Loop Choke – Submit Your Opponents From Everywhere

When it comes to submitting people in BJJ the choke is the ultimate weapon. A choke leaves no doubt as to whoever won. Some people are quite resistant to joint locks, and might even be willing to let something snap. In those terms, there is one choke submission that’s pretty underrated but is as efficient and as tight as any other in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It is the one and only Loop Choke.

Strangles are as close to killing someone as you can get, without legal repercussion, of course. When a person taps to a choke, they attest to the fact that you had their life in your hands. As far as chokes go BJJ can boast that it arguably has the largest number of strangling techniques in all of grappling martial arts. A big reason for this is the utilization of the Gi for a number of different chokes. And that’s where Loop Choke comes in as the ultimate Lapel Choke Submission.

About Loop Choke

The loop choke is one of those chokes you learn at an early “grappling age”. It is not quite considered basic, but it’s right there among the fundamentals. People often forget about really fast and tend to go for bow and arrow or other fancy lapel chokes. How efficient this move is in high-level competition has been proven by those who stick with it. It is really uncanny how underrated and underused this choke is seeing as you can hit it from almost every position in BJJ.

Setting The Loop Choke Up

Loop choke is a Gi-only choke that works really well in Jiu-Jitsu. The idea, as with any lapel choke, is to use the opponent’s own Gi against them. For that to work, the lapel has to be positioned properly and tightly around their neck. For the choke to work, apart from grips, body positioning has to really be spot on. But let’s look at each and every one of these aspects more closely.

The loop choke submission starts and ends with the grips. Or better said the grip. One of the main differences between this submission and other Gi chokes is grip depth. Almost every choke In BJJ needs as deep a lapel grip as possible. This choke is on the other side of the spectrum, requiring a mid-level grip in terms of depth. Too much depth and you won’t be able to hold it because of the pressure on your wrist. For the best grip go for a collar bone-level grip.

As far as body positioning goes, the loop choke requires a gator roll-like movement in order to finish. From a front headlock position, with the grip in, the aim is to go under. However, unlike a rolling anaconda choke, with the loop, you need to go perpendicular to your opponent. To do so, when you roll under, the aim is to thread the head near their hips.

One more thing to note is the placement of your free arm. It needs to go under the opponent’s armpit all the way to the back of their head. This is where a lot of the tightness comes from.

And for all those No-Gi only grapplers out there, remember that the Guillotine is always there without the GI.

Top Position

The half guard is one of the bread and butter positions for executing the loop choke. It can be done from both the top and bottom of this position, but for now, we’ll stick with the top. A great position to start from is with a strong grip on the opponent’s lapel. In order to set it up, you’ll need to switch your base and get a guillotine-like grip around the opponent’s head. Furthermore, you’ll use the arm that’s strapped around the head to get the grip on the lapel. From there, an underhook from your opponent is just going to make things easier to finish. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll free your leg so that you can either stay in side control or finish from a front headlock position.

Click For Full Video with 2 Loop Choke Variations

One of the most effective ways to get the finisher is from the front headlock position. Conversely, the sitting guard and/or butterfly guard are also great positions to hunt from. The first thing to get is the grip on the lapel. It offers both control and a lever to finish the choke. From all of these positions, it’s all about correct rolling and head pressure in order to finish. Do not be hesitant to roll under your opponent, as you won’t stay on the bottom. You’ll just end up on top with a tight choke on.

standing Loop Choke — Click For Full Video

For those that are into flying submission, it is a comfort to know that you can hit this submission from standing as well. While it is not “flying” per say, it comes pretty close. A snap-down is all you need in order to get the lapel grip and gator roll your way into a win.

Setting Traps From The Bottom

Loop Choke from The Half Guard — Click For Full Video

While effective from the top, the loop choke is also the perfect bottom side trap. AS with the top, the bottom half guard offers a great opportunity to slap the choke on. Instead of looking for an underhook, make sure you have a tight grip on the opponent’s far side lapel with your near sidearm. A push with the arm is going to cause the opponent to push back. This is the momentum you need to loop your arm around their head. There’s no need to leave the half guard in order to finish. Just thread your arm through and it’s a tap.

Loop Choke from The Closed Guard — Click for Full Video

The closed guard is another common position for setting it up. It is even easier to set it up from the full guard than the half guard since people do not pay too much attention to a lapel grip from there. Especially when it is a shallow grip. While staying in closed guard, the goal is to break your opponent’s posture so that you can thread your arm through to the back of the head. Sitting up slightly to cover more space is a good trick to make things even tighter.

The Sickest Loop Choke ever made by Alexandre Vieira:

Without a doubt, the most savage loop choke you’ll ever see: Alexandre Vieira puts his opponent to sleep in less than one minute at Tokyo Grand Slam. Also, don’t forget to check Vieira’s Instructional on that choke and many others.

Alexandre Vieira – The Crucifix and Loop Chokes

We have to mention the NEW Alexandre Vieira DVD – The Crucifix and Loop Chokes. If you’re interested in loop chokes of all kinds and also the crucifix position I must say there is no better instructional anywhere around than Alexandre Vieira DVD is. It’s an instructional with so many techniques (check techniques list) and so many options to get the loop choke from any position that it’s a real game-changer. I won’t even mention the crucifix position because Alexandre showed the ways of getting there so easily that it’s almost impossible to defend it. Make sure you check it HERE if you’re interested in crucifix position and loop chokes.

Alexandre Vieira - Crucifix and Loop Choke — Techniques List

REVIEW: Alexandre Vieira DVD- The Crucifix And Loop Choke
Different BJJ Chokes For Different Folks
Guillotine Choke Essentials
Subtle Tricks For Developing World-Class BJJ Chokes

How Far Are You Willing To Take A BJJ Submission?

BJJ World

We’ve already beaten to death the fact that BJJ is all about respect. Whether it is common courtesy in training, behavior outside the academy or competition etiquette it all boils down to respect. But respect is a very general expression that is quite open to interpretation. While bowing is generally considered to be a sign of respect, other actions might not be so clear. In all honesty, the complete situation has to be taken into account to understand the context. One such example are submissions. While we all agree that it is respectful to give an opponent the time to tap, what happens if they’re stubborn. How far are you willing to take a BJJ submission?

One huge aspect of grappling martial arts competition that is of big importance is etiquette among competitors. For that matter, this does not start nor end with grappling. Anyone involved in competitive sports, and in particular combat sports, need to adhere to competitive etiquette. What is okay, and not okay, to do at a competition? The subject of taking a BJJ submission too far is a very complex one. It is hard to take anything for granted or talk in absolutes when attempting to resolve this issue. A huge number of factors play crucial roles in whether the correct decision is to “go all the way”.

