NEW Trump Executive Order Bans Trans Women From US Sports

By
BJJ World
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NEW Trump Executive Order Bans Trans Women From US Sports

In a move that adds to an already widespread debate and controversy on a sensitive aspect of combat sports, the latest President Donald Trump executive order bans trans women from competing in women’s sports in the US. 

This decision has far-reaching implications, particularly within the combat sports community, including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. While the order aims to address concerns about fairness in women’s sports, it has also ignited discussions about inclusivity, discrimination, and the future of combat sports.

Executive Order Bans Transgender Women From Sports

Trump Executive Order Bans Trans Women Athletes

On February 5, 2025, National Girls and Women in Sports Day, President Trump signed the executive order, citing the need to protect the integrity of women’s sports. The order states that allowing transgender women to compete in female categories undermines fair competition and disadvantages cisgender women.

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“This decision is about ensuring a level playing field for female athletes,” Trump declared. “With this executive order, the war on women’s sports is over.”

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Trump also took aim at the International Olympic Committee, saying that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make the White House’s stance “as clear as anybody can make it.”

“We are putting every school receiving taxpayer dollars on notice: If you let men take over women’s sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding,” Trump added, describing a 1972 law that bars sex discrimination.

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“We want them to change everything having to do with the Olympics,” Trump announced.

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Reactions to Trump's Bans of Trans Women From US Sports

Trans Women Out: Reactions and Fallout

Transgender activists and organizations that have fought against bans were outraged by the  Trump executive order bans trans women – but not surprised. Supporters argue that it is necessary to maintain fairness in sports, while critics contend that it discriminates against transgender athletes and excludes them from competitive opportunities.

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“We need to protect the rights of cisgender women in sports,”

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The stance of prominent figures in the combat sports world on the subject is clear, with the likes of Joe Rogan and GSP being vocal about this particular problem for the past decade the latter of the two stating that:
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“Safety and fairness are paramount in MMA. It’s important to find a balance that ensures fair competition without compromising the safety of athletes.” 

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However, LGBTQ+ rights organizations have condemned the order, calling it a setback for transgender rights. GLADD, one of the biggest LGBTQ rights organizations in the US, also condemned Trump’s order, calling it “inaccurate and incoherent”.

“All women and girls, including transgender women and girls, should be welcome to play sports if they want, make decisions about their own bodies, be hired for jobs they are qualified for, and be free from lawless attacks by extremists in elected office,” the group said in a statement.

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“This executive order is a blatant act of discrimination,” declared a spokesperson from the Human Rights Campaign. “It sends a harmful message to transgender individuals that they are not welcome in sports.”

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Lambda Legal, a nonprofit that has partnered with the ACLU on multiple cases defending trans athletes also weighed in on the Trump executive order bans trans women. Charles a senior attorney with Lambda Legal, is unsure if the order would be challenged in court, and how quickly it might happen.

“This is yet another action from the Trump Administration that makes it abundantly clear trans people are squarely in their crosshairs, despite the fact that we are barely 1.6 percent of the population,” said Carl Charles.

A Revamp of Rules As Donald Trump Bans Transgender Athletes?

The Trump trans ban has significant implications for the world of combat sports, particularly BJJ and MMA, where gender divisions play a crucial role in competition. BJJ and MMA are unique in that they require physical strength, technique, and strategy, making the debate about transgender athletes’ participation particularly complex.

The community is already aware of the subject, and the complexities it brings, with MMA fighter Fallon Fox, who is a transgender woman, arguably the most popular name advocating about the need for inclusivity.

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“Transgender athletes face immense challenges and discrimination,” Fox stated. “Banning us from competing only perpetuates inequality and prevents us from pursuing our passion.”

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The executive order has sparked a broader conversation about how combat sports can navigate the inclusion of transgender athletes while maintaining fairness and safety.

Some propose the creation of separate divisions for transgender athletes, while others advocate for individualized assessments to ensure fair competition.

Governing bodies such as the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) and ADCC will eventually play a crucial role in shaping the future of the sport. Ultimately, the path forward requires a nuanced approach that considers the diverse perspectives within the combat sports community.

Fair Play in Combat Sports: How Does it Play Out? 

The future of combat sports will depend on the collective efforts of athletes, coaches, and governing bodies to create an environment where all individuals can compete with dignity and respect. As this Trump executive order bans trans women from competing in women’s sports, we’re left to figure out how to proceed ahead.

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How To Knee Cut Junny Ocasio BJJ DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
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How To Knee Cut Junny Ocasio BJJ DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A No-Gi BJJ insturctional offering different ways to turn the knee cut into your best pass. 
  • Includes concepts, principles, and technical details, focusing on both headquarters control and aggressive dynamic passing.  
  • Covers passing different guards using many variations, including unique ones, of the knee cut pass. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

HOW TO KNEE CUT JUNNY OCASIO DVD GET HERE:

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There is no way to avoid the knee cut pass when you oll or compete in BJJ. Even if you’re all about body lock passing or never passing and going for leg locks, you need to be aware of what knee cutting is so that you can deal with it. Actually, even in those instances, the knee cut is going to be super helpful.

The How To Knee Cut Junny Ocasio BJJ DVD is a great example of how you can focus on knee cuts to achieve a lot more from top positions than simply passing a guard. After all, Junny knows exactly what works, after spending all his time training with the monsters over at Unity Jiu-Jitsu.

Pure Knee Cut Passing

Knee cut passing was introduced to me when I was a late white belt, but it was taught as ‘knee smash” passing at the time, and it didn’t involve shin pinning. Let’s just say it went through the middle, combining the worst of a knee to the groin and knee on belly pressure.

I have to say, that as effective as that passing direction is, it is hard to practice over and over again in the gym with realistic resistance. I have no idea where I saw the ‘purified’ knee cut version from, but I know it turned into one of my favorite passing positions for a long time.

I remember that I had enormous success switching knee cuts without even passing. The position was perfect for hinting Darce chokes, and later on, getting to Ashi Garami as well. I also found out that you can make the shin pin a lot more painful than the smash pass, but when you want to, and more importantly, exactly as much as you want to.

My point here is that there is a lot more to the knee cut pass than a simple way to slice through a guard. Since it works just as well with and without the Gi, it would be irresponsible to miss out on the How To Knee Cut Junny Ocasio BJJ DVD. It’s that good.

Edwin ‘Junny’ Ocasio

‘Junny’ is a character that seems to be the depiction of modern Jiu-Jitsu. He is to the point, precise, an odd joke here and there, but also highly knowledgeable and very good at transferring that knowledge, at least if we judge him on the martial presented in the How To Knee Cut Junny Ocasio BJJ DVD.

Edwin Ocasio, known as ‘Junny’ is a BJJ black belt under Murilo Santana and part of the legendary Unity Jiu-Jitsu Academy in NYC. A World champion, Pans champion, and European champion in No-Gi, and still very active as a competitor Junny has an exciting, aggressive style featuring lots of pressure.

With a wrestling background providing a strong base for his Jiu-Jitsu performances, Junny also takes up the role of teaching on a regular basis. Proudly holding the mantle of the first student in Unity Jiu-Jitsu, helping Santan since before he had the gym space. Junny received his black belt from Santant in 2019.

How To Knee Cut Junny Ocasio DVD Review

The How To Knee Cut Junny Ocasio BJJ DVD contains 2 hours of martial, spread in a very uneven way between three volumes. However, this structure makes a lot of sense when you watch the instructional, and the delivery of the material is exceptional:

Part 1 – Concepts and Control

There is an interesting structure to this How To Knee Cut Junny Ocasio BJJ DVD. In the opening volume, Junny only shares just over 10 minutes of material, setting up the stage for knee cuts by focusing on concepts and principles.

One thing most people find difficult when knee cutting is balance, and Junny spends a lot of time explaining how to control someone from the knee cut position, without losing it and falling over.

Toward the end he shows how to utilize the shin cut and smash pass starting from headquarters, which essentially sums up the aspects covered in extreme detail in the following volumes.

