Rope Jumping Progressions For Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Conditioning

When it comes to conditioning for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and grappling martial arts, in general, a lot of specific work is required. Being in shape to grapple is no easy feat. It requires either lots of experience or lots of athleticism. Having both is going to make you really hard to deal with, which is what most grapplers are after. However, while specific strength and energy system work is a huge part of grappling conditioning, some of the older methods should not be abandoned. Long slow distance running has its benefits, as proven over and over again by boxers, wrestlers and the like. And so does rope jumping.

In today’s world of Bosu ball 1-arm handstands, while juggling sledgehammers with your feet, a step back to basics can only help. While lots of modern methods work, some are just pure speculation and result in more harm than good. Rope jumping is one of those methods that can only help grapplers. One of the reasons why it is often overlooked is the fact hat it is monotonous, similar to jogging. In order ot break up the boredom, we bring you the top rope jumping variations a grappler can do to get in amazing shape!

Why Should Grapplers Jump Rope

Jump rope training can benefit everyone. You can use it for long periods at a low intensity, for high-intensity bursts, or anything in-between. It’s also one of the most portable pieces of gym equipment in existence. It can be done just about anywhere.

The problem with traditional rope jumping, as we said, is boredom. Due to the repetitive motions of the exercise, many people tend to lose patience and abandon it. And grapplers are not known as the most patient athletes in combat sports. There’s not much excitement in using both feet to repeatedly hop in place. But have you ever watched a skilled boxer train? Their dance with the rope looks anything but boring. Or easy to perform for that matter. Getting to the point where you can swing the rope and move your feet like a boxer will yield great health and performance benefits.

In terms of Jiu-Jitsu conditioning, it is going to improve your cardio and raise your endurance significantly. It also works on abilities like eye-hand coordination, agility, balance, and speed. Rope jumping even results in certain strength benefits, like forearm and ankle tendon strength.

Get In Fighting Shape Fast And Lose Fat Along The Way: https://bjj-world.com/jiu-jitsu-workout-program-to-lose-fat/

Now, despite being a simple conditioning tool to use, rope jumping, like any other training method, requires correct programming. Even if you learn all variations of skipping, training blindly without a clear progression system is of no use. In that sense, we’re going to offer you various jumping patterns along with appropriate progressions. Read on!

The Basic Rope Jumping Pattern

When a boxer jumps rope, one of his objectives is to mimic the footwork used during a fight. Instead of hopping on both feet with an even amount of weight distribution, they shift the weight from leg to leg with each jump. This allows for more active movement and also puts less strain on the calf muscles. Alternating feet means your calf muscles get a slight rest with every jump, which is helpful, especially for beginners.

With the boxer style of rope jumping, the feet are always slightly offset. This way one leg absorbs slightly more landing force than the other. This provides the ability to move in any direction at any time. It’s also a much more efficient footwork pattern.

Rope jumping in this manner is a great way to prevent shin splints because it produces less impact. It also allows you to conserve energy and jump rope longer. When experimenting with the basic skip, imagine lifting your feet off the ground to create a jump as opposed to pushing them off the ground.

Going Sideways

Even if you’re an absolute beginner and have never trained rope jumping, you still need to do side swings. Side swings are a great way to learn how to correctly jump rope. They teach you how to coordinate rope and foot speed without the need to actually jump As you advance, you can also use side swings as transitions between different types of swings and footwork.

Your basic side swings begin with a sideways figure-8 pattern. The rope will start to track behind you and loop around to the front on your right side. Then, it continues in the same pattern on the left side. Keep the rope going by continuing this figure-8 motion.

To progress, single-arm side swings are next on the list. The only difference is that you’ll need to hold both handles in the same hand. Practice moving the rope with both the right and left arm.

Transitioning into full skips from swings require you to bring both hands to where they normally are for a single rope turn. Separate the rope as it’s coming around, just before you’d start swinging to the opposite side. You should look to get comfortable with opening the rope up. You’ll soon get used to the timing.

Finally, go for the full side Swings while moving your feet. To do this rope jumping variation, first practice side swinging while moving your feet without trying to jump in. Only, once you’re comfortable, jump in every so often. Before going all in.

No Time? No Problem! Quick Workouts For Busy Grapplers: https://bjj-world.com/quick-jiu-jitsu-conditioning/

Cross Jumping

Being able to criss-cross the jump rope is impressive, but difficult to learn. Crosses are especially challenging to pick up. There’s no point in attempting them before mastering other skipping basics first. These progressions will teach you to cross the rope in no time, provided you already have certain experience in rope jumping.

To start with, place the rope behind you and twirl it over your head as if you were going to start jumping. As the rope passes your head and starts to come down, cross your arms. Don’t even try to skip over it at this point. Just drag the rope into your toes. Step over it and repeat the motion until you’re used to it. You need to be comfortable with the position of your arms before you think about jumping. When crossing, the goal is to completely displace your hands.

The next step is jumping over the as it comes through. Only jump once and don’t worry about what the rope does after. Reset and repeat until you’re familiar with the jump pattern. Later on, you’ll add in a jump over the uncrossed rope as well. You’ll jump over the crossed rope first, and then you’ll jump over it as it is returning. Uncross the rope at exactly the same point as you crossed it (as it’s coming down in front of you).

Stringing together crosses is the final piece of the puzzle. As long as you’re able to keep a good rhythm with the first and second jump you’re good to go. Keep the rope and your feet going at a consistent rate to maintain the rhythm.

Doubling The Skips

The double-under is a rope jumping technique in which the rope turns two times on a single jump. A double-under cross is a skip in which the rope crosses and uncrosses on a single jump. Both of these variations are more about rope speed than height.

To learn to double-under, begin turning the rope as with the basic jumping pattern. Jump slightly higher on the fifth jump as you turn the wrists twice instead of once. Try to get the rope to pass under your feet twice before landing back. Get familiar with this before you attempt to string double-unders together.

Double-under crosses look much tougher than a regular double-under, but they actually aren’t. The only condition is having the crossing rope jumping technique mastered. Instead of the wrists producing the double rope turn, your arms will control the rope to complete a double-under cross. Learn these the same way you learned the double-unders – on every fifth skip, jump slightly higher, cross, then immediately uncross the rope before landing.

Clock Choke Magic To Deal With Turtled Up Opponents

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One of the most defensive concepts that a grappler can employ is hurtling up. In a sports context, going into turtle means that you prevent your opponent from both getting points, progressing to a better position or submitting you. If you’ve ever had a Judoka defend all of your attacks just by soundly hurtling up, you know what I mean. Now, depending on rules there are a few foolproof ways to open up the turtle. If leg locks are allowed, going for the feet is going to cause an upset in the structure of the position. When you have to limit yourself due to rules though, it’s best to go for the neck. And, since the neck is buried deep, using the label is the best approach to finishing an opponent. Simple is best here, and it doesn’t get much simpler than a clock choke.

