Tag: pan jiu jitsu championships

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Live Technique and Perspective Videos

The Evil Jiu Jitsu Truth: 3 Ways To Prevent Regression

regression
By: Tyler Bishop
“Dude, screw it. I think I am getting worse”, said my friend as we changed in the locker room after class. Not exactly the kind of thing you would expect to hear from a purple belt after class, right? So I asked him, “What’s up? Just having a bad day”? His reply helped me uncover something about jiu jitsu that I think most of us know deep down, but shy away from. He answered me by saying, “Nah, I just don’t train right. I just come in and roll, and now these little jerks are starting to berimbolo my face off. I am just behind. I think I probably use to be better than I am now”.
As a white belt or blue belt it’s not uncommon to view jiu jitsu as a linear upwards projection. You start knowing absolutely nothing.  And although we all advance at different velocities, everyone can learn and progress through jiu jitsu. However, what many fail to realize – especially early on – is that jiu jitsu is not something that remains a simple time in = development out formula. We often assume that if we put time into jiu jitsu we will receive that equal output back out in terms of progress. It’s confusing, because this formula actually is 100% correct when we start jiu jitsu. You’ve heard the saying “there’s no where to go but up”, right? It’s easy to see that some get more output from their time in while others might receive very  little, but it’s easy to recognize this formulas existence… in the beginning. But as we progress through jiu jitsu, the evil truth that can be convenient to ignore is that once we have progressed to a certain point of competency in jiu jitsu that formula actually disappears.
Gasp! You mean that I could show up to jiu jitsu, train all night, and not get any better. Yes, that is what I am proposing – and not only that. I am suggesting that there are circumstances in which you could actually regress.
It’s no secret that we all get older, develop injuries, and so on, but the truth is that losing performance in this manner is normal. However, developing an inefficiency in our development in performance due to training habits or methods is unnecessary. It’s easy to prevent. My friend that I described in the beginning would have to do very little to turn his regression into progression. The only thing he has to realize is that his effort must now be more thoughtful than it was before. He can no longer rely on the formula that works in the beginning (time in = development out). He must now start to strategically consider his progression when attending practice, and take additional steps to encourage his development. Let me break this down by recommending 3 easy strategies…

#1: You have to want to get better, and think about your progression outside of jiu jitsu

If you show up to practice and are counting the others around you to take take control of your progression you have already fallen behind. Your training partners and instructors should have your best interests in mind at all times, but that doesn’t mean they know all of your struggles, strengths, weaknesses, and so forth.  You have to want to get better for yourself. This means leveraging the resources around you to get better, not counting on them to do it for you.
To take matters into you own hands, simply start planning your development outside of class. Think about new positions that you would like to learn or work on. Ask your instructors questions about these new positions, or pull a classmate aside at an open mat and work through the position. This kind of forethought will help organize your training and will provide some focus that can lead to steady progression.
In a worse case scenario in which you are truly crunched for time and training, try subscribing to an online academy and analyzing techniques outside of class. Pay attention to the details, and find time to drill these techniques with a teammate. By Taking extra time to work on the techniques that matter to you, your efforts to improve are likely to increase as well.

#2 Challenge yourself, and step outside of the norm

Guess what? It’s pretty easy to show up everyday to class and roll with the same bunch of folks day in and day out. Maybe you avoid the big guy, the new guy, or the guy that’s really good. Why? It’s convenient, easy, and comfortable. However, progress is usually a little bit more difficult than that.
To push your development along, try training and rolling with new people at your academy. Their reactions and style may force you to improve or adjust your “go to” techniques. These adjustments are a form of progress.
I have a really talented training partner that has helped me significantly develop my guard game. He is so incredibly strong and talented that there are certain techniques that just don’t work very well against him. This was not a fun thing to learn or develop. It meant having my guard passed a lot! However, training with him has helped me make my guard that much harder to pass.
This is actually one of the quickest and easiest ways to develop, but it is often the most painful. Don’t worry about your pride, or about being uncomfortable. Just think about getting better.

