YouTuber Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu rolled in street clothes – t-shirts, hoodies, dress shirts, a security uniform and a suit – to stress-test BJJ for real fights.
His takeaway: everyday outfits created Gi-style grips and friction, pushing the needle toward Gi training when you ask Gi or No-Gi for real-world self-defence.
Clothes made collar chokes nastier and escapes harder, but also raised questions about ripping, heat and awkward fits.
No-Gi coaches still argue their case: attackers won’t be in Gis, sweat and speed are closer to fights, and limb control works on any outfit.
The online verdict: Jordan’s video is strong evidence, not a final answer — you probably need both.
Gi or No-Gi For Real-World Self-Defence – Inside The YouTube Experiment
For years, BJJ Reddit has argued about Gi or No-Gi for real-world self-defence. Then Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu walked into his gym wearing… basically everything in his wardrobe.
In his viral video, Jordan and training partners rolled rounds in:
Simple t-shirts.
Hoodies and sweatpants.
A button-up dress shirt.
A security-style uniform.
Even a full suit with a tie and a pocket square.
The idea was simple: if a fight breaks out in what you actually wear to work or the bar, does it feel more like a Gi round or a No-Gi round?
By the end, he wasn’t shy about his conclusion.
“Rolling in street clothes didn’t invalidate Gi jiu-jitsu. It reinforced it.” – Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu –
T-Shirts, Hoodies And Suits: What Jordan Actually Tested
The fun part of the Gi or No-Gi for real-world self-defence experiment is watching each outfit change the game.
In regular t-shirts, grips were everywhere. Material bunched up in the hands, and quick collar-style strangles were on the menu.
Hoodies turned things up again: thick hoods became handles, sleeves gave instant pulling power, and a basic slide-by could snowball into a choke just from how the fabric twisted around the neck.
Dress shirts and a security uniform added another twist. Buttons popped, seams complained, but they still provided lapel-like collars and sleeves to hang on to.
In the full suit, everything went extreme: the jacket was a Gi top, the tie turned into a rope, and the pocket square became a prop for wrist ties and traps.
Jordan’s rounds showed that, for the first frantic minutes of a scuffle, most clothes don’t disintegrate immediately. They hold long enough to grab, pull, and choke – exactly what Gi players are used to.
Why The Experiment Nudged The Needle Toward Gi
When you freeze-frame the key exchanges, it’s easy to see why so many took the video as a big win for the Gi side of Gi or No-Gi for real-world self-defence.
BJJ in street clothes worked for Jordan:
Collar-like chokes with t-shirts and hoodies,
Strong sleeve and pant grips to break posture or sweep,
Extra friction made hip escapes and leg pummelling harder to pull off cleanly.
He summed it up with another neat line.
“Most people don’t compete without clothes.” – Jordan Teaches Jiujitsu –
That sounds obvious, but it cuts straight to the heart of the argument. If your opponent is almost certainly wearing something you can grab, then Gi reps – learning to use fabric to off-balance, slow, and strangle – look very transferable.
Some traditionalists took it further, calling the Gi or No-Gi for real-world self-defence video proof that Gi BJJ is more “street realistic” than people want to admit.
If jeans and hoodies behave like a messy Gi for the first couple of minutes, the skills you build in pyjamas suddenly feel a lot less theoretical.
The Case For No-Gi In Real-World Self-Defence
Of course, the other side of the Gi or No-Gi for real-world self-defence question didn’t just pack up and go home.
No-Gi coaches and 10th Planet-style gyms point out that clothes rip, summer fights often involve shorts and tank tops, and sweaty, fabric-light scenarios are closer to what you see in MMA. Their pitch is simple: learn to control the body, not the jacket.
One No-Gi self-defence article puts it like this:
“In a self-defence situation, an assailant is unlikely to be wearing a Gi. No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu teaches techniques that are adaptable to any attire.” – 10th Planet Banbury –
The focus there is on underhooks and overhooks instead of cuffs and collars, head-and-arm control, wrist control and clinch work, faster scrambles, get-ups and escapes from headlocks and bear hugs.
That argument hits especially hard for anyone with MMA or security goals. If you care about sweat, speed and strikes, you’re going to ask at some point: is No-Gi better for self-defence in the kind of stripped-down, shirt-off chaos you see outside clubs or at parties?
What The Debate Really Misses
If you dive into the BJJ Reddit thread that’s literally titled “Gi Oor No-Gi for real-world self-defence?”, you quickly see a pattern: almost everyone eventually lands on context and balance, not a one-word answer.
One user nails the Gi side in a line that could sit under Jordan’s video:
“Gi teaches you to grab clothes. People wear clothes.” – Reddit user –
Others push back, pointing out that hot climates and “t-shirt only” settings favour No-Gi skills, grips can fail or tear, and at the end of the day, running, awareness and good decision-making matter more than lapel tricks.
The real takeaway from Jordan’s self-defence experiment isn’t that one side “won forever.”
It’s that, in the Gi or No-Gi for real-world self-defence debate, we finally have a clean, visual test that shows how much clothing can matter – without pretending that every fight looks like a winter jacket and hoodie choke demo.
If you train Gi, the message is: your collar and sleeve work probably helps more on the street than your No-Gi friends claim.
If you train No-Gi, the message is: your body-control tools still apply no matter what someone’s wearing – and you’d better be ready when the hoodie rips.
The smartest answer, as usual, is boring: train both, stay honest about your goals, and remember that arguments are easier on Reddit than they are in a car park at 2 am.
Military police lieutenant Henrique Velozo has issued a public video apology to the family of Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion Leandro Lo after his controversial acquittal.
The Leandro Lo shooting acquittal came after a São Paulo jury accepted his self-defense claim over the 2022 nightclub killing.
Lo’s mother, Fátima, has condemned the verdict as unjust and is preparing an appeal, pointing to medical and visual evidence she says contradicts the officer’s story.
The apology – delivered while Velozo still insists he “preserved” his life – has only deepened outrage and debate across the global BJJ community.
How The Leandro Lo Shooting Unfolded At Clube Sírio Nightclub
Before the Leandro Lo shooting acquittal and the officer’s apology, there was the August 7, 2022 confrontation that ended one of Brazilian jiu-jitsu’s greatest competitive careers.
Eight-time world champion Leandro Lo, 33, was at a music event inside the Clube Sírio in São Paulo’s Indianópolis neighborhood when an encounter with off-duty military police officer Henrique Otávio Oliveira Velozo escalated.
According to prosecutors, Velozo approached the table where Lo sat with friends and provoked a confrontation. The situation turned physical when Lo, a celebrated Brazilian jiu-jitsu champion, used a grappling restraint to control the officer.
After being released, prosecutors say Velozo returned, fired a single shot toward Lo’s head, and even kicked him after pulling the trigger. Lo was rushed to hospital but did not survive.
The defense has always painted a radically different picture of the Leandro Lo shooting. Velozo’s legal team argued that he was confronted by Lo’s group, pushed by one of the champion’s companions, and taken down.
They claim that after identifying himself as a police officer and drawing his firearm, he faced Lo advancing again while another person tried to grab the weapon, leading to the fatal shot.
These competing narratives – ambush versus desperate self-defense inside the Clube Sírio nightclub – set the stage for a trial that would grip Brazil and the wider grappling world.
Inside The Barra Funda Courtroom And The Leandro Lo Shooting Acquittal
More than three years after the killing, the case reached a jury at the Barra Funda Criminal Forum in São Paulo. Over three days of testimony, a panel of five women and two men heard from nine witnesses, including friends of Lo, a defense witness, and Velozo himself.
Prosecutors pushed for a conviction on triple-qualified homicide charges, citing base motives, treacherous methods, and ambush, with a requested sentence of at least 20 years.