The turtle is a very annoying position to work against. It is one of those Judo positions that is intended to turn you into a rock. And the clock choke is the hammer that breaks the rock. It is one of the simplest, yet least used chokes in BJJ. It is extremely effective, and, as with many things in Jiu-jitsu, offers plenty of variations. Further, in this article, we’ll dissect how the clock choke works and which variations fit which situations. Let’s jump straight into it.

Essentials Of Choking With The Gi: https://bjj-world.com/unorthodox-gi-chokes/

Strangling People With The Clock Choke

As simple as it is, the clock choke is a very detailed BJJ technique. The body positioning is such, that if you don’t get everything spot on, you’re going to create an opening for your opponent. However, when you sink it in tight all you have to do is relax. Really, relaxing the body is essential in closing down all space.

The turtle position is the best spot to hit the clock choke from. Useful, isn’t it?. The hardest part of a clock choke is getting your grips in. The turtle position is a difficult one to open, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t sneak your arm in. The first order of business against the turtle is taking away space. This is done by staying very heavy on the back and hips of your opponent. Pressure is crucial in order to look for your grips.

For the clock choke, one arm needs to control the opponent’s far wrist, while your other hand goes on his collar with a thumb-in grip. This collar grip is the crucial one to get. Do not be discouraged if it takes a little while to sink in. As long as you stay heavy, you’ll be fine. Once you have a strong grip on the collar it’s time to break the turtle down. Drive forward, pull your partner’s far arm in and they’ll collapse to the ground. From there, you sit your hips in front of your partner’s shoulder and start walking around the head. Some people are going to tap right there, while for other’s it takes a thug of the collar.

The Occam’s Razor Principle For BJJ

The basic and fundamental BJJ techniques are foundational for a good reason. They continue to work well on a constant basis and across multiple levels. Even after the latest fad and fancy techniques have disappeared, the basics are still going to work. A great rule of thumb for grappling martial arts is to start and end with the basics.

Since there aren’t that many options for attacking a turtled up opponent, the clock choke is one of those basics. It isn’t nearly as popular as it should be probably because of its simplicity. If you have ever tapped from a clock choke, then you know how brutal this Gi choke truly is. This choke is one straight for your emergency toolbox.

The key to hitting the clock choke is a strong connection to the hips on both sides. From one side this is done via the control on their far arm. On the near side, it’s your hips that put pressure on your opponent’s. Once the arm is controlled and you have the collar grip the hip to hip pressure can be released. However, this doesn’t mean that you completely lose connection with your opponent. You just slide your hips forward so that now they control the opponent’s shoulder. but not for good, instead it is simply replaced with hip to shoulder and head pressure.

You can even go for a roll from there. All it takes is to releasing the hand that controls their far side arm and pull the opponent up and across your body. This is going to open the neck up, bringing you a devastating finish in seconds.

Check Out The Power OF BJJ Chokes: https://bjj-world.com/bjj-purple-belt-attacked-much-bigger-guy/

Different Clock Chokes For Different Folkes

Distinct Gracie family member Carlson Gracie Jr. has a very simple take on the execution of the clock choke. Carlson Gracie Jr. makes a point to sprawl his hips at the end of the technique. This variation adds some very intense and dominating pressure to help you finish faster.

Many people have had stunning success with this move at the highest stages of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition. From there, certain excellent details have emerged for us to include in our clock choking game. One such detail is moving from the hip to hip pressure to sit on the shoulder with your hips. you can accentuate this by using what we refer to in BJJ as the fifth limb – your head. IN that sense, you can use your forehead to post so that your hips are lighter and allow for more movement. It is a great way to maintain pressure while rotating in position to finish.

Jean Jacques showed us how to get a turtled opponent out of their shell and expose theirs for a clock choke. In his modification, Machado simply slides off of the opponent’s back and finishes the strangle.

The similarities between these variations are clear, but it is the individual nuances and tweaks that are important to notice. It is simple really, the longer you train BJJ, the more important it is to polish your favorite moves. All these variations are great options to add to your existing clock choke game in order to ensure you finish everyone!

Top And Bottom Baseball Choke Setups For Jiu-Jitsu

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Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with the Gi is unlike training any other grappling martial art. Even in Judo, where the Gi is also a mainstay, there are far fewer opportunities than in Jiu-Jitsu. The various uses of the Jiu-Jitsu Gi certainly outline the creative character of the Gentle art and those training it. From innovative grip sequences to lapel-mediated armlocks and collar chokes, the Gi is an essential tool of the modern grappler. Even those that favor No-gi should cross-train with the Gi, at least occasionally. How else would they discover the hidden power of brutal Gi chokes like the Baseball choke?

The Baseball choke is one of those chokes that either agrees with you from the beginning or they do not. Personally, I like it, but I do not execute it from every position. That doesn’t mean that it is not a viable option, it is just not my first one. From the knee on belly, however, it is right there and there are not a great number of things I’d go for before going for a Baseball choke. IT is tight, it can be set up without the opponent noticing and comes on very quickly. It also gets you ina perfect position (North-South) to keep attacking, in the unlikely case it fails to work. All in all, it is one of those submissions everyone needs in their toolbox, just in case they need it.

Attacking From The North-South Position: https://bjj-world.com/bjj-north-south-position-attacks/

How Does The Baseball Choke Work?

The Baseball choke is the brainchild of Magid Hage, a Gracie Barra black belt. The young Brazilian is a huge fan of the sneaky aspect of Jiu-Jitsu, hence his experimentation in those areas. Magid’s “sneaky” research gave birth to one of the tightest chokes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The reason the baseball choke is considered to be a sneaky technique is that most people never see it coming. When you position yourself for an armbar from the mount or go for Ashi Garami, people are going to know what to expect. However, when you’re crushing them from the knee on belly position, they won’t suspect you going for the arguably tightest collar choke. What’s more impressive is that you can hit the choke from the bottom, and not just form the guard. The baseball choke is very easy to set up from bottom side control when your opponents really feel safe and in control. That’s not all, however. For all you No-Gi die-hards out there, a variation of the Baseball choke is also applicable without the kimono.

Basically, the Baseball choke is a blood choke, using the collar and your forearms to cut off the blood supply to the brain. The configuration of the choke involves one of your arms gripping the lapel of an opponent very deep. Unlike most Jiu-Jitsu chokes from the front, the Baseball choke doesn’t require a cross collar grip, but rather a same side one. For the grip, four fingers go inside while the thumb goes to the outside. the other grip is placed on the opposite side lapel in an opposite manner (thumb in, four fingers out). The palms of both hands should meet behind the neck, like when holding a baseball bat, hence the name of the choke.