Part 2 – Knee Cut Variations vs Seated Guard

Part two of the How To Knee Cut Junny Ocasio BJJ DVD lasts considerably longer than the first volume, as Junny launches into a more in-depth explanation of knee cut techniques, based on the main concepts from volume one.

He kicks things off with the sit up guard, and the things you need to focus on when trying to pass it using knee cut passes. Grips get lots of attention in this section, with the collar tie and triceps combo taking center stage.

In terms of specific knee cut techniques, Junny shares the basic, controlled version from the collar and triceps grip, followed by blitz knee cutting, and my personal favorite, low-base passing.

Part 3 – Headquarters and Aggressive Knee Cutting 

As we get to the final part of this instructional, the amount of material offered in this volume surpasses the two previous ones put together. In almost an hour of material, Junny continues to explore different knee cut variations, introducing even more problems in the form of different guards.

He sticks to a proven launching pad for the knee cut by exploring the headquarters position, popularized by Rafel Lovato Jr. in great detail. From there, he goes into his signature aggressive knee cuts, which range from the ‘standard’ HQ setup to unorthodox pass finishes using unusual angles and timing.

If I can point out one chapter in this last volume of the How To Knee Cut Junny Ocasio BJJ DVD, I’d opt for the highly effective, and equally as painful (for the person receiving it) solar plexus armpit cut. You’ll recognize it when you see it.

A Painful HQ Position 

The headquarters position was all the jazz when Lovato started using it. I figured it out first from a very badly recorded instructional by what is now the first Estonian black belt, Martin Aedma where he connected it to the knee cut and surf-style smash passing, creating a mini system.

What I missed at the time (ah, blue belt days) was that Lovato’s idea of the headquarters extended a lot further than the specific position demonstrated by him in regard to passing. In fact, my own instructor had an idea of setting up a ‘position zero’ spot from closed guard that really did the same thing – provided a headquarters position.

Look at headquarters as a concept rather than just the position shown by Lovato, and you’ll see that it is a concept you can apply to any position in BJJ. Using the knee cut pass as a headquarters position for torturing and eventually passing is exactly what you get to learn from the How To Knee Cut BJJ DVD by Junny Ocasio.

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Cut ‘Em Up!

I guess you know what you need to do now if you want to improve your passing. Pick up the How To Knee Cut Junny Ocasio BJJ DVD and start thinking about the ability to stop your passing at any point after you begin, and chill out in a position that will cause misery to the guard player. After all, the biggest reward from passing isn’t getting past the guard – it’s the pressure you get to apply during the pass.

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Bricks Kesa Gatame System Jeremy Brick DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
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Bricks Kesa Gatame System Jeremy Brick DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A No-Gi BJJ insturctional offering different ways to turn the knee cut into your best pass. 
  • Includes concepts, principles, and technical details, focusing on both headquarters control and aggressive dynamic passing.  
  • Covers passing different guards using many variations, including unique ones, of the knee cut pass. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

BRICKS KESA GATAME SYSTEM JEREMY BRICK DVD GET HERE:

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How long can you hold someone in Kesa Gatame? What if I told you that what you’re missing are nuances that high-level Judokas learn very early on, and not more pressure, or as I sometimes hear, more weight?

Figuring out the Judo Side Control position is not easy, but it is worth it. Judokas have a slow way of teaching it, although once you do it this way, you’ll rarely fail with it. If you don’t have the time or patience to go this route, then pick up the Bricks Kesa Gatame System Jeremy Brick DVD. It’ll do the trick, at least initially.

Old-School Pressure Torture 

When I was a beginner in Judo, one of the first ground techniques that we worked on was Kesa Gatame. More precisely, I had the task of getting out of the headlock, and I had to figure it out on my own.

After months of work, I managed to sneak out consistently, which is when the instructor paid me some dedicated attention. He came over and instructed the top person, who was way more experienced, on how to counter my escape. Back to the drawing board, it was.

There is a reason why Judokas pay so much attention to drilling Kesa Gatame scenarios over and over – it is a pin that can win them fights. Since you can win in Judo by way of a pin, if you hold the bottom person on the mats for over 20 seconds, the control value of the position is clearly highly applicable to BJJ as well.

Moreover, Kesa Gatame offers plenty of quick, Judo-style submissions, which as just as brutally painful as they are quick to set up. Some of these feature in the Jeremy Brick Kesa Gatame DVD as part of his attack system from the position.

“Highlander “Jeremy Brick

Masters competitors, especially those that are competing in the higher masters divisions are a special breed. They demonstrate grit and technique to a level not fathomable by younger grapplers, but most importantly, they bring tons of experience with them.

Folks like Jeremy Brick have been around for a long time. The 5 times IBJJF Pan American champion and 4 times IBJJF Master Worlds champion has one of the best Masters division records in history. He has seen it all, from the early days of BJJ in the USA to fighting in MMA in the late 90s, however briefly.

Lately, the black belt has been focusing more on teaching and family, a venture that extends to the digital realm as much as the mats. One great example of the exceptional value that Jeremy can bring to the table for grapplers is the Bricks Kesa Gatame System Jeremy Brick DVD.

Bricks Kesa Gatame System Jeremy Brick DVD Review

This Bricks Kesa Gatame System Jeremy Brick DVD is a curious one. It has great content, but it is extremely short, running well under an hour. I’ve seen classes taught on the Kesa Gatame where instructors shared and talked more. That said, there are some really valuable details and tips in this one, so if you’ve never done the position it’s perfect for you:

Critical Control Concepts

Holding the Judo side control position, also known as Kesa Gatame is no simple task. There are plenty of nuances to positioning, and it’s not just about weight distribution. Jeremy goes over some of the key concepts here, offering details on arm placement, leg motion, and overall positional awareness that Judokas used to dominate from this pinning position.

Judo Side Control Submissions

As the Bricks Kesa Gatame System Jeremy Brick DVD rolls on with a foundation of core principles set, submission enters the frame. In a truly OG fashion, Bricks dive straight into a bunch of armlocks and chokes that you can easily get from the Kesa Gatame.

Examples include alternative Americana finishes using your legs, an arm triangle variation, shoulder locks, and the dreaded pressure tap. This final one, which you also may know as a chest compression finish, is particularly useful for stealing your opponents’ souls.

Kesa Gatame Escapes 

One of the main aspects of Kesa Gatame in BJJ terms is dealing with it. In Judo, it takes months to figure this out, but Jeremy offers a quick shortcut here. He uses reverse engineering of the pinning principles from the position to pinpoint weaknesses you can exploit when defending against it.

In the final portion of the Bricks Kesa Gatame System Jeremy Brick DVD, you get to learn how to defend arm locks and chokes, and how to get out towards the back. Jeremy also included a detailed breakdown of the go-to Judo escape, which is essentially a bridge and roll move (this one requires a strong neck).

finally, a few entries into the position, paired with realistic situations like sweeps, passing and Kimura trap attacks, provide context to how you can actually expect to use the Kesa Gatame while rolling or competing.

Judo Pins and Pin Escapes

Judo pins are extremely powerful since they place a big emphasis on using the Gi to accentuate your control over the bottom person. Even high-level Judokas struggle to escape the Kesa Gatame, which shows you how useful it can be for your game.

Even the Gracies dedicated a big part of their defensive curriculum, some of which is still a part of Gracie Barra gyms these days, to escaping the Kesa Gatame position. The Gracies faced lots of world-class Judokas in their challenges, so they had to know how to deal with this staple pin.

Since very few people tend to specialize in the position these days, at least for BJJ purposes, escaping Kesa Gatame is not something people dedicate a lot of attention to. While you don’t have to work on escaping it exclusively, you can figure out how to deal with it if you know how to hold and maintain it. This is the main premise behind the instructions in the Bricks Kesa Gatame System Jeremy Brick DVD.

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Head Lock Magic! 

