Guard Passing Drills That Can Teach You Jiu-Jitsu Fast!

Drills are huge for BJJ. I can’t even count all the times I’ve heard, or said, or even written that in an article. However, you see some grapplers that manage just fine claiming they never drill. it is possible. however, the truth is, drills make you better. Certain areas of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, like passing, for example, are extremely challenging to figure out without putting in time in the form of a guard passing drill. This is particularly true for No-Gi, where there’s a lack of handles and everything gets slippery fast. So, even if you can’t stand drilling, you should at least incorporate some guard passing drills. They’ll help you immensely, and not just with guard passing.

Guard passing was one of the harder things in BJJ for me. I totally enjoy it now, but at the white and blue belt level, I was dreading it. Especially when it came to the opening and passing the closed guard of someone who really knows how to play from the bottom. Enter guard passing drills. they helped me hone in on the finer details of guard passing I was missing during both technical training and live rolling. To this day, some 7 years later, I haven’t found an aspect of BJJ that benefits from drills a much as guard passing.

Why You Have To Drill Guard Passing

It is simple, there are plenty of nuances about guard passing that goes beyond just the technical aspects of Jiu-jitsu. Things like balance, pressure, angle, switching sides, posture, alignment and many others play as much a role in passing guard as do grip placement and footwork. And all of these are qualities that you can’t really learn consciously, sort to speak.

Guard passing drills, and more importantly, setting them up correctly, is so extremely important simply due to the diverse nature of passing guard. there are different guard passing modalities and you can use any categorization you want. There is the loose, tight, and submission passing approach. There’s the over, under around, and through the legs approach. You could also opt for a conceptual approach as well. or you can be smart and high level and figure out how everything blends together for an unstoppable guard passing game.

Putting such a game together is the easy part. Putting it to use is the hard part. That is where drills come in. Setting up guard passing drills will help you figure out how to put everything to use. You need the repetitions to get your body used. But it is not muscle memory or specific movement patterns like many people think. You actually need to get your body used to adjust constantly while moving with precision, balance, and pressure or speed, depending on your preferred type of passing.

Setting Up Guard Passing Drills

In Jiu-Jitsu, there is absolutely no way to predict every scenario. People like to use the word “scramble”, to explain exchanges that happen outside of the main position in BJJ. I do not agree and I think that there’s no such thing as a scramble and everything has meaning and logic behind it. Particularly chaos. But that is a subject for another time.

In the entropy of guard passing, people often end up doing one of three things. They either slide past the guard (the easy thing), end up battling the legs for an extended period of time (the hard thing), or end up swept or submitted (the dumb thing). What you want is the easy thing, and guard passing drills are a great way of getting used to finding the easy way past the legs. That is the only guard passing philosophy you’ll ever need.

Setting up guard passing drills, though, requires a bit of coordination and work. To that extent, let’s organize guard passing drills into technical drills, speed & balance drills, and conceptual drills.

Technical Drills

From a technical standpoint, there are several things you need to be able to do in your sleep. These are the fundamental movements that will help you figure out all guards. The first one is standing to open the closed guard. An absolute must for everyone. The standing part is when you need to be precise and technical, the opening and passing parts are easier.

Another great drill is going the shin-circles to x-pass combo. This is where most of your open guard passing will happen. Knowing how to shin circle and X-pass is not as easy as it sounds and requires lots and lots of reps and effort. it will be well worth it, though, because every other common passing sequence, from knee slides to long steps begins with an X-pass motion.

Finally, there’s the pressure part of the equation. Getting and retaining Lovato’s headquarters position, or a Bernardo Faria over-under pass are two things on the opposite side of the pressure passing spectrum that you absolutely need.

Speed & Balance Drills

The two most important guard passes that require balance and speed are the leg drag and torreando. No matter how much of a pressure passer you might think you are, you’ll have to use both of them at times. And, while the technical steps are few and simple, the balance and timing are what really make or break these passes. In those terms, nothing beats guard passing drill when it comes to learning how to drag people around.

There are simple drills that work in steps with these passes. Start off simple, by trying to move the leg and your body at the same time. From there on, introduce an extra step in every drill until you can complete the pass not just directly, but factoring in some early and late defenses as well.

Conceptual Drills

My favorite way of training and, in particular, drilling. These drills might be more along the lines of position sparring, but they work incredibly well. How? get a partner, set a time for at least 5 minutes (preferably more), and ask them to only try and do guard retention. No sweeps, no submissions, no standing up. Your goal? Pass the legs. Use whatever it is you want. This is when you can go as fast or slow as you want and try and build concepts that involve a posture, checkpoints, and tying different guard passing scenarios together.

Skill And Cardio

Guard passing drills have the added benefit of making you better at Jiu-Jitsu in general. While they are highly specific, they give you an insight into the guard game as much has the help you figure ways past it. This is an added benefit many people do not directly see. however, once you’re the one on the ground, you’ll suddenly know how proper guard passing works, and you’ll be able to prevent passes much more easily than before.

Another bonus moment of doing guard passing drills is cardio. Try doing reps in the hundreds of the drills, or go for time, but not just a few minutes. Try and do all three types of drills and see how tired you are at the end. Keep drilling for a year and see how better your gas tank, bottom game, and of course, guard passing skills get.

Wrapping up

Set up some guard passing drills. Give them a chance for a few months. Use the above guidelines if you have no idea how, or just come up with your own. remember, that getting past the legs is one of the hardest things in BJJ and your goal is to find an easy way there. think of it as looking for the ultimate BJJ hack. And you already have the most important tool in the toolbox – guard passing drills.

Unlock The Power Of The Rickson Gracie Breathing Method

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Decoding The Rickson Grcaie breathing method

You’ve seen choke. I know you have. That iconic documentary is something every Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA fan has seen at least once. And I also know what caught your attention the most, despite all the fights Rickson dominates in there. It was Rickson doing his crazy Yoga things on the beach and doing that even crazier breathing. Just like everything else in the movie, the breathing played a huge role in Rickons’s success as a fighter, and later, his son Kron’s as well. Let’s take a closer look at the Rickson Gracie breathing method.

Rickson Gracie is one of the best fighters/grapplers to have ever stepped on the mats. With him living in a whole different era of fighting we’ll never know how he would’ve faired against today’s fighters. Training for combat sports has reached a crazy new level lately, with lots of science going into developing the perfect fighter. However, some of the old-school methods, like the Rickson Gracie breathing are irreplaceable when it comes to bringing every aspect of training together and becoming a complete fighter/grappler.

The Importance Of Correct Breathing In BJJ

Have you ever tried to roll while holding your breath? You should, as it is a great way to learn the lesson of breathing for BJJ. If you can’t keep on breathing, you can’t keep on rolling – it is as simple as that. However, it is not just about breathing, but breathing with a purpose and, more than anything, control.

There are plenty of methods people use for breath control in combat sports. The goal is to try and keep a steady rhythm that will constantly provide you with oxygen for your working muscles. The problem is actually achieving that when your whole body is tensing up, when you’re fighting to get out of the tightest imaginable mount and when people are all over you in a roll. It not, impossible, though, and the Rickson Gracie breathing method is one example of how you can integrate some breathing exercises in your training to help your grappling performance.

So, what is the correct breathing method for BJJ? I’d say anything that works for you, but starting with something tried and tested is always a great idea. Yogic breathing does offer a bunch of different ways to control your breath, and that’s exactly where Rickson got his ideas from. There’s hardly anyone better than Yogis and their thousands of years of researching and studying breathing to teach you al about how this everyday thing should be done right.

The Rickson Gracie Breathing Method

What exactly is the Rickson Gracie breathing method for Jiu-Jitsu? This is a modified version of Yogic breathing, to put it in simple terms. Rickson himself learned about the method from Orlando Cani, a Brazilian Yoga instructor, and movement specialist. The breathing Rickson does in “Choke” is a common way of ending Hatha Yoga classes, which is what Orlando taught in Brazil. The name for breathing techniques in Yoga is “Pranayamas”.

In the documentary, Rickson sits in a lotus position and uses a very specific forceful breathing method. At the same time, he involves his abdominal wall to what seems to be an extreme degree but has a key y role in making this breathing method so efficient and beneficial.

From a physical standpoint, the Rickson Gracie breathing method provides more oxygen, because it is focused on diaphragmatic breathing. When using the diaphragm during physical exercise, the body suffers much less in terms of oxygen needs as almost twice the oxygen that is usually inhaled can be brought into the lungs. This is due to the diaphragm being situated under the lungs, when it works it helps expand the chest more and thus, allows more oxygen to enter the lungs.

There’s another aspect of breathing that’s helpful, and that is the mental aspect. Using the Rickson Gracie breathing method will pride you with peace of mind and a calmness that has a carryover to the mats. It also ties in with the physical aspect of things, given that calmer fighters usually breathe better and tire out less.

