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In this, our third issue of the "BJJ 101" blog series, we cover one of the - if not the - most fundamental position in Brazilian jiu-jitsu: closed guard. Whether you're a guard player or a passer, or somewhere in between, there's no denying that mastering the closed guard is absolutely indispensable to your game. 

What do you really know about the closed guard? In BJJ, closed guard is often the very first position that you learn. And that's for a reason. For the unseasoned jiu-jitsu practitioner, it's the safest place to be. There are very few things your opponent can do to you unless they escape from the closed guard, and there are a great many things that you can do to your opponent. 

In this blog post, we’ll explore the essentials of the closed guard position in jiu-jitsu, including a basic overview of the position, key principles for maintaining control and employing it your best ability, and some common submissions that you’ll want to add to your toolkit.

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Want to know a secret? You don't have to spend your life on the mat to amass a professional-level knowledge of Brazilian jiu-jitsu. 

Not only do most of us lack the time - we have families, careers, school, and any number of other hobbies or obligations - but it is absolutely taxing on the human body. There is definitely a fine line between training just enough, and too much... as many of us older than 30 have found out (numerous times). In fact, even the pros don't spend each and every waking moment on the mat. They recognize that it's entirely unfeasible, and in many ways, counterproductive. 

No, the best practitioners in the world recognize that there is an optimal balance between training the body on-the-mat, and training the brain off-the-mat, through studying BJJ. But just as there are more productive ways to physically train jiu-jitsu, there are more productive, and efficient, ways to mentally study the gentle art. Heard the saying: "work smarter, not harder"? The same applies with jiu-jitsu.

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It's officially spring, and while most people might be looking forward to warmer weather and greener views, for those in the jiu-jitsu community, spring means one thing: the IBJFF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship. 

This year did not disappoint, and for many of the amazing Kingz athletes in our roster, the views were all gold. 

With absolutely stacked divisions and some of the world's best of the best, an incredible 14 of our athletes battled it out in electrifying matches, earning their positions on the top of the podium... and for some, twice! While the Pans might not be THE most prestigious jiu-jitsu event of the year (the IBJJF Worlds takes that honor) it IS one of the Grand Slam events and gives BJJ fans a peek into what to expect in the coming months. Based on the performances, we're in for a treat: impeccable technique, submission after submission, and double-gold victories. 

Here's the list of our Kingz athletes who came out victorious at Pans... 

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It's the goal, isn't? To dominate your opponents and rise victoriously at the top of the podium, a gold medal around your neck. This vision doesn't change, whether the podium is at the IBJJF Worlds, or at the local tournament in your hometown. Well... there might be a few more people in the stands in one of them. 

Nevertheless, wherever you envision yourself, the fact remains: you can't expect to hit the top of the podium and call yourself champion of [insert tournament name here] without training for it... at least not with any amount of confidence and consistency. And by "training," I don't mean just attending your average, every day, regularly--scheduled classes. 

Competition-style training is different. On top of that, competition-style training that prepares you to reach - and win - that epic finals match, is even more different. And you don't have to be a student at one of the big-name competitive academies to achieve those lofty goals. 

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Love is a funny thing, isn't it?

You could be walking down the street, minding your own business, then peer through the windows into a Brazilian jiu-jitsu gym and wham! Love at first sight. Or maybe it wasn't at first sight necessarily, but at first roll. You decided to try this thing that everyone was talking about - even your grandmother, who heard about it on Joe Rogan (don't ask me how she knows about JRE). Then you find yourself enamored with the gentle art from the very first, sweaty, technique-less round.

But sometimes it takes a while... 

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