Learn how to hold the Kesa Gatame, and every time someone thinks they’ve escaped your side control, hit them with it. It will seem like black magic, having your opponents question their entire grappling life and experience as you pressure them into slow (or lightning-fast) taps.

While far from exhaustive on the subject, the Bricks Kesa Gatame System Jeremy Brick DVD provides a great starting point to figure out the basics of the position if you’ve never done it before.

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Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
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Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A No-Gi BJJ DVD offering a very thorough and detailed look at the front head lock position. 
  • Features instructions to achieving control and submissions from the position. 
  • Covers all kinds of positions, from standing to guard, and transitioning tactics to reach them. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

FRONT HEAD LOCK KAYNAN DUARTE DVD GET HERE:

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Getting out of the front head lock position can be a real nightmare, especially if a wrestler grabs a hold of you. There is an even worse scenario though, and it involves a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner who specializes in the position trapping you in it.

For those who like being on the giving end of the front head lock, controlling where the exchanges take place is as easy as deciding where you want to go. And, as you’ll see from the Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD, finishing with different submissions is as easy as the aforementioned rag-dolling of the trapped opponent.

The Ultimate Posture Killer

Let’s use the guard as the most obvious example for posture breaks as I try to show how the front head lock position is unrivaled in helping you achieve this particular goal. Take any guard you want, Gi or No-Gi and break your opponent’s posture from it using any means necessary.

If the top person’s head is under your armpit, in any shape or form, it’ll be a nightmare for them to regain posture. It just so happens that front head locks place the head in this exact position. Do you see where I am going with this?

The best part about front head locks is that you’re not just constrained to the guard – you can use them to break posture and keep it broken from anywhere. After all, folding is a key concept in wrestling and we all know where we borrowed the front headlock position from.

As far as using the position from anywhere to control, submit, or reach other positions in BJJ there is the incredibly detailed Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD. Read on to see what exactly awaits in it.

Atos Giant Kaynan Duarte

Kaynan Duarte is a very popular name in BJJ circles, for more reasons than one. The 27-year-old is a multiple-time ADCC champion, IBJJF World Champion Pans, Champion, European Champion, Abu Dhabi Pro champion, and super fight winner in many pro-grappling promotions.

He also had a fierce rivalry with Gordon Ryan for a while, although he never managed to beat the ‘King”. To date, Kaynana has won the IBJJF world a total of three times but only two of those feature in his record. After winning the double (weight class and absolute) in 2019, he failed a USADA test and was stripped of his title.

Developing under the tutelage of Andre Galvao, after training with Ze Cavalo and Paulo Ledesma back in Brazil, Duarte possesses a very aggressive and power-based game which has brought him great success in competitions starting from his juvenile blue belt days.

It was Andre Galvao who convinced a young Duarte to dedicate full time to BJJ and the Atos team, promoting him to brown, and eventually black belt in in 2018. With 148 wins out of 160 matches, I have a feeling that Duarte has a lot more numbers to add to the win column.

As we anticipate his next performance on the mats, the Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD provides a very in-depth insight into how Duarte analyzes key BJJ positions and sets up optimal game plans.

Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD Review

This Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD is on the longer side of instructionals with 8 volumes containing over 4 hours of front head lock material that covers every aspect of the position you can imagine using in BJJ:

Part 1 – Front Head Lock Control 

This is one big DVD! Kaynan really covered everything in this one, starting with the major aspects of dynamic control of the front head lock position outlined in the first part of the Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD.

Instead of using it as a pin, Kayanna guides us toward using the front head lock similarly to side control, following the opponent and constantly adjusting, while never losing even one bit of control. To that extent, he shares how to adjust when your opponent is moving backward, side to side, or trying to twist out.

The guillotine, a submission of choice for Duarte, makes an early appearance and then keeps appearing throughout this entire insturctional. In the opening portion though, only the finishing mechanics of the arm-in guillotine and some key control concepts feature, paving the way for what comes later.

Part 2 – Guillotine’s From Everywhere

The most guillotine-filled portion of the Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD is part two, where Kaynan shows why everyone tries to stay as far from his front head lock as possible when competing.

In over half an hour, he covers a host of different guillotine grips to improve your finishing rate and just as many transitional uses of the move. Transitions include sweeping, passing, and pinning from top positions, before launching into different finishes. He also covers the chin strap configuration and its role in both front head locks and guillotines in extreme detail.

Part 3 – Front Head Lock Chokes

The guillotine, as powerful as it might be, is not Kayan’s only weapon from the front head lock, as he often pairs it with other high-percentage finishes from the position to ensure he gets a tap. A proven strategy that everyone should develop and adjust when considering exploring the front head lock.

As you probably expect, Darce chokes and Anaconda choke variations are the main go-to moves in this part of the Kaynan Duarte Front Head Lock DVD. Since they’re readily available from both the headlock and just about every guillotine variation Kaynan already demonstrated, most of the focus here is on connecting the dots and turning everything into a system.

Part 4 – Back Exposure

What happens when the front head lock and guillotines don’t work for Duarte? We’ve only seen this happen a handful of times, but when it does, he has a very solid backup plan that is a direct result of his front head lock control strategy.

Namely, in the fourth volume of the Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD, the focus shifts from the FHL itself to transitions that lead to the back. Using a very methodical approach, Duarte explains how you need to create back exposure first, and then go for hooks and positioning so that you don’t end up losing both positions.

Several different scenarios serve as great examples of how you can safely and effectively spin to the back from the front head lock, including a couple of interesting ideas on turtle breakdowns.

Part 5 – Front Head Lock to Crucifix

As we pass the halfway point of this Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD, their transitions continue, with a different way of getting to the back. The crucifix is one of the best control and submission positions in BJJ, and it pairs with the front head lock just as well as it does with the back.

Duarte offers several different ways of capitalizing on the FHL by creating Crucifix entries that lead to one-arm chokes and nasty armlocks. He also explains exactly how to use the crucifix as a checkpoint between the front head lock and the back.

Towards the final portions of this volume, Duarte spends some time covering the tripod position. He mostly uses it in the context of back takes and crucifix setups, but also sets the stage for some interesting options that appear in the next volume.

Part 6 – Tripod FHL

Working from the tripod position is not something many people place lots of emphasis on when attacking from the front head lock. Duarte offers even more back attacks in this part of the DVD, as well as direct front head lock options from this particular position.

As the sixth part of the Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD comes to an end, Kaynan teases with jumping guillotines to announce what he’ll cover in the next volume of his instructional.

Part 7 – Front Head Lock Takedowns

As front head lock takedowns are a personal favorite of mine, I was more than curious about this volume, and it definitely did not disappoint. Kaynan first offers several different ways to get to the head lock from common ties, such as the over-under and underhook.

He then expands into demonstrating several ways to force your opponent down once you have completed the snap down and have your front head lock control dialed in. The cradle takedown was particularly eye-catching for me, although the ankle pick is super-effective as well.

A single-leg defense tactic using the front head lock position and all the threats it carries rounds off the penultimate part of the Kaynan Duarte Front Head Lock DVD.

Part 8 – Counters Using FHL

Jsut when n I thought there was nothing more Duarte could offer from the front head lock position, I ran into one more volume in the Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD. This is a collection of very useful scenarios, more than anything else, although we can categorize it as a set of counter-attacking instructions since most of the uses outlined here are reactive.

Some of the subjects in this one include body lock defense, creating neck exposure from passing situations, and lots of interesting quarter mount options that include heavy use of the chin strap. Duarte ends with a set of live drills that put everything he shared previously into context.

Control, Submissions, and Transitions

At its core, the BJJ goals you have are to get to a position (transitioning), stay in that position (control), and finish your opponent (submission). All three feature in the Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD, as they pertain to the subject of front head locks.

It is apparent that the position allows for all three key goals of BJJ exchanges to form the same spot which is something very few positions can offer. As such, the front head lock position is one you should consider just like you do mount, back, or guards, even though you don’t get any points for it in competitions (don’t get me started on the point system).

