Keenan Cornelius – The Lapel Encyclopedia DVD Review

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Keenan Cornelius DVD review of The Lapel Encyclopedia BJJ Instructional

One of the most intriguing characters in the entire BJJ universe has to be Keenan Cornelius. He is one of the most innovative and creative grapplers out there. He is a real pleasure to watch in competition and is one of the rare grapplers that are just as good in both Gi and No-gi Jiu-Jitsu. However, if there’s one thing Keenan is really known for it is his lapel guards. He is the person behind some of the craziest lapel systems in Jiu-Jitsu, along with the even crazier names he gives them. Now, he organizes all his knowledge into one all-encompassing resource – His “Lapel Encyclopedia” instructional. And we have an in-depth Keenan Cornelius DVD review of it ready for you.

If you’re interested in buying Keenan Cornelius’ Lapel Encyclopedia DVD/DIGITAL instructional you can find it HERE.

Keenan Cornelius - The Lapel Encyclopedia — Keenan Cornelius – The Lapel Encyclopedia Techniques List

Whether or not you are a fan of lapel guards, you have to admit that they are efficient. Actually, if you train BJJ seriously, you’re in one of two categories. You’re either obsessed with lapel guards and annoy everyone in your academy and in tournaments with them. The polar opposite is that you can’t stand lapel guards but you’re facing them all the time, so you need to figure out how to pass them. Regardless of which category you subscribe to, you need the “Lapel Encyclopedia” has it all, and the source is the creator himself. Check out our Keenan Cornelius DVD review to see what you can expect from this crazy Gi BJJ instructional!

A One-Of-A-Kind Grappler

Keenan Cornelius is a Hawaiian grappler that is a black belt under Andre Galvao. He is one of the most recognizable grapplers of our time, as well as one of the best heavyweights of all times. Keenan is a multiple-time European, Pans and No-Gi World Champion. He is also one of the best guard players in the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Keenan has been training since the age of 14. He switched academies pretty often, having trained with Carlos Valente, BJ Penn, Cassio Werneck and ultimately, Lloyd Irvin. Cornelius left Lloyd as a brown belt, opting for Galvao’s Atos, where he eventually earned his black belt.

Atos was actually Keenan’s main JIu-JItsu laboratory. He always had a very distinctive style, given his lanky build. However, instead of looking at stuff that works for him, Keenan it works for him. He is one of the greatest innovators in Jiu-Jitsu, particularly when it comes to Gi BJJ. Given that guard is his strongest position Keenan did a lot f experimenting. The results are nothing short of astonishing. He discovered different ways of using the lapels to set up variations on common guards. He then tested his stuff on the biggest JIu-JItsu stages around the world with great success.

Just recently, Keenan came into the spotlight by leaving the Atos time after years of training there. A reported bust-up with founder Andre Galvao was most likely the reason behind it. As a result, Keenan fought under the BJJ Globetrotters banner at the 2019 Mundials. Now, he is back in the spotlight with an instructional that has all fo his guard systems explained! It took some time to get this Keenan Cornelius DVD review down, given that the “Lapel Encyclopedia” ahs a total of 9 parts, but now it is finally here!

The Lapel Encyclopedia Keenan Cornelius DVD Review

I remember the first time I encountered the worm guard. I think I was a blue or purple belt at the time, and a fresh blue belt did it on me. Suffice to say I couldn’t pass no matter what I did. While I took consolation in the fact I didn’t get swept, my leg was dead after the ordeal, as a result of the lapel cutting off my circulation. From that moment on, I took notice of the worm guard and all other lapel guards by Keenan. During the years, he has managed to develop several, although no one got the attention of the BJJ public as much as the worm guard.

So far, Keenan has a total of 5 different lapel guard variation. All have wacky names the likes of the ringworm guard, the squid guard, etc. The one thing they have in common is that they all use lapels to varying degrees in order to be effective. The main point of Keenan’s lapel guards is to take guard retention out of the equation. If you wrap your opponent up tightly, you won’t have to worry about retention or guard recovery. This leaves you free to attack at will.

The “Lapel Encyclopedia” is an instructional that everyone that does Gi BJJ needs to own. It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of Keenan or lapel guards. If you’re to have any hope of dealing with these guards, you need to understand how they work. Unless you can prevent people from obtaining them, you won’t have much luck with passing them. And the best way to do that is by learning the guards. As you’ll see from our Keenan Cornelius DVD review, this is truly an Encyclopedia, containing literally all information Keenan has on all of the guard variations.

Chapter 1 – Opening Concepts

First of all, let’s get something clear. The “Lapel Encyclopedia” is a 9 part system that covers a very complicated guard strategy. This Keenan Cornelius DVD review is going to move through each DVD in the order Keenan provided. Unless you do the same, you won’t be able to achieve any success with it. The opening volume covers an introduction to the system. Keenan is one of the best Jiu=-Jitsu professors out there, which is why this instructional is the only one that can clear up lapel guard for you once and for all.

Chapter one, whether digital or in a DVD format, starts by covering the entire course content. Here, Keenan does an overview of the system, before moving on to explain gripping strategies and how lapel control works. Cornelius uses a very systematic approach to things, taking it one step at the time. After grips and lapel control, foot positioning is next. Here, you’ll learn what to do and what no to do when placing your foot inside lasso guards. The final portion of this first part covers intricate strategies of reaching the lapel from literally anywhere.

Chapter 2 – Guard Strategies

The second portion of the instructional picks off where the first one ended. Here, the focus is on the es3ential skills of the open guard game. One of the main entry points to high control lapel guards is the spider guard. This is exactly where Keenan starts in this chapter. The first few chapters start with foot placement, and how to use your legs to off-balance opponents format he spider guard. A few transitions int other guards follow, including the X guard, crab ride, single leg X, 50/50 and more.

One of Keenan’s brand new lapel guards, the squid guard makes a brief apprentice here as well. The extremely cool calf slicer setup from the spider guard using a foot under of balance is instantly going to become your favorite. A couple of sections covering the belt guard and belt grips concludes part 2 of this Keenan Cornelius DVD review.

Chapter 3 – Guard Recovery

As unlikely as it is that you’ll need to recover any of the lapel guards, there’s a whole section of recovery in the “Lapel Encyclopedia”. The reason for this is that the guards themselves are quite complex. Until you really get the hang of them, you’ll make mistakes, and Keenan offers multiple solutions in this chapter.

The basic motions he uses are the overhead leg swing and the under leg swing. Both of them are key to recovering the spider guard, or any lapel guard for that matter. Moreover, there’s a hugely impressive section in here on how to use lapels to build frames. This is a concept that is original not just to Keenan, but this instructional in particular.

What I really loved about this third part of the Keenan Cornelius DVD review is the focus on common mistakes. Cornelius goes over all the common errors like wrong foot placements, for example. He also offers great ways of dealing with strong guard passers particularly those that like the Torreando pass. The overhook and underhooks wrench, and the highly entertaining baby hooks concept complete this portion of the DVD. Well almost, as there’s also the section on escaping form a fully stacked position.

Chapter 4 – The Worm Guard

Finally, we’re getting to the core of this Keenan Cornelius DVD review. Part 4 is where things really start to happen. Here, Keenan covers the first of his 5 lapel guards, which is also his most famous one – the worm guard.

The chapter starts with some original style entries, starting basic and branching towards guards like the single leg X and Leg Lasso. Some key concepts of the guard itself get a lot of attention here. What you can expect to learn are the control points of the guard, as well as the secret to balance. Keenan also covers some weaknesses, so that you’re never caught unprepared. As expected sweeps follow suit, beginning with the “Very First Worm Guard Sweep Ever”. From there on, Keenan covers “emergency exits” from the worm guard, as well as some crazy back, takes you to need to see to believe.

The final portion covers spinning stuff, shin to shin guard and a great section on dealing with spazzers and people who do flips and cartwheels.

Chapter 5 – The Ringworm Guard

To be honest, I give this one the award for the best-named lapel guard out of the bunch. It is definitely something I’ve never seen before. It is also something that works, as unusual as it may seem. The ringworm guard is actually an upgrade on the worm guard. However, as Kennan himself;f says, it is not a worm guard, but a guard of its own.

The ringworm guard offers a few more sweeping options than the regular worm guard. Thos include elevation sweeps, knee stamp sweeps, De La X sweeps, etc. However, there are also a bunch of submissions available from here as well. The double under lapel wrench and Judo choke are perfect examples. A lapel triangle is also there to provide further options. As usual, the best is saved for last, with the Polish Worm Rider and associated sweeps concluding this part of the ‘Lapel Encyclopedia”.

This chapter was definitely one of the most entertaining parts of this Keenan Cornelius DVD review!

Chapter 6 – Reverse De La Worm Guard

Yeah, there’s more worm guard action yet in this “Lapel Encyclopedia” Keenan Cornelius DVD review! Similarly to the ringworm guard, the reverse De la Worm stems from the worm guard. As you can conclude it is a mix of the Worm and reverse De La Riva guards. While they’re both highly effective guards on their own, pairing them up makes them an insanely effective weapon.

The chapter follows the usual progression, starting with setups and continuing towards control and attacks. Back takes, armbars and some crazy sweeps like the Wormnado are in the spotlight here. There’s also some key information on using far nad near side lapels.

Chapter 7 – The Squid Guard

The squid guard is one of the latest guards to come out of Keenan’s workshop. Once again, this is a highly effective guard that very few people expect or know how to solve. As we’ve seen multiple times in this Keenan Cornelius DVD review, the chapter starts with an introduction. This guard actually requires a lengthier one, as there are many details to it. Still once that’s out of the way, attacking actually becomes simple.

The ankle pick is one move that’s extremely easy to get from the squid guard. Speaking of takedowns, there’s also a great entry to a double leg as well. An Inversion sweep from different angles provides advanced options of getting the top position. Some moves that are somewhat easier to execute are a squid guard Omoplata and the reverse lasso sweep.

Chapter 8 – The Gubber Guard

The Gubber guard is definitely one of the craziest things you’ll see in Jiu-Jitsu. To be honest, the first time I saw it was during this Keenan Cornelius DVD review. As such, I had no idea what to do with the information. The reason this guard is at the tail end of the “Lapel Encyclopedia” is that you need all the previous lkap[el guard knowledge to pull it off. Once you get it though, boy is it effective!

Across 8 different sections, Keanna breaks down what has to e his best lapel guard to date. This highly attacking guard that has some similarities to the rubber guard. Form the Gubber guard, submissions are far more numerous than sweeps. If you like to play a submission heavy game, this is the perfect guard form you. Some of the things you can set up from here are the Wormoplata, triangle, Monoplata, Canto choke, etc. Just for good measure, there’s a coo flower sweep variation at the end of this chapter too.

Chapter 9 – Submissions

The reason submissions didn’t feature very much throughout the previous chapters of the instructional is that Keenan has them all in one place. The final chapter covers the different and very creative ways in which you can tap people from the 5 lapel guards. Of course, the action starts with a Cornelius special in the form of the Wormhat choke. Lasso hook entries to the Omoplatta follow along with an awesome triangle setup. What I particularly enjoyed was the Baratoplata setup, which is different from what I’m used to. It is way more effective, though. Finally, an overhook armbar wraps up the submissions part and the “Lapel Encyclopedia” DVD in general.

