Free BJJ Seminar Tour In The UK By Ashley Williams For Covid-Striken Gyms

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Free BJJ Seminar Tour In The UK By Ashley Williams For Covid-Striken Gyms

Welsh-born Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu back belt Ashley Williams is set to embark on a free BJJ seminar tour through the United Kingdom. His goal is to help struggling gyms during the Covid-19 pandemic. Williams is one of the best No-Gi grapplers from the UK, and one of the most famous European grapplers, who also happens to be a triple Polaris champion as well.

Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu during the Covid-19 pandemic turned out to be quite a difficult feat to accomplish. Across the UK, most gyms have been locked down since December, after a short period where people were allowed to train under strict rules. A free BJJ seminar tour by Ashely Williams, though, is a great way of trying to help them stay afloat.

The second nationwide lockdown exacerbated the state in which gyms and their owners are, leading to the closing of many BJJ academies, some of which for good. This has been the case around the world, and not just in the UK. With authorities coming down hard on any gym that decides to open up on their own in defiance of measure,s the situation is pretty hard for gym owners.

Luckily, Ashley Williams has recognized a way he can step in and help struggling BJJ academies, at least across the territory of the UK. He is currently in the process of planning a free BJJ seminar tour across the United Kingdom that will include around 15-20 gyms that have been particularly hit during the pandemic. He will hold free seminars to help gyms stay in business.

As per Ashley Williams official Instagram account, he declared that “Still no good news from the Gov but we can always try and look forward to something! I have been mega grateful to my students who have continued supporting me through this time and I know many gyms are in a similar situation. To any U.K. gym that has been receiving the support of your students through this time, I will teach a FREE seminar at your academy as a thank you to your students! It will be limited to 15-20 gyms and will obviously be taught in a Covid Safe manor and socially distanced.”

Apart from Ashley Williams, other big-name MMA and BJJ stars have come forward trying to help people out during these difficult times. BJJ fanatics, for example, have set up a charity fund to help gyms make ends meet.

Gyms can apply for the Ashley Williams free BJJ seminar tour through the following link:
https://ashwilliamsonline.com/book-a-seminar.

The BJJ World Post Covid-19: Coming Back to Training

BJJ Hygiene: What Are The Covid-19 Protocols We’ll Have To Follow?

Coming Soon: Rickson Gracie Memoir “Breathe: A Life In Flow”

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Coming Soon: Rickson Gracie Memoir "Breathe: A Life In Flow"

If you have been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for more than a few months, you’ve seen the documentary “Choke” and you’ve heard the name, Rickson Gracie, at least once. Well, Rickson’s life work now gets a different platform. This time, he shares his own story, in his memoir titled “Breathe: A Life In Flow”. The book is scheduled for release in August 2021 and we can’t wait!

Rickson Gracie is the son of Helio Gracie, who has been credited as putting together what we today know as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As Helio’s most talented son, Rickson was highly athletic and aggressive and has been the face of the Gracie family ever since he started competing. From the crazy stories in the old days of the Gracie challenges in Brazil,. to his MMA exploits, and of course, Gracie garage matches, the man is a real living legend in grappling and fighting circles.

Rickson’s journey was somewhat documented in “Choke”, a movie that focused on his MMA career. With a self-proclaimed record of 400-0. Rickson is definitely the best fighter of the Gracie family, and that includes his son Kron Gracie, who is currently on the UFC roster.

The thing with Rickson is that despite a lot of his efforts in MMA, Vale Tudo and Jiu-Jitsu are well known and documented, there are still a lot of mysteries surrounding the early days of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, especially when it comes to the period when he was going up the ranks in Brazil. To this day, some of the challenge matches which Rickson Gracie won have never been discussed, and most of the evidence is based on the few students that were there to witness them.

Rickson himself has been quite tight-lipped on the subject, not disclosing much about some of the fights everyone knows took place behind closed doors, with him ending up as the victor. There is even footage that has still not been released. It seems that through “Breathe: A Life In Flow”. Rickson Gracie will finally account for most of his life as a fighter of the Gracie family, including never before shared information on fights that the public is itching to learn about.

The memoir is available for pre-order through Amazon, with a release date set for August 10th.

Fight 2 Win 164 Full Results And “Controversial” Decisions

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Fight 2 Win 164 took place on February 19, 20121 in Fight 2 Win 164. The card featured some of the biggest names in grappling, and also had an under card of brown, purple and blue belt matches, as well as kids and teens matches. The tournament did not disappoint as there were upsets, close calls and even some, at the time, unclear decisions in the main and co-main events.

Oliver Taza and Gianni Grippo were two of the grapplers that didn’t have a great night, given that they represent the two biggest upsets of the night. Namely, Pedro Rocha managed to edge Taza via decision, while Gabriel Souza won his match against Grippo in the same fashion, to yet again surprise Fight 2 Win fans.Fight 2 Win 164 Full

The decisions that brought Vagner Rocha and Manuel Ribamar their wins in the main and co-man event respectively did raisesome eyebrows and cause reaction insitally, although Figth 2 Win CEO Seth Daniels quickly cleared things up. On his Instagram account, Seth Daniels explained that decisions are based on the number and quality of the submission attempts athletes make during a match. In the case of Manuel Ribamar vs. Dante Leon, Ribamar ended up with a couple more choke attampets tha tinitally, got him the nod, even though the match was extremely close.

In the case of the main event, Vagner aggression and more dominant wrestling and top game display got him the nod over Yuri, even though Simoes had attacks and action packed moments of his own.

Fight 2 Win 164 Full Results

Vagner Rocha defeats Yuri Simoes via Decision

Manuel Ribamar defeats Dante Leon via Decision

Gabriel Souza defeats Gianni Grippo via Decision

Pedro Rocha defeats Oliver Taza via Decision

Travis Clark defeats Chad Fields via Decision

Alan Shebaro defeats Edward Wisenhaunt via Decision

Diego Santana defeats BJ Nelson via Decision

Henrique Rossi defeats Justin Ordinario via Decision

Michael Torres defeats Angel Torres via Submission – Heelhook

Fabrício Barbarotti defeats Guilherme Rocha via Decision (FOTN)

Pedro Veras defeats Rodrigo Lopes via Submission – Choke (SOTN)

Robby Malof defeats Vinicius Carvalho Garcia via Decision

Loronz Marion defeats Ayuba Ndiaye via Decision

Mike Anderson defeats Wally Thompson via Submission – Choke

Marc Botindari defeats Stephen Hall via Submission – Head-and-Arm Choke

Jinho Kim defeats Jason Gavenda via Submission – Choke

Andre Gomes Reis defeats Jorge Perez via Submission – Bicep Slicer

Brown Belt Matches

Zach Cothren defeats Mark Francescutti via Submission – Choke (SOTN)

Italo Lima Costa defeats Daniel Calvert via Submission – Armbar

Bradley Schneider defeats Kemoy Anderson via Decision

Adam Bradley defeats Nilo Burgener via Decision

Christopher Shaw defeats Michael Gonzalez via Submission – Choke

Keaton Standridge defeats Conrad Duran via Decision (FOTN)

