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

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Home » Takedowns

Takedowns

Gold Medal Judo Techniques that Work in BJJ

August 3, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

I've previously written about why you probably shouldn’t use the top-scoring judo throw - Seio Otoshi - in your BJJ practice. (To recap, this throw requires a TON of reps, potentially exposes you to back takes, is gi-dependent, and there’s a high chance you'll roll over your opponent to end up on the bottom.) But don't throw the Judo baby out with the bathwater!! There IS a heck of a lot … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Competition, Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Armbar, BJJ, Gripfighting, Judo, North-South, Sidemount, Takedowns, Techniques

DON’T Use This Top Judo Throw in BJJ!

August 1, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

Top 20 Scoring Judo Techniques, January to June 2024

I came across something really neat recently. Someone called DrSeioNage did a TON of data analysis and looked at 5850 elite judo matches to identify the top-scoring techniques. The highest-scoring technique of them all during the time period studied was a throw called Seio Otoshi. This throw involves turning your back to your opponent and is often performed dropping one or both knees … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Competition, Grappling Techniques Tagged With: BJJ, Competition, Judo, Rules, Takedowns, Video

The Most Successful Gracie Family Fighter of All Time

May 26, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

Robert Drysdale on the history of BJJ and the most successful Gracie family fighter of all time

Not only is Robert Drysdale a BJJ and ADCC World Champion, he has also conducted extensive research into the history of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In this interview, he reveals some of what he's discovered, including... 01:54 - The first wave of jiu-jitsu in Brazil - Helio Gracie and Carlos Gracie 04:35 - Exhibition and carnival fighting in Brazil 06:55 - Traditional jiu-jitsu style vs modified … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviews, Mixed Martial Arts, Podcasts, Training Tagged With: BJJ, Carlson Gracie, Gi vs No Gi, History, MMA, MMA training, Robert Drysdale, Takedowns, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Video

Seven Reasons Carlson Gracie Was the First Modern MMA Coach and Fighter

May 24, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

Carlson Gracie, The First Modern MMA Fighter

Carlson Gracie fought 18 Vale Tudo in the 1950's and 60's. His 17 wins make him the most successful Gracie fighter to this day. In the course of his long  fighting and coaching career, he innovated many of the MMA training practices that we now take for granted. Here are seven ways in which he was the first modern MMA coach and fighter... Carlson's radical-for-the-time ideas included … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviews, Mixed Martial Arts, Podcasts, Training Tagged With: BJJ, Carlson Gracie, Gi vs No Gi, History, MMA, MMA training, Takedowns, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Video

How to do the Low Single for No Gi Grappling

February 6, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

Low Single Leg Takedown

The low single is a variation of the single leg takedown, which is one of the staple techniques of wrestling. Probably the most famous low single in history belonged to John Smith, who used this move to win multiple world championships and multiple Olympic gold medals. Not only is the low single is good for winning Olympic medals, it's also a great technique for submission … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Ankle Lock, Elliott Bayev, John Smith, No Gi, Single Leg Takedown, Takedowns, Techniques, Video, Wrestling

Top 10 Wrestling Moves for BJJ

February 6, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

wrestling moves for bjj

by Jeff Meszaros In many ways, wrestling and Brazilian jiu jitsu are total opposites. The core concepts of the two sports run against each other, and what's a great idea in one art is often a terrible idea in the other. In wrestling, you do anything you can to avoid having your back put on the mat. But in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, people will often fall to their backs immediately to "pull guard" … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Mixed Martial Arts Tagged With: Arm Drag, BJJ, Clinching, Jeff Meszaros, Single Leg Takedown, Takedowns, Throws, Turtle Position, Video, Wrestling

Fake Low, Go High; How to Use Level Change Fakes to Set Up Takedowns and Submissions

January 25, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

Low Single Leg Takedown

There's a universal combative principle known as 'fake east, go west.' This idea has been valid since forever. It has been used effectively in small-scale fights between individuals and also at the grand strategic level in huge wars. That's because it only always works. The idea is to distract your opponent by doing one thing over here and then hit them hard somewhere else. One … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Elliott Bayev, Guillotine Choke, No Gi, Single Leg Takedown, Strategy, Takedowns, Video

The Single Leg X Guard – A Surprising Way to Pull Guard…

December 9, 2022 by Stephan Kesting

How to guard pull to single leg x guard

Should you pull guard in competition?  And if you decide to pull guard, then how do you do it correctly? In a certain sense, I am uniquely unqualified to answer these questions... You see, much of my BJJ comes from 8th degree black belt Marcus Soares, and Marcus is very much from the old-school Carlson Gracie way of doing things. The Carlson approach to jiu-jitsu is definitely focused on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Competition, Female Grapplers, Grappling Techniques, Instructional Videos Tagged With: Competition, Emily Kwok, Grapplearts DVDs, iPhone, Marcelo Garcia, Marcus Soares, No Gi, Pulling Guard, Single Leg X Guard, Submission Grappling, Takedowns, Video, X Guard

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

Jumping Guillotine Choke

November 4, 2022 by Stephan Kesting

Jumping Guillotine Choke

A lot of jiu-jitsu guys struggle on their feet, especially when they're facing a superior wrestler. Fortunately there's a way to use a wrestler's own reactions against him, and that's by jumping into a guillotine choke In this technique you first fake low and threaten a double leg takedown or a low single takedown. When he does the right thing and level changes to defend against the shot … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: 30 Second Fight Finishes, Competition, Elliott Bayev, Guillotine Choke, Strategy, Takedowns, Techniques, Video

