Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

The guillotine choke is a fundamental submission hold that is relatively easy to apply. Despite it’s apparent simplicity, a well-applied guillotine choke can finish opponents at any skill level. In this lesson, BJJ World Silver Medalist Almiro Barros teaches an arm-in version of the guillotine choke from the guard position.

Ankle locks can be used from a variety of positions and are among the few submissions achievable from within your opponent’s guard. When held inside the guard of a skilled opponent, seizing the opportunity to attack with an ankle lock can sometimes be your best option. In this lesson, BJJ…

An opponent may attempt to restrict your movement by gripping your clothing or gi. In this lesson, BJJ World Champion Leandro Issa teaches how to set-up the double leg takedown when starting from the sleeve and lapel gi grips.

From the guard position, skillful movement of the hips can be used effectively to generate momentum and unbalance your opponent, allowing you to sweep. By sweeping your opponent to their back and improving your position you increase the number of attacks available to you and decrease the number of options…

Learn to defend against the amassa pao choke without having to open your guard. In this lesson, BJJ World Silver Medalist Almiro Barros teaches how to properly turn away from the choke and remove the pressure from your neck while in the closed guard position.

The under arm collar choke is another highly effective stranglehold, which is applied using the collar of the opponent’s gi or street clothes. Often catching an opponent by surprise, this choke may be applied to great effect before an opponent is fully aware of the danger. In this lesson, BJJ…

When controlling an opponent from a dominant position, opportunities for submissions often arise when the opponent tries to escape. In this lesson, BJJ No Gi World Champion Takeo Tani demonstrates how to attack with a toe hold submission when the opponent attempts to escape from the north south position.

The elbow escape is one of the most important moves from the bottom position. By using efficient movement of the hips in coordination with the arms, it can be used many ways to escape an opponent’s hold and improve your position. From the bottom in side control, BJJ World Champion…

The “guard” position, when used correctly, can allow a person to control and finish a stronger opponent from a potentially vulnerable bottom position on the ground. In this lesson, BJJ World Champion Leandro Issa demonstrates how to pull an opponent into the guard from a standing position.

From a top position, it is important that you prevent your opponent from sweeping you to your back, as being swept will reduce your positional advantage over your opponent. In this lesson, BJJ No Gi World Champion Takeo Tani teaches a defense against the double ankle grab sweep.

The collar choke involves manipulating the jacket or gi collar as a method for making an opponent submit. It will render a person unconscious if the choke is not released. In this lesson, BJJ World Champion Takeo Tani demonstrates how to apply the collar choke from the mount position.

From the closed guard position, the handstand sweep allows you to sweep a standing opponent without having to first open your guard. When applied intelligently, this technique will completely unbalance the opponent and allow you to take the full mount position. In this lesson, BJJ No Gi World Champion Takeo…

The elbow escape is one of the most important moves from the bottom position. By using efficient movement of the hips in coordination with the arms, it can be used many ways to escape an opponent’s hold and improve your position. From the bottom in side control, BJJ World Champion…

Using the guard to unbalance an opponent can create opportunities to sweep them onto their back. A more seasoned fighter may attempt to block your sweep by posting with an arm or leg. From the scissor sweep position in the open guard, BJJ World Champion Zorobabel Moreira teaches a variation…

Learn to defend against a standing attacker who grips your jacket with one hand. In this lesson, BJJ World Silver Medalist Almiro Barros teaches how to counter this aggressive behaviour by moving to the attacker’s back and applying a police lock.

The collar choke can be applied from multiple positions. As you will see, this choke works well as a direct attack or in combination with the arm bar. In this lesson, BJJ World Champion Leandro Issa demonstrates the collar choke from the full mount position.

Many opportunities for submissions become available when you control your opponent from a dominant position. This is particularly true when the opponent tries to escape your control or block your attempts at improving your position. From side control, the person on bottom will commonly position their leg in such a…

The elbow escape is one of the most important moves from the bottom position. By using efficient movement of the hips in coordination with the arms, it can be used many ways to escape an opponent’s hold and improve your position. From the bottom in mount, BJJ World Champion Leandro…

An important skill which gives you great advantage in a fight is the ability to take your opponent down to the ground and land yourself in a good position on top. The single leg takedown is an effective way to methodically capture control of the opponent’s leg and take them…

An attacker stands behind you and grabs you in a rear choke hold. In this lesson, BJJ No Gi World Champion Takeo Tani teaches an efficient method to defend against this dangerous choke and apply a forward throw to force the opponent out of their advantageous position behind you.

The two-handed front choke is a common street attack among unskilled aggressors. The technique can be intimidating, however the escape is relatively simple. In this lesson, BJJ World Silver Medalist Almiro Barros teaches a defense against a two handed front choke.

From the top position in side control, there are a wide array of submission holds you can use to finish an opponent. As you gain experience, you will begin to see more submission opportunities as they arise based on the movements of your opponent. In this lesson, BJJ World Champion…

Using the guard to unbalance an opponent can create opportunities to sweep them onto their back. From the scissors sweep position in the open guard, BJJ World Champion Zorobabel Moreira teaches how to use the elevator sweep to obtain the mount position.

Another style for controlling your opponent from the guard is known as spider guard. Not only is spider guard an effective method for setting up submissions and sweeps, but it also makes attack very difficult for your opponent. In this lesson BJJ No Gi World Champion Bruno Pucci teaches a…