Lachlan Giles Leglocks DVD: Leg Lock Anthology 50/50 Review

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Lachlan Giles Leglocks DVD: Leg Lock Anthology 50/50 Review

Well, that didn’t take long! It’s barely a month after ADCC and a brand new and highly improved Lachlan Giles leglocks DVD is already out and about! I guess everyone’s new favorite Aussie grappler knew what he was going to do long before doing his heroics at the 2019 ADCC. Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining at all at yet another leglocks instructional of the highest level. In fact, I was really looking forward to this review, mostly because this DVD only goes over just one position for leg locking: 50/50. Whether you call it a guard, or an Ashi Garami, I is undebatable that this position offers some of the nastiest heel hooks you can get in the entire sport of Jiu-Jitsu. So, much to my personal content, today’s review is all about the Leg Lock Anthology 50/50 BJJ DVD. Enjoy!

People in Brazilan Jiu-Jitsu always love it when a David vs. Goliath story takes place. When that story involves three mammoth Goliaths, though, you can bet all of the community’s attention is turned towards “David”. Thow in leg lock submissions as our David’s proverbial sling and you’ve got a real show. And that’s exactly what th Australian David, in the form of black belt Lachlan Giles managed to accomplish in the 2019 ADCC Absolute division. And we all loved every little it of it. Luckily, there’s no need to wait and try to analyze all those matches to figure out what he did.

Instead, we got a Lachlan Giles Leglocks DVD straight away. Is it any good, though? Given Lachlan’s previous record, I kind of knew what I was in for. I is safe to say that he Leg Lock Anthology 50/50 delivers, and in more ways than one. Well, that’s my humble opinion, anyways.

The Giant Slayer From Down Under

Lachlan Giles has really had a fantastic few months. And that’s before we even mention the Leg Lock Anthology 50/50 DVD. To be honest, we can’t really claim he surprised by his performances at the ADCC. Well, ok, maybe he underperformed in the first match he had in his weight division. He did face the always challenging Lucas Lepri, though. However, it was Lachlan’s brave comeback that actually captivated the grappling world. But should we have been surprised, really?

A month before the ADCC took place, Uriah Faber’s brand new grappling tournament dubbed “Kinektic” took place. In the first edition, it hosted four teams of five grapplers in a unique Quintet-like ruleset. Among the teams was the “BJJ Fanatics” team, which featured Gordon Ryan and Lachlan Giles, among others. So, Giles was the first to represent his team. However, nobody expected him to actually beat an entire opposition team of 5 different people single-handedly. He did. And that should’ve set off alarm bells for everyone in the ADCC. It didn’t. And we’re al grateful for it.

At the ADCC, after his first match loss in his division, Lachlan had just one thought when he signed up for the absolute – perform good enough to get an invite back to the next edition of the tournament. So he went on and heel hooked the winner of the heavyweight division, Kaynan Duarte in the very first match. He went on to do the same to two more huge grapplers in Patrick Gaudio and Mahamed Aly. Suffice to say, that caught everyone by surprise. Now this Lachlan Giles Leglocks DVD really tops off the black belt’s best time period so far. Let’s just hope we’ll enjoy the Leg Lock Anthology 50/50 as much as we enjoyed Lachlan’s displays lately.

Bringing Back The 50/50

Before I actually get to the Leg Lock Anthology 50/50 DVD itself, I just like to say a few things about the 50/50. Before the ADCC, many would’ve been quick to dismiss the position as a legitimate spot to attack leg locks from. Despite it being probably the first high-percentage place for heel hooks, most people tend to give different Ashi Garami variations more attention nowadays./ And that played into Lachlan Giles’ hands perfectly. In fact, it was not that long ago when Ryan Hall was wreaking havoc in BJJ first, and then MMA using the 50/50 position to heel hook. Back then, everyone that was into leg locks (which was only a handful of people) was going crazy about the 50/50. However, that quickly subsided, and, when the leg lock revolution happened, people never really looked back to the 50/50.

Speaking of going back to old things that work, Lachaln certainly reinforced the notion that leg locks are the great equalizer. Moreover, he also did things in the most romantic way possible – using a crisp technique to beat not just some of the best grapplers in the world, but also people outweighing him by as much as 50 lbs. All of us smaller grapplers in BJJ will now be paying close attention to everything in the new Lachlan Giles Leglocks DVD. I know I will.

“Leg Lock Anthology 50/50” – A Lachlan Giles Leglocks DVD

Okay, a bit of technical jibber-jabber first. If you know one Lachlan Giles DVD, you know most of them. Actually it was his very first one (that I saw) on front headlock chokes followed the by now common BJJ DVD format of a four-volume release. His subsequent DVD’s however, came in a completely different and very unique fashion. His half guard (bottom and passing) instructionals, as well as the Bodylock Passing one, are 8 part wonders of modern BJJ digital content. He was I think the first to introduce the concept of narrated rolls and troubleshooting rolls. In any case, he is definitely going the extra mile to bring people literally everything he has to offer on certain subjects. And, he does have quite a lot to offer, particularly in the “Leg Lock Anthology 50/50” Lachlan Giles Leglocks DVD.

Since the name of this Lachlan Giles Leglocks DVD says it all really, this is yet another Lachlan anthology edition. That means 8 volumes that have chapters neatly organized into different parts. As usual, the instructional’s systematization is very precise and specific. It takes us through pretty much everything that we’ll ever need when it comes to leglocks from the 50/50. From basic concepts and attacks in the opening volume, through 50/50 and outside Senkaku details, all the way to crazy Lachlan’s signature entries and plenty of narrated rolls. Plus, there are surprises in the final volume of the DVD, as is usual with Lachlan’s stuff. Lachlan Giles Leglocks DVD

Volume 1

The organizational pattern of this Lachlan Giles Leglocks DVD is somewhat different from anything out there. There are three main chapters in it: general reflections, lots of positional studying of the 50/50 and entries. They all stretch across multiple volumes and are further divided into parts. As such, the Leg Lock Anthology 50/50 begins with an introduction, which paves the way for basic leg lock concepts. Among those are classics like keeping the knee line, and retaining rotational control.

As the volume goes on, there’s a big portion on braking mechanics, with the heel hook as the star move. I personally found lots of new information in this portion, and I’ll be spending a lot of time digging really deep here. As the first DVD wraps up, Lachlan offers some heel hook defense tips, that are actually the basis of a counter-leg locking game which is Giles’ signature one.

Volume 2

This volume is kind of a bridge between two of the major chapters in this instructional. Here there’s still information on some of the basics, although in the form of countering common defenses for the most part. Since most people have already picked up on leg locks if you’re a long time leglocker this information is the next logical step. Plus, it is all organized neatly as beating early and late-stage defenses. Finally, Lachaln goes over several leg locking positions and all the strengths and weaknesses they bring along.

Midway through this bridging volume, Lachlan introduces the second part of this instructional which goes on all the way to volume 5. This is a portion of the position itself. In those terms, the 50/50 position can be seen as an Ashi Garami, as Lachlan explains. Moreover, it is a variation of outside Ashi Grami, or outside Senkaku, to be very specific. Given the position’s most common occurrence, Lachlan starts with the seated version. Things, like keeping the position and moving in and out of the 50/50, 80/20 and outside Senkaku, make up most of the material here. There are also a couple of chapters to help you unlock the opponent’s legs.

Volume 3

The third installment of this Lachlan Giles Leglocks DVD starts with non-heel hook attacks. While this might be a bit surprising, it is obviously a part of his meticulous approach to cover every possible detail. It is also where he introduces the nuances of the Outside Sekanku, along with all the strategies that come with it. There’s very useful information on leg lock staple like the double trouble and digging to expose the heel.

The one part I enjoyed the most in this volume is the one on linking things together. To be perfectly honest, there are chapters that help you link things together throughout the entire Leg Lock Anthology 50/50 instructional. They really help connect the dots and give you a step by step introduction to the entire system. A section on distal control sequences wraps part three up.

Volume 4

Halfway through, Lachlan takes things to a different perspective. Opening this volume is a portion of using the 50/50 against standing opponents. Of course, it is all about heel hooks, just like we saw at the ADCC. Concepts, attacks, troubleshooting and the unmistakable chapter on bringing it all together follow suit.

Moreover, covering just about every possible base, Lachaln leaves leg locks aside for a bit, exploring the sweeping options the 50/50 offers. This is probably a good place to mention that this is a No-gi instructional, in case you haven’t figured as much. That said, apart from sweeps Giles also has back takes on the menu, along with several non-leg locking attacks. Topping it all off is a cool little approach to disengaging the 50/50 in a non-scrambling sort of way.

Volume 5

Yet another transitional volume in the Leg Lock Anthology 50/50 DVD. The first portion of this volume still covers the subject of positional details. However, the information here is what I personally found to be really priceless. There’s a lot of counter leg locking in this section. Lachlan offers options on staying safe even in the worst Ashi Garami spots, like the Saddle and reaping ones. Each Ashi Garami gets a different chapter where Giles identifies the weak spots and how to exploit them.

This brings us to the third huge chapter in this Lachlan Giles Leglocks DVD: entires. This is probably the one thing that Giles and his start student, Craig Jones were best known for as leg lockers. They’ve always had crazy ideas on entries, and this DVD is no different. The way Lachaln gets into entries is directly form other leg locking positions. This is the part that will teach already seasoned leg lockers how to add several very strong leg locking positions with almost no effort. Not far behind are a few interesting guard entires, that include the usual suspects like butterfly guard, seated guard, shin to shin and X- guard.

Volume 6

At this point in the instructional, I had to take a really long break. I’ll be honest this was not a DVD I could browse through in just a few hours. It is that interesting and captivating but it has lots of information to process. So, after a good night’s sleep, I was able to continue fresh. And I certainly did the right thing as Lachaln really unwinds here. He takes things up several notches, offering entires form spots like the K Guard. Furthermore, there are options against kneeling and standing opponents as well.