Despite that, at least four jurors sided with the officer’s argument that he acted to protect his own life.
The Leandro Lo shooting acquittal was read out by Judge Fernanda Jacomini of the 1st Jury Court, allowing Velozo to walk free after more than three years and three months in custody at the Romão Gomes military prison.
Defense attorney Cláudio Dalledone Jr. hailed the outcome in emphatic terms:
Justice has prevailed and arbitrariness was set aside – Cláudio Dalledone Jr. –
From the other side, outrage was immediate. Lead prosecutor João Carlos Calsavara described the trial as “complicated” and flagged what he considered serious flaws, stating his belief that the verdict could be overturned on appeal.
The jury decision, reinstatement of Velozo to the police force, and the Henrique Velozo verdict as a whole already had the BJJ world on edge. The officer’s next move – a public apology video – was never going to land in neutral territory.
Lo Family Set to Appeal
Lo’s mother, Fátima Lo, made her stance crystal clear in the hours after the Leandro Lo shooting acquittal.
We will appeal, yes, because there was no justice – Fátima Lo –
Speaking in an emotional video message, she described the verdict as reliving her son’s death:
Yesterday I buried Leandro for the second time – Fátima Lo –
Fátima has vowed a Lo family appeal, arguing that crucial evidence was mishandled or misrepresented. She pointed to medical findings showing no injuries on Velozo’s body, which she believes undercuts his self-defense narrative.
Her frustration extends to what she views as a system that allows defendants to construct a story over time:
The defendant can lie, the justice system allows the defendant to lie. So he lied a lot. He invented his story there, guided by his defense. – Fátima Lo –
Prosecutors echo her concerns, highlighting procedural issues and vowing to pursue avenues to challenge the Henrique Velozo verdict. In the meantime, the BJJ world has reacted with visible anger.
Reports describe a global community “crying” with the family and furious at what many see as impunity after the death of a generational talent.
Henrique Velozo Verdict, Public Apology, And What Justice Means For BJJ
Against that backdrop, Velozo’s recent video message – the first major public statement from him since his acquittal – landed like a grenade. In it, the officer directly addresses Lo’s loved ones and supporters:
I need to make a request for forgiveness to the family members, the mother, the father, the sister, the friends, and to all the people who loved Leandro Lo – Henrique Velozo –
He notes that he spent “three years and three months” incarcerated awaiting judgment, framing the verdict as the culmination of a long ordeal. But in the same breath, he doubles down on his claim that he was backed into a corner that night.
I was placed at a limit, a limit that I would not like to be, where I unfortunately had to dirty my hands with blood to be able to preserve my life – Henrique Velozo –
For critics of the Leandro Lo shooting acquittal, that framing is exactly the problem. The apology acknowledges Lo’s family and the pain of his supporters, but it does not concede wrongdoing.
Instead, it reinforces the self-defense story that the Lo family and prosecution insist is incompatible with the evidence they presented at the Barra Funda Criminal Forum.
In the BJJ community, the reaction has been raw. Many see Lo’s eight world titles and status as one of the sport’s greatest ever competitors as part of a legacy that deserves more than what they view as a technical victory in court for a state agent
For Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, this story won’t just be another headline from outside the mats. It’s a test of how a tight-knit global community responds when questions of violence, policing, and accountability collide with the death of one of its greatest champions – and when the only official closure comes in the form of a verdict and an apology many simply cannot accept.
In that sense, the Leandro Lo shooting acquittal will keep echoing far beyond the courtroom, long after the cameras stop replaying Velozo’s words.
Headlocks are one of those positions everyone meets early in Jiu-Jitsu, yet most people either treat them as “dirty wrestling” or abandon them once they get deeper into the art. Scott Miller takes the opposite approach and builds an entire attacking web around them.
In this Hawaiian Headlock System Scott Miller DVD review, we’re looking at how his system reframes the headlock from something crude into a legitimate, technical pathway to chokes, submissions, and strong pins.
The result is a series that feels modern but is still grounded in positional fundamentals. If you’ve seen any other Scott Miller DVD instructionals, this one stands out as particularly playful while still very deliberate in how it builds the system.
No Points but Strong Control – Front Headlocks in BJJ
In Jiu-Jitsu, headlocks can be polarising. Done badly, they feel like neck cranks and burn out your arms. Done well, they become powerful control tools that lead to arm triangles, transitions to the back, and nasty pressure that forces opponents into predictable reactions.
When you look at the material in the Hawaiian Headlock System Scott Miller DVD Review context, you can see that Miller’s core goal is to clean up the mechanics so headlocks become safe for training partners yet brutally effective in live rounds.
The instructional heavily emphasises control first, then submission. Using concepts inspired by buggy chokes and triangle structures, he shows how to keep the opponent stuck in a kind of “web” where their head and arm are trapped and their hips are compromised.
That’s a big step away from the classic idea of simply squeezing the head and hoping for the tap. Instead, Miller treats the headlock like a positional family: scarfhold-style top control, pinned shoulders, off-balancing sweeps, and transitions into arm attacks and chokes.
Evergreen Jiu-Jitsu Coach Scott Miller
Scott Miller brings serious grappling mileage to this project. He’s a 3rd-degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt based out of Evergreen, Colorado, with decades of mat time behind him and a long history in both wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu.
Long before his black belt, he started wrestling as a kid and eventually qualified for Nationals at the collegiate level, which explains the strong wrestling flavour you see throughout his teaching. That wrestling base, combined with over a decade and a half in Jiu-Jitsu, gives his headlock game an authenticity that’s hard to fake.
Today Scott runs Evergreen Jiu-Jitsu, where he coaches everyone from brand-new students to high-level competitors and UFC athletes. His public coaching persona, including what you see on his social media, leans into clear, concept-driven instruction rather than flashy one-off moves.
He often focuses on blending wrestling-style pressure and Jiu-Jitsu guard work, with a particular emphasis on making awkward positions feel systematic rather than chaotic. Understanding who he is helps frame this Hawaiian Headlock System Scott Miller DVD because the system looks exactly like something built by a lifelong wrestler who fell in love with Jiu-Jitsu.
Full Hawaiian Headlock System Scott Miller DVD Review
The Scott Miller Hawaiian Headlock System DVD is organised into two volumes that mirror the way most grapplers actually experience headlocks in live training. Volume 1 is anchored around top control: Hawaiian headlocks, scarfhold variations, and transitions into submissions and dominant pins.
Volume 2 shifts the lens to more unusual but increasingly common positions—side buggy chokes, bottom attacks, and escape sequences that flip bad spots into strong finishing chains. Structurally, the Hawaiian Headlock System Scott Miller DVD Review material feels like a true “system” rather than a random playlist of techniques.
Volume 1 – Headlock Basics
Volume 1 is where the Hawaiian Headlock System Scott Miller DVD really lays its base. It starts with an introduction and then moves straight into the “Hawaiian Headlock and Sneaky Pete Americana module, which sets up the primary configuration and explains how to use the Americana as both a threat and a structural tool.
From there, Miller addresses how to avoid getting “handcuffed” by the opponent’s grips and how to close off corners so they can’t simply scramble free. The middle of the volume is dedicated to turning that control into tangible outcomes.
The sequence covering the belly-down finish, the schoolyard sweep, and top scarfhold submissions shows how you can cycle between off-balancing the opponent, landing on top, and finishing without giving up head-and-arm dominance.
Later in the volume, Miller zooms out to troubleshoot the position as a whole. Segments on positional details, defending the back take, and troubleshooting top scarfhold all focus on the common escape routes people use against basic headlocks and scarfhold pins.
