I’m gravitating my website completely to www.GrappleSmart.com and will be phasing out www.GrappleSmart.com/blog in a week or so.

Thanks for visiting!

People Learn Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from Twitter? Why Yes they do!

Jared Asks: “I need some advice on passing half guard. Any would be appreciated!”

>GS Answer: Hi Jared, great question! Here are a few tips that you can implement immediately and hopefully immediately improve you’re ½ guard passing.

1. GET THEM FLAT ON THEIR BACK. Just imagine you’re in half guard the worst place u want to be is flat on your back. You will minimize their mobility and hip movement. How to get them on ur back? See #2

2. MAKE THEIR HEAD TURN AWAY. If you can effectively make their head turn away from you then there is no way they can shrimp their hips out (unless ur grappling gumby)!

GI: grab the lapel behind their head and straighten your wrist and arm (imagine the way your arm looks at the end of swinging a hatchet) and presto they look the other way (or at least make it extremely uncomfortable for them ).

NOGI: Utilize shoulder pressure on their chin to turn their head. HOW? Connect your hands in the typical way you would hold someone down in ½ guard roll ur shoulder across their face to make them “Look Away”.

CAUTION: Consider you’re training partners face when implementing this technique… in a completion, this pressure can be so great on their jaw and chin that they simply concede the pass to relieve the pressure on their face.

3. KEEP UR HIPS LOW KEEP UR BASE: If you’re too aggressive at pressuring up high obviously the pressure against their hips will reduce. If you keep a balanced base it will be difficult for them to sweep you or replace full guard.

4. FEIGN ATTACKS & KEEP EM GUESSING: If you just attempt to pass and they know it then they have the highest chance to defend. If you feign attacks (submissions) then they will often forget about defending the pass and more about the sub.

NOTE: You can get Americana’s, chokes, leg locks etc. from the ½ guard it’s just a bit harder. So fake an Americana, pull the material on their gi pants… for this example you’re only try’n to lead their mind away from the pass long enough for you to execute it.

There are many more things to think about but if you overload your mind with too many things then you’ll remember nothing.

Let me know if this helps you out!

Jeff
Grapple Hard, Grapple Smart

Hero Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Instructor Pedro Arrigoni saves the day

When the mainstream public hears the words: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, BJJ, or Grappling they usually have an image of two mixed martial arts fighters squaring off in the UFC Octagon (Ultimate Fighting Championships).  But not this time!

BJJ Hero Arrigoni saves the day!

It’s refreshing when Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is associated with is associated with self-defense or helping out a fellow citizen in distress!  This happened as an officer was assaulted by a “crazed” bus fare evader.  The incident occurred outside the AB Mixed Martial Arts Academy at 2975 San Bruno Ave. the fare evader ban punching the cop repeatedly in the face and then proceed to tackle the officer and mount him continuing to assault him.  This is when Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor Pedro Arrigoni came to the aid of the officer and applied a choke hold until the attacker was about to pass out and said “I give up, I give up!”  In the end Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enabled Mr. Arrigoni to safely subdue the assailant allowing him to verbally submit or “give up” assuring minimal injury to all parties involved.

Fast forward to 3:00 to see a clear slowed down shot!

Mr. Arrigoni also tries to encourage troubled neighborhood kids to get involved in BJJ because it teaches respect and noninvasive fighting tactics.  he also believes all law enforcement should train Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

The King of Crazy - Charles "Crazy Horse" Bennett

I’ve compiled a collection of some amazing and sometimes crazy things that happen in the MMA ring.  You will see Muay Thai striking, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wild moves you’d only see in a movie, and flat out outrageous behavior! Enjoy!

10. Arm lock voador Rumina Sato

9. Double Knockout MMA KO

8. Sakuraba vs. Galesic: Submission of the Decade

7. MMA bloopers and crazy moments

6. Giant Silva attacks Sugira with Big Sitck

5. Fedor Emelianenko vs Hong Man Choi

4. 1 Second MMA Fight KO

3.Ryo Chonan vs anderson Silva Submission

2. Bellator Fighting Championships V – Toby Imada v. Jorge Masvidal – Submission of the Year

1. Anthony Pettis Off-The-Cage Kick

AWWW YEAHHHH!

Whether your a fan of No-Limit Hold Em’ poker or not I’m sure you’ve seen some of the widely televised poker tournaments on TV. Long ago, only the final table of the World Series of Poker would be condensed into an hour show played on ESPN. These days it’s almost impossible to flip through the channels and not see some re-runs of the massive $10,000 World Series of Poker tournament, World Poker Tour, Big Money Cash Games, or Heads-Up Hold Em’ Championship.

