Closed Guard Domination Tom DeBlass DVD Review

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By now, we’re growing accustomed to TOm DeBlassisntructionals popping left and right. Which is a great thing, if we’re being honest! By now, Tom has quite the collection available for all BJJ enthusiasts. So far, Tom has 6 multi-part DVD instructionals that include virtually every aspect of Jiu-Jitsu. He has Gi and No-Gi instructionals, on both guard work, passing and submission escapes, along with a strength and conditioning and nutrition title. Now, Tom Turns to the most basic of positions, giving it a unique twist. The Closed Guard Domination Tom DeBlass DVD just hit the shelves, and it is going to revolutionize the way yo see the closed guard.

ON SALE HERE:
The Closed Guard Domination by Tom DeBlass (DVD / DIGITAL / COMBO)

Tom DeBlass is one of the most likable BJJ characters out there. Teaching his trade out of New Jersey, he is the one responsible for Gary Tonon, and somewhat Gordon Ryan and their incredible success. On top of it, he runs a very successful academy and is still an active and formidable competitor himself. Oh, and he is a hell of a guard player, regardless of the guard. Put him in half guard, full guard, butterfly guard, and one thing is for certain – you’ll go flying. Now, he offers insight into BJJ’s most fundamental position – the closed guard. The Closed Guard Domination Tom DeBlass DVD is actually exactly what we need in today’s world of spinning and flying nonsense.

Basics With Tom DeBlass

IF there’s anything you need to know about Tom Deblass, it is that he is a fan of the basics. He has incredibly strong basics, which mean he can deal with pretty much anyone. AS if that’s not enough, he sharpens his skills constantly with the killers from the Danaher Death Squad and other high-level grapplers that train at Renzo’s.

This approach to Jiu-Jitsu is to be expected, if we’re being honest. After all, Tom is a black belt under Ricardo Almeida, who is a Renzo Gracie black belt himself. You can see why Tom favors the basics of Jiu-Jitsu over the more “entertaining” styles. It is not to say that Tom can’t, or doesn’t do all the modern techniques, but he only adds them to his incredible base. This approach is exactly what makes him successful, unlike people who change their game with every new trend.

Speaking of basics, there’s hardly a more basic position than the full guard. The Closed Guard Domination Tom DeBlass DVD is exactly the instructionals we were waiting for. It is going to be full of innovative ways of executing the fundamental attacks from a foundational position. After all, nobody has passed tom’s guard in both training and competition during the last 17 years. If that’s not impressive, I don’t know what is.

The Tom DeBlass Guard Philosophy

The Closed Guard Domination Tom DeBlass DVD seems to be the second in what we can only hope is going to be a whole series. Previously, Tom issued the Half Domination DVD that focuses on the half guard. Both that and his new release are No-Gi instructionals. Tom is a big fan of No-Gi BJJ, which is a huge bonus for us. The closed guard without the Gi is can be a hard position to play, even if you’re good at it in the Gi.

Tom’s philosophy is that of basics first, and fancy stuff later. To achieve this, Tom likes to be certain he is safe before he focuses on anything else. When you’re playing guard, staying safe means not having to bear the opponent’s weight and shut down any potential passing game. TOm’s guard is a very nasty one because it starts off defensively and then morphs in a very dangerous attacking position. What you can expect from the Closed Guard Domination Tom DeBlass DVD is a wide array of counter attacks that work off spots where you’re in absolutely no danger!

Furthermore, Tom is a fairly big guy but he is not an ultra-heavyweight. He does, however, like to compete with big guys and he is not the youngest competitor, currently at 36 years of age. So, fighting against the young guns that outweigh him by 20-30 lbs means he needs to have an efficient system to fight off from the ground. And the closed guard is the perfect spot for doing so.

ON SALE HERE:
The Closed Guard Domination by Tom DeBlass (DVD / DIGITAL / COMBO)

REVIEW: Closed Guard Domination Tom DeBlass DVD

The DVD releasing game is not an easy one. Since Tom releases a lot of DVD’s in a year, we’re all used to a certain level by now. Half of the responsibilities are his, and half are the producers. As far as tom is concerned, he needs to provide quality content. Moreover, he needs to present it in a simple and progressive fashion, so that students of all levels can learn from it. Furthermore, his techniques need to work against high-level grapplers under the pressure of competition. The Closed Guard Domination Tom DeBlass DVD covers all these bases, and then some!

The technical aspects of this instructional are also flawless. Perfect sound, crystal clear video and some impressive camera work make this DVD a real prize!

Part 1

The Closed Guard Domination Tom DeBlass DVD begins with something very basic – a posture break. You might think that breaking posture is something every white belt knows they should do. However, I doubt white belts know how to break the posture straight into a submission trap. Tom offers a great Omoplata setup that’ll help you keep the posture broken and finish the fight fast at the same time.

The Tom DeBlass take on the closed guard is one rarely seen today, which only gives this DVD that much more credit. Tom goes for the overhook closed guard, setting up all sorts of things, like triangles and arm locks from there. He also offers some really advanced concepts as to how you should act when an opponent stalls the underhook.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Tom DeBlass DVD without some wicked submissions from the very beginning. Tom demonstrates some very slick arm locks in the form of Kimura and Omoplata combinations. Keep an eye open for the neck crank, though, as it’s going to become a real favorite instantly!

Part 2

The second volume is all about the defensive side of things. Not that the counters from the first volume are going to fail you, but simply because Tom likes to offer options. HIs experience and unique mindset make him one of the best instructor in the world of BJJ today. This is clearly apparent in the second volume, where he offers by far the best stack defense I’ve ever seen.