Common Competition Etiquette

One thing that can happen during a BJJ competition is that a competitor sustains an injury. Sometimes it can just be something minor. On other occasions, however, it might be a major injury. It is a common sight at every Jiu-Jitsu competition worldwide. There are competitors sitting down, focused on taping up a joint or two)to protect them from further injury. This begs the question if attacking an injured body part is in poor taste or if it is simply tactically sound. It’s just one of those situations where respect can be interpreted very differently by different people.

How To tape Your Fingers For BJJ: https://bjj-world.com/best-bjj-finger-tape/

If you know your opponent has a specific hole in their game, should you avoid that hole in order to level the playing field? Is that respectful or just plain stupid? If you know that a guy got his elbow popped in a prior round and that elbow is on the side that you like to armbar, is it fair game? Furthermore, how far would you take a BJJ submission on a limb you know is injured?

A few years ago, there was an incident that springs to mind. It was an instance in which a blind competitor faced a sighted competitor. What allegedly happened is that the competitor with full use of his sense of sight avoided contact with the blind competitor. In turn he, literally, blindsided him with a takedown to win the match on points. He won the match, but did he dishonor himself in the process? Did he break an unwritten rule of etiquette?

Takin A BJJ Submission All The Way

Logically, taking into account that BJJ is a combat sport based on submitting your opponent, there are a few obvious things that you should avoid. For example, do not poke your opponents in the eyes and to not grab their fingers. Attacking a joint that you know to be injured shouldn’t be a no-go, given the competitive structure of the sport. However, a higher degree of sensitivity should be applied to the submission. After all, this is just Jiu-Jitsu and we are all part of the same small community. Going for a disability is a tactic on its own, but would you change your complete tactical approach just because of the opponent’s newly acquired weakness? Competitions aren’t cheap and we are there to try to win. With the rise of professional Jiu Jitsu and money on the line this subject goes into a whole new dimension.

Tap Early to Learn: https://bjj-world.com/how-to-learn-jiu-jitsu-fast-tapping-out-in-bjj/

What about submission speed and viciousness? This is also something that has been explored before. Some people feel that you should give your opponent time to tap, and not actually try to break joints that you have locked. This isn’t the tactic of many. In competition, you need intent behind a BJJ submission in order to get the tap. If a competitor is stubborn to tap, and the person applying the submission hesitates that could cost them the match.

Remember the 2004 Worlds epic battle between Jacare and Roger Gracie? We all know that even despite an injury due to a BJJ submission, your opponent can still beat you via points. It’s always advisable to do your best to tap early in competition when you get caught. The idea is that you should always assume that the opponent is trying to cripple you. Why risk everything on stubbornness?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIcf_r2rhyI&t=3s

The Verdict

There are very few absolutes on the competitive playing field. While we all like to be respectful, competition, professional or not is a different playing field than training. Tugging on a BJJ submission on a teammate in rolling is just plain wrong. Even in competition, whenever teammates meet, submissions should be gentle and taps fast. In all honesty, when real competition is in questions, I think that you should go all the way. Unless your opponent is physically disabled, of course. Even then, a win is a win, you just need to be more careful how you obtain it.

It is contradicting that in a sport based on respect, the best way to the ultimate goal of victory is often the most violent one. Once the match is over, it is important for to carry yourself like a martial artist, with discipline and respect. However, during the match, all bets are off.

Tips For BJJ Competitors: How To Avoid Overtraining

BJJ World

So, you’ve been grappling for a while now. You’re aware that when you enter into BJJ, you agree to feel beat up every once in a while. You also agree to joint pain, numerous tweaks, and small injuries that are going to stay with you for the rest of your life. But you have to be careful not to take it too far.

When a grappler feels it is progressively more difficult to get out of bed and/or injuries are worse than usual, it’s time to step back. If you feel like you’re coming down with something, or you seem to need to skip those last few rounds of rolling you should reevaluate things. What happened? Where did it all go wrong? The problem isn’t the exercise or even the intensity. The problem is not balancing stress with recovery. The solution is in smart planning that helps you avoid overtraining.

When it comes to competitive grapplers, overtraining is a major issue that has t be addressed. Each and every one of them is obsessed with doing more. More cardio. A few more squats. More rolling. More drills. Fewer calories. They throw everything at their improvement in the weight room and on the mats alike, all in order to achieve competitive goals. This full-throttle approach seems to work for a little while. Until… it doesn’t. If you’re not careful, “more” can lead to overtraining, injury, and illness.

Understanding Training

Before looking at how to avoid overtraining we must first understand it. But we can’t look at overtraining if we do not grasp what training is all about. First and foremost, exercise is a stressor. Usually a good one, but a stressor nonetheless. If you exercise intensely and/or often, you add stress to a body that may already be stressed from other life stuff like work, relationships, travel, late nights, etc. This isn’t a bad thing. Exercise can actually help relieve stress and balance everyday life better.

But in terms of physical demand, our bodies still need to recover from all the stress we experience. How well you’ll recover depends on how much total stress you’re under at any given moment. In other words, it’s those days when you were late for work and your boss yelled at you. Even worse, you spilled ketchup on your favorite shirt and you were up all night caring for a sick child. On top of all that you went to the gym and tried to roll 10 x 10 rounds with the competitors in your team. Or maybe go for a new PR on one of the basic lifts.

A Conditioning Program For Jiu-Jitsu: https://bjj-world.com/jiu-jitsu-workout-program-to-lose-fat/

It’ll take longer for you to recover from that workout than it would have if you’d done it on a day you slept well, woke up to sunshine, and had a terrific breakfast. So, overtraining is not something that you can achieve in a few training sessions. Much like training it has cumulative effects that extend well beyond the mats.

Understanding Overtraining

Our bodies have complex feedback loops and elegant shutdown systems that actively prevent us from over-reaching or pushing ourselves too hard.

Two systems are at play in terms of overtraining. Our central nervous system (CNS) and local fatigue. The CNS acts like a car engine regulator. If the engine on a car revs too high for too long, it shuts down. Similarly, if we train too much, our brain tries to protect our muscles by reducing the rate of nerve impulses so we can’t move as much. And we certainly can’t work as hard. Local fatigue is the result of energy system depletion and/or metabolic byproduct accumulation. This mechanism makes your muscles feel really tired, lethargic, and weak. Using our car analogy, this is sort of like running out of gas.

Energy System Training For BJJ: https://bjj-world.com/cardio-for-bjj/

Training too frequently and intensely without prioritizing recovery means that stress never subsides. As a result, you might experience blood sugar ups and downs, depression, anxiety, and/or racing thoughts. You might even have trouble sleeping or early wakeups. Food cravings, trouble to control your eating, and lower metabolism due to decreased thyroid hormone output are also symptoms of overtraining. Also, the production of sex hormones gets disrupted which means less mojo overall, and in women, irregular or missing menstrual cycles.

