finishing takedowns by Brandon Wright.

Collar Tie Attacks and Fundamental Takedowns by Dustin Schlatter

The collar tie is one of the must-have skills in grappling, and you will definitely need it to set up and fend off wrestling attacks. This is the perfect wrestling DVD to teach you all about them.

Attack The Takedown by Sean Russell

Be aggressive and direct with your takedown attacks by blending them together into a chain of unstoppable attacks.

The Sniper Scoring System by Joey Mckenna

This is a wrestling DVD that teaches nothing but extremely precise attacks that will have you achieve your goal with surgical precision.

Creative Cuban Offense and Scrambling by Frank Chamizo

Cuban wrestling is one of the most famous in the world. Discover why with this 4 volume Frank CHamizo wrestling DVD instructional.

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Matrix Defense by Frank Chamizo

A very cool name for a very cool system of defensive wrestling fundamentals.

High-Efficiency High Crotch Attacks by Nestor Taffur

The high crotch can do wonders for you if you figure out the tiny details that make it work for Olympic-level wrestlers. Check this instructional out.

THE TAKEDOWN PASSPORT BY BEKZOD ABDURAKHMINOV

An in-depth look into that eastern European style of wrestling that everyone seems to be trying to learn these days.

The Complete Bottom Wrestling System by Jon Morrison

Wrestling is not just about takedowns and pins – you’ll also need to know how to wrestle when you’re the person on the bottom. This three-part DVD contains the perfect blueprint to start understanding this crucial grappling skill.

Dominating The Top Position by Chris Perry

That said, you still want to be the person on top in every exchange in every grappling martial art in the world. here’s how to get on top and stay on top.

Scoring Takedowns From Control Ties by Chris Perry

Here’s how to turn all those tie-ups that are easy to get to into takedowns that are notoriously difficult to finish. This wrestling DVFD is all about them transitions!

Relentless Collar Tie Offense by Thomas Gilman

Once you get a collar tie, never lose it, regardless if it leads to takedown or you have to re-adjust.

Modern Misdirection Attacks by Myles Martin

Grappling us all about misdirections and feint,s and this wrestling DVD instructional is one of the best on that subject.

The High Crotch Takedown Manual by Nate Tomasello

High-level lessons on the high crotch takedown, from entries to finishes, courtesy of Nate Tomasello.

How To Shoot And Score At Any Weight Class by Nick Gwiazdowski

This is one instructional that is awesome for everyone but particularly useful to smaller grapplers. It’ll teach you all about dealing with opponents of all shapes and sizes.

Winning Mat Wrestling by Nick Gwiazdowski

Winning mat wrestling is actually the part of wrestling that you’ll most often have to win in order to get through a match or a fight.

Winning With The Front Headlock & Leg Attacks by Tony Ramos

The front headlock is one of the marks of old-school wrestling and it is definitely a huge part of modern grappling as well. This wrestling DVD will help you not only master it but also connect it to leg takedowns as well.

Winning Wrestling Transitions by Dan Neff

Transitions are where you win most grappling battles, regardless of it is wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, or MMA.

Movement Made Easy by Jordan Oliver

Float like a butterfly… If it is true for boxing then it is true for wrestling, and this instructional will teach you how to dance around opponents until you decide to take them down.

High-Octane Takedown Fundamentals by Thomas Gantt

Go into a higher gear and start taking everyone down without mercy by utilizing the lessons from this wrestling DVD.

The Takedown Playbook by Daniel DeShazer

A real playbook for those looking to learn how to take people down with wrestling takedowns.

The Bread & Butter Sweep Single by Matt McDonough

One of the best wrestling based instructionals ever is the bread and butter sweep single. It is something different, to say the least, and you’ll have to get it if you want to learn what is inside. Highly recommended!

The Georgian Takedown System by Vladimer Khinchegashvili

A Georgian system of wrestling that employs some takedowns and setups that western wrestlers are not really used to. Amazing!

