Like most things in jiu jitsu, passing the opponent's guard seems simple on paper.  I'm just trying to get around their legs, right?  Much easier said than done.  There are so many things to consider and be wary of as you attempt to...

Luiz Panza is a black world champion and one of the most exciting Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitors on the mats today. Though he has yet to develop the name recognition of some of the superstars and luminaries of the BJJ world, that is...

The story of David and Goliath has many theological meanings.  But the battle between the stronger, Goliath and the smaller, weaker David has taken on a more popularized and secular meaning and is used to describe any scenario where a smaller, perhaps weaker...

Submitting your opponent is one of the most important and difficult parts of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  Learning submissions is also one of the fun parts of bjj.  One of the most underrated submissions is the wrist lock.  The wrist lock is not very...

In the corner of your gym or BJJ academy there lies the key to an endless gas tank, hip mobility, and overall strength that will make your training partners and opponents tremble, knowing that you are immune to the deep waters of fatigue...

Closed guard is one of the most important guards in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  It is one of the most versatile guards because of its effectiveness in nogi, gi, MMA, and self-defense.  Closed guard is extremely important when developing your bjj game.  It will...

In the competitive grappling and mixed martial arts world, few coaches are as sought after as John Danaher, a Renzo Gracie black belt and long-time instructor at Renzo's Manhattan headquarters.  The list of athletes under Professor Danaher's tutelage include MMA superstars like former...

Controlling the hips is paramount in so many aspects of bjj.  You need to control the hips to maintain side control, back position, mount, and to play guard or pass your opponent’s guard.  Controlling the hips and moving your hips may be the...

A fundamental concept of jiu jitsu is efficiency.  By using leverage, the techniques of BJJ allow us to use the minimum amount of strength and effort for maximum benefit.  It is important to also apply this idea of efficiency to how one develops...

Leg locks are quickly becoming extremely popular throughout the Jiu Jitsu community.  With the revolution in sub only tournaments leg locks have increased in popularity.  They are an effective tool in gi, nogi, and MMA.  We wrote an article, “Leg Locks Overview” discussing...

There is an insidious sickness that plagues the jiu jitsu mats.  Left unchecked, this plague could wipe out jiu jitsu as we know it.  The disease I'm referring to is the tendency of teammates and training partners to stop training after they earn...

The kimura is often perceived as a submission.  As you progress on your Jiu Jitsu journey, you should learn the benefits and versatility of the kimura not as a submission, but as a position.  Yes, the kimura is a submission but is also...

“That’s not jiu-jitsu…”  I’ll never forget when I returned to the world of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu after a long hiatus and tried to apply “old school” techniques that I had learned in the late 90s and early 2000s.  Techniques that my father applied...

Dean "The Boogeyman" Lister has built a career being one of the most feared grapplers on the planet.  As one of the pioneers of the American leg submission game, he helped pave the way for the current crop of leg attack specialists who...

Everybody and their grandmother knows what a triangle choke is nowadays with the popularity and proliference of MMA.  Ask anyone you know what a triangle choke is and they may not be able to execute it, but they can probably describe it to...