I’ve had a lot of request regarding reaping in BJJ competitions. Whether it’s to avoid being called for reaping if you use Single Leg X or if you want to defend against someone reaping your leg.
In this video I show some basics on what reaping in BJJ looks like and keeping your knee safe, defending the reap and avoiding allowing your position to get you in trouble in an IBJJF BJJ tournament. I also touch on how the reap wasn’t always a thing with a quick “Back in the day” story from Old Man Chew. But seriously it wasn’t. As a White and Blue Belt I never heard of being called for reaping. However we would get called for Can Openers and Neck Cranks. Wrestlers used them all the time and they got banned. And the refs would call them super quick.
And I feel like the reap position is similar. It’s not that hard to defend but since we’ve defined it as “bad” we stop using it, many newer students don’t know how to defend it and it probably won’t be a thing in a few years as education grows. Hope the video is useful to you.
If you’d ever like to train with the team and I. Check out my gym Derby City MMA in Louisville,KY.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Screen-Shot-2020-01-09-at-3.51.01-PM.png5001068Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2020-01-09 15:50:362020-01-09 15:52:36Reaping In BJJ (Protect Your Knee & Avoid DQ in IBJJF)
In today’s no gi rolling video we’ve broken it up into multiple chunks of scrambling and action. During the scrambles and action you’ll see several rolling kimuras, back takes, takedowns and even a couple of chokes. Hopefully after watching you’ll gain some possible ideas for your own BJJ training and techniques.
Technique Exchange 1 – Takedown to armlock attack.
Technique Exchange 2 – Rolling kimura fight with my student.
Technique Exchange 3 – Kimura attack to leg lock threat.
Technique Exchange 4 – Kimura counter to back take to passing situation.
Technique Exchange 5 – Defending a guillotine choke then getting to butterfly sweeping sequence.
Technique Exchange 6 – Guard passing to back take sequence.
Technique Exchange 7 – Leg lock defense to oma plata attack to back take I hope you enjoy the rolling video this week.
I’ve had a lot of request regarding the reap situation in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu competitions. Whether it’s to avoid being called for reaping if you use Single Leg X or if you want to defend against someone reaping your leg.
In this video I show some basics on keeping your knee safe, defending the knee reap and avoiding allowing your position to get you in trouble in an IBJJF BJJ tournament.
I also touch on how the knee reap wasn’t always a thing with a quick “Back in the day” story from Old Man Chew.
But seriously it wasn’t. As a White and Blue Belt I never heard of being called for reaping. However we would get called for Can Openers and Neck Cranks. Wrestlers used them all the time and they got banned. And the refs would call them super quick. And I feel like the reap position is similar. It’s not that hard to defend but since we’ve defined it as “bad” we stop using it, many newer students don’t know how to defend it and it probably won’t be a thing in a few years as education grows.
Hope the video is useful to you. Thanks for watching.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Screen-Shot-2020-01-01-at-7.28.46-PM.png6661308Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2020-01-01 19:30:122020-01-01 19:37:59Don’t Fear the Reaper in BJJ (Protect Your Knee & Avoid DQ in IBJJF)
Do you think you lack aggression in BJJ or do you think you have too much?
I ask this question because I get a lot of questions from people on both sides of the question. Some people who say they don’t know how to “turn it on” while others say they can’t “turn it off.”
And while there isn’t only 1 reason why this might be. I believe these questions stem in part from the fact that in today’s society the warrior in us is shamed and seen as bad. As far back as kids we’re told to “use our words” and adults try to stamp out any aggression in us instead of showing how it can be used in a healthy way.
Then as we get older if a man shows any aggression towards anything he’s a toxic asshole. If a woman does it, she’s a bitch.
The problem with extinguishing this aggressive energy is that we all have a warrior inside of us and sometimes we need it to protect us or stand up for ourselves. But if we don’t learn to access it in a healthy way it either gets snuffed out completely (think push over) or bursts out in the absolute wrong places (think road rage).
BJJ And Combat Sports Allow You To “Turn It On”
This is one of the most powerful things Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, and combat sports, offers. Practicing gives you a chance to tap into your warrior energy, your aggressive side, in a healthy contained environment and learn how to use it consciously and bring it under your control.
For example, like in my most recent video that I just uploaded today you’ll notice that my aggression is low. (You can watch the video here)
Contrast this by watching how I compete in BJJ tournaments where I attack my opponent with my full intensity and focus. Yet, as soon as the match is over, I’m done, I turn it off. Because I’m in control of the energy it’s not in control of me.
When I was younger this wasn’t the case. I had high levels of aggression with not outlet for it and no means to control it. I had a temper, would jump into fits of anger and could not “turn it off” quickly like I can now.