#3 Take private lessons

You’re not the best in the world. Chances are, you’re not even close. Hopefully, you’re not even close to the best at your academy. This means that there are a lot of people around you that you can learn from. One of the best ways to learn from a  higher belt or instructor is to do a private lesson with them.
Many good instructors can help you pick out and identify exactly what you need to work on, but I think it’s better if you have some of this already in mind. But just like in number 1, don’t just have something generic in mind and show up counting on the instructor to learn for you. Have some specific things in mind (i.e. I want to learn how to make my De La Riva Sweeps better – rather than – I want to learn sweeps).
Private lessons aren’t cheap, and can be a waste of money if you don’t invest yourself into really learning and applying these techniques. I have taught private lessons before then watched the person I did the lesson with roll for an hour without trying a single one of the techniques we trained. Make sure that you get your money out of your lesson. Insist on the techniques you learn. Force them down the throats of your training partners. Accept the failures and learn from them. That’s the only way/ If you are afraid to try the techniques you will have wasted your dollars ( or pesos).
—
I hope this has all been helpful. It’s easy to forget how easy progression was at white belt, but often we do very little different when that progression wears off. Hopefully, this can provide some much needed motivation to help you improve your jiu jitsu.

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BishopBjj News

BishopBjj.com Podcast #6: Worlds, Metamoris, and Jena Bishop

podcast 6 image
Check out the latest edition of the BishopBjj.com podcast. We share untold stories of the Worlds and Metamoris, and interview World Champion Jena Bishop. She talks about training in the middle of the U.S, why she wondered if it was ever possible if she could be a World Champion, and how her training has changed over the last few years.

Listen:

 

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Live Technique and Perspective Videos

The Leg Drag Pass: 3 Masters From 3 Generations

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqTqAuMEnF0?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

Check out our latest video that highlights three different areas of jiu jitsu, but only one move. The leg drag pass has improved greatly in popularity recently. Watch these 3 masters go to work using the movement.

leg drag jiu jitsu

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"It's Science" Videos

It's Science: Guilherme Mendes

its science guilherme mendes photo
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZtTRrBPDOA?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
Welcome to another episode of “It’s Science”. We  continue our 2013 season with a quick look at Guilherme Mendes (2011-2013). Now on to the fun stuff…
Abstract: All matches observed of Guilherme Mendes used in this small sample occurred at IBJJF events, inside his weight division, and between 2011-2013. Only techniques, occurrences, and outcomes that were recorded are displayed in the data below (i.e. if no butterfly sweeps occurred, there will not be a representation of that in the sample data). Matches were selected at random based on available matches  – selected using a random generator from 18 total available IBJJF matches matches between 2011-2013. This is a limited sample – but given the estimated amount of matches in this time period – it is well above the percentage necessary to create a scientifically validated trend sampling.
So what did we learn?: Guilherme Mendes is an impressive competitor. Much like his brother, he is quite good at avoiding defeat. Inside this study – which took place between 2011 and 2013  – there was only one loss on his record. The best way to describe his style is, “insistent”. He insisted upon a handful of techniques, and was able to put himself in the exact position to execute these moves with absolute precision. Approximately 81% of his passes were executed in a very similar fashion – Half-Guard, knee slide, and nearly 88% of his sweep came from a  De La Riva to berimbolo-style of attack. His game was very effective. It saw him finish almost 60% of his matches by submission, and it him in position to be the first to score in 100% of the matches in that he was the victor. In observing his style and performance, I believe this is a very important metric for Guilherme. By being the first to score in his matches, he immediately put his opponent on defense, and was able to stay ahead and inside his own comfort zone. In his sole loss he did not score first, and was unable to build his normal momentum through out the match.
There is a lot that the average competitor can learn from Guilherme Mendes style and approach. While the techniques are far from “simple”, his approach and execution is very basic. He kept his attacks to a handful of techniques, and insisted upon them from the beginning. One thing to learn from his competitive approach, is that by building a match around your strengths from the start, you can put yourself in a consistently offensive game. This can help reduce hesitation and can ensure that techniques are executed properly under pressure.

