Grapplearts http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog Building a Better Grappler Mon, 20 May 2013 05:19:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5 The Armbar from Fifty-Fifty Guard by Keenan Cornelius http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/05/the-armbar-from-fifty-fifty-guard-by-keenan-cornelius/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/05/the-armbar-from-fifty-fifty-guard-by-keenan-cornelius/#comments Sun, 19 May 2013 02:54:21 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=10249 The fifty-fifty guard is a strange creature. In it you and your opponent face each other in the exact same position with your legs intertwined. On the one hand there’s no doubt that it’s a really powerful sweeping position for whoever’s on bottom. But on the other hand it has a reputation as a really [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/05/the-armbar-from-fifty-fifty-guard-by-keenan-cornelius/feed/ 0 How to Counter the Stupidest Closed Guard Break Ever – The Elbow Grind on the Inner Thighs http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/05/how-to-counter-the-stupidest-closed-guard-break-ever-the-elbow-grind-on-the-inner-thighs/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/05/how-to-counter-the-stupidest-closed-guard-break-ever-the-elbow-grind-on-the-inner-thighs/#comments Thu, 16 May 2013 15:47:33 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=10226 Grinding away on your inner thighs is the favourite (and often only) closed guard breaking strategy of meathead grapplers everywhere. I don’t know who originally came up with this bush league, Dim Mak wanna be, pressure point bull**** strategy, but for some reason you run into ‘grinders’ at almost every club. Like most pain compliance [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/05/how-to-counter-the-stupidest-closed-guard-break-ever-the-elbow-grind-on-the-inner-thighs/feed/ 0 BJJ Lessons from a Sushi Master http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/05/bjj-lessons-from-a-sushi-master/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/05/bjj-lessons-from-a-sushi-master/#comments Sun, 12 May 2013 05:54:44 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=10185 I just watched a really cool documentary called Jiro Dreams of Sushi (available on Netflix, iTunes, etc.).  This 2011 film paints a fascinating portrait of Jiro Ono, an 85 year old master chef who’s been making sushi for 75 years. Jiro – the protagonist – is a single-minded perfectionist workaholic who hates national holidays because [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/05/bjj-lessons-from-a-sushi-master/feed/ 0 My Favorite One-Two Sweeping Combo from X Guard http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/05/my-favorite-one-two-sweeping-combo-from-x-guard/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/05/my-favorite-one-two-sweeping-combo-from-x-guard/#comments Sun, 05 May 2013 21:01:03 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=10137 Today I’m going to share two of my favourite (and very powerful) X guard sweeps with you. Plus I’ll show you how put them together so that it looks like you have amazing timing without actually having to increase your reaction speed one iota. Let’s first talk about what makes two techniques work well together in [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/05/my-favorite-one-two-sweeping-combo-from-x-guard/feed/ 0 6 steps for an effective Sleeve Choke http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/6-steps-for-an-effective-sleeve-choke/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/6-steps-for-an-effective-sleeve-choke/#comments Tue, 30 Apr 2013 02:34:23 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=10123 I know, I know, I KNOW! I go on and on about how tapping out is no big deal, and how you can get injured if you let ego get in the way, and how everybody gets caught from time to time… But there I was, leaping all over the place to escape a submission, [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/6-steps-for-an-effective-sleeve-choke/feed/ 0 Keenan Cornelius on Training, BJJ Competition, MMA Goals and More http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/keenan-cornelius-on-training-bjj-competition-mma-goals-and-more/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/keenan-cornelius-on-training-bjj-competition-mma-goals-and-more/#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 19:31:10 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9701 Keenan Cornelius is a BJJ phenomenon. Known for his exciting guardwork and movement-oriented game, he won double gold medals in four of the biggest BJJ tournament in the world as a purple belt, which is a HUGE accomplishment. Here’s my recent interview with Keenan where we had an in-depth conversation about training, BJJ competition, conditioning, [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/keenan-cornelius-on-training-bjj-competition-mma-goals-and-more/feed/ 0 The 3 Fanciest Leglocks That Actually Work http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/the-3-fanciest-leglocks-that-actually-work/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/the-3-fanciest-leglocks-that-actually-work/#comments Wed, 24 Apr 2013 05:30:59 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=10103 Some leglocks are simple, straight-ahead, super-effective submissions that should be in every grappler’s arsenal. Other leglock attacks, by contrast, are super-complicated multi-step techniques. And once you actually manoeuvre everybody into place you’re left with something that resembles an octopus orgy: arms, legs, and other body parts tangled together in a giant Gordian knot. The more [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/the-3-fanciest-leglocks-that-actually-work/feed/ 0 The Easiest Butterfly Guard Sweep http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/the-easiest-butterfly-guard-sweep/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/the-easiest-butterfly-guard-sweep/#comments Fri, 19 Apr 2013 05:10:50 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9947 Today I want to quickly share the easiest way to sweep someone from the butterfly guard. Many butterfly guard attacks require you to close the distance, pull your opponent