Reviewing The Geo Martinez Bear Trap DVD Instructional

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Review: The Geo Martinez Bear Trap DVD Insturctional — Check Out The Full Geo Martinez Bear Trap DVD!

If you want to learn an obscure grappling move that is going to scare your opponents from allowing you anywhere near their legs, then you need the Geo Martinez Bear Trap DVD. It brings together the innovative and outside-the-box grappling style of the 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu standout Geo Martinez with the power of a highly underestimated BJJ submission – the calf slicer.

The bear trap is the perfect position to allow a grappler like Geo, who likes to move unpredictably to set up submissions people won’t be expecting. It is just as dangerous as a real-life bear trap and can be a very difficult problem to solve. Being the one that causes the problem, rather than trying to solve it is the smart approach here, and you get to learn the entire system with the detailed Bea Trap instruction by Geo.

Key Takeaways

No-Gi instructional, with a running length of just under 2 hours.
A system of entries, control, and submissions from the Bear Trap position.
Escaping bad positions using the Bear Trap.
Highly detailed calf slicer finishes.
BJJ World Expert Rating: 9 out of 10

GRAB THE GEO BEAR TRAP DVD HERE!!!

Geo Bear Trap DVD Content

Bear Traps: The Forgotten Ashi Garami

Have you ever done a bear trap in BJJ? If the answer is no, then let’s try another question: how about a calf slicer? If you still have no idea what I am talking about, then maybe the Geo Martinez Bear Trap DVD is exactly the resource you need.

For those who are not afraid to risk attacking with muscle slicer injuries, the reward is a very painful and fast tap. However, the price to pay is often a complete lack of control in attacking it or having to get to a fairly difficult position, like the truck, to make it work.

Enter the Bear Trap, an old-school position stemming from catch wrestling, that solves both these control issues that calf slicer hunting presents. It is the perfect position to finish with a devastating leg lock when people least expect it and an even better way to stay attached and in control during leg lock escapes.

In fact, the Bear Trap is the natural continuation of the Ashi Garami game. Danaher preached about the importance of hip control during leg locks, and let’s face it, he is right. However, that doesn’t mean that leg locks won’t work if you lose the hips – Lachlan Giles proved that with his 50/50 game at the 2019 ADCC.

Well, the Bear Trap works perfectly even lower than Lachlan’s knee-level attacks. It is the ultimate follow-up to people twisting and turning outside of your Ashi Garami control, landing them in a position where their own weight forces them to succumb to a brutal calf slicer.

Geo Martinez – One of The Most Interesting Characters in BJJ

Geo Martinez is one of the most exciting grapplers to watch. Similarly to Garry Tonon, he has a very movement-based style that is filled with crazy acrobatic attacks. He is also almost impossible to submit, on account of his freakish flexibility, which is mostly due to his breakdancing background.

Geo Martinez has a crazy BJJ story as well, becoming a black belt under Eddie Bravo in a record three years, which is a feat only a few have matched in the entire world to this day. The IBJJF even prevented him from entering the black belt No-Gi Worlds in 2014 on account of not having enough time spent at each belt.

He brought over the nickname “Freakazoid” from his competitive break-dancing days, absolutely justifying it in BJJ. Currently, Geo heads the 10th Planet San Diego gym, also known as 10p Freaks.

Among Geo’s accolades are 3 EBI titles, one of which has him win the finals against the then-infamous Eddie Cummings. He also has an ADCC Trials victory under his belt, along with a legendary Quntent performance and a bunch of won super fights.

Another similarity Martinez shares with Tonon is the fact that both have won EBI, but neither has a major ADCC or World title…yet. I guess it has to do with the crazy style, but let’s face it, I’d much rather watch Geo or Tonon grapple and lose, rather than Gordon Ryan’s slow-pressure game.

Detailed Geo Martinez Bear Trap DVD Review

What can you expect to find in this Geo Martinez Bear Trap DVD? If you thought this was an instructional covering only leg locks, you are mistaken. Martinez covers a bunch of different uses for the Bear Trap, mostly from the bottom position, to help you develop a game based around one of the most powerful and unexpected positions in Jiu-Jitsu:

Part 1 – Bear Traps from Guard

In the first part of this BJJ instructional, Geo introduces the position quickly, and immediately starts explaining how it works from a bunch of different guard scenarios. I liked that he starts with entry drills first, aimed at retaining the position, which, in turn, helps you retain the guard position.

As the instructional unravels, Martinez goes into more specific guarded scenarios, including guards like the shin-to-shin, X guard, and deep half guard. All of these guards benefit immensely from the Bear Trap position, as it introduces a new dimension to each of them, allowing you to play them better and hold them longer.

As a guard player, I particularly enjoyed the versatility of the Bear Trap from the bottom. the only fault I could find was that Geo didn’t include even more guards in this volume.

Part 2 – Entries and Escapes to the Bear Trap

The second volume of the Geo Martinez Bear Trap DVD is all about using the position to transition between different positions. Among the entries and transitions that Geo shows in this part of the DVD are the Jackie Chan spin, leg drags into the Bear Trap, and several different rolling entries from different scenarios.

What I particularly liked is the use of the Bear Trap for defensive tasks, turning to it as the first checkpoint you can attack from after getting out of the mount. I like escaping to it often, so the information Geo provides helped me build upon what I do in training.

Part 3 – Bear Trap Submissions

The part most of you have probably been watching for (me included) arrives with the final volume of the DVD – submissions from the Bear Trap. Given that positional dynamics, most of the finishing options revolve around the use of leg locks.

Geo Martinez demonstrates a series of different calf slicer variations when attacking the leg trapped in the Bear Trap, starting with my personal favorite – the Ham Sandwich. He also teaches attacks on the secondary leg, with a sneaky toe hold, particularly eye-catching.

On top of these subs, Martinez covers attacking transitions towards positions like the Honeyhole and back mount, as well as a couple of sweeps to get to the top when all else fails.

A New Dimension to Your Bottom Game

I have already discussed the possibility of using the Ashi Garami position as a guard before, and the Geo’s Bear Trap BJJ instructional only enforces this approach. He uses the Bear Trap to navigate between all sorts of bottom positions (guards) as well as switch from bottom to top, all the while threatening with very powerful submissions.

A drawback to using the Bear Trap position for submissions is that calf slicers are still illegal for people up to the brown belt. While the position itself is legal, albeit barely, positioning your arms in the wrong place can get you DQed.

That said, you can freely use the position to sweep, transition, and hold people as you navigate the positional hierarchy of BJJ in a quest to gather points in competition or retain control in training. The best part about it is that the Bear Trap means you do not lose any points as long as you maintain all the necessary connections!

DONWLOAD THE GEO MARTINEZ BEAR TRAP DVD HERE!!!

Time to Go Bear Trapping

So, all in all, this Geo Martinez Bear Trap DVD is a great instructional for a wide variety of people. It goes beyond the scope of leg lock specialists, allowing you to develop a diverse game while playing any bottom position, with a great fallback in cases where the top person puts you under pressure or blocks your attacks.

With only three volumes and a runtime of under 2 hours, this is one instructional that you will quickly go through, and can start experimenting with in training immediately. It will introduce a different dimension to your attacking game, so getting it now is a no-brainer, really!

Calf Slicer & How to Make it Your Best Leg Lock

“Truck The World” Geo Martinez BJJ Instructional Review

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REVIEW: The Unpassable Guard DVD By John Danaher

By

Ognen Dzabirski

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The Unpassable Guard DVD By John Danaher. Is there really too much more that you want to know about this instructional?

Jokes aside, everyone who has managed to claw themselves up to the purple belt has realized how important a solid guard is. There is a huge difference between having a guard full of attacks and alone that people can’t get around. We’ll cover that in detail later, but can you guess which one is crucial to succeeding in Jiu-Jitsu?

So, when the undisputed best coach in the business offers a DVD instructional covering one of the key subjects of grappling that every person engaging in BJJ needs to know, you need to grab it as fast as humanly possible!

Key Takeaways

8-volume series with over 5 hours of high-level material;
Focused on preventing different passes, rather than exploring different guards;
All essential defensive guard body motions;
Everything you need to become unpassable!
BJJ World Expert Rating: 10 out of 10

REVIEW: The Unpassable Guard DVD By John Danaher — Check out Danaher’s New Unpassable Guard DVD Here!

GRAB THE UNPASSABLE GUARD DVD HERE!!!

