This week, I'd like to discuss one of the most important grapplers around today.
Dave Camarillo.
If you're not familiar with him then you'll want to read this week's post carefully because in it I'll go over one of the key strategies he uses,(among many) to develop a well rounded game.
Mr. Camarillo calls this The hybrid game or ‘A” game
He has identified three types of training where many people are only interested in one of two.
The first is Controlled Training where you control your opponent through technique, using technique to control the position and the opponents movement.
This is also known as the Positional Approach.
The next type is the Mobility Approach, this is where your strategy is based on using technique through constant movement.
Basically, don't stop moving until you can set up a submission and tap your opponent out or until you get submitted.
This approach is favored by younger, more athletic grapplers.
This is where Dave Camarillo's approach comes in.
He calls this the hybrid game or ‘A” game.
Basically, this is a mixture of both the Positional Approach and the Mobility Approach.
What's great about this idea is that you can develop the best of both world's and remove the limitations involved by focusing on one approach.
The focus is to develop proper Positional Control and skill in the positions of Jiujitsu and also develop the athleticism involved to use speed, strength and endurance to both counter and dominate the scrambles for position that can happen when you lose control of the position, enabling you to use the Mobility Approach when needed and giving you a more well rounded and complete game.
He calls this the Hybrid Game or the "A" game for the simple reasons that it is a combination of both approaches and results in a higher level of performance.
Mr. Camarillo has taken this approach to an Elite level and I believe this approach will become more and more popular.
I believe that the earlier in your training you take this approach the better off your performance will be for it. That is the best time to get into the habit of developing your game to a higher level.
So if you concentrate your game on one of these areas, start making it a habit right now to work not only positional skills but also mobility skills and vice versa.
You'll end up a more complete grappler with your "A" game and you'll have Dave Camarillo to thank.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Demian Maia
In a continuing look at some of the best BJJ players around today, this week, I'd like to discuss this video by Demian Maia.
Demian has made a huge impact on MMA with his BJJ style that he has very well adapted to MMA competition.
One look at his dominant performance against Nate Quarry in their UFC match, and it's obvious how skilled Maia is.
One definite focus of his excellent Instructional series The Science of Jiujitsu, is on the biomechanical details that enable him to fully control and dominate his opponents.
In this excellent short clip on counters, he goes over great detail on techniques on setting up counters your opponent doesn't expect.
Check it out!
As usual just click on the link to view.
Demian has made a huge impact on MMA with his BJJ style that he has very well adapted to MMA competition.
One look at his dominant performance against Nate Quarry in their UFC match, and it's obvious how skilled Maia is.
One definite focus of his excellent Instructional series The Science of Jiujitsu, is on the biomechanical details that enable him to fully control and dominate his opponents.
In this excellent short clip on counters, he goes over great detail on techniques on setting up counters your opponent doesn't expect.
Check it out!
As usual just click on the link to view.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Marcelo Garcia's Arm Drag
Over the next few weeks I'll be looking at some of the top grapplers in the world and examining a key part of their game.
This week we'll be looking at Marcelo Garcia.
The following video demonstrates a key technique that Marcelo has popularized; the arm drag. He shows how to use the arm drag to smoothly take your opponents back.
Pay special attention to how he applies the grip to use the arm drag effectively and take his opponent off balance.
Just click on the link to view the video.
This week we'll be looking at Marcelo Garcia.
The following video demonstrates a key technique that Marcelo has popularized; the arm drag. He shows how to use the arm drag to smoothly take your opponents back.
Pay special attention to how he applies the grip to use the arm drag effectively and take his opponent off balance.
Just click on the link to view the video.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
10 Things Every Grappler Should Know; Part 10
In this last installment of this 10 part article I want to address an extremely important part of effective grappling training, that is making sure you are continually improving.
After so many years training it still amazes me to see how so many people still think there instructor is solely responsible for their improvement just because they pay him.
The truth is that if you want to continuously improve then it is completely up to you.
Do yourself a huge favor and write that last sentence in your training logbook, and if you don't keep one then do us both a favor and unsubscribe to and stop reading my posts because you won't be doing any good and my posts here will be wasted.
That's right, you have to take complete responsibility for your efforts and your results.
If you don't then you will always find someone else to blame when you fail.
So what is the final piece of advice in this 10 part article?
Make a decision to continually improve and take complete responsibility for your improvement and training! It's really that simple.
What are some of the steps you can take?
-Keep a training log! This will eventually become worth it's weight in gold to you and your development.
