Invisible Jiu-Jitsu: The Game Behind The Curtains

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Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is all about submissions. Wait, no it is all about positions. No, no wait, BJJ is all about control and domination. Or is it? While all of the above is true to a certain extent, there’s one way to very accurately portray Jiu-Jitsu. BJJ is all about deception. As unattractive as that sounds, once you grasp this concept your BJJ is going to get better by a country mile. Namely, the ability to deceive your opponent into thinking you’re doing a certain move is a very powerful weapon. It is way more than just a BJJ concept, it is the very essence of the Gentle Art. At the highest level of competition where people are aware of everything coming their way, deception is the key to winning. This approach actually has a name for it – Invisible Jiu-Jitsu.

For BJJ, the old saying that the devil is in the details is tailor-made. Invisible Jiu-Jitsu is all about the things that you do not see but impact a match or a roll significantly. It is the game that takes place behind the curtains. The small moves and angles that make the visible moves work. It is the very essence of grappling martial arts and it is deception in its purest form. We’re going to present the basic concept of Invisible Jiu-Jitsu before we dig into the meat and potatoes of the game of deception and details.

5 Most Effective Invisible Jiu-Jitsu Techniques

Invisible Jiu-Jitsu

So what is Invisible Jiu-Jitsu It is the game that goes on behind the curtains of moves and counter-move?. Invisible Jiu-Jitsu consists of really tiny movements. A subtle shift of pressure, increasing or decreasing an angle ever so slightly. This might sound like inconsequential to some, but advanced students are going to recognize them immediately. The hardest part is becoming aware of these details and starting to use them intentionally.

Let’s try and use an example to capture the essence of Invisible Jiu-Jitsu. When you are passing the guard a common reaction of the opponent is to construct a frame. Usually, the placement of the frame is somewhere along the neck. This is invisible Jiu-Jitsu at work in itself, because if you press you’re going to choke yourself. The advanced use of the concept goes beyond this, though. Knowing that any direct resistance just makes the frame stronger offers a way to use deception to complete the pass. Placing light pressure on the frame is going to make your opponent commit to it more. The moment they give it too much of a push, you change the angle and you’re through. Deception got the opponent to overcommit, resulting in their frame turning into a lever for you. Cunning and beautiful!

From an outside perspective, seeing two high-level grapplers tangled up might seem boring and uneventful. To them, however, there’s a full out war going on below the surface. As you learn BJJ, you’ll start noticing these patterns more and more. This is why BJJ is the game of human chess. The mental battle of deception is as important as the physical battle for position. Something as small as a grip placement or a pushing or pulling motion can be a game changer.

Training The Game Of Details In BJJ

At the highest levels of Jiu-Jitsu, you have two people essentially playing a highly developed game of details.The ultimate goal is, of course, getting a submission over the opponent.

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, even the smallest shift of position in a joint, or the angle of your elbow can make or break the structure of your own body. Conversely, when you apply the system properly it is going to destroy the structure of your opponent’s body. The end game is to allow the body to work a whole, both offensively and defensively. You can achieve this through alignment and proper use of leverage and tension. Another Invisible Jiu-Jitsu example is the war of frames. Whenever an opponent has a frame on you, probe their structure with a frame of your own. Once you discover a weak spot in the opponent’s structure, grab the opportunity. Using a strong body part of yours against the opponent’s weak one is a major part of Invisible Jiu-Jitsu.

The ultimate goal is always to locate weaknesses in the structure of the opponent. This includes the use of the muscles, ligaments and skeletal structure of your opponent against them. Shifting angles is a great way or creating dominant skeletal alignment superior to the opponent. A great way to become extremely proficient at this is positional drilling. An example is hunting an Americana from the mount where the sole purpose of the opponent is hiding the hand. Force won’t’ work unless you know how to create the correct leverage to force their arm to the mat so you can finish.

Understanding Alignment

In BJJ, the general focus is on the physics of the skeletal system. Invisible Jiu-Jitsu is exactly this, the physics of biomechanical movement. As far as skeletal structure goes, in Jiu-Jitsu we usually focus on how the bones line up with one another. Proper bone alignment allows us to create leverage, friction, pressure, etc. There’s a deeper aspect to this, though. Skeletal alignment works great in combination with strength to create a match-winning structure. This means turning the muscles on at the correct time.

This comes into play in many small battles during a roll or match. Working against a knee shield in half or guard is one such example. IN this case, try to focus on skeletal alignment that facilitates optimal usage of the larger and stronger muscle groups. At the same time, make sure you’re not backing your structure with smaller and weaker muscles. A precise and well-timed skeletal structure, backed by the correct layers of muscle is black belt level Jiu-Jitsu. This is what makes smaller grapplers feel like they have gorilla strength when rolling with someone bigger and stronger. It is invisible Jiu-Jitsu at it’s best!

Try to look for these Invisible Jiu-Jitsu concepts when you roll your academy. do not expect to understand or even recognize them instantly. It takes years to master the invisible game of details. However, once you understand it, you’re going to become a truly formidable grappler. So it is better to start off early and invest your time in developing your invisible Jiu-Jitsu game.

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Rear Naked Choke (RNC) – Details and Variations

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BJJ World

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Rear Naked Choke or RNC, is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classic move that brought BJJ to the forefront. It is still to this day one of the highest percentage submissions in grappling. Actually, it is a very effective weapon in all of the combat sports that allow it. It is still the number one submission in MMA and is a staple of law enforcement training.

The RNC is highly efficient and easy to use the move in any situation. Performing the Rear Naked Choke requires you to be in back control, which is arguably the most dominant BJJ position available. In short, this is the ultimate weapon to conquer any opponent, regardless of size, strength, and/or experience.

However, there are instances where the Rear Naked Choke can be hard to complete. After all, it is such a big part of BJJ that many people are ready for it. In fact, it is the first thing people are afraid of when someone is on their back. For everyone favoring the Rear Naked Choke, this is, not good news. Fear not, though, as there are plenty of variations out there of finishing it. In this article, we’re going to go over every basic detail of the Rear Naked Choke and back position first. Only then are we going to look into the RNC of hell and other possible variations? Now, this choke is undependable no matter how experienced someone is. You just need to get the details right.

The Basic Rear Naked Choke

Get the Back Control.
Put your hands in a Seat Belt grip.
Thread the top Seat Belt arm below the partner’s chin and around the neck together with grabbing a partner’s shoulder. Make sure your elbow is below your opponent’s chin.
Put your second hand over your choking hand behind your opponent’s hand with your both palms on opposite biceps of your hands
Put your head on your partner’s head making sure your head is on the opposite side of your choking arm
Squeeze your elbows together.
Squeeze the choking arm while pushing on the neck with the other one.

The Rear Naked Choke is very easy to recognize due to its specific configuration. In fact, the figure four-arm configuration is often referred to as a Rear Naked Choke grip in grappling circles. The execution of the choke is not complicated but it does require technical knowledge.

