Fighter

Welcome to the third installment of the Fighters Market Breakdown series, brought to you by everyone’s favorite social scientist black belt. 

Shoulder locks are everywhere, especially once you know the underlying principles that connect every single one of them. They’re one of the most underrated submissions in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu arsenal. Not the sexiest by any means, but one of the most accessible. In fact, most shoulder lock submissions come via another attack – an armbar or triangle – in which the opponent, busy defending the first submission, leaves him or herself open for the shoulder lock.

Understanding how a shoulder lock works – the underlying principles – will help you both recognize their opportunities, as well as make any required adjustments to effectively and efficiently execute them.

So, let’s examine this most underrated submission...

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When you get a diverse group of people together, there are bound to be behaviors that you just don’t agree with. The jiu-jitsu academy – the Brazilian jiu-jitsu community in general – is no exception.

Just as with any type of community, anywhere in the world, communities tend to develop their own rules and norms, some of which are unspoken. This is what helps to maintain order. So, wherever its members might have come from – and whatever may be the rules and norms they typically follow in their everyday life – they are expected to adapt to the those of the mat. 

But, expectations don’t always align with reality. There are always a handful of individuals - *cough* purple belts *cough* - who tend to be the biggest violators of BJJ’s Biggest Pet Peeves...

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Kids and Brazilian jiu-jitsu go together like peanut butter and jelly, like macaroni and cheese, like spaghetti and meatballs… okay, so I might be hungry right now.

Regardless, there’s no denying there’s a certain magic that happens when kids start training jiu-jitsu. But no matter how “into” jiu-jitsu a child might be, it’s important to keep the classes fun. Too much just technique can risk burning them out.

Here are five Kid’s BJJ games that I love, and how to play them...

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It’s hot out there. Like, really hot. The kind of hot that saps any motivation you might have for doing anything, let alone training. If you’re like me, you’d love nothing more than to reverse-hibernate, splayed out in front of the air conditioning, binge-watching the latest television series until it’s time to sleep 

But summer is also the best time to get in some awesome jiu-jitsu training. Whether you’re getting ready for the major Fall tournaments, or just staying bikini – or mankini – season ready, you have to change your training regime to adapt to the higher temperatures.

Even if you’re one of the lucky few whose academy offers A/C, you might appreciate the following tips for staying cool during summer training. 

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Competition is stressful, whether you’re a brand new competitor or a well-seasoned warrior. However, it does become easier with experience and preparedness.

Knowing what to expect, having everything you might need, and feeling confident goes a long way toward not just surviving jiu-jitsu competition, but also thriving and proving yourself to be a serious contender.

Here are my top tips for surviving your next competition...

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