The Power of Competition in the Martial Arts

The idea of sport competition in the martial arts is a relatively new concept recently adopted in the late twentieth century. Modern schools of Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Tang Soo Do, Kung Fu, Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Muay Thai, Mixed Martial Arts, and Kickboxing, for example, either choose to implement competition in their schools or leave it out. Many traditional martial artists disdain competition as they feel it erodes the true spirit of martial combat. However, many others realize the power of competition and promote it among their students. This article explains why I think that competition has a useful place in martial arts and what the benefits are to practitioners.

I will start by saying that I completely respect a student or instructor's decision to not make competition a part of their training. I believe that martial arts are highly individualistic and everybody has the right to choose what they do and do not take from them. I would never criticize a part time practitioner, nor would I criticize someone who devotes a major portion of their life to the arts. Likewise, I would never criticize the student who shies away from competition nor the champion who lives and breathes tournaments and awards. Everyone has the right to write their own life story and martial arts can play whatever role they choose, no matter how large or small.

Competition has had a positive impact on my individual training in many ways. Some of my fondest memories of martial arts over the years have involved tournaments. I am realistic and realize that sparring in a ring does not accurately translate into street confrontations. After all if we trained every night by pounding each other into submission with full contact blows, we would be nursing a never ending string of injuries that would impact many other areas of our lives. However you are engaging in an activity that simulates fighting without causing continuous injuries to yourself and classmates. It is up to the student's common sense to discern between fighting in a ring and defending their life on the street, and apply appropriate force to each situation.

The first positive impact is that competition sharpens martial arts training. Most often in competition you will be required to perform a specific form or kata based on your belt rank and skill level. Once the you pick your routine, you should then practice that form relentlessly in the weeks and months leading up to your competition. During this process, your central nervous system will begin to perform those specific movements with increasing efficiency and the pattern will be ingrained into your muscle memory at a high level. If you begin competing at the white belt level, and compete two to three times a year, you will have the opportunity to engage in this kind of intense training with multiple forms as you progress higher in rank. Those brief two or three month spurts of concentrated practice on a single form will become ingrained in you for a long time. Of course, you will have to continue the practice of those forms, but it will be more of a maintenance regiment. Some may argue that true martial artists should be training in this manner regardless; however, competition training gives us a quantifiable incentive to drive us.

Furthermore, along side with the ranking system (which I will discuss in another article), competition teaches the power of goal setting and achieving. The best goals are quantifiable, and a legitimate quantifiable goal is earning a first, second, or third place trophy, or not placing at all. Whether a student wins or loses, the experience gives them an opportunity to reflect on their performance and see what areas they need to improve. Competition training shows that success can be achieved through trail and error. In my experience, I have found that the more I hammered away on a specific form or sparring style, the greater and faster my improvement was. I measured that improvement by the medals I won at competitions, which steadily increased over time. I remember taking a third place medal, then going home to tweak my form to forge a better performance. A month or two later, after continual practice, I would return to take second place with the same form. Repeating the process again led me to begin taking more gold medals. It is true that the results that tournament judges are subjective. However, subjectivity beings to dissolve after you engage in constant practice for long periods of time. Before you know it you will be attaining great results no matter who is judging you.

Finally, competition teaches you the spirit of... are you ready for this... COMPETITION. Like it or not, competition is a very real part of life. Whether you are applying for a university, trying to find a job, or even attaining an intimate relationship, competition will always be present. You will come across people with superior skills and experience than you as well as those who are inferior. There will be days when you have favorable conditions and those where everything seems to go against you. In martial arts competition you may face people who are bigger, stronger, faster, younger, and more experienced than you. The same will happen in every other area of your life. The mark of a true warrior is the ability to overcome those odds and give your very best. Let us say you lose to a superior opponent in the martial arts arena or in life. You are given an excellent opportunity to learn and grow! If you dig deep and win, it will build your confidence and self-esteem. Either way you come away with a positive experience that you can take with you the rest of your life. Growth is rarely comfortable.

To summarize, I believe that competition is an excellent tool for any martial artist. You are never too old or inexperienced to start. The main objective is not to collect trophies and titles but experiencing self-improvement within your art. Through it you will sharpen your skills, learn the power of goal setting, and build indomitable spirit that will teach you to overcome the obstacles of life. I encourage all martial artists to try it if they have the opportunity, it will make you a better martial artist, regardless if you win or lose.

Martial Arts - In a Fight, Do They Really Work?

Having trained many years in martial arts, I am confident in my ability to defend myself in most any situation, but what would happen in a real-life scenario? There are many variables to consider before answering that question.

1. What is the situation? There are a vast number of ways someone may be attacked. It could be a basic one-on-one bar fight, multiple attackers, sneak attack, attacker with a weapon, multiple attackers with weapons, rape attempt, grab from behind, etc.

2. Which kind of martial art does the person have? There is a vast difference from someone trained in Tai chi than there is from someone trained in jiu jitsu, karate, tae kwon do, hapkido or aikido. Each will have it's advantages and disadvantages.

3. What level of training do the combatants have?

Contrary to what your sensei might tell you, no one martial art is going to be perfect in all situations. The evidence of this can be seem in the original Ultimate Fighting Championships. Royce Gracie, a man I've personally trained with and respect a great deal, went undefeated in the original tournaments, using Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art adapted from Kodokan Judo and Japanese jujutsu, primarily focusing on taking your opponent down to the ground and applying a finishing maneuver such as a choke or arm bar. Gracie was in some cases outweighed by over 100 lbs, yet defeated wrestlers, boxers, kick boxers and karate experts.

Disciplines such as boxing, kung fu and taekwondo had their weaknesses exposed -- when taken to the ground, they had no idea what to do. While extremely dangerous standing up, these competitors had no chance against skilled wrestlers and grapplers. Not that they COULDN'T win, as a single powerful kick or punch could end the fight at any time, but rather that there was a significant hole in their game.

Wrestlers and jiu-jitsu experts are certainly not invincible either. If either does not learn stand-up fighting techniques, they are prone to being knocked out by a good boxer or kick boxer.

This change led to cross-training between disciplines. Now, many hybrid forms of martial arts exist, which are much more effective in real life situations. Still, each martial art has a set of rules for the safety of it's practitioners. No eye gouging, kicks to the groin, hair pulling, and so forth. Real life fights may include all of these things, and if not prepared, all of these actions can end a fight. There is a reason they are not allowed -- they work!

