Escaping Side Control

This week we'll be looking at a simple escape from Side Control.
It's very important to note the hand and elbow placement, also make sure you perform it in one swift movement so as to not get mounted during the move.
You'll notice as he reaches for the mat he pauses as he's explaining, this is probably only due to the fact that he's explaining the move as he's doing it.
You'll want to make sure you're performing it as quick as possible straight through.
Main steps once you have your hands in place are:
-Bridge up and reach for the mat.
-Spin your hips downward
-Walk up to the control position.

Just click on the link to watch.

The Top 10 Escapes Every Grappler Should Know!

Over the course of the next few weeks, I'll be covering a critical part of the BJJ game and that's escapes.
Whether you're into BJJ or MMA you can't afford to neglect this aspect of your training and performance.
We'll start off with number 10 although every one of these escapes can make up an important part of your game.
This is an escape from the back mount in which the most likely threat will be a rear choke, however, this isn't the only threat your opponent can place on you as he can always fake with the choke to set up an armbar as you escape.

Just click on the link above to watch the video.

BJJ Combinations

Once again I'd like to share an excellent video of Roy Dean displaying the power of combinations to set your opponent up.
There's actually alot you can learn here, just click on the link to watch the video.

My Annual Challenge.

Every year I set up a personal challenge for myself as a way to step up my training and take it to the next level.
Every year it revolves around a different aspect of training and lasts for up to a week.
One year, the concentration was on sparring to improve the timing and execution of my game.
Another year it was cardio, and another the concentration was on set-ups.
This year I've chosen conditioning, specifically explosive power.
I've devised a grueling set of workouts with my goal being to surpass my personal best.

How about you?

What area of your training would you like to improve?

What aspect of your game do you absolutely need to improve to get to the next level?

If you know in your heart that improving this aspect is absolutely necessary, then setting up your own personal challenge can help you get to that level.

I originally heard about this concept in the book, Living the Martial Way by Forrest E. Morgan.
It's origins trace back to ancient Japan where it was called Musha Shugyo.
Basically it was a warrior's personal quest to go off into the woods or deep into the mountains and embark on a personal challenge that would serve to improve his mental, physical and spiritual toughness.
It was meant to put one in touch with a deeper part of himself.

So ask yourself, what will your personal challenge be?

Are you willing to test yourself and take your training to the next level?

Set up the details of where you will train and get training partners together if you need to.

Record the experience or keep a personal log.

Then make the commitment to yourself and get to it.

I know that committing to a personal challenge every year has greatly benefitted both my training and my life.

The Fundamentals of Brazilian Jiujitsu

Hi, I've been hard at work putting the finishing touches on my latest ebook called The Fundamentals of Brazilian Jiujitsu.
It's more of an outline of all the basics of BJJ.
It's also easily printable so it can be used as a notebook to help stay organized as you learn the basics and put them to use.
What's great is that I put it together in a way that helps form a bigger picture of the art and the options available from each position.
Now for the good news, it's FREE for all my subscribers.
As a part of my committment to helping my readers improve their game, I'll be giving out ebooks such as this periodically for FREE.
So keep an eye out in your email for your free copy. And let me know what you think at:
info@jiujitsuuniverse.com

The Grappling Trifecta Part 4

The last factor involved in being functional as a grappler; Timing.
This is probably the least understood aspect especially for beginners.
There are even some who have been training for years who don't have a solid grasp of timing.

The best way to develop your timing?
Isolation drills.
Basically you need to isolate individual positions and the techniques from them.
How do you do this?
Do drills against a resisting partner where you work directly off a position.
Let's use the mount as an example. Here you have your opponent mount you, you attempt your escapes, (say, Bridge and roll or elbow escape) and your partner resists until you get it. Pay strict attention to the timing needed for the details of the move.
You then switch positions.
To make it more advanced once you get the hang of it, you do the same drill but have your partner try to submit as well as resist you while you're trying to escape.
You can do this with all the positions and your timing will improve.
The two most critical details involved are proper speed of movement and choosing the proper moment to execute the movement.

There you have it, work all three factors and your skills are guaranteed to improve.

I'll be back next week with something I've been working on for a while.
All I can say is that you'll be glad to be a subscriber!

The Grappling Trifecta Part 3

Although it might seem obvious, conditioning is the second most critical aspect in order to be an effective grappler.
The thing with conditioning is that you either have it or you don't.
You can't push yourself far beyond your current level of conditioning when you're gassing out.
So if you don't have it then you'd better work at getting your conditioning level up.
That's the good news, you can always work at improving your conditioning.

It doesn't matter how good your skills are if you don't have the conditioning to consistently be able to pull them off.
The last thing you want is to be incredibly skilled yet not properly conditioned, and to gas out when you're dominating your opponent.
So work at perfecting your techniques, work on your conditioning regularly, either through grappling specific drills and calisthenics, and later this week I'll be discussing the final factor necessary to be effective and reach your highest potential in Jiujitsu.

The Grappling Trifecta Part 2

The first and most obvious factor of the Grappling Trifecta is Technique.
This also encompasses strategy as well.
Technical proficiency is probably the most important factor but without the other two, a technical fighter still is not a complete and capable fighter.
Technical skill is mainly acquired through the proper learning and execution of a technique and repetition of the motion and details in order to ingrain them and be able to perform the technique as second nature.
Simply put your techniques need to be properly performed, well exceuted and repeated to the point where you can perform them without thinking about the details involved.
Next week we'll be looking at the second factor involved in the Grappling Trifecta.

The Grappling "Trifecta"

Over the next few weeks I'll be discussing 3 aspects that are necessary to be fully functional and capable in Jiujitsu and as a grappler.
These 3 aspects are critical for you to be able to pull off your techniques while sparring as well as outthink your opponents.
If you remove any 1 of these 3 from the equation and no matter what techniques you know, you won't be able to use them in sparring, which in the end should be your goal. To be able to use your techniques while sparring.
If your not aware of the grappling "trifecta" you'll want to keep reading as this will help you make a giant leap forward in your training.
Later this week, I'll be covering the first one.

Triangle/Armlock Connection Continued.

This week I'm including this excellent video by Roy Dean.
He goes over more details concerning the Triangle/Armlock connection and how to use them in your training and sparring.
Check it out!