There's a universal combative principle known as 'fake east, go west.' This idea has been valid since forever. It has been used effectively in small-scale fights between individuals and also at the grand strategic level in huge wars. That's because it only always works. The idea is to distract your opponent by doing one thing over here and then hit them hard somewhere else. One … [Read more...]
BJJ Techniques and Articles
Welcome to the Grapplearts Blog. Here you can check out black belt Stephan Kesting’s BJJ techniques, tips and articles for jiu-jitsu training and high level performance
Elbow-Knee Connection in BJJ, And How to Develop It.
You often hear about elbow-knee connection in BJJ, but what does it mean and, more importantly, how will it help you? To finalise a guard pass, your opponent must invade the space between your elbow and knee to gain control of your torso. Elbow-knee connection involves keeping your elbow touching your knee when you're in guard. This denies him the space he needs to effectively pass your … [Read more...]
How to Set Up Submissions So Your Opponent Gives You His Neck, Arm, or Leg on a Platter
A reader of my free email newsletter recently had a question about how to become better at setting up his submissions. The thing is, once you get past white belt, submissions don't just happen anymore. Chokes and joint locks need to be set up, which means taking your opponent out of alignment somehow and breaking his base, posture or structure. Once his alignment is broken, it's 100 times … [Read more...]
How to Train Jiu-Jitsu With an Injured Knee?
It can be really difficult to train jiu-jitsu with an injured knee because the legs and the guard are so central to the art. 90% of what you do might put strain on an already wonky knee. That being said, there are guard retention strategies you can use that rely mostly on upper body frames and DON'T require fancy legwork. This allows you to keep your injured leg mostly straight while continuing … [Read more...]
The Answer to Your Jiu-Jitsu Problem is Out There
So the other day in sparring I tried a variation of the berimbolo (an inverting backtake) that I don’t normally do. I was bigger, stronger, and much more experienced than the other guy. And all those stripes on my black belt should mean that techniques should work the first time I try them, right? Of course not. A black belt means that you're pretty good at some things but doesn't give you … [Read more...]
The Easiest Way to Do the Berimbolo
At the bottom of this post is a Youtube video I just created to show the easiest way to do the Berimbolo. Now if you're a Berimbolo aficionado then you've probably already scrolled down. But maybe you're on the fence about this move. Or maybe you don't even know what it is and why you should care about it. Well, give me a minute to put it into context for you... Over the last couple of … [Read more...]
The Battle Against Disinformation and Information Nihilism, with Brooke Binowski
Brooke Binowski is a journalist specialising in debunking disinformation and misinformation. She has worked for Snopes and is now the managing editor at TruthOrFiction.com. In this episode we talk about Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter, how disinformation campaigns are structured, white supremacists, why the wellness space is so prone to believing conspiracy theories, and how we can know what's … [Read more...]
3 Great Knee Cut Counters
The Knee Cut Pass is one of the most powerful and most commonly used guard passes in all of grappling. This pass uses the knee to pin the opponent's leg, opening the opportunity to slide across to the other side of his body. It's used in BJJ with the gi, submission grappling with spandex and shorts, and even in MMA. The knee cut is a very powerful pass, and if you're a grappler you … [Read more...]
A Safe and Effective Open Guard Pull
If you do it wrong then pulling guard can be dangerous for both competitors; I've seen people pulling guard knock themselves out AND people pulling guard injure their training partners by pulling guard incorrectly. It's important to clarify that I'm not against pulling guard in competition. I mean, what if your opponent is much bigger than you, or is a much better at takedowns than you, or … [Read more...]
Podcast Episode 116 – To Pull Guard in BJJ Competition, or Not?
Should you pull guard in BJJ competition or fight doggedly for the takedown. You'll get some answers to this perennial question in my conversation about pulling guard with BJJ black belt Rob Biernacki. To hear this podcast episode in full, you have a couple of options. The first one is to just press play on the embedded player below - easy as 1, 2, 3! The second (and better!) option … [Read more...]
The Single Leg X Guard – A Surprising Way to Pull Guard…
Should you pull guard in competition? And if you decide to pull guard, then how do you do it correctly? In a certain sense, I am uniquely unqualified to answer these questions... You see, much of my BJJ comes from 8th degree black belt Marcus Soares, and Marcus is very much from the old-school Carlson Gracie way of doing things. The Carlson approach to jiu-jitsu is definitely focused on … [Read more...]
3 Easy Throws for BJJ
People often ask me what the easiest throws or takedowns are for BJJ competition. My usual advice is that takedowns are great. They bring the fight to your opponent, score 2 points, set you up to pass the guard, and allow you to fight from the top. All of which are good things. Now I love wrestling and judo, and think that takedowns are essential skills, but training them to a high level … [Read more...]