All in all, the main benefit of breathing for BJJ are calmness of the mind and increased endurance of the body.

How Can You Use It?

Setting up the Rickson Gracie breathing method for yourself is not hard. You have two ways of going about it: you can go and research Yogic breathing and Pranayamas, or use several simple exercises that we will share with you today.

The breathing starts easy, with a focus on using the diaphragm and belly to breathe, rather than the intercostals muscles and chest wall. This is best mastered in a supine position, by placing an arm on the belly and the other on the chest. Only the arm that is on the belly should be moving when you inhale and exhale to truly get the hang of diaphragmatic breathing.

You can then move on to using diaphragmatic breathing when seated. This is where the full Erickson Gracie method comes into play, along with the abdominal wall movements which have the added task of massaging the internal organs. At first, you’ll need to focus on sucking the belly in as much as possible, and holding the breath in, to get accustomed to it. Then comes moving the belly side to side and in circles to really give the organs a massage.

Finally, you can use the birthing method while you’re doing warm-up exercises, to teach your body how to brat while doing physical activity. Only when you’re proficient at this can you think about using the Rickson Gracie breathing method during rolling or in a match.

Conclusion

Rickson shares his breathing system a lot in seminars and places great value on it. His son Kron, who currently fights in the UFC is also a big fan of the Rickson Gracie breathing method and has been featured using it in his preparations for fights. Simply put, breathing is the piece of the puzzle very few consider, but everyone needs it. Why not use what the best of the best have proven works?

Never Say These 7 Things To Your BJJ Professor

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What are some things you should never say to a BJJ professor? Yeah, there are such things and yeah, you should know them and avoid telling them to professors, instructors or coaches. No matter how chilled out and relaxed they seem, BJJ coaches really do have a lot on their plate, and sometimes, hearing the same things over and over again can really be testing for their patience. Moreover, these are not things that can help you on your journey, so you better steer clear of them as much as you can.

What are the 7 things you can’t say to a BJJ professor? You’ll learn all about that further down in this article. What is important first is to understand that BJJ professors are human as well, and they also have bad and good days. Moreover, they spend a lot of their time trying to make your BJJ journey as entertaining as possible. Not only that, but they’re completely approachable and open to talk, on the mats and off them. This last aspect is one that can sometimes be quite abused by students, especially when they ask certain things of their instructors.

Your BJJ Professor Doesn’t Have It Easy

If you think being a BJJ professor full time is easy, you need to reconsider. It is fun, that’s beyond a doubt. However it comes down to being a job, and despite it seems like the dream job, and is one instructor does love, it does have its bad days. Dealing with people is not easy anyway, especially when you have hundreds of members at an academy and staff looking up to you for everything. It is one of those sweet troubles to have unless you’re not having a good day. that’s when all the stuff BJJ professors face can get the better of them.

Running an academy means that first and foremost, people need to be safe on the mats. Next up, they need to have fun and learn at the same time. These are already daunting tasks in any area of life, let alone a full-contact combat sport, especially in trying times like now, with the Covid-19 pandemic at large.

Apart from that, there’s the logistics. Planning classes organizing competitions, running the financials, leases, hygiene, administrative staff, legal/political stuff, community, web pages, etc. Plus, everyone is always trying not just to roll with you, but take a piece of your home as well, which can really be exhausting at times. And if you can imagine the worst possible day in doing all of these (and there are several of those every year), it is only fuel to the fire when students ask some of the stuff that makes instructors want to throw their Gi off and jet out to a deserted island somewhere.

Never Say These 7 Things To Any BJJ Professor

On the subject of things you should avoid saying to your BJJ professor, there are 7 main ones that really do annoy instructors greatly. That said, it is important to note that some of them are stuff people say on the mats outside of class, while others are the things that every instructor hates hearing during class or rolling. Since asking dumb stuff won’t really help you get better at Jiu-Jitsu, at least be aware of the 7 things you should not ask BJJ professors unless you’re willing to feel their wrath!

1. But Gordon Ryan Does It Differently…

This one really drives me crazy from time to time. It takes a lot of time to put together a class for a week or a month, especially when you have different groups and levels of people on the mats. there is a reason why some things are shown in a certain manner or said in the way they are. trust me, your BJJ professor also had to learn it all at one point and knows how to transfer that knowledge in an easier manner to you.

Telling them that Marcelo Garcia, or Gordon Ryan or anyone else does it differently is one of those things that drives instructors crazy. They know. Let’s just leave it at that. They have their reason for showing it differently, and one of those reasons is that you’re far from Marcelo or Gordon. So do what is shown, and do not point out needless stuff.

2. Why Do I Need This?

This once again has to do with class structure and your overall progress. There’s a reason why you have a BJJ professor – they know more than you, and are there to teach you. If you can’t see why you need something at the moment, that just means you need it way more than you can imagine. Professors know this and will teach you exactly what you’re lacking or lagging in so that you can actually pull off all the fancy stuff you’re looking at on YouTube.

3, When Am I Going To Get A Belt?

This is something that your BJJ professor will be patient with…the first ten times you ask. Once again, you can’t rush a belt, like you can’t rush most of the important things in life. You can’t even try and rush a stripe for that matter. The best way to progress faster is to show up, and do what the instructors say. It is as simple as that. Asking constantly won’t get you there. It is like asking a driver “are we there yet” after every mile when there are hundreds of miles to the destination and you know it. Don’t annoy your BJJ professor needlessly and focus on what you’re actually doing on the mats.

4. But What If… at the wrong time…

Yup, the one that is probably the most annoying of all the stuff you should avoid asking your BJJ professor. A common answer I like to give is that there always is another what if and if we try to get into it, we’ll never be able to actually practice a move. But that is when I’m patient about things. It just so happens that these “what if” people are the same ones over and over again, always looking to ask about different options.

Trust me, instructors are not trying to hide things for you, they’re just trying not to overwhelm you. You have no idea how much deep they can go in just one move, and leave you utterly confused. Just trust the process, and all your “what if” questions (and more) will be answered down the road.

5. That Won’t Work / I Can Never Do It

This is something that does not annoy instructors as much as it saddens, them, really. People often underestimate their abilities, despite the fact that an experienced BJJ professor knows exactly what someone can or cannot do just in the glance of an eye. So, go for it, you’ve got nothing to lose, right?

It is not just good to avoid asking /saying this because of your professor, but also because of your own mindset. Just believe that you can learn everything, which is, by the way, the reason you’re in the gym. If you knew how to do it, you’d be at a different place.

6. Can You Show Me A Flying (insert BJJ move here)

It is not that your instructors won’t show you flying submissions or double spinning Berimbolos and stuff. But asking for a cartwheel pass when you can’t even do a staple pass is not something you should do. In fact, asking for a cartwheel pass when you can’t actually cartwheel is definitely something not to ask of your BJJ professor. This is just one recent example of what has happened to me.

The thing is, your instructor might just oblige and show you the move. Then what? You can’t do several of the key basic moves that lead up to it, so you end up wasting your time, the coach’s time, and perhaps the entire class trying to do something that you’re still not ready to do. Once again, you need to trust the process. Expressing your interest in a subject is one thing, and you should let instructors know which direction of BJJ you like the most. However, you’ll need to let them guide you there, and not try to fly over key steps of any move.

**7. You Either Win Or You Learn (and other bulls#*t quotes)**

I’ve spoken about this earlier, but let me just reiterate the point again. There’s no way you’ll learn anything in Jiu-Jitsu if you do not learn how to lose first. It is a sport where you’ll inevitably lose, on a day to day basis. And no, there are no participation rewards. So, relying too much on quite like this just means you’ll be looking for excuses instead of actually learning something and improving. It just so happens to be one of the quotes that will annoy a BJJ professor a lot. That and other crazy quotes and popular terms that I won’t mention here today.

Bonus Thing

The bonus thing only applies to Infinity BJJ Split, and probably to a lot of other gyms as well. Never say I can’t fix the music or youtube is not working, or someone before f… it up. Just f… fix it, Jerry. That’s your only job in the gym.

Summing Things Up

At the end of the day, your BJJ professor does have your best interests at heart (most of the time). It takes massive amounts of dedication to run an academy nowadays, and have a great connection with every student on the mats. It is possible, but demanding and asking about certain stuff of your instructor is a great way of annoying them and getting them. And those are not the folks you want to annoy, especially with rolling looming at the end of class.

Igor Araujo Gives Own Black Belt To Dying Student Alain Mennet

BJJ World

Igor Araujo, UFC veteran, and esteemed BJJ black belt did a touching gesture recently, awarding one of his students his black belt just moments before he passed away. Going even further, Igor actually gave his student Alain Mennet his own black belt. It was more than just a gesture, especially to the man receiving the belt. What a great man Igor is!