What most people are going to find very useful is Lachaln’s system of integrating the De La Riva as an entry point. I, like most people, never regarded this guard as a good leg locking entry point. This DVD showed me that it is time to correct that. Before the ever-present advice on linking things up, there’s an incredible drill that’ll help you get the hang of all the nutty entries Lachaln demonstrates.

Volume 7

This volume is the final technical one, sort to speak. As all of Lachlan’s other instructionals, it features a uniquely structured final volume, this is where he wraps his systems up. In this case, the volume simply continues with the Reverse De la Riva to build on the previous one. Once again, there are lots of details, concepts, and overviews, as well as a host of transitions. And, for all those that love to play the inverted game, there’s a section on inverted entries to wrap up leg lock hunting from the bottom.

The very final portion in this instructional is about entires form the top. Those include the ever-present leg drag, as well as backstepping and a few other miscellaneous options. One last set of drills actually wraps everything Giles has to say about the Leg Lock Anthology 50/50. At least for the time being.

Volume 8

But wait, there’s more! As if this Lachlan Giles Leglocks DVD was not already awesome, he includes his narrated drolls in the final volume once again. This time around there are 5 of them, where he goes through all the moving parts of his system as he rolls. But what makes the “Leg Lock Anthology 50/50” really special is that he has all his ADCC trials rounds in there as well, once again with complete narration. In other words, this DVD has aa technical portion, then Lachlan in a rolling setting and finally, him competing against some of the tops in the world, using his 50/50 leg locks system.

Conclusion

Will this DVD work for you? Who knows. I guess it’ll take months if not years to actually apply every moving part of this impressive system. However, the fact is that the resource is there. Moreover, access to the “Leg Lock Anthology 50/50” instructional is easily available worldwide. What remains is to see whether this Lachlan Giles leglocks DVD is going to re-shape how people approach 50/50 even further. In the meantime, a shoutout to every BJJ promotion out there: please organize a Lachlan Giles vs. Ryan Hall grappling match!

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Lachlan Giles – Leg Lock Anthology: 50/50

BJJ Mount Maintenance: Never Get Thrown Off Again!

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BJJ World

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The BJJ Mount is a position people call “The King” of all positions. Or at least, they did. To be honest, the back mount is somewhat of a superior position to the mount, at least in sports BJJ. In self-defense or MMA, though, you can hardly do better than the mount. It is a position of safety where you can hold, submit or strike an opponent at will. Moreover, you can obtain back mount with relative ease as well. In terms of sports Jiu-Jitsu though. Staying in the mount can sometimes be a problem for people. While getting there is not as hard, Stayin in control, while you set up a submission, requires undertaking certain finer details of the mount.

There’s no way that you’re training BJJ or any grappling martial art, and you do not know the “position before submission “ mantra. If we take a look at the BJJ mount position, there’s no better way to describe it. Get a good mount and you can literally do whatever you want to an opponent, even people twice your size. However, if anything is out of wack. Submission attempts won’t work and you might even end up trying to escape bad spots yourself. That said, staying in mount is not hard, but it will require a bit of time. However, the earlier you focus on getting this out of the way, the better.

Understanding The BJJ Mount Position

What exactly makes the BJJ Mount such a powerful position in the first place? Being in mount is essentially like being in the closed guard position, only your opponent has an entire planet behind their back. That means that all the usual things you face from closed guard in terms of posture are non-existent here. The reason you’re powerful in both these positions is that you have your hips over the opponent’s hips. That translates to huge amounts of control. Now, as you introduce gravity as your friend, the mount position became a very good spot to be in.

However, holding the BJJ Mount position is not an easy task to accomplish. While you have plenty of opportunities from there, you actually need to know how to stay in it. One thing to consider is that people universally do not like someone on top of them. That means that getting out is oftentimes instinctual, usually in the form of bridging and bucking. In other words, it is hard to go for armbars or chokes if you’re riding like on a rodeo event. Taming the proverbial bull here has to do with how you position yourself while opening up attacking options.

Staying safe and sound in the BJJ mount is easy to accomplish if you can kill off your opponent’s hips and your opponent’s head and shoulders. In BJJ, there are two common mount variations that allow you to attack successfully based on this principle. One is the low mount position which is the safer and easier to use of the two. The other is the high mount, a position with many attacking options but more positional challenges. In both cases, you need to make sure the hips and shoulder area are not mobile. At the very least, you need to control one of these areas if you want to have any success with attacks.

The Inescapable Low Mount

The low mount position is usually more related to control, rather than attacks however, that’s just one way of looking at it. Instead of thinking about pinning your opponent to the ground, you should think of a different kind of control – surfing. And achieving this is extremely easy. All you need to do is three things. First, make sure your hips are below the opponent’s belt. Second, touch the soles of your feet underneath their butt. Finally, make sure you push your hips in and use the arms to surf with your weight wherever they go. That’ll keep you in this BJJ mount variation indefinitely.

In terms of what you can do, it is true that submission attacks, or at least most of them, will require you to move up. However, you can freely hunt for Americanas, Straight armlocks, and guillotines directly from the position, to name just a few. My personal favorite is the Helio Gracie choke, which is as devastating as it is simple. In terms of drawbacks, your hips are pretty low on your opponent’s body, meaning every attack or transition that requires you to go high, will require you to change your mount positioning, That’s where the high mount comes into play.

Maintaining High Mount

The High BJJ Mounts is the exact opposite of the low one. In this variation, you’re actually sitting with your hips over the opponent’s chest. You should be aiming to have most of your pressure right on the border between their chest and abdomen. Moreover, here you need to have the knees tight to the ribs, and try and have grips on their arms whenever possible.

The High mount is a position that offers much more in terms of direct attacks, though.
The one main challenge you’ll face from this BJJ mount variation is maintaining balance. A simple trick is to just keep your knees as tight to their ribcage as possible. It’ll do the trick, trust me. Attack-wise, pretty much any armlock attack is right there for the taking. It is also easy to sink in a collar choke, lapel choke or even go for a mounted triangle. Back attacks are also easy from there.

Turning Escapes Into Attacks

This is where things get really interesting. One aspect of maintaining the BJJ mount is knowing how to alternate between attacking with submissions and threatening with pressure and pins. To that extent, having the ability to change between the high and low BJJ mount variations is a true mark of a real high-level grappler. In that sense, most people usually try to work from a position that’s in between the two, meaning they get just a fraction of the real opportunities.

One thing to consider, in order to always be able to stay in mount is actually allow your opponent to escape. Well, not really, but let them try. The more you’re trying to counter escapes directly, the more you make it easy for the opponent to wiggle out, Instead, let them move, and use the escapes to either hit a transition to the back or a submission. Or, simply let them move in order to take you between the high and low mount until they’re dead from exhaustion. Submitting then is a breeze.

One last thing to consider, for all of you already reaping the benefits of extremely tight mount control is going or Jedi on your opponent. Or Sith, depending on your preference. Whatever the case, this means you make them think you’re going for one thing, when you’re actually going for another. Or, going even deeper into the twilight zone, you’re actually going for the first one. Expect a full article on a simple little lapel-based Jedi Mind trick submission combo from the mount. It is a proven recipe!

Final Thoughts

The BJJ mount is just about the perfect position you can look for. It is not hard to obtain, often presents itself, and offers all kinds of attacks. And yes, that includes leg locks, if you’re confident enough that you can go back to mount if they fail. Yet another subject for another day. For now, if your mount attacks are lacking, focus on the control portion by either being in high or low mount. From there on you can try and use your best attacks, or even create new ones. The sky is the limit!

Jiu-JItsu Dating In An Academy: Good Or Bad Idea?

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BJJ World

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Jiu-JItsu Dating In An Academy: Good Or Bad Idea?

Brazilian Ju-Jitsu is a real melting pot of different people. With the Gentle Art spread to the furthest corners of the world, you’ll find every type of character training Jiu-Jitsu. Grappling is a sport that rarely leaves people with the option to separate it from their daily lives. training, competition and everything BJJ related tends to take over everything. In that sense, people form life-long relations with others they meet in the Academy. From iron clad friendships to marrying a teammate, we’ve seen it all in BJJ. However, one squiggly subject remains that of Jiu-Jitsu dating, particularly within the same Academy. Is it a smart move, and if so, how can you make sure you can make the best of it?

Dating is a tricky thing, even in the best of scenarios. When it comes to Jiu-Jitsu dating, things can become even more complicated. It would be presumptuous to think people will stop dating withing BJJ Academies simply because it can be complicated. That said, it is not only possible to date someone within your BJJ Academy, but pretty much sustainable. All it takes is following some rules of thumb, that may help you keep things flowing both on the mats and in your love life. Let’s tackle this tricky subject a bit, and explore some of the pros and cons of Jiu-Jitsu dating.

The Positive Sides Of Dating A Fellow Grappler

Let’s face it, if you’ve been training BJJ for more than a couple of years, you’re probably addicted to it. And, out of all the possible addictions in the world today. BJJ is probably the most positive one to have. In that sense, it is often difficult for people to explain to their partners how much BJJ actually means to them. That can make dating complicated and is one of the most positive aspects of actually dating a fellow grappler.

In those terms, having a significant other that trains can make a world of difference. Whether you’ve met up in the Academy or one pulled the other into training, this could end up being a real match made in heaven. It’s not just about understanding the time you spend on the mats, rolling with other sweaty people. It is about actually spending meaningful time together, doing a thing you both really love to do. Moreover, it makes washing Gis and buying all kinds of gear, for that matter, a shared positive experience, rather than expenses you have to carefully plan out of a family budget. Not to mention all the fun times that come out of tournament participation and BJJ road trips. Jiu-jitsu dating can be a real treat if you can make it work for you. And it is not hard.

