NOTE: Slight background noise in the first couple minutes will clear up. Keith also has an incredibly affordable and great Patreon, linked below. 
- This week we're looking at a few key details for improving RNCs that don't rely on the straitjacket system, namely from Keith Krikorian and Ethan Crelinsten. Some of the matches referenced in the episode are linked below:
FREE VIDEOS:
- Ethan Crelinsten vs Fabricio Andrey
- Ethan shows a 'go-to' arm switching RNC finish
- Ethan showing his 'long arm' technique
- Instructional Finish on the Back by Ethan
PAYWALL VIDEOS:
- Keith Krikorian Patreon
- Keith Krikorian vs Tom Halpin
- Eddie Bravo's JiuJitsu OT (feat. Keith & Ethan)

We're back! It's been a long time. Life has been wild this past year, and things are starting to get easier--I didn't want to upload until things could be consistent. Thanks for being patient, and for the kind messages! In this episode I talk about my love/hate relationship with deep half guard, and why I'm currently staying away from it as a primary guard. I also talk a little bit about the instructional that I'll be filming this July. I think it'll be unique, something new to the table, and I hope that folks are able to enjoy it! 

Much love!!!

We're back! On this episode we're talking about Rafa Mendes, his protege Cole Abate, and Rafa's contributions to the NoGi world. Below are some links from some of the techniques and rolling moments discussed in the episode. Thanks for bearing with me. I've had a summer filled with a lot of loss and illness; life goes on, and I'll continue to strive to make the best of life! I appreciate everyone's support so much! Shouts to Less Impressed More Involved's BJJ's Rafa Mendes video this week: 

Rafa Mendes vids: 

• Anaconda Choke Lesson
• Guillotine Choke Lesson
• Rafa anaconda vs Andre Galvao
• Rafa armlock from arm saddle vs Andre Galvao
• Rafa darce vs Keenan Cornelius false reap
• Rafa anaconda vs Cole Abate false reap
• NoGi Leg Drag lesson
• Rafa guard retention study
• Rafa NoGi Flow
• Rafa NoGi Highlight 

Some things I didn't cover in the episode were tempo shifts--moments of speeding up and slowing down. Rafa told us that was a critical element of his JiuJitsu. A massive thing that I didn't discuss is Rafa was one of the first people to really seek out the bottom arm seatbelt (weak side) back control position, and strongly advocated body triangles over hooks. Rafa and his brother Gui also notoriously avoided playing half guard, and they thought it was a poor position for smaller grapplers on bottom position. They were also huge proponents of 'active toes' and not playing top positions on the tops of the feet. 

In the aftermath of Tye Ruotolo vs Garry Tonon, I expect to see Tye being a strong favorite to make the 88kg finals at ADCC, and I see Garry Tonon going into ADCC potentially looking better than ever at 77kg. People not looking at Tye as one of the best pound-for-pound guys on the planet are insane, and people writing Garry off after this loss are also insane. 

We cover a lot in today's episode--heel hooks for recreational players, as well as a super simple tip to get heel hooked less often, as well as ideas on how to start breaking down rolling footage and competition footage for study. To close out, the basics of 'inside position' are discussed, and how this can be learned through studying tape.

Links: The Andrew Wiltse heel hook video and 'Ballerina Foot' heel hook defense video by Craig Jones talked about, as well as a link to The Goldtown MMA YouTube Channel.

Thanks to BMac/10th Planet Decatur for sponsoring the podcast! Here's a link to BMac's Jedi Archive, updated weekly with content. The promo code JEDIDOLLAR will get you one month of access for $1, and it's $29 per month after that: https://bmac.mykajabi.com/a/18466/3rnpEzsV

Thanks for being patient with me, everyone! Today's episode is all about the mount. 