Notable Stats:

    • 7:15 was his average match length
    • Won 58% of his matches by submission
    • Scored first in 100% of his wins (91% total)
    • Passed from the half-guard 81.5% of the time
    • 88% of sweeps occured from the De La Riva guard
    • He preferred knee-cut passes to leg drag passes 13/2
    • Approximately 77% of his submissions were from the side control position
    • When on the feet he preferred pulling guard – as he did so 85% of the time
Top Competitor Guilherme Mendes
Successes Side Control Submissions
Avoided… Mount
Top Technique 1 Knee Through Pass From Half-Guard
Top Technique 2 Berimbolo
Number of Matches Observed 12
Submits Opponent 7
Wins by Points 4
Minutes of footage watched 87
Scores First 11
Total Wins 11
Total Loses 1
Sweeps (Position)
De la Riva Sweeps 7
50/50 1
Sweeps (Type)
Ankle Pick sweep 1
Berimbolo-style (kiss of the dragon, etc.) 7
Total Sweeps 8
Passes (Position)
On Knees 1
Half-Guard 13
Standing 2
Passes (Type)
leg drag 2
knee through 13
x-pass 1
Total Passes 16
Taking the Back
side control 4
Total Back-Takes 4
Submissions (Position)
Back 2
Side Control 5
Submissions (Type)
choke from back 2
gi choke (Guilitine, Brabo, Basball Bat) 5
Total Subs: 7
Takedown/ Ground Establishment
Double-Guard Pull 3
Guard Pull 9
ankle pick 2
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Uncategorized

3 Ways to Improve Your Jiu Jitsu Outside of the Academy

improve bjj
By: Tyler Bishop
Have you ever said to yourself, “there are only so many hours in the day”? I’m sure we all have. The same sentiment is true when it comes to jiu jitsu. The academy may only be open certain hours, you may have to work, your training partners may have to work, teammates could be hurt, you may be hurt, the list goes on and on. To develop quickly in jiu jitsu, time is of the essence. As it’s often said, it’s not how much time you have, it’s how you use it. To improve your training practices, it is vitally important to dedicate time outside of the academy towards developing your technique, physical condition, and mindset.
If you were in school and wanted to get an “A” in class it would take extra effort outside of class, right? The same is true with jiu jitsu. These three methods for improving jiu jitsu outside of the academy (listed below) can help you begin developing an “A” level game today.
1:)Improve your body mechanics: David Adiv talked about this at length in our most recent podcast, and for good reason. Body mechanics make up the basis for all of jiu jitsu. If you cannot perform the movements necessary for a half guard sweep, side control escape, or armlock defense on their own, how do expect to perform those techniques against a live opponent? Many of these body mechanics can be found online, and many academies do movements like this as a part of the class warm-ups already. So why only do them in class? You don’t need a partner for any of these, and can practice them at night before bed, in the morning before work, or when you are chilling and watching TV. I cannot stress enough how important it is to develop solid fundamental body mechanics. Without these movements it will be incredibly difficult to perfect any jiu jitsu techniques. We will post some more body mechanic movements in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.
2:)Use online resources to perfect techniques you are already good at: There have never been more online training resources available than there are today. You can learn directly from Marcelo Garcia, The Mendes Bros., Saulo and Xande Ribeiro, Andre Galvao, Draculinho, and more – all by making a few mouse clicks. Short on cash? Browse YouTube for a bit and find some quality videos from top-level instructors. However, there is one-catch. If you could learn jiu jitsu solely by watching videos on the internet there would be 3x as many black belts in the world than there are today. Jiu jitsu is largely based on feeling, accepting, and applying techniques in live training or drilling  scenarios. That’s why one of the most efficient way to use online resources is to use them to develop techniques you already understand.
Are you good at the deep half guard? How about triangles from mount? Try finding good video and supplementary material from qualified instructors that highlight the techniques you feel you are already pretty good at. You will learn to see new details that will further improve these techniques, and you may also learn some new transitions and grips that help you improve in other areas as well. This method of learning is much easier to apply because you already have a strong mechanical understanding of the techniques explained. If you can already understand what the technique feels like you will find it easier to appreciate and understand the new concepts the instructor explains in the technique. If you can efficiently use these resources to improve the things you are already good at it will make you an even stronger competitor as well, because you will have more tools that allow you to drag your opponent into “your fight”.
3:) Set goals: My instructor, JW Wright, has always been a huge proponent of his students writing down their goals. It gives them a way of outlining and thinking about where they want to go in jiu jitsu, and provides him a way of understanding how to prepare them and develop them through their jiu jitsu joruney. This seems very simple, but is very effective. In fact, research tells us that this is true in almost everything. By clearly defining our goals,we – as humans -typically do a better job of accomplishing things. In jiu jitsu it’s good to set yearly goals like: compete at the Mundials, win a local tournament, get a blue belt, or even win an IBJJF medal. But, you can take this one step further and begin defining your development towards these goals with weekly goals. By developing this into a micro-strategy you can measure and control your development on an even greater level.
So what does that look like? Start by determining your goals for the year, then work backwords. If you are preparing for some type of competition you will have to be in shape, have a gameplan, perfected techniques you plan to use, and prepared properly for the event. How can you move closer to those things on a weekly basis? Maybe you need to ensure some extra time at the gym each week, perhaps you need to drill your best techniques a few more times after class, or maybe you need to sit down with your instructor to define a gameplan. No matter the long term goal, sit down and figure out what weekly goals will lead you closer to the ultimate one. No matter your long-term goal there is always some defined efforts that you can start this week that will move you closer. Doing techniques in class, then rolling is not specifc to your goals – those things are specific to anyone who generally wants to get better at jiu jitsu. Take some extra time, and put forth that extra effort.
We will have some more information about body mechanics up next week. Until then, let us know if any of these practices work for you by commenting below.