Igor Araujo

Igor Araujo is a black belt under Aldo “Caveirinha” Januário, from the Carlso Gracie Jr. (GB) legacy. The Brazilian is 39 years old and has been training Jiu-Jitsu since he was 19, being a competitive soccer player u to that point in his life. Focusing on MMA, Araujo has several of the big titles to boast about, like the Europeans and Brazilian Nationals.

Apart from a very noticeable career in the UFC, Igor Araujo also fought for M-1, Shooto, and KSW. He was also on the Ultimate Fighter Series in 2012, as part of Shane Carwin’s team that faced a team led by Roy Nelson. Araujo got to the semifinals in the competition, but it was enough for him to earn a UFC contract. Araujo fought in the UFC until 2015. He holds a professional MMA record of 25-10-1. After his release from the UFC, Araujo fought a few more times in Europe. He currently lives in Switzerland, where he teaches BJJ.

Alain Mennet

Alain Mennet, who sadly passed away at the age of 59, was a very dedicated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, competitor, champion, and martial artist. He started off with Kung Fu, but quickly found about BJJ and dedicated completely to the sport for the final 8 years of his life.

Mennet was completely devoted to Jiu-jitsu, as Igo Araujo accounts for. Mennet trained every day, sometimes twice a day. In fact, his training regiment was not unlike that of a professional fighter, something Aarujo knows all about. Despite having lots of injuries and not being athletic or strong, Mennet was really good, as is shown by his European title at blue belt in 2018 in the Masters 5 division.

“I always had a lot of contact with him, he was one of the people who trained there most. He really liked jiu-jitsu and wanted to fight in the European Jiu-Jitsu Championship. He traveled (to Lisbon), lost weight just like a professional athlete, did some fights, and won. Alain took the sport very seriously until he had the disease, “said Igor to Brazilian news portal Opovo.

A Moving Story Of Bravery And Loyalty

Unfortunately, Alain Mennet got stomach cancer, which then spread throughout his body. Alain had just returned from training in Brazil when he got the diagnosis. Refusing to give up his BJJ lifestyle, he kept on training even during the therapy and after getting surgery to remove part of his stomach.

“While he had chemotherapy, he trained every day. He arrived there, stopped coaching, would throw up. Even with chemotherapy, continued training and dreamed of fighting the world championship” – said Igor Araujo.

Alain went on to train as much as he could, but an injury to his spinal column, unfortunately, complicated things further for the European champion. Although he lost mobility in his arms as a result, he managed to recover so much, that at one point, he even got a medical clearance to visit the academy again. When he did that, he went straight to the mats, despite everything. Igor caught the whole thing on camera.

Igor wanted to give Alain Mennet his black belt after he left the hospital, but the disease took a turn for the worse. Alain’s state was already bad at the moment, and he wasn’t completely conscious but did acknowledge his professor not just promoting him to black belt, but giving him his own belt. A massive gesture that the entire BJJ world greats!

Final Thoughts

Getting a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is very hard. In the case of Alain Mennet, the story is extremely moving, especially with the touching gesture Igor Araujo made. Despite Alain passing away just a few hours after his black belt promotion, he will definitely be remembered by his gym, and hopes are, after treading this, buy the retire Jui-Jitsu community worldwide. We extend our condolences to Menett’s family.

*All photos from Igor Araujo’s private collection

Christmas BJJ Sale Of The Best Jiu-Jitsu Equipment In 2020

BJJ World

We’re in that period of the year when everything is about the holidays. With Christmas just a few days away, we thought you might want a bit of Brazilian JIu-JItsu Christmas cheer. So we put together a comprehensive guide to everything that’s on sale this Christmas in terms of Jiu-Jitsu equipment. Why not make yourself, or your significant other that trains very happy by taking advantage of the greatest Christmas BJJ sale to date? Jiu-Jitsu Equipment

Everyone loves the holidays. For most grapplers, this is also true. The only exception is those preparing for January competitions and cutting weight in the process. I certainly do not envy them. Yet, even if all grapplers can’t enjoy festive feasts, they can certainly enjoy other holiday caveats. A Christmas BJJ sale of top-of-the-line Jiu-Jitsu equipment ios one such occasion. Outside of the holiday season, we do not see many sales of this kind, so you better get a move on while there’s still something to get!

Making The Most Of The Holiday Season

Given that it is the holiday season, most people might look to get a rest from training and go and stuff themselves as much as possible. It is what holidays are for anyway, right? Well, not quite. All the hardcore folks are still going to show up on the mats. In fact, most academies run open mat classes on days that are usually holidays for everyone that’s normal. Still, for both the hardcore grapplers and those taking well-deserved res, there’s a perfect pastime. Jiu-Jitsu Equipment

You know that you’re going to be shopping during the holidays anyway. Whether it is for yourself, your significant other, or your kids, you’ll be on the lookout for the best prices possible. Well, as far as Jiu-Jitsu equipment is concerned, we got you covered. We put together the ultimate Christmas BJJ shopping list, one that features different types of BJJ gear. We divided everything into five main categories to make browsing easier for you. In that sense, you can browse through BJJ DVDs, Gi Jiu-Jitsu equipment, No-Gi gear, miscellaneous things as well as MMA equipment if you’re cross-training. Absolute best prices are guaranteed as well as an easy and laid back shopping experience! Have at it!

BEST CHRISTMAS BJJ DVD INSTRUCTIONALS

First up, let’s see a few digital releases that will certainly bring joy to any grappler’s holiday season. The idea is to cover a bit of everything yo you have submissions, escapes, positions, strategy, nutrition, and more to choose from

Exit The System – Gary Tonon

Gary Tonon is one of the best grapplers ever and an overall very cool character. His first-ever instructional is also one of the best ever made with Tonon focusing on the art of escaping. When is the last time you saw Gary get submitted? All the secrets of his take on escaping the tightest submissions are now available in an 8-part DVD set running at well over 10 hours! Each DVD covers a different subject, including leg locks, armbar,s triangles, kimuras, guillotines, and all other submissions you can think of. The perfect Christmas BJJ gift for anyone!

Mount Attack Encyclopedia – Bernardo Faria

When it comes to being a machine from the mount position, Bernardo Faria has all the answers. The multiple-time world champion has one of the most notorious pressure games in the sport. Conversely, he enjoys torturing world champions from the mount position. Across 4 volumes, Bernardo now shares all his key concepts and attacks. But it is not just a DVD of armbars and chokes. Faria teaches mount maintenance and crucial counters to all common escapes. Plus, the submissions include wristlocks, Ezekiel, and the other less used submissions from mall mount variations. Not to mention all the cool ways of getting to mount that is signature Faria!

Belly Down Footlocks – Tarick Hopstock

When it comes to Jiu-Jitsu equipment, instructionals can now be considered essential BJJ gear. That said, just like with anything else, you need to know what’s good and what’s questionable. Tarick Hosptock’s “Belly Down Footlocks” DVD is one of those that era among the absolute best titles of 2019. Famous for his Traikoplata, Hopstock actually has a very well-rounded game and a wicked leg lock arsenal. IN this instructional he shares his setups of the belly down foot lock, mostly from the single leg X guard. Given that all this is legal at all levels, you need to win this particular DVD, especially if you are a competitor.

Top Game Devastation – Rafe Lovato Jr.

It’s been a while since Lovato treated us to one of his instructionals. Among other things, 2019 marked his rise to championship status in Bellator. That and he finally released a brand new instructional. “Top Game Devastation” is four volumes long, and will teach you how to be incredibly heavy from the top. Lovato, along with the Ribeiros has the best pressure game in the business, along with decades of high-level competitive experience, Now, he shares it all from knee slices, through arm triangles all the way to crazy mounted attacks. Highly recommended and not just as a Christmas BJJ gift.

The Leg Lock Anthology 50/50 – Lachlan Giles

If there’s anything you need to get this Christmas BJJ sale in terms of BJJ DVDs, this is it. You can disregard all other JIu-Jitsu gear as long as you can get your hands on the Leg Lock Anthology 50/50 DVD by Lachlan Giles. Lachlan usually has lots to say, and especially after his crazy success in the absolute of the ADCC, he issued an 8 part instructional talking about his crazy 50/50 leg lock system. It has a perfect structure, starting at the very beginning and taking you through the mechanics of the 50/50 position. leglocks of all varieties, along with cool leg lock counter attacks make up the most of this instructional. The final volume contains both narrated rolls as well as a narration of Lachaln’s ADCC trial fights.

