The side smash. I just love the way it sounds. This particularly uncomfortable guard pass has been one of the staples of Rafael Lovato Jr.’s passing system for years. Time and time again we’ve seen competitors at the highest levels succumb to...

So your spouse, or significant other has decided they want to start training Jiu Jitsu?  You are here because you want some guidance on how to be supportive, but also what you can expect from this journey, right?  Good for you! Having a...

When it comes to martial arts, or self defense in general  size always becomes an issue, or at least it did. When Jiu Jitsu was introduced it was sold as the martial art that could empower a smaller grappler to take on a...

  The mount is tricky. At least it’s always been that way for me. In my earliest training days, I found it nearly impossible to stay there. Its still a challenge for me, as I am a bit smaller and I really have...

  We’re all chomping at the bit to see what Lachlan Giles has in store for his new leg lock instructional. His performance at ADCC this year will go down as one of the most memorable in history and Giles is still riding...

We spend a lot of time in training talking about techniques, whether it be submissions, or escapes or whatever the case may be.  What It seems does not get as much attention is drilling. To be more specific, drilling one slice of a...

The chatter has not ceased… Lachlan Giles is still one of the most talked about competitors from ADCC 2019. Coming off of an absolutely jaw dropping performance, Giles managed to slay three giants of the sport in the absolute division at ADCC. This...

  We’ve all seen Tom DeBlass look back at his opponents and smile when they try to apply a leg lock during a match. In fact, I’ve seen this smile before when training with DeBlass myself. Like a little cub trying to get...

We might have heard the saying that we can’t build a house without foundations and that’s also true for many other creative projects, including training in a martial art.  It can be easy to think of foundations or fundamentals as something that we...

There’s nothing like that feeling of coming home after a really great BJJ class or open mat.  Especially on those awesome days when things begin to click, the feeling is nothing short of elation. But then comes the letdown.  You pull into the...

  With ADCC 2019 in the rear view mirror, it’s time to sit back and reflect on this year’s highlights, upsets, and standout performances. This years ADCC may have been the most eventful ever. The names, the action, the venue. They really outdid...