Becoming An Unstoppable BJJ Submission Hunter

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Submission only tournaments, IBJJF tournaments, rolling, drilling, training technique. the one thing they all have in common is that submissions are the sweet reward in the BJJ pinata. Getting a submission right in any one of these aspects of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the nirvana all grapplers chase. However, just like with the spiritual nirvana, submissions prove to be a very fleeting and hard thing to accomplish. So, how doe it seem so easy for all those black belts we regularly see on the big scene? Yeah, ok, they train and have been training for long. I know, you also train a lot. However, even if you spend a couple of decades in BJJ, you won’t become good at submissions without one key quality. You need the mindset of a submission hunter!

Let’s not kid ourselves, we’re all in BJJ because of the submissions. yes it’s therapy, yes it changes and saves lives, but it does so in a very specific way. Jiu=Jitsu allows us to ent everything and anything by playing make-believe murder or mauling. Yes, BJJ is as real as possible and you could truly injure or kill someone. However, normal social behavior and common sense dictate otherwise. Besides, getting a tap is so much more rewarding than putting someone to sleep. Yes, you’ve figuratively killed them, but they fought back. Getting the tap is a much better ego booster for all of us since it symbolizes that you got a person so powerless, they had to give up, hoping you’ll spare them. It is the high a submission hunter is always chasing.

Unfortunately, submissions are not at all easy to get. They require every other part of BJJ to be flawless. It is much like baking a cake. there’s no point in making the frosting if you can’t make the batter, or even know how to work the oven, for that matter. The submission is the end, not the beginning and certainly not the path. However, getting a submission is also much more complex than baking, and, luckily, a lot more fun. A submission hunter understands this, as well as everything that comes before an after a submission. Now it is time for you to learn this too.

In order to get the low down on how exactly you should use positions in order to turn into a formidable submission hunter. Marcelo Garica’s standout student and black belt, Matheus Diniz has the blueprint to unlock your submission skill in his “Position To Submission’ DVD set! All the details on techniques available in the instructional HERE.

The Mindset Of A Submission Hunter

Back in my early blue belt days I never really got plenty of submissions. I was very good at sweeping and attaining control, even the odd ass or two. However, my finishing rate was abysmal, mostly due to the fear of relinquishing control in order to hunt for submissions. It made me feel like I was stagnating and not progressing at a rate I had hoped for. So, in a true Danaher-like fashion (who I never even knew existed back then) I said to myself fuck it, go for a submission. And I did. I abandoned all caution and stated looking only for submissions. But no, that’s not the path to becoming a submission hunter. It is only the first step across the threshold.

For a submission hunter, it is not about technical knowledge or strategy. Of course, this things matter, but it is the mindset that defines true submission hunters. It is not something you can learn in an instant. It is something that an article, a training partner or an instructor can only point you to. You’ll need to discover your own way of getting into the hunting zone. It is the hardest part of the puzzle, but there are certain pointers that can help you find your path.

For starters, that same-old saying “position before submission” is a two-edged sword. Yes, you need to know how to attack a submission, or you’ll end up on the run before you know it. However, at the same time, you must not focus so much on a position that you shut your own submission game down. Form a technical aspect, this is the most important thing you can consciously work on in your submission hunting quest.

Principles Of Submission Hunting

The perfect positional dilemma aside, there are a few principles that seem to be common for most submission hunters out there. These are also things that you can work on specifically and look to implement them in your game. Along with finding positional balance, these are all going to help you immensely in finding your own submission hunting zone.

The first thing to remember as a perspective submission hunter is to attack. An opponent can’t attack you or work if you’re constantly attacking. However, for a successful submission game, you can’t just be throwing submissions at them. The moment you run out the tables will turn. Instead, turn to pressure as your submission hunting friend. Top or bottom, always look to put pressure on your opponent and only then try to look for submissions.

The whole point of putting pressure and getting into a great position is attention. If you’re smothering, crushing and restricting an opponent’s breathing, you’re making them focus on that. Pain and discomfort are the best tools in a submission hunters toolbox. Take your opponent’s soul before you take the submission by putting them in a position where they’ll give up a limb or their neck just to get you off them.

Submissions Circles

Creating whole systems of submissions that work together is the mark of a truly knowledgeable grappler. However, most people, especially those who lack experience, build their chains too short. The submission chain of a true submission hunter never really ends. This is an important thing to consider because it plays right into the hunting mindset. There’s absolutely no way for you to keep throwing different submission attempts without running out. What submission hunters do is they create a circle instead of a chain.

For example, if you attack a choke from the back, then a straight armbar, then a Kimura an Omoplata, there’s no need to look for a leg lock first. The circle can bring you into back control once again, and this time you might finish.

