[Zankou]

This FAQ attempts to answer the most commonly-asked questions about grappling, as well as to provide links to excellent online resources. This FAQ and the answers are the combined work of many excellent posters on this board - I mostly just edited it.

NOTE: The "online resources" section follows below, at post #4 in this thread. It has lots of valuable links, so please check it out.

The most frequently asked questions on this forum, with answers below:

1. Are Japanese Jujitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu the same?
2. What's the difference between Judo and BJJ?
3. What grappling style should I train?
4. How long does it take to get a black belt in BJJ?
5. What color gi should I get?
6. How do I beat someone bigger and stronger than me?
7. My first tournament is coming up. What should I do?
8. How do I do the anaconda/nog/gator/cool spinny/ choke?
9. Ringworm!?!?!?
10. What is the scoring system for BJJ?
11. What is the scoring system for Judo?
12. What is the scoring system for Sambo?
13. What grappling skill level am I?
14. How do I get out of side control?
15. Should I train gi or no-gi?
16. What books can get me started?
17. What is the best video instructional?
18. I can't finish the triangle choke!
19. Cauliflower ear - what is it, and how do I fix it?
20. How do I cut weight for a tournament?
21. Leglocks - What are the differences between an ankle/achilles lock, heelhook, toehold, and kneebar? (And is it true the ankle/achilles lock is just a pain submission)?

1. Is Japanese Jujitsu and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu the same?

No. Japanese Jiu Jitsu was developed by samurai a long time ago. Jiu Jitsu back then was just a catch phrase for tricky unarmed fighting techniques.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu was developed by the Gracies after a Judoka named Maeda/Count Koma, went to Brazil and taught them for a short time. The Gracies focused more on ground grappling and locks, pretty much eliminating all strikes and creating a special point system that emphasized obtaining a dominant position.

2. What's the difference between Judo and BJJ?

The techniques are the same. The gi is similar.

The rules, however, are different. In Judo you win by scoring a clean throw on to their back, a submission, a pin for a certain amount of time or accumulating fractions of points by obtaining partial throws on the shoulders, sides, etc or pins for a short time. In BJJ you win by submission or, if the match time elapses without a submission, adding up the points you obtained through achieving positions and reversals during the match.

Because of the way these rules differ, Judo focuses primarily on takedowns, while BJJ focuses primarily on ground grappling. Judo and BJJ both train in each of these areas, just with different emphasis.

3. Which style should I do?

I don't know. I've never met you.

It depends on what your goal is and how much you are willing to sacrifice in order to obtain it.

All grappling schools vary from gym to gym. I've been to schools where the style was the same, but one was really relaxed and cool, and the other was like boot camp. Both of them gave me what I wanted at that time.

Best thing to do is find a gym in your area and do a trial lesson. Than choose the one that makes the most sense goal-wise, distance-wise, and financially.

I fancy drunken donkey boxing, but since I couldn't find a dojo that teaches that style, I settled with BJJ and haven't looked back.

4. How long does it take to get a blackbelt in BJJ?

It is different for every person...BJ Penn did it in 4 years with CONSTANT training every day...the average is probably around 8 to 10 years.

5. What color Gi should i get?

It depends primarily on your school. Blue or white gis are the standard colors. Most judo and BJJ competitions only allow blue or white gis. You are almost always best off buying a blue or white gi as a beginner.

Know that some schools (like Rickson) make you train in a white gi with no patch. Be aware.

It is best to ask for advice at your school about this question, from your instructor or other students.

6.How do I beat someone who is bigger and stronger than me?

Jiu jitsu isn't magical. If your opponent is heavier and stronger, then you will need better technique in order to even the odds. If your opponent is both physically superior and has better technique, only a fluke/miracle can save you. Just relax, and train to get better, rather than worrying about beating a much better opponent.

That said, the BJJ techniques that most consistently work against larger opponents tend to involve armdrags to take the back, spider guard, half guard, and footlocks.

