Held last March 2nd, ADXC 3 was born with the status of a historic event. Being the first edition of the Abu Dhabi Extreme Championship outside the capital of the UAE, the tournament featured a breathtaking card, and one of these duels became even more memorable after its completion: the fight between Rayron Gracie vs Fellipe Andrew.

Not since Roger Gracie vs. Marcus Buchecha in 2017 has there been so much commotion over the entry of a Gracie into a fight. Leaving the mats to enter the cage in his gi, just as Royce Gracie did before when he debuted in the UFC, the underdog Rayron Gracie faced two-time ADWPJJC champion Fellipe Andrew with the responsibility of representing more than 100 years of tradition in Jiu-Jitsu. Marcus Buchecha, six-time ADWPJJC champion, was stopped by Roger’s collar choke. Fellipe, also ADWPJJC champion and also a black belt under Rodrigo Cavaca, just as Buchecha, was also stopped with a choke using the collar, applied by Rayron.

Son of the legendary Ryan Gracie, whose greatest characteristic was his ferocity in fights, Rayron showed a colder and more calculating style, closer to his cousins Roger and Kyra, more distant from his uncles Renzo and Ralph. This distance, however, was just in style. In his duel at ADXC 3, Rayron had the support of the Gracie family, with Renzo, Ralph, Kyra, and Gregor shouting for him on the edge of the cage. Renzo even came up with the right details to complete the victory, minutes before the fight.

Inside the cage, Rayron used his pressure to avoid the dangerous attacks of Fellipe Andrew, known for his game of triangles and attacks on the foot. With firm grips on his pants and applying his weight in the right place, Rayron thwarted Fellipe’s attacks throughout three rounds. In the fourth round, Rayron opened the fight with a takedown, landing with side control and attacking the collar. Renzo shouted from the corner: “Clock choke!”, and Rayron went all out with the classic choke to secure the victory.

“Fellipe is a very well-conditioned athlete”, highlighted Rayron in an interview. “I knew I would only be able to apply my game in the final rounds. Renzo explained the details of this position to me minutes before the fight, but I thought it would be difficult to get this right against Fellipe. Renzo has this gift. He showed a position to Neiman before the ADXC 1, and now it was my turn.”

With the victory over the favorite Fellipe, after a fight full of strategy, the ADXC team spoke to Kyra Gracie, who graduated Rayron with a black belt. The legendary competitor congratulated her pupil and left a message for Rayron’s next challengers.

“It was a very important fight for his career, as he debuted as a black belt this year, in 2024”, highlighted Kyra. “Fellipe Andrew is very tough, but it’s great that Rayron is testing himself against the best, he didn’t get his black belt to hide afterward. Before the fight, they said Rayron was too young for a challenge like that as Fellipe is already a great champion. Fellipe said he would submit Rayron in the first round. Never underestimate a Gracie.”

To review Rayron Gracie’s submission and the other fights that became instant classics in world grappling, visit TX7.ae and check out the ADXC 3 replay.

JT Torres is one of the greatest American talents in Jiu-Jitsu today.

He has been collecting great results all around the world.

As he trains for another run at the world title as a black belt, we feature one of his most crafty techniques.

Pay close attention and add this clock choke to your game.

First, notice how to weight your hips and position the knees. Then, pay attention on how to avoid loosen your grip at the time of turning to tighten the choke. check it out:

Saulo Ribeiro against Eduardo Telles at the International Master and Senior 2012 (Photo by Ivan Trindade/GRACIEMAG.com)

When an opponent has balled up on all fours, you have but two options: either stick your hand in and grab the collar for a clock choke or stick in your hooks and take his back. Right?

Not quite! You’ve still got some other alternatives.

Today GRACIEMAG.com brings you a slick double finish direct from Las Vegas, taught by our GMA Ricardo Cavalcanti, head sensei at Carlson Gracie Las Vegas.

Pay attention to how the Jiu-Jitsu professor fakes a clock choke with his hand.

If the opponent shuts your first hook out, don’t worry: position your foot as Ricardo does and turn while pulling on the collar from behind, which also traps the arm.

All that’s left for the opponent to do is shout out or tap out any way he can. How’d you like that?

Léo Leite in action at 2012 South American Championship / Photo by Gustavo Aragão/GRACIEMAG.com

With a good decade of IBJJF gold medal-collecting under his belt, last weekend Leonardo Leite put in a performance that was testament to his still having the vise-like grips that took him to the top in world Jiu-Jitsu and judo.