Now let's look into some of the variables we mentioned above and explore them a little deeper.

For a standard bar fight, one-on-one, face to face combat, a person with even a moderate amount of martial arts (in this case including disciplines such as boxing, wrestling or military combat techniques) training should easily defeat another person without any training, assuming relatively similar size and strength. (The adage that skill and technique will win over size and strength is largely true, but a 120 lb woman will likely not be able to defeat a 300 lb man unless her skill is substantially greater than his, or she knows exceptional self defense tactics). In this fair fight scenario, any martial art - karate, tae kwon do, muay thai, kung fu, jiu jitsu, judo, aikido, jujutsu, ninjutsu, etc will be extremely effective.

Against multiple attackers, especially when they have weapons, grappling disciplines such as judo and jiu jitsu are limited. They can still be highly effective, especially for expert practitioners, but many techniques (armbars, the guard and mount) are simply not practical if another person is left to attack you. Stand up techniques, especially kicks such as those used in taekwondo and karate, are more practical against multiple attackers, but unlike in movies, getting attacked my multiple attackers is extremely dangerous no matter who you are, and you are unlikely to win regardless of what disciplines you know.

Skill level is a huge factor in fight success. I know many people who have trained 10 or more years in karate, but couldn't win a street fight against a person with a month of good jiu-jitsu training. This is not because the discipline itself is not effective - it's because of the actual training they've received. Many dojos do not involve actual contact, and black belts are given out based on forms, practiced in front of a mirror. Ten years of training may equate to excellent form and style and flashy moves, but until you've been punched in the mouth or thrown to the mat, the real-life application of it is questionable. Others have 'fought' in tournaments, with headgear and rules against nearly everything, and a referee to stop action after each 'point.' In a street fight, it doesn't end until somebody is unconscious, gives up, or the combatants are pulled apart.

To express this, I once witnessed a fight between a black belt in one of the Asian martial arts (I can't remember which), who got in a fight with a skinny, middle aged guy with street savvy. The black belt did a flashy roundhouse kick towards the other man, missing by about three feet. I'm hoping he was just showing off, and not actually aiming for him, but I can't be sure. He followed that up with a loud kiai and kata pose, to which the middle aged guy responded with a swift kick to the groin. Black belt boy crumpled to the ground, and proceeded to get pummeled relentlessly until we pulled the guy off him. This was a result of mirror training vs real life fighting techniques.

In short, martial arts training IS effective, but doesn't guarantee success. Often the best defense is leaving the situation before it escalates to the point of physical violence.

Top 10 Aikido Techniques

Aikido is derived from three Japanese words. Ai, to join, Ki means spirit, and Do means ways. Generally, aikido is a form of art that fuses the body, spirit and mind in order to find peaceful ways of overcoming challenges in life.

Morehei Ueshiba created the Aikido Japanese form of martial art. People in his area usually call him as O sensei, means the great teacher. Aikido techniques involve throws and joint locks. These techniques are developed from kenjutso and Jujitsu. Aikido's way uses your opponent's energy against themselves. Aikido's method emphasizes the correct reaction against movements and dynamics of motion. Here are ten Aikido techniques.

Technique 1
Ikkyo. In this technique, control can be gain by gripping your opponent's elbow with single hand and using the other hand to grip his wrist. This can result a leveraging opponent on the floor. Moreover, this grip applies pressure to the ulnar nerve.

Technique 2
Nikyo. This technique involves wrist lock that can bring the muscles together. The target may experience a painful pressure to the nerve and twisted arm.

Technique 3
Sankyo. Here, the wrist is turned, which results upward tightness. The motion advances all through the elbow, arm and shoulder.

Technique 4
Yonkyo. This is a shoulder control which is almost the same to Ikkyo. Except that, the forearm on the opposite side should be grip with both of your hands. Here, pressure is applied on the radial never of your opponent.

Technique 5
Gokyo. This is a variation of ikkyo, wherein the hand that grips your opponent's wrist is reversed. In addition, shoulders and arm are rotated with a downward pressure which is applied to the elbow.

Technique 6
Kotogaeshi: A throwing technique which involves wrist locks and throws that stretches the extensor digitorum.

Technique 7
Iriminage. This technique is a throw that is known as the entering the body. Here you are going to move into the space occupied by your opponent. This method is a classic akin way of the clothesline technique.

Technique 8
Koshinage. A hip throw, wherein you have to position your hip slightly lower than your opponent's hip. This can help you flip your opponent with a pivoting action.

Technique 9
Tenchinage. This is known as the heaven and earth throw. Here, you will have to move forward while sweeping one of your hands high which represent heaven. And the lower hand represents the earth. This can cause an unbalance body motion to your opponent which makes him topple over.

Technique 10
Kaitennage. This is a rotation throw, wherein you have to move your opponent's arm backwards, until you lock his shoulder's joints. Maintain this hold to apply more pressure.

3 Secrets About BJJ

The 3 secrets about BJJ are not really ideas that have been locked in a Jiu Jitsu room for years. It's just the fact that most people who study BJJ do not realize it, so therefore they are called 'secrets'.

Every one may think to be successful in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu than the have to be super strong and know a ton of advanced moves. Well, having those extra factors are great, but they are not the key factors on becoming great or really really good in the art of BJJ. If you want to excel in grappling (another common way to refer to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) then your mindset should never be that of beating up someone with pure raw strength until they are bleeding from the ears and eyes. Well, probably too much sarcasm, but you can picture that horrible scene and know that BJJ is and will never be like that. So, I say that you should have the right 'attitude' in BJJ. Now I say attitude is a secret because a lot of practitioners of BJJ do not understand the quality of the sport. And that is what you will get from me.

Another secret is to be determined. Having the determination to thrive in one of the fastest growing sports in the world, BJJ, is something everyone and especially 'you' should have. Not only determination for grappling, but in life. The techniques in BJJ can play a huge role in your occupation and everyday living. Jiu Jitsu is such a fun sport where you will want to know everything right then and there, but that is just simply too much. Learning moves and techniques will come along the way as you make your journey to become a great grappler and a successor in life.

Okay, now we can get to the third and final secret I promised you. It's not really a secret, but I guarantee that it will change your perspective on BJJ drastically. Your mind is the most important tool you can use in BJJ and life. Think about it for a second...everything you can possibly do processes through your mind! So how in the world can't you use it?

