Thanks to my recent injuries, I’ve had more time to hit up BJJ forums. In my e-travels, I’ve written a few lengthy answers to questions that forum-goers asked me, and I want to share them here.

In this first Q&A, I’m covering two common problems—not getting smashed in half guard and escaping side control—so I think this advise will help many of you.

Smashed in Half Guard

One area I need work on is the “really bad half guard” area. This is when you managed to get half guard, but your opponent is…

As is the fashion when one receives a new belt, I felt I should offer a handy list of advice on what helped me get my purple.

The problem with pieces like this is how easy it is to blow off their truisms. I hope I can avoid this a bit by offering less common tips like…

Don’t feel stupid.

As a beginner, especially before you realize how understanding and supportive your school is, it’s easy to suffer from “feeling stupid”. So much is unfamiliar and unknown to you, and you’re being constantly…

Here it is again. The footage of Eddie teaching rubber guard for the Submission Spirits book and DVD has now found its way online once more.

Today, while working with John, we covered sitting guard versus standing passes like the matador pass. This gave me a great chance to go over everything I’ve seen discussed recently on a UG thread about countering the toreando pass.

John and I did the butt scooting drill that I’ve described before (when I put together a lesson using nothing but Marcelo and Stephan’s DVDs), only this time we didn’t just work to get to x-guard, and we could use any tactics and grips we wanted.

Butt Scooting Basics

• Sit up and lean weight forward.
• Butt…

Leo Kirby and his training partner John Davis filmed two more excellent tutorial clips. This time it is John showing details on how he finishes the RNC.

Here’s what Leo has to say:

Two years ago John started coming to my regular Saturday morning class at One Dragon at just about the time I had become interested in Marcelo’s game. My Saturday class was always an experimental class and the experiment at that time was X guard.

Sorry about the lack of updates over the last week. With my neck injury and flu, I’ve been out of training, and so I haven’t had a chance to shoot new tutorials. I just got back to class today, and I made sure to shoot a ton of photos for instructional I had planned.

It was to be about a defense to the anaconda choke, and re-countering it with a brabo choke. Unfortunately, all of the photos came out horribly, except this one, and I’m not too crazy about it either.…