6 Week Beginner Course Material

**NOTE** For the class we have provided three ways to learn this material. Watching, Listening and reading. All the material is the same. So you can choose to watch it, read it or listen to it. Enjoy! **NOTE**

Gym Walk Around

Introduction

Intro Audio

First and foremost,  I want to emphasize that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is not just about fighting.  It is about self-discipline,  mental focus,  and physical fitness.  Our goal is to provide a safe and supportive environment where you can develop your skills,  challenge yourself,  and have fun. 
Our instructors will guide you through the fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu,  including the basic techniques,  positions,  and strategies. 
Before we begin,  I want to remind you that safety is our top priority.  Please listen carefully to the instructions of our instructors and always respect your training partners.  We want everyone to have a positive and enjoyable experience in our class. 
So,  without further ado,  let's begin our journey together in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  I wish you all the best of luck and look forward to seeing your progress as you develop your skills in this amazing martial art.  

Learning how to tap in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is an important aspect of the art and a crucial part of training safely.  Tapping is a way for a person to signal to their training partner that they have been caught in a submission or are in danger of being injured. 
In BJJ,  the tap is a way to communicate to your partner that you have reached your physical or mental limits,  and that you need to stop the technique or position that is causing you discomfort or pain.  Tapping is a way of acknowledging that you have been caught in a submission or that you need to take a break. 
It is important to understand that tapping is not a sign of weakness or defeat in BJJ.  Instead,  it is a vital part of the learning process.  By tapping,  you are giving yourself and your training partner the opportunity to learn and improve their techniques. 
It is also important to remember that tapping should always be respected in BJJ.  When someone taps,  their partner should immediately release the hold or submission and check to make sure their training partner is okay.  It is essential to never continue a submission or hold after someone has tapped. 
In our class,  we will always prioritize safety and respect for each other's limits.  We encourage all our students to tap early and often,  so they can continue to train and learn without the risk of injury.  As you progress in your BJJ journey,  you will learn to recognize when to tap and how to do it quickly and efficiently. 
Tapping is an essential part of training safely and effectively in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  It is a tool that allows us to learn and grow while also respecting our training partners and their limits.  So don't be afraid to tap,  and always remember to respect your partner's tap as well. 

Cleanliness is a crucial aspect of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu,  both for personal hygiene and to maintain a healthy training environment. In our class,  we prioritize cleanliness to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses,  and to create a safe and comfortable training environment for everyone. 
One of the most important aspects of cleanliness in BJJ is personal hygiene.  We recommend that all our students shower after class and wear clean,  washed uniforms.  It is also important to keep your fingernails and toenails trimmed to prevent accidental scratching or cuts during training. 
We also take steps to maintain a clean training environment.  Our mats are disinfected regularly,  and we provide hand sanitizer and cleaning wipes for our students to use.  We encourage our students to wipe down their training equipment and personal belongings before and after class to prevent the spread of germs. 
It is also important to be mindful of any skin infections or injuries that may occur during training.  If you have any cuts or abrasions,  we recommend covering them with a clean bandage or wrap to prevent the spread of bacteria.  If you suspect you have a skin infection,  we ask that you refrain from training until it has healed. 
By maintaining a clean training environment and practicing good personal hygiene,  we can prevent the spread of germs and infections in our BJJ class.  It is essential to prioritize cleanliness to keep ourselves and our training partners safe and healthy. 
Cleanliness is a crucial aspect of training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.  By practicing good personal hygiene and taking steps to maintain a clean training environment,  we can prevent the spread of germs and infections and create a safe and comfortable training environment for everyone. 