A final trait to look for in submission hunting is the power of deception. This works closely with the concept of pain and discomfort. Putting your opponent under pressure can mask your true submission intentions. However, you can also use submissions to mask other submissions. A clear example is using an American to get a straight armbar or an Ezekiel choke.

https://bjj-world.com/best-bjj-dvd-instructional-for-submission/

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The Easiest North South Choke Setup

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BJJ World

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Do you know what Marcel Garcia is famous for in Jiu-Jitsu? If your answer is guillotined, you’re not wrong. If you answered butterfly guard, once again you’re correct. Also correct are X-guard, back attacks and plenty of other moves. However, one move that Marcelo really enjoyed doing with a high success rate is not very often associated with him. Actually, the North-South Choke is not really associated with anyone. This blatant disregard for such a powerful move remains s mystery to me. that said, not everyone ignores this choke. Plenty of grapplers get it in rolling, and some even in competition. But it is not a mainstay of BJJ which makes it that more powerful and dangerous if you really get the hang of it.

Personally, I was on the “North South Choke is useless” bandwagon until a couple of years ago. I gave it a try, actually, I gave it a lot of tries. Something didn’t really click and I couldn’t find a way to make it work. Since I had no instructors or teammates that were using it with any success I completely abandoned it. Years later, and plenty of Youtube videos behind me I stumbled upon this nasty choke by accident. Once again it looked intriguing, but this time I put the research in. What I ended up with was a weapon that solved a big problem of my game.

Since I got a herniated disc in my neck, I decided to give inversions and the tornado guard a rest. So, I decided to look into positions that keep my neck completely safe. One of those positions that caught my eye was the front headlock. Since I already loved doing D’arce chokes, this was a no-brainer. However, it turns out that if you D’arce people too much, they’ll go and figure out a defense. One of the top things people did was roll on their back s so they could release the arm. This brought me to the North-South position but without a follow-up submission. Until the North-South choke got back into the frame.

Another fan of front headlock chokes is obviously Lachlan Giles, the coach of Craig Jones. The Australian black belt has a great instructional out on “High Percentage Chokes; No-Gi”. In this DVD set, you’ll find all kinds of front headlock chokes along with some key details on the North South choke.

The North-South Position

Before we get into the choke itself, let’s take a look at one of BJJ’s most notorious positions – The North-South. North-South is basically a side control variation in which you’re on top of your opponent. Your head should be on their belly with your belt right over their head. The legs can either be tucked under or you can have them sprawled out. Your arms need to be under the arms of your opponent, otherwise, they can look to get out of the position.

As funny as the position might seem it can be really difficult to get out of it. The only problem with the position is the lack of direct attacking options. yes, you could transition into armbars, front headlock chokes or to mount, but none of them works without switching position. This is why the North-South choke has such great potential. it can turn a position of control into a position to finish a match without even moving a muscle.

The trouble with the North-South choke is that people see it as a strong man move. It is an undeserved reputation, to say the least. No, contrary to popular belief, you do not need massive lats or huge biceps in order to get the choke. Putting someone to sleep from the North-South position is as easy as placing one arm around their head. Well, that and some other minor adjustments. The point, once again, is that technique is universal. you do not need strength, flexibility or any other quality to perform a North-South Choke successfully.

Getting the North South Choke

The North-South choke is a blood choke that works by applying pressure to both carotid arteries in the neck. Unlike most chokes did from the front, this is not an arm triangle choke. It works by compressing the artery on one side with your biceps, and on the other side with your latissimus muscle.

To finish the choke remember that there’s no point in just squeezing. For the North-South choke, you need to make sure you have your arm as deep under their head as possible. This is going to ensure your bicep muscle is in the right place to choke, As for your lat muscle, you’re going to need to move your whole body. To get the lat to their neck, you’ll need to move your whole body backward and towards their head. This is going to both places choking pressure on the neck, as well as pull their head away from their shoulders, opening up a lot of space for choking. Only with all this in place, you can think about putting your palms together and giving it a little squeeze.

Finally, back to the first step – setting it up. If there’s on detail that changed myNorth-South choke forever it is this – trap the opponent’s arm on one side to their body. This is crucial to stop any defensive attempts. from the North South simply use one fo your hands to pin their wrist to their belt. This will cause your opponent to turn to that side, exp[osing the neck so you can get your arm around it. keep holding on to the trapped arm until your body is in place. Only release when you’re ready to grip palm-to-palm in order to finish the choke. Works like a charm every time!

Video Source

https://bjj-world.com/killer-ezekiel-choke-details/

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Improve Back Control With The Body Triangle

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BJJ World

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Back control is the one position that all streams of BJJ universally agree upon. You’d be hard-pressed to find a grappler who believes that back control doesn’t work. It both brings the maximum points in IBJJF competition and is one of the overtime positions in its No-gi counterpart, EBI. Taking the back is a demonstration of ultimate power. it is a position that offers plenty of rewards and almost no risks. That said, as with all things BJJ, there are levels and details to controlling the back. From the basic seatbelt grip to modern concepts like the Straight Jacket, the variations are numerous. Speaking of variations, there’s one detail of controlling the back that people very often take for granted.it is the body triangle.