How To Improve Your Grappling And Jiu Jitsu Game With The 5 Levels Of Learning

Almost every Grappler I know is always looking for ways to improve their game and make their training more effective. I've found that by breaking down your learning into 5 levels it will enable you to become a more technical grappler in a shorter amount of time.

So, with that said let's get right into The 5 Levels of Learning. I'll give you each level and then a brief but clear explanation so you can get started right away in implementing them into your training.

Level 1: Technique Drilling. This is the foundational level where you and your partner will drill your technique with no resistance at all. The only resistance that is acceptable is that which will help your partner in learning the body mechanics of the technique. So, your job as a partner is to be a 'good partner' and not lay there like a limp noodle. Really help your partner to position himself properly until he can do it on his own.

Level 2: Drilling with Resistance. In Level 2 drilling your partner will start offering you resistance. However, he/she will not counter you or defeat you in any way. Your partner simply moves in a natural and flowing nature. Now you can start to transform your technique into a more realistic or live situation. To facilitate this learning phase it is important that your partner does not counter your technique in any way. Your partner only moves around and flows with you so you can learn to execute your technique better.

Level 3: Drilling and Countering for Success. Level 3 requires your partner to add a little bit more pressure and now he/she may start to counter you. However, he will not totally shut your game down. He will give you success but only after he makes you work through some of his countering techniques. What's really happening here is your partner is making you work harder. If you've gone through Level 1 and 2 he will assume you have the technique down and now it's time to be able to execute it under more resistance. When you feel your partner has worked hard enough he will earn success. At this level do not jut give the technique to him. Make him earn it.

Level 4: Drilling and Countering for Non-Success. This Level may seem like live wrestling but actually it's not. But it is very close. Level 4 requires you to be able execute a technique or series of techniques against a partner who will counter you if he can. This should be played as a game in which each person has a specific goal. For example; partner one's goal would be to execute a takedown. Partner two's goal would be to do whatever possible to not get taken down. Only 1 partner will have success. This will give each partner a good snap shot of what his or her strengths and weaknesses are. This also builds confidence in your game because at this level you start to realize that success may or may not come. It also subconsciously forces the athlete to start thinking about 'game strategy'.

Level 5: Live Grappling. Level 5 is where it's time to open up and start live grappling. This is the level where you want to really go for the moves you've been learning and practicing. It's not the time to play a conservative game. It's time to have fun with your training and really explore what you can do when a partner gives you full resistance. Remember to keep safety in mind and demonstrate good respect and sportsmanship towards your partner.

Well, that's it for now. I wish you much success as you utilize The 5 Levels of Learning. For more information visit http://www.grapplinginstitute.com

Competition 2 Time National Karate Champion 1999 NAGA Champion 2001 NAGA Place Winner 2 Time BJJ Pan American Competitor Multiple time NAGA and Grapplers Quest competitor and placewinner. Background Started martial arts at the age of 13 after getting beat up by the town bully following a neighborhood hockey game. He was attacked from behind with a hockey stick, landed flat on his belly with the bully on his back beating him up. After one of the older kids from the neighborhood broke up the fight Jim went home and urged his parents to sign him up for karate, and they did. 1995 passed his Black Belt test in Soo Bahk Do. Shortly after passed his Instructor Certification. 1995 traveled to Korean for training 1996 opened Fortunato Karate 1997 started learning BJJ

BJJ Collar Choke

The BJJ is a martial art that is pursued by many. If you are into BJJ, there are a series of submission techniques you may need to acquire to make an impressive career or to overcome your opponents. Most of the grappling and submission techniques you will have in BJJ are also used in the MMA fighting contests. Mastering most of the grappling and submission tools will definitely enable you to get the top hand on your competitors. Amongst others, you have the collar choke technique which is used to make your opponent submit in a BJJ match. This method is used to stop the supply of blood to the brain. If the opponent is wearing the gi, then you may need to press hard. This technique could also be used in real life situations to submit or get off aggressors.

This method is not hard to achieve. You just need first, to reach and grab the inside your opponent's collar. An underhand grip is most preferable. Have your fingers curled inside the collar with your thumb outside. For this hold to be effectively doe, it is important to tighten the grip, while putting your free hand at the back of the neck of your opponent. The next thing you should do should be to cross your hands in an x-form reaching your opponent's collar with the other hand as closely as you can to the already tightened grip. This might be a little difficult, but it is worth the try. Using the grip and your thumbs, squeeze tightly around his or her neck.

His two wrists should be inwardly twisted, simultaneously. This will applies pressure on the carotid arteries stopping the blood flow through to your opponent's brain. The twisting of your arms will enable the sharp ulna bones to clamp the arteries. This will result to an instant black out or to submission from your opponent.

The natural thing you would do would be to twist and draw your opponent's head closer to you. This action helps in two ways. It makes it difficult for him or her to strike you while giving you the opportunity to tighten your twist around his neck. A strong hold on your opponent will makes it in such a way that s/he will concentrate on loosening the hold rather than striking. Yes, because the neck is one of the most sensitive parts of the body and ensures the passage of blood to your brain.

Although this method is very effective, it is important also to determine the solidity of the collar before grasping unto it. The gi is usually solid enough and thick to take the hold. You may want to proceed with caution if your opponent is wearing an easy-to-tear kind of collar. Your position is also very important. The closer you are to the opponent, the better and safer it will be for you. This will help you control the opponent without getting any strikes in return.

BJJ Technique - Ankle Lock

Effective Ankle Lock

In BJJ there are many ways of submitting your opponent. You will hear people talk about pinning, reverse or sweeps. Well, the ankle lock is noted to be one of the most effective methods of leading an opponent to submission in martial arts. Most wrestlers and fighters seek this method in submission grappling as well as MMA. However, it is important to know how to work about it. Doing it at the right time and in the right way will score great results if you intend to submit an opponent in Martial Arts.

The Ankle lock or the Achilles hold has gained a lot of popularity with the passing years. It could be understood as being part of the submission techniques and methods that renowned fighters have used all along. People like Erik Paulson and Oleg Taktarov have effectively exposed opponents and submitted them with this technique. Many techniques have been used with the Martial Arts as practiced by the Japanese; some of these were borrowed from the Russian Sambo, the Judo and the Jujitsu from a Japanese tradition. Most of the wrestlers from Japan employed sambo as a prominent tool thus bringing to light the ankle lock technique. It is important to master this technique for reasons of efficacy. As I said above, it is necessary to know how, when and where to apply this technique.

