Photo: Personal Archive

At 23 years of age, Jeferson Guaresi is one of the strongest athletes from the new generation of Jiu-Jitsu. The black-belt from Unity Jiu-Jitsu proved he deserves this distinction as he won the IBJJF’s World Championship and No-Gi Pan in the last two months. These are medals at the highest level of the sport, especially in the black belt division.

With just two years of experience as a black-belt — a promotion given to him by Murilo Santana — Jeferson has accumulated 29 wins, nine of which were by submission. At the No-Gi Worlds, for example, he won four matches and scored two submissions against Rodrigo Lopes and Joseph Watson. In the medium heavy final, Jeferson played the strategist to beat Pedro Rocha, a fighter known for his guillotines. Jeferson spoke about his performance in a recent interview.

“The final was an interesting fight, because my opponent only had one move about which I had to worry,” he said. “It was a fight where I had to be very focused on not losing my concentration, but I knew my jiu-jitsu is up to date. It just came down to not messing up, and I’d walk away with the win. That was when I scored two points right away and then managed my advantage.”

Jeferson is an avid competitor who has won more than 100 medals in national and international tournaments — including gold at the IBJJF’s No-Gi Pan, No-Gi Worlds and European Championship — in the past eleven years, the time he has been practicing jiu-jitsu. He shared some thoughts on this journey:

“My goal in jiu-jitsu has never been just to be world champion; that’s a consequence of my training. In the course of this time, my goal is to help all who are parts of the sport. I want to make the sport grow more and more, and I want to help people achieve their goals. I want the practitioners of jiu-jitsu to be good people to society too. I’m greatly inspired by my master, Murilo Santana, who is a big influence on what I’ve become today. Rafael Godoi, my first teacher, is also an important part in my education as an athlete.”

Jeferson is considered by many to be the originator of the “thrown by” guard pass — a move that has earned him multiple gold medals in different competitions, including at the No-Gi Pan. Here’s a pioneer’s perspective on how the guard pass works:

“It’s important that you know how to create space to position yourself when it’s time to move. The guard pass I do is intricate and requires perfect timing and form; the secret is in the positioning of the hip and knee, responsible for preventing the guard player’s returning with the leg to defend. Then, I use one of my hands to control my opponent’s hip and advance my entire body to win the three points.”

To see how it works, check out Jeferson’s step-by-step tutorial in the following images.

Photo: IBJJF/Facebook

Yago Souza, 27, is back on the competition scene. After a long hiatus where he had to overcome injuries and make personal decisions, the black-belt started competing masterfully again in 2021, and has already racked up four gold medals, won at the Orleans Open, Orlando Open, Memphis Open and Houston Open – and, just this month, the IBJJF’s Orlando Summer Open.

“I was absent because of my period of adaptation to the U.S. and also the various injuries suffered, which was very difficult for me to adapt to,” he explained in a recent interview. “I also had a period of adaptation to the food and routine from here, which is all very different from what I used to have in Brazil. But now it’s all normal, and I know the path to achieving great titles again. I’m very happy about having won four straight opens, and now my goal is to sign up for the absolutes to test myself more, just like I did at the Memphis Open.”

A Pan and European champion in the black belt, Yago is thirsty to repeat the feats he accomplished in big events in 2016 and 2017, when he won most of the tournaments he took part in, notching wins against Otávio Sousa, Vitor Oliveira, Josh Hinger, Marcos Tinoco and AJ, for example.

“My biggest goal in 2021 is to keep myself competing and 100% healthy to reach the greatest version of myself in the big competitions and get a good result,” he said. “I’m practicing plenty of jiu-jitsu and lifting weights to strengthen my body, all done truly with great care. I train five times a week. I’m happy with the moment I’m living.”

Yago likes fighting on top and on the bottom, which often greatly hinders the strategies of opponents, who don’t know where to attack during the fight.

“I’ve always liked being versatile,” he said. “I’ve always tried to learn about everything and never limit myself to just one type of technique. My biggest goal in jiu-jitsu is to reach a high technical level. I really like working with the basics, because I see that the basics are getting lost as the years go by. People want to skip the basics and learn complicated things; that’s why I insist on the basics. The basics are the base for everything.”

Yago has gold medals from the World Championship and Brazilian Nationals, events also held by the IBJJF.

They say that you should fear not the man who knows ten thousand kicks, but rather the man who has practiced one kick a thousand times. Black-belt world champion Bernardo Faria is that guy who does half-guard — this is what he’s known for. And we know this because he does it to every single opponent. He does it every day in the gym.

