Tag: taking the back bjj

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Common Jiu Jitsu Injuries and How To Deal With Them (Part II)

bjj injuries part 2
 

By: Tyler Bishop

Since we opened the site several years ago, we’ve experienced a lot of traffic. Over a million visitors to be precise. We’ve released groundbreaking studies, published unique content, and shared rich media that has received incredibly positive feedback (btw… thank you, readers). But, there is one piece of content that we published almosta  year ago that gets more average hits a day than any other. It’s probably not hard to guess what that is; given the title of this post and the graphic at the top. That’s right. Our article on common jiu jitsu injuries is one of the most popular that we’ve done, and we have received a lot of requests to publish another. Welp, straight from your keyboards to God’s ears. Here we go…

Hip Injuries

Hip injuries are the worst. Remember when Chubs said, “it’s all in the hips”. Yeah, he was talking about jiu jitsu … or golf… or hockey. It doesn’t matter. He was right! Whether you’ve actually torn something in your hips, built in imbalances due to overuse/underuse with certain movements, or simply have stinging tightness from sitting all day, fixing your hips is paramount to performing on the mats. Here are a couple of good tips for hip injuries…

  1. “Roll out…” Ludacris (2001). Ole Luda was right. You have to roll your hips out. A lot of tightness and existing injury lies bound up in the myofacial tissue in the muscle surrounding your hips. Step #1 to any form of hip injury treatment should start with rolling out your hips (Spine-Health). This creates the ideal conditions to any of the things we will execute to try to rehabilitate and improve performance. Perform 3-5 times per week (here’s a good reference).
  2. Perform hip mobility exercises. These have personally helped me more than just about anything else. Bird-dogs, fire-hydrants, back bridges, and hurdler exercises have done a world of good for my often injured hips (use Google Images if you don’t know what some of these are). I looked into the types of exercises most recommended by physical therapists for rehabilitating injured or imbalanced hips and these four were most commonly prescribed. Perform them 3-5 times per week.
  3. Stretch. I’ve heard some experts say to avoid stretching or yoga all together. Those people suck and definitely don’t do jiu jitsu. Yoga and specific stretching helps me to ensure proper mobility when I’m on the mats. Below is my favorite yoga series for stretching. I did this everyday for a month and improved my flexibility significantly. It also greatly improved how my hips and shoulders felt. Try performing it no less than twice a week (don’t worry if you can’t do it perfect, neither can I)

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLqnfny6QeM&w=560&h=315]
 
Hope that helps. What injury should we focus on next?

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BishopBjj News

Podcast #7: UFC 162, Rickson Seminars, ADCC, and more…

podcast 7 image
Check out the latest edition of the BishopBjj.com podcast!

LISTEN NOW!!!!!!

 
The BJJ Shop: referenced on show – https://www.facebook.com/Thebjjshop.us?ref=ts&fref=ts

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10 Things Learned At The 2013 Jiu Jitsu World Championship

By: Tyler Bishop
The 2013 Jiu Jitsu World Championship is in the books. History was made once again, and we want to congratulate everyone who stood atop the podium at the event. For everyone that competed and suffered defeat, keep your head up and keep striving towards your goals. The competition is fierce, and the stakes are high. The World Championship is the most prestigious event in jiu jtsu history, and will likely maintain that title for a long while – due to the incredibly high level of competitors that attend the event.
Just like every year, there is a lot that we can learn from this event. The BishopBjj.com team was in attendance every day of the event, and we did not miss a beat. We wanted to share with you a few of the important pieces of material that we learned at the championship, and hopefully you can share with us some of the things you may have learned watching at home.

