Helio Gracie Rules For Instructors – Dumb Or Legit?

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BJJ World
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Helio Gracie Rules For Instructors And Black belts

In modern times, the figure of Helio Gracie can be a polarizing figure. He is most definitely a legend of the sport, being the founding ambassador of the sport. Despite what many people think it was his brother Carlos that had the BJJ ball rolling. However, Helio was the face of it, focused on the fighting part of the art rather than politics. For a while there he was a true legend, and his brand of Jiu-Jitsu was really sought after. As such, the Brazilian is also known for relying on certain rules for training. That said, some less known Helio Gracie rules pertain to black belts and instructors of the art.

Helio Gracie is always going to be a figure that commands respect in BJJ. He really did give the art of BJJ the direction it still heads in today. Apart from his fighting accolades, which are now clearly not as impressive as everyone thought, Helio also dedicated a lot of time to the growth of Jiu-JItsu. In fact, he spent his life making sure the art grew, technically, tactically, and philosophically. For that, he employed a system of rules and principles that he firmly abided by. Moreover, the Helio Gracie rules were, and in some places still are, hugely popular to this day. However, he also had some expectations of his black belts that might be seen as, hmm, outdated today. Or are they?

Learn the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu secrets directly from a member of the family! Gregor Gracie has a DVD instructional out by the title of “High-Level Fundamentals” and it contains everything you need to understand Gracie Jiu-Jitsu! 

Helio Gracie – A Man Of Principles 

Helio Gracie Rules For Black beltsFirst and foremost, Helio Gracie was a man of hard will and principles. We all know that he wasn’t a particularly powerful nor physical specimen, On the contrary, he was sickly and skinny as a kid. The youngest of 9 children, Helio was tall and lanky as opposed to his more muscular brothers. Many at the time saw him as having absolutely no athletic potential at all. He also had fragile health, suffering from chronic dizziness and often getting sick. He did like to swim but his athletic endeavors ended there, for the most part.

Helio’s brother, Carlos Gracie, as we know was a star student of Matsudo Maeda. He was so dedicated to training that he used to spar at home with his brothers, apart from Helio.  In fact, up until Carlos opened his own academy, he never really considered training with or teaching Helio, due to his health. However, Helio trained in secret with his other brothers and actually got pretty advanced. When Carlos got wind of it, he allowed Helio to train full time and even got him at the age of 18. From there, on Helio built a fearsome reputation for himself, most of it fully deserved.

After he brought his fighting career to an end, Helio focused on teaching and developing the art. Everyone of note, from Rickson Gracie to Carlson Gracie learned from the grandmaster. During that time, he developed a reputation as being hard-headed but he stood his ground. In the process, he developed the now famous Helio Gracie rules of Jiu-Jitsu that many people still follow today. However, they’re just a part of his ruleset as he also had a bunch of principles regarding anyone he was going to promote to the black belt.

The Helio Gracie Rules For BJJ Black Belts  

Before I get on with the Helio Gracie rules for black belt instructors, let me just say that I am aware of how “antiquated” they might seem. Hands down, some of them are outright stupid in the context of modern times. However, some actually make sense and need to be revisited today. The topic is somewhat controversial which is exactly why we’re covering them in this article there today. 

In the Helio Gracie rules for black belts, the focus is a lot more than the image and overall lifestyle and off the mats behavior of his students, rather than the technical side of their Jiu-Jitsu. For starters, according to Helio, the image of a person is a key criterion in their Jiu-Jitsu advancement. To that extent, he led by example and expected his student to follow it.

He always wore a white Gi, for example. He is also the creator of the BJJ belt system and is the person behind the black band on one end. However, Helio also thought that your overall image should represent Jiu-Jitsu and not just yourself. To that extent, he had rules that nowadays could be seen as limiting personal choice. For example, Helio’s thought that black belts should not have dreadlocks or head tattoos. While head tattoos are still today considered fairly extreme, they’re not nearly as rare as back then. Dreadlocks are also a very different thing today and are definitely not something people generally dislike.

There are, however, certain things among Helio’s rules that still make a lot of sense today. For example, he considered that being overweight does not suit the image of a BJJ instructor. This is one of those Helio Gracie rules that we should take into account even today.

A Ruleset Worth Considering?   

IF we take a look at the black belt/instructor criteria BJJ academies have today, we’ll see that they differ a lot. To that extent, in the age of McDojos, even technical knowledge doesn’t seem to be a prerequisite for earning a jiu-jitsu black belt. Still, even among legitimate academies, the focus is more on the technical rather than the overall. Remember that not everyone gets to become a black belt or an instructor for that matter. That means that those few that do, need to continue spreading the art and be ambassadors of it in every facet of life.

Helio Gracie RulesFor those that really embrace Jiu-Jitsu as a lifestyle, certain things do make sense. It doesn’t matter if you’re an academy owner or just working as an instructor. If you uphold a positive image and attitude, you’ll draw more students than if you’re just going about it. You wouldn’t like to learn Cross Fit from an obese trainer, would you? The same holds true for BJJ especially when it comes to beginners. The better of an image you represent, the more people will be willing to give BJ Ja a try. And that’s all it takes to help spread the art.

In terms of the dreadlocks, head tattoos, or even white-only Gis, we have to take into account the different eras. We live in a world of free speech and some of these Helio Gracie rules do not really make sense. However, Bruce Lee’s “Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless” quote fits perfectly here. Promote a healthy and positive lifestyle with your Jiu-Jitsu, but also, do not try to make it a corporate-like environment. Let’s not forget, Bruce Lee’s quote also says “add what is specifically your own”.  That’s how we evolve.

Final thoughts

While nobody likes to obey rules per se, we all need certain principles in our lives. Whether you blindly follow a set of rules, or simply use the Helio Gracie rules as a guideline to create your own is up to you. However, Jiu-JItsu is an art that’s different from most other martial arts and part of it is the lifestyle. The more your lifestyle reflects some of the core principles of BJJ, the better it will be. And remember there are no rules that you HAVE to follow. That’s what makes it so fun!

Helio Gracie PLAYBOY Interview – The Most Interesting Details

https://bjj-world.com/carlson-gracie-interview-helio-gracie-just-telling-lies/

50 Famous Jiu-Jitsu and BJJ Quotes

Gabriel Gonzaga DVD Review: Passing Difficult Guards

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BJJ World
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Gabriel Gonzaga DVD Review: Passing Difficult Guards

In the past, I was not really keen on looking at MMA fighters’ DVDs. however, today, the quality of instructionals is through the roof, and certain fighters really do deserve our attention. I really try to weed out the ones that are worth watching, particularly when it comes to grappling, though. When you think of BJJ guys in MAM you immediately got Demian Maia, Kron Gracie, Mackenzie Dern, etc. Well, there’s one of the old school that we tend to forget about. That’s Gabriel Gonzaga, A BJJ black belt for more than two decades now. “Passing Difficult Guards” is my very first Gabriel Gonzaga DVD Review and I certainly hope he’ll release many more instructions!

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Gabriel Gonzaga DVD Review: Passing Difficult Guards
Techniques List

So, learning BJJ from a giant guy can either be unbelievably good or just as horrible. Gabriel Gonzaga is, luckily, one of those guys who knows his stuff. It’s not just about using weight to smash anyone that ends up in bottom position. He has an extremely technical style of grappling. He is also one of the most legitimate black belts among MMA fighters. I’ve never seen a DVD by him previously, but I was enticed to do this particular Gabriel Gonzaga DVD review. I can tell you that I was left surprised, and in a very positive manner. This instructional is dubbed “Passing Difficult Guards” and it provides precisely that!

Gonzaga’s BJJ Credentials

You might remember Gabriel Gonzaga as the man who knocked out Mirko Cro Cop with his signature left high kick. Well, he is also one of the best grapplers to ever stape in the octagon. In fact, he is one of the rare guys that always trains both in the Gi and No-Gi, even when getting ready for an MMA fight.

