B-Team Breaks Its Own Code: Why Jay Rods Ban Matters More Than Just the Headlines

By
Ognen Dzabirski
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B-Team Breaks Its Own Code: Why Jay Rods Ban Matters More Than Just the Headlines

  • Jay Rods ban from B-Team was confirmed by Craig Jones, citing disturbing locker room behavior and multiple team complaints.

  • B-Team, long known for its laid-back and irreverent culture, took a rare hardline stance.

  • The decision marks a turning point for the team — and possibly the broader culture of elite No-Gi grappling.

Jay Rods Ban: The Facts Behind the Decision

On May 7, Craig Jones publicly confirmed that Jay Rodriguez — also known as J-Rod — had been banned from B-Team Jiu-Jitsu, one of the top No-Gi grappling squads in the world. The announcement followed internal allegations of inappropriate locker room conduct and repeated boundary-crossing interactions with women.

The move came after weeks of behind-the-scenes tension and, according to Jones, multiple complaints from both athletes and staff.

“I made a call to ban him because I don’t want that sort of behavior around anyone in our environment — female or male.”
– Craig Jones

Rodriguez later responded with a social media video denying any malicious intent and characterizing the incidents as misunderstandings. However, he confirmed the ban was real and that he would no longer be representing B-Team moving forward.

“I’ve been removed from B-Team. I still have love for the guys, but I’ll be continuing my training elsewhere.”
– Jay Rodriguez

What makes this story explosive isn’t just that Jay Rods ban happened — it’s that it happened at B-Team.

Why Was Jay Rodriguez Banned from B-Team?

While speculation initially swirled, the reasons behind Jay Rodriguez B-Team ban were explicitly confirmed by B-Team co-founder Craig Jones. The behavior, described in a Craig Jones statement on Jay Rodriguez as “disturbing” and “inexcusable,” created a pattern that the team leadership could no longer overlook.

Though specific details remain confidential, sources close to the situation cited unsolicited and inappropriate interactions with female team members and a disregard for personal boundaries. What raised the stakes, according to Jones, was that this wasn’t a one-off — it was a repeated issue, and one that prompted discomfort among teammates and staff.

In his own words, the decision wasn’t about policing behavior lightly, but about “protecting everyone in the room — male and female alike.”

“There were multiple complaints. I had to take action. We want a safe space for everyone who trains, period.”
– Craig Jones

Why This Isn’t Just Another Scandal

B-Team was created as a countercultural response to the highly structured, ultra-serious world of Danaher’s DDS. It branded itself on freedom: jokes over dogma, vibes over hierarchies, and letting athletes be athletes.

In the public eye, it was a place where you could wear rashguards with memes, crack jokes mid-round, and talk trash in interviews.

Jay Rod himself was a perfect fit: charismatic, youthful, confident, and rising fast. He didn’t come from the polished IBJJF circuit. He came from wrestling, brotherhood, and the new breed of No-Gi charisma.

That’s what makes Jay Rod’s ban so symbolic, because it represents the moment where even B-Team, the self-appointed wild card of modern grappling, had to become the authority.

“We’ve been the ‘fun’ team for a while… but there are some things you can’t overlook, and you have to protect the people in your gym.”
– Craig Jones

In that sense, this isn’t just a story about Jay Rod. It’s a story about the limits of gym culture — and how even those built on looseness and brotherhood are not immune from having to draw the line.

B-Team Jay Rods Ban

From Chaos to Accountability: B-Team Grows Up

In the world of elite jiu-jitsu, locker rooms are often protected spaces, not just for athletes, but for behavior that exists in a gray zone. When Craig Jones and the B-Team created their squad post-DDS, they marketed themselves as everything the old school wasn’t. Less rigid. More fun. No hard rules.

But Jay Rods ban forces a reevaluation of that brand. Can a team still be edgy and inclusive? Can it protect its culture without becoming what it originally pushed back against?

For Jones, the answer appears to be yes — but with new boundaries.

By banning Rodriguez publicly and acknowledging the reasons without euphemism, Jones positioned B-Team not as careless, but as the type of team that can correct itself.

That’s rare in combat sports, where infractions are often covered, minimized, or quietly dealt with. B-Team took a reputational hit by confirming the ban — and maybe that’s what gives the decision credibility.

“We could’ve said nothing. But that’s not leadership. That’s just hiding.”
– Craig Jones

The Aftermath of Jay Rods Ban: What Happens Now?

Jay Rodriguez is one of the most talented young grapplers in the sport. His breakout at ADCC 2022 turned heads. His pace, aggression, and wrestling-forward game made him a prospect to watch.

But Jay Rodriguez’s ban from B-Team places him in limbo — too talented to ignore, but too radioactive for easy reintegration. He says he’ll continue training and competing, and it’s likely smaller gyms or international camps will welcome him. But the door to elite American teams may be closed, at least for now.

Meanwhile, B-Team has undergone a quiet but real shift. What started as a loose brotherhood of heel-hooking misfits now faces the responsibility of preserving the environment it built, especially as more women, teens, and newcomers walk through its doors.

Craig Jones didn’t just kick someone out. He drew a line. And that changes what B-Team represents going forward.

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Simpler, Better? New Chris Haueter BJJ Belt System With Only 3 Levels

By
BJJ World
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Simpler, Better? Chris Haueter BJJ Belt System With Only 3 Levels
  • Chris Haueter proposes a simplified BJJ belt system with only three levels: Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.
  • The veteran black belt proposes the Chris Haueter BJJ belt system because the current multi-color progression leads to ego-driven confusion.
  • Known for creating the BJJ belt gauntlet (which he now regrets), Haueter says it’s time to return to functional, purpose-driven jiu-jitsu.

Chris Haueter’s Radical Proposal: Less Belt, More BJJ

In a recent interview and follow-up social media posts, Chris Haueter — one of the original 12 American black belts and a respected voice in BJJ for decades — suggested what many might consider sacrilege: scrapping the traditional five-tier jiu-jitsu belt system in favor of just three basic levels.

The Chris Haueter BJJ belt system proposal is straightforward:

  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Advanced

Forget stripes. Forget blue, purple, brown. In Haueter’s words, these divisions distract from the essence of grappling: function over form.

“Let’s just go Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced. That’s all that matters. Everything else is ego and marketing.”
– Chris Haueter

It’s not the first time a high-level black belt has questioned the utility of the traditional system. But coming from someone who’s spent over 30 years inside it — and helped shape parts of it — this idea lands differently.

New Chris Haueter BJJ Belt System

Why Scrap a System That “Works”?

To many practitioners, especially in commercial academies, the belt system isn’t just a roadmap — it’s a retention tool, a motivational ladder, and in some cases, a business model. Belts give structure. They give milestones. And they give coaches a system for measuring progress across thousands of students.

But Haueter isn’t wrong when he says the system also feeds vanity.

In his view, belts have become currency — used to sell memberships, build hierarchies, and gatekeep knowledge. And as jiu-jitsu spreads globally and more academies tailor BJJ belt promotions to students’ wallets rather than mat hours, the integrity of the belt system is increasingly under scrutiny.