Purple Belt Matches

Matthew Falavinha defeats Randall Goodson via Decision

Tarean Byars defeats Eric Curry via Submission – Rear-Naked Choke

Seth Kaelin defeats Mark lorello via Submission – Armbar (SOTN)

Kenta Golson defeats Tony Kell via Decision

Amador Barraza defeats Dominic Ramos via Submission – Kneebar

Daryl Brown defeats Austyn McNeil via Decision

Jonathan Thomas defeats Stephen Shnayderman via Decision (FOTN)

Dylan Martinez defeats Justin Brian Huskinson via Decision

Blue Belts, Kids and Teens Matches

Jeremy Omar Martinez defeats John Tao via Submission – Heelhook

Alexander Leon defeats Taylor Leonard via Submission – Heelhook

Jett Graham defeats Kevin Ditto via Submission – Armbar (FOTN)

Bradley Thomas Herring defeats Patrick Dooley via Decision

Mitchell Cupp defeats Glen Bradley via Submission – Armbar

Roberto Lopez defeats Brayden Garrett via Submission – Choke

Jonathan Becker defeats Gabriel Gonzalez via Decision

Hasnat Raza defeats Gray Ramirez via Submission – One-Arm Guillotine

Jaden Becker defeats Lukas Mermingez via Decision

John Hanson defeats Ryan Bunch via Decision (FOTN)

Evan Wise defeats Johnathan Lopez via Submission – Ankle Lock

Alex Frias defeats Devon Brown via Submission – Armbar

Colby Hernandez defeats Maverick Hatcher via Submission – Triangle Choke

Joseph Brunson defeats Anthony Mermingez via Decision

Dario Rivera defeats Karter Short via Submission – Armbar

Connor Stallmer defeats Colt Brown via Submission – Armbar

Brady Ramey defeats Christopher Ditto Ditto via Submission – Armbar

Michael Brennan defeats Joshua Patino via Submission – Triangle Armbar (SOTN)

Max Holloway Earns A Brown Belt In Jiu-Jitsu

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Max Holloway Earns A Brown Belt In Jiu-Jitsu

Former UFC featherweight champion Max “The Blessed” Holloway has just been promoted to brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Max Holloway trains under Professor Rylan Lizares who awarded him his last colored belt on Friday, February 19. With a rich pedigree of submission wins over black belts inside the octagon, Holloway definitely more than deserves his new rank.

Max Holloway has been a professional MMA fighter for more than a decade now, with most of his time spent in the UFC. At one point he was the undisputed featherweight champion of the world, beating the legendary Jose Aldo to unify the interim title he already held at the time. During his stint in the octagon, Holloway has produced impressive grappling displays.

Namely, even though he just got his brown belt, he already has significant victories over the likes of Brian Ortega, Charles Oliveira, and Anthony Pettis. He also has a couple of submission victories, both via a guillotine choke, one over the highly treated Cub Swanson.

Currently, Holloway is in a tough spot, going 2-3 in his last five bouts. That, however, includes going up a weight class to challenge Dustin Porrier, as well as losing two back-to-back fights to current champion Alexander Volkanovski. He did beat Frankie Edgar and Calvin Kattar though, and has still a lot more to bring to the octagon given that he is not even 30 yet.

Now, Max Holloway also has a brown belt in BJJ, or as he refers to it, an upgrade. “A wise man once said. “All the time you put on the mat is one thing no one will ever be able to take away from you.” Got an upgrade in my belt yesterday but the work ain’t done yet. Let’s goooo ,” Holloway wrote on his Instagram.

The fan-favorite is currently ranked as the number 1 featherweight, and number 8 in the pound-for-pound rankings.

No-Gi Takedowns – The Best DVDs and Digital Instructionals

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The best no gi takedowns dvds and digital instructionals

Takedowns are a challenging part of BJJ, if not the most challenging. And, No-Gi takedowns are even more demanding. Of course, in BJJ terms, that just means that you absolutely have to learn how to do them. that, though, is no easy task. You will have to look not just into wrestling, but also Judo and Sambo modifications in order to really build a solid BJJ takedowns game without the Gi. Let us make that easier for you with our comprehensive BJJ No-Gi takedowns DVD instructionals collection.

IN terms of No-Gi takedowns DVD instructionals, you will find plenty of options., However, finding ones that will help you integrate what you learn into your game, especially in terms of BJJ rulesets is a bit more challenging. That is why you need to be careful when you’re picking your learning sources. Better yet, only go for proven instructors and their work, as well as proven DVD instructionals that have helped others. The following list is exactly that!

The Best No-Gi Takedowns DVD Instructionals Collection

When it comes to No-Gi takedowns for BJJ, you need to understand the levels and angles that make everything possible. Seems simple when you read about it, and even simpler when you watch people do it. When it comes to executing them, though, suddenly it seems like you know nothing. So, first things first: grips.

When it comes to No-Gi takedowns, you need a proven grip combination to set everything up. Your best bets are underhooks, collar ties and wrist grips, or any combination of the above. Unless you achieve this, you’ll have limited success with No-Gi takedowns in BJJ.

Then we can talk about levels. In that sense, you have two major options – get the legs or go for the head. The first one works via ankle picks, single and double leg takedowns, and the high crotch. OF course, there are also some trips that work very well.

Going for the head, on the other hand, means trying to get a headlock, and launch attacks from there. Whether you’ll do snap downs pulling folks into turtle, or go for cradle takedowns is all a matter of choice after you establish a headlock.

Finally, there are angles to consider. Getting from the grips to the actual takedown is where the art of takedowns without a gi lie. Arm drags, duck unders and Russian ties are the perfect examples of how you can get to the legs, to a rear bodylock or a headlock, and then launch your takedown attacks. Note that everything written in this section is going to be present all throughout our best No-Gi takedown DVD instructionals.

The Top Ten

Kicking things off are the top options that you have when it comes to throwing people around without a Gi. As I said, it all sounds really simple, until you need to put it into practice. That is where these DVDs will come in helpful.

1. No Gi Takedown Fundamentals by Andre Galvao

Andre Galvao has been in ADCC uprights for the past few editions of the tournament. That means that since he won the absolute, nobody has been able to beat him in a super fight. Given how much of ADCC success is based on No-Gi takedowns, it is no wonder that he has one of the best instructionals on the subject. His four-volume instructional will take you through everything, from movement to setups and finishes.

2. High Level Takedowns and Mat Control for Grapplers by Henry Cejudo

Cejudo is one of the best wrestlers to ever step in the octagon. He has a very unique style of wrestling but is also one of the best at explaining how wrestling actually works. In fact, it takes him 8 volumes to cover every aspect of his style in this No-Gi takedowns DVD. In it, you’ll find not just ways of taking people down, but also pins and some associated mat work that will make all your standing efforts count.

