Gracie Combatives
we will allow you to test for your purple belt at a Certified Training Center. Once promoted to
purple belt, you will begin working on the Brown Belt Curriculum which is also broken down
into four Stripe Courses, and once you earn your brown belt, you will learn the techniques
that must be mastered before we consider you for promotion to black belt.
The Black Belt Qualification Test
A Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt is much more than a master of technique – he is an ambassador
for the art and a member of our extended “family.” A black belt must understand the
Gracie lifestyle to include our philosophies, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu history, and our unique diet. As
representatives of the Gracie Family, we expect black belts to personify discipline, integrity,
and honor.
In order to evaluate the many requirements for black belt beyond technical mastery,
candidates will participate in a live Black Belt Qualification Test at Gracie University
headquarters in Torrance, California. We will evaluate your knowledge of technique, history,
philosophy, and diet as we get to know you in person. We will administer this test at no
charge to you (other than your travel and living expenses) to show our appreciation for the
years of hard work and dedication you will have invested in your training. We look forward
to the honor of tying a black belt around your waist. Good luck on your journey to Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu mastery…we will be with you every choke of the way!
To continue on the path to black belt, go to
www.GRACIEUNIVERSITY.com
Lesson
Location
#
Technique
Position
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
Trap and Roll Escape
Americana Armlock
Positional Control
Take the Back
Rear Naked Choke
Leg Hook Takedown
Clinch (Aggressive Opponent)
Punch Block Series (Stages 1-4)
Straight Armlock
Triangle Choke
Elevator Sweep
Elbow Escape
Positional Control
Body Fold Takedown
Clinch (Conservative Opponent)
Headlock Counters
Double Leg Takedown
Headlock Escape 1
Straight Armlock
Double Ankle Sweep
Pull Guard
Headlock Escape 2
Guillotine Choke
Shrimp Escape
Kimura Armlock
Standing Headlock Defense
Punch Block Series (Stage 5)
Hook Sweep
Rear Takedown
Haymaker Punch Defense
Take the Back
Guillotine Defense
Elbow Escape
Standing Armlock
Twisting Arm Control
Double Underhook Guard Pass
Mount
Mount
Mount
Mount
Back Mount
Standing
Standing
Guard
Mount
Guard
Guard
Mount
Side Mount
Standing
Standing
Mount
Standing
Side Mount
Guard
Guard
Standing
Side Mount
Standing
Side Mount
Guard
Standing
Guard
Guard
Standing
Standing
Guard
Standing
Side Mount
Standing
Mount
Guard
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
GC Proficiency Drill 1
GC Proficiency Drill 2
GC Proficiency Drill 3
GC Proficiency Drill 4
GC Proficiency Drill 5
Page Disc
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
41
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
Confidence*
Low
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
8
8
8
9
9
9
10
10
10
11
11
11
12
12
12
The Gracie Combatives Belt Test
65
Mount
Guard
Side Mount
Standing
Freestyle
59
59
60
60
60
13
13
13
13
13
* See Section 2 for recommended training schedule and confidence tracking guidelines.
Med
High
Gracie Combatives
DISCLAIMER
Please In
note
that the
author
and thelikely
publisher
of this
book are
RESPONSIBLE
any manner
a street
fight,
it is highly
that your
opponent
willNOT
know
nothing aboutinGracie
Jiu-Jitsu.
whatsoever
for any injury
may used
resultby
from
the techniques
described
within.
The behaviors
andthat
attacks
thispracticing
type of opponent
are very
predictable
andSince
are the
the physical
activities
herein maycourse.
be too strenuous
in nature
for that
somea readers
to
focal point
of thedescribed
Gracie Combatives
On the rare
occasion
skilled grappler
engage
in safely,
it isneed
essential
a physician
be consulted
priortechniques
to training. to neutralize
attacks
you,
you may
morethat
than
the 36 Gracie
Combatives
your attacker.
The Master Cycle™
Beyond Gracie Combatives, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu consists of more than 600 advanced techniques,
all of which have been organized into a logical, clearly defined, systematic curriculum
called the Master Cycle. We believe that the most efficient way to master all the advanced
techniques is to focus on one position at a time. For this reason, we’ve categorized all the
techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu into what we call the Seven Positional Chapters:
Mount, Side Mount, Guard, Half Guard, Back Mount, Leg Locks, and Standing. At
Gracie University, we dedicate several weeks to the study of a single chapter before
moving to the next. Once we complete all seven chapters, we restart the cycle. Each
time a student repeats the cycle, they learn new techniques in each position and deepen their
understanding of the old ones until they have fully mastered every technique.
Table
of Contents
Section
4 - The Path to Black Belt
Blue toPreface
Black Belt Techniques
Section 1: Introduction
• Purple Belt Qualification Techniques – Must be mastered before one is considered
Gracie
Global
Program
5
forThe
promotion
to purple
belt.Training
Besides the
Gracie Combatives techniques, these are the
simplest
techniques
and/or
most
likely
to
be
used
in
a
street
fight.
The Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Belt System
5
TheBelt
Founding
Principles
of Gracie
6
• Brown
Qualification
Techniques
– Must beJiu-Jitsu
mastered before one is considered
for promotion to brown belt. These techniques are more complex than the purple belt
techniques and/or designed for less likely street fight situations that might occur
Section
2: Progress
Tracking
against
a knowledgeable
grappler.
The Key to Confidence
First published in 2008 by Gracie Publications
The Seven
Positional Chapters
© 2008 by Gracie Publications®
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written
permission from Gracie Publications®.
Printed in the U.S.A.
Gracie Publications®
2440 W. Carson Street
Torrance, CA 90501 – USA
www.GracieUniversity.com
63
11
• Black Belt Qualification Techniques – Must be mastered before one is considered
Schedule
12
forRecommended
promotion to blackTraining
belt. These
are the most complex techniques and/or
designed
for theTroubleshooting
rarest street fight situations that would only occur against12
a
Technique
highly skilled grappler.
Gracie Combatives Course Outline
Gracie Online
Combatives
Fight Chart
Interactive
Learning
®
1
The 36 Gracie Combatives techniques are the simplest and most useful techniques in all of
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Once you’ve had your Gracie Combatives belt for at least six months, and
you’ve done
extensive sparring
with your
training partners as outlined on GracieUniversity.com,
Foreword
by Rorion
Gracie
2
you can be tested for blue belt at a Certified Training Center. After blue belt, the curriculum is
broken down into three main categories:
16
31
In the past, the detailed instruction required to learn the hundreds of techniques that comprise
the complete Master Cycle curriculum was only available at Gracie University headquarters in
Section 3: The Gracie Combatives Test
Torrance, California. Today, Gracie University Online offers students worldwide access to the
complete Master
Cycle
curriculum. At www.GracieUniversity.com, you can access streaming
Testing
Instructions
57
video lessons covering every detail of every technique, as well as the Rapid Mastery Drills
Evaluation Criteria
58
and Focus Sparring exercises that you would execute if you were actually training at Gracie
University.Gracie
Furthermore,
upon completing
each segment
Combatives
Proficiency
Drillsof the Master Cycle, you can have
59
your skills evaluated using the Video Evaluation Process. For the first time ever, you can
Most Common Mistakes
61
learn all the techniques directly from the source and receive official Gracie Jiu-Jitsu belt
promotions from anywhere in the world!
Section 4: The Path to Black Belt
How it Works
Master
Cycle Combatives course on DVD or online, you may test 63
Once you The
complete
the Gracie
for
promotionBlue,
to bluePurple,
belt at a CTC.
If you and
pass the
test, Belt
you will
be ready for the Master Cycle64
at
Brown,
Black
Techniques
www.GracieUniversity.com. You will progress from blue to purple belt by performing “Stripe
Interactive
Online
Learning
64
Qualification
Tests,” and then
uploading
videos of your performances for us to review. If your
performance
meets
Gracie
University
standards,
we
will
award
you
with
stripes
on
your
blue
The Black Belt Qualification Test
65
belt. This process will continue until you earn all four stripes on your blue belt at which point
64
Gracie Combatives
Preface
Most Common Mistakes
Since releasing the Gracie Combatives course on DVD, thousands of students have taken the
test using the Video
Evaluation
Process.
Nearly
half Program
of all candidates
thean
test.
We have
Congratulations!
By enrolling
in the
Global
Training
you arefail
now
official
identified the four most common mistakes to help future candidates prepare for the test.
student of Gracie University. The Gracie Combatives course is the first step in your
quest for Gracie Jiu-Jitsu® mastery – a lengthy, but immensely rewarding journey
1) Lack of Attention to Details
that will The
culminate
in a live test for black belt at Gracie University Headquarters in
number one testing mistake is lack of attention to the technical details presented in each
Torrance, California.
lesson. For example, most students appear to believe that achieving a “tap out” with the
Foreword
by Rorion Gracie
Triangle Choke indicates proficiency. In fact, each step from setup through finish is equally
We have designed
Combatives
course
to take
“potential
victim”
to or
important, the
sinceGracie
an omission
or mistake
at any
one you
of thefrom
critical
points could
“make
“street ready”
in the
thetechnique
least amount
of time
through
mastery
the most important
break”
in a real
fight.possible
Bottom line:
you are
100% of
accountable
for any and all
and effective
Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu
techniques.
mastering
all variations
of the
details
presented,
however
briefly, inBy
each
of the 36 video
lessons. The
only 36
wayessential
to internalize
detailon
to the
this DVDs,
extent you
is through
dedicated
hours and countless
techniquesevery
featured
will beseveral
eligiblehundred
for promotion
to training
blue belt.
viewings of each video lesson.
This handbook consists of four sections:
2) Weak Reflexes
In1)order
to earn your Gracie Combatives belt, you must be street ready. This means that you
Introduction
must execute your techniques without hesitation. Memorizing a technique takes one hour.
Internalizing the techniques to the point of developing subconscious reflexes takes hundreds
2) Progress Tracking
of hours. We determine the strength of your reflexes by measuring the amount of time it takes
for your body to respond to each indicator presented by the bad guy (particularly during Drill
3) The Gracie Combatives Belt Qualification Test
5). Furthermore, if we see you go through the motions without the conviction borne of many
hours of repetition, the street applicability of your techniques will be questioned, and your
4) The Path
to Black Belt
eligibility
for promotion
will negatively impacted.
The key to3)Gracie
Combatives
Bad “Bad
Guys” success is to take your time in completing the course and to
focus on the
of the
each
lesson.
Do this, techniques
and when to
thecounter
time comes
to take
the Gracie
We details
designed
Gracie
Combatives
the most
common
street fight
Combatives
Belt Qualification
Test, that
youryour
performance
will meet,
the Gracie
behaviors.
So, it is essential
“bad guy” attack
you in or
theexceed,
most realistic
fashion so
can effectively assess your street readiness. This means recreating the exact attack that
University we
standards.
we’ve described in the lesson at a speed that tests your true reflexes. A bad “bad guy” may
manyindebted
unnecessary
point
deductionsGrand
by failing
to create
the proper
for the
Ryron and lead
I aretodeeply
to our
grandfather,
Master
Helio Gracie,
for indicators
creating the
evaluated
technique,
so choosethe
wisely
andhas
ensure
“badWe
guy”
his role.
most effective
system
of self-defense
world
ever your
known.
areknows
especially
grateful
to our father, Rorion Gracie, for dedicating his life to the preservation of the techniques and
Up Improperly
principles 4)
of Standing
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
and for teaching them to us so that we could commit our lives
Students have lost more points for failing to stand up in base (see lesson 20, slice 2) than
to empowering others.
for any other single mistake. We use the diligence with which you stand up in base to assess
your overall level of readiness and self-defense mindset. Every time you stand up, in the test
Finally, weand
would
likeyou
to express
for all the instructors who have joined
in life,
must do our
so inprofound
base - nogratitude
exceptions.
us in making Gracie Jiu-Jitsu available to people all over the world. Because of you, the Grand
Master’s legacy
on that
forever.
In orderwill
to live
ensure
you do not get penalized for the aforementioned mistakes, it is highly
At a very young age, my father, Helio Gracie, learned traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu techniques
from his older brother, Carlos. In the late 1920s, he began to modify these techniques to
accommodate his frail physique with the objective of developing a system that would enable
him to defend himself against larger opponents. After years of refinement, he proved his
art’s effectiveness by routinely defeating larger and stronger opponents, some of whom
outweighed him by as much as 100 pounds. As a result, my father’s techniques quickly
became the new expression of jiu-jitsu in Brazil and set the stage for a worldwide revolution
in martial arts.
Section 4
In 1967, under my father’s guidance, jiu-jitsu practitioners established the first Federation
of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil to host recreational competitions in which they could test their selfdefense skills in a safe setting. An unintended by-product of this development was a shift
from jiu-jitsu for self-defense purposes to sport-focused techniques and applications. The
excitement and fun of competition, coupled with the prestige that accompanied tournament
victories, drove the vast majority of jiu-jitsu instructors to focus entirely on preparing their
students for tournaments. They dedicated their training sessions to developing techniques
that would lead to victory based on the point system, rules, and weight classes that governed
sport jiu-jitsu. Unfortunately, the tournament epidemic had dire consequences. It undermined
the art’s effectiveness because most sport jiu-jitsu techniques had little or no applicability in
a real fight. Worse, by perfecting the sport techniques, a student often developed reflexes
that could be disastrously counter-productive in a street self-defense situation. Unwilling to
compromise on the foundational principles of his art, my father resigned from the Federation.
The Path to Black Belt
In 1978, I left Brazil and came to the United States to share my father’s techniques with
the rest of the world. Upon my arrival, I immediately noticed that most Americans had no
appreciation for jiu-jitsu’s effectiveness. Even those with knowledge of martial arts confused
my father’s art with the traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu that had been in America since the
1950s. In order to emphasize the distinction between the two disciplines, I trademarked the
name “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.”
recommended that you watch and analyze your own test videos prior to submitting them for
evaluation and promotion consideration.
1
61
2
59
Gracie Combatives
Foreword
If, upon completing all five drills, you amass more than 10 point deductions (previously 20 deductions
were permitted),
or a years
final score
than 90
points, to
you
willthe
be eyes
notified
of your shortcomings
I spent several
leadingof aless
one-man
campaign
open
of American
martial
so that artists
you may
retest Jiu-Jitsu’s
at a later simplicity
date. If you
a final
of 90 that,
pointsdespite
or greater,
to Gracie
and achieve
effectiveness
andscore
concluded
my you
will be tireless
recommended
for promotion
by the aevaluating
instructor.
Onlyway
once
promotion is
and constant
efforts, I needed
more powerful
and visible
to your
demonstrate
authorized
by one of the
head instructors
of all
Gracie
willTothe
following this,
actions
take place:
the superiority
of Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu over
otherUniversity
martial arts.
accomplish
I created
the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®). This pay-per-view television spectacle
• You
will receive
an official
Gracie
Combatives
Beltused the simple techniques of Gracie
shocked
the martial
arts world
as my
brother Royce
• You
will receive
a personalized
Certificate
of Authenticity
Jiu-Jitsu
to repeatedly
defeat larger,
more athletic
opponents armed with a wide variety
• Your
namearts
willskills.
be added to the list of Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Belt Holders
of martial
Gracie Combatives Proficiency Drills*
The success of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in the UFC spurred many sport jiu-jitsu practitioners to leave
Brazil in order to capitalize on the increased demand for Gracie Jiu-Jitsu instruction. Due to
GCPD
2 these instructors
legal restrictions
on the1use of the trademarked name “GracieGCPD
Jiu-Jitsu,”
GUARD TECHNIQUES
began MOUNT
using the TECHNIQUES
name “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” as an alternative.
Escapes (2)
Control Strategies (2)
• Trapof
andsport
Roll Escape
(L1)instructors, many of whom
• Punch
Blockmembers
Series (L8) of the very large
The influx
jiu-jitsu
were
- Standard Variation
- Stage 1
extended Gracie
family,
led
to
the
establishment
of
numerous
jiu-jitsu
schools all across
- Punch Block Variation
- Stage 2
the United -States.
all of these schools claimed to teach
HeadlockNearly
Variation
- Stagethe
3 same jiu-jitsu that Grand
Elbow Gracie
Escape (L12)
- Stage
Master• Helio
had created and Royce employed in the
UFC.4 In fact, they were teaching
Elbow Escape
• Punch Block
Series (L27)
a version of- Standard
the art modified
specifically for sport competition.
Students
hoping to acquire the
- Hook Removal
- Stage 5
realistic self-defense
schools
and often trained for
- Fish Hook skills they saw in the UFC flocked to -these
Rollover
Technique
several years
before
- Heel
Drag they came to the disappointing realization that what they were learning
Submissions (4)
had very limited street applicability.
Control Strategies (3)
• Positional Control (L3)
• Triangle Choke (L10)
- Stage 1.5 Variation
The worldwide
instruction
continues to grow
- Anchordemand
and Base for Gracie or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
- Giant
Killer Variation
at a phenomenal
result,Armlock
many(L19)
jiu-jitsu practitioners
- Low Swimrate – without regulation. As •a Straight
- High
Swim skill levels have opened schools- Low
with widely
varying
to Variation
capitalize on this demand.
• Take
the Back
(L4)
- High
Variation
At best,
these
self-proclaimed
instructors are competent
sport
jiu-jitsu practitioners. At
- Take the Back
- Triangle Transition
worst, they- Remount
are marginally
skilled, lack depth of knowledge,
or are simply poor instructors.
Technique
• Kimura Armlock (L25)
In neither
case are
they(L16)
capable of teaching jiu-jitsu for-street
self-defense in accordance
• Headlock
Counters
Rider Variation
Prevent thestandards
Getup
Variation
with the -exacting
of Gracie University. To- Forced
counter
this disturbing trend,
Back Mount Finish
Take the Back
(L31) at preserving and
we have - launched
the Gracie Global Training •Program
aimed
- Armlock Finish
perpetuating the techniques and principles of Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu in their purest form –
Sweeps (3)
as a Submissions
method of self-defense.