Bonus Material

Okay, maybe there’s more of this Keenan Cornelius DVD than I originally led you to believe. BY purchasing the “Lapel Encyclopedia”, you also get further options. For example, there’s lots of bonus material on Keenan’s website you can get to, which updates regularly. Furthermore, there’s an app covering the Worm guard that’s also a highly useful tool. Finally, Keenan also includes deleted scenes and some bloopers from shooting the instructional.

Closing Thoughts

You don’t have to like Keenan, or lapel guards to know that the “Lapel Encyclopedia” instructional is a real must-have. As far as playing guard in the Gi goes, nothing can beat Keenan’s systems. Moreover. I really hope that’ he’ll also start working on some crazy No-GI stuff. After all, he is competing again at this year’s ADCC in two months time!

If you’re interested in buying Keenan’s Lapel Encyclopedia DVD/ONDEMAND instructional you can find it HERE.

Are Classic Bodybuilding Exercises For BJJ Worth Your Time?

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BJJ World

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Bodybuilding exercises for BJJ That Work

Grappling with a bodybuilder type dude that just walks through the doors is usually a lot of fun! Seeing them realize that muscle isn’t going to help them get out of chokeholds and leg locks are priceless. Until such a time you run into the bodybuilder type dude that actually knows how to grapple. Now, all of that muscle actually has a role to play and you’ll be into deep waters very quick. This raises the question when and how do bodybuilding exercise for BJJ athletes make sense and how you can make them work for you?

Being fit as a grappler is definitely going to make Jiu-Jitsu life easier. That said, it is not just about how strong and conditioned you are. The physical shape helps BJJ but it is not the end-all-be-all determinant. IF you can’t grapple you’re just another buff or jacked guy who only looks good if that. However, pair some good old strength with grappling knowledge and, most importantly good mobility and range of motion and you’ve got a winning formula. And the best exercises for BJJ strength might actually surprise you, at least when it comes to the modern-day strength and conditioning approach.

The Evolution (And Decline) Of “Functional Training”

No aspect of the martial arts world is spared from the usual cycles of popular crazes that go around. When it comes to strength training for martial arts, we seem to be coming full circle. At first, the notion was that even looking at weights is going to make you slow and useless at martial arts. Boxers of old used to run for miles and focus on jumping rope, while wrestlers we’re religiously devoted to bodyweight exercises.

Then, someone somewhere managed to get great results while doing martial arts and bodybuilding and it all became tangled. For a while there, particularly during the early days of MMA, fighters trained like bodybuilders for most of the time. Hre’s undeniable evidence that this yielded good results. However, people soon figured out that training like a bodybuilder is actually a full-time job. combining it with another full-time job in MMA only got people partially good at both. Not really the goal.

And so, the hunt for the holy grail of strength and conditioning for martial arts began. People did anything and everything claiming it helps, from kettlebells to suspended yoga. While there are undeniable results form any physical training aspect, most of them just don’t make any sense when it comes to grappling. Lying on a BOSU ball while holding a barbell with different loads in a “spider guard” position is the definition of a waste of time. What grapplers and fighters in general need, is simple. Strength, explosiveness, a good gas tank, and some mobility to go with it all.

This is exactly where we come full circle. AS it turns out, some of those old-school stapes of bodybuilding are actually the perfect exercises for BJJ. All you need to do is do them right, and remove all of the nonsense.

Bodybuilding For BJJ – The Good Stuff

Before we get into the bodybuilding exercises for BJJ that make sense, let’s take al look at physique building first. In the old days, before all the steroid madness, people actually had to eat right and lift like crazy. That meant that building a physique like Frank Zane was a 24/7 activity. And even then, you’d most likely end up looking nothing like him, unless you won the genetic lottery. So, bodybuilders found the shortcut – steroids. Insanely crazy schemes of supplementing turned eventually ended up with the “freaks” of bodybuilding we see today.

The thing with modern bodybuilders is that they have insane amounts of muscle mass and definition. However, they all start panting just by going up a flight of stairs. Now, I have no idea if Frank Zane ever grappled, but I bet he could hold his own if paired with a grappler. Any of the modern-day bodybuilding beasts that train and supplement in a very complex manner would have no chance. And that says plenty on the subject of efficient bodybuilding exercises for BJJ.

That said, certain exercises, like squats and deadlifts, are pretty much in everyone’s program nowadays. Well, news flash – these are also staples of bodybuilding as well! However, it is exercises like bench press, shoulder presses, and curls, to name a few, that get all the bad press. The simple answer is that every exercise can help you get better at BJJ. The secret is knowing how to use them.

Bench press

The bench press is probably the one exercise that gets the most unwarranted bad press. It is considered to be the number on “bro” exercise out there, and there is a certain truth to it. However, that’s only applicable if you do nothing else except lifting. If you are grappling, you can actually benefit greatly from the bench press and all of its variations.

The bench press is actually one of the best exercises for BJJ athletes. It is a compound move that works a bunch of different muscle groups. While the chest gets most of the attention, there’s also heavy involvement from the front shoulder muscles and the triceps. IN terms of grappling, being strong at a horizontal pushing movement is clearly a huge advantage. Whether you’re working from the bottom trying to escape, or attacking from the top, the bench press motion is used all over. The carryover from the bench press are numerous and extremely important in grappling. And you can’t get them just by squatting and deadlifting.

Shoulder press

The shoulder press or any shoulder exercise for that matter is also something most grapplers avoid. The notion is that you do not need to press anything over your head in BJJ, so why train it? Well, why do pullups and chin-ups make for such great exercises then? Arent’ they vertical pulling ones? The answer here is that the range of motion and use of our shoulder extends much further than just overhead pressing. And even then, this is a movement pattern grapplers and fighters need to be strong at.

The shoulder press, particularly military press with a barbell activates both your side and front deltoids, or shoulder muscles. Lateral, front and rear raise target every part of the shoulder muscle as well. In terms of grappling, any attempt on your part to fight off guard passes and finish throws and takedowns will include a lot of shoulder work. This is also true if you’re a fan of the front headlock position.

Biceps Curls

Another exercise that’s pretty much at the same “bro’ level of the bench press is the biceps curl. For a long time now, biceps curls are the marquee exercise of bodybuilding. Once again, if you’re using chin-ups, why not use different varieties of biceps curls as well? Give biceps curls on a TRX a try if you’re not a fan of weights and tell me that that pattern doesn’t apply to grapple.

The reason why curls are one of the best exercises for BJJ is the fact that they’re a multidimensional pulling motion. Grappling is much more pull-oriented as opposed to pushing, particularly in the Gi. So any pulling motion is hugely important, especially one that works at different angles. With curls, you can use different variations, from regular ones to hammer and reverse grip curls to greatly strengthen your pulling power, Furthermore, your grips and squeezing power on chokes will strengthen noticeably as well.

Triceps Exercises

The triceps pushdowns and extensions are arguably the one exercise that seems like it has nothing to do with athleticism. Well, you’re wrong! The triceps are hugely important for grapplers and fighters. They are muscles that are involved in both pushing and pulling movements, which makes them pretty unique. Imagine being really stuck in side control. We all know straight-up bench pressing won’t get you out of there because you need frames to create space. Now imagine a basic side control escape and where your arms are. Form there flip the position and you’ll find yourself right into a triceps pushup.

To make this clearer, the triceps play the most important role in any pushing movement in grappling, particularly off the back. In fact, the triceps initiate movements, and the bench press takes over, for the most part.

The Secret Ingredient

As you can see, bodybuilding exercises for BJJ are not as useless as most people think. However, if you decide to train like a bodybuilder, you won’t get lots of success. There are two main reasons for this. First, the workload bodybuilder can take is inhuman, thanks to all the juice they’re on. Next up, if you did body part splits like a bodybuilder you’d have to train 7 days a week just to get to everybody part! The real trouble with training like a bodybuilder for BJJ has to do with programming and not the exercises themselves.

In terms of organizing your workouts, the best way to get the most bang out of these exercises for BJJ is doing some basic splits. The best ways here are going for a push and pull day, or a lower and upper body day. If you ask me, I’d go for pus hand pull, and depending on how many times per week you can train, further split that into vertical and horizontal movements. This is going to allow you to have exercises and shorter workouts, meaning you’ll recover better. In terms of sets and reps, focus on your goals – muscle building, conditioning, pure strength, or explosiveness and set them accordingly.

In Summary

Bodybuilding exercises for BJJ are not useless. On the contrary, they’re the most proven way of getting stronger and more explosive. The only thing you need to consider is programming. Train smart and hard, use staple exercises, and keep things simple. This is the only proven way of actually getting better at martial arts as a result of strength training.

Best BJJ Strength And Conditioning Resources in 2021

Strength And Conditioning For BJJ – What Is Best For You?

Solving BJJ Strength And Conditioning Once And For All

Jiu-Jitsu Strength Methods – Powerlifting For BJJ

Grappling Strength Training – How To Train Isometric Strength

BJJ in UFC – Who Is the top Grappler In MMA?

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BJJ World

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Which MMA Fighter Has The Best BJJ in UFC

FC 1 and Royce is dominating everyone with a plain old white Gi and moves nobody has ever seen before. The talk spreads like wildfire and the next few events get even more attention. As expected, the competition also increases but Royce does it again, and again and again. Reading most fighters’ biographies today, you’ll get at least a third of them, if not more, that’ll state Royce Gracie as the reason they took up BJJ, MMA or any other martial art. Jiu-Jitsu is deep in the roots of MMA and is an integral art that’s always going to be key to the success of any fighter. However, some people manage to use grappling as an advantage. So much so, in fact, that it seems like they’re out of this planet when they’re in the Octagon. Speaking of that, who has the best BJJ in UFC nowadays?

There is definitely a resurgence of high-level Jiu-Jitsu in MMA these days. The game keeps evolving and changing, and at this point in time, it is in a phase that’s perfect for MMA. We are the witnesses of the second coming of BJJ In UFC. Some of the greatest names in grappling are already on the roster of the leading MMA promotion. Not to mention all the others fighting in different organizations, like Gary Tonon and Bellator champ Raphael Lovato. Certainly, a future to look forward to, as far as grappling in MMA is concerned.

Back to Roots

While some might argue that the resurgence of BJJ fighters getting UFC contracts is a throwback to the past, this could not be further from the truth. The Jiu-JItsu of today and the one that Royce used could not be more different. The reason BJJ is still providing fighters with a huge edge over opponents proves just how much the art has evolved. In fact, I will be so bold to claim that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the only are art you can’t do without if you’re an MMA fighter.

Currently, BJJ in UFC is at it’s strongest since the early days of the promotion. You can find high-level BJJ names from different generations all across the divisions. What’s even more impressive is that there are both male and female champions and contenders that owe a lot of their success to the Gentle Art. Today’s roster, though, is nothing like what we’ve seen before. Don’t get me wrong, there were always a few people hat were great at BJJ, but at a certain point in time, even they had to turn lots of their attention to striking.