Would you pay $10K to play 1 on 1 against Kobe?

The great thing about the WSOP (World Series of Poker) is that it is one of the few tournaments that allow ANYONE to compete in. Anyone who can put 10 grand at risk at least. The point is that amateurs can go head to head with seasoned poker pros like Doyle Brunson, Jonny Chan, Phil Helmuth, and Gus Hansen. Sort of like if anyone of us could play one on one with Kobe Bryant or fight for the Heavy Weight Championship with Mike Tyson. Sound crazy doesn’t it. Well the poker pros pretty much treat these green amateurs as pawns and own or “pwn” them lol!

Or get in the Ring with Mike Tyson?

Can you illicit the reaction you want to execute your game plan?

If you ever see a poker pro ask their opponent how many chips they have or start talking to them about particular poker hands they may have they’re actually creating an ACTION to gain a REACTION from the opponent. It could be a glance one way or the other, holding breath, even an increase in the pulse rate visible in their neck (it’s true). That reaction gives them the information they need to defeat their opponent.

So how does all this this apply to Jiu-Jitsu?

Well, once you’ve been in Jits for a while and mastered the basic movements you will begin to develop your own game plan (or attack pattern). Once you learn some submissions and sweeps you may try to force them to work right? I mean we’ve ALL done it and maybe still do!  But occasionally, you’ll execute a sweep that feels almost EFFORTLESS! Just like when Michael Jordan hit so many consecutive 3-pointers against Portland that he shrugs his shoulders to the scorers table. He himself doesn’t understand how they go in with ease, just that they do. When you execute a technique in BJJ, especially a sweep, you’ve probably in inadvertently performed an action that caused your opponent to react in a way that essentially made him fall into the sweep. It feels as easy as when you’re drilling the technique. This is the beginning of recognizing and understanding Action/ Reaction and utilizing it to your advantage in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Eventually, with practice you’ll be able to chain attacks together (action) and cause your opponent to react in a way that will allow you to execute a technique (sweep, submission, throw, or defense).  If you do it right it will seem effortless as the masters intended it.

In this ADCC match between Rodrigo Gracie and Genki Sudo you’ll see what I mean.  Fast forward to about 0:46 to see the set up and 0:55 to see the actual sweep. You’ll see Rodrigo pushing into Genki and grabbing his legs (pulling him in) which in turn causes Genki to push back into Rodrigo and falls into the sweep.

Please Feel free to post questions and comments at the bottom! Happy training!!!

All you have to say is “Saku” and most people will know you’re talking about the great Japanese MMA fighter Kazushi Sakuraba! Many remember Saku for his pro wrestling style entrances in unique costumes, signature entrance music and bandaged cauliflower ear. But I think Saku will be most remembered because of the fact that he put crowd entertainment as his top priority. His innovative and highly unorthodox style included: the double Mongolian chop, jumping guard pass/ foot stomps, cartwheeling guard passes, and amazing fluidity in his ground game.

Of course Saku’s famous entrance music

Saku

Here are some tributes to “The Gracie Hunter” Enjoy!

Check out this awesome documentary of “The Gracie Hunter”!

This highlight is the one I watched many times during Saku’s reign in the early years of the Pride Fighting Championships.

Which one is the REAL Saku?

Kazushi Sakuraba, the living legend!

Seriously, "What the F@#K were you thinking?"

Ok, this post is half rant and half warning to all of you budding BJJ players out there. In all the years I’ve been training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Sub Grappling, Muay Thai, and MMA I’ve seen, heard first hand accounts of, and been a victim of really bone headed things guys have done to their training partners.

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson

Let’s just start with my biggest peeve and poses the biggest threat to the safety of newbie and veteran grapplers alike – SLAMMING! I guess with the explosion MMA and the UFC wannabe Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s come out of the woodwork. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Rampage. I’ve been a fan and will always love his entertaining attitude toward MMA. I mean have you heard his interviews? The guy is just flat out funny! I’m talking about the guys that see his high flying slams in the octagon and think that somehow translates to BJJ and Sub Grappling.

Just to be clear on this: “It is NEVER ok to slam your training PARTNER during live sparing or grappling opponent in a tournament EVER!”