(4)
• Elevator Sweep (L11)
• Americana Armlock (L2)
- Standard Variation
-Rorion Gracie
3
- Neck-hug Variation
• Rear Naked Choke (L5)
- Strong Side Variation
- Weak Side Variation
• Straight Armlock (L9)
- Standard Variation
- Side Variation
• Twisting Arm Control (L35)
- Back Mount Finish
- Armlock Finish
- Standard Variation
- Headlock Variation
• Double Ankle Sweep (L20)
- Knee Thrust Variation
- Kick Variation
• Hook Sweep (L28)
Pass (1)
• Double Underhook Guard Pass (L36)
Section 3 - Gracie Combatives Test
GCPD 4
GCPD 3
SIDE MOUNT TECHNIQUES
STANDING TECHNIQUES
Control Strategies (1)
• Positional Control (L13)
- Roll Prevention
- Guard Prevention
- Mount Transition
Distance Control Strategies (3)
• Establish the Clinch
- Aggressive Opponent (L7)
- Conservative Opponent (L15)
• Haymaker Punch (L30)
Escapes (4)
• Shrimp Escape (L24)
- Block and Shoot Variation
- Shrimp and Shoot Variation
- Punch Block Variation
• Headlock Escape 1 (L18)
- Standard Frame Escape
- Scissor Failure Variation
- Super Lock Variation
• Headlock Escape 2 (L22)
- Standard Leg Hook Escape
- Super Base Variation
- Punch Block Variation
• Elbow Escape (L33)
- Knee Drive Variation
- High Step Variation
Takedowns (5)
• Leg Hook Takedown (L6)
• Body Fold Takedown (L14)
• Double Leg Takedown (L17)
- Aggressive Opponent
- Conservative Opponent
• Pull Guard (21)
• Rear Takedown (L29)
Submissions (2)
• Guillotine Choke (L23)
- Standing Variation
- Guard Pull Variation
• Standing Armlock (L34)
Section 1
Submission Counters (2)
• Standing Headlock Defense (L26)
• Guillotine Defense (L32)
Introduction
GCPD 5
FREESTYLE FIGHT SIMULATION
In a four-minute Freestyle Fight Simulation Drill, you will demonstrate as many different Gracie
Combatives techniques as possible in response to indicators determined by your partner. In this drill,
we will again assess your technical accuracy, but first and foremost, we use fight simulation to evaluate
your reflexes. So, it is essential for you and your partner to remain silent. Specifically, neither you nor
your partner should announce indicators or call for techniques. The sole exception to this rule is when
it’s necessary to cooperatively transition to a new position in order to maximize the number and variety
of techniques. Also, make sure that your partner challenges you with realistic bad guy behaviors at a
speed that will enable us to assess your true reflexes. A properly executed fight simulation drill will
confirm your street readiness and earn you your Gracie Combatives belt.
*See Disc 13 of the Gracie Combatives Instructional DVDs or the ‘Testing Center’ at
GracieUniversity.com for detailed instructions on the testing process and complete
demonstrations of all five drills.
60
Gracie
Gracie
Combatives
Combatives
TheTesting
Gracie Global
Instructions
Training Program
Through
Now
thethat
Gracie
you Global
have completed
Training Program,
the Gracie
students
Combatives
worldwide
course,
can now
you learn
are eligible
Gracie to
Jiutest for
Jitsu, straight
promotion
from
to Gracie
the source,
Combatives
using any
belt of
– the
themost
following
important
threepromotion
methods: on your path to Gracie JiuJitsu mastery. Even though the Gracie Combatives belt is only the second belt in the system,
its award
1) Fully
signifies
comprehensive
that you instructional
have learnedDVDs
the most important Gracie Jiu-Jitsu techniques.
2) Online instruction at www.GracieUniversity.com
Award
3) A of
global
thenetwork
GC belt
of Certified
requires
Training
successful
Centers completion of five drills. These
Gracie Combatives Proficiency Drills (originally known as the Blue Belt
Video Qualification
and web-based
Drills) instruction
constitute coupled
a standardized
with a revolutionary
test of yourVideo
proficiency
Evaluation
in the
Process
execution
now enables
of the 36
us Gracie
to evaluate
Combatives
your skill
techniques.
level and
Drills
award
1 through
official4 belt
test your
promotions
execution of
with no
the techniques
requirementfrom
for the
yourmount,
physical
guard,presence
side mount,
at Gracie
and standing
University
positions.
headquarters
For each drill,
in Torrance,
you have
California.
five minutes to demonstrate all variations of the techniques in the exact order that
we list them (see pages 59-60). Drill 5 is the most important segment of the evaluation,
it tests your ability to execute all techniques in a continuous four-minute, unscripted
Thesince
Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu Belt System
Freestyle Fight Simulation Drill. Disc 13 of the DVD collection includes demonstrations
Our objective is to empower you with the techniques and strategies to defeat a larger, more
of all five drills. Once you are confident in your ability to perform the all five drills, you may
athletic opponent in a real fight. We will track your journey to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu mastery by
take the test using one of the following two methods:
awarding a different colored belt for demonstrating proficiency in each course of the Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu curriculum. You will start as a white belt. You will receive a Gracie Combatives belt
Option
– Gracie
VideoCombatives
Evaluation
after you
master1the
techniques. Should you decide to continue training
Film yourself
conducting
test. Then,
upload
thebrown,
five drill
videos
to the
at www.
after Gracie
Combatives,
you willthe
progress
to blue,
purple,
black,
coral,
andinternet
eventually
GracieUniversity.com
so
a
certified
Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu
instructor
can
view
and
evaluate
your
red belt over the course of your study.
performance. Listed below are some important details regarding the video evaluation process:
Unlike most jiu-jitsu schools, we do not promote students on the basis of tournament
• Talk
the Moves:
We understand
that it may
be difficult
performances.
MostThrough
“tournament
techniques”
do not effectively
address
what to to
domemorize
if your all
the techniques
in as
theaexact
Drillsyour
1-4.performance
So, you may in
have
someone
attacker is punching
you and,
result,order
can in
hinder
a real
fight. read
At the
techniques
to
you
while
you
are
filming
the
evaluation.
During
Drill
5,
keep
talking
to
Gracie University, we have always believed that the only true way to measure a student’s
a minimum
so isthat
we may assess
your true reflexes.
progress in Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu
to evaluate
their performance
in a real fight; but since we also
believe that you should only use the techniques in self-defense, we have found other ways
• Continuous
of measuring
progress. Shot: In order to test your true understanding of the techniques, you
must conduct Drills 1-4 in five minutes or less and Drill 5 in no less than four but no
five minutes.
As afind
result,
you may
neither edit
test videos
nor stop the
In Section 3 longer
of thisthan
handbook,
you will
detailed
information
describing
the Gracie
camera
at any time
drillmust
has pass
started.
will not evaluate
performance if
Combatives Belt
Qualification
Testonce
that ayou
forWe
promotion.
We highlyyour
recommend
find evidence
editing or
if you
fail tososhoot
eachare
drillfully
in one
take.
(Note:we
The five
that you read we
Section
3 prior to of
beginning
your
training
that you
aware
of what
drills
do
not
need
to
be
recorded
on
the
same
day.)
will expect from you upon completion of the course and promotion eligibility.
• Film the Details: We cannot give you credit unless we SEE the technique. Focus
on effectively angling your body towards the camera so that we can clearly see the
essential details of each move.
Section 3 -Section
Gracie Combatives
1 - Introduction
Test
Option
Live Evaluation
The2 –Founding
Principles of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
To be evaluated
in person
a Certified
Training
us to schedule
yourJiu-Jitsu,
test with many
As a grandson
of atGrand
Master
Helio Center,
Gracie,contact
the creator
of Gracie
a certified
instructor.
are some
important
details of
regarding
live often,
evaluation
people
ask meHere
questions
about
the history
the art.the
Most
theyprocess:
inquire about
the differences between the original Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and modern-day Brazilian or
•Gracie
Prepare
Diligently:
Although
actual techniques
are the
same,
one of themany
mosttimes.
Jiu-Jitsu.
I overheard
mythe
grandfather
answer these
types
of questions
significant differences between the video and the live evaluation is that your testing
partner
“bad guy”
will be
a certified
Throughout
the instructor
The
GrandorMaster
explains
that,
becauseinstructor.
he was introduced
to the
the test
Japanese
art at such a
will adjust
speed
accuracy,inconviction,
andform.
reflexes.
young
age, he
doesand
notresistance
rememberlevels
manytooftest
theyour
techniques
their original
However,
he vividly recalls experiencing great difficulty when he attempted to use the techniques
•onOne
Shot, One
Kill: With
evaluation
can everything
re-shoot your
a larger
opponent
and,theasvideo
a result,
had toprocess,
modify you
nearly
he execution
had learned to
of the drills as
times asHeyou’d
before
you submit
them.
During a and
live value
accommodate
his many
frail physique.
pointslike
out that,
despite
the overall
effectiveness
you techniques,
will only have
one chance
to execute
drill. Iflimitations
your performance
ofevaluation,
the Japanese
nearly
all of them
had oneeach
or more
that prevented
doesfrom
not meet
University
standards,
you willmyfailgrandfather
the test and
must retest
at a
them
beingGracie
fully useful
to him.
In most cases,
attributed
the limitations
date. For this reason,
of the opponent
utmost importance
that you
prepare diligently
to or
to:later
1) inapplicability
against ita is
striking
in a real fight,
2) overreliance
on strength
minimize
the 3)
chance
of errorsonduring
the live evaulation.
speed,
and/or
dependence
body movements
that were awkward or uncomfortable for
him. Accordingly, he began modifying the art to ensure that every technique was fully street
•applicable,
Stay Relaxed:
Theefficient,
most important
consideration
any evaluationUsing
is thethese
qualityprinciples
of
energy
and based
on naturalduring
body movements.
technique.
The most
common
you are
likely to make
during
a live evaluation
asthe
a guide,
he spent
several
yearsmistake
developing
a complete
system
of self-defense
consisting
is toofrush
nervously
thesuccessfully
drills and jeopardize
the quality
of your execution.
only
techniques
thatthrough
he could
apply against
larger opponents.
Confident in
his adaptations, he spent the next thirty years of his life proving his system’s effectiveness by
For more
information
regarding
the live challengers,
evaluation process,
visit www.GracieUniversity.com.
using
it to defeat
numerous
including
several opponents who outweighed him
by as much as 100 pounds.
Disclose Disabilities
UnlikeThe
most Gracie
martial arts,
nearly anyone can learn Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, regardless of their physical
Guidelines
capabilities.
In fact,
we trainofmany
students
with variety
disabilities,
including
thoseMaster
who are
deaf,
After nearly
a century
testing
in a wide
of settings,
Grand
Helio
Gracie’s
mute, system
blind, and
wheelchair
bound.fundamentally
Our simple, easy
to follow
instructional
of even
self-defense
remains
sound
and intact.
To be format
sure, three
makesgenerations
this possible.
If youfamily
havemembers,
a disability
previous
injury
that prevents
you from
of Gracie
andorother
equally
committed
practitioners
of the art,
executing
techniques
exactlytechniques
as they are
taught,
prior to arsenal.
the evaluation
havethe
evolved
the original
and
addedplease
to the notify
GracieusJiu-Jitsu
All of these
so thatchanges,
we may however,
take it into
consideration.
strictly
adhere to the Grand Master’s requirements for street applicability,
energy efficiency, and natural body movement. Today, we call these requirements the
“Gracie Guidelines.”
Evaluation
Criteria
During the evaluation, you will start with 100 points and receive a 1-point deduction for each
On your
towards
Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu mastery, your knowledge of the Gracie Guidelines will
significant
errorpath
in the
following
categories:
serve you in two important ways. First, it will enable you to solve problems on your own
modifyingPrecise
techniques
in accordance
with
thetechniques.
guidelines; second, it will enable you to
1.byAccuracy:
and correct
execution
of all
the Fluid,
multitude
of impure
techniques
that areuse
being
developed by instructors who do
2.recognize
Efficiency:
relaxed
movements
and efficient
of energy.
not
know,
or
choose
not
to
adhere
to,
the
founding
principles
3. Reflexes: Instinctive and speedy responses to all indicators.of the art.
For additional information regarding the Video Evaluation Process, visit www.GracieUniversity.com.
5
57
58
6
Gracie Combatives
Gracie Guideline #1: Street Applicability
Focus on practicing techniques that are fully street applicable. Focusing
exclusively on techniques that are not “punch proof” will cause you to develop a
false sense of security. If you modify a technique, you must verify that the new
variation keeps you safe from all potentially dangerous strikes.
Gracie Guideline #2: Energy Efficiency
Any technique that relies on speed and power rather than leverage and timing
is not energy efficient. In a real fight there is no time limit, so you must learn to
save your energy. The only reliable way for you to defeat a larger, more athletic
opponent is to utilize techniques that cause your opponent to exhaust energy,
while simultaneously preserving your own. Before adding any technique to your
arsenal, you must verify that it is more reliant on leverage and proper timing
than on your athletic capabilities. Do not trust techniques based on strength
or speed as they are unlikely to work against a larger, stronger attacker.
Gracie Guideline #3: Natural Body Movements
Any technique that requires you to move your body unnaturally is likely to fail in
the heat of battle. Natural body movement is the best foundation on which to build
the instinctive reflexes needed in a real fight.
Violations of Guideline #1
With the demand for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction at an all-time high, thousands of selfproclaimed instructors have opened schools around the world and are creating or modifying
techniques at an unprecedented rate. The problem is that most of these techniques
violate the first guideline of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu – they are not street applicable. The main
reason for the divergence from this foundational principle is that these instructors are
creating techniques for sport competition rather than real street fights. Any technique
that is designed to work in any kind of controlled competition with all of their associated
rules, weight classes, time limits, safety considerations, and point systems, will give the
practitioner a false sense of security since these circumstances are totally non-existent
on the streets.
7
Section 1 - Introduction
Violations of Guidelines #2 & #3
Violations of Guidelines #2 and #3 occur when fast, strong, and/or flexible instructors modify
the techniques. In contrast, it was my grandfather’s lack of athleticism that forced him to
develop techniques that relied almost exclusively on leverage, making them reliable for any
student, regardless of their size and athletic ability. Today, nearly all of the individuals who are
making the adaptations are impressive, competitive athletes and many of their “solutions”
to sport situations rely on their superior physical attributes. When a student, who is smaller,
weaker, slower, or less flexible than the instructor tries to learn these techniques, they
invariably face difficulty due to their lack of equivalent athleticism. Even if a student masters
one of these techniques, they will find it difficult to use it in a real fight against a more athletic
opponent. Their reliance on excessive energy or an unnatural body movement will lead to
exhaustion, at which point they will realize the fundamental flaws in the modified technique.
The Three Fundamental Questions
At Gracie University, our primary concern is to preserve the techniques as they were
developed and practiced by the Grand Master so that we can effectively teach them to the
greatest number of people. Few schools, if any, share this concern for the preservation of
the pure techniques, so you must be very discerning when adding techniques and strategies
to your arsenal. To test the reliability of a new technique, ask the following three questions:
Section 3
Gracie Combatives Test
1) Can I apply this technique in a real fight against a striking opponent?
2) Is this technique energy efficient enough to be applied against a larger opponent?
3) Is this technique based on movements that are natural for my body?
The Street Switch
While many sport techniques leave you vulnerable to strikes, there are some benefits to
studying them. A good sport technique still utilizes leverage and timing and is effective
against larger opponents. Practicing the technique against opponents of various sizes and
skill levels will deepen your general understanding of these fundamental characteristics of
the art, even though it does not qualify for inclusion in your street arsenal. The same way
playing chess can sharpen your mind for jiu-jitsu, anything that improves your timing, use
of leverage, and reflexes will enhance your execution of nearly all techniques. But, always
remember that you must never become too reliant on any sport technique, and the key to
your street survival is to develop an internal “Street Switch” that can be flipped on anytime
strikes are added to the equation.
8
Lesson 35
Technique: Twisting Arm Control
Position: Mount
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
Practice all variations of the
Elbow Escape – Side Mount (L33)
In combination with all variations of the
Hook Sweep – Guard (L28)
And all variations of the
Twisting Arm Control – Mount (L35)
Slice 1: Basic Control
Indicator: Opponent fears punches and protects their face with one or both arms.
Slice 2: Back Mount Finish
Indicator: Opponent rolls to their knees while trapped in the Twisting Arm Control.
Section 2
Progress Tracking
Slice 3: Armlock Finish
Indicator: Opponent does not roll to their knees while trapped.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Haymaker Punch Defense – Standing (L30)
2) Rear Takedown – Standing (L29)
3) Positional Control – Mount – Anchor and Base (L3)
4) Twisting Arm Control – Mount – Armlock Finish (L35)
5) Punch Block Series – Guard – Stages 1-4 (L8)
6) Elbow Escape – Side Mount – High Step Variation (L33)
7) Take the Back – Guard (L31)
8) Rear Naked Choke – Back Mount – Strong Side Variation (L5)
53
Gracie
Combatives
Lesson
33
Technique: Elbow Escape
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
Position:
Side
Mount
Congratulations! You have taken the first step on your journey towards
Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu
Practice
all variations
of the
Escape –the
Side
Mount (L33)
mastery. You begin the journey as a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu white belt. When Elbow
you complete
Gracie
In combination
Combatives course, you will have perfected the 36 most important techniques
of the art with
and
TakeCombatives
the Back – Guard
you will be eligible for promotion to Gracie Combatives belt! The Gracie
video(L31)
course will guide you every step of the way, just as if you were receiving private lessons at
Gracie
revolutionary training process called Dynamic Reflex Development,
SliceUniversity.
1: Knee Using
DriveaVariation
this
course will
enableattempts
you to develop
reflexes
moretheir
rapidly
you your
ever stomach.
thought possible.
Indicator:
Opponent
to mount
by driving
kneethan
across
This handbook will assist you in tracking your progress on the jiu-jitsu journey.
The Key to Confidence
At Gracie University, we have found that the abundance of details presented in each lesson
overwhelms most students and that it takes at least three iterations just to learn the
movements. The first iteration will enable you to practice the technique in slow motion. During
the second iteration, you will identify additional details that will improve your execution and
increase your confidence in the technique. Only by the third iteration will you begin to truly
understand all the details and start developing the confidence necessary to successfully
apply the technique in a real fight. Even then, you will need many more repetitions before you
can execute the technique with the precision and conviction that we seek in our students.
Slice 2: High Step Variation
It is
essentialOpponent
that you approach
iteration
withbya high
level their
of attentiveness.
Indicator:
attempts each
to mount
fromofaevery
sittinglesson
position
stepping
leg over your body.
Use the GC Checklist, located on the first page of this book, to track your progress and note
how your confidence grows with each repetition of a lesson. Our experience teaching this
course reveals that students retain more details and learn the techniques better if they study
three consecutive lessons before reviewing any one of them.
The table on the following page illustrates the recommended schedule for the first thirty
days of your training. Following this training regimen, it will take 108 days to complete the
Gracie Combatives program. We recommend you complete the entire 108-day program
twice before you begin your preparation for the test. That equates to six repetitions of each
lesson followed by an additional 30-60 days of focused practice on the Gracie Combatives
Proficiency Drills. The total time required under this plan is about 8-12 months, which
parallels the time required to earn a belt at Gracie University.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Clinch – Standing – Conservative Opponent (L15)
2) Body Fold Takedown – Standing (L14)
3) Punch Block Series – Guard – Stages 1-3-5 (L27)
4) Punch Block Series – Guard - Rollover Technique (L27)
5) Elbow Escape – Side Mount – Knee Drive Variation (L33)
6) Straight Armlock – Guard – Triangle Transition (L19)
7) Triangle Choke – Guard (L10)
11
51
Section Lesson
2 - Progress Tracking
34
Technique: Standing Armlock
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
Recommended Training Schedule
Position: Standing
Practice the
Standing Armlock – Standing (L34)
Lesson
1
InDay
combination
with the 1
Guillotine
Defense
Standing (L32)
2
Day
2 – Lesson
1st Time
1st Time
1st Time
Day 16
Day 17
Day 18
Lesson 3
Day 3
Slice 1: Basic Application
Day 19
Lesson
Day
4
Timean extended arm.
