In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, the art of wrist locking has become somewhat of a lost art. People often scoff at wrist locks, saying that they do not work on resisting opponents and that they are a waste of time. That could not be farther from the truth. Unlike some other submissions on arms and shoulders, […]

Baret Yoshida is one BJJ competitor that has done it all. A crafty veteran who is still competing to this day, he has done so much in his Jiu Jitsu career. Growing up in Hawaii, Baret started his Jiu Jitsu journey in 1994 at Relson Gracie’s school, before finding and settling at the Inoue brother’s […]

As the title states, does gi training make your no gi better? This is a hotly debated topic. Some say that if you’re competing in no gi, that you should only be training in no gi? Sounds reasonable, but it is not true. Doing training sessions in the gi, will make your no gi game […]

In Jiu Jitsu, chokes are still very much the king of techniques. There are some tough people that can power out of certain submissions, but with chokes, it is harder to power out, due to the fact that a good choke only takes a matter of seconds to put someone into unconsciousness. Some of the […]

When it comes to open guards in Jiu Jitsu, one of the most versatile and dynamic has to be the butterfly guard. The butterfly guard has been a favorite of some legendary black belts and has proven its effectiveness in BJJ, submission wrestling and MMA. High percentage sweeps and submissions are available from the guard, […]

Rafael Lovato Jr is one of the best American champions to ever step on the mat and compete in Jiu Jitsu. Starting BJJ at the age of 13, he would soar through the ranks and become known as one of the toughest competitors, becoming quite well known when he was a brown belt. Working with […]

Those who are new to the no gi sector of Jiu Jitsu tend to wear t-shirts on the mats. But t-shirts are not optimal for Jiu Jitsu training. Once they absorb sweat, they sag and training partners can get their fingers and toes stuck in the shirt and that causes injuries. I’ve seen it happen […]

One of my favorite half guard styles to play, whether it is gi or no gi is the deep half guard. The deep half guard is what I would call an advanced position. Meaning, you must learn how to play standard half guard before you can play in the deep half. It is a position […]

As a Jiu Jitsu fighter that has fought in MMA, I’ve experienced firsthand how the game changes once you get locked in that cage where strikes are allowed. While being on your back in Jiu Jitsu can be a good thing, in MMA it is a little more tricky. Your guards effectiveness can go down […]

This past Saturday, Jiu Jitsu fans were treated to an excellent no gi black belt match between two of the best in the world, Danaher Death Squad competitor, Gordon Ryan and Andre Galvao black belt, Keenan Cornelius. Hosted by Grappling Industries in New York, the two highly decorated champions fought each other in a sub […]

With submission wrestling, it is up to the wrestler to choose what gear to wear. In any session, you will see some wrestlers wearing shorts, while others wear spats. Some wear spats under shorts. What’s the right gear to wear? Both have their advantages and disadvantages to better serve certain style of players. It all […]

As the former champions of the world Jiu Jitsu scene start to step down and retire, there has been an influx of great Jiu Jitsu fighters competing in various tournaments around the country and the world. The World Championships, the Pan Am’s and submission only events such as EBI have been wonderful platforms to show […]

Leg locks are all the rage in submission wrestling and no gi these days. With events such as EBI and Polaris showcasing competitors that are dominating the game with leg locks, people forget about one leg lock pioneer…Dean Lister. Dean Lister, a long time black belt and master of leg attacks, has had some truly […]

For Jiu Jitsu fighters going into MMA, there are adjustments that need to be made so that they can be successful in the cage. Things like training grappling with strikes, getting your preferred no gi grips, and working with the positions that are best for the arena of mixed martial arts. One of the positions […]

So you have decided to start MMA training. Maybe you’re doing it for a fun hobby, to get in shape or perhaps you want to become a fighter. Either way, MMA training needs to be done correctly. There are many things one can do to properly train in MMA, but here are five things you […]