However, his efforts do not stop there. Amazing guillotine details follow his arm locking secrets, along with, surprise, surprise – more armlocks! The Closed Guard Domination Tom DeBlass DVD is full of bent armlocks, mostly in the form of omoplatas. This makes it perfect for even the most advanced BJJ students.

And, of course, that Danaher connection is also apparent, with leg attacking options from the closed guard, of all positions.

Part 3

The third volume is where things get crazy. Yup, it was all fundamentals and basics until now. Here, Tom starts the offensive guard game. It includes crazy effective sweeps, Ashi Garami entries, and even Gogoplatas. There’s no way I could do this volume enough justice just by writing about it. It is something you have to see. there are some crazy-effective combinations of basic moves that even black belts can’t prevent. Take the very fundamental scissor sweep-triangle choke combo for example. We’ve all attempted it at some point or another, but now Tom provides details and adjustments that’ll change the way you’re looking at it forever!

Part 4

Have you ever wanted to take a private class with Tom DeBlass? Well, now you can. We’ll not really but you can get the next best thing – a recording of a full private. The final chapter of the Closed Guard Domination Tom DeBlass DVD features a private class with Michael Zenga from BJJ Fanatics. It is the perfect way of finishing, by going over everything explained previously in a private lesson that includes some masterful tips and a mind-blowing Q&A.

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The Closed Guard Domination by Tom DeBlass (DVD / DIGITAL / COMBO)

REVIEW: Henry Cejudo DVD – High Level Takedowns

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BJJ World

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Henry Cejudo DVD Review - High Level takedowns Adn Mat Control For grapplers

Just a few short months ago, the UFC’s last long-standing champion got unceremoniously de-throned. Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson had an incredible undefeated run at flyweight. He went on to win a record-breaking 11 bouts against all sorts of challenges. One of these challenges was an Olympic gold medalist wrestler by the name of Henry Cejudo. Mighty Mouse got the win but that did not mean Cejudo was defeated. A few years after their first bout, Cejudo challenged for the title again, and this time beat Johnson decisively. Now, the man who dethroned the longest-lasting UFC champion in history is about to treat the grappling world with highly detailed video instructional. Ladies and gentlemen, we announce to you the upcoming Henry Cejudo DVD instructional!

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Henry Cejudo – High-Level Takedowns (DVD/DIGITAL)

Asking what the subject of a Henry Cejudo DVD is going to be is completely needless. After all, he is an Olympic gold medalist who dominates everyone in the grappling department. And he is the UFC flyweight champion of the world. Understandably, his upcoming instructional is going to be all about takedowns. What is really unique about it, apart from an Olympic gold medalist demonstrating the techniques, is that all takedowns are going to be BJJ specific. Cejudo is aiming to create content that’ll help Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athletes utilize the very best wrestling takedowns. As such, you can expect this debut Henry Cejudo DVD to be a real gem and something you should start saving for right away!

At the moment of writing, we understand that the Cejudo DVD is currently being shot. That means that in a few weeks time, you can expect it to hit the market, in both DVD and digital format. As soon as it does. we’ll provide you with a very detailed review right here!

Henry “The Messenger” Cejudo

Who exactly is Henry Cejudo? After all most people only know him from the UFC. I doubt many grapplers actually know Henry Cejudo’s grappling background and his accomplishments. Granted, we all know what he can do inside the octagon, but MMA is a very specific environment to grapple in. We all know how important wrestling is for MMA, as people like Henry, Khabib, and others continuously demonstrate inside the octagon. But what about BJJ? Is Cejudo’s brand of wrestling and his takedown philosophy going to apply to the gentle Art? Let’s look at his background before the Henry Cejudo DVD actually comes out.

Henry Cejudo was born on February 9th, 1987, in Phoneix, Arizona. He started wrestling while in high school and soon caught the eye with his enormous talent and incredible work rate. In 2006, Cejudo managed to win the American wrestling federation’s national freestyle tournament. This was a huge accomplishment for someone his age and opened the door to his Olympic career. He went on to claim various different titles in the US before stepping on the Olympic mats.

In Bejing in 2008, Cejudo went through the best of the best in the world like a freight train. The freestyle wrestler dominated each and every opponent, displaying an incredible takedown game. Not long after his amazing victory, Cejudo decided he is going to retire from wrestling. Normally, he focused on using his world-class skills in the quest for different titles.

Before he faced Demetrious Johnson, Cejudo was undefeated in MMA, with a record of 10-0. Even today, his record is that of an impressive 13 wins and only 2 defeats. If history is anything to go by, Cejud is here to stay at the very top of the UFC.

Henry Cejudo DVD

A Henry Cejudo DVD going over wrestling takedowns has the same value as a John Danaher leg locks DVD. If this comparison doesn’t bring things into perspective, you might not be in the right sport for you. That said, the one key characteristic of Cejudo that makes this upcoming DVD so special not an apparent one. It is not his Olympic and MMA experience, nor his technical ability that makes his DVD special. It’s actually his style of wrestling that excites everyone that knows something about grappling.

Being a freestyle wrestler, Cejudo brings to the table the factor of unpredictability. Freestyle wrestlers are extremely athletic and explosive by nature. Plus they have the mentality of adapting to any new situation that arises during a match. On top of everything, you could argue that their technical arsenal is much bigger than that of wrestlers from other styles. Freestyle wrestling is actually really close to BJJ from a conceptual standpoint. Freestyle wrestlers take only the best techniques and are not afraid to modify and adapt them as they go along.