The Sitting Turtle – Priit Mihkelson

I actually had the pleasure of meeting Priit and attend a few of his classes. Suffice to say, he is just as good as you’ll think after you check out his “Sitting Turtle” DVD. The man can escape, and he can escape from everything.

Holding a position against him is impossible, let alone looking for a submission. he has a weird and crazy, yet very methodical and easy to learn approach to escapes. His four-part sitting turtle instructional is unique and innovative and will save you from a lot of taps. My personal favorite – the Panda. You’ll know what I mean once you give it a try.

Floating Passing System – Vagner Rocha

Passing the guard is one of the most difficult tasks in Jiu-Jitsu. Vagner is one of the people that do it perfectly, and they do it against everyone they face. Rocha is a No-Gi specialist and he has a really cool system of floating. Flota passing is something that’s extremely effective once you get the hang of it, and Vagner makes it all too easy to learn. On that particular subject, I guess there’s no better teacher than him. Conversely, his instructional containing nearly 50 chapters, covers everything you need to know and is the best possible resource on the subject.

Nutrition And Weight Management System – George Lockhart

This is a DVD that aI feel will always make its way into lists like this. It is that good. In fact, it is not just a DVD but a Bundle that also includes an E-book in addition to the three DVDs. Inside them, the world’s leading nutritionist George Lockhart finally shares his system with everyone.

He explains the ins and out of nutrition, shares a complete system and a meal plan, and makes weight cutting a process of enjoyment rather than torture. Plus, the book contains a bunch of recipes that help you enjoy life as a fighter, rather than fear eating tasteless chicken breast over and over again.

Battle-Tested Down Under Leglocks – Craig Jones

It seems Australians rule the leg lock stage at this moment. Craig Jones is a black belt under Lachaln, and we already talked about his leg lock DVD. Well, Craig has one as well. In a first edition, he shared his leg looks system dubbed “Down Under Leg Attacks“. Well, after a couple of years, he issued a second edition, of sorts. Now, he shares all the stuff he has done in competition, with all the nuances that only competing can teach.

Once again, there are a lot of narrated rolls inside, along with key information on setting up everything, from heel hooks to kneebars and ways to make it all work in tournaments.

High-Level Takedowns And Mat Control – Henry Cejudo

Finally, let’s wrap the DVDs portion of this Christmas BJJ sale with a wrestling one. Who better than Olympic and UFC champion Henry Cejudo to teach you the ins and outs of wrestling? IN an amazing 8 part instructional, Cejduo teaches no only wrestling takedowns but also key ways of pinning. However, he goes outside the wrestling realm and teaches everything in a way that’ll benefit grapplers and MMA fighters. It is one of a kind instructional, where Cejudo has really reserved the most important aspects of wrestling on a neat little platter for us all.

GI JIU-JITSU EQUIPMENT ON SALE

Let’s now move on to some actual Jiu-Jitsu equipment. There are countless things you need or want to have with you while you train. Some are essential, others are optional. First up, in our Christmas BJJ sale guide his year, are Gis and Gi Jiu-Jitsu Equipment.

SENSO Jiu-Jitsu Yuki Kimono

The Senso Yuki Gi is one of the best possible Gi’s you can get for yourself or a significant other. It comes in white, and sizes ranging from A0 to A5. there are even a few in-between sizes that can really help you narrow down the perfect one for you. The Gi jacket is 100% cotton, 450 GSM, and features a pearl wave. The pants are 10oz ripstop cotton. There’s a great and simple overall design with cool embroidery on strategic locations. The Gi has an athletic fit and is perfect for both training and competition.

Flow Kimonos Air Lightweight Gi

If you’re a fan of lighter-weight Gi’s then the Aur BJJ Gi by Flow Kimonos is what you need to be looking at. It is a Gi that not too easy to find, so having it on a Christmas BJJ sale is like a real Christmas miracle. The Gi comes in black, white and blue, and features a 350 gsm pear weave and 8oz ripstop pants. Extremely comfortable to wear, comes completely pre-shrunk, and a top choice for weigh-ins. There are 9 sizes, meaning there’s an option for any body type.

Elite Sports Ultra-Light Women’s BJJ Gi

While looking at the best Gi Jiu-Jitsu equipment this Christmas, we can’t skip over the Elite Ultra-Light Women’s GI. It is one tailor-made for the ladies, pus it is a lightweight Gi once again. Color includes white, black, navy, pink, grey, and military green. Sizes range from F0 to F5, or in other words, options for everyone. The white and black are IBJJF approved. the design is geared toward the needs of ladies, providing a very reliable and comfortable Gi. It comes with a free white belt that’s a great Christmas surprise.

SHOGUN Fight Tao Premium Jiu-Jitsu Gi

Let’ include one more GI option here, this time a cool and unusual one. For all those that don’t really care much about regular kimonos and like outside the box Gis, the Shogun Fight Jiu-Jitsu Tao is the perfect one. Another pearl weave Gi, available in all the usuals sizes, has a design that easily beats all others.

The GI is IBJJF certified, coming in black, blue, and white. The real value though is in the art that’s on the GI. The sleeves and pants have very cool embroidery, to begin with. The inside of the jacket is lined with a rashguard, featuring crazy and unique art. Everything is designed to last, so getting this Gi doesn’t just mean you get a cool-looking one.

Hypnotic BJJ Belt

Of course, you’ll need a belt to go with your Gi, as this is yet another of those Jiu-Jitsu equipment essentials. The Hypnotic belt is an extremely reliable one. IN simple terms, you get one, and you can rest assured it’ll go through everything and still be intact when it comes time to get promoted again. The reason is that the belts are pearl weaves. That means they maintain their shape much better compared to their belts. comes in at 1.5 inches wide with the Hympotinc logo embroidered.

FUJI Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Belt

Another belt option that’s always a great choice is the Fuji BJJ belt. With Fuji, though, you get a lot more choices, given that they also have kids’ belts as well. They’re made from extremely durable material, feature very vivid colors, and ultra-high-quality cotton. They are also available in more sizes than you can count and come at a great Christmas BJJ sale price!

Hayabusa Ryoko Gym Duffel Bag

Venum “Challenger Backpack

Gold BJJ Jiu Jitsu Tape

Matman Ultra Soft Adjustable Wrestling Ear Guard

Champion Women’s Spot Full-Support Sport Bra

BEST NO-GI JIU-JITSU GEAR DEALS

It is time to turn our attention to No-Gi now and check out some of the best Jiu-Jitsu gear that’s available on a Christmas BJJ sale. In no-gi, there’s a lot of variety when it comes to attire and gear, and different people have different tendencies. The focus here is on quality and variety, as we did our best to include everything Np-gi that’s high quality, and of course, on sale this Christmas!

Sanabul Essentials Long Sleeve Compression Rashguard

There’s no way we kick things off with anything else apart from rashguards. BJJ rashguards are simply awesome. As long as you know your high-quality stuff from everything else, the only thing you need to worry about is design. The Sanabul essentials rashgu8ard is all on sleeved one that fulfills every possible best rashguard criteria. It is IBJJF approved, meaning you get ranked varieties. However, with this one, there’s even an option for red belts. That means six different ultra high-quality designs of this rashguard in addition to all possible sizes. It also features UV SPF 50 protection if you like to take it out for a surf. Apart from that it is tight-fitting, easy to wash and dry, and doesn’t retain odors. Heck, even John Danaher has one of these and you know how picky he is about his rashguards.

Under Armour Men’s HeatGear Armour Short Sleeve Rashguard

A real classic among Jiu-Jitsu equipment. Under armor has a line of anything related to sports, but they’re most famous, at least in the fighting world, for their rashguards. Still to this day, they make an awesome rashguard, like the short sleeves Het Gear series, for example. A signature quality blend of 84% Polyester and 16 % elastane, this rashguard is designed to last. It features extra compression features, improving blood flow and recovery. Mesh panels ensure that there’s constant ventilation and it also has moisture-wicking properties. Available in 16 different colored designs and everything in-between XS and 5XL. Comes In a short-sleeve version.

Neleus Men’s Compression Pants Running Tights Sport

After looking at top options for rashguards, it is time to figure out what spats to pair with them. When it comes to the best, it can be quite hard with spats, as there are thousands of options. Since regular yoga pants won’t do, we made sure to include the best possible Christmas BJJ sale option out there – The Neleus Compression Pants. Christmas BJJ

85% Polyester and 15% spandex guarantee a comfortable experience. The fabric is smooth and super elastic, with 4-way stretch technology. Has all the marks of the best spats out there, with features like moisture-wicking, quick-drying, and two-way air circulation. Flatline seams make it impossible to get abrasions, and there’s an elastic waist closure. There are white, black navy, grey, and red-colored spats available in all sizes. The Christmas BJJ sale part here is in the fact that you can order either a 2-pack or an a3-pack of different colored spats at a massively discounted price.