Gonzaga was born in Rio De Janeiro in 1979, which makes him one of the oldest MMA fighters currently active at 40 years of age. Apart from being a high-level black belt in BJJ and a UFC heavyweight champion, he was also a professional boxer. He discovered BJ Jat 14, training with Wander Braga. Gonzaga got his black belt in 2000 and is currently a holder of a 4th degree BJJ black belt. He was also never even close to being submitted while fighting MMA. On top of it, he has a BJJ world title to his name as well, at the 2006 Mundials in addition to many other grappling accolades (Copa Podio, ADCC, etc.)

Gonzaga’s style of BJJ is one that’s more specific to lighter guys though. That comes with the two-decade-long experience he has in the art. He is highly technical and does a lot of things differently. This means he has solutions to some of the most pressing issues of BJJ, both current and old.

All in all, Gonzaga has an undefeated pro boxing record, a crazy rich BJJ background and a 17-12 pro-MMA record against the world’s top heavyweights. Now, he also has an extremely high-level BJ DVD instructional named “Passing Difficult Guards”. It is a Gi instructional that contains four volumes, all of which I cover in detail in this Gabriel Gonzaga DVD review.

Gabriel Gonzaga DVD Review – Passing Difficult Guards

So, what do you expect from this DVD? To be honest, before going over this instructional for the Gabriel Gonzaga DVD review I thought I was in for one of that generic guard passing DVDs of suspicious quality. Boy, was I wrong! Gonzaga is hands down one of the best guys I’ve seen instructing in a BJJ DVD! Unexpectedly, this turned out to be a Gi DVD which is also not something you usually see with MMA fighters. Then again, he is a 4th degree BJJ black belt.

This DVD instructional has four volumes in total. Each of them is just over an hour long and covers many different guards passes. That said, this is not one of those modern DVDs containing flowcharts and a bunch of principles and philosophies. This is more akin to the old school DVDs filled with techniques that differ from chapter to chapter. However, the reason why this approach works is the subject matter. Gonzaga really does cover passing difficult guards here. In fact, eh offers unstoppable options against all the hardest guards in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, from the deep half to the spider and De La Riva guards.

Part 1

There’s a short introduction in which Gonzaga talks about guard passing. his philosophy I simple – there’s no unpassable guard. Right after the introduction, he goes into passing, opening with the closed guard. he begins with a knee cut smash that’s bound to open up anyone’s guard. Still, he adds even more options, my favorite being the jumping guard break.

Gabriel Gonzaga DVD Review: Passing Difficult Guards InstructionalGoing forward, he covers the over under pass, although from a different aspect to the one we’re used to. He likes body locking a lot and has some crazy options that lead from the closed guard directly to the over-under. The lasso guard is next, with the only pass you’ll ever need to deal with it! It is a smash pass that puts immense pressure on your opponent, and in particular, their lasso grip. And, In case of unbreakable grips, there’s also an option for passing the lasso without breaking the grip.

Part 2

Part two of the “Passing Difficult Guards” DVD picks up right where number 1 left off- passing the lasso guard. Here, though is where this Gabriel Gonzaga DVD review really got my attention. He adds leg looks to his passing making the passes that much more effective! An ankle locks off the lasso pass is the perfect way of making everyone think twice about using it ever again against you!

A body lock solution against the half guard is next, opening up a new chapter in this instructional. From there on, he offers a Bernardo Faria style knee bar, only much more brutal! Trust me this move works! A few more half guard passes follow, along with a back take off an unsuccessful over under pass. Wrapping up is a portion on butterfly guard passing, which contains some much-needed information, given the guard’s popularity nowadays.

Part 3

Gabriel Gonzaga DVD Review: Passing Difficult Guards BJJIn the third portion of this BJJ DVD instructional, things take a turn towards some more advanced guards. These are guards that present universal problems to grapplers of all levels. They involve mostly the deep half guard, before moving on to even more complicated guards. As far a the deep half goes, most of DVD #3 contains crazy effective passing information. From straight forward passing, to wrist locking and Omoplatas along the way, to passing to the back, everything is in here.

The final portion is an introduction into the next volume, covering an easy and brutal spider guard pass called the “Spiderman pass.” Before that, there are also a few additional half guard passes, covering the Whizzer and some submission options.

Part 4

This Gabriel Gonzaga DVD review was getting better with every passing volume. As expected, the final one was the cherry on top. The very popular De La Riva, RDLR and spider guards are the main subject here. Or, to be more specific, passing them is.

The first portion of this volume goes over spider guard passes. I bet you never thought about pinning the spider guard in order to pass it. Well, Gonzaga has a pin pass that’ll make all your spider guard headaches disappear. A bunch of other passes culminating with a crazy submission one follow suit. As far as the De La Riva goes, there’s a lot more attacking with ankle locks and rolling back takes than complicated multi-stage passes. That is some old school high-level BJJ right there, without unnecessary complications.

Final Thoughts

Whatever your passing style is, you’ll benefit from the Passing Difficult Guard BJJ instructional. And, one thing I realized during this Gabriel Gonzaga DVD review is that all of the moves work perfectly in No-Gi as well. Well, at least those covering guards that work in both, like the half guard and closed guard. All in all, it is one of the best DVD’s of the year, and you shouldn’t skip it!

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Gabriel Gonzaga DVD Review: Passing Difficult Guards
Techniques List

Tom DeBlass DVD/EBOOK Review: The Road To Black Belt And Beyond

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BJJ World
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Tom DeBlass DVD Review: The Road To Black Belt And Beyond

I doubt there’s a person out there that doesn’t like Tom DeBlass. Whether you like his legacy, his MMA career, his BJJ achievements or his amazing teaching style, you’ve just got to be a fan of the guy. So far, he also has one of the biggest DVD collections available today. To be honest I’ve lost the count of how many BJJ DVDs he has out. Today, I have a great pleasure to write a Tom DeBlass DVD Review about his latest, and very unusual instructional: “The Road To Black Belt and Beyond”. Why is it unusual? Read on and discover all the details for yourself!

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Tom DeBlass – The Road to Black Belt and Beyond
Tom DeBlass DVD Review: The Road To Black Belt And Beyond

If there’s one thing any grappler without a black belt wants is to get their black belt. The process, as we know, is anything but easy. Some people, I included, enjoy the painfully long process to get there. Others, on the other hand, are looking for a quicker way to get the black belt. And that’s perfectly okay. As long as the belt is legitimately deserved, it doesn’t matter how fast you got it. Well, “The Road to Black Belt And Beyond” Tom DeBlass instructional is something truly different to everything you’ve seen before. I usually avoid titles like this but seeing as it is a DeBlass release and I wanted to do the Tom DeBlass DVD review, I picked it up. As a brown belt, I can tell you this has taught me things I never thought about in all the years of doing BJJ.

One Of The Best In the Business

Tom DeBlas is a black belt under Ricardo Almeida of the Renzo Gracie lineage. He is a world champion that also had a rich MMA career, particularly in the UFC (9-2 pro record). There’s no need to do many introductions to Tom DeBlass if we’re being honest. He is currently heading the very successful Ocean County BJJ academy and is the man behind Gordon Ryan and Gary Tonnon. He is also really active on social media, always encouraging people to really embrace the BJJ lifestyle. But, on top of everything, he is an amazing teacher that has extremely deep knowledge of grappling.

To date, Tom has covered just about every aspect of grappling in his instructionals. He has a bunch of technical DVDs, both in Gi and No-Gi as well as a nutrition and physical training one. Well, as this Tom DeBlass DVD review is about to reveal, this one is something completely different. This is an instructional that is much more than just a DVD. It also includes a complimentary E-book that further covers the subject Tom talks about in the videos. “The Road To Black Belt” is a crazy release that’ll really change the mental approach you have to BJJ. Will it get you your black belt in record time? That’s down to you. What this instructional is going to do is help you progress without a doubt and regardless of your level.

