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Learn the unbearable mount of Rickson Gracie

Once, a curious fellow asked the now-coral-belt coach Joe Moreira, a UFC veteran and trainer to stars like Kimo Leopoldo and Marco Ruas, what had been the most memorable and instructive fight in his long trajectory, which includes matches in Brazil, the U.S. and Japan, where he competed in judo. 

Moreira, a skilled black-belt since 1984, didn't have to think: "That tournament where I fought Rickson in two finals, in my weight class and the absolute, was certainly one of the most memorable ones to me." And what could Joe have learned in that tournament in Rio, at Fluminense Club, on November 23, 1987?

"What I can't forget to this day was his mount. Because I had a trait: I loved it when my opponent would come full of pressure, trying to crush me. That was when I felt at home, certain of what to do and how to use my opponent's force and weight against himself, even if I was under the mount. But with Rickson nothing worked."

Joe Moreira then concluded: "When he mounted me, he appeared to weigh as much as a feather, but with such stability and total control that I couldn’t avoid it. Something unbelievable, that I never saw before. Or after, really."

Rickson, in the occasion, took the gold medal in the medium heavy and absolute, and was interviewed by the newspaper O Globo about the submission he used on Joe Moreira:

"The fight was not easy, and just the fact that he didn't run from it already proves his qualities as a black-belt. I follow a tradition of more than 60 years in my family, and jiujitsu is my very life. I don't go in to lose."

Learn a little bit about Rickson's unbearable lightness when mounting, with this valuable lesson.
Rickson Academy Avatar Rickson Academy posted to Fundamentals

Understanding the belly-down armlock

Whenever you find yourself on the bottom, playing guard, and your training partner has a bad posture with the arm extended, you can attack this arm.

Watch in the following class Master Rickson teaching every adjustment for a perfect belly-down armbar, and never miss this submission again.

The idea of the position is to climb on your training partner using the connection of the thigh and then use your hip and legs to trap their shoulder. 

The crucial aspect of this position is understanding that you need to use your hip more than your legs. You must know how to use leverage to stretch your opponent's arm.   

Watch Master Rickson's students practicing the position to learn how to use the hip and legs to finish the position. 

Keep your eyes and ears open for all the details. Keep training hard!

Understanding the belly-down armbar

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From the turtle position to side control

You are belly-down with your knees and arms on the ground (turtle position), and your opponent can smash you, go to your back, or even choke you.

In this excerpt of one of the “Master’s Tips,” you will find the first steps to protect yourself. First, ensure your neck is safe and move to prevent your opponent from taking your back.

Check out the entire lesson here! There is a complete series about turtle escapes in the “Master’s Tips” section.
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Getting a better understanding of hip movements

In this video, Master Rickson shows the importance of moving your hips in the guard, creating a safe distance, and maintaining the connection to your opponent.

A better understanding of angles and leverage will maximize your efficiency in defending yourself and create opportunities to finish your opponent.

This is an excerpt from one class in our platform's "Live Classes" section. To watch the entire class, click here

Keep training hard.
Rickson Academy Avatar Rickson Academy posted to Fundamentals

Fine adjustments for the armlock from the guard

In the following class, Rickson Gracie shows little adjustments that will help you never lose an armbar from the closed guard again, even when your opponent is trying to protect themselves. 

The most crucial detail of this position is to avoid stepping on your training partner's hip to start moving, because you will find yourself in a weak position. 

So, what you want to do is lift and angle your hips and, at the same time,  use your legs to climb your opponent. You must ensure that one of your legs will go over your opponent's shoulder and the other right under their armpit, keeping the pressure with your knees. 

Watch Master Rickson's demonstration, and his students practicing, to understand the angle you should have and how to use your legs to trap your opponent's arm.

Keep your eyes and ears open for all the details. Keep training hard!

Fine adjustments for the armbar from the guard

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Latest Comments

David Avatar
David commented:

Thank you

March 22, 2023 02:21 PM

Joe Mendoza  Avatar
Joe Mendoza commented:

Great details!

March 22, 2023 11:24 AM

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