Well, it is now a different time as MMA is going back to its grappling roots. We’ve seen some crazy good grappling performances in the Octagon as of late and more are sure to come. I mean, just take a look at some of the names on the UFC roster! This begs the question, which one of the fighters currently on the list boasts the right to claim they’re the greatest grappler in the UFC? We’ll take a look at who they are, and you decide who the best is!

The Fighters With The Best BJJ In UFC

What are the criteria we use to evaluate who has the best BJJ in UFC? Well, there are certain aspects that we need to take into account. Submission finishes, of course, rank very highly on the list. However, mat control, distance control, both offensive and defensive grappling also matters a lot. Moreover, even the background of certain fighters has to take into account, since come of theme hasn’t gotten to showcase all their grappling talent yet.

Demian Maia

Of course, a list of the best BJJ in UFC is going to start with one of the longest-serving fighters on the roster. He has been in the UFC since 2007 and has been fighting in MMA since 2001. So far, Maia has a record of 27-9 which is incredibly impressive. Moreover, he has won 13 of his fights via submission. Another hugely important stat is that Maia was for the longest time the UFC fighter that received less damage than anyone else on the roster! This is all down to how deadly efficient his BJJ is. Even though he is a part of the old generation, he is still a very formidable opponent and definitely one of the best grapplers in the world today. IS he still the best in the UFC though?

Brain Ortega

Now Brian is a real example of the new breed of MMA fighters that are extremely slick in modern JIu-Jitsu. ‘T-City” is known for his deadly submission skills, particularly off hf his back. In fact, “T-city” stands for “triangle city”, as he’s used this BJJ move to finish a bunch of his fights in the Octagon. Currently, with a record 14-1 (7 submissions), the featherweight is definitely on the rise. He is a Rener Gracie black belt and still trains regularly with the Gracies on a daily basis. HE is coming off his single loss from a championship bout against Max Holloway, but we’ll certain he’ll bounce right back up and provide another amazing grappling performance next time out.

Mackenzie Dern

Yeah, I bet you’ve forgotten all about her, didn’t you? Well, let me remind you that Dern is also on the UFC roster. One of the best ever female grapplers and certainly amongst those with eth best BJJ in UFC, Dern is fairly new to MMA. However, so far we’ve seen her submit 4 of her 7 opponents as she remains undefeated. Granted, most of those subs came outside the UFC, but who can forget her Imanari chocolate at Legacy? In the UFC, she has only one submission victory so far, along with a decision win. She is certain to keep the winning streak going, but we’ll have to be patient as she just had her first kid and will be away from the Octagon for a while at least.

Ryan Hall

Now, Ryan is an enigmatic character, if ever there was one. The Felipe Costa is a true example of the modern BJJ game. He is one of the original innovators in the leg locking department, particularly form the 50/50. He proved his skills to be effective at the highest level, recently submitting BJ Penn with one of his signature heel hooks. Currently, with a record of 8-1, Ryan has 3 submission wins and only one decision loss outside of the UFC. A similarity Hal land Maia share is that they both evolve from having the best BJJ in UFC to very deadly strikers. If his last outing is anything to judge by, Ryan is now just as much of a threat kicking, as he is on the mats.

Fabricio Werdum

Old school, legend, former champion… there are plenty of things you can say about Fabricio Werdum. He is already part of MMA history, as the first man to end Fedor’s streak back in Strikeforce. A very anticipated combat Jiu-Jitsu match between him and Ryan got scrubbed because of Ryan’s injury, leaving us wanting to see more of the Brazilian. The 4x World BJJ champion, European Jiu-JItsu champion and tow time ADCC heavyweight champion is certainly one of the best grapplers ever! With a record of 23-11 (11 submissions) Werdum ahs one of the highest submission rates in UFC history.

Werdum hasn’t fought for over a year now, since his loss to Alexander Volkov in 2018. Still, it will be some time until we see Werdum back in the Octagon. He is currently under suspension by USADA until 2020. His submission win over Fedore (triangle choke) remains one of the greatest submissions and upsets in MMA history!

Charles Oliviera

Charles Oliviera is a UFC fighter who has a reputation of being extremely dangerous off his back. But that is not the full extent of his grappling knowledge. With a 27-8 record and 11 submission victories to his name, Oliveira also has 6 performance of the night bonuses in the UFC as well. This makes him one of the most entertaining MMA fighters that have ever stepped inside the octagon. AS scary and effective as Oliveira is, his claim to have the best BJJ in UFC might be scuppered by the fact that he has a wild fighting style. This often gets him in trouble, and he has been submitted on several occasions.

Nate Diaz

Nate Diaz is the one p[erosn out there that has the most underrated grappling game without a doubt! His attitude and overall behavior in and outside the octagon is so overwhelming that people forget how good he is on the ground. His elite-level boxing skills also do not allow his BJJ to really shine through on most occasions. When the time comes to grappler, though, Nate has one of the best BJJ games in the history of the UFC. Remember that rear-naked choke that handed McGregor his first-ever Octagon loss? AS a matter of fact, Diaz has 11 submission victories out of his 19 wins. The 2^nd degree Cesar Gracie black belt still has a lot more entertainment to offer.

Jussier Formiga

Relatively new, Formiga is in the same category as Nate, with people usually not paying attention to his ground game. Well, sleeping on the flyweight’s BJJ skills is a costly mistake, as proven 10 times so far, which is the number of his submission victories ins MMA. Holding an impressive 23-6 record, Formiga is a high-level BJJ and Judo black belt who particularly enjoys choking people out. Victories over Sergio Patis, Wilson Reis, and Scot Jorgensen just solidify the 33-year old’s pedigree. He is coming off his second loss to Joseph Benevidez though and is probably going to have to get back to the drawing board before he gets a shot at Henry Cejudo’s title. In terms of the Best BJJ in UC, though, Formiga is definitely among the top contenders!

Brushing up on your wrestling skills? Whether it is for BJJ, MMA or straight-up wrestling Lerningfrom an Olympic champion like Henry Cejudo is your absolute best bet! His “HIgh-Level Takedowns” DVD Instructional is one of the best out there!

Tony Ferguson

A recently promoted 10^th Planet black belt, Ferguson is a real machine when it comes to grappling. Faithful to the Eddie Bravo strain of Jiu-JItsu he has an incredible bottom game, particularly when it comes to the rubber guard. He is, however, and extremely well-rounded fighter with amazing boxing skills and a solid wrestling base. AS far as fighting style goes (including grappling) Tony is by far one of the most creative fighters to ever fight in the UFC. His signature move is the D’arce choke, a submission he has pulled off plenty of times in the octagon. In fact, his record stands at 25-3, with 8 submission victories and 12 Kos. All that’s missing is for that elusive Khabib fight to actually take place.

Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza

Back at the 2004 Mundials, tow of the top BJJ prospect of the time, Roger Gracie and Ronaldo Souza met in the final of the open weight division. Roger got an extremely tight arm lock on Jacare but the Brazilian battled on. Ultimately he won the match and the World title. As it turned out, his arm was broken all along from that arm lock attempt. Soon after this legendary performance, Jacre switched his attention to MMA. Since 2006 he has amassed a 26-7 record with a total of 14 submission wins!.

As of 2013, he is on the UFC roster and making the chase of having the best BJJ in UFC history. So far, he has submission victories over the likes of Chris Camozzi, Gegard Mousasi, Tim Boetsch, and many others. The 8xWorld Champion and ADCC champ is still active, coming off a decision loss to Jack Hermnasson in April of this year. 4 Performance of the night, 2 fight of the night and one submission of the night are evidenced enough of how entertaining and dangerous Jacare is. One of my personal all-time favorites when it comes to grapplers in MMA.

Kron Gracie

Finally, a look at the future of BJJ in the UFC. Kron is the son of BJJ, Vale Tudo and MMA legend Rickson Gracie. A black belt since the age of 19, Kron has won pretty much everything there is in the grappling world. His transition into MMA came in 2014. Since then, he has the perfect professional record of 5 wins and no losses. Oh, and all of his wins in MMA came via submissions. The first few fights took place in Rizin, but his last one in February of 2019 was his UFC debut. In it, he got a rear-naked choke victory over Alex Caceras in the first round of the bout.

In fact, none of Kron’s MMA fights so far has progressed past the first round. While his UFC career is just beginning, it certainly looks very promising. WeE can’t wait to see the likes of him and Mack3enzie do what they do best in the octagon in the years to come.

Conclusion

To be honest, BJJ never really left MMA. Yea, striking and wrestling did take over the mantel of mandatory skills. However, but with the evolution of Jiu-Jitsu, the comeback is clearly in full effect. Just take a look at the who is who of grappling that are making real strides in MMA. One name we didn’t mention before and who definitely has a claim to make in terms of the best BJJ in UIFc is Rodolfo Vieira. He is another grappling standout who just signed for the promotion and is yet to have his first official fight. Who do you think is the fighter with the best grappling toolkit on the UFC roster at the moment?

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What Are The Best BJJ Tournaments In The World?

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BJJ World

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What Are The Best BJJ Tournaments to Compete In

We’re bang in the middle of summer which is as close to off-season as we can get in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. There is still the odd tournament here and there, mostly local, but nothing major is taking place at the moment. This is the perfect time for you to sit down and decide where exactly you want to compete next season When you start planning your training camp why not focus on the best BJJ tournaments in the world? After all, the local scene is always going to be there, whether you plan on competing or not. The biggest grappling tournaments in the world, on the other hand, require some careful planning and dedication. Let’s see what your options are in the upcoming “BJJ season”.

Competing in BJJ is fun when you win. Let’s be completely honest for a moment there. “You either win or you learn” is a great crutch to fall back on whenever you miss out in a tournament. In fact, I’ll talk more about this quote in a dedicated article real soon. However, the real cold truth is that losing sucks big time! Everyone wants to be a champion, and just as equally, everyone hates losing! That said, competing at the biggest and best BJJ tournaments in the world is even more rewarding when you win. Still, getting to that podium is anything but easy and will require some no-nonsense preparation. The best thing you can do is known what the best tournaments in the season are, and when they’re taking place so that you can decide your battlegrounds well in advance.

Choosing BJJ Tournaments

There are no real criteria for choosing a BJJ tournament to compete in. Any tournament experience is worth about as much as a year spent training in an academy. Still, if you’re not a complete beginner you need to answer a few questions when you’re thinking about signing up for the best BJJ tournaments around.

The first thing you need to consider is whether you’re going to compete in Gi or No-Gi. Competing in both is an option, but not at the best possible Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournaments. The reason for this is that there are so many competitors in the best tournaments, that there’s no way they could fit in both Gin ad No-Gi matches. In fact, most of the best BJJ tournaments we’ll list later on are multi-day events with thousands of people participating. Which bring us to the second question you need to answer.

Once again this depends on skill level. However, you might not actually have a huge say in this one. BJJ tournaments are divided into open tournaments and professional ones. The professional ones might have an open bracket system and high-level invitation-only matches, or be exclusive invitation-only events. To get an invite, you’ll need to build a name for yourself in the open tournament circuit first. The thing is, most pros still compete at the biggest open-style tournaments, so you might just end up testing yourself against a legend there.