There’s plentiful evidence out there that Jiu-Jitsu dating is not only possible but highly productive as well. Partners can drive one another to reach new heights, all the while sharing the same passion. There are countless BJJ Power couple examples out there, from ones that have been married for decades, to brand new ones that demonstrate how great such a choice of partner can be. The best part about it is when things truly click it doesn’t matter who’s the higher rank, or if you’re both the same rank. These are just some of the pet peeves and benefits that can come out of dating a grappling teammate.

Jiu-Jitsu Dating Gone Wrong: The Cons

Still, just like with every other dating scenario, things can go horribly wrong. So much so, in fact, that it may lead one of the partners out of an Academy. In the worst-case scenario, someone might even decide to hang up the Gi and call ti quits all in all. Not something we’d wish upon anyone training. Still, some of the general dating problems apply to Jiu-Jitsu dating as well. The trouble is, that there can be a lot more issues that come out of that, given the nature of training.

One huge thing, much like in the case of just about any other dating scenario, is jealousy. However, being jealous in BJJ can be much easier compared to everyday life. Seeing your significant other rolling with people of the opposite (or same) sex might be too much for some people. That’s one surefire way of creating a negative atmosphere not just between you and your partner, but in the Academy as well. Another thing is actually doing the opposite and only rolling between yourselves. That won’t last, it’s been proven, and the first one that tries to widen the scope of rolling partners will probably end up in trouble. Unfortunately, these two scenarios are something people see over and over again.

The next thing to watch out for is who you actually date. Just like in every other walk of life, not every person in a BJJ academy is dating material. They might be extraordinary grappler but not at all compatible dating-wise. In that sense, I mean that people’s characters can be completely opposite in grappling and in dating. That usually results in a negative experience that might even jeopardize you or the partner being a part of the academy. And then, there are dating instructors which is as tricky as Jiu-=Jitsu dating can get. however, it is entirely possible!

A Few Useful Jiu-Jitsu Dating Rules

Before you partake in a Jiu-Jitsu dating adventure, make sure you approach things with a clear head. In those terms, we’ll talk more about people looking to start new relationships in a gym, as opposed to married or long-time couples that train together.

The first thing to remember is that people in academies come to train. So in every possible scenario, training will come first. That means that if you’re dating, it should happen off the mats, not while you’re on them. That’s a positive thing for both your relationship and the other members of the Academy. so showing affection is ok, but keep it to a minimum, and when you’re’ training, focus on what’s important – BJJ. That’s the greatest thing you can do to ensure your Jiu-Jitsu relationship works out in the long run.

Also, remember that one partner might not be as much into training (yet) as the other one. This is pretty much like dating someone that doesn’t really train. In that case, it’s all about compromise (if you’re really set upon making the relationship work). Simply try and discuss stuff, until such time that the partner inevitably gets the BJJ bug. Otherwise, it is not really Jiu-Jitsu dating per se, is it? Still, if they quit BJJ and you stay together it still may work out, so keep your options open.

There’s one more moment here that’s usually the main culprit in ending BJJ relationships – Ego. As in everything BJJ related, the ego can really mess things up. It doesn’t matter which partner is struggling with this, the result will be the same. So, taking ego out of the equation will not only help your BJJ development but your perspective Jiu-Jitsu relationship a well. Leave it at home.

Wrap Up

Whoever said that Jiu-Jitsu dating within an academy is a bad idea, has probably spoken from personal experience. The thing about personal experiences is just that – they’re personal. Moreover, they can change if a different situation arises, or if you give it another shot, but following some simple rules of thumb this time. Whatever the case, just remember that BJJ people tend to be ego-free, outgoing and fun. Keep things simple and playful and you might even end up among the BJJ power couples one day.

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BJJ Belt Skipping: Justified Or Disrespectful?

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BJJ World

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This is one post I bet is going to spark some controversy. One reason for that is the nature of the subject – BJJ belt promotion. Moreover, there are bound to be people reading this that are on different sides of the story. As such, please feel free to give us your thoughts on the subject. As for now, I’ll share my two cents on the subject of BJJ belt skipping, how most BJJ people see it and whether or not it is fair, or disrespectful. Speaking of which, we’ll take a look at the belt system of BJJ and ask a very important question – is it still as relevant as it once was?

BJJ belts are the utmost source of pride for grapplers. It doesn’t matter how many submissions you get in a roll, or how many medals you win. Those are certainly big accomplishments, but they’re most often fleeting ones. One that stays with you, at least until your next promotion, is your belt. If you train BJJ the right way, at a proper academy, you’ll need to work for each and every belt you get to wear. In other words, you’ll need to deserve them. Well, But is it fair?

The BJJ Belt System

Let’s recap the BJJ belt system for just a little bit. There are five BJJ belts that everyone has to go through. As with most other martial arts that have a belt system, white is the first one. You have that the moment you enter the gym. The belt that comes next is the blue belt, the most desired belt in all of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Why? Simply because nobody wants to be a beginner. Even though people at a blue belt are still at the beginning of their journey, they’re not complete beginners anymore.

Right after the blue belt, grapplers get the coveted purple belt, the mark of becoming an advanced BJJ practitioner. This is where most people really start training and discovering the art, building their own style, and eventually, legacy. The brown belt is next, offering grapplers some time to clean up certain parts of their game before they get the promotion to black belt, something that not many people end up achieving. And still, there’s more. If you remain a black belt for 40 years, you’ll earn the coral belt, which is, realistically, the highest Jiu-Jitsu honor you can get. There’s also the red belt that comes after the coral one, but not many people can live long enough to achieve it.

The usual journey people take is the one between white and black. In terms of promotions, in BJJ an instructor is going to call you out and tie the next belt around your waist when you’re ready. If the academy is not a McDojo and the instructor is legitimate, you’ll most likely need a couple of years between belts. That means getting a black belt takes an average of ten years. You can see how BJJ belt skipping can be offensive now, right?

Jumping The Line

As BJJ spread around the world, as expected, it started becoming controversial in certain areas. With so many people training, and many looking to cash in from the sport, everyone is looking for shortcuts. To that extent, BJJ belt promotions are controversial subjects on their own. Th certain people giving (selling) belts out online, or simply giving them away for a certain price, this that really derve them tend to frown. And they have every right to do so.

However, there’s one more “trend” nowadays, that’s questionable, to say the least. That is BJJ belt skipping. One example I’ll use is going to be Daniel Cormier. To make things clear, I have nothing but admiration for the UFC veteran. He is an MMA world champion and one of the best wrestlers in the world. While he has been training in MMA and wrestling for decades now, he never really went through the ranks in BJJ. Just recently, he got his brown belt directly, skipping over the blue and purple belt periods. Cormier’s case is just the last in a series of similar ones, where MMA fighters, Judokas, and wrestlers get belts without really going through the system.

Is BJJ belt skipping merited in these situations? Yes, we’re talking about world-class athletes that have used grappling to fight some of the best in the world. There are instances, like Antony Pettis catching black belt Benson Henderson in the UFC, where belts didn’t really make a difference. However, Pettis, for one, never claimed to be a higher belt than he is. Jon Jones, as well, is another one who trains in the Gi and is going through the entire belt system. While people might have experience in grappling, si ti enough to earn them a BJJ brown belt straight through the door?

Is The BJJ Belt System Still Valuable?

As with most things in BJJ, there are two schools of thought. One suggests that people need to go through the system belt by belt, and show respect. They do not have to spend two years at each belt, but they do need to spend time at each. Personally, I support this approach. There’s a commonly accepted moment in IBJJF tournaments that I’m all right with. If someone is a Judo black belt or has had pro MMA fights, they can enter a competition as a blue belt. That’s ok with me. For people that have spent a lifetime in fighting, starting as a blue belt is more than fair. However, BJJ belt skipping from start to end is unacceptable.

That said, is the BJJ belt system still the marker of BJJ knowledge and level it once was? Just a couple of weeks ago we saw blue belts submitting multiple-time world champion black belts at the ADCC. And while some of those involved did receive new belts as a result of their success, there was no BJJ belt skipping. Nicky Rodriguez got a purple belt at the podium, and Nicky Ryan got his brown belt a week later, to name a couple.

To be fair, BJJ belts really do not demonstrate how skillful someone is nowadays. With many different schools and approaches, plus exclusive Gi and No-Gi schools, it mostly comes down to effectiveness. Still, even in cases where the lines are blurry, going through the ranks is the least we can do. It is a great way to keep an order to things and show respect to our roots, both the Brazilian and Japanese ones.

Summary

If it is not clear by now, I’m a proponent of the ‘BJJ Belt Skipping is not OK” camp. As such, I think everyone needs to go through the ranks, even if they only spend a few months at each belt. It is a way of acknowledging how hard the journey can be for everyone else. Earning the rank of BJJ black belt should carry a lot of weight. Even though belt rank does not outline how much more ceratin grappler knows compared to others, as it once did, the belt system is still very important.

10 Obvious Reasons Why You’re still a White Belt

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Belts System Explained

The Modern BJJ Waiter Sweep Attack System

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BJJ World

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In BJJ there are a few sweeps that are considered to work universally against pretty much everyone. They’re a sort of Hail Mary, that you turn to when all else fails. That said there are times when those sweeps fail you need to have options instead of just staying stuck there with nothing left to do. For most people, the BJJ waiter sweep is one such position of very high efficiency. And, if truth be told, they’re not wrong. The fact that the sweep work mainly from the deep half guard only strengthens its position as a Hail Mary move. However, at the highest levels of the sport, you need to have a Hail Mary for your Hail Mary. Or, even better, a few of them.