3. Mastering No Gi Takedowns by Travis Stevens

Travis Stevens, the Danaher black belt Olympic Judo medalist is probably one of the utmost authorities on takedowns for grappling. His No-Gi system is understandably Judo-based, but it has been modified to fit the needs of BJJ to perfection. Four volumes of Ronda Rousey level setups and throwing techniques that will get anyone to the ground.

4. Wrestling Fundamentals From The Bad Guy by Chael Sonnen

The “Bad Boy” of MMA, Chael Sonnen is actually an awesome teacher, as he demonstrates yet again in this incredible No-Gi Takedowns DVD. In it, he shares the fundamentals of wrestling in a way that everyone, from novice to expert will understand and pick up on something new. Simply put, you’ll become as effective on the mat as he was in the octagon, if not more.

5. Ultimate Askren Wrestling by Ben Askren

The man with the wrestling plan! Askren is the “creator” of the so-called funk wrestling style, a way of wrestling that had the highest level wrestlers confused as to what is going on. Since Askren was training mainly for MMA, his system is applicable to combat sports all over, including BJJ. An 8-part instructional that will teach you everything you’ll ever need about takedowns that work with and without a GI.

6. Defending No Gi Takedowns by Nick Rodriguez

Nick Rodriguez is one of Danaher’s secret weapons, or better said, was. HE really did come in like a wrecking ball at the 2019 ADCC, throwing around and beating seasoned black belts even though he was only a blue belt at the time. With a solid wrestling background and training every day with Gordon Ryan and tall the other beasts in the DDS, you can rest assured, this instructional will be more than worth your time, especially given that it will teach you how to resist being taken down.

7. The Pillars Clinch and Takedowns by Stephen Whittier

Whittier is a Mat Thornton black belt, and one of the best instructors around. He won’t teach you moves, but rather teach you how and why they work. Conversely, he is one of the rare few that can conceptually teach takedowns. In his crazy 6-part instructional he focuses on how the clinch works for No-Gi BJJ and all the various ways in which you can take people down with it.

8. The 2 on 1 Encyclopedia by Georgi Ivanov

Let’s look at eastern Europe a bit. After all, some of the best wrestlers originate from there. Georgi Ivanov, a Bulgarian wrestling star, dissects the 2-on-1 position, AKA the Russian Tie. As I said before it is one of the absolute best positions to use for setting takedowns up, especially without a Gi. In other words, this No-Gi takedowns DVD is a must for anyone looking to avoid pulling guard in BJJ.

9. The Georgian Takedown System by Vladimer Khinchegashvili

Still in Eastern Europe, we’re looking at Georgia now, and a local wrestling style that is tailor-made for Jiu-Jitsu. It is fast, aggressive, based on tactical gripping and proven at the Olympic level. IN the four volumes of this instructional, Khinchegashvili shares some of the biggest secrets of Russian-style wrestling.

10. Slick Setups and Fundamental Finishes by Nahshon Garrett

Wrapping up the top ten we have the Nahshon Garett instructional that focuses on tying together setups and finishes. this is arguably the toughest aspect of No-Gi takedowns to master, and Garett has a great formula to solve it.

List Of Every No-Gi Takedowns DVD Instructional Out There

Following our top ten picks that offer everything, from fundamental positioning and gripping for beginners to the secrets of the most notorious wrestlers in the world for advanced grapplers, we go into a list of all other No-Gi takedowns DVD instructionals that are more than worth exploring when building a standup plan for grappling.

1. The Front Headlock System by John Danaher

The front headlock is integral to No-Gi takedowns, which means Danaher has a DVD out on the subject. his take on the front headlock goes beyond just guillotine chokes and shows an entire system you can use when standing.

2. Shoot To Kill: Wrestle, Scramble, Submit by Garry Tonon
Gary Tonon has a really good instructional on the subject of taking people down – wrestle, scramble, submit. As we all know, it works like a charm at the highest levels of grappling for him. Now, it can do the same for you.
4. Takedown Dominance by Andre Galvao
Another Andre Galvao DVD, this time going deeper in the world of No-Gi takedowns. This time, Galvao moves past the fundamentals to teach you how to be dominant from the first set of grips, until the opponent hits the ground.
5. No Gi Judo For Grapplers by Satoshi Ishii
Satoshi Ishii is one of the best Japanese wrestlers as proven over and over again in MMA, grappling, and anything else you can think of. If you want to know how he approaches taking folks down, this two-part instructional will teach you all his signature moves.
6. The No Gi Judo Collection Digital+Download by Matt D’Aquino
Matt D’Aquino is another top-level Judoka who knows a thing or two about throwing people around. His 6 part system of modules has everything organized in a way that no other No-Gi takedowns DVD out there offers. Fit for all levels.
7. Takedowns to Back Control by Nick Rodriguez
Nick Rodgriguez once again offers his standing game secrets, this time in the sense of taking people down and going straight for the back.
8. No Gi Takedowns Made Easy by Rick Hawn
No-Gi takedowns can be easy, if you listen to Rick Hawn. He really has a way of breaking things down in a simple manner that will teach you takedowns in a matter of weeks.
9. Upper Body Takedowns For Grappling by Adam WheelerAdam Wheeler’s upper body takedowns instructional is one of the best I’ve seen on the subject of takedowns for BJJ and I can’t recommend it highly enough!
10. Russian Grappling Hacks by Rustam Chsiev

Rustam teaches some high-level Russian hacks that will not only help your takedowns but also your submission game.
11. Secure BJJ Takedowns by Joao Assis
A No-Gi takedown DVD that offers an insight into how to use body locks to win every standing exchange, even if it is a scramble.
12. Wrestling For BJJ by Hudson Taylor
A DVD that has helped me personally a lot with wrestling for BJJ. Goes way past just takedowns, offering interesting ways of controlling people after you get the fight to the ground.
13. Dynamic Wrestling Takedowns For BJJ by J’Den Cox
This is one an approach to No-Gi takedowns fit for people that like to move around a lot when they grapple. Very effective!
14. Defense Wins Championships by Kyle DakeThere’s no point in taking people down if you can’t stay up on your feet. This defensive No-Gi takedowns DVD will teach you not only defense but also counter moves that turn into takedowns of your own.
15. The Russian Tie Formula by Dan Vallimont
Another volume covering the Russian tie and how you can utilize it to set up attacks and control people with ease.
16. Magic Mat Work by Hudson Taylor
Hudson Taylor’s work again, this time covering what to do after you take people down so that they don’t get straight back up.
17. Gold Medal Wrestling by Henry Cejudo
In this instructional, Henry Cejudo expands on his fundamentals DVD and goes into some higher gear, Olympic-level stuff.
18. Scientific Shots by Ed Ruth
Ed Ruth turns wrestling into science with this instructional, offering some crazy concepts and principles that make takedowns tick.
19. The Single Leg Takedown by Jimmy Sheptock
A very in-depth study of the single-leg takedown, from fundamentals all the way to chain wrestling combinations.
20. Wrestling Entries for Grapplers by Kody Steele
Between getting grips and entering into a takedown, you have the whole world of wrestling. Kode Steele bring things into focus with this great release!
21. Judo Takedowns For No Gi by Valdir Araujo
More Judo takedowns modified for No-gi grappling. A four-part instructional by the highly experienced Valdir Araujo.
22. The Basic Building Blocks Of Wrestling by Jacob Harman
Fundamentals of wrestling. Learn how to wrestle from the very first things like stance, all the way to stringing takedowns together.
23.The Pressure Factory: Using Pressure Principles To Score Takedowns by Jacob Harman
Unusual, probably a little bit out there but effective none the less. Once you understand where to put pressure on the body, you’ll gain more than enough control to get someone to the ground.
24. Takedown to Breakdown by Ethan LizakBreaking down takedowns is never easy unless you have access to the secret ways of achieving it.

