Enter Jeff Glover, who already has a unique bunch of instruction on all subjects of BJJ, and his latest DVD dubbed ‘Break Your Dummy Not Your Frines’. And yes, it is exactly as it seems – an instructional on how to train, or better said, drill, using a grappling dummy. To be honest, while at first glance it is unusual, it is the first of its kind and covers a subject nobody else has so far.

The question that pops to mind is do you really need to invest in such an instructional? We were curious to see what was in this one and had to review it, so read on to discover exactly what lies inside Jeff Glover’s Break Your Dummy DVD!

Key Takeaways

• The only BJJ DVD instructional of its kind!
• Features demonstrations using both a live partner and a training dummy. 
• Gi and No-Gi instructional with a running length of two hours.
• BJJ World Expert Rating: 10 out of 10!

BREAK YOUR DUMMY DVD AVAILABLE HERE!!! 

Does Training with a Grappling Dummy Make Sense?

In wrestling, practicing with a grappling dummy is a staple of training, especially in the US. Grappling dummies are great for figuring out how to move dead weight while practicing throwing, tripping, or slamming techniques and combos. Even Judoka used them in some capacities.

As you’d expect, the use of grappling dummies carried over to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as people sought out ways to train without a live training partner. During the pandemic, grappling dummies became particularly popular, especially for those BJJ fanatics with no pet or compliant significant other at their disposal.

The main concern with using grappling dummies in BJJ is whether or not they are effective. While they are great tools to improve standing skills and offer a great workout, the lingering question is are they really helpful on the ground, where the majority of BJJ exchanges take place?

The opinions are divided in this regard, with mine leaning towards endorsing grappling dummies as a useful tool for practicing BJJ. There is no way to learn Jiu-Jitsu by ONLY using a dummy, even if you get your hands on one of the robot dummies that tap when choked. However, training with one is going to make you a better grappler, especially if you choose one that is with a challenging weight.

BJJ Monkey Man Jeff Glover

As I went through the belts of the sport, Jeff Glover was an iconic name, especially in competitive circles. Known for his uniquely unpredictable, but highly effective grappling style, Jeff was a true nuisance to anyone who faced him, both Gi and No-Gi. In fact, he is one of the No-Gi pioneers of the sport, bringing a lot of excitement to his matches.

Glover won the No-Gi World in 2007 and had some memorable performances in tournaments like Metamoris and the early EBIs. The Ricardo Miller black belt also has a host of super fights across all major promotions, capping off his competitive career with his High Rollerz performance a while ago.

The man who popularized the D’arce (was my main source of information on my best submission as a grappler) and came up with the Donkey Guard, contributed to the BJJ world not just by competing and teaching, but also by releasing a bunch of very interesting and useful instructional, the last of which has to be his craziest ever – the Break Your Dummy DVD!

Jeff Glover Break Your Dummy DVD: A Complete Review 

The way Jeff Glover set this BJJ instructional up is very impressive. Over four volumes he addresses every aspect of training with a grappling dummy, from top position attacks to bottom position escapes.

While demonstrating he does not only use the dummy but also has a live partner helping him point out the challenges and differences in training with either of them:

Part 1 – Top Game Drills

As Glvoer opens up the Break Your Dummy DVD, he goes over a quick intro to what a grappling dummy is and the best ways to think about training with it. He shows the type of dummy he is using, a real-life person replica with bendable limbs to help provide realistic resistance (of sorts).

The first part is all about the grappling dummy drills you might already know, or can even figure out intuitively the first time you pick one up. Most of the chapters cover top positions, with a strong focus on passing drills for the open, half, and closed guard.

Glover also sprinkles a few staple BJJ submissions in there, starting with the Kimura and progressing towards triangles, armbars, and Omoplatas, complete with escape strategies.

Part 2 – Escapes

I started this part of the DVD skeptical, after witnessing the submission escapes Glvoer provided, but, to be honest, I kinda, maybe changed my mind. While the submission escapes are still out there, in my opinion, practicing escapes from pins is a realistic use of a grappling dummy.

Namely, the weight of the dummy mimicking a real-life person, and the fact that it has limbs you can position to make it pin you effectively, make it a viable tool in trying to figure out defenses and escapes. It is particularly useful to beginners and those that suck at getting out of bad spots.

Part 3 – Closed Guard & Back Mount

Another classic way of drilling with a grappling dummy in BJJ is to catch it in the guard or back mount and start throwing away submissions. This third volume of the Break Your Dummy DVD by Jeff Glover addresses exactly that but with a signature Glover twist.