Money Takedowns and Top Work by Bryce Meredith

A great combo of takedowns and top pins that tie together perfectly and are easy to implement in your game.

High Impact Re-Attacks & Counters by Nate Jackson

Becoming a counter wrestler is really the way to go if you don’t want to shoot too much. This instructional will teach you how to re-attack, an interesting concept that is also very applicable to Jiu-Jitsu.

The Cramm Takedown System by Nate Jackson

Nate Jackson has a real gem in this wrestling DVD, outlining how the Cramm Takedown system works and offering great ways of putting it into practice.

Shutdown Defense by Victor Avery

Another instructional for those that already have a solid base in wrestling. This one will help you completely render most defense systems useless so that you can attack at will.

Attacking Below The Knee by Mitch Finesilver

Low grip takedowns are not seen too often, apart from the ankle pick but they do work like a charm. Check out the foundations of every “below the knee” attack in wrestling.

Mobbin’ On Top by Anthony Ashnault

Mb all your opponents after winning top position to a point when they simply choose to give up.

Dynamic European Takedowns by Boris Novachkov

Another take on European wrestling systems which, as expected, is highly dynamic and explosive in nature.

Systematic Wrist Exchange Attacks by Johnni Dijulius

highly specific grip fighting instructional that will teach you how to protect your wrists and conquer those of your opponents with ease.

Slick Setups and Fundamental Finishes by Nahshon Garrett

Be slick bot hon the feet and on the mats with these awesome setups and finishes by Nahshon Garrett.

Gold Rush Takedowns by Chase Pami

One of the best named wrestling DVD instructionals ever, Gold Rush Takedowns will teach you how to overwhelm opponents with your attacks.

Hit Them With The Earth by Nick Heflin

An instructional that has helped me immensely to master takedowns, this two-part DVD can teach even complete beginners all about organizing their wrestling attacks.

The European Over/Under System by Zoheir El Ouarraqe

Wrestling over unders with extra European gravy.

Brick Wall Defense by Hayden Zillmer

A DVD that looks into the foundations of any defensive game in wrestling, and a must for everyone involved in grappling.

High Level Takedown Progressions by CJ Brucki

Wrestling is not just about throwing random techniques together, but rather about progressing through a very clear path. Learn all about those progressions from this wrestling DVD instructional.

In Conclusion

You can learn a lot about wrestling from digital instructionals and DVDs. In fact, It is precisely how I learned so much that people often say to me I move like a have a wrestling background. I don’t. What I have are some of the best wrestling DVD instructionals that cover every aspect of grappling, from standing to mat control and escapes. Try it for yourself and see how much you can learn this way.

Gordon Ryan DVD Review: High Performance Mindset For Grappling

BJJ World

Leave it to Gordon Ryan to surprise us. From pulling amazing stuff like saying how he will submit his opponent and still managing to do it, to issuing one-of-a-kind DVD instructionals. He was the first-ever to issue an instruction in which he analyzed his competitive performance at the 2049 ADCC in extreme detail. Now, he is once again doing something extraordinary – the New Gordon Ryan DVD is titled “The Sport of Kings: High Performance Mindset For Grappling” which says all about what kind of a BJJ DVD this is going to be.

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Gordon Ryan – High Performance Mindset for Grappling

Gordon Ryan is by all accounts the GOAT in grappling, regardless of what some people think. He is simply unstoppable, and even in the rare occasions when he loses (which hasn’t happened in years) he still bounces back like nothing ever happened. That has to do a lot with his mindset and the mental way he approaches grappling with pretty much anyone. While other sports rely highly on the help of sports psychologists in preparations, that aspect is rarely if even mentioned in Jiu-Jitsu. BJJ mindset is just as important as physical and tactical preparation. The new Gordon Ryan DVD “High Performance Mindset For Grappling” covers this underrated subject in great detail.