The final question you need to answer has to do with location. What makes certain Jiu-Jitsu tournaments stand out in comparison to others is the number of competitors that sign up. Those tournaments are in spots that might turn out to be quite far away, like the Brazilian Nationals. Also, some tend to switch countries every time, making it near impossible for you to participate.

The Best BJJ Tournaments For Everyone

Time to take a look at some of the best BJJ tournaments around. We’ll start things off with the open-style tournaments that everyone can sign up for. To that extent, remember that there are not many promotions out there that can put together massive events. The IBJJF and UAEJJF are a couple that pretty much rule the tournament scene, particularly when it comes to Gi Jiu-Jitsu. However, we have to mention the ADCC here as well, although we’ll talk more about it in a dedicated section.

1. The IBJJF Worlds

If there’s one measure of recognition out there it has to be whether you’re a world champion or not. Saying you’re e a world champion in any sport means you’re the absolute best. In terms of Jiu-Jitsu though, it is not as easy. Still, the one tournament that’s guaranteed to provide the most competition is this one. It is held in Long Beach, California and is usually the last tournament of the “BJJ in season” taking place in early summer. The IBJJF world, or Mundials, are a true measurement of who the best grappler is so far, with the current leader being Marcus ‘Buchecha” Almeida with 7 weight class and 6 open class titles to his name.

Oh, and if you’re a black belt, you might want to know that a prize of $4.000-7.000 is available for the winner of each weight class, with $10.000 going to the winner of the open weight.

2. IBJJF Europeans

This is arguably the second biggest competition in the world when it comes to open-style Gi tournaments. The reason why it is so huge is that most people from the US still travel to compete here. In comparison, not many Europeans make it to the Pans. Clearly, someone is going to place the Pans before the Europeans, but the numbers speak differently. So far, only the Mundials have more competitors than the Euros. In certain years it even surpasses the Mundials.

The IBJJF European Championships take place in January of every year, always in Lisbon, Portugal. This is a 5-6 day event that has all fo the biggest names competing regularly. It is also where new talent, particularly in the purple and brown belt divisions gets to shine. IF you’re really serious about competing at the best BJJ tournaments in the world then you might want to consider the Europeans as your first real big test.

3. IBJJF Pan Ams

The Pan Ams are pretty much the Euros American counterpart. That said, they tend to have fewer participants but are not really too far behind. The Pan Ams is also a multi-day event, stretching to 5 or 6 days. They are the second-largest tournament that takes place in North America and the only one that hosts both Gi and No-Gi matches at the same time. Historically speaking, the Pan Ams was the first tournament to take the sport global back in the 90s. You can expect every high-level balk belt you’d see at the Mundial and the Euores to feature here as well. Once again, breakthrough talents make sure to sign up for this one, so if you see yourself as one of them, make sure you do not miss it! Usually takes place in March.

4. The Brazilian Nationals

Before the Mundails were established, there was no bigger tournament than the Brazilian Nationals. Up to this day, the Brazilian Nationals remain one of the best BJJ tournaments around and are certainly one of the oldest. Campeonato Brasileiro might not offer as much competition as the Pans and Euros, but the level of quality is extremely high. What you can expect there are some of the greatest grapplers that are still not world-class names and can’t afford o travel across the world. There’s no easy day there and provided you can get to Brazil, you’re in for some of the toughest grappling matches of your life. The tournament used to take place in Rio, but from 2013 onwards it is based out of Barueri. It usually takes place in mid-spring (April).

5. UAEJJF – Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Cup

The UAEJJF is the IBJJF’s main competitor, providing alternate venues at the highest levels of grappling. It has pretty much the same ruleset and setup as the IBJJF, with some notable differences in organization and weight classes. For starters, competitors rank not only individually but also by country as opposed to the IBJJF’s individual and team rankings. Moreover, UAEJJF has weigh-ins the day before the event, which is a much better approach according to most people.

The World Pro Jiu-JItsu cup is the UAEJJF’s equivalent of the IBJJF worlds. It is held in the Mubadala Arena in Abu Dhabi every year and takes place around April. It is a Gi tournament that features pretty much every huge name in grappling, both male and female. The reason this is one of the best BJJ tournaments around is that it is not only open but also offers huge cash prizes, the total sum of which is around the $500k mark.

6. UAEJJF – Abu Dhabi Grand Slam

Another huge UAEJJF event and one of the best BJJ tournaments in the world is the Abu Dhabi Grand Slam This is pretty much the Abu Dhabi Pro Jiu-jitsu Cup on the road. Instead of being based solely in Abu Dhabi, the Grand slam travels around the world. Events take place in Tokyo, L.A. Rio De Janeiro, and London. Apart from the white belts, all other competitors receive cash prizes for winning their divisions. This is the perfect tournament for you to test yourselves as an up and comer, particularly in the lower belt divisions.

7. The ADCC

The ADCC, or Abu Dhabi Combat Club, or the unofficial Olympics Of Jiu-Jitsu is an event that takes place every two years. It is a NO-Gi only event that has a very specific ruleset which is unique to this competition only. It is also the arguably toughest tournament to compete in. there are no real distinctions between belts, with only a beginner and an advanced category. Moreover, most of the competitors for the main event brackets of 16 are invited. Only six of the places are open for grabs, and you need to win a continental ADCC qualifier to get one of the spots.

Thee qualifiers or trials are held throughout the world during the intermission between two ADCCs. The best of the best is a part of the bracket, and the competition switches countries every time. Since 2019 is an ADCC year, we’re all stoked for this years edition that’s scheduled to take place in L.A, in September. $10.000 for every winner of a division is certainly a good enough reason to sing up!

8. IBJJF No-GI (Worlds And Euros)

Wrapping up open-style tournaments are a couple of competitions that offer a platform for everyone that’s not a huge fan of Gi JIu-Jitsu. Just like their gi counterparts, the IBJJF World and European tournaments are multi-day events that take place at the same time each year. The Euros are held in March and take place in Rome. The Worlds are held in the US and take place in winter. No cash prizes are available but the level of competition is just as good as in the Gi tournaments if not better. The ruleset si somewhat restrictive compared to the ADCC, but then again, these events do take place yearly and there are o qualifiers needed in order to participate.

The Best BJJ Tournaments For Professional Grapplers

Apart from all the open-style tournaments, where just about anyone can sign up, there are also professional grappling tournaments. For the most part, you need an invite to get into one of these, at least when it comes to the main card. These are often structured similarly to MMA events, with preliminary cards and main cards. The prelims might feature an open-style tournament, but they’re also often by invite only. The good news is that blue, purple and brown belts feature regularly in these, so there are divisions for everyone!

1. EBI – the Eddie Bravo Invitational

When it comes to the best BJJ tournaments out there that are invitation-only and can provide you with cash prizes, EBI is on the very top! The only way to participate is to get an invite. However, the good news is that Bravo is not only on the lookout for well-established black belts. Those training in 10^th planet get a fair shot trough a qualifier that guarantees them a spot. Often times, there are high level purple and brown belts that really do make an impact. EBI is a NO-Gi, submission only tournament with unique overtime rounds that have actually changed the landscape of professional Jiu-JItsu. As of alate, combat jiu-Jitsu, where slapping is allowed has taken over form pure grappling in EBI events. If you’re about to give MMA a try, you simply have to get through one of these.

2. Polaris Pro

Polaris is the oldest professional tournament of the bunch here. It is based out of England and is Europe’s longest-running professional BJJ tournament. The format includes both Gi and No-GI matches, and it features all kinds of competitors and not only high-level black belts. There have been 10 events o far, with Polaris 11 looming on the horizon, set for August 31, 2019. Preliminary bouts last 10 minutes and the main card ones are 15-minute matches. Victory is available both via submission and a judges’ decision.

3. Fight 2 Win Promotions

Fight 2 Win Promotions are fast becoming one of the leading pro-grappling promotions in the world. With well over a hundred events, they offer a great platform for both seasoned professionals, and those looking to venture into pro BJJ. F2W provide both open tournaments at a local and national level, as well as high-level super fights. The tournament is single elimination style, and it is submission only. Unlike other tournaments, it offers high-level Judo and even wrestling super-fights and tournaments within the same card as Jiu-JItsu ones.

4. Kasai Pro

Another of the best BJJ tournaments around. It is yet another submission-only professional Jiu-Jitsu tournament which is an invitation-only. Once again, some of the biggest names in grappling have shared the Kasi stage. The ruleset is different to most others, with several rounds taking place, similarly to MMA, the winner of the majority of rounds usually gets the nod, with submission being the preferred way of victory, of course. There’s a two-round-robin bracket-style tournament in every event, along with the main card of super fights.

Notable Mentions

I think we pretty much covered all the best BJJ tournaments that are worth your time and effort. If you can compete in at least one of the above during the season, you’ll gain massive experience, and, who knows, possibly even a title. If you can get to a few of them, you’re BJJ is going to skyrocket. That said, the local competition scene is not something you need to shun completely. Local tournaments are a great way to prep for one of the best BJJ tournaments and get in the right gear. To that extent, we’ll mention a few more tournaments that might be worth your time.

IBJJF Asian Open

IF you find yourself in Asia, the top BJ tournament you can go for is the IBJJF Asian Open Championship. It is something like the Pans and Europeans, only for the region of Asia. Similarly to other major IBJJF tournaments, the Asian Open features grapplers from all around the world. The vent now takes place in Tokyo every year, although it has also been held in Bangkok, Qatar, and Jordan before.

Masters Tournaments

For all of you BJJ enthusiasts that find yourself on the “wrong” side of 30, the best BJJ tournaments come in the form of master’s tournaments. To that extent, there are masters edition of just about every major IBJJF tournaments, like the Mundials, Europeans and Even No-Gi tournaments. The competition here is going to be a lot less compared to the regular editions, but this is just what certain people are after. If you are 40 and only do BJJ as a hobby, but would like to test yourself against the best of a similar age, masters tournaments are definitely a great option!

Modern Day BJJ Tournaments

Finally, a word on all the innovative new grappling tournaments that are fast becoming the best BJJ tournaments in the world. The quintet 5 v. 5 team tournaments definitely the most famous one, with events taking place around the world. The best part about it is that they feature grapplers of all levels, from white to black. Fight 2 win promotion’s SUBVERSIVE is another brand new tournament in a team vs team style that’s bound to catch on too and is worth considering.

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BJJ Competition Training: How To Prepare Like The Best

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BJJ World

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BJJ Competition Training: How To Prepare Like The Best

Do you know what the difference is between your competition prep and that of Gordon Ryan? Okay, he has unlimited access to Danaher, Renzo Gracie, and world-class facilities. But that’s not the point. The point is in the manner in which he prepares for every competition. There’s no one way of preparing for all competition. You need to understand that BJJ competition training si highly specific a very precise structure. Now, you might not have the same access as Ryan, but you can most certainly organize your training you in the best shape of your life. All you need is to follow a few simple steps.

You do not have to be a professional athlete to train like one. Of course, unless you put in the same amount of time as they do, you’ll never reach their level. However, at your own level, which is usually amateur for BJJ folks, you can be a real force to be reckoned with. You just need to adopt the mindset of a champion, and more importantly, the BJJ competition training system of one. All lt takes is a few tweaks to your usual training routine and you’ll suddenly turn into a monster on the mats.