  1. Buchecha is the new king, and it is now unquestionable. Prior to this event, there was little doubt that Marcus Almaeda was the champ, but now he is “the man”. After last years epic battle and a close match earlier this year, the Buchecha/Rodolfo rivalry still seemed close. We watched the absolute final match intensely. We wanted to see if today would be the day that Rodolfo took back the crown. Unfortunately for Rodolfo, June 2nd served as the exact date that Buchecha became the far-and-away better competitor. Buchecha simply dominated the match from start to finish. I  honestly wonder what Rodolfo was thinking. I can’t imagine anyone has done the things Buchecha  did to him in a very long time. It’s always a little off-putting when you recieve an unexpected beating in BJJ. I’m sure that goes double for Rodolfo. Welcome to the Buchecha dynasty.
  2. Blue belts take it seriously! The level of competition at the blue belt level this year was the best I have ever seen it. I remember being a blue belt 6 years ago, and the competition was not at this same level. Many of the competitors are training with the same enthusiasm and commitment that the brown and black belt competitors are. In fact, the other blue belts all know who the other top guys are… at blue belt. What does this hold for the sport in the future, and how should the average jiu jitsu competitor feel about this? It is the World Championships after all, and everyone has to start somewhere.
  3. You don’t win until you win. We saw it twice in the finals this year. You can’t win the match until your hand is raised. Ary Farias cost himself a World Championship by carelessly walking off the mats. I feel for the guy ( I really do), but when the stakes are that high – and your match was as close as that one was – wait to get your hand raised before you celebrate. The rules are the rules, and you simply cannot pick and choose objectively when they will be followed (they are hard enough to enforce as is). Another example of this was Augusto Taquinho’s tenacity in finishing his match with Rafa Mendes. It looked from my perspective like Rafa was looking to coast out at the end. Augusto simply had more fight him at the end, and with seconds left he stole the match. The meal goes to the dog who is hungriest.
  4. Acai is delicious but should not be eaten in a cage. I love acai, and ate exactly two bowls at the Worlds. I enjoyed neither of them. When you force me to stand in a cage to eat it you might as well punch me in the groin while you’re at it. This is CSULB’s thing, not the IBJJF’s, but regardless it is a travesty. #freetheacai
  5. Points are hard to get. I’ll never forget a conversation I overheard at the 2011 World Championship, it went something like this…
    – Competitor (to referee): Why did you not give me points for passing the guard?
    – Referee: **Dead lifeless stare**
    – Competitor: I passed the guard and it should have been 3 points, I should have won the match!
    – Referee: No, you lose…. it fair
    – Competitor: (intensely)… But I should have won! Those points would have put me in the lead!
    – Referee: (long pause… smiling now) Points are hard to get …. (pats the kid on the shoulder and walks away)
    It had to be one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. The competitor was losing his mind, and the referee was on a totally different page. The point of the story is this – points are indeed hard to get. You have to earn them, and sometimes they are easier to get than others. Sometimes you might feel screwed, other times you might get lucky. When you are a top competitor you find a way to rise above it all. That’s why you consistently see the top names in every division.
  6. Gabi is busy getting stronger. Gabi Garcia wore a shirt on day 1 that read “I’m Busy Getting Stronger”. Meanwhile, all of the women in the black belt absolute grew even more fearful of what that might mean. How could she be any stronger! In all seriousness, Gabi simply is too much for any other woman currently competing in BJJ. She plows through her division just as easily as she does the absolute. She will be the champ of the absolute so long as she signs up. Fair, unfair, or any where in between, it’s the fact of the situation. She is a woman without any true competition.
  7. Atos has a bad day. The team that was stocking up on top talent, and seemed poised to showcase themselves this year fell flat. Galvao, the Mendes Bros., Calassans, and Keenan all fell short this past weekend. It could just been a fluke, but it seemed almost too much of a coincidence that the team performed to far below expectations. Again, it’s the World Championships, and everyone is good, but it was surprising to say the least that a team with so much fanfare underachieved to this degree. Maybe it really was as simple as a bad day.
  8. Braulio Estima is a bad man. Estima showed up on the competitor roster at the last minute on a whim, and dominated the competition – closing out the bracket with teammate Romulo Barral. He is truly a character as well. As Galvao attempted a footlock at the end of their match, Estima certainly hammed it up for the enjoyment of the crowd. Hopefully we will see more of him in the gi in the future.
  9. The gi-checkers took the day off. Remember how just about 50% of the gi’s were illegal at the 2013 Pan? For some reason the IBJJF did a 180 on this procedure. I witnessed very very few competitors being turned away for gi disqualifications. I even witnessed several gii’s in action at all levels that were noticeably outside of normal perimeters. I’m not sure if the IBJJF specifically lightened up or if it was simply some new employees, but this change was noticeable. I even thought about wearing a bath robe to test this policy, but alas I had no bath robe to wear.
  10. (Personal Note) It was an incredibly special day for me and my family. My wife, Jena Bishop, and close friend, Nick “Moose” Schrock, both added “world champion” to their resume. Jena took 1st in her brown belt division and 3rd in the absolute, while Nick took first at purple belt medium-heavy. It is an incredibly emotional experience to witness first hand all of the blood, sweat, and tears pay off. It’s easy to see why jiu jitsu is such a passionate experience for so many. This past weekend was one of my most memorable and enjoyable of my entire life. Part of jiu jitsu is living through the sacrifices and training with your teammates, and when they experience success you share in their victory.