He then adds a Darce finish and shows the transition to top side control, tying the system back into classic Jiu-Jitsu landmarks. By the end of this volume of the Hawaiian Headlock System Scott Miller DVD, you’re not just holding a headlock—you have a map of how to maintain it, attack from it, and move on when the opponent finally scrambles.
Volume 2 – Hi Mom & Buggy Chokes
If Volume 1 is about building a rock-solid top game, Volume 2 is where things get creative. It opens with the Hi Mom submission and a series of side buggy choke variations, all of which lean heavily on modern buggy choke mechanics but adapted to head-and-arm scenarios.
The original “Hi Mom” sequence sets the tone: you’re dealing with positions that often arise when you’re off to the side or slightly underneath, and instead of bailing out, you’re encouraged to turn them into serious submission threats.
The side buggy choke chapters layer in more nuance—standard side buggy choke, a sweep from that configuration, and a gable grip variation that gives you different finishing angles.
These aren’t just “cool tricks”; they’re presented as follow-ups to the situations created in the first part, especially when opponents fight hard to come up or roll out of your top pressure. The back half of this portion of the Hawaiian Headlock System Scott Miller DVD shifts toward more classic defensive work, including a basic knee elbow escape, rolling through to re-guard, and finally a bottom sankaku triangle and finish.
Becoming Unpredictable
Instructionals only really shine when they translate into better rounds on the mat, and this is where Miller’s system has clear practical value. The material is built around sequences, so it lends itself naturally to partner drilling.
One effective way to approach it is to pick a single chain—say, Hawaiian headlock to Sneaky Pete Americana to Kesa Salami—and run it repeatedly with increasing resistance before letting your partner choose their own escape and adjusting in real time.
In practical terms, the Hawaiian Headlock System Scott Miller DVD becomes most useful when you make its positions part of your regular positional sparring. Start rounds from scarfhold, head-and-arm control, or semi-buggy setups and give yourself permission to stay there instead of bailing to side control right away.
Focus on the details Miller emphasises: sealing corners, keeping your base stable, and transitioning calmly when the opponent turns into you or tries to sit up.
Safety is also a big consideration with headlocks. The series implicitly encourages clean choking pressure over rough neck cranks, which is important if you’re training long term.
From a buyer’s standpoint, this is not a “day one in the Gi” fundamentals course. It’s much better suited to grapplers who already understand base positions like side control, scarfhold, and basic arm triangle mechanics.
From a belt perspective, late white belts with good coaching could start to use the basics, but the sweet spot is probably blue to brown belt—people who know the standard escapes and are ready to experiment with a more specialised game.
From a buyer’s perspective, the Hawaiian Headlock System Scott Miller DVD Review makes the most sense for grapplers who routinely find themselves in head-and-arm scrambles, whether through takedowns, wrestling-style tie-ups, or half-finished guard passes.
Wrestlers crossing over to Jiu-Jitsu will feel very at home with the pressure and body positioning, while pure Jiu-Jitsu players get a structured way to add wrestling-style control without abandoning good choking mechanics.
It’s also a strong pick for coaches. If your room has a lot of MMA-minded athletes or competitors who like upper-body ties, this system gives you a coherent language to teach from, rather than piecing together random scarfhold and buggy choke clips.
Pros & Potential Drawbacks
Pros:
System-based approach that connects top headlocks, scarfhold pins, sweeps, and modern buggy-style chokes into one coherent framework.
Strong influence from wrestling, which makes the control sequences feel tight, realistic, and very applicable to scrambly situations.
Works in both Gi and No-Gi, with concepts that transfer well to MMA-style grappling and self-defence contexts.
Scott’s calm, methodical teaching style suits analytical students who like understanding why a position works, not just how.
Seen as a complete package, the Hawaiian Headlock System Scott Miller DVD gives you a clear roadmap for turning an often-overlooked family of positions into genuine A-game material. Rather than offering a single “secret move”, it encourages you to think of headlocks as a hub from which you can attack, transition, or safely reset.
Potential Drawbacks:
The material assumes you already have basic positional awareness; absolute beginners may find it dense without prior instruction.
Some of the buggy-style setups in Volume 2 can be demanding on flexibility and comfort in unusual positions.
If your personal game is heavily guard-focused and you rarely engage in upper-body tie-ups, you may need to consciously seek out the positions to get value.
Turn Scrambles Into Submissions!
Headlocks have long been treated as either a beginner’s crutch or a rough wrestling move better left out of refined Jiu-Jitsu exchanges. Scott Miller challenges that idea by showing how, with the right structure and mechanics, they can become some of the most reliable pathways to control and submission on the mat.
Throughout this project, you see the fingerprints of a lifelong grappler who understands both the pressure of wrestling and the technical demands of modern Jiu-Jitsu. As a Scott Miller Headlock DVD, it sits nicely between fundamentals and experimentation.
Kayla Harrison didn’t win a tournament for two years when she first started judo as a kid.
Her debut match lasted about 15 seconds before she was flat on her back.
She stuck with it out of pure stubbornness, eventually becoming a two-time Olympic gold medallist in Judo.
That same mindset pushed her from Middletown, Ohio, to UFC bantamweight champion – and she’s still using the story to talk about resilience and early failure.
Kayla Harrison Didn’t Win A Tournament For Two Years – Here’s How It Started
Before the belts, medals and UFC walkouts, Kayla Harrison didn’t win a tournament for two years.
She was a little kid from Middletown, Ohio, thrown into judo by her stepdad and coach, Dan Doyle. The first trip to a local competition didn’t exactly scream “future Olympic champion” – it was over almost before it started.
“I went to my first competition and like 15 seconds in I was flat on my back.” – Kayla Harrison –
Most kids would have cried, quit or at least taken a long break after that kind of introduction. Instead, Harrison just kept going back, losing and learning while her record stayed stubbornly empty in the win column.
“Fifteen Seconds In, I Was Flat On My Back”
The opening loss wasn’t a one-off. Those early years were full of long drives, short days on the mat and coming home without a medal.
By her own account, Kayla Harrison didn’t win a tournament for two years – an eternity when you’re a young competitor standing next to kids who seem to be collecting trophies every weekend.
“I didn’t win a tournament for the first two years of doing judo.” – Kayla Harrison –
What kept her there? Not some instant love affair with the sport, not a clear sense she was destined for greatness. It was something much simpler.
“I’m stubborn.” – Kayla Harrison –
That single word explains a lot: why she kept suiting up despite the losses, why she stayed through brutal training blocks, and why the phrase Kayla Harrison didn’t win a tournament for two years now sounds more like a warning label than an excuse.
From Middletown Mats To Double Olympic Gold
Fast-forward and the kid who couldn’t buy a win became the first American to win Olympic judo gold, doing it not once but twice.
From local tournaments to the Games in London and Rio, Harrison turned those early beatings into fuel.
Her official bio doesn’t shy away from the rough parts of the journey – from personal trauma to the grind of elite training – but the through-line is always the same: she had to keep showing up long before anyone called her special.
“I’m a fighter in every sense of the word.” – Kayla Harrison –
Back home in Middletown, people watched the same girl who used to come back from kids’ tournaments empty-handed step onto the biggest stage in the world and dominate.
By then, the fact that Kayla Harrison didn’t win a tournament for two years had turned from a painful stat into part of the legend.
The Same Stubborn Kid Who Became A UFC Champion
If you’ve seen Harrison fight in MMA, the link is obvious. The same stubbornness that kept a losing kid in judo is what dragged her through PFL tournaments, straight into the UFC and all the way to a world title.
The style hasn’t changed much: relentless takedowns, top pressure, and a refusal to accept “no” as an answer.
When she talks about her UFC run – walking into huge cards, calling out big names and insisting the division has to deal with her – it’s just the grown-up version of that kid who refused to quit after being tossed in 15 seconds.