“We say BJJ is about humility and technique — but the first thing people ask is what color belt you are. What does that tell you?”
– Chris Haueter

The Chris Haueter BJJ belt system proposal strips all of that away. Instead of color-coded identity, it focuses on functional ability. Can you hold your own with a certain level of resistance? Can you control, escape, submit — under pressure?

That’s the test. Not the patch on your waist.

The Man Who Gave Us the Gauntlet — And Regrets It

Haueter isn’t new to controversy. In fact, one of his biggest regrets — which he’s publicly shared — is the invention of the BJJ belt gauntlet, the tradition where newly promoted students run a line of peers who whip them with their belts.

Though intended as a rite of passage, the practice has become widely criticized for promoting hazing and physical harm.

“God, I wish I would’ve never started that. It was supposed to be funny — not tradition. And now it’s a mess.”
– Chris Haueter

That context matters. Haueter is not just a rebel; he’s someone reflecting critically on his own contributions to BJJ culture. His call to reduce the belt system to three levels isn’t an act of rebellion — it’s an act of course correction.

It’s a reminder that systems evolve. And maybe it’s time jiu-jitsu evolved again.

Chris Haueter Gauntlet BJJ

The Simplicity Argument: A Cleaner Path to Mastery

There’s something compelling about a system that refuses to micromanage progress. In Haueter’s version, “Intermediate” could mean anywhere from a blue belt with 8 months of mat time to a purple belt with 5 years. The point isn’t when you’re promoted — it’s how you roll.

That would force instructors to focus on technical development, not stripe count. It would challenge students to earn confidence through performance, not perception. And it might help dismantle the inflated value some attach to belt color over actual effectiveness.

“I don’t need a belt color to know who can choke me. I need a mat.”
– Chris Haueter

Is this practical for large schools? Maybe not. Is it marketable? Definitely not. But that may be Haueter’s point. BJJ was never supposed to be a franchise-friendly hobby. It was a martial art rooted in solving problems with skill.

Maybe the Chris Haueter BJJ belt system is just a return to that idea.

Chris Haueter BJJ Belt System: Do we Dare Hope? 

Whether or not his 3-level proposal catches on, Haueter’s suggestion adds fuel to a conversation that’s already underway in many corners of the BJJ world.

Some instructors have already moved to no-belt or rashguard ranking models, especially in no-gi academies. Others have implemented performance-based testing or removed promotions entirely from scheduled classes.

But most are still working within the colored belt progression in BJJ — one that balances culture, expectation, and business.

For now, it’s unlikely that the Chris Haueter BJJ belt system will become the norm. But his call for simplicity is loud and timely. And even if it doesn’t reshape BJJ overnight, it just might force a long-overdue conversation.

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Aggressive Spider Guard Johnny Tama DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
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Aggressive Spider Guard Johnny Tama DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A Gi Jiu-Jitsu DVD rich with plenty of details on all crucial parts that make the spider guard effective.
  • Contains a full tour of the spider guard, from guard pulls, through sweeps and submissions to drills.  
  • Offers a concept on how to create hybrid guards with the spider that fit your game. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 9 out of 10.

AGGRESSIVE SPIDER GUARD JOHNNY TAMA DVD AVAILABLE HERE:

Aggressive Spider Guard Johnny Tama DVD Preview
WATCH THE TRAILER: Aggressive Spider Guard Johnny Tama DVD

Learning the spider guard requires time and dedication. Learning select parts of the spider guard to improve your game requires the same, just less. So why doesn’t everyone pick parts of the spider guard and kick-start their guards?

The issue most grapplers find when trying to deconstruct the spider guard lies with the ‘select’ part of my statements above. It is difficult to know what portions of the guard to integrate in a specific game if you don’t have all the details. Well, the Aggressive Spider Guard Johnny Tama DVD has them and does a great job explaining them for you.

Can you Play This Guard? 

The spider guard is a tricky one. It is an effective guard, but it is also one of the most difficult ones to master, because of several key factors. The first, of course, is the specific use of the Gi.

Spider guard classes usually mean sore fingers and knuckles for days, and many people tend to half-ass their efforts during class precisely because of this reason. The result is a failure to make anything work, due to the lack of effort put in.

Another thing that often scares people away from the spider guard is the coordination requirements. Believe it or not, everyone is not suited to use their hips, arms, and spine in the complex patterns that the spider guard demands. If motion is an issue, pursuing more complicated attacks from the guard is futile.

Finally, there is the No-Gi elephant in the room, as most grapplers tend to favor a like-for-like (or as close as possible) replacement for a Gi guard in No-Gi. There are ways to play the spider guard in No-Gi, but they only work if you understand the Gi version. That’s what the Aggressive Spider Guard Johnny Tama DVD is here for.

BJJ History Maker Johnny Tama

Not many people this side of the 21st century manage to do historical feats in BJJ, since most of the first have already been achieved. Not Johhny Tama, though, who found a way to carve his name in the anals of Brzilian Jiu-Jitsu as the first Spanish man to conquer a black belt world title in the adult divisions.

An alliance representative and a very smart and experienced competitor, Tama has been involved in BJJ since 2009, competing more in the last 16 years than most people will in their lifetime.

Johnny has the bling to show for it, too. So far, he is a World champ in No-Gi under IBJJF and SJJIF, Gi world champ in SJJIF, F2W champion, Pans silver medalist, and winner of dozens of titles in regional and national tournaments.

Style-wise, he has a knack for the traditional. Understandable, given that his mentor, and the person who awarded him his black belt, is Juan Miguel Iturralde from the Fabio Gurgel lineage. Known for his super precise guard game, the Johnny Tama Spider Guard DVD offers a glimpse into what the Ecuadorian does when his back is on the mats.

Aggressive Spider Guard Johnny Tama DVD Review

The Aggressive Spider Guard Johnny Tama DVD contains four volumes, each lasting about 30 minutes. The instructional is Gi+specific given the subject, and follows a very well-structured progression from basics to more complex stuff:

Part 1 – Pulling Spider & Retention

In true traditional BJJ style, Tama goes straight for the guard pull in the first chapter of the Aggressive Spider Guard Johnny Tama DVD. All guard pulling jokes aside, the details are spectacular, and accompanied by a variety of drills to speed up the learning.

Once down, Johnny immediately pays attention to retention as the key guard parameter to focus on. He plays it very safe, looking for the spider lasso as fast as possible after the guard pull.

Some specific pass defenses follow, with the Toreando and track pass getting most of the attention, though there is a mention of over-under and the knee slice as well.

Part 2 – Submissions 

Part two of the Aggressive Spider Guard Johnny Tama DVD is all about finishing. While this portion contains all submissions directly available from the guard, it focuses heavily on the Omoplata.

In fact, most of the half an hour of material in this volume explores different Omoplata variations, some of which are paired into crazy+effective combinations. Two such pairings involve the Canto choke and a lapel finish, respectively.

The usual follow-ups that include triangles and armbars also feature, albeit in just a couple of chapters. Tama goes over each of these two submissions in detail, but also offers a very interesting way to attack them simultaneously.