Top Position Baseball Choke

Form the top position the Baseball choke can be set up from two positions. One is the top half guard and the other is knee on belly. The reason why it cannot be sneaked in from classic side control is that it requires space between your body and the torso of your opponent in order to obtain the grips. For that purpose, nothing works better than knee on belly. In terms of setting it up from the half guard, the setup is pretty much the same as from knee on belly. In order to finish, though, you’ll have to pass the guard and rotate towards the North-South position. This is why half guard setups are secondary to knee on belly setups.

Finishing the choke requires you to rotate with your arms as a pivot point. The baseball position of your arms ensures that when you reach the North-South position, the choke is instantly going to be in place. As you rotate, the baseball choke gets tighter and tighter, and in case you need a bit more leverage, once you get to North-South, you can shift your body weight forward towards your opponent’s chest, bending your elbows.

From knee on belly, you need to start by inserting your near side arm into the opponent’s lapel. Be patient and look for a deep grip, the goal being to reach the collar at the back of their neck. once you have that grip in place you can start looking for the second one. It is important to use the first grip both as control and to help you open up space for the second one. Pressure from your knee on their belly/chest is crucial for creating space while keeping the opponent in discomfort.

Sneaky Choke From The Bottom

Now, from the bottom setting up the Baseball choke is the definition of sneaky attacks. This is the most readily available submission from the bottom side control. Which grip goes first depends on the situation you find yourself in. In most cases, it is the grip that goes in second from the top, that is first in order here. It is way easier to establish the thumb in grip with your far side arm.afterwardd the main fight is to sneak the other grip in. Since this is done with the nearside arm, it is not very difficult to do so.

Finishing the baseball choke from the bottom requires a bit of positioning from yourself. once you have the grips in, you do what you’ve been taught never to do from bottom side control – turn away from your opponent. In the case of having Baseball choke grips in, though, the result is going to be a lightning-quick choke. Your opponent can either tap, nap or try and go forward, which is going to bring you in top position where you can still finish the choke.

Alternatively, you can set the choke up from the bottom of half guard. Many opponents are going to allow you to establish the grips without worrying too much. The only trick is that you can’t finish it from half guard. So, you’ll have to let them pass your guard before turning away and instantly making them regret it.

The No-Gi Version

For the No-Gi version of the Baseball choke, the main difference is in the grips. Given the absence of collars, the grip modification includes putting your hands together. The basic idea is simple – connect your hands with an S-rip behind the opponent’s neck. Afterward, the goal is making your elbows cross each other, or at least touch them together. The arms are set up in the same manner as with the Gi, with the first arm being the one that is palm up in the S-grip. The No-Gi Baseball choke is way more effective when done from the bottom.

Make sure you check out the Chokehold Mastery Instructional by Jeff Patterson DVD. Jeff Patterson was training with Rigan Machado and Pedro Sauer. He gathered all of their best chokes and put them on his DVD.

chokehold Mastery by Jeff patterson — Check out the list of Techniques on newest DVD from Jeff Patterson Chokehold Mastery

The Paleo Diet For A Sustainable BJJ Lifestyle

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Having the energy for Jiu-Jitsu training often requires you to go out of your way in terms of nutrition. In today’s world, there are literally thousands of diets and methods to choose from. What they all have in common is their claim to be better than every other method. Regrettably only a few are functional, and a true reigning champion among diets is yet to be declared. When it comes to grapplers food turns into more than just a way to drop a few pounds. It is a very important fuel that needs to keep our bodies running. the modern day Western diet just won’t cut it. Neither will plenty of the other common dietary approaches. However, among all the ruble there are a few nutritional gems. One of them is the Paleo diet.

Although the Paleo diet has its shortcomings (which we’ll mention later) it does provide grapplers with more benefits than other approaches. For most people, a regular day means early mornings, family, work, and more family obligations on either side of a BJJ class. A day like that requires a lot of energy. In the same time, there’ not a lot of time to go cooking specialized meals that take hours to finish. The reason why the Paleo diet works is because it is simple. And we already know that in BJJ, the simpler the technique, the better it will work. Now let’s dissect the Paleo diet and see how it can be modified t fit a BJJ lifestyle.

The Nuts And Bolts Of The Paleo Diet

‘Paleo’ is short for ‘Paleolithic Diet’, a dietary approach that tries to mimic the eating habv\its of people from the Paleolithic period. Or at least it claims to do so. Since we don’t exactly know what people ate back then, the Paleo approach is based on guesses. There are, however, nutritionally healthy ones, making this a very viable approach.

This dietary philosophy is in a way an extreme reaction to the modern lifestyle that. There’s no place in for fatty fries, high fructose corn syrup, and lab-grown burger patties. So, the Paleo diet is all about bringing back the eating habits of old. Real food over conventional food.

When we’re talking about Paleolithic age, we are talking about the hunter-gatherer days of humanity. That’s the period everyone ran around wearing fur skins and bashing giant mammoths with clubs. Paleo is a philosophy that encourages humans to eat the foods we have evolved to eat. is Then the main notion is that the foods we have not evolved to eat (processed foods) are damaging our bodies.

The whole point of the Paleo approach is to completely avoid processed foods, which harm our bodies. It also advocates the removal of all grains, which we have not quite evolved to easily digest.

There is actually a whole ‘range’ of Paleo approaches, from a more relaxed Paleo approach to the more hardcore version which completely “outlaws” dairy, legumes and other food types that most people would consider part of a healthy diet. Basically, if your hunter-gather caveman ancestors didn’t eat it, you can’t eat it either.

Benefits Of Going Paleo

The Paleo diet is mainly made up of whole foods. Yes, there are some like some condiments and sauces, but the vast majority should be made up of natural, unprocessed food. The main benefit here is that you’re getting rid of preservatives, additives, artificial flavorings sugars, excess sodium, etc. You’ll basically end up cleaning your eating habits by putting good quality fuel into your body.

Avoiding processed foods means that your calorie consumption tends to drop dramatically. People who simply replace processed food with whole foods often lose weight quickly. The reason is that replacing processed foods full of fats and sugars with more nutrient dense food choices reduces your calorie intake. This, in turn, increases the number of quality nutrients and makes you feel fuller for longer. So, you’ll eat more )quality) by eating less (quantity).

Another great aspect of the Paleo diet is increased protein intake. The Paleo diet emphasizes lots of protein, mostly from free-range animals and non-processed dairy. When you cut out the starchy carbs from dough-based foods, you often tend to make up with more protein and fats. If you think about what you usually eat, a major part of your diet is likely starchy carbs. These are noodles, bread, rice, potatoes, and the like. When you remove these carbs, you have to fill the dietary gap. A major part of that something else tends to be larger protein quantities during meals.

There’s a number of key benefits to increasing the amount of protein in your diet. It helps build and repair muscles. It also takes more energy to digest protein, which is a good thing if you are trying to drop weight.

