Best BJJ Submissions For Smaller Grapplers

There’s absolutely no way that a grappler can execute every submission with the same rate of success. It just doesn’t work like that in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Despite the fact that everyone can learn every move, not everything works equally as well for each person. This holds true for every category of the move, from sweeps to submissions.

However, in the case of submissions, understanding what works for you may be of crucial importance. finding out which the best BJJ submissions are for you, means you can focus on what works. Spending time working on the best options for you is going to make you extremely proficient in executing them. And, if you’re a smaller built guy or girl, this takes on a whole new level of importance. Now, you not only need to know your top options, but you also need to know the best BJJ submissions to beat the bigger grapplers.

When you are a smaller grappler, looking to become successful in BJJ, you need to start off cautiously. Surviving the first few months are going to be more difficult for you than for others. Simply carrying the weight of larger opponents is exhausting. Factor in the fact they’re also attacking you with specific techniques, and it becomes near impossible. There is a specific way to build your jiu-Jitsu game in order to mitigate the size difference. Today’s focus, however, is going to be on only one aspect of it – the most important one. What are the best BJJ submissions small grapplers can successfully use?

For all us small people out there (I’m a featherweight) grappling can be a difficult task. The best way to get an edge is to use smart tactics when we’re rolling or competing. Going for an opportunity that presents itself against a bigger grappler is a great way to lose everything and end up on the defensive. Patience is key here, as well as meticulous work towards the ultimate goal – getting a giant to tap. to that extent, certain submissions do work universally both for all small people and against all the large people.

The Struggles Of Smaller Grapplers

In a sport where putting pressure on everyone, attempting to make yourself feel heavier than you small people have a really difficult task. They need to find a way to negate the natural weight advantage of their opponents. They also need to make sure larger grapplers can’t look to maximize weight distribution, making them even heavier. Smaller framed grapplers are also required to mount an offensive game of their own, one that’ll work without your opponent’s bench pressing you off them.

These are all valid issues that small grapplers need to overcome in order to become proficient grapplers. First and foremost, techniques should be the only thing you care for. make sure you have a solid gas tank and do not rely on strength in order to finish moves. A smart technical approach means you’ll easily deal with the fact your opponents are heavier. The strategic use of frames, for example, takes care of natural weight as well as weight distribution.

Next up, you can’t go for anything but the absolute best BJJ submissions that work against bigger opponents. The list here is not big, nor does it contain crazy flying moves. It is all about the moves which can put down giants with ease. But not only them. You need submissions that will work against opponents of all shapes and sizes. Once you identify these subs, you can build a truly effective submission game around them.

The Best BJJ Submissions For Small People

There are a few rules of thumb you need to look at when trying to be a small and nasty submission machine. The first thing to remember is to leave pressure alone. If there’s more than a 30 lbs weight difference between you and your partner, forget to be heavy from the top position. Actually, give up on them completely, apart from transitioning. And never ever try to hit a submission which only works if you’re heavy from the top. You’ll just end up flying.

Speaking of transitions, make sure you use them to their maximum. The best BJJ submissions work from solid positions. getting to those positions is hard when you’re obvious about it. So, whenever you’re transitioning, make sure you start setting your submissions up before you reach the final position. For example, start looking for a Rear Naked Choke while you’re in the middle of a back take. There’s no way an opponent is going to defend you sneaking your arm around their neck while they’re focused on defending the back take.

In terms of what are the best BJJ submissions that small people can rely on, there’s just one rule. use the stuff that works against everyone with the highest rate of success. On top of that, a good piece of advice is to figure out a sneaky submission or two. Still, make sure they fit the principles we already discussed above.

Top Choking Options

First of all, let’s look at what you shouldn’t look for against big opponents. Any choke that requires you to be in the mount, top half guard, or even topside control is probably not a good idea. Unless you’re in front, or behind your opponent, stay away from chokes. Furthermore, chokes like the D’arce or anaconda, which require a certain arm length are also not a good fit. And leave most elaborate and complicated lapel chokes to tall and lanky people.

The chokes that are going to work start with a very familiar one. The Rear Naked Choke is a great fit for a multitude of reasons. It has you behind the opponent’s back, it doesn’t require strength and it works against everyone. Plus it is one of the all-time highest percentage submissions in the history of BJJ.

A surprise one might be the guillotine choke. many people see it as a strength move but it is actually a really technical one. A guillotine works because it puts you in front of your opponent while having extreme control over your head. Moreover, it has your arms in a wide circle, which means you can get it even against the biggest of people. It works both in gi and No-Gi and has a few variations you can use. One really reliable one is the Marcelotine.

There’s no way we can discuss the best BJJ submissions for small people without mentioning the loop choke. It is a Gi version of the guillotine and is really reliable, Plus you can get it from the bottom half guard as well as against a turtled-up opponent.

Effective Leg Locks

Once again, we’re starting with what you shouldn’t do. Positionally speaking, unless you’re training with John Danaher, do not go for the outside Ashi Garami. It opens up too many options for your opponent to crush you. Also, forget about inverting in order to hunt for positions. From a submission standpoint, toe holds are the only ones that might fail you, due to how easy an opponent can straighten their leg.

It is really easy actually. If you want the best BJJ submissions to beat big guys, go for heel hooks. Outside or inside, if you can do them, go for them! Just remember to skip the outside Ashi. Also really effective are ankle locks, although some people might be able to power through them. Your best bet is to use ankle locks to set up better positions and more effective subs, like kneebars and heel hooks.

Positionally speaking, the 4/11 position is the absolute best one to use for heel hooks. You can actually transition in and out of kneebars from there as well. If you can’t use it, go for the straight Aashi Grami and focus on ankle locks.

High Percentage Submissions by Bernardo Faria — Techniques List

Improve your overall submission game and discover more submission options that work for the smaller grappler. Bernardo Faria’s “High Percentage Submissions” DVD set has everything you need to submit each and every giant you cum up against!

Arm Locks That Work

As far s submission s to skip when battling bigger opponents, give bent arm subs a pass. Kimuras and/or Americana submissions are not going to work really well against anyone who is stronger than you. People are going to be able to pick you up and shake you off with ease. The same holds true for the Omoplata.

The absolute best arm-based submission? Wristlocks.No matter how big and strong someone is, their wrists are probably the weakest part of their body. Learn how to wristlock people, especially from the closed guard. They’re arguably the best BJJ submissions, period!

If you want to go for a different kind of submission, use the straight arm lock. From the bottom of half guard, there’s hardly a better and easier submission than this. Pair it up with a loop choke and you have a deadly combo right there. The straight armbar is also good, but only if you catch it tight while transitioning.

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

The Best BJJ DVD and Digital Instructionals in 2023

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The Few Joint Supplements For BJJ Worth Your Time

BJJ World

There are numerous reasons why people opt to use supplements. They’re actually a part of everyday life for most modern people anyways. However, grapplers actually do have a real need for some supplements, at least if they want to optimize their health and performance. The trouble with supplements is, that there are countless products out there, and only a few of them actually work. And, when the reason for taking certain supplements for BJJ is a really specific one, even less of them work. One great example is joint supplements.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is probably the one martial art or sport in general, for that matter, that stresses the joints more than any other. While some other sports disciplines might be more difficult than BJJ on certain joints, none are as demanding on all the joints in the body as Jiu-Jitsu. Plus, grappling also affects all the joints in your spine, making joint health a truly crucial topic. the math is simple – if you train BJJ, your joints are going to get a beating. the more you train, the more strain you place on your joints. This means they’ll need all the help they can get. Proper stretching and recovery, massages and of course, certain supplements for BJJ.