Part 3 – Sweeps & Combo Attacks

The game plan that builds up volume after volume in the Johnny Tama Spider Guard DVD gets even more defined in this portion. AS tama introduces off-balancing, sweeps, and hybrid guards start to appear, providing the complexity which the spider guard is infamous for.

The X+guard hybrid is up first, a proven method that is easy to get from a double sleeve spider guard, and even easier to sweep from. Several sweeps feature here, with Tama providing a nice organization of them by assigning each a letter( A, B, and C, in this case).

Toward the final third of this volume, the game appears as Johnny glues together the submission combinations and Omoplata madness with the sweeps and hybrid guards. I like that he doesn’t just go through loops, but rather does one-two combinations with the moves in his game.

Part 4 – Advanced Spider Guard

The final part of this Johnny Tama DVD instructional focuses on more combinations, mostly aimed towards those with a bit more experience under their belt. The entire instructional is aimed at white to purple belts, with this final volume intended mostly for the latter.

Some interesting variations of the spider guard appear here, such as the tarantula guard and the kiss of the spider. Tama went deep into the spider guard and came up with some great options that are not taught in your everyday spider guard class.

I’d point out the reverse triangle entry off of a loading over sweep as the combination to master. The added spider lasso options were also quite enjoyable to explore.

Details Matter More Than Techniques

The best part about spider guard is that you don’t have to play it and know everything bout it in order to use it. You can just take bits and pieces, asl long as they make sense, of course, and apply them to your own game.

That is why the spider guard might only be second to the De la Riva in terms of hybrid guard options – it is super easy to just throw a spider hook on the biceps and see what happens. When you get to know the details behind that hook, where it leads, and what you can create with it, you’ll start wondering why you’ve been shining the spider all this time.

The Aggressive Spider Guard Johnny Tama DVD contains said details. In fact, this DVD is all too much about spider guard details than a game, which his different, and exactly what the doctor ordered for those who enjoy exposing their knuckles to porrada only occasionally.

Aggressive Spider Guard Johnny Tama Free DVD Sample
FREE DVD CONTENT: Aggressive Spider Guard Johnny Tama

DOWNLOAD HERE: AGGRESSIVE SPIDER GUARD JOHNNY TAMA DVD 

Weave the Web!

The spider guard, much like a spiderweb, has many moving components to it that all lead to the same inevitable end. If you’d like your opponents to discover what flies already known so well, then the Aggressive Spider Guard Johnny Tama DVD is for you. Even if you don’t like playing the guard – I don’t and I found some real gems in this one.

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[WATCH] Mackenzie Dern Teaches Hawk Tuah Choke at Poker Event, Fans Go Wild!

By
Ognen Dzabirski
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[WATCH] Mackenzie Dern Teaches Hawk Tuah Choke at Poker Event, Fans Go Wild!

  • Watch as Mackenzie Dern teaches Hawk Tuah choke at the Celebrity Poker Tour event in Las Vegas.

  • The impromptu BJJ lesson followed a playful moment where Hailey Welch (“Hawk Tuah Girl”) jokingly tried to choke NFL great Adrian Peterson.

  • The viral crossover between a UFC star and a TikTok icon sparked major engagement — and showed MMA’s growing pop culture footprint.

Internet Erupts as Mackenzie Dern Teaches Hawk Tuah Choke

The 2025 Celebrity Poker Tour stop in Las Vegas was already stacked with famous faces — but it was a moment between UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern and viral TikTok star Hailey Welch that completely stole the show.

In between poker hands, Welch — better known online as the “Hawk Tuah Girl” — jokingly reached over and tried to choke former NFL MVP Adrian Peterson in a lighthearted attempt at intimidation. Cameras rolled. The room laughed. And then Mackenzie Dern stepped in.

Smiling, Dern calmly approached Welch and began showing her the proper mechanics of a rear-naked choke. Welch listened, laughed, and tried to replicate the move on Peterson — this time with more precision.

“Don’t just squeeze — trap the neck, get under the chin. You want leverage, not just strength.”
– Mackenzie Dern

That moment — caught on video and posted across Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter — went viral within hours.

A UFC Fighter and a Meme Walk Into a Poker Room

Mackenzie Dern, a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and longtime UFC contender, has always carried her grappling roots proudly into the Octagon. But she rarely gets the chance to display her skillset in front of an audience that isn’t already steeped in MMA culture.

Hailey Welch, on the other hand, became internet-famous in 2024 after her comedically exaggerated southern drawl and phrase “you gotta hawk tuah on it” spread across TikTok like wildfire. She vanished for a while, avoiding interviews and branding deals — but the Celebrity Poker Tour appearance marked her return to the spotlight.

Their collision was unexpected, entertaining, and oddly endearing.

“I didn’t know what I was doing, but she [Dern] made it seem easy — now I feel like I could take somebody down for real.”
– Hailey Welch

While most expected celebrities to mingle, pose for cameras, and gamble, no one anticipated a legitimate grappling lesson on the floor of a Vegas poker room.

Inside the Celebrity Poker Tour Moment

Held at The Venetian, the Celebrity Poker Tour stop was a mix of athletes, influencers, poker pros, and media personalities. Dern and Welch were both featured guests, seated at separate tables but often drifting around to interact with others.

Adrian Peterson, playing a hand nearby, had become a running joke among players for his competitive poker face. Welch leaned in and mock-choked him, prompting Peterson to dramatically fall back in his chair and say:

“Somebody better teach her how to do that right — before she hurts herself.”
– Adrian Peterson

Enter Mackenzie Dern.

With a combination of calm instruction and light-hearted humor, she gave Welch a 30-second tutorial in proper choking mechanics — earning applause and laughter from those watching, including a few fellow UFC fighters in attendance.

The moment wasn’t rehearsed. It wasn’t brand-sponsored. And that’s likely why it resonated so quickly with fans.

UFc Mackenzie Dern Teaches Hawk Tuah Choke

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In a sport as intense as MMA, rare moments of levity can cut through the usual chaos — especially when they involve someone like Mackenzie Dern. She’s known for her high-level grappling, toughness, and aggression inside the cage, but outside of it, she’s approachable and fun.

For fans of both MMA and internet culture, the Hailey Welch choke crossover offered something unique: a real athlete showing respect and encouragement to a non-athlete in a way that felt genuine, not promotional.

“This is the kind of thing that grows jiu-jitsu — not just fights, but moments like this where people get curious, have fun, and feel welcomed.”
– Onlooker via Reddit

It’s also a sign of how combat sports are continuing to blend with digital culture — reaching new audiences not through highlight reels, but through human, unscripted moments.

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The Leg Riders Blueprint Aaron Nagao DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
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The Leg Riders Blueprint Aaron Nagao DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A wrestling DVD taht goes over teh most effective ways to break down people from the all fours (referees) position.
  • Features: tilts, turns, leg rides, Nelsons, claw rides, thigh prys, and a bunch of effective breakdown staples.   
  • Contains essential cross-body and crab rides details essential for BJJ back attacks. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 7 out of 10. 