At the end of the day, any position you can remain in (control) while you successfully move through other top and bottom positions (transition) and finish at will from any of those positions (submission) is a position that should have a central role in your game. The front head lock ticks all those boxes.

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It’s A Lock! 

Getting the front head lock is the most difficult thing of playing the position that you will need time to figure out. The Front Head Lock Kaynan Duarte DVD will help you immensely, not just with getting to the position but also with making it count.

Mastering the FHL is like a shortcut to BJJ – you can do it all, takedown, pass, sweep, transition, and submit without ever having to release that initial position. It’s as close to as liver bullet as you can get in this sport.

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Baby Shark Guard System Diogo Reis DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
-
Baby Shark Guard System Diogo Reis DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A Gi BJJ DVD offering a peek into what Baby Shark likes to do from open guards.
  • The main feature is the De la Riva, with supine, standing, and hybrid options appearing throughout the DVD.  
  • Diogo covers sweeps, and upper body submissions, and shares different ways in which grips can change the outcome of your guard attacks.  
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 8.0 out of 10.

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Emulating the guard game of proven competitors and world champions is a common attempt for people to figure out a guard game for themselves. It doesn’t always work, but that’s because competitors find stuff that works for them, and even if they explain it perfectly, it may turn out to be less effective for everyone else.

The Baby Shark Guard System Diogo Reis DVD offers the Gi open guard game that Diogo likes to play. Somehow, whether intentionally or not, it also happens to contain instructions that work super effectively for others. It is definitely worth a look if you like to play classic open guards with reliable Gi grips.

A Winning Combo for Playing Open Guard

Open guards in BJJ are all about flirting with the danger of passing or leg locks as you try to attack the top person by initially making them work for their balance. While it is difficult to figure out a formula for open guard, mostly as a result of all the variations that exist, there are a few things that are foundational for each of them.

Namely, the two areas that you should aim to control on your opponent are his hips and his shoulders. Since this can be difficult given the many levels of passing that exist, I’ll dumb it down: control their legs and their arms, and you’ll do great.

Now whether you invert and control the arms with your legs and grab their legs with your arms, or you just grab two sleeves from the De la Riva guard, you’re doing the same thing, just in a different manner. For those who enjoy this latter iteration of open guard, the Baby Shark Guard System Diogo Reis DVD is tailor-made for you.

Diogo “Baby Shark” Reis

ADCC 2022. All Brazilians come dressed in soccer jersey-style Brazil rashguards, so it’s hard to make sense of who is who. I have no idea who some of them are anyway, especially the youngest one. By the end of the event, the grappler in question made sure everyone knew who he was and what his Jiu-Jitsu was about.

That grappler was Diogo Reis, the Baby Shark that exploded on the biggest stage in old-school Brazilian Style, coming out of nowhere. But that is only the way the BJJ world got introduced to him.

Behind all that success was a painstaking decade of work on the mats. Since he was 10, Diogo has spent all his time training, under the tutelage of his Alexandre Oliveira. It was Diogo’s older brother who lit a flame for grappling in Diogo and quickly impressed everyone.

After a few years of training and a rank of yellow belt, Diogo switched to Melqui Galvao’s gym, as it could provide a lot more opportunities. And so it did. Reis won the Worlds, Euros, Pans, Pan Kids, Brazilian Nationals, and Copa America during his collared belt days.

Galvao promoted the young prodigy to black belt in 2020, and it only took Diogo one try to win the ADCC, a feat he repeated in 2024. I bet you’re very interested now in the Baby Shark Guard System Diogo Reis DVD. Well, you should be, and here’s why:

Full Baby Shark Guard System Diogo Reis DVD Review

The Baby Shark Guard System Diogo Reis DVD offers four volumes, each covering a different aspect of playing the De la Riva guard in the Gi. The total running time of the instructional is under 2 hours, with all the basics and some advanced concepts covered in sufficient detail:

Part 1 – Sweeps and Armlocks

If there is one thing that “Baby Shark” is instantly recognizable for, it is armbars. The young Brazilian dominated the ADCC with them, and the Baby Shark Guard System Diogo Reis DVD shows in even greater detail why he is so good at them.

Most of the guard work in this instructional is from open guards, with the De la Riva being Diogo’s preferred position. Throughout the insturctional, he pairs the guard up with different grips but mostly uses double sleeve grips to set up his attacks.

Those attacks come in the form of sweep-submission dilemmas and upper-body submission chains. Several interesting supine sweeping options feature in this opening volume, connected to a bunch of direct or rolling armbars, and a tringle here and there to provide a surprise factor.

Part 2 – Sit Up Guard System

The second portion of the Baby Shark Guard System Diogo Reis DVD covers the De la Riva variation most people like to play in the Gi when they are attacking, which is a seated variety of the guard.

While a bit more complicated to hold on to, this version does provide a lot more in terms of attacks, and a lot less for the top person to use against you, especially after you see Diogo’s details and gameplan.

The skull crusher sweep, in several variations, is the star here, with the sleeve grips doing all the heavy lifting. Triangles open up an indirect route to even more sweeping if/when you can’t finish, and wrestling up from the position into single legs rounds off your options.

Part 3 – More Sweeps

The third part of the Diogo Reis Baby Shark Guard DVD was the one I enjoyed the most. The mermaid sweep is something I’ve been using since my white belt days, and it gets lots of attention in this part.

A few other very attractive sweeps that tend to be underutilized, such as the balloon sweep also get an update in terms of details and applications here. Reis includes lots of unbalancing by grabbing different parts of the legs and opening up a very interesting proverbial can of worms with sweeping in mind.

Part 4 – Hybrid Open Guards

The final part is all about flair and complications, way more than I personally enjoy. That said, I know guards such as the De la spider and DLR Lasso combinations work for some, so to each their own.

To Baby Shark’s credit, he does a good job of focusing on what really matters as he demonstrates how to sweep and submit from the aforementioned positions. The concept that runs through this final volume of the Baby Shark Guard System Diogo Reis DVD is stepping on the hip of the top person, something that I actually loved very much.

Old School Brazilian Guards

15 years ago the Spider Guard was the new thing everyone was trying to figure out, and the De la Riva was that staple open guard people learned. Both featured some sound mechanics and some very potent attacks, with the DLR also translating pretty well to No-Gi.

However, people started forgetting about the Spider Guard (I guess because No-Gi kind of took over) and they started overcomplicating the De la Riva, creating hybrid guards that only shared a starting position with the original DLR. Both are now in the category of old-school Brazilian-style guard, even though the DLR does have its regular flashes of brilliance nearly every year.

As a proponent of basic Jiu-Jitsu, I have no problem playing the DLR, and value its original versions just as much as I do the closed guard and half guard. The spider guard is a very one-dimensional one that I don’t really think has an important place in modern Jiu-Jitsu.

Luckily, there was not much Spider Guard in the Baby Shark Guard System Diogo Reis DVD. The De la Riva is the hero in it, and the throwback to this old-school open guard, and the improvements and ‘modernization’ Baby Shark brings without overcomplicating things is impressive, and above all, seems to be effective.

Baby Shark Guard System Diogo Reis DVD Free Sample
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The Apex Predator Guard

You can’t claim to be a shark anymore, as that legendary phrase has now been memefied beyond recognition. You could, however, opt to look into the Baby Shark Guard System Diogo Reis DVD and adopt the game plan he offers in it. If you are a Gi grappler, then this instructional is perfect for you, as it features the techniques that a reigning world champion uses daily.

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Master The Move Anaconda Strangle John Danaher DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
-
Master The Move Anaconda Strangle John Danaher DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A No-Gi BJJ DVD breaking down the Anaconda choke, from mechanics to setups.
  • Offers setups from standing, guard, pins, passes, back control and even pulling guard. 
  • Features key information on essential aspects such as the anaconda roll. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 9 out of 10.