7. My first tournament is coming up. What should I do?

Focus on your cardio and takedowns...the worst thing is to get really good at BJJ and then lose because your opponent took you down and stayed on top of you the whole match.

I like doing mini tourneys in my gym with a lot of people making a ring and watching two people go at it. It puts the pressure on the fighters and mimics the adrenaline dump you will get in a tournament. The best way to get good at doing tournaments is by doing a lot of tournaments.

8. How do I do the Anaconda choke/Nog Roll/gator roll/ cool spinny thingy?
YouTube - Anaconda Choke - Denis Kang

9. Ringworm?!?!
Search Function

10.what is the scoring system for bjj?

BJJ scoring from bjj.com.au:

Rules & RegulationsPoint system:
Takedown - 2 points
Sweep or reversal - 2 points
Guard pass - 3 points
Knee-ride - 2 points/3points
Mount - 4 points
Back control - 4 points

11.What is the scoring system for Judo?
Judo scoring from judoinfo.com:
In Judo competition the objective is to score an ippon (one full point). Once such a score is obtained the competition ends. An ippon can be scored by one of the following methods:

Executing a skillful throwing technique which results in one contestant being thrown largely on the back with considerable force or speed.
Maintaining a pin for 25 seconds.
One contestant cannot continue and gives up.
One contestant is disqualified for violating the rules (hansoku-make).
Applying an effective armbar or an effective stranglehold (this does not usually apply for children).
Earning two waza-ari (half point). A waza-ari can be earned by: 1) a throwing technique that is not quite an ippon (for example the opponent lands only partly on the back, or with less force than required for ippon); 2) holding one contestant in a pin for 20 seconds; or 3) when the opponent violates the rules (shido) three times.
If the time runs out with neither contestant scoring an ippon, then the referee will award the win to the contestant who has the next highest score. For example a contestant with one yuko would win against an opponent who scored 4 kokas.

12. What is the scoring system/rules for sport sambo?

WINNING THE SPORT SAMBO MATCH (taken from rus-sambo.com):

A match can be won in one of several ways:

1. Total Victory (a "perfect throw" or submission hold) which ends match immediately;
2. Technical Superiority (12 point difference in score), which ends match immediately;
3. Point difference at end of match duration. If there has been no Total Victory or Technical Superiority, the sportsman with the most points at the end of the match wins - no minimum point score required. Tie matches are decided by a one minute overtime period, or if there is no winner at the end of overtime, by majority decision of the officials.

SCORING IN SPORT SAMBO:

1. Hold Down: (Immobilization or Predicament) - Similar to a judo hold down or a long wrestling near fall. One sportsman must hold the back of the other sportsman toward the mat in a danger position (less than 90 degrees), with chest, side or back in unbroken contact with the chest of the opponent to score. A hold down is "broken" when contact between the athletes is broken when space is created between them, or the defending athlete turns over to the stomach or the side with an angle greater than 90 degrees. A Hold down may only be scored once in a match and will earn either 2 points for a ten second hold down or 4 points for a twenty second hold down. Once a hold down is scored, a sportsman cannot attempt another.

2. Submission Hold: A pressure hold (arm or leg lock) applied ot the arm or leg of the opponent which makes the opponent surrender or submit by calling out or by tapping the mat at least twice. Submission holds cannot be applied in standing position. A submission hold ends the match.

3. Throw: A throw is scored anytime one sportsman takes another to the mat in a single, continuous and uninterrupted action. A Sambo throw is more than a simple wrestling takedown, however. Like a judo or Greco-Roman throw, it must start with both sportsmen on their feet, one sportsmen must unbalance the other and take the opponent directly to the mat with one action without stopping. A throw must knock the defender off their feet either by lifting or tripping them, not merely dragging them down. A throw is scored based on two factors: How the thrown athlete lands and whether the thrower remains standing (scoring twice as many points if remaining standing). A Perfect Throw results in Total Victory and stops the match when a sportsman throws the other to his back while remaining standing. Other throws will score 4 points, 2 points, or 1 point, depending on the impact point of the thrown athlete.

