What to Bring to a BJJ Tournament
Signing up for your first BJJ tournament is a rush. The nerves. The adrenaline. The “why did I do this?” moment the night before. Totally normal. What doesn’t have to be stressful is showing up unprepared. This checklist breaks down exactly what to bring to a BJJ tournament so you can focus on what actually […]
How to Win a BJJ Tournament
So you’ve decided to compete. Respect. Stepping onto the mat in a tournament setting is a different animal than rolling at the gym, and if you’re being honest with yourself, you’re probably thinking about one thing: winning. Winning a BJJ tournament isn’t about having a thousand techniques or pulling off highlight-reel moves. It’s about preparation, […]
What is the Harai Goshi?
In Judo, the word Harai means “sweep,” and Goshi means “hip.” Put them together, and you get one of the most powerful and dynamic throws in all of grappling: the Sweeping Hip Throw. Born in Judo, refined in Jiu-Jitsu, and used everywhere from the dojo to the mats at our NAGA tournaments, Harai Goshi is […]
How to Get Flexible Legs for BJJ
If you’ve ever rolled with someone who seems to bend like a pool noodle, you already know the truth: flexibility is a legit superpower in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). Flexible legs open up options most people don’t even realize exist. Recovering guard when you’re folded in half, slipping out of tight spots like, and locking […]
How Do BJJ Tournaments Work?
Stepping into your first BJJ tournament is a wild mix of nerves and adrenaline. A lot of people find themselves thinking,“…what am I doing here?” And that’s exactly why you should do it. Competing is one of the fastest ways to level up your jiu-jitsu because it forces you into a pressure cooker where every […]
What Is a Shoulder Throw (Seoi Nage)?
Seoi Nage, which translates to “shoulder throw,” is one of the most iconic techniques in all of Judo and is easily one of the most recognizable throws in grappling, period. If you’ve ever watched high-level Judo, you’ve seen this throw launch people clean into orbit. This technique is exactly what it sounds like: you load […]
What is the De La Riva Guard?
There’s one move in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) that completely flipped the script on how people grapple and play guard: the De La Riva. It’s all about that signature outside hook: your leg wraps around your opponent’s front leg from the outside, foot sneaking in toward their hip or thigh. That hook gives you instant control […]
What is the Hip Toss?
The hip toss is one of those techniques that transcends styles, showing up everywhere from Judo dojos to college wrestling mats to BJJ tournaments. With this move, you get your opponent’s weight onto your hip, use your legs to drive through, and let gravity do the rest. A well-timed hip toss can score points, stun […]
What is the Spider Guard?
So many competitors love spider guard because it’s equal parts frustrating to deal with and exciting to play. You can use it as a shield to keep pressure passers off you, or use it to hit sweeps and submissions that leave your training partners shaking their heads. Triangles, omoplatas, armbars, slick transitions, they all start […]
What is the Osoto Gari (Outside Leg Reap) in BJJ?
Ask any judoka or old-school grappler, and they’ll agree that Osoto Gari is a classic. It’s one of those moves that looks simple at first, but once you really learn it, you realize why it’s a staple in every serious grappler’s game. Osoto Gari is all about breaking posture and killing balance. You step in, […]