LEG RIDERS BLUEPRINT AARON NAGAO DVD GET HERE

The Leg Riders Blueprint Aaron Nagao DVD Preview
FULL TRAILER HERE: The Leg Riders Blueprint Aaron Nagao DVD

Leg riding is not a novel thing in BJJ anymore, but that doesn’t mean people know how to set them up properly and effectively. Rides are super-reliable ways of ensuring your opponent can’t shake you off and stand up, but they do come with conditions that define their effectiveness.

A few of these conditions, mostly in the setup portion of leg rides, are the main focus of the Leg Riders Blueprint Aaron Nagao DVD. It is a great resource to help you find effective and simple ways to force people to lie down on the mat and stop them from getting up with ease. Yeah, I know, that’s exactly what you needed.

The Art of Breakdown to Turn

These two terms are likely unfamiliar to the everyday BJJ practitioner, yet they’re staples of any wrestling class anywhere around the world. While not every aspect of wrestling is applicable to BJJ, there are those that are indispensable once you figure out that they work like a charm.

It just so happens that takedowns are the least transferable things to BJJ. If you’re looking at wrestling to expand your grappling game, mat work, along the lines of mat returns, breakdowns, tilts, rides, and turns should be at the top of your list.

Since wrestlers are the most difficult grapplers to hold down, teh solution to this problem lies, of course, in wrestling. There are numerous ways to break down an opponent who is defying a pin and attempting to stand up, some of which involve turning and rolling as the main means to an end.

It takes most wrestlers years to figure these things out through constant practice, but you can shorten that timespan significantly by looking at the condensed options presented in the Leg Riders Aaron Nagao instructional.

Young Wrestling Phenom Aaron Nagao 

I love how we’re seeing wrestling experts as coaches in BJJ more and more these days. I’ve always claimed that we can learn a lot from anyone, regardless of sport or age, and Aaron Nagao is the perfect example in support of my approach.

The redshirt junior Penn State star is one of the best young grapplers who will undoubtedly do big things in combat sports, as long as he can keep away from injuries. After sustaining a long-term injury early last year, he had to undergo surgery, but the All-American has made a full recovery now.

With a list of titles in the NCAA and a bunch of record achievements in his wrestling career so far, Aaron decided to try and share some of his knowledge as he was recovering from his injury. Already reaping results on the mats this season, his Leg Riders Blueprint Aaron Nagao DVD provides a valuable insight into how he does some of his best mat work.

The Leg Riders Blueprint Aaron Nagao DVD Review

The hour-and-a-half-long Leg Riders Blueprint Aaron Nagao DVD is a three-part wrestling instructional that covers a subject rarely taught and explored in BJJ. Seeing as breakdowns and turns are precursors to rides, this is exactly the DVD you need to skyrocket your pinning and control success:

Part 1 – The Thigh Pry Grip

When attacking the referee’s position in wrestling (it’s obvious how this translates to BJJ), rides are a great way to get the back to the mats for that all-important pin. The grip that allows for most rides to work is the infamous thigh pry, something we don’t really do in BJJ, but should.

In the first, fairly short part of the Leg Riders Blueprint Aaron Nagao DVD, the focus is on the thigh pry and the claw grip, and how to attach to the opponent’s hips so that you can attack their legs with rides. The spiral ride, a common, simple option and an easy-to-get ankle ride, eases you into the concept and motions.

Part 2 – Breakdowns 

The more direct way to use rides, especially leg rides, is to break the opponent on all fours to the mats. Breaking them down involves at least one shoulder and hip to touch the mats, something covered in great detail in the Aaron Nagao Leg Riders DVD.

Aaron uses many different techniques to achieve the breakdown, not all of which are really applicable to BJJ. However, most of the things he shows are very valuable, especially against he modern, super-annoying defensive turtle system. All the half Nelson moves, the figure four spread, the Broomstick, and the reverse bundle are tailor-made for Jiu-Jitsu.

Part 3 – Turns

Saving the best for last, the most attractive way, which is also the most technical, to break opponents down, appears in the final volume of the Leg Riders Blueprint Aaron Nagao DVD. Here, Nagao goes over different random tilts and turns first, with the Shultz turn your best bet for BJJ.

About half of the volume focuses on the cross-body ride, which is a kind of twister-like position and is super helpful for Jiu-Jitsu grapplers. Tilts, roll thoughts, and turns are the main options explored from the cross body, introducing a very effective and different way to attack the back.

The Leg Riders Blueprint Aaron Nagao Watch Free DVD Sample
SEE A FREE SAMPLE: Leg Riders Blueprint Aaron Nagao DVD

DOWNLOAD HERE: LEG RIDERS BLUEPRINT AARON NAGAO DVD

Attaching vs. Pinning

The one thing we get wrong in BJJ when it comes to holding people down is that we get caught up in the complexities of our overly elaborate positions. Thinking that the key moment in side control is the angle at which you hold the bottom person’s lapel is common among people who’ve never had to hold down a wrestler.

If you truly want to learn how to guide people where you want them to go in grappling, try to impose your game on a wrestler. Since most of you will fail miserably, let me offer a general concept that I found very useful.

Instead of only thinking of pinning as control, think of your attachment relative to the opponent’s body as a means of control as well. Namely, holding a front headlock from the knees is not a pin, but it does a great job at controlling someone. The same happens in an Ashi Garami, a Kimura grip, or the Truck position.

Such attachments that allow you to follow someone through many different planes of motion while not losing your position are what inevitably lead to a pin or submissions. It is also something wrestlers train constantly, while we in BJJ largely ignore it. The Aaron Nagao Leg Riders DVD can fix this for you.

Ride On!

Rides are becoming a very useful tool in BJJ lately, largely as a result of Craig Jones and the B-team, who use them constantly, and with great effect in their games. There are plenty of other similar aspects of wrestling, though, that we can use to improve our BJJ. The Leg Riders Blueprint Aaron Nagao DVD offers some of those, such as breakdowns, turns, and tilts. Wrestlers swear by them for mat returns, and now you can see exactly what that is.

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Why Did New Wave Jiu-Jitsu Rebrand as Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu?

By
Ognen Dzabirski
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Why Did New Wave Jiu-Jitsu Rebrand as Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu?
  • New Wave Jiu-Jitsu has rebranded as Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu, with a new identity and revised online presence.
  • The New Wave Jiu-Jitsu rebrand reflects a deeper strategic move away from the branding orbit of Gordon Ryan and John Danaher.
  • As Gordon Ryan launches a separate New Wave HQ in Austin, Kingsway appears to be carving out its own future — quietly, but definitively.

A New Name, Rolled Out Quietly — But Deliberately

The transition didn’t come with a press conference or YouTube documentary. There was no public statement from John Danaher, no back-and-forth on social media. Instead, the BJJ world simply woke up one morning and noticed something was gone.

The “New Wave Jiu-Jitsu” Instagram bio had been changed. The logo on the wall was different. In its place: Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu — the new official name of one of the most talent-rich, tournament-hardened no-gi teams in the world.

The change was confirmed in a muted post on the academy’s website, simply titled “New Wave Jiu-Jitsu Rebrands as Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu”. No mention of drama, no trace of tension. Just an announcement and a new name.

“Our mission remains the same — to elevate the art of grappling through detailed instruction, elite-level competition, and the cultivation of a world-class training environment.”
– Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu

But if the tone was calm, the implications were anything but.