forward, load him up onto your legs, and then sweep him. But what if he resists? What if you’ve caught him with the butterfly sweep so [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/the-easiest-butterfly-guard-sweep/feed/ 0 My Favorite One-Two-Three Sweep Combo from the Half Guard http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/a-one-two-three-sweepcombo-from-the-half-guard/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/a-one-two-three-sweepcombo-from-the-half-guard/#comments Sat, 13 Apr 2013 18:33:00 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9906 The half guard is one of my favorite guard positions. And here are three of my favorite half guard sweeps and attacks! Not only is each of these moves a high percentage technique in its own right, but when you put them together they create a powerful one-two-three combination that will serve you well in [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/a-one-two-three-sweepcombo-from-the-half-guard/feed/ 0 How to Train BJJ, even with an Injured Arm (Drill) http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/how-to-train-bjj-even-with-an-injured-arm-drill/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/how-to-train-bjj-even-with-an-injured-arm-drill/#comments Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:02:38 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9878 This article and video are about how to train and continue to make progress in BJJ when you’re dealing with an arm injury. Now I hope that you go through your entire BJJ career without ever suffering a single injury. But this is a contact sport, and therefore you’re probably going to get a little [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/how-to-train-bjj-even-with-an-injured-arm-drill/feed/ 0 Sumo Wrestling: Practical Techniques for the Martial Artist http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/sumo-wrestling-practical-techniques-for-the-martial-artist/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/sumo-wrestling-practical-techniques-for-the-martial-artist/#comments Fri, 05 Apr 2013 03:59:43 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9729 Written by: Andrew Zerling Originally published in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts – Volume 21 Number 1 – 2012 All photos courtesy of Aikido Centers of New Jersey – Manasquan Dojo, except where noted. Abstract The study and appreciation of sumo wrestling, Japan’s ancient and popular martial art, is greatly overlooked in the West. [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/04/sumo-wrestling-practical-techniques-for-the-martial-artist/feed/ 0 How to Escape Kesa Gatame and the Headlock http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/how-to-escape-kesa-gatame-and-the-headlock/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/how-to-escape-kesa-gatame-and-the-headlock/#comments Fri, 29 Mar 2013 05:03:18 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9669 Kesa Gatame is one of the most under-utilized positions in BJJ. Jiu-jitsu people tend to ignore this position but generations of judo players and wrestlers have proved that Kesa Gatame IS a powerful and effective way to pin someone. And – even worse for someone caught in it – Kesa Gatame is also a great [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/how-to-escape-kesa-gatame-and-the-headlock/feed/ 0 What is the Spider Guard? http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-spider-guard/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-spider-guard/#comments Wed, 27 Mar 2013 05:17:52 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9645 What is the Spider Guard? The Spider Guard is a form of Open Guard where you grip your opponent’s wrists or sleeves and have at least one foot controlling at least one of his arms.  Typically the sole of your foot will be placed against his biceps, or your leg will spiral around his elbow [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-spider-guard/feed/ 0 What is the X Guard? http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-x-guard/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-x-guard/#comments Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:51:39 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9621 Depending on how you look at it, the X Guard can be be classified as either a form of Open Guard or a form of Half Guard. Maybe that’s why the BOTH those positions transition so well into the X Guard. But how about an alternative perspective… I sometimes say that the X Guard isn’t [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-x-guard/feed/ 0 What is the Butterfly Guard? http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-butterfly-guard/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-butterfly-guard/#comments Sat, 23 Mar 2013 05:09:52 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9610 The Butterfly Guard is one of my very favorite positions these days. Regardless of whether you’re rolling with or without the gi, the Butterfly Guard keeps your opponent’s weight off of you, it gives you unparalleled mobility on the bottom, and it allows you to unleash blistering combinations of some of the most powerful sweeps [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-butterfly-guard/feed/ 0 What is the Half Guard? http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-half-guard/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-half-guard/#comments Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:27:16 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9599 The Half Guard is a funny position. Once upon a time it was a position of last resort. Something that you would try to achieve if your opponent was passing your guard. A last-ditch attempt to stop him from getting to a truly dominant position. My, how things have changed in the last 20 years… [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-half-guard/feed/ 0 What is the Open Guard? http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-open-guard/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-open-guard/#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:27:58 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9593 Are you confused about the definition of the Open Guard? You are NOT alone. In fact, when I started BJJ someone tried to explain the different variations of the Open Guard to me and I think his explanation left me more confused than I had been originally. So, what is the Open Guard? We’ll get [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-open-guard/feed/ 0 What is the Closed Guard? http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-closed-guard/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-closed-guard/#comments Wed, 20 Mar 2013 04:40:46 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9588 Here’s a short 1:30 minute video breakdown of me explaining the basics of the closed guard. And just to keep things interesting I also throw in my single best tip about how to maintain the closed guard, shut down your opponent’s guard pass attempts and put you in a position to successfully launch your own [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/what-is-the-closed-guard/feed/ 0 The Best BJJ Submissions Revealed http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/best-bjj-submissions/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/best-bjj-submissions/#comments Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:14:00 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9554 What’s the best submission in BJJ? Wow, that’s a tough question!  And the first problem is trying to define what we mean by the word ‘best’… Before we get into semantics and statistics let’s start by agreeing that there are a million different submissions in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Submission Grappling, and that not all of [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/best-bjj-submissions/feed/ 0 How to Defend and Escape the Kimura from Side Control http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/how-to-defend-and-escape-the-kimura-from-side-control/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/how-to-defend-and-escape-the-kimura-from-side-control/#comments Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:42:03 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9538 Defending and escaping the Kimura when you’re on the bottom of side control is always difficult.  There are several different reason for this… First of all, the figure four grip used in the Kimura is very powerful control.  It’s a natural handle that your opponent can use to manipulate your entire body, both in gi [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/how-to-defend-and-escape-the-kimura-from-side-control/feed/ 0 My 2 Best Triangle Choke Escapes http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/my-2-best-triangle-choke-escapes/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/my-2-best-triangle-choke-escapes/#comments Wed, 13 Mar 2013 05:08:15 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9530 I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s tip about escaping the armbar from guard. Today I want to continue exploring how to get out of submissions and share my two best triangle choke escapes with you. I’ve experimented with lots of different triangle escapes. Unfortunately I’ve found that many commonly-taught techniques rely on either your opponent being totally incompetent, [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/my-2-best-triangle-choke-escapes/feed/ 0 How to Defend and Escape the Armbar from Guard http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/how-to-defend-and-escape-the-armbar-from-guard/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/how-to-defend-and-escape-the-armbar-from-guard/#comments Tue, 12 Mar 2013 00:40:52 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9518 If you’ve been grappling for any length of time then you know that anytime you’re in the closed guard you’ve got to watch out for the armbar from guard. It’s one of the most common and highest percentage submissions in all of BJJ, submission grappling and MMA. So if we’re going to be running into [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/how-to-defend-and-escape-the-armbar-from-guard/feed/ 0 The Easiest Triangle Choke Followup http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/the-easiest-triangle-choke-followup/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/the-easiest-triangle-choke-followup/#comments Sun, 10 Mar 2013 00:28:26 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9498 One of my newsletter readers recently had an interesting question for me: Q: “Hi Stephan,  I have this training partner with a huge neck who is incredibly resistant to chokes.  Everybody in class has problems choking him.  The problem is that my favorite submission is the triangle choke – what’s a simple way to finish [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/03/the-easiest-triangle-choke-followup/feed/ 0 Roadmap for BJJ Package Now Available Again! http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/02/roadmap-for-bjj-package-now-available-again/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/02/roadmap-for-bjj-package-now-available-again/#comments Fri, 01 Mar 2013 00:24:05 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9487 A few years ago I released the Roadmap for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructional package. This is a multi-component product that focuses on the strategies, tactics, techniques and training methods of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It’s basically a quick start guide for how to get good on the ground as fast as possible. In my experience there are three [...]

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]]> http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/02/roadmap-for-bjj-package-now-available-again/feed/ 0 4 Tips to Pass ANY Guard http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/02/4-tips-to-pass-any-guard/ http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/2013/02/4-tips-to-pass-any-guard/#comments Wed, 27 Feb 2013 02:52:49 +0000 Stephan Kesting http://www.grapplearts.com/Blog/?p=9433 Passing the guard of a skilled opponent is one of the hardest things to do in BJJ. If you don’t believe me, take a look at high level BJJ and submission grappling competition like the Mundials or ADCC. Where does most of the action take place?  What position  do these incredibly skilled athletes spend most [...]

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