25. World Championship Takedowns by Logan Stieber
Whether you end up winning the worlds with this set of No-Gi takedowns or not, your takedowns will end up being world-champion level.
26. Highlight Reel Takedowns by Reece Humphrey
The takedowns in this one are so good, they’ll have people looking your way at both the gym and tournaments.
27. THE TAKEDOWN PASSPORT BY BEKZOD ABDURAKHMINOV
More Russian-style grappling hacks coming in the form of the methods and strategies that earned “The Uzbek Assasin” an Olympic medal.
28. The Takedown Playbook by Daniel DeShazer
Four volumes of playful techniques that range across all levels of takedowns. This is one No-Gi takedowns DVD instructional you must not miss out on!
29. Mastering Takedowns With Motion by Shelton Mack
A key aspect of getting anything while standing is the way you move to set up and finish. That is exactly what you’ll master with the help of this four-volume instructional by Shelton Mack. Click Here

In Conclusion

It is not hard finding No-Gi takedown DVD instructionals. It is far more difficult to find ones that can actually help you learn and retain knowledge. Even more challenging is teaching you in a way that you can put to practice after just several attempts. While drilling takedowns is a must, regardless of how well you know them, learning all the hacks and secrets associated with them is only possible through digital instructionals.

8 Jiu-Jitsu Mistakes That Are Holding You Back

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8 Jiu-Jitsu Mistakes That Are Holding You Back

Are you truly aware of the Jiu-Jitsu mistakes that are holding your progress back? I am not talking about all those technical errors you are making and will continue to make throughout your BJJ journey. Instead, I am talking about the things that you might not consider as mistakes but which have an enormous impact on the way you perceive the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and of course, your overall progress in the sport.

There is no easy way to train and learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The sport will pretty much give you what I call “the phoenix experience”. It will consume you, crush you to bits mentally and physically and allow you to rise out of the ashes, stronger and more confident than ever before. the thing is, that throughout each of those “rebirth” steps, and even later on when you’ve risen from the ashes, there are things that you will tend to do which you think are helpful. The truth is that these things actually hold you back instead of working in your favor. Today, we’ll list the 8 most common Jiu-Jitsu mistakes that can make your transformation harder and protracted.

Learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

What is the right way of training Jiu-Jitsu? There isn’t one. Yes, I know it makes no sense, but it is the truth. The bottom line is there is no right or wrong way to do Jujitsu, whether it is in the context of a single technique, or the overall approaches you have to the game. Instead, it is all about how you tailor everything to your needs, which usually plays out in one of three different ways.

Namely, the options you have of executing a BJJ technique, for example, are either the easy way, the hard way, or the dumb way. Claiming that either of them is wrong or right would imply that the move should work, or fail, universally for everyone. As you probably know from training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, such claims are unreal and not applicable when it comes to practice. While you do achieve certain positioning of the body in order to do a move, let’s say, an armbar, you will still do it differently from anyone else alive. IN fact, let’s further use the armbar as an example.

Going the easy way would mean you understand where the hips need to be in relation to the elbow, the concept of isolating two neighboring joints, the most efficient grips etc. However, that means you’re going to adjust hip height, grips, and everything else to each opponent individually. That is what makes it easy.

The hard way is when you are not quite there or are trying to execute the same armbar on everyone. In another words, that’s when you use force, or muscle power in order to finish. to be honest, the hard way of doing things is where we spend most of our time in Jiu-Jitsu.

Finally, the dumb way would you trying to do an armbar without securing the arm, or not swinging the leg across the face. Basically, doing something that gifts the opponent not just a way out, but oftentimes a counter as well. That, however, is not one of the Jiu-Jitsu mistakes that will hold you back. On the contrary.

8 Jiu-Jitsu Mistakes Holding You Back

So, what are the actual Jiu-Jitsu mistakes that will cost you? Well, trying to do something the “right” way is one example. In fact, there are plenty of things you are doing, but not paying attention to, that are actually scampering your progress. the problem is, most people do not face them simply because they’re not aware of them. The reason for that is usually the fact that everyone is looking to find the right way of doing techniques or putting concepts to use, and they’\re missing the finer details that actually make all the difference. it is actually pretty similar to BJJ itself.

Lifting (range of motion + burnout)

Strength and conditioning are important when it comes to Jiu-Jitsu, especially for those that are active competitors or looking to prevent injuries. However, there is a tradeoff. Every time you do another sport (which lifting basically is) in addition to ding BJJ, you place your body under more stress. Unless your body can recover from all that stress and pressure, it will eventually give way at one point.

When it comes to lifting weights, you need to understand that doing so should help your Jiu-Jitsu, and not become your focus. You have to consult a professional that will make a program for you that will lead to gains in strength and not burnout. Moreover, you should focus on movements that will allow you to keep and even extend your range of motion. For comparison, regular bodybuilding types of workouts usually restrict the range of motion in favor of packing on muscle.

Same Training Partner(s)

While this one may be obvious, people really do tend to stick to several training partners when it comes to training. That’s not a smart way to go about things. When it comes to rolling you need to be rolling with as many different people as humanly possible. Next time you are at an open mat, try and roll with people you haven’t rolled with for a while, or ever, for that matter. You’ll notice that you have favorite training partners you tend to pick and choose when you roll.

The same is true for training partners during the technical portion of the class. It would e perfect to switch up training partners from time to time, trying out whatever the subject of class might be on someone that is built differently to your usual training partner, and preferably, with a different rank as well.

Rolls Only (position sparring, drills, handicap rolls)

While we all agree that rolling is the most fun part of doing BJJ, we can’t just roll all the time. There is a learning component from rolls, yes, but only rolling won’t help you learn Jiu-Jitsu better, or faster, On the contrary, it will hold you back. that said, one of the reasons for that is the type of rolling you’re doing.

Most people slap, bump and go, all-out, usually starting from the knees. However, there are s many other types of roles that can actually help you progress. For example, you could do handicap roles, you could do specific rolls that do not allow you to get outside of a subject area, you could do rolls with varying degrees of resistance for varying techniques, you can flow roll… There are many of them, and they all have something different to teach you. Only rolling like you are fighting in a match is one of the biggest Jiu-Jitsu mistakes you can make.