Jeff goes over all the submissions you can think of, offering different leg lock drills from Ashi Garmi, a host of chokes from the guard and the back, and some sneaky armlocks that feature both the closed guard and the crucifix position.

Part 4 – Experimental Glover Moves

The final part of this unique Jeff Glover instructional is exactly what most people who know him expected him to show in this DVD. He goes off the deep end here with Berimbolos, his signature Donkey Guard, and deep half guard drills that you might not think of first when training with a grappling dummy.

The best part about this volume is that it all makes sense as Jeff offers a framework of how to approach training with a grappling dummy, by using the ‘copy drilling’ approach. He sets the stage here to allow you to further explore all kinds of experimental drills using the dummy without spending all those hours training without any practical grappling reference.

The Ideal Training Partner?

Let’s face it, a grappling dummy can be a real training asset if you use it efficiently. As Jeff Glover points out in his instructional when you want to drill at home, try to put private class information into order to even train in class when you’re left without a partner.

A grappling dummy is also a great way to work up a sweat in the most functional way for BJJ there is. You can use it to go back and forth through positions, using Jeff’s approach to also work on your defense as you drill your top and bottom attacks. In fact, it may just be the best way to develop sport-specific conditioning there is.

From a technical standpoint, connecting sequences and creating combinations without any resistance apart from the dead weight of the dummy is another great way to put in much-needed repetitions that will pay off when you roll or compete!

 FULL ‘BREAK YOUR DUMMY’ JEFF GLOVER DVD HERE!!! 

Dummy Up!

What is left to say except that you need to get a move on and order a BJJ-specific grappling dummy now, and don’t forget to pick up your copy of the Break Your Dummy DVD! That way, you have the power 1-2 combo of meaningful drilling for BJJ with a partner who will never be late, tired, or absent-minded as you make him go over the same drills again and again!

Why break your friends when you can break your training dummy instead?

The Best Grappling Dummies in 2024

How To Train BJJ With A Grappling Dummy

Jeff Glover: “Wrestlers Can Be More Dangerous Than BJJ Black Belts, Jiu-Jitsu Wasn’t Created for Pro Athletes,”

The post Full Review: Break Your Dummy DVD By Jeff Glover appeared first on BJJ World.

Why Drilling Is Important For Guard Passing

Drilling is essential to BJJ training and is one of the best ways to improve your guard passing skills. By repeating specific techniques and movements over and over again, you can develop muscle memory and fine-tune your form and timing. In addition, drilling allows you to train in a controlled environment, where you can focus on specific skills and receive feedback from your training partners.

Drilling allows your body to repeat patterns and motions, while getting no, or very controlled resistance. The more repetitions of drills you perform, the more automatically you’ll be able to do the actual passes in rolling or matches under extreme pressure.

The 15 best drills for guard passing in BJJ will help you achieve all of this in record time if you start doing them today.

Best Drills For Improving Guard Passing

The best way to do BJJ drills is to do them. It does not matter if you do them for reps or time, as long s you put in the work and do them deliberately and with focus, instead of just going through the motions.

The best drills for passing guards include BOTH solo and partner drills, so make time to integrate both into your training routines and schedule.

Partner Drills To Accelerate Your Guard Passing Progress

Drilling with a partner is invaluable in actually learning how to use passing in relation to another person. Start by having the partner aid in your movement, and later, you can instruct them to add just a bit of resistance to give your drills a dose of reality.

Remember the best drills for passing are just that – drills, not positional sparring, so make sure you don’t go overboard with the level of resistance.

The Toreando Pass Drill

The Toreando pass is a fundamental and widely utilized guard passing technique in BJJ Gi training. In order to master this technique and improve your guard passing skills, it is essential to practice it through various drills.

The drill involves your partner lying on the mats in a guard position. You set up grips on their Gi pants at the knee point and throw past their legs on either side in a repetitive motion while stepping so that your feet end up by their hips on each repetition.

Drill Execution Tips: 

1. Start with your partner lying supine with bent knees;
2. Grab the Gi at the side of both knees;
3. Push the legs to one side to open up space;
4. Move your body to the other using side-stepping to pass the legs;
5. Place the shoulder on to the partner’s belly;
6. Repeat this drill on both sides.

The Leg Drag Pass Drill

The leg drag is a more advanced technique that involves controlling an opponent’s hips via just one leg. It starts similarly to the Torreando pass, but instead of controlling both legs, you focus only on dragging one across your belly, creating support using your lead leg for their leg to rest on.

The key to success in this technique is to keep the opponent’s leg near while maintaining control of the tight space and applying weight.