Indicator:
Opponent
pushes or1grabs2nd
you with
Day 20
Lesson 2
Day 5
2nd Time
Day 21
Lesson 3
Day 6
2nd Time
Lesson 7
Lesson 8
Lesson 9
1st Time
1st Time
1st Time
Lesson 4
Lesson 5
Lesson 6
3rd Time
3rd Time
3rd Time
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Lesson 4
Lesson 5
Lesson 6
1st Time
1st Time
1st Time
Day 22
Day 23
Day 24
Lesson 7
Lesson 8
Lesson 9
2nd Time
2nd Time
2nd Time
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
3rd Time
3rd Time
3rd Time
Day 25
Day 26
Day 27
Lesson 10
Lesson 11
Lesson 12
1st Time
1st Time
1st Time
Lesson 7
Day 28
Lesson 4
Day 13
2nd Time
Lesson 8
Day 29
Lesson 5
Day 14
2nd Time
Slice 2: Walking Application
Lesson 9
Day
30
Lesson
6
Day
15
Time arm while walking towards
Indicator:
Opponent
pushes you with2nd
an extended
you.
3rd Time
3rd Time
3rd Time
This table illustrates the recommended training regimen for the first thirty days of your training. Apply this cyclic training
schedule to all 36 lessons to ensure optimum detail retention and reflex development as you prepare for the Gracie
Combatives Belt Qualification Test.
Technique Troubleshooting
With nearly 100 years of experience developing and instructing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to a wide
variety of students, my family has addressed nearly every question and situation that may
arise in conjunction with the practice of this martial art. We found that the following five
questions cover 90% of all those that our students ask. Furthermore, we found that we can
usually answer these questions by applying a set of established problem solving principles.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
If you have a question about a technique, first review the entire lesson to ensure you
Standing
Armlock
Standing
(L34) details in each segment. Next, determine if
did not1)miss
something,
as –there
are many
2) Standing
– Standing
(L26) Asked Questions, and apply the
your problem
falls Headlock
under one Defense
of the Five
Most Frequently
3) Headlock
Countersto– find
Mount
– Back
Mount
Finish still
(L16)having trouble, then visit
problem
solving principles
your
answer.
If you’re
4) Rear Naked Choke –where
Back you
Mount
Strong
Side
Variation
www.GracieUniversity.com
can– post
your
question
to a(L5)
technical web forum,
5) Elevator
Sweepwill
– Guard
Headlock
Variation
(L11)
and a certified
instructor
assist–you
in finding
the answer.
6) Take the Back – Mount (L4)
7) Rear Naked Choke – Back Mount – Weak Side Variation (L5)
52
12
Gracie
Combatives
Lesson
31
Section Lesson
2 - Progress Tracking
32
Technique: Take the Back
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
Position: Guard
Five Most Frequently Asked Questions:
Practice all variations of the
Punch Block Series (Stage 5) – Guard (L27)
Question #1: Why isn’t this move working for me?In combination with
thestudents’
Back – Guard
(L31)
Problem Solving Principle: Apply the four reasons that account forTake
most
inability
to execute a technique.
Slice 1: Head and Arm Control
Indicator:
drives their forearm in your throat from Stage 1.
Reason
#1: Opponent
Missing Details
The most common reason for difficulty with a technique is that you simply overlooked an
essential detail. Watch the lesson one or two more times to ensure that you have learned
every detail.
Reason #2: Bad “Bad Guy” Behavior
We designed the Gracie Combatives techniques to neutralize or counter the most likely
attacks that would occur in a real fight. For this reason, it is very important that the “bad guy”
realistically
simulates the
the attacker
Slice 2: Achieve
Angle behavior, or the technique may not work. Review the “Bad
Guy
Reminders”
that are
discussed
in theyou
presentation.
Indicator:
Opponent
calms
down after
establish Head and Arm Control.
Reason #3: Bad Timing
Timing is everything. If you feel that you are performing all the steps correctly but the technique
is still not working, there is a good chance that your timing is off. Review the lesson for
hints on how you can use better timing to increase your effectiveness.
Reason #4: Physical Limitations
Although
Gracie
Combatives techniques have been proven effective for most people,
Slice 3:theFinal
Getup
it Indicator:
is possibleOpponent
that an extreme
physical
limitation
youbody
fromposition.
successfully applying
calms down
after you
acquireprevents
the angled
a technique. However, it is very important that you verify the problem is not due to
reasons 1-3 before concluding that you cannot physically execute the technique. If a
physical limitation is the problem, we recommend you use your understanding of the
Gracie Guidelines to modify the technique to accommodate your body or consider using
another technique from the curriculum to solve the problem.
Question #2: What if the bad guy does something different?
Problem Solving Principle: The objective
the Gracie Combatives
FIGHTofSIMULATION
DRILLcourse is to prepare you
to defend against the most common attacks that a larger, unskilled opponent would use in a
Escape
– Mount –your
Fishpartner
Hook (L12)
real fight. If during 1)
theElbow
practice
of a technique
varies the attack behavior from
2) Take thethen
Back
– Guardthe
(L31)
that covered in the instruction,
consider
following:
3) Rear Naked Choke – Back Mount (L5)
4) Double
Ankle Sweep – Guard – Kick Variation (L20)
Consideration #1: Street
Realness
Positional
Control
– Side Mount
– Roll
(L13)
Remember that the 5)
Gracie
Combatives
techniques
address
thePrevention
most natural
and, therefore,
6) Take
the Back
Mount –partner’s
Remountrole
Technique
(L4)
most common bad guy
behaviors.
Your– training
is to consistently
simulate
7) Straight Armlock – Mount – Side Variation (L9)
13
49
Technique: Guillotine Defense
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
Standing
the most
common
behavior
so
that
you
can
perfect
the techniquesPosition:
as you are most
likely to
Practice the
applyDefense
them in –aStanding
street fight.
Guillotine
(L32) A poor training partner will constantly change behavior in order
toIndefeat
the techniques.
This will prevent you from learning the techniques properly and
combination
with the
Standing may
Headlock
Standing
(L26) of bad habits. We will address all the “what if” scenarios
even Defense
promote–the
development
later in your training.
Slice 1: Guillotine Defense
#2: Training
Speed, Street
and the Surprise Element
Indicator:Consideration
Opponent catches
you in a Guillotine
ChokeSpeed,
while standing.
When practicing, always execute the techniques so slowly that it is impossible to make
a mistake. The slow pace and predictability of proper training will provide your partner
with many opportunities to counter the technique. Again, your training partner’s role is to
consistently simulate the most common behavior so that you can perfect the techniques –
not to fight with you. Eventually, your diligent and exacting practice will produce precise,
efficient, and quick reflexes that will leave your attacker with no opportunity to counter your
techniques. In a real fight, you will also have the advantage of surprise since your attacker
will have no advanced knowledge of how you react to his actions.
Consideration #3: The Complete Curriculum Will Address Nearly Every Scenario
If the modified bad guy behavior is legitimate, you can either wait to learn the solution to
the problem in a future lesson, or you can use the Gracie Guidelines to develop your own
temporary solution. Above all, remember that you must perfect the 36 Gracie Combatives
techniques as we present them in the course. Any time you spend on modifications based on
less likely bad guy behaviors will slow your progress toward blue belt and delay your access
to the remaining 600+ techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
Question #3: Can’t the bad guy punch me from here?
Problem Solving Principle: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling art that puts you within very close
range of your opponent. As a result, you must be constantly aware of your opponent’s ability
to punch you. Here are some facts you must consider regarding punches:
Fact #1: You Will Get Punched
In a fight, the question is not whether you will get punched, but whether or not the punch
will hurt you. We score a punch’s effectiveness from 1-10 on the hypothetical “Punch Power
Scale” with “1” being a weak punch and “10” representing a potential knockout blow. The
objective of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu techniques is to completely avoid all punches that score 5 or
above and minimize the rest.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
Fact 1)
#2:Clinch
Distance
is Everything
– Standing
– Aggressive Opponent (L7)
In order
for a punch
to land– effectively,
your opponent must establish the proper distance
2) Guillotine
Defense
Standing (L32)
and angle.
Accordingly,
to neutralize
punches
is almost
3) Headlock
Escapeyour
1 – ability
Side Mount
– Standard
Frame
Escapeentirely
(L18) based on how
effectively
you control
distance
and– angles
yourVariation
face and (L24)
your opponent’s fists.
4) Shrimp
Escapethe
– Side
Mount
Shrimpbetween
and Shoot
Any time
you areArmlock
within two
arms –reach
of your
opponent,
5) Kimura
– Guard
Forced
Variation
(L25)you are liable to get hit. The key
50
14
Gracie
Combatives
Lesson
29
Section Lesson
2 - Progress Tracking
30
Technique: Rear Takedown
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
Position:
Standing
is
to remain calm
and understand that you can neutralize any punch by positioning
Practiceyourself
the
either inside or outside the optimal punching range. When you are Rear
inside
optimal –punching
Takedown
Standing (L29)
range, your opponent will be able to touch your head but will not be
to hit hard
In able
combination
with enough
all variations of
Take the Back – Mount (L4) And the
to hurt you.
Rear Naked Choke – Back Mount (L5)
Fact #3: Punching is Exhausting
It Slice
takes a1:lotAchieve
of energythe
to punch.
Whenever your opponent is throwing punches that score 4
Rear Clinch
orIndicator:
below, you
may take
solace their
in knowing
thatyour
thehead
punches
exhausting
Opponent
positions
arm over
after are
youprobably
establishmore
the clinch.
to them than they are damaging to you and that you will soon have the opportunity to take
advantage of your opponent’s weakened state.
Question #4: What if the bad guy attacks my eyes or my groin
in this situation?
Problem Solving Principle: Although street fights have no rules, we have found that larger and
stronger opponents prefer to punch the face rather than attack the eyes and/or groin.
However, in order to defend against dirty fighting techniques you must adopt the
following priorities:
Priority #1: Respect the Punch
Slicepunches
2: RearareTakedown
Since
the most common form of attack and the most immediate threat at any
Indicator:
allowsmust
you to
rear clinch.
given
time, Opponent
stopping them
beestablish
your firstthe
priority.
Shift your priority to defend against
other types of attacks only if your opponent clearly resorts to a dirty fighting technique (eye
gouge, groin shot, biting, etc.). Even when defending against other attacks, never forget to
block the punches.
Priority #2: Master the Techniques
You will have truly mastered the Gracie Combatives techniques when you can apply them
without conscious thought. Once you reach this level, you will remain calm and easily read
your opponent’s behavior in the midst of a fight enabling you to quickly neutralize any type of
attack before it happens. Your controlling techniques and calm mind are your most reliable
defense mechanisms.
Question #5: What if theFIGHT
bad guy
is too big?
SIMULATION
DRILL
Problem Solving Principle: We have proven the effectiveness of every technique presented
1) Clinch – Standing – Aggressive Opponent (L7)
in the Gracie Combatives course against larger opponents. Here are some facts regarding
2) Rear Takedown – Standing (L29)
the use of the techniques against much larger adversaries:
3) Headlock Counters – Mount – Armlock Finish (L16)
4) Punch Block Series – Guard – Stages 1-3-4 (L8)
5) Shrimp Escape – Side Mount – Punch Block Variation (L24)
6) Elevator Sweep – Guard – Standard Variation (L11)
7) Americana Armlock – Mount – Neck-hug Variation (L2)
15
47
Technique: Haymaker Punch Defense
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
Position: Standing
Fact #1:
True
Mastery
Takes
Time
Practice the
Learning
a technique
is a relatively
simple process that can be accomplished in one lesson.
Haymaker
Punch Defense
– Standing
(L30)
However,
perfecting
the technique takes months if not years. We have found that your ability
In combination
with the
ReartoTakedown
– Standing
(L29) increases as you improve your mastery of the technique. As your
handle larger
opponents
proficiency increases, practice against progressively larger partners until you find your limit
if you have one.
Slice 1:–Haymaker
Punch Defense
Indicator: Opponent throws an overcommitted and very predictable haymaker punch at you.
Fact #2: Reach Maximum Potential with Perfect Technique
Most Gracie Jiu-Jitsu techniques will work against an opponent of any size when executed
with perfect timing and accuracy. While you can’t control the size of your attacker, you can
control the amount of time and energy you dedicate to perfecting the techniques. Your ability
to successfully apply your techniques against a giant is directly related to your mastery
of the skills.
Gracie Combatives Course Outline
In each of the lessons featured in the Gracie Combatives course, Ryron and I completely
dissect each technique, providing a level of detail that meets or exceeds what you would
experience in a private lesson at Gracie University. If you are a first time Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
student and have any difficulty digesting all the information in one viewing, simply watch
the presentation one or two more times before attempting to practice the technique or drill.
Use this section of the handbook to document the details of your experiences during training
sessions. In the following pages you will find the technique name, technical “slices,”
indicators, and a brief description of the Dynamic Reflex Development drills for each of the
36 lessons. Technical Slices are individual drills that present the details of a partial technique
or introduce a common variation on the standard application. Indicators are your opponent’s
physical movements that trigger your employment of a technique. Understanding the slice
details and indicators is the most important part of the instruction and warrants close study.
We also emphasize the “Most Important Details” of each technique as well as “Bad Guy
Reminders” and “Safety Tips.” Use the allotted note space in this handbook to document
these critically important components of your training to increase retention, and so that you
may reference them when you are training without the assistance of the videos.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Haymaker Punch Defense – Standing (L30)
2) Rear Takedown – Standing (L29)
3) Headlock Escape 1 – Side Mount – Super Lock Variation (L18)
4) Headlock Counters – Mount – Back Mount Finish (L16)
5) Rear Naked Choke – Back Mount – Weak Side Variation (L5)
6) Triangle Choke – Guard – Stage 1.5 Variation (L10)
48
16
Lesson
1 27
Lesson
Lesson
28 2
Lesson
Technique:
TrapPunch
and Roll
Escape
Technique:
Block
Series (Stage 5)
Position:
Mount
Position:
Guard
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
Practice
all all
variations
of of
thethe
Practice
variations
Trap Block
and Roll
Escape
– Mount
(L1) (L27)
Punch
Series
(Stage
5) – Guard
In combination with all variations of the
Shrimp Escape – Side Mount (L24)
Slice 1: Stage 5
Indicator: Opponent avoids leaning forward in Stage 4 of the Punch Block Series.
Slice 1: Standard Variation
Indicator: Opponent grabs your chest or throat with one or both hands.
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILLDRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
Practiceallthe
Practice
variations of the
Hook
– Guard
(L28)
TrapSweep
and Roll
Escape
– Mount (L1)
In combination
with allwith
variations
of the of the
In combination
all variations
Kimura
ArmlockArmlock
– Guard –(L25)
Americana
Mount (L2)
And the Elbow Escape – Mount (L12)
Technique:
Hook Sweep
Technique:
Americana
Armlock
Position:
Guard
Position:
Mount
Slice 1: Hook Sweep
Indicator:
with one leg forward in Stage 4 of the Punch Block Series.
SliceOpponent
1: Basicstands
Application
(Preparation Drill)
Slice 2: Punch Block Variation
Indicator: Opponent sits up to throw punches.
Slice 2: Standard Variation
Indicator: Opponent fears punches and protects their face with both hands.
Slice 2: Rollover Technique
Indicator: Opponent grabs your leg and throws it aside to punch or pass.
Slice 2: Sweep Follow-up
Indicator: Opponent attempts to stand up after the Hook Sweep is executed.
Slice 3: Headlock Variation
Indicator: Opponent establishes a headlock and inserts the grapevines.
Slice 3: Neck-hug Variation
Indicator: Opponent exposes their arm while you maintain control of their neck.
Slice 4: Open Guard Pass
Indicator: Opponent’s legs remain uncrossed after the Trap and Roll Escape is executed.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
17
1) Guillotine Choke – Standing – Guard Pull Variation (L23)
2) Punch Block Series – Guard – Stages 1-4-5-1-5 (L27)
3) Double Leg Takedown – Standing – Aggressive Opponent (L17)
4) Headlock Escape 2 – Side Mount – Super Base Variation (L22)
5) Take the Back – Mount (L4)
6) Rear Naked Choke – Back Mount – Strong Side Variation (L5)
7) Triangle Choke – Guard – Giant Killer Variation (L10)
45
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Clinch – Standing – Aggressive Opponent (L7)
2) Pull Guard – Standing (L21)
3) Punch Block Series – Guard – Rollover Technique (L27)
4) Hook Sweep – Guard (L28)
5) Positional Control – Side Mount – Guard Prevention (L13)
6) Positional Control – Mount – High Swim (L3)
7) Straight Armlock – Guard – High Variation (L19)
46
18
Lesson
Lesson
3 25
Lesson
Lesson
26 4
Technique:
Positional
Technique:
KimuraControl
Armlock
Position:
Mount
Position:
Guard
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILLDRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
REFLEXDEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENTDRILL
DRILL
REFLEX
Practice
all variations
of of the
Practice
all variations
Positional
Control
– Mount
(L3) (L23)
Guillotine
Choke
– Standing
In combination
with allwith
variations
of the of the
In combination
all variations
Americana
Armlock
– Mount
(L2)(L25)
Kimura
Armlock
– Guard
Practice
all variations
of
Practice
the
Positional
– Mount
(L3) (L26)
Standing
HeadlockControl
Defense
– Standing
In combination
with
variations
of
In combination
with
all all
variations
of the
Take the
Back ––Mount
Headlock
Counters
Mount(L4)
(L16)
SliceSlice
1: Hips
and Hands
1: Basic
Application
Technique:
Take
the Back
Technique: Standing
Headlock
Defense
Position:
Mount
Position:
Standing
1: Take Headlock
the Back Defense
SliceSlice
1: Standing
(Preparation
Drill) Drill)
(Preparation
Indicator:
Opponent
rollsyou
to their
knees to while
escape
the mount.
Indicator:
Opponent
catches
in a headlock
standing.
Slice 2: Anchor and Base
Indicator:
to escape by pushing you to the side.
SliceOpponent
2: Riderattempts
Variation
Indicator: Opponent pushes off the ground from Stage 1.
Slice 2: Remount Technique
Slice 3: Low Swim
Indicator: Opponent attempts to wrap your posted arm and roll you out.
Indicator: Opponent attempts to escape the back mount.
Slice 3: Forced Variation
Indicator: Opponent exhausts and remains stationary in Stage 1.
