Las Vegas is about to become the setting for one of the best IBJJF events of the year. On July 9th, some of the best BJJ black belt will descend on the city of sin to compete for a grand prize of $40,000! The IBJJF is starting to recognize the success of such organizations as […]

Anyone that follows the competitive grappling scene knows of the infamous “Danaher Death Squad” consisting of Eddie Cummings, Garry Tonon and Gordon Ryan lead by Renzo Gracie black belt, John Danaher. While you watch those three impressive black belts compete, you’ll notice what they do best…leg locks. But it is not just the locks themselves, […]

One of the most useful tools a jiu jitsu practitioner can develop is the ability to retain and recovery guard at will.  In the retention and recovery of guard, arises a certain innate security that one can always reset to a comfortable guard when needed. Perhaps the most important aspect of guard retention and recovery […]

Cross Training For BJJ… When it comes to grappling, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is one of the best choices for someone to choose. Offering so much, BJJ gives a very flexible and interesting view on how to grapple for competition and self defense. While BJJ offers a lot and gives many different strengths, there are weaknesses. […]

On July 17th, the seventh edition of the Eddie Bravo Invitational returns to the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, California for another night of submission only action! Eddie Bravo has made this tournament for the featherweights this time around and will have some of the best featherweights in the world competing. Here is the full […]

From the first day that we start learning jiu jitsu, we are also taught that the ego is toxic.  We are taught to abandon our pride, and that we either win or we learn.  From the first day that we start learning jiu jitsu, we are misled to some degree.  The ego is crucial to […]

As a BJJ coach that works with kids (10-17 in age), it is a rewarding role. As a coach, I get to work with kids and teach them an art that can keep them safe, keep them healthy and keep them out of trouble. But as with any rewarding role, there are certain responsibilities that […]

Rolling against bigger opponents in Jiu Jitsu can be a real eye opener, but absolutely essential. It doesn’t matter if it is rolling in class, or in an absolute division in a tournament. Sometimes people have unrealistic ideas on how good they are, until they run into someone that is bigger, taller and heavier than […]

One week ago, the jiu jitsu community was treated to the 2016 world championship in which some new champions were crowned, some old champions came back.  It was a remarkable event that showcased the very best that jiu jitsu has to offer… In the men’s divisions: Bruno Malfacine brought home his sixth IBJJF World title […]

The act of rolling (or sparring in BJJ for you newbies) is one of the most important aspects of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It is one of the reasons why Jiu Jitsu works. Unlike most traditional arts (such as Aikido, TKD, ect) that focus on theories and doing techniques on compliant partners with no resistance, there […]

There is one man who has dominated the lightweight division in the grand stages of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competition. That man is Lucas Lepri. Lepri is a dynamic grappler who has absolutely taken control of his weight division in the last five years. This champion shows no sign of slowing down. Keep on reading to […]

What’s the most important skill set to develop as a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner?  What separates people who know moves from people who know how to execute them?  There is one simple yet extremely difficult notion that determines the quality of a jiujiteiro and that notion is timing. This is best developed through live rolling and […]

In the world of gi Jiu Jitsu, there is one guard that works for a variety of different situations. That guard happens to be guarda aranha, known in English as spider guard. The always applicable spider guard works as both an offensive and defensive guard, and also works as a sweeping or submitting guard. This […]

When people think of “Dirty tricks” in jiu jitsu, they are often referring to moves that are much easier than the effect they accomplish would imply. Moves that are simply beyond the pale of what we expect to actually have effect on an opponent. When people think of “dirty trick” moves, they often are thinking […]

In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, just as in Judo, gi chokes are great ways of attacking an opponent. They provide a painful and effective way of choking opponent, using an opponent’s collar or lapel to cut off blood to the brain. Out of all the gi chokes, the first one I learned is still my favorite. […]