What this means for a Henry Cejudo DVD is that it is going to bring to the table something completely new. So far, Cejudo went over all the Danaher DVD’s to figure out the best way to present his material. Expect a very well organized DVD, with incredible attention to detail. Furthermore, you can bet that Henry is going to talk a lot about concepts and strategies on top of deconstructing some of the most useful wrestling takedowns for Jiu-Jitsu. Seeing as his commitment and abilities are unquestionable, this upcoming DVD is going to be a real hit!

UPDATED: Henry Cejudo DVD – High-Level Takedowns And Mat Control For Grapplers – FULL REVIEW

Now that Henry’s DVD is finally out, we can see that we weren’t off with our predictions. Henry really did deliver an awesome product, one that’ll benefit all grapplers. His system is perfect for beginners, advanced students Gi only practitioners, No-gi grapplers, and even MMA fighters. The “Messenger” clearly doesn’t hold back and has an incredible teaching style. His knowledge for takedowns and wrestling is unrivaled by any, and he delivers it in a very precise and understandable manner.

There are 4 volumes in total, where Henry offers insight into the finer details that make takedowns work in real-time under stress. The UFC champ starts off very basic and focuses on body mechanics before going into specific techniques. He also pays a lot of attention to distance and how to maintain and/or shorten it. He also teaches a few counter-attacking takedown setups, as well as a host of efficient bottom position escapes. Finally, he goes over how to control opponents from the top position once you have them down.

Takedown Setups

Kicking things off is Henry’s philosophy on how you should stand when you’re thinking about takedowns. The stance is the foundation of any successful takedown attempt, as you’ll learn in this Henry Cejudo DVD. Cejudo doesn’t just explain stance but also covers motion as well. he outlines how to attack directly, as well as by using fakes in order to create superior angles.

A key component of the first volume is hand fighting, or as Henry refers to it “making contact”. This is integral in any grappling exchange, and in particular, in a takedown battle. Complementing hand fighting principles are Cejudo’s level changes and penetration concepts. These are really important to understand as they feature heavily throughout the second volume of the DVD.

Distance Mangement

The most important part of the “High-Level Takedowns And Mat Control For Grapplers Henry Cejudo DVD is definitely the second volume. It contains only one chapter – distance. This in itself, demonstrates how important this concept is when you’re trying to execute high-level takedowns.

There are three things you’ll learn in this section of the Henry Cejudo DVD instructional. First, you’ll understand what distance is and how it relates to your stance and motion. Second, you’ll learn how to use fakes and level changes to penetrate and shorten it for successful takedown setups. Finally, you’ll learn the basics of distance management. You’ll be able to control the distance in a manner that prevents your opponent from taking you down. At the same time, you’ll be able to go into your takedown attacks at will, by following Cejudo’s concepts and principles.

Analyzing The Over/Under

The third volume is another one containing integral takedown advice from one of the world’s best. here, Cejudo covers the over/under position and all the opportunities it offers for control and takedowns. However, before he goes into it, he coves a few ways to deal with collar ties so that you can set your attacks up. If you’re ever up against a wrestler, this information is going to be crucial if you want to succeed in anything but guard pulls.

The over/under position is one of the staples of wrestling, and also a very underutilized position in BJJ. This means you can use it to surprise most opponents, even those that have experience with it. It is a very useful tool to use against Judokas who like to maintain a high posture when grappling form the top. Henry covers a bunch of ways of establishing it, holding it and attacking from it.

Escapes And Top Control

The inaugural Henry Cejudo DVD ends with a volume dedicated to ground fighting. Here, Henry goes over a few ways to escape when you’re on the bottom. Examples include hip heist concepts, side control escapes and getting out of the turtle. He also covers a few essential takedown defense principles that are applicable against most takedowns you’ll encounter.

In the second part of the final chapter, Henry also covers a very important aspect of Jiu-Jitsu – top control. No matter how good you are at takedowns, you’ll only get tired if you do not know how to follow them up with ground control. As you might’ve seen in his championship fight against Demetrious Johnson, Cejudo is the best at keeping people ion the ground. His concepts of top control work in all facets of grappling, and particularly No-Gi BJJ.

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How To Train To Get A Jacked BJJ Body – Workout Program

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BJJ World

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Looking at all the No-Gi action out there makes lots of grapplers yearn for that jacked and functioning BJJ body. Grapplers like Gordon Ryan, Andre Galvao, Cyborg and others. Seeing them makes everyone, regardless if they’re grapplers or not, drool over their physiques. However, there’s a recurring theme among BJJ athletes that makes them see muscle as the enemy of high-level BJJ. This article has the aim of achieving two main goals. First, I’d like to tackle the myth about muscle size and the ability to grapple. Second, I’ll offer a brutally simple, yet completely effective routine to help you pack on some muscle.

Training for grappling is different from bodybuilding. This is a statement we all know to be very true. To that extent, training for that jacked and muscular BJJ body also needs to be in line with the main physical activity – Jiu-Jitsu. As such, you need to look and find that hard-to-pin balance. You’ll need to put your body under enough intensity to grow, yet not get overly tired of BJJ. Unfortunately, you’ll have to make compromises. And by compromises, I mean lower the intensity of BJJ training, at least for a while. This doesn’t mean skipping classes, only watching out how hard you spar. So, if your next competition is in a couple of months, forget about building muscle. The best time to do it is in the off-season when you have time to spare.

