BJJ Blue Belt Scared of Getting Injured at this MMA Gym

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Have your ever rolled with someone outside of a traditional Brazilian Jiu-jitsu background? Maybe someone who has done MMA, Sambo, Wrestling, Judo, etc?

If so then you know that they grapple a little different A different sort of cadence or style of rolling. I found this out during my White-Purple Belt days where I began to be introduced to MMA training and would roll with people who only learned grappling through MMA.

In many cases I would get caught with submissions even through my knowledge of grappling and Brazilian Jiujitsu was superior. Because their style and rhythm of grappling was different than mine, I had to adjust.

Because where BJJ players typically fight more for position, they would just go crazy for submissions.

And I believe this is partly due to the fact that when you use grappling in and MMA situation.

You have to have a sense of urgency with your techniques. In today’s video I discuss this idea in response to our friends question who is struggling with a situation at an open mat where he feels a bit taken back by the people inside the gym.

If you’re ever grappling with someone outside of a traditional BJJ gym, then I hope this video is useful for you!

-Chewy –

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enemy within chewjitsu

The Enemy Within

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This video is based off of one of my recent Instagram posts which was inspired by my experiences in my own life. Both on the mat and off the mat.

I can’t tell you how many times in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, Wrestling or in other aspects of my life where this message rang true.

I believe this is the way it is for most of us. We’re our own biggest enemy.

There’s so much more inside of each one us but we can only realize it when we get out of our own way and make it happen.

Here’s the original post:
There’s a special moment of relief at the end of a training session or competition.

As your coach gathers everyone together for one last huddle to finish class, or the ref raises the hand of the victor.

You realize. . . the struggle is over. You did what you set out to do and the white flag of your enemy has been raised.

But the enemy is not your opponent at the competition or your training partners. . . It’s yourself.

A battle had been waged and won that day, an internal siege had been lifted. As the army of your own anxiety, harsh judgments and laziness was beaten back.

Defeated were the thoughts of skipping training, sitting out another round or avoiding the upcoming competition because deep down you were afraid you’re not good enough.

Regardless of the outcome of that days training or competition. What matters is you conquered yourself.

And tomorrow the forces of your own shadow will reappear. As they do everyday. Ready for another battle and looking for a weakness in you.

But where there is a shadow there is a light.

And that light comes from the strength, intelligence and intensity inside you.

Embrace the suck, take joy in these daily battles, whether on or off the mat.

Because everyday you choose to follow your heart and take action is a day the enemy inside you becomes a little weaker, your light a little bigger. . . your shadow a little smaller.

I hope you guys enjoy the video!
-Chewy
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If you’d ever like to train with the team and I. Check out my gym Derby City MMA in Louisville,KY.

Short Legs in BJJ Full Guard Position

The Triangle in BJJ isn’t just a Choke

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The Triangle Choke with the legs is often wrongly categorized only as submission. While the Triangle Choke is a highly effective Choke in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

The actual Triangle Choke with legs is a viable platform for a myriad of attacks ranging from Oma Platas and Armbars to Wrist Locks and sneaky Lapel Chokes.

In this video I answer a question from Jeff who has short legs and is 5’7.

He wants to get better at the Triangle Choke in BJJ.

During the video I discuss how I’ve always struggled with being flexible and mobile with my lower body. Even as a kid I was told I had tight legs and hips. Compound this with the fact that I have shorter legs for my height and weight.

So I learned how to use the Triangle Choke as a position instead of the Choke. I use it as a position that allows me to attack lots of other submissions and sweeps. The benefit of having these other attacks was that I became comfortable and began to secure more Triangle Chokes.

If you’ve got short legs or struggle with Triangle Chokes in Brazilian Jiujitsu. Then I hope this video is helpful.

-Chewy –

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Head Position is Critically Important with Guillotine Chokes

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The Guillotine Choke in BJJ is an excellent submission to have in the arsenal. It can be used both as an effective offensive weapon. But it can also be a powerful counter submission.

In this video I touch on the idea that if we can get the person to place their head where we want it, then it will be easier to catch the guillotine choke.

So in this video I talk about using the Hip Bump or Kimura Sweep to setup the Guillotine Choke.

The idea is that as I create space and make the person drive into me. As they lower their head to drive into me, I can have them place their head where I want it.

This is beneficial because in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. When I’m going for a submission. If the person feels threatened. They often begin to defend it. So if I get them to worry about something else, it makes it easier to setup the Guillotine Choke.

Also, another little side tangent I go into with this video is the idea of popping up from our Guard. Often times people in Brazilian Jiujitsu will sit down on their butts and in some cases they could come up to their feet and threaten the person.

There’s no rule that says you have to stay seated. Try the tips out in this video. I hope it helps out with your BJJ Guillotine Choke from Full Guard.

-Chewy –

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All good things come to an end!

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In 2007 I came to Derby City MMA. I left my previous Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym and began training here.
When I started training here I met this young kid named Chad. I didn’t know it at the time but he would radically change my life.
Initially he was a young kid growing up in a Brazilian Jiu-jitsu gym.
Training and competing constantly. But he quickly grew into a young man that was possessed with gifts that many of us wish we had.
Both as a competitor and practitioner and as a teacher. During our time training together we sharpened each other’s abilities.
And on top of that. I learned a lot about myself.
While doing my best to try and help Chad along his own path I learned so much about myself. This isn’t goodbye as we will see him often enough. But it is definitely a new period.
For myself as a coach and for Chad as a man carving his own path in the world. I love my “little brother” that I promoted 2 years ago.
But I’m happy he’s growing. On and off the mats. He’s taking his own call to adventure. Finding his own path in his life.
You can watch this podcast to see why Chad is leaving
This video is a clip of our last drilling and rolling session together.

