Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

In this head lock escape series, an attacker stands beside you and holds you in a headlock. BJJ No Gi World Champion Bruno Pucci teaches how to defend against incoming punches, break the head lock and subjugate the attacker with a police lock.

In a fight there are few positions that are worse to find yourself in than being pinned on your back beneath an opponent’s mount. The person on top has virtually free reign to throw powerful punches and apply submissions, while the person on bottom has very few options to counter…

The rear naked choke is one of the most effective techniques to subdue a powerful attacker in a real fight. Requiring minimal strength and applied from a position where the attacker can inflict minimal harm to you, the rear naked choke is a quintessential example of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu technique…

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…

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 Leandro Issa demonstrates how to apply the collar choke from the guard position.

The lapel choke is another gi submission that involves manipulating the jacket or gi to strangle and submit an opponent. In this lesson, BJJ World Champion Leandro Issa demonstrates how to apply a lapel choke when the opponent turns away in an attempt to avoid side control.

The amassa pao choke is a simple choke using the gi collar. This thrusting choke is one of the few submission holds that can be accomplished while positioned inside your opponent’s guard. In this lesson, BJJ World Silver Medalist Almiro Barros teaches the amassa pao choke.

The sliding collar choke is an efficient gi choke using the opponent’s jacket collar. This choke can be used to great effect on its own or in combination with other choking techniques. In this lesson, BJJ World Champion Leandro Issa teaches the basic application of this choke from a kneeling…

Advancing from the north south position to taking the opponent’s back is another example of constantly seeking a better position. As a fundamental concept in BJJ, improving your position provides greater control of your opponent and opens up more opportunities for submission holds. In this lesson, BJJ No Gi World…

Defend against an opponent intent on striking you by closing the distance. Closing the gap between you and your opponent makes it difficult for them to punch or kick you. BJJ World Champion Zorobabel Moreira teaches how to block a punch from the opponent’s leading hand and attack their legs…

An important skill which gives you a 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. Osotogari is an outside leg sweep that allows you to throw your opponent to their back while maintaining…

Developing an impassable guard takes time and practice. By drilling efficient movement of the hips and building dexterity with your legs, you will begin to react quickly and intelligently to your opponent’s attempts to pass your guard. In this lesson, BJJ World Champion Leandro Issa teaches a useful drill for…

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…