What is the Key Role of The BJJ Guard?

Why do you play guard in Jiu-Jitsu? If your answer is anything except because it helps you keep the top person in a position that you can control, then you need to consider your priorities.

Ever since Ryan Hall came out with a DVD series on the defensive guard, more than 10 years ago, I got a bit confused. Everything I was taught about guard back in those days was hunting for sweeps and submissions. However, I never spend to much time trying to stay in any guard and keep the top person there.

To be honest, if you try to use a guard position to keep someone from moving away or passing your legs, you’ll quickly figure out that many fancy BJJ guards do not work in that sense. That means they do not work at all.

Unless you can keep your opponent where you want them, you’ll be unable to launch any of the attacks you want, leaving you in a position to defend a position you can’t really defend. That is where the Unpassable Guard DVD By John Danaher comes into the picture, covering guards as a means of preventing passing first and foremost. Read on to discover the details!

The John Danaher Effect

The explosion of John Danaher’s success as a coach led to a real revolution in Jiu-Jitsu. I am not just talking about the introduction of leg locks into the game as a system rather than a shortcut to get taps.

I am talking about the tectonic shift in thinking about the sport, both in terms of training it and coaching it. Danaher is living proof that there is no need to dismiss either Gi or No-Gi BJJ and is not afraid to challenge common dogmas in the sport by offering practical solutions over tradition-bound ones.

Danaher keeps on producing some of the best BJJ DVD instructional in the game, some of which are true gems in terms of covering subjects others brush off as inconsequential. One such subject is guard retention, the number one task you have as a guard player.

It is always fun to learn from someone who tries to find the most practical way of doing things as well as trying to factor in every possible variable that might prevent you from being successful with it. What’s not to love about the effect he has had on grappling?

Play-by-Play Review of the Unpassable Guard DVD By John Danaher

If you’ve ever seen a John Danaher DVD you know what to expect. You get 8 volumes of high-value grappling information, meticulously organized in chapters and following a very precise and easy-to-understand timeline. The only drawback is that to get the most out of the Unpassable Guard DVD By John Danaher you need to follow it volume by volume and that is a lot of material to cover:

Part 1 – Essential Body Movements

The introduction to the subject of guard retention starts in a very “traditional” way when ti comes to approaching the BJJ guard-body movement drills. While I am not a big fan of doing solo movements for BJJ, particularly for beginners, there is no denying that motion is what makes Jiu-Jitsu work.

John Danaher does a short intro on why movement is crucial, particularly for playing guard before covering the 12 key body movements you need to be successful at it. He also shares ideas on how to organize solo drilling to help you master the movements very quickly.

Part 2 – Understanding Guard Passing

The first volume of the Unpassable Guard DVD By John Danaher left me somewhat doubtful of what lies ahead, on account of the solo drills. However, I quickly changed my mind when I learned the approach Danaher has to guard retention – understanding what you’re fighting against.

Instead of focusing on how to make your guards strong, John demonstrates how guard passing works and leads us to focus on preventing common passing directions and threats using any guard, as opposed to exploring different guards one by one.

This portion covers the 5 stages of any guard pass, the 3 key danger zones of passing, and the stance and posture you need to take up to deal with them. He also covers the 3 crucial guard passing directions you’ll be facing, and the importance of keeping things simple.

Part 3 – Dealing with Distance Passing

Distance passing is the first passing direction addressed by Danaher in this instructional with a good reason – it is arguably the easiest to deal with as the person attacking you has to cover significant distance before succeeding in dealing with your legs.

The Toreando guard is the best representation of this type of passing. John offers several different leg retention methods, mostly by using the inside position to prevent distance passers from getting past your guard. He wraps up with several prop positions and frames to help you deal with the late stages of distance passing.

Part 4 – More Distance Passing Solutions

Consider the previous volume as the introduction to using your guard to deter different distance passing methods. This volume builds on it, with John providing even more elbow probing options and inside leg positions to open up attacking avenues while you are retaining your guard.

Danaher also demonstrates the importance of level changes when playing guard, which means sitting up to change the way you engage with your opponent and introduce confusion into their passing attempts.

Part 5 – Preventing Body Lock Passing

Going further, the Unpassable Guard DVD By John Danaher moves on to deal with one of the Danaher Deat Squad’s favorite means of passing – body locking. He begins by explaining how to position your legs and hips so that you negate the pass even before it becomes a threat.

Luckily, Danaher has a combination of three different guard positions to help you deal with the threat of body lock passing. John goes into direct prevention as well as rolling and inverting retention options, before also addressing late-stage pass disruptions.

Part 6 – Stopping Scoops and Knee Cuts

The next part of this John Danaher instructional covers dealing with close distance passing involving open hands, mostly in the scoop grip configuration, another method popularized by Danaher’s students.

The focus is on using leg pommels to win the fight against scoop grips, preferably on both sides. It comes down to a grip fight in which you use your legs against the opponent’s arms.

As we pass the halfway point of this volume of the latest Danaher Guard DVD the knee cut pass makes an appearance as the main culprit, with solutions revolving around the knee shield position and propping/rolling late-stage opportunities.

Part 7 – Staying in Half Guard

Everyone’s favorite guard position at some point in their BJJ journey is the half guard, and for a good reason – it has incredible retention properties with very little effort involved. Danaher defines the main dangers of the top half guard game first so that you can address them effectively.

Most of the focus, as it should be, is on the bottom leg, with leg levers and butterfly hooks opening up a vast array of defensive and offensive opportunities. He also offers more knee shield methods to help deter underhooks, both single and double.

Part 8 – Preventing the Cross Face

The final part of this DVD addresses the common pain every bottom player faces during every open mat – the crossface position. Even though usually associated with the completion of passes, the crossface can actually appear even before a pass is complete, and it is no less annoying.

Some of the solutions to this problem that Danaher offers include using sit-outs, to deal with all variations of the cross face while your legs are still in between you and the top person.

Unpassable Guard Danaher DVD Review — Get the Unpassable Guard Danaher DVD

Guard Retention as the Essence of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

As you can see, the guard is a position that you’re most likely taking for granted. That is exactly why it doesn’t work for you. Unless you can keep someone in your guard, what is the point of you trying to use the guard to set up submissions and sweeps> You’ll only get passed.

If you switch your attention to staying in guard, any guard you pick, you’ll quickly develop that annoying bottom game that purple belts used on you when you were a white/blue belt and thought you knew how to pass the guard.

The main difference is that you will know how to use it against people of all levels, rather than just throwing out a bag of guard tricks at the top person. The Unpassable Guard DVD By John Danaher is your best resource to date to understand this.

UNPASSABLE GUARD JOHN DANAHER DVD DOWNLOAD HERE!

Becoming Unpassable

Ever since that Ryan Hall DVD, I saw more than a decade ago, I have been waiting for a solid instructional that covers everything related to retaining the guard position. Luckily, John Danaher found it prudent to cover this subject in depth in this umpteenth instructional to date.

So, trust me, there is no need to wait until you reach grappling maturity to start addressing the weakest point of your guard – your retention skills. I see it all the time on the mats and literally don’t find any satisfaction in beating guards that present no challenge. Use the Danaher Guard DVD to turn yourself into a guard challenge every black belt is going to struggle to solve!

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REVIEW: Systematically Attacking The Kimura DVD By Gordon Ryan

By

Ognen Dzabirski

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So what is the best Gordon Ryan DVD to get? Well, given that he has covered just about every subject in the sport, it depends on what you are researching at the time. For those looking into bent arm locks, the Kimura DVD By Gordon Ryan is a never-ending resource on the subject.

I say never-ending because it is another double-decker, 8-part volume filled with more info than you can take in. It will still help you in your pursuit of Kimuras, no matter what belt you are. The best part is that Ryan covers just about everything Kimura-related, so you end up a reliable resource with everything you’ll most likely ever need.

Key Takeaways

Kimura strategies from top and bottom positions ;
Running time: Just above 4 hours;
Narrated rolling footage of Gordon Ryan doing live Kimuras;
BJJ World Expert Rating: 8 out of 10

Preview Systematically Attacking The Kimura

GET THE FULL GORDON RYAN KIMURA DVD HERE!!!

The Inevitability of Kimuras in Combat Sports

When I was a blue belt I discovered the power of the Kimura as a submission and enjoyed a lot of success in getting my peers, and mostly lower belts, to tap. I then abandoned it for a few years and discovered it at brown belt, but from a different perspective – a controlling position that you can use to set traps.