The joint supplements for BJJ athletes that are supposed to make joints unbelievably elastic and durable are plentiful. If you check out any supplement shop you’ll get a bunch of products claiming they’re the best. If you try to use Google to clear it up, you’ll only end up more confused. Depending on which source you choose to believe, you’ll either end up using just a few supplements, or all of them. Let us clear up all the confusion and help you with this crucial BJJ issue.

How Joints Work

The way joints work is truly complicated and we’re not here for a medical lecture. I’ll try to make it as short and understandable as possible, in order to move on. after all, the topic is on the best joint supplements for BJJ.

A joint is a dynamic body part that is expected to remain active throughout our lifetime. Joints are actually the spots where two bones meet each other. They’re surrounded by a protective wrap that is filled with a specific fluid. Inside a joint, ligaments hold the two bones in proximity, as well as determine the direction for movement. The main work in the joints is done by cartilages. they are the cushions that allow the two bones to interact without causing immense pain. They’re also the one spot that suffers the most as time goes by.

For people that train BJJ, joint cartilages age much faster. The added demand means you spend your cartilages at a higher rate, making them really thin. or, in the case of vertebrates, making them prolapse and cause all sorts of trouble. Ligament damage and capsular bursts are usually a result of trauma and we’ll skip over them here. So, the only way joint supplements for BJJ athletes can actually help is by affecting the cartilages in our joints.

The Supplement Scam

The trouble with supplements for BJJ which are supposed to help with a joint is the same as with all other popular supplements. Supplement production is a business and works o a business model. That model uses marketing as it’s the utmost best tool for profit. If you believe the marketing, all supplements can do everything you want. In terms of sports supplements, they all increase strength, size, and cardio while helping you lose fat. Yet, people taking them are still overweight and/or lacking in one or more of these qualities.

With joint supplements, the focus is on effectiveness. While they all claim to work miraculously, some go even further by aiming to work faster than others. That, right there, is the first indication that you need to skip over a certain supplement. Joint recovery via supplementation is a long process, requiring correct scheduling and dosage. So, if you truly want to improve your joints, reduce the clutter and pay absolutely no attention to marketing.

Joint Supplements For BJJ

The usual prescription people get in terms of supplements for BJJ damaged joints is chondroitin plus glucosamine combo. let me be blunt – this doesn’t work. Nor do all the shellfish, or shark fin or other dumb shit people try to sell. They are all as effective as Rhino horn, and we all know how good that is.

Moreover, going for a single joint supplement is also not going to bring you any tangible results. You need to combine your supplements in an optimal fashion. You also need to know the correct dosages. and, finally, you need to give it months to work, or maybe even make it a permanent thing. That is the only way to see good results in terms of joint pain and range of motion.

Anti Inflammatories

First up are the things that can help you reduce inflammation. Every time you use your joints, there’s a certain level of information that follows. With grappling, this information is that much more pronounced. Among all the supplements for BJJ athletes out there, the only one that does wonders for inflation is fish oil. It has an undeniable positive effect on information, while also having a host of other benefits. Some of them actually help joints, in particular, making fish oil the first thing you should reach for.

If you do not have it, or can’t get it for some strange reason, Omega-3 fatty acids are the next best thing. Fish oil has ample quantities of them, so they should be your second choice for an anti-inflammatory agent.

Specific Supplements

The stuff that works, won’t work as good on its own. Remember that whenever you’re looking into supplements for BJJ, especially those for joint health.

You need to start with glucosamine. It is a compound that naturally occurs in cartilage and it is effective as a supplement. the thing is, it works slowly and it doesn’t really improve things very apparently. This is why you need large doses of it as well as patience and discipline. Give it a year and combine it with the following stuff for best results.

MSM is arguably the one best supplement for joint support. AKA methylsulfonylmethane, this supplement has undeniable positive effects on your joints. It actually helps alleviate arthritis symptoms much more obviously than any other in this bunch. Now imagine how better it works paired with the correct supplements to accentuate its potency.

Hyaluronic acid is a somewhat surprise contender here. It helps your joint cartilage recover and keeps your joint fluid levels optimal. This reduces the impact joints get during training, making them a lot more durable. If you’re really in trouble, consider getting some hyaluronic acid shots directly in your affected joint. Otherwise, stick to oral form.

Curcumin is also something you should consider. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties as numerous studies show. the reason, why it works great for your joints, is that it also has anti-arthritic properties.

The Absolute Best Supplement

Do not forget that there’s one supplement out there, that works better than anything else. Just tap early and do not let your joints get hyperextended. It is easy, it is the cheapest of them all, and it is going to keep you healthy for long. Throw in the supplement combo we outlined above and you’ll be training BJJ well into your 80’s, just like Helio.

Best BJJ Joint Supplements in 2021 Reviews And Guide

Dealing With Jiu-Jitsu Injuries: Elbow Joint Hyperextension

Strategies To Win The Battle With BJJ Arthritis

https://bjj-world.com/george-lockhart-nutrition-dvd-book/

Has Firas Zahabi Came Up With The Best BJJ Guard Ever?

BJJ World

There’s no shortage of world-class coaches in modern Jiu-Jitsu. Up until a decade or so ago, real high-quality coaches were scarce. Now, every major city in the world has one. However, even amongst them, there are some that truly stand out. Marcelo Garcia, for example, is a guy like no other, both as a coach and a competitor. Others might not feature so much competitively as they do in the role of professors. Of course, one such person that requires no introduction is John Danaher. He has accomplished so much, that even his black belts end up joining the stable of world-class grappling coaches. One such man is Firas Zahabi, a true innovator in the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and combat sports in general.

A few years back, I only had a vague idea of who Firas Zahabi is. To me, he was an MMA coach, based out of Montreal, Canada. His biggest accomplishment was guiding Georges St. Pierre to glory and making him one of the most legendary champions the UFC has ever seen. However, since GSP had Danaher as his Jiu-Jitsu coach, it never even occurred to me that his MMA coach can also be a world-class grappler. It just shows how we take things for granted, both in life and BJJ.

Back to Firas Zahabi. A black belt under my professor once told me that Frias is actually a black belt in BJJ and a great one at that. Since I really looked up to this black belt, (and still do) I decided to research Firas a bit. That’s when I came across his YouTube Channel and the Universal Jiu-Jitsu series. IF you haven’t seen them by now, check them out. You’ll find plenty of things there, including one of the sickest guard modifications in grappling!

Firas Zahabi – A Grappling Genius

Firas is a guy who, like most of us, was interested in martial arts from a very young age. He trained multiple disciplines but had a very unusual approach towards martial arts. Unlike most of his contemporaries, Firas Zhabi never really got into martial arts for the fighting aspect. He was intrigued by the arts themselves and ended up dedicating his life to them. Now, he is the head coach at the Tristar Gym in Montreal, a modern-day stable for top-level grapplers and MMA fighters.

Taking into account the analytical approach Firas has towards things, it is not hard to connect him to Danaher. One might even go as far as the claim that the two were made for each other. Similar to his professor, Zahabi likes to dedicate enormous attention to details. However, he does so in a very specific way, looking at the essence behind the details instead of only at the technical aspects. This gives him a unique insight into both Jiu-Jitsu and other martial arts. It also makes him what he is today, one of the best martial arts coaches in the world.

Firas Zahabi is a formidable grappler, make no mistake about it. His open-minded approach means he includes everything in grappling, not just BJJ. he is a huge fan of wrestling as well and uses it to perfection when he rolls. He often focuses on a certain part of grappling, offering solutions to common problems. More often than not, some of his solutions involve innovation and adjustments of things grapplers take for granted. As is the case with one of the most utilized guards in BJJ – the Reverse De La Riva.

