Allow me to take you on a journey to the city of judo, a metropolis not composed of bricks and concrete, but rather a sprawling landscape of techniques, principles, and philosophies. Our destination within this city? A locale known as Yoko Wakare. Introduction to Yoko Wakare Yoko Wakare, a district within this metropolis of judo, … Read more
Not quite a straight ankle lock, not quite a toe hold, the Estima lock is an interesting foot lock in the world of grappling. Once legal at white belt, the foot lock has now been classified as a twisting foot lock, so it is only legal at brown and black belt levels. But in a … Read more
Modern Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu includes a wide variety of different guards that grapplers play. To beat those guards, there have been numerous guard passes developed. Since there are various forms of a BJJ guard pass, it can be difficult for beginners to know which techniques to use. That is why we put together this list of … Read more
Getting to the side mount used to be a good way to progress your position and find a non-threatening spot for the person on top. It also serves as a position where the player can rest for a bit to catch his breath especially after dealing with tricky guards. In recent years, getting to side … Read more
Known as the cross armlock in Judo, or ude hishigi juji gatame; this hyperextension of the elbow joint, when applied correctly, requires controlled force and full-body leverage to apply and secure the lock; as well as preventing the opponent from escaping. Known as a traditional submission, in jiu jitsu, and not to be confused with the general term … Read more
The crucifix is a good way to take your opponent’s grips out in the equation. It allows the player to get submissions such as chokes simply because of the lack of hands that defend the neck. However, the crucifix is also a good entry for wrist lock and armbars. Some setups are even subtle. What … Read more
Lasso Guard is often used not only during spider guard but also with other types of guards. It can be a good way to add a layer to your Dela Riva guard, or when you opt to play a collar and sleeve guard. The lasso can serve a different purpose depending on the situation. The … Read more
The long step pass is a staple in today’s modern passing sequence. It has been developed mainly by Terere and is now a standard passing procedure for different guards. It can be used against Dela Riva, Reverse Dela Riva, or even against X guard. Long step pass pertains to anything that involves your leg stepping … Read more
Known as the bull fighter pass, toreando passing is probably the first pass that you’ve learned from your academy. This passing sequence is easy to understand for beginners to advanced practitioners. And on top of that, it is a high percentage pass that can be used across all belts. However, over the years, toreando passing … Read more
Smash pass has gained popularity in recent years because of the development of complicated guards. Complicated guards made it difficult to just go for a regular toraendo pass from the get-go. So what exactly is the smash pass? The smash pass can pertain to different things. It is commonly used to pertain to the leg … Read more