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...]
Submission Grappling
Podcast EP3: Erik Paulson; an MMA Master Coach Shares His Secrets
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...]
One Of My Favorite Techniques…
Here's a breakdown one of my favorite techniques: the sitout from turtle position. It's a very versatile move: you can use it to finish a pin escape, or recover after a failed takedown attempt, or to get the upper hand during a scramble. … [Read more...]
Marc Laimon’s Ankle Lock Defense vs. Ryron Gracie
In these photos Marc Laimon shows some of the techniques he used to defeat Ryron Gracie at Grappler's Quest in Las Vegas, November 6th, 2004. … [Read more...]
The Deep Half Guard (video)
Nowadays you often see the Deep Half Guard at the highest levels of BJJ and submission grappling competition. But there are a lot of important details to the Deep Half Guard that you need to know before it becomes a powerful sweeping weapon. Because I saw this position working again and again, several years ago I decided to add it to my repertoire. It's a bit like regular half guard except you … [Read more...]
Countering the Double Leg with a Sitout & Switch
I respect most grappling arts, not just BJJ. Freestyle and collegiate wrestling, in particular, have a lot to offer to submission grapplers and BJJ practitioners. Obviously we can get a lot of good throws and takedowns from wrestling, but we can also 'steal' some very powerful moves on the ground as well. … [Read more...]
Tips for Female Grapplers
Recently I've received a flood of emails from women and smaller men, wanting to know how to deal with larger, stronger opponents. The thing is that - at 200+ lbs myself - I'm NOT the best person to address these questions. … [Read more...]
The Best Brabo Choke Resources
The 'Brabo' choke is a powerful weapon in BJJ, MMA, and Submission Grappling. And people are beginning to realize this. In fact, shortly after Paulo Thiago defeated Mike Swick at UFC 109 a reader asked me to write about the Brabo choke (Thiago finished the fight in the second round using this very choke choke). I've always had a suspicion that this attack (also known as the 'Darce choke') … [Read more...]
Submission Grappling Armlock
This armlock has been part of the Japanese Ju-Jutsu arsenal for hundreds of years; here's how it's applied in a modern-day submission grappling context... (This technique is from the Submission Grappling vs. Classical Ju-Jutsu article on Grapplearts.com) … [Read more...]
Submission Grappling Leglock
Leglocks have been around for a long time, but modern grapplers use them in slightly different contexts than classical grapplers. Here's how a submission grappler might link a takedown and a match-ending ankle-lock... (This technique is from the Submission Grappling vs. Classical Ju-Jutsu article on Grapplearts.com) Stephan squares off against his opponent. He shoots in with … [Read more...]
Classical Ju-jutsu Armlock
Here's one classical approach to applying the armlock that has morphed into the 'Americana' or Figure 4 Armlock in modern submission grappling). As you can see, it's similar but different... (This technique is part of the Submission Grappling vs. Classical Ju-Jutsu article on Grapplearts.com) … [Read more...]
Successfully Dealing with Claustrophobia in Grappling
Once upon a time I had an MRI. For those of you who've never had this diagnostic procedure, you start by lying down on a narrow board. Then they slide you into a narrow hole within a gigantic donut-shaped machine. … [Read more...]
The Most Important Thing For Improving Your Grappling
I used to think that if I just learned enough ways to pass the guard, mastered enough submissions, memorized enough pin escapes, pick up enough guard sweeps, received enough tactics and just had enough techniques at my fingertips, then... someday... I would master the art of grappling. … [Read more...]
The Grappling Concepts Online Course
I've been hard at work in 'the lab' cooking something up something new... And now it's finally ready: the online 'Black Belt Concepts' course. … [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...]
Knee Slide Guard Pass
Many Brazilian jiu-jitsu guard passes can be adapted for use in mixed martial arts. Here the cross knee slide guard pass is used to achieve side mount control. … [Read more...]
Gi? No-Gi? Self Defense? MMA? No Problem!
There's a long-standing debate in the grappling community whether training with the gi helps your no-gi skills. My personal preference is to train both with and without the gi. … [Read more...]
Denis Kang: Double Leg Tackle Counter to Neck Lock
This may seem like a flashy technique, but it definitely works. It can be used standing or on the knees to get to a match-ending neck lock submission. As his opponent shoots in to take him down Denis secures a front head lock, trapping the opponent’s head and left arm with his own arms Denis drops to the mat, making sure he is off to one side Continuing the momentum he … [Read more...]
Submission Grappling Choke
The arm drag from butterfly guard to the back is a tried-and-true technique that has ended many matches in submission grappling and BJJ. Here's how to do it... Stephan controls his opponent with the butterfly guard. He grips his opponent’s triceps with his right hand… … and pulls him forward while simultaneously moving his own body to the left. His opponent is now off … [Read more...]
MMA & Grappling Blogs
Over the last few years there has been an explosion of great blogs devoted to jiu-jitsu, submission grappling and MMA... Now obviously these things change all the time, and any list is bound to be incomplete. Nevertheless I thought I'd share some of my favorite blogs-de-jour with you today in this list: … [Read more...]