Danaher Gordon Ryan New Wave Jiu-Jitsu Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu

Why Rebrand Now?

The timing and tone of the rebrand suggest a move that’s far more strategic than aesthetic.

While the Kingsway team didn’t state any specific reason for dropping the New Wave name, several indicators point to a quiet but intentional decoupling from Gordon Ryan’s branding orbit — and possibly from John Danaher’s sphere as well.

This rebrand comes just as Gordon Ryan announced the opening of his own New Wave HQ in Austin — using the same team name but positioning it as a new flagship location for his competitive career. While the new HQ shares lineage with the original New Wave, it’s already operating with a separate identity, coaching staff, and roster.

That leaves Kingsway, formerly New Wave, to reestablish itself on its own terms — and with its own identity.

“It’s a name that’s tied to our history, our street, and where we’re growing. It’s time for something that reflects our direction — not someone else’s.”
– Kingsway insider (via Instagram comments)

The Unspoken Distance: Danaher, Ryan, and the Shift in Power

John Danaher has made no public statement on the rebrand — a conspicuous silence for someone so historically central to the team’s image and formation. Meanwhile, Gordon Ryan continues to operate under the New Wave banner at his own facility, with his own branding materials and sponsorships.

Whether this is a formal split or a soft divergence isn’t clear. But what is clear is that Kingsway is now presenting itself as independent — not just from New Wave in name, but from the figures who once defined it.

This isn’t the first major team split in modern BJJ. The Danaher Death Squad’s dissolution in 2021 led to the formation of New Wave and B-Team, both of which thrived under new identities. But this latest move feels less explosive — more like a strategic pivot than a fracture.

Kingsway is choosing not to position itself as a Gordon Ryan satellite. It’s quietly moving out from under the shadow of a brand — and perhaps a leadership structure — that no longer aligns with its goals.

A Clean Break and a Tactical Reset

The name “Kingsway” may sound simple, but it’s deliberate. It’s the name of the street the gym is located on, but it also implies leadership, pathfinding, and identity. And it’s a stark contrast to the often chaotic history of team names in modern no-gi BJJ — where gyms dissolve, merge, or rename amid social media battles.

Kingsway’s approach is refreshingly unambiguous. The gym is now operating under new signage, with updated branding across platforms, and without relying on any celebrity-driven push.

The quiet rollout itself may be part of the strategy. In a sport where hype and controversy dominate attention cycles, Kingsway is choosing control, clarity, and long-term credibility.

“We’re not here to compete on Instagram. We’re here to build something that lasts — with or without the spotlight.”
– Kingsway student

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Gordon King Ryan (@gordonlovesjiujitsu)

What This Means for Elite No-Gi Grappling

Kingsway isn’t a brand new Gordon Ryan BJJ team — it’s just wearing a new name. The talent hasn’t changed. The standard hasn’t dropped. But the positioning has shifted. Kingsway is no longer New Wave, and it’s not pretending to be.

This rebrand could mean several things:

  • A more collaborative coaching structure
  • A formal split in athlete pipelines
  • A clearer competitive identity at ADCC and beyond

Most importantly, it signals that the team is thinking about the next five years, not just the next superfight. Kingsway isn’t abandoning its roots. It’s just planting them somewhere it controls.

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Fix Your Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
-
Fix Your Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A Gi Jiu-Jitsu instructional that delivers a movement-based analysis of the half guard. 
  • Contains detailed instructions on setting up sweeps, submissions, and transitions to and from different guards.   
  • Includes a full volume dedicated to passing the half guard and mastering the to half guard game.  
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 9 out of 10. 

FUNDAMENTALS HALF GUARD JARED WELMAN DVD GET HERE

Fix Your Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman DVD Preview
WATCH THE TRAILER: Fix Your Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman DVD

The Fix Your Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman DVD is an instructional that covers things you already ‘know’ how to do from the half guard through a different perspective.  Jared is an expert in movement who looks at how the body moves first, and the applications of that movement to grappling second.

Having a legit BJJ black belt who understands movement better than Ido Portal, blending the two together is the best combo you can look for in a coach. For those not lucky enough to train at Berrnardo Faria’s academy, where Wleman teaches, his DVDs are the best alternative.

When to Simplify Your Jiu-Jitsu

At some point during your Jiu-Jitsu journey, you’ll find that you inevitably have to go back to fundamentals. One thing I’ve come to terms with, though, is that the bunch of people who will do anything despite the fundamentals, no matter how hard I try, are white belts.

This, in turn, means that unfortunately, most of teh fundamentals are learned later in Jiu-Jitsu, and in one of a few very common scenarios:

  • You hit a plateau with your game, and suddenly find the answer in super basic stuff.
  • You think you’re advanced, but somehow, things that work against people your belt level and above are only the fundamentals “you don’t use in your game”.
  • You are actually advanced enough to see that the fundamentals hold more answers than everything else put together.
  • You’re coming back from a serious injury and have to train with a handicap (it is how the half guard was invented, actually).
  • You found out the hard way that your ‘competition game’ does not work in a competition setting.

There are more situations and examples, of course, but these are some that most people will go through. Notice that I never mentioned that you’ll be doing fundamentals because your instructor asks you.

So, for those in one of the above scenarios, or those open-minded enough to want to learn the motion behind Jiu-Jitsu techniques, the Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman DVD is obviously your next smart investment in BJJ.

Movement Specialist Jared Welman

Not many black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu truly understand movement. I get it, grappling is their specialty, but when you think about the fact that grappling is just another way of movement, albeit more complete than daily activities, you want someone to cover that aspect of BJJ.

Among the few that can offer such a perspective is Jared Welman, a black belt under Bernardo Faria. Welman has dedicated his life to studying movement and the mechanics of the human body, which gives him a better edge in Jiu-Jitsu than any super-strong and athletic, roided-out blue belt.

With extensive experience in Yoga and another black belt in taekwondo, Jared knows more about the human body in standing, seated, and supine positions than probably anyone else involved in our sports.  The Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman DVD is going to be a viewing experience like no other for you, especially if you like to base your game around fundamental motion principles.

Fix Your Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman DVD Review

The Fix Your Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman DVD is a very well-organized and slow-paced GI instructional that looks into other half guard positions through exploring how movement patterns apply to grappling. It is divided into four volumes and has a total running time of two and a half hours.

Part 1 – Submitting

The Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman DVD is one of the best formatted BJJ instructionals I’ve had the pleasure of watching. He defines the half guard position in the opening chapter and decides to start from the end, submitting people.

Without talking too much about the mechanics and body positioning for half guard, he allows you to figure out your best half guard by explaining how you can submit the top person with one of your legs in between theirs.

True to the title, there is no fancy stuff in here. Welman sticks to the fundamentals that work, such as the Kimura, armbar variations, and a couple of collar chokes. Everything is perfect for both beginners and seasoned black belts, especially since he delivers it from the movement angle.

Part 2 – Sweeping

Part two moves on to more complex movement patterns, which see you end up on top of your opponent. In the sweeps volume of the Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman DVD covers two types of sweeps.