Training The BJJ Mindset

While martial arts, especially full contact ones are always hard from a psychological aspect, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is among the most difficult ones even within this category. I’d argue that only MMA is more demanding on the mind than Jiu-Jitsu.

It is not just about what you think while you are rolling or fighting in BJJ. it is how you think, it is how you feel, it is how fast you process information. More importantly, it is how much you allow your mind to control your performance. In that context, mindset plays a huge role from preparations and training, all the way to those jittery pre-fight moments and of course, the fight itself. Most of us have fallen pre to our minds at least once in BJJ, whether it was in a match or a roll. the good news is that the BJJ mindset is a highly trainable skill.

The thing is, most coaches out there has no idea how to prepare you in terms of a high performance mindset for grappling. It takes a skilled sports psychologist to get you in a place where you understand how much your mindset impacts your performance. More importantly, they can teach you how to set the correct mindset in training, in pre-competition situations, and while you are performing on the mats. The only catch is that they’re unavailable for everyone, or even unaffordable. That is where the new Gordon Ryan DVD enters the frame.

New Gordon Ryan DVD: “The Sport of Kings: High Performance Mindset For Grappling” Full Review

What should you expect from “The Sport of Kings: High Performance Mindset For Grappling” new Gordon Ryan DVD? That is a great question, as this BJJ DVD instructional is not just different from any other out there, it is also different from all of Ryan’s other instructionals. In fact, if there is one DVD you should get, now that this instructional is available, it is this one. It does not matter at all what your rank, age, experience, or goals are. Literally, everyone in the sport needs to listen to, understand and apply the material from this instructional.

The DVD has four volumes as opposed to the usual 8 we’re accustomed to seeing from Gordon Ryan DVDs. However, given that the subject matter is a mindset for grappling, four volumes are not just plenty, they are in fact, too much for anyone to process from just one watching. That said, as usual, Ryan has everything neatly organized and uses lots of examples of matches and in-depth analysis to make everything crystal clear. It is really a one-of-a-kind instructional that will change how you think about BJJ.

Part 1 – Mental Preparation 101

there’s really not much to say for everything that you will find in this new Gordon Ryan DVD in terms of doing a review. You will need to hear the information as presented by Ryan for it all to make sense and click. That said, we can walk you through what you can expect to see in every volume of the instructional.

After a short but important introduction, Ryan starts to cover things like training schedule and goal setting which are pretty much some of the most important aspects of training BJJ anyway. Basically, he covers managing expectations through sharing different takes on how you should organize training if you are a recreational athlete vs a competitor.

The most important thing in this volume that I feel I should point out is the chapters on confidence. covering things like over and underconfidence, and how to make it work for you. Choosing an academy, mental preparations for tournaments, as well as choosing training partners are some of the other subjects Ryan discusses in this volume. The final chapter addresses the X factor and is one of ht most important chapters in the entire DVD set.

Part 2 – Losing

If there is one thing that will certainly happen to you in BJJ it is losing. That is exactly what Gordon Ryan addresses in the second part of his High Performance Mindset Fro Grappling instructional.

He starts off with training, and how you should approach “losing” in training rounds and rolls. Once again, he shares different aspects of mindset training for hobbyists and for competitors. Talking about putting yourself intentionally in bad spots comes next, and it is one of the most important things in this entire instructional.

Training with higher and lower ranked belts, as well as developing a competition plan are chapters that bring this volume to a conclusion.

Part 3 – Competition Prep

This is a part of the new Gordon Ryan DVD that is especially important for competitors who are looking to perhaps become professional grapplers. It covers things like funding for professional athletes, how to approach drilling, and ways to manage competition anxiety.

He then offers a system of mindset preparation, starting from one mount out of competition, and heading to a week out and ultimately, the day of competition. Very important subjects he also talks about are warmups before a fight and that crucial first match.

Before the DVD concludes, Ryan touches on whether or not you need to employ a sports psychologist and how to study the tape and analyze your opponents.