Accepting And Controlling The Warrior In You
If you lack aggression, you might find that BJJ will slowly help you turn it on by accepting that the warrior in you is normal and not something to feel ashamed of or bottle up. You’ll also have a healthy place to experiment with it.
On the flip side if you’re too aggressive you’ll learn that an intelligent warrior who has purpose does not swing their weapon wildly with full force at everything in front of them. When we train or compete we will be bombarded with a myriad of emotions and feelings like fear, self-doubt, anger, frustration, etc. Some of these can lead to aggression, and if you’re like I was when I was younger (too aggressive), BJJ will give you a chance to become aware of the feelings and begin to have some control over them.
Hope this helps with anyone who has a question about aggression in BJJ.
Talk to you next time.
-Chewy
P.S. If you found this post useful join my Monday-Friday email newsletter and receive more helpful message like it plus I’ll include 2 free BJJ Ebooks. 1 on drilling and 1 on developing your own BJJ game plan. Use the box below.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/181120_ADCCTrials2018_Chewy_72DPI_Web-294.jpg16532480Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2019-12-12 12:33:112020-01-09 15:37:47Do You Lack Aggression In BJJ Or Have Too Much?
Want a few tips on finishing the Triangle Choke in BJJ whether you’re a tall lanky person or a stocky thick legged person? Then this video should be helpful to you!
Recently my good friend, training partner and “little brother” Chad Hardy was in town teaching a seminar at my gym. And while he was here I wanted to do a video with him. And if you know anything about Chad, he’s got a killer triangle choke. And he’s got a ton of tricks on finishing it.
In this video we use our buddy Chris as the uke and Chad and I show different options to help you finish your Triangle Chokes. We show them from the vantage point of being a little shorter with thick legs. I’m not short by any stretch. But I’m also not blessed with long legs. I actually have a fairly long torso.
Then Chad comes in and shows how a tall lanky person in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu could finish the submission and gives a few easy to implement details.
If you’d like to see more of what Chad is up to, head on over to his channel at:
While we don’t go over any triangle choke setups, I think that anyone who gets into the Triangle position but is unable to finish will find some helpful tips in this video. They’re easy adjustments you can immediately throw into the mix.
If you’d ever like to train with the team and I. Check out my gym Derby City MMA in Louisville,KY.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/chad-chewy-.png9101510Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2019-07-23 16:59:502019-07-23 17:02:28Triangle Choke Tips with Chad Hardy and Chewy
If you know me, and you know the way I treat new BJJ White Belts as they begin training and rolling. Then you know I like to ease people into hard training and help them out.
That said, there are times when you need to put the smash on newer White Belts as they begin training. I’ll explain with a quick story!
White Belt Submits A Brown Belt
Years ago there was a woman who began training at my gym. She was tough and gritty! And very quickly she was winning competitions and doing well for herself.
During rolling in the gym. Many of us that were higher belts would take it easy on her. I mean, even though she’s winning tournaments, she was still one of the new White Belts. And anyone that has trained knows that there are levels to BJJ.
All of that seems on the up and up right? Well here’s where it went wrong.
One day she mentioned how she submitted one of our Brown Belts Tony. Tony was a skilled Brown Belt who I jokingly called the BJJ Encyclopedia because he was always cooking up some new moves he saw in an instructional or something. And he was a tough roll for me.
So if he wanted to shut things down during a roll. . . he could.
At first I thought she was joking. But after talking for a bit I realized she was dead serious. She truly believed she had submitted someone with 6-7 years more experienced than her.
Brown Belt Gave Her Contrast
I told Tony about what was said and told him to give her contrast so that she knew what reality was. He wasn’t angry or mean of course. But with the finesse that comes after years of training he submitted her several times during a roll.
Then he went back to playing down in skill and giving her room to work.
Doing this gave her contrast as to where her skill truly was and gave her a better view of reality.
BJJ White Belts Still Need Contrast
Many of us who started BJJ “back in the day” were immediately thrown to the meat grinder of full rolling.
I mean on my 1st day of BJJ I got put in Kneebars and was full rolling. Luckily I had some Wrestling experience to help me.
But now in many gyms these days, including mine, more experienced people try to help the new people along. We know the rough road that lies ahead and so we reach out and extend a hand to those just getting started on the path.
But the newer practitioners still need contrast. . .
New White Belts still need to know “Just how good or bad am I?”
And this is where I will roll closer to full speed with a student or allow them to come to some of the more advanced classes where they can then test themselves. It gives them a sense of realness and reminds them to the depth of skill that can be attained.