Tom DeBlass DVD Review: The Road To Black Belt and Beyond

So, what exactly is “The Road To Black Belt And Beyond” instructional? It is a four-part DVD instructional that covers the mindset of training and competing in BJJ as well as all the aspects of the BJJ lifestyle. It also includes an E-book that you’ll read in one breath, as it contains some real secrets of the sport inside. Given that Tom has a lifetime of experience in grappling and fighting, all of the advice is pure gold and should be heard by everyone in combat sports.

In short, the first DVD covers some of the general reasons why people join BJJ. However, DeBlass really expands on it, offering a lot more helpful insight. The second DVD is something everyone will love, as it covers the BJJ mindset, belt by belt. Volume three answers literally every answer you might have in regard to whether or not you should compete in BJJ and how to approach it. The final volume covers some of the issues everyone in grappling faces and awesome strategies to overcome them all. Then, there’s the E-book, which contains more information on every subject Tom touches upon in the video portion.

#1. General BJJ Considerations

The opening volume of this instructional is all about covering the mental side of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. To make thing clear, this DVD set is more of a podcast style one than a technical instructional. Better said, this is a philosophy instructional and it is a first of it’s kind. Tom starts covering how to get started in BJJ and what it actually means in regard to your life. He also covers the reasons to keep showing up which is just as inspirational as it is important to know. He puts things in such a perspective that you’ll scratch your head and ask yourself how come you’ve never thought of things that way.

Furthermore, there’s a key portion in there on developing the growth mindset, something that proves key to your long term success in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Here he touches on subjects like discipline, motivation and the BJJ community and how they all come together to form the BJJ lifestyle. There’s also some information there on the “biggest enemy of grapplers’ – ego, that’s really eye-opening.

#2. The BJJ Mindset

This was my favorite part of the instructional when I did this Tom DeBlass DVD review. This portion has six chapters, and each of them covers the Jiu-Jitsu mindset. In each of them, the mindset Tom talks about refers to a certain belt color. He starts off with the white belt mindset and shares some very important information. This is definitely a portion that’ll really help beginners and their integration into BJJ.

Furthermore, he offers some crazy blue and purple belt experiences that are bang on target. It is not that we don’t know about this stuff, it is that we haven’t thought of it in such a way. To that extent, the ‘Road To Black Belt And Beyond” DVD is just as important to people training as it is to instructors. It really helps you understand how people at every belt think, as well as how you should direct them to think and act.

And, all of you brown and black belts out there that think you’re too advanced to learn from such an instructional, think again. Tom covers how you should be thinking as an advanced student of the art, and even as a teacher. Finally, remember I said there were six chapters here? The final one refers to the older grapplers mindset versus the younger ones. And it is nothing short of spectacular!

#3. Answering Competition Questions

One of the most common questions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is whether you should compete or just train recreationally. It is a question that even the top competitors of the world have asked themselves. That said, when you decide to compete, just how much is enough? Tom has all the answers in this portion of his “Road To Black Belt And Beyond Instructional”.

Speaking of mindsets, Tom goes over the competitor vs. hobbyist mindset first. This is a very important part of Jiu-Jitsu that no one has bothered to explain so far. Moreover, DeBlass also covers how to overcome a training plateau, which is something literally everyone struggles with. Furthermore, he makes everyday life easier by offering a great way to make the most out of your training time. This was one of the volumes I kept going back to during this Tom DeBlass DVD review.

#4. Dealing With Common BJJ Issues

This final portion really had me listening like never before during the Tom DeBlass DVD review. Even after 8 years of regular BJJ training, I still found extremely important information here. Subjects in this portion include stuff like overcoming defeat and dealing with the inevitable injuries that grapplers surely face during their journey. There’s also some incredible advice on balancing your BJ Life with your relationships. Given that Tom is a happily married father of two that has one of the most successful BJJ gyms in the world, this is precious advice!

Wrapping the DVD portion of the instructional up is a chapter that covers coming back to training after a long lay off. Let’s just say that every blue belt that has quit and who gets their hands on this DVD, will come running back after seeing it.

The E-Book

Tom DeBlass DVD Review: The Road To Black Belt And Beyond E-BookThere’s really not much to say on the subject of “The Road To Black Belt And Beyond” E-Book. It just covers every chapter that Tom goes over in the video portion. The sequence of information is the same as in the DVDs. However, the information shared in the E-book is much more extensive than what he talks about in the DVDs. Here, you’ll really get to take a peek into Tom’s mindset and philosophy of BJJ. Let’s just say that this is bound to be one of the top books on the subjects of BJJ that was ever released!

Summary

doing a Tom DeBlass DVD review is always fun, but it has never left me speechless before. Let’s just say that I had to go over this time and time again before putting this Tom DeBlass DVD review together. There’s so much invaluable information in “The Road To Black Belt And Beyond” that it’ll completely change your attitude towards BJJ. And believe me, it doesn’t matter how long you’ve been training for or what color of belt you have. Get this DVD + E-book combo and make sure you progress in the Gentle art correctly so that one day, you might come close to where Tom is today.

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Tom DeBlass DVD Review: The Road To Black Belt And Beyond

John Danaher DVD Review – Guard Retention

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BJJ World
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John Danaher DVD Review - BJJ Fundamentals: Guard Retention Cover

It is just over a year since the first-ever John Danaher DVD instructional came out. As expected it was a No-Gi instructional focusing on leg locks. After that, the flood gates opened and John Danaher hasn’t stopped producing high-level instructions. After completing a 6 part No-Gi series, the enigmatic Renzo Gracie black belt is now focused on uncovering the hidden secrets of Gi Jiu-Jitsu fundamentals. His second volume of the BJJ Fundamentals – Go Further Faster:” series just dropped.  It is a Guard Retention instructional and we have the first in-depth Danaher DVD review of it right here!

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John Danaher DVD Review - BJJ Fundamentals: Guard Retention
Techniques List

A couple of years ago a Danaher DVD was an unthinkable notion. So much so, in fact, that even getting to a Youtube clip with him sharing just a few words was extremely rare. Well, fast forward to today and we have complete series out. At this moment in time, Danaher is working on his second series, this time on the fundamentals of Gi BJJ. Personally, I am a fan of his work and have seen each and every one of his instructions so far. I’ve also done a Danaher DVD review on all of them as well. Still, it is a great pleasure to pop a brand new Danaher instructional in the player and start learning! This time, the subject is guard retention which is bound to get the attention of even those that are not fans of the New Zealander. IF such grapplers exit, that is.

Danaher’s BJJ Fundamentals – Go Further Faster Series

The one thing I always say to people about the No-Gi Danaher DVD series is that it is not really meant for beginners. Okay, some of the DVD sets, like the one on back control and the front headlock are great for everyone. However, in the leg locks one, or the triangle one, for example, Danaher teaches with the expectation that you have certain fundamentals down. This is exactly why I was really happy to see him do a BJJ fundamentals DVD series. What’s even better is that he is focused on doing one in the Gi!

The “BJJ Fundamentals – Go Further Faster” series is just starting to take a swing. The very first 8 part volume came out a few months ago. As expected, it was a real hit. What this series did is get even those that are not fans of No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu on the Danaher train. The first set was all about escapes, particularly ones that pertain to the turtle position. With that out of the way, the next logical step is what to do after escaping. This is where guard comes in, or, more specifically, guard retention. As you’ll see later on in the in-depth Danaher DVD review, this is a subject that John covers much different than anybody else has so far.

Speaking of guard retention, there’s also the fact that one of Danaher’s star students. Gordon Ryan has an instructional out on guard passing. If you have that one, it is time to put both to the test. Will the student’s guard passing system prevail ver the professor’s guard retention one? I believe we all know the answer to that one. Moreover, the structure of this DVD is somewhat different from previous Danaher releases, making it a truly special BJJ instructional.

Guard Retention: BJJ Fundamentals – Go Further Faster Danaher DVD Review

Although Danaher did change things up among the different DVD sets he put out, he did stick to a certain structure. To that extent, this is once again an 8 part DVD instructional, to begin with. Furthermore, it still has lots of theory and conceptual principles before Danaher even gets to the subject of guard retention. However, this time, there is also a slightly different DVD structure too.