NEW INSTRUCTIONAL!! 30 Second Fight Finishes

November 3, 2022 by Stephan Kesting

30 Second Fight Finishes - Online Streaming, DVD and App Format

Elliott Bayev is one of the most detail-oriented instructors I've ever met. His first instructional with Grapplearts was The Spider Guard Masterclass, which many people called the best BJJ instructional they've ever seen. Elliott is now back with 30 Second Fight Finishes. In this instructional you'll learn the absolute fastest ways to end your match, regardless of whether you’re on … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 30 Second Fight Finishes, Armlocks, Chokes, Elliott Bayev, Heel Hook, Kimura, Leglocks, No Gi, Submission, Submission Grappling, Takedowns

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

Interview with Yuri Simoes, 2 x ADCC World Champion

April 20, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

Yuri Simoes Interview on The Strenuous Life Podcast with Stephan Kesting

Yuri Simoes is a two time ADCC World Championship, a two-time IBJJF black belt Absolute No-Gi World Champion, and a two-time Pan American Champion. In our chat we go deep into developing the motivation required to train at such a high level, recovering from 2 horrific knee injuries and winning ADCC, the importance of self defense training, how he took down a Olympic Judo champion in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviews, Mixed Martial Arts, Podcasts Tagged With: ACL, BJJ, Brazil, Injuries, Interviews, Judo, Self Defense, Takedowns, The Mental Aspect, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training, Training Schedule, Yuri Simoes

Back Attacks 6: How to Transition to the Crucifix from Rear Mount

August 11, 2019 by Stephan Kesting

The crucifix is an absolutely terrible position to be caught in when you're doing BJJ, No Gi or MMA. Here's Rob Biernacki of BJJ Formula fame showing exactly how to apply the crucifix on your opponent!! This is part 6 in a series on the so-called 'weak side' of the back we're releasing on Youtube and is a small part of the Back Control module of the BJJ Formula instructional. You can get … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: BJJ, Chokes, Crucifix Position, Grapplearts, Rear Mount, Rob Biernacki, Takedowns

Single and Double Leg Takedowns for Beginners

May 3, 2019 by Stephan Kesting

Double and Single Leg Takedowns

My friend Rob Biernacki and I recently shot a video about two of the most important takedowns for grappling: the single and the double leg takedowns. These are deeply complex techniques that can be explored and elaborated on endlessly, but for beginners it's sometimes good to keep things simple. However we let our inner smartasses run wild when we were filming this material, so the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Mixed Martial Arts Tagged With: Double Leg Takedown, Rob Biernacki, Single Leg Takedown, Takedowns, Techniques, Throws, Video

Monty Collier, Keanu Reeve’s Judo Instructor for John Wick 3, Parabellum

April 23, 2019 by Stephan Kesting

Keanu Reeves and Collier Judo Boys John Wick 3

Today's guest on The Strenuous Life Podcast is Monty Collier, a black belt Judoka who worked with Keanu Reeves to get him ready for the amazing fight sequences in the movie John Wick 3, Parabellum.  This conversation was fun and we really went detail about stuntwork and gun fu movie fighting including how he taught Keanu highly technical Judo throws that have bedevilled me for years. We … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviews, Miscellaneous, Podcasts Tagged With: Competition, History, Injuries, Interviews, Judo, Monty Collier, Self Defense, Stuntwork, Takedowns, The Mental Aspect, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training, Uchi Mata

Will Grappling Dummy Drills Really Help Your BJJ?

January 17, 2019 by Stephan Kesting

Will Grappling Dummy Drills Help Your BJJ?

I often get emails from people wanting to know whether drilling with a grappling dummy will help their jiu-jitsu. Dummies are expensive items, and people want to make sure the investment will be worth it. The short answer is no. WATCH AND/OR LISTEN TO MY RANT ON THIS TOPIC Here's a video and podcast with my views on the subject, or if you prefer to read on you can scroll down the page a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Conditioning, Mixed Martial Arts, Podcasts, Self Defense, Training Tagged With: Conditioning, Drills, Equipment, Grappling Dummies, Striking, Takedowns, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training, Video

The 3 Steps to a Takedown

November 10, 2018 by Stephan Kesting

double leg takedown

Many grapplers lack even a basic knowledge of takedowns, and this is a HUGE mistake. As far as I'm concerned if you're a submission grappler or a jiu-jitsu player who pulls guard in every competition then you need to have at least a few ways to get the fight to the ground from the feet. In having takedowns is just part of being a well rounded grappler, but it's also for self defense: you'll … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Mixed Martial Arts, Self Defense Tagged With: MMA training, Nick Ugoalah, Self Defense, Single Leg Takedown, Takedowns, Techniques, Video, Wrestling

An Easy Armdrag Defense

October 23, 2018 by Stephan Kesting

OK, this is a quick post because it's only a short video that I filmed right before training today... If someone tries to armdrag you they're usually gripping your triceps area with their cross hand and pulling you hard, trying to either get behind you or elicit a pulling reaction.  And it's a legit threat, because a good armdrag can set you up for a number of things, including... The rear … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Arm Drag, Butterfly Guard, Counter, Takedowns, Techniques, Video, Wrestling

The Standing Sakuraba-Style Kimura Armlock

October 6, 2018 by Stephan Kesting

The first time someone showed me the standing Kimura attack I was pretty skeptical... I was like, "yeah, that would never work, not in a million years!" Whoops, was I ever wrong. You see, shortly after I was introduced to that supposedly 'useless' technique, a Japanese fighter named Kazushi Sakuraba started used the standing Kimura to tear a bloody swath through MMA world, besting a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Android, Armlocks, Brandon Mullins, History, iPhone, Kazushi Sakuraba, Kimura, MMA, Submission, Takedowns, Techniques, Video

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