Category: BJJ

Being tall not just makes you tower over your opponent but also gives you more reach. Long arms and legs allow you to wrap them around your opponent and control their mobility. There are a few submissions that favor having longer arms and legs, let’s explore them below.

Here are the top 5 submissions for tall fighters:

1. Triangle
2. D’arce Choke
3. Arm Bar
4. Omoplata
5. Anaconda Choke

We will now take a deeper look at these submissions and why they can work well for taller fighters.

1. Triangle

If you’ve been training BJJ or any other form of fighting for a while now, then you probably know about the BJJ triangle. The triangle is one of the oldest submissions in the book and a fundamental technique for any taller BJJ fighter. The good news is that with a little effort and a lot of practice time, you can master this maneuver as a tall fighter.

To get a better grip of this maneuver, you should probably start with the full guard position. This is important, especially for any tall fighter. Once you understand the basics of the full-guard position, you will be in a better position to execute this submission better against a shorter opponent.

This submission is perfect for a taller fighter because you can easily grab your shorter opponent’s hand and tighten your other leg over his neck. Although this move is quite necessary, it can be daunting to execute. Therefore, it’s imperative always to practice your triangle submission diligently.

2. D’arce Choke

It’s not uncommon for names of BJJ moves to be named after their inventors. Although these names change over generations, the technique remains the same. One such move is the D’arce choke. Named after Joe D’arce, the D’arce choke move is a hand move similar to the Anaconda choke move. The only difference between the two moves is that the fore choking arm is always threaded under the shorter opponent’s arm, through the forward part of the opponent’s neck, and finally on top of the opponent’s far-left arm.

It’s worth noting that this move comes in quite handy for tall fighters, just like any other hand choke submissions. This is mainly due to height, allowing a taller fighter to easily grab an opponent’s hands and choke him with ease through the neck. Additionally, you should notice that the D’arce maneuver is quite powerful and can be managed by all fighters. However, tall fighters with longer legs are best suited for this move. Generally, this move is quite sneaky, making it quite easy to set-up for a taller fighter.

3. Arm Bar

Also known as arm lock, arm bar is one of the oldest techniques in BJJ history. It is one of the most useful moves in a taller fighter’s arsenal because, unlike other arm submission moves, the arm bar is either a single or a double joint lock. Due to this, arm lock always results in hyper-extending, hyper-flexing, or hyper-rotating the opponent’s joint. Ideally, this is a very painful move; however, when mastered well, it results in traumatizing pain to the opponent.

In any normal sense, obtaining full leverage for making this move means that you need to use your full body leverage as an individual. In other words, to secure a lock on the target arm, you will have to tower over your opponent while at the same time preventing your opponent from escaping the lock. The leverage needed to use this move effectively makes it perfect for tall fighters to use against shorter opponents.

4. Omoplata

Omoplata is another powerful submission that targets the shoulder blade/scapula. Also known as ashi sankaku garami, this move incorporates both the leg, triangle, and entanglement moves. Ideally, this move is used to attack the opponent’s legs and hips by extending the opponent’s shoulder joint past its normal range motion. Typically, the lock applied by this move on an opponent’s shoulder is quite similar to the kimura lock. However, the only difference is that the legs are used in place of the figure-four grip.

The history of omoplata goes back to the 1980s where it was thought to have first originated from Judo and catch wrestling. However, this move slowly became a BJJ favorite in the 1990s, after Nino Schembri first used it. Nino used this move well due to his height, making it a favorite move for tall fighters.

One of the most popular applications of Omoplata for tall fighters is from the guard. This is achieved by placing your leg under your opponent’s armpit and rotating 180 degrees, resulting in the leg moving over the opponent’s back and around his or her arm. To complete this move, you will have to control your opponent’s hands by placing them away from the back. Apart from being an effective submission, Omoplata can be used to set up for sweeps, chokes, armbars, and any other techniques.

5. Anaconda Choke

This is another submission that is highly effective for taller fighters. Basically, an anaconda is an arm triangle move that is achieved from the headlock position. For this to happen, you should thread your arm under your opponent’s neck and through the armpit. At the same time, you should extend your arms to grasp the opponent’s biceps. Once you have grasped the biceps, you proceed to pin your opponent onto the trapped shoulder to interrupt the flow of blood better while maintaining pressure on the grasped biceps.

To accomplish this effectively, you will need to roll your shorter opponent over the trapped shoulder. Due to the dynamics involved, this submission is one of the best submissions for taller fighters since it takes advantage of an opponent’s short height. Even so, to do this well, you should always practice thoroughly to perfect the submission.

Other Techniques for Taller Fighters You can Consider

To fight effectively, it’s important to ensure that you not only fight offensively but defensively as well. While tall fighters mostly use the above submissions, other important moves should also be used. Read on to find out.

Solid Closed Guard

Considered to be a white belt position in BJJ, the closed guard is one of the most fundamental fighting positions. Many world champions, including Roger Gracie, have perfected this move and have seemingly experienced great success with this basic move at their elite level.

The best thing about this move is that it involves a lot of positions. Therefore, you can use either wrist lock, choke, arm lock, and sweep at the same time. Thus, a solid closed guard encompasses different strategies, such as the closed guard retention strategy and the wrist lock.

Butterfly Sweeps

For quite some time, the butterfly sweep has been one of the most effective sweeps in BJJ. In fact, this is undoubtedly one of the basic sweeps that any BJJ learner should learn. Although this is the case, the sweep move is one of the most underrated guard moves, especially by taller fighters.

There are many reasons why the butterfly sweep is an effective guard move. For starters, this move is extremely versatile. A tall fighter can use this move in BJJ, Nogi, or MMA with ease. Due to this versatility, the butterfly sweep is considered one of the most utilized sweeps in all forms of grappling. Secondly, the butterfly sweep can be applied from varied positions. Finally, this move is quite aggressive; thus, setting the precedence for other moves.

Although taller fighters vastly overlook the sweep move due to its simplicity, it is a move that always comes in handy and is worth mastering.

Gripping

Regardless of the height, each BJJ fighter should be well acquainted with Gripping. Ideally, gripping is an essential part of training as a BJJ fighter. To get a sense of how essential this move is, you cannot execute any other BJJ technique without having an understanding of how gripping works. Essentially, when you start fighting, you would want to have an iron grip. The iron grip will make it harder for the opponent to escape from any submission. Therefore, while gripping might seem quite necessary, it’s of utmost importance to ensure that you regularly practice your grip. This way, you can rest assured that all your submissions will be able to work out perfectly.

The Standing Guard Pass

One of the most challenging aspects of BJJ is passing the guard. However, the move can be challenging if your opponent is short with active hips and strong legs. Dealing with such an opponent can be challenging.

In many ways, the standing guard pass could also be referred to as the standing guard break. This is mainly because you will be standing for the first part where you’ll be breaking open your opponent’s guard when your legs cross on your lower back. Once your opponent’s legs are open, you can go ahead to pass the guard to your opponent, either from a kneeling or a standing position.

Finally

BJJ fighting involves using a lot of techniques. As a taller fighter, you come with a lot of advantages over your shorter opponents. Using height as an advantage coupled with these top 5 submissions, you can be sure that you will stand a better chance of winning against a shorter fighter. However, it’s always important to ensure that you perfect your moves as a fighter to be effective.

It’s no secret that longer arms and legs can be beneficial in grappling. However, capitalizing on shorter limbs can pay off in BJJ. In this article, we will look at five submissions a shorter fighter will have a natural edge with.

5 Submissions shorter fighters should learn are:

1. Arm Triangle Choke

2. Straight Footlock

3. Guillotine Choke

4. Kimura

5. Arm bar

We will now take a more in-depth look at these submissions and why they can work well for shorter fighters.

1.   Arm Triangle Choke

The arm triangle choke is a blood choke submission, which forces your arm against the arteries of the neck, leaving your opponent strangled in between your arm and their own shoulder. 

Start by ensuring that you have control of your opponent’s arms  with an overhook on one arm, and wrist control on the other. Follow this by moving onto your side with a hip escape, retaining control of the overcooked arm, and push the other arm away firmly as you bring your leg in. At the same time, lift your hips, allowing you to place your leg onto their neck with force. Once in place, hold your own ankle – this keeps their head down – and lock the move by placing your knee over the ankle; your opponent will likely be forced to tap out.

This move can be very useful for shorter fighters, especially when you find yourself pinned beneath your opponent. In this situation, the usual advice is to place the foot on the side of the choke on your opponent’s hip, push off, and use a butterfly hook to free yourself and regain control, ending with you in half guard.