I know that for me early on, feeling how helpless I was during training was motivating! I thought, “If someone else had achieved this, then surely with a lot of work I could too!”
It also gives the new White Belts a sense of how you’re helping them.
I talk more about this subject in the video below which was based on a question about a New White Belt who I believe mistakenly thinks they legitimately submitted a Black Belt.
But I will just throw this out there.
If you’re one of the many BJJ White Belts in training. If you submit a Black belt. I can almost guarantee you that the Black Belt is taking it easy on you. They’re trying to help you along the way.
Don’t mistake their help for weakness or lack of skill.
-Chewy
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/maxresdefault.jpg7201280Chewyhttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngChewy2019-07-16 08:16:402019-07-16 08:16:40Negative Effect of Higher Belts Not Smashing New BJJ White Belts
If you’re a Half Guard focused BJJ player or ever get into the Dogfight position then you know how troublesome a well placed overhook can be.
In this video we’re going to get into this position and look at a couple of options. Today’s BJJ video request from Gui who is playing Half Guard in his gym but is getting mauled by the overhook / whizzer when he attempts to come up for the sweep.
In the video I give 2 different options that can be used to counter the Overhook.
The 1st is simple limp arm / lazy arm. I probably use this technique the most. It’s just such a strong attack to throw into the mix.
And I’ve used it over and over again. Both in BJJ training in the gym and competitions. Another option is a roll under sweep using the “regrip.”
If you’ve watch any of my Half Guard technique videos you’ll see me showing the re grip sweep over and over again. And it’s a great counter to Wrestlers and those types who try to use overhooks to counter sweeps and movements.
This is because they are literally giving you the grip you need to make the sweep effective. So, if you’re struggling from the Dogfight position or getting smashed in this position with the overhook. I hope the techniques are helpful.
Recently I had 2018 IBJJF World Champ Mahamed Aly out to our gym to train and do some videos.
In this video I take you guys along with me while I meet and train with Mahamed.
It starts off with me picking him up from the airport and finishes up with him rolling with me and the students at my gym Derby City MMA in Louisville, KY.
During our roll all I can say is. . . man. . . he’s fast! Especially considering he’s like 230lbs.
The Brazilian Jiujitsu techniques and ideas he shared were great. And if you ever get a chance to train with Mahamed you should definitely do so.
You’ll also see me teaching a bit as well as just some clips added in during the day. This is a little different than the normal style Brazilian Jiujitsu videos I put out. But I hope you enjoy it.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Screen-Shot-2019-02-05-at-6.46.52-PM.png477258akatbreeziiehttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngakatbreeziie2019-02-17 18:00:182019-02-05 18:48:10Hanging, Rolling and Choking with 2018 World Champ Mahamed Aly
What are some options after the Knee Cut Pass in BJJ?
This is the question for today’s BJJ technique video. In this video I show some of my favorite options after using the Knee Cut Pass.
You might also call this the Cut Through or Knee Slice Pass. Whatever you call it, it’s a great pass for Brazilian Jiujitsu and is incredibly common.
One thing that will often happen when using the pass is that your opponent will attempt to get up to their side and turn towards you. In a lot of cases I find my rolling partner or opponent digging for underhooks which is a good option for them.
When this underhook comes that’s when I spring my trap and use some of my favorite options. A lot of times in this situation I look for my Step Over to the Back. And when working with the black position.
At times I’ll abandon the traditional “Position Before Submission” attitude and just dive for a choke submission! And I’ve found that to be helpful in a lot of situations.
So check out the video and I hope it’s helpful for you! Talk to you next time!
Do you have trouble maintaining good posture when breaking full guard? This is a big problem for a lot of people. . . not just White Belts.
In today’s video I’m addressing this issue as our friend is getting broken down constantly in his BJJ training when he tries to break the full guard so he can pass.
In the video I explain a little maxim or rule I have for Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I picked it up from a friend and I’ve used it ever since. That is. . . the “Belly Button” rule. Basically this means.
Don’t let our body move over top of their belly button. To do so would mean that our center of gravity is right over top of their body and in a vulnerable position. This is No Bueno.
So in Brazilian Jiujitsu when we are breaking guard.
We want to make sure our body doesn’t move over their belly button or belt line. If you’re having trouble breaking the closed guard or even getting caught in certain sweeps. Then I hope this is useful to you.
https://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Screen-Shot-2018-10-09-at-10.13.13-PM.png452778akatbreeziiehttps://www.chewjitsu.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ChewJitsu-Logo.pngakatbreeziie2018-12-18 18:00:282018-12-18 14:31:40Simple Fix to a Big Problem when Breaking Guard in BJJ
