This is a powerful guard pass often seen at the highest levels of no-gi competition that leads straight into a devastating submission. Thanks to Matt Kirtley for submitting this technique. For more information, or to contact Matt, please visit Gracie Barra Clearwater - Stephan Kesting. You've opened guard and gotten both arms under their legs. Clasp your hands down by their hips and … [Read more...]
Omoplata
Standing guard pass to reverse omoplata
Thanks to Matt Kirtley for submitting this technique. For more information, or to contact Matt, please visit Gracie Barra Clearwater - Stephan Kesting. This and the other reverse omo plata setups work well with normal guard passes because common defences often help you get them (such as posting on your hip to block the pass, or grabbing your sleeves to try to stop an under pass). And if you … [Read more...]
Sideride detail: attacking the turtle position
Thanks to Matt Kirtley for submitting this technique. For more information, or to contact Matt, please visit the Gracie Barra Tampa - Stephan Kesting. These details are rather simple and may appear obvious, but I have yet to see many people actually do it to get the crucifix and instead just complain about how hard it is to get the arm out with their knee alone. Here are two details to … [Read more...]
Step-by-step reverse omoplata
Thanks to Eduardo de Lima for demonstrating this technique, and to Matt Kirtley for taking the photos and writing the descriptions. For more information, or to contact either person, please visit Gracie Barra Clearwater - Stephan Kesting. If the crucifix choke is underused, then the reverse (or inverted) omoplata is almost unknown or at least considered an exotic novelty. Hopefully, this … [Read more...]
Double Threat Attacks from the Bottom Position
In grappling, sometimes a submission can be more than just a submission. Let me explain… There is no shortage of different submission attacks from the bottom position. Most typically you'd attack from the closed guard, open guard or half guard position, but you can also use submissions if you're turtled under your opponent, or even pinned in side mount. Of course if you finish a … [Read more...]
Triangle Chokes for People with Short Legs
The triangle choke is one of the signature submissions of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Just about everyone takes a stab at perfecting it during their grappling career. But you can run into problems with the triangle choke if your legs are short. Just like the reader below... Q: Hi Stephan, I've been having problems with the triangle choke. I have rather thick, maybe even short, legs and I just … [Read more...]
An Advanced Submission used at the Highest Level
I thought that this was just too cool not to share... A few years ago my friend Matt Kirtley sent me a breakdown of the rolling reverse omoplata. This advanced technique looks pretty fancy but I can vouch for it because I've used it on some very saavy training partners. But be warned: it's a VERY powerful submission. It comes on pretty quickly and I've seen several people hurt by it, so … [Read more...]
Detailed, Advanced Omoplata
In the past few years I've made some big changes to my omoplata armlock attacks. The omoplata has always been one of my bread and butter moves, but these racent changes have doubled my success rate, especially when going against bigger and/or skilled opponents. But now I'm going to let the cat out of the bag... Click here for a 10 minute detailed tutorial video on the advanced omoplata. … [Read more...]
Golf and BJJ
Originally uploaded by lauratitian I don't like golf. I'll probably receive a large batch of irate emails because of saying this, but I don't like playing golf, I don't like watching golf, and I'm befuddled by its current popularity. I do think, however, that grapplers can learn at least one thing from golfers: intense analysis of basic posture and movement. Unlike many other sports, … [Read more...]
Submissions as Sweeps
Submissions end fights, and sweeps take you from the bottom to the top. At first glance they seem like very different types of techniques, but this week I'm going to discuss how they sometimes merge into one another. There are times when you lock on a submission but sense that you won't be able to finish it - maybe your opponent is too strong, perhaps you don't have it on quite right, or maybe … [Read more...]