You don’t get to decide if you need recovery or not. Your body will decide for you. If you don’t build recovery into your plan, your body will eventually force it. The more extreme your overtraining, the more you’ll “pay” via illness, injury, or exhaustion. That is why you need to know how to avoid overtraining before it sets in. The more severe the payback, the more “time off” you’ll need from training. And you can’t do BJJ from home.

How To Avoid Overtraining

Here’s your first tip: Overtraining isn’t exactly the problem. The problem is more like under-recovering. Your body can actually handle a tremendous amount of work… if you recover properly and fully from that work.

In order to avoid overtraining, your stress-recovery pattern should look like rolling hills. For every up (training or life stress) there’s a down (recovery). For every intense workout, there’s an equally intense focus on activities that help your body repair and rebuild. This doesn’t mean you need to retreat to your dark and quiet blanket fort and get massages every day… although that does sound awesome. One way is to find small ways of getting movement whenever and wherever you can. That includes real-life functional movement, such as biking or walking to work or walking to the grocery store and carrying your groceries home. When you think of moving this way, it stops becoming “a workout”.

If you’re feeling some of the symptoms described in this article, here are a few steps you can take to start feeling better. For some, skipping a workout is no biggie. For others, taking a day off requires effort. Doing less can make you feel uneasy. If you’re looking to avoid overtraining ask yourself how do you feel? Are you constantly in pain, tired but wired, hungry, etc? Are you getting results? If you’re beating yourself up and not getting anywhere, you’re most likely heading towards overtraining. Maybe it’s time to take a different approach.

First. do a mind-body scan. Lie quietly for a few minutes and bring your focus slowly from your feet to your head. What does your body feel like when it’s well-rested? How do you know when it needs a break? Next, schedule a massage. Block off Sunday afternoon for guilt-free goof-off time. Whatever you do, remember that your recovery — what you do between workouts — is just as important as training BJJ.

BJJ Overtraining: How To Know If You’re Grappling Too Much

How To Recover From BJJ Training – Try Float Therapy

Things To Do After a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Class

A Detailed Examination Of The Inverted Heel Hook From The 4/11

BJJ World

Ever since Eddie Cummings started claiming people’s legs in competition, the grappling world has turned its attention to the leg locks game. The influence of the Danaher Death Squad is unquestionable, but so is their secrecy. Apart from that Joe Rogan interview, neither John Danaher nor his students disclose the details behind their leg lock game. They have every right to do so since it’s how they win tournaments. Even during seminars and private lessons, the Renzo Gracie crew keeps their secrets well hidden. So, what the grappling world is left with is reverse engineering. At least until Coach Danaher sees fit to release his groundbreaking heel hook details.

Before we go further into the how and what of the heel hook submission, let’s make something clear. Although it is one of the highest percentage submissions in Jiu-Jitsu, the heel hook is not the holy grail. The Danaher Death Squad are very well versed in both other kinds of leg locks and other submissions in general. Remember that the submission hunting game is a complex one, including a variety of systems and strategies. That said, having a great leg lock game based around the heel hook is always a big advantage. When we’re talking about the inverted heel hook from the 4/11 this is even more so the case.

Our Review Of The Most Comprehensive Heel Hook DVD Available: https://bjj-world.com/craig-jones-down-under-leg-attacks-review/

The 4/11 Position

As the BJJ saying goes, it is always position before submission. In the case of Danaher’s Jiu-Jitsu philosophy, it is “control before submission”. The 4/11 is an ashi garami or leg entanglement position that offers supreme control over the opponent. The position originates from Sambo, where it is known as ‘The Saddle”. However, there are significant differences in both control and attacking between the original and modern position.

The idea behind control in the 4/11 is nothing new. The concept is to use your whole body to completely isolate one of the opponent’s limbs. As with an armbar, for example, your own legs play a huge role. They are the strongest part of our bodies and therefore offer the most control. In the 4/11 you have your legs triangled around one of your opponent’s legs. The triangle is then locked in between the opponent’s legs. For the best control, your shin needs to be on the opponent’s hip fold, with your knee on the ground. The other leg should be triangling the first one at a slight angle so that it tightens the triangle. Furthermore, remember to push into the ground with this leg in order to completely immobilize the opponent’s hips.

The arms also play a crucial role in controlling the position. What I found really increases the control in the 4/11 is placing a grip on the tendons of the hamstring, just above the opponent’s knee. To do so, you need to use the arm that is closer to the floor and keep your elbow in. Along with proper leg control, this is going to prevent every escape your opponent attempts.

Danaher’s double trouble principle has to be mentioned here as well. until you’re ready to finish, always control the free leg with your top arm.

Heel Hook Mechanics

Now, that you know how to control the 4/11 position let’s pay closer attention to the heel hook. The heel hook is a highly technical submission that requires a lot of knowledge in order to be performed correctly. The old Pride heel hooks, as effective as they once were, are not enough in today’s control based game. You need to truly understand both the control position (in our case the 4/11) and the heel hook itself. Only then can you hope to achieve success with this powerful submission.

The heel hook is a twisting submission that places immense pressure on numerous structures of the leg. Despite their name, most of the damage of heel hooks happens in the knee. Primarily damage occurs inside the knee joint, particularly in the ligaments. It acts very much as a wrench in terms of mechanics. Twisting the foot while pinning the hip joint and controlling the knee joint transfers force upwards to the knee. That is why the structures of the knee are the first to give way.

However, the damage extends past the knee joint. The heel hook also causes damage to the ligaments of the ankle joint, causing a painful break. The reason why this is rarely seen in competition is that the damage to the knee occurs very fast and well beyond that of the ankle joint. With the inverted heel hook, this effect is even more pronounced.

The 4/11 Inverted Heel Hook

Let’s pick up where we left off. You find yourself in a perfect 4/11 position. You have a great triangle, knee on the floor, a grip behind the knee and control of the free leg. Now you’re all set for the inverted heel hook. Well, almost.

The point of controlling someone is breaking their will. Once they know that they can’t escape, only then should you go for the kill. In terms of getting the inverted heel hook from the 4/11 you’ll first need to dig the heel out. Having great control means your opponent is either going to go for your grips or try to hide the foot. To get the correct grip you need to focus on trapping the opponent’s toes between your triceps and latissimus muscle. When trapping the fingers, it is important to make sure that they’re not extending past your armpit. This trapping motion is going to pop the heel right out so you can place your grips.

In terms of grips, there are three major grip combinations for finishing the inverted heel hook. The first is the “generic” heel hook palm to palm grip. It is the “loosest” of the three but the easiest to obtain. Second, you have the butterfly grip which requires you to reach further on your forearms than the palm to palm grip. Finally, there’s the reverse butterfly grip, the tightest and most painful of the bunch.