The first series of sweeps involves moving yourself and your opponent sideways, a.k.a. sweeping, as most people think of from the half guard. Simplciity reigns again, with the options revolving around kick out, flower, and everyone’s favourite John Wayne sweeps.

Another, more modern and highly applicable way of sweeping from half guard is weretling up, and it appears in the second portion of this volume. Jared covers wrestling up to single leg, with mid-way point sweeps or follow-up takedowns taking you to the top position via the longer route.

Part 3 – Transitioning

This third part of the Jared Welman Half Guard DVD is where most guard players who like to complicate things will find simple solutions for their goals. Welman explores how to best stitch up several different half guards together into a game, dedicating a lot of time to the deep half.

He also moves out of the half guard, recognizing that it is not the ultimate bottom position to use, and introduces routes to and from other open guards. All the popular kids don’t have he block, such as the X guard, some lapel guards, and the butterfly guard get their time under the sun.

Part 4 – Passing

Finally, Jared goes over something that most guard instructionals don’t cover, which I find disappointing – ways to beat the system. Every time someone offers counters to their game, you know it is legit.

So, the final part of the Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman DVD is all about playing half guard form the top, with the goal of passing to the mount or back. Plenty of different passes feature, with the Eagle Pass standing out from the bunch. Most of the others are clearly inspired by Jared’s coach, Bernardo Faria.

Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman Watch Free DVD Sample
SEE A FREE DVD SAMPLE: Fix Your Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman

DOWNLOAD HERE: JARED WELMAN HALF GUARD DVD

No Half Guard – No BJJ!

Two things are certain in BJJ. First, you’ll get beat up regularly, from the day you join to the day you hang up your belt. Second, you’ll play guard a lot, and especially when you don’t want to play it. You’ll also play guard variations that are probably not your choice, or the most modern thing to do in BJJ when you’re on bottom.

The half guard is the perfect example of this. I don’t care how experienced you are, what you rage is, or whether you only roll Gi or No-Gi – you have a half guard variation in your game. If it is not by choice, it is there because of necessity, but it is there nonetheless.

Since you’re going to spend lots of time in half guard, you might as well go for what’s effective rather than winging it. The Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman DVD offers easy-to-follow instructions to figure out how to get out of it quickly by attacking, or develop a solid game to enjoy the advantages this position brings. That’s down to you.

Half Guard Fixes! 

Others won’t be able to fix your half guard, but they can give you ideas and directions on how to do it yourself. Going through the Fix Your Fundamentals Half Guard Jared Welman DVD is more than enough to find quick fixes for any troubling aspect of the half guard and come up with simple solutions that you can use for life. Or overcomplicate things, if you’re a purple belt.

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Tom Hardy Names The Smother Submission in BJJ As His Favorite

By
BJJ World
-
Tom Hardy Names The Smother Submission in BJJ As His Favorite

  • Actor Tom Hardy says the smother submission in BJJ is his favorite finishing move, calling it “absolutely humiliating” and “delightfully primal.”

  • Hardy continues to compete in grappling tournaments across the UK, showing real commitment to the sport.

  • His submission pick has stirred conversation about old-school tactics in modern BJJ.

Hardy’s Favorite Submission Is as Brutal as It Is Rare

Tom Hardy isn’t just another Hollywood star dabbling in Jiu-Jitsu for Instagram likes. He’s a blue belt who’s competed in real tournaments — and recently, he made a statement that turned heads in the BJJ community.

In a viral social media clip, Hardy was asked what his favorite submission was. His answer? Not a triangle choke. Not an armbar. Not even a guillotine.

It was the smother.

“I think smothering someone is absolutely humiliating and also delightfully primal. So, it’s probably a smother.”
– Tom Hardy

Delivered with a grin and a shrug, the comment sparked everything from laughter to genuine debate across BJJ forums and gyms. Some saw it as a tongue-in-cheek response.

Others pointed out that the smother — though rarely taught as a “formal” submission — is real, legal, and incredibly effective in the right scenario. For Hardy, it reflects a gritty, no-nonsense side of the art: simple control, top pressure, and domination.

Tom Hardy Smother Submission in BJJ

More Than Just a Celebrity Hobbyist

Hardy has long practiced Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under REORG Charity and Carlos Santos. But over the last two years, he’s made it clear that this isn’t just a passing phase.

He’s entered and won multiple BJJ tournaments under his real name — including a standout performance at a Grappling Industries event in Milton Keynes.

He’s not escorted with cameras, doesn’t take special brackets, and has reportedly refused to use his acting fame to secure easier opponents or favorable seeding.

“Tom doesn’t ask for attention. He competes like everyone else. You see his name on the registration, and that’s it. Then he shows up and fights.”
– Tournament organizer (via Instagram)

In the footage from his latest match, Hardy can be seen securing top control, applying heavy pressure, and calmly working toward mount — all fundamentals done with clean precision. While he hasn’t used the smother in competition yet (as far as footage shows), he clearly favors top-heavy jiu-jitsu over flashy, spin-heavy guard play.

The Smother Submission in BJJ: Legal, Rare, and Surprisingly Effective

The Tom Hardy grappling favorite – the smother — especially using the chest, belly, or gi lapels to block the opponent’s breathing — is one of the sport’s more controversial submissions. It’s legal in most adult divisions as it doesn’t involve cervical cranking.

But it’s rarely taught in standard BJJ curriculums. It’s more common in old-school gyms, self-defense circles, or among ultra-heavyweight grapplers who prefer pressure-based games over movement.

That Hardy favors it isn’t entirely surprising. His size, his calm under pressure, and his preference for simplicity make it a logical fit.

“It’s kind of savage, but that’s the art — imposing your will without causing injury. And there’s something honest about a good smother.”
– Tom Hardy
Smother Submission in BJJ

Laughter, Praise, and a Bit of Controversy

Hardy’s comment lit up TikTok and Instagram Reels, with reactions ranging from playful memes to serious commentary from high-level coaches.

Some praised the actor for avoiding clichéd answers and showing real grappling sensibility. Others joked about beginners trying smothers in class the next day.

But it also raised legitimate questions: should smothers be taught more openly? Are they underutilized in modern sport jiu-jitsu?

“We tell white belts not to do it. But truthfully, it’s legit — especially in self-defense or no-gi. I’m glad someone brought it up.”
– BJJ coach, via TikTok comment

Will We Ever See a Smother Submission from Hardy in Competition?

Whether Hardy intended to make a larger statement or was just having fun, the comment struck a chord — especially in a community that often forgets how broad and varied the submission game really is.

He’s already announced he’ll return to competition later this year, likely in another Grappling Industries or REORG-linked event. Whether the celebrity BJJ competitor will ever land a smother in competition remains to be seen — but don’t be surprised if opponents start training to defend it.

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Catch Wrestling Killer Crucifix John Potenza DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
-
Catch Wrestling Killer Crucifix John Potenza DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A No-Gi DVD offering catch-wrestling versions of the crucifix positions that are very applicable to BJJ 
  • Features front and back side crucifix attacks, centered around quick and brutal catch wrestling submission holds.
  • Covers entries against the referee’s position, as well as crucifix options from guard.
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 8.5 out of 10. 