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of the deep half guard. It works and all, but I’m not really keen on having to use that particular way of getting underneath someone. Still, one move that’s commonly associated with the position is definitely amongst my go-to moves. That is the BJJ waiter sweep. And yes, contrary to what some people think it is not only available from the deep half guard. In Gi Jiu-Jitsu, where lapels are in play, the deep half guard is one of the best sweeping positions you can find yourself in. Even in No-Gi, it has its merits. However, if you take a look at the stuff that’s really high percentage, you’ll find one reoccurring move – the waiter sweep. And still, this sweep is not the end, but rather the beginning of a neat little attacking system.

The BJJ Waiter Sweep

The BJJ waiter sweep is a simple sweep that uses leverage in a painfully obvious way, Perhaps this is exactly why it is so efficient. The sweep works perfectly against people of all sizes, as long as you can set up the initial grips and hooks. Once you’re in though, one thing to remember is that you do not actually have to sweep. On the contrary. Just like a D’arce choke can work as a position of control and submission, the BJJ waiter sweep can also be both a position for safety and a sweep, depending on your preference and the situation you’re in.

The reason why the sweep is so effective is mainly the deep half guard. This half-guard variation actually defies most half-guard rules. For example, a cardinal rule of half guard is to never have your back flat on the ground. In the deep half, it is a prerequisite. Moreover, this particular aspect of it allows you to set the waiter sweep up at will. In fact, the deep half is a lazy guard of sorts, one that doesn’t require more than just placing grips and hooks.

Speaking of grips and hooks, the same principles make the waiter sweep so powerful. The principle is simple, first, get underneath. That is something you achieve with the deep half guard. Secondly, get leverage for a sweep. To achieve that, you isolate one leg and strategically place wedges around it. For the waiter sweep, that means having one of your hamstrings on the inner thigh of your opponent, while firmly controlling the ankle on the same leg. From there on, it is open season!

Why Stop There?

Sweeping with the BJJ Wiater Sweep is as easy as doing a rocking chair motion while extending your leg. It is unstoppable and guarantees you’ll end up on top. However, following up with a solid position or a pass can be challenging The leg entanglement that makes it so efficient as a sweep, turns into a problem when you end up on top. However, there are plenty of great solutions to this particular problem. For instance, there’s absolutely no need to sweep at all.

You can set up devastating submissions right there from the spot. Moreover, you can hunt for better offensive positions like different guards or even back control as well. In fact, once you’re in the waiter sweep, direct sweeping should be your last option, as that’s something you are guaranteed to get. Let’s explore some of these options.

Back Attacks

At first glance, you might find similarities between the BJJ waiter sweep and Berimbolo-like movements. That is due to the hooks around one leg, and the fact you’re using the leg as a lever. So, since the mechanics are similar, why not use the waiter sweep to get from a deep half guard straight into back control? For this setup, you want to control the ankle of your opponent in your elbow crease, rather than holding on to the pants. From there, you want to roll to the outside, completing a full 360 roll on the ground. When I say roll, I mean rolling like a log, rather than forward/backward rolling.

The moment you complete the roll, you’ll actually end up behind an opponent with one hook in. All that’s left it to get the seatbelt.

X Guard

Another transitional option from the deep half guard waiter sweep is actually maneuvering yourself into the X guard. AS an open guard variation, the X guard hs lots more attacking options to offer, plus added maneuverability. Getting there might be because you want to, or because an opponent opes it up for you. In any case, think of it like this: you go to the X guard and variations from the waiter sweep in order to attack, and, if it doesn’t’ work you, you can still go back to the dep half or the waiter sweep and try a different direction.

For this particular transition, what you need is the opposite of the back take – a pants grip. This grip will allow you to elevate the trapped leg in order to get your free leg on their opposite side hip. This pretty much lands you in the X guard. The opponent will have to focus on getting up if they do not want to end up in a leg lock or swept. That said, those are the two most probable outcomes even if they do get up on their feet.

Leg locks

In terms of straight leg locks, there are no options worth exploring there are a few that you can hunt for from the BJJ Waiter Sweep but they’re low percentage. Instead, you should use the waiter sweep to get to a position that actually opens up plenty of leg attacks. Moreover, once you get an Ashi Garami, completing a sweep or going into a pass becomes that much easier. For that purpose, the goal from the waiter sweep position is to get an outside Ashi Garami. Getting it means you have to go for the basic sweep. As we already know, that’s not hard to execute. However, once you get the opponent’s hips to the ground, untangling to get up can be a mess.

Instead of looking for that, you simply wrap both your legs around the other leg of the opponent. To clarify, that’s the leg you weren’t doing a sweep on. From there on, you can attack from outside Ashi Garami, or transition into Rear or Cross Ashi variations. Conveniently, you can also get up to pass much more reliably from there.

Leg Drag

For those that enjoy using the BJJ waiter sweep as a means to get top position, it is always worth exploring how to end up straight into a dominant position. And, when it comes to guard passing there’s hardly a much better spot than the leg drag. However, you’ll need to modify the sweep slightly in order to make sure you get on top hassle-free. Once again you go for a deep pants grip. This time, though, instead of simply sweeping up, you’re looking to extract your leg from underneath. As long as you have a secure pants grip, you’re safe from any counter-attacks.

The goal is to use the leg that’s not free as a pendulum, gaining huge momentum to sweep. Due to the position of your legs now, instead of engagement, you actually end up directly in the leg drag. Whether you pass or hunt for leg locks from there is entirely up to you.

Triangle

This one is a real treat. When it comes to submissions that open up directly from the BJJ waiter Sweep position, it doesn’t get better than this. All you need to do here is sneak in your free leg. To do that, you proceed to the side, looking to extend the leg you have trapped in the waiter sweep position. At the same time, aim to keep the free arm on their lapel, in order to create distance. Once you have that, it becomes extremely easy to sneak the other leg on top of the far shoulder. Given the waiter sweep’s original position, the other leg is already in place for a deep triangle attack. Quick, easy, and very sneaky.

Conclusion

The BJJ waiter sweep is one of those positions that we all think of as a one-off move. However, it is much more than a sweep. In fact, it should be a position of itself, since you can actually stay there safely for a while, Moreover, there are so many more attacks that come out of it apart from just a sweep. next time you find yourself in this position, you’ll have several cool and effective options to try.

Deep Half Guard in BJJ – Everything About

5 Steps To Fix Your BJJ Game Weak Spots

X Guard: Do You Know All The Possible Variations?

Tom DeBlass: Leg Attack Domination – DVD Instructional Review

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BJJ World

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Tom DeBlass DVD Instructional Review: Leg Attack Domination

One of the universally most likable people in BJJ and also one of the most dedicated coaches out there have a real treat for us all! Tom DeBlass is a name everyone in the grappling community knows by far. What’s most impressive is that everyone positively knows him. In other words, he is one fella that’s extremely hard to hate on. That said, he is also a coach of the highest grade, able to teach high-level JIu-Jitsu to anyone. In fact, he is so keen on teaching that he has one of the largest DVD collections ever put together by a single coach. And he is far from over. His latest installment, though, is one everyone will appreciate, especially after the recent events in the ADCC absolute division. Welcome to the latest Tom DeBlass DVD instructional review of his “Leg Attack Domination” DVD.

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Tom DeBlass – Leg Attack Domination (DVD/DIGITAL)

Whatever Tom DeBlass has to teach, I’ll be listening. So far, he has a bunch of crazy good DVD instructionals, the likes of the “Butterfly Half Guard” and “Submission Escapes“, to name a couple. In essence, everything that man has to offer is pure genius. However, this last one is something else. As a Ricardo Almeida black belt and a regular at Renzo’s, Tom’s knowledge of leg locks I second only to the Dark Lord Danaher himself. As such, everyone has been urging him to release a leg lock DVD. And, the release of the “Leg Attack Domination” Tom DeBlass DVD Instructional has the best possible timing – right after a crazy ADCC. Without further ado, let’s see what Tom has for us in this brand new four-part BJJ instructional.

Why Everyone Loves Tom DeBlass

Different people will probably answer differently to this, but one thing is for certain – Tom is one of the best people to learn from. As a modern-day coach, he has the perfect approach to things. If there’s one thing that really stands out about him is how humble he is the man teaches everything, from kids’ classes to competitor-specific sessions, and even finds the time to clean the mats of his academy. That’s an example of a true modern-day samurai and martial artist if ever there was one. Still, there’s a lot more from Tom, and this latest instructional is just one example that he has lots more to contribute to the community.

Tom is a black belt under Ricardo Almeida, who in turn is of the famous Renzo Gracie lineage. There’s not much needed to say about this lineage, as we can all see who is dominating the world JIu-jitsu scene at the moment. Tom is also famous for being the coach of Gary Tonon and Gordon Ryan in their early days before they went on to join the Danaher death squad. Make no mistake, though, Tom is not only a coach but also a highly accomplished competitor himself. He is a No-Gi world champion, ADCC veteran as well as a retired UFC heavyweight.

Currently teaching out of Ocean County Jiu-Jitsu (his academy) Tom is extremely busy. He is in high demand, doing interviews and teaching seminars whenever he is not at the academy or helping Tonnon and the Ryan brothers when they compete. And, in the midst of it all, he has a fresh DVD ready every couple of months. The latest “Leg Attack Domination Tom DeBlass DVD Instructional is now about to join his ever-growing collection, bringing a new dimension to leg locking.

The DeBlass Leglock Pedigree

While you might think that learning leg locks from Danaher is the top of the mountain, you’d be surprised how high up that same mountain Tom DeBlass is. He has been doing them for years, even before they were so popular in both BJJ and MMA. Plus, let’s not forget that tom is constantly training with the monsters at Renzo’s NYC Academy. That means constantly rolling with Tonnon, the Ryan brothers, Nicky Rodriguez, etc. Not an easy thing to accomplish even for a heavyweight black belt of Tom’s pedigree.