ANACONDA STRANGLE JOHN DANAHER DVD GET HERE:

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So far, Danaher has proven to be able to offer valuable solutions to moves people find hard without having a specific body type to help them. The anaconda choke certainly qualifies as one of these moves, with both complex mechanics and a very specific finishing position that works more off of feeling than seeing what you’re doing.

The Anaconda Strangle John Danaher DVD is the latest addition to his Master The Move series and is probably the one that should interest people the most. Even the move’s founder, Milton Vieira has never done such an in-depth analysis of the move and all its applications.

The Least Valued Arm Traingle Choke

When people ask me to teach them a Darce or an Anaconda, I start teaching them a traingle choke. Yeah, the one with the legs. It really helps pinpoint the mechanics of choking from the position.

Next, I move to the arm-triangle choke, as replicating the same effects with the arms takes different mechanics. The goal of this long-winded approach is to get people to understand how chokes work in general and how triangle chokes are different.

We all know (or say we do) about the role of the shoulder in a triangle choke, but nobody pays too much attention to it while rolling or competing. And yet, the shoulder is an essential component of pulling off a triangle choke. That’s why I start with the leg triangel – you can see what you’re doing.

With the arm triangle, you can still kind of see what’s going on and adjust. Once you move on to Darces and Anaconda chokes, though, you’ll need to time your grips and squeeze on the depth of the choke, which has to do with the opponent’s shoulder, rather than where you place your own arm.

This aspect of not being able to really see what you’re doing has made the Darce and Anaconda somewhat underutilized in BJJ, particularly with the Gi. This is especially true for the latter. Here’s to hoping that the Anaconda Strangle John Danaher DVD can change this impression.

Danaher DVDs Getting Some Heat

Since around 2013, John Danaher is probably the most often associated name with BJJ. After the huge amounts of success his students had with leg locks, the New Zealander really timed his peak right, first with this secrecy, secondly with the teasing Joe Rogan appearance, and finally, in launching his instructional avalanche at the very best moment when everyone was interested in his work.

Since then, Danaher has not just launched instructionals, but the entire series, both Gi and No-Gi and he is far from done. To this point, we’ve all seen or used at least one Danaher instructional in our quest for better BJJ.

Interestingly enough, with the rise of different coaching streams in BJJ, namely the Ecological Dynamics Approach and CLA, the man pioneering these methods Greg Sauders made a snappy comment about the length of Danaher’s instructionals, which landed him in fire as John’s students stood up to defend the BJJ mastermind.

While Sauders did raise some legitimate questions, the Danaher instructionals machine keeps on rolling, with yet another title now offering as deep an insight into a specific technique as is humanly possible. The latest member of the Master the Move series is the Anaconda Strangle John Danaher DVD.

Anaconda Strangle John Danaher DVD Review

The John Danaher Master the Move DVD about the Anaconda Stangle features the customary structure featuring 8 distinct volumes, with different durations each, all coming down to a total of 4 hours of high-quality, super-specific instruction on just one BJJ move:

Part 1 – Front Headlocks 

As John begins his instructional, we’re drawn into the familiar Danaher Twilight zone of grappling, with the ever-changing tone and impeccably thought-out vocabulary in every second of the material.

The first part of the Anaconda Strangle John Danaher DVD is all about the position that comes before the Anaconda choke, and that’s the front headlock. John talks a lot about the chokes you have at your disposal from the position and overviews the rolling motions Olympic wrestlers use from it, which we rarely practice correctly in BJJ.

Part 2 – Central Problems 

A central feature of any Danehr DVD to date has been a detailed focus on the central problems that you need to solve in order to make a specific move work. In the Anaconda Strangle John Danaher DVD, he defines two such problems and, of course, offers more than one way to solve them.

None of the solutions come in this portion, as that is what the following 6 volumes are for, but John does refer back to this part very often in the rest of the material. This portion also outlines the ‘T’ position, something we know Danaher loves from his Kimura instructionals, and how to optimally set it up.

Part 3 – The Roll

Coming back to a motion briefly mentioned in the first volume of the Anaconda Strangle John Danaher DVD, part three dissects the Olympic roll motion, as it pertains to the Anaconda choke and front headlock efficiency in Jiu-Jitsu.

The “T” position features again, but this time so does the roll, which, even though is not at all mandatory for an Anaconda choke, can help and looks super cool. Danaher breaks it down into two sequential steps and offers a variety of adjustments in terms of leg placement to make it work for everyone.

Part 4 – Standing Anaconda Setups

Most people will go for a guillotine when they’re trying to fight off a takedown. Most people will also fail with said guillotine because they’re not willing to go through with it. The alternative arrives in the form of the Anaconda choke, conveniently done from the same position as a guillotine (sort of).

In the fourth part of the John Danaher Anaconda DVD is a surprising number of ways you can fend off single leg and double leg attacks using the anaconda choke. Even if you go to ground, the result is going to be a submission finish for you, rather than simply points for your opponent.

Part 5 – Passing With the Anaconda Choke

Submission passing is a mark of the New Wave team, put together and led by John, so it’s no surprise that Anaconda details in passing context also feature in the DVD. Unlike with the guillotine, the goal is not to pass with the Anaconda but rather pass into a finish.

This portion of the Anaconda Strangle John Danaher DVD examines the inverted North-South position as a target to hit with your passing, as well as how to approach seated and supine opponents with the end goal of strangling them with the move.

Part 6 – Top Pins & Guard Tactics

Mount and side control setup of the anaconda marks the first half of this volume, offering ways to set up and finish without risking your pinning position. The front headlock acts as a bridge between the top pining position and the guarded Anaconda focus, which comes next.

From a bottom perspective, John Danaher shares setups that begin with the front headlock, more precisely, with the mandatory arm-in position (holding a head and arm from the front). Two methods he shares for getting to the choke are heisting and going for overhead sweeps with his favorite Sumi Gaeshi.

Part 7 – Setting it Up From the Back

One thing I’ve never really done much (at least not intentionally) is to set up the Anaconda from the back position. Danaher offers much food for thought for me to start considering this, by sharing top tips on incorporating the reverse armlock as a launching pad.

In this portion of the John Danaher Anaconda DVD, you’ll also find classic anaconda submission chains involving the Darce on the opposite side and the guillotine in the middle. As expected, these chains contain the level of detail only Danaher can provide.

Part 8 – Anaconda Alternatives & Troubleshooting

As we get to the end of the quite extensive Anaconda Strangle John Danaher DVD, the only thing remaining are a few troubleshooting tips. John has important tips on how to keep going if you can’t get to the ‘T’ position and an eventual bail-out option that will take you to the back.

He also addresses the Olympic roll in more detail, covering a few more front headlock pointers, before wrapping it all up with a guard pull into the Anaconda choke which I expect will trip up many white to purple belts in upcoming competitions. Just a hunch.

Front Headlock Attacks

Attacking the front headlock is something you absolutely need in your BJJ game. It is as stable as a pin for control, as versatile as the Kimura for setting up different submissions without letting go of the grip and as surprisingly useful as inversions when you want to change from bottom to top in an instant. Plus, you can use it while standing too.

What I find people struggling with the most from the position is how to stay connected in a way that helps them keep the opponent where they want, and open up further attacking avenues.

The first thing to address is the grips – there is no one best grip to use. Aim to have as tight of a loop around the opponent’s head and arm and you’ll do great using any grip you want.

Next, we have the biggest issue most people are not aware of – the arms are not enough. When you put your entire body to use from the front headlock, the resulting control is going to be much heavier. I like to point to people to try and force the chin of the opponent to their chest. In the Anaconda Strangle John Danaher DVD, you’ll find this in the portions covering the “T” position.

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Master The Move

Another John Danaher DVD. This one is really good, but then again, each of them has lots to offer in terms of perceived value for someone specializing. I’d say that the Anaconda Strangle John Danaher DVD is worthy if nothing else, to help you understand the front headlock, mainly because it covers a lot more angles of control, including rolling, as opposed to other Danaher DVDs you might have seen.