Underestimating Jiu-Jitsu Competitions

If you have ever competed in a grappling tournament in your life, you know that you most likely underestimated your first ever one. The main error most people do is to keep underestimating the difficulty and demands of BJJ tournaments. Yeah, the old “I’m here to learn” quote is always there as an excuse. However, the truth is that nobody likes to go to a tournament and lose, whether it is the first match or the final. So, if you really want to compete, why not take things seriously from the get-go?

The first thing people do when it comes to competitions is inadequate BJJ competition training. Yes, there is such a thing as specific competition training. And no, you most likely won’t be able to train like that yea round. We’ll go further into how specific BJJ competition training should be organized later. For now, let’s see where people fail most of the time. And it is not on the day of the competition.

If there’s one quote that actually reflects BJJ tournaments it is the one stating “The hardest part of a competition is training”. Unfortunately, most grapplers try and do completely opposite to this. A regular BJJ class I just that – a class. It is just like in school – there’s only so much new things you can pick up in class. Unless you put a specific time in to understand things, you’ll have mediocre results at best. That’s why BJJ competition training is not called class, but training. It is much different than class and focuses on only one thing – getting you ready to fight. That said, this needs to be the most difficult time of your life if you’re to have an easy one when you step on those mats.

A Proven BJJ Competition Training Formula

So, how do all these world-class grapplers organize their BJJ competition training? To be honest, there is a whole host of ways you can do it. However, three are some underlying principles and organization schemes that everyone uses. Well at least everyone who takes things seriously. Remember that getting ready for a BJJ tournament is very hard. The point of it is to get you ready for any eventuality out there, and have you deal with things with a calm head.

As far as organizing your BJJ competition training, remember that you won’t need any special facilities or additional time in the academy. Moreover, you’ll need to let the your instructor know that you’re interested in getting yourself ready the right way. Most instructors out there understand BJJ competition training and are integral in helping you prepare the right way. The same holds true for like-minded training partners.

Create A Camp

The one key difference between everyday training and BJJ competition training is organization. If you’re serious about competing, then you’ll need to create a training camp a specific competition or an entire season of them.

A training camp starts with you identifying the tournament(s) you’d like to compete in. The first step is organizing your trip and stay, as well as registering for the tournament(s). The rally important moment here is to understand weight classes and pick the right one for you, as you’ll most likely need to cut some weight.

Only after you’ve signed up for the tournament, can you start working on technical preparation? First and foremost, you’ll need to pick your training partners. The first condition is that they’re in the same mindset as you and are willing to really push. The second, the more your training partners can torture you on a daily basis, the better. So pick the best ones if you want to be the best. Once that is in line, make sure you’re willing to drill more than you’ve ever done before. While people are doing techniques in class, you’ll be doing drills. You’ll also be doing them after class as well. In fact, drills and specific sparring should be the majority of your technical work during a camp.

Have A Game Plan

This is something that somehow most people miss. Having a training camp means nothing if you have no game plan. If you have no idea what you’re going to do from every possible position, and what your strongest moves are, then there’s no point in getting ready for a tournament. Instead, focus on discovering what your best game is. That said if you’re already aware of what you like to do, then sit down with your instructor and organize you’re “A” game plan.

Right after you do that, it is time for the most important part of this step – developing your “B” or contingency game plan. As you know, things in grappling do not always go as planned. In fact, they most often take unpredictable turns. You’ll need to develop a contingency plan, or a couple of them, to help you cope with every new situation that arises. This will keep you calm and remove panic as a factor giving you an actual edge over opponents.

Analyze Tape

This here is one of those things the best of the best do as part of BJJ competition training. Analyzing tape is a real classic when it comes to contact martial arts. However, it is not just about analyzing your opponents. To be honest, if you’re a blue belt competing at a local tournament, you’ll be hard-pressed to find much tape or info on potential opponents. The more advanced you are, and the bigger the tournament is, the more information you’ll have on potential opponents. Once again, get your instructor to help you analyze tape and figure out how to adjust your game plan if needs.

Another aspect of analyzing tape is watching at the matches of high-level grapplers. To that extent, you need to watch those grapplers you’re trying to emulate or have a similar build/game plan to yours. The other aspect here is to watch what people tend to do in tournaments. Knowing what is the latest “craze” is the perfect way of being ready for anyone you meet.

Do Your Homework

My professor once told us that training BJJ is what we do in the gym. Every other aspect of training, like strength and conditioning, mobility and recovery and nutrition is your homework. I have lived by this concept since the moment I heard it. That means that while you’re in the academy, focus on grappling. Drill, roll, spar, talk about your gameplan, watch the tape, etc. When it comes to training strength and conditioning, or even stretching for that matter, do it at home or a gym. Also, remember that the technical part of training is much more important than strength and explosiveness. That said, you have to be in great shape to get through a bunch of matches at a tournament. There’s no BJJ competition training camp without a good strength and conditioning program

Nutrition is also a huge factor here. Remember that you do not only need to eat right to be able to train right, but you’ll also need to cut weight. That means that you’ll have to plan your nutrition in advance so that you are at the right weight on time. Otherwise, you’ll risk losing energy and focus if you deplete yourself too much during the last few days.

Train Takedowns

The fact that I need to emphasize this as a specific point of a BJJ competition training camp is a testament to how much we underestimate takedowns in BJJ. The more you can start rolls from the feet, the better. Moreover, make sure you also spend a good amount of time drilling takedowns and doing specific sparring. You’ll need to develop both great offense and impeccable defense if you want to be able to become a high-level champion. Don’t forget that competition preparation means you’re training for a specific ruleset. To that extent, make sure you finish every takedown drill in a strong and stable position and hold it until you get points. This is a habit you have to develop, particularly if you’re competing in a points system.

Pick A Corner

This aspect of BJJ competition training is actually something you need to consider at the very beginning. Whenever you compete you want to have someone in your corner that’s going to guide you through every match. Whether it is one person or a few, you can’t do it without a corner. When picking a corner, make sure you pick people that understand your game plan, know your weaknesses and have competition experience. The corner can point out things that you simply can’t see from your perspective, and which may change the course of a fight. Without a good corner, every other aspect of a BJJ camp is pretty much useless.

Give ‘Em Hell!

As you can see BJJ competition training is not easy. If you remember, this is exactly the way we like it to be. The point of training in such a manner as to get all the hard stuff out of the way before you even pack for a tournament. Training camps are the best way of organizing your training in a way that’ll benefit you the most. If you manage to organize your training in the way we outlined above, or a similar one, you’re setting yourself up to succeed.

Once again, remember that training in such a manner is not something you should do year-round. A training camp is a perfect time to polish your best techniques and train them to perfection. However, you can’t actually learn or try anything new during this time. Going into unknown territory is going to take away from your focus and from drilling your game plan. That said, at one point or another you’ll also have to do classes if you want to keep evolving as a grappler. That means that the concept of an in-season and off-season that most sports use is also a great one for BJJ. Since tournaments are around all year long, you have the option to figure out when is the best time to go compete, and when you should fall back into student mode. Now give ‘em hell!

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Logan Stieber DVD: “The Armbar Blueprint” Review

By

BJJ World

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Logan Stieber DVD: “The Armbar Blueprint”

Have you ever heard the term bar arm? If so, then you should know that it is not a typo but actually a staple move in wresting. That said, armbars or bar arms are very similar things in wrestling. However, they’re very different from the usual Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu armbars that we’re used to. These underrated wrestling moves are actually a great addition to anyone’s BJJ, given how few people use them correctly outside of wrestling. And learning them is now as easy as picking up “The Armbar Blueprint” Logan Stieber DVD instructional.

ON SALE HERE:
Logan Stieber – The Armbar Blueprint (DVD/DIGITAL)

A Review Of The Logan Stieber DVD: “The Armbar Blueprint” — Techniques List

For most of us that are not heavily involved in the grappling world, the name Logan Stiebermight is not a recognizable one. Before looking at his instructional. I had no idea who he is as well. To be honest I never really researched him as I got this one – I liked the subject matter. After going through the first volume, I immediately looked him up. As it turns out, it is no by chance that this Logan Stieber DVD bears the name “The Armbar Blueprint”. He is probably the first person alive to explain to you how traditional wrestling armbars work and how you can integrate them into your BJJ game.

World Champion-Level Wrestling

Logan Stieber is a 28-year-old wrestler who has had an impressive career so far. The Ohio born wrestler first competed for Monroeville High School before representing Ohio State. During his time there, he got 4 NCAA titles to his name and built a reputation as a fearsome folkstyle and freestyle grappler. Moreover, he also has a world championship title to his name as well as a world cup and numerous other accolades like Pans.

Stieber is the most decorated wrestler to ever represent Ohio State University to this day. He is also the man that lead the Ohio State Buckeyes team to their first-ever team national championship. Suffice to say, he is a real machine on the mats. His NCAA career ended with an impressive record of 119 wins and just 3 loses. After representing Team USA in 2017 Stieber retired in April of this year. At the moment his focus is on teaching wrestling. Whether or not he’ll dabble in MMA or grappling remains to be seen. However, until such a thing is clear, “The Armbar” Blueprint” Logan Stieber DVD is certainly one way of staying active after retirement. On top of being a coach at Ohio, of course, because they’d be crazy to let him go!

A Different Kind Of Armbar

Speaking of wrestling armbars, let’s make certain things clear. The armbar (or bar arm) in wrestling is not a submission move but rather a control one. It has nothing to do with the takedown portion of wrestling and everything to do with pinning. That said, the armbar knowledge you can get from wrestling can double as both pins and submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Even more importantly, these types of armbars are going to make your transition seamlessly between positions that are not very easy to connect in BJJ.

“The Armbar Blueprint” Logan Stieber DVD is a perfectly balanced instruction that’ll provide you with both basics and a few key advanced concepts. To that extent, wrestlers usually use armbars to help them achieve pins or rides. Wrestlers usually do armbars from the back, looking to immobilize an arm so that they can handle an opponent more easily. The ultimate goal is removing a much-needed limb in order to be able to achieve a pin and get the victory. As such, the armbar can help you unlock certain turtle and top position transitions and attacks that are otherwise not available in Jiu-JItsu.

Logan Stieber DVD Review – “The Armbar Blueprint”

“The Armbar Blueprint” Logan Stieber DVDis a carefully put together instructional that is suitable for grapplers of all levels. It contains information equally as important to both writers and other grapplers. In fact, even MMA fighters will find something in here that’ll be of use to them. The instructional has two volumes, and each is about an hour long. The way the material is organized is from absolute basics and heading towards some more advanced stuff. Everything is 100 % effective and has been tried and tested by Logan himself.

The first volume contains 9 chapters, starting with an introduction. Most of this DVD focuses on near wrist rolls, which is something that I’ve been using to great success in BJJ lately. Some more recognizable BJJ style armbars also make an appearance in this one. Part two moves to some more specific stuff, like leg-in armbars and some Stieber signature moves. This second volume has 7 chapters

Part 1

As this Logan Stieber DVD opens, the introduction takes care of information on both Logan himself and the wresting armbar. DO not expect a long-winded, BJJ-style introduction. After all, Stieber is a wrestler and likes to be quick and efficient. A head lever to armbar is the first technique and it is the best way of explaining what the armbar is all about in the sport of wrestling. Logan offers a complete breakdown of the move and possible applications here.