Those early years, when Kayla Harrison didn’t win a tournament for two years, are the lens she uses now whenever someone asks about hype, doubt or pressure.
Compared to going months and months without a single gold medal as a child, main events and media days are just another set of rounds to get through.
Kayla Harrison Didn’t Win A Tournament For Two Years – So Why Are You Worried?
On paper, “Kayla Harrison didn’t win a tournament for two years” sounds like a reason to tap out on a sport, not a prelude to Olympic and UFC gold. That’s exactly why she keeps repeating it.
For parents panicking about their kid losing early, for hobbyists who feel behind, for anyone who thinks slow starts mean they’re not “talented enough,” her story is a direct rebuttal. The first chapters can look ugly.
Progress is often invisible for a long time. And sometimes the only difference between the kid who becomes a champion and the kid who disappears is one thing: who keeps turning up.
Harrison’s career is built on the part of the story most people would have edited out. She didn’t. She turned it into a headline – Kayla Harrison didn’t win a tournament for two years – and then spent the rest of her life proving how misleading it turned out to be.
If you’ve been looking for a leg lock resource that feels more “catch room” than “Instagram highlight reel”, this Legendary Leglocks Joel Bane DVD Review will walk you through what you’re actually getting for your time and money.
Rather than chasing the latest fad, this instructional leans into brutal fundamentals: pressure, control, and finishing mechanics that work across Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, and submission grappling.
In that sense, it stands apart from many leg lock instructionals that are almost entirely guard-based. This isn’t just another Joel Bane DVD Review that repeats the sales copy. The series is built as a complete lower-body submission system over ten volumes, starting from mindset and core principles and extending into very specific entries from turtle, mount, half guard, and standing.
Blending Grappling Styles
Before diving into the individual volumes, it’s worth looking at how this material fits into modern Jiu-Jitsu as a whole. Most leg lock systems today are presented through the lens of guards like K guard, outside ashi, and cross ashi, with a strong bias toward No-Gi competition.
Joel’s approach is different. He frames leg locks as an extension of wrestling-style control: you earn your submissions by dominating hips, knees, and alignment first, then finishing with minimal movement.
In this Legendary Leglocks Joel Bane DVD, that distinction really matters. A lot of the entries come from traditional wrestling-style positions: turtle, half guard, the mount, and top rides, plus old-school rolling knee bars and guard-breaking sequences.
This is hugely valuable if your Jiu-Jitsu already leans on pressure, passing, and pinning rather than pure guard play. You’re essentially adding a new layer of finishing options to positions you probably already use. Joel spends time defining what a “hook” is in Catch Wrestling terms and explaining the principles behind a devastating submission.
Joel Bane’s Catch Wrestling Perspective
Joel Bane comes into this project with serious credentials that cross multiple grappling and striking arts. He is the head instructor and head coach of Snake Pit U.S.A., a Catch Wrestling–focused mixed martial arts academy that doubles as a Rigan Machado Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu association school.
From the United World Muay Thai Association listings, he is presented as Head Instructor for Snake Pit USA with over two decades of experience in mixed martial arts, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Catch Wrestling, amateur wrestling, boxing, and Muay Thai.
Technically, Joel holds a 2nd-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Master Rigan Machado, which gives him deep roots in traditional Jiu-Jitsu as well as No-Gi. He’s also a black belt in Judo under John Saylor and has extensive competitive wrestling experience, including service-level achievements in the U.S. Air Force wrestling scene.
That blend of grappling styles shows clearly in how he prioritises takedowns, top control, and transitions in his leg lock game. Beyond belt ranks, he’s a fully certified Catch-as-Catch-Can Wrestling coach under Billy Robinson and has accumulated coaching and competition experience through the Snake Pit U.S.A. organisation, which has built a strong reputation in the Catch Wrestling community.
Detailed Legendary Leglocks Joel Bane DVD Review
The course is laid out over ten volumes, but the core structure is easy to follow: you move from principles and basic drills into increasingly specific positional systems. This Legendary Leglocks Joel Bane DVD Review will go volume by volume and highlight how the pieces connect in practice.
Along the way, there’s also a later volume that doubles down on ankle-to-ankle seated entries, half guard knee bars, butterfly attacks, and chained transitions between calf crushes, knee blocks, and heel hooks, giving the whole series a very complete feel.
Volume 1 – Control
Volume 1 sets the tone for everything that follows. After an introduction, Joel draws a clear line between transition into submission versus random hunting for legs. He spends time on misdirection vs problem solving, which is essentially about forcing predictable reactions rather than chasing whatever your opponent gives you.
That’s a big part of the Catch Wrestling mindset and plays into the way he structures his entries throughout the series. From there, he goes deep into controlling the hip ball joint, using a two-on-one grip on the thighs, and understanding his three cutting bones concept for finishing.
The part of the Legendary Leglocks Joel Bane DVD closes with basic inverted leg lock drills. The first two inverted drills are long, detailed sequences that make you comfortable being upside down and threaded through your opponent’s legs without losing control.
Volume 2 – Ankle Trap
Part two of this Joel Bane Leglocks DVD is dedicated to ankle trap drills and is surprisingly systematic. Joel introduces the ankle trap and drag as a concept rather than a single move. The first variation acts as your baseline: secure the ankle, drag, and settle into a dominant leg entanglement.
Subsequent variations add layers, taking you into the saddle/honeyhole and then an inverted saddle position that shifts your angle and finishing options. What stands out is how methodical the progression is. Each drill builds directly on the last, reinforcing your ability to keep the foot trapped while you adjust your body position.
The ankle trap series makes you address how well you control the far hip and knee before thinking about knee bar versus heel hook decisions. When you later plug these entries into passing, half guard, and turtle, the ankle trap work from Volume 2 keeps everything stable.
Volume 3 – Takedowns
The Legendary Leglocks Joel Bane DVD shifts the focus to takedown-based leg lock entries in the third portion. You start with an old-school rolling knee bar, then move through options like standing up from turtle into a four-point rolling knee bar and counters to single-leg attempts.
These aren’t flashy for the sake of it; they are structured ways to turn scrambles into direct leg attacks rather than settling into neutral positions. There’s a strong emphasis on linking rear bodylock situations, inside trips, and leg pendulum motions into outside leg scissors and inverted heel hooks.
For wrestlers crossing into Jiu-Jitsu, this is where you’ll feel at home. You’re not being asked to invert from guard as a first step; you’re transforming your strongest takedown chains into finishing sequences. Volume 3 is a standout if you compete in No-Gi or rule sets that reward aggressive takedowns.
Volume 4 – Saturday Night Ride
Volume 4 tackles guard scenarios, starting from positions like “Saturday Night Ride” in closed guard and moving into various guard breaks that lead naturally into leg laces and heel hooks.
Instead of treating guard passing and leg locks as separate phases of the game, Joel fuses them. Your guard breaks come with built-in leg entanglement options, so you’re attacking as you open the guard.
There’s a strong pressure first, submission later feeling to this volume. Using bodylocks, knee-in-tailbone guard breaks, and transitions into positions like the Samurai, you learn to combine posture breaks, hip control, and leg lace mechanics in one flow.
This helps prevent the common Jiu-Jitsu issue where you open the guard and then reset to a neutral headquarters without clear attacking options. It doesn’t replace your existing passing, but it gives you an extra branch: when you feel a guard break is exposing your opponent’s hips and knees, you can immediately convert that into a submission attempt.
Volume 5 – Reaping
One of the densest volumes in the Legendary Leglocks Joel Bane DVD and packed with details around open guard, reaping, and Achilles-style attacks. Starting from Saturday Night Ride (again) against open guard, Joel goes into Achilles lock details, different sural nerve pressure angles, and how to generate more power in your finishes.