-Ask questions! Whenever you aren't sure of something or what to do ask. Ask your instructor or your training partners, just make sure you get the answer and act on it. Implement it in your training. For example, let's say you always get caught in armlocks. Find out exactly where you are going wrong, learn the counters and implement them in your training. Make an effort to turn your failures into points of improvement.
-Take notes on all the training info you can find and continually implement it into your training.
-Never accept that you will remain at the same level and ALWAYS look to learn from your mistakes. If you never accept mediocrity from yourself and your performance and always strive for improvement, then I can guarantee you one thing, you will eventually arrive at your goal!
-Buy supplemental instructional material. There are tons of phenomenal instructors putting material out. If I could make just a few suggestions, Demian Maia, Marcelo Garcia, and Saulo Ribiero offer some great instructionals. If you can't afford them, then pool together with some training partners to share the material.
Continual improvement is up to you. Know this and act on it!
Well, I hope you enjoyed this article and feel free to send in your comments, results and thoughts, I'd love to hear from you.
Next week we'll be looking at more video footage.
After so many years training it still amazes me to see how so many people still think there instructor is solely responsible for their improvement just because they pay him.
The truth is that if you want to continuously improve then it is completely up to you.
Do yourself a huge favor and write that last sentence in your training logbook, and if you don't keep one then do us both a favor and unsubscribe to and stop reading my posts because you won't be doing any good and my posts here will be wasted.
That's right, you have to take complete responsibility for your efforts and your results.
If you don't then you will always find someone else to blame when you fail.
So what is the final piece of advice in this 10 part article?
Make a decision to continually improve and take complete responsibility for your improvement and training! It's really that simple.
What are some of the steps you can take?
-Keep a training log! This will eventually become worth it's weight in gold to you and your development.
-Ask questions! Whenever you aren't sure of something or what to do ask. Ask your instructor or your training partners, just make sure you get the answer and act on it. Implement it in your training. For example, let's say you always get caught in armlocks. Find out exactly where you are going wrong, learn the counters and implement them in your training. Make an effort to turn your failures into points of improvement.
-Take notes on all the training info you can find and continually implement it into your training.
-Never accept that you will remain at the same level and ALWAYS look to learn from your mistakes. If you never accept mediocrity from yourself and your performance and always strive for improvement, then I can guarantee you one thing, you will eventually arrive at your goal!
-Buy supplemental instructional material. There are tons of phenomenal instructors putting material out. If I could make just a few suggestions, Demian Maia, Marcelo Garcia, and Saulo Ribiero offer some great instructionals. If you can't afford them, then pool together with some training partners to share the material.
Continual improvement is up to you. Know this and act on it!
Well, I hope you enjoyed this article and feel free to send in your comments, results and thoughts, I'd love to hear from you.
Next week we'll be looking at more video footage.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
10 Things Every Grappler Should Know; Part 9
This week I'll discuss a very difficult topic for some people to grasp, that topic is sensitivity.
Because it is impossible to watch someone demonstrate sensitivity and "feel", it is very difficult to teach.
The only way to truly "learn" it, is through practice and awareness.
Let me begin by first describing what sensitivity is. Quite simply it is the ability to feel what your opponent is doing by physically reading the pressure they are applying through either pushing and pulling motions. On a more complex level it is not only physically reading your opponent but "sensing" what options they might be attempting and reacting to that through previous experience brought on by years of rolling.
If you find this more complex definition confusing, that's ok, it is a more advanced aspect of sensitivity that can only be learned through the experience of sparring against opponents repeatedly.
There are several ways to help develop this skill.
The simplest is to pay close attention to how things feel while doing repetitions of the techniques. Don't just try to memorize the technique, try to feel it.
Another is staying focused while sparring.
Early on in your training, you might find it frustrating while sparring with more advanced practitionners, but try to stay focused on what's happening. It will help you develop sensitivity if you focus on specific cues while your opponents apply techniques on you or while they transition from position to position. Basically you should be aware of what it feels like to have your opponents attempt these techniques, that way you learn to recognize what they are attempting and can possibly prevent it next time by learning the proper counter.
Another tip you can use early on in your training is to close your eyes while doing reps of techniques and while others are repetitioning techniques on you.
While doing this pay close attention to the feel of the technique, again this will help you become familiar with what moves feel like.
This is probably one of the most overlooked aspects of training, especially by beginners. So if you are fairly new to grappling and BJJ pay very special attention to this in your training and it will make a noticeable difference in your game.
Because it is impossible to watch someone demonstrate sensitivity and "feel", it is very difficult to teach.
The only way to truly "learn" it, is through practice and awareness.