That’s what I learned at the 2013 World Championship.
God bless.
 

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BishopBjj News

World Jiu Jitsu Championship 2013 Review (Behind The Scenes)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9HqntGg4gE?rel=0&w=560&h=315]
Check out this awesome 15 minute review and look behind the scenes of the 2013 World Jiu Jitsu Championship.

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BishopBjj News

Common Jiu Jitsu Injuries And How To Deal With Them (Part 1)

common jiu jitsu injuries
By: Tyler Bishop
A few nights ago I was sitting on the mats talking with a few of my teammates from our competition team, and then I realized we had all actually been talking about our current injuries for the majority of the conversation. No, we certainly weren’t all sitting around throwing ourselves a pity party. We were sharing valuable information with each-other on how to get healthy again. Chances are, the injuries you experience in BJJ are not new. You likely know someone who has experienced the same injury. So it makes sense that you would take advantage of that social capital around you.
When you work out with intensity a lot – or simply train long enough – you are bound to develop some physical injuries. When you’re a jiu jitsu “junkie”, one day away from the mats can become an eternity. You begin to find ways to overcome injuries just to make it into class, and start making your body compensate for movements that are restricted due to soreness or injury. Unfortunately, some injuries can leave you out of commission. Many top competitors go crazy waiting to return to the martial arts mats. The good news is that some other obsessed individual has likely already experienced the same thing and figured out the fastest road to recovery. So it’s very important to tap into some of the collective knowledge around you in regards to common injuries. You can leverage others experiences about a speedy recovery, find out their treatment methods, and better understand the road to recovery. By utilizing the intellectual capital of training partners you will be back out on the mats in no time!
Note: We are not doctors, so don’t kid yourself. The information below is for educational purposes, and is not designed to diagnose or treat any conditions.

Outside Knee Sprain:

knees
As someone that has experienced a fair amount of knee injuries and surgeries, I can say that without a doubt that ice is your best friend. Other things that have made  a big difference for myself when dealing with this particular type of knee injury is the inclusion of collagen and hyaluronic acid supplements. Making sure that your legs are strong and balanced can help prevent future injuries, and when recovering from an injury, nothing helps more than improving flexibility and dexterity. Yoga poses have provided a tremendous benefit to myself. You may also want to look at methodologies like “Ginastica” as well. Loosening up your hips and IT bands can provide a way to address a common root problem. Foam rolling and stretching can be some of the best ways to address this issue.

Jacked Up Fingers!

jacked up fingersMy close friend and podcast co-host, Jon “the Queen” Perrine, recently shared some valuable knowledge with me about keeping my hands healthy. Jon often tapes his fingers (here) to save his grips and fingers from unnecessary damage. By taping your fingers correctly you can reduce your ability to squeeze, thus saving your hands and fingers from “over-gripping”. If you are the kind of guy that squeezes every grip as hard as you can, and then leaves class writhing in pain. You might wan to give taping a try. Again, ice is your friend when recovering from almost any injury. Finally, by improving grip strength by performing exercises like: farmers walks, dead hangs, and gi pullup’s, you can build a strong grip that will protect your hands in-of-itself.

