Choose Your Jedi Submission System ​ ​

Think of the last time watching Jiu-Jitsu made you go beast-mode. Was it while watching your instructor demonstrate a technique? Or was it at your laptop binge watching GOATS like Marcelo Garcia or Garry Tonon submitting absolutely everybody?

Probably the latter.

Personally, I’ve had millions of “laptop beast-mode” moments. Some of my favorites over the years have been Romulo Barral, Marcelo Garcia, Eddie Bravo, Keenan Cornelius, and Garry Tonon, to name just a few. These guys were as much my instructors

Here’s the critical detail: I wasn’t a fanboy. I was a hero-worshipper.

I’d put all my attention on just one of these guys for months--scouring the internet for any and all of their competition and training footage--and try to imitate them in the gym. Not only that, I imitated specifically one aspect of their game.

They were winning so much because they built up one part of the game to be so strong, that it was virtually a super power against the entire competition.

Here’s how I decided one of my super heros: For a period of time, I was training in both the gi ​ and nogi. Marcelo Garcia had won both Worlds (gi) and ADCC (nogi) multiple times and almost all matches by submission. Then I pinpointed his X-Guard for it’s reliable sweeps and leg locking potential across gi and nogi. I even made sure to adopt his stone-cold facial expression--mouth always closed and only breathing through the nose.

Now it’s time for you to decide your hero and which of their super powers to adopt.

I’ve organized my list of Jiu Jitsu greats (though I’m sure I’ve missed some) by the system they play along with my recommendations based on Gi vs Nogi, and your positional development from the Grade Your Fundamentals module. ​ ​

Which famous grappler would you like to be? Which game makes you daydream about Jits?

Don’t waste time trying to reinvent the wheel. Build on what’s already-proven.

Attack Systems:

Triangle/Armbar/Omoplata System (Closed Guard, mount, back control) -- Gi or Nogi Minimum Prereq: Guard Recovery ​ Submissions/Microsystems: Closed guard, mount, omoplata, triangle, armbar, Gogo variants, ​ monoplata, Rubber Guard Instructors/Competitors: John Danaher, Eddie Bravo, Gordon Ryan, Bernardo Faria, Eddie ​ Bravo, Marcelo Garcia, Andre Galvao, Jeremiah Vance, Richie Martinez, Xande Ribeiro

Ashi Garami System (X/SLX, Leg Entanglement) -- Gi or Nogi Minimum Prereq: Guard Recovery ​

Submissions/Microsystems: Inside heel hook, Outside heel hook, Kneebar, straight achilles ​ lock, cross achilles lock, 50-50, toehold, X/Single X, Outside Ashi, Cross Ashi, “Honeyhole”, Kani Basami Instructors/Competitors: John Danaher, Marcelo Garcia, Garry Tonon, Rousimar Palhares, ​ ​ ​ Dean Lister, Eddie Cummings, Gordon Ryan, , Craig Jones, Nicky Ryan, Marvin Castelle ​ ​

Kimura System (Kimura Trap)-- Gi or Nogi Minimum Prereqs: Guard Recovery, Sweeping ​ ​ ​ Submissions/Microsystems: Kimura lock, armbar, triangle (rear, reverse, and standard), RNC ​ (w back transition) Instructors/Competitors: John Danaher, David Avellan, Vagner Rocha, Garry Tonon, Keenan ​ Cornelius, David Avellan, Rafael Lovato Jr., Ethan Crelinsten, PJ Barch

Back Attack System -- Gi and Nogi ​ ​ Minimum Prereqs: Guard Recovery, Sweeping, Guard Passing ​ ​ ​ Submissions/Microsystems: RNC, Rear Ezekiel, Bow and Arrow Choke, Truck & Twister, Leg ​ Drag, De La Riva/Berimbolo, Kimura Trap Instructors/Competitors: John Danaher, Marcelo Garcia, Mike Musemeci, Felipe Pena, Marcus ​ Almeida, Mendes Bros., Miyao Bros., Keenan Cornelius, Edwin Najmi, Rubens Charles Cobrinha, Nicky Ryan, Gordon Ryan

Front Head Lock System (head & arm control, chinstrap, etc.) -- Nogi Only Minimum Prereqs: Guard Recovery, Sweeping, Guard Passing, Standup ​ Entries/Microsystems: Guillotine, D’arce, Anaconda, japanese necktie, north-south choke, ​ Straight Snapdown, Cross snapdown, “Marcelotine” Instructors/Competitors: John Danaher, Josh Hinger, Marcelo Garcia, Tony Ferguson, Rafael ​ ​ ​ Mendes, Robert Drysdale, Keenan Cornelius, Kron Gracie, Garry Tonon, Richie Martinez

Action: Narrow down the attack systems to your minimum prerequisite number. Note: these ​ positional prerequisites are not ironclad, but don’t confuse the exception for the rule.

Then narrow down to the top 1 or 2 super heros you could see yourself imitating. Search a competitor’s name along with one of the submission system keywords (in orange font). Here’s a good resource: https://www.bjjheroes.com/category/techniques. ​ ​

Does visualizing yourself doing it make the hair on the back of your neck stand up? If yes, do it. If no, look up another one. Then take out a piece of paper and write the following:

1. [Competitor Name]’s [Attack System] 2. [One simple setup/entry you can reasonably learn, drill, and attempt live] 3. [One submission/sweep you can reasonably learn, drill, and attempt live]

Example: Name: Vagner Rocha’s Kimura Trap ​ One Entry: Knee on belly, hook arm ​ One submission: Kimura Shoulder Lock ​