The Drawbacks Of The Classic Reverse De la Riva

The Reverse De La Riva is a great open guard variation that has a lot of options. It offers great ways of preventing common guard passes, in particular, the knee-slice. It also opens up doors to playing inverted guard and going for the back or transitioning into the De La Riva guard. The Reverse De La Riva is a close distance guard that very successfully connects open guards with the half guard. Or, it was.

The one major drawback of the Reverse De La Riva guard was always the placement of the free leg. One leg is deep in a De La Riva hook, there’s not much need for an explanation there. The other one, however, used to go on the hip. The first trouble with it keeping the hook there was the leg drag pass. Unless you had really good control over at least one of your opponent’s arms, leg-dragging was an easy way to get past the guard.

As the leg locking game came into prominence, the Reverse De La Riva suffered more than most guards. The placement of the free leg meant that it was open to leg locking submissions of all varieties. Form the deadly Estima lock all the way to Multiple Ashi Garami setups, the Reverse De La Riva started to gain the name of an unsafe position. Until Firas Zahabi took matters into his own hands.

Refresh your Reverse De La Riva knowledge with the help of Seph Smith. The Ryan Hall black belt is a true RDL wizard and now you can learn all his tricks too! ‘The Reverse De La Riva Almanac” DVD is the best complete resource on the subject out there. containing everything from basic mechanics to numerous attacking setups!

Reverse De La Riva Lockdown

The Reverse De La Riva Lockdown is the brainchild of Zahabi, and it solves all previously stated problems. The modification that Firas Zahabi made, offers a way to completely prevent all kinds of pressure passing. for once. Furthermore, the Reverse De La Riva Lockdown successfully hides the free leg, while also using it to create a wedge. This gives you even better control over the leg you’re focusing on. Plus, it opens up som any new attacks.

The trick with the Reverse De La Riva Lockdown is easy. Instead of the hip, you place your second leg under the hook of your first one. This creates a “lockdown” position, keeping your leg safe from both leg locks and the leg drag. Furthermore, it provides great support to the hooking leg, allowing easier manipulation with the opponent’s base.

As Firas states, the key is in the angle. Once you have the De La Riva hook in, you need to hip escape to the side. this removes any slack between your leg and theirs, making the hook hard to break. The arm goes under your leg with a grip behind the heel. This prevents the smash pass and offers a great way of controlling the whole leg. Locking everything downturns this guard into one of the most offensive positions available in Jiu-Jitsu.

What You Can Do

Your options from the Reverse De La Riva Lockdown are even more numerous than form the classic form of the guard. Namely, off balancing your opponent is easier than ever before. The reason is that you now have two legs placed strategically on both sides of their knee. When you simply kick your legs over your head, you get an opening to spin to towards the back. it is worth noting that there’s no need for any inversion whatsoever, as your opponent will give their back away by themselves.

Next up, are sweeps. You can sweep to the side of the trapped leg with ease. All you need it to place sideways pressure on the opponent’s knee and you’re up. Moreover, if your opponent attempts to widen their base, you get even further options. The tripod sweep is right there for the taking with just a simple switch of your legs.

The best part about it is that you can enter into Ashi Garami from multiple angles. When you kick your opponent over your head, you can always entangle the legs instead of going for the back. Or you can go into the 4/11 out of a tripod sweep attempt. The opportunities are truly endless, and your legs remain safe at all times. Thank you, Firas!

REVIEW: Craig Jones DVD – The Z Guard Encyclopedia

The Leg Lasso Guard – A Masterclass On Playing And Passing

The Collar Guard – A Simple Guard For Advanced Grapplers

Quintet 3 Results & Videos – The Craziest BJJ Event In 2018

BJJ World

Quintet 3 Results:

Special Matches

Nicky Ryan def. Hideo Tokoro (Rear Naked Choke)
Marcelo Nunes def. Haisam Rida (Head and Arm Choke)
Satoshi Ishii def. Frank Mir (Mir got DQ’d for Penalties )

Semi-Final 1 – Team Sakuraba vs. Team Alpha Male

Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Urijah Faber (DRAW)
Antoine Jaoude vs. Daisuke Nakamura (DRAW)
Gordon Ryan submits Josh Barnett (Triangle Choke)
Gordon Ryan submits Marcos Souza (Rear Naked Choke)
Gordon Ryan vs. Roberto Souza (DRAW)

Semi-Final 2 – Team 10th Planet vs. Team Polaris

PJ Barch def. Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro (Armbar)
Gregor Gracie def. PJ Barch (Kneebar)
Gregor Gracie def. Amir Allam (Kimura)
Geo Martinez def. Gregor Gracie (Kimura)
Marcin Held def. Geo Martinez (Kneebar)
Craig Jones def. Richie Martinez (Achilles lock)
Craig Jones def. Adam Sachnoff (Rear Naked Choke)

The Finals – Team Alpha Male vs. Team Polaris

Dustin Akbari vs. Dan Strauss (DRAW)
Mansher Khera vs. Marcin Held (DRAW)
Craig Jones def. Antoine Jaoude (Rear Naked Choke)
Gordon Ryan def. Craig Jones (Rear Naked Choke)
Gordon Ryan def. Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro (Armbar)
Gordon Ryan vs. Gregor Gracie (DRAW)

Quintet 3 Videos

Special Match

Nicky Ryan def. Hideo Tokoro ( via RNC)

The first match of the night was the special fight between Nicky Ryan, the younger brother of Gordon Ryan, and Hideo Tokoro.

Hideo Tokoro was able to get to the legs of Nicky with some nice looking rolling entry. He issued a leg entanglement but NIcy was the one to get better of it. After the scramble, Nicky was able to get to bac of Hideo Tokoro. Nicky did some great back control with body triangle on and that was enough for him to finish Tokoro with an RNC.

https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1048398359164280832

Semi-Final 1 – Team Sakuraba vs. Team Alpha Male

Kazushi Sakuraba vs with Urijah Faber (DRAW)

The first match of Quintet 3 tournament was one between Kazushi Sakuraba and Urijah Faber, two MMA legends and UFC Hall Of Hamers.

At the beginning of the match there was some back and forth fight going on for a takedown. The referee wasn’t very happy with it so he issued a warning to both of the fighters.

After that Famanagedaged to get on top side control over Kazushi Sakuraba. Although lighter than Sakuraba Faber did some great pressure and managed to control Sakuraba. The Referee, again, issued a warning for stalling. Urijah then transitioned to a toehold but wasn’t successful with it. Sakuraba managed to get away for a short time and then after a lot of scrambling Urijah, again, managed to get to a toehold but Sakuraba was defending it nice and that’s how the match ended. Fast Paced and interesting match between two veterans ended in a draw.

Antoine Jaoude vs Daisuke Nakamura (DRAW)

The second match of the round was between Brazilian Antoine Jaoude and Japanese star Daisuke Nakamura.

Jaoude outweighed Nakamura significantly but that wasn’t enough for him to get the better of Nakamura as Nakamura was able to use his speed very well. He was able to have some really acrobatic attacks with some flying armbar attempts issuing a lot of scrambles.

At the end of the round, Nakamura was trying to take down Jaoude but ended up on the bottom in a half guard. That was the position where the match ended in a draw eliminating both of them from the tournament.

Gordon Ryan def. Josh Barnett (via submission, Triangle)

This is the match everyone wanted to see. Adcc medalist and John Danaher’s Black Belt Gordon Ryan vs Grappling and MMA legend Josh Barnett

Gordon Ryan started a match with a butterfly Guard. He was very agressive with it trying to engage Josh Barnett as much as he could. After some time he managed to sweep Barnett with a beautiful butterfly sweep and get the top side control. Soon after the sweep Gordon got to full mount working his way to the top of Barnett’s body.