For the basic version of this powerful choke, complete back control is a must. This means having a seatbelt grip on the opponent’s torso and both of your leg hooks in. A seatbelt grip is when you have one arm over the opponent’s shoulder and the other under the opposite side armpit. Just like when you have a seatbelt on in your car. Similarly, the top hand goes in the bottom one for efficient control. The hooks refer to the position of your feet. You need to have both feet on the opponent’s hip folds, fingers facing the outside.

The choke itself requires you to thread the top seatbelt arm below the opponent’s chin and around the neck. The goal is to touch your own shoulder on the opposite side. It is crucial to have your elbow right below the opponent’s chin. The point of the elbow should be bang in the middle right below the point of the chin. Unless you achieve this, you won’t be able to pull the choke off effectively. Securing the position requires you to place the forearm of your other arm behind the opponent’s neck while placing the palm of the choking arm in your elbow. To finalize the position your head must go as close to their head as possible. Choking pressure comes from squeezing the elbows, squeezing the choking arm while pushing on the neck with the other one.

Rear Naked Choke Finishing Details and Positions

The Rear Naked Choke is first and foremost a blood choke. The placement of the arms means you’re constricting the carotid arteries on both sides o the opponent’s neck. This cuts off the oxygen supply to the brain, putting the opponent to sleep in seconds. It is essential to have everything set up right so that you can achieve the blood choke. In real circumstances, people look to block the arms, open the hooks, pull on your palms, and everything else to defend the choke. When this happens, finishing the choke can turn into a real hassle. Luckily there’s a Rear Naked Choke variation straight out of hell, that is immune to any and all possible defenses.

Body Triangle

A source of great control for the back position is a body triangle. Before you even think about setting up the choke, make sure you have the utmost control over the opponents. A body triangle means you have one leg across the opponent’s belly, with the other one securing a triangle. This method of control ensures complete control over the hips as well as a source of painful discomfort. Squeezing on the triangle is both painful and makes breathing very hard, which puts the opponent in a state of panic. The higher you are on the belly and nearer the ribs, the better.

Your efforts from this position are going to result in the opponent attempting to dismantle the triangle. This means their arms are occupied and you can go for the choke. Make sure the triangle is locked on the top side of your opponent and keep the pressure on.

Shoulder Hook Control

This is a very cool little hint to make sure you can get your choking arm on the neck. The chin can be a great barrier, even when the opponent’s hand is not in play. Once your opponent is busy with the body triangle you can easily move your choking arm out of seatbelt control. The goal is not threading it all the way back, as the chin is going to get in your way for sure. Instead, look to grab the outside of the opponent’s far side shoulder as deep as possible. This grip is notoriously hard to strip off, even if the opponent uses both their hands. Furthermore, it makes getting into a choking position much easier.

Grabbing The Shoulder Blade

The next step in the puzzle is getting your arm into a choking position. Shoulder hook in, this is where you really use the body triangle. Squeeze hard with your legs and do a hip extension. This is going to stretch out your opponent, allowing you to squeeze the choking arm through, regardless of chin position. Once in, go deep. The goal is to reach the opponent’s shoulder blade with your grip. Don’t worry about elbow alignment at this point, just go as deep as possible. here’s the crucial trick. Use your fingers to dig into the opponent’s shoulder blade as hard as possible. This is an unmovable grip that’s going to further tire out your opponent. As you’ll see later, you could simply finish at this point, but let’s see how to get a proper Rear Naked Choke first.

Turning The Chin

This setup often results in the opponent’s chin pointing to one side. Since this is not the optimal choking position, you’ll need to align your elbow with the chin. To do so just release your bottom seatbelt arm and make a fist. Now use the fist to push the opponent’s chin into place, namely towards the point of the elbow.

First Hand In

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to release the choking arm in order to get a figure four. Instead, as you’re positioned with a deep shoulder grip and a body triangle, chin in place. Thread your free arm into position, deep behind the opponent’s neck, palm on their shoulder. Once this arm is in, lift the elbow slightly towards the top. This is going to create enough space to release the shoulder grip and complete figure four. Now you’ve got the choke on.

The Finishing Touch

If everything is in place as described, you can get the choke right there. to remove any doubt, though, here are the finishing details from hell. Your elbow might still be ever so slightly off but you must not open the figure four configuration once you get it. So, instead, you’ll look to turn your torso towards the side where your arms are locked with each other. Go as far as possible. Once you do that, the chin and elbow are going to fall firmly into place. To finish, you must first rotate back. This is only going to tighten the choke because now you have better alignment.

To finish, simply go for a squeeze and wait. If after 10-20 seconds you still don’t have a choke for some reason simply pull the elbow of your choking arm to the outside. Instant tap or a sleeping opponent. No defense, no counters, no energy spent. Straight from hell.

Variations And Transitions

A great choke variation comes from one of the most brutal strangle artists in the game, Neil Melanson. In situations where you can’t manage to get the choking arm deep enough, you can finish it right there. From a shoulder hook just look to grab as deep behind as possible. Keep your other arm in the seatbelt position and use it to control one, or both of your opponent’s arms. Of course, a body triangle is still the best method of hip control. When in position, simply push your head as hard as you can into the opponent’s head and forward. then go for a sawing motion with the choking forearm. by pulling your elbow to the outside. This is more of an air choke because of the arm position, but an effective one nonetheless.

For all those of a more vicious nature, even when a Rear Naked Choke doesn’t work you can go for a jaw crusher. It has worked in EBI on multiple occasions and is a legit move. When you just can’t thread the choking arm under the chin, simply go for a Rear Naked Choke with the chin in the crook of your elbow. The more their head is to the side the better, as you have an added neck crank. this is a very painful way to tap someone and not legal in every competition.

Finally for all you Gi only grapplers, here’s a useful tip. Go for the Rear Naked Choke first. even if you have direct access to the collar. Even if the opponent manages to defend it, you’ll still have a collar choke fallback. In fact, choking with the Gi is going to be easier because you’re already deeper than when setting it up directly.

An Unusual Method To Help You Learn BJJ Moves Faster

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BJJ World

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You are at Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu class and the instructor is showing you a new move. You start from a position, learn how to progress and ultimately get a submission. It all makes sense when the instructor is demonstrating it. Even when you give it a try it doesn’t seem to complicated. A few questions and a couple of tips later, you feel like you’ve got the hang of it. You understand all the steps you need to take from position one, all the way to the final position. Or so you think. The moment you give this a try in position sparring or live rolling, it won’t work at all. Despite all your success learning BJJ moves in class, going for the exact same sequences in a roll brings you no joy. What might be the issue, you’re wondering.

Jiu-Jitsu is a very complex grappling martial art to begin with. It is more than just a move. Actually, it is way more than just a sequence of moves. It requires knowledge of specific BJJ moves as well as knowledge of levers and frames among other concepts. Furthermore, BJJ requires constant involvement of the mind, thinking ahead and solving puzzles on the go. Once you go live, all of this happens in a split second. Complete understanding of BJJ moves is crucial to your success in competition and live rolling. to that extent, you might need to adopt a slightly unorthodox approach to learning.

The Basic Concept Of Learning BJJ Moves

Let’s take a mounted armbar as our example of the concept I’m about to present. From a low mount, you need to go through a few distinct steps in order to secure the submission. Let’s go through every step separately.