The Alexandre “Gigi” Paiva black belt won the absolute and ultraheavyweight divisions at the 2012 South American Championship, as you found out here on GRACIEMAG.com, after which he shared his thoughts about the campaign.

GRACIEMAG.com: What’s your take on your performance Saturday?

LÉO LEITE: I hadn’t done an absolute in a while. I landed in a tough bracket: my first match was against Giderson Barros [Carlson Gracie team], who won the middleweight division. I managed to tap him out with a clock choke. The second match was against Renato Cardoso, a really tough and skillful kid who has been winning everything, and I beat him 2-1 on advantage points. In the semifinal I came up with two takedowns against Alex Ceconi and won by 4 to 0, closing out the absolute with Léo Nogueira.

What about on Sunday?

On Sunday, in the ultraheavyweight division, I won my first match by tapout, again with a clock choke, and in the final I fought Felipe Pereira of Gracie Floripa. I was winning by 6-0 when the ref stopped the match saying he’d tapped.

How did you feel entering the absolute and winning? Will we be seeing you in the absolute more often in upcoming tournaments?

I hope so. For the Worlds I didn’t have much time training Jiu-Jitsu, because of the trips I had to take with the Brazilian national judo team. I only had three weeks to practice Jiu-Jitsu and ended up with silver in the ultraheavyweight division after losing the final to Bochecha. After the Worlds, I did more Jiu-Jitsu training than judo, so Gigi decided to put me in the absolute.

You competed in judo early in the week, didn’t you?

I competed at the Jogos Abertos do Interior de São Paulo competition, and I had eight matches on Monday and on Tuesday. That’s why I knew I’d have to make my energy last—I was more worn out than the other competitors. It all worked out in the end. I managed to get two gold medals as well as help Alliance win the team title.

What was your strategy in the open-weight semifinal against Alex Ceconi?

I knew he was going to want to play on top, where he feels best, so I looked to sink good grips and get him down and get on top of him.

What’s the trick to getting top position in Jiu-Jitsu?

One thing I do a lot that I feel is important is to not let the opponent sink grips while standing. I look to break their grips and impose mine to try for throws. When I can’t get one, what I try doing is not let them pull guard on me too easily; I always try making it hard for them to pull guard on me so I can land in a position that’s advantageous to me. Something that really makes things rough on guard-pullers is to tug on their collar a lot.

What about the clock choke, one of your favorite moves? What’s your trick to that?

You apply the clock choke when the opponent is on all fours. What I do is reach under his arm with one hand; when the opportunity arises, I switch hands and surprise him. I always try to keep a hold on one leg so there’s more pressure.

Click here for the complete results from the South American Championship.

In the following video, Buiú, the head of Carlson Gracie Miami, shows how to make use of the bow-and-arrow choke when the clock choke doesn’t do the trick.

Note how the opponent is all balled up, making it impossible to get hold of the collar or latch on to an arm. So, Michel passes the lapel over the neck to his other hand.

Even without much space, he moves his leg up and passes the leg back to the first hand, sits and grabs the pant leg to keep his opponent from escaping, and squeezes for the finish.

Top brass at Brazil 021 team alongside Hannette Staack and André Negão, Carlos Henrique is teaching a Jiu-Jitsu seminar this Monday, July 16, at Pierre François Gymnasium in Joinville Le Point, Paris, France. Check out some of the black belt’s skills in the following video, where he teaches a Kimura lock, with a clock-choke follow-up should the opponent defend.

Demian Maia’s quick win was one of the fights on the delayed broadcast on network television in Brazil. UFC publicity photo.

For the new MMA-fan universe, the only thing that mattered was whether Demian Maia would manage to win at UFC 148, where he made his welterweight debut against the game Dong Hyun Kim last weekend.

He himself seemed to be acutely aware of that and felt likewise. “Barring the title fight with Anderson [in 2010], this fight at UFC 148 was the most important to me. I needed to show my Jiu-Jitsu in the octagon; there was a lot at stake, and good thing it ended quickly,” said Demian Maia at the post-event press conference in Las Vegas.

GRACIEMAG.com applauds the performance of Demian Maia, who gave his opponent no wriggle room, managing the takedown and mount that resulted in his lightning-quick victory. But win or no win, it doesn’t in the least bit affect our appreciation for Demian, who is, above all, a superb Jiu-Jitsu professor.