Shorter fighters are likely to struggle with this escape, but the arm triangle choke can be manipulated to suit your smaller size. Instead of hooking the leg to free yourself, you can instead use your own body weight to roll, forcing your opponent with you and tighter into the hold.

2. Straight Footlock

The straight footlock, also known as an Achilles lock, is a grappling submission which can be very effective for fighters of all heights. In this move, pressure is generated by pressing your foot against the rib cage of your opponent, and by moving your hips forward. At the same time, you apply an upward force with your forearm at the Achilles heel of your opponent – hence the name.  The move is an attempt to force the ankle into excessive plantarflexion, and this will prove super painful for your opponent, forcing them to tap out before too long.

One of the biggest issues often faced by shorter fighters is an inability to maintain hip control when they arrive at the best position for a straight footlock. Subvert this by bringing the outside leg back underneath your opponent’s locked leg in a “De La Riva” style hook, offering support and freeing up your other leg to move and regain control, before completing the footlock as you usually would. Additionally, ankles come with very little muscle; a good grip in this area will make it tricky for your opponent to get the better of you.

3. Guillotine Choke

The guillotine choke comes in two main forms; an air choke – pressure is placed against the windpipe of your opponent., and a blood choke – pressure is placed on the arteries in the  neck. A guillotine choke can be done while standing, or from the ground; this makes it advantageous for shorter fighters.

To choke from a standing position, start by pulling down the head of your opponent with your head on their neck, or by pulling down their GI. Place your arm around the neck, slide your forearm underneath the chin, keeping the blade pressed against the neck. Grab the wrist you are using to choke with your other hand, maintaining your grip so the opponent’s head is underneath your arm. With one leg forward, twist your hips towards your front leg to execute the move.

Fighters can also try a spine locking version of the move; lower your opponents head, and wrap your arms around the head before turning it towards the hand of the choking arm with your forearm – this puts pressure on the spine. Place the free hand on your opponents back, and hold the wrist of your planted hand using the hand you are using to choke, and lean back.

The flexibility of the guillotine makes it a secret weapon for shorter fighters; it can be set up standing or from the ground. Additionally, the focus on the neck ensures that several muscle groups are engaged; getting a good grip here will put you in a great position for forcing your opponent to tap out.

4. Kimura

The kimura, also known as a double wristlock, is a lock which has often proven to be one of the most popular submissions in MMA. The wrist of your opponent is grabbed with your hand on the same side, and your opposite arm placed behind that of your opponent, grabbing their wrist, creating a figure four shape.The move places pressure on the shoulder and elbow joints through controlling the other body and cranking the opponent’s arm away from the body.

Shorter fighters can take full advantage of the kimura lock, as it allows you to use your opponent’s weight against them; the submission works primarily by isolating elbow and shoulder joints, and applying leverage through these. Your opponent will have two choices very quickly: tap out, or risk a broken arm.

5. Arm bar

A super popular submission in the world of MMA, the arm bar forms one of the most commonly used joint locks. The leg is placed across the chest of your opponent, with one of their arms between your thighs, and the elbow joint placed against your hips.

The success of most armbars is dependent on the correct use of your bodyweight, and this makes it a great move for shorter fighters. You don’t need to be tall to carry off this submission with confidence; all you need is to be able to manipulate the weight of both parties to your full advantage, allowing you to create an unbreakable hold without needing an extensive reach.

How Can Shorter Fighters Gain The Advantage?

One of the best tips for shorter fighters is to focus on their defence. Your shorter stature gives you a number of advantages, including speed and agility, which can help you take down opponents twice your size.

Positional Dominance 

A dominant position ensures that one fighter has significant leverage and advantage over the other. Positional dominance allows offensive maneuvers to be used more effectively, making it easier to control or subdue the other party.

Sweeping 

When sweeping, smaller fighters can use their opponent’s weight against them, rolling it across your body to gain the advantage. Scissor and elevator sweeps are all good options, along with outside sweeps, and anything from a deep half guard.

Deep half guard position

The deep half guard is perfect when facing a bigger opponent, as the primary concept involved keeping their weight off you. This can be perfect for turning the tables on your opponent, and allows you plenty of control, as well as multiple opportunities to attack. With the deep half guard, the size of the fighter is less of an issue; you can use this to dominate your opponent, even when coming from a defensive position. Sweeps are one of the most useful moves here; a hook sweep can set you up for success, even against a much taller opponent.

Underhooks

Underhooks on the arms give you full control of the upper and lower body; this sets you up to perform a super powerful sweep, using your legs as the perfect leverage. The move can be performed from any direction; place one arm under the opponent’s arm, allowing you to hold their upper body or midsection. There are two main options; single underhooks have one arm, while both are a double underhook. If you can get a good grip on an underhook, you can control the majority of your opponent’s movements, regardless of their size or weight.

Butterfly hooks

Another popular move for shorter fighters is the butterfly hooks; this is perfect for throwing off the fighter with the top position. The fighter on the bottom uses their feet as hooks on the inside of the opponents legs. The goal is to lift off the fighter on top using legs and feet – this gives you a chance to escape their hold.

Shorter fighters have a number of advantages when it comes to gaining the upper hand; the main concept is using your opponent’s weight against them. While taller fighters have a longer reach, a shorter fighter will pack more power behind their punches, can offer a more explosive fighting style, and will often be able to use the increased weight of the taller fighter against them; the trick is in knowing the right moves, and understanding how to use them.

If there’s one thing you need to consider before you start your BJJ training it’s the cost. How much money do you need to set aside for the gym fees, accessories, and necessary equipment and outfits? Whether you need to invest in a Gi or not. And how long it would take. These are all questions you need to answer first.

The three most costly aspects of BJJ training are the school fees, Gi cost, and mouthguard price. These are the basic necessities you’ll need to cover. On average you’d have to pay around $200 a month for classes, and both the Gi and mouthguard could set you back another $200. So the first year of BJJ training needs about $1600.

Of course, costs vary not just from one part of the world to another, but also from one city in the same country to the next. If you live in New York City, the class fees might be a lot more expensive than if you were living in Danbury, Connecticut that recently renamed its sewage plant after John Oliver as a tourist stunt. You could also shop online and find cheaper Gi and mouthguards. So let’s break down the cost of BJJ training for you.

Academy Fees

Whether you call it an academy, a school, or a gym, it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that the fees you will be paying on a monthly basis will gobble up the biggest chunk of your budget. Even a small gym on the top floor of a rundown building with hardly any facilities will still cost you a dear penny. Think of it as rent. You have to pay it every month otherwise you cannot take part in the training.

But it doesn’t have to be every month. Some schools would charge you every two weeks. Others would encourage you to pay for the whole year at a good discount. It’s really up to you what package you choose or the payment scheme you prefer. Of course, if you pay a whole year in advance you can’t be sure if you’ll stay in the same gym or not. It’s a trade-off between saving money and commitment.

Most people prefer to pay the school bills month by month. That way if things don’t go well in that academy, they can just move by the end of the month to another one that they feel comfortable in. This works best since BJJ schools are not regulated and each operates according to the style of the teacher or teachers that run it. The downside to this is that you can’t know for sure if the style of this teacher or the rules of this school will suit you or not. Not until you have paid the fees and attended a few classes.

In addition to these regular fees, there are other hidden fees you need to be aware of. Joining fees are not uncommon. That’s a one-time fee you pay in advance when you first sign up with the academy. Then there are grading fees that cover the exams and promotions. Keep in mind that not all schools charge these fees. So it’s a good idea to ask in advance before you join.

Cost of Clothes

The outfits and clothes you’ll need in your BJJ training vary as well. Not just from one country to the next but from one gym to the next. Some gyms would only let you train if you have Gi, others are not that strict and will let you train in whatever outfit you like. So again before you invest a hefty sum in an expensive Gi, make sure to ask your teacher about the school uniform rules. 

The Gi is by far the most expensive item of clothing you’ll purchase. Its price varies depending on the quality of the material. You can get one for as low as $80 which has the average quality and might not last long. A good Gi protects you during grappling and sparring. So if you can afford it, look for one that’s above $140. These will last your whole training and can stay in good condition for years.

So what if your gym or teacher doesn’t require a Gi? That doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. You still need to get an outfit for training. Usually, that outfit would be a rashguard and shorts. Your teacher might also require you to get leggings. Put together, all these items could add up to the price of a good quality Gi. That cost might even go up if you have to buy a specific brand or purchase items of clothing that carry the logo of the academy. 