[Zankou]

13. What grappling skill level am I?

Imagine you had an unlicensed health worker who treated farmers in the fields for years. If he went to "the civilized world," would he immediately be given a medical degree, even if he knew more about first aid than those who had been out of med school a year? Probably not. If he went to school and studied, he might learn quicker, because of his experience, but he might also have to unlearn bad habits.

The point of the story? Grappling's the same. Each grappling art has its own philosophy and even if you are a good grappler, it doesn't mean you are automatically "such and such" belt at BJJ or judo. Typically, to get a ranking in a grappling art, you have to attend that school and learn their philosophies and techniques before you can say that you are at a particular level in that style of grappling.

14. How do I get out of side control?

A video is worth a billion words.

YouTube - Posture Under the Side Mount

If you don't like videos, however, here are (nearly) a billion words:

This is possibly the most common question asked by new grapplers. The first thing to understand is that it is very hard to escape side control, and even experienced grapplers may have difficulty escaping against a skilled opponent. You are not likely to escape from an opponent who has more skill than you and/or is physically superior to you. The best way to escape is not to get caught in side control in the first place --- and that means developing a strong guard, which will take considerable time.

If your guard is passed, however, you need to do the following:

[1] Get on your side, facing your opponent. You do not want to be flat on your back.
[2] You must win the grip battle, and position your arms correctly. Best is if you can obtain an underhook with your far arm, and using your near hand as a "paw" to keep his other arm from hooking under your head or extending your near arm. Keep your elbows tight on your chest, acting as a barrier between you opponent and yourself.
[3] Do NOT allow your opponent to do one of three things: (a) underhook your far arm; (b) hook an arm under your head; (c) pull/push up on your near arm so that your near elbow is no longer serving as a barrier between your body and your opponent's body. If your opponent does any of these, you are basically screwed. If you are serious about escaping side control, you cannot let any of these happen, or your escapes are not likely to work.
[4] If you cannot get the underhook, then you will want to keep both of your arms folded on your chest, but placing the last third of your forearm, including the elbow, in (a) the armpit and (b) the hip of your opponent, so that both of your opponents arms are on the other side of your body, and your elbows are pressed up against his flank by your head. This is sometimes called "pin prevention posture." In order to get your far arm past your opponent's arms and under his armpit, try pushing on his elbow, as though you were trying to push him over you.

These first steps are CRUCIAL, and often not taught to beginners. If you lose the battle for positioning at the start, you are going to fail in your escape attempts.

[5] BRIDGE! Okay --- so your arms are in position. You are ready to escape. The first thing you must do is MAKE SPACE FOR YOUR HIPS. You do this by explosively bridging into your opponent. Make sure to bridge over one shoulder, towards your opponent, not straight up.
[6] Now SHRIMP your hips as far away as possible, rotating on your shoulder, using your arms to keep your opponent in place while your hips drive away. Repeat if necessary.
[7] At this point you will have your hands against your opponent, be on your side, and your hips will be far away. You have two choices here: Go to your knees or pull your near knee across his stomach, straighten out, and reestablish your guard. Work between them. If you insist on just doing one, you will not likely get it. Take what you can get.

That's it. Now, there are two additional "sweep" escapes that you can add after you master the basic shrimp escape dynamic --- sweeping your opponent over you (block his arm, grab a leg, and send him right over you), or driving into your opponent and flipping him over ("swim" your far arm into him as you switch base and drive). Both of these escapes require good timing, and for your opponent to be unbalanced. Even more important, both of these escapes require that your opponent be NEARLY PARALLEL to you, rather than perpendicular (as with normal side control). try to get your legs close to his legs, and distance your head/upper body, so that you are almost side by side. The "sweep" escapes will then become far easier. Usually these sweep escapes are good to do while your opponent is preoccupied with attacking (such as an Americana) or is busy trying to defeat a shrimping escape.