Step 1 – Arm Control

In order to have any hope of finishing an armbar from the mount, you need control of both arms. This involves an exhausting battle from a low mount, where’ you are the most secure. Basically, your goal is to use both your arms under the arms of the opponent and look to hug their head. This is going to place their arms in an overhead position, without any chance of retracting them.

Step 2. Transition Into S-Mount

Once there, getting an armbar requires a shift in position. The best position to help you secure an armbar is the S-mount. This means that holding the previous structure, you’ll need to slide one of your knees near the opponent’s head. Once there, you’ll need to tilt them to the opposite side. getting your other leg around, with the foot towards the opponent’s face, completes the position.

Step 3. Setting Up The Grips

Once in the S-mount, the goal is to isolate one arm so that you can attack it. In order to do so, you need to thread one of your arms through one of the opponent’s crossed arms.

Step 4. Transitioning To An Armbar

The crucial part of the setup is getting on your back to finish the submission. This requires very precise shifts in weight distribution and careful distance management. The goal is to land your butt as close to the shoulder of the arm you’re attacking as possible. Once there you can think about extending the arm.

Step 5. Finishing The Armbar

Provided that your opponent doesn’t defend, this is where you finish the submission. COuntering armbar defenses is a subject for another time, for now, let’s focus on the finish. The idea is to hyperextend the elbow by pressing your hips into the opponent’s arm. To make sure you get a break, you’ll need to have a complete extension of the arm by pulling it towards your chin.

As you can see, learning BJJ moves like this requires mastery of many steps. Going through each and every one of them requires understanding. However, when you learn this in class, by following this sequence, you’re already full of information before you even get to the armbar. That means that you learn every step by itself and not with the mechanics of the armbar in mind. This is where reverse drilling comes into play.

Learning BJJ Moves In Reverse

Let’s use the same example as above, but this time approach it from a different angle. Once again the goal is going to be the mounted armbar. However, we’re going to approach each step in reverse before connecting everything as a flow.

To begin with we’ll start with detail on the armbar. You start in the armbar position, all set to go. The goal is to learn every little important detail that allows you to break someone’s arm. Since this is the final goal of the sequence, everything leading up to it needs to be in order. once you have the armbar down, you can proceed to learn how to get there.

Next, it is time to refine the S-Mount.since you know the armbar, once you get the hang of the S-mount the transition is going to be easier. The reason for this is that now, you know exactly what you’re looking for in an armbar. Even from the S-mount, when you’re going for your grips you’ll know how to adjust. It won’t just be a grip on the arm but also hip pressure, weight shifting and small details that’ll lend you directly in an armbar. All of this is because you are now aware of how the armbar works and what it is you’re looking for.

Th same principle applies to the S-mount. Once you understand it, you’ll know what you’re looking for when transitioning from the mount. It is going to make the S-mount much tighter and more stable, meaning a tighter subsequent armbar.

This method of learning works perfectly for all kinds of BJJ moves, not just submissions. Start off a sweep from the final position of off-balancing and work your way back from there. The same goes for guard passes, positional transitions and the rest.

Drilling And Muscle Memory

Only understanding a move doesn’t mean you’ll be able to perform it well. After all, Jiu-Jitsu is all about action, not theory. That said, you’ll need to drill the BJJ moves you’re learning over and over again. However, drilling an armbar from a locked armbar position backward is not possible, nor is it practical. So after learning everything in reverse make sure you drill the sequence in the right order.

The Ins And Outs Of Drilling For BJJ: https://bjj-world.com/solo-and-partner-bjj-drills/

What you need do though, is divide the sequence into smaller combinations. Each combination should have a starting point, a transition and an endpoint. In our example with the armbar, this would be moving from low mount to an S-mount with trapped arms. Another combination would be going from an S-mount to an armbar. Both of these smaller sequences are drills of their own. Put the reps in and there’ll be no need to drill a long sequence, like mount to an armbar in one go. Your body is going to remember each transition you’ve drilled and it’s going to execute the flawlessly, even if you’ve drilled them as separate sequences.

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Catch Wrestling vs BJJ and Which Art Has Better Submissions?

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BJJ World

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Catch Wrestling vs BJJ is a question that bothers many for years. Especially after some catch wrestlers like Sakuraba gave many problems to Gracie Family or Josh Barnett to many other BJJ practitioners. So, which art is better, BJJ or Catch Wrestling?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the Gentle art, the art of control, a grappling martial art… There’s lots of art to Jiu-Jitsu and to a certain extent, it makes sense. However, when you look at BJ in a more realistic manner, something else emerges. A BJJ match seems like utter chaos at first. Once you realize that you’ll see that this is where art probably ends. Because as romantic as it sounds, BJJ is not as artistic as Aikido. Thank God for that. What Jiu-Jitsu is all about, in essence, is dominating someone against their will. And the cherry on the cake is submitting them. All the artsy mumbo-jumbo aside, BJJ is all about submissions. But how does it fare submission-wise against other similar arts? The battle of the day is Catch wrestling vs BJJ submissions.

Why Catch wrestling vs. BJJ? Well, once you finish this article, you’ll realize that there’s hardly any better submission grappling system than Catch wrestling. Unless maybe BJJ. So it is prudent to do a Catch wrestling vs BJJ debate and see which art is more submission savvy. For anyone looking to become a submission machine, the answer is obvious. Pick up principles from both and merge them in a brutally efficient submission system. But, first things first.

Catch Wrestling History

Catch wrestling is the predecessor of American Folkstyle wrestling and Olympic Freestyle wrestling. It was a pastime of British miners and dock workers after a hard day of labor. They would wrestle for fun and even bet small amounts on the winner. The name Catch stems from the phrase “Catch as a catch can”. In essence, it means “catch me if you can”.

Historically, British sailors that traveled the globe between the 15th and 19th century picked up various grappling moves from different cultures. Every return to Britain meant that more techniques were added to the melting pot of Catch wrestling. Thus, one of the oldest and certainly very effective, submission grappling styles was born.

As the British emigrated to America, they brought catch wrestling with them and it soon turned into a national sport. People at carnivals would challenge a catch wrestler as part of the show. looking to win some cash. Catch wrestlers had to be ready for any kind of opponent, so they focused on submissions instead of pins. Moreover, they preferred quick and painful submissions, rather than positional ones.

Catch Wrestling Explained

In terms of a ruleset, Catch wrestling favors submission holds over anything else. There are no points as any match must have a clear winner. The only way to win is to either submit the opponent or pin them to the ground. Submissions are acknowledged by either tapping or yelling “enough”. One very interesting fact is that no chokes are permitted unless otherwise agreed upon by both wrestlers. This is very important as it demonstrates how effective catch wrestling joint locks are.

In the old days of catch wrestling, grapplers themselves defined the rules prior to a match. The norm was no time limit, and usually, the first to hit 3 falls conceded the match. Furthermore, there were no illegal holds or locks, anywhere on the body. On top of brutal submission, mostly on the limbs, Catch has a very proficient throwing section. The throws have a goal of causing as much damage as they can, instead of only taking the fight to the ground. In terms of a catch wrestling vs BJJ debate, the former certainly wins in the brutality and aggressiveness departments.