Barnett was able to bump Gordon but Gordon did a great move while Barnett was reversing the position. He pushed his leg over Barnett’s leg and secured a triangle. After a short time in a triangle choke, Barnett had no other options but to tap to a younger opponent.

https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1048405066389102592

Gordon Ryan def. Marcos Souza (via submission, RNC)

Gordon Ryan’s second fight of the evening was one against Marcos Souza. After a lot of takedowns from Ryan, he managed to get to a top position with Souza on bottom playing butterfly guard.

Souza was really trying to prevent Gordon from passing his guard, but despite his efforts, Ryan was able to secure pass his guard and immediately transition to a full mount.

Ryan’s mount was seemed inactive to the referee so he stood both fighters up. Soon after Ryan was again able to get to the top. While trying to pass Souza’s guard he managed to get on his back. Ryan established a solid back control with a body triangle lock on that led to a rear naked choke and the tap fro Souza.

https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1048406751425560576

Gordon Ryan draws with Roberto Souza (DRAW)

Gordon Ryan’s third match was against Roberto Souza. Roberto Souza started the match aggressively forcing Gordon Ryan to pull guard.

Souza was trying hard to pass Ryan’s open guard but with no success. After some time Ryan managed to get on his feet and he did a nice double leg takedown. They entangled their legs and Souza got better of it by scrambling his way on top.

The rest of the match passed in Souza’s trying to pass Ryan’s guard until referee decided to get the restart the position Souza got ryan’s back but was unable to secure the subission as time was up.

Although this match ended in a draw Team Alpha Male had more victories and proceeded to the finals.

Team Alpha Male DEF. Team Sakuraba and advanced to finals

Semi-Final 2 – Team 10th Planet vs. Team Polaris

PJ Barch def. Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro (via submission, Armbar)

The first match between Team 10th Planet and Team Polaris was between BJJ Legend Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro and former NCAA wrestler PJ Barch.

As Ribeiro knew that he’s facing a wrestler he immediately pulled a guard on PJ Barch. Shaolin’s half guard was unpassable for PJ. Shaolin managed to sweep PJ from half guard and get the to position.

Due to inactivity referee in referee’s eyes, he stood them up. Soon after, Barch was able to pass Ribeiro’s guard but Ribeiro but not for long. While in Ribeiro’s guard he tried to isolate his arm but with no success and he lost the position. On the bottom, Barch was very active with his knee bar and leg lock attempts and at one point he managed to get on Ribeiro’s back. While he was unable to choke Ribeiro he transitioned to arm attack rolling into the belly down armbar and that was enough to force the tap from Ribeiro.

https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1048413042650832896

Gregor Gracie submits PJ Barch (Kneebar)

Gregor’s second match was against PJ Barch. WIth a use of foot sweep, Gregor Gracie did a nice takedown. After a series of leg attacks, he managed to secure a kneebar that immediately led to a tap from PJ Barch.

https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1048414053494927360

Marcin Held submits Geo Martinez (Kneebar)

As soon as the match started the leg attack exchange has started. Kneebars to heel hook attempts were traded all the time. Marcin held got better of it as he was more aggressive and he managed to pull a tight kneebar forcing Martinez to a fast tap.

https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1048418285912559616

Richie Martinez def. Marcin Held

The fast-paced action started from the beginning. Martinez did a very good use of rubber guard and threatened with a gogoplata with a quick transition to armlock variation and secured a tap for his team 10th Planet

https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1048419016921010176

Craig Jones def. Richie Martinez (Straight Foot Lock)

Seconds after the match started Craig Jones did a nice Achilles lock.

https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1048419695601360896

Craig Jones def. Adam Sachnoff (RNC)

https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1048421486355255296

Marcelo Nunes def. Haisam Rida (Head and Arm Choke)

https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1048425529718853632

Craig Jones def.Antoine Jaoude (submission RNC)

https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1048436905342377989

Gordon Ryan def. Craig Jones (submission RNC)

https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1048438194268774400

Gordon Ryan def. Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro (Submission Armbar)

https://twitter.com/Maldobabo/status/1048439740758994944

Quintet 3 Preview

It is going to be nuts! It is going to be exciting! And it is coming to the USA and is about to explode! Ladies and gentleman grapplers, the craziest grappling tournament is about to have a third edition. And this time, it comes all the way from Tokyo to the fight capital of the world – Las Vegas. Kazushi Sakuraba’s grappling promotion, featuring the weirdest ruleset so far, is about to go global. Despite being only the third edition, the event features names that are going to excite the grappling world, to say the least. Yeah, the teams are out, and it is going to be one of the most epic Jiu-Jitsu events ever held. Get ready for Quintet 3, the first and only 5 vs 5 grappling tournament!!!

As if Vegas didn’t have enough huge things happening in October. Just 24 hours before Conor Mcgregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov face of in the octagon, grappling fans will have a great way to warm up for the fight. Quintet 3 hits vegas o October 5th! Quintet is the latest submission only promotion to enter the stage of professional Jiu-Jitsu. However, there’s something different about it. Actually, there’s a lot different about it. It is a team tournament as opposed to the usual individual ones. it also features a crazy rule set, on we’ve never seen before. Plus, all the teams involved have so far provided incredible entertainment. Now, in Quintet 3, the roster of grapplers that’ll potentially face off is unlike anything we’ve seen before!

So far, the two Quintet events took place in Japan. This is unsurprising, given that he founded is MMA and grappling legend Kazushi Sakuraba. The first sign of craziness is the fact that Sakuraba himself, at the age of 49 is still competing against high-level opposition. So far, he competed at both Quitnet events and is not about to skip the third one. Speaking of which, the No-Gi sub -only Quintet 3 event, is not only switching continents but also increasing the quality of competitors. Below, we take a look at the four teams about to battle in the first ever Quintet event on US soil!

What Is Quintet?

Seriously, if you still have to ask this questions you must’ve been living under a rock. In all fairness, the Quintet tournament is pretty new, but it is anything but unnoticeable! a grappling tournament featuring 5 vs 5 teams? It is already enough to tickle the curiosity of every grappler out there. Throw in the unusual ruleset and you have what’s about to become the most anticipated grappling event in the world!

The Quintet tournament is based on an old wrestling competition system. TI includes teams of five grapplers that goe up against each other. There are no weight classes, meaning smaller grapplers can potentially face heavyweights. The only way to win is via a submission. UNless two people submit each other, it is a draw and they’re both eliminated. if one grappler wins, though, he stays on facing the next member of the opposite team. Oh, and there are no heel hooks. And there’s also no closed guard allowed.

So far the winners of the first Quintet event were team Polaris, featuring Craig Jones, Gregor Gracie, Dan Strauss, Caol Uno, and Marcin Held. The first event also saw 11 out of 17 matches end via a submission. At Quintet 2, ti was all about team 10th Planet, led by the enigmatic Martinez brothers. There were some memorable matches and some crazy submissions as the second event topped the first one, according to most! Now, it is time for Quintet 3 and I, for one, am truly excited about this one!

The Quintet 3 Line Up

So far, even the announcement of Quintet 3 has people anxious for the tournament! Polaris team, the winners of the inaugural event, and Quintet 2 victors 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu will both feature. The remaining two teams are no joke either, with one of them, named led by Sakuraba himself once again. The final team for Quintet 3 is handpicked by Uriah Faber, unsurprisingly called team Alpha Male. Which team has the best chance of victory?