Mouthguard

The other basic item that you’ll need to invest in for your BJJ training is the mouthguard. We wrote before about the necessity of the mouthguard for every BJJ player from the white belt novice to the black belt expert. Just ask any veteran of the sport and they’ll tell you horror stories about the time they went training without their mouthguard and ended up with chipped teeth. So yeah, that’s something you want to include in your calculations.

There are different types of mouthguards as we have explained in another post. Before you jump on the cheapest one you can find online and think you got a good bargain, think of how suitable they are. Not all mouthguards would fit in your mouth. Some will press your teeth while others will stick out and push your lips outward. Then there are those that will keep slipping and right when you think you got your opponent pinned down, out comes your mouthguard.

The most expensive ones are the mouthguards you get at your dentist. These are usually custom made and will fit you perfectly. The dentist will take your measurements and have a mouthguard tailor-made that takes your jaw and teeth into account. They are very pricey however and could set you back anything between $300 to $500 a pop.

You could go for the boil and bite type. These are easy to get just about in any sports store. But they don’t last and soon cracks show up which means you’ll have to replace them. They’re also cheap and you can get it for $20 or a little bit more. 

Competition Fees

In addition to all the above costs and fees, you also have to pay for competition fees. Competitions are an integral part of your BJJ training. Classes and watching videos alone are not enough to make you a well rounded BJJ player. Sooner or later you’d want to test your skills on the mat in a real-world match. Not to mention that these competitions are necessary for your promotions and progress.

The competition fees are not much but they still count especially if you take part in them regularly. How much each competition will cost you to join depends on the level of the competition. Between gyms or schools in the same neighborhood or part of town, these competitions are usually cheap to enter. But big competitions between cities or across state lines are always expensive. 

On average you can expect to fork out anything between $50 to $80 to join a single competition. The good news is, if you’re a black belt or even a brown belt, you would be invited to join for free. Your high ranking gives the competition status and encourages other players to join. 

Other Costs and Fees

Along the way and as you take your BJJ training more and more seriously, things will start to happen. By things, I mean seminars, cross-training sessions, and visits to other gyms and academies. The thing about this is, they all cost money. There’s nothing that comes free in this world, so why should we expect BJJ training to be any different?

Seminars are also a part of your training that you need to take seriously. It’s worth it to listen to even discuss the discipline with world-class BJJ players who tour the country giving lectures and talking about their experience. The fees are not high and in most cases, you can attend one for as low as $20. Only the famous champs would charge something between $70 and $100 but they’re superstars so they’re most likely worth it anyway.

You might also need to subscribe to an online forum or website that offers instructional videos. It’s true, not all the good material can be found on Youtube. And even though we try our best to include some great videos in every article, the fact remains that you might need to pay for exceptionally high-quality videos that are only available to subscribed members.

For decades the debate has been raging about Sambo and BJJ. Which is better? Which makes you a well-rounded MMA fighter? Can you cross-train? How helpful would that be? So many questions regarding two disciplines that couldn’t be any different from each other.

Rooted deeply in Russian culture, Sambo is a more aggressive discipline that borrows a lot from military and paramilitary fighting techniques and focuses on speed and power. It’s more suited for street fights and living in rough neighborhoods. BJJ is a Brazilian self-defense system that borrowed heavily from Jiu Jitsu. It focuses on chokeholds and groundwork to subdue the opponent. BJJ is designed for ring competitions, not street fights.

While they both look very different they do have their similarities. And each discipline has something to offer the MMA fighter. So if you’re considering training in either of them and don’t know which one to choose, this article sheds light on both of them with a focus on the differences between the two systems.

BJJ as an Art

To call BJJ an art is not a stretch of the imagination. BJJ is less about fighting and using aggression and more about self-defense and using grappling and other techniques to subdue the opponent. And that’s where the art aspect comes in. You can go up against a much larger opponent who’s probably even armed, and you can still manage to control their movement and render them harmless. 

This might explain the growing popularity of the system. More and more academies and gyms are devoted to BJJ and they are blossoming in every town. Many consider BJJ a wholesome system that builds a well-rounded player who has all the skills they need. If you want to be a skilled MMA fighter, then training in BJJ is a great start.

Moreover, MMA itself has helped increase the popularity of BJJ. But rather than go for naked aggression and military-style fighting disciplines, many aspiring players turn to BJJ and its nuanced techniques since they build on the necessary skills they need. At the end of the day, you’re not looking to break someone’s bones. You want to be a better athlete, build on your core skills, and have a strong foundation in the sport.

That’s what BJJ offers. Not naked aggression, but subtle power. The ability to use your skills and abilities to prevail over an opponent who outweighs you and could crush you with their bare hands. BJJ makes you a better person in other aspects of your life as well. It’s not just on the mat or when sparring. You become more disciplined, humble, confident, and calmer.

Sambo as a Discipline

The origins of Sambo go back to the beginning of the 20th century around the time the October Revolution shook the foundations of the Russian Empire. It was designed for the military to use in hand-to-hand combat. Unlike BJJ which is more about self-defense, Sambo borrowed heavily from Greco-Roman wrestling, Judo, and folk wrestling. Its goal was to create a fighter who made short work of the fight and came up on top.

There are two versions of Sambo. There’s the sport and then there’s the combat style. The combat version is more violent and aims to teach you the skills to finish an enemy. It’s used mainly in battles when you run out of bullets. You are allowed to use any means necessary to bring the foe down. From head butts to groin kicks, nothing is off limits. 

The sports style of Sambo is tame and doesn’t reach these peaks of violence. It mainly focuses on wrestling and grappling to deliver strong blows to the opponent to incapacitate them without the killing part. This in part is the reason the sport hasn’t caught on.

The popularity of Sambo is in doubt. Its future too isn’t as stable as that of BJJ or other MMA sports. It’s not just the military aspects of it that make it unappealing, but also its techniques lack the discipline and variety that BJJ offers.

The Pros and Cons of BJJ

The strengths of BJJ lie in its grappling techniques. The guard is probably one of the most powerful positions that BJJ has to offer. It lets you control from the ground an opponent who has a clear advantage over you. Your legs become your shield or guard to help you subdue the opponent and render their offensive ineffective. As you can see, this builds on many techniques that make you a better athlete all around.

Chokeholds are another strong point in BJJ. It’s one of the not-so-secret weapons that you can rely on to bring an opponent under your control. The best part is they don’t leave any scars or cause lasting damage to the opponent. Once the situation has been resolved, the opponent will be able to walk away on their own two feet. Add to that BJJ is a wholesome discipline that focuses on all aspects of the player, not just their style or technique.

Still BJJ has its downside. For one thing, it helps you go up against a larger opponent but it doesn’t help you against a group of opponents. While you subdue one opponent, another can sneak up on you and take you down. The same can be said about armed opponents. If your opponent has a weapon that they know how to use, your subduing skills could be worthless.

The other issue that many have with BJJ is its lack of focus on leg attacks. While it does great work with ground defense and offenses, legs remain largely ignored. This can be a problem if you meet an agile opponent or one who’s nimble on their feet. 

The Upside and Drawbacks of Sambo

Sambo on the other hand is a more focused discipline that has one goal in sight. That goal is to bring the opponent down by any means possible. To achieve that you are trained to use leg locks. This makes it useful if you meet a BJJ player with little or no leg training. And in this no-holds-barred sport, you’re allowed to grab your opponent by the belt.

Sambo also trains you in delivering effective blows to the opponent with the aim of overpowering them. You won’t find anything like that in BJJ which teaches you to avoid blows and not give them. That said, Sambo is more about piling up points rather than scoring a big point (ippon in BJJ) to win the game.

As for the disadvantage of Sambo, they are numerous. For one you won’t have as much groundwork as you would find in BJJ. Most of the fighting takes place from a standing position. If a Sambo fighter touches the ground, they’re as good as done. Anyone including a BJJ player can take them easily.

As a sport that focuses on offensive combat, Sambo lacks in guards and leaves you open to attack. You won’t learn anything about chokeholds or how to restrain a larger opponent. All these drawbacks explain why the sport is still mainly practiced by the Russian military without getting traction outside its country of origin.

Points of Difference between Sambo and BJJ

If you have been following so far, you probably noticed the main points of difference between Sambo and BJJ. This goes beyond the mere origins of both sports. While Sambo focus on assault and making quick work of the fight, BJJ is all about assessing the opponent, looking for their weak and vulnerable spots and trying to restrain them.

Needless to say that each sport has something to offer that the other one lacks. But another glaring difference is how each sport was designed. While Sambo was mainly a way for the military to take down opponents by any means possible, BJJ is mainly a ring sport where you try to control the opponent and focus on self-defense. 

