We all have those training partners in our BJJ classes that give us endless trouble with their dexterity, flexibility and creative guard games.  Training with an opponent with a great open guard can feel like you are trapped in quicksand or fighting against...

Leg locks are commonly perceived as heel hooks, toe holds, ankle locks, knee bars, and estima locks.  People often forget about compression locks and slicers.  Compressions and slicers are absolutely devastating and have been extremely effective for years.  Why are they so effective? ...

The berimbolo has become an extremely popular position. Almost every academy has a couple of guys who love to berimbolo and it can be very difficult to deal with. Why is it so difficult to deal with? There are so many minor details...

Escapes may be the secret weapon to a dominant offense.  When your opponent is constantly attacking you and you manage to escape, you may be able to use the element of surprise and capitalize.  Sometimes, your opponent may be so focused on submitting...

The North/South position is an extremely powerful position which allows the top player to maintain strong control over their opponent by maximizing pressure and control on the upper third of the opponent's torso.  By maintaining a strong north/south control, you are able to...

The Powerful Arm Drag For Takedowns & BJJ Guard Players The arm drag is a powerful setup (and a takedown itself) for many takedowns found in wrestling and judo, but is also one of the best weapons for a BJJ Guard Player. The...

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...

Once you start BJJ and fall in love with the seemingly endless road to black belt, you will change as time passes into a different practitioner.  As with any long-term endeavor, such as high school, a career or marriage, you are not the same...

The half butterfly is one of the best hybrid guards there is.  It is one of the most simple and effective guards.  The half butterfly is an extremely versatile position; it works very well in gi, nogi, and MMA. Why is the half...

The kimura is one of the most dynamic submissions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  Entire systems have been developed using the kimura grip as their base.  It is a mainstay in every high level competitors aresenal. If you want to further understand the versatility...

Anyone who trains BJJ knows that it is an amazing workout.  The average class at every BJJ gym and academy typically begins with a short (or sometimes long) warm-up that could include light jogging around the edges of the mats, calisthenics, stretching, and...

Knowing how to attack from the back is one of the most important elements of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  If you get to someone’s back you have a massive advantage so it would be a shame not to capitalize on it.  Before learning back...

X-guard is one of the best guards in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  X-guard is predominantly used in sport Jiu Jitsu and is an excellent tool for sweeping opponent’s in competition.  Although this guard is not the best for submitting, it has a multitude of...

Training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is always difficult.  Some say it can be more difficult for the smaller people, some say it’s more difficult for the bigger guys.  No matter what your build, age, fitness level, or health, bjj is going to be difficult. ...

For anyone that follows the career of the inimitable Tom DeBlass, you know that he is most well-known for his No Gi competitive grappling, winning three ADCC North American Trials and multiple IBJJF titles.  But he also has a solid foundation in gi...