Team Sakuraba

First up it is the relentless founder of the tournament. kazushi Sakuraba might be almost 50, but he is still one very formidable grappler! So far his team got to the finals once. This time, he’ll be looking to go all the way and claim victory in his third attempt. And his teammates are no less well-rounded as grapplers! Pride and UFC legend Josh Barnett is going to look to introduce some high-level catch wrestling to the mix. Completing the team are Marcos Souza, and Roberto Satoshi Souza.

Team Polaris

Any team that features Craig Jones has probably the best odds at winning any tournament. However, when his teammates are also grapplers of the utmost quality, they turn into the clear favorite! As they already proved at the first ever Quintet event, they’re a very formidable bunch of grapplers. Energy demon Dan Strauss is also a member, bringing endless aggression and guillotines of hell to the game. Gregor Gracie and Marcin Held are also back, with the fifth member still to be determined. Whoever it is, they can only get scarier, right?

Craig Jones is one of the best submission artists of today. He has a rich and versatile game but he’s particularly scary with his leg lock setups. Learn his leg locking ways with the help of his “Down Under Leg Attacks” DVD set. It is the ultimate resource for mastering both the offensive and defensive aspect of leg locking!

Team Alpha Male

So far, team, Alpha Male have only three confirmed competitors. However, it seems like there would be more than enough to take on any other team in the tournament. Led by the founder, head coach and UFC veteran Uriah Faber, they’re going to be the smallest built team at the tournament. Given that they’re known as a gym of bantam, feather, and lightweights, this is not surprising. Supporting Uriah so far are Urijah two more UFC fighters in Dustin Akbari and Chris Holdsworth. Wonder who Uriah will ask to complete their starting five?

Team 10th Planet

Finally, Eddie bravo’s picks remain unchanged from last time out. Once again, Geo and Ritchie Martinez are the tips of the spear. Actually, Boogeyman got a memorable D’arce finish over Sakuraba, while Geo went into grappling folklore with his giant-killing submissions. PJ Barch, Amir Allam, and the guy who got the team to the finals last time, Adam Sachnoff are all back to prove they’re the undisputed champions.

Last time out, Boogyman did really well with the rubber guard. Learn the secrets of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu’s most famous system with Brandon McCaghren. “Rubber Guard: The Meathook” is a DVD instructional that explains the rubber guard system inside out. Even if you don’t like playing rubber guard, you need this DVD to learn how to try and defend it!

Who do you got winning Quitnet 3?

Grappling Strength Training – How To Train Isometric Strength

BJJ World

Grappling strength and conditioning training is a key part of training any grappling martial art. Despite BJJ people claiming that technique beats strength, they still go for strength when things don’t go as planned. Even at the highest levels of the sport, strength is a huge factor in deciding outcomes, even it is only used in a fraction of a second. The trouble with the perception of strength in Jiu-Jitsu is that people see it in black and white. They either think they do not need it at all, or they rely on it way too much. Strength and conditioning are just different aspects of the game that have their application in specific situations. It is just like with technique. There are certain points in every roll where strength does factor in significantly. However, there are different types of strength that actually have a practical use for grapplers.

Getting stronger for BJJ is not as easy as just supplementing with powerlifting. Grappling strength is much more complicated than what weightlifting requires, or has to offer. Don’t get me wrong, weight lifting has a huge place in grappling strength and conditioning programs. But so do bodyweight exercises, kettlebells, Yoga and a bunch of other things. Why? because all of them bring something different to the table. Combining each of them in a program that actually works is a whole other can of worms. For now, we’ll leave them all aside and focus only on strength. Actually, we’ll focus on only one aspect of strength training that is often not included in most people’s programs.

As far as strength goes, there is a dynamic and static portion to it. Going deeper into things, strength can be explosive, speed-strength, strength-speed, isometric, eccentric and so forth. Categories are not as important for today’s article, but one specific aspect of grappling strength training is. That is an isometric strength. it is an aspect of strength and conditioning that is very often taken for granted in jiu-Jitsu, despite its extremely heavy use. There are a few sports out there that rely on isometric strength more than BJJ. So, how should you go about getting your isometric strength levels through the roof?

Isometrics For Grappling Strength And Conditioning

As a martial art, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is as much explosive and dynamic as it is static. As people get more experience and rise through the ranks, their Jiu-Jitsu game usually slows down. This is due to patience, experience, and advanced conceptual applications of techniques. To that extent, the more static nature of the game means a lot more time is spent holding on to people or holding them down. This is precisely where isometric strength has a role to play. Every time we go for a hold, be it a grip, a position, or a submission hold, we use our muscles isometrically. Simply put, whenever you have a muscle under tension, without subsequent movement, you’re using isometric strength.

You can see why isometrics should be a big part of any grappling strength and conditioning program. They are the perfect tool to develop specific muscular endurance essential for BJJ. Working on isometric strength means you train both maximal static strength as well as improve strength endurance. This means you can hold tighter for longer, as opposed to not training. The reason is simple – isometric training recruits much more muscle fibers than dynamic training. This makes this type of strength much more reliable than others, at least in grappling terms.

If there is one thing you should know about isometric strength training it are angles. If you go for an isometric squat position, for example, and you go parallel, you’ll make your body really strong in that position. However, this newly acquired strength only extends to about 30-degree angles in both directions. Anything more than that, and you won’t have any real isometric strength benefits from that particular exercise .this is why you must do all isometric exercises at a few different angles of the same exercise.

A Few Basic Isometric Exercises

The reason we look to add isometric exercises to grappling strength training is to increase the functionality of our bodies. The more efficiently we can use our bodies in grappling exchanges, the easier they’ll be. Implementing isometric strength training into any routine is actually really easy. You can do it at the back end of BJJ class, your conditioning sessions or as a stand-alone workout. Hold times will vary from 10-20 seconds to a few minutes. Anything past 5 minutes has no real benefits and is much too time-consuming.

Lower Body

As far as exercises go, there’s nothing better than isometric squats for grapplers. Guard retention, passing, even takedowns all require leg dexterity and strength. Especially when you need to spend a lot of time in a specific grappling position. Bodyweight squats are the best to start with, Remember to do them above parallel, at parallel, and all the way down for a complete range of motion. As you progress you can progress to single leg squats or pistol squat holds.

Upper Body Push

Push UpFor your upper body, you’ll need to focus on one pushing motion (horizontal) and two pulling motions. The reason for this is that we use a lot more pulling in grappling as opposed to pushing. A simple push-up is going to do wonders for you if you train it isometrically. Hold it at three or four different levels, and throw in angle changes by doing incline and/or decline pushups as well.

Upper Body Pull

For the upper body pulls, focus on pull-ups for the vertical, and rows for the horizontal. By rows, I mean doing bodyweight inverted rows as opposed to barbell rows. The same principles apply as you’ll need to hold a pull-up-position at a few different points of the motion. The same goes for rows. In the case of pull-ups, in particular, try to vary the grips you have on the bar. You could (and should) also use a Gi to hang on, as this is going to develop really specific grappling strength.

Core

Core training is arguably the most important part of Jiu-JItsu, Our cores get a real battering in grappling and we need to focus on them in particular during strength training. For that reason, there are three stand-out exercises you can use to hit your core. One of them is probably the most well-known isometric exercise of all times – the plank. Hold planks as long as you can, and do not forget to do side planks as well as the regular ones.

A couple of opposing gymnastics-based exercises also do wonders for Jiu-Jitsu athletes. The hollow body hold and the arch hold are two invaluable exercises for developing extreme levels of isometric core strength for grappling.

