Learn from Roger Gracie the tricks to avoid losing the armbar

Roger Gracie was in Rio de Janeiro recently to wow the crowd at Gracie Pro and teach the world the value of the basics.

The ten-time world champion also paid a visit to his friend Kléber “Buiú” Paulino’s gym, in a much-sought-after seminar among Gracie Barra students.

As he taught his favorite armbar from the guard, Roger said he learned from a student how to make the position more uncomfortable by swapping the hand that goes on the collar, and showed the way in which he likes controlling an opponent’s posture.

Roger also showed how he uses his legs to prevent his opponent from freeing their arm, as well as other details that can probably add something to your jiu-jitsu. You can catch the lesson in this video.

Tanque corrects his students: to Tanquinho’s brother, losing one’s fears means evolving. Graciemag archives

When was the last time you did something for the first time? If you have never experienced the unmatched feeling of putting on a gi and learning how to beat someone 50kg heavier, or even if you stopped training for fear of hurting your hands, this is the first fear you must jettison. Believe it: the benefits of BJJ outweigh the risks a thousand to one.

But perhaps that’s not even the worst fear in the life of a BJJ student.

To Soul Fighters teacher Bruno “Tanque” Mendes, a brother of world champion Augusto Tanquinho, the fear to raise one’s finger and ask questions can be a mighty enemy to a white-belt or a blue-belt.

“BJJ is always in constant evolution,” Bruno says. “And the best way to stay up to date is to study, learn, ask and seek out new information, either at your gym or at good seminars in your town.”

“I think the student must always be asking, and must never be afraid to ask — at the gym or at a seminar at another school,” he adds. “You just have to do it politely, at the right time. If the teacher, for example, opens the opportunity for questions and answers, then go ahead and satisfy your curiosity. Don’t think that your question is silly. You can bet there’s someone else in the class with the same question on their mind. If the class or seminar ends with no time for questions, then approach the teacher and see whether they would mind answering your questions.”

This tip is good also regarding positions that are a bit different from what was shown by the instructor. “If you like executing the position taught in a different way,” Tanque advises, “then get the teacher and ask about details. The truth is that every good teacher likes being asked about that which they are sharing. The exchange of information is important in BJJ, whether you are a black-belt or a white-belt.”

If you are a black-belt, it might be worth trying to take the work home with you. “I also recommend asking the teacher whether they mind you taping some positions,” Tanque says. “In the case of a reply in the negative, ask whether you can write it down in a notebook. Having a record of what was presented and discussed — and not just the technical movements, but mainly the concepts — will help you in the following weeks when you go to the gym to work on the positions learned.”

Do you have any fears at the gym? Share it in the safe space below.

Black belt Michel Pereira is inviting anyone in the Miami era to attend a very special seminar this Saturday, May 21.

Two-time no-gi world champion Tammi Musumeci will be at Carlson Gracie Miami at 11AM for a Jiu-Jitsu class.

Stop by and learn some berimbolo and a few of other tricks by one of the most talented American black belts today.

The registration fee is a donation to be donated to Autism Awereness.

The seminar is open for all affiliations.

Know more at buiubjj.com.

Carlson Gracie Miami is a member of the GRACIEMAG Premium BJJ Club.

World and Pan-american champion, black belt Walter Cascão will be in Troy, Michigan, this Saturday, April 9.

You can join the class and learn from one of the best in the business.

The class will be held at Victorious MMA and Fitness.

Call (248) 688-9552 for more info.

It’s a last minute call, but worthy having a go because of the quality of the program.

Hannette Staack, Michelle Nicolini and Karen Antunes will band together for a charity seminar this Saturday, March 12.

It’s going to be a 3-hour seminar with the three black belts followed by a superfight between Karen and Michelle.

The event will take place at the Ajax Budokan Judo Club, on 75 Centennial Rd., Ajax, Ontario, Canada.

The proceeds will go to Up With Women, a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the gap from homelessness and deep poverty to economic and social empowerment for women and girls.

Click here to buy tickets.

Red and black belt Joe Moreira is putting together a fundraising seminar on March 26, in Costa Mesa, California.

All the proceeds will be donated to pay for Grandmaster Francisco Mansor’s medical bills.

The red belt was hospitalized after being attacked by two assailants recently.

Mansor’s family put up a GoFundMe account and you can donate any amount you want to help them reach their goal.

Click here to donate and for more info on the seminar.

Black belt and co-leader of Brazil 021, Andre Terêncio will be in Edmonton, Canada, this Saturday, Feb. 13.

He will be teaching a seminar and also handing out new belts and degrees in a graduation ceremony.

There will be two classes, one for kids and other for adults.

Know more at brazil021edmonton.com.

GMA member Walter Cascão, leader of Cascão BJJ, in Las Vegas, NV, will be in the state of Washington this Friday, January 29.

Cascão, one of the most accomplished competitors in the master division, will be teaching a seminar at Newborn Jiu-Jitsu academy.

Cascão will teach two classes, one for kids and another for adults.

Register until this Thursday and pay less.

For more info, go to newbornjiujitsuspokane.com

Marcelo Garcia’s brown belt Erin Herle has put together a very special event on March 21 (the day after the 2016 Pan).

Studio 540, in Solana Beach, CA, will host an all-star seminar to help raise funds to a very good cause.

Show up to train with the likes of Rubens Cobrinha, Caio Terra, Gianni Grippo, Abraham Marte, Kristina Barlaan, among others, and join the fight against the stigma of mental illness.

The suggested donation amount is $25 and all the proceeds will go to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Know more about the organization at nami.org.

Know more about Erin’s campaign at submitthestigma.org.

Black belts Rodolfo Vieira, Roberto Cyborg and Abraham Marte will gather for a very special seminar on Feb. 18-21.

They will host the Winter BJJ Camp in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

Besides training with some of the best in the business, you will also be helping a good cause.

Part of the proceeds from the seminar will go to underprivileged kids in the country.

Click here to know how to take part in this unique experience

Black belt Bruno Fernandes, leader of Gracie Barra Montreal, will be teaching two BJJ and surf all-week seminars in El Salvador.

The events go down on March 5-12 and March 12-19.

Those who attend will have BJJ classes with the Jiu-Jitsu professor of no other than Georges St. Pierre and also enjoy the great waves of Central America.

For more info, go to privatebjj.com.

If anyone is qualified to teach about how to get to the mount in Jiu-Jitsu, it’s Roger Gracie.

The 10X black belt world champion has made a career out of getting there and subsequently choking the opponent.

In this extract from a seminar he taught at GB Fullerton, Roger teaches one of his many ways to get to the mount and reveals all the details for a well-executed technique.

Just watch and go practice.