Pressure Grappling Women’s Premium Grappling Spats/Tights

Where do I even start with the Pressure Grappling Women’s Premium Spats? They have it all, from a wicked design to features custom-tailored for BJJ. First and foremost, these spats are made from WikPro polyester, which completely wicks moisture. The fabric also stretches in four directions while also providing extreme durability thanks to reinforced seams. 4/6 flat lock stitching further provides comfort and eliminates the risk of abrasions. Sizewise, there are 6 options starting at XS and ending at XXL, The designs are also unique, with 7 different multi-colored ones, that feature sublimated artwork. That means the colors never fade or fall off no matter how much you wash them. Hardly a better pair of spats out there when it comes to the finer half of JIu-Jitsu.

Hayabusa Metaru Charged Shorts

The final piece of the essential No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu equipment triad after rashguards and spats are, of course, shorts. In those terms, you need to worry mostly about whether or not you’re going to compete with them. If you want to remove that particular issue, go for the Hayabusa Metaru Charged shorts. They come in ranked colors, with a black base, meaning they’re perfect for any type of No-Gi competition. Plus, they’re extremely strong, with stretch panels that allow for complete freedom of movement. There’s a hardware-free waistband given that these are Jiu-Jitsu-specific shorts. Available in half a dozen sizes and perfect for grapplers of all levels.

RDX MMA/BJJ Shorts

Another perfect Christmas gift for any No-Gi BJJ enthusiast out there. This is one of the best pair of shorts overall, whether it is MMA, BJJ, or just as a different type of beachwear. They come with an ergonomic design that includes an athletic cut to guarantee maximal mobility. A strong grip waistband means you can maximize how they fit in order to grapple freely. Fabric is tear-resistant and the design is sublimated and crack-resistant. Breathability is another strong suit of the RDX shorts that is worth mentioning. Sizes feature all the usual, and design-wise, there are blue, black, and yellow options available, with different and very cool designs.

Impact Custom Professional MMA/Boxing/Muay Thai Mouthguard

Although this is a product that’s useful for both Gi and nO-Gi JIu-Jitsu, it is definitely an integral part of No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu equipment. The fast pace and lack of grips in No-GI require the use of added protective gear, and a mouthguard is the most important piece of that puzzle. However, you can’t just go out and get a garden variety one that’ll make it hard to breathe and roll. The Impact Custom mouthguard is what you’re actually after if you’re a grappler or MMA fighter. It is easy – you order it, you get a kit within a few days.

There are clear directions on how to use it to make an impression of teeth, and you send it back. Within a few more days, you get the mouthpiece, specifically designed for your needs ina professional facility. The mouthguard features protection of the jaw, neck, and soft tissues n the month in addition to teeth.

Fox Head Launch Enduro Knee Pad

Show your knees some love! Constantly being on the mats is extremely hard on the knees, even though we sp[end most of the time on the ground in Jiu-Jitsu. The Fox Head launch knee pad is one of those products that are not made for BJJ but fit the bill perfectly. It is lightweight, with a soft knee pad that you can slip in and out. Interestingly, this is one knee pad that is a success when it comes to figuring out how to allow you to bend the leg without any restrictions while wearing it. Abrasion-resistant, with a silicone gripper on the inside to prevent slipping. Available in sizes S – XL which covers most people out there. It comes in a red and black color design offering both structural support and abrasion protection for your knees.

G-Form Pro-X Elbow Pad

On the subject of the Christmas BJJ sale of protective gear, let’s expand beyond the essentials. Something many people need is the protection and support of the joints that suffer the most. In BJ, there’s hardly a joint that needs more attention than the elbow joint. The G-Form Pro-X Elbow pad is the only reliable option to keep your elbows safe and supported. It features reactive protection technology that’s proprietary to G-Form. They’re low profile, flexible and extra comfortable, with an ergonomic design for maximum range of motion. Machine washable and made in the USA. Available in 9 different sizes and 6 different color designs. Oh, and they come as a pair, which is always better.

MMA EQUIPMENT HOLIDAY SHOPPING

Training Jiu-Jitsu is often accompanied by MMA training for people. You do not have to be a professional MMA fighter to cross-train, but you do need the appropriate gear. Just like with Jiu-Jitsu equipment, MMA gear is highly specific and some items are mandatory for training. Given that lots of the gear can double for both BVJJ and MMA training, we decided to share with you a bit more in this Christmas BJJ Sale.

RDX MMA Gloves For Grappling Martial Arts

Of course, if you train MMA, you’ll need MMA gloves. There are different gloves for training, fighting, and sparring that you usually need. however, with the RDX MMA gloves, you get all in one amazing product. They come in full black and golden/black and all sizes between small and extra-large. The material is 100% genuine full-grain cowhide leather that’s additionally reinforced by specific stitching. In other words, these are the only gloves you’ll ever need to train and fight in MMA. There’s extra-thick foam in the padding as well as extra padding around the wrist. The unmistakable E-Z hook closure system is there as well, as is a Nabla-Pan architecture, that makes grappling easily possible. Built to last, breathable, and extremely comfortable.

Everlast Traditional Heavy Bag Kit

Since we’re going over a Christmas BJJ sale, we had to include something of this kind. Everlas has a full kit that’s perfect for getting everything you need about MMA in a single click. Not to mention the Christmas prices on the entire set. What you get here is a real starter pack for training MMA, with a70 lbs heavy bag, a pair of bag gloves, hand wraps, and all the assorted accessories to use them all. Easy to set up in a gym or your home. The bag is stuffed with naturally made custom filling, coming with a customizable chain and a bungee cord to add a different level of training experience. Available in black, and, a proven Everlast product above everything else.

Top King Shin Guard Protectors

One key thing you need for MMA ara strong shins. That, however, does not mean you need to get destroyed every time you have striking training. That’s where shin pads come into the picture. And, since we’re looking at the best stuff out there, we’re going to talk about the Top King Shin Guard protectors. These shin guards are available in 7 different colored designs to fit most preferences. They’re also available in sizes, despite being completely adjustable. This makes them different from most other one-sized shin guards in terms of fitting and comfort. Plus, there are extra padded areas to help protect the muscles and the area under the knee cap that are unique features of these shin guards. Make sure you check the size chart before choosing the best ones for you!

as BJJ

Sparthos Workout Mask

Although not something inherently made for MMA, the training mask is becoming a must-have tool for everyone involved in combat sport. This is one of those pieces of Jiu-Jitsu equipment that can double for everything, from MMA to conditioning training. The Sparthos workout mast is a high-altitude simulation tool to raise your conditioning to the next level. It comes in three different color designs and a size that fits everyone thanks to some neat adjustment properties. It guarantees a performance level that you simply cannot get without it, or with any other similar product. There are 16 breathing levels talking you from amateur to pro depending on your requirements. It makes it easy to change flows during training, which is one of the best possible properties for any training mask.

RDX Headguard for Boxing

Of course, training MMA will require you to spar. As you do, strikes will be involved, which translates to the danger of head trauma. With the RDX headgear, all these dangers are eliminated. The head guard contains shell-shock-based special tri-slab foam padding that offers extremely high-intensity shock absorption. There’s an EZ quick release loop closure system to allow for ease of use even with gloves on. The outside has resilient Maya hide leather that’s designed to last for decades. There’s even a removable face grill that offers added protection. Finally, there’s integrated gel tech for shock absorption, taking the protection levels to a whole different dimension. Available in four different color designs and several sizes.

Pro Impact Mexican Style Boxing Handwraps

If you’re going to wear gloves to MMA training (which you will), you’ll also need hand wraps under them. They help protect both your skin from abrasions and your wrists and finger joints from impact injuries. Pro impact’s Mexican style boxing wraps are designed with ultimate protection ads the only goal. They come in 16 different designs with ultra-quality construction. The material is not only durable but also elastic conforming material to make it a perfect fit. These wraps are machine washable and come at a length of 180 inches meaning you can get really tight wrap. An oversized hook and loop closure as well as a thumb loop ensures an ultra-tight snug and guarantee they stay on regardless of how crazy your workouts are.

Shock Doctor Bio-Flex Protector Compression Shorts

As far as the top-of-the-shelf MMA and Jiu-Jitsu Equipment goes, Shock Doctor’s Compression shorts Bio-Flex Supporter play a dual role. First, you get a pair of amazing spats, that you can wear under any shorts. Secondly, they come with a removable groin cup that you can slip in and out at will. The Bio-Flex cup is a bio-shaped groin guard designed to shield crucial areas. The positioning of the cup is such that you get an unrestricted range of motion, as well as a perfect fit.