With the ankle lock, you apply two different kinds of pressure to submit your opponent. While extending the foot, there is also a compression on the Achilles' tendon. It could happen that your opponent feels one or both of these pressures at the same time. This will depends on the intensity of the pressure applied, the size of you're for arm and much pain s/he can tolerate. This method could be dangerous for the victim especially in situations where s/he would make a wild spin in an effort to escape the grip. It is often not very effective. If you are on training and your partner makes such a move, the safe thing to do would be to let go rather than put him or her in danger.

There are images and articles about how to do an effective ankle lock. As I said above, it could be dangerous if not well realized. It is also important to take time to study how to do it successfully. Having your coach work with you on methods of escape from this kind of hold could be very rewarding. Staying off it is better than running out when locked in. While on training, it is important to be very sensitive when using this method. It can cause danger to your partner's ligaments. That is why releasing immediately when a wrong attempt of escape is made could be very safe.

If you would want to have your opponent submit in a dual through this technique, then there are some essential things you may want to consider. Be certain that you have the upper hand and an advantage over him or her before doing it. Make sure you are at the ideal position to hold the lock.

My Introduction To The Basics Of BJJ Technique

I have been training in Muay Thai for a couple of years now, and while I absolutely love it, I have been a bit restless and ready for a new challenge. I am fortunate to train in a gym that has only top level professional fighters as instructors, so I have seen some awesome mixed martial artists at work. After some internal debate did I want to concentrate on my hands and focus on boxing? try judo? maybe do a boot camp? I decided it was time to give Brazilian Jiu Jitsu a try.

I have always admired masters of BJJ Technique. The focus, strategic thinking, and mental and physical agility required to perfect this martial art are extraordinary. Even a slightly misplaced hand may mean the difference between winning and losing a match. The absolute precision required of the BJJ athlete combined with the necessity of creating strategy on the move is profoundly challenging.

I am someone who likes to understand things and be good at what I do. This makes starting a physically and mentally challenging martial art from scratch somewhat problematic for me. So I decided that I would take a couple of private training lessons in basic BJJ Technique before beginning to roll with the class. It is one of the best training decisions I have ever made.

My instructor is Steve Headden, former ISCF Middle Weight World Champion. Steve is a former Army Ranger, a professional MMA fighter, five time Pan American Medalist, and two time World Games Champion with black belts in both Judo and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Basically an all around Bad Ass, and here he is teaching me the basics of BJJ Technique. I am seriously lucky. The best part about it is that he is an awesome teacher and one of the nicest guys you will ever meet. Definitely the speak softly and no need to carry a big stick type.

For our first lesson, Steve suggested we do some basic self defense so that I could get a feel for how BJJ Technique can be useful in real world situations. What an eye opener! I am not a skittish person. The area I grew up in is not easy, I have lived in New York, traveled in the Middle East, Latin America and other parts of the developing world. I know how to be aware of my surroundings, not put myself in dangerous situations and if I do happen to be in a difficult situation I can handle myself. On top of that I have been studying Thai Boxing for a couple of years. I am no expert, but I am not a push over either. All my thoughts of being able to handle myself went out the window as Steve used a couple of simple moves to get me to the ground and incapacitate me before I had any idea what was going on.

Steve then proceeded to show me how to counter these attacks and we moved into learning some of the vocabulary of BJJ Technique: Guard, Half Guard, Mount, Side Mount, Rear Mount and North South. All in all it was a very full hour and I was seriously glad I had brought my notebook. It was everything I hoped it would be, physically demanding, mentally challenging and the promise of becoming even more so. . . . I can not wait until our next class.

How to Win a MMA Fight - Destroy Your Opponent With These 3 Styles

The fastest growing sport in the world, MMA, can easily help us find out what is the most practical form of fighting. The dynamic of the sport changes every year with a fighter bringing something different to the table and making us question best training. We give you the top 3 martial arts of today to train for mixed-martial arts competition.

BJJ.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is the form that brought forth the beginning of the UFC. With the Gracie family in his corner, Royce ripped through each of his opponents with relative ease. BJJ has become the supreme submission fighting martial art.

BJJ has evolved since the Gracie's brought it into the limelight. Using a No-Gi style makes it more a challenge to implement a submission on its own. As well a strong wrestling background is required to get the take-down.

Grappling.

The top fighters of today have strong wrestling backgrounds. Many of the top ten fighters in the world are former National or even Olympic champions. Get training wrestling.

A strong wrestling background can enable you to dictate exactly where you want the fight to take place. You are able to take your competition down at will, or defend take-downs and stay up and strike if you want.

Thai Boxing.

The top martial art for striking is by far Muay Thai Kickboxing. With it you learn to strike every point of your opponent's body using elbows, knees, shins, or fists.

A strong wrestling background will also come in handy with Thai Boxing so that you are able to defend any take-down, to stand up and strike your opponent at will.

We gave you today's top 3 styles to become an all-around complete fighter. Make sure you are sparring MMA style and putting all these styles together combined. An MMA conditioning program should be utilized to make sure you're able to combine these skills for at least 3x5 minute rounds.

How To Fight In MMA - The Top 3 Styles To Train

Question is always brought up as to which of the martial arts is the best to fight with for MMA. Here we've put together the ultimate combination of 3 martial arts to make the best fighter possible.

BJJ.

This is the martial art that made the UFC come alive. When the Gracie's put their young talented Royce in the cage, he was embarrassing everyone. There is no doubt that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the best submission style to embrace for MMA.

A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter needs to be able to take his opponent to the ground to execute most of the moves they can do. Utilize wrestling to take care of this.

Wrestling.

The best fighters out there today have some of the best wrestling. Some of the top 10 fighters are either National or Olympic champions. Become a wrestler to execute and defend the take down at will.

Becoming a wrestler allows you to take any striker out of their game plan, and dictate the fight on the ground. If you're a better striker, then use your wrestling to defend the take down.

Thai Boxing.

Muay Thai kickboxing is the striking art of choice. Learning how to hit every part of the body using all four points is a great utility. From fists to elbows, and knees to shins you can strike your opponent with everything you got.

Utilize wrestling to prevent the take down. This again will allow you to out strike your opponent and play them into your boxing match.

These by far are the best styles to engage practice in for MMA. Mix the styles together by training them combined for MMA style sparring. Utilize an MMA training program to get the most out of your training.

MMA Training - Which Fighting Arts Are Most Effective?

The sport of Mixed Martial Arts (also known as MMA) is experiencing explosive growth around the globe. Live fights can be viewed on pay-per-view, cable, and even on network television.

