Jiu-Jitsu Kings

 

Jordan, Kobe, Lebron? GSP, Jones, DJ? Brady, Montana, Manning?

Jiu Jitsu Thanksgiving

I'm thankful for many things this Thanksgiving. But if there's one thing I'm more thankful for than anything else when it comes to my time on the mat, it's been the vision of the man who's made my jiu-jitsu dream possible.

A lot of people boast about how many schools they've trained at, how many instructors they've studied under ... And I hope that has helped them live the kind of jiu-jitsu life they enjoy. For me, I couldn't be happier to have been raised in one home, by one family, for the past 17+ years of my jiu-jitsu life.

Revolution 2023

 

Firas Zahabi "This is the thing Jiu-Jitsu players don't do but absolutely should"

Is conditioning the biggest differentiator between the success of jiu-jitsu athletes in MMA and other combat athletes, especially Russian wrestlers? Tristar's Firas Zahabi thinks so.

I recently read an Instagram post from a wrestling organization that encouraged wrestlers to make sure they got in their conditioning work. And if there was a choice between conditioning and strength work, conditioning came first. I've adjusted my off-mat training to emphasize conditioning and de-emphasize strength work. I've also gone back to doing a long, LSD cardio session (40+ minutes) after jiu-jitsu training.

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The Revolution Will Not Be Televised ... Or Over-Capacity

 

Night Moves: Thursday Edition

 Everybody had fun tonight ...

Kade Ruotolo Explains Where Jiu-Jitsu Is Headed Next | Morning Kombat

Luke Thomas doing the Lord's work with more great coverage from this year's top ADCC competitors.

Night Moves: Tuesday Night Edition

 Porrada edition ...

IBJJF No-Gi Pans 2022 Results

The final big event of the year - the IBJJF No Gi Pans - is in the books. As always, FloGrappling has the coverage - and the videos - you need to read and see. As for highlights, check out the performance of brown belt Jacob Couch in his match up against New Wave (formerly Danaher Death Squad) representative Luke Griffith.

Props also to the performances of the Corbe brothers at Feather and Light (there's something about these jiu-jitsu brotherhoods; I've been wanting to write about that for years!). And congratulations to Elizabeth Clay in taking home double gold (Middle and Absolute).

It was also great to see Keenan Cornelius back on the competition mat. Things didn't work out as he would have liked, but it was great to hear his attitude and demeanor about where he is and what his next steps are. He would be a great interview - especially if he were willing to go there about his early training, his relationship with top competitors over the years, the future of gi entanglement strategy in jiu-jitsu ...

The next big event in the IBJJF calendar will be coming sooner than you think: the IBJJF European championships for 2023 will be held in late January - at Paris' Institut du Judo, no less!

John Danaher's advice for grapplers | Lex Fridman Podcast Clips

Night Moves: Thursday Edition

Me and my mat time tonight ...

IBJJF No-Gi Pans Brackets Revealed

Is it anti-climactic to have the IBJJF No-Gi Pans after the ADCC? Or is this year's event going to take advantage of the momentum from one of the most exciting ADCC tournaments of all time?

Either way, the No-Gi Pans are coming this weekend and the brackets have now been revealed.

Night Moves: Tuesday Edition

Tales from a night on the tatame ...

Night Moves: Thursday Edition

A map of my time on the mat tonight ...

Night Moves: Tuesday Edition

Notes on the evening's activities ...

And current film study.

Is Gordon Ryan the No Gi GOAT? | Morning Kombat Extra Credit Ep. 28

ADCC 2022: The Yankees Are Here

A friend of mine who knows nothing of grappling but did know that I was especially excited for this week's event asked me which country tended to do the best at ADCC. 

Up until very recently, this was a pretty easy question to answer. 

But now it looks like the 2022 ADCC will be the first one to feature more gold medals for the U.S. than for any other country - including historic ADCC gold medal-collector Brazil.

2022 ADCC Division Champions

• 66 kg Brazil
• 77kg USA - Won all matches by submission
• 88kg USA - Submitted IBJJF no gi 2017 division and Absolute champion
• 99kg Brazil
• >99kg USA - Now three-division champion
• Absolute Brazil
• <60 kg Wales 
• >60kg USA - Defeated 2019 division champion in semi-finals

That adds up to:

2022: USA 4, Brazil 3, Wales 1

Compare that with this history of Brazilian dominance.

