Jiu-jitsu can be really confusing at first, but fortunately help is on the way! In the video below BJJ black belt Ritchie Yip shares the 2 most important things every white belt beginner should know. https://youtu.be/oeXg51hrgqE The Basic Positional Hierarchy of BJJ in App Form... For Free! Did you know that I have created an app for iPhone and Android phones and tablets that … [Read more...]
The ‘Head Mount’ – A Secret Position to Pin a Squirmy Opponent Flat on his Back
Don't you hate those super-squirmy guys? Even if you pass their guards they just shimmy their flexible gumby legs around and you're right back in guard where you started from. Here's one of my biggest tips on how how to shut down their game and pin them to the floor like a butterfly on a lepidopterist's museum display board! The central concept is to pike up and use what I call the ‘Head … [Read more...]
A Guard Passing Drill You Can Do At Home on a Heavy Bag
It's hard when you want to train but there aren't any bodies handy right at that moment. Here's how you can drill a guard pass called the kickpass (aka X pass) by yourself. This is a standing guard pass where you force your way into a loose half guard position and then use a dynamic backwards swinging kick to free your leg and come forward directly into a dominant position like knee … [Read more...]
Back Attacks 7: The Most Powerful Chokes from the Back Position
Rob Biernacki with the highest percentage chokes you can use when you're on someone's back in rear mount. This is part 7 in a series on the so-called 'weak side' of the back we're releasing on Youtube and is a small part of the Back Control module of the BJJ Formula instructional. You can get The Back Attacks Formula (including the NEW weak side material) in several different ways... 1) … [Read more...]
Back Attacks 6: How to Transition to the Crucifix from Rear Mount
The crucifix is an absolutely terrible position to be caught in when you're doing BJJ, No Gi or MMA. Here's Rob Biernacki of BJJ Formula fame showing exactly how to apply the crucifix on your opponent!! This is part 6 in a series on the so-called 'weak side' of the back we're releasing on Youtube and is a small part of the Back Control module of the BJJ Formula instructional. You can get … [Read more...]
Back Attacks 3: How to Trap the Arm and Leave Your Opponent Defenseless
Trapping one of your opponent's arms when you're in rearmount gives you a HUGE advantage and makes it much easier to finish him. Here's Rob Biernacki of BJJ Formula fame showing exactly how to do that. This is part 3 in a series on the so-called 'weak side' of the back we're releasing on Youtube and is a small part of the Back Control module of the BJJ Formula instructional. You can get The … [Read more...]
Back Attacks 1: A Critical Concept That Stops Your Opponent from Escaping Rear Mount
If you end up on your opponent's back in rearmount then he'll be doing his very best to escape! Here's how to shut him down and stay glued on his back using cross body rotational control! This is part 1 in a series on the so-called 'weak side' of the back we're releasing on Youtube and is a small part of the Back Control module of the BJJ Formula instructional. You can get The Back Attacks Formula … [Read more...]
Back Attacks: Best Way to Control the Back in BJJ
Rob Biernacki breaks down the strong and the weak side of back control for BJJ and no gi. This is the introduction to series on the so-called 'weak side' of the back which we will be releasing on Youtube and is a small part of the Back Control module of the BJJ Formula instructional. This is the introduction in a series on the so-called 'weak side' of the back we're releasing on Youtube and is a … [Read more...]
How to Defend and Escape the 411 (aka Honeyhole, Saddle, or Inside Sankaku)
The 411 (also called the 'Honeyhole', the 'Saddle' and the 'Inside Sankaku') is the most powerful position in leglocking. Here's a clip from https://www.grapplearts.com/modern with BJJ black belt Matt Kwan showing how to defend and escape it! https://youtu.be/oUFjr-JDyPw … [Read more...]
A Powerful Heel Hook Leglock Escape
Many grapplers treat leglocks as the black magic of jiu-jitsu. They fear leglocks and never use them. Cnsequently never learn how to properly escape them either. The problem is that if you're doing any form of no gi grappling you will inevitably run into ankle locks, heel hooks, kneebars and toeholds - sticking your head in the sand like an ostrich and ignoring them is no longer an … [Read more...]