Learn From Observing

Have you ever tried to just sit in a corner, maybe during a rest round, and actually look at other people? I know you think you’re doing it, but in most cases, you just let your mind wander and are sitting there with a blank expression on your face. While you’re resting, or you’re injured, use the time to observe other people rolling. If you are a higher belt, I’d recommend watching white belts. that is where you’ll be able to see how people leave space, move prematurely, tendencies for body positioning, etc. That doesn’t mean you should only look at white belts, though, as there’s plenty to learn from watching anyone roll. Just make sure to pay attention.

The Copy-Paste Approach (what’s not for you)

Monkey see monkey do. Many people try to develop a BJJ style like this, and to a certain point, it will work. You see that slick purple belt or your black belt specialist instructor, and you want to be like them. That is perfectly ok, and copy-paste is usually the method people use. However, that can only take you so far. trying to copy someone else’s style completely is one of those Jiu-Jitsu mistakes that will cost you dearly. After a certain point, usually just after you get promoted to purple, you wil simply have to figure your own style out. That means that you will need to open your game up, lose a lot more, and try and pinpoint an area which you would like to explore. Trying to copy someone’s game is a guaranteed way of hitting a plateau in Jiu-Jitsu.

Not Challenging Everything

Always be the nagging student that asks “why?”. Well, ok, not always, but any time the instructor allows questions, ask “why”? There are so many grey and unexplored areas in JIu-Jitsu, and not enough people are asking this particular question. It will not only keep instructor s on their toes, but it will also help you actually understand why you are doing whatever it is that you are doing. Blindly believing in dogmas and absolutes is one of the key Jiu-Jitsu mistakes that most people still make to this day.

Drills

People dislike doing specific BJJ drills only secondary to hating warm-ups. Drills are usually repetitive, boring, and physically demanding. That is all it takes to make people sick through them, actually getting nothing in return and wasting their time. You will have to drill, though if you want to get better at BJJ. the good news is that you don’t have to use the boring old repetition methodology but rather you can organize drills in many different fun and exciting ways.

Gi Or No-Gi?

One of the biggest dilemmas in BJJ, and definitely the culprit behind the lack of progress in countless cases. Should you focus on Gi or No-Gi? Let me make it simple – do both. In fact, try to mix them up – like using No-Gi grips when you roll with the gi. Just embrace them both and have fun. The fact of the matter is that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is made up of gi and No-Gi and not just one of them. If you want to get to know BJJ in its entirety, you have to do both.

In Summary

the JIu-Jitsu mistakes that will cost you won’t be the ones you see, and sometimes, even the ones your instructors point out. You’ll have to think about things in a different way and try to figure out what BJJ means to you, and how your individual style should look like. In doing so, try and think outside the box as much as possible. Jiu-Jitsu is highly forgiving, and even when you do the dumb thing, or get stuck in the hard way, all you have to do is tap, and you get another go. It is like having endless lives in video games. Stick to looking for the easy way, avoid the 8 Jiu-Jitsu mistakes outlined above and you’ll glide through teh ranks understanding the sport with ease.

Kron Gracie on His Last Roll with His Dad Rickson Gracie

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BJJ World

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Joe Rogan asked Kron what happened the last time when he seriously rolled with his father Rickson Gracie.

Kron Gracie answered the question:

“I don’t know! All I know is that the last time we seriously rolled, I got f$#ed up. It was bad. I just got my black belt and I was like, alright dad, let’s go. At that time he was still injured. I mean he had herniated discs for a long time back then. He probably had 8 herniated discs when he was fighting. He had it for a long time. He’s dealt with pain his whole life.

I don’t know exactly what he has and what he had back then, but that was when I was 20 years old and had just gotten my black belt. So I was like ok dad, let’s go.

Since he was out of shape I told him to give me 3 minutes, and we go as hard as we can. Because, of course, I’m in better shape, and he is not training so much. I didn’t want that to be an issue. Than we trained and he got me in for a minute and a half. I was so pissed. He got me with a foot lock. I was like… yeah alright, Rickson is still the man…”

https://youtu.be/dmy1qBRhm2Q

Check also:

Jiu-Jitsu Coach Pleads Insanity Defense In Sexual Assault Case

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BJJ World

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Jiu-Jisu Coach Pleads Insanity In Sexual Assault Case

Marcel Goncalves, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach was accused of sexual assault on a minor three years ago. Goncalves at the time admitted he was guilty of the crime. The latest development on the subject, though, now shows that the black belt will mount a defense on the count of insanity, as a result of a CTE injury.

Having already admitted to the crime, Goncalves has now presented his defense in December of 2020. As per publically available court documents in the Collier County, Florida judicial court “The Defendant, MARCEL GONCALVES, by and through the undersigned attorney, files this “NOTICE OF INTENT TO RELY ON INSANITY DEFENSE” pursuant to Rule 3.216 of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure. Defendant intends to rely on the defense of insanity at the trial of this matter and offers the below statement of in support. Defendant expects to establish that the Defendant was legally insane at the time of the charged offense, and specifically suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).”

Marcel Goncalves, an affiliate of Fight Sports, was arrested in Collier County in March 2018 on charges of sexually assaulting a minor on multiple occasions. According to the charges, the 31-year-old Jiu-Jitsu coach assaulted a 16-year-old student in his home and at the gym on several occasions in the period between December and March. In accordance with Florida law, “a person 24 years of age or older who engages in sexual activity with a person 16 or 17 years of age commits a felony of the second degree.”

Gonclaves immediately pleaded guilty, and was subsequently immediately fired from teh gym, ran by Keith Rummel. “I was shocked. We all were shocked. Nobody would ever thought that Marcel would do something like this,” said Rummel. “Everybody’s really close and taken back by it, and I just can’t believe that this has happened.”

With a recent incident in which BJJ star Rafel “Barata” Freitas was also charged with sexual assault, it is more important than ever to make sure people speak out against this type of behavior, and that there is strong support from the Jiu-Jitsu community to weed them out.

BREAKING: Rickson Gracie Statement on his Support of Child Molester David Arnebeck

Half Guard -The Best DVDs And Digital Instructionals

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BJJ World

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Half Guard best DVDs and digital releases

What is everyone’s go-to guard when things get rough in BJJ? It is the half guard, of course. This is one of the positions in BJJ that you will use no matter what, given that it can save your guard from being passed in countless different situations. The half guard is something everyone dabbles with, but very few make their own. Given the power of the position, all the available variations, and how easy it is to get and work from there, you should look into expanding your half guard knowledge if you’re serious about building a well-rounded BJJ game. The following half guard DVD instructionals are all you will ever need to build the most diverse half guard ever in record time!

There’s something about the half guard that attracts everyone that gives BJJ a try. Ask anyone, from white to black, male or female, big or small and they will have an inclination towards playing half guard, even if it is a final means of defense. However, that is exactly when people discover how much of an offensive weapon the half guard can also be. it is one of those BJJ positions that offers so much and have so many directions to head to, even though it seems fairly simple and uninteresting. We made sure we covered all the` effective variations in our half guard DVD instructionals collection, as well as some of the key fundamentals behind what makes this position so powerful. All you have to do is read the reviews and take your pick!