At black belt, the Kimura now emerges as useful no matter what kind of research I am doing: defense, standing, attachment, counters, etc. The point is that you can find good use of the Kimura grip regardless of what you are doing as your grappling centerpiece at the moment.

The Kimura DVD By Gordon Ryan covers every aspect of Kimuras so that you will be able to discover something to fit your game. You are bound to meet the grip every time you step on the mats, regardless if you’re on the giving or receiving end of Kimuras. Use this resource to understand them better, and you’ll have a very efficient safety net during rolling or competing.

The King of Grappling

Gordon Ryan is the best grappler alive. Even if I stop here, I’d have written nothing people even remotely acquainted with grappling don’t know. The truth is, he is a highly polarizing figure that drew lots of attention to the sport.

If we put all the steroids, trash-talking, team beefs, and all kinds of on and off-the-mats chaos, the combination of raw natural talent, incredible work habits, and access to the BJJ mastermind John Danaher has proven to be the best recipe for grappling success.

After winning everything there is to win in the No-Gi world, setting records as he does, there’s hardly any doubt in anybody’s mind that Ryan is the best grappler to date. That, however, does not make him my favorite person to learn from, as opposed to his coach, Danaher.

So far, three have been really great info in Ryan’s instructional but presented in a way that is chaotic and only possible for brown/black belt grapplers to understand. Is the Kimura DVD By Gordon Ryan another one put together in such a fashion? Check out the detailed review below to learn more.

Exploring the Kimura DVD By Gordon Ryan

As expected with any Gordon Ryan DVD so far, you get a No-Gi instructional, divided into 8 volumes, covering everything about the Kimura and the kitchen sink. There is a general organizational system, with each volume covering a specific position as it relates to the Kimura:

Gordon Ryan Kimura DVD Review — The New Gordon Ryan Kimura DVD

Part 1 – Introduction to the Kimura from Closed Guard

After covering a few gripping basics and presenting the different types of Kimuras, Ryan explains some essential mechanics, such as the power of pulling Kimuras and the main functions of the position.

Most of this volume covers the closed guard and how you can use the Kimura to sweep and submit from it. Gordon shares several different setups, mainly revolving around grip combinations, and wraps up with a few interesting Kimura combos from close guard that work at every level.

Part 2 – Open Guard Kimuras

The second portion of the Kimura DVD by Gordon Ryan focuses on the open guard, which means there is much more versatility covered. Perfect for blue and purple belts looking to overcomplicate things.

You get to discover how Ryan does all those powerful Sumi Gaeshi sweeps by utilizing the Kimura. Keep in mind, though, that this works for Ryan, but you might find it a bit more difficult. He also provides a few follow-up options, such as Ashi Garami entries and triangle chokes to cover failed Kimura attempts.

The wrap-up introduces the next volume, with Gordon covering how to use the half guard as the ultimate fallback position when open guard Kimura attacks do not work out as planned.

Part 3 – Half Guard Kimuras

The half guard is the quintessential Kimra locking position, both from top and bottom. That has made it quite difficult to wrap up a Kimura lately, but Ryan does offer some innovative ways of solving these issues.

Ryan balances reactive and proactive Kimura attacks, as well as showing a different variation of the Power Kimura which is pretty effective. Before going into a few more ways to use different positions as backup and/or baits, Ryan goes full circle showing you how to get back to open guard when the half guard Kimuras fail.

Part 4 – Kimuras from Top: Open Guard

Halfway through the technical instructional Ryan flips things upside down, turning to explore how to best utilize the Kimrua from the top. Personally, I prefer top position setup so I did enjoy this portion of the Kunmra DVD by Gordon Ryan a bit more.

The first positional exchange Ryan covers is how to deal with the open guard by way of Kimura. He goes over every open guard contact you might make with the bottom person’s legs in separate chapters. Most of these setups lead to passes with the Kimura grip intact.

The second half of this volume covers the half guard Kimura from the perspective of the top grappler. You will discover options to deal with underhooks, the knee shied, and shoulder posts, as well as some cool options to use the Kimura to establish a reverse cross face.

Part 5 – Side Control/North-South Kimura Setups

The preferred position for attacking Kimuras is side control. I love to use it to control the position, but it also works great for finishing, as you’re attacking without the bottom person’s legs getting in the way.

Ryan starts with the concept of the powerline and the importance of controlling the head. He then goes on to overview Kimuras versus the different arm positions the bottom person might try and use in a defensive manner.

If you’ve never heard of the Trimura lock, you will in this volume, and you’ll also learn how to create dilemma attacks using it. A few innovative legs Kimura options wrap this portion up.

Part 6 – Mounted Kimura

I was equal parts skeptical and curious when I discovered that Ryan is demonstrating mounted Kimuras in this volume. I’ve never really tried to make Kimuras from mount work, but whenever I messed around with it, it did not work well.

Most of the chapters in this section demonstrate how the Kimura is a great fallback grip when underhooks fail. The thing that makes it all work is the Trimura, which was a revelation of sorts for me when watching this Kimura DVD by Gordon Ryan.

A few of the final chapters also cover Kimuras from back mount, and options to connect them with rear triangles and straight armbars.

Part 7 & 8 Narrated Rolling Footage

The final two volumes of the Gordon Ryan Kimura DVD show the King rolling against different opponents. First, we get to see the rolls, with Gordon spending 5 minutes against 4 different opponents.

Next, he goes over the rolls narrating everything he does, but this time slows them down and pauses them to better capture the key points. Of course, he leans towards the Kimura in all of his rolls from both top and bottom, so that we get to see how things connect in live situations.

DOWNLOAD SYSTEMATICALLY ATTACKING THE KIMURA DVD HERE!!!

The Evergeen Value of the Ude-Garami

Gordon Ryan has used the Kimura to both finish matches and control them to set other things up at the highest level. Percentage-wise, the Kimura is one of the most effective submissions at open tournaments at all levels.

It is also the move that Judo champion Masahiko Kimura used to break Helio Gracie’s arm in their famous Maracanã Stadium super fight, which is how the move became popular as the Kimura rather than the original Japanese term gyaku ude garami.

Using the Kimura in BJJ is inevitable. As long as you keep an open mind and grab that Kimura grip whenever you see it available, you’re going to have success in everything you’re trying to do: submit, pass, sweep, transition, pin, or takedown. So, regardless of your belt, it is smart to find a way to introduce it to your game.

Just Another Kimura Instructional

From an organizational standpoint, the Kimura DVD by Gordon Ryan is once a gain filled with too much information for my taste. However, this time, Ryan did improve in terms of only providing information that relates to the subject and does not spend as much time going into tangents as he used to.

While I am not personally Gordon’s greatest fan in terms of his teaching prowess and instructional. I have seen most of them and used some of the stuff in there. The Kimura DVD shows the growth and improvement of Ryan as a coach, and I will be going back to this one every now and again for ideas and options.

Why not do the same? Pick it up now and begin your Kimura hunting escapades guided by the best grappler alive! It is as close as you’ll get to a 4 hour-long private with Gordon Ryan anyway.

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Closing The Gap – A Michael Pixley DVD Review

By

Ognen Dzabirski

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Michael Pixley Close the Gap DVD Review — Michael Pixley's Close The Gap BJJ DVD

If you are looking for a shortcut to make your sucky BJJ takedowns better fast, then turning to seasoned grapplers with a wealthy wrestling pedigree, such as Michael Pixley is a no-brainer. Michael has come up with a very easy system of teaching everyone, white to black a key lesson in standup grappling – how to get closer to your opponent.

Closing The Gap is a 4-part BJJ DVD instructional that offers efficient ways to master the hardest part of takedowns – getting close enough to your opponent to be able to perform any of the hundreds of different takedown moves and sequences.

If you want to know exactly what you’re getting from this DVD, where the infamous Heath Pedigo collaborates with his student, expert wrestler Michael Pixley check out the detailed part-by-part review further in this article. Or, take our word for it, and go get the DVD now!

Closing The Gap - A Michael Pixley DVD Review — Check out the Michael Pixley DVD Review: Close The Gap

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Extremely well-organized content according to the BJJ belts;
Easy wrestling tasks that will teach you how to make your takedowns work;
The Daisy Fresh takedowns system taught by an NCAA and NAIA Champion;
4 volumes with a total running time of just under two hours;
BJJ World Expert Rating: 8 out of 10

GET THE FULL ‘CLOSING THE GAP’ DVD HERE!