The other difference is in the length of the fight. Sambo is very aggressive and with both fighters going at it with everything they got, the matches don’t often last long. Compare that with BJJ which is more subtle and you take your time to execute a technique that gives you an advantage and hope to score an ippon.

And let’s not forget that Sambo was a Russian sport with roots in military combat and whose aim is purely aggressive. It lacks groundwork focus and once you go off your feet, you’re doomed. It is effective against an armed opponent or a group of opponents. This is a far cry from BJJ which was developed in Brazil with self-defense in mind. Its groundwork techniques are admirable but leaves you defenseless against an armed opponent or if you face more than just one opponent. 

Does this mean that cross-training is possible or even helpful? There’s no doubt about it. As a BJJ player, you will benefit from the offensive techniques that Sambo offers while Sambo players would find the groundwork and guard techniques extremely useful. 

Take a look around the rashguards products available online or in the sports section of your local store and you’ll be amazed at the high price tags attached to them. And while you can still find generic rashguards that wouldn’t cost you more than $20 or $30, these cheap ones won’t be of much help in your BJJ training. Your teacher and classmate would most likely advise you against using them. So why are rashguards so expensive?

First and foremost it’s the quality of the material that drives the price of rashguards. Secondly, the design. A high-quality rashguard fits snugly and doesn’t come in your way as you practice or execute your techniques. This is why you’d want to invest in a good rashguard as they play a major role in your progress.

Of course, you could always try to wear a tee-shirt and hope for the best. Why waste so much money on a branded rashguard when you can use a $5 T-shirt? It’s right there in the name. The rashguard protects your body and doesn’t sag the way tee-shirts do when they are soaked with sweat. But do you really need that pricey rashguard, though? Let’s find out.

The Need for Rashguards

Whether to go with a rashguard or just any good old tee-shirt or some similar item of clothing shouldn’t be decided based on finances alone. It’s true that rashguards are expensive. But there’s a good reason for that. The expensive rashguards, I’m talking the ones that cost $100 and more, come with some qualities that help with your training. They have an added agility and stretch across your body without being weighed down with sweat.

Rashguards do more than just protect your skin against the rough mat or the accidental nail of the opponent digging into your own skin. And yes they do prevent rash which let’s face it is not the most pleasant thing in the world. Think about it, would you rather face an opponent on the mat with a sweaty attire or one that is well ventilated and keeps you cool when the heat of the competition increases?

To be fair, the protection the rashguard offers is something that the Gi itself will not offer. In other words, the Gi or no-Gi question should not touch the need for rashguards. Whether you don’t leave home with the Gi or you would never go to training with one, this has nothing to do with rashguards. You still need the rashguard. Just think of all those germs that land on your body as you make contact with the mat and the other opponent. 

Speaking of your opponent. Did you know that your sweat could cause them a fungal infection? When you wear a rashguard during training or sparring, that sweat gets absorbed and rather than gets sprayed all over the mat and the opponent when you take the rival down, it stays safely under your rashguard. Of course, this works both ways. When every one of your classmates is wearing a rashguard, you feel safer sparring and grappling with them all day. So besides the hygiene, you also get the reassurance that the class is a safe place to train without the fear of catching something nasty.

Finally, you need to consider your Gi as well. Without the rashguard, all that sweat pours directly into the fabric of your Gi. This means your Gi won’t last long with this rough treatment. It also means you feel hot and bothered as soon as you start grappling or sparring. In turn, this impacts your performance. In short, the rashguard is a must for every BJJ player whether they take their practice seriously or not. 

What to Look for in a Rashguard

Now that we have established the absolute need for you to wear a rashguard and protect yourself and others from flying germs and droplets of sweat, let’s look for the qualities you need to ensure your rashguard has maximum protection and the type of performance enhancements you desire. 

The first thing that gets your attention of course is the quality of the material. A cheap material will probably be no better than your average tee-shirt. This is why you’d want to invest a little more in a pricey rashguard. A cheap rashguard will probably not last as long as you’d hope for and might have flaws either in the seams or the design that make it a hindrance rather than an enhancement. 

The other thing to look for is whether the rashguard is a good fit or not. A loose rashguard defeats the purpose. It will not offer the right protection to your body and will sag like a wet shirt on your back. If it’s too tight or one size too small, that makes it uncomfortable and comes in the way of your movement. Less mobility is the last thing you want when sparring or grappling against an opponent. Your rashguard needs to be comfortable and fits snugly without limiting your movement or making it hard for you to execute a technique. 

Last but not least, the style. Your rashguard makes a statement. It says a lot about you and whether you use a Gi or not, your rashguard still makes a splash on the mat. I’m not saying that a scary rashguard with graphic patterns will put fear in the heart of your opponent and make them turn around and run away. But a rashguard that really fits your style and conforms to your thinking and values will go a long way in preparing you for your game.

How Many Rashguards do you Need?

A rashguard is more than just an accessory. As you browse the various products you’ll find that each rashguard has some enhancement to offer. Some offer more flexibility while others have more endurance. And of course, there’s the design and style to think about. Come to think of it, investing in a rashguard shouldn’t be something you do in a hurry. You need to take your time, look for the best options, and choose one that gives you a bang for your buck.

So the question here is, how many rashguards do you actually need? It’s not a question to get a subjective answer easily. For one thing, it boils down to your personal preference. Some BJJ players prefer to have more than a couple of rashguards. Even go as far as own half a dozen to change through them. That’s fine of course as long as you can afford it. 

Others would find a rashguard they feel comfortable in and stick to it. They’ll wear it for every class or competition. They can’t get on the mat without it. It becomes part of who they are. More like a ritual. After each class they go home, wash the rashguard, and the next day they’re ready. It’s just who they are. You might think of it as odd. But for them, it’s more about comfort and establishing a rhythm. Their favorite rashguard is part of who they are. 

So between those two extremes, is there a middle ground? What if you don’t like the idea of having just one rashguard? And what if you don’t have the means to get half a dozen and keep changing through them like Jay Z in a concert? From my experience, I’d recommend you have anything between 2 to 3 rashguards at one time. Why is that?

Longevity should be the first concern. As you wear, wash, dry your rashguard the signs of wear and tear start to show. It will become less flexible and agile. The material loses its protection and after a short while you find that you have to buy a new one since this one is just too old. Not to mention that when you buy in bulk you can land a good deal and save yourself some cash. 

Brand or no Brand?

So let’s say you have some cash to splurge on your rashguard or rashguards if you choose to buy more than one. Now the question is, should I go for a designer brand or just look for a run of the mill one that doesn’t have the famous logo emblazoned all over it? It’s a trade-off really. There are pros and cons to each type.

A branded rashguard not only says a lot about you but also makes you stand out in the crowd. If you like to show off, then a designer rashguard is what you’re looking for. This doesn’t mean that branded rashguards have no redeeming qualities besides the logo. They usually have good qualities and improve your performance. But they tend to be more expensive.

A no-brand rashguard will cost you considerably less. You’re not investing in a logo but in the quality of the rashguard. You can find a good quality rashguard at half the price of the branded ones. So it all comes down to your budget and whether you prefer to have a famous logo across your rashguard or not.

In the world of BJJ, your appearance matters. How your present yourself to your teacher and colleagues says a lot about how seriously you take your practice. Show up to class in an unwashed and wrinkled Gi and you’re telling everyone you don’t care about your progress. This is especially bad if you want to get promoted and it’s up to your teacher whether to give you the next stripe or not.

As with every fabric made of cotton that gets washed, your BJJ belt will shrink. This is especially true of the first time you wash it, but also for subsequent washings as well. How much it shrinks depends on the material, whether it has polyester in it, and how you wash it. Hand washing tends to be more gentle on the belt than if you wash it in the washing machine. How you dry it also makes a difference.

Sometimes you’d want your belt to shrink because it’s too long for you and it comes in the way. Other times you want it just the way it is. No more no less. In that case a shrinking belt defeats the purpose and you want to do all you can to keep it from shrinking. Let’s have a look at this crucial issue.

To Wash or Not to Wash

Of all the BJJ player’s clothing items, the belt gets special treatment. For one thing, the belt color is what distinguishes a novice player from an experienced one. But it’s not just the color of the belt that set the ranks, the stripes too make a big difference between two players wearing the same belt color. It’s no wonder then that the belt carries so much weight in BJJ.

For that reason, some players take washing, or rather, the unwashing, of the belt very seriously. It’s common knowledge that some black belt champions have never washed their belt. Not even once. You can imagine that the belt stinks, is crushy with dried sweat and dead skin cells if not blood. But they are adamant about it. So why do they refuse to wash their belt?