The body triangle is seeing a re-emergence lately, and rightly so. It offers a crazy amount of control from a position that’s already difficult to escape. It is actually a very very simple thing to do. And, it is nothing new nor complicated but people seem to give it a try and pass it by. This is a pity as it has been proven to work at the highest levels of the sport. I am one of those guilty of overlooking this precious technique. It took learning a defense against it (not a very good one) to truly understand what I’ve been missing on. Now, it’s one of my main weapons to help me maintain back control.

There’s no dispute that the body triangle is a position that favors a certain body type. If you have long leg you’re most likely to be more successful with it than people with shorter limbs. However, anybody can adjust the body triangle to their frame. Actually, shorter people might end up having even more success with it. It is not unlike the D’arce choke. Lankier people can get it more easily, but when shorter people learn it, there’s absolutely no way out. The only thing to consider is that it’ll take many more repetitions to finally get it right. but, for a move like a body triangle, it is totally worth it!

John Danaher has one of the most efficient back attacks systems in existence. n his back control concepts, the body triangle plays a huge role. Learn all the body triangle variations you see grapplers like Gary Tonon and Gordon Ryan do in competition. Pick up Danaher’s Enter The System: Back Attacks DVD now, because your opponents already have it!

Body Triangle Dynamics

The basic point of the body triangle is to get increased control over your opponent’s hips. As you should know by now, back control is all about two points of control the hips and the shoulders. COntrolling both means you’re preventing rotation and/or movement up and down. From such a secure spot it is easy to go looking for submissions until you get them or time runs out.

So how does the body triangle work? It helps you prevent your opponent’s hip movement by wrapping one leg tightly around their waist. If you position your legs properly (more about that below) you’ll be able to control their whole pelvis. And, the superiority of the body triangle over the traditional hooks from back control is in the wedge. Having a triangle means that one of your legs is helping the other one keep the opponent in place. It is the principle of reinforced wedges that is the most important one in terms of control.

A huge factor of the body triangle is preventing rotation. This is especially important against smaller or slimmer opponents. With the body triangle, you take away all of the opponents rotational power, even if you release your shoulder control. This is a byproduct of the tight squeeze due to the wedge. It also offers a lot of stability for your position, meaning any escape attempts are going to run into a brick wall.

Getting And Retaining The Body Triangle Form Back Control

Let’s see now what exactly it is you’re looking for with the body triangle and how to get it from traditional back control. When you have your hooks in and a seatbelt grip, you can always go for the body triangle. The first rule to remember is to always keep the body triangle on the top side. Never lock it in, or keep a body triangle locked when the triangle side is on the mats. That is the only time when an opponent can look for a counter.

So, from back control, simply place your calf across the opponent’s hips, locking u pa triangle with your other leg on top. The primary place to control the body triangle is right above belt level. There, you can squeeze the “wings” of the pelvis completely shutting down any movement in the hips. it is also the thinnest part of your opponent, meaning leg length plays a much lesser role.

Once you have the body triangle in you have complete control. But, you can use the triangle to achieve much more than just control. Directly speaking, squeezing your legs puts an immense pressure on the opponent. They’ll find it very difficult to breathe. It also takes only an extension of your hips to completely extend your opponent, easily opening the neck.

Speaking of the neck, with a body triangle your best bet is having your “over” arm on the bottom. Also, even if you’re with the gi, go for the rear naked choke. Collar chokes tend to leave space when you have a body triangle on. As a final tip, if you can, look to place the body triangle higher from time to time. Right below the floating ribs is the best, giving it a new painful dimension.

https://bjj-world.com/rear-naked-choke-from-hell/

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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor Arrested For Inappropriately Touching his Teenage Students

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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor Arrested For Inappropriately Touching his Teenage Students

According to local10.com Davie, FLA Police have arrested a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Coach Jao Da Silva for inappropriately touching his students, teenagers training at his place.

Davie police Maj. Dale Engle said the suspect, Joao Da Silva is the owner and instructor of Raiva Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school located at 8234 W. State Road 84. At the moment of arrest, his school appeared to be closed

In a video below we can see 7news cameras captured Joao Da Silva, 34-years-old BJJ Black belt being taken away with handcuffs on.

This all came to light at the end of June and it was unclear who notified police about Jao Da Silva. But now Police said it’s two teenager victims, ages 15 and 13. Joao Da Silva has been charged with lewd and lascivious molestation against them.

According to Police Detective Vivian Gallinal, both of the victims claim that their BJJ instructor and the suspect fondled their breast during Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class.

“Two of the victims alleged that he inappropriately touched their breasts under their bra. Both victims have been attending the school for approximately three years.”

The victim told detectives this happened about three times a week for the past three years she was attending BJJ classes at Raiva Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu School.

According to Police report every time Da Silva touched young students breasts they were certain it wasn’t an accident nor it was for purposes of teaching a class. Victims also said that each incident happened after the class and not during a class where incidental touching could happen.

What’s even more interesting is that Da Silva was previously accused in a case involving 17-year-old-girl, but charges are still pending because Hollywood police are still investigating that case.

While police were taking Joao to the police cruiser he declined to comment on the allegations.