The spats are moisture-wicking, dual mesh cup, flatlock stitched spats, perfect for MMA or BJJ training. They, come in all possible sizes and black and white color options. The cup fits in an X-pocket Retention system positioning the lower third of the cup in a natural position to make it feel like it is not there. Finally, four-way stretch technology ensures an unprecedented comfort level.

NEXPro Battle Rope Polydac Undulation Rope

Finally, wrapping up the MMA portion of our Christmas BJJ sale is yet another conditioning tool to help you become the best possible version of yourself. The 100% Polypropylene and Polyester battle ropes are an incredible tool to raise your strength and conditioning levels to new heights. The ropes are wear-resistant, will last a lifetime, and also poses very high tensile strength. They are 1.5” wide with options for 30,40, or 50 feet in length. The construction features a 3 –strand rope twist covered in a waterproof sleeve to protect it from friction and fray. The ends feature heat shrink caps. The NexPro Battle Ropes are used by world champions on a daily basis and have the stamp of approval for anyone training combat sports. A slightly unusual but definitely unique Christmas BJJ gift idea.

MISCELLANEOUS STUFF

Finally something for everyone. Iн this section of our Christmas BJЈ sale guide, we’ll look at several Jiu-Jitsu equipment options that are meant for outside the gym. From T-shirts and BJJ hoodies, aлl the way to the small but important stuff like mugs, patches, and books, this is where you’ll find everything that you need this Christmas!

Tap, Snap, or Nap Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Unisex T-Shirt

Training BJJ is something that everyone needs to know you’re doing. At least that’s what happens to those that really get sucked inто the sport. That means everything, from apparel to accessories needs to be BJJ-themed. If you’re heading in that direction, then make sure you get the best possible things at the best prices. The Tap, Snap Oр Nap BJJ T-shirt is a great example. It comes in black color and features an extremely cool design that covers most of the front area. The words, written in white are Tap, Snap, Or Nap, which is self-explanatory. The t-Shirt, made in the USA out of a ringspun 30/1 fine jersey knit is unisex with a modern fit sizing. Sizes range from small to 3XL. The print job is with high-quality, crack-resistant durable inks, and top-of-the-line printing presses. One of the best possible BJJ T-shirts in existence!

Ronin BJJ Emperor Samurai Gi Patch

Something here that’s the perfect supplemental Jiu-Jitsu equipment for any Gi grappler out there – Gi patches. Out of all the options out there, nothing beats the Ronin BJJ Emperor Samurai patch. This is an, embroidered patch that’s intended to go on the back of your Gi. Dimensions are 6×5 inches. The size means you can place it anywhere, from the front of the Gi to the pants and even on backpacks or T-shirts. The design features the head of an ancient samurai warrior in full armor with vivid colors. Moreover, the material is of exceptional quality, with thick durable fabric guaranteed to withstand everything.

Hütz – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coffee Mug

Here’s a cool one to give to anyone that trains Jiu-Jitsu. This is a mug that’ll last throughout your entire Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu career. Well, until you get a coral belt, anyway. The mug is white, featuring a design that has all the adult BJJ belts opened above the other, with black at the very top. What makes this mug different from others is the thick boxes in front of every belt. On the top, there’s writing that says “ What’s your BJJ rank? Mark your answer and keep training”. If you’re really enthusiastic, you can keep marking the mug with every belt you get, until you thick all the boxes, literally. The mug has an 11oz capacity and is 100% machine dishwasher and microwave safe. Made out of high-quality porcelain.

Quikflip 2-in-1 Reversible Backpack Hoodie

One of the best things I saw on the internet in 2019 has to be this amazing BJJ hoodie. It is designed by Rene Gracie and it is a unique, two-in-one, transformable hoodie and drawstring backpack. Available in black, charcoal, and heather grey this is a full-front zipper hoodie. However, it also transforms into a drawstring backpack in just one simple motion, allowing you enough space to store a bunch of stuff in two storage compartments. The material is premium French terry fabric, with 60% ring-spun cotton and 40% polyester. The backpack straps are conveniently hidden in hoodie form. The design is unisex with a slim fit and available in all possible sizes.

LED Interval Gym Timer

A quick detour from non-essential Jiu-Jitsu equipment to look into gear that’s essential for BJJ academies. We’ll start off with the LED Interval Timer, something any MMA or BJJ gym needs to have. A Christmas BJJ sale is the perfect time to upgrade your gym tech with this amazing interval timer. It comes in two options with two blue or green fields and four red ones. It is a multi-function timer with 5 different modes of training. However, despite all the variety, it is very easy to use and set up. In fact, it comes preprogrammed with stuff like Tabata intervals and several other workouts. The crystal clear LED contrast display ensures that you can see ti from all corners of the gym. It comes with remote control.

IncStores Roll Out Wrestling and Tumbling Mats

The absolute best time to pick up some new mats for your gym or even home gym is definitely during a Christmas BJJ sale. Speaking of mats, forget about puzzle mats and try a different option this time around – roll-out mats. They’re easily portable, easy to set up, and highly durable and comfortable, particularly for grappling. The mats come rolled up with a handle making transport a breeze. То set тхем up you simply roll them out and you’re all set. You can set up an entire gym within minutes. Moreover, you can use mat tape to bind them together into a seamless surface, ideal for grappling. They come in 9 different color designs and several different sizes, the largest of which is 5ft x 10 ft x 1 1/4 inches. Easy to clean, soft, and impossible to tear or present a risk for your toes and fingers, like puzzle mats do after a while.

BJJ Small Dog / Cat Pet Sleeveless T–Shirt

This is by far the nuttiest piece of Jiu-Jitsu equipment you can get. It is also the one thing that has the least to do with you and your JIu-JItsu. However, it is a great present for a pet (probably). Use this Christmas BJJ sale to get a BJJ-themed T-shirt for your dog or cat and let it run about in style. The T-shirt is sleeveless (of course) and available in black with the Brazilian flag and the words “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” printed on the back. Sizes range between S and L meaning it fits plenty of different breeds. The material is 100 % polyester and there’s a size chart you can see before you make your choice.

Organic Peppermint Essential Oil BJJ Soap Bar

BJJ soaps are a huge, huge thing. They’re one surefire way of keeping your hygiene at the highest level, even after trolling on sweaty mats with sweaty people for hours upon hours every week. This soap is one of the best ones on the market and my personal go-to option. It is organic, made with coconut oil and natural peppermint essential oils. That means it is suitable for all different kinds of skin, including the most sensitive one. Moreover, provides extreme protection against most bugs that usually haunt Jiu-Jitsu mats. The soap comes with an added bonus of a full money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied for any reason.

Master Of Muscle Jump Rope

Who doesn’t need a good jump rope? Particularly nowadays when running outside is too hard for most due to extreme hot or cold weather. Instead, if you opt for year-round conditioning, the Master Of Muscle Jump rope is going to become your best friend. Namely, this rope is a speed rope with handles that provide fast spin 90-degree turns. The wire is also geared towards speed, unlike the usual PVC ropes on the market. There’s absolutely no tangling or bending in this rope. In addition, it is lightweight, compact, and easy to carry. The length is adjustable according to you’re height and training preferences. Moreover, it comes with a lifetime warranty and a 100% money-back guarantee.

Hydra Cup High-Performance Dual Shaker Bottle

The very final thing we have on offer this Christmas BJJ sale is the Hydra Shaker bottle. For athletes, including grapplers, there’ no better shaker bottle out there. It has two compartments that are divided across the middle of the shaker. That means you get two shakers in one. The lid also features a dual openings system, each with its own dedicated cap. The capacity is a total of 32 oz, 14 on one side and 22 on the other. Whether you use it as a dual shaker bottle or use one side for shakes and the other for water is down to your preferences. The lid is screw-on and leak-proof and has a mesh surface attachment to ensure great mixing. There are four different designs available.

Conclusion

Whether it is Jiu-Jitsu equipment, MMA Gear, apparel, and accessories, Christmas is the best time to do most of your shopping. It is not just the Christmas BJJ Sale, but also the availability of some of the best products that you might find hard to track down during the rest of the year. Plus, you get to cheer your loved ones, or yourself during the holiday season with a large selection of BJJ-related items. Merry Christmas everyone!

The Fundamental Concept Behind Open Guard in Jiu-Jitsu

BJJ World

Open guards are the one area where BJJ is light years ahead of any other grappling martial art. In the beginning, BJJ was defined by the ability of someone to fight off their backs. Back then, the closed guard reigned supreme as the position to beat for everyone else. That was not easy at all, given that people had never seen anyone fighting and winning from their back. Later on, the closed guard evolved into countless open guards that now rule the sport, at least when it comes to offensive bottom positions. You can’t learn every open guard variation out there, but you can figure out the general BJJ theory that makes them all effective in the first place.