Part 4 – Building A Routine

The final volume of “The Sport of Kings: High Performance Mindset For Grappling” looks into some common mental issues and obstacles people usually encounter in grappling. From the very annoying “you either win or you lose” quote, to dealing with injuries and losses, Ryan really paves the way for a different mental approach to the sport.

Hard work, discipline, and dealing with stuff that happens off the mats are all crucial chapters that ultimately lead to Ryan uncovering how you can build a routine to help you get in the perfect mindset for ultimate performance.

Final Thoughts

I can not recommend the new Gordon Ryan DVD Review: High Performance Mindset For Grappling highly enough. I am super confident that everyone will benefit from this particular instructional immensely, regardless of where they are at in their BJJ journey. Simply put, you need this DVD, and given that it really has no competition in its niche area, it is the obvious number one choice.

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BJJ Spider Guard: How To Become An Apex Predator

BJJ World

Playing Spider Guard is one of those e BJJ skills that you absolutely have to possess. People have won world championships with the guard, and it has been proven to work at the highest levels over and over again. To be honest, the spider guard is the ultimate example of Jiu-Jitsu’s effectiveness. It is easy to acquire, offers security, provides many attacking options ad it ties in with just about every open guard out there. the main reason the guard has persevered for this long though is its ability to evolve and keep up with modern BJJ. Let’s look at the spider guard from this modern grappling aspect.

In terms of that evolution of the spider guard, I’ll make a bold claim right here – you can play spider guard with great effectiveness in No-Gi. There, I said it. The most effective gi guard 9arguably) has now evolved so much that a variation is also available in No-Gi. however, that is such an interesting subject that I will cover it in a featured article of its own. Today, we’ll revisit the spider guard’s basics, exploring everything that makes it effective, and all the ways in which you can integrate it or parts of it, into your A game.

BJJ Spider Guard 101

The spider guard is a Gi-based guard that focuses on isolating the upper body of the opponent. It works by involving the body’s strongest parts, the legs) against the noticeably weaker arms and shoulders. This provides the bottom person with a position that both guarantees security and opens up offensive opportunities.

For the spider guard, the spider guard works from a supine position and is best utilized when people are at a medium distance from you. The grips are on both sleeves and are usually the defining aspect of this open guard. The thing is, you don’t need strong fingers and flexible knuckles to play the spider guard. All you need is knowing how to optimally grip the sleeves.

Pocket grips are the option to go for here. Basically, instead of trying to hold on to the rim of the sleeve, you’re going to grip further up, making a deep and comfortable pocket for your fingers. Then you’re going to use your thumb to lock everything in place. As long as you have your fingers curled up towards the inside of your palm, and you keep your wrists mobile, you will have no pain or other issues with holding spider guard grips.

The legs then go on the opponent’s biceps. there are different schools of thought about where exactly you should place a foot on the biceps. Something that proves universally effective is going for the middle of the biceps, with the foot turned towards the elbow. having your feet in a claw-like configuration also helps immensely with control.

The Strongest BJJ Guard?

While the jury is still out on this one, the spider guard is definitely one of the strongest contenders for the title. There are simple reasons why this guard is so powerful and works across the board for every type of grappler. Basically, the spider guard fulfills some of the most important principles of BJJ guards, which make it an integral tool to have.

First of all, you can stay safe while playing this open guard variation. The positioning of your body has one of your hips and the shoulder on the same side of the ground at all times. In combination with one knee being close to the chest always, and the elbow on that side being close to the knee, protecting your inside space is done without any effort whatsoever.

Moreover, you easily achieve a very important goal for guard players – dividing the opponent’s upper body from the lower. The concepts dictate that when the upper and lower body do not work in unison, you have pretty much everything you need to take away from the opponent (balance, base, posture, etc.).

Finally, the position of the legs on the biceps and your grips means you have complete control over the elbows. To be more precise, you can open the elbows of an opponent at will, and keep them there for extended periods of time. Opening the elbows means having them as far from their ribcage as possible.