Dean Lister Walked in on a Guy Ripping His Apartment off With a Hammer Pick

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BJJ World

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A few days ago, two-time ADCC champion and Grappling legend Dean Lister walked in on an invader destroying his apartment in San Diego with a hammer pick.

This is what Dean Lister wrote:

“At 8 PM Pacific time, here in San Diego, I walked in on a meth head ripping me off. At the end of the video, he raises a pipe at me, off camera I drew a sidearm and he stopped advancing toward me. I LET him escape with his life through a window. Cops said I was legally good if I killed him. But is that what I want? In the end, he stole plenty of $$$$$ from me. This video is for “hopefully” anyone who knows who this meth head is. White dude, skinny, methe’d out with his tattoos. Police are on it but if anyone knows who he is please help me… thank you very much”

https://youtu.be/H_FY4FepQUU

Make Sure you Check Dean Listers DVD and Digital Instructionals Collection:

Dean Lister's DVD & Digital Instructionals Collection — Dean Lister’s DVD & Digital Instructionals Collection

BJJ Recipes: Pancakes For An Easier Weight Cut

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BJJ World

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Losing fat has never been tastier! Weight cutting is the plague of weight-class-based sports, and BJJ is no different. Actually, cutting weight for grappling tends to be more difficult, due to same-day weigh-ins. This means that you can’t really re-hydrate yourself. nor can you get fuel to help you with your upcoming 5-10 matches. Now imagine that you can use classic comfort food to both stay sane while cutting weight, and even provide fuel on match day. Are you imagining it? Well, you can stop, because we have the answer. As far as BJJ recipes go, pancakes that help with fat loss are definitely right on top of the list.

Weight cutting is a hard thing to do, both physically and mentally. It’s enough that you’re about to step on the mats against people equally motivated to crush and submit you as you are. But for the last couple of weeks before that. you also need to starve and dehydrate yourself in order to gain at least the slightest edge against your opposition. Or, at least, that’s what most people think. In my opinion, weight cuts that get you more than 5 lbs down are redundant, dangerous, and give you absolutely nothing over your opponents. But that’s a subject for another day. Weight cuts can also be enjoyable if you just throw in a few carefully picked BJJ recipes into the mix. Linke fat-loss pancakes for example.

It is rare that you’ll see the words fat-loss and pancakes in the same sentence. Even when you do, most of it is a scam. Most of it. Lucky for us, there are some pancake-loving scientists out there that decided to look for the variety of everyone’s favorite dessert that can help you shed weight. Now, just as a disclaimer, do not expect to do a full weight cut on protein pancakes only and reach your goal. nope, weight cuts are still going to suck. Either compete at your natural weight or suck it up. What are protein pancakes area all about is sanity. They’re the missing link that’ll bring satiety, taste, and the feeling of reward to an otherwise bleak couple of weeks.

Who Doesn’t Love Pancakes?

Seriously, si there anyone who would say no to a stack of fluffy warm, sweet pancakes? They’re the ultimate American dessert. What’s actually surprising is that packs aren’t an American recipe. As far as recipes go, they’re not even modern ones. There’s evidence that starchy grains were used to make a pancake-like flatbread as far as 30.000 years ago. In the USA, pancakes were originally known as hoecakes, flapjacks, or johnnycakes. Back then they were made with buckwheat and cornmeal.

Today, pancakes come in plenty of varieties. Most of them definitely do not fit in a grappler’s nutrition plan. However, there are a few pancake versions out there that are perfect to use as BJJ recipes. The trick is, keeping them both tasty and healthy at the same time, which is no easy feat. However, thanks to scientific research and all the ingredients we have at our disposal today, there are a few pancake recipes that defy the odds. A few of those can even take you in a direction opposite of most pancakes – fat loss.

Just remember, that no matter how clean and fat-burning your pancakes are, if you overdo your toppings, you’re better off buying them at the nearest diner. After all, the point is to make the weight not pig out, right?

The Science

So, how did science come up with pancakes that help you lose weight? It is nothing groundbreaking nor involving GMO mutants ingredients. On the contrary, these are just a few ingredients that you need. And they’re extremely easy to find.

A research team at Skidmore College decided to try and find the best pancakes formula. However, they weren’t just looking for taste – they wanted something more. So they decided to give a few combinations a try. They used regular pancakes with starch, protein powder and starch pancakes, resistant starch pancakes, and resistant starch and protein pancakes. Before you wonder what resistant starch is, it is starch you can find in most supermarkets. TI’s the stuff you’ll use instead of flour.

The results, summed up, demonstrated that the last combination (protein + resistant starch) help with fat loss. The entire group consuming them had an increased feeling of fullness, a better insulin response, and increased fat burning. All of these are crucial traits in cutting weight for Jiu-Jitsu.

Speaking of which, Geroge Lockhart has weight-cutting down to a science. His “Nutrition And Weight Management System” bundle is a crash course on nutrition for grapplers. it includes a few DVDs as well as a comprehensive E-book full of essential information. Check it out and treat yourself to more than just pancakes!

BJJ Recipes: Protein Pancakes

If you try to search BJJ recipes concerning pancakes you’re going to get plenty of options. Some of them are truly tasty (I’ve probably tried them all in my quest for pancakes) but none can really help you drop a few pounds along the way. Luckily, combining the above-mentioned research with a few staples of healthy eating we managed to put an end to the painstaking search. AS far as BJJ recipes for pancakes go, we have the ultimate solution!

Thanks to the study, we have the first two ingredients – a resistant starch and your favorite protein powder. What we need now is something to bind them into a batter and a careful selection of tasty toppings. Let’s check out a few options:

Banana Pancakes

For the first (my favorite) of our pancakes BJJ recipes, you’ll need equal parts of protein powder a resistant starch. A half a protein scoop of each is plenty. Add to that a couple of egg whites and a ripe banana and you’ve got yourself a fat-burning batter.

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

For this, you simply switch out the banana with cottage cheese. Also, increase the protein a bit. do you’ll throw in 1/2 a cup of resistant starch and cottage cheese and a full scoop of protein. Since we’re measuring in cups, use half a cup of egg whites as well.

Your Favourite Recipe

You can also always skip our suggestions and go to your favorite recipe. just remember, the more sugar you add, the less fat you’ll use. regardless, if you like American pancakes or crepes, simply without your starch with a 2:1 ratio of resistant starch and protein powder. Keep all the other ingredients the same and you’ll be ok.

Toppings

Finally a word on toppings. leave the cream and chocolate/caramel dressing in the cupboard for this one. instead, opt for things that’ll give you flavor without sabotaging your cutting. Fresh fruit (banana or berries) is your best bet. Liven it up with a bit of natural peanut butter or even a light drizzle of honey. Or, go for a pinch of cinnamon on top.

Top Foods To Help With Fat Loss For BJJ

The Paleo Diet For A Sustainable BJJ Lifestyle

A Jiu-Jitsu Workout Program To Lose Fat And Improve Performance

The 5 Best BJJ Supplements For High Level Performance

The Strangest Locations for BJJ Schools

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BJJ World

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As Jiu Jitsu grows more popular and spreads to new areas, it faces the challenge of fitting itself into new locations. Not every school has the luxury of being a stand-alone facility, nor a new facility. Not every facility can have 6000 square feet of mats. However, jiu-jitsu singularly prides itself on its versatility and creativity, and with the demand for this art growing, jiu-jitsu gyms are appearing in VERY strange and unique locations. These include:

Over a bait shop (Nova Gyms, Pewaukee WI)
A location so unexpected that the website literally includes a video showing you how to drive to the club seems a fitting way to begin this list. With classes taught by Jiu Jitsu legend and UFC championship coach Marc Laimon, Pewaukee Jiu Jitsu lies above a fully operational bait shop on the shores of Pewaukee Lake. If you are missing your “hooks” upstairs, you can always get them downstairs at “Smokey’s Muskie Shop” who handles all your angling and boating needs.
“The Garage” (Redondo Beach, CA)
One of the more famous “strange” locations in jiu-jitsu lore, The Garage of Chris Haueter, one of the “Dirty Dozen” (the first 12 non-Brazilian BJJ black belts), might not seem strange to someone within the jiu-jitsu world. But consider telling your co-workers that in your spare time, you put on special robes and went to learn from an old master of a deadly fighting art…in his garage in Redondo Beach. Try saying it out loud. Without giggling. Of course, to those in the know, the opportunity to do just that remains one of the greatest privileges available to North American grapplers.
Inside a waterpark (Palm Springs Jiu Jitsu, Palm Springs CA)
Outside: Wet n’ Wild Water Park, boasting slides, activity areas, and an 800,000-gallon wave pool. Inside, Joe Moreira Black Belt Ramon Diaz teaches gi and no-gi classes to students of all ages. That sound you’re hearing? It’s your inner child squealing with joy.
The Mall (Comprido BJJ, Bloomingdale, IL)
They say the American dream of the mall is dying. But maybe it had to die in order to find its true purpose: Housing top-level jiu-jitsu. Ryan Hall once famously taught at the Ballston Mall in VA. In Bloomingdale, IL, Comprido Jiu-Jitsu head instructors Marcelo Cazuza and Marcos Escobar carry on the tradition of reimagining retail space and turning out winning competitors.
On a cruise ship! (This one is totally real):
Specialty cruises are nothing new in the tourism world, but a jiu-jitsu cruise offering 25+ hours of top-level instruction from the likes of Xande Ribiero, Bruno Malfacine, and Luanna Alzuguir (that’s 22 IBJJF championships, for those keeping scores) makes this experience a dream trip for any grappler. The cruise is currently planning its 5th annual trip, which embarks in June of 2019.
The Open Ocean (somewhere in the Indian Ocean right now. No, Seriously.)
To be honest, I have no clue at this point whether I am being trolled or not. And I don’t care. Led by a thread on Reddit (thanks to Redditor kororon for the tip), I discovered Open Ocean BJJ, either hand down the most innovative jiu-jitsu program in existence or (more likely) one of the most clever ploys in the murky depths (pun definitely intended) of the internet. Not content with the traditional jiu-jitsu belt structure, the purveyors of Open Ocean BJJ (led by Captain Roy Mattei) guide students to their “aqua belt” (it’s a little lighter than blue) and teach not only the ground fighting to which we are accustomed, but also underwater moves and how to get and maintain mount when the boat is listing (hint: get perpendicular to the list!) It’s worth the trip to the website if for no other reason to laugh hysterically at techniques like the “baby seal” and to check out their side-splitting shirts in the shop.

