One of the very first positions we learn when we start training is the closed guard.  How to lock out feet, how to use it to control the opponent if they are trying to throw strikes and how to execute sweeps and submissions...

Leg locks is something that may still be new to you.  If you’re new to Jiu Jistu or started training in the last year or so, you have the upper hand in that many academies, not all, but several, just recently started really...

In the words of Professor Dean Lister “Why would you ignore 50% of the human body?” Jiu Jitsu is continually changing, as the sport evolves, we have elite athletes such as Gordon Ryan or Garry Tonon dominating on the mats as a result...

It is very likely that you have never had a problem with your grip not being strong enough…  That is, until you started training Jiu Jitsu. Is it ever strong enough? I feel like, as with everything in Jiu Jitsu, it is one...

By now you have probably realized that Triangle strangles are everywhere as one of my favorite submissions, it always good to research new ways to make the setup happen.  There is nothing more frustrating than “almost” getting a submission, but not quite. In...

  Closed Guard chatter has been picking up if you’ve been listening. A lot of talk of the Jiu-Jitsu “Meta Game” gets thrown around after major events happen. Most recently was the IBJJF World Championships and the conversation is being had across the...

  Third Coast Grappling held another event in Houston and it was full of action. Third Coast utilizes a unique rule set where there is a normal round followed by overtime rounds. The over time involves a coin flip and a choice of...

  Chael Sonnen is officially retired. The self proclaimed “bad guy” made the announcement after his loss to Lyoto Machida at Bellator 222 at Madison Square Garden. Chael finished his illustrious career with a record of 30-17 having fought some of the ABSOLUTE...

  Half guard is one of the most commonly used positions regardless if you are a white belt or a black belt.  It is widely regarded as one of the most effective guards across both no-gi and gi in Jiu-Jitsu. One of the...

  Being able to escape a bad position is a critical element of success in Jiu-Jitsu. Turning the tables on your opponent after being down on points can turn the momentum in your favor. Stephen Whittier is a third degree black belt, and...

Jiu Jitsu has a cult like following.  Why is that? If you don’t train it may seem a little odd that your friends or colleagues that train Jiu Jitsu are so obsessed with it.  Sure, it seems fun and all, maybe you even...

Wouldn’t it be nice if every submission attempt was successful every time?  Imagine, you get the Kimura set up and the opponent does nothing to defend it.  I’m not sure if that would really make things better, or if it would just make...

  It’s likely when you started training someone told you that Jiu Jitsu would change your life.  It’s also likely you blew them off and didn’t think anything of it. That is, until you realized it is changing your life.  Day after day,...

It’s all about that grip.  Gripping in Jiu Jitsu CAN be everything… It can also be completely useless.  I’ll never forget, mainly because it still happens every time we roll it seems, training with a good friend of mine and feeling like I...

Remember back in the beginning days when guard was simple?  When we first started training and coach said get in his guard, we knew it meant closed guard because that was the only guard we knew at the time.  As we started to...