That said, Tom is not just one of those leg lockers that specialize in only one submission. On the contrary, he is a master of everything, legal and “illegal”. Moreover, he has a deep understanding of the Ashi Garami positions. So much so, in fact, that he has several modifications and a whole host of unique entries. It is all in his latest ”Leg Attack Domination” Tom DeBlass DVD instructional. And, there’s also an aspect of leg locking in there that nobody has covered so far – counter leg locking. Plus he really loves leg locks, making him someone you don’t want to mess with.

Welcome to the new era of BJJ leg locks!

Tom De Blass DVD Instructional Review: “Leg Attack Domination”

With any tom DeBlass DVD instructional, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get a DVD of the utmost quality. “Leg Attack Domination”, though, takes things to an entirely different level. This is not just a specialized leg locking DVD to teach you a few moves to surprise people. This is also not a leg lock specific system that only covers all the leg lock variations that tom uses .instead, this is a way of integrating high-level leg lock attacks into every aspect of your Jiu-Jitsu game. That means that you can hunt for leg locks from almost anything else you’re doing or vice versa. Tom’s approach is certainly an advanced one, but the way the information is presented is suitable for everyone. And, yes, while this is a No-Gi instructional, she submissions themselves are all IBJJF approved moves that are perfect for Gi grapplers.

The instructional has a total of four volumes, which is pretty much the norm nowadays. IN the first one, DeBVlass covers everything you need to know, and then some, on the subject of finishing Achilles locks, kneebars and toe holds. Volume two goes into setups, offering some crazy offensive and counterattacking leg lock strategies. Volume three is arguably the most interesting one, featuring lots of leg lock hunting from different guards. Finally, the turtle position and advanced positions like De La Riva guards feature in the final portion of this Tom DeBlass DVD Instructional.

Part 1

Kicking the instructional off, Deblass starts by sharing some key tips on the mechanics of breaking legs. In that sense, he starts right at the beginning – with the ankle lock. In the first few chapters, it is all Achilles lock, covering grips, basics, and interesting setups. Following suit is the kneebar, and Tom really gets into how the dynamics of this position actually work. Moreover, he ties everything together beautifully by showing you how to set up kneebars from a previous Achilles lock attack.

Summing up the trio of leg locks that make up most of the “Leg Attack Domination” Tom DeBlass DVD Instructional, there are also a couple of subjects on toe holds. Once again, it is dynamics first, and a few interesting setups later. The final chapter is on attacking leg locks in a safe and high-percentage manner when you’re the one on top.

Part 2

Part two starts with an awesome toe hold from half guard. The half guard, both top and bottom is Tom’s bread and butter along with leg attacks. So, any tips he shares on those two subjects, particularly in unison, is something you need to be paying close attention to. No surprise, this move works perfectly, as I’ve already discovered in training.

Keeping up with leg attacks from the top, the next chapter goes into kneebars and Achilles locks off of the knee slice position. There are even a few leg attacks from the deep half guard, which is a true rarity. The one part of this particular volume that most people will enjoy is the instructions on shutting down peribolos with leg locks. Let’s just say no one is going to invert on you any longer. Wrapping up are several leg locks that work off back attacks, including the turtle.

Part 3

We’re past halfway in this Tom DeBlass DVD Instructional, and it is time to look into attacks from guard. You’ve probably never thought of attacking leg locks from the closed guard. Well, Tom not only has, but he also has a perfect way of doing so. His closed guard knee bar setups are followed by a few butterfly guard attacks. Those involve just about everything, from toe holds to calf slicers.

This part also addresses the highly important subject of defending the Achilles lock. Still, instead of escaping, the “Leg Attack Domination” DVD will teach you how to respond with an Achilles lock of yourself. There are also chapters on how to counterattack when you’re both in Ashi Garami, as well as options from the 50/50.

Part 4

The final part of this instructional offers leg locking options from several different advanced BJJ positions. Opening up the account are surprise leg attacks from the turtle position. Following suit are De la Riva attacks, mostly from the bottom. There’s also a very cool Omoplata to Achilles lock/kneebar combo that all but ensures you get a submission finish. A huge portion of attacking leg locks off of a Kimura grip wraps things up. However, not before Tom goes deeper into the Achilles lock, this time explaining how you can control the lock.

In Summary

What can I say except this is a Tom DeBlass DVD instructional that you need to own? While this holds true for anything he has ever released in DVD or digital format, the “Leg Attack Domination” DVD is something that you can implement straight away. It doesn’t matter if you roll with the Gi, No-Gi, or like to work from top or bottom. This instructional will give you options to widen the scope of your BJJ game indefinitely.

ON SALE HERE:
Tom DeBlass – Leg Attack Domination (DVD/DIGITAL)

10 Best Leg Locks DVDs and Digital Instructionals

World Jiu-JItsu Festival: The Perfect Post ADCC Event

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BJJ World

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World Jiu-Jitsu Festival Recap: An Event We Needed

It can be hard dealing with life after the highs the ADCC brought about. However, this time around it seems to be much easier to cope compared to previous years. The reason is that right after the ADCC, there was absolutely no break, for both grappling athletes and fans alike. Immediately after the Jiu-Jitsu Olympics, several different high-level grappling events took place. In the meantime, key DVD instructions by some of the stars of ADCC 2019 also saw the light of day. In terms of events, though, nothing caught the attention more than the World Jiu-Jitsu festival. There were plenty of reasons to watch this one of a kind event, but the biggest one had to be the square-off between Gordon Ryan And Rousimar Palhares.

Nobody can claim that the BJJ scene is boring! Gi or No-Gi, there’s so much variety in tournaments nowadays that you can literally take your pick. There are even multi-day conventions that end up hosting super fights of calibers we could only dream of only a few years ago. The World Jiu-JItsu Festival is one such event. It is more or less a grappling convention, hosting everything, from promos and classes to extremely entertaining super fights. The crazy matchup of Lovato and Boogey Martinez is one that comes to mind. And, if that was not enough, The “King” and “Toquinho” also go the matchup, everyone has been praying for. But what was the outcome?

The First And Only BJJ Festival Of The Sort

World Jiu-Jitsu Festival Promo When you read the World Jiu-JItsu festival, you immediately think tournament. I know I did. However, you’d only be partially correct. The World JIu-Jitsu festival is actually a real, full-blown festival and the concept behind it is nothing short of impressive. The festival took place in Long Beach, California, from October 5th-6th at the Long Beach City College. What was it exactly? Heaven, for anyone in love with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The World Jiu-Jitsu festival of 2019 was an inaugural event that I certainly hope is not going to remain the only one of the type. IT brought together everyone in the grappling world, from elite level athletes to recreational grapplers and fans of the sport. The festival included lots of gear presentations, an autograph signing session, a photo exhibition, super fights, A Grand Prix, Jiu-Jitsu awards and more. A big part of the Festival was the WJJF Tournament which served as a platform for some of the brightest up and comers to represent their styles. And none of the above events disappointed!

Oh, and one more thing. The festival managed not only to bring together high-level tournaments and what is virtually a Grapple-Con for BJJ nerds but also managed to fit in seminars into it all. The best part about it was that the seminars were completely free for anyone to attend! Furthermore, there’s the inevitable opportunity to mingle, meet new people, reminis9ce with old ones and enjoy the grappling lifestyle we’ve all come to love.

World Jiu-Jitsu Festival Superfights Results

Apart from the WJJF tournament that was open for registration, there was also a Grand Prix featuring legends of the sport. Along with the two super fights, the total number of high-level bouts was twelve. Since the World JIu-JItsu Festival went on for two days, there was one super fight headlining each of them. To be fair, all the grappling matches at the festival were pure fireworks. As far as the Grand Prix goes, several huge names, a few of which fresh from the ADCC, made sure the event is entertaining in awe of the super fights.

In the Day 1 super fight, Rafel Lovato Jr. squared off against 10th Planet Standut Ritchie “Boogeyman” Martinez. While Ritchie is a formidable grappler, the proved to be an easy one for Lovato. He needed only 6 minutes out of a possible 15 to force the “Boogeyman” to tap. However, even though Martinez started off bright playing his flexible guard game, Lovato’s pressure passing proved to be too much. Moreover, once the Bellator middleweight champion got past Boogey’s legs, it didn’t take long for a tight Kimura from side control to bring him a victory.

World Jiu-Jitsu Festival Super Fight Results In the most anticipated event for some time now, Gordon Ryan met Rousimar Palhares fresh off his double ADCC gold accomplishment. The second-day super-fight actually went the distance, something not many people expected out of two fo the best leg lockers and submission specialists in the world. Still, it was all Ryan, as we’re all accustomed o seeing lately. Ryan pulled guard, quickly swept Palhares and started hunting for submissions. Toquinho tried to find the legs but Ryan used it against him to get his back. He stayed there until the end, getting a rear-naked choke but not the tap in the allotted 15 minutes.

DAY 1 FULL RESULTS

Felipe Fogolin vs. Kendal Grove (RNC)
Diego Ramalho vs. Bill Cooper (Ankle Lock)
Mikey Musumeci vs. Joseph Lee (Omoplata)
Edwin Najmi vs. Mathias Luna by (RNC)
Rafael Lovato vs. Richie Martinez (Kimura)

DAY 2 FULL RESULTS

Rodrigo Freitas vs. Ruben Riviera (Decision)
Cleber Luciano vs. Tony Lopez (Armbar)
Johnathan Alves vs. Kauan Barboza (Scarf Choke)
Diego Oliveira vs. Paulo Gabriel (Decision)
Gordon Ryan vs. Rousimar Palhares (Decision)

Upcoming Superfights To Look Forward To

Speaking of great events, although we’ll probably have to wait for another edition of the World JIu-Jitsu festival, there are some other exciting upcoming matchups. Some of them are set to be grappling fireworks, while others will feature BJJ legend in an MMA setting. If Lovato is anything to judge by, these are going to be extremely interesting events as well.