Digging deep into Brazilian Jiu-JItsu, going past techniques, and even concepts are where we will all end up at one point. As you near the black belt level, you start wondering about things. Well, my take is that you can teach people how to start thinking this way earlier, even as complete beginners. When it comes to open guards there’s an underlying general BJJ theory of guard that really does explain everything there is about them. Learn that, and you’ll be able to think on your own about what you’re doing from any open guard. In fact, you might even come up with a guard or two of your own.

Building Your Fortress

When it comes to the guard you have to understand one important thing: it is primarily a defensive position. Yes, you can attack, and we’ll get into the directions of attack later on. However, you need to stay in guard in order to attack, which makes retaining guard the most important quality of any open guard out there. Conversely, guard retention is the first thing that you need to understand in terms of the general BJJ theory of open guards.

Think of your guard as a fortress. You’ve seen fortresses and castles. They have huge walls, they have water channels surrounding them, and even a few alligators here and there. Plus, they have strategically placed canons. The goal is to have a canon protecting each wall so that when people attack the wall, you can start your offensive. In an open guard, you have to build and protect this wall more than anything else when you play from your back. Instead of just trying to sweep and submit someone with force and movement, you need to make them try and break down your fortress walls in a way that leads them towards the spot where you’ve placed your canon (open guard attacks). or your alligators, depending on your preferences.

BJJ theory for open gaurds If you do not build an impassable guard, you only end up with a fortress made out of nothing but canons. You can shoot sweeps and submissions as much as you want, but the moment someone manages to jump over your canons, your guard is done. This is something you should really think about when playing guard.

The bottom line of the general BJJ theory is this: have a guard nobody can pass. This is the prerequisite for becoming proficient in any open guard out there. The way to go is simple – focus on not letting the top person place any body part in the region between your knees and your chest. That’s it If you can protect that space, you have a good open guard, and you can start thinking about adding a canon or two to the fortress.

General BJJ Theory: The Structure Of All Open Guards

This part of the general BJJ theory of open guards really changed my game. it took months of analyzing guards for it to “dawn” on me, but when it did, everything became simple. The notion behind it is that all open guards have a common underlying structure that allows them to be effective. I came up with it when I was looking into passing and wanted to know what makes open guards “tick”.

Every open guard you’ll play, from the basic open hook guard to a De la Riva, worm guard, or even the seated guard, has one thing in common – the role of the legs. In each open guard, there’s a leg that has a defensive role, and a leg that has an offensive one. The leg with defensive duties is also the leg that is static – I call it the hooking leg. In De La Riva it is the leg that hooks behind the knee. In 50/50, it is the leg that is inside the guard. Furthermore, in the spider guard, it is the bent leg. I could go on and on, but if you take a look at any open guard you’ll notice there is one leg hooking or keeping you “stuck” to your opponent in another way.

The other leg is the “free leg”. It is the leg that has the task of making things happen. In that sense, it can help the hooking leg in guard retention, either directly or by providing a driving force when placed on the ground. In an attacking manner (which is its primary use) it is the leg that takes away balance, making attacking options (sweeps and submissions) possible and credible.

Think about any open guard out there and you’ll notice that this structure applies to all of them. it is the general BJJ theory of guards that will change your game forever.

Decoding Attacks

Once you know what the guard’s purpose is (stay in it as long as you want) and you understand the structure that allows you to achieve it (hooking leg and free leg) you are ready to start exploring attacks. And attacks, as versatile as they might fall in one of two possible categories: sweep or submit.

open guards BJJ theory There’s a reason why there are no points for any guard position out there. Every time you’re on your back, you can’t advance. So, to get points, you need to get on top. The way you do it is by sweeping someone, which, by the way, will earn you points in itself. Only when coming out on top can you start playing an offensive game that collects points.

The alternative would be submissions. Finishing someone is the main goal of everything we do in BJJ anyway. However, when attacking with submissions from the guard, I try and teach people to always look for the top position. Get a submission (an armbar, for example) from the bottom, but use it to get a top position and finish from there. In that case, you have a fail-safe – if the submission doesn’t work, you won’t get your guard passed but have a dominant top position to fall back to.

All in all, playing any open guard can be easy when you understand the general BJJ theory that makes them effective in the first place. Try and recognize the marking of this theory next time you roll, and you’ll see that it will simplify any guard position for you.

Recap

The general BJJ theory of open guards goes like this: have a guard that nobody can pass first and foremost. To do that, understand how open guards work – they have a hooking leg that has defensive duties, and a free leg that has offensive duties. Knowing when to use each will determine how successful you are with your guard. Finally, make sure that every time you attack, you aim to get top position, even when you’re hunting for submissions.

BJJ Mat Enforcer – A Licence To Bully People On The Mats

BJJ World

If a BJJ mat enforcer has never manhandled you, whether it is one from your gym or an academy you’re visiting, then you’re probably one yourself! This is the way! Every BJJ gym has a mat enforcer, and to be honest, they are just as integral in the Jiu-Jitsu ecosystem as coaches, students and everyone else are. BJJ mat enforcers help keep things in balance and are often used by coaches to prove a point, even though it sometimes means they have to suffer for the rest of the class if they understand something.

I have no idea whether being a BJJ mat enforcer is more fun or facing one is. In any case, they make Jiu-jitsu even more interesting, Of course, now and again you’ll run into the one enforcer that will make you hate your life, BJJ, and everything else, but that’s just the way things go. Speaking of mat enforcers, how did the entire concept come to be in BJJ, and how did you become one (if that’s what you’re interested in)?

What Is A BJJ Mat Enforcer?

A BJJ Mat enforcer is not something that is officially recognized the way the role of a coach or professor is. However, it is something that everyone in a gym openly accepts. Moreover, the doesn’t have to be just one enforcer per gym or gym class.

The BJJ mat enforcer is the person who has the task of looking out for discipline. They won’t do it in a way a coach would, talking to people, giving examples, and the like. Their job is much more hands-on. They grab a person and teach them a lesson in behaving, BJJ-way. IN other words, a mat enforcer will completely dominate someone with pressure, submissions, torturous moves, etc, proving a point the hard way.

Mostly, mat enforcers deal with new people, especially those entering a gym looking for challenges. You know the type, it’s the “I train UFC Bro” kind of person who claims to have an impressive number of street fights under their belt. These are exactly the folks who need to get humbled by someone who is not a black belt, nor is running the class/gym. this just gives more credit to the effectiveness of Jiu-Jitsu and proves a much better point. Even more so when the enforcer is a girl.

Why Every Gym Needs A BJJ Mat Enforcer?

Simple – every BJJ academy needs a “bad cop”. In other words, there’s no better crowd control than a BJJ mat enforcer in a grappling academy. Someone is acting too aggressively from the moment they enter? Pair them with the enforcer. Someone is overly aggressive in rolling with others or trying to use stuff that is not allowed or considered dangerous? Launch the enforcer!

Secondly, there won’t be any mat bullies in an academy where one or two people have a “license to bully”. When bullying is legal, and there are people authorized to use it in a way that helps with discipline, it will prevent others from becoming bullies, because acting like that will just earn you a roll to two with the enforcer.

The best part about a BJJ mat enforcer’s “job” is that they don’t have to constantly submit and smash people. it is enough to show folks that whatever it is they are attempting won’t work when the person you’re grasping against has skills, patience, and tactics. And perhaps a hidden mean streak.

How to Spot A Mat Enforcer?

That’s easy. they won’t be big, they won’t act like they own the place and they’ll be purple belt and above. They’ll probably be the nerdiest-looking higher belt in the room. If you’re unsure about whether or not someone is a mat enforcer, watch them roll. If the instructor points them to someone from the get-go, then it means they’re the go-to girl/guy to look out for discipline on the mats in a non-verbal way.

The curious thing is that a BJJ mat enforcer won’t always roll the same. When they have a job to do, all bets are off, but otherwise, they like having fun too. So, spotting one might just be hard in a packed gym where people are behaving. However, the fact that everyone is rolling in a cool and respectful manner just means there’s at least one BJJ mat enforcer in that gym knows who how to do their job.

Who is best suited for being a BJ Jamt enforcer? According to me, girls. They not only have the necessary skills to humble both male and female training partners but also have an aggressive streak that makes them perfect for the role. Prove me wrong.

Becoming A BJJ Mat Enforcer

How do you become a BJJ mat enforcer? Well, that’s not easy. First of all, it is hard to be one if you’re anything lower than a purple belt. Even then, brown/black belt enforcers are the ones who can handle everyone who shows up on the mats.

If you want to become one, competing is something you’ll have to do and do it often. Getting used to the rigors of the competition will make you impervious to other people’s aggressiveness and accidental panic moves that usually end up stopping gym rolls. In other words, it will toughen you up so you do not stop unless you decide it is necessary, or you get a tap.

