BJJ - Jiu Jitsu Positions
Mike Martin, Owner of Strong Heart Academy, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Phoenix Arizona, and third degree black belt, explains BJJ positions.
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Transcript - Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
We're gonna do a quick run through all the positions today in Brazilian jiu jitsu or basic positions from fundamentals. This is standing position. My leg is forward. You could also be square. My elbows are in very much like wrestling. We are in guard, closed guard. My legs are locked. I have two separate grips, uh, many various grips we can use he's on his knees. His knees are widening knees on his toes. If possible his posture is up, not leaning on me and his hips are low on his feet. This is half guard. My leg is between his legs. I am framing with my arms so they cannot put weight. And my shin is on his chest. This is Mount position. My arm is wide. One arm is under the head and my legs are locked under his hips. I stay low my chest on his face. He needs his knees up. It's easier to escape from the position.
BJJ Positions
This is side control position. My hand is arm under his hips under his arm. Under his head. My shoulder is in his jaw. My head is turned sideways. My knees are wide and touching him. You cannot see in the photo. So my hips are as low as possible. You can see my back is almost flat, so my butt should not be up in the air. It's easier to get rolled. His knees are up and one knee is up towards me. So it's not easy for me to Mount. He's also framing with his arms. One arm on my neck. One is on my hip. This is case kata position. I'm a little bit high here. Usually I like to get my armpit near his armpit by where I'm gripping his arm and my legs are wide to not get rolled. I'd also put my head lower. If he is, uh, flexible, uh, to hook my head. This is neon belly position. Uh, you would hop up on here from a side control normally, or a guard pass. Um, I have two grips to stabilize myself in my, my leg must be straight out by his head
North south position. My knees are wide. You can also sprawl on a north south position. Uh, he's not in a good position here. This is used many times for attacking, but also contr, uh, moving from side control to the other side, without hopping over the body. We go north south and transition to the other side or attack. This is wrestler's position or turtle position. I'm actually in a wrestler's position. It's not very good for jiu jitsu. He can actually escape from here. I usually sit behind the hips instead. Um, he's not in a great position either, but I'm going to work to attack or get my hooks in for a back control. This is back control. I get my hooks in, meaning my legs in between his legs. My head is tucked and my cheek is on his shoulder. So I don't get headbutted in the face. I have a grip over an under grip or seatbelt grip with my hands at a Gable grip. Now we're on the side, same position. This is actually better, easier to attack. I can also transition to a Mount position. Uh, my hands are gripped and I do not lock my legs. That is all.
Thank you.
Strong Heart Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - Student Principle #2: LOYALTY
View our 8 Strong Heart Academy Principles to Live By
So the second, uh, the second one that we do is loyalty and loyalty. I'm not gonna say a ton about loyalty, but loyalty is, um, earned, just kind of like respect is earned and I'm not, um, one that is, um, forces people to be loyal to strong heart.
You know, we, I allow people, you know, I don't own, my students is the way I look at it. There's a lot of schools that are like, you don't, can't go to any other school or whatever. You know, I, I, I encourage them to be part of the community of jiu jitsu as well, go to open mats, go to seminars. Um, you know, there are certain things where look, if you're competing, you have to be a little bit careful with what you're going out and showing others, because just like any team, the sons don't hang out in practice with the Lakers or whatever, you know, whatever team they're opposing team, you just don't do that. So there's that, but the loyalty aspect is kind of an earned thing. Kind of like trust is earned. You know, if you would be loyal to strong heart, if I, if you think that I am worthy and you think strong heart is worthy of your loyalty, that's how loyalty works.
And then, you know, if we've built trust over the years, if I were to make a mistake, um, you would give me a little bit of, uh, wiggle room. If I'm, you know, if apologetic about something, um, to keep your loyalty and you, you know, you're loyal to your family, you're loyal maybe to your country, to your school. These are, these are not a bad thing. Um, sometimes we get confused with nationalism and it's like, oh, it's a bad thing. And not necessarily we are, we are a people groups. Um, and there's nothing wrong to be loyal to a certain group, but it needs to be deserving of the loyalty is the way I would, I would say that. So, um, you know, you're lo loyal to your relationship with your spouse or your girlfriend. Um, but until that relationship, the loyalty is gone. If there's a cheating aspect or someone that's trying to ruin your, your, your life alive, you know, you shouldn't be loyal as much as like it's time to separate from that person.
And, um, and I, I, I, you know, if you expect people to be loyal to you, you need to be the, understand the same concept. Like, am I worthy of loyalty? Okay.