How to tie your belt

Essential Movements in BJJ

Essential Movements in BJJ Audio

Some of the Essential Movements that you will need in brazilian jiu jitsu are

• The Hip Escape - You will be on your side, with your elbows in. Try to bring your heel as close to your butt as possible and then extend your hips away. This technique will be used as a defensive escape from Mount and Side control mostly but it will also be used in many other positions.
• Dropping back to a shoulder - When completing a sweep, often you don’t want to go to your back but instead your side. This drill is designed to help you with the motion of getting to your side as you fall back.
• Scissor Sweep - In this drill you are simply scissoring your legs with the top leg going forward and the bottom leg going backward. You will be using this primarily as a sweeping mechanism.
• Hip Heist - With this technique we are emphasizing getting up on our hand and raising our hips above theirs. Please make sure to get all the way up on your hand when doing these. Hip height is critical for this move.
• Arm Pummeling - For this drill you are swimming your arms inside your opponents arms trying to get inside position. This is a key concept in BJJ. Trying to get the inside position.
• Leg Pummeling (Egg Beater) - Similar to arm pummeling but using the legs to pummel inside your opponents hands and arms. This is primarily done with them standing and you on your back.
• Knee Pummeling - Similar to arm and leg pummeling but using the legs and knees to pummel inside your opponents legs and knees. This is primarily done with you standing and your opponent on their back.
• Turkish Getup - This technique is a fitness technique that we use to focus on getting to our base from a bottom position. We are trying to put ourselves in a stronger structural position to keep our opponent from taking us down.
• Belly Button Up to Turkish Getup - We use this technique in combination with the last technique to work on our hip movement and our ability to not get swept. You should try to not let your butt hit the mat for this technique but rather keep your hips hip. Some coaches will also call this technique threading the needle.
• Armbar Guard Spin - Many of the techniques in closed guard require you to get a perpendicular angle on your opponent. In this drill we will disconnect from clamping on our opponent and use it to go side to side on your opponent. The goal is to try and get the legs as wide as possible and kick off your opponents ribs to get to the other side like a pendulum.
• Triangle Clamp - Triangle is one of the most common submissions in brazilian jiu-Jitsu. With this drill we empathize how to get our hips up, twisting our hips and then triangling our legs. This is very similar to the way it would be done in the technique.
• Both knees down to Combat Base - In this drill we are simply working on putting one leg up while maintaining good posture. Posture is probably the most critical part when passing someone's legs. Try to think of yourself in a squat rack with weight on your shoulders. You should be able to look at both the floor and the ceiling without moving your head.
• Combat Base to Standing - Here we are simply adding from the last drill and standing up in a staggered stance. Again we have to focus on not allowing our head to come down. If our head comes down they should be grabbling it and disrupting our balance and base.

While these are not all of the movements in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu this list will give you a great head start if you take the time to master these movements.

Drilling and Sparring in BJJ

Drilling and Sparring in BJJ Audio

Some of the common things you will see in class is bowing to the instructor and to the flag. Traditionally you will bow first to the instructor and then to the flag. Please note that this is not mandatory and if you have any religious or moral objections to this tradition you do not have to complete this.

Next the slap bump . This is when you and your training partner slap hands and then fist bump. While very casual this is done usually before every Sparring round and often after every Sparring round.

Next I want to talk about drilling and Sparring rounds in BJJ. Drilling is an important skill in learning the gross motor skills of a technique. During drilling rounds please be a good training partner. Please do not be a dead fish and Please do not try the techniques with resistance when drilling. We have Sparring rounds for this. There are three types of Sparring rounds.

1. Regular Sparring round - This is where both people are actively using all their technique, size and athleticism to tap their opponent. This should be used against people of equal or higher skill than you.
2. Helping Sparring round - This is where one person is actively using all their technique, size and athleticism to tap their opponent, while the other more experienced person is helping you to tap them. This is designed 100% for the newer less experienced person to learn and see errors they are making.
3. Positional Sparring Round - This is where both people are actively using all their technique, size and athleticism to tap their opponent, but only from one position. This can be used with everyone but you should consider also using it as a helping round is the person is much less experienced than you.

Creating a frame

Creating a frame Audio

Now that we are through the introduction. Lets start with your first concept in BJJ. A frame.

In BJJ, a frame refers to a defensive structure created by the practitioner's arms or legs, which can be used to create space and prevent an opponent from achieving a dominant position or applying a submission. Frames are one of the fundamental concepts in BJJ, and learning to use them effectively is considered a critical skill for practitioners at all levels.

One of the key principles behind using frames is to keep the opponent at a distance where they cannot apply significant pressure or force. This can be achieved by using the arms or legs to create a barrier between the practitioner and their opponent. For example, a practitioner may use their forearm to push against an opponent's neck to keep them at bay, or use their knee to prevent an opponent from closing the distance.

Another important aspect of using frames is to maintain mobility while defending. Practitioners must be able to move and adjust their frames to counter an opponent's movements and maintain control of the situation. This requires good timing and a keen understanding of how to use leverage to achieve maximum effect with minimal effort.