Grappling Muscle

The first thing we’re going to focus on is what exactly is grappling muscle. As you know, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu requires your body to work in a bunch of unusual ways. On top of it, you need to be limber and flexible enough along with having the endurance to go for long periods of time. So, where exactly does muscle fit in the puzzle? Or is the quest fora jacked BJJ body just a vanity goal?

Actually, having a muscular body does have its benefits for martial arts. Especially for grapplers. Every grappler wants to be strong and powerful first, and look good second. Strength plays a huge part in Jiu-Jitsu, especially with more advanced practitioners that understand the game. More functional muscle mass does not necessarily translate to more strength and power if you obtain it in a bodybuilding way. train correctly for grappling, though, and it can decide a match.

Which brings us to performance. The jacked BJJ body is good for more than a show. Apart from strength and power, you’re also going to be able to perform better. Being stronger, and bigger helps with pins and makes make holding isometric positions a bit easier, and can get you out of a bad spot (or into a good one).

Another huge upside is injury prevention. Stronger muscles mean stronger tendons. that, in turn, means less accidental joint injuries and/or muscular ones. This is particularly important for grapplers older than 35.

How To Get A Jacked BJJ Body

When you’re looking to add that all-important few additional pounds of muscle, you need to make sure you keep things as simple as humanly possible. to that extent, there are two main things to focus on. One is knowing the few cardinal rules of weightlifting for grapplers. Rules translate into achievable goals. if you go doing what you think will work, you’re most likely to fail in both your quest for the ultimate BJJ body and Jiu-Jitsu. Second, you need a solid, tried, and tested program that is going to work for grapplers of all levels. Below, we got both.

A great way of getting that impressive BJJ body is by using a very simple tool – kettlebells. It has worked for Russian wrestlers for decades now, and it will work for you. Mike Perry, who is an outstanding grappler himself has the right recipe fro you. Get his DVD set “Kettlebell Essentials Instruction Guide” and become a jacked and shredded grappling machine!

Just before we go into it, let’s dispel the myth that bigger muscles mean less conditioning and less speed. If you decide to go bodybuilder big, for sure, all of the above applies. However, if you focus on building a few pounds of muscle, strategically placed all over major muscle groups, you’ll only benefit from it. furthermore, if you’re training right and not isolating muscle groups, your body is going to work as one unit. this means that you won’t compromise flexibility, (much), agility or endurance.

The Rules

Let’s go over the 5 cardinal rules of weight training for increased muscle mass for martial artists. The first one is something you’ve probably heard a bunch of times – train big muscle groups the most. This does not mean that you’ll leave your biceps or abs to just work when you do full-body movements. The legs, back, and chest are the groups that need to be your primary targets, with shoulders, biceps, and grip muscles following closely.

Next up, remember that to grow a muscle you need constant, specific stimulus. That, however, does not mean spending 6 days in the gym on top of BJJ training. It actually means pinpointing the correct volume of work, that’ll get you growing at a steady rate. The same goes for intensity. When it comes to this, be prepared for a trial and error period before you get everything spot on.

Next up is goal setting. do not forget that your goal is to get the best BJJ body, not the best beach body. It is very easy to get caught up in weightlifting, especially when you start getting jacked. Remember that grappling should be your primary focus and you shouldn’t overdo auxiliary training.

Also, do not expect your garden variety Muscle & Fitness “20 lbs in 8 weeks” program to work. If you want to build muscle you need to give it time. Otherwise, you’ll gain weight, but it won’t be just muscle. If you do not have at least six months to dedicate to getting a few pounds of muscle, do not even start training for it.

The final piece of the puzzle is correct nutrition. It is a deciding factor, yet one so important that it deserves an article of its own.

The Method

Finally, we can get to the program. It is a three-day split containing full-body exercises in each session. Make sure to train them a day apart at the very least. Furthermore, give yourself weeks’ time to test your max lifts on each of the given exercises. then, use that number to choose the weight you’ll train with. Every 8 weeks, retest yourself and increase the weight accordingly. Keep the reps and sets the same throughout the program. Finally, remember that this is a muscle-building program, not an endurance one. If you really want to get the jacked BJJ body of your grappling idols, learn to train with a full range of motion and rest for 2-3 minutes between sets.

Day 1

Deadlifts (5 sets of 5 reps)
Pull-ups (3 sets of maximum reps)
Barbell rows with an isometric hold (3 sets of 8 reps. Try to hold the weight for 10 seconds in the contracted position)
Three-way curls (3 sets of 5 reps of each variation – do 5 curls with your palms facing you, followed by 5 Hammer curls, followed by 5 curls with your palms facing away from you. That is one set)
Hanging leg raises (5 sets of maximum reps)

Day 2

Bench press (5 sets of 5 reps. Lift explosively and lower the weight for 5 seconds).
Standing military press (3 sets of 8 reps)
Barbell shrugs (5 sets of 10 reps)
Skull crushers (3 sets of maximum reps)
Grip training (isometric holds, 3 sets of maximum holds, preferably hanging off a pull-up bar while holding on to a Gi)

Day 3

Front squats (5 sets of 5 reps. If you think you can handle them, do Zercher squats instead)
Split squats (4 sets of 10 reps on each leg)
Close grip bench press (4 sets of 10 reps)
SUPERSET – Ab wheel rollouts & medicine ball Russian twists (5 sets of maximum reps of each exercise)
Neck bridges (3 sets of 30-second holds)

Travis Stevens’ 3 weeks / 3x per Week Weight Lifting Program for Grapplers

Medicine Ball Workout For Jiu-Jitsu To Get You Lean

No Equipment BJJ Workout Ideas For Grapplers

125 lb Woman Arrested for Choking Out the Bouncer after she thought he Groped Her

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BJJ World

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125 lb Woman Chokes Out the Bouncer for Allegedly Groping Her

You Guys won’t believe what happened. Twenty-Two years-old Kierah LaGrave choked the Bouncer Unconscious in the nightclub in New York after he allegedly slapped her on the butt.