In a pure grappling sense, ADCC standout and freshly promoted purple belt, Nick Rodriguez will meet BJJ black belt legend Fabricio Werdum under the Third Coast grappling banner. Danaher Death Squad’s Nicky Rod certainly raised lots of eyebrows, taking out people left and right at the ADCC. Moreover, he did it all as a blue belt. On December 7, he will get a chance to match his crazy physicality and skills against a true legend of the sport. Can Rodriguez claim yet another huge upset by beating Werdum after he disposed of Cyborg and Orlando Sanchez at the ADCC?

In terms of BJJ in the UFC, we have two all-time favorites of grappling ready to throw down this weekend. Mackenzie Dern is set to have her first match after becoming a mother against Amanda Ribas at UFC on ESPN+ 19. Also on the card is another huge Jiu-Jitsu name; Kron Gracie. This time, Kron will face a sturdy test in the UFC veteran Cub Swanson. After losing to Kron in the 2003 US BJJ Open, Swanson will be looking to return the favor, this time in the octagon. The event will take place in Tampa, Florida and is headlined by a flyweight fight between Michelle Waterson and Joanna Jedrzajczyk.

Final Words

All things considered, the World Jiu-Jitsu festival is a success by all accounts. That said, we certainly won’t mind seeing more of it, or other events of the kind. It is refreshing to know that there’s a multi-day event out there that can offer grappling fans a taste of everything, from fighting to meeting legends and getting the first bite at some brand new BJJ gear. Plus, there are the super fights!

Video Source

BJJ Lineage: Does It Really Matter That Much?

By

BJJ World

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“My lineage is better than yours!” this is one of the things that make grapplers seem like kids more than anything. BJJ lineage is a huge source of pride, or controversy, depending on what the roll of the dice has brought you. While linage is an age-old thing in martial arts and does hold value, should it really define grapplers as much as some people think? After all, how much does it really matter who gave a black belt to whom? Or how many people there are between you and Helio Gracie, for that matter? Let’s explore if being a part of a “superior” BJJ lineage is really going to do anything to improve your grappling skills.

The topic of BJJ lineage is not one of those topics that’s always on top of the controversy charts. The BJJ Gauntlet, being a Creonte, and several others seem to be firmly in the lead there. However, from time to time, you’ll see lineage become a huge thing. Sometimes it is between grapplers, and others, more often, academies. Don’t get me wrong, paying respect to those that came before is important. It is also important to respect your instructors/professors. However, it doesn’t mean that training with someone is enough to turn you into “BJJ royalty”. Quite the contrary, while there is merit in lineage, let’s take the sensible approach and only try and look at it when it is really important – in the case of fake belts, for example.

What is BJJ Lineage

Looking at any martial art, you’ll notice a system of “lineage”. That means that people who get a certain belt or degree, most often being a black belt and all further acknowledgments, readily recognize who gave them the highest rank. Moreover, the lineage is there to honor all the people that came before that immediate instructor that promoted you. In a romantic sense of a way, it is a great way to demonstrate respect. However, in modern times, this is easily taken out of context. And BJJ is no stranger to that as well.

BJJ Lineage Too Hyped Up In terms of BJJ, we all know that it all starts with Mitsuo Maeda and Carlos and Helio Gracie. From there on, though, things are so branched out, that there’s no real way of keeping track of all the lineages in existence. That said, that doesn’t make someone who has a lineage of 12 people a worse black belt than someone who is a GB member and got a belt directly from Carlos Gracie Junior. The length of the BJJ lineage nowadays can vary greatly, given how widespread the sport is.

IN terms of the legitimate lineage, there are official records that show whether or not someone is a black belt in BJJ. However, many people tend to simply go with the flow and might never register. In Jiu-Jitsu though, it is not hard to actually discover whether or not someone’s lineage is legitimate. It is all a few e-mails away. However, when comparing two grapplers of legitimate linages, does the origin of it all really help determine how skillful you’ll be. And, as such, is it all really worth the fuss some people make?

How Important is BJJ Lineage Really?

In a perfect world, we’d all start in an academy with a great reputation and an impressive lineage. In an ideal world, you’d be able to start training with a world-renowned Professor and remain there for your entire BJJ journey. However, that’s hardly possible for most. First of all, people that just start training are not really that informed about stuff like BJJ lineage. Instead, they tend to look for the closest spot where they can train. As they start growing into the sport, they might end up in a different academy in quest of a different style, or a competitive career.

In fact, changing gyms/teams/instructors nowadays is pretty much the norm. So, how does that fare in terms of that all-important lineage? If you’re one of the lucky ones that have stumbled upon some of the top coaches in the world then good for you. However, for most others, changing affiliation a few times, whether it is as a beginner or an advanced student means you’re switching your lineage. In certain cases, people have different lineages for all their belts. Guess what? Some of them turned out to be world-famous names in the Jiu-Jitsu community nowadays. So much for the case of BJJ lineage determining success.

How Important is BJJ Lineage One other thing to consider when talking lineage is how you extend your own. If you’re a brown and black belt, you’re most likely already involved in promoting students. That brings about great responsibility. Those students will go on to tell everyone that you are the man behind their belt. As such, is linage really key, or is it the style you’ve formed and the way you’re teaching the ways of the Gentle Art? That makes sense, right?

Fake Black (And Other) Belts

One positive aspect of actually knowing someone’s BJJ lineage is important in the case of fraudulent belts. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon today. There have been several accounts of people posing as black or brown belts. Although they were exposed and dealt with, that’s not the full extent of it. The reality is that there are also many that remain hidden. Some of them even have successful McDojo-type academies where everything is about profit and nothing is about the art. In those cases, BJJ lineage can actually help expose a fake claimed belt, as that‘s very ready to check. That’s one aspect of linage that’s definitely irreplaceable.

Conclusion

Let’s drop all the high-school drama and act like adults. No, it shouldn’t bother anyone if you train in more than one academy, as long as that doesn’t involve a competitive rivalry between them. No, it doesn’t matter if you’re a blue and purple belt under the GB lineage, brown by Marcelo Garcia and a black by Christian Graugart of BJJ Globetrotters. It won’t matter when your own students tell people that they have a certain belt by you. So, why should you make a fuss about it? Put a Gi on and go train, and leave all the dumb stuff out of the way. Those more concerned with lineage and creonteism will fade out of the grappling community anyway.

BJJ And Depression: Grappling Against A Silent Killer

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BJJ World

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BJJ And Depression - Grappling A Silent Killer

Sometimes dubbed the most important issue of modern times, depression is not something you should take lightly. The problem with it is that it creeps up silently, and many people do not notice it early. In terms of dealing with it, a modern lifestyle doesn’t really help. The usual route is going for therapy, which in most cases ends up with medications, or, in certain situations, even hospitalization. But there’s another way. You could use other methods to prevent or even deal with some of the modern-day mental issues. BJJ and depression are not two words that get associated often. And there’s a great reason for it.

You’ve probably heard and seen the phrase “BJJ saved my life” over and over again. There are many reasons why people look at grappling in such a manner. In certain situations it is literal, in others it is figurative. That said, there’s a lot of truth to this, even when you think that people use it just because it sounds good. Depression is not something you can see easily, and it can end in a horrible manner if left unchecked. Grappling is so good at engaging the mind, that it presents a real treat for people that are actively trying to deal with mental issues. BJJ and depression are a match made in heaven in those terms: one is great for weeding out the other.

Exercise As a Solution For Depression

First up, let’s look at the purely physiological interaction between BJJ and depression. Exercise is a well-proven method to help your brain “re-start”. Exercise, or more precisely, movement, is something that acts as a surge fro brain activity. The more complex the movement, the more bain activation it requires. Physiologically, this translates to more active brain work, and the release of more brain chemicals. As humans, our brains are intended to work in this manner, helping us coordinate our bodies during complex movement patterns. One look at the stationery, computer and tablet ruled lifestyle, and you see how depression ends up engulfing so many people.

There’s even research out there that clearly proves the relation between exercise and depression is a positive one in terms of resolving the condition. In one specific study, people were divided into a group taking depression medication, a group doing exercise, and a group doing both exercise and taking medication. Suffice to say, those doing exercise, with, or without medication, did far better in resolving depression than the group that was purely on medication. You see the point here.

Apart from the physiological effects, there is actually a “feel good” factor in the release of certain brain chemicals. That in itself is huge when it comes to battling dark thoughts and feelings. One thing to remember is that it is crucial to actually exercise particularly when you’re feeling like you want to skip it. That “feel good” factor is actually going to be increased tenfold if you just make yourself train when you don’t feel like it. Especially when it comes to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

BJJ And Depression – An Unexpected Form Of Therapy

Why is the relationship between BJJ and depression such a positive one when it comes to resolving the conditio0n? One very obvious thing is the complexity of the sport itself. Like I said earlier, the more complex the movement, the more it activates your brain and floods it with positive chemicals. Well, BJJ surely ranks at the top of complicated physical activities that you can do. But that’s only a piece of the puzzle.

Grappling offers just as much engagement of your mind as it does oyur body. Every roll, every drill, every match is a new challenge. Whenever you roll, you have to solve things on the fly and think about stuff before you do them. In other words, you get immersed in the art and can think about nothing else. The fact that every roll is different actually has a proven psychological effect – creating new pathways in the brain. Whenever you’re doing something that you know in a different manner, your brain has to build new pathways. in turn, this makes it work at a higher capacity. This, paired with the release of certain brain chemicals, is a great way of helping you deal with depression.

In fact, it can help you deal with pretty much anything. Whether you have anxiety, some form of compulsive disorder, even PTSD, BJJ can help. Remember that it is not the be-all-end-all cure for every condition. BJJ encourages the formation of great habits and the development of positive routines that can help with your mood. Finally, training BJJ is a great way to help you wean off certain medication if you’re currently using some. Be careful about it and keep talking to professionals, but allow BJJ to help you re-discover your best self.