Another aspect worth mentioning is conditioning. Wrestlers nowadays are famous for their immaculate conditioning. Their predecessors, catch wrestlers, were just as conditioned, if not more. Catch wrestling bouts have no time limit and can end up lasting for hours. Despite the goal of a fast submission, wrestlers needed a huge gas tank as well.

Catch Wrestling vs BJJ

So, lets finally put Catch wrestling and BJJ head to head. Rules differences aside, submissions play a huge role in both styles. That said, both styles have a very different approach to submissions. To translate the mindset of these grappling martial arts is to say that BJJ motto is “position before submission“, while Catch wrestling motto is “submission before position“.

Catch wrestling has one goal in mind – finish as fast as possible. The nature of the sport is such that points don’t really play a role. So, instead of grappling for hours, the goal is to finish quick. The trouble is that the opponent has the same goal as you. That’s why catch wrestling submissions are as aggressive as they can get. Position plays absolutely no role in submission hunting in Catch. The point is to get the tap, even if it is by a move you invent on the go. This makes it extremely effective, but also quite easy to get out of.

In BJJ, the position plays a major role. The positional control provides security and ample time to sink in a submission. As a result, submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are much more technical and reliable. The problem is, setting up a submission this way requires a lot of positional adjustments which an opponent can counter.

As opposed to catching wrestling, BJJ submissions are more secure but take longer to set up. What BJJ can learn from Catch wrestling is how to develop more brutal and quick submissions. Catch wrestlers thrive at causing discomfort as opposed to controlling an opponent. While control is important, especially in a points system, so are effective submissions. Catch wrestling has them in abundance and they fit perfectly to Jiu-Jitsu. For a complete BJJ game, this aspect of submission grappling is essential. Otherwise, if you’re not focused on submissions and you’re only focused on position and control it’s just Aikido on the ground.

A great resource for a Catch wrestling and BJJ hybrid are Neil Melanson’s DVD sets. Neil Melanson is one of the best grappling Coaches in the world, so make sure to check them out.

Final Words on BJJ vs Catch Wrestling

In this article we tried to avoid the usual “proves” and statements that many BJJ and Catch Wrestling guys will say.
BJJ-ers will usually come with something like: “if catch wrestling is that good how come more catch wrestlers don’t win ADCC”?
The answer from catch wrestlers will usually be that rules favor BJJ guys.

After that Catch people will come with ideas how working from your back doesn’t work on the streets, how BJJ lacks throws and takedowns etc. It’s actually an unnecessary never-ending debate.

At the end of the day, both martial arts are great and they produced many great fighters. They’re actually the same martial arts with different ruleset and a different mindset. The best thing you can do for yourself is to fulfill your main art with another one. Taking the best from both is the key to your grappling knowledge and progress.

The only real thing that makes difference is that a lot more people train BJJ nowadays. There are a lot more tournaments, a lot more competitions, videos, instructionals etc… That means the much faster evolution of the sport of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

So if you ask yourself which martial art should I train, BJJ or Catch wrestling, and your main intention is to compete, BJJ should be your choice. Otherwise, try both and train what you like and what you enjoy more. You won’t be wrong by choosing any of these two great grappling martial arts.

You Might Also Be Interested in:

The Best BJJ DVDs for Submission Hunters!
What is Submission Wrestling?
BJJ vs Judo – What are The Main Differences
MMA vs BJJ Ground And pound Experiment with Garry Tonon and Gordon Ryan

Neil Melanson Instructionals Reviews:

Advanced Guard Systems – Neil Melanson DVD REVIEW
Neil Melanson DVD REVIEW – The Ground Marshal Guard
The Headhunter Guillotine Series Neil Melanson DVD REVIEW
The Catch Wrestling Formula Neil Melanson DVD REVIEW

The One Legal BJJ Leg Lock More Dangerous Than A Heel Hook

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BJJ World

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Here is a very cool BJJ Leg Lock hack – a way to finish with a legal submission that is right up there with the most painful of submissions. Not only are we going to show the Texas cloverleaf BJJ leg lock, but a setup from the honey hole as well. Read on for utter legal BJJ leg lock dominance!

Yup, it is another of those BJJ leg lock articles. There are too many of them, you might think, but just wait until John Danaher’s instructional comes out. However, John Danaher is a heel hook guy and doesn’t really care much for other leg locks. And, while all IBJJF competitors admit his system is rock solid, they just won’t use it because of rules. Understandably, they need a leg locking option that is both legal and as effective as the hell hook. This is where the Texas cloverleaf comes into play. It is a legal BJJ leg lock that can be just as devastating as an inverted heel hook, if not more.

The Texas cloverleaf is not a new BJJ leg lock. Originally, I saw it on Ryan Hall’s 50/50 DVD. Back then, it wasn’t much of a move, seeing as I never liked the 50/50 guard. Why allow someone the same chances as me while we’re grappling? That said, along came Dean Lister, Mr. BJJ Leg Lock himself, and brought about the concept of pretty girl/ugly girl. Needless to say, that blew my mind. Add to that the constant experimentation with Danaher’s Inside Sankaku (AKA Honey Hole) position and an old move turned into a brand new powerful weapon. let me show you how.

The Texas Cloverleaf BJJ Leg Lock

As far as the Texas cloverleaf goes, it is essentially an Achilles lock. However, it is an Achilles lock like no other in terms of effectiveness. Furthermore, it can easily turn into a kneebar or a toehold, from the right position. Since this is originally a 50/50 move, let’s start by covering its mechanics from this position. Later on, we’re going to expand on it by incorporating Lister’s and Danaher’s principles to make it painfully effective.

1. Mechanical Theory. The Texas cloverleaf leg lock works by putting immense pressure on the Achilles tendon. While most Achilles locks work by applying pressure on the tendon with your arms, this one is different. Mechanically, you still use your hands for leverage, but not for direct pressure. instead, the opponent’s own leg is the point of pressure. More precisely, the shinbone of the opposite leg of your opponent.

2. The Cross. In order to manage such a configuration, you need to put the opponent’s legs in the proper position. For that to happen, you need to cross the opponent’s far leg up and over the leg, they have in the 50/50 guard position. Furthermore, that leg goes under your own armpit. Now you’re ready to set the grips

3. Hand Positioning. The positioning of the hands is the first major step in finishing the Texas cloverleaf BJJ leg lock. The arms, in particular forearms, provide the first part of the leverage that forces the break. The arm that has the opponent’s leg trapped under the armpit, goes under the other leg. Since both legs are crossed fairly low (near the ankles) this means you place the forearm as low as possible on their leg as well. A gable grip is a great place to start for a solid ankle-breaking grip.

4. Final Pressure. In order to finalize the move, the arms need to squeeze and force the far leg towards your chest. At the same time, the hips need to extend, while keeping your legs triangled in the 50/50. The combination of the squeeze and pull with the arms and the hip extension result in the shinbone of one leg digging into the Achilles tendon of the other. It is even more painful than it sounds, trust me.

