Side control is one of the most powerful controlling positions in the entire jiu jitsu lexicon of techniques.  The ability of the top player to inflict the full force of his or her bodyweight on the torso and limbs of the bottom player...

 Over the course of your BJJ training, one of the most important concepts that should stay in the forefront of your mind and training agenda is the idea of "position to submission".  In the early days of our learning and training, we are...

The knowledge of jiu jitsu has been described as being the closest thing to having super hero powers.  Navy Seal and BJJ black belt Jocko Willink has said this in the past and he should know as a former Commander of Task Unit...

Half guard is one of the fundamental positions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  In the early times of bjj the half guard was considered by many, merely a transitional position.  Nobody even considered the half guard an effective method of guard.  As Brazilian Jiu...

If you have been training BJJ for even a week, you know challenging it can be, but also how rewarding physically and mentally.  It is an amazing martial art and sport that introduces you to a wide variety of new friends who are...

SIDE CONTROL ESCAPES BASICS Let's face it, being in stuck in bottom side control is one of the most frustrating positions to be caught in BJJ. God forbid if you have a stronger heavier opponent dominating from top side control and you've got...

The gi version of the knee slice or knee cut pass is one of the first passes that one learns to employ when someone's closed guard gets broken.  It can also be a very effective pass against more advanced guards, with the key...

Life moves at a breakneck pace.  Between school, careers, and family responsibilities there can sometimes seem to be very little time for activities or hobbies like BJJ.  There always seems to be something pulling us away from activities the world may see as...

D'Arce Choke Basics The D'Arce choke is one of the most popular chokes in the family of head and arm triangle variations.  The history of the technique and how it got the name D'Arce choke is an interesting study in the ever changing language...

Full mastery of a BJJ position can require so much study and breakdown of the sometimes dozens of minute elements that make up the successful execution of said position.  The perfect positioning may never be achieved, but that is no reason why we...

There is an old story about one of Johnny Cash's guitar players where an interviewer asked him what his thoughts were on the rising crop of up and coming guitar players who were playing songs that may have been more technically flashy and...

The over under pass is one of the most effective guard passes that should be in your arsenal.  By stapling your opponent's body to the mat with shoulder pressure in their diaphragm, while maintaining control of both sides of their hips with an...

Bernardo Faria is a 5x Black Belt World Champion and has won the open weight division.  Bernardo has long been one of the best competitors in the entire world.  Bernardo is infamous for his simple style of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  Bernardo has a...

Half guard is an extremely common position in which you might find yourself as you're scrambling to keep the training partners or opponents from passing your guard.  Once thought of as a last ditch position, overtime the position has become a powerful and...

We’ve all been in that position with the flexible lanky guy who plays a crazy open guard.  His legs seem to come out of nowhere every time we are about to pass the guard.  The open guard can be one of the most...