Drill Execution Tips: 

1. Start with your partner lying supine with bent knees;
2. Set up the grips on the shin and side of the knee;
3. Drag the leg on the shelf position for hip control;
4. Step in to apply pressure and change the level to complete the pass;
5. Repeat this drill on both sides.

The Over-Under Pass Drill

The over-under pass drill is one of the best drills for developing the skills and techniques required to pass any opponent’s guard. This technique is highly effective in preventing an opponent from re-establishing their guard, making it one of the best guard passing options.

Drill Execution Tips: 

1. Start in your opponent’s guard;
2. Place your  arms in the over-under position to control their hips;
3. Put pressure forward, raising your butt towards the ceiling;
4. Step over to get to side control;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AgSbTYn8PM
5. Repeat this drill on both sides.

The Double Under Pass Drill

The double under pass drill is a powerful drill that helps you to develop the strength and technique required to pass your opponent’s closed guard. This fundamental move enables you to bypass the opponent’s legs and is utilized by everyone from white to black belts.

Drill Execution Tips: 

1. Start in your partner’s guard;
2. Open the closed guard by using your preferred method;
3. Place both arms behind the partner’s knees (and level change if standing)
4. Put your body in a push-up position to place pressure on the partner;
5. Circle to a side of your choosing to finish in side control;
6. Repeat this drill on both sides.

The Staple Back Step Pass Drill

The leg staple is a basic guard pass that is widely taught in Jiu-Jitsu. To perform this technique, you will control their lower body first, before switching to upper body control to complete the pass. It is a great option to use against both closed and open guards, making this one of the very best drills for passers:

Drill Execution Tips: 

1. Start in the staple position, with your shin across one of the partner’s thighs;
2. Hug their free leg with your arms to establish complete hip dominance;
3. Drop the hips to the mats towards the stapled leg;
4. Use your free leg to backstep in a wide motion and control the partner’s head;
5. Repeat this drill on both sides.

Solo Drills To Become a Guard Passing Pro

Solo drills work best when you don’t have a partner, but they are also a crucial component of training, as they will teach you motion and develop all-important muscle memory that will only make your partner drills a much more useful tool for improving guard passing skills.

The following 10 drills are the very best drills for passing guard that you can do solo:

Deep Squats

Holding the deep quat position with flat feet is essential to developing flexibility and dexterity needed for guard passing.

Drill Execution Tips:

1. Squat as low as you can;
2. Keep your knees over your ankles as much as possible:
3. Move around in the deep squat position, left and right;
4. Spend as much time as possible holding the position.

Cossack Squats

Cossack squats are one of the best drills for guard passing because they provide you with a side-to-side motion that also features dexterity and flexibility, as well as training balance.

Drill Execution Tips:

1. Start with straight legs placed wider than hip-width apart;
2. Bend one knee to go low to one side, keeping the foot flat and the other leg extended;
3. Switch to the other side by trying to avoid going completely back u to the starting position;
4. Alternate sides.

The 1-2 Step

An essential motion for guard passers, the 1-2 drill is an entry motion into a variety of different guard passes. If you don’t have a stability ball you can use a chair or whatever else can give you an anchor for your arms.

Drill Execution Tips:

1. Start in front of the ball, both palms resting on it;
2. Step to the side, leading with the leg further to the direction you’re going;
3. After stepping across with one leg, follow up with the other:
4. Get back into the starting position in reverse (cross-stepping again);
5. Alternate sides.

The Shuffle Step

The Shuffle Step gets you to the side of an opponent’s guard quicker than the 1-2, but it is easier to counter for guard players. the key with this one is speed, so once you get the hang of it, make sure you execute the drill as fast as possible. Again, use a stability ball or chair or whatever you can find.

Drill Execution Tips:

1. Start in front of the ball, both palms resting on it;
2. Step to the side, leading with the leg closer to the direction you’re going;
3. As it lands, shuffle the other leg as well to end up on the side of the ball;
4. Get back the same way, leading with the closer leg;
5. Alternate sides.

Leg And Arm Shuffle

Another version of the leg shuffle, this is one of the best drills simply because it will allow you to be comfortable when you lose balance, or opponents try to sweep you as you pass. You’re simply adding the use of your arms to the leg shuffle.

Drill Execution Tips:

1. Start in front of the ball, both palms resting on it;
2. Step to the side, leading with the leg closer to the direction you’re going;
3. As it lands, place the same side arm on the mats, like doing a pushup;
4. Get back to the starting position;
5. Alternate sides.

