Tag: Combat

Guest post by Evolve MMA, Asia’s premier championship brand for martial arts. It has the most number of World Champions on the planet. Named as the #1 ranked martial arts organization in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, Evolve MMA is the top rated BJJ gym in Singapore.

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation announced that the 2021 Gi World Championship will be held from the 9th to the 12th of December at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. The World Championship (also known as the Worlds or Mundials) is considered the pinnacle of Gi Jiu-Jitsu. It is the platform where top athletes from all across the globe gather to test their skills.

What Is The IBJJF?

The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation or IBJJF is a company that organizes Gi and No-Gi BJJ tournaments worldwide. It is considered the premier organization with a long history of hosting events. The IBJJF hosts tournaments of various sizes and scales. Some of the most popular ones include the Pan-American Championship, European Championship, Brazilian Nationals, and World Gi & No-Gi Championships. These events are highly respected by grapplers of all skill and experience. The Gi World Championship is on another level of prominence and is considered the top competition hosted by the IBJJF.

Why Is The IBJJF World Championship Important?

The IBJJF World Championship is an annual tournament where competitors vie for the top spot. This tournament is separated into many weight classes and has divisions for male and female athletes. The men’s division started in 1996. It has a total of 10 divisions. The lightest division is –57 kg, while the heaviest is the absolute (open class) division. The women’s division, on the other hand, started in 1998. It has a total of 8 weight classes from –48 kg up to +80 kg. Aside from the individual competitors, the World Championship is also the event where teams compete for the top place in the rankings.

There are many important events that the IBJJF holds every year, but the world championship is the one that surpasses them all. It is the culmination of competitive BJJ in any calendar year. This means that many athletes schedule their training around this tournament in the hopes that they get to enter the competition in the best physical and mental condition possible. It is critical that these athletes stay healthy leading up to the event, as nagging injuries may hamper performance and decide how they do on the mats. Many high-level grapplers have reached superstardom but have failed to capture the elusive gold medal. The IBJJF World Championship really is the toughest Gi tournament in the world.

Many legends of the sport built their careers competing in the Worlds. This includes prominent names such as Royler Gracie, BJ Penn, Fernando “Tererê” Augusto, Marcelo Garcia, Roger Gracie, Bernardo Faria, Marcus “Buchecha” Almeida, Nicholas Meregali, Mikey Musumeci and many others.

Nowadays, many BJJ competitors find success and notoriety competing in superfights, MMA and mixed rules grappling like Combat Jiu-Jitsu. Some even disregard the Gi entirely and focus their BJJ development on No-Gi grappling. While there is absolutely nothing wrong with these, becoming the world champion in the Gi is still highly regarded by most grapplers worldwide. It is safe to say that anyone who has won the Worlds is secured in the annals of BJJ history.

A Glimpse Of The Current Meta

The fascinating thing about the IBJJF World Championship is that it is a window to the current meta of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Since it is the event where the best of the best compete for gold, it is the primary catalyst for the evolution of the sport technique-wise. Our sport’s best minds and athletes battle it out to see which style reigns supreme. Therefore, it is highly recommended to watch the Worlds if you’d like to learn more about what works best in BJJ’s current form.

The techniques you usually see in gyms worldwide have been battle-tested in the Worlds before they became famous. Techniques such as Marcelo’s Single leg X-guard, Bernardo Faria’s over-under pass, Rafa Mendes‘ berimbolo, Keenan’s lapel guards, and many more were used against top athletes for many years. Many since then have adapted these techniques and integrated them as part of their own; this is how the sport continues to evolve and grow.

The Future Is Bright

The athletes of the current generation are impressive, to say the least. The sport has evolved so much that it is very difficult to stay competitive if you are not a full-time athlete. If you’d like to keep up with the world’s best, it is best to start at a young age and continue your training as consistently as possible. While there is no standard protocol for the number of training sessions a competitor should do, many athletes swear that training every day (sometimes twice or thrice a day) is essential to stay sharp.