Slice 4: High Swim
Indicator: Opponent pushes straight up on your chest or throat with one or both hands.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Trap and Roll Escape – Mount – Headlock Variation (L1)
2) Positional Control – Mount – Low Swim (L3)
3) Headlock Counters – Mount – Back Mount Finish (L16)
FIGHT
DRILLSide Variation (L5)
4) Rear Naked
ChokeSIMULATION
– Back Mount – Weak
Punch
Series ––Guard
1-4 Variation
(L8)
1)5)Trap
andBlock
Roll Escape
Mount––Stages
Headlock
(L1)
Shrimp Escape
– Side
Mount
– Shrimp
2)6)Positional
Control
– Mount
– Low
Swimand
(L3) Shoot Variation (L24)
Kimura Armlock
– Guard
– Forced
Variation
(L25) (L2)
3)7)Americana
Armlock
– Mount
– Neck-hug
Variation
19
43
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Clinch – Standing – Conservative Opponent (L15)
FIGHT
SIMULATION
DRILL
2) Standing Headlock
Defense
– Standing (L26)
3) Headlock
Counters
– Mount
– Armlock
Finish
(L16)
1) Trap and
Roll Escape
– Mount
– Punch
Block
Variation (L1)
4) Kimura
Armlock
– Guard
– Rider
Variation
2) Positional
Control
– Mount
– High
Swim(L25)
(L3)
5) Double
Sweep
– Guard
– Knee Thrust
Variation
3) TakeAnkle
the Back
– Mount
– Remount
Technique
(L4) (L20)
6) Straight
Armlock
– Mount– –Mount
Standard
Variation
(L9) (L2)
4) Americana
Armlock
– Standard
Variation
44
20
Lesson
Lesson
5 23
Lesson
Lesson
246
Technique:
Choke
Technique:
RearGuillotine
Naked Choke
Position:
Standing
Position:
Back
Mount
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
REFLEXDEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENTDRILL
DRILL
REFLEX
Practice
all all
variations
of of the
Practice
variations
Take
the Back
– Mount
(L4) (L23)
Guillotine
Choke
– Standing
In combination
with with
all variations
of the
In combination
all variations
of the
Rear Naked
Back Mount
DoubleChoke
Ankle –Sweep
– Guard(L5)
(L20)
the of the
Practice allPractice
variations
Leg Hook
Takedown
Standing
(L6)
Shrimp
Escape
– Side–Mount
(L24)
combinationwith
withallallvariations
variationsofof
In Incombination
Positional
Control
– Mount
Headlock
Escape
2 – Side
Mount(L3)
(L22)
Technique:
Leg Shrimp
Hook Takedown
Technique:
Escape
Position:
Position:
SideStanding
Mount
SliceSlice
1: Basic
Application
1: Basic
Application
Slice
1: 1:
Block
andControl
Shoot Variation
Slice
Clinch
(Preparation
Drill) Drill)
(Preparation
Indicator:
Opponent
(Preparation
Drill) passes your guard and attempts to establish the side mount.
Slice 2: Standing Variation
Opponent
attempts to tackle you.
SliceIndicator:
2: Strong
Side Variation
Slice 2: Shrimp and Shoot Variation
Indicator: Opponent falls towards the over-hooked arm.
Indicator: Opponent establishes the side mount.
Slice 2: Leg Hook Takedown
Indicator: Opponent maintains a wide base when you establish the clinch.
Slice 3: Guard Pull Variation
Indicator: Opponent effectively resists the Standing Variation and/or takes you to the ground.
Slice 3: Weak Side Variation
Slice 3: Punch Block Variation
Indicator: Opponent establishes the side mount and prevents your initial escape attempts.
Indicator: Opponent falls towards the under-hooked arm.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Guillotine Choke – Standing – Standing Variation (L23)
2) Guillotine Choke – Standing – Guard Pull Variation (L23)
FIGHT
DRILL
3) Headlock Escape
2 –SIMULATION
Side Mount – Punch
Block Variation (L22)
4) Trap
Takeand
the Back
– Mount– (L4)
1)
Roll Escape
Mount – Standard Variation (L1)
5) Positional
Rear Naked
Choke––Mount
Back Mount
Strong(L3)
Side Variation (L5)
2)
Control
– High–Swim
6) Take
Elevator
Guard(L4)
– Standard Variation (L11)
3)
the Sweep
Back ––Mount
7) Rear
Americana
Mount
– Standard
(L2) (L5)
4)
NakedArmlock
Choke ––Back
Mount
– WeakVariation
Side Variation
21
41
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
FIGHT
SIMULATION
DRILL Opponent (L17)
1) Double Leg Takedown
– Standing
– Conservative
1) Leg Hook
Takedown
Standing
(L6)Prevention (L13)
2) Positional
Control
– Side–Mount
– Roll
2) Take Armlock
the Back –– Mount
Mount –(L4)
3) Straight
Standard Variation (L9)
3) Rear
Naked
Choke
– Back– Mount
Strong(L8)
Side Variation (L5)
4) Punch
Block
Series
– Guard
Stages– 1-2-4
4) Remount
Technique
– Back
Mount and
(L4) Shoot Variation (L24)
5) Shrimp
Escape
– Side Mount
– Block
5) Americana
Mount 1.5
– Neck-hug
6) Triangle
ChokeArmlock
– Guard – Stage
VariationVariation
(L10) (L2)
22
42
Lesson
Lesson
7 21
Technique:
Technique:
Clinch
Pull(Aggressive
Guard
Opponent)
Position:
Position:
Standing
Standing
Lesson
Lesson
22 8
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILLDRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
REFLEX
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
DRILL
PracticePractice
the
Clinch (Aggressive
–
Pull Guard –Opponent)
Standing (L21)
Standing
(L7) In combination
with the of the
In combination
with all variations
Leg Hook
Takedown
– Standing
(L6)
Straight
Armlock
– Guard
(L19)
Practice
Practice
all variations
all variations
of of the
Headlock
Americana
Escape 2Armlock
– Side Mount
– Mount
(L22)(L2)
In combination
In combination
withwith
all variations
all variations
of of the
Headlock
Punch
Escape
Block
1 – Series
Side Mount
– Guard
(L18)
(L8)
SliceSlice
1: Keep
theGuard
Distance
1: Pull
(Preparation
Drill)
Indicator:
Opponent prevents you from controlling their hips after you close the distance.
Technique:
Technique:
Punch Block
Headlock
SeriesEscape
(Stages21-4)
Position:Position:
Side Mount
Guard
1: StageLeg
1 Hook Escape
SliceSlice
1: Standard
Indicator:
Opponent
attempts
to punch
your and
faceneutralizes
from withinHeadlock
your guard.
Indicator:
Opponent
establishes
a tight
headlock
Escape 1.
Slice 2: Stage 2
Indicator: Opponent pulls their arm back to punch your body or head.
Slice 2: Super Base Variation
Indicator: Opponent establishes a very wide base and prevents the rollover.
Slice 2: Close the Distance
Indicator: Opponent becomes aggressive and commits to attacking you.
Slice 3: Stage 3
Indicator: Opponent sits up to generate more powerful punches.
Slice 3: Punch Block Variation
Indicator: Opponent attempts to punch while maintaining the headlock.
Slice 4: Stage 4
Indicator: Opponent stands up to throw punches.
FIGHT
FIGHT
SIMULATION
SIMULATION
DRILL
DRILL
Clinch
– Standing
– Aggressive
Opponent
(L7)
1) 1)
Clinch
– Standing
– Aggressive
Opponent
(L7)
Pull
Guard
– Standing
(L21) (L6)
2) 2)
Leg
Hook
Takedown
– Standing
Double Ankle
Sweep
– Guard
Kick Variation
(L20)
3) 3)
Positional
Control
– Mount
– Low– Swim
(L3)
PositionalArmlock
Control – Mount
Side Mount
– GuardVariation
Prevention
4) 4)
Americana
– Standard
(L2)(L13)
Headlock
Escape
1 – (L4)
Side Mount – Scissor Failure Variation (L18)
5) 5)
Take
the Back
– Mount
Straight
Mount
– Side
Variation
6) 6)
Rear
NakedArmlock
Choke ––Back
Mount
– Weak
Side(L9)
Variation (L5)
23
39
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Clinch – Standing – Conservative Opponent (L15)
SIMULATION
DRILL
2) Leg Hook Takedown –FIGHT
Standing
(L6)
3) Punch1)Block
– Guard
– Stages 1-4-1
(L8) (L7)
ClinchSeries
– Standing
– Aggressive
Opponent
4) Straight
Armlock
Guard – Triangle
Transition
(L19)
2) Leg
Hook –Takedown
– Standing
(L6)
5) Triangle
Choke
Guard–(L10)
3) Take
the– Back
Mount (L4)
6) Headlock
Escape
2 –Choke
Side Mount
Standard
Leg Hook
(L22)
4) Rear
Naked
– Back– Mount
– Strong
Side Escape
Variation
(L5)
7) Headlock
Counters
Mount – Guard
Armlock
Finish
(L16)
5) Punch
Block– Series
– All
Stages
(L8)
40
24
Lesson
Lesson
9 19
Technique:
Technique:
Straight
Straight
Armlock
Armlock
Position:
Position:
Mount
Guard
Lesson
Lesson
2010
REFLEX
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
DRILL
Practice
Practice
all variations
all variations
of theof the
Trap andElbow
Roll Escape
Escape––Mount
Mount(L1)
(L12)
In combination
In combination
with all
with
variations
all variations
of theof the
Straight
Straight
Armlock
Armlock
– Mount
– Guard
(L9) (L19)
Practice all
Practice
variations
all variations
of the of the
DoublePunch
Leg Takedown
Block Series
– Standing
(Stages 1-4)
(L17)– Guard (L8)
In combination
In combination
with all variations
with all variations
of the of the
Double Ankle
Triangle
SweepChoke
– Guard
– Guard
(L20) (L10)
Technique:
Technique:
Double Ankle
Triangle
Sweep
Choke
Position:
Position:
Guard
Guard
1: Low
Variation
SliceSlice
1: Final
Control
SliceSlice
1: Knee
Thrust Variation
1: Triangle
Finish
Indicator:
Opponent swims inside to attack your chest or throat with their head low.
(Preparation
Drill)
Indicator:
Opponent
stands up with their feet very close to your hips.
(Preparation
Drill)
2: High Variation
SliceSlice
2: Standard
Variation
SliceSlice
2: Stand
up in1.5
Base
2: Stage
Variation
Slice 3: Triangle Transition
SliceIndicator:
3: Side Opponent
Variationpulls their arm out during your Straight Armlock attempt.
Slice 3: Kick Variation
SliceOpponent
3: GiantisKiller
Indicator:
too tallVariation
for the Knee Thrust Variation to be effectively applied.
Indicator:
Opponent
attacks
arms and their head high.
Indicator:
Opponent
reaches
up foryour
yourchest
chestororthroat
throatwith
withfully-extended
one or both hands.
Indicator: Opponent turns sideways underneath you but does not roll to their knees.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
FIGHT
SIMULATION
DRILL
1) Clinch – Standing
– Conservative
Opponent (L15)
1) Clinch
– Standing
– Aggressive
Opponent
2) Body
Fold Takedown
– Standing
(L14)(L7)
2) Leg3)Hook
Takedown
– Standing
Positional
Control
– Mount(L6)
– Anchor and Base (L3)
3) Positional
High Swim (L3)
4) Take Control
the Back– –Mount
Mount– (L4)
4) Take
Back
– Mount
– Remount
(L4)(L8)
5) the
Punch
Block
Series
– Guard –Technique
Stages 1-2-1
5) Straight
Armlock
– Mount
– Side– Variation
(L9) (L19)
6) Straight
Armlock
– Guard
High Variation
25
REFLEXREFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL DRILL
37
(Preparation
Drill)
Indicator:
Opponent is in your guard and you are able to establish Stage 1.5.
Indicator: Opponent is in your guard and is too large for you to apply the Stage 1.5 Variation.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
FIGHT
SIMULATION
DRILL
1) Elbow Escape – Mount
– Heel
Drag (L12)
1) Trap
Roll Escape
– Punch
Block Variation
2) Double
Ankleand
Sweep
– Guard –– Mount
Knee Thrust
Variation
(L20) (L1)
2) Positional
– Anchor
and(L9)
Base (L3)
3) Straight
Armlock –Control
Mount –– Mount
Standard
Variation
3) Block
Straight
Armlock
– Mount
– Standard
(L9)
4) Punch
Series
– Guard
– Stages
1-2-4-1Variation
(L8)
4) Punch
Block
Series– –Low
Guard
– Stages
1-4-1 (L8)
5) Straight
Armlock
– Guard
Variation
(L19)
5) Triangle
Choke
– Guard
1.5 Variation
(L10) (L18)
6) Headlock
Escape
1 – Side
Mount– –Stage
Standard
Frame Escape
38
26
Lesson
Lesson
11 17
Technique:
Double
Leg Takedown
Technique:
Elevator
Sweep
Position:
Standing
Position:
Guard
Lesson
Lesson
1812
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
Practice
all variations
Practice
all variations
of theof the
Double
Takedown
– Standing
(L17)
ElevatorLeg
Sweep
– Guard
(L11)
In combination
all variations
In combination
with allwith
variations
of the of
Positional
Control– –Mount
Side Mount
Straight
Armlock
(L9) (L13)
Practice
all all
variations
of of the
Practice
variations
HeadlockElbow
EscapeEscape
1 – Side
Mount (L12)
(L18)
– Mount
In combination
with with
all variations
of theof the
In combination
all variations
Headlock
Counters
– Mount
(L16)
Triangle
Choke
– Guard
(L10)
1: BasicVariation
Application
SliceSlice
1: Standard
(Preparation
Drill)
Indicator:
Opponent
posts one leg to drive their weight forward and punch you.
Technique:
HeadlockElbow
Escape
1
Technique:
Escape
Position:Position:
Side Mount
Mount
1: Shrimp
Drill Escape
SliceSlice
1: Standard
Frame
(Preparation Drill)
Indicator: Opponent establishes a headlock from the side mount.
Slice 2: Standard Elbow Escape
Indicator: Opponent prevents the Trap and Roll Escape by establishing wide base.
Slice 2: Aggressive Opponent
Indicator: Opponent advances towards you aggressively.
Slice 2: Headlock Variation
Indicator: Opponent establishes a headlock and posts the opposite leg to punch you.
Slice 3: Conservative Opponent
Indicator: Opponent advances towards you conservatively.
Slice 2: Scissor Failure Variation
Indicator: Opponent effectively resists the Scissor Choke.
Slice 3: Hook Removal
Slice 5: Heel Drag
Indicator: Opponent inserts the leg hooks or “grapevines” for
better control.
Indicator: Opponent
neutralizes the Fish Hook by
keeping their knee heavy and
lifting their foot.
Slice 3: Super Lock Variation
Indicator: Opponent does not release the headlock when you execute the Standard Frame Escape.
Slice 4: Fish Hook
Indicator: Opponent resists the Standard Elbow Escape by
keeping their leg heavy.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
FIGHT
SIMULATION
1) Double Leg Takedown
– Standing –DRILL
Conservative Opponent (L17)
Clinch – Standing
Aggressive
(L7) (L13)
2)1)Positional
Control ––Side
Mount –Opponent
Roll Prevention
Leg HookCounters
Takedown
– Standing
(L6)Mount Finish (L16)
3)2)Headlock
– Mount
– Back
Punch
Block
Series
– Guard
– Stages
1-3-4-1
(L8)
4)3)Rear
Naked
Choke
– Back
Mount
– Weak
Side Variation
(L5)
ElevatorSweep
Sweep––Guard
Guard––Headlock
HeadlockVariation
Variation(L11)
(L11)
5)4)Elevator
StraightArmlock
Armlock––Mount
Mount––Standard
Side Variation
(L9)(L9)
6)5)Straight
Variation
27
35
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Double Leg Takedown – Standing – Aggressive Opponent (L17)
SIMULATION
DRILL (L13)
2) Positional Control – FIGHT
Side Mount
– Guard Prevention
3) Positional
Control
– Mount
– High
Swim
(L3) (L12)
1) Elbow
Escape
– Mount
– Hook
Removal
4) Straight
Armlock
– Mount
Variation
(L9)
2) Punch
Block
Series––Side
Guard
– Stages
1-2-1 (L8)
5) Punch
Series
– Guard
– Stages
1-3-4Variation
(L8)
3) Block
Elevator
Sweep
– Guard
– Standard
(L11)
6) Headlock
Escape
1 – Side
Mount
4) Take
the Back
– Mount
(L4)– Super Lock Variation (L18)
7) Headlock
Counters
– Mount– –Back
Armlock
(L16)
5) Rear
Naked Choke
MountFinish
– Weak
Side Variation (L5)
36
28
Lesson
Lesson
1315
Technique:
Clinch Control
(Conservative Opponent)
Technique:
Positional
Position:
Position:
SideStanding
Mount
Lesson
Lesson
1614
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL DRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
Practice all Practice
variationstheof
Positional
Control
– Side Mount
(L13) –
Clinch
(Conservative
Opponent)
In combination
withInallcombination
variations ofwith the
Standing (L15)
Positional
– Mount
(L3) (L14)
Body FoldControl
Takedown
– Standing
Practice
Practice all variations
of the
the
Body Fold
Takedown
– Standing (L14)
Elevator
Sweep
– Guard (L11)
In combination
In combination with
all variationswith
of the
Take the Back
– Mount
Headlock Counters
– Mount
(L16) (L4)
And all variations of the
Rear Naked Choke – Back Mount (L5)
1: Surprise
Entry
SliceSlice
1: Roll
Prevention
Slice 1: Basic Positioning
Indicator:
Opponent
advances
towards
you conservatively.
Indicator:
Opponent
attempts
to escape
by bridging
and rolling explosively to either side.
(Preparation Drill)
Technique:
Headlock
Counters
Technique:
Body Fold
Takedown
Position:
Position:Mount
Standing
Slice 1: Body Fold Takedown
Indicator: Opponent attempts to throw punches after you establish the clinch.
Slice 2: Prevent the Getup
Indicator: Opponent attempts to roll to their knees with the headlock intact.
Slice 2: Guard Prevention
Indicator: Opponent attempts to put you in their guard.
Slice 3: Back Mount Finish
Indicator: Opponent releases the headlock and rolls to their knees.
Slice 3: Mount Transition
Indicator: Opponent exhausts their escape attempts and you wish to mount.