Going forward, “The Armbar blueprint” DVD 1 goes into the wrist armbars. This is a way of completely rendering an arm useless, by multiple different means of control. the goal is to keep the arm either extended or bent, but almost always behind the opponent’s back. A few near wrist rolls that Logan demonstrates are the perfect example of how effective this move is. A signature Stieber tilt is also there, and it’ll help you deal with turtled opponents a lot. A very cool helicopter armbar is also among the techniques in this portion of the instructional.

Part 2

The second portion of the instructional, albeit shorter in the number of chapters, does not fall behind in running time. That just means you get more explanation in different chapters, and you’ll need it. The moves here are a step further than the ones demonstrated in the first volume. First up are leg-inс aнd explanations of how armbars can help. To put things into perspective, think of cradles. Virtually these moves are going to help you control an arm, while you include a leg in the mix as well. In other words, you’ll learn how to wrap up opponents in very uncomfortable ties.

For me, the figure-four armbar was really something else. It is in th middle of this instructional and is one of those moves I wish I knew of years ago. Sticking to his signature stuff, Logan also demonstrates the Stieber roll, another move of his own making. Of course, it is quick, unstoppable and 100 % effective. Threading the needle roll precedes a portion on some of the best ground fighting moves wrestling has to offer – claws. A wrist tilt and a roll from a claw are the moves Stieber covers here, wrapping up this awesome instructional.

Conclusion

Although this is a wrestling instructional, the moves in it are more than applicable in BJJ. I’ve managed to execute them after watching this Logan Stieber DVD only a couple of times. Moreover, they work perfectly in both No-Gi and Gi. In fact, they might even be more effective with the Gi, as there’s no way an arm can slip out. “The Armbar Blueprint” is the one DVD that is going to be your secret weapon if you’re a BJJ grappler.

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Yoga For Grapplers Nicolas Gregoriades Instructional Review

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BJJ World

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Yoga For Grapplers Nicolas Gregoriades instructional

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, as I’ve said on multiple occasions before, is quite a lazy martial art. In fact, it may be more demanding on the mind as opposed to the body at times. Well, at least in terms of intensity. That doesn’t mean that JIu-Jitsu is easy to do, or that you’ll get away pain free. In all honesty, if there was ever a martial art that needed complementary mobility and flexibility work it is BJJ. Now, both this aspect as well as a strength and conditioning one are available in the form of the “Yoga For Grapplers” Nicolas Gregoriades instructional.

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Nicolas Gregoriades – Yoga For Grapplers (DVD/DIGITAL)

Nicolas Gregoriades, more commonly known as Nic Gregoriades is one of the most likable characters in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The highly sought after BJJ black belt has immense knowledge of the art that extends far beyond just the technical aspects. He is a true representative of the JIu-JItsu lifestyle, including how to keep your body healthy, and in shape for grappling. “Yoga For Grappling” is a DVD that is just as important to own as are technical ones, if not more. Plus, it is a Nicolas Gregoriades instructional, meaning that you have a BJJ black belt demonstrating the best Yoga sequences for grapplers.

Nicolas Gregoriades – The BJJ Yogi

Nic Gregoriades is a very esteemed Roger Gracie black belt that is one of my favorite BJJ instructors to watch. The South African is also extremely dedicated to keeping his body in pristine condition for Brazilian Jiu-JItsu. We’ve already covered his take on kettlebells for Jiu-Jitsu and having never-ending endurance and explosiveness n the mats. Well, he also knows how you can give your body rest as well, while also providing it with plenty of benefits. His take on Yoga is not the usual Yoga studio one. Not that there’s anything wrong with your garden variety Yoga class, but they’re not really geared towards helping grapplers.

The ‘Yoga For Grapplers” Nicolas Gregoriades Instructional is a resource that is perfect for people of all levels. That said, it is specifically designed for grapplers and MMA fighters. Nic’s knowledge of both BJJ and Yoga puts him in a prime position to provide you with the perfect routine to match your needs. Not only that but his knowledge of the human body is going to help you discover certain connections that are going to leave you speechless. Not to mention that doing Nic’s style of Yoga is a great way to improve your BJJ directly. With Gregoriades, it is not just about stretching. He talks about breathing, connecting the mind with muscles, using Yoga for conditioning, staying healthy and much more!

“Yoga For Grapplers” Nicolas Gregoriades Instructional DVD Review

The “Yoga For Grapplers” program might seem like just another Yoga DVD. Well, it took Nic two years to put it together, given how meticulous he is with everything. That means that this program leaves no stone unturned, literally. It is meant for everyone whether they’re training grappling or not. Moreover, it is available in a digital format that makes it ultra-easy to access at any time. IN fact, the best way to look at this Nicolas Gregoriades Instructional is as an investment into your BJJ and your health and longevity.

The instructional is over two and a half hours long and covers Yoga from every possible perspective in regards to grappling. Everything that you see in this instructional is only available here. For example, he has a progression that most other Yoga instructions do not have. Instead of just doing the beginner and advanced move, he offers lots of variety to help you learn at your own level and pace. This makes this DVD highly customizable to individual needs which makes it even more unique and original.

The quality of the audio and video is pristine, and the instructional is easily downloadable. The format works on just about any device, including Mac, iPhone, tablets, phones, Windows, etc. Moreover, what I enjoy the most is that apart from being a corrective program, this is also a strengthening one. And it is all based on Yoga and bodyweight!

How to Start

The reason NIc is the man to listen to si the fact that he himself was a very inflexible guy. Just like with the majority of people in grappling, training BJJ and lifting weights did not help this issue at all. So, the way this Nicolas Gregoriades instructional starts is by explaining how you should approach “Yoga For Grapplers” training. NIc has different exercises and protocols for different body parts, depending on your needs. He explains that you can use one, or more in different ways and difficulty levels. All of the most common trouble spots grapplers have. Like the neck, shoulder, chest and upper back get a lot of attention. There is a lot of information on breathing as well, which is just as key in Yoga as it is in grappling.

Strengthening

One thing that you might not think about when you think of Yoga is a strength. The fact of the matter is, Yoga can make you a lot stronger in very different ways than lifting weights can. It is not just simple bodyweight training but using your body in very mechanically difficult positions that include both dynamic and isometric work. This not only makes you stronger, but it also makes you more limber. When it comes to grappling, Yoga is the perfect t compliment, allowing you for a more fluid and effective movement throughout the training.

Another aspect is muscle control, which is also highly underrated. This instructional is going to help you develop a mind-muscle connection that’ll also help you improve coordination and reaction time. Nic uses a bunch of examples of how the program refers to BJJ positions and techniques as he is explaining.

Increase Mobility

Of course, increased mobility is one of the effects you’d expect from a Yoga DVD instructional. Well, Yoga For Grapplers delivers on it, and then some. You won’t just increase your overall mobility but also improve that of very specific bodyparts. These are the body parts we use in BJJ the most, and that usually suffer from a shortened range of motion as a result. Believe me, once you start this program, you’ll that you are actually able to go much further in many Jiu-Jitsu techniques!

Pushing The Boundaries OF Your Flexibility

In terms of flexibility, The unique aspect of this Nicolas Gregoriades instructional is in the fact he introduces BJJ specific movements to classical Yoga asanas. For example, stuff like the Rickon Gracie shoulder roll are key at developing both dexterity and flexibility in positions common to BJJ. This DVD will help you push the boundaries of your flexibility. This is going to allow you to become much more supple than ever before. The best part is that you can’t really complete it. There is always another progression and just a bit more depth than you can achieve!

Summary

Is the “Yoga For Grapplers” Nicolas Gregriades instructional DVD going to help stiff grapplers get more limber? NIc himself is the perfect testament that it will. Will it also help you strengthen your body in ways highly specific for BJJ? By all means, it will. It is also going to teach you stuff like how relaxing your jaw can help you decrease overall tension, which is just as true for rolling as it is for holding Asanas. In other words, the area many reasons to order this instructional, and none to keep you from getting it. Namaste.

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Nicolas Gregoriades – Yoga For Grapplers (DVD/DIGITAL)

New Buchecha DVD Review: “The Buchecha Half Guard”

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BJJ World

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“The Buchecha Half Guard” Marcus Buchecha DVD Review

Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida is back ladies and gentleman! He is not just back on the biggest stages of Jiu-Jitsu once again, but also has a brand new DVD instructional out! If you’ve ever seen his previous one, you know that he is capable of extremely high-level coaching on top of his amazing tournament performances. Unsurprisingly, to a certain extent, this brand new Buchecha DVD instructional is once again a half guard master class. To be honest, “The Buchecha Half Guard” instructional is a new take on the old school half guard. And it is just what the doctor ordered!

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Marcus Almeida Buchecha – The Buchecha Half-Guard
There’s not a person alive that doesn’t like to watch Buchecha compete. He is explosive, he is strong, he is extremely technical and he has some sick fundamentals! Even then, he is entertaining as hell, both in the Gi and No-Gi. We were all stoked to see him square against Gordon Ryan in the Heavyweight Grand Prix, but Ryan’s injury dented our hopes. Still, a Marcus Buchecha DVD is a great consolation prize! “The Buchecha Half Guard” is a four-part instructional that’s long overdue. It is a huge upgrade to his previous instructional and the perfect system for the modern-day Jiu-Jitsu!

The Buchecha Half Guard

Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida is a black belt under Rodrigo Cavaca of the Carlson Gracie lineage. He is one of the greatest heavyweights to ever compete and considered by many to be the greatest of all times. A legendary victory over Roger Gracie earned him this accolade, though it was some time ago. Still, Buchecha has 13 world titles, 7 in his own weight class and 6 as an absolute. On top of it, he is a two-time ADCC champion and also a two-time World No-Gi champion. Not many people can challenge his status in the JIu-JItsu community if any.

Buchecha has an overall extremely well-rounded game. However, it was his half guard that made the difference in many high-level matches. That said, he also likes to hunt for the back and hit toe holds, making the half guard his launching pad for all his attacks. In fact, he issued a Buchecha DVD a few years ago that covered his half guard system. It was simple and straightforward, yet full of details. The Buchecha half guard DVD that just came out though, is leaps and bounds ahead of the stuff he showed in his previous instructional.

This is not unexpected as he had almost a decade to perfect his game. He did encounter some injuries and layoffs along the way, which is probably why he had the time to really dive into his half guard. What you can expect in this Marcus Buchecha DVD is a whole host of new takes on classic positions, including the deep half and knee shield. Moreover, it contains some special features which are never before seen in an instructional with someone of Buchecha’s caliber.

“The Buchecha Half Guard” Marcus Buchecha DVD Review

The format of “The Buchecha Half Guard” DVD is pretty much the standard nowadays. It is a four-part DVD instructional that covers a very specific subject in-depth. However, this Buchecha DVD is anything but standard. It is not just the quality of the instructional itself, but also some unique features that are included. The technical aspects of the instructional are pristine, with no glitches whatsoever in camera works, sound or editing.