There was the only one problem with her choking him is that it wasn’t him slapping her. You can see on the camera that it wasn’t him slapping her but her friend. Once her friend realized the confusion she tried to stop her but it was too late.

Probably, the only reason bouncer didn’t react because he thought it’s his friend “choking him” while playing a joke on him.

Even though it was a terrible misunderstanding she was arrested on Thursday and charged with second-degree strangulation – a felony.

If convicted, she could face up to seven years in prison.

As Rener said at the end of a clip we can see that CHOKES WORKS.

She Choked the Wrong Guy!

SOUND ON! Great technique, WRONG Neck!

GracieUniversity.com

Posted by Gracie Breakdown on Friday, November 2, 2018

Kierah laGrave Chokes a abouncer — Kierah LaGrave

BJJ Guy Beats up Two Bullies in a Street Fight Back to Back

BJJ Brown Belt Instructor Attacked On The Street

Renzo Gracie Arrested for Beating A bouncer in New York Nightclub (Video)

Find Out What’s Really Causing Pain in Your Lower Back (6 Reasons)

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BJJ World

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Lower back pain, pardon the pun, can be a real pain and can inhibit your BJJ and your life. Based on extensive reading of research available, 6 reasons came out loud and clear for what’s causing it.

The very first reason, is one that almost nobody tells you about and you have to get it seen too, otherwise, you’re risking long-term damage. 85% to 94% of people are going to get hit with lower back pain, which may even be higher if you train BJJ.

Why is so important to know the causes of lower back pain? BJJ places such a high demand on the lower back, that pain can be caused by a number of areas both on the mat and off the mat. Yet, most solutions only target one area, mobility. Mobility is not enough. Yes, it’s important, as I point out in this video. Yet, there are 5 other areas YOU MUST take care of to address the pain in your lower back AND protect yourself from lower back pain.

The body is a system, that when the individual parts are not working correctly, other parts of the system need to take up the ‘slack’. If your lower back is taking up the ‘slack’ then that’s what’s probably causing your pain and stopping you from training BJJ. So, by knowing the different causes, you can start to address the correct solutions, a complete solution, a solution that will not just give you a short-term fix, but fix lower back pain for life.

Limber Up With This Short And Sweet BJJ Mobility Routine

Sciatica Stretch Variations To Fix BJJ Lower Back Pain

How to Fix your Low Back Pain and Never Feel it Again – Simple Exercises

Monkey Mount Attacks – 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu With The Gi

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BJJ World

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The mount position is one that you should definitely take seriously, And by seriously, I mean get into researching and trying out as many variations as humanly possible. Taking the mount for granted is only going to get you in trouble when you’re in competition or an MMA match. If you truly know the mount position, then you can reap all the benefits it offers, from positioning, through striking all the way to inescapable submissions. There are plenty of mount variations out there, and each of them has something original to offer. Speaking of originality, none of the mount variations are as unorthodoxly efficient as the monkey mount. It is one of Eddie Bravo’s innovations, but one that’s very applicable with the Gi. Perhaps even more so than in No-Gi.

The monkey mount is one of those 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu positions that you run into by sheer chance. ti is exactly how I came across it. However, once you realize how potent the monkey mount is, it will soon become your go-to mount variation. Especially if you’re a smaller grappler or a female. This is not to say that bigger grapplers can’t use the monkey mount to great success. Lighter weights will, however, find a lot more of the control heavier guys take for granted. Today, I’ll do my best to shed light on the monkey mount and all the ways in which it can make your Jiu-Jitsu better.

One guy that certainly knows his 10th Planet positions down to a T is Brandon McCaghren. He is one of Eddie Bravo’s top black belt instructors and runs 10th PLanet Decatur. He has an awesome DVD out on all things rubber guard. Check out his “Rubber Guard: The Meathook” DVD today to introduce some 10th Planet slickness into your game!

Monkey Mount Basics

The monkey mount is a position in which most of us end up, yet only a few recognize. the thing is that when an opponent tries to bridge as a defense, they open up direct pathways to this mount variation. Even if an opponent doesn’t give away the position, getting it from regular mount is a breeze.

To get into the monkey mount, you’ll first need to make sure you control the head. To do that, you’ll need an arm under their neck, lifting their head of the mats. Having the head high off the ground is imperative for controlling any mount. Once you have it, You need to focus on pushing the arm that’s on the opposite side down to the ground. Since you have one arm an all your bodyweight at your disposal, this is an easy thing to achieve. Once there, you can start working towards the monkey mount

Your opponent is likely going to try and bridge to that side, placing their free arm under your armpit. All you need to do is lift the leg on that side, and prop it against their back. this is going to keep your opponent on their side. Once again, aim to lift the head of the opponent as high as possible, while keeping the top arm trapped.

Finally, maintaining the monkey mount is going to require you to re-adjust a bit. Release the trapped arm and use that arm to control the head. Place your other arm around your own leg and grab the back of the lapel. Now you have perfect control. All you need is weight, which is fairly easy – simply take the weight off your leg in order to place it on their ribs via your butt. From there, it’s time to attack!

Monkey Mount Attacks

You can see how the monkey mount position has a lot to offer in terms of attacks. While you might be able to spot some direct attacks from there, keep patient and we’ll teach you how to develop a complete system. There are numerous options in numerous directions and they depend a lot on how the opponent reacts.