The very first part, for example, covert eh usual introduction. However, instead of doing so in multiple chapters, there are only two. That doesn’t shorten the length of the DVD but rather brings the most important things into focus without any interruptions. Parts 2,3 and four focus on the concepts and key principles behind the guard retention system Danaher has developed. Once again, he demonstrates what not to do, just as much as he shows you what you need to do for successful guard retention. Volume five is all about guard passing, as it pertains to retaining guard in particular. Finally, the remaining three volumes cover different scenarios involving different guard passes. This is a somewhat new approach by Danaher, and it is perfect for the subject he is covering.

From a technical standpoint, our Danaher DVD review did not show any issues with sound, camera work, or the overall designs of the instructional.

An Introduction And The Basic Theories Of Guard Retention

The first part of the Guard Retention BJJ Fundamentals – Go Further Faster DVD series is an introductory one. We know Dahaner likes to speak a lot, giving a detailed overview of his systems before he goes into dissecting them for us. This DVD instructional is no different, as it also starts with an introduction. However, the introduction is much longer than in any previous set. In fact, it takes up about half of the first DVD, which only shows how important it is. Following suit, equally as important as the introduction is the system itself. Danaher goes over all the building blocks of his guard retention system along with a detailed explanation to how they all fit together.

Part two has a somewhat more familiar structure. It has several chapters, each looking int some of the key fundamental aspects of retaining the guard. It starts with the big picture and then heads to some more specific requirements. There’s also a chapter in there that I found really important during this Danaher DVD review – the one on the unforgivable sin of guard retention. Wrapping up is a portion that focuses on the three different postures that make or break any guard retention attempt.

First Skill Of Guard Retention

The one part that took me the most time to get through when doing this John Danaher DVD review was the third one. It is big, yes, containing well over a dozen chapters. However, it also covers arguably the most important aspect of retaining guard – movement. To that extent, Danaher’s retention system is based on three crucial skills. the first of those is movement, and John goes deep into every possible aspect of it in this portion of the instructional.

John Danaher DVD Review - BJJ Fundamentals: Guard Retention InstructionalIt all starts with a short introduction to movement as an essential skill for guard players. Danaher then divides the movement into three categories – seated, supine and from the turtle. As far as seated movement goes, scooting and hip heisting lead the way. Following closely is inverting, particularly of the rolling variety. That said, Danaher demonstrates how to use each or all of the three together to build an impassable guard.

As the volume progresses, Danaher switches towards the supine movement. This is the portion on which he spends most of his focus in this part. He covers some of the most fundamental BJJ movements lek shrimping and pummeling. However, in his very unique teaching style, he offers a different perspective to each and every one of them. Moreover, a bunch of other movement patterns, from scissoring, through spinning and pendulums all the way to rollbacks also feature heavily here.

Wrapping up are several chapters on the turtle position that include shoulder rolls and sitting up, Of course, he puts everything together at the end to make sense of it all.

Second And Third Skills Of Guard Retention

As I mentioned before Danaher has three skills that are essential to his guard retention system. Movement is the first, and the second and third are framing and braking and negating grips, respectively.

When it comes to framing, we’re all aware of how important it is for any bottom position. From defensive to offensive maneuvers, there’s not much you can do if you don’t have a solid frame. John covers the purpose of framing first and then moves on to cover different types of frames. Apart from the “usual” forearm, forehand, and backhand frames, there’s also the concept of self-framing which is another one of Danaher’s breakthroughs.

AS far as the third and final essential skill is concerned, there’s one long chapter explaining it in details. Grip fighting is an essential skill of BJJ in general. when it comes to guarding retention in the Gi, breaking and negating grips becomes that much more important. Wrapping up is a chapter on demarcation lines which is, arguably, the best portion of the entire instructional!

Understanding Guard Passing

leave it to Danaher to go so deep into the subject of preventing guard passes, that he devotes an entire part of his instructional to understand what the passers’ goals are. here, Danaher starts by covering an aspect of BJJ that is notoriously hard to explain – connection. As expected, he makes it blatantly simple and understandable. that said, he goes on to uncover what every guard passer is looking to achieve. The premise is to know what they want so you can know how to stop it. If there’s anything I learned throughout this Danaher DVD review, it is that knowing what an opponent is after is half the solution to any puzzle in Jiu-Jitsu. Speaking of understanding guard passers, John covers the cycles of offense and defense, showing exactly when you should look to retain your guard.

As the volume progresses, Danaher goes into specifics of guard retention against any pass. This part is the conceptual foundation of Danaher’s guard retention system as a whole. It demonstrates how to use the most important tools of retaining guard in order of importance. Firs tup is the scissor guard, followed by hip and back heisting, and finally the power prop.

Retention In Regard To Specific Guard Passes 

John Danaher DVD Review - BJJ Fundamentals: Guard RetentionFinally, our Danaher DVD review arrives at specific examples of guard retention. This is where Danaher demonstrates how to use all the concepts, principles and philosophies he shared against specific guard passes. In fact, over the remaining three DVDs he covers a total of 6 common guard passes. He begins with pressure passing, in the form of the double under and over underpasses. There’s a whole volume dedicated to exploring different ways in which you can keep your guard against these common passes.

Next up is a volume that focuses almost entirely on the Torreando pass. This loose pass is one of the most common ones used in Gi BJJ today. That notwithstanding, it is something that works across all levels of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Danaher offers a total of 6 different scenarios in which he offers ways to prevent the pass at various stages. A couple of knee slice retention examples conclude the 7th volume of the instructional.

The final portion of the Gaurd retention Danaher DVD is all about the leg drag and long step passes. Out of the two, the leg drag gets more attention, with a total of 5 different scenarios covered. The long step gets it’s own chapter too. Wrapping things up is a portion on closing concepts like the cranial shift and head protection.

Conclusion

To be completely honest, I doubt anyone needs an in-depth Danaher DVD review to get his instructionals. However, if I had to choose only one of his BJJ DVD instructionals to get, it would be this one. And yes, that includes the one on leg locks as well. Guard retention is by far one of the most important skills of Jiu-Jitsu and nobody can explain it better than John Danaher. Just pick this DVD up and give it a try!

ON SALE HERE:
John Danaher – Guard Retention (DIGITAL/DVD)

John Danaher DVD Review - BJJ Fundamentals: Guard Retention
Techniques List

Mendes Bros 2019 Camp: The Ultimate BJJ Retreat

By
Dino Moskatelo
-
Mendes Bros 2019 Camp - the Ultimate BJJ retreat

Don’t know what you’re going to do this summer? Well, I can tell you what every grappler in the world wishes they can do – the Mendes Bros 2019 Camp. That said, not everyone can do this super camp. The main reason is not your rank, experience or desire to go. The camp is such an opportunity to learn from a couple of the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts ever that there’s bound to be insane interest. Luckily for you, there’s still room to book your perfect BJJ summer! 

Everyone involved in BJJ enjoys going to BJJ seminars. There’s a ton to learn, you meet new grapplers, roll with different people and have an overall great time. Every time some of the best black belts in the world is heading a seminar, the experience is that much better. Well, let me tell you this: a BJJ camp is like a seminar on steroids x 10! Throw in the fact that it is a September camp run by both the Mendes brothers and you have a once in a lifetime opportunity! To be completely honest, ti may turn out to be an annual thing but you never know! So, instead of thinking what seminar you should visit next sign up for the Mendes Bros 2019 Camp instead! It’ll be worth more than a full year of seminars with other black belts!

BJJ Super Camps

If you’ve never been to a BJJ camp before you’re in for a real treat! Camps are generally fun experiences, but BJJ ones are a whole different level! You get to do what you love for days at a time, and there’s nothing else but Jiu-Jitsu! You get to learn, you get to roll, you get to listen to cool stories and experiences. Moreover, you get to know people you’ve been admiring for years! In the case of the Mendes Bros 2019 Camp, you get to spend time learning from the two most universally liked characters in the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu!