A lot has changed since the first MMA event held in the USA back in November of 1993. The original event, the Ultimate Fighting Championships (later known as UFC 1) was originally promoted as a contest to determine which martial art was most effective.

The 8 man tournament featured representatives from different fighting styles including Kickboxing, Karate, Sumo, Shootfighting, Boxing, Savate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, & Wrestling. There was no weight limit and very few rules.

The winner of the tournament was a small man named Royce Gracie. He fought with a unique ground-fighting style that emphasized submissions through chokes and joint locks that few outside of Brazil had seen. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) experienced a surge in popularity as Americans who traditionally trained in martial arts focused on stand-up striking techniques quickly realized that they need to learn ground-fighting techniques in order to stay relevant with the rapidly evolving martial arts scene.

Modern MMA fights rarely pit one style against another. Although fighters may be stronger in one fighting style, all serious competitors cross train in the 3 main aspects of MMA:

Striking - Over the years many martial arts have faded away from MMA competition while others have strengthened. Notably karate, kung fu, and taekwando all have proven to be ineffective in the cage against other striking styles. American boxing, kickboxing, and especially Muay Thai with its emphasis on elbows, kicks, and knees have proven to be the most effective striking art in MMA.

Wrestling - The ability to take an opponent down to the mat, and the ability to defend against takedowns is crucial in MMA. Fighters with a dominant wrestling background often take their opponents down and punish them with strikes while keeping them from getting back up. This style is known as Ground 'N Pound.

Submissions - The early success of BJJ in MMA was in large part due to the fact that most of the opponents had zero submission defense knowledge. Now strikers & wrestlers all train basic submission defense to keep themselves from getting choked or arm-barred.

While many traditional martial arts have been demonstrated to not be effective in cage fights, there are a few exceptions. Former Light Heavyweight UFC Champion, Lyoto Machida, baffles opponents with his unorthodox stance heavily influenced by karate. However his striking style is not pure karate, and incorporates some range, footwork, and striking theory from boxing.

The best fighters in the world are well-rounded in all 3 aspects of MMA. BJ Penn, the top Lightweight MMA fighter in the world is known for his advanced submission skills, but also has incredible takedown defense, an amazing jab and some of the best boxing in the UFC. Former Light Heavyweight Champion and Hall of Famer, Chuck Lidell, was know for his amazing knockout power. Although primarily known as a striker, his extensive wrestling background helped earn him his reputation as a takedown defense expert. Even the best wrestlers in UFC had a very difficult time taking him down and keeping him down.

Any athlete interested in Mixed Martial Arts training or competition should make sure their MMA gym offers instruction on all three of the styles mentioned above.

MMA Workout - Ripped Body Guaranteed

If you're a huge fan of MMA like me, I'm sure you're envious of the ripped and lean body type that most MMA fighters possess. This article will teach you some MMA workout tips that will promote fat loss and the building of lean muscle mass.

In fact, I encourage anyone who wants to lose fat, build lean muscle and get into "fighter shape" to start training with their own version of MMA workouts. It's not surprising that MMA fighters all seem to have that lean, ripped, and athletic look, like Brad Pitt in Fight Club.

It's imperative that we learn from these world class athletes. If you want to look like an MMA fighter who's in excellent shape, you actually have to be in excellent shape yourself. Unfortunately, we can't cut corners and the only way to get a ripped MMA body is to put in hard work via your own MMA-inspired workout routines.

In my opinion, the ripped Hollywood look is the only one to go for. Big and bulky is going out of style. In general, one can see from watching MMA athletes compete, that having slightly less muscle mass is favorable to an outstanding performance. These fighters have the perfect blend of power, explosiveness, endurance, and overall athletic ability.

By following my demanding MMA workout strategies, a ripped body is simply a byproduct of training for optimal performance. I have built my own ripped "MMA fighter's body" by implementing these workout tips into my weekly routine.

In case you missed my point, here's what I'm trying to get across:

Instead of searching for the best way to get a ripped body, you need to start asking yourself how you can get into the best shape of your life.

By training for performance and striving to push your body harder and harder, you'll get a lean and ripped body much faster.

In other words, start using some of my MMA workout tactics as though you're training for an upcoming fight with a top level mixed martial artist, rather than looking for the perfect fat loss workout routine.

You'll be more motivated and will attack your workouts with a much higher intensity that will guarantee you get the ripped body you deserve.

You're probably wondering what my magical MMA workout is that you should be following to get lean and ripped. The answer is that there are literally thousands of workouts you can do to perform like (and therefore look like) a ripped MMA fighter.

Having said that, here are my most important workout principles you need to incorporate to build a fighter's body that is totally ripped and gives you major credibility:

1) Explosive body weight or strength training exercises that hit type II muscle fibers and lead to more lean muscle and better fat loss results.

2) Interval-based training that simulates an actual MMA fight. Fighters use intense interval training to optimize their performance inside the cage.

3) Total body workouts. Simply put, working all muscle groups in a single workout leads to a higher post-workout boost in metabolism. This means increased fat loss for the next 12-72 hours after finishing your own version of an intense MMA workout.

4) Practice variety. MMA fighters are forced to excel in many different areas - from cardio endurance, to short bouts of explosive action, to demanding tests of flexibility and so on. Design your workouts to incorporate strength training, cardio, intervals, agility, speed work and flexibility all into one.

The moral of the story is this - most people are focusing on the wrong thing when it comes to fat loss, muscle building and transforming your body. Start thinking about how you can become faster, stronger, more explosive, gain better flexibility and increase your cardio endurance.

By thinking like a fighter and following a similar MMA workout with the exercise tips I suggested, you'll be much more likely to get ripped and shredded in less time.

MMA Workout Routines

MMA Workout Routine Principle #1- Lift heavy objects to get strong.

It sounds simple, but with all of the bodybuilding and "functional training" information available that seems to work its way into MMA workouts, I've found this simple fact to oftentimes get lost in fancy program design. Look at the strongest and most powerful individuals in the world- powerlifters, Olympic lifters, and strongmen. They all follow this very simple principle.

On the opposite side of the coin- don't go overboard on "functional training." While you should incorporate a number of styles and principles into your MMA workouts, you should also avoid delving too deep into any one style, especially "functional training." I put that term in quotes because any training that you do should be functional (ie help you improve your performance as a fighter), otherwise, why are you doing it? What I mean by "functional training" is this new push to put fighters on balance pads and Bosu balls and have them perform exercises. The belief is that this style of training will best simulate the instabilities found during fighting an opponent and train your nervous system to be ready for these situations.