The Step And Kick

An essential way of passing open guards with the Gi is to use the X-pass. A slight drawback is that it requires you to balance on one leg for a short while. This drill will help you master the balancing and dexterity aspects of it, as well as switching your weight from one leg to another.

Drill Execution Tips:

1. Start in front of the ball, both palms resting on it;
2. Step to the side, leading with the leg closer to the direction you’re going;
3. As it lands, placekick back with the other leg, extending it behind you and keeping it off the ground;
4. Lift the arm opposite of the leg that is extended backward off the ball;
5. Get back to the starting position;
6. Alternate sides.

Long Step

You won’t need any props for this one. Once again a motion that is crucial to developing a diverse guard passing game and one of the best drills you can do to ensure you’re never swept.

Drill Execution Tips:

1. Start on your knees and elbows;
2. Lift one leg behind you and allow it to fall backward over the other leg;
3. As your foot lands on the ground, lift the opposite side arm off the ground so your hip can fall on the mats as well;
4. Get back to the starting position;
5. Alternate sides.

Knee Drops

Whether you like to do knee slices, staple passes or knee smashes, this drill is going to be invaluable in providing you with both speed and knee stability for those types of techniques.

Drill Execution Tips:

1. Start with your feet and palms on the ground and your butt in the air (bear walk position);
2. Drop the knee of one leg to the mats, sliding it sideways in toward the foot of the planted leg;
3. As you execute the motion, lift the opposite side arm off the ground;
4. Get back to the starting position;
5. Alternate sides.

Hop Over Drill

A fun-looking, seemingly daunting but easy-to-perform drill that is a must for anyone interested in using pressure passing as the centerpiece of their guard passing game.

Drill Execution Tips:

1. Start on all fours, with the top of your head planned on the mats;
2. Use both arms for added balance, by placing them extended on both sides of the head;
3. kick your legs up, so that you’re balancing only on your head and arms;
4. Shift both legs to one side, touching the ground with the cross leg;
5. Alternate sides.

Elbow Cartwheel

The most advanced solo drill on the list but one of the best drills if you truly want to become a proficient guard passer in BJJ. Cartwheeling on your elbows is a lot safer, quicker, and much more applicable in passing than doing gymnastic-style cartwheels.

Drill Execution Tips:

1. Start on your knees;
2. Bend your arms at the elbows and place one forearm on the mats, swinging for momentum beforehand;
3. Follow the momentum with your body, lifting the legs so that you cartwheel;
4. Land on your knees on the other side;
5. Alternate sides.

Conclusion

In conclusion, guard passing is a critical component of BJJ, and drilling is one of the best ways to improve your skills. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced practitioner, these select solo and partner best drills will help you to develop your guard passing abilities and take your game to the next level. By incorporating these drills into your training regimen, you can become a more effective guard passer and achieve greater success on the mat.

The post 15 Best Drills To Maximize Your Guard Passing Skills appeared first on BJJ World.

There are many things you can’t do with your body, especially when you just started to train and that’s exactly where solo drills come into play.

I’m pretty sure there’s a lot of moves you weren’t able to do for some reason in your class. Like knee sliding, or jumping from one side of your opponent’s body to another, or even the easiest forward roll… Well, it’s nothing weird when you’re a beginner.

But, why not speed up the process of your improvement? Why not make some moves as natural for you as they can be?

With solo drills, you’ll optimize your body for Jiu-Jitsu training and sparring, and we guarantee that most grappling drills are very good for you.

Some of the drills also work as light Yoga training, and we all know how flexibility is important in BJJ, especially if you play guard. I don’t even have to mention how flexibility can improve your overall health by lowering the chances of getting injured etc.

In the video below we bring you 33 solo grappling drills that you can do where ever you want and they’ll improve your overall grappling for sure. Just make sure you do them correctly and make them as much as you can and very soon you’ll notice the difference in your “fluidity”, “smoothness” and your training capabilities in general.

The post 33 BJJ Solo drills that will improve your game appeared first on BJJ World.

Training by incorporating drills is not just a methodology that is common to BJJ. It is something that has been used for ages in other combat sports, and particularly grappling martial arts. Even in BJJ, drilling is something that has proven to be important and effective from the early days of the sport, all the way to the modern days. However, there is a catch – ask someone to do a BJJ drill for an extended period of time and you will either get excuses after a while or a sloppy, slacking version of what that drill should look like. That, in turn, leads to ineffective drilling which basically equates to time wasted.

The BJJ Drill To Kill Philosophy

The BJJ Drill To Kill philosophy is something everyone has heard of. Coaches are repeating it, there are youtube videos titled like that, and there are even entire books that focus on that methodology. And yet, people simply hate to do drills. That has to do a lot with the repetitive nature of drills, but also the way coaches portray them.