Many legends of the past have also taken the path of coaching. Some of the prominent coaches of today, such as Murilo Santana (Unity), Marcelo Garcia (MGA), Mendes brothers (AOJ), and many more, were champions during their competition days. Many of these champions show talent in coaching as many high-level competitors train in their gyms.

Final Thoughts

The IBJJF World Championship is an event that should be watched by anyone remotely interested in BJJ. It is an event where stars are born, and legends are made. The rich history of this long-running tournament is still going strong, and with the momentum that BJJ has gotten over the past years, the World Championship will continue to be the premier event for many years to come. The IBJJF is not the only organization that can host events, meaning that other organizations have held their version of the world championships. However, it is evident that the IBJJF World Championship is held in the highest regard.

The long list of IBJJF world champions serves as a history tour and inspiration for those striving to be champions themselves. From December 9th to the 12th, we are about to witness history as the World Championship returns to reveal the best in the world.

Guest post by Evolve MMA, Asia’s premier championship brand for martial arts. It has the most number of World Champions on the planet. Named as the #1 ranked martial arts organization in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, Evolve MMA is the top rated MMA gym in Singapore.

Demetrious Johnson is one of the least intimidating men who is constantly mentioned when pound-for-pound mixed martial arts rankings are discussed. Standing at 1.60 meters tall, the appropriately named “Mighty Mouse” is the poster child of what a mixed martial artist should be.

DJ is excellent in all phases of fighting. He’s one of the best strikers in his division, and the same goes for his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills. His wrestling is good enough to cause problems for Olympic-level wrestlers like Henry Cejudo.

Dissecting The Mighty Mouse

Demetrious Johnson always steps into the cage with a well-thought-out game plan, and he typically always finds a way to impose his will on his opponents. This article will explore the little things that make DJ one of the greatest champions in MMA history.

1) World-Class Striking Game

If one skill separates Johnson from most of his opponents, it would be his high-level striking. Johnson rarely gets outstruck during his fights due to his incredible striking speed, accuracy, and deep understanding of Muay Thai. He’s equally competent fighting out of orthodox or southpaw stances, and he’s constantly switching between the two, making it hard for opponents to predict his attacks.

DJ’s approach to striking can be best described as conservative. He’s not much of a risk-taker when it comes to the standup game, typically choosing to minimize the damage he takes while outpointing his opponents.

Johnson rarely chases knockouts during his fights, but he does have the power to put opponents away if the opportunity presents itself. Joseph Benavidez learned that lesson the hard way when he got sloppy during his second fight against DJ.

Johnson’s incredible footwork has a lot to do with his success inside the cage. Every step is calculated, which allows him to slip out of attacks and launch devastating counterattacks.

DJ combines his footwork with his keen sense of range to break down opponents from a distance. He loves pumping out his jab as a range finder, and he does the same with low kicks. Johnson starts opening up with combinations once his opponent’s attacks become predictable. He sometimes chooses to push the pace, and he’s equally as comfortable fighting in the pocket or against the cage.

2) Amazing Submissions

Johnson enjoys spending time on the mat, and it shows during his fights. You will rarely find him in a compromising position when a fight hits the canvas. If he’s on his back, he’s constantly working for submissions, looking to reverse, or working his way back to his feet.

If he’s on top, he’s peppering his opponents with shots while constantly looking for submissions. He’s racked up some pretty cool ones during his career, like the nasty guillotine he won his ONE Championship debut with or his last-second –literally – far side armbar submission of Kyoji Horiguchi.

BJ being extremely comfortable regardless of where he ends up on his back allows him to throw strikes without much concern. Johnson is virtually impossible to take down, and if he does end up on his back, he can get back up on his feet whenever he wants. Even Cejudo had a difficult time keeping Johnson on his back when he finally secured takedowns.

3) Great Takedown Defense

Demetrious Johnson isn’t one of those MMA fighters who train in BJJ and convince themselves they are equipped to deal with any grapplers they run into inside a cage. DJ is a student of the game, and he realizes how much success wrestlers have had in the sport. Johnson wrestled at the high school level, but he never took it further than that.