 

Back Mount is a Devastating Position for BJJ and MMA

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What’s the most dominant position in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu? In my humble opinion. I think it’s Back Mount.

Even more so I think the most dominant variation of Back Mount is when we have the person flattened out on their belly with our hooks in. In a fight the person is literally helpless.

And in BJJ whether it’s training in the gym or competitions we can attack aggressively for the choke. In this video I answer a question for Mckenzie who is having trouble finishing from the Belly down back mount.

I show 2 different ways to approach finishing from this devastating position. With both positions I show how to finish the rear choke.

But I also talk about how the position could be used for a fight or match.

If you’re having a similar problem with your Back Mount in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu.

Particularly when you find yourself in the belly down position. Then I hope the video is helpful!

-Chewy –

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Strong Grip from Full Guard to Control Posture (with Brabo Choke)

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This Brabo Choke is a fantastic option from the Full Guard in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. The Brabo Grip itself is excellent for posture and Full Guard control. And it leads to numerous sweeps and submissions.

I often show the Brabo grip early on to my White Belts because it’s strength can often be helpful for a newcomer to BJJ who wouldn’t mind a little added control.

In this video I’m not going off a viewer request. Instead, I wanted to simply show you a nice Brazilian Jiujitsu technique that might be useful for your game. As you’ll see in the video:

The Brabo Grip helps to control the posture of your opponent.

 

 

I show the basics of how to open up the Gi to achieve the grip. Then discuss how to setup the choke or use it for positional dominance. I hope that the technique helps you with your Full Guard submission game in BJJ.

-Chewy –

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Smooth Guard Pass to Truck Roll in BJJ (Back Take Combo)

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Recently, I posted a video of myself and some tough BJJ Black Belts rolling and training before the No Gi Pans.

There were several techniques used in the video that many of you had questions about. So I’ll go through and answer the technique related questions you have about the roll.

It starts with a Double Under Guard Pass variation and then moves into a rolling back take from the, often called, Truck position from 10th Planet.

You may not call it the Truck, but for the sake of the video, it’s what we’ll use. I also share the progression of the move and where it came from. As I originally used the Truck position and the rolling back take from other positions like Mount and Turtle first.

 

In this video I cover one of the Guard pass, back take combinations I used during the training.

If you were interested in this technique from the previous video, or want a Guard passing back take chain of techniques. Than I hope this video is helpful. Chew on that. 😉

-Chewy –

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Secure Half Guard with Full Guard Submission Threat

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Recently I was messing around during class and stumbled into a new Half Guard entry from a Full Guard Submission. I end up hitting this same technique multiple times that day.

 

So as is customary with my BJJ training and techniques now a days. . . I decided to share it with you! This BJJ technique starts off as a basic straight armlock from guard. For me this is one of my favorite full guard submissions.

 

From there if the person defends it I show how to transition from the full guard to a half guard position. What I like about this transition is that it allows you to adjust while the person is being threatened with a submission attempt.

 

Going from 1 guard to the next can be problematic sometimes. If you give the person even a little space, they’ll begin to attack and pass. But if you have them on the ropes worrying about their arm.

In this video I show the transition from full guard to half guard by baiting the person.

 

 

This makes it easier for you to adjust because they’re focus isn’t on attacking you. It’s about saving their arm. So if you’re a half guard player or you’re looking for a different way to get to half guard. Try this simple setup from full guard.

-Chewy –

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Why I Almost Quit Doing Youtube Videos

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Want to know the best way to take something that’s fun and ruin it?

Start taking things too seriously.

It happens so often. We get into something. It’s fun, enjoyable. . . but then. . .  we start setting expectations for ourselves, our ego becomes the master instead of the slave.

From my experience this typically goes hand in hand with getting better. Which is weird, as you get better you kind of get worse in some cases.

Great example was in my early stages of BJJ. As I began to get better. My ego became attached to that outcome and it froze me in place. I couldn’t test new moves because I didn’t want to lose. This really hindered my growth in BJJ. And it happened because I took it too seriously for a time and forgot the whole reason I started training.

Because I enjoyed it!

I Almost Quit Doing Youtube Videos

Another example is with the videos I do for you guys.

Originally I started doing them for my students. Then I started getting questions and I had fun answering them.

But then!!!

People started following me and would tell me how much it helped them, and I started having people travel hours away just to train and hang out. And then . . . I became too serious about it.

I started putting pressure on myself. I felt like I had people to help! This pressure made it difficult for me to do videos for several weeks and at one point I almost just quit doing them completely.

Eventually I realized how serious it had become. How stupid of me! I was supposed to be having fun and helping. So I switched it back around and went back to playing around.

And it’s why you continue to see videos on YT and IG. 

You’ve Got to PLAY With New Positions and Techniques

And for those of you who have already or plan to jump in on my new Half Guard series. Be sure not to take it too seriously.

You can check out the Half Guard Sweeper Series Here:


Whenever you’re developing new positions and techniques. It’s important to have a fun almost playful mindset. Studies have even shown that we actually learn better in a more relaxed mental state.

And take it from me, being TOO serious about things just leads to frustration. On and off the mats.

And if you’re working on something else besides my techniques, no problem. Take the same advice. PLAY with the new material rather than get too serious and hung up on it.

See you guys in future not so serious videos and blogs. 😉

-Chewy