In most cases, people approach a BJJ drill like any other sports drill in any other sport. You set up with a partner, you clearly define what you will do, and if there is going to be any amount of controlled resistance, and then you go. The idea is to do as many repetitions as is humanly possible. The goal is to develop a “knack” for the movement, i.e. muscle memory by repeating it so much it becomes second nature. In certain cases in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, drilling like this does make sense and can be just as effective as it is boring.

While drilling does help you with movement patterns, it won’t do you much good in BJJ if you only do it that way. The other person when you roll or fight will not behave the way you like. In fact, you can be certain of two things – they will try to oppose you, and they will very rarely if ever move or be still like your drilling partner. That doesn’t mean that drills won’t work and that we shouldn’t do them. WE should just perhaps re-organize the ways in which w set them up so that we get maximum efficiency as a result.

Drill Smart, Drill Hard, Drill Fast

The one thing that really does kill the desire to do drills among students is when coaches presenting them like teachers present tasks in primary school. Whenever someone says you have to do something that is boring, even if you know it is good for you, you will resist doing it properly. Everyone knows drilling is important but nobody want to do BJJ drill after BJJ drill in a repetitive and boring fashion, So, you have several options

First off, you can turn drills into controlled resistance kind-of-sparring rounds. People have a task to do and get to play around as well. next, you could opt for scenario-type drills that include both training partners. Alternatively, you could organize speed drills. These types of drills will save you time, keep people engaged and still yield measurable and obvious results.

#1. Swingin’s Armbars

First up, a BJJ drill you probably know pretty well. From closed guard, you set up so that your partner’s arms are gripping your collars. Your partner should have their arms extended and grip firmly – they are your pivot point. The goal for you is to open your guard and swing one leg so that you use the momentum to spin sideways and end up in an armbar position. then, you use your other leg and immediately swing to the other side, relying on momentum to keep going.

#2. Kimura Situps

This is a pretty straightforward and simple BJJ drill. Your partner will have their arms on either side of your hips, while in your closed guard. Your task is to sit up while twisting, looking to establish a quick Kimura grip on one arm, before going back on the ground and preparing the same thing on the other side. The goal is to keep alternating sides without rest for an allotted period of time.

#3. Koala Sweep Situps

This is a highly interesting drill and that I doubt anyone will grow bored of. Basically, it involves you sitting up from open guard, and going straight into a koala sweep configuration with your legs, posting with the arm, and tightly gripping one of your opponent’s legs. It is a highly useful BJJ drill to develop coordination and speed in executing this sweep, ora follow up single leg takedown.

#4. Swinging Ashi Garami (Single Leg X) 

Leg locker or open guard player, this BJJ drill is a must! It is one of the core drills that even Danaher himself teaches to leg lockers. Your task is simple – get into an Ashi Garami from the bottom, against a standing partner (AKA Single Leg X Guard) and make sure you have grips on both ankles or the bottom rim of both Gi pants. The mechanics work similarly to the armbar from the closed guard drill and are based on the momentum you generate when swinging from side to side.

#5. Bolo Is Life

One for all the Berimbolo and inversion lovers out there. Start off in a De La Riva guard with your partner standing with their legs wide apart. Your goal is to do a Granby roll. During the full inversion moment of the movement, your aim is to place both your feet between the partner’s knees. This will help anchor you during the full Bolo, helping you end up in a De la Riva on the other side. And yes, this drill will help your Imanari rolls too, if you prefer leg locking to Bolo-ing around.

#6. Shrimp Recovery

One of the movements you will do every time you step on the mats, guaranteed. As a bonus, this is a speed BJJ drill where your partner needs to actively engage as well, which makes it both fun and challenging. Your partner will be looking to drag both your ankles to one side, stepping to pass your guard. Yoru’s goal is to frame with the arms (an arm on each shin), shrimp away, and use your leg to recover open guard.

#7. Double Leg Drag

As far as speed drills in Jiu-Jitsu go, this one, along with the following BJJ drill are pretty much the “A” and “B” of drilling guard passes. Your opponent will be on their back, legs bend at the knees, and ankle raised off the ground. Your goal is to place strong grips on the Gi pants, mid-level at the shin, and use them to drag both legs to one side of your body, as you side step to the other. The word “speed” is actually imperative here and not just a description!

#8. Single Leg Drag

The single leg drag works pretty much like the double on, but you’re focusing on only one leg. This one is a bit more complex, and you should really master the double leg version first, in order to really make this one count. You will only be able to move to one side when doing repetitions, so plan that you will need double the time to cover both legs.

