The History and Basics of the Omoplata The omoplata shoulder lock might be the most versatile submission in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It's origins can be traced to the past through judo and catch wrestling and it really didn't start showing up in BJJ...

Whether you are a beginner or an advanced Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, one of the most frustrating spots to find yourself stuck is in a good closed guard.  We all have faced those training partners and opponents with the endless Keenan Cornelius-like legs...

In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu it is vital to establish a well-rounded and complete bjj game.  What are we referring to when we say complete?  This means that you want to have a dangerously good guard, good passing, and good submissions.  You don’t want...

We’ve all been in class when a new guy walks in and at the end of the class wants to roll with people. We also know that the majority of new guys can be extremely spazzy and explosive.  So what is the best...

Submitting your opponent is one of the most important and difficult parts of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  Learning submissions is also one of the fun parts of bjj.  One of the most underrated submissions is the wrist lock.  The wrist lock is not very...

Closed guard is one of the most important guards in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  It is one of the most versatile guards because of its effectiveness in nogi, gi, MMA, and self-defense.  Closed guard is extremely important when developing your bjj game.  It will...

The Kimura is one of the most popular submissions in bjj and MMA.  It is an extremely versatile submission with hundreds of set-ups.  The Kimura can be used in gi, nogi, MMA, from bottom, and from top.  Developing a good Kimura will expedite...

For the most part, closed guard is the first guard you learn in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the last one you will master.  Everybody remembers their first bjj class, most of them include an introduction to what guard is by demonstrating closed guard,...

Former Navy Seal, author and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, Jocko Willink approaching every aspect of his life with a 'Will Do', not a 'can do' attitude.  Typically up every morning at or before 4:30am, he starts most days in his home gym...

Much has been written about the painful shoulder submission, the Kimura.  The powerful technique where one controls the wrist of their opponent with a powerful figure-four grip on one's own wrist and utilizes leverage to torque the shoulder by driving the opponent's wrist...

The history and development of jiu jitsu can have some very interesting parallels to one's personal development.  In the beginning, most beginners are exposed to closed guard and the submissions and sweeps that can be initiated from this fundamental position.  As we begin...

The cross choke is one of the first gi chokes that you learn in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  Many people say that “it is the first choke you learn and the last one that you master.”  Bjj has a multitude of different gi chokes,...

   Rodrigo Cavaca's closed guard is a venus fly trap - once you are in there, he uses the gi so well that you might as well just tap.  In the video below, he shows a beautiful series you can use if your...

When you pull your opponent into closed guard, it should be the ultimate advantage - even moreso than side control or mount?  Why?  Because you control his posture and you possess way more leverage than he does: your legs control his body and...

The over hook is one of the most valuable tools that a closed guard player can use. It breaks down the posture, gives you control over a side of an opponent’s body and it sets you up for some pretty great submission attacks. While there aren’t an endless amount of submission attacks from the over […]