It’s superstition, mostly. They feel that washing the belt will jinx them. Like there’s a connection with the belt. Not only has it absorbed and accumulated sweat and tears, but also the whole sum of their skills and experiences. If they wash it, all that mojo will go down the drains, literally if not figuratively. 

Now think of the amount of germs and pathogens lurking inside the fabric pores of a belt like that. Do you really want to go up against a player with a dirty belt who could very well infect you once you come in contact with the belt? It’s a health hazard both for the one wearing the belt and the other player. These are difficult times, nobody needs an extra element of health risk like a dirty belt. 

In short, you should always wash your belt. How often? Well, that depends on your sense of hygiene and how often you practice. Some players wash it after every class, while others wash it once a week. But what about the shrinking? Yes, that brings us to the first time you wash your belt. 

The First Washing

When you buy your belt for the first time, it comes out of its wrapping looking clean and crisp. Now you have a choice, either to wash it or just put it on like that without washing. It’s recommended that you wash it first. Just put it in a bucket of water or fill the kitchen sink and drop it in it. This is hand washing. Don’t use the washing machine. 

Handwashing is gentler on the fabric and doesn’t stress it much. It also keeps your stripes on. The washing machine will just take those stripes off like it’s nothing. Then you’ll have trouble sticking them back on the belt. Who said being clean was easy?

Always use lukewarm water or tap water if the weather permits. Never use hot water. That’s what makes the belt shrink and the colors run. Now let the belt settle in the water for a minute or so before you pick it. For this first washing you don’t need to use detergents or even softeners. You’re just trying to loosen the fabric and wash away any chemicals.

Give the belt a few squeeze and rub it gently. Then take it out of the water. Don’t twist it vigorously like you’re trying to wrench its neck off. Hold it for a bit to let the excess water drop on its own. Hang it on a rack and let it dry. That takes care of your first wash. Now your belt is clean and won’t shrink much. 

Shrink your Belt

But what if you actually want to shrink your belt? It’s just too long for you. It dangles in front of you like something you’d rather not talk about and you can’t even show your stripes. If you bend, the tips of the belt hit the floor and come in the way. That’s no way for a belt to behave. You want it to be tucked neatly around your waist with the stripes flashing in the eyes of your opponent telling them how much experience you have.

So you need to wash your belt for the sole purpose of making it shrink. How would you go about doing that? Simple really. You just need to do the opposite of what we recommended in the above section. Instead of using cold or lukewarm water, use hot water. You can still wash it with your hands in a sink or drop it in the washing machine. Usually the washing machine will do a good job shrinking it. Also you won’t have to put your hands in hot water.

If you’re using velcro stripes, then just drop the whole belt in the washing machine. You can always stick back the stripes if they come off. If they’re glued to the belt, you’ll just have to cross your fingers that they don’t come off. You can use detergent and softener to loosen the fabric. Let the belt take a few spins in the dryer for good measure. 

After the belt is dry, you can iron it. Check the material and iron settings before you proceed. If the belt is still too long for your liking, give it another wash. Repeat the whole process until the belt is finally the size that suits you.

More Washing

As you wear your belt, go to practice, and spar and sweat, it will get dirty. There’s no escaping that. Just like your Gi, your belt gets its fair share of sweat, both yours and your opponent’s. Now you wouldn’t let that stuff fester in your belt and become a bacteria farm. You need to wash it as soon as possible. 

Unlike with the first washing, you need to use washing detergent and softeners. That sweat and dead skin particles are not going to come off on their own. It’s recommended you wash the belt by hand. For one thing it’s not a large item and it’s easy to wash. Also your hands are always much gentler than the washer that gives the clothes the rough treatment. 

How often you wash your belt will impact its lifespan. Not to mention how it looks. The more you wash it the paler it gets and more frayed it becomes. It’s a trade off really. Do you want to walk around with a smelly belt or an old and faded one? For me, I always put hygiene first. So unless you want to overpower your opponent with the aroma of your stinking belt alone, you’d want to wash it often.

Non-White Belts 

Now comes the interesting part. You start your BJJ practice with a white belt. It’s easy to clean and hardly stains, anyway. You drop it in the washing machine with the other white items or you wash it separately in a small bucket. Nothing could be any simpler. The only issue is, white is easy to stain, so you can wash it with the Gi if it’s also white.

But what if you are wearing a purple belt, or a blue one? Washing non-white belts can be a problem. Not just for the belt but also for the other items in that load. For one thing, you need to make sure the belt doesn’t run color. Also that no other clothes will run color. The last thing you’d want is to put a purple belt in the washer only for it to come out brown. That’s not how you progress in BJJ’s complex ranking system. 

Hot water is usually the main cause of color run in fabrics. That and the type of washing detergent you use. Make sure you don’t use bleach and that the detergent is for color clothes. 

If you have ever had to face a tall opponent on the mat, you undoubtedly felt intimidated. The opponent towers over you, you feel dwarfed in comparison and those long legs make it hard for you to pass guard. So what on earth can you do about that?

Far from being a disadvantage, being tall and lanky gives you plenty of advantages over your opponent. It’s hard for the shorter rival to pass guard, maneuver around you, or make a sudden move. From your vantage point, you have a clear view of the field, and can predict the next move of the opponent as they stare at your belt and figure out what to do next.

But since BJJ is not about fighting a smaller opponent, rather fighting a taller one and coming out victorious, we’ll look at things from both sides. From the little person’s view as well as the taller guy just to give you a clear picture. And we’re being literal here when we say little person. You can be small in size facing a larger opponent, yet BJJ teaches you techniques to control that opponent’s movement and render them harmless. So how about if you’re grappling with a tall opponent on the map? Do you need to change your strategy? You bet.

Overarching Strategy

Let’s keep in mind that once you get the opponent off their feet, that advantage becomes diminished. On the floor, you’re both equal. It’s true, their long legs are still a fortress that you will need to work around to conquer. But you just need to focus on bringing the game down to the mat if you want to increase your chances of getting a submission.

Whether you’re the taller player on the mat or the shorter one, you can benefit from the overarching strategy and take full advantage of it. It involves three aspects. 

Top or Bottom

Being the tall guy in the room means you have great advantage when it comes to grappling. Unless your height doesn’t come buttressed with equal width, your shorter opponent will not have any trouble lifting you off your feet and slamming you on the floor like a WWE stunt. But if you have the bulk, then you can make grappling a nightmare for the short guy.

Another advantage to being tall in grappling is that you attack from the top not from the bottom. Your arms are your best weapons both for attack and defense. Coincidently your arms are what you use and rely most on in grappling. So in a way you have a great advantage here attacking from the top. But what about the other guy?

If you are the shorter opponent then you need to reverse that strategy and attack from the bottom. This means paradoxically that you try to get into a top position. I’m thinking a scarf hold, or a side control. Why? Because then the tall guy’s advantage evaporates once you pin them in either of those positions. Neither their long arms nor tree-trunk legs will be of use to them anymore. 

Submission or Position

As the tall player, your goal is to get to submission straight away. Not as easy as it sounds, I know, but remember that you have great advantage on your feet on the mat facing a shorter player. The longer you delay your move toward submission, the more time you give the opponent to work out a strategy to topple you off your high advantage and level the playing field, so to speak. 

So what if you are the short player? In that case, you need to opt for the other strategy. Work to gain a position advantage first and then use that advantage to get a submission. Again, it’s important to take the game to the ground as quickly as you can and from there decide the best way to get into a top position that takes the opponent’s height out of the equation.

Pin or Spin

The tall guy has long legs. Those legs make it hard for the other player to try to pass guard. So while the opponent is busy finding an opening, you can use that advantage to get a submission and win the game right then and there. Meanwhile you need to watch out for what the shorter player might come up with. Namely, the pin or spin tactics.

Pin or spin are the tactics you can use to neutralize the tall player’s height advantage. Pin here refers to pinning their legs. The idea is by pinning the long legs, you’re using the opponent’s height against them. Think of the long distance between the feet and the hips. It makes it easy for you to force them off balance and take the game to a new level on the ground. When those heavy legs crumble to the floor, you not only bring the opponent down to your level, you actually open up an opportunity for a good follow up. A grip of the knees and spinning puts you exactly where you want to be. On top.

Hips and Toes

The idea that tall players have long legs can work both ways. They can use it to their advantage to keep attacking from the top and only go to the floor when they see their way clear to submission and the door is open. But then again it can be used to their disadvantage. That’s when the short player uses the pin and spin tactic to sweep the tall player off their feet. 