#9. Toreando Movement Drilll

The Torreando pass is one of the most utilized passes in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Not many people realize that it is the initial movement that pins both legs to the ground that makes or breaks this pass. that is precisely why the Torreando pass BJJ drill focuses on this portion only. The starting position is the same as with the double leg drag, only you will aim to plant both feet of your opponent firmly on the ground. You then use this position as a p[ivot to shift your entire body sideways, thus getting into the perfect angle to pass.

#10. X Pass Flow Drill

Another BJJ Drill that requires you to turn your brain on and can be challenging, thus making it interesting. The X pass requires you to do some funky side to side and then front footwork in order to get past the legs. The starting position is the same as the other drills above, and the ending position is knee-on-belly. A highly useful ability to develop with this drill si going backward from knee-on-belly so that you can switch to the other side and keep the drill flowing.

#11. Shin Pins

Simple is best, and that is true for both guard passing and setting drills up. In this case, you’re aiming to cross your handstand grip at ankle level and inside the knee. As you do, you will both pin the shin of your partner to the ground, and pivot your body to the side to get a passing angle. Basically, this is an application of the monkey solo BJJ drill.

#12. Side Control Retention

One of the hardest things about side control top is staying in control. For this drill, you start in top-side control, and your partner will turn into you looking to underhook you with their far arm. Your task is to sue their movement to switch sides. First up, you’ll press their head into the ground so that you block their initial movement. Then you use the same grip as a pivot point as you move your legs in a semi-circle over their head ending up in side control on the other side. Similar to the shrimp recovery drill, this one requires your partner to actively participate at all times.

#13. Knee On Belly Switch

Very similar to the previous BJJ drill, only done from the knee-on-belly position. Your partner’s tas is to turn towards you, trying to push the knee of their belly. You will use that movement to step over their head, and use a backstepping motion with the other leg to end up behind them. As they turn to their back to avoid back control, you jump straight into knee on belly, and the drill can continue to flow.

#14. Hop Over Pass 

A very amusing and challenging BJJ drill to do, but an extremely useful one against people that are wizards at guard recovery. You star at one side of your partner’s hip. You will place the top of your head on the mats, using the near side arm to grip around the waist of your partner. Then you will balance on your head, skipping over with both legs on the opposite side. The head is going to follow so that you can drill in a flowing manner.

Final Thoughts

Speed drills are a great way of not getting bored with drilling while focusing on getting better at one of the most important reasons for doing BJJ drills in the first place – speed. Moreover, you don’t have to go for reps and there’s no time for partners to start talking during training. Simply introduce them into your warmups, or a special session of their own and set them up for a time.

Video Source

How To Correctly Use The Granby Roll BJJ Maneuver

Solo BJJ Drills And Partner BJJ Drills Essential For Success

The post 14 Speed BJJ Drill Ideas To Become A Monster Grappler appeared first on BJJ World.

The idea behind BJJ pummels is not just to switch positions with the other person. Pummels have the huge task of earning you control of the inside position – a crucial concept in grappling. As such, pummels are not limited to standing drills and takedown exchanges. BJJ pummel drills will make you better at retaining guard, passing guard, and even certain submissions, most of the leg lock variety. This brings me to the notion that it is not just arm pummels, but also leg pummels that you absolutely have to drill.

Setting Up BJJ Pummel Drills

It is not hard to set up BJJ pummel drills. In fact, it is not hard to set up any type of drills at all. There’s just one condition, though – they need to be realistic. Namely, when people set up drills they just have fun moving through space most of the time and then expect the same thing to work under pressure. Good luck with that. Instead, drilling anything needs to have a healthy dose of reality in there, so that it all makes sense. Otherwise, you’re just drilling movie choreography and you might as well be doing katas instead.

With BJJ Pummel drills there’s just one condition – go live. Okay, spend a few moments setting up the drill, like for example, the standing pummel drill, However, once you got it, really do try and go for both underhooks. It will be messy, it will look ugly and it won’t be nearly as free-flowing as standing there and doing swim moves with your arms. The same holds true for training leg pummels, when working on guard retention or passing the legs.

Apart from the “live training” factor, you can go about doing your pummel drills any way you want. That means you can go for counting, you could go for scenarios, or just use them as opening aspects of doing a longer scenario type of drills. It is not how you set them up as it is how you execute them that determines whether you’ll be successful with them and whether you’ll grow bored of them. Trust me, if you go live every time you go for a round of pummels, you’ll be many things, but bored won’t be one of them!