On the pages of our magazine, spread throughout numerous issues, the black belt from São Paulo taught at least four or five useful details for basic Jiu-Jitsu. Details that work, whether on the mat or in the octagon.

1. Private lessons and Jiu-Jitsu

If you’ve been feeling like you’re stuck on a plateau, private lessons can open your eyes to a whole world of minor details capable of changing your game. If you’re higher ranked, offer to help your teacher with his private lessons. It’s an excellent way of learning, says Demian.

2. Passing half-guard

When you’re on top looking to pass half-guard, seek to press your opponent’s lower back against the ground. That way he’ll be all the more vulnerable. Without his lower back on the ground it’s easier for him to defend or surprise you.

Another minutiae that ends up helping him to not position himself sideways and hinder your pass: stick your foot, the foot of the leg caught in his half-guard, up against the opponent’s gluteal. That way his half-guard is more perpendicular to the ground, which means he can’t move much, and the laws of gravity will help you in pressuring in attack, freeing your leg and surmounting his guard.

3. Clocks in Jiu-Jitsu

When attacking with a clock choke, it’s common for beginners to telegraph that they’re going to grab the collar and try for the finish. Don’t go trying to stick an open hand in, as it’s easier for him to block you that way. The thing is to be quick and stick balled-up fist in when he least expects it. Once your fist passes under his chin, open your hand and get a firm grip on the collar.

4. Armbar and adjustment

With the armbar, remember to keep the opponent’s wrist flush up against your chest. Furthermore, keep his thumb pointed upwards.

Want to learn details and tricks like these from the greatest Jiu-Jitsu and UFC champions every month? It’s time you subscribe to GRACIEMAG.

Click here to find out more about the magazine and find out how its done.

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Rogério Marshal of da Gracie Humaitá and his daughter Ranya Guissoni de Oliveira, a future Jiu-Jitsu champion / Pulicity photo

Last week GRACIEMAG.com unearthed the perfect half-guard position for getting you out of that nasty situation of having an opponent bear his weight down on you and try to grab you behind the neck. (Refresh your memory here.)

Rogério Marshal, the black belt who produced the video, also elaborated a bit about the technique and added a few words about his career.

“Heartfelt thanks for providing us an outlet. We live off Jiu-Jitsu and for Jiu-Jitsu here in Bahia and represent Gracie Humaitá. I’m a student of Mário Aiello, and have an outreach project called Jovens do Amanhã in which 150 youths and children participate. It’s important work to do in keeping them off drugs and promoting the sport. I take the opportunity to send in another position. This time, I counter by grabbing the opponent’s foot,” recounted the good-natured Jiu-Jitsu professor who teaches at several different academies around Bahia State, like in the towns of Canavieiras, Una, Ilhéus, Uruçuca, Itapetinga, Itororó, Teixeira de Freitas and Camamu.

Get tuned in to yet another savior half-guard position from Rogério Marshal and his student Octávio Carmo. Enjoy your training!

Andrezinho Nogueira / Photo: Junior Samurai/GRACIEMAG.com

Andrezinho Nogueira (Fighter Sport/MG Jiu-Jitsu) put in a stellar performance this past May 4 in Rio de Janeiro. The Jiu-Jitsu black belt went through and won the Bitetti Combat Rocinha GP with authority. Reminiscent of the early days of the UFC, young Nogueira won three fights on the same night in capturing the under-70 kg GP title.

Andre is also a handful when it comes to combat in the gi, and he’s all set to show it at the World Championship coming up late this May in California.

To put on a good show in Long Beach he’s training hard in the Northeastern Brazilian city of Fortaleza, where he sent in this demonstration of how to escape a clock choke exclusively for GRACIEMAG.com readers.

“The opponent thinks I’m going to get up, but I’m going to grab his leg and sit instead,” he teaches. What about you, how do you defend this notorious Jiu-Jitsu move?

There isn’t much that’s more common to see in Jiu-Jitsu than fighters turning on all fours as their guard is getting passed, to avoid getting stuck in side-control—and in championships, to not give up three points.

Balled up on his knees, the opponent defends as best he can. In the following video, MG team black belt Hugo Botelho demonstrates a trick to snagging a turtling opponent. As Hugo explains, post a hand on their back and do a spin. Your opponent will get choked with the help of the collar.