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Techniques, Tutorials and Gear for BJJ, MMA and Submission Grappling

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Home » Erik Paulson

Erik Paulson

Top 10 Throws and Takedowns for BJJ

March 1, 2021 by Stephan Kesting

10 Throws and takedowns for BJJ

I'll go ahead and say it: every practitioner should have at least a couple of throws and takedowns for BJJ.  Yes, it's true that pulling guard is an option in sport BJJ competition, but ultimately this is a martial art, which means we have to at least occasionally consider the self defense aspects of what we're doing. Are you going to pull guard in a streetfight?  Not bloody likely. In this … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Grappling Techniques, Mixed Martial Arts, Self Defense Tagged With: Arm Drag, BJJ, Brandon Mullins, Elliott Bayev, Erik Paulson, Judo, MMA, Oleg Taktarov, Pulling Guard, Randy Couture, Sambo, Single Leg Takedown, Submission Grappling, Takedowns, Techniques, Throws, Video, Wrestling

9 BJJ Solo Drills You Can Do With a Heavy Bag

April 22, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

Heavy Bag BJJ Solo Drills

There are some essential BJJ gross motor movements that need to be trained over and over until they're smooth and instinctive. Most of the time we train these transitions on our training partners, either in drilling or as part of sparring. But some of the most important movements can actually be trained on your own - before class, after class, or at home - using a heavy punching bag. Here … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Training Tagged With: Drills, Erik Paulson, Guard Passes, Rear Naked Choke, Ritchie Yip, S Mount, Sidemount, Solo Drills, Toreando, Triangle Choke

How to Get Great at BJJ Defense

December 10, 2019 by Stephan Kesting

submission defense

Want to tap out less? Let's take a look at how to get really good at defending against submission attacks. Today I mostly want to talk about training methodology, not specific techniques per se. Of course there are definitely many specific defenses that you can use to prevent, defend, and counter any possible submission. But too many people think that they just have to learn the defense … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Training Tagged With: BJJ, Erik Paulson, Escapes, Guard Passes, Guard Retention, Leglocks, Napoleon, Submission, Submission Grappling, Training

Escaping the Reverse Mount the Proper Way

October 7, 2017 by Stephan Kesting

Escaping reverse mount

The reverse mount is a tricky position... If you're opponent has you caught in it then he's placing a tremendous amount of pressure on your diaphragm, which makes it hard to breath.  He also has lots of entries to kneebars, heel hooks, leg laces, and other submissions available to him. Compounding the problem is the fact that it's not a very common position, meaning that most people don't … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Erik Paulson, Escapes, Reverse Mount, Techniques, Unorthodox Strategies, Video

A Powerful Surprise Choke Attack from Sidemount

February 1, 2015 by Stephan Kesting

This is one of my very favourite attacks from Sidemount. It works in a BJJ context (i.e. with the gi), in submission grappling, and even in MMA. It's a very powerful attack, but the best thing about is that if it doesn't work then you don't typically lose position. You stay on top and can easily switch to a followup attack. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Chokes, Erik Paulson, Marcus Soares, Sidemount, Techniques, Video

A Sneaky Armbar Escape

March 10, 2014 by Stephan Kesting

The armbar escape in the video below is one of my favourite armbar defenses. I like it because it's simple and effective against a wide variety of grapplers, but also because of the reaction it gets from people who were oh-so-close to armbarring you. They'll either laugh or swear out loud after you get out; either reaction is pretty gratifying! I learned this from MMA trainer and former … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Armbar, Erik Paulson, Escapes, Submission, Techniques, Video

The 3 Fanciest Leglocks That Actually Work

April 23, 2013 by Stephan Kesting

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 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Ankle Lock, Erik Paulson, Kneebars, Leglocks, Sambo, Submission, Techniques, Unorthodox Strategies, Video