Secondly, you’ll need a BJJ mat enforcer game plan. Of course, you can do your stuff, but there are certain things you can’t do without, given that you have no idea what size or skill level people you’ll run into.

For starters, you need to have a guard that people can’t pass. There’s hardly anything that will frustrate someone as not being able to pass a smaller and weaker person’s guard. Next, you’ll need to figure out how to be heavy and learn about all those painful spots you need to project your weight into. A few Jedi Mind tricks, some unusual submissions, and a strong choke and leg-locking game are also key tools of the Bjj mat enforcer trade.

The Mat Enforcers’ Side Of The Story

Finally, let’s talk about how mat enforcers feel for a bit there. Everyone sees them as the person with a license to bully, but even they don’t feel like smashing people all the time. While it is fun, I must admit, being a mat enforcer and proving that people can’t do nearly as much as they’ve hoped, there are two things that enforcers also need to do – watch out for injuries and work on their own BJJ game and progress.

Constantly being a mat enforcer is like constantly drilling a competition game plan – you’ll be excellent at it, but it won’t leave much space for experimentation and growth. moreover, if you have an injury and are on enforcer duty, you’ll have to be twice as careful as usual. After all, when you need to teach that lesson you love to teach, you’ll most likely be facing someone that’ll spaz, explode, and go all out, even if it is for just a couple of minutes.

The bottom line, mat enforcers are people too, and they also need a break from time to time. it is mart for coaches to rotate enforcers, and it is also advisable for enforcers to be extra friendly during every other exchange outside of rolling. But, then again, they usually are.

In Summary

All in all, modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is hardly imaginable without a BJJ mat enforcer. There are just too many people and too many different characters for coaches to cope with verbally SInce everyone expects coaches to smash people anyway, having someone that doesn’t look like they can do much play around with people just makes BJJ more interesting to everyone. In other words, there’s a reason why enforcers get the license to be bullies. It works.

New Concept – A BJJ Glove To Replace Finger Tape Forever

BJJ World

If you have been training Brazilian Jiu-Jisu for more than a year, and one morning you wake up pain-free, that means’ you’ve died. However, from all the small (and not so small) aches and pains BJJ brings along, finger pain is one of those we’d all love to be rid of. Finger tape does help, but that’s an extra 5-30 minutes of wrapping and unwrapping every time you want to train. Isn’t the re a more efficient way to help protect fingers in Jiu-Jitsu? It seems there is – the protective BJJ glove!

A young entrepreneur has come up with what might turn out to be a life-changing concept for grapples, particularly those that train with the Gi. It is not just BJJ athletes though – Sambo and Judo grapplers will also be grateful for any product that helps give their suffering finger knuckles a break. Ashkan Joshghani is a young entrepreneur that came up with the BJJ glove, a breakthrough concept that might just change Gi Jiu-Jitsu training forever.

Finger Injuries In BJJ

Grips, grips, grips! Grip that lapel, don’t let go of that pants grip, strip the opponent’s grips away!!! These are just some of the stuff you hear around any BJJ gym, and especially at Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. Since there can be no grappling without contact, and you need to put your hand on someone for meaningful contact, grips are pretty much what makes grappling possible. However, grips should not be taken for granted, because the body parts that make them possible are actually very fragile and tender.

The fingers of our hands, along with the muscles in our forearms are what makes gripping possible. But you already knew that judging by the massive amounts of finger tape you’re using every item you’re on the mats. the fingers have really small muscles that can you can only condition so much. Moreover, there are three joints to each finger, providing a lot of spots where injuries might occur. In fact, it is where most injuries DO occur in BJJ.

To be honest, injuring a finger is painful, but not that big of a deal. itis when you do it over and over again and you develop arthritis or make an injury a lasting one that issues start to appear. For example, pain. Once you damage your fingers from overuse in grappling, even grabbing a towel after showering will be a chore, let alone grappling with people wearing Gis. Enter finger tape, the ultimate BJJ savior that makes training possible again.

But what if there was a better choice? It was about time some came up with a protective piece of BJJ gear like Ashkan Joshghani’s BJJ glove.

The Innovative Concept Of The BJJ Glove

Ashkan Joshghani is a graduate student in veterinary medicine at Ghent Universit and a Brazilan Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. During his time training, he saw the impact grappling has on the joints, especially those of the fingers. Seeing his coach’s knuckles, and being able to see the process at every stage of the level in different belts in the gym, he decided to think outside the box.

As Ashkan says, finger tape costs money, it takes time to set up, and is not really functional. As someone with a decade of BJJ under my belt and plenty of destroyed knuckles, I tend to agree. Finger tape comes off, gets pulled over or under a joint and is simply not meant to last in a sport like JIu-Jitsu. Ashkan’s answer? A glove.

Combining his medical experience and practical knowledge of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Ashkan started doing sketches to figure out how to build a piece of BJJ gear that will help protect the finger joints. The goal was to prevent abnormal motion, while at the same time not impacting the normal range of motion negatively. This led to the creation of the Exoligamentz BJJ glove, a groundbreaking piece of gear that will change grappling sports for the better.

Despite the usual funding obstacles, a post that went viral in 2017 has made it possible for Ashkan to set up for R&D and finally, the production of his innovative concept. The target is that in a year from now, in BJJ-Mat-Enforcer the BJJ glove will be ready for mass production.

At present, there is a prototype that is begin developed. Moreover, Ashkan gas gotten requests not just from grapplers, but volleyball and handball athletes too, and even musicians!

No More Finger Tape?

Sign me up and take my money! If I never have to use finger tape again in order to train Jiu-Jitu, I’m all for it! Seriously, finger tape really does help but it is far from an optimal solution. Try training when you don’t have any on you, and your order still hasn’t arrived.

In all honesty, switching from Gi to No-Gi grips, even during Gi Jiu-Jitsu training for me was a decision that was greatly influenced by developing a particularly bad case of BJJ knuckles. It has done wonders for my game, I’ll admit, but sometimes, you just need to grip that GI, Ater all, it is part of the game.

The BJJ glove is reusable, doesn’t’ take space, you only buy it once, and it will help deliver everything finger tape does, without any of the drawbacks and restrictions. PLus, the glove looks really cool! It sounds too good to be true, I know, but it also sounds like a very realistic concept. and I can’t wait to try it on.

Wrapping Up

Ashkan Joshghani is on t to something with the Exoligamentz protective BJJ glove. It won’t just work well for the fingers, but also may extend to the wrist, without having to change the design too much. It is a very interesting concept that is highly promising and I doubt will be unuseful. I know I’m up for one of them as so they are available, given the state of my finger joints.

BREAKING: Craig Jones And Gordon Ryan Moving To Puerto Rico

BJJ World

Gordon Ryan and Craig Jones, along with a chunk of the Danaher Death squad are seemingly relocating to Puerto Rico. Nicky Ryan and Ethan Crelinsten will be joining Ryan and Jones in their sunny location move, where, apparently, ADCC organizer Mo Jassim is waiting for them.

Moving to Puerto Rico?

While the news of the move not yet confirmed by Gordon Ryan and Craig Jones, or the other two, Gordon did taunt with an Instagram post about moving. Since Mo Jassim is already in Puerto Rico, there is a lot of sense to a move like this.

Moreover, it is public knowledge that Gordon put his New Jersey $1 million dollar house up for sale recently, even though it has been barely a year since he bought it. While Gordon cited political reasons and the latest elections as influencing his decision to sell, moving away from the US appears to be news for everyone.

Craig Jones, Nicky Ryan and Ethan Crelinsten moving with Ryan just ensure a big part of the squad stays together, providing quality training partners. the only question is how it will all work with Danaher, who I doubt will leave NYC as his base anytime soon, if ever. With all the online platforms Covid-19 has brought forward, though, this might not turn out to be such a big problem after all.

What’s Next For Gordon Ryan And Craig Jones?

That is the real question, isn’t it? Gordon Ryan and Craig Jones have pretty much everyone of note during the past few years, and Nicky and Ethan just got their black belts from Danaher. it seems the DDS is turning international, and a warm island with great beaches and far less chaos than NYC seems to be the perfect fit.

WEll, at and the fact that there’s be fewer taxes to pay, after the recent potential increase in the US. To be honest, apart from maybe doing a third match with Felipe Pena, there’s not too much left for Ryan to prove. Craig still has some silverware to go for, though, and everything is wide open for the new block belts Nicky and Ethan.

Let’ see who they all set up in Puerto Rico, and we’ll probably learn what they have in mind next when it comes to their careers. Perhaps a jump to MMA for Ryan which paves the way for Jones to shine even more in grappling? Who knows?

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