“How long does it take to get a blue belt in jiu jitsu?” I know you’ve heard that question – or at the very least, some manifestation of it…i.e. sacrifice “blue” for “purple”, “brown” or “black” belt. Well, you can… Read More ›

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Guard From Anywhere
Having been injured lately, I’ve been off the mat quite a bit. Because of that, I’ve also been watching more and getting more questions – most of them about different guards and what they look like and physics behind them. … Read More ›
Tap Semi-Early and Extremely Often
You’ve heard it thousands upon millions of times, “tap early, tap often”, but how much of that goes into one ear and right out the other? How many times do you start rolling and get exhausted because you were trying… Read More ›
Some Random Jiu Jitsu Tips For Your Game
Jiu Jitsu borders steak and tits on my list of things that I think are awesome. I’ve come to the reality that black belts won’t give away secrets that they’ve spent years discovering from thousands of hours of rolling. They… Read More ›
Weak Point Training In Jiu Jitsu – It Isn’t That Bad
Last Friday was the 13th. It was also one of the best days of rolling I’ve had in a while…go figure. With school and work (and injuries) lately, my jitz time has really taken a back seat to that bastard… Read More ›
How To Beat A Stronger Opponent
Everyone has heard that Jiu Jitsu is the art the levels the playing field between big and small people. If you’re into BJJ, you’ve also heard an argument that’s something like, “Well, if you both know jiu jitsu, the advantage goes back to… Read More ›
The Difference Between Blue Belt And Purple In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
There is a difference between blue and purple belts…a big one. Being a fresh purple belt, I can’t tell you what it’s like to be a purple just yet, but I know what made me one…flow and confidence. As a… Read More ›
Five Of The Greatest Movies Found In The $5 Bin
There is no need for television programs with the amount of movies out there. But with blue-ray and new dvd prices, it’s borderline ridiculous to buy movies now that you can rent them for a buck through any box outside… Read More ›
The Finer Points And Tips For The Triangle Choke (Sankaku Jime)
The triangle is one of those chokes in Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu that everyone loves…unless you’re caught in it and you try desperately to “answer the phone” before taking an ill-planned nap. There are many reasons to love the… Read More ›
Your Instructor Knows You Have To Lose
If you’ve ever heard the term “quicksand”, used in competition, you know what I’m talking about…you lose once, no big deal. Lose again, you think it’s just a bad couple of months…lose again…uh-oh…something is wrong…then you think instead of react… Read More ›
My Favorite Choke: The Okuri-Eri-Jime (Bow and Arrow to you Jiu Jitsu cats)
Ok, so check this out, compliments of The Human Weapon: This is the Okuri-Eri-Jime. It’s my favorite choke. Note the grey guy with his left leg over the other grey guy’s waist. Also note the expression on the grey guy’s face. … Read More ›
Top 5 Tales of Survival Too Insane For You To Pull Off
There’s “surviving”, then there’s “SUURVIVINNNG”. I’ve survived many things in my life, but it tops out at the time I was 14 and had a cavity for a week. That shit sucked. However, I will gladly take a slap in… Read More ›
I Know Everything About You (The 5 Handshakes That Give It Away)
The dumbest thing you can do in war is give yourself away. Give away your position, your intentions, your gun (duh)…you’re done. It’s war, man. So why on Earth would you give something away about yourself without the need to?… Read More ›
Jiu Jitsu Purple Belt Progressive Guard (Pass)
Ok, time is getting closer to my test…here is a demonstration of the Sylvio Behring Progressive guard system…or as they say in Swahili, “Some badass shit.” (Props to John Valentine, Don Newman and me (halfway through)). Ok ok, I jumped… Read More ›
Uchi Mata Tips (Mistakes I Make)
Yesterday I took 2nd in the Utah State Judo Championships. I didn’t take first for one reason; I didn’t commit to my uchi-mata. Let me explain. I took up Judo/Jiu-Jitsu nearly 3 years ago and finally have a wall nearing… Read More ›
Here Comes The Purple (Uh-oh!)
So here’s the formula: 1 year = 52 weeks/2 = 104 weeks/ 2.5 years = 130 130 weeks x 4 hours per week (4 hours being the bare minimum for sake of the formula) = 520 hours 520 hours…that’s my… Read More ›
Things Break, Suck It Up
In the last two years and some change, here is a list of injuries that I’ve suffered during Judo randori and BJJ tournaments and rolling: Torn trapezius Fractured rib Torqued (sprained) neck x 2 (yes, my guillotine defense needs work)… Read More ›
Pressure in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Pressure…not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when making a list of “Things I Enjoy Being Under”. Pressure is essential in Brazilian Jiu Jistu. At the time of this writing I’m a mid-level blue belt and am just… Read More ›
Pressure in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Pressure…not exactly the first thing that comes to mind when making a list of “Things I Enjoy Being Under”. Pressure is essential in Brazilian Jiu Jistu. At the time of this writing I’m a mid-level blue belt and am just… Read More ›
What it’s like to be choked (The Unlaxed Garrote)
I The Unlaxed Garrote A general rule we live by is that of the 100% of people that come in, 10% come back. 10% of those that come back stay, and 10% of those that stay… Read More ›