The Best Half Guard DVD Instructionals Collection

What is the best half guard DVD out there? There isn’t one. The half guard has so many different variations and opportunities to it that it is next to impossible to figure out a single one that will work universally good for everyone. The one common denominator is that all these variations fall under the half guard category, making the position itself highly efficient. The precise way of playing it though will depend on your build, goals, abilities, injuries, age, etc. The good news is there’s a half guard for everyone out there if you look hard enough, or in this case, if you just look at the reviews in this article.

The half guard is basically in between closed and open guards. When you connect your feet you get a closed guard version, albeit around just one leg of an opponent. When they’re not connected (like in everyone’s favorite Z-guard) you get an open guard variation. Finally, when you use it as a closed guard, you can fend off plenty of guard passes that come your way when you use it as an open guard, you can start attacking and transitioning without having to move too much or use muscular strength. Sounds perfect, right?

Well, it will be, as long as you figure out the mechanics of the position correctly. In other words, you have to know how to position yourself for any half guard out there. The key thing to remember is that you should be on your side at all times with one side of the hip and one of your shoulders off the ground. This is imperative to allow you to be mobile from the position and set up defensive or offensive maneuvers. You should also try and be compact for most half guard variations, i.e. curled up forward like in a crunch, making your body strong and working as one unit. It is all in the half guard DVD instructional we have in our collection, but these two principles (on your side, and curled up) are what you should pay close attention to in each and every DVD option.

The TOP 10

Opening the account area the top 10 half guard DVD releases that can completely change your Jiu-Jitsu game. AS you’ll notice most of them feature some of the biggest names in the sport, which is no accident – everyone has a half guard component to their game given how reliable and diverse the position is.

1. The Half Guard Anthology by Lachlan Giles

The best way to figure out the half guard is to get an overview of all the major top variations. This half guard DVD doe not offer just an overview though, but explains all of the top half guard variations in the greatest details possible. It is a true anthology Lachlan Giles is a name that requires no introduction in the BJJ world. Keep in mind that his instructional has 8 volumes and nearly 12 hours of material, so picking it up means you’re truly dedicating yourself to studying the half guard.

2. The Lockdown Blueprint by Tom DeBlass

The lockdown is something most people usually associate with 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu and often brush away as either difficult or ineffective. Both notions are false. Tom DeBlass, as you’ll witness further in this article, is probably the best half guard player of all the huge names in Jiu-Jitsu. In this instructional, he shares the secrets of the lockdown half guard in a way that will make sense to everyone, Gi and No-Gi. Highly, highly recommended.

3. The No Gi Deep Half Guard 2.0 by Jeff Glover

The deep half guard is one of the half guard variations that most people turn to when they get injured, or, well, old. The reason for this is that it is extremely easy to control, and offers lots of options both in terms of retention and sweeping. Given that this is a Jeff Glover deep half guard DVD though, you can expect the unexpected when it comes to setting stuff up. Moreover, it is a No-gi instructional which makes it immensely valuable since not many people can make the deep half work without a Gi at the highest levels. Jeff can.

4. The Coyote Half Guard by Lucas Leite

The Coyote guard is by now a classic when it comes to half guard. Countless high-level black belts around the world are playing it, but it was Lucas Leite that truly perfected it. Conversely, learning everything there is about this guard is best done through him and his work. This four-part instructional will uncover all the Coyote half guard secrets for you when it comes to setting it up with the Gi.

5. The Pillars: Half Guard Bottom by Stephen Whittier

A highly conceptual approach to the half guard, as shared by the unique Stephen Whittier and his hard-to-miss style. There’s’ a huge amount of information on the half guard in this instructional, and it is aimed at understanding how the position works, from the fundamental level all the way to advanced ones. Everything is meticulously organized by Whittier, and this instructional is the one to get if you have no idea where, to begin with exploring the half guard.Click Here

6. The Battle Tested Half Guard by Bernardo Faria

Bernardo Faria’s take on the half guard is one that has been tested at the highest levels of Brazilian Jiu-Jisu, and proven to work. This half guard DVD outlines how Faria managed to win several world titles in the Gi by relying heavily on this half guard game whenever on the bottom. Everything from pulling the half guard to finishing with sweeps and submissions while easily retaining it is in here.

7. The Buchecha Half Guard by Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida

Another one of the greatest names of BJJ that is famous for having a slick half guard game. BUchecha’s half guard style is quite original, so much so, in fact, that he has named his half guard variation after himself. You can expect lots of interesting sweeps, including inverting into the tornado guard variation, as well as some slick kneebars in this DVD.

8. The Ground Marshal Half Guard by Neil Melanson

Neil Melanson has his version of pretty much everything in BJJ and it usually is highly effective and with great amounts of pain for the person, you’re doing it too. The Ground Marshall half guard is no different THis No-Gi half guard variation is extremely effective, unorthodox, and will work for people of all levels. The best thing about it is that it also works like a charm with the Gi, especially when you start experimenting with Gi grips once you understand all the underlying principles.

9. PAUL SCHREINER: 1/2 GUARD [ON DEMAND]

Old-school, straight to the point, and nothing if not extremely effective. This is what you can expect from Paul Schreiner’s half guard DVD. Meant for the Gi, this instructional is al about simplicity. It will explain how the half guard works in the greatest possible details without overcomplicating things. Paul is also a submission machine, meaning you’ll learn how to submit people on the spot, or use submissions to create sweeping options and still tap them out from the top.

10. Diamond Concept of Defense by Xande Ribeiro

If you’re on the hunt for a defensive DVD, this is the one to get. Xande’s diamond concept is something brand new, very original, and pretty much unbeatable. Of course, it has everything to do with the half guard and will provide you with an as unpassable variation of it as is imaginable in the sport. Given Xhande’s vast knowledge and experience, there’s really no reason no to pick this crucial half guard DVD up.

List Of All Half Guard DVD Instructionals Out There

Apart from the top ten which are a great place to start, or specialize in, there are e other half guard DVD instructionals out there that are definitely worth exploring. All the best ones are listed below, offering you not just different variations of the half guard, but also opportunities of going very deep into the fundamental mechanics of the position.

1. Half Guard: BJJ Fundamentals – Go Further Faster by John Danaher

If you want to go deep into the mysteries of the half guard, John Danaher has an awesome instructional out and about. His 8-volume release that is a part of the “Go Further Faster” series will teach you all kinds of stuff about the half guard you never even thought of.

2. Half Domination by Tom DeBlass

As I mentioned, Tom DeBlass is the man to see when you have half guard questions, so there will be lots of instructions by him in our collection. This one is all about the fundamental working s of the half guard and is perfect for beginners.

3. Half Guard Domination 2.0 by Tom DeBlass

The second installment of the Half guard Domination DVD by Tom is a bit more advanced, picking up where the first one left off to provide you with an extremely well-rounded half guard game.

4. Deep Half Guard Domination by Tom DeBlass

A half guard DVD focusing on the deep half once again, this time with Tom as the instructor, and once again, without the Gi.