Sore Neck

neck injuriesHave you ever heard anyone say, “I really messed up my neck at BJJ practice, but then “popped” it by twisting it with my hands and it felt 100% better after that!!!!!”? Yeah, me neither, so don’t mess with your neck when it feels sore and injured. It is injured, so treat it with respect. Roll out the muscles against a wall by using a lacrosse ball (available cheap online), and then use ice to help the muscles recover more quickly. Using menthol creams to warm up the muscles prior to exercise or training can also help when you are easing back into activity. Ultimately, you need to make your neck stronger as soon as it’s healthy again. Practicing bridges on the mat before class can help you build and strengthen these muscles.
What other injuries do you struggle with? Let us know, and we will tap into our network of peers and see if we can’t address them in Part II of this segment.

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Live Technique and Perspective Videos

Own Your Jiu Jitsu Techniques (Instructionals on Reverse De La Riva, 50/50, and more)

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHJs1h6xrDo?rel=0&w=560&h=315]

Check out the video above and learn triangles from side control, lapel sweeps from de la riva, 50/50 armlocks, and back takes from reverse de la riva.

Recently, two of our guests on the BishopBjj.com podcast, Rafael Lovato Jr. and David Adiv, both mentioned how important ownership of a persons personal jiu jitsu can be. David describes how important you treat something that is yours. By developing a style of jiu jitsu that works, you can create a very close connection between you and the technique. Lovato Jr. describes the love that he actually has for his game, in part due to the amount of time and energy he has invested in it. How are you taking ownership of your jiu jitsu?
How do you invest in your techniques? Are you researching others performing these techniques, what alterations have you tried making to the technique, have you discussed this technique with your instructor? All of these questions should spark a drive that compels you to develop your jiu jitsu in a  personal way. Lovato Jr. recently mentioned the benefit of coming up as a black belt in middle America was that he had to take a close personal ownership of his style, because there was very others around him that could do so. This kind of focus is what we should all attempt to employ in our training. What techniques are you developing this week? Use the video above to gain some new perspectives.
Note: Make sure to utilize the powerful tools around you such as: black belt instructors, and healthy relationships with your training partners.

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"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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BJJ Study and Statistics Articles

Pass The Guard Like Leo Vieira

Don’t You Wish You Could Pass Like Leo?