Slice 4: Armlock Finish
Indicator: Opponent exhausts their escape attempts and keeps the headlock intact.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
FIGHT
SIMULATION
DRILL
1) Clinch – Standing
– Conservative
Opponent (L15)
1) Positional
Control
– Side Mount
– Roll (L6)
Prevention (L13)
2) Leg Hook
Takedown
– Standing
2) Americana
Variation (L2)
3) Take Armlock
the Back –– Mount
Mount –– Neck-hug
Remount Technique
(L4)
3) Punch
Block Series
– Guard
– Stages
(L8)(L9)
4) Straight
Armlock
– Mount
– Side1-2-4-1
Variation
4) Elevator
Sweep
– Guard
– Headlock
(L11)(L8)
5) Punch
Block
Series
– Guard – Variation
Stages 1-4-1
5) Straight
Armlock
– Mount
– Standard
(L9) (L10)
6) Triangle
Choke
– Guard
– Stage Variation
1.5 Variation
29
33
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Clinch – Standing – Aggressive Opponent (L7)
FIGHT
SIMULATION
2) Body Fold
Takedown
– Standing DRILL
(L14)
3) Positional
– Side
Mount
Guard Prevention (L13)
1) Elbow
EscapeControl
– Mount
– Fish
Hook–(L12)
4) Take the
Back––Guard
Mount– (L4)
2) Elevator
Sweep
Standard Variation (L11)
5) Punch Block
Series
– Guard
– StagesFinish
1-2-1 (L16)
(L8)
3) Headlock
Counters
– Mount
– Armlock
6) Triangle
Choke
– Guard
– Giant
Killer
Variation
(L10)
4) Triangle
Choke
– Guard
– Giant
Killer
Variation
(L10)
34
30
Gracie Combatives
The Fastest Way to Street Readiness. Guaranteed.™
Lesson
1513
Lesson
Technique:
Clinch
(Conservative
Technique:
Positional
ControlOpponent)
Position:
Standing
Position:
Side Mount
Lesson
1416
Lesson
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILLDRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
Practice the
all variations of
Clinch
(Conservative
– (L13)
Positional
ControlOpponent)
– Side Mount
StandingIn(L15)
In combination
the of
combination
with all with
variations
Body FoldPositional
TakedownControl
– Standing
(L14)(L3)
– Mount
Practice
the
Practice
all variations
of the
Body Fold
Takedown
– Standing
(L14)
Elevator
Sweep
– Guard (L11)
In combination
with
In combination
with all
variations of the
Take
the Back
– Mount
(L4) (L16)
Headlock
Counters
– Mount
And all variations of the
Rear Naked Choke – Back Mount (L5)
SliceSlice
1: Surprise
Entry
1: Roll Prevention
Indicator:
Opponent
advances
towards
you conservatively.
Indicator:
Opponent
attempts
to escape
by bridging and rolling explosively to either side.
Technique:
Body Headlock
Fold Takedown
Technique:
Counters
Position:
Standing
Position:
Mount
Slice 1: Basic Positioning
(Preparation Drill)
Slice 1: Body Fold Takedown
Indicator: Opponent attempts to throw punches after you establish the clinch.
Slice 2: Prevent the Getup
Indicator: Opponent attempts to roll to their knees with the headlock intact.
Slice 2: Guard Prevention
Indicator: Opponent attempts to put you in their guard.
Slice 3: Back Mount Finish
Indicator: Opponent releases the headlock and rolls to their knees.
Slice 3: Mount Transition
Indicator: Opponent exhausts their escape attempts and you wish to mount.
Slice 4: Armlock Finish
Indicator: Opponent exhausts their escape attempts and keeps the headlock intact.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
FIGHT
SIMULATION
DRILL
1) Clinch – Standing
– Conservative
Opponent
(L15)
2) Leg
Hook Takedown
(L6)– Roll Prevention (L13)
1) Positional
Control––Standing
Side Mount
3) Take
the Back –Armlock
Mount ––Remount
TechniqueVariation
(L4)
2) Americana
Mount – Neck-hug
(L2)
4) Straight
– Mount
– Side– Variation
(L9) (L8)
3) PunchArmlock
Block Series
– Guard
Stages 1-2-4-1
5) Punch
BlockSweep
Series––Guard
Guard––Headlock
Stages 1-4-1
(L8) (L11)
4) Elevator
Variation
6) Triangle
Choke
– Guard
– Stage
1.5 Variation
(L10) (L9)
5) Straight
Armlock
– Mount
– Standard
Variation
33
29
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Clinch – Standing – Aggressive Opponent (L7)
FIGHT
SIMULATION
DRILL
2) Body Fold Takedown
– Standing
(L14)
3) Positional
Control
– Side
Mount– –Fish
Guard
Prevention
(L13)
1) Elbow
Escape
– Mount
Hook
(L12)
4) Take2)the
Back –Sweep
Mount (L4)
Elevator
– Guard – Standard Variation (L11)
5) Punch
Series
– Guard– –Mount
Stages
1-2-1 (L8)Finish (L16)
3) Block
Headlock
Counters
– Armlock
6) Triangle
Choke –Choke
Guard––Guard
Giant–Killer
(L10) (L10)
4) Triangle
GiantVariation
Killer Variation
30
34
Lesson
Lesson
1711
Technique:
Double
Leg Takedown
Technique:
Elevator
Sweep
Position:
Standing
Position:
Guard
Lesson
Lesson
1218
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL DRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILLDRILL
PracticePractice
all variations
of the of the
all variations
Double Leg Elevator
Takedown
– Standing
(L17)
Sweep
– Guard
(L11)
In combination
with all
variations
of of the
In combination
with
all variations
Positional Straight
Control –Armlock
Side Mount
(L13)(L9)
– Mount
Practice
all variations
Practice all
variations
of the of
Headlock
Escape
1 – (L12)
Side Mount (L18)
Elbow
Escape
– Mount
In combination
all variations
In combination
with allwith
variations
of the of the
Headlock
– Mount (L16)
Triangle
ChokeCounters
– Guard (L10)
SliceSlice
1: Basic
Application
1: Standard
Variation
(Preparation
Drill)
Indicator:
Opponent posts one leg to drive their weight forward and punch you.
Technique:
Escape 1
Technique:Headlock
Elbow Escape
Position:
Mount
Position:Side
Mount
SliceSlice
1: Shrimp
Drill Frame Escape
1: Standard
(Preparation Drill)
Indicator: Opponent establishes a headlock from the side mount.
Slice 2: Standard Elbow Escape
Indicator: Opponent prevents the Trap and Roll Escape by establishing wide base.
Slice 2: Aggressive Opponent
Indicator: Opponent advances towards you aggressively.
Slice 2: Headlock Variation
Indicator: Opponent establishes a headlock and posts the opposite leg to punch you.
Slice 3: Conservative Opponent
Indicator: Opponent advances towards you conservatively.
Slice 2: Scissor Failure Variation
Indicator: Opponent effectively resists the Scissor Choke.
Slice 3: Hook Removal
Slice 5: Heel Drag
Indicator: Opponent inserts the leg hooks or “grapevines” for
better control.
Indicator: Opponent
neutralizes the Fish Hook by
keeping their knee heavy and
lifting their foot.
Slice 3: Super Lock Variation
Indicator: Opponent does not release the headlock when you execute the Standard Frame Escape.
Slice 4: Fish Hook
Indicator: Opponent resists the Standard Elbow Escape by
keeping their leg heavy.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
FIGHT
SIMULATION
DRILL
1) Double Leg Takedown
– Standing
– Conservative
Opponent (L17)
1) Control
Clinch –– Standing
– Aggressive
Opponent
(L7)
2) Positional
Side Mount
– Roll Prevention
(L13)
Leg Hook– Takedown
– Standing
3) Headlock2)Counters
Mount – Back
Mount (L6)
Finish (L16)
3) Punch
Series
Stages
1-3-4-1(L5)
(L8)
4) Rear Naked
ChokeBlock
– Back
Mount– –Guard
Weak– Side
Variation
Elevator
Sweep
– Guard –Variation
Headlock(L11)
Variation (L11)
5) Elevator 4)
Sweep
– Guard
– Headlock
Straight
Armlock
– Mount –Variation
Side Variation
6) Straight 5)
Armlock
– Mount
– Standard
(L9) (L9)
35
27
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Double Leg Takedown – Standing – Aggressive Opponent (L17)
DRILLPrevention (L13)
2) Positional FIGHT
Control SIMULATION
– Side Mount – Guard
3) Positional
– Mount
High Swim
(L3)
1) Elbow
EscapeControl
– Mount
– Hook–Removal
(L12)
4) Straight
Armlock
Mount––Stages
Side Variation
(L9)
2) Punch
Block
Series –– Guard
1-2-1 (L8)
5) PunchSweep
Block Series
– Stages
1-3-4(L11)
(L8)
3) Elevator
– Guard– –Guard
Standard
Variation
6) Headlock
Escape
1 –(L4)
Side Mount – Super Lock Variation (L18)
4) Take
the Back
– Mount
7) Headlock
Counters
– Mount
– Armlock
Finish
(L16) (L5)
5) Rear
Naked Choke
– Back
Mount
– Weak Side
Variation
28
36
Lesson
Lesson
199
Technique:
Technique:
Straight
Straight
Armlock
Armlock
Position:
Position:
Guard
Mount
Lesson
Lesson1020
REFLEX
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT
DRILLDRILL
Practice
Practice
all variations
all variations
of the of the
Elbow
TrapEscape
and Roll
– Mount
Escape(L12)
– Mount (L1)
In combination
In combination
with allwith
variations
all variations
of the of the
Straight
Straight
Armlock
Armlock
– Guard
– Mount
(L19) (L9)
Practice
Practice
all all
variations
variations
of the
of the
PunchDouble
Block Leg
Series
Takedown
(Stages 1-4)
– Standing
– Guard(L17)
(L8)
In combination
In combination
with
with
all all
variations
variations
of the
of the
Double
TriangleAnkle
Choke
Sweep
– Guard
– Guard
(L10) (L20)
Technique:
Technique:Double
Triangle
Ankle
Choke
Sweep
Position:
Position:
Guard
Guard
SliceSlice
1: Low
Variation
1: Final
Control
1: KneeFinish
Thrust Variation
SliceSlice
1: Triangle
Indicator:
Opponent
swims inside to attack your chest or throat with their head low.
(Preparation
Drill)
Indicator:
Opponent stands up with their feet very close to your hips.
(Preparation
Drill)
SliceSlice
2: High
VariationVariation
2: Standard
2: Stand
up in Base
SliceSlice
2: Stage
1.5 Variation
Slice 3: Triangle Transition
SliceOpponent
3: Side pulls
Variation
Indicator:
their arm out during your Straight Armlock attempt.
Slice 3: Kick Variation
SliceIndicator:
3: GiantOpponent
Killer Variation
is too tall for the Knee Thrust Variation to be effectively applied.
Indicator:
Opponent
attacks
your chest
throat
withorfully-extended
andhands.
their head high.
Indicator:
Opponent
reaches
up fororyour
chest
throat with onearms
or both
Indicator: Opponent turns sideways underneath you but does not roll to their knees.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
FIGHT
SIMULATION
DRILL
1) Clinch – Standing
– Conservative
Opponent
(L15)
1) Clinch
– Standing––Standing
Aggressive
Opponent (L7)
2) Body
Fold Takedown
(L14)
2) Leg Hook
Takedown
3) Positional
Control
– Mount– –Standing
Anchor(L6)
and Base (L3)
3) Positional
Mount – High Swim (L3)
4) Take
the Back Control
– Mount–(L4)
4) Take
the Series
Back ––Mount
Technique
5) Punch
Block
Guard––Remount
Stages 1-2-1
(L8) (L4)
5) Straight
Armlock
– Mount
– Side
Variation
6) Straight
Armlock
– Guard
– High
Variation
(L19)(L9)
37
REFLEX
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
DRILL
25
(Preparation
Drill)
Indicator:
Opponent
is in your guard and you are able to establish Stage 1.5.
Indicator: Opponent is in your guard and is too large for you to apply the Stage 1.5 Variation.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
FIGHT
SIMULATION
1) Elbow Escape – Mount
– Heel Drag DRILL
(L12)
1) Trap
and Roll
Escape
– Mount
2) Double
Ankle
Sweep
– Guard– –Punch
Knee Block
ThrustVariation
Variation(L1)
(L20)
2) Positional
andVariation
Base (L3)(L9)
3) StraightControl
Armlock– –Mount
Mount– –Anchor
Standard
3) Straight
– Mount
– Standard
Variation
4) PunchArmlock
Block Series
– Guard
– Stages
1-2-4-1(L9)
(L8)
4) Punch
Block
Series – Guard – Stages
1-4-1 (L8)
5) Straight
Armlock
Low Variation
(L19)
5) Triangle
Choke
– Guard
Stage
1.5 –Variation
6) Headlock
Escape
1 – –Side
Mount
Standard(L10)
Frame Escape (L18)
26
38
Lesson
Lesson
217
Technique:
Technique:
Pull Clinch
Guard (Aggressive Opponent)
Position:
Position:
Standing
Standing
Lesson
Lesson 822
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILLDRILL
REFLEX
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT
DRILLDRILL
Practice the
Practice
Opponent) –
PullClinch
Guard(Aggressive
– Standing (L21)
Standingwith
(L7) all
In combination
In combination
variations of with
the the
Leg Hook
Takedown
– Standing
(L6)
Straight
Armlock
– Guard
(L19)
Practice Practice
all variations
all variations
of the of
Americana
Headlock
Armlock
Escape–2Mount
– Side(L2)
Mount (L22)
In combination
In combination
with all variations
with all variations
of the of
Punch
Headlock
Block Escape
Series –1Guard
– Side(L8)
Mount (L18)
1: Keep
SliceSlice
1: Pull
Guardthe Distance
(Preparation
Drill)
Indicator:
Opponent
prevents you from controlling their hips after you close the distance.
Technique: Punch
Technique:
Block Series
Headlock
(StagesEscape
1-4) 2
Position:
Position:Side
Guard
Mount
SliceSlice
1: Stage
1
1: Standard
Leg Hook Escape
Indicator:
Opponent
attempts
to puncha your
from and
within
your guard.
Indicator:
Opponent
establishes
tight face
headlock
neutralizes
Headlock Escape 1.
Slice 2: Stage 2
Indicator: Opponent pulls their arm back to punch your body or head.
Slice 2: Super Base Variation
Indicator: Opponent establishes a very wide base and prevents the rollover.
Slice 2: Close the Distance
Indicator: Opponent becomes aggressive and commits to attacking you.
Slice 3: Stage 3
Indicator: Opponent sits up to generate more powerful punches.
Slice 3: Punch Block Variation
Indicator: Opponent attempts to punch while maintaining the headlock.
Slice 4: Stage 4
Indicator: Opponent stands up to throw punches.
FIGHT
FIGHT
SIMULATION
SIMULATION
DRILL
DRILL
1) Clinch
Standing
– Aggressive
Opponent
(L7)
1)–Clinch
– Standing
– Aggressive
Opponent
(L7)
2) Pull Guard
Standing
(L21) – Standing (L6)
2) Leg–Hook
Takedown
3) Double
Ankle Sweep
– Guard
– Kick
Variation
3) Positional
Control
– Mount
– Low
Swim(L20)
(L3)
4) Positional
Control –Armlock
Side Mount
– Guard
Prevention
(L13) (L2)
4) Americana
– Mount
– Standard
Variation
5) Headlock
Escape
1 – Side
Mount
– Scissor Failure Variation (L18)
5) Take
the Back
– Mount
(L4)
6) Straight
Armlock
– Mount
(L9) Side Variation (L5)
6) Rear
Naked
Choke –– Side
BackVariation
Mount – Weak
39
23
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Clinch – Standing – Conservative Opponent (L15)
FIGHT SIMULATION
2) Leg Hook Takedown
– Standing (L6) DRILL
Punch
Block Series
– Guard –Opponent
Stages 1-4-1
1)3)
Clinch
– Standing
– Aggressive
(L7) (L8)
Straight
Armlock ––Guard
– Triangle
2)4)
Leg
Hook Takedown
Standing
(L6) Transition (L19)
Triangle
Choke
– Guard
3)5)
Take
the Back
– Mount
(L4)(L10)
Headlock
– SideMount
Mount– –Strong
Standard
Hook Escape
(L22)
4)6)
Rear
Naked Escape
Choke –2 Back
SideLeg
Variation
(L5)
Headlock
Mount– –AllArmlock
Finish (L16)
5)7)
Punch
BlockCounters
Series – –Guard
Stages (L8)
24
40
Lesson
Lesson
235
Technique:
Technique:
Guillotine
Rear Naked
ChokeChoke
Position:
Position:
Standing
Back Mount
Lesson
Lesson 624
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
REFLEX
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT
DRILLDRILL
all variations
PracticePractice
all variations
of the of
Take
the –Back
– Mount
(L4)
Guillotine
Choke
Standing
(L23)
In combination
with
all variations
In combination
with all
variations
of theof the
RearAnkle
Naked
Choke– –Guard
Back(L20)
Mount (L5)
Double
Sweep
Practice
Practiceall
thevariations of the
Leg Hook
Shrimp
Takedown
Escape
– Standing
– Side Mount
(L6) (L24)
In combination
In combination
with allwith
variations
all variations
of
of
Positional
Headlock
Control
Escape
– Mount
2 – Side
(L3)Mount (L22)
1: Basic
Application
SliceSlice
1: Basic
Application
(Preparation
(Preparation
Drill) Drill)
Slice 2: Standing Variation
Indicator:
attempts
to tackle you.
SliceOpponent
2: Strong
Side Variation
Indicator: Opponent falls towards the over-hooked arm.
Technique:
Technique:
Leg HookShrimp
Takedown
Escape
Position:
Position:Standing
Side Mount
1: Block
and Shoot Variation
SliceSlice
1: Clinch
Control
Indicator:
Opponent passes your guard and attempts to establish the side mount.
(Preparation
Drill)
Slice 2: Shrimp and Shoot Variation
Indicator: Opponent establishes the side mount.
Slice 2: Leg Hook Takedown
Indicator: Opponent maintains a wide base when you establish the clinch.
Slice 3: Guard Pull Variation
Indicator: Opponent effectively resists the Standing Variation and/or takes you to the ground.
Slice 3: Weak Side Variation
Slice 3: Punch Block Variation
Indicator: Opponent establishes the side mount and prevents your initial escape attempts.
Indicator: Opponent falls towards the under-hooked arm.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Guillotine Choke – Standing – Standing Variation (L23)
2) Guillotine Choke – Standing – Guard Pull Variation (L23)
SIMULATION
3) Headlock Escape 2 – FIGHT
Side Mount
– Punch BlockDRILL
Variation (L22)
4) Take the
Backand
– Mount
(L4) – Mount – Standard Variation (L1)
1) Trap
Roll Escape
5) Rear Naked
Choke –Control
Back Mount
– Strong
Variation
(L5)
2) Positional
– Mount
– HighSide
Swim
(L3)
6) Elevator
– Guard
Standard
3) Sweep
Take the
Back –– Mount
(L4) Variation (L11)
7) Americana
Armlock
Mount––Back
Standard
(L2) Variation (L5)
4) Rear
Naked–Choke
MountVariation
– Weak Side
41
21
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
FIGHT
SIMULATION
1) Double Leg Takedown
– Standing –DRILL
Conservative Opponent (L17)
1) Leg
Hook Takedown
(L6)– Roll Prevention (L13)
2) Positional
Control––Standing
Side Mount
2) Take
the Back
– Mount
(L4) – Standard Variation (L9)
3) Straight
Armlock
– Mount
3) Rear
NakedBlock
Choke
– Back
Mount––Stages
Strong1-2-4
Side Variation
(L5)
4) Punch
Series
– Guard
(L8)
4) Remount
BackMount
Mount– (L4)
5) ShrimpTechnique
Escape ––Side
Block and Shoot Variation (L24)
5) Americana
Mount– –Stage
Neck-hug
Variation
(L2)
6) TriangleArmlock
Choke – –Guard
1.5 Variation
(L10)
22
42
Lesson
Lesson
253
Technique:
Positional
Control
Technique:
Kimura
Armlock
Position:
Mount
Position:
Guard
Lesson
Lesson 426
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL
all variations
PracticePractice
all variations
of the of
Positional
– Mount
Guillotine
Choke Control
– Standing
(L23) (L3)
In combination
with
all variations
In combination
with all
variations
of theof the
Americana
Mount (L2)
Kimura
ArmlockArmlock
– Guard–(L25)
1: Hips
and Hands
SliceSlice
1: Basic
Application
(Preparation
(Preparation
Drill) Drill)
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT
DRILL DRILL
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT
Practice all variations
of the
Practice
Positional
Control
– Mount
(L3) – Standing (L26)
Standing
Headlock
Defense
In combination
with all variations
of
In combination
with all variations
of the
Take the
Back – Mount
(L4)– Mount (L16)
Headlock
Counters
Technique:
Take the Back
Technique:
Standing Headlock
Defense
Position:
Position:Mount
Standing
SliceSlice
1: Take
the BackHeadlock Defense
1: Standing
Indicator:
Opponent
rolls to
their knees
thewhile
mount.