Even if submission attacks don’t work for some reason, you have a lot of transition options. One thing that’s always there from a monkey mount is the rubber guard. From there. you’re in a position to attack more or even return to the monkey mount with ease. Another readily available option is the back, which in itself, is the ultimate finishing position.

Let’s g over some submission attacks you can hunt from the monkey mount. While some are easy and often used, you’ll also see some more advanced moves that need a bit of skill to perform.

Locoplata

let’s start with something completely crazy. The Locoplata is actually as mad as the name suggests. When you get it down, though, you’ll see that it is actually a fairly simple move which can work often. the Locoplata is basically a mounted Gogoplata. However, compared to the Gogoplata, it has a lot more chances of success, given that gravity is now working for you, instead of against you.

Getting the Locoplata form the monkey mount requires just a small shift in position, the main thing to remember is to use your free arm to push down on the opponent’s head. For maximum effect, use the forearm to place pressure and cause discomfort in your opponent. From there, simply swing the leg that’s in a lunge position over, and aim to fall as close to the opponent’s shoulder as possible. This will get your shin deep enough so you can easily place the foot on their neck to get the tap.

Straight Jacket Attacks

The straight jacket system is nowadays a back attack system, thanks to John Danaher. However, Eddie Bravo had his own straight jacket submission system which works from the monkey mount. In fact, it is designed to be the best attacking option the monkey mount has to offer.

For the straight jacket, you’ll need to start from a Locoplata. The only way to stop, or better say, to delay a Locoplata is for the opponent to grab your foot. When they do that, they’ll only fall deeper into the monkey mount trap. Now, they’ve given you access to the second hand via grips. Grab the Gi with a basic grip and strip it off your foot. Then, place the foot of the second leg on the opponent’s biceps. This is going to allow you to get the Locoplata leg off the opponent’s neck and place it around and under their head. Now slide the second leg over the shoulder and pull their arm behind their head. This is the straight jacket position.

From here, you can do whatever you choose to your opponent. You have easy choke options, neck cranks along with shoulder locks, straight armlocks and even wristlocks on both arms. You’re only limited by your imagination.

Unexpected Gi Choke

Since we’re talking about a Gi based system of attacks, we’ll throw in a great choking option. Yes, a Gi choke might be the last thing you associate with a 10th Planet technique, but it is a potent weapon form the monkey mount. In fact, the gi choke works great when your opponent tilts to their side too much. Now, your pressure is going to dissipate somewhat, and it’s harder to get into a Locoplata or the straight jacket. What you can do instead is to place the free arm across their neck, grabbing the lapel as deep as possible. Now, simply swing the kneeling leg over the head and fall to the other side. A simple leg extension is going to get you a tap due to a very powerful choke.

Triangle Choke

The triangle choke is one attack that’s really obvious from the monkey mount. However, going for a triangle is going to place you on your back in most cases. Doing that is not a particularly smart thing to do. As a general rule, you shouldn’t go to your back from an established dominant top position. However, in certain situations, it may be the best option for you.

When an opponent is turning to their side and propping on their elbow, the triangle is extremely easy to set up. All you need to do is focus on lifting their head as high as possible with your arms. The aim is to sneak your bottom leg over the shoulder of the arm the opponent’s propping on. From there, inertia is going to take you to your back for a strong finishing position. The best thing about it is that, if you adjust correctly, you might even end up back in monkey mount if the triangle fails.

Video Source

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Frustrated Because Your BJJ Progress Is Stalling?

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BJJ World

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BJJ Frustration because of progress stalling

Progress in general in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a very tricky subject. A lot of factors have a role in how fast a person journeys through art. Of course, the first thing to mention is individuality and the ability to grasp grappling as a whole. Furthermore, it is the instructor, training partners, curriculum, motivation and a host of other factors. There are also unpredictable ones, mostly connected to things that happen outside of the gym. All of this means that BJJ progress is bound to stall for everyone at some point. The important thing is not letting it steer you away from the BJJ lifestyle that you love so much.

Learning new things is not an easy thing to do. In most cases, learning is not a pleasant experience for people (think school) and we develop sort of a resistance to it from an early age. For some, this changes throughout the years, as they find their true passion. For people that get into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, this is almost guaranteed. BJJ has an addictive side to it and takes over peoples lives very easily. As such, it turns into something people really enjoy doing. And learning is the whole point of Jiu-Jitsu, so now, people love the fact that they’re learning new things. Until they hit a plateau and their BJJ progress stalls. Learning to deal with this is as important as anything you’ll learn in BJJ.

BJJ progress plateaus are common and nobody is spared from them. Yes, even those black belts that were promoted in 3 years or less went through this phase. It is a part of the learning process and in essence, is only one more challenge to overcome. The sooner you approach it as such, the better the outcome is going to be.

Learning And Progress

To begin with, BJJ is a very, very complex martial art. Only the names of techniques are enough to keep people guessing, let alone the sheer number of moves. And then there are the details. Every technique has countless details, and each time you go over one, you discover new things. This is normal, as perspective changes as you progress, but is also an “enemy” of BJJ progress. It keeps things in motion, never letting them set, which can cause trouble in the learning process at a certain point.

Furthermore, there’s the aspect of free sparring or rolling. Rolling is entropic affair by trait and the ultimate goal is to try and control it as much as possible. Controversial, I know, but it’s the nature of our sport. Rolling promotes free thinking and adding an individual touch, which can further complicate things. No wonder people get stuck after a long run of continuous BJJ progress. It should be noted that white belts are more or less spared from this conundrum. It’s a thing that affects higher belts, meaning experienced blue belts and above.