In order to finish the submission first forget the old school way of twisting your torso. From a tight 4/11 and an even tighter grip, the first thing to look for is to bring your clasped arms towards the center of your chest. Next, tighten your elbows and shrug your shoulder. This will get you a tap in most of the cases. When you’re up against a particularly tough opponent, you might need a bit more work. After you shrug, you’re going to look to lift your hips upwards, using the foot that’s on the floor as a power source. From there, you first think about hip extension and pulling the gripped heel towards your face. Only after all of these checkpoints, you’ll look to twist towards the floor.

Craig Jones DVD — Check Out the Craig Jones – Down Under Leg Attacks DVD and DIGITAL Instructional

How To Have Your BJJ Gi Last Longer

BJJ World

Remember that first UFC event that exposed the world to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu? Two things stood out above anything else that night. First, everyone was amazed at how efficient ground fighting can be. Second, people were surprised to see Royce Gracie come out and compete in a BJJ Gi. The Gi is an essential part of BJJ history, as it was the original attire worn by the founders of the art. Most of the Gracies that competed in the early UFC events or Pride did so wearing a BJJ Gi.

Although the No-Gi scene is growing rapidly, it is still a long way from the Gi competition scene. The BJJ Gi remains the number 1 training tool of most academies worldwide. In today’s world of grappling martial arts, there are literally hundreds of Gi variations to choose from. You could buy a generic white, go for pink or camo, and even have a Gi made out of hemp. It is a whole industry that is based on the intent to sell as much product as it can. However, BJJ Gi’s do not come cheap, and you often need more than one, so you need to really have them last as long as possible.

Buying A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gi

Buying a BJJ Gi is an investment into the grappling martial art of Jiu-Jitsu. It’s a uniform, a tradition, a protective layer. It is also a useful tool to submit and defend against your opponents, and often a sizeable purchase. But whether you spent $40 or $400 on a BJJ Gi, you’ll always want it to last for as long as possible. This, on the other hand, requires constant care.

A Gi will only last only so long before it begins to fray and tears beyond repair. However, there’s no reason that a solid kimono can’t last for at least a few years of regular usage before it gets put out to pasture. For that matter, a strong BJJ Gi can even last for close to a decade. The only condition is to treat it correctly, along with a little training knowledge and a bit of luck. Regardless of how much you spent or how long you’ve been training, give proper care to your Gi. That way you ensure that you’ll get the most out of your purchase.

One of the best ways to ensure your Gi lasts for a long time is just to buy a high-quality heavier Gi. The basic principle is that lighter and thinner fabric is more likely to tear than its thicker counterparts. Although a heavy Gi may be hotter and tougher for some to train and compete in, it’ll almost definitely last longer. Also, remember that most kimonos are heavier and more durable than the pants that come with them. That means you may be looking at purchasing another set of pants long before your heaviest kimonos begin to tear.

Although the price isn’t necessarily an indication of the Gi’s durability and construction, going with an established brand is almost always a safe investment.

How To Properly Wash And Dry A BJJ Gi

Although throwing stuff in a laundry machine may be pretty straightforward for most of your wardrobe, A BJJ Gi is different. There are a few things to keep in mind when washing a Jiu-Jitsu Gi. The first important note actually occurs before you even load the washer. Namely, you always want to allow your Gi time to hang dry after training. Washing your Gi while it’s still drenched in sweat is a good way to give it a permanently funky smell. Allowing it to dry for several hours or overnight will help prevent that.

It’s also best to wash your Gi in cold water to avoid shrinkage. Some people find that adding a splash of white vinegar to each load will help in numerous ways. It is considered to help with cleaning both your Gi and the rest of your workout clothes. In addition, you certainly don’t need to buy specific detergent for a Gi, but using something with powerful stain and smell removers is never a bad idea. They can only help extend the care of your Gi without unwanted side effects.

An important piece of advice is to avoid using a dryer on your BJJ Gi. Although it may say on the kimono that it’s “pre-shrunk,” you’ll soon find that throwing it in the dryer still has a tendency to shrink even further. Simply hang dry it and you should find that it’s ready to wear again in about 20-30 hours. Of course, it all depends on the climate you live in and where you’re hanging it.

It’s also worth keeping your wet Gi away from radiators, heaters, and any other artificial heat source. To check if a Gi is dry, simply feel or squeeze the collar for any dampness.

Taking Care Of Smell

In the event that fresh air drying isn’t enough to prevent your Gi from getting funky, try the white vinegar. Just a splash added to your laundry can provide an extra level of scent protection. If you accidentally left your BJJ Gi in your gym bag or something equally stench-inducing this will definitely help. Soaking a Gi in a mixture of water and white vinegar overnight can often freshen up even the smelliest Gi.

Allowing it to dry in direct sunlight is also helpful against unwanted odor. However, this can also cause discoloration on darker-colored ones and even weaken the fabric a bit. Powerful smell-removing detergents and sprays are also an option.

For a slightly more drastic approach, try adding some hydrogen peroxide to a load of laundry. It can make a white Gi sparkle like it’s brand new. Even better, applying it directly can get rid of blood spots and many other harsh stains. It is admittedly, slightly controversial due to the wear and tears it can put on the materials of a Gi. However, using a little bit of bleach when washing and/or allowing a Gi to dry in direct sunlight can both be effective ways of keeping a white Gi looking cleaner.

How To Safely Shrink A Gi

It’s generally not recommended to attempt to shrink a Gi down to your size. If you simply must do so, begin by washing your Gi in warm (or hot, if you need a lot of shrinkages) water and throwing it in the dryer on the lowest possible setting. Once the lightest dryer cycle is done, try it on. If it’s still a little too big, go ahead and let it finish hang drying since it’ll shrink a little more from that anyway.

If you ordered the wrong size then your Gi might still be way too large even after washing it on warm or hot. In that case, put it in the dryer on a medium or high setting for about 5 minutes at a time. Do this until it’s only a little too big and then hang dry it. You may want to begin this last process at only 3 or 4 minutes in the dryer. remember, it’s better to play it safe and have your Gi a little too big than leaving it in too long and not be able to fit in it.

Eventually, every Gi will reach a point where it’s no longer wearable. Despite that, being smart with how you care for them and use them will keep every Gi in your closet around for a lot longer. With a good rotation and maintenance plan outside of the academy, you won’t have to worry about your Gi when you’re on the mat.

