Author Archives: Stephan Kesting
4 Mistakes That'll KILL Your Half Guard...
Whether you want to or not, you ARE going to end up in the half guard!
Some people simply use the half guard as a last resort when their guard is being passed. Their opponent is blasting around their guard, so without even thinking about it they lash out with their legs and trap one of his legs between their own. (more…)
Is BJJ still relevant in MMA?
A while ago I had the honor of interviewing Ricardo Liborio. Liborio is a famous Carlson Gracie’s black belt who is known for his incredible depth of understanding of BJJ. He’s also the head coach at American Top Team, which is literally one of MMA’s most successful champion factories. (more…)
An Easy Way to Make Your Closed Guard Hard to Pass
I was recently watching an out-of-print instructional DVD by a friend of mine and had one of those really great ‘aha’ moments.
It was a tweak that I can use to make my closed guard much, much harder to pass. And also much more powerful when it comes to setting up attacks and sweeps. (more…)
Preventing Achy Elbows (and Getting a Killer Grip)
A lot of grapplers have creaky joints, and tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow are just two of the most common overtraining injuries you’re likely to encounter at the club. Here’s one grappler’s solution to his grappling-induced elbow problems. (more…)
Here’s a reader question that turned into quite the 3-way discussion….
Q: Hi Stephan, I twisted my foot badly around 18 months ago. I tore a load of ligaments and was out of action for a bit. (more…)
Escaping Side Mount for Smaller Grapplers
A reader writes…
Q: Hi Stephan, I’ve got a question for you if you don’t mind me asking. I often struggle when it comes to rolling with big guys. I weigh roughly 52 kilos and the guys at the gym obviously weigh a lot more than me. (more…)
How to Finish the Armbar Against a Resisting Opponent
There’s nothing worse than having an opponent counter your armbar attempt by locking his hands together and using grip and bicep strength to stop you from extending the arm. Especially if he’s big, strong, and determined to not let tap him out! (more…)
Ryan Hall Interview Transcript
Stephan’s note: This is the transcript of an interview I did with noted Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, über-competitor and teacher Ryan Hall.
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In these photos Marc Laimon shows some of the techniques he used to defeat Ryron Gracie at Grappler’s Quest in Las Vegas, November 6th, 2004. (more…)
Arm Behind the Back Guard Pass
Getting a handle, or a grip, on your opponent in MMA is not always easy. Here Denis uses an unusual grip both to control his opponent and remove one of his potential weapons from the equation. (more…)
Marc Laimon, the Bad Boy of Jiu-jitsu*
Marc Laimon is ripping it up. On November 6th, 2004, he defeated Ryron Gracie in a superfight at Grappler’s Quest in Las Vegas. His school, which had been open for less than a year, placed first in the same competition. As if that wasn’t enough, he is also the grappling coach on the UFC reality TV show.
This interview was conducted on November 13th, 2004
Passing the Guard in MMA
by Denis Kang and Stephan Kesting
Originally published in Grappling Magazine, October 2005
Denis Kang knows all about passing the guard in mixed martial arts competition. He has fought in Japan and throughout North America, and has passed the guards of many good fighters, including Minoru Suzuki, Keith Rockel and Stephan Potvin. He knows that passing the guard is one of the hardest things to do in a fight (more…)
Chris Brennan's 10 Finger Guillotine
by Stephan Kesting
Originally published in the December 2006 issue of Ultimate Grappling
The Ten Finger Guillotine as demonstrated by Chris Brennan
As you probably know, I write a free newsletter called the Beginning BJJ eCourse.
Just to give you a taste, here are some of the tips that get sent out in that newsletter – some sample lessons, if you will.
A Confusion of Open Guards
The open guard can be quite confusing. Basically any time your legs are not closed around the back of your opponent you are in a type of open guard. Butterfly guard, X guard, spider guard, sitting guard etc. etc. are all open guards. (more…)
Shoot Wrestling Armbar Escape
Here’s a simple, but still very effective, method to escape from the Armbar (more…)
Posture Under Side Mount
Recently we discussed the concept of ‘posture’ and how it applies when you’re pinned underneath someone. A few people have contacted me since then, asking for specific examples of posture while pinned.
Let’s start with with just one pinning position: here are the three most common postures used to defend submissions and set up escapes while pinned in sidemount. (more…)
Technique 2: Reverse Shoulder Lock
Marcus and Denis demonstrate the reverse shoulder lock. (more…)
Technique 1: the Reverse Clock Choke
A demonstration of the Reverse Clock Choke against the Turtle Position by Denis Kang and Marcus Soares (more…)
Marcus Soares technique 3: Half Guard Pass and Cervical Choke
Marcus Soares and Denis Kang demonstrate a Half Guard Pass and a Cervical Choke. (more…)
Marcus Soares - Kimura from Open Guard
Marcus Soares demonstrates the Kimura from the Open Guard (more…)
Marcus Soares Kimura/Neck Crank from North-South Position
The Kimura can be a very powerful submission in conjunction with other attacks. Here senior Carlson Gracie black belt Marcus Soares shows you how to apply the Kimura and a powerful neck crank at the same time. (more…)
Marcus Soares - Kimura from Mount
Here’s how the Kimura can help you transition from the Closed Guard, to the Mount, and then to your opponent tapping out. (more…)
Marcus Soares Kimura from Closed Guard
Marcus Soares demonstrates a basic attack from the guard: Closed Guard to Kimura (more…)
Technique 4: Omo Plata to footlock
A four step instructional article on transitioning from guard to the omoplata and then into an unexpected footlock when your opponent attempts to counter the omoplata. (more…)
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