He incorporates it into his training though, leading to an impressive 65 percent takedown defense rate, considering the fact he’s only fought the best of the best since 2011. DJ also incorporates takedowns into his game. He completes about 56 percent of his takedowns.

Johnson landed 14 takedowns during his title defense against Kyoji Horiguchi, and he’s scored more than ten takedowns in a fight three times in his professional MMA career. The fact most of his opponents aren’t expecting him to shoot makes his takedowns that much more effective.

Johnson uses his footwork to lure opponents in, then he shoots in for a takedown. DJ’s takedowns are good enough to put the likes of Henry Cejudo on their backs. His favorite is the double-leg takedown.

4) High Fight IQ

Like many of the other legends of the sport, DJ has a deep understanding of mixed martial arts, the rules of the sports, and the way fights are scored. He rarely makes a mistake when he’s inside the cage, yet he’s always there to make his opponents pay for any mistakes they make.

DJ’s deep understanding of the game often gives him the edge when he finds himself dealing with world-class competitors who are just as well-rounded as he is.

5) Unbreakable Endurance

Johnson is a cardio machine who never gets tired during fights. You can often observe him not even taking deep breaths heading into the fifth round of championship fights.

Cardio is one of the essential parts of success in any sport, yet some fighters refuse to put in the work. DJ isn’t one of these fighters. He understands that cognitive and manual skills are greatly diminished when fatigue seeps in, so he trains appropriately.

All of Johnson’s skills discussed above would be irrelevant if he didn’t have the cardio to keep up with any challenger that comes his way.

Mixing it all up

Mixed martial arts is about mixing up different fighting styles, and Demetrious Johnson does that as well as anyone else. He’s comfortable exchanging blows with the best strikers in the MMA world, and he can grapple with the best grapplers in the flyweight division.

DJ’s intelligent approach and willingness to constantly learn new things led to one of the most impressive unbeaten streaks in the sport’s history. He’s one of the fighters you should certainly study if you plan to compete in MMA in the future.

Guest post by Evolve MMA, Asia’s premier championship brand for martial arts. It has the most number of World Champions on the planet. Named as the #1 ranked martial arts organization in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, Evolve MMA is the top rated Muay Thai gym in Singapore.

If you’ve ever read our My Life As A Muay Thai Fighter series, you’d know just how tough Muay Thai fighters have had it. Beyond the glitz and glamour of multiple world titles lies a life of near death experiences, hard training, tough love and poverty. But for some of these fighters, the trials and tribulations they faced were a fair price to pay to achieve their dreams. Through these, they were ultimately able to help themselves and their families escape from a life of poverty.

Today, Evolve Daily shares a side of Muay Thai once only insiders knew about. Here are 6 Shocking Facts About Muay Thai Fighters You Never Knew:

1) The majority of fighters started training in their elementary school years.

It is common for multiple-time Muay Thai World Champions to rack up to 300 fights or more. This is because they usually start training at around 7 – 9 years of age. Often times, Muay Thai becomes an avenue for young children such as these World Champions to add to their family’s income.

Sometimes, it is the child’s parents who make the decision for their child to become a fighter. The life of a Muay Thai fighter, especially as a child, is never easy. On top of attending school (if he is even given the opportunity to attend school), he has to adhere to a strict training schedule and supplement it with strength and conditioning exercises. Ask any Muay Thai fighter about his childhood and he will tell you that it was one of the toughest times of his life.

2) Many Muay Thai fighters in Thailand can fight multiple times in one month.

Unlike western boxing where the fight purse could reach up to millions of dollars, professional Muay Thai fighters don’t earn very much money. It doesn’t matter if they are fighting for a title, or already hold titles themselves. Depending on where they are fighting, professional fighters will earn only $150 (SGD) per fight. If they are big superstars fighting at the well-known stadiums in Bangkok, they could earn up to $4000 (SGD). However, if they are lower ranked, they make even less. This is why some fighters end up fighting several times in a month or more often if they are younger. The more fights they have, the more money they could potentially earn.

