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

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Home » Techniques

Techniques

Your New Technique (Probably) Isn’t Going To Work

March 25, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

Upside down leg scissor choke

You know that new choke you saw the other day and hope to use in class tonight? Yeah... about that. That shiny new choke probably isn't going to work. The truth is that any signature moves you develop in your jiu-jitsu career will be the lone survivors standing on top of a mountain of discarded techniques that you just couldn't get to click. Every time I try something new, I think, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Training Tagged With: Techniques, The Mental Aspect, Training

Innovation and Technical Refinement in Jiu-Jitsu

March 15, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

Technical Innovations in BJJ

Rob Biernacki is my guest today to talk about how injury and physical limitations have led to some of the fastest technical development of his career and the refinement of entirely new techniques like the Roadhouse Choke.  Since some form of injury is inevitable there are a LOT of takeaways in this episode. We also discuss... Risk vs reward in your choice of techniques, How new … [Read more...]

Filed Under: apps, Podcasts Tagged With: Injuries, Rob Biernacki, Techniques, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training, Video

D’Arce Choke Defense

February 16, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

D'Arce Choke

The D'Arce choke is super-popular right now.  This is a choke that traps your opponent's neck and arm inside your figure-foured arms and you can apply it against the half guard, against turtle, from guard passing, and in a ton of scrambles. (Click here for a detailed breakd0wn for applying the D'Arce choke.) This choke is especially popular in no gi grappling because the decreased friction … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: D'Arce Choke, Escapes, Ritchie Yip, Techniques, Video

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

Four Lapel-Based Attacks from Side Control

January 27, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

Four lapel-based side control attacks

If you train BJJ, knowing some tricks with the lapels to attack your opponent can be very useful, so don't disregard the advantages the gi offers you. Some people don't like training with the gi. I have no problem with that if your only focus is no-gi competition; if that's you, then by all means, train specifically for your sport. But if self-defense is important to you, then you should … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Baseball Choke, Chokes, Gi, Gripfighting, Kimura, Sidemount, Strategy, Techniques, Video

The Step-by-Step Clock Choke

January 26, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

clock choke 6 - break the structure

The Clock Choke Heard Round the World We're going to go through my favorite step-by-step method for how to do the clock choke, but first let's talk about a the first time I saw the clock choke and a match that changed jiujitsu... It was in 1998 when Royce Gracie squared off against the Carlson Gracie Wallid Ismael. At the time Royce was undefeated in 5 UFC events and, in my eyes at least, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Chokes, Clock Choke, Collar Chokes, Gi, Royce Gracie, Techniques, Turtle Position, Video, Wallid Ismael

The Four Simplest Armdrags for BJJ and Submission Grappling

January 6, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

Four Simplest Armdrags for BJJ and Submission Grappling

The armdrag is one of the most important attacks in BJJ and submission grappling.  Not only does hitting the armdrag give you a route to your opponent's back, it's also a great probing attack that sets up a whole host of other techniques. The armdrag can be performed in both gi-based BJJ and no gi submission grappling.  It was popularised in BJJ when Marcelo Garcia burst onto the scene in 2003, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For Beginners, Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Arm Drag, For Beginners, Gripfighting, Techniques, Video, Wrestling

Knee Mount Escape to Backside 50/50

November 29, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

Knee Mount Escape to Backside 50/50

If you can do the basic backward somersault, then I've got a pretty spectacular and highly effective kneemount escape for you. The Wu Tang escape takes you from the receiving end of eating pressure under a terrible position to one of the strongest positions in leglocking - the backside 50/50. Here's a detailed video about how to add this escape to your game, even if you're NOT … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: 50/50 Guard, Cutting Edge Leglocks, Escapes, Heel Hook, Knee Mount, Leglocks, No Gi, Techniques, Video

How to Do the Rolling Backtake the Easiest Way

October 30, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

Easiest Rolling Backtake

In this article, you'll get a step-by-step system that anyone can use for hitting your first rolling backtake.  The mechanics, details, and steps are all here, so scroll down and check them out! How to Do the Rolling Backtake (Video) Here's a video I shot breaking down the three essential steps for doing your first rolling backtake. Watch the video below, practice the steps, hit it in … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For Beginners, Grappling Techniques Tagged With: For Beginners, No Gi, Rear Mount, Rolling Backtake, Techniques, Video

Rolling Backtake from Mount

October 24, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

Rolling Backtake from Mount

The back is the most dominant position in jiu-jitsu, with chokes from the back accounting for nearly half of all finishes at the black belt level in gi competition. Same for no gi competition. The Rear Naked Choke from the back has been the top submission at ADCC multiple years in a row, surpassing both the heel hook and the armbar in frequency. Given the effectiveness of being … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Mount, rear, Rear Mount, Rolling Backtake, Techniques, Video

The Fastest Armbar Escape

October 14, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

Hitchhiker escape vs armbar from closed guard

One of the most powerful late-stage armbar defenses is the Hitchhiker escape. You see this escape being used all the time, typically by someone who is flat on their back and being attacked by an armbar that is almost completed. But how many times have you been attacked by the armbar from guard in your jiu-jitsu career? If you're like most people, I bet it's quite frequently,  like every … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Armbar, Closed Guard, Escapes, Techniques, Video