Why Closing the Gap is Important

Whenever I am teaching people wrestling for BJJ, particularly those new to the sport, the very first task they get is getting close to their opponent and attaching themselves in a way that opens up takedown attacks. As it turns out, this is the hardest part of taking someone down to the mats!

We all know that taking someone down from a distance only works in Master Ken videos and Aikido demonstrations. If you want to wrestle someone to the mats while they are resisting, you need to get close and personal with them. That means winning the grip fight and locking either the leg(s), neck, or waist of your opponent.

The main issue I find with closing the gap is that it is impossible to predict how an opponent is going to react, as moving while standing is much faster and chaotic than grappling on the mats. Enter this Michael Pixley DVD, with a very precise structure organized by BJJ belt level, to offer a practical solution to this problem.

The Grappling Pedigree of Michael Pixley

You’ve heard of the Daisy Fresh BJJ team, haven’t you? Of course, you have. Well, you already know how effective they are on the mats, and that the crazy system developed by head coach Heath Pedigo works like a charm.

What you probably don’t know is that the team’s prowess in standing exchanges is down to Michael Pixley, a seasoned wrestler with more than 18 years of high-level experience. The NCAA and NAIA National Champion is also extremely efficient at BJJ, as demonstrated by the fact that he has several notable titles IBJJF titles at major tournaments like the Pans and the Worlds.

All in all, Michael is the perfect fit when it comes to learning takedowns specifically tailored for BJJ – he has done both wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu at the highest levels, and has an incredible approach to coaching and organizing content. Keep reading to find out more, or just go get his DVD now!

A Detailed look at the “Closing The Gap” Michael Pixley DVD

Closing the gap is a DVD offering systematized material, organized into 4 different volumes, which are further divided into specific chapters. Pixley smartly uses the BJJ belt system to scale the difficulty of the techniques and concepts presented in different portions of this instructional:

Part 1 – White Belt

Kicking things off is what is arguably the most important volume in the series – a system to any white belt a threat on the feet. Michel Pixley starts with a stance and grip fight, before going deeper into more precise standing engagements.

The focus is mainly on the front headlock position, which, given that it is intended for white belts, is the perfect choice. A bunch of 2-on-1 grip configurations feature here, along with the unmistakable snap-down that opens up a route into the front headlock.

There are also lots of single-leg takedown options that open up using the same stance and grip fighting principles the volume opened up with. Pixley also offers some fancier moves for more adventurous white belts, such as knee taps and throwbys.

Part 2 – Blue Belt

If you expect the material in this Michael Pixley DVD to get more interesting with every volume, you won’t be disappointed. For all the enthusiastic blue let’s out there, who are looking at closing the gap, Michale offers fun ways of getting into position for the double leg takedown.

The grip fighting tactics also change to offer more versatility, such as Russian ties, overties, and ways to deal with some of the most common reactions people have to the double leg, both as an entry and a takedown.

Part 3 – Purple and Brown Belt

This is where things get more complicated. Just like BJJ. The third volume in the series covers even more information suited for purple and brown belts, which builds on the foundations laid in the previous parts.

For purple belts, Michael opens up new dimensions available from the front headlock mostly in the form of cradles, which I found to be particularly efficient in Jiu-Jitsu. Ankle picks also reappear in this section, albeit with more angles and details compared to the initial white belt instructions.

Pixley introduces fakes and some highly specific wrestling grips, like the football grip and deep underhooks. This portion of the instructional is all about putting everything he showed up to this point to use by threatening with staples such as headlocks and single legs and switching attention to ankle picks, low singles, and dragdowns.

Part 4 – Black Belt

To be honest, this is one part of the DVD I would’ve skipped, as I feel that by black belt, people already have their idea of what they can, and more importantly, can’t do. They also have more than enough experience to tailor a standing game to their preferences, so I think Pixley would’ve been better suited to dedicating this part to include more brown belt combinations and tactics.

Michael simply directs black belts to wrestle in this section, applying their style to anything they do. I tend to agree, but would also like to add that at black belt, wrestling as a means of effective guard pulling should also be covered.

How to Use this DVD

In my opinion, Michael Pixley made a great selection of highly effective wrestling moves that work perfectly in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He also managed to organize them by BJJ belt level in a way that works, which I was skeptical about when I saw the content before watching the entire DVD. He definitely changed my mind.

The best way to learn wrestling for BJJ is to do it over and over again, in every practice session. I would recommend that you watch every part of this instructional, even if you are more experienced, as that is where Michael presents the fundamentals that he uses to build a more versatile wrestling game in the following parts.

Remember that the main focus is on closing the gap, so measure your success on how well you can manage distance and attach yourself to the opponent. rather than success with taking people down, at least as you begin using this instructional.

Close the Gap on Successful Takedowns Today!

There is plenty of content out there to help you figure out takedowns for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, but it is mostly offering wrestling or Judo-specific moves that do not translate directly to what BJJ folks need. Michael Pixley managed to bridge this particular gap, as well as offer what I’d call the only takedown instructional successfully systematized using the BJJ belt system.

So, if your takedowns need work, which they most likely do, grab this DVD if you’re anywhere in the range between white and brown belts in Jiu-Jitsu. I am confident you’ll learn a lot and reap quick benefits if you follow Pixley’s system that made the DaisyFresh team so scary on their feet!

DOWNLOAD MICHAEL PIXLEY’S ‘CLOSING THE GAP’ DVD HERE!

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Garry Tonon DVD Review – Heisting: Making Your Jiu Jitsu Multidimensional

By

Ognen Dzabirski

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This is one of those DVD instructions that teach you the whole BJJ game by focusing on movement rather than going off the deep end with endless details on techniques that you’ll likely never remember. Garry’s intent with this is to help you integrate standing and groundwork, not just when going to the ground but also when standing up.

Just like with any other Garry Tonon DVD instructional, this one delivers on its promise. Gary managed to figure out a way to present the true power and potential of hip heisting in BJJ, turning one of the most dismissed and ignored movements into the subject of an 8-part instructional that will make you a better grappler.

GRAB THE HEISTING GARRY TONNON DVD HERE!

KEY TAKEAWAYS

A No-Gi, 8-part instructional, with over 5 and half hours of material;
Seamless integration of standing, top, and bottom positions using one move;
You’ll learn winning scrambles and set up wicked submission traps;
A multidimensional approach to training and teaching Jiu-Jitsu;
BJJ World Expert Rating: 10 out of 10

The Lost Art of Heisting for Grapplers

If there is one thing that anyone who has been training for more than a couple of months hates hearing in BJJ class is ‘Okay, guys, let’s do some hip escapes’. The blame for that lies with coaches, though.

Having people practice endless hip escapes, a.k.a. hip heists, a.k.a. shrimps across the mats is a waste of everyone’s time and a complete misrepresentation of a very powerful movement in BJJ. Allow me to elaborate.

Heisting is not a defensive movement to get you out of side control. In fact, that is one example where it doesn’t work. Heisting refers to moving your hips in the direction of your butt, but not in just one direction, but rather all available ones. This includes vertical motions as well as horizontal which is the cornerstone of this Garry Tonon DVD.

Did he manage to capture the true essence of heisting for grappling? Well, he had 8 volumes and just under 6 hours to achieve it, but you don’t have to get the instructional to find out the answer – just check out the detailed review of every part that we prepared below.

Do We Really Need to Talk About Garry Tonon?

Dubbed “The Most Exciting Grappler Alive”, Garry Tonon is a name everyone knows in the grappling world and a rising one in the MMA realm. One of the original trio of Danaher Death Squad members to reach notoriety with leg locks, Garry represents the New Wave Jiu-Jitsu team but is more focused on his ONE FC MMA performances rather than pure grappling competition.

Garry got his black belt from Tom DeBlass and Ricardo Almeida but has spent most of his professional grappling career as one of John Danaher’s prodigy students. While everyone’s still waiting on Tonon’s first ADCC title, he does boast an impressive competition pedigree which includes several EBI World Champion titles, and Pans title.

The most exciting part about Gary Tonnon’s style of grappling is how he moves. he places a lot of emphasis on motion, wearing down opponents with relentless movement, which is all aimed at opening up submissions across the entire body. One of the pillars of this style is heisting, a multidimensional approach to BJJ he shares with us in this instructional.

