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  • Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Kids Martial Arts Classes in Fort Mill!


    Check out our new website for Great Grappling Brazilian Jiu Jitsu!
    We proudly serve the Fort Mill, Charlotte, and Rock Hill areas! Come see the programs and deals we have to offer. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Women's Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kids Martial Arts, and SO MUCH MORE! Fill out the "Request Information" form on the side of the page and stop in for a visit today! Don't forget to click below to visit us on our social media pages!! Facebook Google+ Twitter Instagram ....

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  • The Benefits of Competing

    We’ll start off this post by saying that BJJ competitions aren’t for everyone, and there’s no shame in practicing the art for the sake of the art. Simply training with your school’s partners is a testament unto itself, and most schools provide a rigorous gauntlet of opponents that keep your skills honed. However, there are some definitive benefits to competing. Today we’ll touch on a few of them. Forming a Strategy When you first compete, you probably don’t even think all that much about strategy. If you do, it’s probably only to the extent of taking the fight to where you’re most comfortable, which can be something as simple as pulling ....

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  • Protective Gear: It’s Part Of Your Uniform

    How many times have you said, “Oh I forgot my knee brace,” or asked, “Can I borrow some tape?” If these words haven’t come from your mouth, you’ve definitely heard them from some of your teammates. And while forgetting protective gear from time to time is certainly understandable, let’s be honest: when it comes to these matters, procrastination is the disease, one that breeds inaction. The problem with this kind of procrastination is that it typically ends once you’ve actually injured something significantly. While it’s certainly human nature, it’s also wildly illogical; the key word here is “protective,” so donning ....

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  • Technique of the Month- Half Guard Sweep: Wrist Control

    2. Video/Technique of the Month: Half-Guard Sweep: Wrist Control (the Anti-D’Arce) One of our most popular technique videos, the wrist control sweep—aka the “anti-D’Arce”—is pure gold. Why? First, because it works gi or no-gi. And also because it completely reverses your fortunes—you immediately go from potentially getting choked to a more dominant position. But the most golden aspect of this technique once you master it? Your training partners won’t even try to D’Arce you anymore. This entry was posted in Uncategorized by Great Grappling . Bookmark the permalink . ....

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  • Great Grappling’s 3rd Anniversary Party Is This Weekend!

    If you’re a Great Grappling student and you’ve been in class over the last month, you already know this because Professor Jeremy Arel has beat it into your brain every time we’ve lined up at the end of class: this Saturday, April 26, Great Grappling Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will celebrate its third anniversary with a seminar, a party, and a promotions ceremony for students. If you’ve been to one of these before, you know it’s a good time. This year, a unique aspect of the day will be the attendance of Roberto “Gordo” Correa, Professor Arel’s teacher from Brazil. Gordo will not only be joining in on the festivities, but he will also conduct the ....

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  • Mr. Resistance: A Definition, And A Solution

    If you train BJJ long enough, you’ll definitely encounter Mr. Resistance. He’s the guy that tenses his arms, puts up a struggle, and holds on way too tight. Oh, and we’re not talking about sparring. We’re talking about training techniques. Like many BJJ characters that need a definition and a solution, Mr. Resistance is often a newbie. Over time, he will realize that when practicing techniques it’s often better to give in than to resist. Of course, none of this matters when you meet Mr. Resistance in his prime. At worst, a simple kimura or choke technique becomes an exercise fraught with danger, one where you better have your tap hand at the ready. At best, ....

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  • When It Comes To Gi’s, Wearing Is Believing

    While the Internet affords the modern shopper a gazillion options, it also breeds paralysis by analysis. With countless reviews, vendors, and styles in the mix, making a purchase becomes much akin to compiling data for a case study. And when it comes to something you’re going to wear? A decision becomes even more difficult. Take shoes, for example. You can look online, but the proof in the pudding comes from lacing them up. The same is the case for a BJJ gi. You can stare at photos of the sports’ stars wearing the latest innovation, waffle back and forth between canvas or ripstop pants, or wonder about the fit of the latest entrepreneur’s contribution to the burgeoning ....

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  • The Purple Belt Problem

    In many ways, the rank of purple belt can be viewed as a bridge rank. When a practitioner receives a blue belt, this represents a huge step simply from a standpoint of dealing with the challenge of an existence as a white belt. This existence starts with cluelessness, continues with beatdown after beatdown, and culminates with having a foundation of knowledge and skill in BJJ. Since so many white belts fall by the wayside, the rank of blue belt is often rewarding simply from a standpoint of survival. Receiving a purple belt, however, is a different story. It’s very difficult to advance to this rank without possessing definitive skill. This skill ranges from a development of ....

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  • Notes From A Middle-Aged Grappler: Submitting to Reality

    On August 6 th of this year, I turned 40. If you assume that my reaching this landmark age was riddled with the angst associated with most mid-life crises, you’d be absolutely correct. A huge part of my angst came from the fact that as I was approaching four decades I had suffered a significant injury; jiu-jitsu was my escape, physically and mentally, and it had been taken from me at what I felt was a critical point in my life. As any practitioner understands, BJJ certainly makes you grapple (sorry) with your own mortality, and I’m here to tell you that struggle is only exacerbated by age and injury. Flashback: in December of 2012, I suffered what was my second back injury ....

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  • A Spectrum of Mistakes

    In life, mistakes are simply a part of the learning process. Of course, there’s always an irony when it comes to errors; the more proficient you become at something, the more a mistake matters—and that’s certainly the case in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu . While on the surface that might not make much sense, all you have to do is look at the difference between a white belt and a black belt, especially in competition. Obviously, white belts are a complete mess for their first few months on the mat. Like fish out of water, there’s a lot of flopping and flailing around—but mostly there are just a ton of mistakes. These lower level belts have no idea that they’re ....

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Robert Gathings

I’ve been training at Great Grappling for about a year and a half now, and it has truly had a positive impact on my life. I’ve lost a noticeable amount of weight, gained previously undiscovered confidence in myself, and made connections that will last a lifetime. While training, I’ve met people from all walks of life who have been brought together through the common interest of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the community that has developed through it is incredible. Professor and owner Jeremy Arel also offers a one week free trial to new students who want to try BJJ before committing to a membership, so it’s definitely worth checking out.

Michael Baker

I've been training at Great Grappling for 6 years, and I cannot give it higher praise. Professor Jeremy has created a community of people that care about training and growing as martial artists--but also care about each other as people. If you are a parent looking for a way to teach your children self-confidence or self-defense, this place is a must. If you are hoping to find an academy where you can learn this amazing art called Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, this is the place. Come train with us!
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu near Fort Mill

Justin Bench

Hey all,

I ran into the Jeremy by complete accident, by rolling up to Gordo’s academy to train a few weeks and asking about places to stay. What I got was an amazingly warm welcome and a new family for a few weeks. Everyone at the Connection Rio house was friendly and fun, and they were serious about training BJJ. Awesome.

As for Jeremy himself, it is few and far between to find people who are as dedicated to teaching as this man. The classes are very well researched, based upon extensive experience, and set in a format to learn through muscle memory. All of the techniques build off of each other in a continuum, designed around building a game plan and prepping for competition. Jeremy keeps things moving and fast-paced, but you never feel exhausted until its all over and you realize you’ve been training hard and nonstop. I highly recommend his classes and I’ll definitely be back again.

Thanks, Jeremy!, will be seeing you at the Rio Open!

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