Jiu-jitsu, Grappling and MMA
Articles and Interviews

Check out our archived articles and interviews written by Stephan Kesting and other authors.

Tips for your Grappling Game NEW EVERY WEEK!!
Too short to be articles, too important to ignore. Read our grappling tips, updated weekly.

How to Become a Great Training Partner NEW August 2008
Jason Scully talks about how to become that guy that everyone wants to train with

A Glossary of the Closed Guard NEW June 2008
A Glossary of the Open Guard NEW June 2008
A Glossary of the Half Guard NEW June 2008
Descriptions and names of the most common and effective guard position variations. Co-written with Elliott Bayev and originally published in abbreviated form as a trilogy of articles in Ultimate Grappling Magazine.

Cauliflower Ears in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu
Information about preventing, curing and draining cauliflower ears that can result from training on the ground

17 Tips for an Active Half Guard
Jason Scully shares some ways to turbocharge your half guard game

Train Hard, Recover Smarter
Two simple things you can do to cut your workout recovery time in half

No Gi Guard Passing
Ed Beneville and Tim Cartmell, authors of "Passing the Guard", share some strategies for passing the guard in MMA and self defence situations (PDF format)

Confidence in Grappling
Jason Scully talks about the importance of just going for it technique-wise

Keeping the Will to Fight
Some common ways your fighting spirit gets crushed and what to do about it

16 Tips For Your Closed Guard
Jason Scully shares some important concepts and 'secrets' to make your closed guard a strong offensive weapon

Grappling With Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia is quite a common anxiety disorder, and it affects far more grapplers and BJJ practitioners than you might expect. Find out what to do if you feel anxiety when you are on the bottom.

Why Women Should Grapple
The Grapplearts readership speaks out about why grappling is relevant to women too.

A Girl's Guide to Grappling
Martial art instructor and MMA competitor Liz Posener explains what a woman should know before she steps on the mat for the first time.

Chris Brennan's Ten Finger Guillotine
The 'Ten Finger' guillotine is the Loch Ness monster of grappling: find out how to apply it properly from three different positions

Conditioning for the BJJ Fighter
A bodyweight conditioning routine designed for the BJJ Fighter. Originally published in Grappling Magazine.

How to Cut Weight
Martin Rooney, conditioning coach for Renzo Gracie's fighters, explains how to cut weight safely

A Guide to Grappling Gear
An overview of gear that might make your time on the mats safer, more enjoyable and more productive.

Rhadi Ferguson Interview
Find out how an Olympian trains, and how he made the transition to submission grappling

Grappling Breakthroughs
Grapplearts.com readers share some of the revalations that propelled them to new levels of skill on the mat

The Myth of Relaxation
Andreh Anderson discusses how it is possible to be too relaxed while training jiu-jitsu

Passing the Guard in MMA
Denis Kang takes you through adapting Brazilian jiu-jitsu guard passes to work in the wild and slippery world of mixed martial arts (originally published in Grappling Magazine, October 2005)

Mark Laimon, the Bad Boy of BJJ
Mark Laimon talks about his jiu-jitsu, coaching on The Ultimate Fighter, his match with Ryron Gracie and how he continues to develop as a fighter (Originally published in Grappling Magazine)

Starting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
What to expect in your first BJJ class - by Matt Kirtley of Tampa BJJ

Gracie Magazine's Jiu-Jitsu Manual
20 great tips to accelerate your Jiu-jitsu game to a new level (By Raphael Nogueira and Marcelo Dunlop, originally published in Gracie Magazine)

Kneebar Mastery: Fixing the Most Common Mistakes
Having difficulty suceeding with the kneebar? This article takes a look at the most common mistakes and how to fix them (originally published in Grappling Magazine).

Breaking Down the Ankle Lock
An analysis of the different components required to develop killer footlocks. Originally published in Grappling Magazine (August 2005)

Accelerate your path to a BJJ Black Belt
Advice to bring that elusive BJJ black belt a little bit more within reach. By Eddie Edmunds of Fusion BJJ.

Shaolin's Jiu-jitsu Drills
Renowned jiu-jitsu and MMA fighter Vitor 'Shaolin' Ribeiro shows four of his favorite drills to develop speed, coordination and endurance. Originally published in Grappling Magazine (July 2005).

Marcio Feitosa Talks Teams, Training and Techniques
Marcio Feitosa is the head instructor Gracie Barra. In this interview he discusses his ideas on training methods, old vs new jiu-jitsu, and the importance of loyalty. Originally published in Black Belt (July 2004).

Submission Grappling Vs. Classical Jujutsu
There are both similarities and profound differences between these martial arts. This article examines the techniques, strategies and training methods of both arts. Originally published in Black Belt (May 2005).