3) There is very little money earned in Muay Thai.

As we mentioned above, what professional Muay Thai fighters earn is meagre compared to boxers or MMA fighters. Not only is the purse smaller, the prize money is often divided amongst many people – the trainers, the gym, the fighter’s family, the promoters – the list goes on. The fighter himself gets a very small portion of the prize money, if he even gets a portion of the money at all.

Thus, for some fighters, the temptation to accept money from gamblers is very real. Sometimes, the tips from the gamblers are more than the actual prize money.

4) Gamblers run the Muay Thai scene in Thailand.

Gambling has a great influence in the Muay Thai community in Thailand. Sometimes, it could even affect the outcome of a fight. Gamblers could pay off a fighter to throw a fight or tip a fighter if a fight was won in their favor. However, throwing a fight is a serious offense in Thailand and could have serious repercussions for the fighter. Not only that, it is probably the worst thing you could do as a fighter. If a referee suspects a fighter of throwing a fight, they will stop the fight and disqualify them. The fighter could be banned from months to years, and is usually banished from the community.

The next time you watch a Muay Thai fight in Thailand, pay close attention to your surroundings. Chances are, you’ll spot gamblers throwing hand signals to communicate with each other throughout the fight.

5) Some fighters fall victim to poisoning.

The gambling culture has undoubtedly wrought its harm on the fighters themselves. Because so much money is at stake for these gamblers, some are willing to do anything and everything to sway the fight in their favor. One such way is through poisoning. Sometimes, they will ask a favor from a person closest to the fighter to spike their water with poison – not enough to kill them but to incapacitate them to the point that all their skills would be useless inside the ring.

6) Foes in the ring, friends outside the ring. 

Respect is one of the main tenets of Muay Thai. In fact, the first thing a fighter does after congratulating his opponent is go to the opposite corner and pay respect to his opponent’s coaches. Thus, it is not surprising that fighters who frequently meet in the ring become friends, even while they are both active and in the midst of their rivalry. It is also common to see younger fighters get down on their knees and bow to the older fighter’s feet as a sign of respect.

Many of the Muay Thai World Champions, especially the superstars with multiple titles to their names, have fought against each other at least once or twice in their careers. Today, at Evolve MMA, these superstars work alongside and even live with each other. To see them friendly with one another makes it difficult to imagine that they were once using all their power and technical abilities to defeat the other inside the ring.

A New Beginning

Happy endings are very rare for a Muay Thai fighter in Thailand. For many of these fighters, the end of their career signifies the beginning of hardship once again. Uneducated and inexperienced, these fighters know nothing more outside the world of Muay Thai and often find themselves back in poverty.

Fortunately, thanks to the growing popularity of Muay Thai, there are many Muay Thai camps mushrooming everywhere today in Thailand and the rest of the world, providing life-changing opportunities for retired fighters everywhere. Finally, these former fighters have a fighting chance to escape poverty and share their knowledge of an art they love so much with the rest of the world.

Guest post by Evolve MMA, Asia’s premier championship brand for martial arts. It has the most number of World Champions on the planet. Named as the #1 ranked martial arts organization in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, Evolve MMA is the top rated BJJ gym in Singapore.

Before the boom of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gyms in Singapore, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu has already been renowned worldwide as the archetype of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Responsible for founding Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), the Gracie family is widely regarded as one of the most successful family dynasties throughout the history of martial arts. The tremendous influence this clan has had on the world has led to the production of World Champions for many decades. This long-lasting legacy continues to grow and inspire practitioners of all ages to take to the mat.

The Gracie success story stretches back to the early 1900s when the patriarch of the family would plant the seed from which generations of Gracie champions would flourish.

