Submissions are one of the biggest parts of bjj, and one of the best ways to submit your opponent is by a chokehold.  There are various chokeholds that can be used, whether you are using the gi, doing self-defense, or doing no gi...

Chokes are one of the biggest parts of submissions, they are considered by many, the best submission.  This is because they can be utilized against any body no matter how strong they are.  The saying goes “we all have the same arteries.”  What...

As Brazilian Jiu Jitsu continues to evolve, dynamic guards continue to grow in popularity.  There are so many positions these days that were not often utilized in the past.  We see complex open guards like the worm guard, lapel guard, 50/50 and many...

Closed guard can be one of the most difficult guards to pass.  Many people have an extremely hard time opening closed guard.  They either cannot open their opponent’s legs, or they are just not able to defend themselves.  Being in someone’s closed guard...

The closed guard has long been considered the foundation of the guard, there are several reasons that people perceive the closed guard as the foundation.  The closed guard is one of the most versatile positions, you can have success with it in both...

The baratoplata is one of the least popular and the most underrated submissions in bjj.  You may not have even heard of this position.  The barataoplata was invented by Rafael Freitas, a competitive Gracie Barra black belt but was quickly adapted by legends...

 No Gi? No problem, here at BJJ Fanatics we’ve got you covered for all of your BJJ needs.  Many people have a hard time transitioning from gi to no gi, but this should not be a problem.  Although there are very many differences...

The first few months of training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can be overwhelming.  Starting to train BJJ is similar to learning to drive.  If you think back to the first time you were ever behind the wheel, there seemed to literally be hundreds of...

Neil Melanson has made a career being one of the most prolific MMA and grappling coaches out there.  The words "grappling genius" can get overused, but Neil is one of those true "mad scientists" as the fighters who have worked with him can...

Does Brazilian Jiu Jitsu still work for self-defense?  This is a question that is often asked among the bjj community.  People tend to believe that the day of bjj as a martial art and self-defense are long gone, but is this true?  Well,...

Bernardo Faira is easily one of the most well respected and most accomplished athletes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  His reputation precedes him, he has won the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation Adult Black Belt World Championships 5x.  He was even able to win...

In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu it is extremely important to have confidence in your escapes.  An aggressive offence will stem from a confident defense.  In bjj, in order to establish a good defense, you have to know your escapes.  Some people notoriously say in...

Do you even Deep Half?  Deep half guard is one of the best guards in the world.  Although it is not extremely popular, there has been high level black belts who have been able to prove its effectiveness.  5x Black Belt World Champion,...

Half guard is becoming popularized by jiu jitsu icons like Bernardo Faria and Tom DeBlass among others who have taken what was formerly a last ditch effort to stop someone from passing your guard, and developed entire offensive and defensive systems that have...

The butterfly guard is often one of the first forays into the world of open guard play that BJJ practitioners attempt to institute into their game plans.  By keeping both feet tucked somewhat safely between the thighs of the opponent and keeping the...