CATCH WRESTLING KILLER CRUCIFIX JOHN POTENZA DVD GET HERE

Catch Wrestling Killer Crucifix John Potenza DVD Preview

FUL LTRAILER: Catch Wrestling Killer Crucifix John Potenza DVDWhenever I come across a catch wrestling DVD to review, I am stoked to check out what crazy shortcuts it will introduce to my BJJ. With my focus being intensely directed to the crucifix lately, the Catch Wrestling Killer Crucifix John Potenza crucifix DVD offered revelations rather than ideas.

It seems that catch wrestling was the go-to source for figuring out how to best utilize this super-effective position that you can use to annoy everyone into submission. Moreover, one of the most experienced grapplers in the world, coach Potenza, delivers a mixed version of the position using his grappling knowledge from various sports to come up with the ultimate crucifix gameplan.

A Different Kind of Crucifix

The crucifix is arguably one of the most underrated positions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This highly effective alternative to traditional back control fell behind as the craziness of guards spread like wildfire in the late 2010s. Paired with the fact that it doesn’t earn any points, the crucifix never recovered its surge since then.

That does not make the position useless, though, not by any stretch of the imagination. Just the opposite. Grapplers around the globe still develop very successful gameplans around it, from recreational blue belts to UFC fighters such as Gillian Robertson.

Well, it seems that the crucifix might be yet another position the BJJ borrowed directly from catch wrestling. I never knew that it was so big in this aspect of wrestling until I took a look at the John Potenza Catch Wrestling DVD. Since the crucifix has been my go-to position for the past couple of years, you can take my word for it that this DVD delivers, and then some. 

John Potenza is a Very Scary Grappler

Some people in this world just know how to grapple. They can stand, they can roll on the ground, they can submit, and they’re almost impossible to catch and keep hold of. Those people are usually not ones that only train in one grappling sport, but rather those that mix them up.

Well, Coach John Potenza has spent a lifetime of mixing grappling (and a few striking) sports and martial arts together. He has over forty years of experience in BJJ, Catch Wrestling, Judo, Military Combatives, Muay Thai, Kemp, Iaido, Excrima, Kali, and many others.

The best part is that he does not claim to be an expert or black belt in each of them, but rather, he enjoys being the best at the combination he has made out of these arts. Very Bruce Lee-like.

Currently, the owner and head coach of Old School Grappling Catch Wrestling Association, and a co-founder of Snake Pit USA, the CSW instructor is a very sought-after coach by pro fighters and grapplers alike. For a taste of what he offers, check out his John Potenza Crucifix DVD – you won’t regret it!

Catch Wrestling Killer Crucifix John Potenza DVD Review

The Catch Wrestling Killer Crucifix John Potenza crucifix DVD is a one-volume catch-wrestling instructional focusing on the crucifix position. It covers several variations of the crucifix, and numerous uses during the hour-long demonstration delivered by coach John Potanza:

Section 1 – Pirates Crucifux 

The pirate’s crucifix is what people in BJJ would refer to as the top, or side control, crucifix. It’s just a crucifix done from the front, and apparently, it is a big deal in catch wrestling. As the  Catch Wrestling Killer Crucifix John Potenza crucifix DVD begins, the focus is on this variation, with all the neck cranks, muscle slicers, knee locks, and other brutal submissions you can imagine.

Some completely crazy cradle variations, such as the Night Ride Fujiwara Cradle, are also available from the Pirate Crucifix, connecting top pins such as side control and mount in a way BJJ never could.

Section 2 – Full Crucifix

The full crucifix is a more common territory for BJJ grapplers, even though the options that coach Potenza offers are far from what we’re used to seeing, especially with the Gi. The focus is on entries and submissions, covering the two key end ranges of the crucifix.

Submission-wise, you get to learn how to tap people with shoulder locks, triangles, neck cranks, crazy throat chokes, and, best of all, combinations of the above. The entries cover getting to the crucifix from the back using the guard, pinning positions and transitions, and attaching to the arms either with your entire body or only using your arms and torso.

Section 3 – Body Scissors Half Crucifix

A very cool thing appearing for a little bit in this John Potenza crucifix DVD is the body scissors position, which is essentially an amped up version of the 100% sweep. Of course, it involves neck cranking, but then again, this is a catch wrestling DVD. The crucifying, body scissoring and neck cranking leads to sweeps, by the way.

Section 4 – Referee Position

A very useful skill for BJJ players appears toward the end of this insturctional, as Potenza offers different ways to jump on the crucifix and get a mat return with an opponent in the referee’s position. Since the modern turtle game in BJJ relies heavily on this position, this is a very welcome way of evening the playing field against defensive experts.

Tapping Into Catch Wrestling for BJJ

I have been an advocate for catch wrestling in BJJ since I became aware of how effective it is. You can trace that back to some of Neil Melanson’s earliest instructionals. While we’ve seen more and more catch wrestling pour into BJJ lately, it’s nowhere near the potential that his crazy submission sport has to offer.

The thing to remember when trying to cross-train, or simply introduce different grappling concepts to BJJ is that you’re not leaving BJJ to catch wrestle, and then coming back to BJJ all in the same roll. Instead, think about how integrating moves, concepts, or ideas from other grappling combat sports can help your Jiu-Jitsu game, not how they can replace parts of it.

The Catch Wrestling Killer Crucifix John Potenza crucifix DVD is not a pure catch wrestling instructional. Coach Potenza is highly experienced in different aspects of grappling, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. So, while not everything in this DVD fits the restrictive rules of BJJ, everything is definitely highly applicable to submission grappling and very easy to pick up on.

Catch Wrestling Killer Crucifix John Potenza DVD Sample
CHECK OUT A FREE SAMPLE: Catch Wrestling Killer Crucifix John Potenza DVD

DOWNLOAD HERE: JOHN POTENZA CRUCIFIX DVD

Say ‘Uncle’! 

Time to annoy the people in your gym, and, if you’re unlucky enough to be in a traditional gym where people roll following IBJJF rules, make your instructor pull their hair out. Who cares as long as you get the tap, right? The Catch Wrestling Killer Crucifix John Potenza Crucifix DVD will make you a force to be reckoned with, and not just from the back – it also covers front-side pinning and quick finishes.

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Toe Fold And Shin Locks Joshua You DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
-
Toe Fold And Shin Locks Joshua You DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A No-Gi DVD presnting a new version of finishing toe holds and plenty of ways to make shin locks potent submissions. 
  • Features a very detailed overview on how to execute both attacks from just about any position in BJJ. 
  • Offers attacking, counterattacking, and defensive tactics that center around the element of lightning-fast and painful finishes. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 7.5 out of 10. 

TOE FOLD AND SHIN LOCKS JOSHUA YOU DVD GET HERE

Toe Fold And Shin Locks Joshua You DVD Preview
TRAILER: Catch Wrestling Killer Crucifix John Potenza DVD

I am a fan of catch wrestling submissions, but I tend to shy away from modern modifications of proven leg locks, which often end up being more valuable as a one-time threat than a reliable finishing move. Well, the Toe Fold And Shin Locks Joshua You DVD offers a couple of moves that are not catch wrestling moves and offer actual improvements to staple leg locks.

