The question of whether or not strength and conditioning helps your Jiu Jitsu has long been discussed.  Many people think it is essential for competitors and others believe that all your time should be spent working on Jiu Jitsu and not strength and...

Do you ever find yourself struggling to beat bigger and stronger opponents?  Do think it is hard to get an arm bar or triangle on someone who is much stronger than you?  Can’t keep your grips for cross chokes or bow and arrow...

The half guard has long been one of the most popular guards in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and mixed martial arts.  The half guard is very good for both sport Jiu Jitsu and self-defense, it is also one of the most frequently utilized guards...

Full mastery of a BJJ position can require so much study and breakdown of the sometimes dozens of minute elements that make up the successful execution of said position.  The perfect positioning may never be achieved, but that is no reason why we...

There is an old story about one of Johnny Cash's guitar players where an interviewer asked him what his thoughts were on the rising crop of up and coming guitar players who were playing songs that may have been more technically flashy and...

BJJ escapes are probably the first area of one's game that you will begin to notice a distinct weakness in as you begin to amass knowledge.  We spend the vast majority of our training time focused on learning more and more techniques and...

You've probably heard the phrase "your BJJ game".  Someone's jiu jitsu game typically refers to the moves, techniques or positions, that a particular person tends to use in training or competition.  Though at some point we think we're going to master the art...

The arm drag is an extremely important technique to learn which opens up entries to back takes, sweeps, and even submissions.  The beauty of the arm drag is that it is one of those positions that pays incredible dividends in jiu jitus on...

The half guard is one of the most popular guards in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA.  The half guard is frequently utilized at the highest levels of both Brazilian Jiu Jitsu/Grappling, and MMA.  We see the half guard at Worlds, ADCC, and in...

Closed guard is one of the most popular positions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and in MMA.  Closed guard is one of the first guards that many people who try bjj are exposed to, and it is one of the positions that the casual...

Yoga for BJJ and stretching may be the most important things you can add to your Brazilian jiu jitsu training regimen.  Yoga and stretching can help you so much by increasing your dexterity, helping your low back and hip pain, and preventing injuries...

If you are not familiar with Neil Melanson and you are a fan of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or MMA, you have been living under a rock.  Neil Melanson is the coach of blackzillians and is infamous for training some of the best MMA...

Dean Lister is one of the best grapplers of all time.  Dean Lister won the most prestigious title ever;he won the ADCC open weight division in 2003.  Dean also went over ten years as a black belt without being submitted.  Dean has...

The over under pass is one of the most effective guard passes that should be in your arsenal.  By stapling your opponent's body to the mat with shoulder pressure in their diaphragm, while maintaining control of both sides of their hips with an...

Anyone who finds their way into a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Academy and onto those mats can speak to what a unique and life-changing activity BJJ can be.  Your first few classes may be a whirlwind of heavy breathing, confusion and fatigue but at...