The Best SPIDER GUARD DVD And Digital Instructionals

Spider Guard Retention And Recovery

After covering the basic positioning of the spider guard and the reasons why it is one of the best BJJ guards in existence, let’s now move on to how you should actually play from the position.

The open guard checklist works in a very specific pattern, where steps, or rather goals, have a specific and important order in which they take place. The first thing on the agenda is the ability to stay in guard when people are trying to pass it, which they will.

The spider guard’s basic positioning makes it very easy to retain the guard. All you need to do is keep one knee to your chest, and the elbow on the same side to your ribs. This is best done on the side that is near the ground. The leg on the other side should be extended, and your arm should pull on the sleeve just enough so there is tension. Keeping this configuration will pretty much guarantee that you can stay in your guard, regardless of which direction an opponent moves to.

In terms of recovery, you will need to be aware that people will try to move backward, strip the grips, or try to staple your bottom leg. In each and every one of these scenarios, you need to focus on recovering the configuration by avoiding going into battles for an obvious thing like a grip or foot placement. Rather, get everything else back into place and leave the most obvious thing last.

Sweeping From The Spider Guard

When it comes to sweeping from the spider guard, you pretty much have most things ready the moment you establish the guard configuration. That means that you at least have one of three important things under your control: posture, balance, or base. Depending on which one you control, you can sweep in a different direction with ease.

If you have their posture, which is most often the case, pulling the opponent’s head and shoulders towards you will allow you to either send them flying overhead or tilt them to either side.

Alternatively, if you have them out of balance by way of extension of the spider hooks, you have their balance. This usually works best when opponents kneel or half kneel. the moment you see them tilt to one side or the other, or twist their spine, you can sweep to the sides or towards the opponent’s back with ease. In certain cases, you can also draw them forward, but that is not as high-percentage as going in one of the other three directions.

Finally, having people’s base usually means you’re playing a spider guard hybrid, like a de la spider, or some lapel guard combination. This gives you access to their legs, and while they might have posture, you can take away their base directly by manipulating the feet. Alternatively, you can pull or push opponents from the “regular” spider guard [position to force them to step in a direction of your choosing and thus take their base away.

Video source: “Evolve Mixed Martial Arts” Youtube Channel

Spider Guard Submissions

Submitting people from the spider guard is also quite easy once you start getting comfortable bel in the position. There are different submissions and transitions options available, but the most readily available ones are the triangle choke, armbar and Omoplata

A very reliable little system is going for an armbar by pulling one of the opponent’s arms towards your hip. Very often they will place it there themselves trying to pass. This puts you in a prime position to swing a leg over and finish the armbar while not letting go of the far side grip or spider hook. It also opens up short armlocks as a follow-up or surprise submission.

If you end up being too shallow for an armbar, you can easily switch to an Omoplata from the same original armbar attack. Moreover, you can follow up with an easy triangle choke afterward, given that everything will already be in place. ALternative, the triangle is also directly available against kneeling and half kneeling opponents.

Video source: “fightTIPS” Youtube Channel

Apart from these submissions, you can also use the spider guard to force Ashi Garami entries, which in turn, lead into leg locks of your choosing.

Passing The Spider guard

If oyu are well versed at playing the spider guar,d you will generally find it quite easy to pass. the better you are at it, the more you will be able to recognize imperfections in opponents playing it and use them to get past the legs.

One thing to consider is that you have to retreat back and away from the person playing spider guard if you want to be safe enough to manage to set a pass up. Conversely, putting your elbows together helps immensely in forcing a spider guard player to switch to a seated guard or scramble for guard recovery tactics. During those recovery tactics, you can think about passing.

Stripping grips directly is not just hard, it basically accomplishes nothing when you are in the spider guard. Passing it will require you to think like the guard play, and to the opposite of what they are doing. Reagin your base posture and balance, and break the guard’s structure by taking away its strongest feat – the biceps hooks.