That’s where the hips and toes theory comes in. Here both BJJ players can benefit from this concept widely used and practiced in wrestling. If you noticed, wrestlers like to keep their hips low while their toes do most of the work. Keeping your hips low allows you to have more stability on your feet and as the opponent uses their grappling skills and body weight to force you down, your well-grounded hips keep you steady and balanced. 

The toes on the other hand, or rather feet, are the main contact point with the floor. The tall player avoids letting their shins, knees, or thighs touch the floor. Because in that case, all that heigh advantage is gone and the other player starts to build momentum. So while the short player does everything they can to turn it into a ground game, the tall player stubbornly stays on their feet.

Knee Action

Knees are important in MMA in general and BJJ in particular. How to use them or fend yourself against them depends on whether you’re the tall or short guy. The tall player is definitely on the defensive side against the knees. The space between the shoulders are hips is fair game for the short player to use their knees to pin down and control the tall opponent. If done correctly, the short player can end up with a huge positional advantage.

Which is exactly what every short player should aim for. That advantage doesn’t come easy. And of course you’ll have to take the lanky guy off their feet first. How else are you going to bring your knees up to their waist or back? But once you send them tumbling to the mat, you can follow up with your knees. In many cases, this can be a turning point in the game and the tall guy will remain on the defensive until you score a win.

Bottom Moves

Now comes the interesting part. You’re tall and lanky. You have been keeping the shorter player busy and with your grappling techniques and height advantage you finally went to the floor with a huge advantage both positionally and tactically. Now you can use your weight to control the opponent, frustrate them, and bring this game to its logical conclusion with a resounding submission. What could go wrong, right? Well, as it turns out, the short guy might have a few tricks up their sleeve. 

Even from a huge disadvantage as being at the bottom pinned under a hulking tall player, the short guy isn’t exactly defenseless. Not by a long chance. Otherwise, what’s the point of being a BJJ player if you can’t defend yourself even against a larger opponent. So it’s time to make some bottom moves to turn the tables on the taller player.

The first thing you need to do is create some space between you and the opponent. This space will become valuable as you work out a strategy to wriggle out of the tight spot you find yourself in. While the opponent will try to keep you close to control your movement, you’ll need to give yourself room. Use your legs and hips to push yourself off the mat. This will make it harder for the tall player to maintain their advantage. From there you can launch an attack for submission from the bottom. Now the path to victory is clear and near.

One of the first hard lessons that BJJ students have to learn is how to protect their guard. Guard passing is one of the ultimate goals of the discipline. Players spend countless hours honing their skills, learning different techniques, and adding their own flair to every technique and variation of a technique. 

5 tips to improving guard retention are:

1. Embrace conflict.
2. Focus on the big picture.
3. Use the element of surprise to your advantage.
4. Use key performance indicators.
5. Practice a lot.

That brings up the question, how do you improve guard retention. For every action there’s a reaction and if you want to progress and advance along the complex BJJ belt system, you will need not only to improve your offensive techniques but work on your defenses just as hard. So how would you go about improving guard retention and making it hard for your opponent to find an opening in your defenses? The following 5 tips are recommended by experts and advanced practitioners alike. 

Embrace Conflict

Each sport and discipline has its core values and principles that define that sport. In Judo, grappling is by far the main concept around which the whole discipline was formed. In BJJ, it’s all about the guard. How to retain your guard while at the same time pass the opponent’s guard is by far the most important question that you need to find an answer to. 

If you look closely you’ll notice that those are actually two questions not one. Each question carries about half of the BJJ discipline and defines its goals. We have talked about passing guard techniques before and covered them in great detail. Here we will talk about the other side of the equation. How to retain your guard and block the opponent’s attempts are passing it.

The first rule is never to shy away from conflict. As an MMA discipline, BJJ is all about facing the opponent, getting up close and personal to them, and engaging in various techniques to subdue and control the movement of that opponent. This in essence is the very definition of combat. In other words, it’s pure conflict. So if you somehow have a fear of facing an opponent whether on the mat or off the mat, you will have a huge problem learning how to retain your guard let alone pass that opponent’s guard.

Conflict here doesn’t mean you go about picking fights with strangers. It means to spar with your opponent on the mat. To learn how to size them up quickly, find their vulnerabilities and work out a strategy to take advantage of those weak points. In a battle where both opponents are equal in just about every skill, then the winner is the one who can strike a good balance between their defense and offensive approaches. 

The more you spar, the more you’ll learn about your own abilities and flaws. Your teacher would help you find some of your vulnerabilities and how to work on them, but for the most part, only facing an opponent on the mat is the real test. This is where you find out if you got it or not. 

It’s all about Perspective

Soul searching and introspection are important skills that you’ll need to develop and use to your advantage. After each class you go home thinking about what happened on the mat that day. Now there are two ways to go about this. Either focus on the small things and petty grievances or look at the big picture. So how do you go about doing that and how does it help you?

At class you’ll soon find that not all your classmates are as serious about the sport as you are. Some are there because they are curious. Others just want to let out steam. There are players who want to progress and got their eyes on the ultimate prize, the black belt. While many will not make it past the current belt. So where does that leave you?

Somewhere in the middle at best. Now each of those players have their own goals and perspectives. It’s easy to get lost. Especially if you allow the less serious players to interfere in your own game and goals. This is where being self-aware comes in. You use this valuable skill to stay on track. You don’t let distractions come in the way. You know what you want and you work hard to get there. And that’s what having a perspective means. To look at the big picture. 

BJJ is a journey. It’s a long journey that takes on average about 10 years if you want to get to the top among the black belt champions. Along the way hurdles will come in your way. Either studies, work, relationships, family, or any other distractions. But as long as you know your goal and stay focused on the path ahead of you, you will not get lost.

The Element of Surprise

Whether you’re trying to pass guard or retain guard, the element of surprise should always work to your advantage. At the same time you need to be wary of the opponent’s moves and be prepared for whatever they spring on you. Now many novices and students early on the path think that when facing an opponent on the mat there’s no room for surprises. You’re both standing there looking at each other intently and charting your path to a submission. So where would a surprise or an unforeseen event come from?

Out of thin air, that’s where. Much like a poker player, you want to keep your hand well hidden and your intentions obscure. Your face should not betray what goes in your mind. Your eyes should focus on your opponent as you work how to fend off anything he throws at you. His goal is to pass the guard. Your goal is to retain the guard. You’re on the defensive, yes. And that gives you an advantage. What is that advantage?

For starters, you wait calmly for the opponent to make their move. In many cases, especially with not so killed opponents, it’s easy to read their plans. A slight jerk of their arm or the way their free leg is poised lets you know which direction he’s going to go and what plan he has in store for you. With practice and lots of sparring and competition, it will become easier for you to read your opponent and subconsciously interpret their moves and posture so that you will totally eliminate the element of surprise off the equation.

But that’s not the case with a more experienced opponent. One of the first things you’ll learn as an advanced player who has left the basics way behind is to hide your plants. You stare at the opponent with a stony face. Don’t give anything away. That way they won’t know what your next move will be. With so many techniques and thousands of variations on these techniques, your options are almost unlimited. But it’s the same for the opponent as well. So hiding your intentions while trying to read your opponent’s will give you the element of surprise and help you retain your guard. 

Key Performance Indicators

As your teacher will undoubtedly tell you, you need to take a methodical approach to your training. Think of it this way, you have a huge discipline that is based on an even larger practice that goes back centuries ago. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Where do you start and how on earth are you expected to know all these techniques in one lifetime?

First off, you’re not expected to know every technique and master every variation out there. Not even the champs of the sport know all the techniques. But they cover as many as they can. Then they settle for a select group of techniques that they know inside out and add their personal touch to. 

It’s all about getting the basics, then moving on to the more advanced skills. And the key here is to know your limits and abilities. Work on your flaws and enhance your strong points. And the way to go about it is to measure your performance indicators. How will that help you with guard retention? Well, a whole lot actually.

The more skilled and experienced you are, the more well-rounded player you become. Some players focus on the offensive side of the game and neglect the defenses. Big mistake. You have to strike a balance between those two. You can ace passing the guard but against a skilled player you might find yourself in an undesirable situation very quickly.  This is why you need to know how you perform both on the offensive and when on the defense.

