Jiu Jitsu Map

Royler Gracie said in his book Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Submission Grappling Techniques, “Over the years, I have learned that one of the most important things you  can do is to allow your body and mind to rest.  The natural tendency is to simply ignore the body’s messages.” (pg. 23)

I have seen a guy dislocate a elbow and be back in class the next… Continue reading | 1 Comment

So you are getting better at your sweeps and escapes and you are finding yourself gaining the mount position more and more often.  But you can’t seem to stay on.  Your opponent bumps you right off.  Here are some secrets to keeping that position long enough to make the submission.

1. Get up under the arm pits.  Don’t sit up back on the guys hips.  You are sitting on his

In my post “Why Am I Writing About Gi vs. No-gi”  I talked about the differences between the two in my opinion and how I was going to but my thoughts to the test.  I did compete in a No-gi tournament.  I did lose and it was not for the reason I would have expected.  I couldn’t get the guy… Continue reading | 1 Comment

Everyone loves to see the Flying Triangle or the Flying Arm Bar.  They are spectacular.  But how often are they used and what percent of submission come from them?  Lets face it, not many.  The guy who wins the most matches in BJJ or MMA has good solid skills in the basics.  The secret to high percentage submissions is simplicity.  The more steps there are to a submission the longer… Continue reading | 2 Comments

What is the secret to winning Jiu Jitsu? I am amazed at what I discover every time I go to train with a open mind.  Let me share with you one of the latest things I’ve learned.  As a white belt I was a white belt.  I couldn’t over come someone higher then me unless I got lucky or so I thought.  When I got my blue belt all the… Continue reading

I’ve taken some flak about a few of my posts where I call BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) a “Gentle Art”.  It seems to insult some people to think of BJJ as “Gentle” in any way shape or form.  Don’t get me wrong, BJJ is deadly and it is all in how you use it.  Arm bars can be used to tear a arm from the join or to cause significant… Continue reading

My daughter was 5 when I tried to get her started in BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu).  We would sit on the side line and watch.  Well, I would watch.  She wasn’t to interested.  I thought that after a while she might warm up to the other kids and join in.  After paying for 2 months of class and sitting on the side lines I decided this wasn’t working.  I gave… Continue reading

1. Friendly.  You want someone that wants to teach not be idolized.  Remember you are paying them for a service not becoming their peon.
2. Knowledgeable.  Check the instructors credentials.  Just because they say they are a black belt doesn’t mean they are.  Call the school that they claim awarded them their belt.
3. Dedicated.  Does the instructor teach on a regular basis or are you paying for a lay person to

If you have been in BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu) or MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) for anytime you will have heard the gi vs. no-gi debate.  So why am I writing about it?  Because I want to hear some real arguments for no-gi as your foundation technique. I see no-gi technique as a subset of gi (kimono) technique.  If you use a gi to train, you learn a larger set of techniques… Continue reading | 2 Comments