Mendes Bros 2019 Camp - the Ultimate BJJ retreat posterSo, let’s talk about a BJJ camp first, and then we’ll go into the ins and outs of this particular Mendes Bros 2019 camp. The first day of a BJJ camp is usually getting to know people and settling in. There’s usually an introductory training session where you get to hear about the agenda. Speaking of the agenda, training is usually three times a day, often with some yoga or other fun activities included. You have the freedom of attaining or skipping any class. However, I doubt anyone would be missing a Mendes Bros class!

When it comes to this Super Camp by the Mendes brothers, you need to know that it is the first of its kind. So far, the Mendes brothers have held seminars, but never before an exclusive full-on 5-day camp! That’s about 20 sessions with the Mendes brothers which is more than a month’s worth of classes for most people! Plus, the Rafa and Gui are not just high-level black belts and multiple time world champions, but also very well rounded grapplers. They have crazy amounts of knowledge to offer form any position in both Gi and No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu!

Mendes Bros Camp – The Ultimate BJJ Retreat

So, let’s take a look at some of the details of this crazy opportunity to spend time with the craziest pair of brothers in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! After all, this Mendes Bros 2019 Camp is the first of it’s kind and who knows when or if it’ll take place ever again!

Where? The Mendes Bros 2019 Camp takes is set to take place in Singapore. More specifically, the host is the well-known EVOLVE MMA gym, and the venue is the EVOLVE Far East Square Venue in Singapore.

When? The dates for the Mendes Brothers World Super Camp are 16-20 September. To spare you a frantic look at your calendar, that does not include a weekend as the dates are Monday to Friday.

What You Get: Everyone the signs up for the camp is going to get a whole bundle of services. Most importantly, you get two classes a day with both the Mendes Bros. The classes are scheduled to take place between 9-11 am and 2-4 pm.

You also get unlimited access to the EVOLVE MMA facilities and coaches, as well as special rates from their accommodation partners. You also receive a complementary rash guard, as well as a group trip to the legendary Marina Bay Sands Skypark. But that’s not all. Saving the best for last, the Mendes brothers also include a one-month complimentary (and unlimited) access to their online library at Art Jiu-Jitsu!

Finally, make sure you hurry up as spots are filling up fast, and the event is expected to be SOLD OUT in the very near future!

Training With The Best Of The Best

As if you need an introduction to the Mendes brothers! Still, let’s presume you’ve been living in a hole somewhere, never attempted a Berimbolo and have no idea who these famed brothers are. Let us help you with that. Both Rafael and Guilherme Mendes are black belts under Ramon Lemos of the Carlson Gracie lineage.

Mendes Bros 2019 Camp - roll with world championsRafel Mendes is a true grappling phenom and is considered to be the King of the Featherweights. He has a record number of World Titles in that division, with a total of 6 so far. Rafa is one of the main people to innovate and develop the Berimbolo and 50/50 guard, among many other positions. He is also the man who managed to remove Cobrinha from the featherweight throne. Now, he runs the Art Of Jiu-Jitsu Academy with his brother Gui. They’re also both a part of the Atos Jiu-Jitsu competition team. Rafa got his black belt in 2008.

Guilherme Mendes is the older of the two brothers. He got his black belt fairly later than Rafa, in 2015. He is also a multiple time world champion, with four titles to his name. Gui Mendes is the first Atos Jiu-Jitsu team member to achieve a gold medal at an IBJJF World Championship. He has also known for a wicked top game that includes lots of pressure and the use of leg drags.

Ready to sign up for the Mendes Bros 2019 camp yet?

Wrapping Up

Training with the Mendes brothers is a no brainer for anyone involved in Jiu-Jitsu. Moreover, Singapore is not just an attractive location but also a hotbed of martial arts in recent years. To make things even more interesting, the Mendes Bros 2019 Camp takes place during the Formula 1 Grand Prix Week in Singapore. That means they’ll be lots of things to do apart from two daily BJJ sessions with the Mendes bros!

Why You Can’t Miss / Why You Should Sign Up For The 2019 Mendes Bros Super Camp

By
BJJ World
-
Mendes Bros Super Camp 2019 - Why You need To sign up!

This September promises to be a real crazy month when it comes to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu! First up, we have the bi-annual ADCC, which, as always, promises fireworks! However, this year, this might not turn out to be September’s greatest BJJ event. Instead, there’s something happening in Singapore just a week prior to the ADCC that’ll have everyone that’s not competing flocking towards Singapore. Well, at least everyone that reserves their spot on time, and there aren’t many left! The event in question is a first-of-its-kind Mendes Bros Super Camp, scheduled to last 5 days! 

What happens at a 5 day Mendes Bros Super Camp? Well, nobody can answer that question since one of these events has never taken place before! Kudos to EVOLVE MMA for managing to organize such a high-level BJJ event! That said, the seminar is open to everyone, as long as you register early enough. The posts are limited to the capacity of the EVOLVE training center, which is far from small. However, the fact that the brothers have 10 world title among them is also a huge draw, so make sure you book your place soon because they’re running out fast!

Mendes Bros Super Camp – The Dream BJJ Training Camp

Mendes Bros Super Camp 2019 in SIngapore posterAs far as I’m concerned, I know what I’d rather be doing this September. While watching the  ADCC is, of course, a must, it seems it’ll be a cherry on the cake if I can make the time to get to the inaugural Mendes Bros Super Camp. The reason I say inaugural is that I believe this is not going to be just a one-off thing. Whether someone will have the option to put one together like EVOLVE is not very reliable. However, the Singapore based MMA giant might just decide to make this an annual thing, and that’s something I certainly look forward to!

Training with world champions is always a welcome experience if you’re a grappler. That said, training with two of them at the same time is a whole different kind of experience. Not to mention that this is the Mende brothers we’re talking about. They’re arguably the most likable and well-known pair of BJJ brothers in the history of the sport. They’re also known as key innovators in the game, particularly in positions like the De La Riva, 50/50 guard and Leg Drag Pass. That said, the Atos competitors are still very much in tune with modern-day BJJ. That means they have an answer to just about every question you have to ask them. And, with five days of double training sessions, you’ll most certainly have the time to ask!

Versatility

If there’s one thing you can learn from the Mendes Bros Super Camp, that is a versatile and complete game. Now, you won’t be able to emulate the Mendes brothers’ game in just five days but you’ll be able to learn a lot. After all, those two have the most well-rounded BJJ games in the history of the sport. Despite people thinking they only know how to roll around on their back,s the Mendes brothers are also immensely good pressure passers. Whether the use the leg drag or the stack pass (Gui’s favorite) they feel like a two option truck on top of you.

Moreover, the brothers are real wizards from the ack as well. This is understandable as every action they take, whether it is the Berimbolo or leg drag, leads right to back control. In short, they will teach you a game that works against every opponent. no matter their size or experience.

The Latest BJJ Guards

Of course, you can expect real masterclasses when it comes to the Mendes brothers’ strengths. Their most famous moves are by far the Berimbolo and 50/50 guard. To that extent, only they know what’s new in the Berimbolo department nowadays. In the 50/50 guard territory, though, they seem to be including the treatment of leg locks now as well. This gives a whole new dimension to their game and will improve yours by miles. Moreover, they are both members of Atos, the team that innovates the most in the guards’ department. When it comes to guards that work, particularly with the Gi, nobody is better than Atos. You can expect it’s most valued competitors to bring lots of innovation in this Mendes Bros Super Camp!

Two Of The Greatest Grapplers Ever

Mendes Bros Super CampThere’s no doubt that both Rafa and Gui are among the best grapplers in the history of Jiu-Jitsu. Although a year younger than Gui, Rafa is the one that got his black belt first. In fact, the is currently the holder of 6 world titles as well, two more than his older brother. Gui, on the other hand, who got his black belt in 2015 is the first Atos team member to win gold at an IBJJF Worlds tournaments. Apart from Gi Jiu-Jitsu accolades, Rafa also has a couple of ADCC title to boast. All in all, they’re a couple of black belts we’d all like to learn from. At the Mendes Bros Super Camp, we will get that option with more than 20 hours of classes scheduled to take place.