This Skill is CRITICAL for Confidence on the Mats
The guard is the most important position in jiu-jitsu. And developing rock solid guard retention is one of the two highest bang-for-the-buck skills you can develop (the other is gripfighting). So whether you play half guard, spider guard, butterfly guard or upside-down inside-out reverse de-la-worm guard you absolutely have to know the principles and techniques to counter your opponent's … [Read more...]
What Is Required for Your BJJ Blue Belt?
In episode 380 of The Strenuous Life Podcast I talk you through what's generally required to be a competent blue belt, including... The 8 basic positions in jiu-jitsu A 3 phase strategy for beating a bigger person The real purpose of the guard The 2 types of submissions The hierarchy of positions How to stay safe in bad positions...and what to do next. The importance of … [Read more...]
Mix Up Your Training!
Don’t be afraid taking little detours in your training to explore a corner of the art to the exclusion of training everything, all at once, all of the time. By specializing in one little area you can make some serious breakthroughs and also you can avoid stagnation and boredom which is important for the long run. View this post on … [Read more...]
Rolling Kimura Guard Pass
The rolling Kimura is a surprising way to pass guard. This technique is increasingly being used at the higher levels of the sport, and especially in no gi competition. Here's Elliott Bayev showing you how to roll your way past the butterfly guard (aka sitting guard) and the half guard. With the details he shows I think you'll quickly find that it's easier than it looks! P.S. This … [Read more...]
5 Leglock Entries From Standup
Let's take a look at 5 leglock entries from a standing position. By combining your takedowns with these submissions you'll greatly magnify the power of both! It's always easier to apply a technique when your opponent doesn't expect it. And nothing is more surprising than thinking you're in a takedown battle but suddenly find yourself on the defensive, frantically defending a leglock … [Read more...]
Standing Armdrag Attack
The standing armdrag to rear naked choke is one of the most powerful combos in jiu-jitsu, used with great success by GOAT Marcelo Garcia. Here's a step-by-step on how to do it! Go tap out one of your training partners for me! Stephan P.S. This technique is from the brand new 30 Second Fight Finishes instructional in app, DVD, and online streaming formats featuring Elliott Bayev and … [Read more...]
Daniele Bolelli on Fascism
In episode 379 of The Strenuous Life Podcast I talk with podcaster, martial artist, and history professor Daniele Bolelli about the characteristics of fascism. This is a loaded topic for both of us, because both of our families lived in fascist states during World War 2 (mine in Germany, his in Italy). Which is why I almost went with an alternate title, namely A German and an Italian Walk Into … [Read more...]
Jumping Guillotine Choke
A lot of jiu-jitsu guys struggle on their feet, especially when they're facing a superior wrestler. Fortunately there's a way to use a wrestler's own reactions against him, and that's by jumping into a guillotine choke In this technique you first fake low and threaten a double leg takedown or a low single takedown. When he does the right thing and level changes to defend against the shot … [Read more...]
NEW INSTRUCTIONAL!! 30 Second Fight Finishes
Elliott Bayev is one of the most detail-oriented instructors I've ever met. His first instructional with Grapplearts was The Spider Guard Masterclass, which many people called the best BJJ instructional they've ever seen. Elliott is now back with 30 Second Fight Finishes. In this instructional you'll learn the absolute fastest ways to end your match, regardless of whether you’re on … [Read more...]
Deliberate Guard Passing Practice
If you're on top in the guard during sparring you've got a very important choice to make... Are you going to Fight him tooth and nail to get to a passing position, or Concede the engagement phase and let him have his guard of choice Both are valid options, but this is a choice you should make deliberately. Let's go through this in a little more detail... Option 1: Fight to Get to a … [Read more...]
Judo and BJJ Injuries
Joshua Arellano is a physiotherapist with a black belt in Judo and a brown belt in BJJ. He works with combat athletes on rehab, prehab, and injury prevention, and - since injury is the enemy of progress - I was thrilled to pick his brain on the podcast to help everyone have a healthier grappling career! The 5 Most Common Judo and BJJ Injuries and What to Do About Them with Joshua Arellano (Video … [Read more...]
How to Pass the Guards of Very Flexible People
It's can be a real pain to pass the guard of an extremely flexible guard player. Typically these are young punks throwing hooks at you from every direction... strange and unorthodox submissions... legs that always manage to pop back into play no matter what you do. One of the best things you can do against flexible players is to stack them. Drive their feet to the floor above their head. … [Read more...]
Sport vs Self Defense Jiu-Jitsu, with John Will
John Will trained in Southern California in the late 80's, was one of the first 12 non-Brazilians to get a BJJ black belt, and then went on to create the largest jiu-jitsu association in Australasia. We talked about how the art has changed, how to be 'centrist' in the sport vs self defense debate, teaching elite military personnel, how to create a curriculum, and much more. I'm sure you'll … [Read more...]