What locations did we miss? Do you train in a strange location? Tell us about it in the comments!

By Mike Bushby

Jason Statham, BJJ Purple Belt Trains Jiu-Jitsu For His Role in Fast And Furious Spin-Off

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BJJ World

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Jason Statham, BJJ Purple Belt Trains Jiu-Jitsu For His Role in Fast And Furious Spin-Off

The Famous Hollywood Actor Star Jason Statham is a BJJ Purple Belt under Renzo Gracie. He’s a long time BJJ practitioner as he practices Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for more than 16 years. Jason started training Jiu-Jitsu together with Guy Ritchie in a Garage and they later moved to the gym. These days he’s training Jiu-Jitsu for his role in an upcoming movie Fast and Furious Spin-Off.

If you ask Jason about Guy Ritchie and his Jiu-Jitsu you’ll only hear words of praise for him. He calls him a good fighter and real worker. Jason will even admit that Ritchie is a lot better than him. That’s nothing weird because Guy Ritchie holds a BJJ Black Belt belt under Renzo Gracie.

The reasons for Statham’s training of Jiu-Jitsu are pretty simple. He wants to be in shape and learn something that will help him in his job. So, Jiu Jitsu is the right sport for him. He won’t get bruises on his face and that’s really important for him and his job.

In his interview for combarbear.com back in 2014. he said:

I hear that you and Guy Ritchie are training jiu-jitsu together. Who is better?

He has better chances to achieve good results. We started training jiu-jitsu many years ago. We first started out in a garage, where we parked our cars, then later we moved over to a gym. This was 10 years, no maybe 12 years ago. He works hard, he’s a good fighter

“How do you do you stay fit? Do you practice some martial art or any other sport?

“-I love martial arts. I do Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and some kickboxing. I’m practicing anything that can help me in my profession. Even though if I wasn’t gonna do it for my job I would practice those sports anyway because I really enjoy them.”

Why exactly Jiu-Jitsu? It’s a very specific form of martial art.

“The reason why I train Brazilian Jiu-jitsu is that my face won’t get hurt as there is no a lot of contact with my face so my face won’t have bruises and any kind of damage which is very important for my profession. It’s pretty hard to stand before cameras if you have damaged face and bruises so you have to try and do something else.”

Jason Statham’s preparing for his Fast and Furious Role training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

These days Jason Statham can be seen training Jiu-Jitsu almost every day. He’s preparing for the upcoming movie “Fast and Furious Spin-off Hobbs and Shaw”. It will be a very interesting role for him as he’s teaming up with Dwayne Johnson aka “The Rock”.

We’re pretty excited to see what Jiu-Jitsu moves will Jason Statham show in a movie this time.

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Paul Walker was also Fast and Furious Star and a BJJ Black Belt

In a case, you didn’t know, Paul Walker, the biggest star of the Fast And Furious movie series was also an avid BJJ practitioner. He was even awarded a BJJ Black belt two weeks after he passed away in a tragic car accident. He was awarded his BJJ Black Belt posthumously at a memorial event which was held by his family after he passed away.

When Paul Walker passed away he was already a BJJ Brown Belt under his Instructor and Mentor Ricardo Miller in Paragon Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in California.

Ricardo Miller had nothing but the words of praise for Paul Walker and according to his words Paul was very dedicated BJJ practitioner and one wanted to showcase his knowledge of Jiu-Jitsu in a movie.

“Rather than the punches and kicks so common to many action films, he wanted to use his movies as a stage for jiu-jitsu. Some of the jiu-jitsu techniques from our training sessions were utilized in the Fast and Furious series. Paul would always tell me that he did not just want to be known for fast cars. He wanted to be known for fast cars and jiu-jitsu. He wanted to be an ambassador for jiu-jitsu.”

“He was determined to become a black belt. He said ‘I will get my black belt, even if I need to get it in my coffin’. Now in the wake of his death, I would like to reward Paul Walker the black belt that he wanted so much during his life,” Miller said.

Why BJJ Black Belts Are Always One Step Ahead

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BJJ World

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There’s something about rolling with BJJ black belts that makes them seem like aliens. How can someone know exactly what you’re about to do before you even know? Even more so, how can they know all the tricks you think of attempting during a roll? As you progress through the Jiu-Jitsu belt level, certain things get clearer. For once, you start thinking more towards concepts that apply to everything rather than techniques. You also discover how body mechanics help you roll better. All this means you’re getting closer to black belt. However, there are a bunch of invisible things that make black belts a completely different level of opponents. Now, it’s time to discover what one of their main Jedi mind tricks is.