Video source: “JonThomasBJJ” Youtube Channel

In Conclusion

The spider guards one of the best options you have for playing a bottom game in BJJ. So far, there have been two limiting factors for the guard – the pain in holding on to the sleeve grips and the inability to play it without a Gi. Both are now pretty more or less a thing of the past, which means the guard is definitely one of the best positions for any grappler to have in their toolbox. It is particularly useful for ladies and smaller grapplers.

The Flying BJJ Guard Pull Nobody Is Talking About

BJJ World

The BJJ Guard Pull is something people love to hate. Everyone talks about “realism” in Jiu-Jitsu and how you should be able to take people down. However, when it comes to them performing takedowns, you’ll see more guard pulls than anything else. There’s a case to be made about the role of the BJJ guard pull and its place among takedowns. That said, a guard pull does not have to be the same old boring thing. Quite the contrary, you can actually do flying guard pulls that are safer than most other guard pul varieties.

Pulling guard in Jiu-Jitsu is an interesting phenomenon. At first, it seems crazy to do something that puts you on your back. Once you get comfortable playing guard, though, pulling guard becomes a go-to option for most people. And why wouldn’t it? It gets the fight to the ground quickly. It takes them to a position of relative safety (a guard of their choice). Also, it doesn’t take long to perfect it and it works against people of all sizes and skill levels. BUT what happens if both people are looking to do a BJJ guard pull? That is when things get interesting, or better said, complicated.

Exploring The BJJ Guard Pull

First of all, let’s be completely honest about guard pulls – they work. That is basically the only criteria a move needs to fulfil in order to have its place in BJJ. While it is a one-dimensional thing to do and is something people can quickly figure out about you, there’s no need to make people feel ashamed for pulling guard. Then again, when you come to think about it,. taking people down I also one-dimensional. The bottom line is, you need both, and you need to approach BJJ guard to pull training pretty much like you do takedown training.

Pulling guard is often perceived as it is a straightforward thing. Granted, if all you are doing is the same old guard pull into closed guar, that notion is not incorrect. However, the reality of things is that there are different ways of pulling guard. Moreover, it is safe to assume that the opponent is going to try and defend or counter your guard pull leading into scrambles more times than you end up in a clean guard pull. Essentially, if you try a BJJ guard pull and end up on the ground without a proper guard structure, you’ve only done a pull, or better said, a takedown on yourself.

What I am trying to say is the guard pulls do not have to end in just one guard, or in the guard at all. Combining them with takedowns is one of the high-level grappling skills you definitely want to develop, especially if you are a competitor. Moreover, when people try and counter your guard pulls even more options will open up that can head in any direction you want – takedowns, guards, or even perhaps standing or flying submissions.

Thinking Beyond The Guard Pull

The BJJ guard pull can be a highly useful tool for you if you are versatile with a different type of pulls, connect them to takedowns, and most importantly, know what it is that you want to achieve after you pull guard.

Going into guard means your attacking options are sweeps and/or submissions. So, if you are pulling a certainty guard, why not try and connect the pull straight with one of these attacking options? Given that you have different ways of pulling (the usual pull, jumping guard, sitting down, faking takedowns, etc. and you have different guards you can pull, the combinations here are endless. However, if you only pull guard for the sake of it, you are taking away plenty of opportunities from yourself.

That is exactly what certain more unexplored aspects of the BJJ guard pull offer. You get the chance to go straight into positions or submissions that are usually not associated with guard pulls, and it is a thing of beauty. For example, the web guard pull is a guard pull of the flying variety that will help you end up in either mount, a mounted armbar, or a top position. I the off chance that everything goes wrong, you still end up in a side guard variations which si hard to fight out of for your opponent.