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BishopBjj News

Podcast #3 Featuring David Adiv

david adiv podcast banner

Check out our latest podcast with special guest Master David Adiv!

Either listen to it on this page  or download using the link below!

(Chirbit will play in browsers, smartphone browsers, and can be downloaded in MP3 format)

Listen: podcast #3

Listen on Chirbit: http://chirb.it/mCkqqM

We will have iTunes and Google Play versions of the podcast up as soon as we can figure it out, haha.

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BishopBjj News

Pan Jiu Jitsu Preview

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4GoX-7q75A?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
In honor of the largest jiu jitsu tournament in the word, the Pan Ams, we’ve decided to start our preview with a look at the past. The video above highlights some of the best moments and most fierce action from the past years Pan Ams.
Speaking of the past, BishopBjj.com specializes in evaluating and measuring past jiu jitsu activities. The 2012 Pan Ams was our first large scale study on jiu jitsu ever conducted. We continued that effort at the 2012 World Championships, and will keep it moving this year with our evaluation of the 2013 Pan this week. This is very exciting – as it will mark the first time in history that we can evaluate real trends in jiu jitsu empirically. For some, this could not be more boring, so below we have done our best to make it interesting.
Last year, we observed that nearly 80% of adult black belt matches resulted in the first person to score being the winner. I suspect this will not change much this year. This was a trend that was largely intact at the 2012 Worlds as well. However, as tactics, positions, and strategies change there is no telling what effect this could have on the scoring paradigm. What do you think, are first points going to be just as valuable this year as they were last year?
Is guard pulling here to stay? Well obviously there will always be guard pullers, but at black belt adult last year nearly 70% of competitors pulled guard. Will this trend continue in 2013? My belief is that the trend will begin to swing back in another direction this year as advanced guard games have been studied more and new techniques have been developed, but it is hard to predict. The other question is if it continues will it remain a successful strategy? Last year the money was on guard pullers. They won nearly 60% of their matches. The only more successful strategy is taking the opponent down, which resulted in a victory rate of almost 73% (note: they also score first, so it’s kind of a double-whammy). Also, will we see this trend expand into the larger weight classes like we started to see in the worlds study last year, or will the big guys continue to fight for the top position? these will all be very interesting questions to answer
Finally, who’s going to win, and who’s going to steal the show? Last year Rafael Mendes stole the show by defeating Cobrinha with a nasty armlock, and Bruno Malficine prevented the lighter Mendes brother, Guilherme, from joining his brother atop the podium. Who will be this years standouts? It’s extremely likely that someone from the young crop of fresh black belts is able to surprise several veterans this year, but it’s hard to tell who will be the one to step up. What are your thoughts?
We will see you there, and will be providing daily media updates (including fresh footage), so stay tuned and keep checking the site everyday!!!

