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

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Home » Kneebars

Kneebars

A New School Knee Ride Escape

November 6, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

The Uno Reverse Card Knee Ride Escape

Every once in a while, a new way of doing things comes along that is so much better that it has to get added to your repertoire right away. The Uno Reverse Card Escape vs the knee ride is one such technique! You start on the bottom of the knee ride, unable to breathe as your opponent spears his weight into your diaphragm... ...then, a few simple moves later, you spin into a leglock and/or … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Escapes, Knee Mount, Kneebars, Leglocks, No Gi, No Gi Pin Escapes, Submission Grappling, Techniques, Video

Kneebar from Side Control

April 13, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

Kneebar from Side Control

If you've got your opponent in side control then you're definitely dominating the match, but if he's being defensive then it can still be hard to finish from there. A smart opponent will keep his arms in and protect his neck with his hands, making it challenging to catch an armlock or force a choke. This is where deception comes in. You've got to lure your opponent into a trap by giving him … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Kneebars, Leglocks, Sidemount, Strategy, Techniques, Video

Kneebar Mastery: Fixing the Most Common Mistakes

April 8, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

kneebar mastery

The kneebar is the king of leg submissions: you are attacking one of the largest joints in the body and demonstrating mastery over your opponent. Unlike heelhooks and toeholds, which often have to be applied gently in training to avoid injury, a successful kneebar leaves no doubt or debate as to its effectiveness. The kneebar is a fairly safe submission when applied properly, but is also a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Kneebars, Leglocks, Submission

Competition Kneebar Breakdown

February 5, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

Rob Biernacki wins gold at IBJJ No Gi Worlds black belt M4

Rob Biernacki recently won gold at black belt in master's ADCC Canada and in black M4 division at IBJJF NoGi Worlds. In a critical match, he swept the reigning champion, came up on top, got entangled in an X guard situation, and then pulled a kneebar out of nowhere to get the submission. The video below breaks down the unorthodox kneebar and finishing mechanics he used at IBJJF No Gi … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Competition, Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Competition, Cutting Edge Leglocks, Kneebars, Leglocks, Rob Biernacki, Techniques, Video

5 Leglock Entries From Standup

November 17, 2022 by Stephan Kesting

5 Takedowns Direct to Leglocks - Articles

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...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Heel Hook, Kani Basami, Kneebar, Kneebars, Leglocks, No Gi, Oleg Taktarov, Sambo, Single Leg Takedown, Takedowns, Techniques, Video

A Throw and Leglock Combination

September 13, 2018 by Stephan Kesting

throw to leglock submission combo

In the video above my friend and training partner Ritchie Yip shows a really cool throw that goes directly into a match-ending submission. Specifically it's a combination of a throw called Yoko Sumi Gaeshi and the kneebar submission. Yoko Sumi Gaeshi is one of my very favourite throws, and I learned the details of it from UFC champion and Sambo practitioner Oleg Taktarov. This throw … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Judo, Kneebars, Leglocks, Oleg Taktarov, Ritchie Yip, Sambo, Takedowns, Throws, Video

My Secret Method To Get An Advantage in BJJ Sparring

June 9, 2018 by Stephan Kesting

focussed isolation drilling

In previous articles we've discussed what a grappling arms race is, and how in that situation you can use video self analysis to get an advantage over your training partners. Today I want to briefly touch on one of MY secret weapons in the everlasting arms race in the dojo. That method is focused partner training. Here is what I do. Suppose I consistently run into the same problem with a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Training Tagged With: Drills, Kneebars, Leglocks, Sparring, The Mental Aspect, Training, Video

Jiu-Jitsu for the Zombie Apocalypse

October 25, 2017 by Stephan Kesting

As we get closer and closer to Halloween it's important to shift your priorities from training jiu-jitsu to surviving the impending zombie apocalypse. (After all, it's tough to train jiu-jitsu when you're dead.  Or undead, as the case may be.) That's why you've got to check out the most important video I've ever put onto Youtube: Jiu-Jitsu for the Zombie Apocalypse. A lot of people will … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, For Beginners, Miscellaneous Tagged With: Armbar, Chokes, Kimura, Kneebars, Self Defense, Strategy, Submission, Unorthodox Strategies, Weapons, X Guard, Zombies

Which Leglocks Are Allowed in IBJJF Competition?

September 1, 2017 by Stephan Kesting

IBJJF Legal Leglocks

I'm old enough to remember a time when almost all leglocks (except heel hooks) and leg locking positions were legal in BJJ competition. But in the last 20 years the IBJJF - the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation - has really clamped down on what's legal in their BJJ competitions, and since it's the biggest organising body in the sport these rule changes have really changed the leglock … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Competition, Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Ankle Lock, Estima Lock, Heel Hook, IBJJF, Kneebars, Leglocks, Rob Biernacki, Rules, Submission, Toehold, Video

The Modern Leglock Formula is Out!

