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Riz's Martial Arts Training
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A martial arts blog focusing on Karate and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Includes: Articles, Book Reviews, Techniques, Strategy discussions, self defence tips and information.
Recent Posts Tagged With 'brazilian jiu jitsu'
The Arm Drag
The Arm Drag is a ridiculously simple move, so simple that I don't even like thinking of it as a technique in itself! To perform it, you just need to grab, pull and guide your opponent's leading/attacking arm (yes, with more finesse than I've describ...
Fighting Fit – Cardio & Conditioning
One of the earliest posts I wrote on this blog was The Triangle Hypothesis, which talked about three facets key to improving as a martial artist or fighter. For those of you who've read it, you may remember that I chose to add 'C' to the 'triangle' t...
The Rear Naked Choke
Also referred to in BJJ as the "Mata Leao" The RNC is a peculiarly named but highly effective submission. To understand its somewhat dubious-sounding title, we have to go back to its usage in classical ju-jitsu and/or judo where the techn...
Hello Japan!
I’ve had a pretty lame week. Not only have I been unwell, unable to train, and stuck in the office for 16 hour shifts (no kidding!)…I’ve also been craving a particular type of cupcake, which I just can’t seem to find! However, this made it al...
Americana from Closed Guard
Also known as ude garami in Judo; Sometimes called a Key lock, Figure-Four Armlock or Chicken Wing (which incidentally was the nickname of a good friend of mine when we were in school…nothing to do with martial arts, everything to do with the way h...
The Achilles Ankle Lock & The Knee Bar
I had initially planned to write a post regarding both the 'Achilles Ankle Lock' and the 'Knee Bar' but then I remembered Stephen Kesting's GrappleArts website already has a fantastic article dedicated to each of these techniques. I'd be depriving y...
Toe Hold Ankle Lock
Sometimes referred to simply as a ‘Foot Lock’, the Toe Hold Ankle Lock is a submission that is applied via the twisting and applying torque around one’s instep and the axis that runs along the centre of the foot. It is easy to apply and world...
5 Keys to Being a Good Training Partner
Your progress in the martial arts is generally a result of three things: Training, Instruction, and Natural Attributes. This post is relevant to the ‘Training’ aspect, which in my opinion is the most important of the three. Despite what you se...
My Nemesis: The Neck Crank
A neck crank (or a ‘cervical lock’ for the pedantic amongst you) is a spinal lock applied to the cervical spine (your neck) by pushing, pulling or twisting it in a direction it doesn’t want to go. ‘Clickity clack’ is usually a sound associa...
MMA's Contribution to Martial Arts
Following the rise of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), many Traditional Martial Arts fell under heavy scrutiny for their relative inability to prove their effectiveness in what is possibly the closest mainstream simulation to no-holds-barred street fighting...
The Difference Between MMA & Self Defence
Not so long ago, terms such as 'Karate' or 'Kung Fu' were synonymous with self defence. Indeed a black belt was revered as a master of what appeared to be mystical arts showcasing inhuman feats of strength, aggression, and agility - maybe that's a ...
The Heel Hook
The Heel Hook is a leg lock technique affecting multiple joints, applied by transversal foot twist (rotating the heel). The rotation torques the joints (and ligaments) of the ankle and more so, those of the knee - the submission is simple to apply f...
Half Guard: Old School Sweep
The 'Old School' is a high percentage sweep from Half Guard, which is traditionally used following a successful Whip Up. It’s another technique popularised by Eddie Bravo, though he states in his book ‘Mastering the Rubber Guard’ that he’s he...
Half Guard: The Whip Up
Once you establish the Lockdown with double under hooks, you have some options available (the most obvious of these is simply to stall in what is a solid hold on your opponent’s leg) but, to really capitalise on the Half Guard’s offensive potenti...
The Triangle Hypothesis
Over the last decade and a half, I've been fortunate to train under a variety of martial arts instructors - some well-known, others completely unknown. I've been especially fortunate since all of my instructors have been completely open to discussing...
Introduction to Half Guard: The Lockdown
Half Guard is a very common position in BJJ, especially for beginners who have not yet developed a solid Closed Guard and as a result are often passed. The position itself is simply this: 'when you trap one of your opponent's legs between your ow...
Beginning BJJ
Four new members joined our BJJ class last week. It was interesting to observe how each of them approached the art differently especially, how each approached the rolling segment of the class. A & B rushed forward into each other with little rec...
Are you there World?...It's me, Riz......Hi.
Hi and Welcome to my blog! As the more astute of you may have already gathered (by the oh-so-discreet blog title), this blog is primarily a way to keep track of my training and thoughts regarding the martial arts. As it progresses, it will include a...