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"It's Science" Videos

Rafael Mendes Jiu Jitsu Study & Profile

rafa mendes bjj study

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDiuKxjurwo&w=560&h=315]

Rafael Mendes Jiu Jitsu Study & Profile

Welcome to another episode of “It’s Science”. We continue with a look at Rafael Mendes (2012-2013). Rafael Mendes is largely considered the best p4p BJJ competitor on the planet right now. We dig in to see what makes him tick.

Rafael Mendes BJJ Profile

All matches observed of Rafael Mendes used in this small sample occurred at IBJJF events, inside his weight division, and between 2012-2013. Only techniques, occurrences, and outcomes that were recorded are displayed in the data below (i.e. if no butterfly sweeps occurred, there will not be a representation of that in the sample data). Matches were selected at random based on available matches  – selected using a random generator from 20 total available IBJJF matches between 2012-2013. This is a limited sample – but given the estimated amount of matches in this time period – it is well above the percentage necessary to create a scientifically validated trend sampling.

What makes Rafael Mendes so good?

Rafael Mendes proved to be the most dominant and proficient competitor we have ever observed during his 2012-2013 performances. His game is very defined, and he is able to get into it with little resistance. This is largely due to the fact that he can play his De La Riva guard game whether he pulls guard or his opponent double-guard pulls along with him. 75% of his sweeps came from a De La Riva variation, but most would be defined as the berimbolo technique.
He used this position very effectively to take the back. From the back he was incredibly efficient – which is where he secured nearly 50% of his overall submissions. When it came to submissions, he seemed to prefer armlocks. Over half of all his submissions observed were armlocks.
However; he showed even less variety when it came to his passing game. Rafael Mendes obviously prefers to pass the guard one way, and he doesn’t care if you know it or not.
He leg drag passes from every position. Again he uses this position to setup back-takes and armlocks. there is an incredible fluidity to his game that is both dangerous and beautiful – which is why his match average less than 5 minutes in time.

Final Look

Overall, he is a very dangerous opponent, and deserves close observation. He is quickly defining a strategic blueprint for what an undefeated season looks like.

Notable Stats:

    • Won 80% of his matches by submission
    • Average match length was only 4.53 minutes long
    • Only scored upon 3 times in entire study
    • Scored first in 12 out of 15 matches recorded (In the 3 that he didn’t, it was because he submitted his opponent prior to a first score)
    • 85% of passes were leg drag variations
    • Approximately 57% of his submissions were armlocks
    • 75% of his sweeps came from De La Riva guard
Top Competitor Rafael Mendes
Successes DLR Sweeps, Armlocks
Avoided… Half-Guard Bottom, Mount
Top Technique 1 Leg Drag pass
Top Technique 2 Berimbolo
Number of Matches Observed 15
Submits Opponent 12
Wins by Points 3
Minutes of footage watched 68
Scores First 12
Total Wins 15
Total Loses 0
Sweeps (Position)
De la Riva Sweeps 8
Spider Sweeps 1
50/50 3
Sweeps (Type)
Ankle Pick sweep 1
Tomanagi 1
Sit-up and overtake opponent 4
Berimbolo 5
Omoplata sweep 1
Total Sweeps 12
Passes (Position)
Half-Guard 3
Standing 4
Passes (Type)
leg drag 6
Knee cut from HG 1
Total Passes 7
Taking the Back
side control 2
from passing the guard 1
guard 3
Total Back-Takes 6
Submissions (Position)
Back 5
Side Control 3
Closed Guard 1
Half-Guard Top 1
 Spider 2
Submissions (Type)
choke from back 2
armbar 7
neck choke (Guilitine, Brabo, etc.) 1
triangle 2
Total Subs 12
Start of Match
Double-Guard Pull 6
Guard Pull 6
Pulled on by opponent 3
Categories
"It's Science" Videos