15. Should I train gi or no-gi?

Depends on the person and what you want to accomplish through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Opinion is split between three groups...the Gi-only group, the No-Gi only group, and (probably the largest) the train-both group.

No-gi only jiu jitsu proponents tend to focus on the fact that MMA and street-fighting do not involve the gi. They point out that if you want to compete in MMA, you are training to fight without a gi. They often argue that top wrestlers do not train with a gi on to improve their no-gi takedowns, and top greco-roman wrestlers do not train judo, so it makes no sense to train with a gi on as a means to improve your no-gi grappling.

Gi-only jiu jitsu proponents tend to argue that the most technical submission grapplers almost always favor training primarily in the gi. They argue that the gi forces you to be more technical and think through your actions, rather than using force and speed. In addition, they point out that the gi allows many more moves than no-gi, helps prevent transmission of skin diseases, and is more conducive to safe, slow rolling. Finally, they will note that almost any street fighting involves people who are clothed, rather than wearing MMA briefs, and will usually involve holding clothing.

What appears to be the largest opinion group at the moment, and which most top competitors themselves advocate, is that both gi and no-gi should be trained, regardless of what you are aiming for. This view usually advocates that gi should be trained at the beginning, to develop good habits and leverage. No-gi should also be trained, for self defense purposes, for fun, and in order to create a base for MMA. No-gi is often transitioned into after the student has trained in the gi enough to rely on technique more than force and speed, or is offered at a separate class time. Proponents of this view often point out that top no-gi competitors are usually also the top gi grapplers, and gained most of their experience with the gi on.

In truth, you should probably choose the school that is the best fit for you in terms of location, instruction quality, and overall "feel," rather than worrying about whether it is gi or no-gi. Most top BJJ instructors are highly adept at teaching both gi and no-gi.

16. What books can get me started on learning BJJ?

For BJJ: "The Guard," "Passing the Guard," and "Strategic Guard" by Ed Benneville are all excellent. So is Rodrigo Gracie's "The Path to Black Belt" and Kid Peligro's "Essential Guard."

17. What is the best video instructional?

For BJJ: Saulo Ribeiro's Revolution One is currently the best general BJJ instructional. There are lots of other great instructional sets, and lots of sets focusing on specific areas/techniques, but you will start at the top if you get the Saulo set. It can be purchased from the Sherdog website.

18. I can't finish the triangle choke!

Pay attention:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...triangle+choke

[Zankou]

19. What is cauliflower ear, and how do I fix it?

What it is:

Cauliflower ear is term commonly used to describe the appearance of an ear that has had a perichondrial hematoma. This occurs when the ear is struck, hit, or excessively and abrasively rubbed. The skin on the ear tears away from the underlying cartilage. The perichondium, which supplies nutrients to the cartilage, is also ripped off of the cartilage. If left untreated, the cartilage will be starved of nutrients and die. The blood and puss that filled the gap when the skin was torn off of the cartilage will harden and leave a cauliflower like appearance.

How it happens:

Cauliflower ear occurs when the ear receives a hard strike, or is grinded against for extended periods of time. This is why it is so common among combat athletes and rugby players. In rugby, when tackles occur, the ear can be hit against the athlete being tackled, resulting in cauliflower. In jiu jitsu and wrestling, the ear can not only be struck hard (for instance: during a takedown, your ear hits his hip bone), but also abrasively rubbed (escaping from chokes, headlocks etc…). Some people are more susceptible to cauliflower.