From the tough streets of Rio de Janeiro to the bright lights of Las Vegas, the Gracie family has literally fought their way to the top. Having achieved unsurmountable levels of success in combat sports, the Gracies and their pioneering efforts birthed BJJ, also know as Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

From Carlos Gracie, the founder of the first Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy – to Royce Gracie who brought the eyes of the world to the discipline –  we will look into how the family name became synonymous with dominance in both grappling and mixed martial arts.

Origins And Early Development

Carlos Gracie was just a teenager when he watched his first Jiu-Jitsu display. Not long after, he quickly became intrigued with the martial art and went on to take lessons from the famous practitioner Mitsuyo Maeda. Gracie continued to study the art of Jiu-Jitsu, eventually working his way up the ranking system.

By 1925, Carlos had opened the doors of his first Jiu-Jitsu academy. From here, he went on to promote his style of Jiu-Jitsu and he put forward ”The Gracie challenge” – an open invitation for fighters to come and test their skills against him. The Gracie challenge was a great piece of propaganda and would stand for decades after.

Carlos taught his style of Jiu-Jitsu to his brothers Gastão, Jorge, Oswaldo, and the youngest brother, Helio. The young Helio Gracie initially struggled with some of the Jiu-Jitsu maneuvers – given his small and nimble frame, he was forced to adapt. They say innovation is the key to success, and this couldn’t be truer in Helios case.

Helio Gracie continued experimenting with techniques and leverage took priority over strength in his new fighting system. The changes Helio implemented were so effective that he began teaching the modified style to others – this was essentially the birth of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Helio Gracie challenged boxers, wrestlers, and other grappling experts throughout the decades, firmly establishing his name amongst the martial arts world. Helio was key in the development of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as a result. The brothers bore many children between them most who were trained from a young age. The next generation of Gracie fighters would take Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to a whole new level.

The Second Generation

The family continued developing their techniques throughout the generations and by 1978, Rickson Gracie – the third oldest son of Helio – was carving out his reputation as one of the best fighters in Brazil. Rickson, like his uncle Carlos, set down the now famous Gracie challenge – by offering, by open invitation, for any fighter to come and beat him at his gym.

Rickson had been fighting from a young age and received his black belt at just 18 years old. He gained national attention at the age of 20 when he beat the famous Brazilian brawler named Casemiro Martins. The young Rickson continued competing at the top level throughout his career, including fighting in Vale Tudo competitions at home and abroad.

One of the most popular combat sports of the time in Brazil was Luta Livre, and the Gracies developed a rivalry with the Luta Livre crew which spanned decades. Both camps were vying to take top spot in the national martial arts scene, meaning competition was fierce. Challenges arose regularly from both Luta Livre and the Gracies with most fights ending in disputes and controversy.

The ongoing rivalry ended in a riot which led to MMA being banned in Rio de Janeiro for a long period of time. The level of animosity between both camps lasted generations, and although it resulted in controversial outcomes, the competition only proved to motivate the Gracie family towards greatness.

The Gracies were competing at the highest levels and although they had fame in their native Brazil. Rorion Gracie yearned to promote BJJ on a worldwide scale, setting off for the United States with the ambitious aim of bringing BJJ to the world.

Roots To Riches

Rorion Gracie moved to the USA and left the Luta Livre rivalry to be fought out amongst other members of the family. He taught BJJ in California for years and had grown a large following. Gracie had many students in California and gained some good connections, which eventually led to him co-founding the famous UFC.

The entrepreneur realized that he would need to televise Gracie Jiu-Jitsu if he wanted to achieve worldwide attention. The UFC would host fighters from all over the world and from all fighting styles, there would be few rules and no weight classes. This new event was relatively unique and initially caused a stir in the USA.

Rorion put his brother Royce forward as the family representative, given that Royce was a successful BJJ artist, but he was relatively unknown. Royce became the underdog of the competition due to the pedigree of his opponents and, well, due to his size. Now, Royce wasn’t a small man, but some of his competitors were very large and had formidable records in their respective disciplines.

Gracie took on Art Jimmerson in the first leg of the competition and quickly brought the fight to the ground before pinning the boxer’s arm around his own neck, forcing the boxer to concede defeat. Royce then went on to defeat the legendary pioneer, Ken Shamrock, before finally tackling the Dutch Karate expert and world Savate champion, Gerard Gordeau.