GRAB THE HEISTING GARRY TONNON DVD NOW!

A Detailed Review of Garry Tonon DVD about Heisting

Garry’s immaculate organization of this DVD ensures that he covers more aspects of heisting than you could possibly think about. I admit, some of these uses and iterations of this underrated foundational movement were eye-openers for me as well. From leglocks and takedowns, Tonon takes us through pins, escapes, scrambles all the way to inversions all by focusing on how to heist your hips:

Part 1 – Leg Locks

You’d expect a Tonon DVD to feature leglocks, so Gary decided to kick things off by addressing heisting in relation to the famous Ashi Garami leg lock system. Most of the focus in this par is on entries into leglocks, from top and bottom.

Heisting helps open up a sliding motion which Gary uses as the key method to execute cross, double leg, and even back side entires into leglocking positions. The wrap-up in this part is a section covering the ankle pick by way of heisting.

Part 2 – Sumi Gaeshi

If you’ve seen Tonon grapple, you know how much he likes to use ‘sacrifice throws’ in his game. Sumi Gaeshi is the perfect example, a staple in both Judo and BJJ when it comes to taking someone the mats by pulling them on top and over your head.

This volume starts with footwork that makes heisting possible, which, in turn, makes the throw unstoppable. In true Tonon style, he then shows how you can spread towards a ton of attacks, from Ashi Garami leg locks to Kimura finishes.

The best aspect of this volume of the DVD is that he offers ways to heist and end up with a Sumi Gaehsi sweep from different guard scenarios, in addition to using it for surprisingly fast throws.

Part 3 – Back Attacks

Another staple of Garry Tonon’s game is slick and lightning-fast back takes from literally everywhere. It turns out he was using heisting to make it all happen so effectively.

Most of the chapters in this section of the instructional cover ducking, which is much more than just a way to expose the back during takedowns. Tonon explores both seated and standing integrations of the heist, throwing in arm drags and hamstring pulls to open up a bunch of different attacking directions.

Part 4 – Pinning and Escaping

One aspect of heisting you are probably aware of already is as a means of getting out of pins. While not really efficient on its own, used to expose submission threats, a heist truly changes how effective you are in dealing with pins.

More importantly, your ability to heist is a great way to ensure you become a lot more proficient at pinning others, by introducing purposeful movement into pinning, rather than just trying to hold someone down statically. The elbow positing chapter is particularly interesting as an opinion of blending together defense and offense.

Heisting: A BJJ DVD by Garry Tonon — Heisting: A Garry Tonon DVD sample

Part 5 – Heisting For Top Position

A few more integrations of takedowns and pins by way of heisting, with the focus now on the heels-to-butt position. In this volume, Tonon explores Judo-derived foot sweeps and throws, a few more Sumi Gaeshi variations, and inversions that open up a whole new can of movement worms.

Part 6 – Takedowns

In this volume of the Garry Tonon DVD, the focus is on two of the most common wrestling takedown launch pads we use in BJJ. The first one is the single leg, which Gary accentuates with heisting. The second is the front headlock, where the use of the heist is apparent, but Garry still has some useful insights to offer.

Wrapping up is another misused and misunderstood staple grappling movement – the sprawl. Garry explains how heisting makes the sprawl better, introducing a new dimension to it, just as promised in the DVD title.

Part 7 – Scrambling

This volume is probably what most of those who expect the DVD to resemble Gary Tonon’s grappling style expect out of it. The subjects in this volume are versatile and different, but they all have one thing in common – heising.

From the turtle position and passing, to Ashi Garami positions, throws, and takedowns, all the way to funk rolls, Gary manages to pull everything together into a very cool way of using heisting as a safety net and means to end up winning whenever you enter a scramble.

Part 8 – Inversions

Inversions entered BJJ as a way to attack before quickly mutating into one of the best guard retention and recovery means ever, and even a powerful defensive position when done right. Getting in and out of inversions is all about hip hesitating, which just so happens to be the subject of this DVD.

This volume covers the art of heisting into inversions, as well as connecting inversions to leg lock entries based on heisting, like the ones covered in the first volume of this instructional.

CHECK OUT THE FULL GARRY TONNON HEISTING INSTRUCTIONAL HERE!

Garry Tonon DVD cover Heisting: Multidimensional Jiu-Jitsu — Heisting: Garry Tonon DVD cover

Heistng Past the Shrimp in BJJ

From a practical standpoint, the best way to use this DVD is to allow it to change your mind on what hip heisting is. If you’re expecting an 8-part instructional on shrimping, you’re better off looking elsewhere.

If you want to make your Jiu-Jitu more effective in every aspect, and most importantly, during transitions between top, bottom, and standing positions, then there is no aspect of this DVD that you won’t find useful. The best part is that you don’t have to use the DVD in the order it is shot, but can rather watch any one volume, or even chapter, and still get vital information out of it.

Making Your Jiu-Jitsu Multidimensional

As far as I am concerned, Tonon’s instructionals are a must-have in any grappler’s video collection. This particular one moves past being a collection of endless techniques and concepts and rather teaches you something many thought was impossible – the entire game at once.

There is really not much left to say – this is a 10 out of 10 DVD which any grappler will benefit from watching, even if you don’t finish it. As a black belt who is moving away from a fast-paced movement-based game such as Tonon’s, I still found a wealth of knowledge in this instructional to rapidly improve in all aspects of BJJ.

Grab the heisting DVD by Garry Tonon now and provide yourself with the perfect means to surpass everyone on the mats in record time!

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Lachlan Giles Saddle: A 6 Part BJJ DVD Review

By

Ognen Dzabirski

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Review of The Lachlan Giles Saddle DVD — Lachlan Giles Saddle DVD

You think you know everything there is about the Saddle position in BJJ? Well, think again. Many grapplers were also confident that they knew everything about leg locks from the 50/50 position before Lachlan Giles proved them wrong with THAT unforgettable ADCC performance.

Now, there is a new Lachlan Giles Saddle DVD instructional out, and it has the potential to do the same for the Saddle position. Lachlan offers a true masterclass in each volume, covering different specifics of the position and bringing everything together through a series of narrated roles and troubleshooting guides.

Read on to discover exactly what awaits you in this 6-part instructional by one of the best grappling competitors and coaches in the world!

Click Here To Download the Lachlan Giles Saddle Instructional Now!

Lachlan Giles Saddle DVD Review — Lachlan Giles Teaches the Saddle

KEY TAKEAWAYS

A new complete system for attacking leg locks from the Saddle position;
Over 5 hours of high-quality leg lock instructions;
Learn how to enter, control, and finish from the Saddle;
A unique material organization to guide both new and experienced students:
BJJ World Expert Rating: 9 out of 10

The Leg Lock Position With 100 Names

The saddle.
The 4/11.
The Honeyhole.
The Inside Senkaku.
The Cross Inside Ashi Garami…

These are just a few examples of different names for the same position. Why did Lachlan choose the Saddle for his DVD? I guess it is a thing of preference and convenience, but from a historical perspective, the position was popularized by Sambo and is referred to as the Saddle in the Russian-born combat sport.

Naming issues aside, the Saddle is one of the strongest positions that allows you to control the lower limbs of an opponent, keeping them with their hips on the mats. Most importantly, it opens up different submission options on the legs without having to leave the position.

While this particular instructional is No-Gi, everything is still applicable to the Gi as well. Also, from an IBJJF-legality perspective, the position itself is fully legal to use at every belt. The submissions people below the black and brown belt can use are limited, but the position itself won’t get you penalized.

The Story of Lachlan Giles

Lachlan is the second most famous Australian grappler in the world, coming in second only to the notoriety his best student to date, Craig Jones brings with him. A physiotherapist by vocation, Lachlan has an immensely deep understanding of how the human body works, which is what allows him to be so efficient at dismantling legs and hyperextending their joints.

Born in Melbourne, Giles got his black belt from John Simon in 2012 and has been teaching at the Absolute MMA Academy for the entirety of his coaching career. So far he has several key competitive titles to his name:

- 2019 Kinektic Invitational Champion (No-Gi)
- 2018 UAEJJF Continental Pro Champion (Gi)
- 2016 & 2017 IBJJF Pan-Pacific Champion (Gi and No-Gi)
- 2015, 2017 & 2019 ADCC Asia and Oceania Trials Winner (No-Gi)

There is also that memorable performance at the ADCC 2019, where Lachlan tore through the open weight division, despite being the smallest grappler there, leg locking giant grapplers from the 50/50 position to earn a hard-fought 3rd place, and only because he ran into Gordon Ryan in the semi-finals.