There’s a whole segment on shin locks, basic calf crushes, and a four-toe-hold series that combines ball-and-chain grips with more familiar toe hold mechanics. You also see chains that start from Samurai-style positions and flow into knee bars, toe holds, and calf crush variations.
Volume 6 – Passing & Leglocks
Volume 6 is all bout attacking from headquarters, half X, mount, and reverse mount. Joel opens with calf crush and knee block attacks from headquarters, then moves into reverse knee-on-belly variations that include hands-free leg lock drills and toe hold transitions.
This volume rewards players who already favour heavy top positions and want to add leg submissions without abandoning pressure. A standout theme here is attacking from the mount using grapevine controls, hip locks, and old-school grapevine-style finishes. Joel also covers transitions through bicycle-down positions, reverse mount, and low side control leg lace attacks, making it clear how to adjust your hips and weight so your opponent can’t simply turn and free their legs.
Volume 7 – Turtle Breakdowns
Attacking the turtle is the main topic here, and it’s one of the most “Catch Wrestling” feeling volumes in the whole set. Joel starts with sequences featuring Karl Gotch and Frank Gotch-inspired toe holds, then layers in specific leg entry tilts, diving toe hold variations, and rolling attacks that flow directly into knee bars and calf crushes.
From there, he introduces ball-and-chain leg rides, cross-body rides, and calf crush breakdowns that keep your opponent’s hips pinned while you attack their legs. The idea is that once you’ve broken the turtle, you’re not just taking the back in classical Jiu-Jitsu fashion; you’re also threatening knee bars, toe holds, and heel hooks from positions that feel like wrestling rides.
Volume 8 – Cross Body Stuff
Volume 8 deepens the leg ride theme even further. You get cross-body and ball-and-chain leg ride combo attacks, with chains into hip locks, toe holds, and gable-grip calf crushes. Joel then transitions into top-ride leg submissions, emphasising how to maintain heavy chest-to-back or chest-to-hip pressure while isolating one or both legs.
A lot of the material here focuses on how to deal with broken-down opponents, especially from top ride situations. Entries from turtle and long sit-out positions flow into shin locks, knee bars, and extended heel hook series that keep you glued to your opponent’s hips.
If you play a lot of back attacks or ride-heavy styles in No-Gi, these sequences give you genuine finishing diversity. The rolling and monkey-roll style entries toward the end of the volume will appeal to more dynamic grapplers, but they’re still anchored in clear positional logic.
Volume 9 – Luta Livre
Part nine ties a lot of the system together by working from half mount, knee shield, butterfly guard, classic guard, and even an Imanari-style entry. Joel starts with rolling toe holds and knee bars against the knee shield, adds shoulder-roll calf crushes and heel hooks, and then shifts into high-leg knee bar and Achilles lock options.
These sequences make the knee shield far more dangerous for the person using it; mismanaging distance can get you caught fast. From there, he addresses S-grip and biceps-grip calf crushes and knee blocks, twisting heel hooks against knee shield, and a heel-and-collar-tie spin from butterfly guard into inverted twisting heel hooks.
Later in the volume, he introduces a Luta Livre–style guard module, including Judo-influenced guard work, priorities like wrestle up–submission–sweep–repeat, and entries such as omoplata/coil lock chains into heel hooks and toe holds.
A Leglock From Every Position
The big question with any massive instructional is how you actually use it in day-to-day training. This Legendary Leglocks Joel Bane DVD review would be incomplete without some practical guidance, because ten volumes of leg locks can easily become overwhelming. The good news is that the structure lends itself to phased learning.
A sensible approach is to start with the first volume and one or two of the early drilling sections from the second one. Treat the definitions of hooks, the four principles of a true finishing hold, and the inverted and ankle-trap drills as your non-negotiable foundation. Drill them in warm-ups or positional rounds until your entries feel automatic rather than improvised.
Next, pick one positional “hub” that fits your current game – for example, takedowns (Volume 3), guard breaks (Volume 4), or turtle (Volume 7). Build a small menu from that volume and test it in sparring under constrained rules: start in turtle, or from inside closed guard, or with your partner on a knee shield.
As your confidence grows, layer in details from related volumes so your transitions stay coherent rather than random. For long-term development, this course also encourages you to think about leg locks as part of your larger Jiu-Jitsu identity.
This instructional is best suited to intermediate and advanced grapplers who already understand basic straight ankle locks, toe holds, and heel hooks, and who are ready to build a structured system around them.
White belts can still benefit from the conceptual pieces, but the sheer volume of material and the intensity of some of the finishes might be too much without strong coaching oversight.
Blue and purple belts who feel their leg locks lag behind the rest of their Jiu-Jitsu will probably get the most out of this Legendary Leglocks Joel Bane DVD. You have enough experience to understand positional context but still plenty of room to rewire your habits around entries, control, and safety.
Brown and black belts, especially those who coach, will appreciate the depth of the system and the way it integrates Catch Wrestling and Luta Livre ideas into a curriculum they can pass on.
Pros & Potential Drawbacks
Pros:
Extremely comprehensive system that covers leg locks from takedowns, turtle, mount, guard, and rides rather than just guard entanglements.
Strong emphasis on principles (hooks, control, finishing mechanics) that transfer well between Gi and No-Gi.
Clear Catch Wrestling and Luta Livre flavour, giving you a different lens from typical modern Jiu-Jitsu leg lock instructionals.
Great for wrestlers and pressure passers who want leg locks without abandoning their core style.
Volume structure makes it easier to build mini-curricula for classes or focused training blocks.
High production value and detailed breakdowns, with long segments dedicated to drilling and positional refinement.
Potential Drawbacks:
Sheer size and density can be overwhelming; without a plan, it’s easy to get lost in options.
Not ideal for total beginners who don’t yet have solid positional fundamentals or basic leg lock safety habits.
Some of the most powerful reaping and twisting heel hook material won’t be usable under stricter Gi competition rules.
The catch-style terminology and naming conventions may feel unfamiliar at first to pure Jiu-Jitsu practitioners.
Catch’ Em!
Legendary Leglocks is a serious investment in time and focus, but it delivers a genuinely different take on lower-body submissions. Instead of building everything around modern guard configurations, Joel Bane starts from wrestling-style control, Catch Wrestling hooks, and Luta Livre fluidity, then plugs leg locks into almost every major position.
Khabib says Michael Jordan couldn’t handle Dagestani basketball, joking that the Bulls legend would struggle with the no-rules, full-contact version they play back home.
At a Chicago Q&A, he explained that in Dagestan hoops “you can wrestle, you can choke people” and do far more than just dribble and shoot.
The comments tie into Khabib’s long-running obsession with Jordan, from bingeing The Last Dance to saying he’d love to meet – and even fight – the NBA icon.
Fans have turned the clip into instant meme material: GOAT vs GOAT, but under Dagestani rules.
How The Khabib–Jordan Basketball Joke Started In Chicago
Only Khabib could turn a polite fan Q&A about no rules basketball in Dagestan into a mini crossover event.
On a recent visit to Chicago, the former UFC lightweight champion was asked about Michael Jordan and the legendary Bulls teams. Instead of just praising the six-time NBA champ, Khabib went straight to Dagestan.
That’s where the now-viral line landed: Khabib says Michael Jordan couldn’t handle Dagestani basketball – not because Jordan wasn’t great, but because we’re talking about a completely different sport once Dagestani rules kick in.
The crowd laughed, the clip hit social media, and within hours the quote was everywhere.
“Chicago Bulls, they have different rules, but in Dagestan basketball there are no rules. You can wrestle, you can choke people…” – Khabib Nurmagomedov –
Delivered deadpan, it’s classic Khabib: half joke, half flex about just how rough things get on those village courts.
