We talk to black belt competitor Matheus Gonzaga about his time training with Rodolfo Vieira, coaching at Bernardo Faria's school, training at Atos, having more BJJ fighters in his family, and what it is really like being an uke for Professor John Danaher....

Unless you're living under a rock, you undoubtedly know who Gordon Ryan is.  At barely 25 years old, with about six years as a black belt he has put the entire BJJ competitive scene on its collective heels.  Having most recently won double...

Making weight is still considered one of the hardest parts of any combat sport. Some refer to it as “The battle, Before the battle.” Every Boxer, Wrestler, Weightlifter and Jiu Jitsu Practitioner has felt the anxiety of making weight. It seems like such...

Travis Lutter is an OG Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and MMA fighter who has fought on the highest stages in the world.  During 2006, Travis Lutter would compete and ultimately win the Ultimate Fighter 4 series and earn a title shot against...

Over the past few years Craig Jones has been part of an elite group of BJJ competitors that helped to bring the leg lock game into the spotlight. Along with Gordon Ryan, Lachlan Gies, and Garry Tonon, just to name a few, Jones’s...

When you're just starting out training BJJ the difference in our minds between Closed Guard and Open Guard is about as big as the difference between Kansas and Oz for Dorothy. With closed guard and half guard, I know where my opponent is,...

  There may not be a more studied, practiced, or applied position in BJJ than the half guard. This positional titan of the art has been used in thousands of ways by practitioners all around the world as a hub to launch favorite...

The fundamental underpinnings of jiu jitsu are built upon the notion of utilizing leverage and angles to be able to gain maximum control over an opponent's body, while expending minimal effort or strength. In this excerpt from his HALF GUARD PASSING AND DYNAMIC...

  We hear the term early and quite often in our training. Cross face. This highly utilized tactic is one of the most important aspects of control in all of BJJ and it is used in a variety of ways to control, subdue,...

 Andre Galvao is one of the most highly decorated grappling competitors on the planet.  With six ADCC World Championships and six IBJJF World Championships, Galvao stands high in the upper echelons of grappling competitors. Galvao also is the leader of the powerhouse Atos...

James Clingerman is a highly regarded grappling and combat coach and instructor from Indiana.  He and his wife AJ own and operate one of the biggest academies in the midwest.  James' story transcends the mats in a very profound way.  For James Clingerman, Jiu...

Travis Stevens is not just one of the most successful American judokas in history, winning the silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics.  On the side, he just so happens to also be a John Danaher black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  Travis...

  Or you know….DON'T! Leg locks can get a bad reputation at times for being dangerous. This isn’t without merit of course. Many injuries have occurred in competition and in practice due to a submission going too far. Plus you may have seen...

Despite the devastating news to grappling fans all over the world that Gordon Ryan and Craig Jones have pulled out of the upcoming Who's Number One event Friday, July 31st due to Covid 19, there is a silver lining in the fact that...

Neil Melanson is one of the most sought after grappling and MMA coaches in the world.  With a background in BJJ, Catch Wrestling and MMA, he has become well known for his brutally effective approach to jiu jitsu and MMA grappling. During a...