The Best BJJ GIs in 2024

The Art Of Linking BJJ Submissions Together

BJJ World

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is high-level problem solving under extreme stress. For me, Joe Rogan nailed it with this definition. What need to be understood is that this goes both ways. Durig a BJJ roll or a march, both partners are trying to solve a puzzle. One is looking at the problem defensively, while the other is looking to attack. Conversely, one needs to break through the opponent’s defense, and the other to escape and turn the tables. In attacking terms, BJJ submissions are the best way to finish a match, obviously. However, getting them against resisting opponents is no walk in the park.

BJJ is a game of imposing your will on a resisting opponent’s body. To do so you must find a way to break their resistance in order to apply a technique. An opponent who is stronger or more technical, even when caught in a bad spot, is going to stay calm and defend. The end result is going to be muscling out (the stronger ones) or time their escape perfectly (the more advanced ones). In order to be successful in your attack, you need to apply it when you wish. If you attack on terms created by your opponent you’ll most likely fail. So as opposed to just reacting to their defense, you must direct multiple threats towards them.

Principles Of Submission Hunting

Let’s use a simple example to paint a picture. Let’s say you keep going for a guillotine choke from a front headlock position. All the while your opponent is turtled up and has a good wide base. Even more so, they’re defending with both arms, hiding the neck in the process. If you keep forcing a guillotine you’ll most likely burn out trying to open them up and get that choke at all costs.

Everything You Need To Know About The Guillotine Choke: https://bjj-world.com/guillotine-choke-basics-bjj-submission/

However, if you threaten to transition to the back, attacking their turtle position from a different angle, you will elicit a different defense. Their consequent response will, in turn, open up the neck for your original guillotine attack.

In JiuJitsu there are four main ways to make your opponent react to you. you need to understand how to use them in unison when your hunting for BJJ submissions. After blue belt single submission attacks are rarely going to work. Yneedll nee to start chaining your BJJ submission in a system so that you can keep the threat level high. Here’s how to do it:

Kuzushi & Pressure

In Judo “Kuzushi” stands for disbalance. An opponent out of balance is always more open to attacks. They have the choice to let you come on top or to recover balance. In order to recover balance, the need to post a limb and push back against the force causing them to lose their balance. This is how you create a perfect opening for sneaking in BJJ submissions.

Another major factor that precedes BJJ submissions themselves, is pressure. When not addressed, the pressure will drain your opponent of their stamina. The opponent has to create space either by pushing (bad) or framing, bridging and hip escaping. All of these actions expose a limb or their neck to your submission attacks.

Submission Options

The threat of a joint lock blocks your opponent from moving in one direction and gradually forces him into the opposite direction.The opponent has the choice between going in the direction of the force or possibly injuring a limb. When looking to set up an armbar, for example, it’s always good to start trying to get a Kimura first, if you’re on top.

The choke is the king of the BJJ submissions. While a lock can be ignored at the price of possible injury, a properly executed choke has to be addressed. The opponent has the choice between defending their neck or passing out. When they look to defend, all the previously mentioned options (armbar, Kimura and other locks) open up. You just need to keep looking and do not be stubborn with any one move.

How to Attack BJJ Submissions

When fighting in a tournament, where time and points act as an external oppressor, the threat of a sweep or takedown can be largely ignored. This is usually based on your game plan and the duration of the match. Worst case scenario, you’ll only lose position.

Pressure can be also ignored for a good amount of time until you are completely drained. Of curse, handling pressure in the absolute division might not be your best competition strategy.

Which brings us to BJJ submissions. With a joint lock, you still have the ‘choice’ of risking your limb and maybe squeezing out a points victory (granted, at the greatest of costs). However, a properly executed choke is the only threat were all choice is taken away. If you decide to do anything but tap (and early, at that) when caught in a mechanically sound choke, you’ll sleep. There’s no going around it.

In a perfect scenario, you’d get on the mat and choke your opponent right away. However, perfection is a fleeting thing that’s rarely (if ever) attainable, so you’ll have to develop a more realistic strategy.

A Very Tight And Powerful BJJ Submission – The Calf Slicer

Applying Combinations In Competition

When a match starts, you gauge your opponent for a few moments and then manage to hit a takedown. After a short scramble, you land in top side control. That’s the principle of Kuzushi taken care of. From there it’s pressure, pressure, pressure. Pressure is going to take you to the mount, where you hunt for an armbar. Your opponent, however, is experienced in recognizing the armbar. In defense, they and turn at the right moment, managing to get you on your back. That’s when you, as the grappler who’s applying the concept of stringing BJJ submissions together go for the ultimate finish by wrapping a triangle choke. This transitional attack results in the inevitable tap or nap!

Another version, for the more advanced grapplers out there, would be the concept of using a submission threat, one of lesser consequences, as bait ot set up on of the higher ranked threats.

Let’s say you’re on the bottom and have managed to get a single leg X guard. You’re aware that your opponent has an outstanding base. After all, you’ve spent half the match trying to sweep from your open guard anyway.

Once you got that single X perfectly wrapped, you go all out for a spiral sweep. You might even overreach, which will cause your opponent to use all his balancing talent to stay upright. What you managed to accomplish though, by utilizing Kuzushi, is to open up the heel of the leg you have wrapped in the single leg X. This sets you up for a heel hook or a toehold, depending on the rules.

Approach BJJ as the art of deception and you’re submission rate is going to sky-rocket. Use the submission combination system to constantly keep your opponent guessing, while you tap them at will.

The Best Way Of Cutting Weight & Avoiding Common Mistakes

BJJ World

Cutting Weight is very usual in weight class-based sports and BJJ is one of them. As such, competitors are required to weigh within a certain weight limit. The worst reason for getting disqualified even before you enter a tournament is because of being over the weight limit. So, in order for people to be able to compete, they must be on point with their weight. However, most people in competitive sports, especially grappling martial arts, are always looking for even the slightest edge. It might be supreme technical knowledge, an endless gas tank, high-level strategy, or even weight manipulation. With weight manipulation, people tend to look to subtract rather than add. that’s where the weight cut takes place.

Cutting weight for BJJ is a very common practice among grapplers of all kinds of grappling martial arts. It is very common among high school and college wrestlers. Their approach to making weight is to get super heavy over the weekend and then start eating well on Monday. By Wednesday, they’re cutting back on food and water. It goes even further by Thursday when all they have are snacks and sips of water. It stays like that all the way until Saturday and the cycle starts over again. In terms of the weight cut, it is as worse a method as possible.

Weight Cutting In Sports

One common thread that ties most grappling sports together is weight-class-based competition. Consequently, there is the practice of cutting weight for BJJ. However, weight cutting is not a practice that’s solely relegated to grappling and combat sports. It’s also done by jockeys, rowers, and gymnasts. So, if you’re training in a sport where you have to cut weight to compete, makes sure to read on. Even if you’re just dedicated to strength, conditioning, and wellness, it’s still helpful to know how hydration and dehydration can affect your body.