• 2019: Brazil 5, USA 3
• 2017: Brazil 6 USA 2
• 2015 Brazil 6 USA 2
• 2013 Brazil 8 USA 0
• 2011 Brazil 5 USA 1
• 2009 Brazil 6 USA 0
• 2007 Brazil 5 USA 1
• 2005 Brazil 7 USA 1
• 2003 Brazil 4 USA 1 Norway 1
• 2001 Brazil 4 Japan 1 South Africa 1
• 2000 Brazil 4 USA 2
• 1999 Brazil 3 USA 2 Russia 1
• 1998 Brazil 5 USA 1

Gordon Ryan: This Is My Game on Gi

Days before the greatest no-gi grappling competition, and I'm fascinated by Gordon's thoughts about how his game translates into the gi. 

"My entire game is like, if you're standing and I'm on bottom, you go into ashi garame. Well, if I have pants to grab, then it's going to be easier to knock you down. If you're on your knees, then I go into butterfly sweeps with sumi gaeshis. If I can get to a belt, and pull you on to me, sumi gaeshis is easier. Then it's forcing half guard from top position. And if I can get to half guard and I can feed a lapel and use a stronger crossface, I can pass your guard easier. And then mount and back, there's just more friction to hold people and more collars to strangle with ..."

People Get Ready: Revolution Edition

 

Six Weeks Out begins Monday, September 19th

Mega Coral: IBJJF Recognizes Wellington Dias' Coral Belt Promotion

Once upon a time, I used to fantasize about competing in the Masters divisions of some of the IBJJF's biggest events in the U.S. My favorite vision involved winning the Masters 5 division at the Seattle Open and then defending my title against one of the greatest competitors of all time: Wellington "Megaton" Dias.

For a variety of reasons - some more obvious than others - there's little chance of that vision coming true. But I've always kept an eye on Megaton's performances, all the same. His accomplishments are truly inspiring.

Today with the IBJJF Masters underway and having received his Coral belt in March, Megaton was awarded his Coral belt certificate today by the IBJJF.

Take Down Tuesday: Mr. Smith's Low Single

One of the drills we did as part of the warmup during my first week back was alternating single/double leg shots and sprawls. Here's something for me to work on when those warmups come around again.

Maps and Territories: Half Guard Top Edition

And Baby, You Better Believe It!

Start Your Training Sessions With a Sense of Purpose: Guard Pass Edition

"Only effort expended in a positive direction gets you to where you wish to be." -- John Danaher

Thoughts on Pena v. Ryan 3

It isn't often that a fighter gets a third shot at an opponent after coming up short the first two times. In mixed martial arts, the inability of former UFC featherweight champion - and fan favorite - Max Holloway to overcome current champion Alexander Volkanovski after three attempts is as poignant a story as Vokanovski's dominance over the division. 

On the other hand, in the same league but years previous, light heavyweight Quinton Rampage Jackson was able to take advantage of a third contest with Wanderlei Silva to get a knockout victory after losing - viciously - to the Brazilian muay Thai specialist in their previous two encounters.

Would Pena v. Ryan 3 be a case of the former or the latter?

I enjoyed the contest. I saw a lot of good jiu-jitsu that I'll be referring back to - if only to see top competitors at work. The fact is that Gordon Ryan is the best in the business of no-gi grappling and there aren't many comers - especially at his size. So I'm grateful to see him against anyone who is both a top competitor and not physically overmatched.

That said, I'm pretty impressed by Chael Sonnen's take about what Pena v. Ryan 3 means in the bigger picture of creating a real, popular "grappling sport" that is enjoyed by more than just its competitors.

RIP: Leandro Lo: 1989-2022

 Devastating news.

Endgame: Pena v. Ryan 3

There have been plenty of great heavyweight jiu-jitsu contests in grappling's great history. And tomorrow's second rematch of Felipe Pena v. Gordon Ryan is easily among the most anticipated.

Flograppling has provided plenty in the way of preview. And I HIGHLY encourage you to partake in every minute of it. Here's one of the early set pieces.

But the best way to pre-funk for tomorrow's contest may be just to watch the first two encounters - both won by Pena.

Gordon v. Pedro: Henry Akins Analyzes Guard Pass and Mount Finish

 

T Minus 2

 

Charles Oliveira & Aljamain Sterling Have Changed MMA Wrestling | Mornin...