In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the journey from white to black belt is a long one, typically taking at least a decade to achieve. Belt color isn’t just a symbol of your progress in BJJ, though — it’s also an indicator of the expectations and responsibilities that jiu-jitsu students take on after they get promoted. As much
At Chael Sonnen’s Submission Underground 19 event, UFC lightweights/welterweights Donald Cerrone and Rafael Dos Anjos took to the mats to face each other. What would follow was a bizarre ending that saw RDA getting tapped twice in a row. Cerrone and RDA have actually fought twice inside the UFC Octagon, with one of those being
The gi is synonymous with Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), among other martial arts. Most commonly seen in white or blue, the uniform is one of the first things you will receive upon joining a dojo. To receive your gi and belt is a form of initiation and is regarded with great respect and honor. Purists and
The triangle choke is one of the most common and effective fundamental submissions in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA. Many students learn it within the first few weeks of starting BJJ, and both beginners and elite athletes alike often use the triangle to submit their opponents from a variety of positions. Whether you’ve never seen a
Khabib Nurmagomedov is undefeated inside the realm of combat sports up until this point. However BJJ standout turned MMA prospect, Garry Tonon feels that this would change if they were to go head to head in a grappling match. To be frank, Tonon is one of the greatest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu talents in the sport’s history.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the most effective grappling martial arts and one of MMA’s most successful styles. In fact, the UFC wouldn’t be what it is today without the contributions of Hall of Famer Royce Gracie, one of the most influential figures in MMA history. BJJ is a grappling system based on takedowns, submissions,
New York City has become a hotbed for talent in the world of Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu. Specifically, the Renzo Gracie Academy located in Manhattan, New York. Names such as Gordon Ryan and Gary Tonon made their names there. However, most of them are slowly making their way out of the city. John Danaher is the latest
Once a controversial submission subset in jiu-jitsu, leg locks are now becoming part of the norm in the grappling world. Though leg locks have been a part of BJJ and submission grappling for ages now, they’ve been popularized in recent years by the success of athletes like Eddie Cummings, Lachlan Giles, Garry Tonon, and Gordon
The armbar is a fundamental and versatile submission technique in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and various martial arts disciplines, targeting the opponent’s elbow joint by hyperextending it. As one of the first moves taught in jiu-jitsu classes, it is an essential submission to master. Despite its simplicity and ancient roots, perfecting the armbar takes years of
Having a developed guard is crucial for a well-rounded skill set in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. A good guard game is beneficial for both defense and offense, and practiced guard players can simultaneously work on defending themselves while moving toward transitions and submissions that can help them defeat their opponents. The problem, of course, is that many
UFC welterweight Gilbert Burns (19-3) is currently without a fight. Burns was removed from his UFC 251 title fight against Kamaru Usman due to a positive Covid-19 test. The Brazilian has since been training and waiting for his next title shot as he feels he fully deserves it. But the wait appears to be getting
The rear-naked choke (RNC) is one of the most dominant techniques in submission grappling. A fundamental of BJJ, it is widely considered to be one of the most effective chokeholds ever. Its increasing fame is mainly due to it being the single most common submission used in the UFC, finishing twice as many opponents as
Cris Cyborg put her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills on display in her most recent win. However her skillset on the ground was further validated as she earned her black belt in the discipline. There is a solid case to make that Cyborg is the greatest female fighter in the sport’s history, with the only other contender
The martial arts belting system can be traced back to Kano Jigoro, the founder of Judo. The belts, or obi as they were known in Japan, were much thicker back then, and only consisted of two colors: black and white. It was his student, Mitsuyo (later Otavio) Maeda, that traveled to Brazil in 1914 and
Martial arts spaces are not always the most inviting to women, and are more often than not, heavily male-dominated. There are very few female household names in combat sports. But, when there are, they are usually exceptional at what they do and are often trailblazers for the women that come behind them. Fighters like Ronda
“A house built on a shaky foundation will eventually collapse.” – Toni Payne. Every martial art has a primary stance that each student must master before any real progression can begin. Having the right stance can improve power, speed and defense. Ignoring its importance can mean slow defense and movement as well as making you