The spectacle of Royce Gracie securing a rear-naked choke on the much larger heavyweight champion Gordeau raised eyebrows around the world. The new Ultimate Fighting Championship had just been dominated by the smallest man in the competition, catapulting the Gracie family to the pinnacle of martial arts.

Royce went on to contend for the UFC title four more times with great success. He also fought in the Pride and Bellator competitions. Royce Gracie was a BJJ master and enjoyed an illustrious career, but he will always be revered for his UFC 1 performance.

Mainstream Popularity

BJJ grew like wildfire and fighters who once trained under Luta Livre eventually started to transition over to the now dominant force in mixed martial arts. The huge success of the UFC further propelled the growth of BJJ, which has now become an integral part of mixed martial arts training.

Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gyms have cropped up all over the world. Aspiring fighters are drawn to BJJ due to its successful track record and it is now an imperative part of most MMA training.  The fighting style is also one of the most effective forms of self-defense. This is down to the various locks and submissions which allow a person to submit a much stronger attacker.

The Gracie family has revolutionized Jiu-Jitsu and exported their unique style worldwide. It has flourished to become one of the most dominant forces in mixed martial arts and continues to grow exponentially.

The great part is, it has even more growing to do.

If you are interested to learn Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in Singapore, Evolve MMA is the largest BJJ gym in Singapore and is home to the first and only Renzo Gracie Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu gym in Asia. Sign up for a trial class with us today!

Guest post by Evolve MMA, Asia’s premier championship brand for martial arts. It has the most number of World Champions on the planet. Named as the #1 ranked martial arts organization in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, Evolve MMA is the top rated BJJ gym in Singapore.

Submission grappling has gained a lot of traction lately. Many events have popped up and are focusing on no-gi style tournaments and super fights. The next ADCC is also looming on the horizon and has the world buzzing with excitement. The ADCC Worlds is the most prestigious submission grappling tournament and will hold an event for around 11,000 spectators live in 2022.

With these in mind, it is natural to ask this question: Will submission grappling become the next spectator sport? 

What Is Submission Grappling?

Submission grappling combines all grappling style martial arts such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), Catch Wrestling, Judo, Sambo, Greco-Roman, and Freestyle wrestling. It is a martial art that focuses on controlling and submitting the opponent with the use of submission holds. John Danaher, considered as one of the best coaches who changed the game in the modern era, said that it is the science and art of control that leads to submission. 

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, the aim is simple: to submit the opponent. It can be done through either speed or control-based submissions. Grappling is a technical sport but can be highly entertaining as well. This is especially the case if the rules allow for more dynamic exchanges. For a spectator new to the sport, watching two grapplers relentlessly trying to get a dominant position in hopes of getting a submission later on is extremely exciting.

Exciting matches are what call and retain the attention of untrained eyes. However, it is not enough to win matches, especially if we look to make submission grappling a big spectator sport. Nothing is exciting about a match that is decided over a slight advantage. While it is not realistic to expect every match to be a headliner, perhaps the competition’s ruleset might help make things exciting for all people involved.

Submission Grappling Events To Watch

Submission grappling is fascinating to watch, especially for those who have trained in BJJ for years. However, it is safe to say that not all events are created equal. If you are new to the sport, these are our top recommendations for you to watch.

1) Abu Dhabi Combat Club (ADCC) Submission Fighting World Championship

The original idea of ADCC is to supplement MMA training with various martial arts such as BJJ, wrestling, Judo, and Sambo. Its goal is to promote a healthy lifestyle by educating its members about nutrition and training in all types of martial arts for self-defense. Sheik Tahnoon, the president of ADCC, came across different styles of grappling martial arts. He came up with the idea of putting all types of grappling arts in a tournament to settle the question of which style is the best. He established a neutral set of rules, allowing all types of submissions besides spinal attacks. He invited the best practitioners of each art to compete without strikes, and from there, he created the first ADCC tournament in 1998. 