Practice, and Practice some more 

All the books and videos in the world will not make you a good BJJ player. Not until you step on the mat, face an opponent and put all those theoretical skills to practice, only then will you become a good player, both at passing guard and retaining it. Some students practice 5 times a week, others only once every other week. It’s up to you how you to want to 

What started and became popular in wrestling is now finding its way on the BJJ mat. I’m talking about the famous, or infamous depending on how you look at it, Nelson Hold. In wrestling, it’s all about pinning down the opponent. But as we’ll see, Nelson Holds are great when it comes to submission grappling in BJJ as well.

Whether it’s full, half, or quarter, the Nelson hold is one of the most ubiquitous techniques in the wrestling world. And in BJJ it’s also making its presence known because of the potential it holds for submission grappling in general.

So what’s the deal with this Nelson Hold? How many variations are there anyway? And why has it taken so long for BJJ to catch up and discover the potential in this ancient wrestling technique? We’ll answer all of these questions and more in this comprehensive guide. We’ll cover its history, get a little technical, and describe what makes it stand out, and then segue into the different variations and how to use them with maximum efficiency.

History of Nelson Holds

As far as names go, this one can’t be traced back to a concrete incident or person in history. Why was the Nelson Hold named like that? Or who was that Nelson? There’s no satisfying answer to any of these questions. However, if we dig deeper into wrestling folklore we might find a clue.

In the early nineteenth century, wrestlers used to talk about “putting the nelson” on someone. It was such a common term that street fighters would often use it to talk about their brawls. Since wrestling originated in Britain and crossed the pond with the first immigrants, then we can turn our gaze that way and look for a famous or semi-famous Nelson to fit the bill.

Horatio Nelson was a Vice-Admiral in the British fleet and he was the one that single-handedly put a stop to Napoleon Bonaparte’s dreams of adding Britain to his great empire. After the battle of Waterloo, the French armada was decimated, Nelson triumphed, and Napoleon never recovered from the defeat. Mind you, Nelson never went one on one with Napoleon nor was he known for his wrestling proclivities.

It’s easy to see why Nelson entered the cultural scene and took center place in people’s daily lives. Without him, Britain would probably be speaking French now along with the rest of Europe. So to use his name to a popular hold that even kids used in the street brawls seems like the least the Brits could do. And from there, the term traveled to the New World where it became a common name in American Folkstyle wrestling.

But why Nelson? What’s so special about this maneuver that made it survive the journey across the Atlantic, set roots in American soil, and grow in popularity that it too invades the streets, bars, and wrestling joints in the New World? The answer to that is as involved as the question itself. So let’s get up close and personal to the Nelson hold and see what makes it such a durable feature of the wrestling lore. In other words, let’s get technical and deconstruct this famous technique into its basic components.

The Technical Nitty-Gritty of Nelson Holds

So what is the nelson hold exactly? The first thing you need to be aware of is your body position and posture in relation to the opponent. To get a Nelson to work properly in your favor, make sure you’re in a perpendicular position. It’s true this is more specific to the half-nelson, but as we’ll see later, the half-nelson is the more popular of all the nelson varieties so much so that when you talk about nelson, most people would think of the half rather than full or quarter nelson.

To have a perpendicular position over your opponent on the mat is more suitable to BJJ rather than to wrestling. The rules in wrestling have changed but from a submission grappling point of view, this is your ideal posture. Whether you’re going on the offensive or assuming a defensive position, the nelson has got your back. How is that?

For one thing, when you’re on the defensive and you’re perpendicular to your opponent, that means you don’t have to worry about the rival tripping, rolling, or trapping. You’re perfectly safe from any of that and you’re fully prepared for what’s coming. As we all know, on the mat, a slight error of judgment can be detrimental to the whole match.

And if you’re on the offensive, then going head to head with the opponent allows you to execute the flank push most effectively. Just think about it. You’re both facing each other, and that leaves the opponent to your offensive since the nelson gives you much room to maneuver and take it wherever you want to go with it. As a result you can utilize your own weight as leverage which has many advantages.

The other thing that has contributed to the durability of nelson holds is the hand position. The underlying laws of the nelson hold is how you apply leverage. Your hand position can make or break the whole hold and either render it useless or lead you to the desired outcome of getting closer to a submission. Here you need to pay attention to two things.

The first is the opponent’s elbow. You need to apply as much force as possible near the elbow. The other is the top of the head. That’s where the second point of contact is and in many ways the one that really gives you full control over the opponent’s movement and whole posture.

An alternative is to work on the underarm and neck of the opponent. But that position doesn’t give you as much power as you hope and is easy for the opponent to weasel their way out of it as we will see later.

Whichever mechanical position you go for, always remember to go for the side nearest to you first. This paves the way for you to secure the other side as well. But if you reach out to the far side, you basically undermine your hold and allow the rival to escape without much difficulty. Not to mention that your stability and your own posture would be in question. You could easily trip or lose balance which backfires spectacularly.

If you keep all these points in mind when executing a nelson, your opponent will not be able to raise a defense that would reverse your hold and turn it against you as you undoubtedly have seen it happen many times before.

So what is the purpose of the nelson hold? Well, oftentimes it’s used for one of two goals.

• Positional control: This is by far the most common purpose of the nelson hold. You apply the hold to take control of your opponent’s position. The idea is by controlling the rival’s head, you also have their spine under your control which allows you to secure the whole abdomen area. How does that help? Well, you have many options when you have control over the spine and abdominal areas. You can force them down on the mat, control their movement as you plan your next move, or bring them underneath you. Each scenario ensures you have great advantage and gets you closer to a submission.
• Punishment: When you feel that your opponent is acting all cocky or have an edge energy-wise, you can use the nelson hold to put them back in their place or just exhaust them. As they struggle to escape the hold, they will use every extra reserve of energy in their body, which evens the field and allows you to subdue them and turn things around in your favor. Just think of how hard for them to breathe when you clamp their head down which cuts the oxygen supply to the head rendering their body limp and ready to submit.

Nelson Holds Varieties

Even though the rules of BJJ have rendered most of the varieties of the nelson hold rather redundant, we can still look at some of the wrestling versions for inspiration. In addition to all the benefits we detailed above when talking about the technical aspect of the nelson hold, it also provides some tactical advantages that you just can’t overlook or ignore.

For the purpose of our guide, the nelson hold has four varieties:

• Full nelson hold.
• Three quarter nelson hold.
• Half nelson hold.
• Quarter nelson hold.

We will focus here on the last two. The half nelson hold deserves a whole guide on its own since it’s the one widely practiced both in wrestling rings and on BJJ mats. The quarter nelson also has a lot to offer if you spend enough time to learn all its nuances.

Half Nelson

The thing about the half nelson is that it’s so versatile and gives you lots of power and leeway, you can perform it either from a standing position or on the mat. And the best part is, you can execute the move flawlessly from either position and take it to the desired outcome without much compromise.

What the half nelson lacks in control over the opponent’s body compared to the full nelson, it more than makes up for it in the mobility. You’re able to distribute your weight around to gain the most advantage and use your body as leverage. It also gives you many points of attack to focus on which means your opponent will be at a loss mounting up a defense since they don’t know how you will attack.

But that’s not all. The half nelson also allows you to launch your attack without ever losing your grip. It doesn’t get any better than that. While the opponent is physically restrained and totally under your control, you’re ready to make your move and launch an offensive that leads to submission. Put simply, the half nelson gives you a whole lot of dominant positions to choose from and surprise your almost defenseless opponent.

In general, the half nelson is often used for one of three possible goals.

• Pins: To say that the half nelson was designed with pinning in mind is an understatement. Everything about the half nelson calls for you to perform a pinning. In wrestling this works best in the turtle position where you apply the half nelson to pin the opponent’s stomach to the ground. In BJJ, you have the same option which means the turtled opponent is now open for an attack from the rear. Or you could pin them down in the turtle position without any ability to move. Just use your free arm to control the far hip of the opponent and you get yourself a strong hold over their body. Another option is to go for side control from the half nelson which leads to a secure pin as well.
• Transitions: It’s easy to transition from the half nelson. That underhook is all you need to transition to a back control. With the rival’s head and posture practically under your control you can virtually get control over the other arm and set yourself up for a great offensive. As with pins, all you need to do from the turtle position is to control the far hip and you can keep the rival motionless while you figure out your next move. 
• Takedowns: As you will probably know it’s not easy to perform a takedown on your opponent from the top with a half nelson. So what you’re really trying to do is go the side and launch your offensive. You can do this by either a duck drag or pushing an arm under the body of the opponent. However, it’s taking the fight to the ground that really makes the half nelson almost indispensable in every student’s repertoire. This is true for rear locks when the half nelson is the go-to technique to get down to the ground quickly.