Rampage slamming Arona in PrideFC

K there I said it, feel’n a little better now. One of my instructors was rolling with a guy who was new to the gym

and basically “flowing” with him to get a feel for his skill level. For those of you who don’t know, to FLOW with your partner is to basically work with him to improve transitioning from technique to technique with the emphasis on transition not submission. Anyway, my instructor at the time who weighed maybe 150#’s moved up for a triangle. In this case it was a leg triangle choke

which traps the head and one arm. Before he could flow to the next transition the guy picked him up about head high AND SLAMMED HIM!  His head hit first and he

Rampage slamming Minowa in PrideFC

was knocked out!

He ended up coming to rather quickly and recovered just fine, thank goodness.  The guy was bounced out of

the gym and was lucky he was allowed to walk out (vs. dragged out).

I’ve been lucky enough to have avoided this in my years.  Maybe it was because world class grappler Dean Lister

"The Boogeyman" Dean Lister

was one of my first instructors.  Dean always taught us ways to defend against, well basically stupid and crazy things people do.  I learned to hook their leg with one arm which makes it

One of Many of Rampage's slamming of Sakuraba in PrideFC

virtually

Lister hooking Sakara's left leg thus preventing slam and escape!

impossible for them to gain the leverage required to slam you.

Why do they do it?  Well, my guess is either their ignorant or have bad intentions.  Sadly, both have the same result, someone getting badly hurt.  I mean in an MMA fight it’s an accepted form of attack.  Those guys sign a waiver saying, “I understand that I could get seriously injured or even die from participating in this event.”  When you see Rampage pick up guys and when he’s in a full arm bar or triangle and get out of the sub by slamming them in the ring, it’s exciting.  But that’s where it should stay, in the ring.

Fast forward to 8:00 if you just want to see Mike get spiked on his head. This is a pretty amazing match between US superstar and Lloyd Irvin prodigy, Mike Fowler vs. Brazilian super star Daniel Moraes.  The spike on head is ABSOLUTELY not allowed in any tournament.  Mike proceeds to release the submission assuming Daniel will be DQ’d but this match is in Brazil and I guess home court advantage applies.

Bottom line, is until you know someone well use extreme caution when you roll with them.

Originally, I intended for this to be a single post but after more thought it will be multiple posts.  I’ll also be releasing some new audio programs that will go into many grappling topics that you may find helpful.  Love to hear your comments on this topic or anything you’d like to know more about!

Grapple Hard but Grapple Smart!

My twitter goal is to help people be successful in #BrazilianJiuJitsu or any form of self-defense for that matter. #BJJ is a very practical and effective art for protection in real world scenarios where a smaller individual is often attacked by a larger stronger person.

Although BJJ and Aikido are derived from Judo, BJJ requires students to live spar or “roll” against each other attempting to submit (allow partner to stop before any damage is done) or gain a dominant position on their partner.

Since 90% or more of real world altercations end up on the ground, BJJ focuses a large amount of time on learning to fight off your back.

U can read more on my bio page: http://www.grapplesmart.com/blog/?page_id=2

Feel free to hit me up w any questions u may have! Jeff

Check out this great site for an informative look at Preventing Skin Infections!

From Ring Worm to Impetigo to Herpes Gladiatorum there are many forms of infection you can get while rolling.  Some things like Staphylococcus (AKA Staph) infections can actually be life threatening.  There is one form Staph (MRSA) that is resistant to most antibiotics and can be potentially deadly.  If you see a pimple surrounded by a read area that is hot you should see the doctor immediately.

Post from Twitter:

#BJJ #BrazilianJiuJitsu #Grappling QUESTION: What methods do you use to keep mat bugs away?  This a serious topic!!!

My Methods:

1. Wash Gi right after practice each and every time to avoid growing unwanted bacteria.

2. Use Ken Shield before each practice (esp Nogi) It’s creates a anti bacterial barrier on your skin.  My doctor also recommended Hibiclens (sold over the counter) to use once a week  to keep the skin clean!

3. Use Defense wipes or anti microbial wipes directly after each and every practice to kill or remove any unwanted Staph germs that may enter through small breaks in skin common in Jiu Jitsu.

4. Don’t roll with anyone who clearly has (or admits to having) ringworm or other infection.  Kindly encourage them to sit out until it is treated and healed.

Gym:

1. sweep and mop before class (use a good mat cleaning solution and hot water).

2. Clean blood immediately with appropriate cleanser.

3. Make sure students understand that good hygiene mat is EVERYONE’S responsibility!