A Healthier Lifestyle

The first assumption about Paleo people is that the diet is all about protein and fats. While this is true to an extent, a side effect of cutting out complex carbs is that you replace them. Paleo focuses on simple carbs which are more easily processed by the body. Because you get all of your carbs from fruits and vegetables, your micronutrient intake is going to increase significantly.

Often people only look at the basic macronutrients, those being carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. However, the micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) are also very important for keeping your body running smoothly. They’re charged with boosting your immune system and aiding in the processing of macronutrients. Which brings us to digestion.

Removing starchy carbs and processed foods can reduce bloating, gas, and increase absorption of nutrients. Processed foods, in particular, cause inflammation in the gut. Celiacs (gluten sensitivity) is one condition that benefits greatly from the Paleo diet Furthermore, exclusion of processed foods and starchy carbs means it’s easier to digest your food. Thanks to this, you’ll likely experience less inflammation in your digestive tract. Fibrous vegetables, drinking lots of water, and minimizing salt content can reduce your stomach bloat and keep your gut microbiome in balance.

Paleo Diet Modifications For BJJ

If you are trying to do a low-carb diet, Paleo makes it particularly easy because you’ve already cut out the majority of starchy carbs. Paleo is not inherently low carb, though you generally eat fewer carbs while on it. In certain cases, this can be an issue for grapplers. The fact that you eat simple carbs in the Paleo diet means that you can’t go into ketosis. This means that you do not gоиng to be really efficient at using fats as a fuel source. This brings us back to carbs, and a way to modify the Paleo approach to suit grappling needs.

There is one modification of the Paleo diet, called the Primal diet. Apart from fruits and vegetables, it also includes some starchy carbs. In terms of Paleo compatibility, grains are still o on the list. In terms of differences, root vegetables like potatoes, sweet potatoes and yams are back on the menu. These are starchy carbs that are essential for keeping up with the demands of everyday life while also rolling in BJJ.

If you are eating a nutritionally unbalanced diet, switching to a diet like Paleo is going to do wonders for you. Body composition, energy, health in general and easier weight cut are just some of the benefits for grapplers. What you are certain to get is a more balanced ratio of proteins, fats, carbs, and micronutrients while also cutting out most of the chemical junk. You ’ll feel better and look better over the long run, that is guaranteed.

Like any dietary approach, though, there is quite a bit of effort involved in maintaining it. And Paleo is a very strict diet indeed — you can pretty much forget about meals-0n-the-go and you better damn well learn how to cook.

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Dealing With Jiu-Jitsu Injuries: Elbow Joint Hyperextension

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No matter which sport you’re involved in, the potential for injuries is there. Every sport brings unique injury risks to the table, depending on the environment it takes place in. With combat sports, the potential for injuries is even more pronounced. Combat sports result in injuries at quite a high rate both when training and in competition. And grappling martial arts hold the title for the highest rate of injuries among combat sports. It is the nature of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other grappling arts, where people are in constant contact while changing the planes where the action takes place. Add to that the goal of controlling and ultimately submitting an unwilling opponent and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. While Jiu-Jitsu injuries are very common, some are specific to the sport as wearing a Gi is. One of those injuries is hyperextension of the elbow joint.

The elbow joint is not a particularly strong joint. Its anatomical position puts it in a position to be a frequent subject of Jiu-Jitsu injuries. As such it is not only submissions that put the elbow at risk. Of course, armbar attempts, especially belly-down, are the top contender for causing an elbow injury in grappling. However, Jiu-Jitsu injuries to the elbow can occur in many situations that arise, from takedowns to transitions and positional battles. As such, re-injuring an elbow can result in a significant time off from training or even the risk of a chronic ailment. This is just one of the reasons why Jiu-Jitsu injuries need to be taken seriously and treated properly.

Preventing Hyperextension Jiu-Jitsu Injuries

Some of the most common Jiu-Jitsu injuries are “joint hyperextensions”. This type of injury occurs when a joint, in our case an elbow, is pushed beyond its normal range of motion. Since a key principle of Jiu-Jitsu is to attack the weak points in the body, this joint usually receives a lot of attention.

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu joint manipulations are constantly the subject of classes. Factors such as experience, movement, and/or improper technique can cause injuries to you or your training partner. Injuries are a fact of Jiu-Jitsu life. After all, the more you sweat in practice, the less you bleed in combat. At least in theory.

First and foremost, never go all out on your partner right from the beginning. Grapplers need to work in a spirit of cooperation in order to keep each other safe. Staying injury-free in a sport that is based on joint destruction has to be the focus. Keep your ego in check and never try to show your stuff on someone who is willingly rolling or drilling with you. It is not only dangerous but it goes against the character of grappling in essence.

Dealing With A Hyperextended Elbow

Now, having said that, accidents do happen. Often, when an elbow is stressed, tendons begin to stretch. If pushed harder, they begin to tear. When an elbow joint tears, all you’ll hear is some “popping sounds”, very similar to when you crack your knuckles. Your partner, on the other hand, might not feel something is wrong immediately. This is because tendons are very weakly innervated and pain perception is low in these areas.

However, within a minute or so, when the arm is back to its normal range of motion, you’ll notice changes. Primarily, there’ll be an apparent lack of movement followed by weakness and a “dull ache”. This dull pain gets more pronounced and worse as time goes by.

When this inevitably happens to you, ice the spot immediately for 10 minutes. The cold will cause the swelling to go down. Next, you’ll want to keep it immobilized. Over-the-counter painkillers (the likes of Ibuprofen) will definitely help. Keep in mind, however, that painkillers help with the pain, not the injury itself.

Do not be tempted to go straight back to training after downing a pill or two or you’ll just exaggerate the problem. If the elbow is tweaked or torn, you’ll need to lay off the Jiu-Jitsu for a while. Depending on the severity of the injury, this could mean up to a month off. While this can seem like an eternity you need to let the body start to heal itself.

Another great supplement for joint problems is something called glucosamine. Glucosamine is a precursor for glycosaminoglycans, which are the building blocks of joint cartilage. Supplemental glucosamine may help to rebuild cartilage, treat arthritis, or aid in joint repair. It can be bought virtually anywhere.

An Alternative Approach To Healing

Another remedy, this one of a more natural kind is called hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy uses ice as the main tool for repair. And no, you won’t need to visit a specialist. You can do it yourself in the comfort of home. What you’ll need are Dixie cups, water, a topical painkiller, a dish towel, and some cling wrap.

Take some Dixie cups and fill them with water. Place them in the freezer and let them freeze. Take a Dixie cup out of the freezer and tear about 25% of the cup so the ice is exposed. Rub the cup over the injured area until the ice melts down. Next, use your thumb to push and massage the injured area. You need to really dig deep, pushing hard in order to relieve the pain. After a few minutes place some topical painkiller on the site. Repeat the procedure daily, for the duration of a week.

