No Gi Passing: Techniques vs. Principles With any aspect of Jiu Jitsu, there are two levels to think about. The first level, and the one that’s most obvious, is looking at individual moves in detail. It’s helpful to build our toolbox by...

What Exactly is a “Lockdown” Again? Today’s technique trick is a little advanced. If you haven’t played with these positions before, then I hope this is an enticing first look. The move I want to highlight is built off of a pretty specific...

  Protect Your Neck The guillotine is a brutal choke. It goes on fast, it goes on from many angles, and it doesn’t care how strong you are. This versatility and speed makes the guillotine an ideal choice for sport practitioners, who occasionally...

  If you are coming to this site, chances are you have heard the legend of how John Danaher became interested in leg locks. The story goes that Dean Lister was visiting the Renzo Gracie Academy in NYC. After seeing Lister submit his...

The Pressure is Mounting Part of learning Jiu Jitsu is learning to handle pressure from the bottom of any position you may end up in. At first, it’s not an easy task and even positions like half guard feel up close and personal....

What’s in a Name? The D’arce choke, sometimes referred to as the Brabo choke, is an arm-in choke that can put a devastating squeeze on the opponent’s neck. Since neither name is very descriptive, feel free to take your pick! The most common...

From Bad to Worse Anyone who’s been on the mat, from white belt to black, has experienced the crushing pressure of side control from an experienced player. From this position, a seasoned grappler can access several submissions as well as holding a very...

  Jiu jitsu enjoys a special place in the grappling world. Over the past 30 years, jiu jitsu has been the fastest growing grappling art in the world. Interested observers could point to many factors to explain this phenomenon. The first UFC was...

The backside 50/50 has gained loads of popularity over the course of the past few years due to it being utilized at the highest levels of competition by some of today's most celebrated BJJ stars. Most notably, Lachlan Giles who managed to turn...

Keeping Our Tools Sharp The hip bump sweep is a technique that most Jiu Jitsu players encounter very early on in their careers. They find themselves in closed guard and in need of a way to reverse the position, and the hip bump...

The Four Horseman For most people, being on top while sparring is more comfortable than fighting from their backs. Learning to submit people from an apparently inferior position is a difficult transition for many people. At first, we learn to work from closed...

The triangle choke is a well-known tool in the submission grappling world, having seen action everywhere from local tournaments to the UFC. It’s so effective, in fact, that just locking up the correct setup can feel like a victory for the person attacking....

Kettlebells are the perfect tool for combat sports athletes wanting to build strength and stability—you don’t need a lot of equipment, a lot of space, or even spend a lot of time to get a great workout. All you need is a single...

Depending on who you ask, Jiu Jitsu is a great way to stay active, promote health, learn self defense, or practice a sport. Each individual might give a different reason, or combination of reasons, for pursuing the path. As a result,The world of...

  Whether you are a newcomer to Jiu Jitsu or a lifelong practitioner, the triangle choke is one of the most recognizable and distinctive submission holds in the sport. Often used to finish fights in both Jiu Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts, there’s...