Pretty Girl/Ugly Girl Concept

Now that we covered the original texas cloverleaf, let’s go into the variation that really works. Personally, I am a big proponent of concepts in Jiu-Jitsu. To that extent, one of the crucial leg locking concepts I employ comes from Dean Lister. it is the “pretty girl/ugly girl” concept. Let me elaborate.

Dean’s take on it is when you go out and you look for a girl for the night, you do not always end up with your first choice lady. While taking the most beautiful girl of the night home is the preferred course of action, this is no easy feat! So, in several cases, you end up with your second, third, or further down the list choice. Ultimately, you’ll end up with the ugly girl from time to time, despite you preferring the pretty one. It’s either that or no action.

The analogy in leg lock terms is a bit simpler. There are only two legs, so one acts as the pretty girl while the other is the ugly girl. When you attack, you always want to go for the pretty girl. This is the near side leg that offers more and better attacking options, like the inverted heel hook. However, in a real-life scenario, this is not easy to accomplish. There are situations where you have to settle for the ugly girl, or go bust. The Texas cloverleaf BJJ leg lock is the pretty girl disguised as an ugly one. Once you take her home, you’ll discover her true value. For more detailed information about Dean’s leg locking concepts, check out in his DVD sets.

The Ultimate Ashi Garami

Finally, we arrive at the final piece of the puzzle. Danaher’s innovative leg locking concepts resulted in the resurgence of an old Sambo position. The Inside Sankaku Ashi Garami though is not the same as the original Sambo Saddle position. Danaher polished the controlling aspect of it and focused on the highest percentage move available – the inverted heel hook. However, this implies that you have the pretty girl all ready to go. And we know that this is not always the case when grappling.

Form the Inside Sankaku, the mechanics of the Texas cloverleaf change to your advantage. Unlike the 50/50 you have immense control over the hip of the leg you’re attacking. Furthermore, the double trouble principle which requires you to control both legs brings you a step closer to the position. From double trouble inside Sankaku, all you need is to adjust your grip. When heel hooks are illegal, but you have a fully locked Inside Sankaku, go for the cloverleaf.

To get the submission, first, you must set your grip up. The same as with the 50/50 one arm goes under and around the trapped leg (the pretty girl). Once there, a good hint is to figure four your hands instead of going for a Gable grip. This is going to get you a tap right then and there in lots of cases. The real finishing trick though is in upper body movement. Instead of a hip extension, think about crunching to the side where the legs are. This is going to force the shin into the Achilles with all your body behind it, leaving no option but a tap. For even more leverage, consider opening the triangle and placing your outside leg on the opponent’s hip. BOOM! Legal and devastating.

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6 Exercises To Develop Insane BJJ Strength

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BJJ World

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If two fighters are equal in technique, the stronger athlete is going to win. How many times have you heard this in BJJ context? While the technique is the true mark of a BJJ specialist, we cannot overlook strength. That said, BJJ strength training is essential for anyone looking to train or compete in grappling.

It is the one universal quality all athletes need to poses. To make things clear from the start, BJJ strength is very different, from say strongman strength. There’s no need for a BJJ athlete to lift three times the amount of their body weight. Strongman training and Olympic lifting are sports of their own and are not the norm for grapplers.

We’ve all felt that freakishly strong training partner whose grips you just can’t break. Furthermore, once they get a choke on you there’s no breaking out. Now, while you might not become just as strong, you’ll become strong enough to make others feel like that. Building on inch-perfect Jiu-Jitsu technique with specific strength is a foolproof way of advancing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Correct Strength Training For Jiu-Jitsu

When two fighters have equal levels of technique and skill, the defining factor of success will be BJJ strength. Strength training is not just lifting weights to get a muscle pump. Well, not when you’re looking to compete in grappling, at least. When you are looking to develop overall athletic strength, you need the right approach. Instead of bigger biceps, you should focus on speed, agility, power, and endurance. If you do not develop adequate strength, none of these qualities are going to be adequately developed as well.

That said, grapplers must identify their weakness as well as their strengths. The style grappling along with training background is the starting point. Next, body type and weight category are very important as well. A lightweight grappler is not going to train the same as an ultra-heavyweight. After everything is in place, a solid strength training program is put together to initiate progress.

A strong grappler is always going to have an advantage over a weaker one. IF you’re the strongest competitor in your weight class, you do not need to be the tallest or heaviest one. Strength is a great equalizer that might even cover for techniques during your beginner days. With solid technique to back it up, though, BJJ strength turns in to an unfair advantage for you. Because, holding on to that Guillotine choke even if you’re not quite there, helps a lot. You’ll have time to adjust while preventing your opponent from going anywhere. On the other hand, if you’re the weaker grappler, your opponent can just push through hall your submission attempt.

Specific BJJ Strength Training

Strength training is a huge part of sports performance since the beginning of time. Even form the early days of Olympic sports, and going as far back as back in the Gladiator days, strength training is an integral part of athletic preparation. As Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu spreads across the globe like wildfire, so do related training modalities. The problem is, much of these so-called “expert” programs have nothing to do with grappling. Strength training is one of the most integral parts of a grappler’s preparation. BJJ strength training needs to be addressed accordingly, and not just taken for granted.

Depending on the length of time available, strength training needs to begin with a block of hypertrophy. Yes, you do need muscle size in order to reach increased strength levels. Furthermore, you can’t skip a joint integrity phase right after. This includes slow eccentric movement exercises with higher volume. Eccentric and plyometric exercises prime the joints for high impact collisions which are inevitable in grappling.

After the first couple of phases, it’s all about, pure BJJ strength training. The focus here is solely on maximal strength output. Work is primarily in the 85-90% of 1 repetition maximum. The range is 3-5 sets of 3-5 repetitions. To that extent the following exercises are irreplaceable when BJJ strength is the goal:

Squat

bjj squats — BJJ squats, click for full video

The squat is the king of all exercises. Going for heavy barbell squats is a classic method of developing crazy amounts of strength. Furthermore, there are variations that are extremely effective for developing specific BJJ strength. One such variation is the Zercher squat, a front-loaded squat that targets your whole body. You can also check out the BJJ Squats clicking on the image.

Deadlift

deadlift for bjj — Click on image for video instructional for BJJ Dead Lift

Whatever athletic endeavors you’re pursuing, doing deadlifts can only help you to achieve them faster. The deadlift works all of the muscles of the body and develops the much-valued hip power that’s essential for BJJ. Having a strong pulling musculature means you’re going to be ready to battle anyone in grappling. There’s nothing that’s going to achieve this better than deadlifts. Any deadlift variation will do, but a classic straight bar deadlift is really difficult to beat. A Trap Bar deadlift is also a great fit for grapplers.

Multidirectional Push

multidirectional push up for BJJ — Click on image for full video instructional on multidirectional push ups

For the upper body, the first thing to remember is that you have two main planes of motion. You can push in a horizontal pattern, or in a vertical one. That said, while the bench press is a classic, there’ are better ways of developing pushing BJJ strength. For grapplers, pushups, especially weighted or gymnastic-style ones are the way to go. Conversely, handstand pushups beat and overhead press, although pressing with a kettlebell is also a good option.