Khabib believes Michael Jordan wouldn’t stand a chance in Dagestani basketball 🏀😅
"Chicago Bulls, they have different rules, but in Dagestan basketball, there are no rules. You can wrestle, you can choke people, you can do whatever you want."
“You Can Wrestle, You Can Choke People”: Dagestani Basketball Explained
So what exactly is this thing Khabib keeps calling Dagestani basketball?
When Khabib says Michael Jordan couldn’t handle Dagestani basketball, he’s pointing to a version of the game that looks more like a takedown drill with a hoop somewhere in the background.
In clips and interviews where he’s talked about it before, Khabib describes a chaotic run of play: hard screens that turn into body locks, scrambles on the floor, and teammates who are just as happy to clinch as they are to cut backdoor.
He’s joked that in these games the ball is almost secondary. What really matters is toughness – staying on your feet, surviving contact, and not shying away when a sprint down the court suddenly becomes a wrestling exchange under the rim.
“I play basketball, but not like Michael Jordan.” – Khabib Nurmagomedov –
It’s exaggeration with a truth baked in: Khabib grew up in a culture where combat sports are everywhere, and even “pickup basketball” ends up looking like MMA with a backboard.
Khabib Nurmagomedov On Michael Jordan: From Superfan To Fantasy Match-Up
The playful jab lands because Khabib is, by his own admission, a massive Jordan fan. He has said he only really learned about MJ properly when he watched The Last Dance, and it instantly hooked him.
“It was very impressive for me to watch, and I really want to meet this guy.” – Khabib Nurmagomedov –
Since then, Jordan’s name has popped up more than once. Ahead of his UFC Hall of Fame induction, when asked which celebrity he’d fight if he could pick anyone, Khabib didn’t hesitate.
“Michael Jordan. I think I could take him down.” – Khabib Nurmagomedov –
Put that next to a viral Chicago clip where Khabib says Michael Jordan couldn’t handle Dagestani basketball, and a running bit emerges: respect for the basketball GOAT, plus total confidence that under Khabib’s ruleset, things would look very different.
Why Khabib Says Michael Jordan Couldn’t Handle Dagestani Basketball
On paper, the line sounds wild – “Michael Jordan couldn’t handle” anything athletic is a big statement. But Khabib isn’t actually arguing about skill; he’s talking about rules.
Under NBA rules in the ’90s, Jordan thrived in a brutally physical league. Under Dagestani rules, Khabib insists, the sliders are turned even further up.
You’re not just absorbing hard fouls; you’re dealing with people who grew up wrestling on concrete and see a drive to the basket as a chance to shoot a double leg.
That’s the joke at the heart of the Khabib says Michael Jordan couldn’t handle Dagestani basketball clip: take the most competitive man in basketball history, drop him into a game where chokeholds are considered good defense, and suddenly the Bulls aren’t running the triangle – they’re fighting for underhooks.
“In Dagestan basketball, you can do whatever you want.” – Khabib Nurmagomedov –
It’s less trash talk, more culture clash – and a neat way for Khabib to underline just how intense his home environment is.
From Dagestan To Chicago
The reason this one took off is simple: it’s prime crossover content. A UFC legend and a basketball icon in the same sentence is already headline bait. Add in Khabib’s matter-of-fact delivery and you’ve got a perfect social clip.
For MMA fans, the Khabib says Michael Jordan couldn’t handle Dagestani basketball line fits the image they already have of him – the guy who drags opponents into deep water and makes elite athletes look like they’ve never fought before.
For hoops fans, it’s a “what if?” scenario that’s too funny not to imagine: Jordan, Pippen and Rodman trying to run a fast break while wrestlers are jumping into body locks at half court.
Underneath the memes, though, the respect is obvious. Khabib still talks about wanting to meet Jordan, not clown him. The Dagestani basketball joke is just his way of saying: in my world, the rules are different – and even legends would have to adjust fast.
The Robert Drysdale ecological approach rant claims “eco” training is basically how Brazilians have trained for decades.
Drysdale says the so-called ecological system is just specific sparring and problem-solving, repackaged with a label.
He argues the “new” branding exists mainly so people can monetise and sell courses, not because the method is revolutionary.
The comments lit up BJJ circles, splitting coaches and hobbyists over whether eco training is genuine innovation or just clever marketing.
Robert Drysdale Ecological Approach Rant In A Nutshell
In a recent reel and interview, the Robert Drysdale ecological approach rant landed with both barrels. The ADCC champion and veteran coach didn’t tiptoe around the trend.
He opened by saying the “ecological” buzz isn’t some cutting-edge revolution – it’s essentially the way Brazilians have been training for years, just with a fancy name bolted on.
“Okay, so ecological is basically how Brazilian has been training forever. It’s nothing new. They just put a name to it.” – Robert Drysdale –
The clip runs like a cold shower for anyone who thought they’d found a secret hack. Drysdale’s message is simple: stop pretending this is a brand-new discovery, and stop acting like you need to buy into a system to roll in a more alive, problem-solving way.
“It’s How Brazilians Have Been Training Forever”
Once he’s warmed up, Drysdale leans into what he means by “nothing new.” For him, the core of ecological training – messy, live exchanges, constrained scenarios, and solving problems without rote step-by-step drilling – is just old-school Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
He describes the environment he grew up in: endless specific rounds from bad positions, positional sparring that starts in trouble, and coaches who care more about time on the mat than perfectly choreographed sequences.
In that setting, you naturally end up doing a lot of what eco advocates preach: reading reactions, adjusting on the fly, and learning the timing of moves under pressure.
The Robert Drysdale ecological approach critique, then, isn’t that live, constraint-based work is bad – it’s that it’s being presented as if nobody in Rio ever thought of it before.
Labels, Money, And The ECO Training Hype
From there, Drysdale goes after what he sees as the real engine behind the hype: branding and sales. Once you give an old idea a shiny new label, you can turn it into a product.
“And the interesting thing about labels is… you have to find a way to monetize everything.” – Robert Drysdale –
He uses the analogy of taking a classic submission – like a kimura – renaming it something flashy, and then selling it as if it were discovered yesterday.
The point isn’t that details can’t improve or that coaching can’t evolve; it’s that the packaging often matters more than the substance when it hits social media.
In his view, the modern marketplace rewards anything marketed as “new” and “disruptive.”
That’s why the Robert Drysdale ecological approach rant keeps coming back to the same theme: you can’t just slap a buzzword on long-standing habits and pretend you’ve rewritten the sport.
“We also have this mentality of progress that old is bad, new is good. So anytime you have something that’s new, you can put a new label on it and sell it to the public.” – Robert Drysdale –
Ecological Training In BJJ: What He Thinks It Really Is
To be clear, Drysdale isn’t speaking from complete ignorance of the theory. He says he’s spent time reading about the ecological system and what its advocates claim.
“I’ve done some reading on the ecological system… I don’t think it’s new. I think it’s just what everyone’s always been doing.” – Robert Drysdale –
At a high level, ecological BJJ training pushes:
fewer dead-pattern drilling reps,
more live, constraint-based rounds,
using the environment and rules as “tasks” the athlete must solve,
and letting technique emerge from constant interaction rather than memorisation.
Drysdale’s position is not that this is useless – far from it. It’s that, in his experience, plenty of old-school rooms already tick those boxes.
The clash between ecological advocates and the Robert Drysdale ecological approach camp isn’t about whether live training is good; it’s about whether this needs to be treated like a proprietary method you have to buy into.
The Robert Drysdale Ecological Approach Critique Hits A Nerve
The reaction to his comments shows why this topic is so charged. In clips and threads, some coaches and students nodded along, saying their gyms have been doing “eco stuff” for years under different names: situational rounds, games, constraints, “just roll more.”