My belief is that the best way to feel an opponent's actions and reactions and prepare yourself for the unpredictable nature of the sport is by practicing your technique and by sparring. Nothing will better simulate sprawling on an opponent and reacting to his moves while he's under you better than by working on the situation with an actual fighter, not a Bosu ball! It is my belief that your time in the weight room should be spent developing your power to throw harder punches and your strength to help you muscle through takedowns and finish submissions.

A great example of this is Brock Lesnar. I think it's safe to say that he is not the most technically gifted fighter, however, his strength and power are years ahead of any other heavyweight. Another great example is a comparison of GSP and BJ Penn, especially in their first fight. BJ undoubtedly showed he had the far superior striking so Georges was forced to take the fight to the ground. The leg attacks Georges used were not his best timed and, as a result, BJ was driven against the cage. Because BJ stopped his initial shot, Georges was forced to muscle BJ up off the ground in order to finish his takedowns. No amount of balancing on a Bosu ball is going to give your body the horsepower it needs to finish shots like that late in the fight. That kind of strength and power comes from heavy squats and cleans.

MMA Workout Routine Principle #2- Be audible ready.

Audible ready is an idea I stole from Dave Tate of Elitefts.com. It basically means that you should have a plan, but be ready to make changes on the fly. It's always smart to have an outline of your training, but having a set in stone plan is something you want to avoid when considering MMA workouts. Outlining where you want to be at the end of a training camp or a focused block of strength training is important but be ready to take advantage of days you feel great by looking to set new records. There have been days that Tamdan will come in and just not have the firepower needed to get through a heavy lift because he sparred the night before. On days like that you have to be ready to make adjustments and back off enough to where you still get a good workout in, but don't push yourself into an injury or further fatigued state.

MMA Workout Routine Principle #3- Incorporate a number of training styles.

Newsflash- there is no one way to get stronger and more powerful for MMA. Olympic lifting, powerlifting, strongman, kettlebells, medicine balls, band training, and even bodybuilding have a place at some point in your MMA workouts. Committing yourself to one style of training is limiting your strength potential as a fighter.

MMA Workout Routine Principle #4- Use complex, multi-joint exercises.

If you've ever read anything by a reputable strength and conditioning coach you probably know that the bulk of your time in the weight room should be spent on multi-joint exercises as opposed to single-joint, isolation exercises. There are a few reasons why this is a common recommendation.

1. Multi-joint exercises (things like squats and deadlifts to work the legs and back as opposed to leg extensions, leg curls, back extensions, etc) are a more efficient use of your time. If you can get the same stimulus on your legs with 4 sets of squats that you could get from 4 sets of leg extensions and leg curls (so 8 total sets) plus the additional core stability work that you wouldn't get by skipping on the squats, unless you have all the time to train in the world, you'd be crazy to not squat.
2. Multi-joint exercises are more functional. What I mean by this is when you fight your body moves as a unit (watch a fight and see how much squatting, lunging, pulling and pushing takes place). Because your body moves as a coordinated unit in a fight, don't you think you should train it that way? Strengthening your muscles the same way they're going to be working in the cage is key when looking to get the most out of your MMA workout.
3. Multi-joint exercises develop the body evenly. Now obviously if you do all pushing exercises and no pulling you will develop unevenly no matter how many multi-joint exercises you perform. However, when you balance your program and perform multi-joint exercises your body will develop evenly. Why is this important? An uneven body is going to lead to instabilities and injuries. A prime example of this is the shoulder joint. Because of the importance placed on the bench press as well as the fact that that lift is synonymous with lifting, a lot of fighters and recreational lifters alike have overdeveloped and tight pec muscles. Similarly, because chicks don't really dig muscular external rotators and rear deltoids, these muscles tend to be underdeveloped. As a result, instabilities within the shoulders will exist leading to pain and a higher risk of serious injury.

MMA Workout Routine Principle #5- Have goals.

As a fighter, having/setting goals is something I'm sure you're familiar with. I'm sure you have goals in regards to fights you want to win, organizations you want to compete in, belts and rankings you want to earn, etc. But have you ever done it for your strength and conditioning program? One of the big reasons I feel Tamdan was so successful is that he came in every workout with a goal. There were even times when he would crush the poundage he had set as his goal for the day but wouldn't move up because he knew he didn't have it in him. It had nothing to do with a strength issue; it was all mental. He was so prepared and so focused to put his energies into that one lift that it didn't matter how easy or hard it looked, that lift was what he prepared for and was all he had in his gas tank for the day. I know it seems stupid, but we really started to focus on doing this during his 9-week Peaking Program. It was after his 9-week Base Building Program, usually when people start to plateau after beginning a strength and conditioning program. I'm confident that having daily goals is the reason why Tamdan was able to still make steady progress many months into his training and not plateau like many others would have.

On top of introducing you to a few of the principles that I use as the basis of my strength and conditioning programs for fighters, I would also like to mention a few "no-nos" that I've seen in other coaches MMA workout routines.

1. Stop lifting entirely during a training camp. While you may certainly not set any new records during a training camp (mainly due to the increased volume of conditioning and technique sessions), eliminating your strength training program entirely is a great way to lose a lot of strength and show up weak for a big fight. If you're concerned about making weight, simply cut down on the volume of the program. Instead of 4-5 sets of 8-10 reps, do 2-3 sets of 5-6 reps. That will cut your total volume down by over half in some cases and will better ensure you're not stimulating muscle growth during a time when you're looking to lose weight.
2. Performing high rep conditioning workouts in the weight room. Between all of the conditioning, sparring, and technique sessions, don't you think you get enough conditioning? Why then are you doing super high rep workouts in the weight room during your strength training sessions? Training camps are similar to wrestling seasons in the duration and physical demands on the body. There have been a number of studies performed on wrestlers to measure pre, during and post-season strength and power and researchers (University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, Oklahoma State, etc.) have found that those wrestlers who don't partake in a strength maintenance focused program during the season experienced significant losses in strength and power by the end of the season. A 12-week camp is very similar in length to a wrestling season. Don't let similar losses in strength and power ruin your chance at success!

Now that the groundwork has been laid, let's put this all together into a program. Below is a sample week from a MMA workout routine I used with Tamdan "The Barn Cat" McCrory during his 9-week Peaking Program.