Standing Pummels

When it comes to standing BJJ pummel drills are actually not BJJ drills- they’re wrestling drills. The goal is to get both underhooks in, which gets you that all-important inside space. What is this inside space I keep mentioning? It is the space between the opponent’s knees and the shoulders. If you control any bit of it with your extremities or body, you’re in a better mechanical position to attack or defend.

When standing, pummel drills have the task of providing you an entry point into takedowns, while keeping you safe from begin taken down. In fact, if you get two underhooks, an opponent won’t even be able to pull guard. The trick is, people will sense what you’re doing and they’ll try to counter you, or get underhooks of their own. That’s where pummel drills come in – they will help you get better at getting both underhooks against an opponent that is trying to do the same.

Pummeling From Guard

Pummeling when on the bottom will help you achieve two things – the first one is the same as above. The butterfly guard is a great example of how BJJ pummel drills can improve your positioning by helping you win the grip fight.

Even more importantly, though, is pummeling with your legs. The ability to keep your feet close to the inside space of an opponent means they can’t get past your legs. During most passes, people will try to get one of your legs to point to the outside or behind an opponent. Being able to pummel a leg back in, means you can retain your guard for long, and you can re-guard against all kinds of passes. Think of it as doing shin circles of your back, with theme odd hip escape or two to improve positioning.

Pummeling To Pass

This is something you’re probably aware of as it was popularized by Gordon Ryan. That float passing thing he does, whether it is to get past the legs or get into leg locks is actually nothing but leg pummeling drills from the top. As with everything else, it takes a lot of drilling to figure out the balance and the finer aspect of it. Once again, BJJ pummels drills are the way to go, and once more, it takes drilling against someone that won’t be allowing you to pass or someone that’s trying to sweep/submit you that you’ll truly get the hang of it.

Conclusion

BJJ pummel drills are immense in learning how to get to the inside space in every possible plane of motion that we use in grappling. However, they’ll only work if you do the work. If you’re messing around just doing shin circles or swimming with your arms, waiting for time to pass until you start to roll, you won’t have much success with any of them when things get real. And believe me, when you get to a tough match or a roll, pummeling can make all the difference!

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We all know that we love to hate on BJJ drills. Everything that has a strict and repetitive structure, tends to drive most people away. Jiu-Jitsu drills fit that description perfectly. Yet, the age-old BJJ cliche “drill to win” is even more important in today’s modern grappling game. There are so many techniques, concepts, principles, systems, and whatnot, that without constant repetition, there’s no success or progress. With leg locks, which are quite new to most, drilling becomes even more important. The good news is that you don’t need to go for countless reps of any particular leg lock in order to get better. All you need to do is flow.

The Secret To Grappling Success

While the secret to becoming a high-level grappler everyone fears is in BJJ drills, leg lock superiority is in very SPECIFIC Jiu-Jitsu drills. Yes, you may approach leg locks by drilling the usual way, but that means taking a much longer path.

Usual BJJ drills include you working with a partner for reps or time. The partner usually stays still or provides very little resistance. The goal here is to fine-tune technique so much that it becomes second nature. This is a proven method that all martial arts employ. In grappling terms, drilling like this does have its benefits. Whenever you need to work on specific movements or transitions, there’s no better way to do it. A good example area passes sweeps or guard-to-guard transitions. It may be boring, but it is effective and certainly necessary.

Leg locks, on the other hand, are a bit more difficult to perfect that way. Correct positioning makes or breaks any leg lock attempts. Furthermore, due to the positioning, your legs may end up in danger much more easily compared to other submission holds. So drilling with reps is not going to cut it. Instead, you need to drill with scenarios. These include you entering a leg lock position, stabilizing it, blocking defense attempts by your partner, and ultimately finishing. Another possible outcome is to transition into another position and keep going until you finish. Adding escapes in these flowing leg lock BJJ drills is mandatory as well, both for knowing how to get out and how to prevent someone from escaping. Plus, they’re fun as hell!

Flowing Leg Lock BJJ Drill #1

We start with a very simple example. This drill is somewhat stationary compared to the others we’ll cover today. the goal here is to perfect your braking mechanics first and foremost. Next, you get to practice submission prevention. Finally, there’s a way out that leads into a leg lock attack of your own. This drill acts as a “loop flow”, meaning you can do it infinitely without ever leaving the positions. Simple sub and escape drill.