Black belts have one thing that there’s no way you can get without putting the hours in – experience. Black belt experience is something you cannot attain via any shortcut. That’s why legitimate BJJ black belts seem so ahead of everyone during rolling. Everything seems effortless for them, they seem to know what’s going on before you do and they end up weighing a ton when they’re on top. All of these things are down to technique and simple concepts, some of them more mental than physical. One thing that BJJ black belts seem to have a lot of, and that lacks in lower belts, is patience.

Patience is the ultimate Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Jedi mind trick. The thing is, the whole system is rigged against you. This is why patience is such a black belt trait in terms of grappling martial arts. Where most people go wrong is succumbing to wrong timing. The lure of getting a submission is so big, that lower belts go for it without having everything else set up. the result is a disaster. Even in a defensive manner, going a splinter of a second too early means you’ll just waste energy. And it’ll seem that the patient black belt was able to read your mind.

Check out Roy Dean’s BJJ “Black Belt Requirements” DVD to discover all the aspects you need to focus on in your quest of mastering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The Mindset Of BJJ Black Belts

The real difference between any other BJJ practitioner and a black belt is not physical. Yes, they have the added benefit of experience. In Jiu-Jitsu this is something you can’t replicate via a shortcut. There’s no way of learning how to react without thinking to even the slightest shifts in position. This is the byproduct of long hard hours and effort on the mats and is more instinctual as opposed to willing.

The one aspect that BJJ black belts utilize in their game constantly and is completely under their control is patience. Patience is the one key characteristic that makes BJJ black belts seem light years ahead of everything you’re trying to do.

The trouble is that it goes completely against the very essence of human nature. Being patient when there’s something right there to go fo is the hardest lesson you’ll have to learn as a grappler. However, it is an essential one if you really want to become world class. There’s a reason why black belt matches, IBJJF or sub-only, last at least 10 minutes. It is a true game of patience much more than it is a game of details. Combine nerves of steel with correct timing and the ability to hide your true intentions and you have a BJJ world champion. All it takes then is acquiring the instinctual movement side of things.

Staying calm under immense pressure is the only way to truly achieve excellence in Jiu-Jitsu. It is a crucial step most people take years to master. One big reason for this is the fact they’re unaware of its importance. Being patient is glaringly obvious, which means most people are going to miss it. Think about it and try to apply these principles in rolling.

Using Patience To Become A Black Belt

The great news is that you do not need to be a black belt in order to roll like BJJ black belts. All you need is to start applying some “simple” black belt concepts early on. Actually, it is going to help you achieve a black belt of your own much faster. Now, keep in mind that learning how to be patient while you roll is more difficult than you might imagine.

Let’s use an example. You’re on the bottom, grappling with a heavier and more experienced opponent. #YOu decide to go in half guard so you can slow the game down and look to attack. While you’re there, the opponent is constantly pressuring your, looking to apply weight on top in order to pass. Now, your structure and positioning are immaculate and you see an opening for a loop choke. You go for it in an instant and… you lose the choke, the position and probably the match.

What you did wrong was rush. The loop choke is a wrong move for two reasons – your opponent is much larger and stronger and can pull out and it has no imminent follow-ups that work on such an opponent in the given situation. On the other hand, opting for a Kimura from the half guard is much different. You can finish with ease or use it to transition into multiple other better positions. That way you can get both points and finishing opportunities much easier than rushing into things and restarting all the time. the trick is, being patient enough to get your opponent in the right position for the attack.

Train your mind to become more patient and analyze every situation you’re in. This is the best shortcut to BJJ mastery you can get!

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Jiu-Jitsu For Beginners: The First Month Of Training

Jiu-Jitsu For Beginners: The First Month Of Training

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BJJ World

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The people that have the hardest time training Jiu-Jitsu are beginners. There are not the people who have just shown up for class yesterday. The first three or four classes do not count. Those are “orientation” classes, where people decide if they want to get destroyed or would rather train Tai Chi. Beginners are the people that consciously decide that BJJ is the sport they want to do. The person with the brand new Gi and a look of enthusiasm and terror in their eyes is a BJJ beginner. And the hardest part of the introduction to grappling is still ahead of them. That notorious first month of training is universally difficult for everyone. As far as Jiu-Jitsu for beginners goes, the most important help they can get si with getting through the first month of training.

the well-established phrase that all new beginnings are difficult doesn’t even begin to describe Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Taking up grappling is going to redefine what you consider as difficult. In return, it is also going to provide you with all the tools you need to solve the issues it presents. However, just like with everything else, you’ll need to learn about the tools themselves first. You’ll have to understand what your tools are, where they fit into the larger picture and, most importantly, how to use them. Until such a time, though, you’ll be left to practice with them and you’re going to make grave mistakes. Rolling is the epitome of tough love learning methodology, and there’s no way around it. A few tips on starting Jiu-Jitsu for beginners are all it takes to turn utter destruction into simple discomfort.