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What UFC Bryce Mitchell Said To Make Dana White Call Him “Dumbest Human Being”

By
BJJ World
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What UFC Bryce Mitchell Said To Make Dana White Call Him "Dumbest Human Being"

UFC featherweight Bryce Mitchell has ignited a firestorm of controversy with his comments about Adolf Hitler. During the inaugural episode of his “ArkanSanity Podcast,” Mitchell described Hitler as a “good guy” and denied the Holocaust. These remarks have drawn widespread condemnation from fans, the media, and UFC President Dana White.

UFC Bryce Mitchell Crazy Hitler Comments

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“I honestly think that Hitler was a good guy based upon my own research”

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The Shocking Bryce Mitchell Hitler Comments

Mitchell’s comments are nothing short of inflammatory. He praised Hitler for “purifying” Germany by removing Jews and took the opportunity to mock the LGBTQ+ community. The backlash was swift and fierce, with many labeling his comments as antisemitic, homophobic, and transphobic.

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“Hitler was a good guy based upon my own research, not my public education,” Mitchell declared. “I really do think before Hitler got on meth, he was a guy I’d go fishing with. He fought for his country.
He wanted to purify it by kicking the greedy Jews out, that were destroying his country and turning them all into gays. They were gaying out the kids. They were queering out the women. They were queering out the dudes.”

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His comments, as expected, resulted in plenty of reactions that included his boss, Dana White. White did not hold back in his response. visibly frustrated. In his usual style, Dana did not spare any words and insults to Mitchell when reacting to his insensitive comments:

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“I’ve heard a lot of dumb, ignorant s*** in my day, but this one’s probably the worst,” White said. “Hitler is one of the most disgusting and evil human beings to ever walk the face of the Earth, and anyone who tries to even take an opposing position is a moron.”

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However, despite the outrage, White confirmed that Mitchell would not face disciplinary action, citing the principle of free speech.“I don’t care if you don’t like it,” White added, doubling down on his stance.

UFC Bryce Mitchell Apologizes for Hitler Comments

Bryce Mitchell Apology Not Enough

Mitchell, perhaps realizing the gravity of his words, took to Instagram to issue an apology. Yet, this apology has done little to quell the outrage. Fans, commentators, and advocacy groups are calling for more substantial action against the fighter.

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“I’m sorry I sounded insensitive,” he wrote on Instagram. “I definitely was not trying to offend anybody, but I know I did. I know that a lot of people died in the Holocaust, and that’s a fact.
Hitler did a lot of evil things, I think we can all agree on that. I’m definitely not a Nazi, and definitely do not condone any of the evil things Hitler did.”

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The impact of Mitchell’s comments extends far beyond the octagon. “Bryce Mitchell’s comments are not just offensive; they are dangerous,” said Sarah Silverman, a prominent Jewish comedian and activist. “This kind of rhetoric can incite violence and hatred, and it has no place in our society.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Bryce Mitchell (@thugnasty_ufc)

The Free Speech Debate

As the MMA community grapples with the controversy, it highlights a broader issue: the balance between free speech and the responsibility that comes with a public platform.

While some argue that Mitchell’s comments are protected under free speech, others believe that such hateful rhetoric should not be tolerated. Rabbi Abraham Cooper of the Simon Wiesenthal Center was unequivocal in his condemnation.

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“Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences,” Cooper said. “The UFC must take a stand against hate speech.”

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White’s decision not to discipline Mitchell has drawn significant criticism. Many believe that the UFC should take a stronger stand against bigotry and hate speech, particularly given the sport’s global reach and influence.

What Now?

Mitchell’s remarks have undeniably left a lasting impact on the MMA community. While some fans support Dana White’s stance on free speech, many others believe that the UFC should take a more proactive approach in condemning hate speech.

The controversy surrounding Bryce Mitchell is far from over. It serves as a stark reminder of the power of words and the responsibilities that come with having a public platform. As the MMA community continues to debate and discuss this issue, one thing is clear: Mitchell’s comments have sparked a conversation that won’t be silenced anytime soon.

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Baseball Chokes From Everywhere Magid Hage DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
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Baseball Chokes From Everywhere Magid Hage DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A Gi BJJ insturctional that focuses on the execution of the sneaky baseball bat choke.
  • Includes expert details on grips, finishing mechanics, and troubleshooting the choke as you go.  
  • Magid offers not just the popular bottom-position setups, but also top-position baseball choke entries and finishes. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

BASEBALL CHOKES FROM EVERYWHERE MAGID HAGE DVD GET HERE:

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If someone has ever used the baseball choke on you, I am certain you’ve asked them immediately after tapping (or waking up) to tell you just what in the BJJ world they did. Most people that figure out what this choke is, end up falling in love with it.

However, these love stories turn out to be one-night stands in the big picture of BJJ, and we haven’t seen any experts with the choke at the highest levels. Apart form Magid Hage, of course.

Privy to the choke since his early days in BJJ as a kid, Magid built an entire, highly effective Jiu-Jitsu game around the baseball choke, putting some of the top competitors in the world to sleep. All the juicy, truly never-before-seen details of his baseball choke escapades are now out in the Baseball Chokes From Everywhere Magid Hage DVD.

The Sneakiest Choke in BJJ 

There are quite a few contenders for the title of the sneakiest choke in BJJ, but the baseball choke has always been one of the strongest ones. The first time you see it done, especially that crazy bottom setup where you pull the top person into a pass only to choke them is going to change your view of BJJ attacks for good.

This aspect of the baseball bat choke is exactly why this choke is so dangerous and effective – nobody sees it coming. Even from the top, the setup for the baseball bat choke is innocuous and stealthy, and once your opponent realizes where they are it is impossible to defend.

In all honesty, the choke is fairly easy to prevent and defend in the early stages, hence all the need for secrecy. However, understanding that being sneaky with it is key for half of the success of the choke is all you need to start pulling it off.

The second part of the success of the baseball choke is that it is incredibly tight, and you put your entire body weight behind it as opposed to simply squeezing with your arms or pulling with your lats. All these details and a ton more are up for grabs in the Baseball Chokes Magid Hage DVD.

The Babe Ruth of BJJ Chokes – Magid Hage

Whenever I hear or read the name Magid Hage I think of baseball chokes. That’s exactly the legacy you want as a submission specialist in BJJ. Hage’s proficiency with this one crazy effective move is on the same level as Eddie Cumming’s heel hooks, Roger’s cross collar choke, and Craig Jones’ shorts design patterns.

A fourth-degree BJJ black belt under Carlos Gracie Jr, promoted when he was only 19, Hage has been a loyal representative of Gracie Barra over the years. Training since he was 10, Magid always saw BJJ as a means of having fun, which is something that is clearly reflected in his style.

Hagid caught everyone’s eye with his crazy baseball choke setups and finishes between 2015 and 2020, establishing himself as the leading expert in that particular Gi BJJ submission finish. ‘Gorilla Hands’ went on to build on his legacy, currently heading the Surfight Academy in San Diego.

While there are tons we could learn from someone with Magid’s experience (he’s been training BJJ for over 40 years to date), it’s the baseball choke details that everyone’s curious about. Well, they are now all laid bare in the Baseball Chokes From Everywhere Magid Hage DVD.

Baseball Chokes From Everywhere Magid Hage DVD Review

The Baseball Chokes Magid Hage DVD is a four-part instructional that drivers just under 2 hours of super-high quality material on an elusive and sneaky choke by the world’s leading expert on that particular move:

Part 1 – Baseball Choke from Bottom 

Kicking off the Baseball Chokes From Everywhere Magid Hage DVD is a series of fine details on how to hold and move your body that only someone with a lifetime of experience can pinpoint. Having learned the choke from a Judoka in his father’s gym as a kid, Magid brings exactly that to the table.

The chapters in this first volume involve an intricate and highly detailed explanation of the baseball choke grips, how to get them, how deep you should go, and how to prevent finger injuries. Magid also shares a few tested bottom setups from different positions that ensure you will get the tap and not just risk a pass.

