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Upgrade Your Self-Defense With This Video By The Great Dean Lister!
Full Nelson Defense by Dean Lister
Who is Dean Lister? Dean is one of the great pioneers of Jiu Jitsu and mixed martial arts in America. He is an ADCC Champion. He fought in some of the biggest MMA organizations: Pride FC and Ultimate Fighting Championships. His teaching has had significant impact in both MMA and Jiu Jitsu.
Dean Lister was born in San Diego, California. However, with his family in the military he spent most of his youth abroad in South American countries. Like a lot of military kids, he faced constant bullying as the perpetual new kid. He sought martial arts as a way to defend himself. When he returned to the states, he found wrestling, then Sambo and eventually Jiu Jitsu. He spent over a decade training at Fabio Santos’ academy in San Diego where he earned his brown belt. Eventually Dean would earn his black belt from fellow Santos student Jeffery Higgs.
Lister’s grappling accomplishments are significant. He competed in ADCC tournament 6 times and is the ADCC Open Weight Champion (2003) and ADCC Super Fight Champion (2005) and ADCC Champion (2011). Additionally, he a two-time national (US) sambo champion, four-time Machado National (US) BJJ champion and National (US) Gracie BJJ champion. He has notable victories over Jean Jacques Machado, Iiir Latifi, Nathan Marquardt, Saulo Ribeiro, Marcio 'Pe De Pano' Cruz, Alexandre Ferreira ‘Cacareco’, Masutatsu Yano, Augusto Ferrari, Radek Turek, Rodolfo Vieira, Joao Assis, and Ricardo "Demente" Abreu.
Dean’s grappling skills served him well in MMA. He has had over 20 fights in some of the most prestigious organizations. Lister was a King of the Cage Middleweight Champion. He has also fought in Pride Fighting Championships and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Upgrade your self-defense with this video by the great Dean Lister!
Lister is well known for his teaching abilities and has been sought all over the world for his combat knowledge. He was a grappling coach for Tito Ortiz on Ultimate Fighter Series 7 (TUF 7). He teaches at Victory Mixed Martial Arts in San Diego with fellow black belts and Jiu Jitsu legends Jeff Glover and Jocko Willink. It is also worth noting that Dean served as the catalyst that introduced the great John Danaher to leg locks. John tells the story of Dean training at Renzo’s. Danaher asked Dean a question about a leg lock. Lister replied, “Why would you ignore 50% of the human body?” It was Dean’s simple statement that started Danaher on the path to create his legendary leg lock system that would shift the paradigm of Jiu Jitsu.
In this video Dean Lister shows the defense to a full nelson. Dean notes that this attack is used by bouncers throughout the world and even kids mimicking pro wrestling. However, it is a dangerous attack because the possibility exists that you can break someone’s neck. He states that there are two types of full nelsons. The first version is when the attacker has his hands together in a gable grip. While this version is difficult to escape there is no danger to the neck. The second version the attacker has his palms facing your head. With the pressure to the neck there is a real danger of the neck breaking. Lister notes that if you think about it a choke is a lot nicer. Certainly being choked unconscious is dangerous but it does not necessitate a broken neck. To defend this attack Dean connects his hands together in an s grip. He pushes his head back with his hands. His elbows come in as he engages his whole core. His partner for this demonstration, Bernardo Faria, notes that it puts a lot of pressure on his wrists. Dean notes that this certainly leaves your midsection vulnerable to attack but at least you have saved your neck. Thank you Dean. This is a common attack and often its defense is not explored.
This video is a wonderful example of Dean’s ability to communicate technique to even novice grapplers. Like all of Lister’s instructional videos, there is a lot of detail. I know that I often gain new insights every time I re-watch one of his videos. Dean Lister’s instructional videos have a powerful impact on anyone who makes a careful study of them. Certainly, the Jiu Jitsu community is lucky to have him.
Gain the confidence to feel comfortable in any situation. Dean Lister is not only a BJJ Champion. He is also a self-defense expert. Learn how to utilize your Jiu Jitsu in life threatening situations. Find out what works and what doesn't in self-defense scenarios. Dive inside the mind of one of the greatest American martial artists to change your perspective on the functionality of Jiu Jitsu.f
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