One thing that often leads to stalling is saturation. Everyone likes to work to their strengths which often leads us to specific directions in BJJ. For example, going for an armbar from mount. The more you do it, the better you get at it. But, also, them ore you do it, the faster your training partners are going to figure it out. At one moment, all your progress with the move is going to stall because you’re overusing it. It’s not that there’s nothing new to learn about the armbar. It is about the fact that you are not open to new information at that moment. This is what a stall is.

Overcoming A BJJ Progress Stall

So, now that we know how progress tends to stall in BJJ, let’s see what we can do to overcome it. There’s no point in moaning about and feeling sorry for yourself. Since a progress stall has some main factors behind it, we can look to solve it by addressing all of them. It is unlikely that multiple factors play a huge role in your training plateau. It is more likely that only one major factor is responsible and the trick is identifying it correctly.

Before we move on to the solutions, let’s just mention the side effects. Trying to push through a plateau by just doing the same thing over and over, hoping it would pass is a great way to alienate yourself from Jiu-Jitsu. staying on the pat of stalling is inevitably going to lead to burnout. Not to mention all the frustration that tags along. All of this is more than enough to make you hang your Gi and never look back. SO before you start hating BJJ, give yourself a chance to fall in love with it all over again.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy

The way you approach a BJJ progress stall is the first and main step to overcoming it. Hating every minute of sparring because things do not work is not a solution. It’s jsut like riding a stationary bike – you’re moving but you’re not going anywhere. Instead, the focus should be on the problem itself. Much like during rolling.

You must not let frustration get to you. yes. you’ll be angry that suddenly all the things you worked on don’t seem to work anymore. But recognizing that you’re in a plateau is crucial to getting out of it. The solution is easy and basic – don’t sweat about it. Instead of feeling sorry look into what’s keeping you there. In most cases, it’s the same things for most people.

Sticking to fundamentals is never a bad idea. Just take a look at KurtOsiander. The legendary ‘Rhino’ has a very basic, yet super advanced BJJ game. Now, he shares his training methods with you in the “Fundamentals Of A Jiu-Jitsu Renegade” DVD set. Available in digital and DVD format!

Seek Guidance

Before you goa bout solving everything yourself, remember that there are people in the gym that know what you’re going through. It is going to take them time to recognize it though, so make sure to speak up when you first notice a stall. Your instructor should be teh first person you go to. If not, than any of the more experienced training partners will do.

The trick with Jiu-Jitsu is that it looks much different from a first-person perspective than from the outside. So, if you’re problem lies in technical areas (which n most cases is at least partially true) your instructor is going to see it instantly. All it’s going to take is for them to see a roll or two. From there on, you need to listen to what they have to say. Yes, that means even if you do not like the answer. Let them guide you towards a solution and you’ll be back on track in no time at all.

Open Up

The one advice you’re most likely going to get from instructors/training partners is to open up your game. This is a more general approach to things but is one that works nonetheless. Focusing on one thing only results in tunnel vision. Why keep forcing the armbar when there are wristlocks, chokes, back takes and even leg locks available off it?

Taking a step back to see the whole picture is great. How do you go about doing this? SImply go for a roll without putting pressure on yourself. No expectations mean you’ll have no disappointments either. Just look to roll and do whatever you think you should. Yes, you’ll leave your comfort zone and you’ll tap more often than before. But you’ll learn that there are other things out there and you’ll be back dominating before long. It’s how learning is done.

Take A Break

If you’re the stubborn one in the gym though, and you can’t seem to open up there’s a different approach. It also works for those that are already well into burnout. It’s the one advice nobody wants to hear but it works – take a hiatus. Yes, stop going to the gym. But not only that. Stop looking at Youtube videos, dealy watching the latest EBI for a while and just take a week or two off Jiu-Jitsu in general.

If you’re a BJJ diehard, make sure you leave town and force yourself not to pack Gi for a visit. Simply take your significant other and go for a rest for a week or two. You’ll get a break from BJJ, daily life, work and all the routines you have. This is going to allow you to look at things from a fresh perspective and figure out a way around your BJJ progress stall.

Be Ready For The Cycle

Finally, make sure you understand that it is inevitably going to happen again. At a certain point, you’re going to fall into habits again, and you’ll stall. It might be a completely different movement or concept this time, but you’ll need a restart regardless. However, once you go through a plateau for the first time, you’ll at least know what you’re in for.

Just remember to stick with it and not just quit. That’s not a solution. Do not be stubborn or look for ways to power through things. Take the smart approach instead and do not even consider leaving Jiu-Jitsu for good as an option. Because it isn’t.

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Competition Is About Much More Than BJJ Medals

Competition Is About Much More Than BJJ Medals

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BJJ World

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You’ve been working really hard for the past 12 weeks or so. Your weight is on point, you have a solid gameplan and your mind is all set on winning. You get to a tournament on time, settle in, get your Gi on. Everything is in place. You go through your first opponent, although somewhat anxiously. From there on it takes off on its own. Everything clicks and you manage to beat all the people that stand across from you on the mats. At least that day. Next up, you’re at the podium, standing at the very top, receiving your gold medal. But are BJJ medals really the measure of success at a tournament? The truth is that most days in competition are not going to be like the perfect day we just described.

