Tag Archives: Training
BJJ Lessons from a Sushi Master
by Stephan KestingI 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 they keep him away from his obsession, which is working on creating the perfect sushi experience for his customers. (more…)
Roadmap for BJJ Package Now Available Again!
by Stephan KestingA 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. (more…)
A reader writes: Hi Stephan, I’ve been doing BJJ for about 6 months and am wondering if you have any advice about what to do when you’re starting on the knees?
I find that most wrestling-style takedowns are very difficult to do from the knees, especially because my opponents are really good at sprawling. (more…)
BJJ Training Strategies
by Stephan KestingHaving the right assortment of techniques is pretty darn important in BJJ. But having the right training strategies is even more important…
By ‘training strategies’ I’m talking about the big picture. Like knowing which techniques to use, when to use them, and how to correctly train those techniques in the first place. (more…)
What a Spider Guard Fail Teaches You About How to Train Any Technique!
by Stephan KestingToday’s tip comes was inspired from some training I did with a smaller grappler, let’s call him ‘Stu.’
Stu wanted to learn some sweeps from the Spider Guard (an open guard position where you control both of your opponent’s sleeves and have one or both feet on his biceps). (more…)
BJJ Competition and Training Strategies with Brandon 'Wolverine' Mullins
by Stephan KestingIn this interview 2 x World No Gi Champion Brandon ‘Wolverine’ Mullins shares his best competition and training advice. The questions come from my newsletter readership, who I polled to see if they had any questions for Brandon, especially about training, competing or holding their own against bigger opponents. Boy, did they ever!
We then sifted and sorted hundreds of emails to pick out the very best questions for him, and this in-depth conversation was the result. Maybe one of my best interviews ever! (more…)
5 Ways You Can Best use Open Mat in BJJ
by Stephan KestingA Guest Article by Mark Mullen
The majority of most BJJ’ers training time is spent attending structured classes at their academy. And most academies divide their structured classes into 3 portions: (more…)
Ryan Hall Interview Transcript
by Stephan Kesting
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.
(more…)
Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro on Top of the BJJ World An interview with a grappling legend
by Stephan Kestingby Stephan Kesting
Vitor ‘Shaolin’ Riberio is ranked the number one fighter in the world under 155 lbs, and has multiple prestigious grappling titles. This interview was originally published in Black Belt Magazine (August 2004). He currently teaches at his academy in New York City. (more…)
This article was written by Nathan Leverton, who teaches submission grappling at his club in Leicester England.
Enjoy The Training (more…)
Submission Grappling vs. Classical Ju-jutsu; when cultures and concepts collide
by Stephan KestingIntroduction
There are many similarities between the sport of Submission Grappling and the classical Japanese Ju-jutsu systems. Both arts emphasize grappling over striking. Both arts recognize the importance and efficiency of ground-fighting. (more…)
Why Should Women Grapple?
by Stephan KestingMost Brazilian jiu-jitsu and submission grappling students are male, and in most grappling schools females are the exception, not the rule. My foundation in the martial arts was self-defense oriented, not competition oriented. (more…)
What Makes a Good Training Partner?
by Stephan KestingJason Scully (in the green shirt) is a teacher and competitor with more than 12 years of grappling experience. He is a BJJ brown belt and owns The Grapplers Guide Academy and also operates The Grapplers Guide Forum. (more…)
18 Tips To Help You In BJJ & Grappling Competition (and Why Competitions Are a Good Idea)
by Stephan Kestingby Jason Scully
Jason Scully (in the green shirt) is a teacher and competitor with more than 12 years of grappling experience. He is a BJJ brown belt and owns The Grapplers Guide Academy in Central New Jersey and also operates The Grapplers Guide.
Can You Actually Learn to Grapple from Youtube and Video Games?
by Stephan KestingStephan’s Note: This article is by Grapplearts correspondent Bryanna Fissori, who has previously contributed a piece about MMA training at John Hackleman’s Pit, the home school of former UFC Champion Chuck Liddell. (more…)
A 'Stupid' Armlock I Was Pretty Sure Would NEVER Work...
by Stephan KestingSometimes you just gotta have faith…
In the video below I’ll share an armlock with you that I’d been shown multiple times early in my BJJ career. And I always thought it was hogwash; (more…)
Pulling Guard in MMA
by Stephan KestingQ: Hello Stephan,
I’m a big fan of your website – I’ve been following it since 2009. I compete in BJJ and No-Gi submission wrestling.
I’ve also been training MMA with hopes of having my first amateur fight within the year. (more…)
Advanced Submission Attacks
by Stephan KestingLet’s talk about an advanced concept that top submission artists use all the time.
But first, let’s set the stage by talking about the limited number of common positions in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. (more…)
Which Grapplearts Instructional DVDs are the Hottest Right Now?
by Stephan KestingJust in case you want to see what’s hot, as of December 2011 the most popular instructionals right now are:
1) THE NUMBER ONE SET: HOW TO DEFEAT THE BIGGER, STRONGER OPPONENT (more…)
The First-Ever Grapplearts Q & A Podcast!
by Stephan KestingHey guys!
Here’s something different: in November of 2011 I answered questions from my newsletter readers (sign up for free here) on the first ever Grapplearts Q & A Podcast. (more…)
Top Ten List Concluded: Why We Grapple...
by Stephan KestingWe sweat, strain, get injured and spend money in order to roll around on the ground with men wearing pajamas.
(Or worse: men wearing spandex…)
So why do we do it? What’s behind this bizarre fascination with grappling? (more…)
Top article #3: When you can't train...
by Stephan KestingTo get really good at grappling – black belt level, say – takes something like 10 years of concerted training.
That’s a long time!
And the fact that it takes this long is both a good thing and a bad thing… (more…)
The Cheapest Grappling Mat
by Stephan KestingI’ve trained on a lot of different types of mat in my day: wrestling mats, foam core mats, puzzle mats, and rock hard old school Judo straw tatami, just to name a few. (more…)
Three Timings for Getting Out of Submissions
by Stephan KestingRecently I was discussing MMA fighter Ben Henderson’s ability to slip out of submissions. And that turned into a general discussion about countering, escaping, and slipping out of submission attacks. (more…)
How to Survive Training Layoffs from Grappling
by Stephan KestingLife is a balancing act, and most of us have multiple priorities. We have to juggle BJJ with work, family life, relaxation time, etc. A couple of days away from training never killed anybody. In fact, we’re usually refreshed and eager to get back at ‘er when we return! (more…)
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