First, let’s look at the science behind an unexpected strategy for cutting weight. Namely, drinking a ton of water and saving your weight cut for the last day is actually better than gradual dehydrating. It doesn’t make sense now, but stick with us and we’ll explain it all. In this case, slow and steady does not win the race.

The Role Of Hormones In Cutting Weight

The key reason behind this big weight-cutting method is an antidiuretic hormone called vasopressin. This hormone plays an essential role in maintaining the water volume in the spaces between your cells.

An important facet of vasopressin’s function is how it reacts to dehydration. Even mild dehydration causes an increase in vasopressin secretion, which stimulates urine concentration. In other words, as soon as you’re even a little bit dehydrated, the body kicks in water conservation mechanisms. On the other hand, a state of super hydration reduces the production of vasopressin. Conversely, your body begins flushing out your excess water through more frequent urination and a higher propensity for sweating. You can see where we’re going with this.

Cutting Weight With Water Strategy

When looking to shed the pounds but keep your strength intact for competition, it is essential to develop a detailed, step-by-step plan. Cutting weight for BJJ is only effective when done correctly.

What you should aim for is to be full and hydrated for about 24 hours out. No need for starvation. A solid nutrition and hydration plan with a hard weight cut the day before will be tough. However, it’s way safer and less torturous than having to go through dehydration for days to little effect. The right approach to cutting weight for BJJ should allow you to stay fresh and energetic during the competition, even (or better said, especially) in the latter stages.

The key is maintaining hydration until about 24 hours before weigh-ins. You have to drink water early and often. Here is a basic water-intake guide, which you can follow leading up to a fight or a match. The method starts from five days out and yields impressive and safe results:

Day 5: drink 2 gallons of water throughout the day
Day 4: reduce to 2 gallons
Day 3: 1 gallon
Day 2: 2 liters
Day 1: 1 liter
Stop all water intake about 16-20 hours before your weigh in, barring occasional small sips
Pre-Weigh-In: A few small sips

Next, you need to sweat, sweat, sweat! But, don’t use passive water-loss strategies like diuretics or Epsom salt baths. These can be dangerous and deplete water from places like joints, leading to poor performance and higher chances of injury. Instead, dress warm and work out. Generate sweat by practicing the skill sets needed for your sport. This way you’re improving while cutting weight for BJJ. You could also go for short sessions in the sauna (no longer than 10 minutes) or a hot tub.

How To Recover From A Weight-Cut

Even more important than your cutting program is how you recover from it. Dehydration is the number one limiting factor in athletic performance. So, in order to be ready to compete, you need an effective recovery strategy.

Remember that after the weigh-in, it’s not just about water. You have to get carbs and consider macronutrient kinetics. This is the speed at which your body absorbs nutrients. That means no fats, fibers, or meat after weigh-ins. These types of products slow down the absorption in your gut. Instead, have liquid carbs and liquid proteins – specifically, fast-digesting carbs that are low in fiber.

One final, interesting bio-phenomenon to consider in you reefed strategy – warm foods. Warm food causes vasodilation, meaning nutrients will absorb faster. Fancy a warm tea, anyone?

Cutting weight for BJJ is never fun, but it certainly shows passion for your sport if you’re willing to put yourself through the experience. What type of strategies do you use and how will you adjust them next time you’re required to step on the scale?

Avoid This Common Mistakes For An Easy Weight Cut

Every edge is more than welcome in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Some people use freakish flexibility to become unpassable and win matches. Others are just insanely strong, and nothing seems to work. Furthermore, there are those grapplers that are so technical that whatever you do has no impact whatsoever. In the constant quest to edge out their opponents, grapplers turn to every little trick in the book. As long as it is not against the rules it is all fair game. That said, some practices have turned into more of the rule than the exception for grappling martial arts competitors. Since most combat sports, BJJ included, are divided into multiple competition categories like for example weight classes. People that compete in grappling are no strangers to the weight cut practice, regardless of the lack of information and numerous potential health hazards.

A weight cut has just one goal – to strip off bodyweight as fast as possible within the shortest amount of time. This practice is as safe as much as it sounds reasonable. Yet it provides grapplers with the added benefit of the weight advantage. Namely, being the heaviest person in a weight class means you can handle most smaller opponents with ease. Well, that’s the working theory, at least. In reality, most people cut weight so it is not uncommon for almost every competitor in a weight class to be near the upper limit. However confusing, people still see the weight cut as a necessity and try to compete in as low a weight class as possible without fainting from exhaustion. As with most things in BJJ you can do weight cut correctly or not. Let’s look at both.

Competition Weight Cut

Cutting weight is not something that is new to the grappling world. Even before BJJ came along wrestlers were doing weight cuts. The practice goes as far as high school wrestlers and there’s not much information on how to do it correctly. Every so-called expert has the right formula while claiming all others are wrong. it is a vicious circle that puts kids and everyone else’s health, at risk.

The first trouble with weight cutting, in general, is first and foremost in the lack of information on performing a correct weight cut. For once, we can’t actually lose much body weight in a period of a few days. Most weight cut strategies revolve around extreme dehydration. Again it is baffling how people still go for weight cuts when it has several impacts on performance levels.

Furthermore, competition frequency plays an even more important role. For wrestlers in season, weight cutting can be potentially deadly because they compete every weekend. With BJJ competitors this is not such an issue, but it still plays a major role. Rebounding from a difficult weight cut every couple of weeks to compete in a high-stress environment is not smart. Coupled with the wrong approach to shedding the pounds you have a recipe for disaster. Ambition and lack of information are the main causes of mistakes in weight cutting. Without knowing it, athletes make their weight loss harder for themselves.

Common Weight Cutting Mistakes

If you’re still dead set on cutting weight after reading this far, then at least do it right. Apart from a few actual nutritionists, like George Lockhart, there is not much prudent information out there. Lockhart’s stuff is great and now easily available on DVD and in E-book format. If you have your own protocol and are stubborn enough to do it, then cut out any mistakes that might cost you dearly. Here are some of the most common mistakes that can turn a weight cut into a disaster:

Commercial Drinks

Commercial sports drinks should be of an athlete’s menu completely to start with. Despite this, lots of grapplers keep drinking sports drinks during their weight cut. The basic idea is that a grappler is going to skip meals but chug a Gatorade before practice. First of all, commercial sports drinks are full of sugar. Those that claim to be sugar-free are the worst, so stay away from them completely. Furthermore, contain a relatively high amount of salt. Salt and sugar actually bind water, which means that they directly counteract your weight-cutting efforts. A good idea is to give them up completely, and an even better one is to ditch them when cutting weight.