Part 2 – Sneaky Baseball Bat Choke Setups 

The real magic with the baseball bat choke happens in the second part of the Baseball Chokes Magid Hage DVD. This is where Magid uses the foundations laid out in the first part to guide you through a series of sneaky bottom position setups for the choke, mostly from different guards.

The over under, leg drag, and reverse half all feature here, with Magid demonstrating exactly where and when you should look for the choke to ensure you strangle whoever is trying to pass your guard. In fact, magid explains beautifully why passing won’t really matter when your baseball choke trap is set, as you want the top person closer.

Part 3 – Finishing Details

This part is the one that those who already love doing the baseball choke will appreciate the most. The third part of this Baseball Chokes From Everywhere Magid Hage DVD focuses on finishing the choke, along with key troubleshooting information.

Magid uses the knee shield setup to shed light on how you can adjust the choke along the way, and how to know whether or not it is safe to remove the guard. I can freely say that I’ve never seen so many details on baseball choke finishes anywhere else to date.

Part 4 – Baseball Bat Chokes from Everywhere

While most people might have used the baseball bat choke from the knee on the belly position, it is not a go-to from the top. I know because before seeing the Baseball Chokes Magid Hage DVD, that’s exactly how I viewed it.

Safe to say, Hage swayed my opinion. In the final part of his instructional, he builds on the finishing mechanics laid out earlier, easily pinpointing the adjustments you need to make when setting the choke up from the top so that it works even better than from the bottom.

As it turns out, you can set the choke up not just from a bunch of different positions, but also from different ranges. You can hit it from passing, for example, or even against turtled-up opponents.

Finishing the instructional in an unexpected way, Magid Hage shares his thoughts on whether or not the baseball bat choke works in BJJ and a few notions on the No-Gi version of the baseball choke.

Hidden BJJ Attacks

The more you’re able to make your intentions in BJJ, the more successful you’ll be in dominating and especially finishing opponents. The baseball choke is a clear example of how important sneakiness and attention guiding are in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

The same is true for every other attacking aspect of BJJ, and to a point, even defensive efforts. For example, the very well-known dilemma principle preached by Danaher is a variation of hiding attacks to the point that the opponent has no idea what the real threat is.

From submission passing to fake guard pulls that open up ankle picks, hiding your true intentions is the mark of a true expert grappler. You’ll see it as a reliable strategy with every one of the top competitors of all time, so why not use it in your game as well?

Start with the Baseball Chokes From Everywhere Magid Hage DVD. It will direct your focus to what’s probably the most useful integration of a hidden BJJ attack, setting you up to succeed with the more open-ended aspects of BJJ when using the same strategy later on.

Baseball Chokes From Everywhere Magid Hage DVD Free Sample
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Home Run Derby

Time to hit the home run with the baseball choke every time you swing for it! Expect to fail, especially during your first few attempts. However, once you understand the details laid out in the Baseball Chokes From Everywhere Magid Hage DVD, you’ll be able to hit the choke from top, bottom, and even standing positions, and even use it without the Gi as well.

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Essential Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD Review [2025]

By
Ognen Dzabirski
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Essential Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD Review

Key Takeaways

  • A BJJ insturctional containing a complete system on playing the shin to shin guard in Gi and No-Gi. 
  • Features fundamental mechanics, sweeps, leg locks, X-guard combinations, back takes, and entries. 
  • Answers common questions and provides counters to common passes. 
  • BJJ World Expert Rating: 9.5 out of 10.

SHIN TO SHIN SYSTEM SHAWN WILLIAMS DVD AVAILABLE HERE:

Essential Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD Preview
FULL TRAILER: Essential Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD

The shin to sin guard is like the half guard these days, especially if you’re doing a lot of No-Gi Jiu-JItsu. Like it or not, you’re going to end up in it, both playing and trying to beat it. So, why not accept that it is here to stay and try to create a working system from there?

Better yet, why not copy a system that has been proven to work at the highest levels of BJJ? The Essential Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD has got you covered on everything shin to shin guard-related, both for Gi and No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu.

Seated Guards: High-Risk High-Reward 

When I was a fresh blue belt, I was a big proponent of seated guards, more precisely, the Koala guard. It is a seated guard that provided some awesome options with the Gi until a friend of mine figured out a way to kill it – he simply pushed my head to the mats.

This is the most in-your-face (literally, if you try the Koala guard) example of how seated guards can go from hero to zero in an instant. So why play them at all? Because they also have a lot of attacking potential and are incredible for disrupting the balance.

If you’ve ever played a seated De la Riva using the Gi (skull-crusher sweep, anyone?) you know how many options seating up can open. The same is true for the shin to shin guard, arguably the most utilized seated guard variation in BJJ these days.

A shared problem for all these guards is the proximity of your head to the opponent’s arms. This can spell trouble for you unless you know how to mitigate it with optimal angles and a precise grip-fighting strategy. One man who has figured it out is Shawn Williams, with his findings now available in the Essential Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD.

The Grappling Brilliance of Shawn Williams

When I was a blue belt I somehow came across a Shawno Williams instructional. It was about a guard I had never heard about, called the Williams guard. While it didn’t have a fancy name, it delivered efficiency in a way no other guard did in the direction of providing me with a reliable go-to closed-guard version.

Back in those days, innovating and naming stuff after yourself was not as encouraged as it is now, especially by Gracie family members. Renzo Gracie, however, was always a different breed of Gracie. Most of the innovation in the BJJ world came from that blue basement, and Shawn Williams and his guard efforts are just one example.

A black belt under Renzo, and only the fifth American to get the coveted rank, Shawn Williams was touted as one of the top competitors of his generation, competing a lot in the early 2000s. Rolling every day with the likes of Matt Serra, Danaher, and Ricardo Almeida meant Shawn had to be at his best in those super-hard old days of training in the blue basement.

Guard was his forte, and to this day, I have not figured out a better-closed guard than the Williams guard. Now, the story gets a second part, this time with the focus on a seated guard variation in the Shin To Shin Guard Shawn Williams.

Essential Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD Review

The Essential Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD has way more than just the essentials, offering a system divided into 6 volumes which include control, attacks, transitions, entries, and troubleshooting. There is even a dedicated volume for Gi adjustments in this four-and-a-half-hour-long DVD:

Part 1 – Shin To Shin Fundamentals

First things first, the key aspects that make the shin to shin guard work. As it is clear by now, failure from seated guards is just as possible as winning an exchange. Understandably, Shawn’s first lessons have to do with the fundamental elements of the guard, such as positioning, grips, essential movement, and primary attacks.

This opening act of the Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD presents a concept that explains the essentials behind flat and spinning attacks, which I really wish I had known when I first picked up the shin to shin position.

Willimas also delivers ideas on what exactly you need to do to the primary leg to start your attacks and how to be heavy on your opponent. A short tease about using the guard to get to Ashi announces part two.

Part 2 – Ashi Garami & Sweep Attacks 

The longest volume of this Essential Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD is all about leg locks. Not surprising, since most people only think of them when they enter into the shin to shin guard.

Shawn’s mini system of leg locks from the position begins with the usual suspects, such as single leg X connections and getting to straight Ashi, outside Ashi, and Inside Senkaku. he also throws in the full X guard in the mix, introducing a variety of sweeps and teaching you how to create dilemma situations.

Part 3 – Bear Traps & Wrestle Ups

One of the less known and used leg locking options that is having its moment in the sun these days is the calf slicer from the bear trap position, or in 10th Planet lingo, the Ham Sandwich.

In part three of the Shin To Shin Guard Shawn Williams, you get as deep of an analysis as anyone can deliver on the position. Shawn starts by explaining the risks of looking for this position, as he outlines different ways to get the position by being proactive and reactive from the shin to shin.

He does an excellent job at connecting the dots between the bear trap and traditional Ashi Garami, which provides you with a means to funnel the opponent into wrestle-ups that conclude the system. Some impressive Kosoto and single-leg finishes wrap things up.

