March 5, 2025

BJJ Simple Steps to Escape Bottom Side Control

This is the concept I use whenever I find myself flattened in bottom side control. Now, the number one way to not be flattened in bottom side control is to not lie flat when someone passes your guard. My observation is that being flattened is often a convention, where we think “oh, they are passing me, I need to defend from side control” and then we lie flat and assume a defensive posture.

March 4, 2025

BJJ Easy Side Control Concept

When I get in top side control, I’m looking to start submitting my opponent with chokes. Here is an example video of some of the chokes I hit regularly, depending on whether they turn into me, lie flat, or turn away. You’re not limited to these, it’s just an example of what you do with the concept.

February 26, 2025

BJJ Simple Sweep Concept

Here’s a video I posted about what to do from bottom half guard. In general, I like to make sure I always control their attack hand. If I give up the hand, it’s only for a high percentage chance at a sweep by overpowering one of their limbs:

February 26, 2025

BJJ Simple Leg Defense Concept

Here’s my simple concept for defending leg attacks: don’t let them connect their hands. Nothing is 100%, and this definitely works better the sooner you start controlling an arm. So be sensitive to leg attackers and grab an arm to prevent connection before they get into position for best results.

January 19, 2025

What Are We Guarding With Guard?

What are we guarding with guard in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? I’ve been doing BJJ for over 18 years. All that time I’ve been taught about guard and how it is what makes BJJ special. But I’ve never heard anyone discuss: “what are we guarding when we use guard?” Why do I think this is an important question? I think it’s built into the language. If I ask someone to guard my door, I’m asking them to make sure no one comes inside the house.

December 4, 2024

Get One Hand By Their Neck To Choke Them

I’m a black belt in Brazilian jiu jitsu. But even though I was a successful wrestler in high school, it took me 18 years to get my black belt. Looking back, I believe part of this is because I have ADHD. Typical BJJ multi-step move of the day type instruction does not work for me. Now that I’m a black belt I spend a lot of time thinking about simple, general principles that I actually do remember.

November 14, 2024

When One Hand is By Your Neck, You're Halfway to Being Choked

I’m a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) and I have ADHD. It took me 18 years to get my black belt even with a strong wrestling background. When I look back on my BJJ journey, I think a lot of it comes down to the standard “move of the day” style of teaching not resonating with me. For one thing, my ADHD brain only remembers a maximum of 3 steps.

November 12, 2024

I'd Rather Fight a One Armed Man

I’m a 46 year old black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. One of my reasons for writing this is I have ADHD (as I suspect a lot of us do), and so I constantly struggle with traditional BJJ “move of the day” type instruction. So I’m trying to look for key concepts I can remember when I forget the 17 step combo I was just taught 5 minutes ago. Today’s concept is:

May 11, 2024

My Dad Got a Black Belt in 3 Months

My dad spent 3 months in Japan in 1964 and got his judo black belt from the Kodokan – the mother ship of Judo schoools – going from white to black belt in 3 months. I’m not sure if this is the fastest anyone has ever done this, but I figure it makes a nice story that folks might be interested in, and it dawned on me that time is running out to see if there is anyone still alive who might have personal knowledge to fill in the gaps that I don’t know.

Posts

Simple concepts, not complicated moves.