BJJ Related Depression

Before we round it off, let’s briefly explore one more aspect of BJJ and depression – instances when what you do on the mats actually causes you to be depressed. In Brazilian Jiu-=Jitsu, the main reason for this is usually frustration. IF there’s one thing that BJJ can be, that’s frustrating. One day you’re tapping everyone in seconds, and the next you can’t even get a grip to play your game. As you know, getting smashed is part of the game, but it can cause negative feeling ins certain situations. Interestingly enough, this is more of the case inexperienced grapplers, rather than beginners.

When frustration gets the better of you, remember that you do not need to fall prey to it. Getting frustrated will only make you make more mistakes and rolls will get tougher. Eventually, you might end up unmotivated about training and even depressed. And, if you’re already struggling with depression, this is not an outcome you’re seeking. One thing to focus on is the basic notion behind training Jiu-Jitsu – having fun. Re-discover the fun of JIu-Jitsu, rather than trying to beat people. I guarantee you that his will instantly improve everything about your game, including how you feel about training. Do not put unneeded pressure on yourself and keep things playful.

Remember that training BJJ is a process and it is not always going to be pleasant. But it is all a part of getting better. The art is such that everyone has good and bad days The great thing about it is that it teaches you how to deal with bad ones and turn them into positive ones. This is crucial when you need a nudge to do the same thing in your private life as well.

Wrap Up

When we’re looking at BJJ and depression, there’s clearly an effect there. However, it is not a cure per se, nor is it a magic bullet. Brazilian JIu-Jitsu has the potential of helping everyone. Keep in mind though, that it does just that – help. It doesn’t mean it’ll completely cure you from whatever ails you. It is, though, a great thing to combine with medications in order to achieve a maximal effect. In fact, it can help you reduce the amount and number of medication you take while you’re looking to deal with one of the toughest issues of modern life. Stay strong, talk about it and remember to always keep rolling!

Advanced BJJ – Becoming Comfortable With Discomfort

A Few Interesting And Important BJJ Facts Of Life

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu – Everything About The Gentle Art

Best BJJ Gi Patches – The Ultimate Guide With Reviews

By

BJJ World

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Best BJJ Gi Patches Ultimate Guide Cover

Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu carries with it lots of challenges. However, fun times certainly outweigh the tough ones. The state of BJJ worldwide at the moment is such that people try to introduce more individuality to the art than ever before. It may be as huge as stumbling onto a new technique modification or simply getting a brand new patch for your BJJ Gi. In fact, patches really do seem like a cool thing to do to brighten just about any Gi. To that extent, the choice out there is huge, and kimono’s even come with a set of their own. At least in most cases. Still, if you’re looking for something interesting to add to your Gi, check out our selection of the best BJJ Gi patches for modern grapplers!

BJJ Gi training is definitely more widespread than No-Gi. To be honest, No-Gi jiu-jitsu is catching up fast, but it still has some distance to go. In the meantime, People that train Gi JIu-Jitsu are certainly noticing the latest No-Gi trends. In other words, they’re witnessing all the cool, insane, and sometimes horrible rashguard designs available to No-Gi players. When it comes to expressing originally in the Gi, you’re’ pretty much bound by the model of kimono you’re wearing. While there are some cool BJJ Gis out there to choose from, they’re far fewer than regular ones. This is exactly where the best BJJ Gi Patches come into the picture.

The BJJ Gi

Training with a BJJ Gi is somewhat of an added addiction for grapplers. When it comes to grappling in general, particularly Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, people easily get addicted. So much so, in fact, that psychologists are starting to show interest in discovering why. But that’s a subject for another time. For now, let’s talk about Gi addiction. As people get hooked to BJJ, given they’re training with the Gi at least part-time, they also tend to really get into BJJ Gis as well. In all honesty, most people have at least a couple of Gis in their closet. However, they are very rarely satisfied with just two.

To be completely honest, having more Gis is actually a good thing. Even the toughest and sturdiest kimono out there can’t withstand regular use for prolonged periods of time. By regular use, I mean training anywhere from 3-6 times per week. In those cases, you need to own a few GIs in order to make sure you have a clean one to train, and they last you for years. That said, since people need more than one Gi, they rarely buy the same model, color, and series over again. Moreover, some tend to go further and look to further customize their Gis,

How exactly can you customize a BJJ Gi? We’ll apart from making it short-sleeved anything else is ago. More precisely, anything that involves making it visually different from others. While artists might go for drawings with special colors, the rest of us untalented grapplers are left with BJJ GI patches. And that is perfectly okay, as some of the best BJJ Gi Patches are way better than any other type of modification. Not to mention that they’re so tough, they outlast most Gis by quite a few years.

How To Use BJJ Gi Patches

When it comes to BJJ patches, there are several things you need to understand. And the first one has to do with rules. Most academies won’t really mind you adding BJJ Gi patches of your own to your kimonos. As long as you’re not covering yourself with patches from a rival local school, you’ll be good. Competing, on the other hand, is a whole different ball game. The Gi regulations set forth by the IBJJF as the global governing body of Gi BJJ competition, also have a set of rules concerning Gi patches. Since getting a DQ is the last thing you need before stepping on the mats to compete, make sure that if you place patches of your own, they’re allowed.

In those terms, you need to be aware primarily of the locations where you can place a BJJ Gi Patch (or five). On the jacket, those are the front along the collar, the top of the shoulders and side of the sleeves, and the skirt. There’s also the back of the Gi, mostly reserved for large patches. On the pants, you can place patches on the front, side, and back of the pants, but must mind how far the patches are from the edges. If you want to know the full extent of the rules, you can read more here.

Finally, remember that the patches themselves can be ground for a DQ. Namely, the person checking your Gi before IBJJF / AJP competition can ask you to remove a patch that it is not firmly secure. Also, patches need to be cotton, although that is something that nobody really checks. Luckily, our selection of the best BJJ Gi Patches perfectly fulfills all official requirements. All you need to watch out for is placement.

Best BJJ Gi Patches

Speaking of the best BJJ Gi Patches, let’s see some of the options. Remember that his article is going to be subject to lots of updates, as patches are evolving a lot faster than Gis or rashguard designs. First things first, we tried to provide variety. That means that we included patches of all sizes, that you can place literally everywhere on your Gi. For instance, we included small patches that can go anywhere around the sleeves and pants. Others are perfect for placement along with the collars, while the largest ones are intended for the back of the jacket.

Of course, there were strict selection criteria in choosing the best BJJ Gi Patches. Apart from the same requirement s the IBJJF (cotton material) we also looked into other characteristics. Some of them include the quality of the print, sturdiness in terms of constant training and washing, as well as how good they can hold the seams. Of course, the design also plays a huge role too, with all of the patches perfect for any grappler out there. Moreover, we made it a point not to include academy or affiliation patches, but rather generic Jiu-Jitsu ones which won’t make anyone mad.

Shaka BJJ Hand Patch

Features:

Fully embroidered
Iron / Sew on patch
Very durable
Heat seal backing

Kicking things off is a real classic. This is one patch I just recently discovered and am currently awaiting delivery. The Shaka sign is a BJJ classic, just as much as saying “Oss” is. So, it is not uncommon to see it represented in patches, although none can really measure up to this one. The best part about this BJJ Gi patch is that it follows that it has the same contours as a hand throwing the sign.

Apart from having the hand contour of the Shaka sign down to perfection, this patch also has finger tape all over several of the fingers. Plus, there’s a strategic placement of the word “BJJ” on the tape on one o the fingers. The material is cotton of the best quality. Moreover, the colors are stable and not susceptible to damage due to moisture. Plus, this embroidered patch has two options for placement. You can go and sew it on, or apply it with an iron (full instructions on how are included). Finally, this 3.5 Inches patch is ultra-durable and perfect for placement anywhere on the Gi.

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Drill to Kill Jiu-Jitsu Patch

Features:

Sew On / Iron On
4.7 inches
Fully embroidered
Black and white
Durable and strong

The second member of our best BJJ Gi Patches list is a very simple patch that carries a very powerful message. Once again, it is a phrase many in the grappling community love to use. However, for some, it has a much deeper meaning than simply something associated with the support. Whatever the case, this is a patch nobody would mind having and is a really good one at that.

This BJJ Gi patch has the phrase “Drill to Kill” particularly held in high regard amongst competitors. Moreover, it features a cool skull in the center, with letters going around it. Simplicity is key here, as it is a simple patch with a dark background and white letters. It says “drill to kill” at the top and “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” at the bottom. These are separated by crossed bones, completing the vibe of the design. As such it is a perfect addition for any color Gi. Plus, it is a 100% embroidered patch that you can sew on or apply with an iron. This is one of the smallest patches in our best BJJ GI patches guide at 4.7 inches or 12 cm.

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“BJJ Grappling” Embroided Patch

Features:

Multicolored
Iron or sew on patch
Top-quality embroidery
Long lasting

It’s one that’s as neutral as they come. Whether you choose to get this one for yourself, or as a gift for a grappler, you won’t be wrong. This circular patch is perfect for either the sleeves, pants or the front of the collar. It is a testament to Gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and it features a really high-quality design.

The outer edge of the circle here is in black and wide enough to house some lettering. On the top, this patch has “grappling” written in that space, while opposite side it, on the bottom, it says “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu”. The middle is yellow and green, extracted from the Brazilian flag. In the center, there are two grapplers in Gis with one applying a Kimura from the closed guard. The diameter o the patch is 3.5 inches and the material is cotton with full embroidery. Available for sewing or heat application on pretty much any type of surface.

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Ronin – Shogun Heishi Gi Patch

Features:

High-end, durable fabrics
Double-stitched edges
Easy to sew on
Colorfast
Beautiful Shogun design
Resistant

One more in our selection for the best BJJ Gi Patches that focus on glorifying the warrior values of the Jiu-Jitsu lifestyle. It is made by the Ronin brand and features a Shogun Heishi warrior in one of the best designs available. The vivid colors make it look perfect on any type of clothing, but especially on a BJJ Gi.