Learning to use frames effectively can take time and practice, but it is one of the most important skills for a BJJ practitioner to develop. It is typically one of the first things students learn when they begin training, and it is a skill that will continue to be honed and refined throughout a practitioner's journey in the art. By mastering the use of frames, BJJ practitioners can effectively defend themselves against larger and stronger opponents, and gain the upper hand in many situations on the mat.

Defeating a Frame

Defeating a Frame Audio

When an opponent creates a frame, their intention is to create space and prevent you from achieving a dominant position. As such, it is important to be able to remove these frames in order to gain control of the situation and advance your position.

There are several strategies that can be used to remove an opponent's frames.

One common method is to use pressure and weight to break down the opponent's frame. This can be done by driving forward with your body weight and applying pressure to the opponent's frame until it collapses. This can work on a weaker opponent or someone that does not have a good frame, but should not be used against an advanced opponents as it can lead to an easy counter.

The most common proper way to clear a frame is to remove your pressure on the frame and pull the frame across their body. A frame is only effective when the other person is using their weight to drive into their opponent. So simply remove the pressure and pull the frame across. This is commonly called "USING THE FRAME AS A LEVER"

Another way to remove the frame is to use your own frames to counter their frames. For example, if an opponent creates a frame with their forearm to push against your neck, you can use your own forearm to push against their elbow and collapse their frame. This will allow you to move closer to your opponent and advance your position.

It is also important to be aware of the opponent's movements and anticipate their next action. If you can predict their movements, you can preemptively remove their frames and gain control of the situation. This requires good situational awareness and a thorough understanding of the various positions and techniques used in BJJ.

In summary, removing an opponent's frame in BJJ requires a combination of technique, strategy, and situational awareness. By using your own frames, applying pressure and weight, and anticipating your opponent's movements, you can effectively neutralize their frames and gain control of the situation. It is a skill that takes time and practice to develop, but with dedication and perseverance, it can be mastered.

Structure in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Structure in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Audio

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu creating structure is a critical skill that enables a practitioner to control their opponent's movements and apply effective techniques. Structure refers to the alignment and positioning of a practitioner's body, particularly their spine, joints, and limbs.

Creating structure in BJJ involves several key principles, including:

Posture: Maintaining good posture is essential for creating structure in BJJ. This means keeping the spine aligned and the shoulders back, which allows the practitioner to distribute their weight effectively and maintain balance.

• Base: A strong and stable base is necessary for creating structure in BJJ. This means keeping the feet, knees, and hips in a stable position to resist an opponent's attacks and movements.
• Frame: Using frames is another key aspect of creating structure in BJJ. Frames refer to the use of arms, legs, and other body parts to create a barrier between the practitioner and their opponent. Frames are used to maintain distance, control the opponent's movements, and prevent them from applying pressure or attacks.
• Pressure: Applying pressure is an essential part of creating structure in BJJ. This means using the weight of the body, along with leverage and positioning, to control an opponent's movements and apply effective techniques.

Creating structure in BJJ requires practice and patience. Practitioners must learn to maintain good posture, establish a strong base, and use frames and pressure effectively. By doing so, they can control their opponent's movements, apply effective techniques, and ultimately succeed in BJJ.

Getting to a Defensive Position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Getting to a Defensive Position in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Audio

When an opponent is passing your guard, their goal is to move past your legs and gain a dominant position. To prevent this, it is essential to create space and limit the opponent's ability to control your movements. One effective way to do this is to get to your side, which can help you create a barrier and prevent the opponent from advancing.

To get to your side, there are several steps you can take:

• First, use your frames: As the opponent begins to pass your guard, create frames with your arms or legs to prevent them from getting too close. Use your frames to create space and limit the opponent's ability to control your movements. Pay special attention to not let your elbows go too far away from your ribs when you are framing as this may lead to a submission for your opponent. This is a common problem and our goal with this drill to not let that happen. We must maintain good position on bottom or it becomes much more difficult for you to escape.
• This is our first goal. Simply getting into a good defensive position with our opponent. We need to master this first before moving on to shrimping out.
• Second, turn to your side: As they pass turn onto your side and use your frames to maintain a defensive posture. This will make it more difficult for the opponent to pass your guard and allow you to better control the situation.
• Thirdly, Now that you have learned how to create space with your frames, start to shrimp out by pushing off with your feet and moving your hips away from the opponent. This will help you create even more space and make it more difficult for the opponent to pass your guard.
• Lastly, Recover guard: Once you have established a defensive posture on your side, work to recover your guard by bringing your legs back into position and using your frames to create space. This will allow you to regain control of the situation and potentially work towards a submission or dominant position. This should be done after you are completely solid on your ability to get to your side and shrimp out.