Indicator:
Opponent
catches
you intoa escape
headlock
standing.
Slice 2: Anchor and Base
attempts to escape by pushing you to the side.
SliceIndicator:
2: RiderOpponent
Variation
Indicator: Opponent pushes off the ground from Stage 1.
Slice 2: Remount Technique
Slice 3: Low Swim
Indicator: Opponent attempts to wrap your posted arm and roll you out.
Indicator: Opponent attempts to escape the back mount.
Slice 3: Forced Variation
Indicator: Opponent exhausts and remains stationary in Stage 1.
Slice 4: High Swim
Indicator: Opponent pushes straight up on your chest or throat with one or both hands.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Trap and Roll Escape – Mount – Headlock Variation (L1)
2) Positional Control – Mount – Low Swim (L3)
3) Headlock Counters – Mount – Back Mount Finish (L16)
SIMULATION
4) Rear Naked Choke –FIGHT
Back Mount
– Weak SideDRILL
Variation (L5)
5) Punch 1)
Block
– Guard
– Stages
(L8)
TrapSeries
and Roll
Escape
– Mount1-4
– Headlock
Variation (L1)
6) Shrimp2)Escape
– Side
Mount––Mount
Shrimp
and Swim
Shoot (L3)
Variation (L24)
Positional
Control
– Low
7) Kimura3)Armlock
– Guard
– Forced
Variation
(L25) Variation (L2)
Americana
Armlock
– Mount
– Neck-hug
43
19
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Clinch – Standing – Conservative Opponent (L15)
SIMULATION
DRILL(L26)
2) StandingFIGHT
Headlock
Defense – Standing
Headlock
Counters
– Mount
– Armlock
(L16)
1) Trap3)and
Roll Escape
– Mount
– Punch
Block Finish
Variation
(L1)
4) Kimura
Armlock
– Guard
– Rider
(L25)
2) Positional
Control
– Mount
– High
SwimVariation
(L3)
Double
Sweep
– GuardTechnique
– Knee Thrust
3) Take5)the
BackAnkle
– Mount
– Remount
(L4) Variation (L20)
6) Straight
Armlock
– Mount
– Standard
Variation
4) Americana
Armlock
– Mount
– Standard
Variation
(L2)(L9)
20
44
Lesson
Lesson
271
Lesson
Lesson 228
Technique:
Technique:
Punch
Trap
Block
and Series
Roll Escape
(Stage 5)
Position:
Position:
Guard
Mount
DEVELOPMENT
REFLEX REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DRILL DRILL
Practice
all variations
Practice all
variations
of the of the
Trap and
Roll 5)
Escape
– Mount
Punch Block Series
(Stage
– Guard
(L27) (L1)
In combination with all variations of the
Shrimp Escape – Side Mount (L24)
Slice 1: Stage 5
REFLEX
REFLEX
DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT
DRILLDRILL
Practiceofthethe
Practice all variations
HookEscape
Sweep––Mount
Guard(L1)
(L28)
Trap and Roll
In combination
all variations
In combination
with allwith
variations
of the of the
Kimura
Armlock
– Guard
Americana
Armlock
– Mount
(L2)(L25)
And the Elbow Escape – Mount (L12)
Technique:Technique:
Americana Hook
Armlock
Sweep
Position:
Position:
Mount
Guard
Slice 1: Standard Variation
Slice 1: Hook Sweep
stands with one leg forward in Stage 4 of the Punch Block Series.
SliceIndicator:
1: BasicOpponent
Application
Indicator: Opponent grabs your chest or throat with one or both hands.
(Preparation Drill)
Indicator: Opponent avoids leaning forward in Stage 4 of the Punch Block Series.
Slice 2: Punch Block Variation
Indicator: Opponent sits up to throw punches.
Slice 2: Standard Variation
Indicator: Opponent fears punches and protects their face with both hands.
Slice 2: Rollover Technique
Indicator: Opponent grabs your leg and throws it aside to punch or pass.
Slice 2: Sweep Follow-up
Indicator: Opponent attempts to stand up after the Hook Sweep is executed.
Slice 3: Headlock Variation
Indicator: Opponent establishes a headlock and inserts the grapevines.
Slice 3: Neck-hug Variation
Indicator: Opponent exposes their arm while you maintain control of their neck.
Slice 4: Open Guard Pass
Indicator: Opponent’s legs remain uncrossed after the Trap and Roll Escape is executed.
45
17
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Guillotine Choke – Standing – Guard Pull Variation (L23)
2) Punch Block Series – Guard – Stages 1-4-5-1-5 (L27)
3) Double Leg Takedown – Standing – Aggressive Opponent (L17)
4) Headlock Escape 2 – Side Mount – Super Base Variation (L22)
5) Take the Back – Mount (L4)
6) Rear Naked Choke – Back Mount – Strong Side Variation (L5)
7) Triangle Choke – Guard – Giant Killer Variation (L10)
1) Clinch – Standing – Aggressive Opponent (L7)
2) Pull Guard – Standing (L21)
3) Punch Block Series – Guard – Rollover Technique (L27)
4) Hook Sweep – Guard (L28)
5) Positional Control – Side Mount – Guard Prevention (L13)
6) Positional Control – Mount – High Swim (L3)
7) Straight Armlock – Guard – High Variation (L19)
18
46
Gracie Combatives
Lesson
29
Section 2 - Progress
Tracking
Lesson
30
Technique: Rear Takedown
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
Position:
is toStanding
remain calm and understand that you can neutralize any punch
by positioning
yourself
Practice
the
either inside or outside the optimal punching range. When
youTakedown
are inside
optimal (L29)
punching
Rear
– Standing
range, your opponent will be able to touch your head butInwill
not be able
hard enough
combination
withto
allhit
variations
of
Take the Back – Mount (L4) And the
to hurt you.
Rear Naked Choke – Back Mount (L5)
Fact #3: Punching is Exhausting
takes a lot
of Rear
energyClinch
to punch. Whenever your opponent is throwing punches that score 4
Slice 1:ItAchieve
the
below, you
may take
in knowing
thatafter
the you
punches
are the
probably
Indicator:orOpponent
positions
theirsolace
arm over
your head
establish
clinch.more exhausting
to them than they are damaging to you and that you will soon have the opportunity to take
advantage of your opponent’s weakened state.
Question #4: What if the bad guy attacks my eyes or my groin
in this situation?
Problem Solving Principle: Although street fights have no rules, we have found that larger and
stronger opponents prefer to punch the face rather than attack the eyes and/or groin.
However, in order to defend against dirty fighting techniques you must adopt the
following priorities:
Priority #1: Respect the Punch
Slice 2:Since
Rearpunches
Takedown
are the most common form of attack and the most immediate threat at any
Indicator:given
Opponent
youthem
to establish
rearfirst
clinch.
time, allows
stopping
must bethe
your
priority. Shift your priority to defend against
other types of attacks only if your opponent clearly resorts to a dirty fighting technique (eye
gouge, groin shot, biting, etc.). Even when defending against other attacks, never forget to
block the punches.
Priority #2: Master the Techniques
You will have truly mastered the Gracie Combatives techniques when you can apply them
without conscious thought. Once you reach this level, you will remain calm and easily read
your opponent’s behavior in the midst of a fight enabling you to quickly neutralize any type of
attack before it happens. Your controlling techniques and calm mind are your most reliable
defense mechanisms.
Question #5: What
if the
bad guy isDRILL
too big?
FIGHT
SIMULATION
Problem Solving Principle: We have proven the effectiveness of every technique presented
1) Clinch – Standing – Aggressive Opponent (L7)
in the Gracie Combatives course against larger opponents. Here are some facts regarding
2) Rear Takedown – Standing (L29)
the use of the techniques against much larger adversaries:
3) Headlock Counters – Mount – Armlock Finish (L16)
4) Punch Block Series – Guard – Stages 1-3-4 (L8)
5) Shrimp Escape – Side Mount – Punch Block Variation (L24)
6) Elevator Sweep – Guard – Standard Variation (L11)
7) Americana Armlock – Mount – Neck-hug Variation (L2)
47
15
Technique: Haymaker Punch Defense
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
Position: Standing
Fact #1: True Mastery
Takes
Time
Practice the
Learning
a technique
is a relatively
Haymaker
Punch Defense
– Standingsimple
(L30) process that can be accomplished in one lesson.
However, perfecting
the technique
In combination
with the takes months if not years. We have found that your ability
Rear
Takedown
– Standing
(L29) as you improve your mastery of the technique. As your
to handle
larger
opponents
increases
proficiency increases, practice against progressively larger partners until you find your limit
– Slice
if you have
one.
1: Haymaker
Punch Defense
Indicator: Opponent throws an overcommitted and very predictable haymaker punch at you.
Fact #2: Reach Maximum Potential with Perfect Technique
Most Gracie Jiu-Jitsu techniques will work against an opponent of any size when executed
with perfect timing and accuracy. While you can’t control the size of your attacker, you can
control the amount of time and energy you dedicate to perfecting the techniques. Your ability
to successfully apply your techniques against a giant is directly related to your mastery
of the skills.
Gracie Combatives Course Outline
In each of the lessons featured in the Gracie Combatives course, Ryron and I completely
dissect each technique, providing a level of detail that meets or exceeds what you would
experience in a private lesson at Gracie University. If you are a first time Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
student and have any difficulty digesting all the information in one viewing, simply watch
the presentation one or two more times before attempting to practice the technique or drill.
Use this section of the handbook to document the details of your experiences during training
sessions. In the following pages you will find the technique name, technical “slices,”
indicators, and a brief description of the Dynamic Reflex Development drills for each of the
36 lessons. Technical Slices are individual drills that present the details of a partial technique
or introduce a common variation on the standard application. Indicators are your opponent’s
physical movements that trigger your employment of a technique. Understanding the slice
details and indicators is the most important part of the instruction and warrants close study.
We also emphasize the “Most Important Details” of each technique as well as “Bad Guy
Reminders” and “Safety Tips.” Use the allotted note space in this handbook to document
these critically important components of your training to increase retention, and so that you
may reference them when you are training without the assistance of the videos.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Haymaker Punch Defense – Standing (L30)
2) Rear Takedown – Standing (L29)
3) Headlock Escape 1 – Side Mount – Super Lock Variation (L18)
4) Headlock Counters – Mount – Back Mount Finish (L16)
5) Rear Naked Choke – Back Mount – Weak Side Variation (L5)
6) Triangle Choke – Guard – Stage 1.5 Variation (L10)
16
48
Gracie Combatives
Lesson
31
Section 2 - Progress
Tracking32
Lesson
Technique: Take the Back
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
Position: Guard
Five Most Frequently AskedPractice
Questions:
all variations of the
Punch Block Series (Stage 5) – Guard (L27)
In combination
Question #1: Why isn’t this move working for
me? with
Take the Back
– Guard
(L31) inability
Problem Solving Principle: Apply the four reasons that account
for most
students’
to execute a technique.
Slice 1: Head and Arm Control
Indicator:Reason
Opponent
theirDetails
forearm in your throat from Stage 1.
#1:drives
Missing
The most common reason for difficulty with a technique is that you simply overlooked an
essential detail. Watch the lesson one or two more times to ensure that you have learned
every detail.
Reason #2: Bad “Bad Guy” Behavior
We designed the Gracie Combatives techniques to neutralize or counter the most likely
attacks that would occur in a real fight. For this reason, it is very important that the “bad guy”
simulates
Slice 2:realistically
Achieve the
Anglethe attacker behavior, or the technique may not work. Review the “Bad
Reminders”
areafter
discussed
in the presentation.
Indicator:Guy
Opponent
calmsthat
down
you establish
Head and Arm Control.
Reason #3: Bad Timing
Timing is everything. If you feel that you are performing all the steps correctly but the technique
is still not working, there is a good chance that your timing is off. Review the lesson for
hints on how you can use better timing to increase your effectiveness.
Reason #4: Physical Limitations
the Gracie Combatives techniques have been proven effective for most people,
Slice 3:Although
Final Getup
is possible
that down
an extreme
physical
prevents
you from successfully applying
Indicator:it Opponent
calms
after you
acquirelimitation
the angled
body position.
a technique. However, it is very important that you verify the problem is not due to
reasons 1-3 before concluding that you cannot physically execute the technique. If a
physical limitation is the problem, we recommend you use your understanding of the
Gracie Guidelines to modify the technique to accommodate your body or consider using
another technique from the curriculum to solve the problem.
Question #2: What if the bad guy does something different?
Problem Solving Principle:
The objective
of the Gracie
Combatives course is to prepare you
FIGHT
SIMULATION
DRILL
to defend against the most common attacks that a larger, unskilled opponent would use in a
– Mount
Fish Hookyour
(L12)
real fight.1)IfElbow
duringEscape
the practice
of a–technique
partner varies the attack behavior from
2) Take
Back – Guard
(L31) the following:
that covered
in thethe
instruction,
then consider
3) Rear Naked Choke – Back Mount (L5)
4) Double
Ankle Realness
Sweep – Guard – Kick Variation (L20)
Consideration
#1: Street
5) that
Positional
Control
– Side Mount
– Rolladdress
Prevention
(L13) natural and, therefore,
Remember
the Gracie
Combatives
techniques
the most
6) Take
Back
– MountYour
– Remount
Technique
most common
badthe
guy
behaviors.
training partner’s
role(L4)
is to consistently simulate
7) Straight Armlock – Mount – Side Variation (L9)
49
13
Technique: Guillotine Defense
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
the most commonPractice
behavior
so
that
you
can
perfect
the
techniques
as you arePosition:
most likely Standing
to
the
apply them
in a Defense
street fight.
A poor(L32)
training partner will constantly change behavior in order
Guillotine
– Standing
to defeat theIntechniques.
Thisthewill prevent you from learning the techniques properly and
combination with
Standing
Headlockthe
Defense
– Standing
(L26)habits. We will address all the “what if” scenarios
may
even promote
development
of bad
later in your training.
Slice 1: Guillotine Defense
Consideration
#2: Training
Speed,
and while
the Surprise
Indicator: Opponent
catchesSpeed,
you inStreet
a Guillotine
Choke
standing.Element
When practicing, always execute the techniques so slowly that it is impossible to make
a mistake. The slow pace and predictability of proper training will provide your partner
with many opportunities to counter the technique. Again, your training partner’s role is to
consistently simulate the most common behavior so that you can perfect the techniques –
not to fight with you. Eventually, your diligent and exacting practice will produce precise,
efficient, and quick reflexes that will leave your attacker with no opportunity to counter your
techniques. In a real fight, you will also have the advantage of surprise since your attacker
will have no advanced knowledge of how you react to his actions.
Consideration #3: The Complete Curriculum Will Address Nearly Every Scenario
If the modified bad guy behavior is legitimate, you can either wait to learn the solution to
the problem in a future lesson, or you can use the Gracie Guidelines to develop your own
temporary solution. Above all, remember that you must perfect the 36 Gracie Combatives
techniques as we present them in the course. Any time you spend on modifications based on
less likely bad guy behaviors will slow your progress toward blue belt and delay your access
to the remaining 600+ techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
Question #3: Can’t the bad guy punch me from here?
Problem Solving Principle: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a grappling art that puts you within very close
range of your opponent. As a result, you must be constantly aware of your opponent’s ability
to punch you. Here are some facts you must consider regarding punches:
Fact #1: You Will Get Punched
In a fight, the question is not whether you will get punched, but whether or not the punch
will hurt you. We score a punch’s effectiveness from 1-10 on the hypothetical “Punch Power
Scale” with “1” being a weak punch and “10” representing a potential knockout blow. The
objective of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu techniques is to completely avoid all punches that score 5 or
above and minimize the rest.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
Fact #2: Distance
is Everything
1) Clinch
– Standing – Aggressive Opponent (L7)
In order for a punch
to land Defense
effectively,
your opponent
2) Guillotine
– Standing
(L32) must establish the proper distance
and angle. Accordingly,
yourEscape
ability to
punches
is almost
entirely
based
on how
3) Headlock
1 –neutralize
Side Mount
– Standard
Frame
Escape
(L18)
effectively you control
the distance
your
face
and Variation
your opponent’s
4) Shrimp
Escape –and
Sideangles
Mountbetween
– Shrimp
and
Shoot
(L24) fists.
Any time you are
arms reach
of your
opponent,
you are
liable to get hit. The key
5) within
Kimuratwo
Armlock
– Guard
– Forced
Variation
(L25)
14
50
Gracie Combatives
Lesson
33
Technique: Elbow Escape
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
Position:
Side
Mount
Congratulations! You have taken the first step on your journey
Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu
Practice towards
all variations
of the
Elbow
Escape
Side Mountthe
(L33)
mastery. You begin the journey as a Gracie Jiu-Jitsu white belt.
When
you–complete
Gracie
In combination
Combatives course, you will have perfected the 36 most important
techniqueswith
of the art and
Take
Back –Combatives
Guard (L31) video
you will be eligible for promotion to Gracie Combatives belt!
ThetheGracie
course will guide you every step of the way, just as if you were receiving private lessons at
Using a revolutionary training process called Dynamic Reflex Development,
Slice 1:Gracie
Knee University.
Drive Variation
course attempts
will enable
to develop
reflexes
moreacross
rapidlyyour
thanstomach.
you ever thought possible.
Indicator:this
Opponent
to you
mount
by driving
their knee
This handbook will assist you in tracking your progress on the jiu-jitsu journey.
The Key to Confidence
At Gracie University, we have found that the abundance of details presented in each lesson
overwhelms most students and that it takes at least three iterations just to learn the
movements. The first iteration will enable you to practice the technique in slow motion. During
the second iteration, you will identify additional details that will improve your execution and
increase your confidence in the technique. Only by the third iteration will you begin to truly
understand all the details and start developing the confidence necessary to successfully
apply the technique in a real fight. Even then, you will need many more repetitions before you
can execute the technique with the precision and conviction that we seek in our students.
Slice 2: High Step Variation
is essentialattempts
that you to
approach
each aiteration
of every lesson
with atheir
highleg
levelover
of attentiveness.
Indicator:It Opponent
mount from
sitting position
by stepping
your body.