Multidirectional Pull

Click on Image for full video instructional on multidirectional pulls

The pull is under the same rules as the upper body push. You need to develop both horizontal and vertical pulling strength. As pulling strength is really important for Jiu-Jitsu, this is a huge part of BJJ strength training. Pulling vertically is easy – nothing beats pullups. You can use any grip variation along with weight if you’re already strong. Horizontal pulling, on the other hand, has more of a crossover effect done with weights. To that extent, the barbell row is superior to any other horizontal pull. The position engages the whole body while targeting the same muscles work overtime during rolling.

Carry

The best overall strength and conditioning tool is carrying heavy objects. For BJJ strength training, the more varieties, the better. Farmer carries are essential, and the focus should be to go as heavy as possible. Overhead and/or rack carries are also mandatory, giving you plenty of programming options so that you don’t get bored. There’s no grappling fame without carries, so make sure you never skip this exercise!

Core Training

BJJ Core Workout Program — Core Training Workout Program

Contrary to popular belief, the core is not just comprised of the abs and lower back muscles. Everything from shoulders to hamstrings has a part to play in the core. It is important to address both flexion, extension, and rotation exercises along with isometric ones. Isometric core training includes anti-movements to all movements stated above. A strong core is crucial to every sport, and grappling martial arts are no different! Check Out this great Core exercising program.

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How To Train With A Stability Ball For BJJ Balance

The Best Strength & Conditioning DVD and Digital Instructionals

How To Train With A Stability Ball For BJJ Balance

By

BJJ World

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It is well established that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu puts our bodies in unnatural positions. Among the many challenges our bodies face, a huge one is a balance. remember how easy it was for everyone to sweep you when you first joined? Well, the key point to help you deal with any sweep in BJJ is to develop dynamic balance. This doesn’t just means being able to stand on one leg. On the contrary, it means being able to move around on one leg while holding a kettlebell in one hand and a chain around your neck. Apart from a few isolated cases, most people need to address balance training specifically in order to improve. For Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purposes, the dynamic balance should be the sole focus of balance training. And there’s hardly a better tool than a stability ball for BJJ balance training.

The stability ball is an extremely useful tool for grapplers. Leave your, “it’s a girly yoga prop”, attitude at home and go grab yourself a stability ball. You’ll not only learn how to become unsweepable but also how to stay heavy. Balance doesn’t only work when you’re standing, Side control, mount and any top position is all about balance. You can’t put pressure on someone unless you have good d balance to support you. Training Jiu-Jitsu is the best way to develop grappling-specific balance. Stability ball drills, however, are going to speed up your progress immensely. It is an easy tool to acquire and you do not need much experience or space to work with it. Below are some of the stability ball for BJJ essentials for improving your grappling balance.

Why You Need Balance For BJJ

Training BJJ does wonders for your core musculature. All the top layer muscles get a workout in every direction possible, both dynamically and isometrically. However, deeper-lying muscles, like those inside the pelvis are harder to train. What most people don’t understand that these are the stabilizing muscles of the core. While the visible muscles are great for flexion and extension, the deep muscles are the stabilizers. They attach directly to the spine thus directly affecting posture and overall balance. It’ss this inner system of muscles that provide core stabilization to distribute weight, absorb forces, and produce force.

The ability to do all of the above is crucial for a successful BJJ game. Jiu-Jitsu is all about directional control of an opponent. The best avenues of control are dominant positions. If you look at BJJ, most of the dominant positions are top positions. The reason for this is the ability to make your opponent bar all your weight while working on attacks. However, even the slightest instability greatly compromises your position. Think about side control. How many times have training partners flipped you over until you figured out how to stay put? that’s all because of balance. The same holds true for passing or even the standup game. The better balance you have, the easier it will be to take your opponent down.

Training With A Stability Ball For BJJ

The main point of training with the stability ball for BJJ is maintaining constant and dynamic pressure. What this means is that you’re able to move from position to position without giving up space. In training, it is the training partner you’re looking to control. When working out with the stability ball, it is the ball itself. It is obvious that training with a stability ball for BJJ is no substitute for training with a live person. What you get though is strengthening of the deep stabilizing muscles of the body. You also get proprioceptive benefits, meaning you can apply what you learn in similar circumstances when grappling.

Proprioception is the sense of the relative positioning of different parts of the body during movement. It is your body orientation relative to itself. For example, try walking with your eyes closed. Without the benefit of sight, our bodies estimation of balance is thrown out and all we have left is proprioception. Now imagine how easy balance is once you open your eyes. Training with the stability ball for BJJ is like getting you 20/20 vision for grappling.

Ball Size

What you’ll discover once you go looking for a stability ball is that they come in different sizes. In order to train with a stability ball for BJJ, start off small. Get a ball that’s exactly the right fit for you. To make it easy, if your feet touch the ground comfortably when you sit on it, it is the right size. Once you become proficient, you can go for a larger variation.

Proprioception Boost

When you’re training with a stability ball fro BJJ balance, you can use a few tricks to make things even harder. IF you’re good enough, for example, to stand on the ball, you’ll need a new challenge. Try closing your eyes. This is going to change your proprioception significantly, and you’ll need to start learning balance all over again. However, once you get to the mats, you’ll see the benefits of it.

Extra Conditioning

You could even use stability ball training to improve your conditioning as well as your balance. When you perform stability ball drills, just add speed and intensity to them. If you’re truly looking for a challenge, close your eyes from time to time. Just be careful not to injure yourself.

Flexibility Requirements

Stability ball training doesn’t come with many flexibility or athletic prerequisites. Two things you need to consider are hips and knees. While you can take it easy on the knees by avoiding standing drills, hips are more complicated. Namely, the hips are a huge part of the core, which is the main stabilizer of the body. All balance-oriented drills with a stability ball for BJJ include the hips. Make sure you warm your hips profusely before training, especially if you have tight ones.

Key Principles Of Stability Ball Training

There are some main principles when using the stability ball for BJJ. To begin with, if you are tense, you will lose your balance. The ball will sweep you, much like a training partner or opponent. You need to learn how to relax your body while staying dynamic at the same time. Dynamic balance means making constant small adjustments to keep the main balance point. From a Jiu-Jitsu standpoint, this conserves energy and allows you to roll for longer.

Next point is about control. The control over the stability ball comes from your hips. You determine which direction it can roll in, as well as when to stop and keep it in place. This translates perfectly for almost any top position in BJJ. Your hips are your main generator of pressure when you roll. They’re also instrumental in creating barriers and pins to stop an opponent from moving.

Holding onto a bad position with tension and strength only is the perfect recipe for getting swept in grappling. even worse, you might end up o the wrong end of a submission. To avoid this, you need to relax and use counterbalance to get out of a tight spot. Dynamic balance is going to enable you to salvage the position, and stay safe before moving on. Remember to stay loose and flow with movement instead of freaking out. The ball is going to teach you how to follow an opponent around without risking losing position or ending up on the bottom.