The main problem with new students is that they fail to listen to the important points. This is normal, given the change of environment they’re used to. For example, every advice you give beginners goes right out the window the moment live rolling starts. Instincts often lead them to wrong decisions making their experience on the mats even more dreadful. The one key Jiu-Jitsu for beginners tip is LISTENING. There are a few really solid pieces of advice you can get, you just need to listen and apply them on the mats. I know it is difficult and chaotic and you have no idea what you’re doing. However, if you try to apply any of the tips we offer, things are going to start making sense real soon. And after that first month expires, you’ll be all set to become a fearsome grappler.

Jiu-JItsu For Beginners: What You Need To Know

The very first thing to know about Jiu-Jitsu is that it is a grappling martial art. Even if you have previous experience with grappling martial arts, Jiu-Jitsu is going to come to a surprise. So, the first step is understanding what exactly are you getting into.

If it was the UFC that got you to enroll in BJJ, expect a world of difference from what you see on TV. BJJ is a grappling sport that revolves around fighting on the ground. Getting the fight to the ground is also a part of the art, although not as extensively trained as in Judo, for example. If you expect to work on a lot of striking you’ll be disappointed. Apart from certain self-defense scenarios, most BJJ academies focus solely on groundwork. The whole point of the art is to get into a better position than your opponent on the ground, this allows you to control an opponent long enough to apply a stranglehold or a joint lock.

next up in our Jiu-Jitsu for beginners course is your attitude. Although much less formal than other martial arts, BJJ still requires discipline. Needless to say, you need to be on time, respectful, and clean, wearing the appropriate training attire. This is where the listening part also plays a major role. Apart from listening to the tips in this article, listen to your coaches.

Also, accept the fact that you’ll be in pain. Some small injuries are sure to follow after years of training. But in the first month, the pain is different. It is going to be painful to endure people on top of you, restricting your breathing and looking to turn you into a pretzel. Accept it and you’ll soon get used to it.

Class Structure

The first thing to understand is the class itself. Regular classes start with a lineup, followed by a warm-up. During the lineup, you need to figure out where beginners are and where advanced students are. Once you figure out where the white belts stand, go at the very end of the line. Until you get a stripe on your belt, this is where you’ll stand. Within a blet color, a number of stripes determine your spot in the line.

Next up, warm-ups. These are going to seem like workouts by themselves in the very beginning. Do not slack or rush through them as warm-ups are where you’ll master a lot of the most important movements.

The technical portion of the class is right after warming up, where you see the instructor demonstrate a move and then you go try it out with a partner. Later on, you’ll have the option to try the moves “live” in a very specific situation through position sparring or drilling.

Finally, it’s time to roll for a few rounds, where anything goes. This is the part that’s going to be the hardest for beginners. It’s both crazy fun, unbelievable hard, and really humbling. Which brings us to our next point.

Survival

It won’t take long to figure out that Jiu-Jitsu for beginners is all about survival. However, there is simple survival at all costs and smart ways to survive. For BJJ, you want to survive by understanding what’s going on around you. During your first month, you won’t have any idea what people are doing in any portion of the class, especially rolling. This is normal, and you should accept that it takes time to figure out how to survive without gassing out before tapping. ti will happen though, so just focus on surviving when you roll or do position sparring. Leave attacks for later on.

Homework

What you’ll encounter during your first month of JIu-Jitsu is a whole new world. new people, new movements, a lot of details on each move, new names… Een if you train for hours every day, you won’t be able to understand it all soon. So, you’ll need to do a bit of homework.

For this, you have two best friends. The easiest one is Youtube. Go online and figure out what exactly was going on during last night’s class. Or go a step further and buy a DVD. Just remember to focus on precise those DVDs that are all about Jiu-Jitsu for beginners.

One such example is Bernardo Faria’s “Foundations Of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” DVD set. Bernardo is a world-class coach that’ll have the simple answers to any of your trillions of burning questions. Remember that DVDs are just homework and you can’t learn BJJ unless you use them in conjunction with live training.

Rolling

When you roll, there’s just one Jiu-Jitsu for beginners rules to follow – Tap! If you feel discomfort, tap. If you’re unsure what is going on, tap. When you feel too tired to move, tap. Whatever happens, do not be stubborn! It is not only going to get you hurt, you won’t actually learn anything by trying to hold on for dear life. You’ll try, that’s for sure, but be the smart one and accept that it doesn’t work. So instead of doing it all over again, go for smart survival. FIght back as long as you can, but tap once there are no more options. You’re going to tap anyway, this is just the most painless way.

Drilling

The last crucial tip for beginners is to find a way to fall in love with drills. Nothing is going to get you through your first month of Jiu-Jitsu like constant drilling. While you might have difficulties with more complex moves in class or doing anything meaningful in rolling, you can hardly go wrong with drills. Drills usually focus on very specific movements of parts of techniques that are crucial. Do them over and over again, do one rep more than what your instructor asks. Do them right and you’ll be well on your way to understanding just what is going on when slapping and bumping every other night.

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