The flow drill begins with you in an Outside Ashi Garami position, with an outside heel hook grip. The first thing you do is to carefully finish the submission, looking to dial in your braking mechanics. Right after the partner taps, they go into action. they use their free leg to place a bloc inside your elbow and stop you from executing the submission. They then move to pull your top leg on top of them and transition into an Outside Ashi Garami of their own. Now they get to finish the heel hook, you tap and go for the counter, and so on. This is a great core drill for perfecting both the Outside Ashi, the heel hook, submission prevention, and counter-attacking transitions.

Mr. Leg Locker himself Craig Jones likes to use a lot of flowing leg attacks when he fights. All of his leg lock flow scenarios as well as essential drills are explained in his video instructional. The “Down Under Leg Attacks” DVD set might be the most practical leg lock BJJ DVD you’ll ever get for yourself! 

Flowing Leg Lock BJJ Drill #2 

This drill is an entry drill, taking you into the best leg locking position you can be in – the Honeyhole, or 411. Once there you get to practice quite a lot of available submissions. The drill has you entering from the bottom which makes it that much more valuable for practical application in rolling and/or competition.

You start in a butterfly guard. Your first action is to attempt a basic butterfly sweep. As your opponent shifts their weight, you use their motion to actually reverse the sweep direction and set up the 411. Once there, you get control over both legs and start submitting. Options include a straight ankle lock, the Texas Cloverleaf, an inside heel hook (optional), and a kneebar. Right after you finish you could stay on the bottom and go again, or do a technical stand up and your partner will be ready to go. If there’s one flowing leg lock BJJ drill you need to be doing, it’s probably this one.

Flowing Leg Lock BJJ Drill #3

For those of you that feel advanced enough to go deep into the world of leg locks, this is the flow to try. his leg lock BJJ flow has immense transitional value as it covers pretty much all the leg locking positions and submissions. Well, all high percentage ones, anyway.

With this one, you can either start in the kneebar position or enter a kneebar as you wish. You get a couple of taps from different kneebar variations and proceed immediately to transition into the 411. Here you go for the most devastating leg lock of them all – the 411 inside heel hook. After the tap, you open up your entanglement to get a tripod ankle lock that’s going to lead you into a rear Ashi position. Instead of hitting a kneebar, you now go for a toe hold first and ultimately let your opponent escape just as far as you can sink in a brutal calf slicer.

If you ask me, mastering this particular leg lock flow is going to make you incredible at finishing from just about any leg locking opportunity you find yourself into.

Flowing Leg Lock BJJ Drill #4 

Our final flow leg lock BJJ drill example focuses on the art of escaping Ashi Garami. This drill is an entry and escapes flow that has one person training an entry, and the other an early escape. Note that contrary to the first flow we went over, this time you escape the position rather than defend the leg lock itself.

The drill is fairly simple, with both of you starting in the half guard. The top person gets to break grips and spin around immediately to hit a kneebar on the top leg. However, the bottom person will allow the transition, but not the submission itself. As you spin, the partner is going to cross their legs in a triangle and use the momentum from your spin to come on top. Here they pass the guard and allow you to establish half guard. Now it’s their turn.

The above drills are just some examples of how you can organize your flowing leg lock BJJ drills. The sky is the limit here, as you want to make sure you cover all positions that you intend to use. Furthermore, make sure you cover as many submissions as an escape from every position as you can too. Finally, do a careful selection of the entries, as they’re arguably the most important part of this type of drill.

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These are some of my favorite drills to do when I am at the gym with some downtime. Rather than just sitting around I can improve on some basic skills.

No Time To Train BJJ? Here Is How To Make Time For Grappling

https://bjj-world.com/7-critical-drills-improve-guard-game/

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In the Marine Corps, Phillip was on the ground floor of the development of the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP), and he currently holds a 4th degree in MCMAP.

https://bjj-world.com/33-bjj-solo-grappling-drills-will-surely-improve-game/

8 BJJ solo drills to improve your guard

https://bjj-world.com/12-essential-bjj-drills-2-minutes-2/

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THIS ALLOWS ME TO LOOK AT CERTAIN POSITIONS WITH AN OPEN-MIND AND RETHINK HOW TO APPROACH CERTAIN SITUATIONS. MY BROTHER AND I OFTEN WORK ON MOBILITY DRILLS IN THE ACADEMY FROM BOTH THE BOTTOM AND THE TOP TO GIVE OUR STUDENTS THE SAME ABILITY TO APPROACH TECHNIQUES AND SITUATIONS WITH AN OPEN-MIND.” – PROFESSOR RAFAEL MENDES

https://vimeo.com/182019876

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These drills are also very good for your Jiu Jitsu when you don’t have a partner to drill with.

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