Fruits And Vegetables

Do not confuse weight cut with weight loss. Cutting weight is an aggressive and short-term practice that does not last. Weight loss is s slow process that aims to strip weight off and keep it off. There is a big difference in the method of weight loss over a long period of time and the tactics of weight cutting.

Eating an abundance of fruit and vegetables is a smart way to keep yourself feeling full during long-term weight loss. This is a staple of sports nutrition and is a bit of sound advice. However, it is not the right approach for a weight cut. Fruit and vegetables contain a lot of fiber which stays in the intestines for a long time. This means that grapplers who need to cut weight for competition end up with dead weight. This is the last thing an athlete wants before stepping on the scale.

Breakfast Errors

When a competition is far from home grapplers often arrive a day or two early. this means they find themselves exposed to hotel food. In this case, finding the right food to support a weight cut is difficult. Eggs for breakfast is a very common hotel practice and a tempting treat. Actually, eggs are very healthy and contain very high-quality proteins. However, there is no telling how much salt the chef uses. If you can’t ask them to prepare the omelet without salt cool. If not you better skip it and go for something else. The closer your competition day breakfast is to your normal one, the better.

Airplane Meals

When traveling for competition, air travel is the preferred choice for most, depending on the distance. This means that you’ll be confronted with the usual airplane cuisine. SHorter destinations mean just snacks, which is not hard to pass. However, a longer journey means full airplane meals. Airplane food always contains a lot of preservatives and additives which will surely interfere with your weight cut efforts.

Dehydration Timing

Weight cutting can be very stressful, especially before a competitive event. Some grapplers prefer to play it safe and start dehydrating as far as a week before the tournament. This way they reach their weight limit a couple of days before weighing in. It seems a smart way to do things and skip the worrying part. However, any level of dehydration, no matter how small, severely damages performance. It’s better to start dehydration as close to weigh-in as possible. This is going to keep your performance as high as possible and your dehydration levels lower.

George Lockhart Nutrition & Weight Management System DVD/Book
An Easy Nutrition Plan For Grapplers
Drop Weight Fast With This Jiu-Jitsu Workout Program
The Essential Stack Of Supplements for Jiu-Jitsu
Nutritional Guidelines For Going Up A BJJ Weight Class
How To Train Outside Of Jiu-Jitsu To Get In Fighting Shape

The Most Annoying Kind Of BJJ Training Partner

BJJ World

Grappling martial arts are social sports. Nobody can successfully practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu on their own. While it is important for most martial arts, the human factor is even more essential in grappling. There simply is no way for someone to master Jiu-Jitsu, or any grappling martial art, without people to train with. As such, the role of a BJJ training partner is paramount when practicing the Gentle Art. The trick is, that you have as many partners as you have different personalities. While most people tend to stick to the basic etiquette of BJJ, some do manage to go astray.

A BJJ training partner is essential in order to progress in the art. We all need a good BJJ training partner in order to learn moves and get the timing down. This applies in both rolling and in class. Nobody can ever reach black belt level alone. For that matter, nobody can even get a stripe by training solo. We rely on partners, but some partners are often better than others. Grapplers definitely need to train with everybody, but at certain times we need to be careful who we choose. Some partners might be unaware of their traits and a simple talk is going to fix things. Others simply behave that way intentionally and should be avoided until they manage to change. So, do not be that annoying BJJ partner and recognize your flaws in time.

1. The Unaware BJJ Training Partner

This is typically reserved for white belts. This habit has to be broken once you reach a certain level. The unaware newbie is a “space case”. They’ll watch the instructor show a move 5 times excitedly. Then, once it comes time to practice they have no idea even where to start. The unaware newbie will also continue to practice the move beyond time. While the instructor has called the class back to the circle, someone else needs to whistle or call them by name. We need to have these people understand that in many ways Jiu-Jitsu is like school. Hence the term “Jiu-Jitsu Academy”. If you want to get better, you need a certain level of focus. It is actually completely the same as studying any other subject.

2. The “Expert” BJJ Training Partner

This is usually related to the “unqualified “or “unwanted” teachers. These are typically white, blue, and sometimes purple belts who are a little too confident in their knowledge. These people want to re-teach their partner all the details as they practice the move.

These guys may believe they have the credentials for a technique. Many usually have a background in wrestling or Judo, and even many years in Jiu-Jitsu. However, they don’t have the moves down despite their over-confidence. Teaching is the task of a qualified instructor along with the upper belts (purple, brown). This is not to say we can’t help each other but do so within your own limitations. Just ask your instructor about things you are unsure about, that’s why they are there.

3. The Almighty Spaz

This guy is the biggest pain of all and he/she can be almost any belt. This is the person who when practicing a move will automatically defend and stop you from completing the move. What follows is the inevitable question, “why can’t you do the move properly”? Practicing moves with this BJJ training partner gets you almost nowhere. To make matter worse, rolling is no better either worse. When rolling this guy goes 100% start to finish. The finish is very often halfway through, as they gas out fairly quickly. You will learn nothing rolling or drilling with him/her. The reason is that your focus will be merely on surviving without getting injured. Not at all what BJJ is about.

4. Pepé Le Pew

No matter if it’s Gi or No-Gi class, there’s that one training partner that you can smell from across the gym. They are not necessarily dirty, but there is a certain smell to their Gi or other equipment that is unmistakable. While sniffing them out is easy, getting paired with such a BJJ training partner is always difficult. Imagine having to drill North-south escapes with Mr/Mrs. Le Pew on top of you.

Luckily it is often very easy to deal with such characters. It is enough to point out a different Gi washing approach or even recommend a new one. In cases of bad hygiene, there are rules and consequences that apply to everyone in a gym. Do not be afraid to call such a person out, since it can impact the whole academy in a negative way.

Chances are you have met a few (or all types) of these training partners during your time on the mats. We should all work to change this by talking to partners and explaining how we can help each other progress better. The key is working together. And, keep in mind that If you don’t know any of these people than perhaps, you might be one of them.

Best BJJ Strength And Conditioning Resources in 2021

Unwritten BJJ Rules: Commonly Accepted Mat Behavior Guidelines

Common Blue Belt Mistakes Caused By Bad White Belt Habits

Competition Is About Much More Than BJJ Medals

How To Get The Most Out Of BJJ Seminars

BJJ World

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is very much like a puzzle game. When you start training, you start without knowing where the pieces go. Even when you start working towards putting it all together, you’ll often find yourself attempting to force the wrong piece in the wrong spot. Just like with a jigsaw puzzle, though, things start to make sense after awhile. In terms of a guide for solving the puzzle, think of class like that photo of the complete picture. It has all the edges outlined, but you’re the one that needs to figure out exactly how they merge together. So if a class is that photo guide, then BJJ seminars are like markings on certain parts of the puzzle. They not only tell you where the pieces fit but also how to rotate them. But only if you know how to make the most of them.

