Tom DeBlass is a multiple time ADCC competitor, having won the North American Trials on three different locations.  He is an IBJJF World Champion.  DeBlass also holds a 9-2 MMA record, having held titles in two different weight classes in the Ring of Combat...

A video surfaced recently of Rafa Mendes instructing at a seminar in Oregon. It’s an outstanding block of material. In the 8 minutes or so of footage Rafa explains in great detail, a very intelligent method of opening up the turtle position to...

These days, more and more we see people who are training bjj and neglecting self-defense.  There is nothing wrong with that, to each his own.  The problem lies in the fact that people may develop a false sense of security.  Self-defense is a...

Many of us are familiar with the rubber guard and its origin.  The famous position is a staple in the 10th planet system that was created by the infamous Eddie Bravo.  The 10th planet system has evolved along with the Jiu Jitsu world...

Kettlebell training can be one of the smartest thing you add to your weekly training schedule to supplement your BJJ.  There are very few fitness tools that can leave your heart pounding and lungs burning, while hitting more muscles than you knew you...

Recently at their Beach Camp in Cocoa Beach, Florida 8 time world champion Michelle Nicolini and UFC and ADCC vet Tom DeBlass shared the best elements of their respective games.  Over the three day camp, approximately 50 students were treated to over 9...

The stack pass. Tried and true, this classic guard pass is one of the foundational pillars of passing in BJJ. Most likely you’ll be introduced to this technique early on in your practice. In the beginning we get exposed to so much passing...

How important is your breathing? Do you think about it? Is it a priority to you when you’re training? It’s obvious that we need to breathe, but do you keep your breath under control, or do you let it dictate your pace, your...

Recently the world learned that long time Ralph Gracie Jiu Jitsu black belt and head instructor at Ralph's San Francisco academy, Kurt Osiander had relinquished his duties as an instructor there.  Initially being reported as a firing, with Kurt using that terminology during...

Wherever you find yourself on the road to black belt right now, there is one thing we can all agree on.  It's a long, long, upward battle.  As time goes on and you begin to progress through the color belts, it becomes almost...

Summer is here! The sun is shining, the days are longer, our injuries feel a little better, and we’re enjoying those slip and slide training sessions at the academy. It’s a great time to train, but it’s also a time to take your...

If you sit back and think about the rise of the Danaher Death Squad, it almost reads like a Hollywood superhero screenplay.  A philosophy instructor and BJJ black belt, named John Danaher from New Zealand has a chance meeting with a legendary grappler...

We all love attending a BJJ seminar with our favorite pro. It’s a chance to get an inside look at the what makes the champions tick. How they do such incredible things. It’s a rare glimpse into a mind that we do not...

It is common over the long road to our jiu jitsu black belts to oftentimes feel as though we are not making progress.  Experiencing a true BJJ plateau can be as frustrating as getting stuck in bottom side control against a much stronger,...

The high elbow guillotine, it’s a beast of a submission. Gaining most of its popularity in the no gi realm from heavy hitters like Marcello Garcia, who’s actually earned the term “Marcellotine” in reference to his killer version of the move. Its application...