The Ultimate Guide To Attacking And Defending Heel Hooks What Is The Heel Hook - And Why Does It Kick So Much Ass?! My friend, the heel hook is the nastiest, most bad ass, must destructive leg lock submission. It is responsible for...

The kimura is often perceived solely as a submission.  In reality, the kimura is so much more.  The grip is extremely powerful and can be used for submissions, sweeps, back takes, passing, and even more than that.  The kimura grip is one of...

It seems that there are as many approaches to diet and nutrition as there are Gracie family members.  Take a look at the local bookstore or on Amazon and you will find literally thousands of books on the topic.  Google the word "diet"...

The closed guard is one of the best guards in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  There are so many submission opportunities, sweeps, and moves that you can do from the closed guard.   Closed guard is also a very low risk position meaning that when someone...

If you're like me, the first time you came face to face with an opponent or training partner who utilized a wrist lock, you probably felt a sense of outrage, a feeling of being ripped off, of being cheated.  What was this dirty...

The turtle position is one of the most underrated positions in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  It is imperative for bjj practitioners to feel comfortable attacking and defending from the turtle position.  Why is the turtle so important to learn?  If you are good at...

Leg and foot locks have long carried an air of controversy which continues to this day.  The murky history of the development and subversion of the leg game allegedly begins with the legendary rivalry between the Gracie's and the branch of the jiu...

  In the earliest stages of our jiu jitsu training and study, it is easy to become used to thinking about techniques in isolation.  It's in our nature to work to understand all the details of a technique and try to compartmentalize them and...

We all have those training partners in our BJJ classes that give us endless trouble with their dexterity, flexibility and creative guard games.  Training with an opponent with a great open guard can feel like you are trapped in quicksand or fighting against...

Leg locks are commonly perceived as heel hooks, toe holds, ankle locks, knee bars, and estima locks.  People often forget about compression locks and slicers.  Compressions and slicers are absolutely devastating and have been extremely effective for years.  Why are they so effective? ...

The berimbolo has become an extremely popular position. Almost every academy has a couple of guys who love to berimbolo and it can be very difficult to deal with. Why is it so difficult to deal with? There are so many minor details...

Escapes may be the secret weapon to a dominant offense.  When your opponent is constantly attacking you and you manage to escape, you may be able to use the element of surprise and capitalize.  Sometimes, your opponent may be so focused on submitting...

The North/South position is an extremely powerful position which allows the top player to maintain strong control over their opponent by maximizing pressure and control on the upper third of the opponent's torso.  By maintaining a strong north/south control, you are able to...

The Powerful Arm Drag For Takedowns &BJJ Guard Players The arm drag is a powerful setup (and a takedown itself) for many takedowns found in wrestling and judo, but is also one of the best weapons for a BJJ Guard Player. The...

The History and Basics of the Omoplata The omoplata shoulder lock might be the most versatile submission in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It's origins can be traced to the past through judo and catch wrestling and it really didn't start showing up in BJJ...