Web Guard Guide: How to Do A Flying BJJ Guard Pull

The web guard is something that probably stems from the spiderweb position that the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu uses to set up armbars. The position is a highly effective one, allowing you to control both the head and the hip o an opponent while attacking their arm. In fact, there are many different submissions you can attack from the spiderweb. Well, now there is a way to get straight into his position from standing and it involves you first flying into a guard pull and then rolling to a top position or straight into submission.

for the flying web guard pull you want to be positioned to the side of your opponent as much as possible. Basically, you want a grip behind their neck and you want to jump into side closed guard while they are standing. The goal from there is to keep an arm behind the neck, one leg across their belly, and get your other arm behind the nearside leg. For all intents and purposes, you’re positioning yourself like a paperclip in relation to your opponent’s body.

From there, all you want is to drop the head below your own hip and use your leg to direct the opponent’s head towards the ground. You’ll have them rolling forward and giving you top position. In fact, you get to the spiderweb and you can finish from there, or transition into the mount or the back.

In essence, the flying web guard pull is a way to finish a match with just one move. You do a flying guard pull that leads into something that resembles a takedown and gives you top position. You get sweep points, and you attack with submissions or transition to get more control. Perfect, isn’t it?

Wrap Up

In terms of practicing this particular BJJ Guard Pull safely, I can assure you that everyone, can do it after just 20-30 minutes of training. There’s a black belt in Florida named Charles Harriott that has to teach this down to a science. he can teach anyone, from black belts to people that are there for their first-ever BJJ class to do the flying web guard pull in a 100% safe and effective manner. Alternatively, you can go slowly to figure out where everything is, given that this move also works when you do it really, really slow. Try flying straight into your next guard pull and you’ll quickly realize how great of a weapon the web guard pull can be. Oh, and yes, this move is legal at all levels.

The Best SPIDER GUARD DVD And Digital Instructionals

BJJ World

One of the most annoying guards in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the spider guard. AS long as you can play it without wrecking your fingers, you can literally win World Championship titles with a strong spider guard game. And, the key thing about it is that it is no longer a Gi only guard – there is a way to play it in No-Gi with a very high level of success as well. In fact, you can learn everything about the spider guard, from the old school original position and mechanics, all the way to the latest innovation from the Spider Guard DVD instructionals we review below as part of our ultimate collection.

Learning the spider guard is pretty much a given in any Gi BJJ gym around the world. It is on most gym curriculums and is usually taught at an intermediate or advanced level. That doesn’t mean you can’t train, or use it as a beginner though. All it takes is understanding how it works, and most importantly, how to manage the grips so that your fingers don’t get destroyed in a few months, taking away your spider guard abilities. One of the key things you can learn is gripping and holding on to the guard which is exactly why this aspect si included in each and every one of the spider guard DVD instructionals we look at in this article.

The Best Spider Guard DVD Instructionals Collection

The spider guard is really a classic among open guards in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It is one that you often see smaller grapplers playing, mostly because of the amazing amount of control it provides The main reasons the spider guard works has to do with two key principles. The first one is that you’re breaking the top person’s posture, which as we know is one of the key things in Jiu-Jitsu. Next up, you’re manipulating the opponent’s arm,s and in particular, elbows, keeping them away from their body. The combination of elbows away from the body and a broken posture makes the guard extremely difficult to pass and is the reason why everyone can have success with it, regardless of the size and experience level of your opponent.

Mechanically speaking, the focus in the spider guard is on being on your side for the most part. As long as one of your hips is up, you’ll have the necessary angle to basically crucify people from the front. That said, the leg on the side of the hip that is up is the one that should be extended for the most part to give you the utmost control. Conversely, if you need to switch sides you also change which leg is extended and which one is flexed. Simple right? Just check out the Spider Guard DVD instructionals below and everything will become crystal clear!

As far as the No-Gi versions of the spider guard go, there’s still nothing out on that (yet), but I will share the concept. The reason why the spider guard is so powerful are the grips that provide you with the chance to control the arms. Well, if you’re in No-Gi, simply grab four fingers on each palm (yes, ti is legal) and try doing what you usually do from the position.

The TOP 3

let’s look at the top 3 spider guard DVD instructionals that you can pick up and start seeing incredible progress in your game in next to no time!

