Some people think that they can only learn from World Champions. And then, when they finally study with a competition legend, they're often disappointed that he won't (or can't) teach them very much. … [Read more...]
Competition
ESPN, I’m Sorry!
I think I owe ESPN an official apology! 2 weeks ago I released my second-ever podcast and it shot up the charts, eventually making the Grapplearts Radio podcast the number four podcast for the entire sports section of iTunes. … [Read more...]
Podcast EP2: BJJ & Submission Grappling Competition: Everything You Ever Wanted To Know!
"Everything you ever wanted to know about Brazilian Jiu-jitsu competition but were afraid to ask!" That's a strong statement, but it's almost even true. In my latest podcast I talk extensively with David Meyer, author of Training for Competition: Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Submission Grappling. We cover a TON of ground in this interview, ranging from why you might want to compete at all, to … [Read more...]
‘My’ Technique at ADCC…
Talk about synchronicity! A month ago I told you about a specific guard position I've been having a ton of success with - the logsplitter position. … [Read more...]
Do You Have Competition Questions?
David Meyer has a ton of credentials, but for now I'm only going to mention three of them: He's a BJJ Black Belt under the Machado brothers, He's got a very solid record in BJJ and in submission grappling competition, and He's the author of one of my favorite new books "Training for Competition: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission Grappling." Sometime in July of 2009 I'm hoping to … [Read more...]
The Very First Time I Used the Logsplitter Sweep…
Check out this video, which shows the very first time I stumbled across the 'logsplitter' position. it was a complete fluke, but it still won me the match and a silver medal. Then read on to find out what happened AFTER that competition... Click here to watch the same logsplitter sweep video on YouTube. Cool, huh? This is a guard variation I now use all the time because it offers both … [Read more...]
Box a fighter, fight a boxer
"Box a fighter, and fight a boxer." This old saying isn't only limited to boxing - you can use the very same principle in grappling, jiu-jitsu and MMA.In a competition, or a 'serious' match you DON'T want to play the other guy's game. His game is what he's good at. … [Read more...]
The Reverse Mount; Another Unorthodox BJJ Position
The first time I saw the Reverse Mount I was at an Erik Paulson seminar. My reaction was something like "yeah, right...." I honestly thought that Erik had run out of high percentage things to teach and was now just making stuff up. … [Read more...]
Offside Kesa Gatame has an Judo Name
OK, it's official. The collective intelligence of the Grapplearts readership is awesome. Thousands of people people receive my newsletters, and many more read my articles on the website, via RSS feeds, etc. If we all got together and combined our knowledge we'd make Rickson Gracie look like a three-stripe white belt. … [Read more...]
The Wrestler (and Tips for Competition)
Some people are natural born competitors. Like Mickey Rourke's character in "The Wrestler" they love the limelight, the roar of the crowd and putting it all on the line... ... and the rest of us tend to have more of a love-hate relationship with competition. … [Read more...]
On Keeping Your Enemies (and their Coaches) Close
I don't remember too much from my first BJJ tournament other than that the place was packed, that there were lots of huge guys strutting around like they owned the place, and that I was nervous as hell. … [Read more...]
Keeping the Will to Fight
As is so often the case, Mark Twain said it best: "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog." This applies to dogs, grapplers, MMA fighters and jiu-jitsu players alike. … [Read more...]
Grappling with Competition Anxiety
I don't do a lot of competition these days, and I do miss it (and the wonderful focus it adds to your training). One thing I DON'T miss, however, is the stomach churning anxiety that accompanied competition. … [Read more...]
Beating the Big Guy (Again)
Of all the questions I am asked, the most common question has to be how to beat someone who is much bigger than yourself... I've already tackled beating the larger, stronger opponent in a previous article on this site but people keep on asking me for more tips … [Read more...]
Let’s Get It On – Raising Your Arousal Level
In the last article I promised to discuss some methods and techniques to raise your arousal level and get some serious adrenaline flowing in your system. If you haven’t figured out why you might want to do this then check out the discussion of optimal state of arousal from the previous 3 weeks of tips. … [Read more...]
Chill Out! Lowering Your Arousal Level.
OK, so you’ve examined your performance on the mat and realized that you are probably too tense and have too much adrenaline in your system for optimal performance... To use the terminology we’ve been developing over the past few weeks, your arousal level is exceeding your optimal state of arousal … [Read more...]
What is Your Personal ‘Optimal State of Arousal’?
Last week we introduced the concept of there being an ‘optimal state of arousal’ (or OSA) for martial athletes in general, and grapplers in particular. The point was made that OSA varies from sport to sport, situation to situation, and also from athlete to athlete. … [Read more...]
The Optimal State of Arousal, an Introduction
When I talk about “optimal states of arousal” I usually get one of 2 reactions: disinterest because it sounds too academic, theoretical and boring; or snickering because it sounds like a vaguely dirty-minded topic … [Read more...]
Defeating the Smaller, Faster Opponent
I am sure some of you are scratching your heads, trying to figure out why on earth I would be writing about how to beat a smaller opponent... Well I've written a fair bit on how to take out bigger guys, but smaller opponents tend to be fast, squirrelly, and sneaky. Also they’re not about to take it easy on you just because you’re bigger … [Read more...]
How to Beat Any Opponent (Honest)!
The question I get asked most often goes something like this: “There is a guy at my club (let’s call him ‘Bill’) who bench presses 400 pounds, used to wrestle in college, and has an 18 inch neck. Bill has been doing jiu-jitsu for only a couple of years, but he has already learned how to counter all my attacks. … [Read more...]