Use the GC Checklist, located on the first page of this book, to track your progress and note
how your confidence grows with each repetition of a lesson. Our experience teaching this
course reveals that students retain more details and learn the techniques better if they study
three consecutive lessons before reviewing any one of them.
The table on the following page illustrates the recommended schedule for the first thirty
days of your training. Following this training regimen, it will take 108 days to complete the
Gracie Combatives program. We recommend you complete the entire 108-day program
twice before you begin your preparation for the test. That equates to six repetitions of each
lesson followed by an additional 30-60 days of focused practice on the Gracie Combatives
Proficiency Drills. The total time required under this plan is about 8-12 months, which
parallels the time required to earn a belt at Gracie University.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Clinch – Standing – Conservative Opponent (L15)
2) Body Fold Takedown – Standing (L14)
3) Punch Block Series – Guard – Stages 1-3-5 (L27)
4) Punch Block Series – Guard - Rollover Technique (L27)
5) Elbow Escape – Side Mount – Knee Drive Variation (L33)
6) Straight Armlock – Guard – Triangle Transition (L19)
7) Triangle Choke – Guard (L10)
51
11
Section 2 - Progress
Tracking34
Lesson
Technique: Standing Armlock
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
Recommended Training Schedule Position: Standing
Practice the
Standing Armlock – Standing (L34)
Lesson 1with the1st Time
Lesson 7
Day 1 In combination
Day 16
Defense –2Standing
Lesson
Lesson 8
DayGuillotine
2
1st(L32)
Time
Day 17
Lesson 3
Lesson 9
Day 3
1st Time
Day 18
Slice 1: Basic Application
Day 19 arm.Lesson 4
Lesson
DayIndicator:
4
2nd
Time you with an extended
Opponent1pushes
or grabs
Lesson 5
Day 20
Lesson 2
Day 5
2nd Time
Lesson 6
Day 21
Lesson 3
Day 6
2nd Time
3rd Time
3rd Time
3rd Time
1st Time
1st Time
1st Time
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Lesson 4
Lesson 5
Lesson 6
1st Time
1st Time
1st Time
Day 22
Day 23
Day 24
Lesson 7
Lesson 8
Lesson 9
2nd Time
2nd Time
2nd Time
Day 10
Day 11
Day 12
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
3rd Time
3rd Time
3rd Time
Day 25
Day 26
Day 27
Lesson 10
Lesson 11
Lesson 12
1st Time
1st Time
1st Time
Lesson 7
Day 28
3rd Time
Lesson 4
Day 13
2nd Time
Lesson 8
Day 29
3rd Time
Lesson 5
Day 14
2nd Time
Slice 2: Walking Application
Lesson
9
Day
30
3rd Time
Lesson
6
DayIndicator:
15
2nd
Opponent pushes
youTime
with an extended arm while walking towards you.
This table illustrates the recommended training regimen for the first thirty days of your training. Apply this cyclic training
schedule to all 36 lessons to ensure optimum detail retention and reflex development as you prepare for the Gracie
Combatives Belt Qualification Test.
Technique Troubleshooting
With nearly 100 years of experience developing and instructing Gracie Jiu-Jitsu to a wide
variety of students, my family has addressed nearly every question and situation that may
arise in conjunction with the practice of this martial art. We found that the following five
questions cover 90% of all those that our students ask. Furthermore, we found that we can
usually answer these questions by applying a set of established problem solving principles.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
If you have a question about a technique, first review the entire lesson to ensure you
1) Standing
Armlock
Standing
(L34)
did not miss something,
as there
are –many
details
in each segment. Next, determine if
2) Standing
– StandingAsked
(L26) Questions, and apply the
your problem falls
under oneHeadlock
of the FiveDefense
Most Frequently
HeadlocktoCounters
Mount – IfBack
Mount
problem solving 3)principles
find your– answer.
you’re
still Finish
having(L16)
trouble, then visit
4) Rear Naked
Choke
Backpost
Mount
Strong Side
www.GracieUniversity.com
where
you– can
your– question
to aVariation
technical (L5)
web forum,
5) Elevator
– Guard
– Headlock
Variation (L11)
and a certified instructor
will Sweep
assist you
in finding
the answer.
6) Take the Back – Mount (L4)
7) Rear Naked Choke – Back Mount – Weak Side Variation (L5)
12
52
Lesson 35
Lesson 36
Technique: Twisting Arm Control
Position: Mount
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
REFLEX DEVELOPMENT DRILL
Practice all variations of the
Elbow Escape – Side Mount (L33)
In combination with all variations of the
Hook Sweep – Guard (L28)
And all variations of the
Twisting Arm Control – Mount (L35)
Practice all variations of the
Trap and Roll Escape – Mount (L1)
In combination with the
Double Underhook Guard Pass –
Guard (L36) And all variations of the
Twisting Arm Control – Mount (L35)
Slice 1: Basic Control
Indicator: Opponent fears punches and protects their face with one or both arms.
Slice 2: Back Mount Finish
Indicator: Opponent rolls to their knees while trapped in the Twisting Arm Control.
Technique: Double Underhook Guard Pass
Position: Guard
Slice 1: Modified Side Mount
Indicator: Opponent attempts to escape the side mount by reestablishing the guard.
Slice 2: Double Underhook Pass
Indicator: Opponent uncrosses their legs and assumes the open guard.
Section 2
Progress Tracking
Slice 3: Armlock Finish
Indicator: Opponent does not roll to their knees while trapped.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Haymaker Punch Defense – Standing (L30)
2) Rear Takedown – Standing (L29)
3) Positional Control – Mount – Anchor and Base (L3)
4) Twisting Arm Control – Mount – Armlock Finish (L35)
5) Punch Block Series – Guard – Stages 1-4 (L8)
6) Elbow Escape – Side Mount – High Step Variation (L33)
7) Take the Back – Guard (L31)
8) Rear Naked Choke – Back Mount – Strong Side Variation (L5)
53
Slice 3: Posture and Pass
Indicator: Opponent crosses their feet and establishes the closed guard.
FIGHT SIMULATION DRILL
1) Double Leg Takedown – Standing – Aggressive Opponent (L17)
2) Double Underhook Guard Pass – Guard (L36)
3) Positional Control – Side Mount (L13)
4) Hook Sweep – Guard (L28)
5) Positional Control – Side Mount (L13)
6) Kimura Armlock – Guard – Rider Variation (L25)
7) Triangle Choke – Guard – Giant Killer Variation (L10)
54
Gracie Combatives
Gracie Guideline #1: Street Applicability
Focus on practicing techniques that are fully street applicable. Focusing
exclusively on techniques that are not “punch proof” will cause you to develop a
false sense of security. If you modify a technique, you must verify that the new
variation keeps you safe from all potentially dangerous strikes.
Gracie Guideline #2: Energy Efficiency
Any technique that relies on speed and power rather than leverage and timing
is not energy efficient. In a real fight there is no time limit, so you must learn to
save your energy. The only reliable way for you to defeat a larger, more athletic
opponent is to utilize techniques that cause your opponent to exhaust energy,
while simultaneously preserving your own. Before adding any technique to your
arsenal, you must verify that it is more reliant on leverage and proper timing
than on your athletic capabilities. Do not trust techniques based on strength
or speed as they are unlikely to work against a larger, stronger attacker.
Gracie Guideline #3: Natural Body Movements
Any technique that requires you to move your body unnaturally is likely to fail in
the heat of battle. Natural body movement is the best foundation on which to build
the instinctive reflexes needed in a real fight.
Violations of Guideline #1
With the demand for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instruction at an all-time high, thousands of selfproclaimed instructors have opened schools around the world and are creating or modifying
techniques at an unprecedented rate. The problem is that most of these techniques
violate the first guideline of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu – they are not street applicable. The main
reason for the divergence from this foundational principle is that these instructors are
creating techniques for sport competition rather than real street fights. Any technique
that is designed to work in any kind of controlled competition with all of their associated
rules, weight classes, time limits, safety considerations, and point systems, will give the
practitioner a false sense of security since these circumstances are totally non-existent
on the streets.
7
Section 3
Gracie Combatives Test
Gracie
Gracie
Combatives
Combatives
Testing
The Gracie
Instructions
Global Training Program
Now Through
that youthe
have
Gracie
completed
Global Training
the Gracie
Program,
Combatives
students
course,
worldwide
you are
caneligible
now learn
to test
Gracie
for Jiupromotion
Jitsu, to
straight
Graciefrom
Combatives
the source,
belt –using
the most
any important
of the following
promotion
threeonmethods:
your path to Gracie JiuJitsu mastery. Even though the Gracie Combatives belt is only the second belt in the system,
its award signifies
1) Fully
thatcomprehensive
you have learned
instructional
the most DVDs
important Gracie Jiu-Jitsu techniques.
2) Online instruction at www.GracieUniversity.com
Award of the3) AGC
global
beltnetwork
requires
of Certified
successful
Trainingcompletion
Centers
of five drills. These
Gracie Combatives Proficiency Drills (originally known as the Blue Belt
Qualification
Video andDrills)
web-based
constituteinstruction
a standardized
coupled test
with of
a revolutionary
your proficiency
Video in Evaluation
the
execution
Process
of the
now36enables
Gracie Combatives
us to evaluate
techniques.
your skill
Drills
level
1 through
and award
4 testofficial
your execution
belt promotions
of
the techniques
with no requirement
from the mount,
for guard,
your physical
side mount,
presence
and standing
at Gracie
positions.
University
For each
headquarters
drill,
you have
in Torrance,
five minutes
California.
to demonstrate all variations of the techniques in the exact order that
we list them (see pages 59-60). Drill 5 is the most important segment of the evaluation,
since it tests your ability to execute all techniques in a continuous four-minute, unscripted
The Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Belt System
Freestyle Fight Simulation Drill. Disc 13 of the DVD collection includes demonstrations
Our objective is to empower you with the techniques and strategies to defeat a larger, more
of all five drills. Once you are confident in your ability to perform the all five drills, you may
athletic opponent in a real fight. We will track your journey to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu mastery by
take the test using one of the following two methods:
awarding a different colored belt for demonstrating proficiency in each course of the Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu curriculum. You will start as a white belt. You will receive a Gracie Combatives belt
Option
VideotheEvaluation
after 1
you–master
Gracie Combatives techniques. Should you decide to continue training
Film after
yourself
conducting
the test.
Then,
uploadtothe
fivepurple,
drill videos
the internet
at www.
Gracie
Combatives,
you will
progress
blue,
brown,toblack,
coral, and
eventually
GracieUniversity.com
so
a
certified
Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu
instructor
can
view
and
evaluate
your
red belt over the course of your study.
performance. Listed below are some important details regarding the video evaluation process:
Unlike most jiu-jitsu schools, we do not promote students on the basis of tournament
• Talk Through
the“tournament
Moves: We techniques”
understand do
thatnot
it may
be difficult
to what
memorize
performances.
Most
effectively
address
to doall
if your
the techniques
in the
in Drillscan
1-4.
So, you
have someone
read fight.
the At
attacker
is punching
youexact
and, order
as a result,
hinder
yourmay
performance
in a real
techniques
to you
are filming
thethat
evaluation.
Drillto5,measure
keep talking
to
Gracie
University,
wewhile
haveyou
always
believed
the onlyDuring
true way
a student’s
a minimum
so that
we may
assess
yourtheir
trueperformance
reflexes.
progress
in Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu
is to
evaluate
in a real fight; but since we also
believe that you should only use the techniques in self-defense, we have found other ways
• Continuous
Shot: In order to test your true understanding of the techniques, you
of
measuring progress.
must conduct Drills 1-4 in five minutes or less and Drill 5 in no less than four but no
minutes.
As a you
result,
neitherinformation
edit test videos
nor stop
In longer
Sectionthan
3 offivethis
handbook,
willyou
findmay
detailed
describing
thethe
Gracie
camera atBelt
any Qualification
time once a drill
Wepass
will not
evaluate your
if
Combatives
Test has
thatstarted.
you must
for promotion.
Weperformance
highly recommend
findread
evidence
if you failyour
to shoot
eachsodrill
oneare
take.
thatweyou
Sectionof3editing
prior toorbeginning
training
thatinyou
fully(Note:
awareThe
of five
what we
do not
be recorded
onofthethesame
day.)
willdrills
expect
fromneed
you to
upon
completion
course
and promotion eligibility.
• Film the Details: We cannot give you credit unless we SEE the technique. Focus
on effectively angling your body towards the camera so that we can clearly see the
essential details of each move.
Section
Section
3 - Gracie
1 -Combatives
IntroductionTest
2 – Live
Evaluationof Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
TheOption
Founding
Principles
be evaluated
in person
at a Certified
Trainingthe
Center,
contact
us to schedule
yourmany
test with
As aTograndson
of Grand
Master
Helio Gracie,
creator
of Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu,
a certified
are the
somehistory
important
details
the they
live evaluation
process:
people
ask meinstructor.
questionsHere
about
of the
art. regarding
Most often,
inquire about
the differences between the original Japanese Jiu-Jitsu and modern-day Brazilian or
• Prepare
Diligently:
theanswer
actual techniques
the same,many
one oftimes.
the most
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
I overheard
my Although
grandfather
these typesare
of questions
significant differences between the video and the live evaluation is that your testing
partnerexplains
or “bad that,
guy”because
will be ahe
certified
instructor.toThroughout
the test
instructor
The Grand Master
was introduced
the Japanese
art atthesuch
a
willdoes
adjust
and resistance
levels
to test your
accuracy,
conviction,
and reflexes.
young age, he
notspeed
remember
many of the
techniques
in their
original
form. However,
he vividly recalls experiencing great difficulty when he attempted to use the techniques
One Shot, and,
One Kill:
the had
videotoevaluation
process,
you can re-shoot
your execution
on a larger• opponent
as aWith
result,
modify nearly
everything
he had learned
to
of his
thefrail
drills
as many
like before
you submit
them. and
During
accommodate
physique.
He times
points as
out you’d
that, despite
the overall
effectiveness
valuea live
evaluation,
you will
onlyall
have
one chance
execute
each drill. Ifthat
yourprevented
performance
of the Japanese
techniques,
nearly
of them
had oneto or
more limitations
does fully
not meet
standards,
you will fail attributed
the test and
retest at a
them from being
usefulGracie
to him.University
In most cases,
my grandfather
themust
limitations
later date.
For this
reason,opponent
it is of theinutmost
that you prepare
diligently
to: 1) inapplicability
against
a striking
a real importance
fight, 2) overreliance
on strength
or to
minimize
the chance
of errors
during the
livewere
evaulation.
speed, and/or
3) dependence
on body
movements
that
awkward or uncomfortable for
him. Accordingly, he began modifying the art to ensure that every technique was fully street
Stay Relaxed:
important
consideration
during anyUsing
evaluation
the quality of
applicable,•energy
efficient,The
andmost
based
on natural
body movements.
these is
principles
thespent
technique.
Theyears
mostdeveloping
common mistake
you are
likely of
to make
during aconsisting
live evaluation
as a guide, he
several
a complete
system
self-defense
is to rush
the drills
jeopardize
quality ofConfident
your execution.
only of techniques
thatnervously
he could through
successfully
applyand
against
larger the
opponents.
in
his adaptations, he spent the next thirty years of his life proving his system’s effectiveness by
information
regarding
the live evaluation
www.GracieUniversity.com.
usingFor
it more
to defeat
numerous
challengers,
includingprocess,
severalvisit
opponents
who outweighed him
by as much as 100 pounds.
Disclose Disabilities
mostGuidelines
martial arts, nearly anyone can learn Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, regardless of their physical
TheUnlike
Gracie
In fact,
traininmany
students
disabilities,
including
are deaf,
After capabilities.
nearly a century
of we
testing
a wide
varietywith
of settings,
Grand
Masterthose
Heliowho
Gracie’s
mute,
and evenremains
wheelchair
bound. Oursound
simple,and
easy
to follow
instructional
format
system
of blind,
self-defense
fundamentally
intact.
To be
sure, three
makes
this
possible.
If
you
have
a
disability
or
previous
injury
that
prevents
you
generations of Gracie family members, and other equally committed practitioners of the art, from
theoriginal
techniques
exactlyand
as they
aretotaught,
please
notify arsenal.
us prior toAllthe
evaluation
have executing
evolved the
techniques
added
the Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu
of these
so that
we maystrictly
take itadhere
into consideration.
changes,
however,
to the Grand Master’s requirements for street applicability,
energy efficiency, and natural body movement. Today, we call these requirements the
“Gracie
Guidelines.” Criteria
Evaluation
During the evaluation, you will start with 100 points and receive a 1-point deduction for each
On your
path towards
Jiu-Jitsucategories:
mastery, your knowledge of the Gracie Guidelines will
significant
error inGracie
the following
serve you in two important ways. First, it will enable you to solve problems on your own
by modifying
techniquesPrecise
in accordance
with
the guidelines;
second, it will enable you to
1. Accuracy:
and correct
execution
of all techniques.
recognize the
multitude ofFluid,
impure
techniques
that are
developed
by instructors who do
2. Efficiency:
relaxed
movements
andbeing
efficient
use of energy.
not know, 3.
or Reflexes:
choose notInstinctive
to adhereand
to, the
founding
principles
of
the
art.
speedy responses to all indicators.
For additional information regarding the Video Evaluation Process, visit www.GracieUniversity.com.
57
5
6
58
Gracie Combatives
Foreword
If, upon completing all five drills, you amass more than 10 point deductions (previously 20 deductions
were permitted), or a final score of less than 90 points, you will be notified of your shortcomings
I spent several years leading a one-man campaign to open the eyes of American martial
so that you may retest at a later date. If you achieve a final score of 90 points or greater, you
artists to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu’s simplicity and effectiveness and concluded that, despite my
will be recommended for promotion by the evaluating instructor. Only once your promotion is
tireless and constant efforts, I needed a more powerful and visible way to demonstrate
authorized by one of the head instructors of Gracie University will the following actions take place:
the superiority of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu over all other martial arts. To accomplish this, I created
the Ultimate Fighting Championship® (UFC®). This pay-per-view television spectacle
• You will receive an official Gracie Combatives Belt
shocked the martial arts world as my brother Royce used the simple techniques of Gracie
• You will receive a personalized Certificate of Authenticity
Jiu-Jitsu to repeatedly defeat larger, more athletic opponents armed with a wide variety
• Your name will be added to the list of Certified Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Belt Holders
of martial arts skills.
Gracie Combatives Proficiency Drills*
The success of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu in the UFC spurred many sport jiu-jitsu practitioners to leave
Brazil in order
to capitalize
GCPD
1 on the increased demand for Gracie
GCPDJiu-Jitsu
2 instruction. Due to
legal MOUNT
restrictions
on the use of the trademarked name
“Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu,” these instructors
TECHNIQUES
GUARD
TECHNIQUES
began
using the name “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu” as an
alternative.
Escapes (2)
Control Strategies (2)
• Trap and Roll Escape (L1)
• Punch Block Series (L8)
Variation
- Stagewere
1
The influx- Standard
of sport
jiu-jitsu instructors, many of whom
members of the very large
Punch Block
Variation
2
extended- Gracie
family,
led to the establishment of- Stage
numerous
jiu-jitsu schools all across
- Headlock Variation
- Stage 3
the United
Nearly all of these schools claimed- Stage
to teach
the same jiu-jitsu that Grand
• ElbowStates.
