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Submission Grappling

How to Set Up the X Guard

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I love the X Guard.  It's such a high-percentage position. First of all, it can be applied from a huge number of open guard and half guard situations.  If you've ever watched an X Guard specialist you'll know that he needs just a tiny bit of room to insert those hooks and - BOOM - he's slithered into the X Guard. And once an opponent is caught in the X Guard he's going down!  In fact, by the … [Read more...]

Ambush Armbar from Modified Scarf Hold

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I might not be 100% correct with the actual wording, but I'll always remember this fantastic quote from Karate legend Bill 'Superfoot' Wallace which I read in Black Belt magazine many years ago.  It went something like this: "There's always going to be someone bigger, stronger or faster than you, but there never has to be anyone sneakier than you!" Ain't that the truth!  Sneakiness … [Read more...]

How to Counter the Backstep Guard Pass

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BJJ and submission grappling are in a continual state of evolution.  New techniques, tactics and strategies emerge, or are rediscovered, or are brought into the art all the time. The backstep guard pass is one such modern technique.  You won't see this guard pass in old-school BJJ … [Read more...]

How to Pass Deep Half Guard

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In the last 5 years the Deep Half Guard position has taken the BJJ and submission grappling world by storm.  And every serious grappler now needs to know how to neutralize and pass the Deep Half Guard. This position is a variation of the half guard.  If someone manages to get settled into this position underneath you then they're right under your center of gravity, can compromise your balance, … [Read more...]

How to set up and apply the head and arm choke

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Here's a clip of Emily Kwok teaching something really cool - how to set up the head and arm choke (also known as 'kata gatame') from mount, and then how to ratchet it on so tightly that your opponent has no choice but to tap out, no matter how big he is. I've played around with the adjustments she shows, and it allowed me to REALLY tighten up this position WITHOUT using a ton of upper body … [Read more...]

Eddie Bravo’s Rubber Guard “The NewSchool”

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In this sequence Eddie 'Twister' Bravo shows yet another one of his innovative rubber guard setups to lock on the diviangle choke. Hold your opponent's head down by headlocking him with your left arm. Use the classic wrestling grip with your right hand. Shift your hips by pushing off your opponent's right hip. ONLY while your opponent's right hand is on the mat, bring your … [Read more...]

Eddie Bravo’s Rubber Guard “The Meathook”

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Here, with permission from Eddie 'Twister' Bravo, the man who submitted Royler Gracie with a triangle choke at Abu Dhabi 2003, is a step, by step breakdown of one of his rubberguard setups. Step One: Hold the opponent's head down as tight as possible with your left arm Step Two: Shift your hips to the side, putting your left foot on your opponents right hip. Step Three: As fast as … [Read more...]

No Gi “Brabo” Choke from Top Half Guard

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The Brabo Choke can be a match-ending submission. And one of the best times to apply it is when you're on top in the half guard..     In this technique Marcio finds himself in Marco’s half guard, but without the gi.           Marcio wraps his right arm around his opponent’s left arm and cups his head with the other … [Read more...]

Submission Grappling vs. Classical Ju-jutsu; when cultures and concepts collide

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Introduction There are many similarities between the sport of Submission Grappling and the classical Japanese Ju-jutsu systems. Both arts emphasize grappling over striking. Both arts recognize the importance and efficiency of ground-fighting. … [Read more...]

18 Tips To Help You In BJJ & Grappling Competition (and Why Competitions Are a Good Idea)

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by Jason Scully Jason Scully (in the green shirt) is a teacher and competitor with more than 12 years of grappling experience. He is a BJJ brown belt and owns The Grapplers Guide Academy in Central New Jersey and also operates The Grapplers Guide. … [Read more...]

How To Stop Someone From Passing Your Guard

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A reader writes: Hi Stephan, Thank you for the newsletters!  I started training BJJ and MMA about 5 months ago - it's been life changing for me.  Do you have any tips for keeping someone in your guard and not letting them pass? Sincerely, R.W. ======== My Answer ======== Hi R, First of all, congratulations for jumping into such a challenging and hugely rewarding sport.  Most of the … [Read more...]

How Marcelo Garcia Defeats Larger, Stronger Opponents

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There's nothing quite like watching a smaller, lighter, weaker person use their technique to defeat a bigger, heavier, stronger opponent. And  when it comes to tapping out bigger, stronger, heavier opponents there's nobody quite like Marcelo Garcia. Not only is he a four time world BJJ champion and three time ADCC champion in his weight class, but he's often fought in the absolute division … [Read more...]

Marcelo Garcia Chokes Me Out Repeatedly

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Marcelo Garcia is maybe the very best person in the world at attacking the turtle position. But before I tell you how I know this first hand, I should point out that as you get better you'll run into the turtle position more often. This is because when you're pinned by an advanced player it's pretty damn hard to put them back into your guard.  And the other main escape option is to go to … [Read more...]

Two Rear Mount Secrets

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Usually getting better at something like the Rear Mount in grappling is a slow process, requiring thousands of repetitions and many hours on the mat to master a technique. But sometimes transformations occur overnight! In the video below I share two 'secrets' that will double the effectiveness of your rear mount. These tweaks will make it much harder for your opponent to escape, and leave … [Read more...]