Day 1- Lower Body/Core Focus

Superset 1: Reverse Band Safety Squat Bar Box Squat (5x3) and Dumbbell Side Bend (4x10) Superset 2: Deadlift + 3 Chains (5x2) and Weighted Decline Situp (4x8) Superset 3: Dumbbell Lunge (3x6 each leg) and Dumbbell RDL (3x8)

Day 2- Upper Body Focus

Superset 1: Reverse Band Bench Press (5x3) and Reverse Band Weighted Chinup (5x3) Superset 2: Dumbbell Bench (3x6) and Chest Supported Row (3x8) Superset 3: Single Arm Dumbbell Overhead Press (3x8) and Hammer Curl (3x8)

Day 3- Strongman/Power Focus

Superset 1: Band Resisted Vertical Jump (4x4) and Band Arm Spin (4x5 each side) Superset 2: Log Clean + 1 Chain each side (5x2) and Decline Ab Wheel (4x8) Superset 3: Dumbbell Push Press (4x2) and Weighted Glute Ham Raise (3x6)

Stone Lifts (3x3 to various box heights).

10 Things You Didn't Know About MMA

MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) has become a huge global phenomenon over a short space of time.

1. Throughout the ages, different styles of martial arts, boxing and wrestling have competed against each other to see which style is best. Unarmed combat sports were common place in Roman times and in ancient Greece and Egypt, so MMA is certainly not a new sport!

2. MMA today combines aspects of various martial arts. Rather than fighters being highly proficient in just one martial art, MMA fighters need to know several to be an effective fighter. A successful MMA fighter will need to be able to punch and block using boxing techniques, grapple like a wrestler and perform submission moves like a judo player.

3. Depending on an MMA fighter's background and skills, s/he may need to learn additional skills in order to be successful against any type of opponent. A fighter from a Jiu Jitsu background will struggle against a boxer if s/he can't take the boxer to the ground where the Jiu Jitu fighter can utilise their floor and submission skills. Similarly, a boxer, or someone with a Thai boxing or Karate background will not want to be taken to the ground.

4. An MMA fighter with good wrestling and submission skills will often look to take his/her opponent to the floor. An upright fighter will use kicks, blocks and punches to keep his/her opponent from getting close enough to force them to the floor. Each fighter will fight to his/her strengths, and will try and stop their opponent from fighting to their strengths.

5. As a result of this, MMA fighters will learn skills and techniques from other martial arts. This allows them to carry on fighting even if they are out of their comfort zone. MMA fighters need to know aspects of many martial arts to be successful. Bruce Lee pioneered combining elements of different martial arts to adapt to any style, depending on the opponent.

6. MMA has helped martial arts evolve in terms of training, fitness and effectiveness. Previously less popular or relatively unknown fighting styles have become more popular thanks to their success in MMA competitions. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Muay Thai (Thai Boxing) are two of the most effective all round martial arts, and are part of the training regime for many MMA fighters.

7. Improved rules and regulations has seen the reputation of MMA improve from what was perceived as "street fighting" or "fight to the death" contests to proper organised events.

8. MMA fighters are not allowed to strike to the groin, gouge eyes, or strike an unconscious opponent for example. Each country and federation has its own rules, but overall, the rules are there to protect the fighters. Some rules are designed to make the fight more appealing fro spectators, and encourage the fighters to fight rather than shy away from each other.

9. MMA was considered as a new addition for the 2004 Olympics under the banner Pankration, which was the ancient Greek name for a combined wrestling and boxing style of unarmed combat. However, due to a vast number of new sports suggested, there were no new sports introduced to make it fair for all concerned.

10. The UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) was founded in 1993 to find the most effective martial art for real unarmed combat situations. The different competitions and weight categories have seen some amazing fights and champions. UFC has become so popular that some MMA events have brought in Pay Per View viewers and revenue that rival boxing and football.

Know you know more about it, why not try MMA for yourself and see what all the fuss is about?

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The 8 Basic Punches Of Western Boxing

The sport of western boxing has had a lot of fans since the early days of the late 19th century in America. Even when organized public fighting matches were still considered a crime punishable by time in jail and a fine they drew a horde of spectators. But then again, who doesn't love a good fight?

Fighting way back then looked a whole lot different than fighting currently does. Over the years more science and research has been done, into human movement and fitness. The upright postures with hands held low that make early boxing easy to identify have been changed over the years.

In the 21st century, fighters appear more fluid, more aggressive, and in a crouched stance. Legs bent, body weight forward on toes. Unlike the fighters of yesteryear, today, a fighter today uses his hands as well as shoulders to obscure and protect that path that leads right to the "kisser", or "button".

The fighters main weapons continue to be his hands, while they also use a lot of holding, pushing, and leaning on strategies to wear down their opponent. With those weapons, there is generally an arsenal of 8 specific punches that a good fighter will develop. From these eight punches there is an incredible array of "combinations" that can be thrown as he tries to get past the defenses of the opponent in the opposite corner.

This list is a brief description of those 8 punches of boxing:

1. "The Jab". This punch is thrown from the lead hand. It's quick, sometimes powerful and is used either to "keep your opponent off of you", or to judge his distance while setting up a power punch.
2. "The Cross". This punch is from the rear hand and is a straight power punch. Usually used as a counter when your opponent throws a punch from the opposite side.
3. "The Hook To The Jaw". This punch comes from the lead hand from the side while keeping your elbow bent. The object is to come around the defense and connect with the side of the opponents face. The hook carries a lot of knock out power.
4. "Rear Hand Hook". Similar to the previous, because this punch comes from the rear, it's generally used as a counter punch when your opponent has "left himself open". The target could be the head as well as the body.
5. "Lead Hook To the Body". Again, from the lead hand "hooking" into the body. The target is mostly the ribs or kidney. This particular punch is so devastating that it, when landing successfully, has ended many, many fights with opponent still conscious.
6. "The Overhand Punch". This punch is a power punch also. It comes from the rear hand. It's similar to the cross, however, it has a slight arcing motion to it. The purpose of this punch is go over the opponents targeting the face of the opponent. Imagine a baseball pitcher's form and you'll have the basic concept.
7. "Lead Hand Uppercut". The uppercut is used while the fighters are close. The object of this punch is to go under and behind the defense and land on either the chin or "solar plexus" of the opponent. The first is a knockout punch while the second is a "knock the wind out of you" punch that sets up the knockout punch.
8. "Rear Hand Uppercut". Very similar to the previous. Just as effective, but, carries a little less power. This is because the rear leg is not in position to generate as much upward force as the lead leg.