Part 4 – Troubleshooting 

I always enjoy when people include a troubleshooting section in a BJJ DVD, although not all of them contain actionable and valuable information. Well, you can rest assured that Shawn delivers exactly what you need to answer the questions that you have about his shin to shin guard system.

Some key topics covered in this part include dealing with knee cuts and breakaways, which are two of the most common counters available to the top person. All levels of backsteps into Ashi also get a lot of attention before Willimas provides a formula for winning leg pummels every time.

Submission awareness against rolling Kimuras rounds off the troubleshooting portion of the Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD.

Part 5 – Shin To Shin Entries

You can tell that Shawn shares a past with Danaher, as they have the same principle of teaching the things you do first in rolling at the end of their lessons and instructionals. That’s the best way to do it, anyway.

Getting to the shin to shin guard often results in catastrophic position giveaways for the bottom person, so Shawn addresses fallacies first, before offering a few proven ways to get to the guard. For the most part, he talks about setting it up against standing opponents, covering two distances – long range with no grips, and from a hand-fighting pocket.

Providing both a great example of a level-changing opponent, and introducing the next and last part of the Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD is an entry to the shin to shin from the De la Riva guard.

Part 6 – Gi Shin To Shin System

Another Shawn Williams super-cool move is that he also provides a blueprint for setting up and playing the shin to shin guard in the Gi. In the final part of the Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD, he dons the cloth and goes over the differences between playing the shin to shin guard in Gi and No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu.

Sleeve grips are the aspect Shawn focuses on the most, with plenty of De la Riva-style sweep attacks becoming an option. On a more interesting note, a lapel ber trap setup features in the middle of this volume, and it became an instant favorite of mine.

There are also Berimobolo countering details, ways to spin under into inverted attacks, and directions on blocking passes. A series of pummeling drills bring an end to this exhaustive, but very well-put-together BJJ instructional.

Looking Past Leg Locks

So where does the shin to shin guard fit in your game if you’re not big on leg locks? The answer is the same as with any other seated guard – whenever you’re engaging a standing, sometimes kneeling opponent, and you’d like to isolate a leg while staying very close.

This last part about distance is what matters the most. It is why seated guards work so well in both Gi and No-Gi. When you latch on to the leg of a standing opponent, the full weight of your body is there to keep them “chained” to the ground. using the same principle you can create off-balances, in all directions, using a multitude of different methods.

One more important thing that comes to mind when seated guards are the subject is their checkpoint role, as a safe spot to hang out in when changing different guards, especially when you’re changing the distance, and/or the top person is changing levels. It’s all in the Shin To Shin  Shawn Williams Guard DVD, explained to a ‘T’.

Essential Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD Free Sample
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FULL DOWNLOAD: SHIN TO SHIN SYSTEM SHAWN WILLIAMS DVD

Sit to Win!

Lazy BJJ is the best BJJ. Seat on your butt, grab that leg and become one of the most annoying and difficult-to-beat people in the gym. At least when we’re talking about playing guard. If you want to keep your suffering to a minimum, use the well-presented and tested advice from the Essential Shin To Shin System Shawn Williams DVD to get an immediate edge when you introduce the shin to shin guard to your game.

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Marcelo Garcia AMA: White, Blue & Purple Belts Should Focus On This

By
Ognen Dzabirski
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Marcelo Garcia AMA: White, Blue & Purple Belts Should Focus On This

Marcelo Garcia, a name synonymous with expert BJJ performance is back in the spotlight for all the right reasons. He beat cancer, returned to world-class level competitions, and submitted fellow veteran Masuzaku Imanari in a spectacular fashion in his comeback match. After the fact, the GOAT took to Reddit, opening a Marcelo Gracia AMA thread where he shared some invaluable pieces of advice on every aspect of Jiu-Jitsu and life he was asked about.

Marcelo Garcia Advice for BJJ white blue and purple belts

Marcelo Garcia AMA:  White to Purple Belt Focus Explained

Marcelo Garcia’s path to becoming a multiple-time world champion in BJJ is a testament to his dedication and passion for the art. Starting his training in Brazil, Garcia quickly rose through the ranks, earning accolades and respect from the global BJJ community.

His innovative approach to grappling, particularly his mastery of the butterfly guard and X-guard revolutionized the sport and inspired countless practitioners worldwide.

In the Marcelo Gracia AMA thread on Reddit, the 42-year-old kept answers short and to the point but took his time to answer everything respectfully, offering some invaluable advice along the way. A few particular answers caught people’s attention the most interesting of which was Marcelo’s advice on what to focus on at different belt levels.

One of the Reddit members asked the GOAT: “If you were to start all over again – what would be the 1 key essential that you’d try to get as good at as possible at each belt level?”

Marcelo’s responses, while short, gathered as much attention as his comeback grappling match in ONE. Well, almost:

1. White Belt: Injury Proof Yourself

Marcelo Garcia started at the beginning, addressing what he’d do at white belt IF he had to do things over again:

“White belt – I would’ve learn how not to get hurt.”

With injuries quite prevalent in our sport, this advice is not something people training should take lightly. Marcelo has seen thousands, if not tens of thousands of people on the mats in his BJJ career, and knows injury rates better than anyone.

2. Blue Belt: Become a Specialist

Addressing the blue belt level next, Garcia had this incredible piece of advice to share”

“Blue belt – I would’ve learn specific training and techniques. For example, back attacks, side control, mount etc”

The time for specializing is at blue belt, as you already understand enough to navigate BJJ, but need in-depth practice in everything as well. The biggest takeaway here is not to focus on everything at once, but rather take your time to go through different positions and moves and study them in detail.

3. Purple Belt: Fight on the Feet

The final piece of advice Marcelo had to offer had to do with the goals a purple belt should have, according to him:

“Purple belt – I would’ve focus more on my stand-up.”

Pretty straightforward, but also very smart. At purple belt, you already have more than an idea of what’s going on. You’re good at different things, can work your way around injuries, and can dedicate yourself completely to learning takedowns without the fear standing practice usually presents newbies and less experienced grapplers.

Marcelo Garcia Belt Promotion

More Marcelo Gracia Reddit AMA Gems

You know that while the centerpiece of the entire Marcelo Garcia AMA on Reddit was his take on progressing through the BJJ belts rank, at the end of the day there were going to be some great gems among the questions, and even better ones in the answers Marcelo provided.

Check these out:

  • Q: “Best advice for older grapplers on reducing wear and tear on the body?”
  • Marcelo: “We need to train with no ego. We should be better at that especially when we’re older.”

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  • Q: “How did you get so good at grappling bigger opponents? Did you favor training technique over live rounds? Give me your secrets.”
  • Marcelo: “I believe jiujitsu would definitely help on that. I always feel that I need to prove my jiujitsu against people my size and bigger people too. Since I started, I always train with people bigger than me.”

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  • Q: “Has anyone ever told you that you look like Murr from Impractical Jokers?”
  • Marcelo: “At least five people on the streets.”

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  • Q: “I just opened my first gym a few months ago. Pls wish me luck and could offer any advice to maintain a positive environment?”
  • Marcelo: “Good luck and don’t let people be rude to each other inside and outside the mat.”

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The Marcelo Garcia AMA thread on Reddit went on to cover a bunch of other topics, related or unrelated to BJJ, as people enjoyed having the chance to change a few words and get some advice on arguably the best grappler ever in the history of submission grappling.

Marcelo Garcia BJJ GOAT

The Best For Last

If there’s one more Marcelo Gracia AMA session answer that deserves to be pointed out from among all the others it has to be this one:

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  • Q: “Any tips for longevity?”
  • Marcelo: “Jiujitsu – focus on not getting hurt and use it to release stress. Life – Do jiujitsu so you don’t get too stressed out.”

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Marcelo Garcia really knocked it out of the park with his AMA session, which was the very first of its kind with the legendary grappler. We hope to see much more of Marcelo in the ONE circle, but also on Reddit in the upcoming months!

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