How long did it take you to finally try BJJ?  We all have different stories.  For most of us, walking into a BJJ Academy for the first time to inquire about classes or even try our first class can be one of the...

Eduardo Telles is a black belt living legend.  Hailed as one of the most creative and unorthodox grapplers to ever step on the mats, his approach will have your opponents guessing because they've simply never been presented with the problems that Eduardo Telles...

John Danaher has done it again.  The third series in the Enter the System collection has been released and this time it's focused on the complete Danaher Front Head Lock position.  Following up on the wildly successful Leg Locks and Back Attacks series,...

I think, therefore, I submit It can prove valuable to reconsider how we classify various positions and techniques in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. A narrow-minded view of the potential sequences of movements that can occur from a position such as the kimura or head...

On Saturday, November 10th in Manhattan, Matheus "King Kong" Diniz and Gordon "King" Ryan will meet for the next Kasai Pro.  These two New York powerhouses are slated to compete in the Kasai Pro rule set which is made up of a 10...

Where should your focus be to improve your game? What are you working on to get better?  Are you trying to strengthen your weaknesses, or are you trying to perfect your strongest areas?  For some time, I set my focus on strengthening my...

Have you ever been in a situation where you asked your BJJ instructor how to get out of a particular position or submission and they've simply paused, looked at you and said "Don't get stuck in that position" or "Don't get caught"?  To...

Easy Checklist to Make the Visit Great Visiting a different jiu-jitsu gym can be a really fun time. Meeting new people, seeing new technique, and changing things up a bit can be good for you jiu-jitsu. But, before we head out, we need...

If you've stopped BJJ, it's time to begin again! Nobody cares why you left. They only care that you come back. Everyone has reasons as to why they can’t train or why they shouldn’t train, and some of those reasons might be totally...

Control is crucial for submission finishes Maintaining and controlling the centerl ine is an important first step in establishing control of the battle. Being in tune with where our opponent’s center line can assist us in our attacks as well as our defense....

In another example from his latest release The Filthy Kimura, Neil Melanson demonstrates a nasty kimura set up against a defensive opponent who is trying to turtle up and become defensive protecting their arm. Check out the technique below then let's break it...

Legit beef or publicity stunt? When we hear the name Erberth Santos the word “experience” definitely comes to mind. Santos has amassed a staggering 250 plus bouts in the last 3 years alone. The 24-year-old black belt known for his aggressive and action-packed...

The submission no one sees coming! The Von Flue choke. Every time I mention it my newer students, they look at me puzzled, as if I’ve just made something up for the sake of saying it. But yes, the Von Flue choke is...

Competition talk around the gym can ignite a spark in you you didn’t expect. When I started BJJ I didn’t go into it with the goal of competing. I simply wanted to be more physical than I had been in the past and...

Who is the true face of BJJ? Who do we think of when we think of the “face” of Jiu-Jitsu? Helio Gracie? Xande Ribeiro? Gordan Ryan? Keenan Cornelius? Tom DeBlass or Bernardo Faria? Some other guy or gal that we all see as...