Step by Step D’Arce Choke vs the Half Guard

October 2, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

D'Arce Choke vs Half Guard

If someone has you in their half guard and they have a strong underhook you're in trouble; they're DEFINITELY thinking about taking your back, sweeping your, or setting up a submission like a triangle choke. A great weapon to shut all that nonsense down is the D'Arce Choke (also known as the no gi Brabo choke).  This choke is an absolute staple of modern no gi grappling, and you have to know … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Chokes, D'Arce Choke, Half Guard, Techniques, Video

How to Attack the Half Guard with the Kimura Armlock

September 25, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

How to Attack the Half Guard with the Kimura

If you're caught in your opponent's half guard then you have to be careful not to get swept, submitted, or have your back taken. That being said, you have attack options on top too! Here's how to use the Kimura, an amazingly versatile submission, to pass the guard and tap out your opponent when you're in the top half guard position... Let's break this technique down step by … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Guard Passes, Half Guard, Kimura, Techniques, Video

Taking the Back from Half Guard Using the Kimura Grip

June 29, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

Kimura from Half Guard to the Back

Learning the swinging Kimura backtake is important for at least two reasons... First, it's a legitimate way of defending side control and taking the back that sets up lots of other upper and lower body attacks as well. Secondly, it teaches you that the Kimura is a giant handle you can use to move your opponent around as well as move yourself around your opponent. This is especially important … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Kimura, Rear Mount, Rear Naked Choke, Rolling Backtake, Techniques, Video

The SOS Position, The Rosetta Stone of the Omoplata

June 24, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

The SOS sitting on shoulder position in the Omoplata game

The omoplata is a very deep position.  There are so many different entries, transitions, defences, escapes, and recounters; it can get a little overwhelming. To bring sense to a scramble it helps to recognize intermediary positions. Positions that repeatedly and reliably occur, often fleetingly, as people engage in what appears to be a chaotic series of transitions. For the omoplata one of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Omoplata, Positions, Techniques, Video

A Quickstart Guide to the Omoplata in Jiu-Jitsu

June 22, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

Omoplata Quickstart Guide on Grapplearts

This step-by-step guide is designed for you to quickly incorporate the omoplata into your game and build a solid foundation for more advanced omoplata techniques. The omoplata is an incredibly versatile technique in jiu-jitsu that serves as a submission, a sweep, and a setup for other sweeps and submissions. Fundamentally it uses your legs to force your opponent's arm behind his back into a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Armlocks, Closed Guard, Gi, Guard Sweeps, No Gi, Omoplata, Techniques, Video

How to Do the Shotgun Ankle Lock

June 14, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

How to do the Shotgun Ankle Lock

Rob Biernacki wanted to show me something. It was an ankle lock variation that he'd recently successfully used to win a match at the ADCC Open. Now I've seen a lot of ankle locks in my day. I've even done highly specific training of the muscles on the front of my shin in order to better resist getting ankle locked. But NOTHING could prepare me for this. He applied the footlock, and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Ankle Lock, Cutting Edge Leglocks, Leglocks, Rob Biernacki, Shotgun Ankle Lock, Techniques, Video

BJJ Trigger Positions

May 28, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

BJJ Trigger Positions

A trigger position is an alignment of your body and your opponent’s body that immediately invites a specific technique, be it a sweep, submission or guard pass.. Once you're there, all you need to do is pull the metaphorical trigger and - BOOM - you're deep into the attack. This concept makes it easy for you to know when it's time to attack in jiu-jitsu. Knowing the Trigger Position for a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Armbar, Omoplata, Submission, Techniques, Training, Triangle Choke, Video

How To Do The ‘Imanari Roll’

May 27, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

Imanari Roll in UFC video game

The Imanari roll is absolutely one of the coolest submission attacks out there. It's unorthodox, it's fancy, but unlike many other flashy moves it's it's also quite high percentage. If you do it correctly you get straight into the 411 leglock position, which is the most powerful leglocking position we have. So there's definitely a huge upside if you land it. This move has been used … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Mixed Martial Arts Tagged With: 411 Position, Butterfly Guard, Drills, Heel Hook, Leglocks, Masakazu Imanari, Submission, Submission Grappling, Techniques, Video

Three Critical Control Points You Must Have to Apply a Good Leglock

May 25, 2023 by Stephan Kesting

Three Critical Control Points for a Good Leglock

It's a terrible thing to do all that work to get into a good leglock position only to have your opponent find enough space to slip out and escape.  Or worse, have him laugh at your submission attempt because it's not tight enough to cause him any concern. The key to a good leglock is having 3 points of control, namely, The three ingredients of every good leglock are Control of the hip, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques Tagged With: Ankle Lock, BJJ, Caio Terra, Cutting Edge Leglocks, Heel Hook, Kneebar, Leglocks, No Gi, Rob Biernacki, Techniques, Video

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