To make things abundantly clear, BJJ medals are great! Winning one is bound to make everyone feel pleased. Regardless of place, or manner of victory, a medal is a medal and proves that you’re Jiu-Jitsu works. Well, not quite. As you probably know, Jiu-Jitsu tournaments are not that simple. You could win a gold medal and learn nothing at a tournament, or you could lose your fight, yet gain experience that is going to win you the next 10 tournaments. With that in mind, the question we’re facing is whether BJJ medals take our focus away from what truly matters?

Looking for a good DVD to boost your chances in a tournament? A 5x World Champion is a good place to start. Bernardo Faria has a collection of all the very best, competition tested submissions for you. “The High Percentage Submissions” DVD set is going to help grapplers of all levels become deadlier on the mats. BJJ medals are certain to follow.

The Value Of BJJ Medals

To be completely honest, BJJ medals do hold a lot of value, apart from the inner satisfaction at earning them. Bringing home a medal from a grappling competition is, in most cases, no easy feat to accomplish. As such, we need to recognize the worth of BJJ medals for competitors of all levels.

The first thing people get from winning a medal is recognition. Even if nobody truly recognizes your effort, that little piece of metal does it all on itself. it is an important accomplishment that everyone needs a certain point of their grappling career. It is a particularly important boost for beginners. If you’re making your first steps on the competition mats, the value of a medal is immense, especially at your very first tournament.

Next up, BJJ medals give you confidence. Now, while this is intrinsically a good thing, it may also have some negative effects. Overconfidence, especially if you’re a lower belt can be a very very damaging thing. In this sense, medals are a welcome tool to make someone believe in their game. However, they’re not the only measurement of the effectiveness of your skills. The truth is, winning a medal is not always a true reflection of the quality of your Jiu-Jitsu.

Finally, winning a medal, particularly a gold one, is always a good promotional tool for your academy. It is a way of getting something back to the academy that helped you earn the medal in the first place.

Competition Focus

Let’s shift now to the things that BJJ tournaments are actually intended for. While BJJ medals might be the “ultimate” prize, other, more subtle aspect of competition are fundamentally important as well. Actually, some are way more important than medals.

The first thing to know, that holds true for absolutely everyone is that on competition experience equals 6 months of experience in the gym. While nothing new happens in terms of technical demands, tournaments raise the bar of expectation much higher. After all, people do pay to participate. The added pressure means everything you do, from the first moment on is valuable experience. There are plenty of examples in which people lost their very first match, yet, still hold the tournament as one of their all-time favorites. The reason for this is that they discovered something crucial that they couldn’t learn in training. I, personally, have a few such experiences.

Next up, the focus on competition needs to be solving grappling problems. Look at it this way – every opponent poses a different grappling problem. You need to use your knowledge of Jiu-Jitsu to solve each individual problem in a systematic fashion. Just like a math test at school. If you’re thinking about BJJ medals, you won’t be able to focus on the problem in front of you. It is as easy as that.

The truth is, that only one thing is for certain at a BJJ tournament – you’ll have at least one fight for sure. Looking towards a medal instead of solving a problem might not get you pas that first obstacle. Furthermore, it is going to keep your focus away from gaining that much sought after tournament experience.

Types Of BJJ Medals

Finally, I want to give my two cents on a subject that is the source of a lot of controversy in BJJ. It is the perception of Masters’ division BJJ medals as well as medals from empty divisions.

The general thought seems to be that medals that you “earn” just by applying at a tournament are completely useless. This, in my opinion, is not true. Almost everyone, especially beginners, is going to benefit massively from an award, even if they didn’t face anyone. Stepping on those mats can be one of the hardest things you do in life. As such, certain recognition is ok, as long as you do not make it be something that it isn’t. An empty podium speaks for itself, so no condemnation nor spectacular praise should stem from it.

In terms of Masters divisions, I honestly do not understand what the fuss is about. Yes, adult divisions are packed full of athletically more capable people. But that’s just it. Jiu-Jitsu should be about a sound and replicable solution to a given problem. The surgical approach should be a method of choice, not the nail and hammer. While adult divisions are really tough, Master’s divisions are no joke either. Especially when you factor in that most higher belts are already older than 30. All BJJ medals deserve recognition. It is as simple as that.

Perhaps one day, I’ll dedicate a full article on this subject. Until then, train hard, fight easy and focus on what really matters!

BJJ Competition Tips: Absolute Division For Small People

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Kid Defends Himself With Open Guard and Finishes Fight With a Heel Hook

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BJJ World

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BJJ Kid in a street fight uses heel Hook to finish The Fight

Some kid did a great job by defending himself in a bathroom fight. With his opponent unable to punch him or kick him kid managed to get the heel hook on him and force him to tap.

Although it wasn’t the “perfect heel hook”, it stopped the fight and that’s what matters.

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Devastating Heel Hook In a Street Fight

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VIDEO: Stephan Bonnar, UFC Hall of Famer, Arrested and Cuffed for DUI Car Crash!

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BJJ World

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Stephan Bonnaer Aressted for Dui Car Crash

Dramatic footage shows UFC star Stephan Bonnar being pinned to the ground and cuffed as he was arrested for DUI.

Stephan Bonnar, nicknamed ‘The American Psycho’, was detained Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas after motorists reported his “erratic” driving at 90mph. Witness Katie Dyer, 29 said:

“If nobody had stopped him I think he would be dead. He was going to hit something, whether it was a car or a wall, and another person could have died.”

Watch Matt Serra being Attacked By a Drunk Guy in the Restaurant

Older Man Choked out Drunk And Aggressive Guy on flight

Do BJJ And Alcohol Go Together? A Few Tips For Drinking Grapplers