Submission grappling has been in a constant state of growth since its inception. According to David ‘Silverfox’ Karchmer, a BJJ black belt and one of the most experienced referees in the United States, ADCC will have to add some ideas to make the event clearer for everyone. Doing this may eventually attract more audiences. He pointed out that the ADCC has to produce a detailed written rule book and adopt border enforcement, preventing athletes from intentionally going out of bounds.

2) Quintet

The Quintet Grappling Team Survival Match was created by MMA legend Kazushi Sakuraba and the promotional help of UFC Fight Pass. Its goal is to make grappling entertaining for the spectators, allowing slams but prohibiting heel hooks. Quintet introduced a unique format, with five grapplers on each team competing against each other. If a grappler wins his first match, he continues to face the next opponent from the opposing team. 

In case of a draw, both athletes will be removed. The match continues until the last grappler of the team loses. The total weight of each group must be under 430kg, with 8 minutes between matches. Matches could be reduced to 4 minutes if there is a weight difference greater than 20kg between the two competitors.

The first Quintet match was held in Japan in 2018. The first team match was excellent and featured Kazushi Sakuraba’s Haleo Dream Team against Satoshi Ishii’s Judo Dream Team. Team Haleo’s members were Kazushi Sakuraba, Josh Barnett, Daisuke Nakamura, Hideo Tokoro, and Marcus Souza. Judo Dream Team’s members consisted of Satoshi Ishii, Yoon Dong-Sik, Michihiro Omigawa, Kim Hyung-Ju, and Shutaro Debana.

3) Polaris Professional Grappling

Polaris is a UK-based grappling promotion established in 2015 that features the best Jiu-Jitsu fighters and grapplers worldwide. Similar to ADCC and Quintet, the goal of Polaris is to produce exciting grappling matches for the fans to indulge in. It is one of the first events that featured many high-level super fights.

Polaris played a significant role in the popularity of submission grappling in the UK and is known for its accommodating treatment towards its athletes. From the onset, Polaris has shown a lot of promise and is a great package overall, from its presentation, commentary, and booking. It has attracted many world-class athletes to compete and has gained many fans worldwide as well. 

One of the most exciting matches on Polaris was between Garry Tonon and Rousimar Palhares. Polaris referred to it as one of the best grappling matches of the modern era, with both athletes notorious for their exciting styles and leg lock game. You simply have to watch it to see what the hype was about.

Final Thoughts

Submission grappling is currently experiencing a resurgence, with many promotions getting new viewers at every event. Matches with explosive wrestling, throws, takedowns, and submissions might captivate casual fans. Still, it is not guaranteed that they’ll stay with the sport after the initial glitter is gone.

The key in making submission grappling a spectator sport is to find the right balance between a great ruleset so that athletes are free to express their game the best way possible, and attract the best competitors in the world. It is also essential to give these events a platform where many new viewers can see them.  

 So to answer the question – will submission grappling become the next spectator sport? The answer to this is that it is very possible, provided that proper education and exposure to the sport is executed well. 

Guest post by Evolve MMA, Asia’s premier championship brand for martial arts. It has the most number of World Champions on the planet. Named as the #1 ranked martial arts organization in Asia by CNN, Yahoo! Sports, FOX Sports, Evolve MMA is the top rated BJJ gym in Singapore.

If you have been training BJJ or MMA for quite some time, you probably have heard the name, John Danaher. John Danaher is one of the most famous coaches and modern-day innovators in the grappling scene. Former UFC welterweight champion Matt Serra, even refer Danaher as the Einstein of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. 

Danaher, being one of the best coaches of today, also has a Master’s degree in philosophy. Adding up to his wide array of skills, Danaher is full of practical knowledge, obtained through his earlier days working as a philosophy teacher by day and bouncer by night.

Danaher has coached the likes of Chris Weidman, Georges St-Pierre, who some consider one of the greatest mixed martial artists of all time, Eddie Cummings, Garry Tonon, Nicky Ryan, and one of the best, if not the best, modern-day no-gi grappler Gordon Ryan.

