The X Guard can be an excellent weapon. It is a high percentage sweeping guard, with submission possibilities. It is also one of the few guards that works even better when your opponent is bigger than you. If you do not know how to defend against the X Guard, then you will have a very […]

There are two main types of throws when it comes to Judo and Jiu Jitsu. There is the throws that you can do to throw your opponent down, while you stay standing. Then there are sacrifice throws, where you throw your opponent and go to the ground with them. Out of the many sacrifice throws […]

Claudio Calasans is a game competitor and a bad, bad man. Claudio has a high octane game where he constantly looks for the finish. He is aggressive, technical and feared both standing and on the ground. Claudio is a dual black belt, holding black belts in BJJ and Judo. He knows how to play in […]

The bow & arrow choke is one of the most battle tested choking techniques in all of gi grappling. When it comes to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Judo, this is a deadly, and common sought after choke. This choke utilizes the kimono jacket to effectively put an opponent into a state of unconsciousness within six […]

For people who like to mainly play some type of guard style for their game, retention is important. At some point in your training or competition, you will get your guard passed. But if you know the tips for guard retention, having your guard passed will become less of a possibility. It doesn’t matter if […]

Wrist locks are definitely the black sheep techniques of the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu world. They haven’t caught on in popularity yet, but are undeniably effective. One competitor that has developed an awesome wrist lock game is the one and only Travis Stevens. The Danaher black belt, and Judo Olympian has seen the light. And that […]

The knee shield can be a frustrating aspect of Jiu Jitsu if you’re a top player and guard passer. People who like to play the knee shield game are great at keeping their opponent’s weight off of them, can use their energy efficiently and set up some cool sweeps and submissions. But there is a […]

Dean Lister is the godfather of leg locks here in the states. Back when leg locks were considered dirty, Dean was leg locking his way to championship titles. Starting with his straight foot locks at blue belt, he later developed a dangerous heel hook game at the higher ranks and soon was winning matches in […]

The north/south position in Jiu Jitsu can be tricky. There aren’t many people who specialize in attacks from that position. And even more so, most people don’t take the time to practice the defenses and escapes from it either. While there are not endless amounts of attacks from north/south, the few that are there are […]

One of my favorite guard passes in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has got to be the double-under pass. While its cousin, the over-under pass seems to be more popular, as far as control goes, the double-under pass is my go to. The cool aspect of the double-under pass is that you hit it from playing low, […]

While leg attacks are feared these days, they are not unstoppable. Instead of fearing the foot lock, one should respect it and know the proper defense of it. I have not been submitted by a straight foot lock in years, because of the fact that the proper defense is easy to master. Knowing the battles […]

Throughout the past few years, the leg lock game has become a major aspect of competition grappling, more so than ever before.  One result of this has been the development of “new” systems, but another, far more interesting result has been the resurgence in popularity of certain grappling arts.  Perhaps one of the most interesting of these […]

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When it comes to stand up grappling, foot sweeping has become kind of a lost art. Everyone is either trying to hit double leg and single leg takedowns, or big hip throws. Now those are all great takedown techniques, but too many people ignore effective foot sweeps. You don’t see them much in BJJ, and […]