At night, wet a dish towel and place it in the freezer. Before you turn in for the day, wrap the frozen towel around your elbow. Proceed to wrap cling wrap around the towel, so it stays in place during the night. Your arm will go numb after about 5 minutes. Expect to wake up a few hours later and feeling like your elbow is on fire. This is because the body has been rushing blood to the affected area in order to warm it up.

Best Methods OF taping Your Injured Fingers: https://bjj-world.com/best-bjj-finger-tape/

There is a perfectly sound explanation behind this method. The body’s best defense against injuries is to flush the area with blood. The cold/hot hydrotherapy speeds up and maximizes the body’s natural healing system. It is a proven way of getting your Jiu-Jitsu injuries to heal up faster.

Coming back to training after an elbow injury

Even after you come back to training you have to be pretty careful with your elbow joint and you have to make sure that you’ll do every precaution measure that needs to be done. Make sure you buy a tight elbow compression sleeve or compressions sleeve with pads like Elbow protection pads. This way you’ll make sure your arm is more secured from sudden blows or unwanted extension that could hurt your elbow even more.

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John Danaher’s Ashi Garami System Of Leg Locks

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Ever since EBI hit the ground running, the world of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu underwent a major change. For one, the No-Gi scene started really taking off. Furthermore, a new and, in my opinion, improved ruleset got to see the light of day. However, nothing got more attention the apparent lack of leg lock knowledge among the competing grapplers. Renzo Gracie Academy coach John Danaher showcased his Jiu-Jitsu brilliance with the help of his top students. For me, it was that iconic Gary Tonon vs. Eddie Cummings match at EBI 3. The pair of teammates went respectfully, but aggressively, at each other, relentlessly hunting submissions along the way. It was then and there that I realized that I had absolutely no knowledge of what these people were doing. Hence, my interest in their Ashi Garami leg lock system was born.

My discovery of leg locks closely coincided with a very powerful message I got from a black belt I respect very much. I was a blue belt, nearing purple, at the time. What he told me was to “invest in the legs”. By that, he meant start learning leg locks then and there, not waiting until brown or black belt. It is one of the best pieces of advice I ever got in regards to Jiu-Jitsu. That is when I started digging into the John Danaher leg lock system and discovered the term Ashi Garami. Now, Mr. Danaher guards his secrets really closely, but he does leave the occasional hint or two. Those breadcrumbs were enough to get me going and here I am, almost 4 years later, explaining the Ashi Garami concept myself.

How The Danaher Leg Lock System Influenced Grappling: https://bjj-world.com/john-danaher-leg-lock-system/

Positional Nuances Of The Ashi Garami

The Ashi Garami position originates in Judo. While it is not par to of the modern Judo game, it was included in the early Judo techniques. John Danaher’s Ashi Garami concepts are based on the original Judo position but have since evolved very much. The idea behind the Ashi Garami position is control of every joint of an opponent’s leg with the help of your entire body. Despite using your entire body, your legs play a crucial role in controlling the position. Imagine a single leg X-guard. Now take the standing opponent to the ground and you’re almost in the Ashi Garami.

The 9 Best Leg Lock DVD Instructionals For Grapplers

Control of the hip stems from the foot of one of your legs and the shin pressure across the opponent’s thigh, from your other leg. The knee is under the control of your own hips, while the ankle joint is controlled by your grips.

Before we look at how you can set up the Ashi Garami, we have to clear up nomenclature. Ashi Garami means “leg entanglement” in Japanese. That means that every position that results in an entanglement of your own legs with those of the opponent can be considered as Ashi Garami.

This is where variations come into play. In terms of your own legs, you can control with your feet open (the standard version). You could also have your legs triangle around one of your opponent’s legs. The triangle can be on the Inside or Outside of the leg you’re attacking. In terms of the position of the leg you’re attacking in regards to your body, there are three options. The leg can either be on the Bottom, on the Top, or across your torso (Cross). All of these positions, along with the inside/outside triangle make for different variations of the Ashi Garami.

Entries Into The Position of Ashi Garami

The beautiful thing about the Ashi Garami position is that you can enter it from a multitude of positions. However, since you need to be lying on the ground in order to be effective, this contradicts a common Jiu-Jitsu principle. If you have top position, it is generally considered unwise to give it up a lie down for a leg lock. Despite this common approach, very effective entries from the top do exist.

The primary entry position is the single leg X-guard. It is structurally very similar to the Ashi Garami itself, meaning not much adjustment is needed. When you think about the numerous entry options into the single leg X- guard, you a system emerges. Namely, you can enter the single leg X-Guard from butterfly guard, X-Guard, closed guard. Spider guard etc. This means that virtually every guard position can lead into the Single leg X, and conversely, into the Ashi Garami. The most common way to enter into Ashi from the single leg is via the basic twisting sweep.

From top position, whenever you think “F** it, I’ll go for a leg lock” at least do so technically. What I mean by that is instead of wildly diving into submission attempts, go for a strong position first. The De La Riva guard is a perfect example. When your partner has you in a De La Riva, one of their legs is already exposed – the one on your hip. Just make sure you break the grip on the other leg first, place your foot on their hip (on the side you’reattacking) and trap the ankle. It’s smooth sailing from there, right into a very tight Ashi Grami that you can bail out of straight back to the top very easily if needed.

Ashi Garami Anke lock(s)

The straight ankle lock from the standard Ashi Garami position is a legal option across all competition formats and belt levels. As such, it needs to be the one you know best. Finishing an ankle lock requires both extension of the foot, as well as torsion. This double attack provides the most mechanical pressure on the joint, eventually causing a break in structure. The basic ankle lock from the standard Ashi is the first leg lock you need to learn.

Mechanically speaking, the ankle lock can cause a tap in three distinct ways. You could put two-way pressure on the ankle via the aforementioned extension and torsion movements. You could also pressure the Achilles tendon by digging in with your wrist. Another option is going for a footlock, where you just do a maximal extension with the help of your armpit and upper arm.

Positionally, you can hit the ankle lock from most Ashi Garami variations. Both the bottom, top and cross variations of the standard and outside triangled Ashi offer excellent ankle locking opportunities. The inside triangle only offers a solid ankle lock from the bottom position. In the top (AKA game over) and cross (AKA 4/11) variation, ankle lock attacks are possible, yet not the first choice of submission.

Ashi Garami Toe Hold Attacks

The toe hold submission is also one that is legal in most competition formats, albeit from brown belt onwards. It involves a very pronounced twist of the foot, using torsion as the main pattern. A figure four grip configuration of the arms (think Kimura) is essential for pulling off a toe hold. While there are more proponents of the “take the foot to the butt” concept, I personally like extending the leg slightly when going for the toe hold. When you have a tight Ashi Garami on, extending the leg is only going to make everything tighter and put the submission on much quicker. Caio Terra is a great example of this manner of toe hold execution.

