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

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Home » Jon Thomas

Jon Thomas

3 Great Knee Cut Counters

December 14, 2022 by Stephan Kesting

3 Counters and Guard Retention Options vs the Knee Cut Guard Pass

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...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: BJJ, Concepts, Guard Retention, Jon Thomas, Knee Cut, Spider Guard, Techniques, Video

Hip Bump Sweep from Closed Guard

February 21, 2022 by Stephan Kesting

The closed guard hip bump sweep with Jon Thomas

In this video excerpted from The Closed Guard System renowned BJJ black belt Jon Thomas covers the advanced details of the hip bump sweep. The hip bump sweep is one of those classic attacks from the closed guard that still works incredibly well in the modern jiu-jitsu game. 00:10 - How to break your opponent's posture in closed guard 00:40 - How to exploit him defending the posture … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Closed Guard, Guard Sweeps, Jon Thomas, Techniques, Triangle Choke, Video

How to Build a Closed Guard System

November 15, 2021 by Stephan Kesting

cross collar choke - the first attack from the cross collar grip in the closed guard system

Too many people end up in closed guard and try singular attacks. Armbar attack! Damn, that didn't work. Sweep attack!! Damn, that didn't work either. Take the back!!!! My opponent shut that down too... what am I doing wrong? The thing is that singular attacks (or, even worse, waiting for your opponent to make a mistake) might work at white belt level, but this sort of strategy just … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Chokes, Closed Guard, Collar Chokes, Gi, Gripfighting, Jon Thomas, Strategy, Techniques, Video

Closed Guard Back Take, with Jon Thomas

October 8, 2021 by Stephan Kesting

taking the back from closed guard

Being on someone's back is the most dominant position in jiu-jitsu. If you can go climb from your guard to someone's back then you've established a HUGE match-winning advantage and now have a very good chance of choking your opponent out. This approach works at the highest level.  I mean Roger Gracie used it again and again in competition against the best people in the world. Here's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: BJJ, Closed Guard, Jon Thomas, Rear Mount, Techniques, Video

Closed Guard Strategies with Jon Thomas

July 8, 2021 by Stephan Kesting

Breaking Grips | The Closed Guard System with Jon Thomas

In episode episode 331 of The Strenuous Life Podcast BJJ black belt competitor Jon Thomas goes deep into the strategies, gameplans and training methods for the closed guard. How to Listen to the Audio-Only Version of this Podcast Episode Featuring Jon Thomas 1) I’ve released this as episode 331 on my podcast (The Strenuous Life Podcast) which you can listen to on all podcast players, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviews, Podcasts, Training Tagged With: Closed Guard, Interviews, Jon Thomas, Strategy, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training Modalities

New Release: The Closed Guard System with Jon Thomas!!

June 20, 2021 by Stephan Kesting

The Closed Guard System, Available in DVD, Online Access and App Format!

So I just released a BRAND NEW instructional featuring renowned BJJ black belt instructor Jon Thomas! It's called 'The Closed Guard System' and it's your no-nonsense guide to really making the closed guard work for you. Check out the trailer for the instructional right here... The closed guard is an old school position that's still totally relevant today, especially if you lack the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Instructional Videos Tagged With: Closed Guard, Grapplearts BJJ Master App, Grapplearts DVDs, Jon Thomas, Techniques

An Amazing Triangle Choke Setup from Open Guard

August 17, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

open guard triangle choke

The triangle choke submission is one of the most powerful attack from the open guard. Your opponent should be continuously about this technique when he's in your guard. However too many people just 'shoot' the triangle time after time without any kind of setup and hope for the best. Yes, a setup-free triangle can work if your opponent is inexperienced or asleep at the wheel, but it's not … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Collar Sleeve Grip, Jon Thomas, Kuzushi, Open Guard, Techniques, Triangle Choke, Video

The Open Guard System In App Form

August 11, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

The Open Guard System in iOS and android app format

I recently released the The Open Guard System with Jon Thomas. And today it's available in app format for your phone!! The open guard is the most complicated position in BJJ, so this best-selling instructional is designed to completely overhaul and vastly improve your open guard. This instructional gives you a step-by-step plan to dominate your opponent sweeps and submissions while keeping … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Instructional Videos, Training Tagged With: Android, Grapplearts DVDs, iOS, Jon Thomas, Open Guard

3 Ways to Get a Great Control Grip from the Open Guard

July 23, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

How to win the initial grip

One of the most dangerous times in jiu-jitsu is when you're in the guard with opponent standing above you and no way to control him. In this situation he's only one explosive move away from blasting past your legs and establishing a dominant position. To minimise the chance of him passing here (and to keep yourself safe) you don't need amazing reflexes, you don't need incredible flexibility, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Collar Sleeve Grip, Gripfighting, Jon Thomas, Leg Lasso, Spider Guard, Techniques, Video

A Fast and Easy de la Riva Guard Sweep

July 18, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

de la riva guard sweep

The de la Riva guard is an essential position in today's grappling repertoire. It's a very deep position with a ton of different options. But sometimes you just want an easy win; a reliable technique to give you some confidence with a position before exploring it further. To get you started here's the Easiest Sweep from de la Riva Guard that I just put onto Youtube last night. This is a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: de la Riva Guard, Guard Sweeps, Jon Thomas, Techniques, Video

New Release: The Open Guard System featuring Jon Thomas!!

July 17, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

The Open Guard System with John Thomas

As of a few minutes ago The Open Guard System featuring Jon Thomas is now available! The whole idea of this instructional is to give you a connected set of plug-and-play systems for the open guard so that you'll always know how to stay safe, advance your position, and then sweep and submit your opponent. Systems are much more powerful than individual techniques because they link techniques … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Grapplearts, Grapplearts DVDs, Jon Thomas, Open Guard

Collar Drag from Open Guard, with Jon Thomas

June 25, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

The collar drag from the open guard with Jon Thomas

The collar drag is one of the fastest, simplest and yet most effective ways to reverse positions on the ground. This is a very versatile move: it's a sweep when performed from the guard, and it's a takedown when performed on the feet. And this technique been proven in many world championship matches. All you need is a grip on your opponent's cross collar,  a bit of distance, and the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Guard Sweeps, Jon Thomas, Lapel Drag, Open Guard, Techn, Video

Creating Your Optimal Training Environment, with Jon Thomas

February 20, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

Your Optimal BJJ Training Environment

In this conversation BJJ black belt Jon Thomas and I go deep into training and drilling methodologies that give you results as fast as possible. Jon is originally from the US but teaches at a school in Sweden. He still competes at a high level, so he has had to take extreme ownership over his results using reverse-engineering and a very analytical approach to his training. In this episode we … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviews, Podcasts, Training Tagged With: BJJ, Competition, Interviews, Jon Thomas, Strength Training, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training, Training Modalities, Training Schedule

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