Key Takeaways
- A No-Gi BJJ instructional that explains how to attack while constantly switching targets between the upper and lower body.
- Offers examples of upper-lower combo flows from standing, bottom and top positions.
- Covers defensive applications as well, offering effortless counterattacks from bad spots.
- BJJ World Expert Rating: 9 out of 10.
UPPER LOWER CHAINS LINKS JOSH SAUNDERS – GET IT HERE
Some concepts in BJJ are so logical and so effective, I am amazed they’re not the focus of most classes in every BJJ gym in the world. Instead of going over a 17-move sequence of lapel armbars from De la Riva, you can achieve a lot more in two or three steps that target goals rather than moves.
If you want to teach at a Gracie Barra gym, then ignore what I just said and look for a different instructional. For those who want to become fluid and dangerous quickly, the Upper Lower Chains Links Josh Saunders DVD has the “secret” sauce.
Fluid Movement on the Mats
Have you ever wondered how some of the super high-level grapplers like Craig Jones or Garry Tonon move with such grace and fluidity, even when they’re defending? It has to do more with strategy and goals than it does with specific movement training.
The reason people have trouble “flowing” in Jiu-Jitsu is that they get too attached to ideas of moves, and when those moves need to work. With a resisting opponent, such ideas are usually not realistic, which is another thing people refuse to accept—resulting in them getting stuck.
A good way to test this out is to forget about succeeding with one move and try to get whatever is available instead. Even then, you need to be able to pinpoint when to move to something else more readily available.
If you have no idea how to try this without getting stuck again, try alternating between upper and lower attacks from any position you are in, until whatever it is that you’re after ends up working. No stopping, no resting, no stalling—just constant action, like the Upper Lower Chains Links Josh Saunders DVD delivers.
Josh Saunders – White to Black Belt in Four Years
If you watch YouTube as a grappler (show me one who doesn’t), then you already know who Josh Saunders is. He is one of the best Aussie grapplers to ever come from Down Under, only trailing behind the craziness that is Craig Jones.
That doesn’t make him any less talented, though, which is corroborated by the fact that it took Josh just under four years from walking into a BJJ gym to earning his black belt. The journey included lots of competing, ADCC trials, and open tournament wins too.
Originally inspired to try BJJ by fellow Aussie Kit Dale, Saunders took up training with Seev Se Arino, training and competing in No-Gi like a madman—even through COVID—until he got his black belt. Along the way, he developed HPU coaching for fast progress in BJJ. You can see what he is all about in the Josh Saunders Upper Lower Chains Links DVD.
Upper Lower Chains Links Josh Saunders DVD Review
This Josh Saunders DVD covers an aspect of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that is very difficult to convey to students. Saunders succeeds in breaking it up, using four different volumes to organize the material and deliver it in just under two hours:
Part 1 – Standing Attacks
As the Upper Lower Chains Links Josh Saunders DVD kicks off, there are no long-winded introductions and time-wasting. Josh goes straight into attacking from standing, with snap downs up first, tied together with fake shots in a great upper-lower combo example.
This pretty much sets the tone for the entire instructional. In the standing portion, Saunders talks about single leg–underhook combos, body lock–high crotch pairing, and climbing to a body lock from failed doubles. There are more moves here, but you get the gist.
Part 2 – Ground Attacks from Top
After successfully getting the fight to the ground, attacking from top comes next in the Upper Lower Chains Links Josh Saunders DVD. He starts by showcasing a well-known connection, featuring the Kimura and the Inside Senkaku position.
I was very positively surprised by the octopus guard counter and the turtle attack that pairs leg rides with guillotines. Quarter and half guard scenarios that provide pinning solutions by switching between upper and lower also feature here.
Part 3 – Ground Attacks from Bottom
The concept of alternating lower and upper body attacks works from everywhere, so Josh follows up on top position attacks with guard tactics that utilize this same idea—and they work wonderfully!
Instead of isolating and attacking either top or bottom, the Josh Saunders Upper Lower Chains Links DVD has attacks that target both end ranges at the same time. He starts off with wrestle-ups that involve Judo, forcing sprawls with Kouchi to get access to the neck and shoulders.
A lot of the moves in this volume happen in the half butterfly position, which allows you to perfectly blend armlocks and chokes with leg locks. Some closed guard and K-guard combos also appear toward the end, followed by more wrestle-up action.
Part 4 – Linking Escapes
Part four, which happens to be the last volume in the Upper Lower Chains Links Josh Saunders DVD, targets escapes and counters that revolve around the same upper-lower linking principle.
Half guard and side control are the positions Josh decided to use as examples, with escapes demonstrating how to connect leg levers with under- and overhooks, and vice versa. He also shares some key body movement concepts that will help you achieve your escape goals without succumbing to top position pressure.
Links that Solve Problems Faster
The best thing you get out of the Upper Lower Chains Links Josh Saunders DVD is effectiveness. Any issue that you have in BJJ which is making you stuck is bound to be resolved once you decide to broaden your attacks.
Even Danaher had the same approach in his DVDs—he called it combining targeted and diffused attacks to break down even the most stubborn defenses. For example, getting a tap from the back when you threaten with triangles and leg attacks from the Truck in addition to rear naked chokes secures higher chances of success.
At the end of the day, switching between upper and lower body attacks and linking them together is the only system you need. It works both for attacking and defending and is a great tactic for any position you find yourself in.
Plus, it reduces the clutter of multi-step techniques while you’re under the pressure of live rolling. As I said, effective.
Upper Lower Chains Links Josh Saunders DVD Cover
DOWNLOAD HERE: UPPER LOWER CHAINS LINKS JOSH SAUNDERS DVD
Attack Everything!
Why stay stuck in place and try the same thing over and over again (Einstein had a definition for this type of action) when you can flow and get your tap quicker? The Upper Lower Chains Links Josh Saunders DVD offers a great concept to turn you into a much more complete grappler without binding you to specific moves or techniques.