Getting to your side when an opponent is passing your guard requires a combination of technique, timing, and situational awareness. It takes time and practice to develop this skill, This takes a lot of time. However by mastering the fundamentals of guard retention and using your frames effectively, you can defend against even the most skilled opponents and prevent them from advancing to dominant positions. This is how you become a great training partner early for some of the advanced teammates. Your goal should be 100% defensive Jiu-Jitsu.

The Guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

The Guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Audio 

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu the guard is an offensive and defensive position that is commonly used to protect oneself from an opponent's attacks and control their movements. The guard is established when a practitioner is on their back with their legs positioned around their opponent's torso.

There are several types of guards in BJJ, including closed guard, open guard, butterfly guard, and half guard, among others. Each type of guard has its own set of techniques, strategies, and variations.

In the closed guard, the practitioner wraps their legs around their opponent's torso and controls their posture and movements using their arms and legs. From this position, the practitioner can attack with submissions, sweeps, and other techniques while maintaining control over their opponent's movements.

In open guard, the practitioner keeps their legs on their opponent's body, creating space and opportunities to attack or defend. From this position, the practitioner can use their legs to control their opponent's distance and movements while attacking with various techniques.

Butterfly guard involves the practitioner sitting on their butt with their feet on the inside of their opponent's thighs. This position allows the practitioner to control their opponent's posture and movements while setting up sweeps and submissions.

In half guard, the practitioner has one of their opponent's legs trapped between their own legs. From this position, the practitioner can control their opponent's movements and attack with various techniques.

The guard is a fundamental aspect of BJJ, and practitioners spend a significant amount of time learning and refining their guard techniques. The guard can be used to control an opponent's movements, set up attacks, and even sweep or submit them. It is a versatile and essential part of BJJ, and mastering the guard is critical to becoming a skilled and effective practitioner.

Passing the Guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Passing the Guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Audio

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, passing the guard refers to the process of getting past an opponent's legs and establishing a dominant position on top. Passing the guard is an essential skill in BJJ, as it allows a practitioner to control their opponent and set up attacks.

There are four basic types of guard passes in BJJ, which are:

Passing around the legs: This pass involves circling around one or both of the opponent's legs, using pressure and leverage to open up space and move past the guard.

Passing under the legs: This pass involves going underneath the opponent's legs, using momentum and leverage to lift their legs and move past the guard.

Passing between or through the legs: This pass involves splitting the opponent's legs and moving through the center, using pressure and leverage to control their legs and establish a dominant position.

Passing over the legs: This pass involves jumping over the opponent's legs, using timing and technique to avoid their defenses and establish a dominant position.

When your opponent tries to frame on you with a hand, a forearm or a knee you should stop driving into the person and pull that frame out of the way of your pass. Once you have passed the frame you must control that frame in some way so they cannot use it again.

Each type of guard pass has its own set of techniques, strategies, and variations. The choice of which type of pass to use depends on a number of factors, including the opponent's size, strength, and skill level, as well as the practitioner's own strengths and weaknesses.

To pass the guard effectively, a practitioner must maintain good posture and balance, use their weight and leverage to control their opponent's movements, and maintain constant pressure and control. With practice and patience, a practitioner can develop the skills necessary to pass the guard and establish a dominant position in BJJ.

Climbing the Ladder

Climbing the Ladder Audio

The body in BJJ is often described as a ladder that a practitioner must climb to control their opponent and apply effective techniques. This ladder analogy refers to the concept of systematically moving up the opponent's body, starting with their feet and working towards their head.