From a positional standpoint, the toe hold generally requires a top side Ashi Garami variation. This is due to the space that is required to crunch up in order for the figure 4 grip. Cross positions like the cross outside Ashi (AKA 50/50) and the Cross Inside Ashi are also appropriate. However, topside standard Ashi and Top Side Inside/Outside Ashi are the preferred positions for attacking with toe holds.

Ashi Garami Kneebars

The kneebar is the analog of the armbar in terms of lower body limb submissions. Mechanically, it puts the knee joint under enormous pressure via hyperextension in the opposite direction of the natural knee bend. The idea is getting your hips on the front of the opponent’s knee and control their foot, pointing the fingers toward your back. From there on it is much like the armbar.

From the Ashi Garami, the kneebar is not readily available, except maybe from the Cross Inside variation. It is, however, right there when you start transitioning between Ashi Garami variations. For example, going from the Bottom Outside Ashi into the Cross Inside Ashi Garami can be done by spinning around the opponent’s leg. Halfway between the two, there is a position we can refer to as the Rear Ashi. This is the sweet spot for the kneebar submission. The best thing about it is that if the kneebar fails, for some reason or another, you can always stay in control and transition further up or down the ladder.

A Study Of The Inverted Heel Hook From The 4/11 Position: https://bjj-world.com/inverted-heel-hook-from-the-4-11/

Ashi Garami Heel Hooks

When we talk about submission from the Ashi Garami, Heel hooks reign supreme. They’re illegal in many competition formats, even at black belt level. Deemed one of the most dangerous submission in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu they are extremely effective, albeit “slightly” vilified.

The heel hook is twisting submission that transfers force via a lever from the foot to the fine structures of the knee. it has an outside and inside (or reverse) variation depending on the side of the foot that’s near your body. The inside heel hook is way more devastating and is the one people usually look for in competition. Finishing the heel hook requires you to trap the fingers of the foot in your armpit while placing the heel on a “shelf” you create with your wrist. Different grips ensure varying degrees of finishing rate and potential damage to the knee and ankle.

The heel hook is available from all Ashi Garami variations. The positional advantage here is due to the type of heel hook available from the position, as opposed to the structure of the positional variation itself. The Cross Inside, Cross Outside and Standard Cross Ashi Garami offer access to the inside heel hook, which is the preferred option. All other variations lead to an outside heel hook, which is also a very viable submission.

Effective Attacks From The BJJ Truck Position

BJJ World

Eddie Bravo is an enigmatic character in the world of grappling. When it comes to his 10^th Planet System, people usually react in a black or white manner. They either love it to the core or can’t stand it. There’s usually no middle ground. There are plenty of reasons for this behavior that stems from the fact that this system tends to be different from “traditional” BJJ. After Bravo beat Royler Gracie most of the Gracie family got mad at him. His unique approach to Jiu-Jitsu, including renaming lots of moves and completely ditching the Gi did not help his cause. Well, at least during his beginnings. Today, the 10^th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system is a well-established one with associated gyms across the globe. The system seems to be extremely effective, especially in the areas that define it. One such innovative position is the BJJ truck, a 10^th Planet classic.

The BJJ truck is not a new position in terms of grappling martial arts. It has its origins in wrestling, as do many of Eddie Bravo’s concepts. However, it is optimized for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and is one of the most potent attacking positions in the modern era of the sport. 10^th Planet standouts like ADCC competitor and EBI champion Geo Martinez have specialized in the BJJ truck to a level of perfection. There are even instances in MMA where the position has proven more than useful. However, it remains one of those positions that are hardly on the regular curriculum of most Jiu-Jitsu academies. While certain people outside the 10^th Planet system do experiment with it, the BJJ truck has yet to conquer the grappling world in its entirety.

A Look At The 10th PLanet Jiu-Jitsu System: https://bjj-world.com/top-10th-planet-jiu-jitsu-innovative-grappling-concepts-bravo-inside/

The Beginnings Of The Truck

Eddie Bravo used to be a wrestler before discovering the Gentle Art. Under the tutelage of the great Jean-Jacques Machado, Bravo developed his unique style by adding forgotten wrestling techniques to his evolving Jiu-Jitsu game. The wrestler’s guillotine, today known as the Twister among 10^th Planet practitioners, was one of them. This position ultimately gave birth to the BJJ truck.

The truck is essentially a modification of the leg ride from wrestling. The leg ride is a move that was originally intended to open up defensive opponents in order to get a pin. As such, the Twister and Banana Split techniques were pinning position first and foremost. Leg rides were used to open up turtled up opponents and later pin them with one of these two positions. Leg riding provides wrestlers with great control, allowing them to mount immense pressure on the opponent while hunting for the pin.

The crucial concept behind the effectiveness of the leg ride, and conversely, the truck, is the figure four configuration of the legs. Locking in figure 4 allows for a grappler to control one of their opponent’s legs completely. From there, in terms of wrestling, it is all about pinning the opponent. The benefit of reducing the opponent’s possibility for movement is crucial in term of submission hunting as well. The BJJ truck allows submission grapplers to submit to the common wrestling positions. Eddie Bravo took this concept even further, perfecting the position for Jiu-Jitsu.

A Positional Study OF The BJJ Truck

The BJJ truck position can be considered a variation of back control. The advantage of this position is that it is kind of halfway between complete back control and mount. As such it offers easy transition back and forth between two of Jiu-Jitsu’s most dominant positions. Eddie Bravo is in the habit of calling these positions “dead zones” which I find to be a very fitting description. He has a few more apart from the back, the mount and the truck, but we’ll look at them in a different article.

Apart from being the perfect transitional checkpoint, the BJJ truck is a “dead zone” by itself. The control in the truck position comes from the figure 4 on one of the opponent’s legs that provides total control over their hip on that side. Since one anchor point is never enough for control in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, there are two ways of obtaining more of them. One is by controlling the opponent’s opposite side leg, thus rendering their hips motionless. The leg is easiest to control via the foot, but a banana split is also a great option.

Alternatively, control can be gained over an opponent’s shoulder, which is, in my opinion, better. The reason for this is that the shoulder you’re looking to control is the one placed diagonally of the hip you already control. This cross-body control (which is the secret behind the wrestling pin) allows for efficient immobilization of the opponent. The leg configuration can switch between the figure four and “lotus” position, depending on the situation. Both control positions are easily interchangeable, each opening different venues of attack and transitional opportunities.

Brutally Effective Truck Attacks

From the BJJ truck position, depending on the type of control, there are two main attacking areas. When in control of both hips, leg locks are the way to go. In cases of cross body control, via the arm, it’s all about the twister and similar spinal locks. The back is attainable from both controlling positions, as is the truck in a vice versa manner. You could also go for the mount if all else fails, but I think that the back is a better option. For those more creative, there are also ways of getting into the 4/11.

Leg Attacks From The Truck

The most readily available leg lock from the truck is a calf slicer. This brutal submission is usually hard to get because opponents tend to wiggle out. The truck position offers the best control for finishing the slicer submission. The figure four configuration is actually just a tiny adjustment away from a full-blown calf slicing position.