Joshua You has managed to completely change my mind, at least on the subject of his signature toe folds. He offers the efficiency of catch wrestling moves but delivers it with the depth of detail we’re accustomed to seeing in BJJ. A very solid and innovative instructional that is a bit unorthodox even by 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu standards.

Toe Folds Instead of Toe Holds? 

Yeah, you read that right. I messed it up more than a few times when writing this review, thanks to the habit of writing about, teaching, and doing toe holds for so long. For the most part, I’d call bull excrement on such a move, but I am familiar with Joshua You and his work, so I was curious beyond my usual doubt and pessimism.

What Joshua managed to achieve with the Toe Fold and Shin Locks Joshua You DVD is to breathe new life into toe holds. For me, these are still more or less the same, and even though he deserves the credit for offering a ton of different finishes, I doubt I’ll be referring to them as toe folds too often.

That said, this instruction will make you extremely annoying to roll with. Every time you can access a foot with your arms, and oftentimes with your legs (which is pretty much all the time in BJJ), you’ll be able to submit instantly. No figure fours, rolling setups, or being launched in the air by those who squat three times their bodyweight.

10th Planet Magic with Joshua You

Folkes’ training in the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system has an astorng tendency to go for the obscure when it comes to BJJ moves, and, quite often, there is substance to their efforts. One example is shin locks, which are actually a lot more useful than they seem.

Leading an innovative edge in the 10th Planet universe is Eric Ramey black belt Joshua You. Also known online as Chef BJJ, he has been cooking up crazy but effective moves for quite a while now,  well before he got his much-deserved black belt.

Joshua’s grappling style is unorthodox and weird even by 20th Planet Jiu-Jitsu standards. He has a very strong defensive game, which he tops off with super-unusual counter-attacking submissions. Among those, he has a real knack for finding a way to tap people out with shin locks and foot bends, which he calls ‘to folds’ from literally anywhere.

For those who are not in the vicinity of Ramey’s 10 Planet Thousand Oaks school, the Toe Fold and Shin Locks Joshua You DVD is a great way to jump on the weird submissions train and ride it to success like Joshua does.

Toe Fold And Shin Locks Joshua You DVD Review

This innovative Joshua You DVD is a No-Gi instructional, offering just over four hours of very entertaining and useful material on a different way to get taps with leg locks. It contains six different volumes and several mini systems you can combine and cycle through:

Part 1 – What is a Toe Fold? 

Joshua You’s twisting foot submission is similar to the toe hold in more than just the name, and those differences are up first for this instructional. After explaining how toe folds are easier to get and can be done with one limb, You goes into the fundamental details on finishing, sticking to three essential aspects.

A few finishing examples follow, covering the directions in which you can finish a toe fold, which include inside and outside. The first volume of the Toe Fold and Shin Locks Joshua You DVD wraps up with the intriguing Abe Lock, which was completely new for me.

Part 2 – Countering Back Mount with Toe Folds

A big part of the system outlined in the Joshua You Shin Locks DVD revolves around using shin locks and toe folds to deal with the back mount. While it may seem over the board and ineffective (I thought the same), the methods Joshua presents reach a lot further than just trying to bend your opponent’s foot using your legs.

As I mentioned, he is extremely versatile at defense and escapes, so all the finishes featured in this part of the instructional are available from different back mount situations. Whether the opponent has you in an RNC, traditional back control, or the Straight Jacket, Joshua has a toe fold waiting to set you free immediately.

He organizes his attacks in categories based on the essential mechanics of back escapes, similarly to his approach in explaining the braking mechanics of toe folds in part one of the instructional. And yes, a version of the ‘no hands’ toe fold appears in this video, albeit it seems to be one that actually works.

Part 3 – Top Half Locks & Folds

One of the best positions for attacking toe holds is the top half guard, something we haven’t really seen since Dean Lister and Rober Drysdale were actively competing. Well, Joshua taps into this leg looking nostalgia (for the OGs) but builds it up with his own twist on things.

Toe folds allow you to have a free arm when attacking, which provides more stability and versatility from the top half. Moreover, this portion of the Toe Fold and Shin Locks Joshua You DVD contains a lot fewer rolling entries than most toe hold options from the position that you know of. 

Part 4 – Shin Locking from Guard

In one of the more innovative parts of the Toe Fold and Shin Locks Joshua You DVD, Joshua covers numerous ways in which you can start recognizing toe folds and shin locks as a guard player, with examples from a bunch of common open guards.

The usual culprits, such a the De la Riva guard and X guard, make an appearance, along with the RDL, shin-to-shin, and even wrestling-inspired crab rides. All roads, as expected, lead to shin locks, which come with optional pinning, or toe folds, which are literally everywhere. Be sure to try the double shin lock from this volume – it got me a few great taps in rolling.

Part 5 – Ashi Options

At this point, I thought there wasn’t too much left to offer in the Joshua You Toe Fold DVD after all the detailed content in the preceding volumes, but I was wrong. Joshua has found a way to integrate shin locks and, of course, his toe folds, into the Ahsi Garami way in a similar fashion to calf slicers.

Namely, you can finish with either or both of the aforementioned leg lock finishes as a counter to an Ashi entanglement, or you can use it to ensure you finish even when the opponent is defending a more recognizable attack, like a heel hook or an ankle lock.

Positions included in this part range from the 50/50, through cross and outside Ashi Garami, to Inside Ashi. For each, Joshua offers defending (read: counterattacking) and attacking applications of his submissions.

Part 6 – Positional Applications

Finally, as the Toe Fold and Shin Locks Joshua You DVD concludes, Joshua talks position before submission… literally. The best way to describe the content in this final volume is positional awareness for the opportunity to finish with a toe fold or shin lock.

Positions include top side control, the turtle (one of Joshua You’s signature positions), armbars, rear triangle, knee on belly, and, of course, 10th Planet staples Truck and Lockdown.

Just a Tactical Threat or Real Subs?  

The one thought on my mind before I analyzed the contents of the Toe Fold and Shin Locks Joshua You DVD with as much attention to detail as I could muster (it’s a long one) was that this is another DVD containing more viable threats than actual submissions.

I was wrong, even though that doesn’t apply to every bit of the material delivered in the instructional. The toe folds and shin locks in this DVD are as legit as they come, and come in so many different varieties that you’re bound to make at least a couple of them work with a high degree of reliability.

That said, let’s not underestimate the tactical value of threats in BJJ. Any combination you do, from takedowns to submissions, which includes more than one move, works mostly because of the threat that one of those moves presents. Whenever that threat is also a legitimate way to submit someone, you get double the value for your efforts.

Toe Fold And Shin Locks Joshua You DVD Sample
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Fold the Feet! 

The way Joshua presents the information in the Toe Fold and Shin Locks Joshua You DVD, you end up learning everything you need about his moves, even if you’re not going to use it all.

What sets this DVD apart from others is that when it comes to setting stuff up, Joshua teaches you how to get the submissions like a catch wrestler – just grab and pull. The combination of easy access and complete understanding of the move will make you a very dangerous grappler.

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