Specific Isometric Training

As a finishing touch, you can turn to some more specific grappling strength exercises. For example, get your hands on a foam roller, or a grappling dummy and go for an isometric chokehold. Hold a Rear Naked Choke, guillotine, D’arce, or whatever choke you want for as long as possible. You could do the same with triangle chokes as well, conditioning your legs. A good tool to train your inner thigh muscles is a stability ball. Get it between your legs and squeeze. It is going to do wonders for your closed guard game.

Get your conditioning to the next level with an easy program that combines both isometric and dynamic strength! Ethan Benda has one of the best grappling strength and conditioning programs out there. Check out his “Diamond Protocol” DVD set for a complete program and detailed exercise demonstrations.

The Best Strength & Conditioning DVD and Digital Instructionals

How To Develop Crushing Grip Strength For BJJ

Short And Brutal Grappling Conditioning With Complexes

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

Improving Jiu-Jitsu Drills With Ben Askren

BJJ World

Jiu-Jitsu Drills are arguably the second most despised part of training BJJ apart from warm-ups. People tend to utterly hate doing drills for an extended period of time. it is probably down to rolling being so fun that every other aspect of Jiu-Jitsu fades in comparison. This is a real problem since most sports training is very much based on repetitive drilling. In most other sports, not just martial arts, drills are the foundation of most training sessions. Going over important movement patterns is what takes people to the next level. Just take a look at the Miyao and Mendes brothers and you’ll see the benefits of drilling. Normally, this drives most instructors crazy, along with an MMA and grappling legend in Ben Askren.

Ben Askren is as a high-level wrestler as they come. He is also an MMA veteran who based a lot of his game for the cage on wrestling. So, when he talks about grappling, and how people should train, the best thing you can do is listen. In his recent appearance on the world-famous Joe Rogan podcast, Askren revealed his discontent in regard to Jiu-Jitsu drills. Askren has some great points on the structure, lasting and type of drills BJJ people do, or better said, slack through on a regular basis. There’s no denying that his comments make sense, so we decided to try and find the solutions to the common problems Askren identified.

We all know that repetition is crucial to learning new skills. In art as diverse and deep as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, constantly polishing the most common movement patterns should be a priority. Instead, people like to turn to rolling, thinking that there’s nothing better than live sparring to refine their technique. The trouble with this approach is that people tend to learn stuff incorrectly. Subsequently, when they go compete they discover the hard way that they know a lot less than they think. What follows suit is shifting blame to others, instead of trying to focus on the problem. And the problem is easy – not enough Jiu-Jitsu drills.

The Curious Case Of Jiu-Jitsu Drills

Let’s say you’re dead set on learning the x-pass. This is one of the most fundamental Jiu-Jitsu techniques, one that works from white to black belt. It is a pass you can use against plenty f open guards and it is based on a simple, yet subtle movement pattern. If you go and work on it in the technique portion of the class, you’ll probably get about 10 to 15 minutes of time for both you and your partner to get some reps in. The moment you go roll, you’ won’t end up in a position to use it more than a few times per roll, if any. Even then, the circumstances are dynamic and unpredictable and you won’t be able to dedicate enough time to truly mastering the movement.

The usual length of specific technical training in Jiu-Jitsu is short, compared to other arts. This is ok as far as the fine technical aspects of the sport go. However, in order to reinforce the most basic movement patterns for every technique, drills should follow the technical part. The trouble with Jiu-JItsu drills is that, even when people go for them, they only do a couple of minutes each. Afterward, either the whole class goes to roll. or people start slacking off.

What rightfully frustrates Ben Askren is the fact that this is a common practice across BJJ academies worldwide. The trouble is in all of us, from students to instructors, for being selective in our learning approach. We take techniques that really work, like takedowns, for mother arts and incorporate them in BJJ. So why don’t we take some general training concepts as well, once that apply to the art, in order to really expand our proficiency? Here’s what Ben Askren thinks.

Ben Askren’s Take On Drills

The basic point Ben Aksren Made on the Joe Rogan podcast is about the daily grind that wrestlers go through. The basic idea behind wrestling training is pushing yourself more and more, each day. To that extent, wrestlers aim to work with everyone in the gym and look to have a go at the best guys constantly. They also organize practice in a way that exposes everyone to the very best, giving everyone the chance to progress.

Form a technical standpoint, Askren pointed out that wrestlers spend hours every day working only on specific techniques. This constant exposure to the same technique over and over allows wrestlers to truly focus on cleaning up their moves.

The system wrestlers use for drilling is simple. They choose a topic for the session (or week) and go through the technical nuances. Immediately after, they pair up and go for endless repetitions of the basic motions behind the technique. At first, they just go for reps on the move on an inactive opponent. Later, they introduce resistance to the drills, increasing the intensity of the drills. As far as Jiu-JItsu drills go, this is akin to position sparring. Unlike BJJ, though, this drill does not transform into full-blown rolls after a few reps.

Neil Melanson DVD Catch Wrestling Formula — Techniques List

Speaking of wrestling, have you checked out Neil Melanson’s “Catch Wrestling Formula” DVD yet? ? It is a catch wrestling for BJJ instructional that is going to give you tons of techniques to drill in class. Plus, they move Neil demonstrates are more effective only than they are painful!

The Solutions

Ben Askren didn’t limit himself to only criticizing how BJJ classes are structured. he also offered up some suggestions, which we’ll only expand on further to find a winning formula.

The first thing we need to add to Jiu-Jitsu drills is time. Regardless if it is fundamentals class or competition training, drills need to make up most of the class. They need to last long and people need to put in as many repetitions as possible. And by repetitions, I mean clean and precise reps, not slacking. The sooner this becomes common practice, the sooner we’ll start seeing much better grapplers.

To remove the boredom factor from drilling, we can look to make some BJJ-specific adjustments. For example, we can mix things up by building upon drills. If we train the X-pass on Monday, for example, we’ll do a guard recovery on Wednesday. Now, when we drill one partner starts with the pass, and the other follows up with a recovery move. This turns to drill into a mini-scenario, where both partners get to work. PLus they have the chance to attempt a specific technique against resistance with another specific technique. The Friday session can build even further upon the moves, offering both variety and much-needed repetition.

In order to successfully implement this Ben Askren inspired take on Jiu-Jitsu drills, we’ll need to cut down on free rolling. AS huge and unimaginable sacrifice as this might seem to be, it is actually way more beneficial. Going for longer live drills more than free rolls are going to reduce injuries, improve conditioning and make rolling much more important

BJJ Break Falls: Why You Need To Train Them More

https://bjj-world.com/how-to-make-single-leg-takedown-work/

Bulldog Choke – BJJ Submission Explained In Details

The Chest Choke – Catch Wrestling Submission For BJJ

BJJ World

What is the best submission move in all of grappling martial arts? The answer to this question is tricky, despite being glaringly obvious. the best submission is the one that works. Or, more specifically, it is the one that works for you. For some people, it might be a Kimura. Others are really fond of hitting triangle chokes from all kinds of positions. Of course, we can’t skip over all the high-tech leg lockers that dominate the mats these days. Perhaps, you’re more of an old-school guy/girl and like to go for some “antiquated” Judo chokes or armlocks. You could also be a neck cranking, spine twisting 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu die hard. Or, you could be a pressure grappler who enjoys going for a catch wrestling submission or two.

Before Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, all grappling martial arts we’re significant low on submissions. Throwing an opponent down and proceeding to control them for a period of time, or points is still the norm for most grappling martial arts. Although Sambo in particular, and Judo to a lesser extent have submissions, the main focus lies elsewhere. In came BJJ, changing the submission grappling game forever. However, there’s one art that’s a predecessor of BJJ and was the ultimate submission grappling discipline before the Gracies. It is the brutal grappling martial art of Catch wrestling. Catch-as-a-catch-can wrestling is a variation of wrestling that’s unusually rich with innovative and painful submission holds. Even today, going for a catch wrestling submission can catch your opponent’s by surprise, regardless of their rank or experience. We’ve seen it happen more than once!