What he calls his “blue-belt half-guard” is a game he started as a blue-belt and has continued to use until now, after being a black-belt for six years and earning a black belt world title. It works because he has spent many, many hours on it. It works against the toughest opponents, against guys who know how to defend deep half and guys who have the strongest base.

He recently released a highlight of him completing a half-guard sweep over and over again on some of the most accomplished athletes in this sport.

What he has to say about choosing a specific game is this:

“In my opinion, to know a lot of techniques is not the hardest part. Everyone can know a lot of techniques if you really study jiu-jitsu. But I think the hardest part is knowing a technique so well that you are able to use it in any situation at any time. Like Malcolm Gladwell explains in his book Outliers regarding the ten thousand hours needed to find success, the hardest part is to spend the ten thousand hours on something. As long as you spend a lot of time on one thing, then you can become an expert on that one thing. I think what many people do is they change a lot and they don’t focus on one game.

“So I think that’s what I’ve done. I have probably spent ten thousand hours doing half-guard. ”

Caio Terra vs. Jeff Glover at Metamoris Pro

Caio Terra is one of those Jiu-Jitsu champions who study the art thoroughly, analyzing each position and its qualities for his game and his students’. The study always yields results, as seen at the latest Worlds, in Long Beach.

The owner of a sharp guard and terrific guard passes, the roosterweight was asked by GRACIEMAG to help you hone your top game. Next, learn five tips from Caio Terra to bulldoze guard players.

1. Toe always on the ground

“Keep your toes always on the ground, no matter the position. Anytime you’re one top, you need to have your toes on the ground, unless you’re passing guard standing. You will always need your toes to give you leverage and a lot of forward pressure, and to not let your opponent push you back. The toes also help you have better posture.”

2. Knees always opened

“Whenever possible, keep your knees opened to strive for a better base and to be able to use your hands to attack, instead of having to prop them to avoid falling or getting swept. Often losing balance is the first step toward getting subbed.”

3. Always control the hips

“As you try to pass tight, try to control your opponent’s hips so he can’t move much. This stops them from recovering guard and attempting any acrobatic attacks or spins.”

4. Knees in the middle to avoid the closed guard

“One error made by most beginners is trying to pass the open guard with both knees on the ground. If one of the knees isn’t held up and in the middle of your opponent’s hip, they can close the guard easily. I deem the closed guard to be a mount from the bottom, because the positions are similar. All that changes is the place, but the concept is the same. Instead of letting the person close the guard to only then start working on the pass, keep your knee always in the middle.”

5. Closed elbows

“As you pass standing, it’s good to avoid relaxing and leaving your elbows opened – this makes it easier for the guard player to sweep or submit you. Besides, they may have control of the grips. Keep your elbows closed and lower one of their knees, opening the guard.”

By Erin Herle

[Continued from here.]

Drilling outside of class is like doing your homework. Working on technique, situations, your weaknesses are all important and can be done outside of class. We often don’t allow ourselves to play with weaknesses when training in class and the time allotted for technique is used for a new move, adding to the list of homework assignments to ingrain into your muscle memory.

Now that you have your training partners, the mats to train on and a time to meet up let’s put the timer to use with some lesson plan ideas.

Here are some examples of drills/specific training situations to help you run your class that Gianni Grippo has adjusted through trial and error in his own competition classes at Renzo Gracie Academy NYC:

3-minute rounds of choice drilling

Drilling a guard pass of choice with a partner / Photo by Erin Herle

Every person will pair with someone near their size if possible and drill a move of their choice. SwitchStay with the same move and if you choose to do more rounds with another move, keep them similar. Extend the move into a counter defense move, a submission into another submission and ultimately all bottom game or all top game. It makes it easier to implement and gain many repetitions.

3-minute rounds of chosen drill

Leg drag drills / Photo by Erin Herle

Dictating the move to drill is a great way to have everyone secure a staple move. This could be a very common move, counter, defense, motion, etc. There are guard passes, guard recovery, positional moves and defensive techniques that everyone must know so using this time to implement these required moves into everyone’s game is beneficial for all. Even if they aren’t fancy and are sometimes even boring, making time for them is important.

5-minute situational sparring

Working situational sparring from the back / Photo by Erin Herle

Training in a position and only that position is a good way to understand the mechanics and leverage of a situation. Being in both top and bottom side control allows both defense, maintenance and offense to improve. Start with a position and state exactly how everyone should start. If you are working on back mount should the person have hooks and a seatbelt grip or should it start from turtle and the person on bottom only needs to recover guard? Focus on who needs to do what, the goal, the grips and rules. When the timer starts, shake hands and roll normal speed within the position and rules. Switch between positions with same partners then switch partners for each round.