This list of 8 punches are what most boxers use as their arsenal against their opponent. Anyone can use them and they don't have to be a boxer per se. Consistent practice is an excellent upper body workout that has many advantages. Not the least of which is building muscle while at the same time burning calories.

Ukemi - A Common Thread Joining Aikido Techniques and BJJ

Ukemi is the art of falling or being thrown and is an integral part Brazilian Jiu Jitsu techniques and those of Aikido. This article examines the following concepts:

-Ukemi is an essential component in the training of these arts.
-Proper falling technique minimizes the potential for injury
-Taking Ukemi can also improve your ability to learn a throwing technique

Most individuals new to martial arts such as BJJ, Aikido, or Judo see spectacular throws or takedowns and, understandably, want to immediately perform these arts on others and, at the same time, may be reticent to be thrown. Throws are an important aspect of these arts so it may surprise many that taking ukemi (falls) is critical to learning the desired technique.

My training began in Judo as a teenager in the 1960's in a style I affectionately refer to as "old school". In this method the sensei (teacher) demonstrates a technique once or twice, says very little, and turns the students loose to practice "what they saw". In addition, new students learn the art by being paired up with and continually thrown by a series of more experienced students. So, before learning a single throw, I became proficient at being thrown. Experiences of this type may discourage some students who want to jump in and immediately start throwing others. The major benefit that is missed by these individuals is the lack of kinesthetic awareness that builds each time you are thrown. I learned early on that to be a good thrower (nage), you must first learn to be thrown (uke). I also learned quickly that those most skilled at being thrown typically are injured less. This is because they can relax through the fall and position the body so as to maximize the even dispersal of energy. The tension created when one is anxious or fearful of being thrown results in an uneven or focused release of energy causing uke pain and frequently injury. Among the more frequent injuries in Aikido, landing on the shoulder while learning to fall is near the top of the list.

So it is in Judo, BJJ and Aikido that one of the most effective ways to learn how to take one's balance is to have your own balance taken from you (learning from the "University of Hard Knocks"). One of the most popular hip throws in Judo and Jiu Jitsu is called Uchi Mata (Inner Thigh Throw) in which the balance is broken by positioning the hip below the opponent's center, floating him and following through with a reaping thigh motion between the legs. Learning this technique requires quickness, timing, precise body position and movement. Although one can learn the mechanics of the throw with verbal instruction and demonstration it is often the development of the kinesthetic sense that creates the effective throw.

In Aikido, ukemi is an essential part of the training since nearly all of the techniques (arm arts or momentum throws) involve throwing or being thrown. Koshi nage (hip throws) are similar to those of Judo and Jiu Jitsu and require a nearly identical break fall. Breath or timing throws (kokyu nage) require a more rolling fall due to the high level of momentum and that the projection is outward rather than downward. As previously described, one of the most effective ways to learn these throws is to permit yourself to be thrown repeatedly. Feeling the near-effortless transfer of energy of a well executed kokyu nage such as aiki otoshi is exciting as well as enlightening.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Technique - Triangle Choke

A triangle choke is a type of strangulation technique used with four-figure chokehold trick which encircles opponent's neck and an arm such that the whole posture looks like a triangle. It is commonly known as Sankaku Jime in judo. Triangle choke constricts blood flow from carotid arteries to brains. The technique can cause unconsciousness from 10 to 15 seconds. It may kill the opponent when held too long. It is used with strict guidelines in judo fights since it is the most dreaded technique to be used. And is also used in various grappling martial arts including Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo, Professional Wrestling, Sambo and other mixed martial arts competition.

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, this technique is usually applied with the legs from a guarding position held from the ground. One leg of the attacker encircles the neck and arm of the opponent, with the knee next to the opponent's neck; the other leg crosses the ankle of his first leg, using the foot of the first leg to lock the second leg of the opponent at the knee. The effectiveness of the technique can be increased by pulling the legs together and using the arms to pull the opponent's head towards the attacker's shoulder.

Triangle chokes are of different types such as arm triangle choke, anaconda choke and side triangle choke. These triangle chokes are widely taught or practiced under the basic kimura closed guard and open guard techniques. The triangle choke method has become immensely popular, and is depicted in many movies, for example in Lethal Weapon, this triangle choke is illustrated.

Brazilian Jiujitsu Technique Analysis - The Gogoplata

The gogoplata is a highly effective choke submission in Brazilian Jiujitsu. It also exists in Judo and is called a Kagato-Jime in Judo, though it is more popular in Brazilian JiuJitsu.

It is accomplished by pressing the shin against the opponent's throat while pulling his head down with your arm. It is executed from a "rubber guard" position, where the legs are held very high against the opponent's upper back. You then slip one foot in front of the opponent's head and under his chin, locks your hands behind the opponent's head, and choke the opponent by pressing his shin or instep against the opponent's trachea. A variation called a Locoplata is when the bottom man uses his free foot to push up on the choking foot and increase pressure.

The one drawback is that it does take quite a bit of flexibility to use this submission. Unless you are already very flexible, you will need to work on your flexibility by practicing a lot of stretching to be able to perform the technique. When working on your flexibility for this move, you will want to focus on stretching the hamstrings and glutes. The best practice is to mimic the hold itself and be working as far as you can go into it until you develop the flexibility to fully hold the choke comfortably.

The name for the choke gogoplata comes from the Portuguese word "gogo" which is the front part of the throat or trachea and "plata" which comes from the ancient Greek meaning back. (As in, Omo-plata, meaning shoulder-back). The name gogoplata came from it's closeness to the omoplata move which also has the leg wrapping your opponents arm.

The technique basically looks like this:

- The bottomfighter has an open guard. 
- From the open guard the fighter brings his right leg up and passes it over the opponent's head or pushes his head to the side to slide his foot in front. 
- The shin is placed against the front of the throat. 
- The fighter tries pulling down on the head with both his hands. 
- He then places his hand behind hia opponent's head and grabs his foot and pulls down on his foot. This gives him extra leverage.

This choke is more painful than usual chokes which block the carotid arteries. This is due to the pressure being applied directly to the throat rather than the side of the neck which makes it more painful to have your windpipe compressed than the arteries in your neck. The tap out might be due to pain rather than a lack of oxygen.

The gogoplata is usually an air choke if applied to the front of the throat but if the opponent turns his head to the side, this becomes a blood restricting choke.