There’s no secret to why catch wrestling submission work. They’re designed to be effective, fast and above everything else, painful. It is the brutal nature of submission hunting in catch wrestling that had this art rule the submission grappling circuit for decades before BJJ. Now that Jiu-Jitsu is in the frame, submission grappling has a completely new look. However, turning back to the past, and throwing in a catch wrestling submission into your game is always a good idea. Since pressure based submissions are kind of rare today, the chest choke is certainly a good contender for any grappler.

Submission Wrestling

The rise of submission grappling, as we know it today, is largely a result of the development of catch wrestling. The crazy martial art of catch wrestling is a western based style, that goes as far back as the 1870s. Just to make things clear, wrestling existed long before that. However, submission wrestling was very rare and not developed at all.

Catch wrestling began as a pastime for sailors and dock workers in Britain. It provided both entertainment and a betting opportunity for people involved. Since it spread fast, the sailor took it aboard as they traveled. After all, they did have the time. Unsurprisingly, catch wrestling game to the states along with the British, way back when. This is where catch wrestling, actually got the form that is closest to that of today.

In the USA, most catch wrestlers worked in circuses or fairs. They had an open challenge for anyone to come and wrestle them for a prize. Since they never knew their prospective opponent’s they had to be ready for everyone. In order to ensure victory, they developed a system of chokes, neck cranks and joint locks that were certain ways of beating all kinds of opponents. The idea was that any catch wrestling submission goes you can get goes, the faster the better. Hence the name catch-as-a-catch-can.

Use catch wrestling to become much better at BJJ! All you need is to pick up the Neil Melanson DVD Collection and watch your opponents tap more times than ever before! He offers brutal finishing options from both top and bottom, with the collection boasting 5 DVD sets and counting!

A Surprise Contender

Nowadays, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tends to focus on control based submissions more than pain based ones. Since the sport is a very different one to catch wrestling, such an approach is more than fitting. However, there are certain gaps in BJJ, especially in the submissions department.

The odd catch wrestling submission or two can really boost your game and help you become much more well rounded as a grappler. Not all catch submissions are going to fit all grapples, that’s understandable. Some are a better fit for certain types of fighters than others. However, there are a few that are so simple and so reliable that they can work for everyone. Once such a move is the chest choke from scarf hold. It is the move Josh Barnett used to submit Dean Lister when they fought in Metamoris a few years back.

In all honesty, the scarf hold is not a position known for submission options in BJJ. In both Judo and Catch wrestling, the situation is the opposite. Granted, there are much more options for the bottom person to do in BJJ, but submissions are still scarce. The chest chokes allow you to better control the position, prevent all counters and finish with ease. Plus, it makes your opponent cringe with discomfort and pain.

The Chest Choke Catch Wrestling Submission

From the scarf hold position, AKA Kesa Gatame, getting the chest choke requires less set up than any other submission option. It is actually surprisingly control based for a catch wrestling submission.

To begin with, you need head control from the scarf hold. That means you being in side control with your hips facing the opponent’s head. From there you extend the bottom leg forward. The arm that goes around the opponent head is going to grab the thigh of that bottom leg, securing them in place. This is going to lift their head and near side shoulder up, breaking their posture and restricting movement. Proceed to bring the opponent’s near side arm over to the side, similar to an arm triangle position.

In order to get the chest choke, use an S- grip to pull the arm you have around their head towards your chest as much as possible. This is an essential step in setting this submission up. Weight distribution is key for keeping the position, so remember to stay on your toes constantly, butt off the mats. The finish comes by leaning back while pulling on the head. The goal is to crunch up your opponent by forcing their head towards their chest.

The reason this move works as a choke is that it disrupts breathing. Unlike any BJJ choke though it doesn’t achieve this directly. Instead, It places enormous pressure on the diaphragm, preventing your opponent from successfully breathing in after the breath out. Cold and brutal, right?

DVD and DIGITAL Instructionals Related to Catch Wrestling :

REVIEW: The Catch Wrestling Formula Neil Melanson DVD

Submission Wrestling

Double Leg Takedown – How to Do It & The Most Common Mistakes

The Collar Guard – A Simple Guard For Advanced Grapplers

BJJ World

Playing guard in BJJ can be as simple or as complicated as you make it be. There’s a clear progression that we usually see here. At first, it is all about surviving so the closed and perhaps half guard are the options most people choose. As grapplers get to blue and purple belt, first they go into open guard variations and then straight into crazy land. After all the experimentation, once people get their brown belts they tend to look for simplistic ways to get what they want. Mind you, simply doesn’t necessarily mean boring, nor ineffective. On the contrary, there are certain guards that might seem like they do not even guard positions. Yet they work, especially at the highest levels of the game. One of those guards is the surprisingly simple collar guard. So, all you advanced purple belts and above, this one is meant for you.

Playing guard is fun! When if you’re not a fan of the guard, you still need to know how to deal with people when you’re n your back. With the collar guard, it’s mostly you on your butt, if we’re being honest. The original idea behind the closed guard was that of simplicity and control. While the closed guard offers both, it also requires quite a lot of work in order to set up attacks. namely, if you do not deal with the opponent’s posture and base, you’ll have a hard time doing anything. Open guards are usually more attacking in nature, but lack the control of the closed guard. Somewhere in between, is a simple guard that delivers on both. That said, do not expect closed guard-like control, nor spider guard-like attacks from the collar guard. Instead, expect safety, ease of movement and effortless sweeps.

To make things clear, the collar guard is far from the ultimate guard in BJJ. there’s no direct substitution for it without the Gi, making it useless in No-Gi. However, with the Gi it has an unusually wide range of applications. It can work as a guard, it can lead into takedowns from the top and it offers direct control from the top after a successful sweep. Furthermore, the guard’s mechanics offers a way to prevent your opponent from passing, while creating pain and discomfort literally without doing anything. And, most importantly, it is very easy to enter into either a closed or open guard variation from there or get back up to your feet in case you’re looking for a transition.

The Collar Guard

The collar guard is painfully simple to get, yet works like no other bottom position. The hardest part is getting the collar. For this guard, all you need is a cross collar grip on your opponent’s lapel. It is smooth sailing from there on.

For one, you’ll need to be on your butt, with your legs either in a butterfly position or a seated combat stance. Whatever the starting position is, you’ll need to change it constantly. Since opponents are going to be looking for a pass, you’ll need to switch sides of your base in order to stay in front of your opponent. This is made really easy by the control you have with your arm.

The arm you have gripping the opposite side collar should remain straight at all times. This is a crucial detail to make the guard work! You need a locked out elbow in order to have a strong frame. Furthermore, your knuckles should be right up against their collarbone, grinding up and down. This produces pain and discomfort, making the grip notoriously difficult to break. It also helps prevent any flying armbar/triangle attacks your opponent might be thinking of due to the extended arm. Speaking of the extended arm, as long as you keep your weight back and your spine straight you’ll have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Finally, your other arm should either post behind you in order to provide support for your frame, or you could look for additional control. there’s a variation called the collar and sleeve guard. The name pretty much explains it all. The free arm goes on their sleeve, taking away all their passing options as well as their posture. This variation is slightly better suited when playing the collar guard against a kneeling opponent.

Effective Collar Guard Attacks

Let’s start looking at some attacking options. Remember that his article is simply an overview of all your attacking options from the collar guard. In the future, we’ll focus more on some of them, analyzing them in-depth. For now, let’s just look at the options.