Let me begin by first describing what sensitivity is. Quite simply it is the ability to feel what your opponent is doing by physically reading the pressure they are applying through either pushing and pulling motions. On a more complex level it is not only physically reading your opponent but "sensing" what options they might be attempting and reacting to that through previous experience brought on by years of rolling.
If you find this more complex definition confusing, that's ok, it is a more advanced aspect of sensitivity that can only be learned through the experience of sparring against opponents repeatedly.
There are several ways to help develop this skill.
The simplest is to pay close attention to how things feel while doing repetitions of the techniques. Don't just try to memorize the technique, try to feel it.
Another is staying focused while sparring.
Early on in your training, you might find it frustrating while sparring with more advanced practitionners, but try to stay focused on what's happening. It will help you develop sensitivity if you focus on specific cues while your opponents apply techniques on you or while they transition from position to position. Basically you should be aware of what it feels like to have your opponents attempt these techniques, that way you learn to recognize what they are attempting and can possibly prevent it next time by learning the proper counter.
Another tip you can use early on in your training is to close your eyes while doing reps of techniques and while others are repetitioning techniques on you.
While doing this pay close attention to the feel of the technique, again this will help you become familiar with what moves feel like.
This is probably one of the most overlooked aspects of training, especially by beginners. So if you are fairly new to grappling and BJJ pay very special attention to this in your training and it will make a noticeable difference in your game.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The 10 Things Every Grappler Should Know; Part 8
How to Control The Position:
This is probably one of the most important skills you will learn in grappling and Brazilian Jiujitsu in particular.
Knowing how to control the position is the first thing you should be concerned with.
As I've said before in this blog, Position is everything.
Without the ability to control the position, all the submission skills in the world are almost useless.
Controlling the position is paramount if you are to succeed at setting submissions up as well as tiring your opponent out and if practicing MMA, then even more important at using or avoiding strikes and ground and pound.
I remember when I started out, my instructor used to spar with all the students and put us in bad positions like Mount or Knee on Stomach, then would let us squirm to get out and when we were exhausted would give up the position only to regain a superior position over us again and not let us out. He would do this without attemping any submissions to finish us.
Now, although this sounds cruel, the point was quite simply to make us understand the huge importance of controlling the position and escaping the position.
Quite simply with the ability to control the position came the ability to have your opponents at your mercy.
The fact is that most advanced grapplers only use a few basic submissions most of the time. Their skill in combining them is one thing that makes them more effective then those who aren't as advanced but the biggest difference is their ability to control the position better than those less skilled.
Focus your training on this and remember, the speed at which you can apply a submission, the strength you can use to force your opponent or any other factor is great but without position control and dominance, you will never be your best.
This is probably one of the most important skills you will learn in grappling and Brazilian Jiujitsu in particular.
Knowing how to control the position is the first thing you should be concerned with.
As I've said before in this blog, Position is everything.
Without the ability to control the position, all the submission skills in the world are almost useless.
Controlling the position is paramount if you are to succeed at setting submissions up as well as tiring your opponent out and if practicing MMA, then even more important at using or avoiding strikes and ground and pound.
I remember when I started out, my instructor used to spar with all the students and put us in bad positions like Mount or Knee on Stomach, then would let us squirm to get out and when we were exhausted would give up the position only to regain a superior position over us again and not let us out. He would do this without attemping any submissions to finish us.
Now, although this sounds cruel, the point was quite simply to make us understand the huge importance of controlling the position and escaping the position.
Quite simply with the ability to control the position came the ability to have your opponents at your mercy.
The fact is that most advanced grapplers only use a few basic submissions most of the time. Their skill in combining them is one thing that makes them more effective then those who aren't as advanced but the biggest difference is their ability to control the position better than those less skilled.
Focus your training on this and remember, the speed at which you can apply a submission, the strength you can use to force your opponent or any other factor is great but without position control and dominance, you will never be your best.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
10 Things Every Grappler Should Know; Part 7
7) The Importance and Limits of Repetition.
This week let's look at Repetition of Techniques.
Many people will tell you that repetition will lead to the perfection of your techniques. This is only a half-truth.
Yes, repetition IS necessary to develop proper technique however it has it's limits.
I would say that perfect and focused repetition is more productive than repetition alone.
Think about it.
Do you think 1000 reps of the same move will develop your skill as much as 100 reps where there is an effort to get all the details down perfectly as well as stay focused on the details as you're performing them?
I would go with the 100 anyday.
My point here is that although repetition is critical, you can fall into a trap where you waste time and do little for your advancement by aimlessly performing reps.
Stay focused on proper execution, pay attention to the details and make every rep count.
This will take your skills further then doing 10 times the reps poorly.
This week let's look at Repetition of Techniques.
