Rear Naked Choke
Of all the techniques in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, the Rear Naked Choke has been responsible for more fight victories than all the rest combined. Based entirely on effective use of leverage, you can use this submission to defeat an opponent of any size. In this lesson, you will first learn the Basic Application of the choke, and then you will learn the Strong Side and Weak Side variations that can be used in a street fight.
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Clinch (Conservative Opponent)
The goal in a fight is to avoid getting knocked out, establish the clinch, and get the fight to the ground where we can neutralize the opponent with greater efficiency. The easiest time to do this is when your opponent commits to attacking you aggressively. For this reason, it is best to keep the distance and wait for their attack if at all possible. In the event that your opponent approaches you conservatively during the fight, and you would like to close the distance, you can use the “surprise entry” method to establish the clinch.
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Reflex Development - Standing Focus Class Preview

In this class we'll bring together all of the standing controls, escapes, and submissions with some extra details, bonus slices, and scripted fight simulation drills that will help prepare you for your transition into Master Cycle!

Gracie Combatives Test -Drill 4: Standing Techniques
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Hook Sweep - Guard
If your opponent leans all their weight forward from Stage 4, drop them into Stage 1. If they stand in Stage 4 without leaning any weight, kick them back to Stage 5. If they are leaning forward from Stage 4 but have one leg forward for base, you may have difficulty dropping them back into Stage 1, and this is precisely when you would use the Hook Sweep to reverse the position.
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Guillotine Defense
When you establish the clinch, and your opponent no longer has the space or distance to strike you effectively, they will often wrap your neck in an attempt to submit you. For this reason, the Guillotine Choke is one of the most common techniques used by unskilled individuals because it’s simple and it gives them a feeling of control during the chaos. Although the proper clinch position should prevent the Guillotine Choke, your opponent may surprise you if your head is too low, and in this lesson, you will learn the most important Guillotine Defense principles.
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Kimura Armlock - Guard
The Kimura shoulder lock was named after the Japanese Jiu-Jitsu champion, Masahiko Kimura, after he used the technique against Helio Gracie in 1951. Although this technique can be applied from several different positions, we have chosen to teach it to you from the bottom of the guard, since that is where you are most likely to end up against a larger opponent. In the first slice you will learn the Basic Application, then we’ll discuss two reliable variations that can be applied from the guard.
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Leg Hook Takedown
Your goal in any one-on-one physical altercation should be avoid dangerous punches while standing, and then get the fight to the ground where you can more effectively control and defeat your opponent. The safest place to be in a fight, while standing, is in a clinch. From the clinch, your opponent’s striking power is almost entirely eliminated. You will learn how to close the distance and establish the clinch in a future lesson. In this lesson, we will teach you how to take the opponent down once you get there.
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Punch Block Series (Stages 1-4)
The ideal position in a ground fight is the mount. If you are unable to maintain the mount, you can use your legs to wrap the opponent in a position called the guard. The guard is the “secret weapon” for any Gracie Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. From the guard, you can apply joint locks and choke holds to subdue even the largest opponent. These submissions can only be executed, however, if you survive long enough to attempt them. With an outraged opponent in your guard, it is almost certain that punches will be thrown at your face from every possible angle. The Punch Block Series will enable you to neutralize all punches and exhaust your opponent until the opportunity arises to execute a sweep or submission. The Punch Block Series is broken down into four stages which you learn individually and in combination with one another.
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Guillotine Choke
In a street fight, your opponent will most likely try to defeat you using one of two methods: 1) knock you out while standing, or 2) tackle you and then knock you out on the ground. You have already learned how to establish the clinch if they attempt to knock you out while standing. If instead, they try to tackle you, you should resort immediately to the Guillotine Choke. In this lesson you will learn the Basic Application first, and then you will learn the two variations that you can resort to in a street fight.
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Take the Back - Guard
Against a trained opponent, you can expect them sit back and establish posture from within your guard; but against an untrained opponent, you can expect the exact opposite. When a person drives all their weight forward from within your guard, they unknowingly create a perfect opportunity for you to take their back, especially when they are attacking your neck or face with one of their hands. In this lesson, you will learn how to Take the Back from the guard, but in order to simplify the process of learning all the steps, we’re going to break everything down into three slices.
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Standing Headlock Defense
Once you establish the clinch on your opponent, there is a good chance that they will get desperate and try to catch you in a headlock. Without the proper escape strategy, the Standing Headlock can be a very painful and demoralizing experience, but with the proper technique you can turn the tables and use their hold to your advantage.
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Punch Block Series (Stage 5) - Guard
From Stage 4 it is important that you drop your opponent back to Stage 1 as quickly as possible so that you are safest from punches and have the best control over their body. If, while in Stage 4, your opponent is not leaning forward heavily enough to be dropped to Stage 1, it is best to kick them away to Stage 5. In this lesson you will learn how to defend from Stage 5 as well as what to do if the opponent tries to throw your legs aside in their quest for a knockout punch.
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Haymaker Punch Defense
In many cases, the precise movement and aim of your opponent’s strikes are hard to predict. Sometimes, however, your opponent is so eager to attack you that their punch is totally predictable. The Haymaker Punch Defense is used when a determined attacker comes at you from a distance with the objective of putting all of their bodyweight behind one fight-ending punch. Because of this punch’s power and predictability, the best option is to slip underneath it and get behind your opponent.
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Reflex Development - Freestyle Focus Class Preview

In this class we'll bring together control, escape, and submission details from various positions you are familiar with and add some extra details, bonus slices, and scripted fight simulation drills that will help prepare you for your transition into Master Cycle!

Gracie Combatives Test - Drill 5: Freestyle Fight Simulation
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