By: Tyler Bishop
In 2005, the event that everyone was talking about was Rickson’s Budo Challenge. It was a tournament done in an unusual format, with a unique scoring system that primarily rewarded submission attempts over positioning. Naturally, young up and coming jiu jitsu nerds watched in awe of the likes Leo Vieira effortless passing the guard, but what is most amazing is how impressive this performance remains today.
With the resurgence of submission only BJJ tournaments, many should look at this past event for inspiration. This was not a submission only event, but the rules certainly inspired action. However, I did not write this article to talk about tournament formats, and point-systems. I wrote it to talk about the impressive passing acumen of Leo Vieira in his prime. The reason the rules are important is because they allowed Leo Vieira to cut lose, and the results were down right scary. In his first match Leo Vieira fought Barret Yoshida. Yoshida was well known (and still is) for his dynamic and aggressive guard. In this case, Leo was far more aggressive in his passing. Leo attacked Yoshida’s guard relentlessly. It wasn’t until I finally broke down the film – piece by piece  – that I could finally understand the genius and detail of Leo’s passing style this day.
x-pass leo
Leo’s first pass was a great X-guard pass – in which Yoshida appeared stunned. Leo attacked the sit-up guard by positioning his legs out of reach, attaching his grip to the knee, and his other grip to the collar. Before Yoshida could react, Leo stepped out of range, and onto Yoshida’s stomach. Leo kept both grips, solidified his base through his opponent, and scored his first pass of the day.
leg weave leo
Another one of Leo’s impressive passes that day was from the leg weave position. It seemed to catch Yoshida by surprise. Leo attacked the pass by threading his arm between the legs, stepping his leg out of half guard, then pressuring Yoshida to defend the same side pass. When Yoshida commits to the defense, Leo steps over the legs, and switches his hips while maintaining his leg grip. This allows Leo to establish another effortless looking pass.
grips leo
Finally – one of the most important details I noticed in studying this match from 8 years ago – is the ability of Leo to control space when passing. A large part of this control comes from one specific grip. Leo dominated the grips in this match, and that is why he passed the guard close to 10 times. But, it was the grip shown above that really gave Yoshida the most problems. Many guard passers will control the knees or shins. Leo controlled the very end of the pants, and used this to continually nullify and pass Yoshida’s guard. He was able to setup multiple passes from this grip, and ultimately went on to when the match by double digits.
In this day and age – where the guard player has such an impressive arsenal of attacks, it is good to study someone who has effectively shutdown this time of game before. Sure, guard games are evolving, and there is only one Leo Vieira, but is it possible that we are missing techniques and strategies that could be saving all passers a lot of energy? You tell me. Hopefully this was as helpful and insightful to you, as it was for me. You can watch the entire match of Leo vs. Yoshida below.
God Bless – Tyler
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZdkQ4yHw2o&w=560&h=315]

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BJJ Study and Statistics Articles

Pan Championship Competitor Case Study

tbpanstudy - 1
The 2013 jiu jitsu season is finally here. At BishopBjj.com, we want to pick up  were we left off last year. We completed the first 2 scientific case studies of jiu jitsu competition ever, and this year we want to take it a step even further. We are currently seeking 15-20 participants for a IBJJF Pan Championship competitor case study. The study will be used to provide scientific insight into three areas of jiu jitsu competition including: training habits and personal performance, training habits and match outcomes, preparation methodology and overall success. It is imperative for this study that we take a look at all walks of life, so that means white belts, blue belts, purple belts, brown belts, and even black belts are needed.  We are looking for variety from our participants (i.e. different training schedules, part-time athletes, full-time athletes, etc.). We believe that this may be one of the most talked about pieces of media inside of jiu jitsu in 2013 when it is completed.
The criteria to participate in the study is listed below:

  • Must be 100% confident that you will attend and compete in the 2013 IBJJF Pan Championships.
  • Must be willing to complete a quick and easy journal on training habits once a week (provided by BishopBjj.com)
  • Must be willing to provide detailed accounts of your personal performance, match outcomes, and overall successes following the event
  • It would also help if you could provide video of your matches at the 2013 Pan Championships

What you will receive for participation:

  • An advanced copy of the study – which will provide an empirical insight into what competitors habits and outcomes appear to be inter-related.
  • Free training habit journals that can aide in gameplan building and performance tracking.
  • Free early-access to our 2013 Pan and Worlds jiu jitsu studies.
  • National recognition on the award-winning BishopBjj.com

To apply, enter your information below and will get back to you asap:
[contact-form][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Belt Level’ type=’select’ required=’1′ options=’White,Blue,Purple,Brown,Black’/][contact-field label=’Sex’ type=’select’ options=’Male,Female’/][contact-field label=’Typical Weekly Training Volume’ type=’select’ options=’1-3 times per week,3-5 times per week,5-7 times per week,7+ times per week’/][/contact-form]

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Live Technique and Perspective Videos

Jiu Jitsu Techniques To Study #1

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ssrmfY_zrY&w=640&h=360]
Check out our first episode of Technique Journal. Technique Journal is a series where we break down several techniques from live competition that we want to work on each week. We thinks it’s important to identify what makes the techniques work, and what properties the specific player we are breaking down uses to make it successful.
If you don’t keep a technique journal already, we encourage you to start.
Follow us on Facebook, or we will find you (no we won’t)…