Modern Jiu-Jitsu Instructional with Matt Kwan Out Today!
Hey guys, the brand new instructional Modern Jiu-Jitsu is now LIVE on Grapplearts!! It's a deep dive into the techniques that have had the biggest effects on gi and no gi jiu-jitsu in the last 10 years and that are now required knowledge for any serious competitor. It's available in online streaming, DVD and app format. And right now it's available at an absolutely KILLER … [Read more...]
How To Do The Crab Ride in BJJ and No Gi Grappling
The Crab Ride is one of the hottest new positions in BJJ used by competitors like Rafa Mendes, Gianni Grippo, the Miyao brothers, Mikey Musumeci and more. It looks kind of like you're doing the butterfly guard on the back of your opponent's legs with your insteps behind his knees... except that you're upside down while doing it! The cool thing is that from that strange position there are a … [Read more...]
Defending and Escaping When Someone is On Your Back!
Having someone on your back in rear mount is an absolutely terrible situation. It doesn't matter if you're doing BJJ, no gi submission grappling, MMA, or are in a self defense situation. When someone is behind you with the hooks in and his arms locked in the seatbelt position then you're really very close to getting choked into a drooling mess. There's a reason that being caught in rear … [Read more...]
How to Escape Cross Side Mount
Getting crushed on the bottom of the cross-side mount is one of the most terrible feelings in jiu-jitsu. In the worst case situation his weight is heavy upon your chest making it hard to breathe. Your limbs are completely out of position making it impossible for you to frame or push him away. And his arm is anchored under your head allowing him to drive his shoulder into your jaw with a … [Read more...]
How to Do the Rolling Backtake
The rolling backtake started gaining acceptance on the mats about 10 years ago, and since then has become a mainstay of modern jiu-jitsu. Watch any Rafa Mendes match and you'll more than likely see him teleport to someone's back using a variation of this move. The fact that he does it again and again, against people who know it's coming and are doing everything they can to stop it, means … [Read more...]
The BJJ Crucifix Position and Your Best Submission Options From There
The crucifix is a very important position in BJJ and No Gi grappling. Like the rearmount the crucifix puts you behind your opponent where all your weapons are pointed at him and he's essentially unable to launch any offense against you. Unlike the rearmount, however, the crucifix ties up both of his arms so that defending your choke and armlock attacks becomes even harder for him. So it’s … [Read more...]
Single and Double Leg Takedowns for Beginners
My friend Rob Biernacki and I recently shot a video about two of the most important takedowns for grappling: the single and the double leg takedowns. These are deeply complex techniques that can be explored and elaborated on endlessly, but for beginners it's sometimes good to keep things simple. However we let our inner smartasses run wild when we were filming this material, so the … [Read more...]
Kesa Gatame in BJJ
Kesa Gatame in Judo There's a pinning position in Judo known as 'Kesa Gatame' (which translates to 'scarf hold' in Japanese) In a Judo competition a 20 second holddown wins you the match, so Judo competitors often develop fiercely powerful pins. And Kesa Gatame (aka the 'scarf hold') is one of the most classic Judo pinning positions. Kesa Gatame is essentially a headlock on steroids: you … [Read more...]
How to Set Traps for Your Opponent in BJJ
Today I want to talk about setting traps for your opponent in BJJ. The idea is that you force your opponent into a position or a situation where he only has a limited number of possible responses. Because you already have a pretty good idea of what he's going to do as soon as he uses one of those responses you spring your trap and go to the next pre-programmed move. This concept allows you … [Read more...]
How to Pass Closed Guard with the Stack Pass
If you're caught in the closed guard against a skilled opponent then you're in serious trouble. Give him time and you'll find that he's wrapped up your arms, broken your posture, and is getting closer and closer to tapping you out with some choke or armlock. That's why the closed guard is NOT a place for you to hang out. Instead you should immediately and determinedly start passing the … [Read more...]