The ladder analogy involves in six key spots, which are:

• Feet: The first step in climbing the ladder is to control the opponent's feet. This means using the legs and feet to control the opponent's movements, limit their mobility, and prevent them from escaping.
• Hands: The second step in climbing the ladder is to control the opponent's hands. This means using the hands and arms to grip, hold, and control the opponent's limbs, limiting their ability to defend themselves or launch attacks.
• Knees: The third step in climbing the ladder is to control the opponent's knees. This means using the legs and knees to control the opponent's movements, limit their mobility, and prevent them from escaping or launching attacks.
• Hips: The fourth step in climbing the ladder is to control the opponent's hips. This means using the weight of the body, along with leverage and positioning, to control the opponent's movements and limit their ability to escape or launch attacks.
• Elbows: The fifth step in climbing the ladder is to control the opponent's elbows. This means using the arms and hands to control the opponent's arms, limit their ability to defend themselves, and set up submission holds.
• Head: The final step in climbing the ladder is to control the opponent's head. This means using the arms and hands to control the opponent's neck, limit their ability to defend themselves, and set up submission holds.

These steps could come in different stages, but we need to concentrate on whatever is next in line. So maybe the head will be in front of the feet. We address the head first and then the feet.

By systematically climbing the ladder, a practitioner can control their opponent and apply effective techniques in BJJ. This requires practice, patience, and attention to detail, as each step in the ladder requires a specific set of skills, techniques, and strategies. With time and effort, however, a practitioner can master the ladder analogy and succeed in BJJ.

Retaining guard with the Reverse Ladder

Retaining guard with the Reverse Ladder Audio

The ladder analogy can also be used in reverse to explain the concept of retaining guard in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In this case, the practitioner must work to prevent their opponent from climbing the ladder and gaining control over their body.

The reverse ladder analogy involves six key steps, which are:

• Hands: The first step in the reverse ladder analogy is to free your hands. This means using the arms and hands to control the opponent's grips and limit their ability to apply pressure or launch attacks by creating frames.
• Elbows: The second step in the reverse ladder analogy is freeing your elbows.
• Head: The third step in the reverse ladder analogy is to free your head. This means using your hands, arms and elbows to free your head.
• Hips: The fourth step in the reverse ladder analogy is to free your hips.
• Knees: The fifth step in the reverse ladder analogy is to free your knees.
• Feet: The final step in the reverse ladder analogy is to free your feet.

Just like when passing these steps are not always linear. One might come before the other, but the goal for the passer is to cover as much of the body as they can on top. The guard players goal is to not allow any control over your feet, knees, hips, hands, elbows or head.

By working through these steps in reverse, a practitioner can retain their guard and prevent their opponent from gaining control over their body. This requires constant adjustments, as the opponent will likely try to climb the ladder in different ways and from different angles. With practice and persistence, however, a practitioner can become skilled in the reverse ladder analogy and successfully retain guard in BJJ.

Sweeping in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Sweeping in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Audio

A sweep is a technique used to take an opponent from a top position to a bottom position. It's important to note that for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu we use the term sweep if we are using a guard to go from the bottom to the top position. Guard position examples are Closed Guard, Half Guard, Spider Guard and Sit up Guard to name a few. We use the term escape if you go from the bottom to the top from a non-guard position. Examples of these are Mount, Back, Side or Knee on Belly. This is import in the context of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu because you get points 2 points for performing a sweep and no points for performing an escape.

To perform a sweep effectively, there are three key aspects that must be executed properly:

Getting your opponent's post: The first aspect of a sweep is getting your opponent's post. A post is any part of your opponent's body that they use to base themselves and maintain balance. This could be a hand, a foot, or even their head. To perform a sweep, you need to identify and control your opponent's post to prevent them from being able to defend against the sweep.

Getting a lever on the opposite side of the post: Once you have identified and controlled your opponent's post, the next step is to get a lever on the opposite side of the post. A lever is a tool that allows you to apply force to your opponent and create movement. In the context of a sweep, a lever could be your leg, your arm, or even your opponent's own limb. By getting a lever on the opposite side of the post, you can create a force imbalance and sweep your opponent.

Getting your opponent's weight: The final aspect of a sweep is getting your opponent's weight. In order to perform a successful sweep, you need to be able to move your opponent's weight in a controlled manner. This requires proper technique and timing to create a force imbalance and take advantage of your opponent's movements.

By combining these three aspects, you can effectively perform a sweep in BJJ. However, it's important to note that performing a successful sweep requires practice and refinement of technique. With dedication and patience, you can develop the skills necessary to execute a successful sweep and improve your overall BJJ game.

Scissor Sweep from Closed Guard

Hook Sweep from Butterfly Guard

Arm Drag to the Back from Knee Shield