It's Science: Rafael Lovato Jr.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VDZXnFdEmw&w=560&h=315]
Welcome to another episode of “It’s Science”. We are going to continue our 2013 season with a quick look at Rafael Lovato Jr.
Abstract: All matches observed of Rafael Lovato Junior used in this small sample occurred at IBJJF events, in his weight division, and between 2009-2013. Only techniques, occurrences, and outcomes that were recorded are displayed in the data below (i.e. if no butterfly sweeps occurred, there will not be a representation of that in the sample data). Matches were selected at random based on available matches via YouTube – selected using a random generator from 20 total available IBJJF matches matches between 2009-2013. This is a limited sample – but given the estimated amount of matches in this time period – it is well above the percentage necessary to create a scientifically validated trend sampling.
So what did we learn?: Rafael Lovato Jr. is a tale of two different approaches. One trend that we have noticed when doing these “It’s Science” studies is that most players have a very defined game. There are usually a small set of techniques that tend to crop up over and over again. In the case of Lovato, he both reinforces and bucks that trend. From his guard,  Rafael Lovato showed greater variance in techniques that were executed than any other player we’ve seen. He applied multiple types of guards and sweeps successfully. He never stuck with a particular guard that wasn’t yielding positive results very long before he would switch to another variation. However, when passing the guard he executed the direct opposite strategy. All of his passes in this small sample occurred from the half guard, and from the half-guard only 2 different passes were used. The other real difference we noticed in Lovato’s game – from others – was his lack of attention to first points. His opponents pulled guard on him in over 2/3 of his matches, and often he was not the first to score (only scored first in 60% of matches won). This did not largely effect his results. As out studies have shown over and over again, most of the time scoring first directly correlates with winning (Kron Gracie was the only outlier). Rafael Lovato seems to be heading in the same direction. It will be interesting to see how this trend develops.

Notable Stats:

  • 6 of 10 sweeps observed came from different positions
  • He submitted his opponent in 40% of his wins
  • 100% of his submissions occurred from mount
  • His opponent pulled guard on him in 69% of matches
  • 57% of his passes ended in mount, rather than side-control
  • His average match length was 8.50 minutes
  • Scored first in 60% of matches
Top Competitor **Rafael Lovato Jr.**
Successes Guard Versatility
Avoided… Pulling Guard
Top Technique 1 Half-Guard Pass To Mount
Top Technique 2 Collar Chokes From Mount
Number of Matches Observed 13
Submits Opponent 4
Wins by Points 6
Minutes of footage watched 113
Scores First 6
Total Wins 10
Total Loses 3
Sweeps (Position)
De la Riva Sweeps 1
Spider Sweeps 2
Closed Guard 2
X-Guard 3
Butterfly 1
Sit-up Guard 1
Sweeps (Type)
X-Guard 3
Tomanagi 2
Scissor 1
Sit-up and overtake opponent 1
Omoplata sweep 2
Collar Drag/Arm Drag 1
Total Sweeps 10
Passes (Position)
Half-Guard 7
Passes (Type)
knee through 3
knee up, from hg to mount 4
Total Passes 7
Taking the Back
Guard 1
Total Back-Takes 1
Submissions (Position)
Mount 4
Submissions (Type)
collar choke  top 2
neck choke (Guilitine, Brabo, etc.) 1
triangle 1
Total Subs 4
Start of Match
Pulls guard 2
Executes A Throw 1
Pulled on by opponent 9
Taken down 1
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Live Technique and Perspective Videos

Jiu Jitsu Triangle: Training Journal

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSu9Wfzf7Xk&w=560&h=315]
One of the best ways to study a move is to watch top-level competitors execute it in competition. You can see all the work and detail that go into finishing that move against another top competitor. Unfortunately, it’s hard to string enough of these together to truly study a move in detail, so we’ve done it for you. This is the first in a series of training journals that takes 20-30 examples of a move executed in competition and strings them back-to-back for film study.
In every other highly competitive sport in the world film study is ingrained in a teams preparation. This has been slow to catch on in jiu jitsu because often players don’t know how or what to study. This certainly isn’t the only way to study film, but it certainly takes a page out of American football’s book. Often when preparing for an opponent a team will watch their competitor run one specific play over and over again to prepare against it. This means a coach somewhere cut the film up and put all of those plays back-to-back. This is our idea with the training journal. Take one move, and play it back-to-back for efficient study. We hope you enjoy.