One of the easiest things to do from the collar guard against a standing opponent is sweeping. Since opponents can’t pass because of your collarbone frame, they’ll be looking to try and circle around. This is where the collar guard is particularly effective, as the same frame keeps your opponent’s from passing while allowing you to attack, Once you have a leg in sight, all you need to do is grab the heel and do a technical stand up for an ankle pick sweep. Now you’re on top, controlling the leg and the collar.

Hunting for leg locks is also fairly easy from there. Standing opponents caught in the collar guard have no posture, so moving them into certain directions is easy. Just like before, when a leg presents itself, getting to an Ahsi Garami is only limited by your knowledge of entries from different angles.

Submission wise, it is best if your opponent is on their knees. This helps them get some posture back but opens up more attacks. Loop chokes, for example, are right there for the taking. As are armbars, triangle chokes and Omoplatas from the collar and sleeve variation. Furthermore, against a kneeling opponent, the configuration of your legs changes, as you should have a knee shield up, This makes sweeping with basics, like the scissor sweep really easy.

Transitions And The Collar Drag

The beautiful thing about the collar guard si that you can use it to transition if you do not like attacking directly. For example, having a collar and sleeve means arm drags are easy to get. Once you have an arm drag, you can easily get the back and finish from there. Once again, numerous leg lock positions are also right there. You can get there just by reacting to your opponent’s movements, without having to set anything up.

Adam Wardzinski DVD BUtterfly guard Re-Discovered — Techniques List

Adam Wardzinski is a Polish grappling phenom who has one of the nastiest guard games out there. His butterfly guard works because it is simple, effective and leads to his favorite submissions – leg locks. In his “Butterfly Guard Re-Discovered” DVD set, Adam shares all his knowledge of this powerful, yet easy to use, BJJ guard. Check it out and connect it to the collar guard for a killer guard game nobody can solve!

A huge thing you can do is the collar drag. With, your hips open to the side of the collar you’re controlling, it is really easy to face plant your opponent on the mats. Just switch the hips explosively and pull with your arm. You’ll end up in side control, or in half guard, against half kneeling opponents. You could also use the collar grip to create space and get up and either hit a collar drag from standing (much more powerful) or go into a different takedown. The opportunities, as you can see, are endless.

3 Ways Of Passing The Half Guard Lockdown

BJJ World

Certain positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu seem to be designed just to annoy the living hell out of you. Just think about it. The lapel guards like the worm guard are just one obvious example of such hideously boring positions. However, even those tedious lapel guards have nothing on moves that work in both Gi and No-Gi. The moves that transcend the Gi border are usually those that people are after, especially those with more experience. Now, annoying positions do not necessarily mean ineffective positions. IF you’re playing them, then you can use them to stall, sweep, submit or simply transition, depending on the position. But if you’re caught in one and the opponent is defensive, be prepared for a long roll. Once such a position that makes guard passing a nightmare is the half guard lockdown.

The half guard lockdown is an old half guard position that, to this day, still presents a hard puzzle to solve. Whenever people are up against it, they seem to be at a loss for options. It is a half guard variation, but it seems that all the half guard passing principles do not work. Well, that is the point of the lockdown. it is a brainchild of the one and only Eddie Bravo, the founder of 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu. It is likely influenced by the work of his teacher, coral belt Jean Jacques Machado. The point of the half guard lockdown is exactly that – to lock you down in place. Once you’re all secure and have nowhere to go (read: pass), the opponent can start working on attacks.

You can see the Catch 22 here, right? Your opponent has you in a secure position which you can not pass, even if they’re simply holding you in place. Then, they add attacks which you need to fend off, on top of trying to solve the lockdown puzzle. it is an impossible position to be in, hence all the frustration when a very good lockdown player gets you there. But, this is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and every “why” has a “because”. The half guard lockdown is no exception and there are some passes that people attempt out there. Some of them work better than others, and we made a selection of the three that have the best rate of effectiveness.

What to Expect From The Lockdown

The half guard lockdown is a half guard position that is fairly easy to establish. As such, even beginners can be a nuisance from there, in terms of keeping you in place. Attacking requires a bit more experience, though, and is a trait of more advanced grapplers.

The first and main difference between the half guard lockdowns and a regular half guard is the positioning of your legs. Namely, while your legs are on the outside of your opponent in most cases, with the lockdown they’re on the inside. Not just on the inside, but in a very specific position. The name is due to the fact that your legs are crossed, inside leg over the outside. In addition, the inside leg also hooks the opponent’s leg at the ankle, providing incredible holding mechanics.

So, what should you be wary of from the lockdown? Well, first and foremost the position of your hips. The higher your hips end up on the opponent’s body, the worse position you’re in. Moreover, you need to be careful of your free leg. Once the opponent gets an underhook with their arm on it, you’re past the point of no return and you’ll get swept with the electric chair. What’s worse is that, if rules allow it, you’ll end up tapping to a crotch ripper as well.

Passing The Half Gaurd Lockdown

The half guard lockdown seems fairly simple as a position, doesn’t it? Well, it is simple, but it also has a lot of components to it, making it a nasty trap. The lockdown is like a spider web – the more you fidget and move, the more you tangled up you get. Instead, passing the lockdown needs to be simple and minimal.

There are two main areas that you’ll notice in all three passing options that we have on offer today. First of all, your hips must never cross the hip line of your opponent. If they do, your primary and immediate task is to get back as low as possible. Next up, you will stay as still as possible and make minimal movements. The thing with the lockdown is that attacks are hard if you’re doing nothing. So move as little as possible to adjust your positioning and, even when you pass, avoid doing any excessive movements.

The Hip Switch

The hips switch pass is one that works for sure. How do we know it works? Well, it is the favorite way of passing the half guard lockdown of the legendary Bernardo Faria. And, if someone understands the half guard and passing, it is the 5 x World Champion.

The hips switch pass works by rooting yourself into position until you deal with the lockdown. For that, there’s nothing more important than keeping the hips low and placing the knee fo your trapped leg on the mats. It is going to be the major pivot point so make sure it’s glued tight. This’ll give you enough space to neutralize their hook by simply lifting your foot towards your butt. From there. you have the space to maneuver into a pass by switching your hips and placing the foot between their legs and their butt. Now, your safe from the lockdown and ready to demolish what’s left, of their guard.

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The Scissor Pass

The scissor pass is one of the simplest ways of passing the half guard lockdown. Once again, it’s all about keeping the hips low and methodically untangling your feet. For this variation, though, you’re going to use a bit more movement than before.

For the scissor pass, the goal is to end up in hip switch position before you attempt to pass. Remember that if you do not establish a strong cross-face immediately, you’ll have to go back and try again or get swept. If you hit it right away, though, just stay there and work to unlock. Use your free arm to put pressure on their far side hip and scissor your legs. this is going to bring the locked leg behind, and the free leg (your bottom one) in front. The aim is to hook their leg with your bottom leg and strip their hook off. Scissor your legs back into the starting position and you’re free and clear of the lockdown.

The Shin Circle

The shin circle is probably the most well-known lockdown pass. However, most people are usually attempting it from a faulty position, ending up on their backs as they do. As with the previous two passes, the shin circle requires your hips to be as heavy as possible, as low as possible.

For this position, you start off just like with the scissor pass. Actually, this is a great option to sue if they’re lockdown is too tight for the scissor pass. Here, once you switch your hips and establish a cross-face, you want to use your free arm to push down on their knee. This is going to create enough space for you to simply circle your shin out of the lockdown. Once again, the lockdown is not a threat anymore, unless you pick your foot off the mats.

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