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The Correct Way To Keep Training With A BJJ Injury

By

BJJ World

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Training BJJ does not come easy on the body. Even if you eliminate the fact that the point of the sport is taking joints beyond their range of motion, the risk of injury is till grater compared to other sports. This is mainly due to the fact that Jiu-Jitsu takes place at different levels and involves training with a partner. The physical exertion and unique positions you regularly get into mean that the risk of injury is constantly present. That said, there hardly a sport without any injuries so why sshouldBJJ be any different? The trouble with having a BJJ injury is not that you’re hurt. It is that you can’t train. Or can you?

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most addictive things on the planet. It is neither just a sport or just a martial art. BJJ is an endless puzzle that requires you to think as much as you need to grapple. This makes it engaging both physically and mentally, and the more you train the more you get hooked on it. So when a BJJ injury inevitably strikes, you’ll not only be worried about your current physical ailment. What you’ll also be down about is the inability to be on the mats for a given period of time. This is an issue that many grapplers struggle with.

That said, grapplers tend to skip over the importance of injuries and unless they’re really gravely injured, they choose to go and train. Clearly, training like this can have really serious consequences, but as a fellow grappler who’s been there, I can totally understand. So, let’s see if and when you can train with a BJJ injury and how to stay safe while doing it.

To Train Or Not To Train?

This one should be a no-brainer for all the normal people out there. Not for grapplers, though. That said, looking for a professional opinion is always the first step with any injury. No matter how small you think your BJJ injury is, talk to a doctor. A good tip is to find a doctor that has training experience, if not in BJJ than at least in martial arts. That way, you won’t just get the automatic “rest for a while” but actual sound advice. Chance is, they know exactly how much you want to train.

Going to the doctor is the first step. The second one is actually following their advice. OKay, if the advice is to rest for a couple of weeks maybe you can cut it shorter. What you mustn’t do is skip it all together and jump straight back in. Just give your body enough time to heal. Also, keep in mind that going back to training is also not going to be pain-free. So listen to the doctor so that you do not turn a temporary BJJ injury into a permanent one.

Aggravating an injury is very easy to do if you train without letting it heal up enough. Even if you do not make an existing injury worse, you’ll most likely cause a new one. When you’re favoring a certain part of your body, the body tends to compensate in order to get you through your day. If you rest, the body rests as well. If you train, it’ll compensate and probably over exert another part of it. Now you end up with two injuries for the price of one.

That said, let’s see how you should train after a BJJ injury, or with a minor one.

Training With A BJJ Injury

Before you even step on the mats, make sure you have taken every precaution. Use any supportive gear that is suitable for your BJJ injury in order to protect yourself. This, most often, includes taping or wrapping up the injured body part. If you’re coming back from a really serious injury, then more advanced protective gear needs to be in place. Training without it all but ensures you’ll be back on the sidelines soon.

Once in class and all wrapped up, you should also have the right approach to training. First of all, do not expect to be able to go through every part of class. If the technique of the day doesn’t bother, you, this is your first priority. Keep learning and do the move of the day without exerting too much. If you can get through that, you might consider drilling or very controlled position sparring. Rolling is absolutely out of the question until you really heal up.

Once you’re able to roll again, or if it’s a minor BJJ injury you’re nursing, be clear about it. First, choose your partners wisely. The class spaz is a bad place to start. Instead, chose an experienced partner and talk to them. Turn their attention to your injury so that they can skip attacking that body part.

Finally, make sure that you take care of your injury after training. Re-wrap it if you need to, or use ice/topical medication if indicated. If you can, stretch or do some self-myofascial release in order to improve circulation. Remember that, even if you can’t go to class you can still learn. Use your time on the sidelines to improve on your theoretical knowledge. This is where BJJ DVDs and online instructionals really come into play.

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REVIEW: Advanced Guard Systems – Neil Melanson DVD

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BJJ World

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Finally! “The Ground Marshal” is back with another high-level grappling instructional. The ultimate BJJ coach, Neil Melanson just released a brand new DVD. The head grappling coach at the Blackzilians team continues on his journey to spread his unique guard concepts. Following the ” Ground Marshall Guard” Neil Melanson DVD and it’s a success, the focus is once again on grappling from the bottom position. Melanson goes even further into his system with his latest digital release branded “Advanced Guard Systems”.

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Neil Melanson is the creator of the most effective Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Catch wrestling hybrid. Every single Neil Melanson DVD instructional has the team of catch wrestling brutality entwined with the technical efficiency of BJJ. The coach that is responsible for the emergence of stars like Vitor Belfort, Randy Couture, and Chael Sonnen among others, now shares all of his deep knowledge with everyone. Why settle for a standard guard game when you can go for the “Advanced Guard Systems” release? After all, a Neil Melanson DVD is never ever a bad investment.

Catch Wrestling For BJJ

The reason why Neil Melanson is one of the top grappling coaches of today is his unique approach to things. The world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is an ever-evolving one and people never stop adding to the art. However, not everything is as good as advertised.

With a Neil Melanson DVD, you get exactly what you expect. No nonsense explanation of innovative techniques that are not limited to the principles of BJJ only. After all, BJJ is the melting pot of the best of all grappling martial arts. Catch wrestling is the most aggressive wrestling style out there. Instead of just plain takedowns and pins, catch wrestling has a rich submission arsenal that completely changes the game. Namely, catch wrestling is an art that has a sadistic strain to it. Causing utter discomfort and panic in your opponent is often as important as getting the submission. This makes it the perfect counter-balance to BJJ’s technical and fluid style.

The real mastery in this Neil Melanson DVD is the connection of Catch wrestling and BJJ principles from the ground. Fighting off the back is a defining trait of BJJ, but throw in the submission principles of catch wrestling and you get the Advanced Guard Systems release. Coach Melanson’s pedigree speaks for itself, something you can check for yourself by acquiring his previous digital releases.

Neil Melanson DVD Review: Advanced Guard Systems

The “Ground Marshall Guard” Neil Melanson DVD is where Neil laid down the foundation of his guard game. Some basic positioning concepts, high-level submission details, and the unique Irish Clear System are just some of the most notable chapters. Now, with the “Advanced Guard Systems,” Melanson opens up a black hole of knowledge to change your game forever.

Irish Collar Basics

Coach Melanson kicks things off in his recognizable style. He explains everything in high details and keeps the chapters per DVD down to a minimum. The Irish Collar system is a simple yet extremely effective one, especially for No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu. Expanding on his previous attacks, Neil adds in a few basic ways to engage with your opponent. Initial engagement is the most important part of playing a bottom game, as that’s where everything starts. Not wasting any time, Melanson jumps straight into submissions. A cool triangle option, mind-blowing guillotine details and an original submission from the closed guard wrap up the first volume.

The Overhook Closed Guard

Another volume of another guard. But not just an unrelated guard variation. Remember, coach Melanson likes to work with systems, so this is just a continuation of the first volume. In typical Neil Melanson DVD-style, everything is connected and goes back and forth. That is if you somehow manage to fail with great submission options like the reverse Kimura. that is one submission that nobody is going to expect from you, especially from the closed guard.

The overlook guard opens up a little bit more space than the Irish Collar, meaning sweeps enter the frame along with the submissions. However, this is catch wrestling with BJJ, so nothing ends with just a position. Every sweep coach Melanson demonstrates ends in a chain of submissions that connect all the ADvanced Guard Systems perfectly.