July 22, 2017 by Stephan Kesting

The Modern Leglock Formula, DVD and Streaming Access

The Modern Leglock Formula is finally out and it's the best leglock instructional that I've ever seen. Rob Biernacki, the star of The BJJ Formula, has outdone himself. In this 10 volume set he has created a step-by-step guide to the submissions, positions, transitions and strategies that are make up the lower body submission game that has become so popular and so powerful in modern … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Training Tagged With: Ankle Lock, BJJ, Grapplearts DVDs, Heel Hook, Kneebars, Leglocks, MMA, No Gi, Open Guard, Rob Biernacki, Submission, Submission Grappling, Techniques, Toehold

Don’t Panic, This is Normal!

November 14, 2014 by Stephan Kesting

I often hear from people distraught about some area of their jiu-jitsu lagging behind. It might be their sweeps from the closed guard, their submissions from side mount, their escapes from rear mount, or their butterfly guard passes, but in that that one specific area they’re just not as good at as they should be. Here's the thing though: there will ALWAYS be areas where you are lagging … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For Beginners, Training Tagged With: BJJ, Elliott Bayev, Kneebars, Spider Guard, Submission, Techniques, The Mental Aspect, Training

My Favourite Kneebar Defenses and Escapes

June 5, 2013 by Stephan Kesting

The kneebar is one of my very favourite submissions - it's become a bit of a signature move, in fact. So it's always a man-bites-dog moment whenever someone attacks me with the kneebar and I find myself on the receiving end of this powerful leglock. (The nerve of some people! Sheesh!!) Anyway, here's a YouTube video excerpt from my Submission Defense app (available in Apple, Android, & … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Android, Escapes, iPhone, Kneebars, Submission, Techniques, Video

Tap Out Less Often! The ‘Submission Defense’ App for Android…

June 3, 2013 by Stephan Kesting

After a ton of planning and working with video editors and Android app programers, I'm thrilled to announce that Submission Defense - the latest Grapplearts app for the Android platform - is finally ready!! This app was designed with one single-minded purpose: to help you tap out much less often. This app takes you through my very favorite escapes for many of the most common and most … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For Beginners, Grappling Techniques, Training Tagged With: Americana, Android, Ankle Lock, Armbar, Escapes, Head and Arm Choke, iPhone, Kimura, Kneebars, Leglocks, Rear Naked Choke, Submission

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

Fifty Ways to Improve Your Grappling Almost Immediately

January 28, 2013 by Stephan Kesting

Sometimes the best way to get better is simply to stop doing things wrong. Over the years I've shot quite a few guerilla-style videos breaking down many of the most common mistakes that I see for different positions and submissions. I get a lot of positive feedback on these videos, because apparently I'm not the only person to have made all these mistakes on the mat! Here, all in one post, are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For Beginners, Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Americana, Ankle Lock, Armbar, Butterfly Guard, Half Guard, Kimura, Knee Mount, Kneebars, Rear Naked Choke, Sidemount, Submission, Techniques, Triangle Choke, Video, X Guard

Kneebar Leglock Q & A

April 7, 2012 by Stephan Kesting

Should I attack the top or the bottom leg when doing a kneebar? New Question June 2006 When you are doing a kneebar, 90% of the time you will be on your side, attacking either the top or the bottom leg. Say you are attacking your opponent's right leg with a kneebar: if you are lying on your right side then his leg is in the BOTTOM position, if you are on your left side then his leg is in the TOP … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Miscellaneous Tagged With: Kneebars, Submission

The Three Kneebars You Need to Know!

April 3, 2012 by Stephan Kesting

The kneebar is one of my favorite submissions. But I studied it for years before it became a 'go to' move. Some of my major leglocking influences includede Erik Paulson, Oleg Taktarov and Marcus Soares. Each of these teachers contributed important pieces of the puzzle. And each person I trained with also had their own entries to get into the kneebar position. In fact, it's incredible … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Featured, Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Comics, Kneebars, Leglocks, Submission, Techniques

Double Threat Attacks from the Bottom Position

January 9, 2012 by Stephan Kesting

In grappling, sometimes a submission can be more than just a submission.  Let me explain… There is no shortage of different submission attacks from the bottom position. Most typically you'd attack from the closed guard, open guard or half guard position, but you can also use submissions if you're turtled under your opponent, or even pinned in side mount. Of course if you finish a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Training Tagged With: Arm Triangle, Guard Passes, Half Guard, Kimura, Kneebars, Omoplata, Positions, Submission

Critical Submission Details

September 4, 2011 by Stephan Kesting

Are there any submissions out there that you just can't finish?  You can set it up, lock it on, and strain for all you're worth, but your opponent just won't tap out? It happens all the time.  In fact, I'm not immune either. There have been lots of submissions where I initially thought, "oh man, this will never work for me!" But take heart!  Usually there are just one or two critical … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Training Tagged With: Armbar, Armlocks, Chokes, Collar Chokes, Kneebars, Leglocks, Marcelo Garcia, North-South, Rear Naked Choke, Submission

How The Kneebar Saved The Day!!

December 29, 2010 by Stephan Kesting

Want a an easy way to learn about the kneebar submission? Well the first comicbook style instructional I did was super-popular, so here's my latest creation... The Three Fundamental Kneebars You Need to Know! Check it out - it's 100% free. You'll learn three of the most important kneebar entries in all of grappling. Master these and you'll find learning every other style of kneebar … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: BJJ, Comics, Ground and Pound, Half Guard, Kneebars, Leglocks, MMA, Submission, Submission Grappling, Techniques

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