Escape (L12)
4
Master Helio
Gracie
hadEscape
created and Royce employed
in Block
the UFC.
fact, they were teaching
- Standard
Elbow
• Punch
Series In
(L27)
- Stage 5 Students hoping to acquire the
a version-ofHook
theRemoval
art modified specifically for sport competition.
- Fish Hook
- Rollover Technique
realistic self-defense
skills they saw in the UFC flocked
to these schools and often trained for
- Heel Drag
several years before they came to the disappointing
realization
Submissions
(4) that what they were learning
Strategies
(3) applicability.
• Triangle Choke (L10)
hadControl
very limited
street
• Positional Control (L3)
- Stage 1.5 Variation
- Anchor and Base
- Giant Killer Variation
The worldwide
demand
for
Gracie
or
Brazilian
Jiu-Jitsu
instruction
continues to grow
- Low Swim
• Straight Armlock
(L19)
at a phenomenal
result,
- High Swim rate – without regulation. As -aLow
Variationmany jiu-jitsu practitioners
Take the Back
(L4) skill levels have opened schools
- High Variation
with •widely
varying
to capitalize on this demand.
Take the Back
- Triangle Transition
At best, --these
self-proclaimed
instructors
are
competent
sport jiu-jitsu practitioners. At
Remount Technique
• Kimura Armlock (L25)
worst,• Headlock
they areCounters
marginally
or are simply poor instructors.
(L16) skilled, lack depth of knowledge,
- Rider Variation
the Getup
Variation
In neither- Prevent
case are
they capable of teaching jiu-jitsu- Forced
for street
self-defense in accordance
Mount Finish
• Take theToBack
(L31)
with the- Back
exacting
standards of Gracie University.
counter
this disturbing trend,
- Armlock Finish
we have launched the Gracie Global Training
aimed at preserving and
SweepsProgram
(3)
perpetuating
Jiu-Jitsu
Submissionsthe
(4) techniques and principles of• Gracie
Elevator Sweep
(L11) in their purest form –
• Americana
(L2)
- Standard Variation
as a method
of Armlock
self-defense.
- Standard Variation
- Headlock Variation
- Neck-hug Variation
• Double Ankle Sweep (L20)
-Rorion
Gracie
• Rear
Naked Choke (L5)
- Knee Thrust Variation
- Strong Side Variation
- Kick Variation
- Weak Side Variation
• Hook Sweep (L28)
• Straight Armlock (L9)
Pass (1)
- Standard Variation
• Double Underhook Guard Pass (L36)
- Side Variation
• Twisting Arm Control (L35)
- Back Mount Finish
- Armlock Finish
59
3
Section 3 - Gracie Combatives Test
GCPD 4
GCPD 3
SIDE MOUNT TECHNIQUES
STANDING TECHNIQUES
Control Strategies (1)
• Positional Control (L13)
- Roll Prevention
- Guard Prevention
- Mount Transition
Distance Control Strategies (3)
• Establish the Clinch
- Aggressive Opponent (L7)
- Conservative Opponent (L15)
• Haymaker Punch (L30)
Escapes (4)
• Shrimp Escape (L24)
- Block and Shoot Variation
- Shrimp and Shoot Variation
- Punch Block Variation
• Headlock Escape 1 (L18)
- Standard Frame Escape
- Scissor Failure Variation
- Super Lock Variation
• Headlock Escape 2 (L22)
- Standard Leg Hook Escape
- Super Base Variation
- Punch Block Variation
• Elbow Escape (L33)
- Knee Drive Variation
- High Step Variation
Takedowns (5)
• Leg Hook Takedown (L6)
• Body Fold Takedown (L14)
• Double Leg Takedown (L17)
- Aggressive Opponent
- Conservative Opponent
• Pull Guard (21)
• Rear Takedown (L29)
Submissions (2)
• Guillotine Choke (L23)
- Standing Variation
- Guard Pull Variation
• Standing Armlock (L34)
Section 1
Introduction
Submission Counters (2)
• Standing Headlock Defense (L26)
• Guillotine Defense (L32)
GCPD 5
FREESTYLE FIGHT SIMULATION
In a four-minute Freestyle Fight Simulation Drill, you will demonstrate as many different Gracie
Combatives techniques as possible in response to indicators determined by your partner. In this drill,
we will again assess your technical accuracy, but first and foremost, we use fight simulation to evaluate
your reflexes. So, it is essential for you and your partner to remain silent. Specifically, neither you nor
your partner should announce indicators or call for techniques. The sole exception to this rule is when
it’s necessary to cooperatively transition to a new position in order to maximize the number and variety
of techniques. Also, make sure that your partner challenges you with realistic bad guy behaviors at a
speed that will enable us to assess your true reflexes. A properly executed fight simulation drill will
confirm your street readiness and earn you your Gracie Combatives belt.
*See Disc 13 of the Gracie Combatives Instructional DVDs or the ‘Testing Center’ at
GracieUniversity.com for detailed instructions on the testing process and complete
demonstrations of all five drills.
60
Gracie Combatives
Preface
Most Common Mistakes
Since releasing the Gracie Combatives course on DVD, thousands of students have taken the
test using the Video Evaluation
Process.
Nearly
halfTraining
of all candidates
fail the
Congratulations!
By enrolling
in the
Global
Program you
aretest.
nowWe
an have
official
identified the four most common mistakes to help future candidates prepare for the test.
student of Gracie University. The Gracie Combatives course is the first step in your
quest for Gracie Jiu-Jitsu® mastery – a lengthy, but immensely rewarding journey
1) Lack of Attention to Details
thatThewill
culminate in a live test for black belt at Gracie University Headquarters in
number one testing mistake is lack of attention to the technical details presented in each
Torrance,
California.
lesson. For example, most students appear to believe that achieving a “tap out” with the
Foreword
by Rorion Gracie
Triangle Choke indicates proficiency. In fact, each step from setup through finish is equally
Weimportant,
have designed
Gracie or
Combatives
you from
“potential
victim”
since antheomission
mistake at course
any onetooftake
the critical
points
could “make
or to
“street
ready”
in
the
least
amount
of
time
possible
through
mastery
of
the
most
important
break” the technique in a real fight. Bottom line: you are 100% accountable for any and all
anddetails
effective
Graciehowever
Jiu-Jitsu
techniques.
all variations
theto internalize
36 essential
presented,
briefly,
in each ofBy
themastering
36 video lessons.
The only of
way
every detail
to this on
extent
through
training
hoursbelt.
and countless
techniques
featured
the isDVDs,
youseveral
will behundred
eligible dedicated
for promotion
to blue
viewings of each video lesson.
This handbook consists of four sections:
2) Weak Reflexes
In order to
your Gracie Combatives belt, you must be street ready. This means that you
1) earn
Introduction
must execute your techniques without hesitation. Memorizing a technique takes one hour.
Internalizing the techniques to the point of developing subconscious reflexes takes hundreds
2) Progress Tracking
of hours. We determine the strength of your reflexes by measuring the amount of time it takes
for your body to respond to each indicator presented by the bad guy (particularly during Drill
3) The Gracie Combatives Belt Qualification Test
5). Furthermore, if we see you go through the motions without the conviction borne of many
hours of repetition, the street applicability of your techniques will be questioned, and your
Path to will
Black
Belt impacted.
eligibility4)forThe
promotion
negatively
The3)key
Gracie
Combatives success is to take your time in completing the course and to
Badto“Bad
Guys”
focus
the details
of each
lesson. Do
this, andtowhen
the the
timemost
comes
to take
the fight
Gracie
We on
designed
the Gracie
Combatives
techniques
counter
common
street
Combatives
Test,
willin meet,
or realistic
exceed,fashion
the Gracie
behaviors. Belt
So, it Qualification
is essential that
youryour
“badperformance
guy” attack you
the most
so
we can effectively
University
standards.assess your street readiness. This means recreating the exact attack that
we’ve described in the lesson at a speed that tests your true reflexes. A bad “bad guy” may
leadand
to many
unnecessary
point
by failing
to create
proper
indicators
for thethe
Ryron
I are deeply
indebted
to deductions
our grandfather,
Grand
Masterthe
Helio
Gracie,
for creating
evaluated
technique,
choose wiselythe
andworld
ensurehas
your
“bad
guy” knows
role.
most
effective
system so
of self-defense
ever
known.
We arehisespecially
grateful
to our father, Rorion Gracie, for dedicating his life to the preservation of the techniques and
4) Standing
Up Improperly
principles
of Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu and for teaching them to us so that we could commit our lives
Students have lost more points for failing to stand up in base (see lesson 20, slice 2) than
to empowering others.
for any other single mistake. We use the diligence with which you stand up in base to assess
your overall level of readiness and self-defense mindset. Every time you stand up, in the test
Finally,
would
like todoexpress
our-profound
gratitude for all the instructors who have joined
and inwelife,
you must
so in base
no exceptions.
us in making Gracie Jiu-Jitsu available to people all over the world. Because of you, the Grand
Master’s
will that
live you
on forever.
In orderlegacy
to ensure
do not get penalized for the aforementioned mistakes, it is highly
At a very young age, my father, Helio Gracie, learned traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu techniques
from his older brother, Carlos. In the late 1920s, he began to modify these techniques to
accommodate his frail physique with the objective of developing a system that would enable
him to defend himself against larger opponents. After years of refinement, he proved his
art’s effectiveness by routinely defeating larger and stronger opponents, some of whom
outweighed him by as much as 100 pounds. As a result, my father’s techniques quickly
became the new expression of jiu-jitsu in Brazil and set the stage for a worldwide revolution
in martial arts.
Section 4
In 1967, under my father’s guidance, jiu-jitsu practitioners established the first Federation
of Jiu-Jitsu in Brazil to host recreational competitions in which they could test their selfdefense skills in a safe setting. An unintended by-product of this development was a shift
from jiu-jitsu for self-defense purposes to sport-focused techniques and applications. The
excitement and fun of competition, coupled with the prestige that accompanied tournament
victories, drove the vast majority of jiu-jitsu instructors to focus entirely on preparing their
students for tournaments. They dedicated their training sessions to developing techniques
that would lead to victory based on the point system, rules, and weight classes that governed
sport jiu-jitsu. Unfortunately, the tournament epidemic had dire consequences. It undermined
the art’s effectiveness because most sport jiu-jitsu techniques had little or no applicability in
a real fight. Worse, by perfecting the sport techniques, a student often developed reflexes
that could be disastrously counter-productive in a street self-defense situation. Unwilling to
compromise on the foundational principles of his art, my father resigned from the Federation.
The Path to Black Belt
In 1978, I left Brazil and came to the United States to share my father’s techniques with
the rest of the world. Upon my arrival, I immediately noticed that most Americans had no
appreciation for jiu-jitsu’s effectiveness. Even those with knowledge of martial arts confused
my father’s art with the traditional Japanese Jiu-Jitsu that had been in America since the
1950s. In order to emphasize the distinction between the two disciplines, I trademarked the
name “Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.”
recommended that you watch and analyze your own test videos prior to submitting them for
evaluation and promotion consideration.
1 61
2
Gracie Combatives
DISCLAIMER
author
and
theyour
publisher
of this
NOT RESPONSIBLE
in any manner
In aPlease
streetnote
fight,that
it isthe
highly
likely
that
opponent
willbook
knoware
nothing
about Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.
injury used
that may
result
from
practicingare
the very
techniques
described
within.
Thewhatsoever
behaviors for
andany
attacks
by this
type
of opponent
predictable
and are
the Since
physical
described herein
may
strenuous
in nature
somegrappler
readers to
focal the
point
of theactivities
Gracie Combatives
course.
Onbethetoorare
occasion
that a for
skilled
in safely,
it is essential
physician
be consulted
prior tototraining.
attacks you,engage
you may
need more
than thethat
36 aGracie
Combatives
techniques
neutralize
your attacker.
Blue
to Black Belt Techniques
Preface
The Master Cycle™
Section 1: Introduction
• Purple Belt Qualification Techniques – Must be mastered before one is considered
The Gracie
Global
Training
Program
5 are the
for promotion
to purple
belt. Besides
the Gracie Combatives techniques, these
simplest
techniques
and/or
most
likely
to
be
used
in
a
street
fight.
The Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Belt System
5
The •Founding
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu
Brown BeltPrinciples
QualificationofTechniques
– Must be mastered before one is6considered
Beyond Gracie Combatives, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu consists of more than 600 advanced techniques,
all of which have been organized into a logical, clearly defined, systematic curriculum
called the Master Cycle. We believe that the most efficient way to master all the advanced
techniques is to focus on one position at a time. For this reason, we’ve categorized all the
techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu into what we call the Seven Positional Chapters:
Mount, Side Mount, Guard, Half Guard, Back Mount, Leg Locks, and Standing. At
Gracie University, we dedicate several weeks to the study of a single chapter before
moving to the next. Once we complete all seven chapters, we restart the cycle. Each
time a student repeats the cycle, they learn new techniques in each position and deepen their
understanding of the old ones until they have fully mastered every technique.
The Seven
Positional
Chapters
First published in 2008 by Gracie Publications
®
© 2008 by Gracie Publications®
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written
permission from Gracie Publications®.
Printed in the U.S.A.
Gracie Publications®
2440 W. Carson Street
Torrance, CA 90501 – USA
www.GracieUniversity.com
63
TableSection
of Contents
4 - The Path to Black Belt
1
The 36 Gracie Combatives techniques are the simplest and most useful techniques in all of
Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Once you’ve had your Gracie Combatives belt for at least six months, and
you’ve
done extensive
sparring
with your training partners as outlined on GracieUniversity.com,
Foreword
by Rorion
Gracie
2
you can be tested for blue belt at a Certified Training Center. After blue belt, the curriculum is
broken down into three main categories:
for promotion to brown belt. These techniques are more complex than the purple belt
techniques and/or designed for less likely street fight situations that might occur
Section
2: Progress
Tracking
against
a knowledgeable
grappler.
The Key to Confidence
11
• Black Belt Qualification Techniques – Must be mastered before one is considered
Recommended
Training
Schedule
12 and/or
for promotion to black belt. These are the most complex techniques
designed
for the rarest street fight situations that would only occur
Technique
Troubleshooting
12against a
highly skilled grappler.
Gracie Combatives Course Outline
16
Gracie Combatives
Fight
Chart
31
Interactive
Online
Learning
In the past, the detailed instruction required to learn the hundreds of techniques that comprise
the complete Master Cycle curriculum was only available at Gracie University headquarters in
Section 3: The Gracie Combatives Test
Torrance, California. Today, Gracie University Online offers students worldwide access to the
complete
Cycle curriculum. At www.GracieUniversity.com, you can access
Testing Master
Instructions
57streaming
video lessons covering every detail of every technique, as well as the Rapid Mastery Drills
Evaluation Criteria
58
and Focus Sparring exercises that you would execute if you were actually training at Gracie
University.
Furthermore, upon
completingDrills
each segment of the Master Cycle, you
Gracie Combatives
Proficiency
59 can have
your skills evaluated using the Video Evaluation Process. For the first time ever, you can
Most Common Mistakes
61
learn all the techniques directly from the source and receive official Gracie Jiu-Jitsu belt
promotions from anywhere in the world!
Section 4: The Path to Black Belt
How it Works
The Master
Cyclethe Gracie Combatives course on DVD or online, you 63
Once
you complete
may test for
promotion
to blue Brown,
belt at a CTC.
you passBelt
the test,
you will be ready for the Master
Blue, Purple,
andIf Black
Techniques
64 Cycle at
www.GracieUniversity.com. You will progress from blue to purple belt by performing “Stripe
Interactive Online Learning
64
Qualification Tests,” and then uploading videos of your performances for us to review. If your
performance
meets
Gracie
University
standards,
we
will
award
you
with
stripes
on your blue
The Black Belt Qualification Test
65
belt. This process will continue until you earn all four stripes on your blue belt at which point
64
Gracie Combatives
we will allow you to test for your purple belt at a Certified Training Center. Once promoted to
purple belt, you will begin working on the Brown Belt Curriculum which is also broken down
into four Stripe Courses, and once you earn your brown belt, you will learn the techniques
that must be mastered before we consider you for promotion to black belt.
The Black Belt Qualification Test
A Gracie Jiu-Jitsu black belt is much more than a master of technique – he is an ambassador
for the art and a member of our extended “family.” A black belt must understand the
Gracie lifestyle to include our philosophies, Gracie Jiu-Jitsu history, and our unique diet. As
representatives of the Gracie Family, we expect black belts to personify discipline, integrity,
and honor.
In order to evaluate the many requirements for black belt beyond technical mastery,
candidates will participate in a live Black Belt Qualification Test at Gracie University
headquarters in Torrance, California. We will evaluate your knowledge of technique, history,
philosophy, and diet as we get to know you in person. We will administer this test at no
charge to you (other than your travel and living expenses) to show our appreciation for the
years of hard work and dedication you will have invested in your training. We look forward
to the honor of tying a black belt around your waist. Good luck on your journey to Gracie
Jiu-Jitsu mastery…we will be with you every choke of the way!
To continue on the path to black belt, go to
www.GRACIEUNIVERSITY.com
Lesson
Location
#
Technique
Position
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
Trap and Roll Escape
Americana Armlock
Positional Control
Take the Back
Rear Naked Choke
Leg Hook Takedown
Clinch (Aggressive Opponent)
Punch Block Series (Stages 1-4)
Straight Armlock
Triangle Choke
Elevator Sweep
Elbow Escape
Positional Control
Body Fold Takedown
Clinch (Conservative Opponent)
Headlock Counters
Double Leg Takedown
Headlock Escape 1
Straight Armlock
Double Ankle Sweep
Pull Guard
Headlock Escape 2
Guillotine Choke
Shrimp Escape
Kimura Armlock
Standing Headlock Defense
Punch Block Series (Stage 5)
Hook Sweep
Rear Takedown
Haymaker Punch Defense
Take the Back
Guillotine Defense
Elbow Escape
Standing Armlock
Twisting Arm Control
Double Underhook Guard Pass
Mount
Mount
Mount
Mount
Back Mount
Standing
Standing
Guard
Mount
Guard
Guard
Mount
Side Mount
Standing
Standing
Mount
Standing
Side Mount
Guard
Guard
Standing
Side Mount
Standing
Side Mount
Guard
Standing
Guard
Guard
Standing
Standing
Guard
Standing
Side Mount
Standing
Mount
Guard
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
GC Proficiency Drill 1
GC Proficiency Drill 2
GC Proficiency Drill 3
GC Proficiency Drill 4
GC Proficiency Drill 5
Page Disc
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
41
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
Confidence*
Low
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
7
7
8
8
8
9
9
9
10
10
10
11
11
11
12
12
12
The Gracie Combatives Belt Test
65
Mount
Guard
Side Mount
Standing
Freestyle
59
59
60
60
60
13
13
13
13
13
* See Section 2 for recommended training schedule and confidence tracking guidelines.
Med
High