Combat Grip
The killer grip and how to get it, by Rick Walker of Dieselcrew

Getting Big And Strong On A Vegan Diet
Mike Mahler discusses the ABC's of a strict vegetarian diet for strength and combat athletes.

The Care and Treatment of Ringworm
Ringworm is a fungal infection that grapplers are particularly prone to. Learn how to prevent and treat this itchy, irritating and unsightly condition.

After the Takedown, Now What?
Brad Parker takes you through basic BJJ strategy on the ground

10 BJJ Moves Every Cop Should Know
Brad Parker discusses the relevance of BJJ for law enforcement

Kettlebell Training for MMA
Mike Mahler presents an alternate perspective on functional strength training for MMA

Yoga for Grappling
My thoughts on why and how yoga can help your grappling.

Beginning Grappling
What you need to know if you are starting to grapple. An article by Nathan Leverton of totalgrappling.com

ACL Injury FAQ
A comprehensive guide to ACL injury and treatment for grapplers by 'the Stewed Owl'

Vitor Shaolin Ribeiro on Top of the BJJ World
A BJJ, submission grappling and NHB star talks about his training, his goals and his nickname. Originally published in Black Belt (August 2004).

Action vs. Reaction in Grappling (or why Yogi Berra was right)
Thoughts by guest author Jeff 'Wombat' Meszaros on whether it is better to anticipate or to initiate in sparring.

Butterfly Guard and X Guard Q & A
Suggestions and ideas to deal with common problems encountered in these positions

The 'X Guard'
The 'X guard is a position that I've been using a lot recently. It is either a form of the open guard or the half guard, depending on your point of view...

Rickson Gracie - Exploring Genius
Eddie Edmunds analyzes what makes Rickson Gracie great.

Mixed Martial Arts: Ultimate Sport, or Ultimately Illegal?
Don Walter's paper on the history of MMA and the legal controversies surrounding it in the USA.

The 'Basic' Butterfly Guard Sweep
The 'basic' butterfly guard sweep is anything but basic. It is an extremely powerful and sophisticated attack that is difficult for your opponent to resist. Here we show you two important variations of this sweep.

Sensory Learning Styles - Visual, Auditory and Kinesthetic Learning
Discover what your learning style is and how you best absorb information. An article by Charles Smith (whitebelt.org)

When Training Partners are Hard to Find...
Almost everyone finds themselves without access to training partners once in a while. Here is how I've managed to keep my grappling skills alive when I've found myself without a regular school or training partners.

Sport Specific Training for MMA
A great article by Ryan Pratt from the Harris academy on why training for MMA requires a whole new strategy.

Kneebar Q & A
Answers to some common problems with the kneebar leg lock.

The MMA Formula: Striking + Takedowns + Groundwork
In modern MMA competition striking complements grappling, and grappling complements striking.

The Mind of a Champion: What Grapplears can learn from Sports Superstars:
What do Rickson Gracie, Wayne Gretzky and Michael Jordan have in common? It may be a question of perception..

Jiu-Jitsu Cross Training for NHB: A Denis Kang Profile
A rising NHB star discusses the need for cross training for success in NHB competition. Originally published in Grappling magazine.

Basic Weight Lifting for Martial Arts and Grappling
What I wish someone had told me when I started lifting weights in order to improve my martial arts ability.

Perfect Peaking Part 2: Tapering and Peaking for MMA and BJJ competition
How to ensure that you are ready to give 110% on competition day! Originally published in Ultimate Athlete Magazine

Perfect Peaking Part 1: Overtraining in Mixed Martial Arts
How to recognize and prevent overtraining, one of the most insidious dangers of intense training. Originally published in Ultimate Athlete Magazine

Yoga for Jiu-jitsu: A Personal Challenge
A well-written article by Rolando Garcia, a student of Brazilian Jiu-jitsu under Royler Gracie and a Yoga practitioner

Revolutionary Omo Plata
The history and principles of this cutting edge submission, illustrated with techniques. Originally published in Grappling Magazine

Making Weight
The Effects of Dehydration on Physiological Functioning, an article by researcher, and Judo/Ju-jitsu champion Dave Coles

Marcus Soares Interview
A revealing interview with a 6th degree black belt instructor from the Carlson Gracie Team. Originally published in Grappling Magazine, August 2001.

"Cardio" for the Martial Arts
Cardiovascular training can be a confusing topic and there are many different and divergent views on the subject. Here are the basics of what you need to know.

The Kimura
A detailed description of the technique and history behind this fight-finishing submission hold. Originally published in Grappling Magazine, May 2002.

All materials & images Copyright 2002 to 2008 Stephan Kesting
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