Others pushed back, arguing the framework still adds value by giving structure to how you design those drills and sessions.
Drysdale, though, keeps hammering the same core message about expectation and effort.
“If I told you, ‘Hey, listen, you just have to be accountable, show up, and learn,’ you can’t sell that. It’s too simple and not a product.” – Robert Drysdale –
That line is the spine of the Robert Drysdale ecological approach critique. He’s not angry at people experimenting with new ways to teach. He’s frustrated with the idea that there’s a magic system waiting to fix all your problems if you just subscribe.
For Drysdale, the uncomfortable truth is that progress still comes down to the same boring formula as always: show up, train with intention, get reps in, and stop searching for a shortcut in the latest buzzword.
If you’ve been searching for a reliable, competition-tested takedown curriculum that plugs straight into your BJJ, High Percentage Takedowns Michael Kemerer DVD delivers exactly that. Kemerer organizes the series around three finish families, showing how to get from clean entries to points and control without burning energy.
The tone is direct and coach-like, and the emphasis is on details you can drill tonight and score with this month. Expect a wrestling backbone with Jiu-Jitsu-friendly finishes and top-position awareness throughout.
Wrestling Stand‑Up Dominance in BJJ
The biggest value here is structure. Instead of scattering unrelated shots, Kemerer groups finishes around positions you actually reach in live rounds: a strong high-crotch, a solid crackdown, and a head-inside single.
That makes the material easy to retain and even easier to troubleshoot—if your opponent whizzers, sprawl-beats, or sits to a leg, you know which sub-branch to follow. For BJJ athletes, that clarity means faster progress to top control, cleaner guard pass starts, and fewer scrambles.
Think of this as a “win the first exchange” blueprint rather than a highlight-reel hunt. As a Michael Kemerer DVD Review, the standout quality is how well the coaching cues survive the switch from folkstyle into submission grappling, where grips, stalling calls, and guard pulls change the rhythm of the stand-up phase.
Wrestling Hall of Famer Michael Kemerer
Michael Kemerer is a five-time NCAA All-American for the University of Iowa, a distinction that speaks to both longevity and consistency at the highest level. He earned a Big Ten title in 2021 and finished that season as the NCAA runner-up at 174 lbs, closing a 100–12 collegiate record against elite opposition.
Academic excellence ran in parallel, with multiple NWCA Scholar Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten honors. Post-competition, Kemerer moved into coaching, spending time at Spartan Combat RTC and Brown University before being hired as an assistant coach at the University of Minnesota in September 2024.
In his first season with the Gophers, he contributed to a breakout year for redshirt freshman Max McEnelly and a strong team showing at Big Tens and the NCAA Championships. The combination of high-level results and active coaching informs the clear, no-nonsense teaching style on this release.
Complete High Percentage Takedowns Michael Kemerer DVD Review
Rather than chase dozens of entries, the material in the High Percentage Takedowns Michael Kemerer DVD focuses on converting the leg you already have—then branching based on the most common reactions you’ll face in live rounds.
Expect clear cues on head position, angles, and grip transitions, with callouts for where to pause drills and add resistance. Read sequentially or jump to the subsection that solves your current sticking point.
Volume 1 – High Crotch
Volume 1 builds a robust high-crotch finishing tree. After the intro, Kemerer lays out the High Percentage Takedowns Michael Kemerer DVD approach: secure a strong high-crotch position and rotate through finishes based on the defender’s reaction.
You’ll see conventional high-crotch finishes and then a sequence of specific answers—knee-slide to the corner to win the angle, a cut-across when the leg line is available, and a low-knee finish when the opponent hides their hips.
Two “swim” segments refine how to clear stubborn tie-ups and recover position if you get stuck. The emphasis is less on flashy entries and more on converting the leg with disciplined footwork, head positioning, and shoulder drive—habits that hold up under pressure.
Volume 2 – Crackdown
With the crackdown, Kemerer shifts to a position wrestlers and BJJ players hit constantly when a single stalls on the mat. He coaches how to establish strong positioning when cracking down, then branches into scoring outside the leg, rolling into a cradle when the head/near-leg align, and stacking with a back-hook to flatten resistance.
Splitting the middle and jumping across give you options when the opponent builds height, and finding the Turk turns finishes into immediate control and back-exposure style pins—useful in BJJ for stabilizing top and launching into passes.
Throughout the chapter list of the Michael Kemerer High Percentage Takedowns DVD, the teaching focuses on small adjustments that prevent the stalemates that often burn clock in competition.
Volume 3 – Head Inside Single
The finale centers on head-inside single finishes, a staple in both wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu stand-up. Kemerer starts with building a strong head-inside position and then runs through chase-the-ankle, “out the back door,” and an explosive double-leg conversion when the angle opens.
He spends meaningful time beating the shin whizzer—both on the mat and back to the feet—since that’s a common BJJ counter that stalls singles. Two “run-the-pipe” variations (traditional and leg-on-the-outside) plus “splitting hands taking guy forward” and the golf swing finish round out the tree.
The mechanical clarity is the selling point: clear hip lines, shoulder pressure, and grip changes that make your single-leg feel inevitable rather than hopeful—exactly what high percentage should mean.
Competition-Proven Gameplans for Quick Progress
Treat this series like a stand-up playbook you can slot into regular BJJ classes. For drilling, pair the entries you already use (collar-tie snaps, wrist drags, footwork feints) with the finish families shown here: pick one from each volume and cycle them in five-minute blocks.
In sparring, start from neutral and restrict yourself to one tree per round (e.g., only high-crotch finishes), then graduate to live rounds where you flow from high-crotch → crackdown → head-inside single as the opponent counters.
The High Percentage Takedowns Michael Kemerer DVD also shines for coaches: assign Volume 1 for newer athletes to feel confident finishing a leg; use Volumes 2 and 3 with intermediates who struggle when singles die on the mat.
From a broader Jiu-Jitsu development lens, good takedown finishing changes everything: you start on top more often, your passing attempts happen earlier when opponents are still reorganizing, and you avoid the energy tax of prolonged hand fighting.
Build the habit of finishing toward your best passing side and landing with head-position control; you’ll see your No-Gi and Gi top game stabilize, your guard-pull “fallback” fade, and your scoring threat spike in both points matches and submission-only rounds.
White and blue belts who want a simple, durable stand-up plan will love the linear structure—three positions, multiple answers each. Purple belts who already shoot but stall on the mat will find the crackdown and shin-whizzer solutions worth the whole purchase.
Brown and black belts coaching rooms can turn this into a month-long curriculum with measurable progressions. If you’re a guard-pull-first athlete, this is a smart hedge: you don’t need 20 shots, just reliable finishes to win opening exchanges and dictate where the match happens.
As a Michael Kemerer Takedowns DVD, it’s built for grapplers who value efficiency over flash and want takedowns that directly lead to passing positions.
Pros & Potential Drawbacks
Pros:
Highly organized finish trees that reduce decision-making under fatigue.
BJJ-relevant details on whizzers, stacks, and mat finishes.
Clear coaching language; easy to convert into class plans.
Emphasis on angles and grips that scale from hobbyist to competitor.
Strong coverage of single-leg outcomes that most room rounds produce.
The High Percentage Takedowns Michael Kemerer DVD format makes revisiting specific sub-branches quick.
Potential Drawbacks:
If you expect a giant menu of exotic setups, this stays intentionally focused on high-percentage bread-and-butter.
Pure Judo players may want more collar/sleeve-specific tie-ins than a wrestling-first system provides
Go for Reliable Over Flashy
This is a smart, coach-driven release that helps BJJ athletes finish the shots they’re already getting to. The three-volume progression—high-crotch, crackdown, head-inside single—covers the exact forks that decide whether you land on top or get stuck in a scramble.