Many people will tell you that repetition will lead to the perfection of your techniques. This is only a half-truth.
Yes, repetition IS necessary to develop proper technique however it has it's limits.
I would say that perfect and focused repetition is more productive than repetition alone.
Think about it.
Do you think 1000 reps of the same move will develop your skill as much as 100 reps where there is an effort to get all the details down perfectly as well as stay focused on the details as you're performing them?
I would go with the 100 anyday.
My point here is that although repetition is critical, you can fall into a trap where you waste time and do little for your advancement by aimlessly performing reps.
Stay focused on proper execution, pay attention to the details and make every rep count.
This will take your skills further then doing 10 times the reps poorly.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
10 Things Every Grappler Should Know; Part 6
How to combine techniques:
Combinations are critical to mounting an advanced and dangerous offense.
By combining several techniques and alternating through them, it becomes very difficult for your opponent to defend against your attacks.
There are several submissions that work very well together, the armlock and triangle choke are two great examples of submissions that can be combined effectively.
In August 2008, I covered Combinations and put up an excellent video of Roy Dean demonstrating effective combinations and how to train them.
If you haven't already seen it, I suggest you check it out.
So to apply this to your training, find two submissions that work well together off of the same position. Make sure you have them down pat and start drilling them in combination.
Then once you're very comfortable with them start using them while sparring.
This will definetely take your game to a higher level.
Combinations are critical to mounting an advanced and dangerous offense.
By combining several techniques and alternating through them, it becomes very difficult for your opponent to defend against your attacks.
There are several submissions that work very well together, the armlock and triangle choke are two great examples of submissions that can be combined effectively.
In August 2008, I covered Combinations and put up an excellent video of Roy Dean demonstrating effective combinations and how to train them.
If you haven't already seen it, I suggest you check it out.
So to apply this to your training, find two submissions that work well together off of the same position. Make sure you have them down pat and start drilling them in combination.
Then once you're very comfortable with them start using them while sparring.
This will definetely take your game to a higher level.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
10 Things Every Grappler Should Know; Part 5
5) How to change strategies according to your opponent:
All opponents you will be grappling or fighting against will have different strengths and weaknesses.
Developing the ability to read these strengths and weaknesses will allow you to develop superior strategy when going up against different opponents. This will help you understand which strategies to use against a faster or slower, stronger or weaker, more technical, more explosive, or more athletic opponent.
Differences in height, limb length and flexibility also need to be taken into account.
Double leg takedowns tend to work easier on taller individuals than on shorter ones.
It's also easier to armlock a longer arm than it is a shorter one.
These of course are generalizations and depend on your opponent's skills as well, but having the ability to change strategies depending on your opponents strengths is critical if one is to develop advanced skills in BJJ.
All opponents you will be grappling or fighting against will have different strengths and weaknesses.
Developing the ability to read these strengths and weaknesses will allow you to develop superior strategy when going up against different opponents. This will help you understand which strategies to use against a faster or slower, stronger or weaker, more technical, more explosive, or more athletic opponent.
Differences in height, limb length and flexibility also need to be taken into account.
Double leg takedowns tend to work easier on taller individuals than on shorter ones.
It's also easier to armlock a longer arm than it is a shorter one.
These of course are generalizations and depend on your opponent's skills as well, but having the ability to change strategies depending on your opponents strengths is critical if one is to develop advanced skills in BJJ.
Monday, December 22, 2008
10 Things Every Grappler Should Know; Part 4
4) A critical aspect of grappling is knowing how to escape a Position:
Being able to escape positions requires two main factors.
One is being able to execute at least two but preferably three different escapes per position and being able to combine the two or three escapes to set up your opponent and escape.
This should be a priority in your training.
Set up a list of 3 escapes per position and master them as well as switching between them.
Incorporate them into isolation drills and master the timing involved while sparring.
I can't stress this enought to those who are just beginning BJJ and even as a reminder to those who have been training for a while.
You should focus a major part of your training on escaping positions.
Remember, If your opponent can't keep you in a bad position they will have a very hard time submitting you.
Happy holidays.
Being able to escape positions requires two main factors.
One is being able to execute at least two but preferably three different escapes per position and being able to combine the two or three escapes to set up your opponent and escape.
This should be a priority in your training.
Set up a list of 3 escapes per position and master them as well as switching between them.
Incorporate them into isolation drills and master the timing involved while sparring.
I can't stress this enought to those who are just beginning BJJ and even as a reminder to those who have been training for a while.
You should focus a major part of your training on escaping positions.
Remember, If your opponent can't keep you in a bad position they will have a very hard time submitting you.
Happy holidays.
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