How to reverse the backtake when your opponent tries to use a twister hook on you (from https://www.grapplearts.com/rollingbacktakes)

The ‘surprise armbar’ escape from side control is great technique for two reasons. First, it’s a a totally valid escape that’s actually much easier to do than it looks, and second, it trains many of the movements and adjustments you need to master in order to do other, more conventional escapes like the elbow-knee escape from side control. Check out the full pin escapes program here: https://www.grapplearts.com/PinEscapes!

Good luck with your training,
Stephan Kesting

Sometimes your opponent is wise to your mount escapes you need to go to a backup plan. Here are 3 unexpected ways to escape the mount. From https://www.grapplearts.com/pinescapes

The armdrag from guard is a technique used to win high level competitions all the time – here’s how to counter it!
00:00 Armdrag Demo
00:10 Counter 1: The Judo Chop
00:35 Counter 2: Redrag to Back
01:08 Counter 3: Post, Pike, Pass, Followup

If you want to see the rolling backtake at the end of counter from another angle check out https://www.youtube.com/shorts/v25UGrOFqYs

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the different styles of armdrag from the Armdrag and 2-on-1 Control Formula: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxE9Mwu6_IM

If you want to check out the latest Grapplearts instructional (No Gi Pin Escapes) go to https://www.grapplearts.com/no-gi-pin-escapes/

Check out my latest my book, Perseverance, Life and Death in the Subarctic, at https://www.amazon.com/Perseverance-Death-Subarctic-Stephan-Kesting/dp/1639368612/

Thanks!
Stephan Kesting

One of the best knee ride escapes, broken down step-by-step. From No Gi Pin Escapes, https://www.grapplearts.com/no-gi-pin-escapes/ by Stephan Kesting and Grapplearts, available now!

Five ways to choke someone using their own T-shirt!
0:07 – Cross Choke
1:21 – Ezekiel Choke
1:58 – Single Wing Choke
2:36 – Bow and Arrow Choke
3:04 – Clock Choke

Check out my downloadable guide to learning BJJ as fast as possible for free here: https://www.grapplearts.com/book

Cheers!
Stephan Kesting

The technical standup is one of the most important techniques in BJJ. Think of it as the Turkish Getup but with a resisting opponent on your shoulders! Download my free guide and checklist for learning BJJ here: https://www.grapplearts.com/book

Hope you found this useful!

Stephan Kesting

A concept to make escaping pins and bad positions on the ground much easier.

And while you’re here, it’s a sad state of affairs that the BJJ community is so particularly vulnerable to reflexive conspiratorial thinking. Yes, there have been conspiracies in this world, but no, not everything is a conspiracy!!

If you’re driven crazy by reflexive conspiracism as well, then check out The Strenuous Life Podcast for a dose of data-driven BJJ and occasional rants about approaching the world through the lens of science. On Youtube the channel is here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxFCWZJbnlRyhw3vmDx0Rlg

Stephan Kesting

P.S. I’m working on a full pin escapes instructional with a conceptual approach to jiu-jitsu and full breakdowns of all the techniques you need to get out from under. Sign up for my newsletter to have early access to that course: https://www.grapplearts.com/newsletter

The knee ride is the most soul-crushing position in jiu-jitsu, but only if you do it right! This video is the first part of the Top Control and Escapes module of the eight-module BJJ Foundations instructional. More info about that course here: https://www.grapplearts.com/bjj-foundations/ for more information.

00:00 The Knee Ride and the Knee Bump and Hip Escape
04:15 The Twisted Knee Ride, the Windshield Wiper, and Recentering
12:47 Sparring the Knee Ride

Fighting bigger opponents is always challenging, but if you control the grips and distance then you can avoid them crushing you and come out on top. The tips in this video apply to gi and no gi. Also, here here are some additional resources to check out if you’re always getting crushed on the bottom by bigger, stronger, younger punks…

Gripfighting and Kuzushi Formula
https://www.grapplearts.com/gripfighting

BJJ for Old F***s

2 for 1 Sale on BJJ For Old F***s!

How to Defeat the Bigger, Stronger Opponent with Emily Kwok
https://www.grapplearts.com/bigstrong

From the Bottom Escapes section of BJJ Foundations with Cal MacDonald and Stephan Kesting https://www.grapplearts.com/bjj-foundations/

Back pain SUCKS, especially if you’re trying to train BJJ. Now I’m NOT a doctor, but this is the story of how I recovered from back pain supposedly caused by a herniated disk, and I’d be very interested in hearing YOUR story in the comments too.

For more on this topic check out:
https://www.grapplearts.com/dont-take-injuries-lying-down/]
and

Fixing Bad Backs in BJJ

And download my free PDF checklist taking you through the fundamental techniques, positions, and strategies of BJJ at https://www.grapplearts.com/book

Good luck with your training and healing your injury!
Stephan Kesting

The crucifix is one of the best finishing positions in no gi grappling – here’s everything you need to know to get started!
00:20 Top Leg Triangle
00:58 Bottom Leg Triangle
01:14 Short Choke
01:56 Triangle Armbar
02:47 Seatbelt Grip
02:54 Enclosed Kimura
03:00 T Kimura Grip
03:37 Motorcycle Grip
03:57 Push-Pull Grip
04:46 Top Leg Triangle (again)
04:56 Bottom Leg Triangle (again)
05:03 Bottom Leg Kimura
06:02 Top Leg Kimura
07:14 Omoplata Crucifix
07:59 Omoplata Slicer Crucifix

Check out BJJ Games, the bestselling instructional by Grapplearts.com at https://www.grapplearts.com/bjj-games/

The back is the most dominant position in BJJ and you DON’T want to lose it when you get here. Here’s how to reset the position if your opponent starts escaping so you can dominate and submit him from the back.

More resources on this topic include:

A Step by Step Guide To Hit Your First Rolling Backtake in Jiu-Jitsu, Even With ZERO Flexibility

and
Rolling Backtakes for Everyone
https://www.grapplearts.com/rollingbacktakes

Good luck with your training!
Stephan Kesting