Play-By-Play Lachlan Giles Saddle DVD Review

One of the best aspects of this Lachlan Giles Saddle DVD is how he organizes the content so that people of different experience levels know where to start. He also covers every key aspect of controlling and finishing from the position, as well as versatile entries across the material.

The way Lachaln brings everything together is through a set of narrated rolls he presents in the final volume, which is his original way of wrapping up his BJJ instructionals:

Part 1 – Entries

While I tend to prefer entries to go last whenever I teach anything, there is no real flaw in the fact this Lachlan Giles Saddle DVD starts with them. After a general overview of the position and the opponent’s usual reactions, Giles offers new students a key aspect of the Saddle position to focus on before exploring further.

Following suit are a host of different entries from both the top and bottom positions, such as backsteps, butterfly guard entries, stepovers, and the reverse X Guard. He wraps up with info on raping and a great explanation of what the false reap is.

Part 2 – Key Concepts

I really appreciated this volume of the Lachlan Giles Saddle DVD. Instead of jumping in with crazy finishes, he decided to devote an entire volume to the foundational concepts that provide such immense control from the position.

Lachlan talks about developing a strategy for playing the Saddle position and does a detailed comparison of how the position performs vs the 50/50. He uses the key mechanics of a heel hook finish to bring control concepts and goals closer, through guidelines on leg tightness, hip distancing, and heel digs.

Part 3 – The Double Trouble Principle

This one is pretty well known among leg lockers, stating that you need to control both legs before you attack the one you have established as the primary recipient of your attacks. The double trouble position is perfect for those just starting with the Saddle, including some ankle locking options that are legal to perform at all belt levels.

You can expect to learn the ins and outs of stuff like the Aoki lock, the Cloverleaf ankle lock, the Z-lock, etc. Lachlan also talks about the double 50/50 position and how it relates to the Saddle.

Part 4 – Primary Leg Tactics

This is the meat and potatoes of this Lachlan Giles DVD, with a wide range of different attacks regarding the primary leg, which is the one you keep in between your legs and attempt to heel hook.

Once again, Giles starts with primary leg strategies, before delving into how to attack in two different situations:

1. When the heel is exposed
2. When the heel is hidden

Both cover finishing strategies ranging from heel hooks to Z locks as well as rolling through to stay in control of the primary leg and using the double trouble principle to enhance said control.

Part 5 – Bottom Saddle

I was pretty cautious when watching this particular volume of the instructional since I suffered a torn knee ligament a few years ago while playing the position, so I’ve been staying away from it.

Lachlan offers options for entering from the bottom, controlling the position, and recovering when the top person is trying to deconstruct it. This is exactly where I got injured, but Lachlan offers a brand new way of playing, one that does not put your knee in any danger.

Having a PhD in physiotherapy with most of his work targeting the knees the best chapter Lachaln offers in this volume is what the bad ideas are in terms of the bottom saddle position. I’d go as far as saying this is the most important chapter in the entire DVD.

Part 6 – Narrated Rolling

The final part of the Lachlan Giles Saddle DVD features narrated rolls that include different sparring partners, with Lachlan narrating everything he is doing during those rolls, in relation to the material offered earlier. He also offers a bunch of very useful drills to help turn you into the next big thing in leg locking.

Learn the Secrets Of the Saddle from Lachlan Giles HERE

Saddling Up For Better Heel Hooks

There is really no doubt that the Saddle position is a highly effective one in BJJ, and heel hooks from there are one of the most dreaded and potentially debilitating submission holds in grappling. Whether you are a leg locker or you despise them, understanding the Saddle is key for both attacking and defending from the position.

The reason why Lachlan Giles Saddle DVD is your best choice is twofold:

1. He has a background like nobody else in the field, given his physiotherapy credentials;
2. He showcased how effective he is with leglocks at the highest levels of competitive grappling.

Unless you can say the same for yourself, then you’ll certainly learn a lot from this Lachlan Giles Saddle DVD, regardless of what you are after – an entire system or just a boatload of details for specific aspects of the position.

So, GRAB IT NOW and start tearing legs off!

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BJJ World Champion Adam Wardzinski – Octopus Guard DVD Review

By

Ognen Dzabirski

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Adam Wardzinski - Octopus Guard DVD Review — Octopus Guard DVD by Adam Wardzinski

Ready to learn some different guard magic, from the 2024 IBJJF black belt BJJ world champion himself, Adam Wardzinski? Well, I can tell you for sure that you are considering the perfect DVD to surprise people at the gym in the realm of guard.

The Octopus Guard may not be Wardzinski’s signature position, but when it comes to guard in the context of modern Jiu-Jitsu, there aren’t many others I’d pick over Adam, particularly after his stellar performance at the Worlds.

Another thing that is definitely going to work for you if you opt to make the Octopus Guard your own is that it is a relatively obscure position, yet one that is surprisingly effective. Whether you are just a very enthusiastic white belt or a seasoned grappler with decades of experience you have lots to add to your game with this Adam Wardzinski DVD!

Adam Wardzinski Octopus Guard Engeneering

KEY TAKEAWAYS

A stellar No-Gi guard instructional by BJJ World Champion Adam Wardzinski;
Highly systematized content in 5 parts two and a half hours long;
Entries, sweeps, back attacks, recoveries, and connections to other guards;
Innovative combinations like the top Octopus position;
BJJ World Expert Rating: 9 out of 10.

Get the Octopus Guard DVD by Adam Wardzinski HERE!!!

What is the Octopus Guard?

The octopus guard is a very confusing position, originally presented to the BJJ world by Eduardo Telles. Now there is a name that those who were actively involved in the world of grappling 10-15 years ago are easily going to recognize.

Despite being almost as obscure a figure as his guard is a position, Telles did manage to provide the grappling community with a real treat of a guard. The fact that people are still playing it, including high-profile grapplers like Adam Wardzinski and Oliver Geddes, is a testament to how effective the position is.

If you need a mental image of the Octopus Guard, picture yourself in closed guard, with both your opponent’s arms placed with the palms on the mat to one side of your torso. Those who have some experience are probably thinking ‘Hmmm, sounds like an arm drag’. You’re right on the point!

In fact, to get into the Octopus Guard you want to do an arm drag from the closed guard, and sit up, just like you would for a back take. Instead of transitioning, you place the arm that is closer to your opponent around their waist. You’ve got the octopus ready to go!

Your legs make or break a guard, so in order for the Octopus Guard to be effective, you need to try and keep the ankles crossed. The guard not only works from the half guard as well, I’d argue that it works even better when set up from the half than the open guard. As you’ll find out further in this Adam Wardzinski DVD review, so does he.

Introducing 2024 BJJ World Champion Adam Wardzinski

Adam Wardzinski is a name most people who have been training for at least a couple of years know. Until just a few weeks ago, he was mentioned in two main grappling contexts:

1. His prowess with the butterfly guard in both Gi and No-Gi, and
2. His failure to win an IBJJF or ADCC world title using his signature move, or, well, anything.

This second point finally changed on the IBJJF Worlds in June of 2024, with Wardzinski dominating the heavyweight division, winning all his matches by way of submission, and becoming the first-ever European grappler to achieve this title.

Adam was born in Poland, where he still resides, representing the Checkmat team. Warzdzinski, also known as ‘Megatron’, got his black belt from Alan “Finfou” do Nascimento in 2016, which is when he became known as a fierce competitor with an exceptionally effective butterfly guard game.

In all honesty, Adam’s trophy cabinet is not with some huge accolades. I’ll include his latest victory so that you can get the whole picture:

- 2024 IBJJF World Champion (Gi)
- 2023 IBJJF Pan Champion (Gi & No-Gi)
- 2022 / 2024 IBJJF European Champion (Gi)
- 2021 AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro Champion (Gi)
- 2018 ADCC European Trials Winner (No-Gi)

Now that you know all about Adam, we can move on to show exactly what you’ll learn after getting his Octopus Guard BJJ DVD.