BTW, thanks to BMac/10th Planet Decatur for sponsoring the podcast! Here's a link to BMac's Jedi Archive, updated weekly with content. The promo code JEDIDOLLAR will get you one month of access for $1, and it's $29 per month after that: https://bmac.mykajabi.com/a/18466/3rnpEzsV

The mount is criminally slept on until the upper levels of the game. Some huge tips to improve your mount are staying relaxed, because dead weight = heavy weight. Using your head to pin their head, using the soles of your feet to "palm" their thighs, and using punch or Ezekiel choke threats to kill the kipping escapes are also helpful.

Some useful videos:
Gordon Ryan's Mount Game
BMac Punch Choke Highlight
Craig Jones Ezekiel Choke
Seph Smith Arm Triangle Tips
The Kipping Escape

ADCC has an incredibly unusual ruleset and point system. To help everyone get more familiar with these rules before the West Coast Trials this weekend on Flograppling (https://www.flograppling.com/events/7379684-2022-adcc-west-coast-trial) I wanted to talk about some of the unique aspects of this tournament. I've been watching ADCC live since 2009, and despite becoming very familiar with the rules over the years, there are even a couple new things I didn't know until recording this.

For some footage of things referenced...here's the Craig Jones vs Mason Fowler match from 2019 where you can see multiple instances of Craig not getting scored on due to him having a submission locked up while going from top to bottom. The link is time-coded to 7:44. Notice Craig is never on bottom in this transition for more than 3 seconds without the guillotine locked up. As long as that guillotine is on, points can't be scored against him: https://youtu.be/Quwf3HA9d20?t=464 Also, at 8:41 (https://youtu.be/Quwf3HA9d20?t=521) Craig rolls for a kimura and ends up on bottom, but because he initiated the kimura, points are not scored.

Here is the moment where Rafa Mendes avoided a -1 in the finals for ending up in guard because he initiated an anaconda choke on Cobrinha: https://youtu.be/5-IZHyH1Vro?t=114 and again later in the same match: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-IZHyH1Vro&t=359s

Here's the exact moment in the Keenan Cornelius vs Romulo Barral match where Keenan was gets a -1 for having a knee on the mat for 3 seconds during the points-period (2nd half) of the match: https://youtu.be/4Ij4DaVhhO4?t=474

Here's the Gordon Ryan vs Xande match I referenced in regards to regulation vs OT having more weight in the event of a judge's decision: https://www.flograppling.com/video/6012782-xande-ribeiro-vs-gordon-ryan-adcc-2017-world-championships

Feel free to reach out to me anytime at https://www.instagram.com/drewdarce/

Wanted to post some quick thoughts after last night's WNO event. 

Sorry for the brief hiatus! Out of town the past 2 weekends competing and coaching, as well as doing podcasts for BJJ Mental Models and The Grappling Discourse. This episode is a bit of a departure--I wanted to talk about a new interest that has developed for me within our sport, as well as the differences between the 3 hats that have to be worn by most upper belts and teachers in the art (instructor, coach, and mentor). I also would love to know if any of you have any new interests in the sport, or even outside of the sport, and I'd love to get some questions for a new Q&A portion of the podcast. Feel free to DM me on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/drewdarce/) or if you don't have IG, you can reach me here: https://www.reddit.com/user/Darce_Knight/

Next episode we'll finally get to that unique ADCC info! 

Much love to everyone! 

When we have bad training sessions, they usually fall into 2 categories. In this episode, we break down these major categories and some approaches to handling these experiences. This is important not only to improve, but more importantly to keep us optimistic and from circling the drain with negative thoughts and feelings about this very demanding sport. 

Also, I was on my friend Mat Skaff's podcast yesterday talking about ADCC History, some of the best matches there, ADCC 2022, and some other ADCC trivia. If you want to listen to that, it's here: Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/6MdgixoEtorqteqvYxbzLI?si=UKDZs0mnSQqajp0fc9Amhg Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/adcc-history-with-drew-darce/id1483521780?i=1000553233494