Unique Teaching Style

The reason why the Mendes brothers are so sought after is not just their rich competitive legacy. They’re also amazing teachers of the art. In fact, they have a great system that no other grapplers seem to employ. They compete under the Atos banner but teach under the Art Of Jiu-Jitsu one. AOJ is the Mendes brothers’ own academy and one which produces top-level competitors on a regular basis. As such, they’re amazing at conveying all the knowledge and BJJ innovation to others really efficiently. That means spending four hours a day with them for five days is going to provide you with a wealth of grappling information!

Camp Details

The Mendes Bros Super Camp is set to take place in September, between the 16th and 20th. The venue is set to be EVOLVE Far East Square. Understandably, the organizers are EVOLVE MMA and the even it set to take place in their home base of Singapore.

Signing up for the event guarantees you five days of training with the Mendes bros in sessions between 9 and 11 am and 2 and 4 pm. Furthermore, you get a complementary rash guard, access to the EVOLVE vacation coaches and an organized trip Marina Bay Sands Skypark. Plus, you get on month free access to the entire Art Of Jiu-Jitsu Online database! As far as accommodation goes you’re free to find your own, but EVOLVE offer special prices if you choose one of their partners! Oh and the event takes place at the same time as the Formula 1 Grand Prix week, there’s no better time to be in Singapore than this September at the Mendes Bros Super Camp!

Ralph Gracie Throws and Takedowns

By
BJJ World
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Ralph Gracie Throws and Takedowns

Ralph Gracie (born May 25, 1971) is a Brazilian martial artist. Grandson to the great Carlos Gracie. Like other members of the Gracie family, he competed in mixed martial arts. He is the son of Robson Gracie.

In sharp contrast to the typical “passive” Gracie approach, Ralph’s aggressive and often brutal approach earned him the nickname of “The Pitbull”. He has also taught former UFC welterweight and lightweight champion, BJ Penn when he first came to California from Hawaii.

Simple Judo Takedowns For BJJ by Matt D’Aquino DVD Instructional

Adam Wheeler DVD Review- Upper Body Takedowns

How To Safely Practice Takedowns In BJJ

An Awful Brawl with Men vs Women Fights At Disneyland Ends With A Choke

By
BJJ World
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An Awful Brawl with Men vs Women Fights At Disneyland Ends With A Choke

It’s disturbing that security took so long to show up especially with all the children witnessing this.

https://youtu.be/7RBWuYFeg9Y

For a breakdown of what happened check video below:

https://youtu.be/CjnRR8N5IVw

Best MMA Gifts Guide With Detailed Reviews

By
BJJ World
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Your Ultimate Guide To The Best MAM Gifts With Complete Reviews

Combat athletes are not complicated, people. It takes little to make them happy. Just let them train, let them watch fights and DVDs, and occasionally surprise them with an MMA-related gift and they’ll be purring. Take it from someone that knows. MMA fighters and grapplers are some of the easiest people in the world to shop for. granted, if you’re going in the direction of apparel, you’ll need to know sizes, etc. But there are so many different options for MMA gifts out there, that you don’t really need to focus on this, Instead, check out our best MMA Gifts guide with detailed reviews of some great options for combat athletes! 

Let’s face it, MMA training is an addictive and very demanding thing. At least if you’re really serious about competing and making it a career. It can be very rewarding, but it also requires much more than just personal commitment. It also requires those around us to understand the lifestyle and provide support. In that regard, surprising someone whit a gift that ties in perfectly with their lifestyle might be a small act, but it can make an MMA fighter’s day. Let’s face it, everyone likes gifts, and when a gift is tailor-made for you, it makes a world of difference! Luckily, there are countless options out there when it comes to MMA presents, but not all of them are the best MMA gifts you can give a fighter. You can find those that are in our guide below.

The Perfect Presents For Combat Athletes

When it comes to MMA gifts, you have a large selection to choose from. After all, any gear you buy an MMA fighter is going to be more than welcomed. However, gear is somewhat reminiscent of “work” so it may not be the best possible gift. Instead of providing someone with everyday objects that tie in into their lifestyle and main interest is a much better choice. In that regard, you can surprise your significant other/parent/kid/friend with any of our best MMA gifts and put them in a great mood!

One item that is perfect for MMA fighters is books. Of course, not just any books, but MMA-related ones. With books, you have two main options. One is to go for technical books, those that focus on either MMA moves and techniques or strength hand conditioning. those are learning books, and not every fighter might find them interesting. What everyone loves, though are books written by famous MMA fighters themselves. Currently, MMA autobiographies are quite numerous, particularly amongst UFC fighters. From legends like GSP and Chael Sonnen to young UFC stars like Paige VanZant, everyone seems to have something to write nowadays. And they’re all interesting to read.

Apparel is another major thing. And I’m not just talking fight shorts or rashguards here. MMA apparel is available in all possible shapes and sizes nowadays, from hoodies and T-shirts to jackets and hats. In that sense, you can find whatever your significant other considers best MMA gifts in terms of apparel, or even customize some to suit their needs.

Simple smaller stuff like accessories or collectible figurines is also an interesting and original option. These are categories that contain an indefinite number of options, meaning you can never run out of gift ideas.

The Best MMA Gifts 

Let’s take a look at some of the best MMA gifts that are universally appreciated by anyone involved in the sport! When putting our guide together we made sure to follow certain requirements and criteria in order to arrive at the very best options. Namely, below you won’t find two items from the same category. The reason for this is to provide you with as much diversity as possible. Basically, you can follow our guide as it is and get what we offer, or use it as a source of ideas and expand your search accordingly.

A huge aspect of our best MMA gifts guide is pricing and availability. While every item in our guide is available, some are parts of limited editions and you’ll need to act quickly. |the idea is that you get not just something great and MMA-related but also a gift that’s unique and somewhat rare. Moreover, the price of everything is more than affordable, meaning you can actually get a few gifts instead of one for an unbelievable price.

REEBOK OFFICIAL UFC FIGHT KIT WALKOUT HOODIE

Features: 

  • 95% Cotton/5% Spandex
  • Slim fit
  • French terry fabric
  • Drawcord hood
  • Bonded front pockets
  • Full-zip

Right from the start, we’ll open with an awesome gift idea. Whether or not someone is fighting in the UFC, they’ll like this hoodie. It is the official UFC fight kit walkout hoodie, made by Reebok. It is not just a great piece of MMA apparel, it is also a collectible item as well as perfect for day-to-day wear and even training!

What you get with this hoodie is an original Reebok UFC product of the highest quality. It is available in black and comes in all usual sizes (S-XXL). The material is a blend of 95% cotton and 5% spandex. This means that while it is extremely comfortable to wear, this hoodie also fits perfectly. Available in a slim fit cut, with french terry fabrication that provides a soft warmth feel. Extremely durable and designed for performance. The hood has a drawstring cord for adjustability. The hoodie features a full-length zip as well as bonded front pockets. There’s the Reebok logo on the front left of the chest along with the UFC logo on the front right, at shoulder level.

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Whether you’re looking for more gift ideas or something for yourself, check out a complete guide to the best MMA apparel available online HERE!

UFC BOBBLEHEAD LIMITED ACTION FIGURINES (JOANNA JEDRZEJCZYK)

Features:

  • Handcrafted and handpainted
  • Life-like design
  • Velvet bottom for cushion and protection
  • High quality

This one is highly specific, even as an MMA gift. This is a gift for people that like collecting MMA items. Whether they’re already into it, or you want to spur them on, this is the perfect opportunity. There are several figurine collectibles so far by the UFC. However, the best ones are made by MMA Bobblehead, which is exactly what we have on offer today.