BJJ seminars are very entertaining events, to say the least. For one they are very long, usually extending past the 4-hour mark. Second, they are, in most cases, very specific. BJJ seminars tend to focus on one single technique or concept or position and go deep into it. This is a perfect opportunity for a more advanced student to fine-tune crucial details. It is also the best tool, apart from competition, for rapid progress in beginners. All in all BJJ seminars are an awesome tool, particularly when they’re approached correctly.

BJJ Seminars In A Nutshell

To start things off, make sure you get enough sleep the night before. Drink plenty of water, and have some quality nutrition. For the seminar itself, show up early, put a Gi or a Rashguard on and warm up. Typically, seminars get right into the meat of technique drilling.

As grappling martial arts seminars last for hours, if your brain or body starts shutting down you will miss out on half of the benefits. Stay loose, active and focused so you get your money’s worth. Don’t get distracted. Always attempt to move around where you can see the technique demonstration clearly.

Furthermore, what you take out of a seminar is depends very much on your choice of a partner. With the right partner, you’ll get the maximum amount of repetitions in. Good partners help you remember and focus on getting all the details right. Between two people paying close attention, there is a good chance that you can assemble somewhat cohesive technique. The details that you do not really get, your training partner might figure out easily and vice versa.

Collaborate with your partner to make sure that between you, you understand all of the details. After working through the technique a few times, ask questions if you need. It’s better to ask “what was the right hand supposed to be doing here again?” than learn incorrect mechanics. While you are the one the technique is being done to, be engaged. Think about if your partner was trying this same move on you during live rolling what you would do. There is a decent chance this exact scenario will happen the next time you roll!

Respecting The Seminar

During a seminar, talking and not drilling is perceived as disrespectful. A top class black belt has traveled all the way to an academy just to share Jiu-Jitsu knowledge. Be mindful. Don’t blindly knock out repetitions. This isn’t the time to mechanically run through the monitions to just chase quantity of reps. Quality is of the utmost importance.

Moreover, if the seminar presenter is demonstrating the move and you get the chance to be the uke, take it! I don’t care if it is a choke and it’s going to hurt. Feel where they shift their weight and pressure, and you’ll know more about the movement than anyone else.

When training BJJ, you should always have a question you are working to answer. After a seminar, there is typically a Q&A portion. The early questions in this section typically center around the moves that were taught that day. Try to ask a question that helps you better understand the techniques.

The Unwritten Rules Of Jiu-Jitsu: https://bjj-world.com/unwritten-bjj-rules/

Training Jiu Jitsu full time is a dream come true for many people. The sacrifice of traveling, staying in hotels, eating out, meeting new people, leaving, and doing it all over again isn’t easy. It takes a toll being away from their families, friends, and their own Academy. Thank whoever hosted the seminar. There is a lot of organization involved in getting a seminar off the ground and they typically end up being break-even type event for a school.

Near the end though, things start to open up a little and the topic broadens. This is a good chance to ask how to pass that annoying variation of guard your main training partner always plays.

Looking For The Bigger Picture

Most seminars show a series of moves based on one particular starting point or position. If you haven’t figured it out on your own, make sure to ask questions like “Why would you choose to do the first move you showed versus another from that position?” You would be surprised how often it is something subtle like the posture of an opponent. These details are crucial for understanding and having success with the techniques you’re learning!

This is also how you “reverse-engineer” what types of counters will shut down your attempt at successfully hitting the technique live. The deeper you find that you think through these options, the better you understand the choices the instructor at the seminar has made. You get a feel as to why they are showing this series.

Try to figure out with your partner, what these types of reactions would mean to the bigger picture. If you don’t understand how to stop one of these counters make sure to ask! It is very often that the presenter explains some small movement that entirely nullifies a counter we all thought was unstoppable.

If you get the chance to roll with students from other schools or the instructor who presented the seminar afterward, do it. The more styles you experience the better.

How To Remember All The BJJ Techniques You Learn: https://bjj-world.com/remember-jiu-jitsu-techniques/

Don’t fall for the trick of thinking that just because the moves were crystal clear in your head when you left the seminar, you will remember them forever. You won’t. With each passing day, you will forget more and more of what was taught.

Putting Everything together After A Seminar

Trying to install these new techniques straight into muscle memory before you forget them forever is a fools game. It is rare that can you accomplish the needed drilling and live repetitions to master every move completely. It is more likely that you’ll start accidentally omitting key details. If you’re focused on drilling seminar material, give it at least a month. Only then can you see how to truly incorporate the material into your game.

Ideally, right after the seminar, when everything is fresh in your head you should try to get it all down on paper. Now anytime you’re working back through it, just pull out your notebook and you’ll have all the important components right in front of you.

Knowing the movements of BJJ seminars in your brain are useless. You have to build these techniques into your muscle memory and subconscious. Try them live, fail, and make corrections. Sometimes the position demanded by the technique doesn’t come up as often, so Ask your partner if you can start in this position to maximize repetitions. From there build up comfort by practicing.

There are only a few ways to drastically improve your Jiu Jitsu, and BJJ seminars are one of them. Come ready to do hard work with a good partner. Ask questions, take notes and drill afterward. It’s the one certain way to solving the BJJ jigsaw puzzle.

1...287288289...349 Page 288 of 349

About Loop Choke

Setting The Loop Choke Up

Top Position

Setting Traps From The Bottom

The Sickest Loop Choke ever made by Alexandre Vieira:

Alexandre Vieira – The Crucifix and Loop Chokes

Related Articles:

Common Competition Etiquette

Takin A BJJ Submission All The Way

The Verdict

Understanding Training

Understanding Overtraining

How To Avoid Overtraining

The 4/11 Position

Heel Hook Mechanics

The 4/11 Inverted Heel Hook

Buying A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gi

How To Properly Wash And Dry A BJJ Gi

Taking Care Of Smell

How To Safely Shrink A Gi

Principles Of Submission Hunting

Kuzushi & Pressure

Submission Options

How to Attack BJJ Submissions

Applying Combinations In Competition

Weight Cutting In Sports

The Role Of Hormones In Cutting Weight

Cutting Weight With Water Strategy

How To Recover From A Weight-Cut

Avoid This Common Mistakes For An Easy Weight Cut

Competition Weight Cut

Common Weight Cutting Mistakes

Commercial Drinks

Fruits And Vegetables

Breakfast Errors

Airplane Meals

Dehydration Timing

1. The Unaware BJJ Training Partner

2. The “Expert” BJJ Training Partner

3. The Almighty Spaz

4. Pepé Le Pew

BJJ Seminars In A Nutshell

Respecting The Seminar

Looking For The Bigger Picture

Putting Everything together After A Seminar