BJJ Fanatics Instructor Spotlight: Kristian Woodmansee

A heavy hitter in the lighter weight divisions, “The Dream Killer” boasts an efficient and technical style. Woodmansee has amassed years of experience, spending time with some of the best teams in the world and training with the elite at his home academy, Atos. He’s traded skills with some of the best rooster weight grapplers on the planet in his competitive endeavors and he’s evolved into a phenomenal, highly sought after instructor. Especially for those in search of giant slaying secrets as Woodmansee continues to be a champion for the rooster sized grapplers.

A heavy hitter in the lighter weight divisions, “The Dream Killer” boasts an efficient and technical style. Woodmansee has amassed years of experience, spending time with some of the best teams in the world and training with the elite at his home academy, Atos. He’s traded skills with some of the best rooster weight grapplers on the planet in his competitive endeavors and he’s evolved into a phenomenal, highly sought after instructor. Especially for those in search of giant slaying secrets as Woodmansee continues to be a champion for the rooster sized grapplers.

Woodmansee Achievements 

• 1st Place IBJJF Pan No-Gi Championship (2018)
• 3rd Place IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2018)
• 1st Place IBJJF World No-Gi Championship (2013 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF European No-Gi Open (2015 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pans No-Gi Championship (2012 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Rome Open (2015 brown)
• 1st Place IBJJF Las Vegas Open (2012 purple)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pans Championship (2015 brown, 2012 purple)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Pans No-Gi Championship 3rd Place (2014 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Rome International Open (2014 brown)
• 3rd Place JJWL Irvine (2015 brown)
• 3rd Place IBJJF Las Vegas Open (2013 brown)

Instruction

The reverse De la Riva is an incredbly dynamic guard that offers some really great distance management. This can be helpful when a smaller grappler is trying to tame a bigger stronger guard passer. As you know this is one of Woodmnasee’s specialties and he’s got a unique way of employing the RDLR to not only create distance but to also reverse and get on top. It’s paramount that we mitigate pressure and forward movement when we’re defending ourselves in a passing exchange and this is the perfect way to accomplish just that. Woodmansee refers to this one as “the kick sweep”. Take a look. And also check this course The Effective Pressure Passing System by Celso Venicius or The Tozi Pass and Pressure Passing Mechanics by Roberto Tozi.

 

A larger standing opponent is no joke. The bigger they are the more the pressure begins to add up. This is a phenomenal answer to this type of scenario. Using the RDLR as a hub to surround his training partner’s right leg, Woodmansee can use his partner's right thigh to raise his hips. Here, he takes his DLR hook out and for just a moment uses his instep to catch the far leg. The moment he causes an off balancing effect he retracts the foot and brings it back to its homebase, as his partner falls to a seated position. Keeping a good twist on the foot, Woodmansee makes it nearly impossible for his partner to recover and cements the reversal. 

Ready to sharpen your Omoplatas? Click Learn More!

LEARN MORE

Pulling guard is risky business if you don't have a plan. Especially if your opponent is bigger and proficient. We don’t want to pull a bigger stronger BJJ player on top of us without a clear vision of where we’re going next and some concepts on distance management. Woodmansee doesn't leave guard pulling to chance. He establishes a set of grips that will serve him once he hits the floor and gets right to work. 

 

Woodmansee controls the distance immediately from standing. This transfers to the mat once the guard pull has been put into motion. He employs a cross collar grip and uses his hand to connect to the mat and cover distance as he slides into position. From here, Woodmansee has created an environment where he can begin establishing multiple forms of guard.

Bio

Kristian Woodmansee was born on November 3rd, 1987 in Marlton, NJ.  Discovering the gentle art at the age of 20, Woodmansee began his BJJ journey at Balance Studios Academy in Philadelphia, PA. He quickly became a fixture on the mats and immersed himself in training. 

After earning his blue belt, Woodmansee would bounce around a bit, in search of a home. He had stints at Team Lloyd Irving, Roberto Abreu’s Miami academy, and spent time with Robert Drysdale in Las Vegas, where he would become one of the head instructors at the Drysdale Headquarters. He received his brown belt from Drysdale in 2012. 

Woodmansee began to make trips to San Diego, training at Atos for upcoming competitions. He formed a strong relationship with the team at Atos and eventually made a switch in 2014, later earning his black belt from Andre Galvao himself in 2016.

Woodmansee continues to compete and is revered for his incredibly detail oriented teaching. Through his technical instruction, Woodmansee continues to help rooster weights all over the world deal with the bigger stronger grappler, and he’s damn good at it!

The Omoplata By Kristian Woodmansee is a masterclass on this classic technique! Uncover details and tactics that will catch your opponent off Guard!

BUY NOW