The MMA Bobblehead Series features several fighters and MMA personalities in genuine figurine form. The example we have for you today is of Joanna Jedrzejczyk, but there are also many others, including legends like Bruce Buffer, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, Brian Ortega, etc. All of the fighters are in their signature stances making each figurine special. Moreover, each figure is handcrafted and hand-painted. The figurines are high-quality plastic and come in mint condition special packages. Appropriate for ages 5 and older.

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12 COMMANDMENTS OF JIU-JITSU POSTER

Features: 

  • Handmade
  • Premium luxury materials
  • Highest resolution, definition, and clarity possible
  • Digitally printed
  • Semi-gloss

This one might be BJJ specific, but it is perfect for anyone training MMA or combat sports in general. Posters are a great gift on their own, but this one is actually special. This poster depicts 12 commandments of Jiu-Jitsu that are highly motivational, and attributed to Grand Master Carlos Gracie himself!

MMA fighters and grapplers are always in search of motivation. It makes it a lot easier to get up early in the morning and go straight to the grind when you can read a piece of text that’ll motivate you to work. This poster does exactly that. It is a wall poster that is available in 8 x 10 dimensions. The print is of the highest quality, with Fuji Crystal Archive photo paper as that base. Design-wise it is a black and red typographic on a brown parchment with a Chinese symbol silhouette. 

The photo paper used is of the highest quality, and color fidelity, providing a lifetime of enjoyment!

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RING TO CAGE MMA GLOVE KEY CHAIN

Features:

  • Made of leather
  • 3.5 inches long
  • High-quality clip
  • Durable

There’s no more subtle yet clearly visible way to show your love for something than with a key chain. Key chains are visible everywhere and yet, they’re not overly obvious nor take too much space. Plus they’re the best-priced option from our best MMA gifts guide (obviously). There’s also as much variety as you want, but it doesn’t really get better than a pair of MMA gloves.

This key chain features a pair of “Ring to Cage” MMA gloves. They’re available in two different designs. One has a marine green and black combination, while the other is pink and white. This pretty much covers both sexes when it comes to giving this key chain as a gift. The key chain is 3.5 inches long and the gloves themselves are made of leather. This makes for an extra quality key chain that’ll last as much as the real deal. They come in singles, so if you want a pair, you’ll have to order two of them. They can also easily double as a rearview mirror ornament if you’re not a fan of key chains.

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VENUM “CHALLENGER PRO” BACKPACK

Features: 

  • 100% Polyester
  • Large main zip compartment
  • Half-zip front pocket
  • Laptop storage pocket
  • Padded backing
  • Air-mesh fabric
  • Adjustable foam-filled shoulder straps

Although this might technically count as MMA gear, it is still one of the best MMA gifts you can get from someone. Plus it easily doubles as MMA apparel or something you can wear for non-MMA-related activities. This backpack is really a thing of beauty. Uit has everything an MMA fighter might need. From storage space to looks and the perfect organizational system, the Venum “Challenger Pro” backpack has it all!

First of all, this is a Venum product. that means you get top quality and a great price. Next up it is a part of the Challenger series, which is arguably the best series of MMA ger ever! This backpack comes in 9 different designs. The all-black one is a real classic but the others, like black/grey and the Red Devil are also awesome. The material is 100% Polyester, making it ultra-durable. There are a large main compartment and a 17 inch separate pocket for a laptop or tablet. The main compartment has a halfway-round zipper, giving it perfect access. There are also additional pockets, like for example a dedicated mp2 player pocket. Perfect for daily use.

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Whether you’re looking for more gift ideas or something for yourself, check out a complete guide to the best MMA backpacks available in the market today.

SHOCK DOCTOR MOUTHGUARD

Features:

  • Gel-fit liner technology
  • Breathable
  • Professional dental protection
  • Durable
  • Triple-layer design
  • Boil and bite

 

As far as protective gear goes, the one piece of it you don’t need to worry about size for is a mouthguard. And not just any mouthguard. The Shock Doctor Mouthguard is a 100% customizable and ultra-high protection mouthpiece. It is a huge preference among pro-MMA fighters around the world. It just so happens to also be one of the best MMA gifts you might have at your disposal!

Shock Doctor is an unrivaled brand when it comes to mouth guards. They have a huge collection, but one that really stands out is the Gel Max Mouth Guard. This is a state-of-the-art mouth guard that comes with gel-fit liner technology. It is fully customizable, protects every structure in your mouth and neck, and comes with lots of variety. In fact, there are not just more than a dozen different colors available, but also flavors. Now, the mouthpiece can taste like blueberry, bubblegum, cherry, mint, fruit punch, or lemon. It is also breathable and very easy to mold. A heavy-duty exoskeletal Shock Frame guarantees maximal protection, enhanced by special gel. Made from heavy-duty silicone.

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Whether you’re looking for more gift ideas or something for yourself, check out a complete guide to the best MMA mouth guard available in the market today.

THE WAY OF THE FIGHT – GSP

Guide To The Best MAM Gifts - book

Features:

  • Paperback
  • Illustrated
  • 240 pages
  • 10 oz
  • Available in Kindle and as Audiobook

As previously mentioned, one of the very best MMA gifts is an autobiography book by a legendary fighter. While there are many great options in this department out there, GSPs bok is definitely among the best. Simply put, it is a book every aspiring MMA fighter needs to read.

In his first book so far, Georges “Rush” St. Pierre shares everything he learned during his long and memorable UFC career. The book titled “The Way Of the Fight” outlines GSP’s complete journey, from being bullied as a kid to a double division UFC champion. St. Pierre shares every crucial experience in training, fighting, mindset, injuries, and everything that comes with an MMA-centered lifestyle. This book portrays GSP from a different angle, allowing insight into his private life and mind never before seen. the book is available in paperback or hardcover, which are probably the best options for an MMA gift. You can, however, also get it in Kindle or Audiobook form. Read more hidden text[/expander_maker]

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Whether you’re looking for more gift ideas or something for yourself, check out a complete guide to the best MMA books available online.

WEIGHTED ADJUSTABLE JUMP ROPE

Features:

  • Braided cotton
  • Synthetic rubber grips
  • Foam handles
  • 0.6 lbs
  • Tangle-free double ball bearings
  • Adjustable
  • Storage bag included

A jump rope is one of the most important tools of any combat athlete. It provides a lot more conditioning options than running and all of those without having to leave home or the gym. This jump rope, though, is not just a regular rope, but comes in double the weight of others, providing a different challenge for fighters and presenting as the perfect MMA gift.

A very durable rope due to the branded cotton material, this grey jump rope is 9.8” long, albeit adjustable to any height. It provides a smooth and fast jumping experience, as a result of double ball bearings that prevent tangling of any sort. It comes with a storage bag containing two cordless ball clips. The weight of 0.6 lbs is double the weight f usual jump ropes, meaning this one will challenge even the fighters with big gas tanks. 

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Check out the complete guide on the best Jump Ropes Reviews for MMA available in the market today.

Digital/DVD Collections

There is a category out there that we did not touch upon yet. those are instructional DVDs. Now, while MMA DVDs might not be an easy thing to put together (at least not great ones), there are certainly others out there that can actually help with training. During the last few years the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu DVD scene has really been booming, offering not just stand-alone titles but complete collections that have a lot to offer. Providing someone with a DVD collection is certainly one of the best MMA gifts you can give. Particularly when that collection contains crazy amounts of useful information that can help someone win fights.

It does take some tinkering to figure out learning from digital sources if you haven’t done it until now. In that sense, you want to start with something that actually relates to MMA. It’s great if you’re looking for a collection on Gi BJJ basics, but that might not be your best option for MMA. Instead, some of the following DVD collections are actually great resources from MMA, as well as awesome MMA gift ideas:

A former Air Marshal, and the man behind UFC legends such as Randy Couture, Melanson is a grappling coach that is all about practical stuff. Just about every move he shows in his exclusively No-Gi DVDs has an MMA application. Moreover, Melanson goes over such applications, whether it is ground and pound or something else during the demonstrations. The fact that he is an extremely well-rounded grappler featuring Judo, Catch Wrestling, Sambo, and BJJ in his style really sums everything up. Melanson himself is a student of legends like Gene LeBell and Gokor Chivichyan, which makes him of the best grappling coaches alive! His collection so far includes around half a dozen titles, offering options from the bottom, from the top as well as many crazy and ultra-painful submission finishes.