5. High Tech BJJ In The Gi by Tom DeBlass

Switching his attention to the half guard in the GI, this Tom DeBlass instructional covers all the technical aspects of a Gi based half guard system.

6. The Butterfly Half Guard by Tom DeBlass

The Butterfly half guard is by far one of the most utilized modern variations of the half guard. Not many people have come out with ways of playing it, though, and Tom has an entire four-part instructional covering everything you’ll ever need to know about it.

7. Don’t Be A Square by Jeff Glover

Jeff Glover’s originally named (as usual) half guard Bo-Gi DVD will help you develop more unorthodox ways of attacking people from the bottom…to say the least.

8. Connected Reaction: Half Guard by Paul Schreiner

Another gem of a half guard DVD by Paul Schreiner. In it, he covers a unique principle he calls the connection-reaction, where he will teach you to play the half guard by feel more than by looking at what is going on.

9. The Coyote Half Guard No Gi by Lucas Leite

There’s really no need to introduce this DVD as it si the No-gi version of the much sought after Coyote half guard by Lucas Leite. once again, pure brilliance!

10. Rubber Guard: Concepts From Half Guard by Richie MartinezHave you ever thought of playing the rubber guard from the half guard? NOt many people have, but Richie Martinez, of course, not just thought about it, but developed an entire system from there. The good news is you don’t need rubber guard-level flexibility to pull this one off!

11. The No Gi Half Guard by Bernardo Faria

Another Bernard Faria title, this time all about how he likes to approach the half guard when there’s no Gi around.

12. Transition Mastery by Bernardo Faria

While not quite a dedicated half guard DVVD, this Bernardo Faria instructional does cover a very important subject – transitioning between positions. Given that the half guard is basically the one position connecting all others when it comes to transitions this is an aspect of it no other instructional covers.

13. High Precision Half Guard and Reverse Half Guard by Jake MackenzieSomply put half guard for competitors. This instructional is aimed at Gi competitors that would like to develop an effective, but unpredictable half guard game.

14. High Precision Half Guard Vol. 2 by Jake Mackenzie

If you liked the previous volume, you’ll love this one. it is the improved and expanded version of the high precision half guard that Jake Mackenzie is well known for, once again, perfect for Gi competitors. That doesn’t mean anyone else can’t do it or benefit from it, though.

15. Basics To Advanced: The Half Butterfly Guard by Aaron Benzrihem

Another of those rare instructionals on the half butterfly guard, this one addressing options with the Gi on.

16. Far East Half Guard by Masahiro Iwasaki

Iwasaki’s version of the half guard is unorthodox, looks like something that will never work, but for some reason, it is extremely effective. The Far Easy Half Guard is one of the best half guard DVD instructionals I have ever seen.

17. Sweep The World by Leonardo Saggioro

One of the best attacks you have from the half guard is sweeping people. In this instructional, you’ll learn all about the mechanics of sweeps and how to take away people’s balance before coming up on top.

18. Position to Submission by Matheus Diniz

Matheus Diniz, a Marcel Garcia black belt, has a very interesting take on the old “position to submission” principle, which involves a lot of half guard stuff.

19. The Aggressive Open Guard No Gi by Johnny Tama

An open guard DVD that, quite unexpectedly, has lots of open half guard and Z-guard stuff inside that will help you connect your half guard to any open guard variation you like to play.

20. Dynamic Z Guard attacks by Hiago Gama

Speaking of the Z-guard, here a dedicated instructional to the, arguably, most played half guard variation in the world these days. Hiago Gama has lots to say on the subject, and he really holds no punches in this half guard DVD!

21. The Butterfly Guard System by Rafael Formiga

Formiga’s butterfly guard series is very entertaining, but in the context of the half guard, the best part about it is that he sues it to both get to the half guard, and out of it.

22. Mastering The Half Guard by Lucas Valle

An interesting, old-school-based approach to mastering the half guard in the Gi by one Lucas Valle. This is a highly organized half guard DVD that will take you from the fundamentals all the way to some highly advanced stuff.

23. The Heisen Guard by Malachy Friedman

Malachy Friedman’s nutty Heisen guard is a bit out there if we’re being honest, but it will work, especially if you like taking the half guard into unexpected and unusual directions.

24. Linking Half Guard And Pressure Passing by Alexandre VieiraA very interesting DVD by Alexandre Vieira. he manages to create a very logical link between working from bottom half guard, getting on top, and transitioning right into pressure passing. Really cool!

25. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu The Half-Guard Vol-3

A very old-school Rigan Machado DVD instructional on different half guard attacks and setups with the Gi.

26. Hip Clamp Guard for BJJ DVD by Samir Chantre

If you never want to see your half guard passed again, you’ll have to clamp down on people from the guard. That is exactly what you’ll learn from this Samir Chantre half guard DVD.

27. Nogi Sweeps DVD with Chris Brennan [DVD]

Chris Brenan’s DVD about sweeps fits any guard instructionals category, given that the provides sweeping options from literally everywhere, including the half guard.

28. HALF GUARD MASTERY BY OLIVER GEDDES [ON DEMAND] HALF GUARD MASTERY BY OLIVER GEDDES [ON DEMAND]

Oli Geddes is a Roger Gracie black belt that is a real wizard when it comes to the half guard, especially in the Gi. Expect a lot of innovative stuff in this instructional.

29. UNDERHOOK HALF GUARD – JOSH VOGEL [ON DEMAND]

What is the most commonly played half guard variation? The underhook half guard. Learn all about the secrets of the position, along with some interesting new approaches to playing this classic half guard.

30. DAN COVEL BLACK MAGIC HALF GUARD [ON DEMAND]

Go dark with this half guard DVD and explore the black magic variation of the position as created and shared by Dan Covel. Very entertaining!

31. AUGUSTO “TANQUINHO” MENDES – GUARD GAME VOL. 1 [ON DEMAND]

One of the top competitors in the Gi, and a prolific guard player shares many of his secrets on his favorite guards, including a very detailed and long explanation of his half guard game.

In Conclusion

Learn the half guard! It doesn’t matter which variation you choose or whether or not you use it all the time or just sporadically. having a half guard DVD instructional or two is mandatory for anyone in BJJ, Gi, or No-Gi! The collection we offer has everything everyone will lever need to start exploring the world of the BJJ half guard, and eventually perfect it!

2 Gold Medals For Transgender Weightlifter – Is Fair Play In Sports Gone?

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BJJ World

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Is Fair Play In Sports Gone: 2 Gold Medals For Transgender Weightlifter

Everyone has the right to their own expression in life, which in today’s modern world is a given. However, when it comes to people changing gender, figuring the proper toilets for them is the least confusing part about it. When it comes to sports, political correctness seems to hit a wall, at least for the time being. The example of a New Zealand transgender weightlifter dominating the women’s divisions and winning double gold clearly demonstrates that the concept of fair play in sports is in a jeopardy like never before.