Danaher’s philosophy about life and BJJ are spread widely on and off the mats. Here are 7 John Danaher quotes that will help inspire us to become better grapplers and unprejudiced learners in life. 

1) “Training is about skill development, not about winning or losing. You don’t need to win every battle, you only need to win the battles that count.”

Danaher talked about the idea of winning, losing, and getting tapped out in training. He said that remembering the times you tapped out doesn’t matter. It is part of skill development, which he believes and imbues to his athletes during training sessions to start up from bad positions to get out of critical positions when it matters.

What matters is they’ve learned something from it, achieving that would mean the battle is already won. 

2) “There’s no shame in losing to a black belt when you’re a white belt, but when you have very similar skill levels, you’re going to come back to the techniques that are most likely to get you a win.”

When asked about the philosophy of training with lower belts, Danaher pointed out that training with athletes of similar skill levels will not benefit an individual who hates losing as they will always resort to their best moves.

It minimizes the chance of developing techniques, which Danaher emphasized the importance of training with lower belts. By training with lower belts, you expose yourself to a variety of techniques, allowing exploration and innovation to take place, all of which are necessary for growth and progression. 

3) “A truly resourceful mind can overcome the majority of what fortune throws at us and get to goals provided you’re sufficiently mentally robust”

Danaher tells us that our mindset determines everything. The world may be filled with uncertainties and roadblocks, but if we set our minds right, nothing can stop us from achieving our goals, not even what the world throws at us. Being mentally robust truly isn’t easy, but it is the most essential step before attempting anything. 

4) “The more a sport involves skills and tactics, the less you will see genetics playing a role.”

Danaher used Jiu-Jitsu as an example where you encounter athletes of different physiques. There is no dominance over the other, rather only advantages.

In a sport where skills are more involved, genetics play a lesser important role, with proper training and guidance, the results speak for themselves. John himself resonates with this because of the issues with his leg and hips. He understands that it’s not what you have, but what you can do that counts.

5) “Keep working hard at whatever level you currently are – keep your mind on technique and tactics, your energy on your workouts, and your vision on your dreams!”

Using his junior students as an example, Danaher used them to illustrate the journey to those who are new to Jiu-Jitsu. Always look at the bigger picture, don’t limit yourself based on where you are at. No matter what your current level in Jiu-Jitsu is, keep working hard, because someday you’ll get there.

6) “A big part of your confidence will come from having a plan of what you want to do in the match, but an even bigger part of your confidence will come from knowing you can handle anything that you didn’t want to happen in the match.”

As a believer of positional drilling, Danaher knows the importance of preparation. Preparation builds your confidence, allowing you to attempt more in matches and knowing that you can escape out of worst-case scenarios. The best part of preparation is not preparing just for the worst cases, but how it changes you.

You become so used to doing something until it becomes second nature. Similar to talking or walking, you can do these without even second-guessing, proper preparations not only provide you the confidence to execute what you practice but also provide assurance in knowing what you’re doing.

7) “Losing is never a pleasant thing, but losing and not knowing why is completely intolerable since it takes away the value of losing as a learning experience.”

It is important to reflect on how or why you have been beaten. According to Danaher, losing is entirely normal and forgivable, as long as you use it to create a better version of yourself. Every battle has a takeaway.

Losing is not necessarily a bad thing, it reveals areas we need to improve on, don’t let a failure tear you down completely. Learn and bounce back from it, these are lessons on how we carve better versions of ourselves. 

Final Thoughts

John Danaher is not only knowledgeable in BJJ, but also on the insights of life. We’ve gained not only technical knowledge but life lessons through his teachings. John himself is a living testimony of what it’s like never giving up.

If John were to throw the towel then, perhaps BJJ wouldn’t be what it is today, don’t give up, despite what you’re facing – be it a setback or roadblock, give yourself time, prepare and learn, in due time, you’ll be up and running again.