If you don’t think that leg locks work in MMA take a better look at some of the most recent fights. Rousimar Palhares aside, leg locks are a huge benefit in MMA, as Gary Tonon and Ryan Hall, among others, have showcased lately. Well, there’s one leg locker out there that we still haven’t seen venture into MMA. However, he has some deadly stuff when it comes to submissions and an entire DVD collection to show for it. The Australian phenom has a couple of leg lock DVDs as well as triangle chokes, Z guard, and a few other titles in his collection. All are No-Gi and are perfect for a fierce bottom MMA game.

The original MMA leg locker himself, Mr. Ryan Hall simply had to feature here. This is one of the largest DVD collections you can get, numbering at a total of 10 DVD sets, each containing at least three volumes. As far as the best MMA gifts go, this collection might be the one to start with. It offers both Gi and No-Gi DVDs, each specializing in a single subject. You get both guard and passing strategies as well as a ton of submissions, topped off with Hall’s signature 50/50 leg lock system that saw him win the Ultimate Fighter.

This one might seem like it is out of its place here but bear with me. Travis is an Olympic medalist in Judo and a BJ Jblack belt under John Danaher. What he has to teach, is what you need to listen to. He is extremely well versed in No-Gi and knows what works in the cage and what is useless. In this collection, you’ll learn things other DVDs do not teach. Form essential grip fighting and limb control, to devastating No-Gi and Gi takedowns that end in submissions. This collection is perfect to help you develop an unusual and highly effective takedown game for MMA.

Finally, a real treat for any combat athlete. If you’re unsure what DVD collection you might want to get as a gift, consider this one. It is the ultimate No-GI DVD collection, featuring a dozen carefully selected titles that are perfect for both grapplers and MMA fighters. There is something in it for everyone, with coaches like former UFC fighters Tom DeBlass, grappling legend Dean Lister and the enigmatic coach John Danaher, to name a few. All in this one might be on the top of our entire best MMA gifts guide!

These are definitely not the only options you have out there. However, they do offer something different, both as learning tools and as some of the best MMA gifts you may give to a fighter.

In Summary

Even when you know what you need to get for someone, it is always easier to have a complete guide. All of the items above are most definitely the best MMA gifts for any fighter. Speaking as one, I know that I’d enjoy getting either one of them, particularly when they come as a surprise. Or, simply use this guide as a source of ideas and categories and go and further customize your MMA gift search!

The Blueprint For Grappling On A Low Carb Diet

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BJJ World
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Grappling on a low carb diet

In the modern-day, keto craze plenty of people are trying a thousand different diets and nutrition protocols to help them achieve their goals. In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, that usually translates to something sustainable that provides ample energy for regular training. Moreover, there’s also the question of bulking up and cutting weight as well. To that extent, not all diets are particularly suited for high-level grappling or MMA training. Making a low-carb diet for combat athletes is not impossible but it requires a lot more than just a simple Google search. 

The norm today, when it comes to training any kind of combat sports is to include the so-called trifecta. You need to train your martial art (or arts) of choice, you need to train to be in shape for training and fighting and you need to dial in your nutrition. Surprisingly, specific grappling or MMA training is the easiest part of this equation. Strength and conditioning is a subject for a different time and is probably the most complicated of them all. Somewhere in the middle is nutrition. Should you go high carb, low fat, or opt for a low carb diet? Vegan, vegetarian, or carnivore? What about gluten? these are just some of the questions that often arise in terms of combat sports nutrition. Today, we’ll tackle the question of low-carb diets and whether they work for grapples.

Low Carb Diet 101

So what is the deal with all this low-carb diet craziness? Are carbs really the enemy here? There are a host of different schools of thought on that one. For starters, let’s make a crucial distinction – carbs and sugar are not one and the same. Carbohydrates (or carbs) are compounds that are found in many different types of food. They have a very distinct function – providing energy. And sugar is just one type of carbohydrate available to us. So what’s the deal with everyone trying to ditch carbs and go Keto or high fat?

Our bodies use carbs as an instant energy source. When there is enough energy from carbs, the excess gets turned into glycogen for “safekeeping” in the liver and muscles. When they are full as well, all excess carbs turn into fat to be later released as an alternate source of energy. The more processed the carbs, the easier they turn into fat because they provide a lot of energy in quite small doses. So when you compare sugar to sweet potatoes or yams, you can see that there’s a huge difference.

A low-carb diet works by turning to fat metabolism as a primary energy source. To that extent, you have to understand that if you decide to grapple with low carbs, you’ll have to significantly increase the amount of fat you eat. The fewer (or not at all) carbs, the more fat. To that extent, fat needs to be in check as well, the less processed the better.

Cutting Carbs The Right Way

When you decide to give a low-carb diet a try, you have to remember that you’re also grappling or training MMA on a daily basis. That means that if you decide to drop all carbs today just like that, you’re training is going to suffer along with your health. Instead, whenever you decide to do major changes in your diet, you need to make sure you do them step by step.

In terms of nutrition, you need to start dropping carbs gradually. Start with the stuff that has no nutritional value at all. The first step in establishing a low-carb diet for grappling would be cutting out all processed carbs. That means all kinds of sugar, white or brown. Sodas, all kinds of sweet snacks, ice cream, etc should be the first to go. That also means no hidden sugars well, so there go cereals, all the “healthy” energy bars, and granola. Once you do that, let this change sink in, give yourself a couple of weeks to try it out, and get used to it. It is not just your energy metabolism, but also your gut bacteria that needs to get sued to the change.

What you’re left with now are natural carbs. Those are the carbs from fruit, grains, and root vegetables like potatoes or yams. If you’re looking to further cut carbs, you should start with grains. That means no bread, pasta, rice, corn, wheat, etc. of any kind, white or brown. Dropping fruit and root vegetables means you’re looking to go into Keto/Paleo mode. That requires a lot of tinkering and adjusting. If you’re looking for a low-carb diet that you can sustain, keep the yams, potatoes, and certain fruits. Drop honey, dry fruits, or sugary fruits like watermelons and pineapple.

Sustaining A Carb-Free Diet While Grappling

The main trouble with any low-carb diet is usually sustainability. We’re surrounded by carbs and delicious completely unhealthy and nutritionally useless food. That means that temptation is high every day. If you cut out carbs completely, you’ll most likely give in at one point or another. Once you do, there’ll be no turning back. Instead of going cold turkey, after you follow the above steps to cutting carbs out, you need a game plan for staying low carb for prolonged periods of time.

That said, your focus should be on low-carb foods, first and foremost. Those are lean meats like chicken, fish, eggs, leafy greens, greek yogurt, avocados, nuts, olive oil, and certain fruits like berries, to begin with. these should be the staple of your low-carb diet. For regular grappling training, I’d advise not dropping potatoes and fruits altogether. Instead, use them smartly, consuming them only after you train, when your body needs them the most.

Next up, make sure the meal plan you choose is sustainable. It will be really hard to sustain a low-carb diet if you do not prep ahead of time. Meal prepping should become a habit, particularly on days when you know you’ll be really busy. Also, going shopping for handy low-carb snacks once a week is a great idea. When you have stuff like nuts, seeds, boiled eggs, hummus, veggies, and even fruit at hand, you’re less likely to reach for processed stuff and fall off the wagon.

George Lockhart Nutrition And Weight Management SystemIf you like to really understand, and combat sports nutrition you should turn to the foremost expert in the field – George Lockhart. His “Nutrition And Weight Management System” has it all, from diet templates to weight cut protocols. Comes in a bundle with an E-book and a DVD set. 

 

George Lockhart Diet For MMA

A George Lockhart Meal Plan For Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

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