Quarter Nelson

If the half nelson was the backbone of most wrestling moves, in BJJ, it’s the quarter nelson that really gets you where you want to go especially for the purposes of submission grappling. The reason has to do with the differences between wrestling and BJJ in their definition of the turtle position or “hands and knees”.

In that position, the head and spine form a straight line and the eyes of the opponent is straight at the floor. However, new variations mean the head sometimes goes up and breaks the line forming from the spine to the head. It’s a subtle difference but has a great impact on the application of the quarter nelson in BJJ. In what way?

For one thing, the quarter nelson is really effective when you have full control over the back of the head. But if the head moves up, that means you lose control over that region which renders the quarter nelson less effective. However, with submission grappling where you can strangle the opponent, then bringing the head up doesn’t really affect the power of the quarter nelson.

That means that you can use the quarter nelson as part of a whole bunch of offensive strategies that give you a huge advantage. To be honest, of all the four nelson holds, this is the least vulnerable. The reason being the near arm is not all the way under the opponent’s arm which allows you much leeway to move it around and change your weight.

In other words, as long as you keep a safe distance, there’s no risk the opponent could reverse this position and get you under their control. What’s more, even if the opponent manages to escape from the quarter nelson, he will not get much advantage out of that. He would either end up in a similarly bad position or one which is even worse.

The quarter nelson is such a rich and great technique that many variations of it exist today in practice. These include:

• Quarter-Nelson with a chin-hold. More often seen in professional wrestling although many local wrestling academies ban this practice because it’s too dangerous. Here, instead of gripping the head of the opponent, you go for the chin instead and secure their spine in that way. You can also turn the head away for more control and to apply more pressure on the spine.
• Quarter-Nelson with body scissors. This variation as the name describes is done with the legs scissoring the opponent’s body. Both are on the mat. It has been renamed as the power half nelson.
• Quarter-Nelson across the face. You apply the quarter nelson across the face with the opponent on the mat on their back and your arm that should secure their head goes instead for their face. Keep your forearm bearing downward for maximum impact and to secure the head and face in place.

Whether you prefer the half nelson, quarter nelson, or any other variation of the nelson hold, one thing is for sure, submission grappling has never been the same once the nelson hold has been introduced to the sport.

As a white belt there aren’t many things more terrifying than your first Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu tournament. You want to do your best, but you’re not sure if you have the skills to compete. Here are a few tips for the beginner practitioner to help make your first tournament all the smoother. 

1. Trust Your Instructor.

While the process of competition may be daunting. Your coach wouldn’t let you compete if they didn’t think you could get something out of it. Your instructor may believe it is a learning experience or thinks you have what it takes to win. Either way, trust their judgment. This also goes for when they are giving you instructions on the mats. Stay focused on what your coach is saying and try to drown out the noise. You can rely on their knowledge to fill in the gaps and help you do better in competition. Learning this skill can make the difference between a good and great performance. You go to their classes for a reason, let them earn their coaching fee.

2. You’re There To Learn,So Learn!

White belt competition is not about finding out who is the best. It is about learning and developing your skills as a BJJ practitioner. It’s important to remember that early competition is not high stakes. Learning from your successes and failures is what matters. Don’t let the results of the tournament blind you from that fact. Learning to deal with the nervousness and the fatigue competition puts you through is an important skill to understand and master. Pay attention to what works, what doesn’t, and reflect on why. Don’t get caught up in the results. The only way you truly lose is if you don’t learn anything in competition. Also, don’t be a meathead and refuse to tap. You’ll do yourself more harm long term by breaking an arm and missing out on six months of practice, than by not advancing to the next round.

3. Scout Your Opponents.

If there are people in your division competing, it is a good idea to watch them. This way, you’ll learn about their habits and tendencies. You can also see their physical attributes, whether they are explosive or are lacking in their cardio. You can also learn their reaction to different positions. For example, what is their ‘go-to’ move when put in side-control? You can plan your attacks based on how they react. You can also learn what techniques they are best at and prepare your defense. Having this information might just make the difference between winning and losing. It’s also good to develop this skill as you continue your BJJ journey. The more you learn to watch your opponents, the more you can pick up and adjust within your own game. Just remember not to let it psyche you out. Watching other people compete may make you more nervous, which could mess up your performance. 

4. Listen To Your Body

While it’s essential to be in shape for competition, you’re not going to make much difference to your cardio if you take it easy the week before. You want your body to be functioning at maximum capacity, and that’s not going to happen if you’re exhausted or injured from training too hard. Make sure you are listening to what your body needs. The idea is to be at peak physical performance. If you’re trying to get there a week out, it is already too late. Sure, it’s nice to be known as a workhorse, but workhorses don’t have to grapple in tournaments. It’s better just to be the best version of yourself you could be at that moment. That way, you know you tried your best. You can learn what to work on, instead of limiting your abilities because of injury or exhaustion. 

5. Be Willing To Break Your Opponent.

It sounds harsh, but competition is competition. While you should treat this as a learning experience, part of that experience is realizing that you need to perform at your most vicious. You need to be able to tell the difference between practice and tournament behavior. While you should always go lighter in training, you need to go for the kill in tournaments. It may seem like it’s the opposite of what BJJ is all about, but remember that most people are humble because someone made them by choking them out or bending their joints. Your goal is to make as many people humble as you can. If you learn to act decisively and mercilessly, you will have a great deal more success in tournaments. Remember, you aren’t competing with your teammates. You are against your opponent. Don’t be scared to break them.

6. Train What You’re Bad At, Perform What You’re Good At.

If you have a wicked guillotine or slick sweeps, make sure you use them in competition. At the same time, if you know there is a technique or position you’re terrible at, make sure you’re drilling it as much as possible. It’s good to be able to adjust and deal with uncomfortable or challenging positions, but don’t let it stop you from using the skills you have developed for your techniques. Remember, competition is about testing yourself and learning, but you still want to do as well as you can to represent your gym and yourself the best. In order to do that you need to work on what you struggle with, but implement the skills you have learned along the way. If you don’t know what you’re good or bad at, talk to your coaches and training partners to help you find out. They’ll have a more objective take on your skills and abilities.

7.  Wear The Proper Gear

Tournaments will often dismiss or disqualify competitors for not wearing the right gear before a competition. Make sure your Gi is not too worn and is regulation size and thickness. Wash your Gi as well. You can’t be getting into tournaments with a sweaty, old Gi. If you’re not sure whether your Gi qualifies for tournament use, ask your coach. Wear your Gi the entire time you are on the mats. Bring sandals or shoes to wear when you are off the mats. It would be disappointing to be removed from competition just for not following basic rules around appropriate gear. Also, remember to trim and file your nails out of respect for your opponents. No one wants to get scratched up in competition. You don’t want to have a reputation as some clawing monster.

8. Relax

Remember to take it easy and relax. You’ll never accomplish anything by getting worked up. Focus on your breathing while waiting for your match. Listening to music on your headphones is an excellent way to distract yourself. You can use it to zone in and focus. Don’t let the anxiety of competition limit yourself from enjoying the moment. Talk to your training partners and try to keep calm. These are special memories you want to cherish. There’s no point in letting anxiety or stress get to you during the competition. The outcome of your match will be what it is. There is no point in allowing it to work you up. All that you can ask of yourself is to compete to the best of your ability. Whether you win or lose is unimportant. What matters is if you do yourself justice.

9. Prepare Appropriately

It may be tempting to go hard in your warmups to get the adrenaline flowing, but you run the risk of wearing yourself out before the competition starts. You need to pace yourself to make sure you’re in prime position to do your best. Make sure you eat enough before you compete.You need your energy if you’re going to be at your best. Also, at this stage, there is no point in weight cutting. While it might be a good idea further along in your career, weight cutting for your first few tournaments is unnecessary and may strain you before the competition. You want to focus on doing your best, and it makes it a lot harder to do that if you’re cutting weight. Take care of yourself. Warm up properly, eat a light meal, and try your best. You can’t expect anything more than that.

10. Be Polite

When you’re done with your warmup, get off the mats. Be respectful to the judges and your opponents. Remember you’re a practitioner of the gentle art. You’re also a representative of your instructor and your academy, so act accordingly. The BJJ community is tiny, you don’t want to get a reputation just because you forgot your manners. Remember, a lot of the competitors will be feeling the same way as you, so it’s best to have good manners and be respectful. Who knows, the people you’re competing with may be your future training partners, so it’s good to be polite. 

Your first BJJ tournament can be quite scary, but these tips may help the process be a lot easier. Remember to try your best and have a good time. You only get one chance at a first tournament.