Struggling in the no-man’s-land known as half-guard? If you’re on top, this simple pass can become your secret weapon. It’s a pass renowned the world over—and one that can turn a white belt into a blue belt (not overnight, of course). As always, the simplest passes can become disastrous when you’re doing them wrong. Avoid that plight by locking down the details today. ....
Read moreJake Boehmann is a waiter at Maggiano’s in SouthPark who has been training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for over six years, since he was 25. He’s a purple belt who has made Great Grappling his home since January 2013. Almost immediately upon coming to GGBJJ he was nicknamed “Jake the Cake,” which has since been shortened to just “Cake.” When he’s not working you can find him at just about every single class offered at Great Grappling, where he loves training two-a-days when his schedule allows. Jake spends his time outside of BJJ with his parents and younger brother and sister, and especially loves hanging out with his German Shorthaired Pointer, Dixie. ....
Read more To start, let’s be clear: everyone remembers the first time they choked someone. You sunk in a rear-naked, or grabbed the gi pants for a bow-and-arrow, and when you received that tap it was a private moment of glory. Of course, everyone remembers the first time they got choked, too: the grainy grey that accompanies the shutting down of a carotid, and the sore neck muscles the day after. Either way, we return for more. Obviously, BJJ offers more than just the base adrenaline rush of a submission. They are a variety of benefits. Here are just a few of them. Higher Self-Confidence
A by-product of most martial arts, self-confidence often soars for a practitioner. To the outsider, ....
At Great Grappling we’ve just entered the 2 month block where we focus on Open Guard and Butterfly Guard. This month’s technique focuses on the Open Guard Pass, the Slam & Go. Sure, there are fancier and more technical passes out there. But anyone who utilizes this pass consistently knows how invaluable it is for shutting down those pesky open guard players. As with many techniques, the key to this pass is committing to it fully. Many a practitioner has gotten the needed grips to execute the Slam-and-Go, only to suffer paralysis-by-analysis before the “slam.” That hesitation, at best, means you’ve missed a golden opportunity. At worst, you end up ....
Read moreThe longer you train BJJ, the more likely you are to encounter a well-known but frustrating phenomenon: the “Let’s Roll Light” guy. But be warned, the phrase “Let’s Roll Light” can often be shrouded in even more vague pre-sparring statements such as “Let’s just flow today” or “My ______ is injured, so let’s take it easy.” If you hear any of these statements right before you slap hands on the mat, we want to make sure you’re properly prepared. The first time you hear this—typically as a naïve white belt—your guard drops completely. You feel like you’re in for a relaxing roll, a zen-like ....
Read moreMay 28th, 2013 Nearly 4 years ago, I fell in love with a BJJ addict. I, a violent sports junkie, was playing roller derby at the time. When I lost my health insurance I turned to boxing (because it was less dangerous. Just think about that). After several years of boxing, circumstances changed and it was time to hang up the gloves. I began pursuing my accreditation as a yoga instructor, and ran my first half marathon. During this time, my BJJ addict boyfriend was promoted to black belt and husband status. I’ve been at his side through opening not one but 2 Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academies, and for 2 years have worked for him full time as business manager/front desk girl at the school. ....
Read moreToday’s post begins with a statement you definitely don’t want to hear: your success in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is going to be directly connected to your ability to deal with loss. Sorry, it’s true. But for some individuals, the desire to win is so strong that anything besides victory puts a bad taste in their mouth, forces them into a depression, or — even worse — angers them. Regardless of the teams and affiliations that we have in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, grappling is an individual sport. What this means is that although we have teammates that help us learn, condition and prepare, when it comes time to compete only the individual competitor goes out onto the mat. ....
Read more1. Did you train BJJ prior to coming to GGBJJ? If so where, and for how long? I trained for 3 months before Great Grappling opened. During that time I trained under Professor Luis “Sucuri” Togno in Waxhaw and then under Professor Dave Mansel with Satsuma Spiders in Charlotte after Luis’ unfortunate passing. 2. What sports have you played prior to joining GGBJJ? I have been training and competing in kendo for 2 and a half years with Charlotte Kendo. I have also trained in aikido and muay thai in the past. I trail run and compete in local races. I have especially become interested in obstacle races and mud runs. 3. Why did you decide to begin training BJJ? What ....
Read more1. Did you train BJJ prior to coming to GGBJJ? If so where, and for how long? No (I hardly even knew what BJJ was prior to coming to Jeremy) 2. What sports have you played prior to joining GGBJJ? Rugby in college, but my big claim to fame was that when I was much younger I ran the mile with a PR of 4:57. 3. Why did you decide to begin training BJJ? My son Daniel was really the one that sparked this. We are active in Boy Scouts and we have a high adventure trip to the Florida Sea Base coming up in June of 2013. According to the BSA physical, I’m suppose to be no heavier than 226 lbs by the time of this trip. I need to lose a lot of weight in over 1 year. Since my time as a ....
Read moreThere are many different Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioners. Some people are casual, some are competitors and some are teachers. This is the beauty of BJJ. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has a depth in technique and concept that allows an individual to engage in this martial art at varying degrees, yet still benefit from its lessons. Regardless of how often you train, or how hard you train, there is one underlying factor in common. Every practitioner wants to get the most out of their training and with a limited amount of time allowed you must ask yourself this question: “What should I practice?” This simple question can have many different answers, and the correct answer will ....
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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
Thanks, Jeremy!, will be seeing you at the Rio Open!
