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The Devil is in The Details with Technique

I watched the Marcelo Garcia highlights video on Georgette’s Jiu-Jitsu World.  Marcelo makes it look so effortless getting to the back and most of all putting in that Rear Naked Choke.  But I’ve come to understand from experience that The devil is in the details.  I learned this when I tried to master the Triangle.  I found there were many unseen facets to the technique.  It took me a while to really get good at it.  I had to watch video of may different people doing it.  I read books telling the exact way.  But most of all I had to try it out and do reps of it.  At this point I think I have a good mastery of it.

My thoughts have turned to getting the back and the rear naked choke.  I feel  that same feeling I did when I first started learning the triangle choke.  I know the fundamentals but I don’t seem to be able to get it to work in a roll.  Marcelo inspired me to make it my next choke-of-choice.  Roy Dean has set me on the path to master it.  So who is really good and showing the nuances of getting to the back?

Jiu-Jitsu is Life and Life is Jiu-Jitsu

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If Only He Had Know Jiu-Jitsu!

I love to see news clips like this.  This guy was trying a Rear Naked Choke.  It is also obvious he didn’t have any BJJ experience.  As you will see in the video he doesn’t get his hooks in or really attempt any takedown.  He doesn’t even get the choke on.  The bank robber gets away.  If you listen to the commentators though you would think we was Black Ops or something.

If only he had known Jiu-Jitsu.  He could have taken control and the guy would be in jail awaiting his hearing.  What ever the case its always great to see how applicable BJJ is everyday and that there are good people willing to stand up to crime and terrorism.

Jiu-Jitsu is Life and Life is Jiu-Jitsu

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Jiu-Jitsu Is Effective For All Ages

I doubt she is a world champion like the video claims but she does the job well enough.  I would say Dad taught her the Rear Naked Choke but forgot to tell her about tapping.  I think it is funny how she is only mildly concerned.  She calls out "Mom!" like "Dad’s playing dead again".  All of my children will be learning BJJ for their self defense.  My oldest daughter isn’t to excited.  Maybe I should show her this video?  Then again lets not give her any ideas, just yet.  What this video really demonstrates is the effectiveness of BJJ for all ages.  Even a full sized man can’t evade a well placed Rear Naked Choke.  The girls doesn’t have strength on her side she has technique.  After all isn’t that what BJJ is about?  The little guy having a even chance with the big one?  I’m sure some would say he could have slammed her around if he was a real attacker.  I’m not to sure about that.  It came on fast and he seemed to think he had time.  By the time he realized it was too late the lights were going out.  I myself have been caught in a ankle lock by a 40lb student at my school.  Everyone has their a Achilles heel.  BJJ just gives you a better chance of exploiting it.

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The Rear Naked Choke Works on a Pit Bull

I am always amazed at how useful BJJ is.  You can use it to change diapers or choke Pit Bulls.  It changes lives for the better all the time.  When a 9 year old boy can feel empowered enough to try a Rear Naked Choke on a attacking Pit Bull that says loads about BJJ.

Rear Naked Choke Used On Attacking Pit Bull

I think we should teach BJJ in public schools.  In fact, TheFightWorkPodCast has even done a few interviews on it.  They are #154 – Jiu-Jitsu in Public Schools and Gracie Barra Donates Gis to Public School.  It is my understanding that Kendo is taught in Japanese public schools.  I’m sure other countries have martial art classes the students can take.  I know I could have taken Judo at college.  West Side Jiu-Jitsu, where I practice, got its start by teaching High School students for free after school.  Mark talks about one of the success he had because of it in his post, The "Killer" Nerd.  There are so many things out there that teach kids to act without thought and so few that teach them to be in control.  I think BJJ could be great tool in our public schools for good.

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A Funny But Effective BJJ Technique To Get The Rear Naked Choke

You have back control and you have your hooks in.  You are trying to put a Rear Naked Choke or any choke on the guy for that matter but can’t get under his chin.  Here is a funny but effective BJJ technique that I learned from Mark Johnson at West Side Jiu-Jitsu.  Underneath your nose is a bundle of nerves.  Now the funny part, rub in a sawing motion the nerves upward with the blade of your hand.  It looks like you are scratching under their nose for them.  At first they resist and then as you increase the pressure it hurts.  The next thing you know they lift their head and you quickly slide your hand from the nose to the throat.  When I saw this I realized that they use this when they take pictures of babies.  The photographer would put her finger under my child’s nose to get her to raise her head for the photo.  I always wondered why the child would look up so easily with it.  Its not so much that it hurts at first as it is annoying.  Below is a picture of me showing the position of your hand with my Submission Master Grappling Dummy.  I know that descriptions don’t always work.

Finger-Under-Nose-Technique

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BJJ A “Gentle Art”! Don’t You Watch UFC!

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 pain and threat  for a submission.   You see BJJ used in UFC fights all the time.  It is part of a MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) fighters standard skill set and for good reason.

A punch or kick is only a split second in time and the damage is done.  With BJJ and grappling its different.  You have time once the technique is in place.  Do I choke them to death or just out?  Do I dislocate their elbow or do I just bend it enough to hear them yell “UNCLE”.  I say BJJ has a gentle side only because you can decide to be gentle.  Its like Spock’s famous Vulcan Nerve Pinch.  What is to stop Spock from killing you or letting you come out of it once you have been pinched?  In my post “How To Use The Rear Naked Choke” I think my point is made in graphic detail.  Watch the video and you tell me if the security guard wasn’t using BJJ to be gentle.  Then check out this video with Grayson Greener.  Grayson doesn’t immediately destroy the guys shoulder.  He gives him time to tap out before he does the damage.  BJJ is about choice that is my argument related to being gentle.

 

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The Eight Stages of Recovery After Being Choked Out

We practice choking someone out all the time in BJJ but no one ever tells you what happens when you get in a real world situation and what it will be like.  Here is what I have gathered from sources that have choked some one out in real street fights.  This is step by step what happens from what I’ve gathered.

  1. The person being choked starts to be sluggish.
  2. The person goes limp.
  3. The choke is released but there is no response from the person.
  4. The person starts to come around in a minute and may go ridged.
  5. The person becomes conscious after a couple of minutes.
  6. The person slowly regains muscle control.
  7. The person experiences some temporary memory loss and is confused.
  8. The person is back to normal.

Because Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the “Gentle Art” the out come should be that both parties are unhurt when it the conflict is over.  This seems to be the case in all fights I have heard about where choking was involved.  As for Arm-Bars that is a whole different topic.

If you have some insight or stories to share that add to this please do comment.  I’d like to know more finite details if you have any to share.

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How To Use The Rear Naked Choke

Gracie Jiu Jitsu Rear Naked Choke in Action

Watch as the security officer puts a beautiful Rear Naked Choke on the man and then puts his hooks in.  This truly is the Gentle Art of Jiu Jitsu put into action.  In the end neither the man or the officer are hurt.  The man has some memory loss which is a symptom of being unconscious.  That will soon clear up and there will be no ill effects.

If more situations could be handled like this what would we need weapons for?  I think the poster of this video labeled it with “brutality” so they could have a flashy headline.  This is on the complete opposite spectrum from brutality.  I’ve talked to people from other countries where they have real police brutality.  It would make them laugh to see this video and think that any one thought it was “brutality”.  The security officer even says to the man that he was warned away 3 times from the property and he just kept coming back.  I think this was handled very well.

Thank you Helio Gracie, and all of those who came after you, that have worked to bring the gentle art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to the USA.  Jiu Jitsu is Life and Life is Jiu Jitsu.