Training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can give you one of the most comprehensive full-body workouts available today.  It is extremely adaptable to every person regardless of their current fitness level.  From the warm up, to the technique drills, to the live rolling, very few...

As you begin to learn more techniques and apply them in live rolling and even on the competition mats early on, you will find yourself gravitating to certain techniques.  The reasons can vary as to why you gravitate to a specific position or...

Recently, ADCC and UFC veteran Tom DeBlass took to social media to address the age old question of whether or not jiu jitsu competition is necessary to be promoted and ultimately earn your black belt.  There are a wide variety of stances on...

Remember your old friend closed guard?  When you first started out in BJJ, it seemed so simple to wrap your legs around your training partners hips and wrap your arms around their head and they were caught in the web that was your...

In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu it is extremely important to have confidence in your escapes.  An aggressive offence will stem from a confident defense.  In bjj, in order to establish a good defense, you have to know your escapes.  Some people notoriously say in...

Do you even Deep Half?  Deep half guard is one of the best guards in the world.  Although it is not extremely popular, there has been high level black belts who have been able to prove its effectiveness.  5x Black Belt World Champion,...

Side control is one of the most dominant positions in bjj, we work so hard to achieve this position by passing the guard or getting a sweep.  Passing the guard is one of the most difficult things in bjj and if we pass,...

Half guard is becoming popularized by jiu jitsu icons like Bernardo Faria and Tom DeBlass among others who have taken what was formerly a last ditch effort to stop someone from passing your guard, and developed entire offensive and defensive systems that have...

Tom DeBlass recently went to his social media channels and issued a warning to his students about skipping the class warm up.  If you've following Tom DeBlass for any length of time, you most likely realize behind that smile and the sense of...

Less than 30 days ago, you were taking stock of your life and your fitness goals and like millions of people around the world, you stated that 2018 was going to be your year.  You were going to lose the weight you've been...

Have you ever asked your instructor how to to escape a certain position and without hesitation they say to you, "Don't get caught in (insert position)"?  As painful and callous as that response can seem at the time, there is a small element...

The butterfly guard is often one of the first forays into the world of open guard play that BJJ practitioners attempt to institute into their game plans.  By keeping both feet tucked somewhat safely between the thighs of the opponent and keeping the...

The guillotine is a powerful choke that can force one's opponent to tap as an air choke, a blood choke or a combination of the two.  No matter which, it is a very high percentage submission when applied properly.  The technique is often...

In the school of thought known as Zen Buddhism, there is a concept that plays an important role a Zen practitioners worldview, known as "beginner's mind."  Beginner's mind is the notion of always approaching life with fresh eyes, allowing your intuition and curiosity...

 The half guard is one of the first guards many bjj practitioners are introduced to.  Half guard has long been one of the most famous guards and has been proven effective at the highest levels of competition by the likes of Bernardo Faria,...