The background color of the patch is red, featuring scattered black three trunks. The Shogun Warrior is placed in the foreground, multicolored, in full samurai armor, and holding a smoking gun. The edges of the patch are double stitched, preventing it from ever falling apart. Great for kids and adults of all ages. This BJJ patch is 100% embroidered, sew-on, and with dimensions 7.6 x 5.9 x 0.2 inches.

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USA/Brazil Jiu-Jitsu Patch

Features:

Made from the finest materials
Easy to sew on
Completely washable
Colorfast

Here’s a patch that perfectly demonstrates how the spread of BJJ begun. From Brazil to the USA, without these two countries, BJJ would never reach the stage it has nowadays. Speaking of simple design, this one has the simples yet, but it is still very classy. This is the perfect patch for those looking to pay respect to both countries, or just those with great taste in grappling patches.

The 4-3/4″ x 3-3/4″ Gi patch features both the American and Brazilian flags. The shape is rectangular, with a gold frame on the outside of both flags. The left portion is reserved for the flag of the USA, while the Brazilian flag is on the right, resting on a green background. The sam green background extends below both, housing the words Jiu-Jitsu. Embroided, easy to apply (sewing or iron), and extremely durable.

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“Keep On Rolling” Shaka Patch

Features:

Extra large
Heat seal backing
Fast and easy application
Iron or sew on

Let’s take a little break from the smaller-sized BJJ Gi Patches and look at one that’ll fit perfectly on the back of your Gi. This one is quite larger than anything we’ve seen so far.it also features a circular shape, and once again, focuses on a mainstay BJJ phrase – keep on rolling. Plus, going the extra mile, it features the shaka sign once again.

This patch has a 9 Inches diameter and has a gold edge all around. Moreover, it has a navy-colored strip running around housing the words “Keep On Rolling” and ‘Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu”, separated by two gold stars. Finally, the middle has the Shaka sign yet again, this time with the thumb and pinky finger pointing up, This time around, though, there’s no finger tape, The fingers stretch into the navy strip, giving this patch a really cool looking appearance. Extremely durable, and applicable in two ways like the others.

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Eat, Sleep, Jiu-Jitsu Embroidered Gi Patch

Features:

Iron or sew on application
Fully embroidered
Thoughtful design
Great quality
Machine washable

This one is a great patch for everyone. That’s precisely the reason why it features in our best BJJ Gi Patches guide. While the phrase “Eat, Sleep, Jiu-Jitsu” is not common only to the BJJ world, it is a phrase very often used and adored by grapplers. This awesome-looking Gi patch features this phrase on a very simple, yet great-looking design.

This patch is circular with has light blue background color and a black edge. In fact, it has several shades of blue on it. The size is 3.5 inches / 90 mm. As such, it contains the phrase “Eat, Sleep, Jiu-Jitsu” on the bottom, with the words separated by dots. Both the letters and the dots are black. Above the letters, there is a depiction of two grapplers, one in a blue and one in white Gi, both with black belts, tangled in a bottom armbar position. 100 % embroidered and will last you a lifetime.

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Ronin BJJ Emperor Patch

Features:

Superior quality
Extra-durable and thick fabric
Intense colors
Machine washable
Fully embroidered
Sew on

The best for last, right? This is a patch that’s a perfect fit for the back of your Gi. However, this is not intended to cover the entire back, but rather the top area, just below the collar. That said, this is the perfect patch to use on any type of Gi, and it won’t get you in trouble with the IBJJF. Plus, if you’re into Samurai art (most grapplers, for some reason, seem to be) it is going to be even more attractive.

The patch depicts a Ronin BJJ Emperor and features the head of a samurai warrior covered in a battlefield helmet. As such it has a very intricate design that’s too complicated to explain in words. It has several different colors coming in many shades and is designed to perfection. Moreover, it is 6 x 5 Inches featuring full embroidery. The material is of premium quality, ultra-tough fabric. The colors are not only intense but also impregnable and will never fade away. One of the best BJJ Gi patches of all times, and certainly one you need to have.

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How To Sew BJJ Gi Patches On

Before we sign off, let’s talk about how you can secure your best BJJ Gi patches secure it to your Gi. AS we already said, first you have to make sure you choose the right area. Once you have that, keep in mind that the Gi is made of strong material and you’ll need to put in some effort if you’re not a professional. That said, all you need are a few pins to hold it in the perfect spot before you begin, and a needle and thread. About two feet of thread usually provide more than enough to secure even large patches. Remember to start from the inside of the Gi, so that you end at the same spot and tie a perfect knot.

Among the many Gi regulations in terms of Gi color, length, width, overall state, the location of patches also comes into play. The result of having improperly placed patches might be a direct DQ unless you can remove them or get another Gi in an allotted time period.

A little tip here. Remember that placing patches on your chest is not always easy. You might sew it on correctly only to find it is sideways once you out the Gi on. This is due to the fact that you cross your jacket’s sides one over the other when you’re’ wearing a belt. So, always make your initial placement measurements with a belt on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are patches allowed in IBJJF tournaments?

Basically, there are two main rules regarding patches in IBJJF competitions. First of all, it won’t matter where your patch is if your Gi is not blue, white or black, which are the only three IBJJF approved colors. In terms of patches, placement of the patches is one thing IBJJF referees look at (back of the Gi jacket, at shoulder level and collar are the best spots) and secondly, they ook to see if a patch might be loose. The worst-case scenario would be that they ask you to take your patch(es) off at the spot.

Where can you place patches on your Gi?

Once again, it has to do with IBJJF rules. They allow patches on the front side and back of pants, but your best bet is to place them at thigh or shin level. IN terms of the jacket, collar, shoulder, and back are spots that won’t get you in trouble with the IBJJF. If you’re not competing under their rules, or just want to use patches on a training Gi, you’re free to place them however you want.

What size patches are the best?

This is entirely up to you. Usually, bigger patches are a great fit for the back of a Gi jacket, where there is lots of space. Rectangular patches are good for the collars. All the smaller patches can fit anywhere, which is why our Best BJJ Gi Patches guide features options of all shapes and sizes.

What is the best GI for BJJ?

The best Gi for Jiu-JItsu has to do with weight and not brand or color. Basically, you have to figure out if you like lightweight, medium-weight, or heavyweight Gis. Once you know that, you can use our Best BJJ Gi guide to figure out the absolute best options for you.

Does the color of your GI matter in BJJ?

It does not matter in terms of rank or status, but it is important to know that most Gi competitions adhere to IBJJF rules which only allow blue, black, and white Gis. Notice that variants like navy blue are also not allowed. Furthermore, some academies have strict Gi color rules, which sometimes even include placement and choice of BJJ Gi patches.

What’s better Gi or NoGi?

This is a highly individual thing, but the bottom line is that both are fun, have their advantages, and their drawbacks. In that sense, training in both is the best answer for anyone that is not yet a black belt.

What is the lightest BJJ Gi?

Most lightweight BJJ Gis feature a 300-400 GSM jacket, which pretty much defines them. However, the Atama Ultra Light is the lightest GI on the market, weighing in at just 2.6 lbs (1.2) kg.

Wrapping up

I think we can say that this wraps up our best BJJ Gi Patches guide. For now, at least. As I said, we’ll be updating it regularly as new patches appear on the market. However, they’ll need to meet all our criteria before we actually include them in our guide here. Until such time, take your pick and go customize your Gi to give yourself even more enjoyment while you’re’ on the mats.

The Giant Slayer From Down Under

Bringing Back The 50/50

“Leg Lock Anthology 50/50” – A Lachlan Giles Leglocks DVD

Volume 1

Volume 2

Volume 3

Volume 4

Volume 5

Volume 6

Volume 7

Volume 8

Conclusion

Understanding The BJJ Mount Position

The Inescapable Low Mount

Maintaining High Mount

Turning Escapes Into Attacks

Final Thoughts

The Positive Sides Of Dating A Fellow Grappler

Jiu-Jitsu Dating Gone Wrong: The Cons

A Few Useful Jiu-Jitsu Dating Rules

Wrap Up

The BJJ Belt System

Jumping The Line

Is The BJJ Belt System Still Valuable?

Summary

The BJJ Waiter Sweep

Why Stop There?

Back Attacks

X Guard

Leg locks

Leg Drag

Triangle

Conclusion

Why Everyone Loves Tom DeBlass

The DeBlass Leglock Pedigree

Tom De Blass DVD Instructional Review: “Leg Attack Domination”

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

In Summary

The First And Only BJJ Festival Of The Sort

World Jiu-Jitsu Festival Superfights Results

DAY 1 FULL RESULTS

DAY 2 FULL RESULTS

Upcoming Superfights To Look Forward To

Final Words

What is BJJ Lineage

How Important is BJJ Lineage Really?

Fake Black (And Other) Belts

Conclusion

Exercise As a Solution For Depression

BJJ And Depression – An Unexpected Form Of Therapy

BJJ Related Depression

Wrap Up

The BJJ Gi

How To Use BJJ Gi Patches

Best BJJ Gi Patches

Shaka BJJ Hand Patch

Drill to Kill Jiu-Jitsu Patch

“BJJ Grappling” Embroided Patch

Ronin – Shogun Heishi Gi Patch

USA/Brazil Jiu-Jitsu Patch

“Keep On Rolling” Shaka Patch

Eat, Sleep, Jiu-Jitsu Embroidered Gi Patch

Ronin BJJ Emperor Patch

How To Sew BJJ Gi Patches On

Frequently Asked Questions

Are patches allowed in IBJJF tournaments?

Where can you place patches on your Gi?

What size patches are the best?

What is the best GI for BJJ?

Does the color of your GI matter in BJJ?

What’s better Gi or NoGi?

What is the lightest BJJ Gi?

Wrapping up