Treatment:

Multiple treatments are available for cauliflower ear. It is possible to have cauliflower ear surgically fixed after it has hardened. This operation is typically quite expensive and is performed by a plastic surgeon or ENT. If you don’t want to do that, then you must treat cauliflower ear as soon as possible. If you leave it for a while(more than about 5-7 days), it will harden and the only way to fix it is the above described treatment.
The most common treatment is to drain the fluid using a syringe (I will go into detail later). Sometimes you hear horror stories about doctors who have never treated cauliflower ear and are not sure how to go about doing it. There are many accepted ways for doctors to treat cauliflower ear. One way to treat it is to have the ENT lance the front of the ear and scrape/suck all the gunk out. After all of the debris is out of the ear, the ENT should bolster the ear. To do this, he/she will put a piece of gauze or a cotton roll on each side of your ear, front and back. The doctor will the sew through the gauze. This keeps the perichondrium attached to the cartilage in the ear, allowing the cartilage to continue living.
The easiest way to treat cauliflower ear is to simply drain it with a syringe. Below is a step by step guide for draining cauliflower ear. Once again, I take no responsibility for any damage or harm you do to yourself or your ear by following the directions below. You do so at your own risk. I highly recommend getting cauliflower ear treated by a doctor so that the risk of infection is lower. The ear doesn’t have a lot of blood flow and is at a higher risk of infection. Only your doctor can prescribe antibiotics.
1. Take a shower. Be sure to wash your hair, ear, and the area surrounding your ear very well. It may be a little painful to touch the ear, but at least run some water over it for a while. You want these areas to be particularly clean so that you lower the risk of infection.
2. Clean the ear. I have used Hibiclens in the past with good results. It is a surgical grade antiseptic skin cleanser. CAUTION: Do not get Hibiclens in your ear. Pour a little Hibiclens on a cotton swab and wipe the ear with it. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe it off using water. You can also use alcohol prep pads. Just wipe the ear with the alcohol swab or prep pad and let it sit for about 20-30 seconds.
3. Now you need to stick the syringe in the ear. Insert the syringe at an angle into the area that has cauliflowered. Insert the needle in the front of the ear, not the back. Pull back the plunger of the syringe a little bit. You don’t want to pull back too much at first. This should start a trickle of blood flow into the syringe. If the flow of blood and puss stops, give the plunger another little pull. Keep repeating this process until the ear has completely drained. If you fill up a syringe, DO NOT SQUIRT THE BLOOD/PUSS OUT AND REUSE THE SAME SYRINGE. Make sure you have another unused, sterile syringe on hand. Simply cap and set aside the filled syringe insert and use the new one in the same manner as the first. When you are done, and the ear looks normal, cap the syringes. You should dispose of them properly in a sharps container. Wipe the ear down with another alcohol swap after it is drained.
4. Sometimes (if you’re lucky) the ear will simply look normal after draining and will not refill. It is best to not take the chance of it refilling (and you having to repeat the above process again). To do this, you will want to make a compression bandage. To do this, take a bunch of gauze, or a cotton roll, and fill the outer crevices of the ear with it. Then use tape (paper tape or cloth medical tape works best) and tape the ear. Hold it down (pinch your ear, thumb in back, forefinger on front) for about 5-10 minutes. This will keep the perichondrium attached to the cartilage and is vital if you want your ear to be normal again.
5. Change the compression bandage often and if the ear refills with blood and puss, just repeat the process. Sometimes it will refill multiple times, but usually with less and less blood each time. Eventually, it should look pretty normal.

Prevention:

Many people have jobs where cauliflower ear is unacceptable. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure - if you don’t want cauliflower, wear headgear. It’s cheap and easy. In my opinion, the most comfortable headgear is made by Cliff Keen. Try either the Tornado, Twister, or Signature model.

20. How do I cut weight for a tournament?

Step 1 Follow Berardi's 7 habits! Especially in season. They are as follows:

Habit 1: Eat every 2-3 hours.

Habit 2: Eat complete, lean protein with each feeding opportunity.

Habit 3: Eat vegetables with each feeding opportunity.

Habit 4: Eat veggies/fruits with any meal. Eat "other carbs" only after exercise.