It teaches you how to angle, shelf, and convert without wasting motion, and those habits translate directly to stronger passing starts and calmer top control. For competitors and coaches alike, the High Percentage Takedowns Michael Kemerer DVD offers high leverage with minimal complexity.
Jiu-Jitsu competitor bites opponent during a women’s match at a local NAGA Miami event; bout stopped and disqualification issued on the spot.
Athlete Ana Bozovic later posted photos showing distinct bite marks on her forearm and detailed the sequence and positions involved.
Officials halted the match after the NAGA Miami biting incident was confirmed; Bozovic says the wound has been treated and is healing.
How It Unfolded In Miami
It was supposed to be a routine local-level clash—until it wasn’t. Midway through a women’s division match at NAGA Miami, the action went from pressure and pins to something the rulebook leaves no room for: Jiu-Jitsu competitor bites opponent.
In the sequence shown and described, Bozovic was in control and her rival was pinned face-down.
When the athletes separated, Bozovic saw what the referee saw seconds later: deep, semicircular imprints on her forearm consistent with a bite. Officials called the head ref, examined the arm, and ended the contest immediately with a DQ.
“Yes, that is my forearm post match at the Naga grappling jiu jitsu tournament in Miami last weekend. I will let the bite marks speak for themselves.” – Ana Bozovic –
Yes, that is my forearm post match at the Naga grappling jiu jitsu tournament in Miami last weekend.
I will let the bite marks speak for themselves. 🎥 @ivan_bezdomny
Occurred while opponent was flat on her stomach. Opponent is a brown belt, who is also about 20 pounds bigger… pic.twitter.com/gHCP1mvSt9
Bozovic’s post sets out the positions and size/rank context she wants on the record—details that explain why she’s calling the act blatant rather than accidental.
She says the bite occurred while her opponent was flat on her stomach, and that the rival was both heavier and a brown belt, making the choice to bite even harder to square with a tap-and-reset sport.
“Occurred while opponent was flat on her stomach. Opponent is a brown belt, who is also about 20 pounds bigger than me.” – Ana Bozovic –
Bozovic also relayed a matside exchange: once the referee clocked the injury, the shock was obvious before the stoppage. (She’s since said the area was cleaned and monitored and that no infection set in.)
Refereeing, The Rule, And Why It’s Non-Negotiable
Biting is a zero-tolerance foul across mainstream grappling rule sets. Unlike borderline calls—grip-strip scrapes, incidental head clashes—this one is binary.
As soon as officials identify a bite, there’s no path back into the match. That’s what happened here: Jiu-Jitsu competitor bites opponent, the ref confirms the marks, DQ follows.
Post-incident, it’s routine for staff to log the sequence, gather statements, and flag the case to event leadership for any disciplinary review beyond the day’s bracket.
Photos, Clips, And Why It Went Viral So Fast
The story raced around timelines for the simplest reason: the images are undeniable.
The teeth pattern on Bozovic’s forearm is the kind of visual that needs no caption—and the kind that makes neutral fans wince. Short clips and stills moved from athlete posts to fight pages and then into mainstream feeds, which is how a local bracket quickly turned into a global headline: Jiu-Jitsu competitor bites opponent, ref ends it, end of story.
The shock value isn’t the result; it’s the method.
What Happened—Play-By-Play
Confirmed: the bout took place at a NAGA event in Miami, Bozovic’s rival was disqualified after officials inspected bite marks, and Bozovic’s forearm injury has been healing with routine care.
Unconfirmed at the time of writing: any formal suspension length or event-wide sanction beyond the Jiu-Jitsu disqualification.
At this level, organizers typically review footage, referee notes, and athlete statements before deciding whether to escalate to a temporary ban or issue warnings under their code of conduct.
The Takeaway From A Messy Minute Of Jiu-Jitsu
There’s no nuance to biting in grappling. Pressure, pace, and fatigue don’t convert it into a gray area. The Miami bracket is now part of the cautionary reel: Jiu-Jitsu competitor bites opponent, referee sees the evidence, match over, reputation dented.
Bozovic, meanwhile, keeps it moving—she framed the outing as a useful tune-up, filed under experience, and left the last word to the photos of the now infamous Jiu-Jitsu bite at NAGA Miami.
The answer to why the Gracie family wore white Gis begins with Hélio Gracie’s hygiene-first academy policy and weekly laundering of school-issued uniforms.
White made cleanliness visible and belt rank unmistakable; colored gis, the family argues, hide dirt and obscure hierarchy.
Modern rules mostly allow white/blue/black, but the Gracie preference for white remains a living tradition more than a fashion choice.
Why The Gracie Family Wore White Gis—In Their Own Words
Ask why the Gracie family wore white Gis, and you’ll get a practical, almost austere answer: because you can see if they’re clean.
Royce Gracie has tied the rule straight back to Hélio’s academy routine—supplying students with white kimonos, collecting them weekly, and washing everything before the next cycle.
In that system, white wasn’t just traditional; it was a quality-control tool that reinforced the academy’s standards from the moment a student stepped on the mat.
“On the white kimono, you can see—on the white Gi—you can see if it’s clean or if it’s dirty.” – Royce Gracie
That logic—visibility breeds accountability—became part of the Gracie brand: train hard, live clean, and make your uniform a daily report card.
“Sometimes black or blue kimonos hide the dirt.” – Royce Gracie –
“So You Can See The Belt”: Relson’s No-Nonsense Rule
Relson Gracie goes one layer deeper on why the Gracie family wore white Gis: color isn’t just about laundry; it’s also about hierarchy. He has blasted the camo Gi trend for burying the most important visual cue in the room—the belt.
“The Gi should be white so you can see the belt color. All these camouflage Gis are nonsense.” – Relson Gracie –
For Relson, the Gi is a uniform in the literal sense: it creates order. In a busy class or a packed seminar, he wants ranks readable at a glance—not swallowed by patterns and branding.
That stance is consistent with the family’s broader ethos: keep the look simple so the skill stands out.
From Judo Keikogi To BJJ: How The Uniform Evolved
Long before the Gracies enforced white at the academy, Japanese grapplers already trained in white keikogi. Judo popularized that standard globally.
BJJ inherited the jacket-and-pants silhouette and then evolved fabric weights, weaves, and cuts for the demands of guard work and heavy grip fighting.
The modern sport later embraced blue—and, culturally, black—in daily training, but the root stock is still white. Understanding why the Gracie family wore white Gis is, in part, understanding where the Gi came from and why early academies leaned toward a single, easy-to-standardize color.
The Modern Reality Check: Rules, Etiquette, And What’s Allowed
Step into most comps today and you’ll see white, royal blue, and black—nothing more exotic. That’s the prevailing rule set for major federations, based on IBJJF Gi color rules with extra notes about uniform color matching, patch placement, and cleanliness inspections.
Gym floors are looser: many academies allow color variety; others keep a white-only policy for branding, photographs, or to preserve a classic look. In seminars run by old-school lineages, you’ll still see “white Gi only” on the flyer.
So even as the sport diversified, the Gracie white-first preference has institutional pockets where it remains the norm.
When you ask why the Gracie family wore white Gis, you’re really asking what they want a Gi to do. Their answer hasn’t changed: it should tell the truth about cleanliness, display rank clearly, and anchor the culture of the room.
In a marketplace of so many BJJ Gi colors, cuts, and collabs, white still signals a throwback to first principles—technique, order, and a daily standard you can’t hide.
Whether you swear by white or rotate through blues and blacks, the Gracie rationale endures (somewhat) because it solves a human problem with a simple rule: be clean, be clear, be ready.