Last week I had Gallerr at the gym to remember 20 years of the creation of Pride FC.

With an event of this magnitude, we end up retelling a bit of history, always with some nostalgia in the mix. It figures – after all, I literally left blood and sweat in those rings for a decade.

But, more than that, I made thousands of friends.

At the end of the day, however, in order to achieve the main goal – to improve in BJJ, – we must converge to a technical analysis that can be useful to you.

It was there, at Pride 1, that I found out that I was doing the guillotine wrong. If not wrong, at least less than efficiently. I corrected it right there in the locker room, in time to use it in my favor at Pride 2.

In the course “Renzo Gracie – Mastering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,” amidst the 225 videos, there is a chapter with my favorite positions. And, of course, we discuss the arm-in guillotine.

The guillotine is a perfect solution to the problem of, “What is the quickest, least exhausting way to end the fight?”

But, looking over the finished course, I noticed that the videos we dedicated to this subject did not have a sufficient level of detail. And so, despite the course being complete, I made a point of including a thorough analysis of the arm-in guillotine.

I show how we used to apply it, and why the old way cost me my win at Pride 1. I demonstrate the correct way, the incorrect way; I explain the concept and point out the angles so that you can also start finishing your opponents or sparring partners.

Before these adjustments, the arm-in guillotine didn’t get much love. Even in my celebrated win over Pat Miletich in 2006, the commentators didn’t believe in the move (8 years after the Kikuta fight).

To commemorate not only 20 years of Pride, but also the experience that made us contribute to the improvement of BJJ, I have authorized Gallerr to slash in half the price of the course.

We are now talking 228 videos, I think. But more than 225, no doubt. And all of that for just 30 dollars. That is less than 14 cents a video, and the full course delivers far more value than that.

The full course delivers the way in which I see BJJ. And I hope you like it.

But remember: this discount will expire at the end of this Friday. So hurry on down to Gallerr Academy and take advantage.

After you sign up and watch it all, be sure to send me an email telling me what you thought. Your suggestions may make me revise a chapter. And maybe help in the production of a new course.

Thank you.

— Renzo Gracie

P.S.: Become a part of my family and enroll in the course “Renzo Gracie – Mastering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” until midnight on Friday, for less than 14 cents per video. It’s time to understand jiu-jitsu as a whole.

In this exclusive video series, Renzo Gracie remembers Pride 1 and explains how he developed his guillotine choke.

Luca Atalla

Tokyo Dome, Japan, October 11th, 1997 – Despite over 40,000 people in attendance, there’s silence in the arena. The public respects the fighters, who are engaged in a chess game.

Renzo Gracie sets the choke up on Akira Shoji. Not even the TV commentator understands the submission hold. Renzo is doing what would become known as an arm-in guillotine.

Shoji struggles, but, eventually, gets his head out of the trap and goes the distance. It’s the third match of an evening that would become one of the most historic ever: the debut of what many consider the best MMA organization ever – the now-defunct Pride FC.

Twenty years later, Renzo remembers all the details of how the frustration of not finishing the choke would help him refine one of his most lethal attacks.

We know  you want to learn the move. But, before that, go to gallerr.com/academy and enroll in “Renzo Gracie — Mastering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” with 50% off. Learn all of Renzo’s secrets in over 225 videos for $30 – only until this Friday, at midnight.

Back to business. So, this is the history behind the choke, but we don’t submit people with history, do we? Watch next the mechanics of the guillotine, and all the concepts behind it.

To wrap up this video series, Renzo does a walkthrough to give you a killer arm-in guillotine.

Ready to rumble? Hunt for a head in your next training session. And let us know how that goes.

P.S.: Gallerr Academy is celebrating Pride FC’s 20th anniversary. Renzo Gracie — Mastering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for only $30 – over 225 videos! Enroll now before this offer ends.

In this technique he taught on GM 219, he does just that when he defends a guillotine and then goes for the back take.

Read all Tonon had to say on GM 230.

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A video posted by GRACIEMAG | English Edition | (@graciemagazine) on May 13, 2016 at 6:31pm PDT

Mush Aslani used a very unusual movement to escape a guillotine choke applied by Tom Crosby in a recent fight at Storm MMA.

Click play and watch the incredible way Aslani found to set his neck free.

And on top of it all, he won the match at the end.

Pressured by Allen, who insisted on trying to take him down, Frankie saw the space to lasso the opponent’s neck and get the guillotine. With a precise attack, the fighter from Ricardo Almeida’s academy got the submission.

Frankie has nine victories (five by submission) and one defeat in his card. See below the beast’s fighting style:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkz7v9t7u_k#t=149

With the north/south guillotine, Joe says, “This move will make it feel like your head is going to explode.” If that’s not effective, I don’t know what is.

Check out the move here and be sure to avoid actually exploding anyone’s head:

Learn more about Joseph Capizzi and GMA NYC BJJ at www.nycbjj.com

Notice how Wade goes from taking the back to the guillotine and uses the opponent’s arm to increase the pressure of the choke; not to mention he places a leg over it what makes impossible for Cain to escape. See, review, study and never stop adapting!

Check out this technique video for how to darce, guillotine and twist choke from all fours:

Learn more about Carlson Gracie Las Vegas – Cavalcanti BJJ in Las Vegas, NV at www.rcjiujitsu.com

Butterfly guard in use at the 2013 No-Gi World Championship. Photo: Erin Herle

In no-gi, the butterfly guard is a go-to move. It sets up many options from sweeps to submissions, back-takes and more.

Here are two ways that you can be on the attack in the butterfly guard and submit your opponent:

Ricardo Almeida offers a way to submit with the guillotine or the anaconda choke:

If you’re on the opposite end of the butterfly guard and you want to get around it, here is a way to defend:

Robson Moura teaches how to escape the butterfly guard:

Try these moves and let us know if your butterfly guard defense and attacks have improved!

Guillotine at ADCC 2013. Photo: Erin Herle

As no-gi season approaches with the No-Gi Worlds and No-Gi Pans in October it’s time to switch gears.

One submission that is preferred for no-gi practitioners is the guillotine choke. From white belt to black belt, this move is a high-percentage move that is capable by most anyone.

Here are four videos that break down the guillotine from various positions.

Greg Nelson of The Academy shows how to get the choke from the back position:

The half-guard guillotine is covered by Pablo Popovitch:

Marcelo Garcia, a guillotine connoisseur, shows how from the butterfly guard:

Get the choke from the mount in this sequence by Justin Rader:

And check out this highlight of Marcelo Garcia and his successful guillotines in action:

Check it out:

Follow more of Joseph Capizzi and GMA NYC BJJ at www.nycbjj.com