Habit 5: Eat healthy fats daily.

Habit 6: Don't drink beverages (soda, beer, etc.) with more than 0 calories.

Habit 7: Eat whole foods whenever possible.

Habit 8 is drink lots and lots of water. If you're already dehydrated, how are you going to cut any water weight? Sticking to the 7 habits will take care of 80% of most people's cutting problems.

Step 2
As competition nears, caloric restriction is necessary. A calorie IS NOT a calorie, but you can't stuff yourself with 4000 calories and expect to drop 20 pounds in a month. Calorie amounts do vary for different people, so find what works for you. You should be dropping roughly 2 pounds per week in fat if you're dieting properly. Remember to keep hydrated, and increase your water intake as you reduce calories, both to combat hunger and to keep healthy. You should of course be doing cardio to speed your weight loss. Remember to take your multivitamin and fish oil.

Step 3
The week before a competition (two if you have a lot of weight to lose) is the time drop the carbs, which will speed up fat loss and give you a nice drop in water weight as well. This is not Atkins, so don't try gobbling bacon, sausage, cream, etc. Your caloric intake should consist of vegetables, lean proteins, and some healthy fats such as fish/flax oil. Increase water intake further, try to get above two gallons a day. Add extra cardio. Long distance cardio on an elliptical or bike is a good choice as it is good on the knees.

Step 4
3 days out from the competition, switch to distilled water and drink only as much as you you're thirsty for, some where just south of one gallon. Further reduce your food intake by cutting down to 3, possibly 4 meals a day of fibrous veggies and extra lean protein such as egg whites, chicken, and fish. Now is the time to add a fiber supplement such as benefiber, (a natural laxative) and dandelion root (a gentle diuretic). Keep up with the fish oil and a multi, as it will be needed. Continue with cardio.

Step 5
The day of the weigh in. Drink very little water, only as much as you absolutely need Depending on whether you are within 3 pounds of your target weight, either keep your food the same, or further reduce caloric intake by lowering your protein. Eat only 2-3 meals this day, mostly veggies, a hard boiled egg or two, and a little chicken, and take your vitamins. Eat your last meal and drink your last water at least 12 hours before the weigh-ins. You should be within 2 pounds of your target weight at this time. If you are not, this is the time to sweat it out. Cut arm holes in a trash bag, put on some sweats and do low intensity cardio like riding an exercise bike. The sauna is another option.

*CAUTION- if have to sweat excess water out, you've fucked up somewhere along the way. This is okay once, maybe twice, because cutting weight is a learning experience and rarely exact, but making a habit of sweating water weight the night before a competition is unacceptable. The drastic dehydration measures taken by many not only lead to health issues and possibly death, they kill your performance.

Step 6
After the weigh-ins. Sip a recovery drink such as Accelerade, Pedialyte, Surge, etc. immediately afterwards. Eat normal, non aggravating foods and lots of slow release carbs; eat foods like apples, bread, nuts and turkey. Eat small healthy meals, every 2 hours until competition, and drink plenty of fluids. Sports dinks are a good product for rehydrating at this time.

Step 7
DON'T BINGE! You've made your weight, now stay within ten pounds of it throughout the rest of the season, 15-20 if you're a fighter.

[Zankou]

21. Leglocks - What are the differences between an ankle lock/achilles lock, heelhook, toehold, and kneebar (And is it true the ankle/achilles lock is just a pain submission)?