Octopus Guard Adam Wardzinski BJJ DVD Review

Wardzinski’s Octopus Guard DVD is organized into 4 parts, following the golden standard of BJJ DVD instructional nowadays. It is entirely No-Gi, which makes it immediately applicable in Gi as well, and each part lasts just over half an hour – the perfect length for an instructional:

Part 1 – Intro

The DVD kicks off with Adam Wardzinski laying down the foundations of the positional concepts for the position, and a few of the main entries. In my opinion, these are the trickiest parts, as once you get the Octopus Guard, you’re more or less in cruise control.

I found some really useful tips, particularly his take on dealing with the crossface, which is a common occurrence when you’re setting up the Octopus from the half guard.

Part 2 – Back Exposure

Given the positioning of the Octopus Guard relative to the opponent, attacking the back is the most viable option. Actually, when I come to think about it, the Octopus is like a checkpoint between a closed/half guard and any backtake done from those positions.

Adam shares a bunch of different ways to conquer the back while managing to retain the guard. I like that instead of showing a safety position for retention, Wardiznski actually goes on to cover the most common passes the top person might use, and how to turn the tables as they attempt them.

Part 3 – Sweeps & Attacks

Whenever I’ve experimented with the Octopus Guard, I found sweeps to happen almost inadvertently, as people are afraid of me getting the back more than they are of giving away top position.

Throughout this Adam Wardzinsk DVD review, I discovered a few very original ways to capitalize on such behavior from the opponents, sweeping mostly sideways or raising up to the versatile dogfight position.

Of course, butterfly-based sweeps make up most of the sweeping options in an instructional by Adam Wardiznski. I also like the connection between back takes and sweeps that he demonstrates in this part of the DVD.

Part 4 – More Sweeps and Back Takes

This part is a continuation of the previous one, with Adam showing overhead sweeps as opposed to sideways breakdowns. To be honest, after the abuse of 13 years in Jiu-Jitsu, I am more than content with the easier sweeps from the previous volume, but that doesn’t mean these sweeps and combined back takes won’t work for you.

A particular treat for me, as a mainly defensive player, was the clever interplay Adam demonstrates between the Octopus Guard and the turtle position. Vintage Eduardo Telles stuff taken to new heights!

Part 5 – Top Octopus and Closed GuardVariations

Most of the options offered thus far are from the half guard Octopus position. In the final volume, Adam Wardziski covers the closed guard Octopus as well, offering the same directions of back attacks and sweeps.

Wrapping things up is a section covering some very original takes on the Octopus position. Namely, Adam demonstrates how to play a variation of the guard when you are on top, utilizing well-known checkpoints such as the headquarters position.

Get the Octopus Guard DVD by Adam Wardzinski HERE!!!

Practical Applications

There is not much evidence when it comes to using the Octopus Guard at the highest levels of BJJ competition. That just means there is space for you to make it your own, and become the next BJJ World Champion using this slick guard position.

Based on my experience, the position is effective, albeit it works best as a trap against experienced opponents (brown belt and above). That said, I have only messed around with it, and haven’t done any extensive research.

If you like to expose the back from any guard position, particularly closed versions like a full guard and/or half guard, this position is going to introduce a new dimension into your game. It is also exceptionally useful to those who like to have an ace up their sleeve and enjoy setting dilemma traps for their opponents.

Will the Octopus guard be the centerpiece of your game as a high-level competitor? I doubt it. It will, however, make you a nuisance on the mats, both in sparring and open tournaments, so investing in this Adam Wardzinski DVD is a smart, forward-looking decision.

BJJ World Champion Adam Wardzinski - Octopus Guard Engineering DVD Review — Adam Wardzinski Octopus Guard DVD Cover

Grab the Octopus Guard DVD by Adam Wardzinski Now!

You know how this goes, grab it while it is hot! The Octopus Guard instructional is Adam’s latest DVD, and with his very recent history-making success at the 2024 IBJJF Worlds, interest in his work is only bound to rise.

Get this DVD now, and pick it apart to integrate what works for you in your game. Adam makes it all possible by providing a structure that is easy to follow, yet doesn’t require you to watch everything to get to the final volume.

I’d say this Adam Wardzinsk DVD Review was a real breath of positional fresh air in the dense fog of instructional covering the same old guard positions over and over again. More than well worth it!

Grab the Octopus Guard DVD by Adam Wardzinski Now!!!

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Flexible People Enjoy Jiu-Jitsu More: Here’s Why You’ll Want to Start Stretching Today

By

Dino Moskatelo

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Flexible People Enjoy Jiu-Jitsu More: Here's Why You'll Want to Start Stretching Today

Jiu-jitsu is a martial art known for focusing on ground fighting and submissions. What jiu-jitsu requires in many situations are strength, strategy, and agility.

While these are crucial elements for jiu-jitsu success, one overlooked component greatly contributes to the enjoyment of training, effortless practice, and overall impression of the sport.

When we mention flexibility, it’s not just about the easier execution of flashy moves. Flexibility transforms your jiu-jitsu experience into something much better. It elevates your enjoyment of the sport to a higher level. Here’s how.

Enhanced Mobility and Range of Motion

Flexibility undoubtedly gives you a broader range of motion, allowing you to perform many techniques that would otherwise be difficult or impossible.

As someone who has been focusing exclusively on open guard and guard retention for over ten years, I know how important it is to have flexible hips. Hips are, alongside proper techniques, the most important aspect of guard retention.

Additionally, flexible hips make it easier to transition between various guards, adapt to new situations, and respond to your opponent’s reactions. It is also much easier to maintain control and set up submissions.

Improved Defensive Capabilities

A crucial fact is that a flexible body can easily escape tight spots. When someone applies pressure, and you are flexible, you will notice how even a shrimp escape becomes more efficient. This also applies to full mount and side control, where a flexible person can maneuver more easily.

What’s essential is that someone flexible not only escapes submissions and bad positions more easily but also expends much less energy in the process, as the struggle with their own body is reduced.

Effortless Transitions and Flow

You may have heard that jiu-jitsu is often described as a “game of human chess,” where fluidity and the ability to transition smoothly between positions are paramount. Flexibility significantly aids in transitions and the overall game of human chess. For flexible people, the concept of the game of human chess becomes clear by the second training session, while those who are not flexible might struggle even after a long time, as every transition represents a battle with their own and their opponent’s body.

It’s important to note that flexibility enhances your movements, making them more effective, aesthetically pleasing, and enjoyable.

Yoga for rocks preview — Preview the course of flexibility for rocks

Reduced Risk of Injury

In a physically demanding sport like jiu-jitsu, the risk of injury is always present. However, flexibility significantly reduces the risk of injury and serves as a protective measure. Flexible joints, tendons, and muscles are much better at absorbing impacts and protecting against sudden stretches and awkward movements.

For flexible practitioners, the possibility of strains, sprains, and other common injuries is so reduced that it is rare to find practitioners over 50 who aren’t flexible. Injuries tend to sideline those who are not flexible, diminishing their enthusiasm for training in older age unless they drastically commit to yoga or stretching.

Greater Enjoyment and Longevity in the Sport

When you combine better defense, improved mobility, effortless transitioning, and a significantly reduced risk of injury, it all culminates in a much more enjoyable jiu-jitsu experience.

When you are not constantly struggling with your own body due to a limited range of motion, you can focus on various techniques and strategies within the art, which ultimately makes this sport incredibly interesting. All of this leads to a deeper love for the sport and genuine enjoyment of it.

Effortless Jiu-Jitsu Through Flexibility

You’ve probably noticed people in your academy who spar effortlessly. If you take a closer look, most of those who spar effortlessly and have an effortless jiu-jitsu game are flexible. I would say 99.9% of such practitioners are highly flexible and simply enjoy the sport. They are known for being able to do the most sparring rounds and having the best conditioning. However, flexibility is often the main reason for this.

You can notice how easily they defend their guard, and even when they get into difficult situations, they can quickly escape and continue sparring without problems when others cannot.

Additionally, they are often the last ones on the mat, looking for another round of sparring.

It is crucial to note that flexible practitioners usually experience less soreness and muscle tightness after training, which makes recovery easier and allows them to enjoy the training and recovery process more. Consequently, they can train for more hours.

Conclusion

Whether you are a beginner or someone who has been training for a long time, incorporating flexibility training into your routine is something everyone should do. Reduced risk of injury, fluid movements, and effortless training and sparring are things that everyone practicing jiu-jitsu should have in their arsenal. So, get a yoga mat, start stretching, and watch your game flourish.

If you want to know how to start and you don’t have any experience with yoga or stretching, “Yoga For Rocks” by Sebastian Brosche is a great way to start to stretch and enjoy Jiu-Jitsu much more

Yoga For Rocks by Sebastian Brosche.