As mentioned there are four different volumes in this DVD, each containing around 10 chapters. That makes the duration of each DVD at just around the one hour mark. The first volume takes care of the knee shield guard, one of the most common variations nowadays. Of course, Buchechas take on it and the level of instructions is far beyond what anyone else is teaching. Volume two focuses more on another extremely efficient half guard variation – the deep half guard. Once again the information here is unique and provides a different perspective. The third volume covers some Buchecha specials, like switching base and hunting for the back. Finally, the real gem is the fourth and final part of this instructional. In it, apart from covering a few sweeps, BUchecha spends most of the time narrating rolls.

Part 1 – The Knee Shield

“The Buchecha Half Guard” DVD begins with some general half guard concepts that Marcus likes to use. From chapter two on to the very last chapter, the subjects are only the knee shield half guard. I love the fact that Buchecha stuck to just one half guard variety in each of his volumes. This makes the entire system really simple but very deep and efficient. The first lesson is on how to prevent getting smashed when in half guard, something that’s immensely important.

From there on it is sweeping bonanza form the knee shield half guard. A couple of scissors sweep variations are first, paving the way for more advanced stuff like the coin and flower sweeps. A Lasso sweep completes the sweeping portion, giving the floor toa signature Buchecha knee shield Omoplata. A deep half guard sweep serves as the introduction to the second volume of the DVD.

Part 2 – The Deep Half Guard

The old guy’s favorite guard. Well, not really but you get it. The deep half guard is a position that offers great security while opening up unstoppable attacks. Now, with the information available in this Buchecha DVD, you’ll become an even greater threat from the position. The “basic” and ultra high-percentage waiter sweep is the first that Almeida covers in this volume. From there on he moves to a really great variation of the Faria deep half guard sweep, that all you half guard players will immediately fall in love with.

Apart from a great sweeping position, the deep half is also the perfect spot to attack the back. Since Buchecha loves going for the back, he offers a few different back takes here, one of them featuring some advanced lapel work. A really cool arm trap sweep that precedes a signature kneebar setup from the dep half. A few transitions to the X guard along with subsequent sweeps wrap things up here. Well, almost, as there’s one last chapter that covers a half guard recovery featuring the switch base.

Part 3 – Buchecha Half Guard Specials

Just like in the previous volume, the last chapter of Part 2 was actually an introduction to the next one. The switch base half guard is something Buchecha has perfected beyond the level of anyone else in Jiu-JItsu! The switch base half guard is the simplest of all the stuff Buchecha demonstrates in his Buchecha Half Gaurd instructional It all starts with some of the highest percentages sweeps you a do from half guard. The best of the bunch is the last chance sweep which is going to become your favorite immediately. Of course, back attacks are also there both with lapels and without them.

The second half of this part of the Buchecha DVD is actually dedicated to transitioning. Back control is always the ultimate reward, but the ere are also transitioning to other guards when the back is not available. The smash counter that wraps this part up is also something that’ll definitely turn out to be very useful.

Part 4 – Narrated Rolls

The first three chapters of this volume offer a few more half guard moves to provide you with variety. These include an over/under the sweep, an over-under to crucifix transition and a back escape that leads directly to the deep half. This wraps up the technical portion of this DVD. what comes next is my favorite part of the entire instructional.

I always love DVDs that end with narrated rolls. Unfortunately, they’re few and far apart. Luckily, Buchecha opted to do this and it is the next level! He has 3 rolls and two sparring sessions included. And yes, there is a huge difference between him rolling and sparring. That said, he uses all the half guard moves that he demonstrated in earlier volumes. The narration also helps put everything together and makes this one of the best half guard DVDs of all times!

In Summary

Say whatever you want, Buchecha is definitely one of the best of all times. Whether he is the GOAT or not is beyond the point. Nobody has more world titles than him, at least that much is blatantly obvious. His technical knowledge is also off the chart, particularly in the half guard department. The BUvhech Half Guard is one of those instructionals that’s going to be good for the next decade or so, at the very least. Pick this Buchecha DVD up right away and get a huge edge over your training partners and opponents.

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Marcus Almeida Buchecha – The Buchecha Half-Guard

7 Exercises For Incredible BJJ Hip Mobility

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BJJ World

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7 BJJ Hip Mobility Exercises Everyone Should Do

Mobility work is the one thing grapplers hate to do. Don’t get me wrong, some of us do it, but that doesn’t mean we like it. To be completely honest, even good old stretching is far more interesting than mobility work. However, the fact remains that we need it. In that regard, we all know what type of mobility we need the most in grappling – hip mobility. Whether you’re a top player or a guard wizard, you’ll benefit hugely from these integral BJJ hip mobility exercises.

A huge mistake people make when it comes to mobility is thinking that it is not a trainable quality. Nothing can be further from the truth. Yes, some people are born with crazy ranges of motion and need absolutely no accessory mobility work. However, most of us others, it’s not just up to the roll of the dice. Being brittle and stiff is something you can easily change. Moreover, the hips are the body part that’s highly responsive to mobility training. Given how i9mprtant hips are to grapplers and fighters, these BJJ hip mobility exercises should be the best part of your day!

Building Up Your Mobility

As I said, we all hate mobility training. It is repetitive, there’s no real feeling of reward and it does require you to dedicate a certain amount of time to it. However, there’s not a soul alive (apart from those that won the genetic lottery) that doesn’t need it. And this is particularly true for grapplers. However, instead of going over the usual anatomical and physiological reasons for needing BJJ hip mobility, I’ll focus on a much simpler approach.

There are two main reasons why you need to improve your overall mobility – performance and injury prevention. It is that simple. If you think both of these do not warrant your time and attention, wait a few years. For those among us who are wiser (and more beat up) mobility directly translates to better performance. Imagine having to re-guard against a young and strong guard passer. The more mobile your hips are, the more technical and easy your guard play is going to be. On the other hand, if you lack BJJ hip mobility, you’ll end up gassing out while trying to avoid getting passed.

Injury prevention is a subject that doesn’t really require lots of explanation. You might think that the hips are a body part that rarely gets injured, and you’re right. Up to a point. Our bodies work as a whole and mobile hips mean a lot less strain on more sensitive joints, like he knees for example. Now I have your attention. Working relentlessly on your BJJ hip mobility means you ‘ll spare your body a whole host of potential injuries.

The Best BJJ Hip Mobility Exercises

Passing the guard? It’s all about the hips. Working from the bottom? Hips again. Looking to finish a joint lock? Good luck doing it without the help of the hips. As you can see, the hips are, arguably, the most important body part for efficient Jiu-Jitsu. However, that doesn’t mean that only doing deadlifts and hip thrusts is enough to turn you into a great grappler. Nope, you also need kettlebell swings. And you need BJJ hip mobility training and lots of it!

The one thing to keep in mind with regard to mobility training is that it’s not the same as flexibility training. A yogi’s hips might be crazy flexible, but that doesn’t mean they can take the strain of training grappling. A better way to think is more in terms of a gymnast’s hips. While they have great flexibility, they’re also strong enough to propel themselves through the air in a whole host of unnatural positions. Throw in a partner and you’re pretty close to what we do in BJJ on a daily basis.

The exercises below are highly specific to BJJ hip mobility. They’re designed to loosen your hips, improve range of motion and still keep them strong and powerful. The perfect blend of qualities for any grappler.

Hurdler Hamstring Stretch

To begin with, we’ll start with something easy. The hurdler hamstring stretch is something you know from PT classes in school. You sit down on the ground, extend one leg straight in front of you and bent the other so that the toes point back. However, you do not just want to touch your foot with your hands as most people do. The goal here is to go forward, with a straight spine, as far as possible. Moreover, you’re not just going to hold the stretch. Instead, opt to pulse at first, until you get sufficient mobility. Even then, make sure that when you go all the way down, you contract the hamstring while holding the position.

Frog Stretch

This one looks funny but is an incredible BJJ hip mobility exercise. Get on your knees, touch your feet together behind you and place the knee as wide apart as possible. Even getting into this position is awkward at first. He goal here is to eventually push back with your hips. Since it is going to be really hard at the beginning, you’ll need to focus on loosening the hips. To do that, place your palm so the floor and just move around in the position. Later on, you’ll place the elbows on the ground and focus on pushing as far back with the hips as possible. Once again, a combination of pulses and static holds is the best.

Pancake

Here, we have a gymnastic true classic. This is also one that you know, and one that most people get wrong. The goal is to sit down, straighten your legs and keep them as far apart as possible. The pint is not just to lay forward and stretch. You need strong and mobile hips, remember? To get them, you first want to wiggle yourself into position, so that you do not overstretch anything. Only then do you want to do little bounces so that you get deeper. And here’s where things get interesting. Instead of only holding the stretch you’re actually going to do reps. The first version is to cross your arms on your chest and lift your torso upward and go back down. For a tougher progression, get the palms behind your head.

Straddle Ups

Another one that’s common to gymnastics. This is actually one of the BJJ hip mobility exercises that gives you the most bang for your buck. It is a mixed dynamic and static exercise by nature. To begin with, you start in the same straddle position as the pancake. The goal is to activate the muscles first by pointing your toes to the outside. Then, place your arms near your hips and help yourself to a standing straddle. Come back down and repeat.

Hip flexor Stretch

The hip flexor stretch is something that’s a part of every stretch routine. The way we’re going to do it here is to get into a lunge position, but do not touch the back leg to the ground. Instead, that leg stays on the toes, with the knee pushing downward, but not reaching the mats. Feel free to reach up to accentuate the stretch. Side bends are also a great way to get even more from this simple exercise.

Spiderman Sequence

This is where things get really interesting. Form the hip flexor position you’ll put that back knee down and then drop the elbow to the ground, next to your lunging leg. If you can’t you can keep the palm on the ground. Make sure you wiggle around and work your hip joint from multiple angles. Keep the shin of the lunging leg vertical at all times. From there you can use the near side arm to push on the knee for a better stretch. After that, drop the leg down and go into a pigeon pose pulse, before going back up. This sequence is key to rapidly improve your BJJ hip mobility.

Shin Box

The shin box completes our list of top BJJ hip mobility exercises. A regular in many mobility routines, this one is also seen in Ginastica Natural as well. Sit on the ground, with one leg bent in front of you, and the other behind (like for a hurdle hamstring stretch). The goal is to use your glutes to go up and get back to the bottom. The exercise is done for reps, but you should hold the last rep on the bottom as a static stretch for maximum benefits. Make sure you do this one on both sides.

Putting It All Together

So how does this BJJ hip mobility routine actually work? First of all, the sequence of exercises is there because it starts easy and progresses to more difficult ones. However, if you see fit, you can switch the order or skip an exercise if you have injuries. When it comes to programming let’s answer the most common questions regarding this routine.

How to use this routine?

Until you really get comfortable with it and achieve a certain level of mobility, the best way is to do 10 reps of each or hold each static position for 10 seconds. When you’re comfortable with it, you can do it as a circuit, flowing from one exercise to the next. The reps can be as fast or slow as you wish, but make sure you go for complete movements.

When should you do it?