5-minute rounds of guard defense

Guard defense rounds with adamant passers / Photo by Erin Herle

The person who plays guard must defend their guard while the person on top tries to pass. The focus of this is guard recovery and defense while the person on top can work their guard passing without the threat of sweeps or submissions. Start with open guard so that the guard player must take what the guard passer gives. If the guard is passed, start over.

90-Second Losing Situation

Losing opponent must act quickly / Photo by Erin Herle

Mostly for competition-oriented people, this drill is important for acting quickly yet smart. The person in guard is down on points and must sweep or submit to win the match. With 90 seconds left in a match it can create a type of adrenaline or hastiness that will cause mistakes. With this drill focus on the application of sweeps and submissions and acting quickly when it is most important. The person on top can work the pass like normal but you are forced to play smart and pay attention to your base. If you are winning in a match, you should always keep working instead of stalling but you don’t want to cost yourself the match. Switch partners with this drill.

8-Minute Matches

Live sparring with 8-minute matches / Photo by Erin Herle

Include regular rolling into your routine like you would any other class as it can be the best way to apply anything you’re currently working. Also, more mat time is always a good thing. Try to work on what you have drilled and focus on your weaknesses. Remember, there is no ego in the gym and what happens in training stays in training. Don’t be afraid to work on what you need to work so that you can improve in all areas. If you compete, you’ll be more prepared and have more to work with in your muscle memory. Switch partners and have at least four rounds.

Submission-Only Match with 30-Minute Time Limit

Submission-only matches create submission-oriented people / Photo by Erin Herle

You can save this round for last or have multiple matches in one session. These types of situations, especially when tired after a training session, are great for focusing on finishing an opponent. Focus on gaining dominant positions and attacking. This works the defense and offense. The 30-minute time limit can and will be reached but is a good stopping point should anyone go the length.

Gianni Grippo’s planner with lesson plans and drilling notes.

Remember that these drills are examples. The time limits, the numbers, the details can all be manipulated but are a great jumping off point. A good way to run these classes is to determine a lesson plan before so you can state to everyone involved what the itinerary will be for each class. A planner or designated notebook will be efficient.

And the most important tip for your drilling Jiu-Jitsu classes?

Enjoy yourself!

Drilling is fun! / Photo by Erin Herle

Kyra Gracie with the omoplata. Photo: Ivan Trindade

The omoplata submission is one of the most common arm attacks in Jiu-Jitsu. Similar to the kimura, it attacks the shoulder by locking up an arm with your legs. It is often used as a transitional position rather than a straight submission.

Here are seven breakdowns of the omoplata to brush up on or learn how to secure, how to transition and how to take advantage of the position:

1. Draculino teaches how to secure the omoplata from the spider guard:

2. Get the omoplata from knee on belly with Nino Schembri:

3. Your opponent is turtled? Christian Uflacker shows the inverted omoplata from this position:

4. Another way to finish the omoplata is with the horseshoe technique as explained by New Breed’s Johnny Ramirez:

5. Jackson Sousa shows how to spin under to secure the omoplata and sweep:

6. Once you’ve swept with the omoplata, go for the triangle from mount with Ricardo Cavalcanti:

7. If you’ve been caught in an omoplata, Robson Moura teaches how to defend and escape the submission:

Three times world champion Marcio Feitosa is celebrated another birthday this Monday, May 16.

We take the opportunity to share with you one crafty technique Marcinho taught us in 2013.

Whenever the opponent goes for a single leg takedown, you can do what Feitosa does here.

Click to play and add it to your game.

Celebrate the date learning attacks from the closed guard with the Alliance star.

Four times world champion Rubens Cobrinha drops in once again to teach another crafty way to finish your opponent.

This time, he explains the workings of an armbar using the kimura grip.

Hit play and add this technique to your game.

Black belt world champion Vitor “Shaolin” Ribeiro is our professor for the day.

Straight from his academy in New York City, he teaches us a sweep that starts in the half guard and ends in the opponent’s back.

Take some time and learn from the fifth-degree black belt that recently had a great showing at the 2016 WPJJC, finishing Daniel Moraes with a bow and arrow choke from the back.

Watch and add it to your game.

Stuck on the bottom? Here’s a great way to sweep your opponent.

Learn from three-time black belt open class champion Marcus Buchecha.

Click to play and add it to your game.