How to Counter the Armlock from the Underhook

November 14, 2012 by Stephan Kesting

If you have any exposure to standup grappling then you know the power of a standing underhook. It allows you to dominate your opponent, move him around, and set up lots of throws, takedowns and other moves. In fact, at every single UFC event you hear some cornerman yelling "underhook, Underhook, UNDERHOOK! But have you ever gone for an underhook in the clinch only to have your opponent wrap … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Mixed Martial Arts Tagged With: Armlocks, Clinching, Erik Paulson, Front Headlock, Guillotine Choke, Submission, Takedowns, Techniques, Underhook, Video

A Cool Trick for Finishing the Rear Naked Choke

March 5, 2012 by Stephan Kesting

When you’re attacking with the Rear NakedChoke (aka the RNC) you’ve got to have answers for when your opponent buries his chin in his own chest to hide his neck. Here’s a simple trick that Erik Paulson recently showed to me to get your opponent to lift his chin so you can sink the Rear Naked Choke properly. (And here’s a link to the original 10 minute tutorial on the RNC) Give it a try. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Chokes, Erik Paulson, Rear Mount, Rear Naked Choke, Submission, Techniques, Video

Should Older Grapplers Train with the Gi?

December 9, 2011 by Stephan Kesting

Q: Hi, Stephan, I believe it was Erik Paulson who said that older grapplers should focus on gi based grappling compared to no-gi since it was a slower and less explosive game. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Training Tagged With: BJJ, Erik Paulson, Gi vs No Gi, Older Grapplers

Podcast EP3: Erik Paulson; an MMA Master Coach Shares His Secrets

December 22, 2010 by Stephan Kesting

Erik Paulson is an MMA Master Coach.  He's trained tons of fighters competing at the highest levels of Mixed Martial Arts.  And he held the Shooto light-heavyweight title in Japan for 5 years. He's also my friend and a mentor. Click Play Below to Listen to My Conversation with Erik Paulson... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx7gT-EXohM Recently I asked my newsletter readers if there was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviews, Mixed Martial Arts, Podcasts Tagged With: Brock Lesnar, Classes, Competition, Concepts, Conditioning, D'Arce Choke, Denis Kang, Drills, Erik Paulson, Fedor Emelianenko, Gi, Gracie, Ground and Pound, Half Guard, History, Injuries, Inspiration, Interviews, Kesa Gatame, Leglocks, Martial Arts, MMA, Older Grapplers, Physical Attributes, Seminars, Sparring, Striking, Submission, Submission Grappling, Teachers, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training

Thoughts on Lesnar vs. Herring, UFC 87

August 13, 2008 by Stephan Kesting

Like many of you, last Saturday night I sat transfixed, watching Brock Lesnar maul Heath Herring at UFC 87. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mixed Martial Arts Tagged With: Brock Lesnar, Erik Paulson, MMA, Teachers

Paulson Podcast

July 3, 2008 by Stephan Kesting

My friend and coach Erik Paulson was recently featured on the MMA Podcast Carson's Corner. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviews, Mixed Martial Arts Tagged With: Erik Paulson, Interviews, MMA, Teachers

Training with Erik Paulson

January 17, 2008 by Stephan Kesting

Last weekend I got to train with one of my coaches and friend Erik Paulson, who was hosted in Seattle by Chris Clarke of Northwest Kali. As usual Erik covered an amazing amount of material that I'll be digesting for long time. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous Tagged With: Erik Paulson, MMA, Seminars, Teachers

Training Around

May 9, 2005 by Stephan Kesting

My head is spinning. I just got back from 7 days in Los Angeles, attending an Indonesian Silat training camp taugh by no other than Dan Inosanto. I also got to train with Erik Paulson and Vladimir Matsushenko and learned lots of great material, both on the ground and standing. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous, Training Tagged With: Erik Paulson, Training, Vladimir Matsushenko

T.R.I.G.

July 5, 2004 by Stephan Kesting

It is a long path from first learning a technique and mastering it so that it is instinctive and effective. Erik Paulson has a great method to master techniques: it’s called TRIG. It’s his key to developing skill with a given technique, be it a submission, a pin escape or a guard sweep … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Training Tagged With: Drills, Erik Paulson

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