Craig Jones Hosts $1 Million Tournament, Draws More Qualified ADCC Fighters

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BJJ World

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Craig Jones Hosts $1 Million Tournament, Draws More Qualified ADCC Fighters

Craig Jones has decided to create an unprecedented stir in the grappling world with his ambitious plans to host a tournament boasting a $1 million prize fund.

The Craig Jones Invitational, formerly BDCC, will take place on August 16 and 17 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, the same venue that hosted ADCC 2022 two years ago.

The decision to launch this event stems from Jones’ dissatisfaction with ADCC’s prize payments. Jones is determined to pay fighters significantly more than ADCC, aiming to elevate the status of BJJ athletes worldwide.

“I’m organizing an event that pays athletes 100 times more than ADCC pays its winners, and I will donate all ticket sales proceeds to charity,” Jones wrote on Reddit.

Jones confirmed and provided a screenshot showing that the tournament funds are secured and the participants will be paid in full. Nicky Ryan also confirmed this, stating:

“The screenshots of Jones’ account for the tournament are real, and there’s no scam involved. This money is very real,” Nicky Ryan declared.

Jones has also included a women’s division in the tournament, emphasizing that it would be unfair for female grapplers like Ffion Davies to miss out on rewards and not be part of the event.

What has particularly intrigued the Jiu-Jitsu community and sparked controversy is the fact that the tournament is scheduled to take place simultaneously with ADCC 2024.

This timing is intentional, as Jones aims to directly compete with ADCC, encouraging everyone to reconsider the payment and status of fighters. He has called upon fighters and the community to support his event, which promises significant rewards.

“Reach out to the fighters for me. Push them in the right direction,” stated Craig Jones.

Unsurprisingly, this move has not been well received by everyone at ADCC, especially its president, Mo Jassim, who has sharply criticized Jones’ intentions and event.

“Craig Jones is doing this just to counterprogram us or out of spite, and those aren’t legitimate reasons to do anything at all,” Mo Jassim stated.

Given that Jones is offering unprecedented rewards of $1 million for a single tournament, free streaming on YouTube, and a timing that directly competes with ADCC, this event could be crucial in improving the situation in Jiu-Jitsu.

ADCC is already feeling the impact, as qualified fighters are leaving the ADCC event for the CJI (Craig Jones Invitational).

Whether Jones’ move will bear fruit remains to be seen, but it is certain that many will question what is right and could set new standards for future events and compensation for Jiu-Jitsu fighters.

Craig Jones announced that former UFC champ Luke Rockhold is coming to his tournament. Also, Ffion Davies and William Tackett have withdrawn from ADCC. Jones also stated that more fighters are expected to join.

Whose side are you on? Do you think Jones’ move is the right one?

ADCC 2024 Competitors – Full List UPDATED

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BJJ World

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Below is the list of all confirmed competitors at the ADCC 2024. We’ll update the list regularly as athletes join it.

ADCC 2024 Super Fight

Gordon Ryan vs. Yuri Simoes

Men’s Divisions

-66 kg

Diogo Reis (Reigning Champion)
Owen Jones (1st European Trials winner)
Dorian Olivarez (East Coast Trials winner)
Ethan Thomas (1st Asia & Oceania Trials winner)
Gairbeg Ibragimov (2nd European Trials winner)
Kennedy Maciel (1st South American Trials winner)
Fabricio Andrey (2nd South American Trials winner)
Deandre Corbe (West Coast Trials winner)
Huaiqing Xu (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials winner)
Ethan Crelinsten (Invited)
Kauã Gabriel (Invited)
Ashley Williams (Invited)
Keith Krikorian (Invited)
Josh Cisneros (Invited)

-77 kg

Kade Ruotolo (Reigning Champion)
Jozef Chen (1st European Trials winner)
Elijah Dorsey (East Coast Trials winner)
Kenta Iwamoto (1st Asia & Oceania Trials winner)
Tommy Langaker (2nd European Trials winner)
Luiz Paolo (1st South American Trials winner)
Alexandre de Jesus (2nd South American Trials winner)
Andrew Tackett (West Coast Trials winner)
Levi Jones-Leary (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials winner)
JT Torres (Invited)
Nicky Ryan (Invited)
Jonnatas Gracie (Invited)
Mica Galvao (Invited)
Dante Leon (Invited)
PJ Barch (Invited)
Oliver Taza (Invited)

-88 kg

Giancarlo Bodoni (Reigning Champion – Not yet confirmed)
Santeri Lilius (1st European Trials winner)
Jacob Couch (East Coast Trials winner)
Izaak Michell (1st Asia & Oceania Trials winner)
Taylor Pearman (2nd European Trials winner)
Charles Negromonte (1st South American Trials winner)
Pedro Marinho (2nd South American Trials winner)
William Tackett (West Coast Trials winner)
Lucas Kanard (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials winner)
Tye Ruotolo (Invited)
Gabriel Almeida (Invited)
Jacob Rodriguez (Invited)

-99 kg

Kaynan Duarte (Reigning Champion)
Luke Griffith (1st European Trials winner)
Paul Ardila (East Coast Trials winner)
Declan Moody (1st Asia & Oceania Trials winner)
Marcin Maciulewicz (2nd European Trials winner)
Cassio Felipe Costa (1st South American Trials winner)
Henrique Ceconi (2nd South American Trials winner)
Michael Pixley (West Coast Trials winner)
Daniel Schuardt (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials winner)
Mason Fowler (Invited)
Cyborg Abreu (Invited)
Roberto Jimenez (Invited)
Rafael Lovato Jr. (Invited)
Eli Braz (Invited)

+99 kg

Gordon Ryan (Reigning Champion – Not yet confirmed)
Heikki Jussila (1st European Trials winner)
Daniel Manasoiu (East Coast Trials winner)
Josh Saunders (1st Asia & Oceania Trials winner)
Mark MacQueen (2nd European Trials winner)
Jose Inacio (1st South American Trials winner)
Victor Honorio (2nd South American Trials winner)
Mike Perez (West Coast Trials winner)
Mansur Makmakhanov (2nd Asia & Oceania Trials winner)
Victor Hugo (Invited)
Nick Rodriguez (Invited)
Gutemberg Pereira (Invited)
Felipe Pena (Invited)
Josh Saunders (Invited)

Women’s Divisions

-55 kg

Ffion Davies (Reigning Champion – at -60 kg from old weight divisions)
Margot Ciccarelli (European Trials winner)
Ana Rodrigues (South American Trials winner)
Jasmine Rocha (West Coast Trials winner)
Adele Fornarino (Asia & Oceania Trials winner)
Mackenzie Dern (Invited)
Mayssa Bastos (Invited)

-65 kg

Aurelie Le Vern (European Trials winner)
Ana Carolina Vieira (South American Trials winner)
Helena Crevar (West Coast Trials winner)
Sula-Mae Lowenthai (Asia & Oceania Trials winner)
Bia Mesquita (Invited)
Brianna Ste-Marie (Invited)
Amanda Leve (Invited)
Morgan Black (Invited)

+65 kg

Nia Blackman (European Trials winner)
Maria Ruffato (South American Trials winner)
Elizabeth Mitrovic (West Coast Trials winner)
Nikki Lloyd Griffiths (Asia & Oceania Trials winner)

Notes and Updates

April 24: PJ Barch (-77 kg), Ffion Davies (-55 kg), and Bia Mesquita (-65 kg) confirmed.
April 29: Brianna Ste-Marie (-65 kg) confirmed.
May 6: Jay Rodriguez (-88 kg), Nick Rodriguez (+99 kg), Ashley Williams (-66 kg), Gabriel Almeida (-88 kg), and Gutemberg Pereira (+99 kg) confirmed.
May 8: Keith Krikorian (-66 kg), Josh Cisneros (-66 kg), Amanda Leve (-65 kg), and Morgan Black (-65 kg) confirmed.
May 11: Rafael Lovato Jr. (-99 kg) confirmed, eight winners from the ADCC Asia & Oceania Championships confirmed.
May 15: Felipe Pena (+99 kg), Josh Saunders (+99 kg), Eli Braz (-99 kg), and Oliver Taza (-77 kg) confirmed.

How to Watch ADCC 2024

The 2024 ADCC World Championships will be streamed live on flograppling.com on August 17&18.