A great instructional resource to explain leglocks:

High Percentage Leglocks - Ankle Locks, Heel Hooks & Toeholds

Great articles:

Kneebar Leg lock Q & A from Grapple Arts
Breaking down the Ankle Lock - an analysis of the basic foot lock

Quick summary of each lock:

Ankle lock/achilles lock: Works by extending the toes downward while cranking up on the achilles tendon, right behind the heel. Can be applied from a variety of leg positions. The names "ankle lock" and "achilles lock" essentially mean the same leglock, but minor differences in how the lock is applied can change its effect more towards crushing the achilles tendon or hyper-extending the foot -- either can create the tap, and both are usually involved to some degree. NOTE: Contrary to common claims, this lock can easily break/damage the foot, and is absolutely not just a pain submission. It is, however, probably the safest leglock, because there is little or no twisting action applied to the knee -- unlike the heelhook, which looks very similar and uses a similar control position as the ankle lock. For this reason, the straight ankle lock is typically legal at blue belt and up in gi BJJ, and always legal in no-gi competition.

Heelhook: Looks very similar to ankle/achilles lock, but the heel is cupped over the arm rather than under it. The heel can be twisted either way, inside for a regular heelhook, outside for a reverse heelhook. The leg is twisted to finish, along with bridging back. Primarily attacks the knee and hip. A very dangerous submission that is always illegal in gi BJJ and in judo, but allowed in MMA and some no-gi tournaments. The reverse heelhook is probably the most devastating leglock of all, and can easily cause severe injury.

Toehold: The toes are grabbed with one hand, and the other arm grabs the wrist in a "figure 4" lock on the foot. The foot is then twisted back. Attacks the ankle and knee joints. Legal at brown belt and above in BJJ. A very versatile attack that can be used from many positions. Also a dangerous lock, due to the twisting force it creates on the knee joint.

Kneebar: Basically just like an armbar, but done to the leg. Requires good technique to finish, due to the great strength of the leg. Kneebar, as its name indicates, attacks the knee joint. It attacks an important joint, but because it does not use much twisting force, is usually thought to be somewhat less dangerous than heelhooks and toeholds. Usually legal in gi BJJ from purple on up.

Others: There is a dizzying variety of leglocks, but 99% of what actually finishes people in competition are the locks listed above. You may also encounter calf slicers, shin locks, Indian death locks, hip locks, banana splits, etcetera, but they are much less frequent, and primarily applied by leglock specialists.

[Zankou]

ONLINE GRAPPLING RESOURCE LINKS

Here are the most awesome online resources:

Great topics

• The Collected Works of Aesopian, The Best Poster Ever
• User Submitted Techniques
• Techniques and Other Important Links

Useful topics

• Technique Sites
• Tournament/Seminar Listings
• MMA and Grappling Gym Directory

Topics that have been done so many times that my eyes bleed reading them

• Learn to do the Anaconda Choke - Video Clip

Credentials & Competitions

• Sherdog.net forum members BJJ belt ranks list
• The Big Fat Thread Of Grappling Credentials
• Australian Grappling Thread
• Michigan Grappling Events

[Zankou]

[Placeholder post for future material]

[Zankou]

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[Calibur]

Good stuff.

Did you consider entries on:

Preparing for your first tournament.
Half guard basics
Gi recommendations and sites
Eddie bravo and why he's so polarizing

Jayskulz has a lot of stuff on the board that could be slipped into this thread.

Oh, and how to cut weight safely.

The Weight Cutting Thread

[Kakkarot]

zankou this thread is much appreciated bro ...keepit up man

[mycompy386]

Just curious as to why you didn't answer the "Ringworm!?!" "question"?

You could have just added something like:
Ringworm, also known as "Tinea", is an infection of the skin, characterized by a reddish to brownish raised or bumpy patch of skin that may be lighter in the center, giving the appearance of a 'ring'. Contrary to its name, ringworm is not caused by a worm but by parasitic fungi (Dermatophytosis). It can exist anywhere on the body.

Fungi are organisms that survive by eating plant or animal material, those that cause parasitic infection (dermatophytes) feed on keratin, the material found in the outer layer of skin, hair, and nails. These fungi thrive best on skin that is moist, hot, and hidden from the light. Together with the other dermatophytosis, up to 20 percent of the population has one of these infections at any given moment. (Wikipedia)

but it's your thread and thanks for all the other useful information.