While this is a solid warm-up, the best way to use this routine is either as a cooldown after training or on its own during the day. If you opt for the last option, I’d skip this routine as your morning one. When you wake up your body is tense and you might end up straining it instead of actually benefiting from the routine.

How often?

That’s easy. If you can fit this BJJ hip mobility in your daily regiment, you’ll see massive improvements in next to no time. That said, you can even do it a couple of times a day, or break it up and do different exercises only. And, if you’re able to do it as a flow, you can pretty much fit it anywhere during your day.

How long until you see results?

That depends on whether or not you have injuries and how often you do the routine. If you can do it daily, and you’re able to go through it without trouble, you’ll start seeing results after a couple of weeks. Just remember that mobility isn’t like strength training and you do not need to change up the routine after a few weeks. The longer you spend doing it, the more mobility and range of motion you’ll unlock for your hip joint.

Final Thoughts

BJJ hip mobility training doesn’t need to be complex. You do not need special foam rollers or balls and bands to make things work. All you need is a bit of room and some time to work. This is why the routine is perfect as a cooldown routine after BJJ. The benefits you get in return will help you not only stay healthy but also perform at a whole new level on the mats!

BJJ Stretches For Open Guard Game

BJJ Stretch Routine To Fix You Up Fast After Class

https://bjj-world.com/bjj-recovery-limber-11-routine/

8 BJJ Mistakes You Need To Stop Doing

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BJJ World

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8 BJJ mistakes you need to stop doing immediately

Just like in every other martial art or sport, you get to meet many different characters during BJJ. The larger an academy is, the more diversity it’s bound to have. Still, there are some things people do that instantly make them pariahs among their grappling peers. The thing is, that many of these common BJJ mistakes are not intentional and often people have no idea they’re actually doing them. Some are funny, others are offensive and some may actually be quite serious offenses. With that in mind, the following 8 things are the stuff you want to avoid doing when you’re training Jiu-Jitsu. At all costs!

Remember your school days? Being stuck in a room with a bunch of different people can be difficult, to say the least. Now imagine that you’re in the closest possible proximity with them. That’s essentially BJJ for you, just with more sweat and much more uncomfortable positions. So, the old rule of not doing what you do not want to be done to your self applies here very strongly. The thing is, there are levels to BJJ and not everyone is actually aware of the BJJ mistakes they might be doing. So, before you turn into ”that” guy or girl, check out some of the things that you might consider changing.

Don’t Be “That” Guy/Girl

Training Jiu-Jitsu is one of the hardest and most rewarding things you’ll do in life. It is tough, it is never-ending and completely takes over your life. The more time you spend on the mats, the more you get good and it is addicting. However, training is not just about being good at grappling. I’ve said a thousand times already, BJJ is a complete lifestyle. It is not rocket science and you’ll get to the same conclusions on your own. However, if you’re aware of the BJJ mistakes you need to avoid doing, your journey might just turn out to be a much more pleasant one.

There’s such a thing as BJJ etiquette, for those that are unaware. Most of it is not written anywhere, and you get to know it just by training. However, certain aspects of it might be things you never considered important. Once again, BJJ is different to all other aspects of life. Apart from the fact that you’re virtually trying to kill another person, you get to spend a lot of time with a lot of different people. Being in close contact at all time while performing potentially debilitating and even life treating moves is not the same as your everyday social interactions.

It is difficult enough to deal with the demands of BJJ without introducing further problems. BJJ etiquette becomes a lot more important when it comes to grappling. It is the little things that can make you the person everyone likes to roll with or the one everyone avoids. Given that you can’t train Jiu-Jitsu alone, becoming the pariah of your academy is a great way to end up training CrossFit instead.

The 8 BJJ Mistakes People Make

The list below is by far not the most comprehensive one on the subject of common BJJ mistakes. They might not even be the ones you’re doing that annoy your teammates. However, these 8 BJJ mistakes have proven to be ever-present with every new group of people that walks in through the door. It becomes easy to spot them when you’re aware of them, but that’ll take years and experience. This article is your shortcut to becoming a much more well-behaved grappler sooner rather than later. Use it wisely and remember that there are many other big and small things that might make you unbearable to train with.

1.Hygiene

This one is pretty self-explanatory and you’d expect everyone to be aware of it. Sadly, that’s not the case. That said this is also one of those more serious offenses. It’s not just about the discomfort of training with a person that doesn’t take rudimentary care of hygiene. Spreading diseases ranging from the common flu to ringworm is rooted in this issue, which makes it a really serious offense. That said, just about anything related to hygiene falls under this category. Still, a smelly Gi and long untrimmed nails are pretty much on top of it all.

2. Tying The Belt

This one is on the lighter side but it is something you want to take care of. Tying the belt is something you learn during the first few classes. There is, however, that person in every gym that somehow never really masters belt tying. It’s not just about how having a belt on. It needs to be tied in one of the several methods available and acceptable. As a white belt, you might just squeeze through for a while. However, a blue belt with an improperly tied belt is a mark of disrespect to the art and instructors. If the kids can do it, you can do it as well. It’s not that difficult.

3. Dietary Awareness

This one goes far beyond just eating smelly foods before training. The occasional garlic rich dish is ok, as long as it’ not what you eat every time you’re about to roll. Moreover, it’s the type of food you eat and when you eat it. You are aware you’re going to be grappling with people of different sizes, right? Passing gas on a regular basis is gross and certainty to leave you without training partners. Make sure you avoid both foods that cause it, and eating really close to training. The second one is also that cause of constant burps that can rally make a roll with you an uncomfortable experience.

4. Pinching People

This is a major nuisance that some people simply can’t stop doing! As far as BJJ mistakes go this one is really annoying. Whenever you’re going for grips, particularly with the Gi, make sure you reach for the Gi only. Pinching the skin underneath whether it is with your hands or knees and elbows is painful and really, really annoying! Plus it leaves a bunch of needless bruises so your training partner’s body. If you’re one of these people, make sure you remedy this fast, before you develop a reputation.

5. Disrupting Class

This one is huge. Joking around is fun and to a certain level, acceptable in BJJ. Unlike traditional martial arts, the grappling atmosphere is much more relaxed. However, Going overboard is not something your training partners or your instructors will enjoy. Joking, talking or disrupting class in any way is doing nobody favors. You’re both preventing the instructor form teaching and you training partners from learning. Stay in line.

6. Rolling Injured

There’s not much to say on this subject that’s not common sense. Rolling injured is, first of all, a hazard to yourself. However, rolling injured and interrupting rolls due to your injury is also a disservice to your training partners. Stay at home and heal or just watch from the edge of the mats. This is one of those BJJ mistakes we all do, and probably the hardest one to let go of. However, it’s essential that you get over it, the sooner, the better.

7. Spazzing (Refers To Higher Belts)

You just knew I was going to talk about spazzing right from the beginning, didn’t you? Well, yeah, as it does annoy rolling partners to the extreme. That said, it is expected to form white belts, and perhaps even blue belts to a certain extent. However, being the spaz, particularly as a colored belt is plain unacceptable. Nobody cares that you’re not progressing but that you’re smashing and injuring everyone and halting their progress. Forget about muscling things and start to actually learn Jiu-JItsu. Oh, and stop playing hard to get during rolling. There’s no point in grip fighting for a whole round without ever engaging. It is training, not the Mundials.

8. Being Disrespectful

As far as serious offenses go, this is probably the most serious one. Begin disrespected can range from being late to class and slacking off to verbally or even physically abusing teammates. The latter examples are rare but need to be reported to the person in charge right away. The other offenses are quickly going to attract the attention of your instructors, and you’ll get an earful. Still, make sure you demonstrate due respect at all times if you want to remain in the good favor of your team.

It is Not Rocket Science

Behaving properly is not rocket science. Yes, you’ll make certain BJJ mistakes, but we all did them. For the most part, it is all about awareness. It’s a case of monkey see – monkey do. Just see what people do and more importantly, do not do and you’ll be fine. The trick is to pay attention to it and not just the technical part which is hard, especially at the start. Remember that you don’t have to be the model student, just be fair and respectful. Stick to the BJJ etiquette and everything is going to be fine. Not only that but you’ll also progress much faster.

There’s another aspect of how you act. The less of the 8 BJJ mistakes we outlined you do, the better you visiting experiences are going to be. Imagine acting in opposition to some or most of the things we discussed when you visit an academy. Your next visit is not going to be a pleasant one if you get to visit again at all. A bad reputation is extremely easy to get and almost impossible to shake off. Make sure you’re not that guy/girl.

Conclusion

These 8 BJJ mistakes might really influence your experience in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. As you can see they’re not easy to recognize and correct, as long as you’re willing. Moreover, you’re also likely to experience them yourself. This will give you a feeling of how exactly it feels like to roll with yourself when you’re not adhering to BJJ etiquette.

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Jiu-Jitsu Rolls: Training With The Opposite Sex

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The Lapel Encyclopedia Keenan Cornelius DVD Review

Chapter 1 – Opening Concepts

Chapter 2 – Guard Strategies

Chapter 3 – Guard Recovery

Chapter 4 – The Worm Guard

Chapter 5 – The Ringworm Guard

Chapter 6 – Reverse De La Worm Guard

Chapter 7 – The Squid Guard

Chapter 8 – The Gubber Guard

Chapter 9 – Submissions

Bonus Material

Closing Thoughts

The Evolution (And Decline) Of “Functional Training”

Bodybuilding For BJJ – The Good Stuff

Bench press

Shoulder press

Biceps Curls

Triceps Exercises

The Secret Ingredient

In Summary

Back to Roots

The Fighters With The Best BJJ In UFC

Demian Maia

Brain Ortega

Mackenzie Dern

Ryan Hall

Fabricio Werdum

Charles Oliviera

Nate Diaz

Jussier Formiga

Tony Ferguson

Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza

Kron Gracie

Conclusion

Choosing BJJ Tournaments

The Best BJJ Tournaments For Everyone

1. The IBJJF Worlds

2. IBJJF Europeans

3. IBJJF Pan Ams

4. The Brazilian Nationals

5. UAEJJF – Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Cup

6. UAEJJF – Abu Dhabi Grand Slam

7. The ADCC

8. IBJJF No-GI (Worlds And Euros)

The Best BJJ Tournaments For Professional Grapplers

1. EBI – the Eddie Bravo Invitational

2. Polaris Pro

3. Fight 2 Win Promotions

4. Kasai Pro

Notable Mentions

IBJJF Asian Open

Masters Tournaments

Modern Day BJJ Tournaments

Underestimating Jiu-Jitsu Competitions

A Proven BJJ Competition Training Formula

Create A Camp

Have A Game Plan

Analyze Tape

Do Your Homework

Train Takedowns

Pick A Corner

Give ‘Em Hell!

World Champion-Level Wrestling

A Different Kind Of Armbar

Logan Stieber DVD Review – “The Armbar Blueprint”

Part 1

Part 2

Conclusion

Nicolas Gregoriades – The BJJ Yogi

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How to Start

Strengthening

Increase Mobility

Pushing The Boundaries OF Your Flexibility

Summary

The Buchecha Half Guard

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Part 1 – The Knee Shield

Part 2 – The Deep Half Guard