Overhook Guard To K-Control

Do not let the names full you. You won’t find K-control in any other DVD release out there. That is part of what makes Melanson’s style so prolific. He sticks to the basics again, submitting with triangles and armbars. He goes on to connect the overhook guard system with the K-control, a very simple yet controlling guard. Beautiful Kimura options are3 right there for the taking, along with a multitude of other torturing options.

K-Control Magic

The final volume in the series is dedicated solely to K-control. This is the one volume of this Neil Melanson DVD instructional that is worth the purchase alone. It is genius how coach Melanson keeps things simple and organized, yet brutally effective and painful. He likes to base things on principles and concepts that actually work.

K-control opens up into a multitude of directions. The thing is that we’ve all been in the position as grapplers, just never thought much about it. Melanson now demonstrates the true value by opening up avenues of attack in literally every direction. After all, once you have your opponent’s posture it’s not hard to hit a triangle, armbar, Kimura or a crazy catch wrestling submission right away! Yeah, there’s stuff in there like the dorsal fin shoulder lock that’ll leave you breathless. To finish on a high note, wrap your brain around this – there’s a heel hook setup from the closed guard. Yup, going to k-control once again!

Step 1 – pick up the Advanced Guard Systems Neil Melanson DVD. Step 2- go through all the material carefully and at least a couple of times. And finally, step 3 – dominate everyone in the academy and at a tournament.

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Dean Lister’s Most Lethal Legal Straight Ankle Lock Explained

By

BJJ World

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A few years ago, when I first discovered leg locks, there was one name popping out in the world of BJJ DVD instructionals. Before all the variation on the subject by people trying to emulate Danaher’s system, there was only one. Well, only one legitimate source of knowledge, anyhow. To this day I still believe that everyone looking to learn leg locks should start with Dean Lister. After all, he is the original leg-locking wizard of BJJ. His original work, the K.A.T.C.H. leg lock system is compulsory material for anyone looking to become the next Touqinho. The best thing about Lister’s stuff is that he covers everything. He makes even the most simple techniques deadly, like the straight ankle lock for example.

Dean Lister is an extraordinary leg locker in all departments. He is not just a specialist at one but does all leg locks with incredible proficiency. Now, while Danaher might be the Yoda of heel hooks, Lister is the ruler of everything leg lock. Even after Danaher’s brand, new instructional comes out, there’s no better introduction than Dean’s material. After all, he is the one that inspired Danaher to become a leg-locker.

One thing to admire about Lister is his constant will to grow. He didn’t stop at his K.A.T.C.H. release. He has more than a few high-quality DVD instructionals with revised and improved information in each. His constant experimentation and evolution are what make moves like the straight ankle lock as dangerous as a heel hook. In one of his latest videos, Dean demonstrates a wonderful variation of the straight ankle lock. It takes this fairly simple and legal move and turns it into a formidable weapon to claim anyone’s scalp! Or better said foot.

The Straight Ankle lock

Before we ump into Lister’s variations, let’s take things to step by step. To begin with, let’s look at the standard straight ankle lock before moving on to variations. The straight ankle lock is the first leg lock most people learn. From certain positions, it is legal across all belt levels and competition formats. Many people, though, look at it as the most ineffective of leg locks. The mechanics of the move are very different from those of a heel hook, but that doesn’t diminish the technique’s efficiency. Especially when everything is in perfect order.

For the straight ankle lock from the straight Ashi Garami, you need to cover a few basics. First, you need to control every joint of the opponent’s leg. The most important control is the control of their hip. This is the one that most people get wrong more often than not. The reason is positioning. When in Ashi Garami do not look to control their leg with your legs. Instead, use your whole body to isolate their leg. That way you’ll have both the weight advantage and a better position to finish.

Furthermore, grip positioning. The straight ankle lock grip is fairly easy – a palm over palm grip. Where most people go wrong is the height of the grip. Always look to connect your hands at chest level and focus on keeping your arms there. Whatever you do with your upper body or legs, your hand’s must not slide down towards the belly!

Dean Lister’s Modification Of The Straight Ankle Lock

Dean Lister is very good at figuring out the kinks that certain moves have. In the sense of the straight ankle lock, his improvements are in three general areas. One is the positioning of the feet in the Ashi Garami position. This has multiple impacts on the overall finishing rate of the straight ankle lock. The second, the finishing motion. Lister focuses on both extending and twisting the foot in order to put enormous pressure on the ankle joint. Both grips and upper body positioning are essential for this. Finally, he addresses a very common defensive option the opponent has when grappling with the Gi. Let’s break down every aspect of the straight ankle lock from a modified Ashi Garami, Dean Lister style!

1. Leg Position

Any leg lock starts with hip control. We already covered the need to use the complete body to control the leg. Controlling the hip directly requires different configurations of your legs. When doing a legal leg lock, things get even more complicated. Lister’s solution is simple. The straight Ashi Garami is essentially a prone version of the Single Leg X guard. Lister’s variation includes getting the foot of the inside leg on the same hip as the outside leg. Why? First, you get way better control over the hip, preventing any possible rotation. Next, you have a frame that can create more space than with the straight Ashi Garami. In turn, there’s more space to finish the straight ankle lock.

Oh and if they attempt to grab your lapel when in Gi, there’s no need to change anything. The power on the hips is so great that you’ll be able to break any grip with ease and maintain distance.

2. Upper Body Alignment

The upper body has a bigger role in finishing than it does in controlling the position. It is responsible for both extension and torsion of the ankle. While most people just sit back when in a straight ankle lock, Dean Lister uses more complex movements. Hip extension is still a big part of the submission, just not the only one. Instead, first, you’re going to look to create tension on the ankle by shrugging your shoulders back and engaging your lats. Then, you’re going to look to twist towards the ground, forehead on the mats. Only then it is time to extend but make sure your head doesn’t leave the mat. Just extend your hips while raising your head to look up.

3. Key Grip Details

The first thing lister points out is the grip configuration. A palm over palm always beats the figure four configuration when it comes to the straight ankle lock. The breaking arm needs to be shallow on the Achilles, looking to place your forearm bone right on the tendon. Again, always keep your hands high on your chest for maximum leverage.

4. Tension And Power Source

The straight ankle lock is a powerful move because of two main things. First is the space that you have to apply braking pressure which is due to distance. The distance is a result of hip pressure and leg placement, so make sure you have point #1 down to the finest detail.

To create tension, you need to make sure you’re pulling the leg out of the hip socket, much like with an armbar. This is where hip pressure via the legs and upper body alignment come together. These two aspects of the position create the perfect environment to finish the straight ankle lock.

5. Breaking The Ankle

Finally, breaking mechanics are simple. If everything is right, pressure should be unbearable even before you go for the breaking mechanics. Good control, proper grips, and tension are the fundamentals. The breaking mechanics is just the finishing touch. Apply your power source (feet on hip, and your hips) and maintain upper body alignment to finish. For a strong finish make sure you extend your hips, pull your shoulder blades back, and rotate towards the mats at the same time.

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