Cheater Or Champion – The Story of Transgender Weightlifter Laurel Hubbard

Laurel Hubbard, born Gavin Hubbard is a competitive weightlifter from New Zealand. During the last Pacific Games, she won two gold medals, and a silver medal in the female heavyweight divisions for women weighing more than 87 kilograms, or 192 pounds. In other words, she pretty much won everything there was at heavyweight. Also, she broke all women’s world records.

The weightlifting contest was in Olympic lifting, where Laurel won the snatch-lift and combined category and ended up as the runner-up in the clean and jerk category. This means that by doing so, she qualified for the next Olympic games, which were set to take place in Tokyo before the pandemic.

While these are amazing accomplishments for the lifelong athlete, the issue at hand is that Laurel is a transgender weightlifter, who made the transition quite late in life – during her thirties. Namely, the 43-year old used to compete as a male weightlifter in the past, which sparked further outrage after her performances at the Pacific Games.

Her results stand as official but are controversial, to say the least. Even if she hadn’t competed as a male before, being born as one and living for 30 years as one clearly gives her an anatomical and physiological advantage. Having competed as a male weightlifter just makes things worse, sparking outrage from people and organizations from all around the world.

A Very Sticky Spot For Women’s Sports

The case of Laurel Hubbard is just another one in a long list of similar situations that affect female sports specifically. In fact, political correctness has gone so far, that the International Olympic Committee has allowed transgender athletes to compete given that they fulfill certain conditions which have to do with the amount of testosterone in their blood. Namely, according to the IOC, testosterone levels are below 10 nanomoles per liter for at least 12 months prior to their first competition qualifies transgender athletes as legitimate competitors for the games.

Normally, such claims, in addition to the transgender weightlifter winning three medals has made organizations like New Zealand “Speak Up For Women” and British “Fair Play for Women” fiercely oppose the issue. To be honest, everyone can see where they are coming from.

Basically, what the organization and most logical people around the world think is that women’s sport should not fall prey to political correctness just for the sake of “being modern”. The fact remains that a male competing in female categories means the person has an unfair advantage, and as such, completely kills the idea of fair play in sports.

That said, however, transgender people do deserve to compete in sports of their choosing, there’s no denying that. However, until such a time that appropriate divisions have been formed, under strict and precise regulations, allowing them to compete in the female divisions of sports is not just something that makes no sense, but it goes completely against the spirit of sports competition and sports in general.

Articles that might interest you:

Transgender Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt Claims Trans Athletes Don’t Have An Advantage

Undefeated Transgender Wins a Girls’ State Wrestling Championship 2nd in a Row – Crowd Boos

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Fight 2 Win 164 Full Results

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Blue Belts, Kids and Teens Matches

The Best No-Gi Takedowns DVD Instructionals Collection

The Top Ten

1. No Gi Takedown Fundamentals by Andre Galvao

2. High Level Takedowns and Mat Control for Grapplers by Henry Cejudo

3. Mastering No Gi Takedowns by Travis Stevens

4. Wrestling Fundamentals From The Bad Guy by Chael Sonnen

5. Ultimate Askren Wrestling by Ben Askren

6. Defending No Gi Takedowns by Nick Rodriguez

7. The Pillars Clinch and Takedowns by Stephen Whittier

8. The 2 on 1 Encyclopedia by Georgi Ivanov

9. The Georgian Takedown System by Vladimer Khinchegashvili

10. Slick Setups and Fundamental Finishes by Nahshon Garrett

List Of Every No-Gi Takedowns DVD Instructional Out There

1. The Front Headlock System by John Danaher

2. Shoot To Kill: Wrestle, Scramble, Submit by Garry Tonon

4. Takedown Dominance by Andre Galvao

5. No Gi Judo For Grapplers by Satoshi Ishii

6. The No Gi Judo Collection Digital+Download by Matt D’Aquino

7. Takedowns to Back Control by Nick Rodriguez

8. No Gi Takedowns Made Easy by Rick Hawn

9. Upper Body Takedowns For Grappling by Adam WheelerAdam Wheeler’s upper body takedowns instructional is one of the best I’ve seen on the subject of takedowns for BJJ and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

10. Russian Grappling Hacks by Rustam Chsiev

11. Secure BJJ Takedowns by Joao Assis

12. Wrestling For BJJ by Hudson Taylor

13. Dynamic Wrestling Takedowns For BJJ by J’Den Cox

15. The Russian Tie Formula by Dan Vallimont

16. Magic Mat Work by Hudson Taylor

17. Gold Medal Wrestling by Henry Cejudo

18. Scientific Shots by Ed Ruth

19. The Single Leg Takedown by Jimmy Sheptock

20. Wrestling Entries for Grapplers by Kody Steele

21. Judo Takedowns For No Gi by Valdir Araujo

22. The Basic Building Blocks Of Wrestling by Jacob Harman

23.The Pressure Factory: Using Pressure Principles To Score Takedowns by Jacob Harman

24. Takedown to Breakdown by Ethan LizakBreaking down takedowns is never easy unless you have access to the secret ways of achieving it.

25. World Championship Takedowns by Logan Stieber

26. Highlight Reel Takedowns by Reece Humphrey

27. THE TAKEDOWN PASSPORT BY BEKZOD ABDURAKHMINOV

28. The Takedown Playbook by Daniel DeShazer

29. Mastering Takedowns With Motion by Shelton Mack

In Conclusion

Learning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

8 Jiu-Jitsu Mistakes Holding You Back

Lifting (range of motion + burnout)

Same Training Partner(s)

Rolls Only (position sparring, drills, handicap rolls)

Learn From Observing

The Copy-Paste Approach (what’s not for you)

Not Challenging Everything

Drills

Gi Or No-Gi?

In Summary

The Best Half Guard DVD Instructionals Collection

The TOP 10

1. The Half Guard Anthology by Lachlan Giles

2. The Lockdown Blueprint by Tom DeBlass

3. The No Gi Deep Half Guard 2.0 by Jeff Glover

4. The Coyote Half Guard by Lucas Leite

5. The Pillars: Half Guard Bottom by Stephen Whittier

6. The Battle Tested Half Guard by Bernardo Faria

7. The Buchecha Half Guard by Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida

8. The Ground Marshal Half Guard by Neil Melanson

9. PAUL SCHREINER: 1/2 GUARD [ON DEMAND]

10. Diamond Concept of Defense by Xande Ribeiro

List Of All Half Guard DVD Instructionals Out There

1. Half Guard: BJJ Fundamentals – Go Further Faster by John Danaher

2. Half Domination by Tom DeBlass

3. Half Guard Domination 2.0 by Tom DeBlass

4. Deep Half Guard Domination by Tom DeBlass

5. High Tech BJJ In The Gi by Tom DeBlass

6. The Butterfly Half Guard by Tom DeBlass

7. Don’t Be A Square by Jeff Glover

8. Connected Reaction: Half Guard by Paul Schreiner

9. The Coyote Half Guard No Gi by Lucas Leite

11. The No Gi Half Guard by Bernardo Faria

12. Transition Mastery by Bernardo Faria