1. BJJ Spider Guard Masterclass, a Step-by-Step Gameplan to Building an Effective, Aggressive Guard Game for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

The very first thing you should look into when looking for a spider guard DVD is the masterclass on the position. Across 5 volumes you will learn everything the reis about the spider guard, how to hold it, attack from it, and build an entire game that will help you deal with any type of opponent.

2. ROMULO BARRAL’S SPIDER GUARD SECRETS VOL. 1 [ON DEMAND]

One of the best spider guard players in the world is Romulo Barral. In simple terms, there’s nobody better than him when it comes to the competitive uses and applications of the spider guard. He has several instructionals out on the subject, but this is the one, to begin with, regardless if you are new to the spider guard, or have been doing it for a while.

3. DOMINYKA OBELENYTE – SPIDER VARIATIONS AND DOMOPLATA [ON DEMAND]

What Romulo Barral is with the spider guard among male competitors, Dominyka Obelenyte is among the ladies. Her spider guard game is one of the most aggressive and functional out there, and she shares it in its entirety in this instructional. As a bonus, she also throws in how her Domoplata submission works, and how to set it up from the spider guard, of course.

List Of All Spider Guard DVD Instructionals Out There

Of course, we can’t just be limited to only three Spider Guard DVD instructionals, can we? That is why we made the effort to locate and organize all the other ones out there that are more than worth spending time and effort on.

1. Aggressive Spider Guard by Johnny Tama

If you’re not going to attack from the spider guard, you might as well not use it. This instructional will teach you all about aggressive attacks from the guard, and how to tie them together in a very hard to deal with the system.

2. Spider Guard Tricks by Thamires Aquino

This is one for the more seasoned spider guard players out there. This spider guard DVD is full of tips, tricks, and hacks that will open up options you’ve never thought of before. highly recommended.

3. The Lo Guard & Matrix Passing by Leandro Lo

Leandro Lo is one of the best guard players in history, and of course, has a lot to say on the subject of the spider guard. there’s no miss with getting this instructional.

4. Double Sleeve Guard by Jonathan Thomas

This might sound like it is just a fraction of the spider guard when you see the title, but don’t let that confuse you, It is a full-blown spider guard DVD, just one that really focuses on gripping and manipulating the arms more than anything else. Essential for a serious spider guard player.

5. Dynamic Open Guard 3 DVD Set by Michael Langhi [DVD]

Pure magic That is what you get with any Michael Lnaghi DVD, and especially this three-part set that contains some never before seen information on the spider guard in particular.

6. Everyday Porrada Spider Guard by Romulo Barral

As I mentioned before, Romulo is the utmost authority on the spider guard. this is his latest instructional on the subject, covering his entire spider guard system over four very long DVD volumes.

7. ROMULO BARRAL’S SPIDER GUARD SECRETS VOL. 2 [ON DEMAND]

Part two of the Romulo Barral spider guard DVD instructional series that we covered as the must-have in the top 3 section of this article.

8. ROMULO BARRAL’S SPIDER GUARD SECRETS VOL. 3 [ON DEMAND]

The final installment uncovering the deepest secrets of the spider guard that nobody but Romulo Baral can divulge.

9. ABMAR BARBOSA – SPIDER-X PART ONE [ON DEMAND]

Ambar Barbosa is one of the highest level competitors in the sport, and certainly a man who knows a lot about the spider guard. His take on the position is unusual to say the least, but highly efficient.

10. ABMAR BARBOSA – SPIDER-X PART TWO [ON DEMAND]

It seems Barbosa has so much to say about the spider guard that it won’t just fit in one spider guard DVD instructional. this is the second installment of the series.

In Conclusion

You can learn a lot of the little secrets and tricks that make the spider guard work from spider guard DVD instructionals by some of the best grapplers out there. The lists above contain every release, either DVD or digital that you should consider when you’re putting together a spider guard instructionals library of your own.

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