When in the BJJ truck, it is essential that you control both legs of your opponent. When looking to finish with a calf slicer, this is even more important. For the submission, you’ll need to bend the leg you control via a figure four at the knee. While you do this, the aim is to place your shin as deep as possible behind their knee. The truck itself allows for a very deep placement of the leg.

Letting go of the opposite side leg at this point is most likely going to result with the opponent spinning out, leaving you on the bottom of half guard. So, you should either look to control the foot of their free leg or tuck it under your armpit. This will give you the control you need to reach for the foot of the leg you’re attacking and pull towards your chest while pushing away with the hips. Another key tip is not placing your free leg directly on your foot for the calf slicer. This can allow the opponent to look for an inverted heel hook on your leg. This is easily avoidable though, by using a triangle to keep your legs in place instead of pushing down on your foot.

Get The Calf Slicer From Everywhere: https://bjj-world.com/calf-slicer-underestimated-submission/

Another submission option is the banana split. All it takes is hugging your opponent’s near side thigh and pulling towards yourself while extending your legs.

The Twister

The twister is a spinal lock that is a modification of the “wrestler’s guillotine” pin. The idea is to twist the spin of your opponent, placing immense pressure that results in a tap or very serious injury.

For the Twister, you need control over the arm that’s on the opposite side of the leg you’re controlling in the truck. The best approach is controlling the wrist with both of your arms. Once you have the wrist, push your near side elbow deep into their armpit. This is the “baseball bat position” which is essential for completing the Twister.

Entry into a perfect position for the submission involves you getting the arm you’re controlling up and around your head. Essentially, you want your head to come through the opponent’s armpit while keeping their arm behind your back. From there, all it takes is placing a grip with both your arms on the side of the opponent’s forehead and pulling back. Be careful with this submission as it comes to really fast and can cause very serious injuries!

Quick Jiu-Jitsu Conditioning Workouts For Busy People

BJJ World

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a difficult, difficult martial art. It has no end. Hundreds of complicated techniques with weird names and an endless system of concepts and principles. As if all of this wasn’t enough, grappling martial arts are also extremely demanding on the body. AS far as full-body conditioning goes, hardly any sport involves everything in the way Jiu-Jitsu does. Muscles you had no idea were there get a workout they can’t normally get by conventional fitness means. Not only that but you also develop stamina and endurance while throwing other people around. However, once you adapt to the basic grappling exertions, attaining top-level Jiu-Jitsu conditioning is going to require more work. Just grappling is not enough to take you further into elite athlete territory. This is what many people come to struggle with.

So, in order to improve your overall conditioning for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, you need to develop multiple athletic qualities. For grappling, you need isometric strength, explosive strength, agility, flexibility, grip strength, endurance, etc. Now imagine having to train each of these qualities independently, on top of training Jiu-Jitsu. Even a professional athlete would have trouble adhering to such a schedule. For the everyday Joe, this is simply impossible. Luckily, there are options out there to make even the busiest grapplers better while not taking up much of their time. The only rule of thumb to remember is to keep getting the hours on the mats in. That’s where shortcuts don’t work.

A Quick Conditioning Fix

When looking to improve Jiu-Jitsu conditioning while juggling dozens of everyday tasks, the emphasis must be on efficiency. Not all training methods are created equal and you should youse this to your advantage. You need to look for the methods that allow for the development of multiple qualities at the same time. While many fitness experts claim that this is not possible, the evidence points to the contrary. At least in terms of grappling martial arts.

For grappling specific strength and conditioning, it doesn’t take powerlifter strength, marathon running endurance, and bodybuilder-like physique. Just like it doesn’t take a deep knowledge of grappling for MMA. You only need what you can successfully use. In those terms, workouts should be designed around your needs and time constraints. A few other factors also have to be taken into account.

Namely, before you choose your basic tools, you need to ask yourself a few questions. Whether it is based on accessibility or personal preference, you should devise your conditioning plan based on the answers to those questions. For starters, how large is the initial investment? Will there be an ongoing cost or maintenance fee associated with the piece(s) of equipment you’ve chosen? Also equipment-wise, it is important to consider the size of the equipment? Does it take up much space or can it be stored easily? In this sense, think a couple of kettlebells vs a squat rack with all associated pieces of iron.

Another major aspect is portability. Since many folks travel for work, conditioning tools should be easily portable in order to have constant access to them. Can you travel easily with the training tool of your choice? It is also of note to be aware of how long this training tool will last.

Grappling Specific Conditioning

One great way of getting match-fit is the Marcelo Garcia approach. According to him, all it takes to get better at Jiu-Jitsu is training Jiu-Jitsu. This, however, doesn’t mean just doubling your time on the mat. It means upping the intensity of rolling so that you gain increased benefits. Also, consider looking for stronger and/or larger partners. No matter how technical you are, it’ll take more effort to deal with someone 30 lbs heavier than you.

The only reason why someone else’s body isn’t your best bet is that you may not always have access to a training partner. Not only a training partner, but you’ll also need access to a gym with mats. If you’re looking to put in an extra Jiu-Jitsu session based on more rolling, you may encounter difficulties.

Since Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling sport it’s a great idea to actually apply force against another body. Partner training doesn’t have to be limited to sparring though. While drilling and sparring are excellent options, partner calisthenics is also an effective method for getting into grappling shape. The exercise options are limitless, resisted pull-ups, monkey boys, resisted partner push-ups etc… Use your imagination and match your training to the demands of Jiu-Jitsu for ultimate results.

Bodyweight Jiu-Jitsu Conditioning

The one and only best JIu-Jitsu conditioning tool is your own body. Without a doubt, nothing trains your body better than your body. It’s always there; It is highly portable and easy to travel with. It’s already paid for and the exercise possibilities are incredibly immense.

You can crawl, climb, run, jump, do solo BJJ drills, shadow wrestle…you name it. If you can imagine it, you can do it. Do we even need to speak about its lifetime value? Hopefully, you’ll have it for a long, long time and if you treat it right you will. Bodyweight conditioning is the primary source of conditioning for some of the all-time greats of grappling. For example, both Rickson and his son, Kron Gracie are huge fans of getting into shape with the help of your own body weight. Nobody can dispute their result, so why not do it yourself?

Kettlebell Circuits For Grapplers

First, let’s make something clear. You do not need to own kettlebells per se. While having them is great, a pair of dumbbells will also do. In fact, they might even be more effective, since you can adjust the weight on most of them. Yes, they’re both included in the same number and yes, there are some distinct mechanical differences between these two training tools. However, it’s not that big of a deal to have a separate category.

Dumbbells and kettlebells both rank high for all the chosen criteria. They’re both very versatile, can be taken almost anywhere, they don’t take up much space and you’ll be able to pass them onto your future generations quite easily. There are some vintage kettlebells and dumbbells for sale on eBay that are well over 100 years old.

Sure, they cost more than your body or a training partner (unless you plan on doing more than training) but it’s a one-time investment and their lifetime value makes up for their initial cost. moreover, you can get a brutal workout in as much as 20 minutes. These tools can efficiently improve every athletic quality a grappler needs.

Suspension Training

It could be a set of classic gymnastic rings, a TRX, or any suspension trainer available. There are many models and options to choose from currently and you can train just as effectively with them all.

The exercise options when using a suspension trainer are quite broad and versatile. It’s very easy to make adjustments in leverage and angles making each exercise either easier or more difficult depending on your needs. You should have no issues traveling with any suspension trainers. You can even pack them in your carry-on luggage without any glitches on both domestic and international flights. They don’t take up any floor space and can be taken down very easily and stored quickly.

Some suspension trainers are a bit on the pricey side. Make sure you investigate each option and match it with the type of training you have in mind. You may not need all the bells and whistles that come with some units.

Sandbag Jiu-Jitsu Conditioning

An old-school grappling conditioning tool is the sandbag. In all honesty, it would probably have ranked higher on this list if not for the fact that once you’ve built a nice sandbag it’s hard to travel with. You’ll be able to fit it into your trunk, no problem, but it is a pain. However, you shouldn’t let that stop you from using sandbag training for your Jiu-Jitsu conditioning.

Outside of your own body and the body of a resisting training partner, sandbags are the next best thing. Sandbags develop great grip and isometric strength. They’re excellent for performing loaded carries and walks and they’re generally very tough and durable. There are several commercial sandbag options available. To be honest, it’s very easy to make one yourself, using an old seabag and some duct tape.

Use Gymnastics To Become Freakishly Strong For BJJ

Bear Crawl Yourself Into Shape For Brazilian Jiu Jitsu

Rules Of Thumb For Visiting A Foreign Jiu-JItsu Academy

BJJ World

The fact that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is a worldwide phenomenon, makes training it that more fun. While everyone enjoys training at their resident Jiu-Jitsu academy, people do tend to grow accustomed to their training partners. This is particularly true in the case of smaller schools, where training partners completely know each other’s game after years of training together. While local rivalries usually prevent people from training over at other nearby schools, there’s no problem with training outside the boundaries of your city or country. The global character of Jiu-Jitsu means that people from other cities/countries are eventually going to end up in your school, adding a bit of variety to every day grappling. More importantly, everywhere you go, whether it is for work, vacation or specifically to train, you can visit a Jiu-Jitsu academy. Most schools are very open to guest grapplers jumping in for a training session or two.

Whenever you are traveling, make it a habit to include some research on the local Jiu-Jitsu scene during the planning phase of your travels. A visit to a Jiu-Jitsu academy in another country can be a very pleasant experience. The beauty of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that it is so widespread around the globe that you can easily find out how many clubs there are and which ones might best suit your needs. However, there are some factors you need to consider when selecting a school to visit. You should have clear criteria as to what you’re looking for and be aware of “rules for Jiu-Jitsu visitors”.

Academy Selection Criteria

One great way to locate Jiu-Jitsu academies around the globe is to post a question on Facebook. Maybe a friend will be able to refer you or knows someone else who can. Facebook groups can connect you to grapplers all around the world. If that doesn’t lead you to any answers, you can try a Google search or post the question on Sherdog or Reddit. For the simplest option, just type Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the spot you’re visiting on Google. You can go into more extensive research based on those results.

Once you’ve narrowed down a few options, you can read reviews for the clubs on YELP and look up their websites. It is also preferable that you contact them to find out about schedules and pricing. It’s always better to confirm the details before showing up to a club, just in case operations have changed, but the website hasn’t.

Each Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy is different and when you visit a new one, it’s best to adapt to their system for the duration of your stay. For example, do they clap when breaking away from the instructor to learn technique? Do they bow before stepping on or off the mats? Can students ask higher-ranked belts to roll or do they wait to be asked? How do they begin a match? How do they line up after class? Do they have any club rules? Is there a particular Gi color required?

A Few Rules OF Thumb For Visitors

Sometimes you can figure out the answers to the above questions just by looking at photo galleries on a club’s website. Some schools even have their rules posted online. The following rules of thumb are usually in effect in every academy in the world. As a visitor, you need to make sure you adhere to them.

Showing up a little early is always advisable. In the case of schools that have paperwork included, this gives you enough time to take care of it. While there, make sure you ask the instructor if any submissions are prohibited. Plenty of Gi only academies frown upon certain leg locks and neck cranks, even in training.

During class, do not speak or interrupt the instructor as he or she is teaching. You should already know this one, as it is a cardinal rule of martial arts. Not using foul language is another given one. If you plan on going a Jiu-Jitsu academy more than once, bring enough Gis to ensure you have a clean one for each class. Alternatively, find out where you can wash your Gi between classes. Have a Gi that is free of rips or tears. As far as hygiene goes, all the basics apply here. Ensure you have fresh breath and no body odor. Wear deodorant and have your fingernails and toenails trimmed. Also, make it a point to remove all transferable cosmetics and jewelry.

During training, do not be overly aggressive when rolling with other students and do not wait too long to tap. After all, you’re visiting, and as such might be a “prize” for the young guns. Also, do not forget to pack a mouth guard and wear it while rolling.

Remember The Unwritten Rules Of Jiu-Jitsu And You Can’t Go Wrong: https://bjj-world.com/unwritten-bjj-rules/

Rolling In A New Jiu-JItsu Academy

A good approach to rolling with people you don’t know, especially during a visit to a foreign academy, is to roll cautiously. Big white belts should be on your “do not roll” list due to the high likeliness of you getting hurt as a result of clumsiness, aggression, or unknown tactics. We’ve all missed time on the mats because of various injuries so staying healthy is a priority for everyone involved in BJJ. Although it can feel bad to say no to rolls, it’s gonna keep you safe and ultimately that’s what matters.

Remember when you do roll, your partner will reflect your intensity. If you come on hard and fast, your partner may do the same. If you ease into the roll, your partner will usually do so, as well. Once you get a feel for your new rolling partner, you may be able to have a normal roll, but a feeling-out process is highly recommended.

Also, it’s not a tournament. It’s just a class. If you find your BJJ is at a higher level than your partner, it’s probably not polite to tap him or her seven times in five minutes. It’s kinder to allow the person to work on their game, too. Remember: you’re not only representing yourself – you’re also representing your team and your home academy. It’s best to not be an asshole, if possible. If you’re the one getting tapped seven times in five minutes, it sucks – but hey, it was only five minutes out of your life. And hopefully, you learned a thing or two.

Do Not Be An Annoying Rolling Partner: https://bjj-world.com/bjj-training-partner/

Just do your homework before picking a club, mind your manners and their rules, and you’ll do just fine.

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