Ryron Gracie // Surviving, Defending, and Escaping the Sidemount

[@TheArtofGuitar]

I've felt like the first guy many times. When you're put on the spot against a superior grappler you quickly go blank and/or lose faith in what you do know.

[@northwestelitespirit]

The-Art-of-Guitar no

[@coreystephenson7329]

Yesssss. So many awkward moments

[@Aceinthehole1179]

The-Art-of-Guitar yes ! So correct

[@Mr.LilBeans]

At first I thought, "and this guy's a blue belt?" Then I read this comment and 100% agree.

[@LeBrow420]

Beta

[@MontrealBJJScene]

A lot of people are hard on the blue belt...dude was just star struck since Ryron was his idol. As for Ryron not caring about the mount, his mount reversal is so good that he just awaits for the attempt to mount to reverse the position. Ryron's style was really made for no points and no time limit fighting. If you go with that mindset, then defending/attempting submissions is your number 1 prority, not scoring points.

[@Requ1escat1nPACE]

Mostly defending I think. That's Ryron's mindset. That's where keep it playful came from. Ryron's match against Galvao is the best evidence of that.

[@carzoparazzo9698]

thats not Ryrons mind set only, it was a Gracie mind set in my times, all Gracie Academy in all the world was defense mind set.

[@PotentialEn3rgy]

Thanks so much for sharing the video!

[@TheSands83]

I mean it’s normal I fucking go blank a lot too

[@doublet630]

Exactly! I felt for the blue belt as he was clearly surprised to be asked to participate in the demo. Went blank.

[@amorestperpe]

I'm doing this next time, and I'm going to whisper, "I'm not trapped in here with you, you're trapped in here with me!"

[@GracieGarage]

Out of desperation, I started to do this. Folks keep going N/S on me. Turning around and taking my back. Me having to chase them. I said enough is enough. I practiced safe hands and then I said time to make it happen. I reached up to the opponent. Hugged the neck. Hugged the elbow. Put my head in the space. Then. I upa and harpoon sweep. It was amazing! Ryron is a genius. Literally, I put on a side control sweeping clinic. I landed so many sweeps to get to the top. And, a few half failed sweeps into half/full guard. I am still having a hard time sleeping thinking about this. I can not wait to flop to my side when starting the roll and keep trying to perfect this type of side control defense!

[@pollopollo3531]

Make a video!

[@jeffsstt]

Seems you made that click we all have the pleasure to experience one's in a while. Very exciting for you

[@triforcejj]

We need more seminars on survival and escapes IMO. Most are on sweeps and submissions which are cool but there's not enough emphasis on escapes

[@victormothamo]

Although I disagree with their belt system, Ryron and Rener has to be the Ambassadors of todays BJJ, they are so laid back, they are very funny, and they teach with passion, can't just help but love the guys.

[@dimecanal]

what about there belt sistem

[@metroshane]

Rickson talked them out of blue belting over the internet if that's what you were talking about.

[@MrStrongBro]

It doesn’t get any better than what they used to do. If I’m not mistaken, they would bring random people off of the street to face their white belts. If they could submit them at ease, they would become a blue belt.

[@Faq-ubeach]

The ol' belt system argument. Sometimes I wonder if ryron and Rener so casually did the blue belt thing because they're so next level that they now look at belts as meaningless, arbitrary things? Does that make sense? Like we're all over here bickering about belts and they're like "guys...belts don't matter. It's meaningless in reality" Also, for a side note, I think it's almost harder to get a blue belt under that system. Anyone ever taped all 36 techniques, each one with like 3 slices or variations within, along with all the key details of each one of those variations, in proper order...and done it nearly flawlessly? A person cant get but 4-5 little details wrong total, and pass. I'm already a blue belt and to enter into the instructorship program someday, I still have to pass the combatives test with the video etc etc. Shit requires alot of studying to make sure everything is technique is correct. Even someone wanted to cheat, you'd have to have done so much studying to cheat that you'd inevitably get good at the techniques.

[@tjl4688]

​@@Faq-ubeach There is an example of a perfect Gracie Combatives Test on the website, from 2009.

[@raymondchou9550]

Oh man, this brings back hilarious memories of the one time I was top in Ryron's side mount. And the only way we got there was because he lay down and told me to get on his side mount. It's really hard to describe the feeling, but at times he has just the most subtlest motions where you always feel like you're "missing" something. And then when you feel comfortable, you get the grips and everything that you want, something just feels wrong. And then !?!?!?!? and then he's out. Like 3 times in a row. One time he caught me in a transition with my legs - he just sat up and put me in side mount. And you know what he does? HE LIES BACK DOWN LOL. The next week after that I was injured so I just sat down and watched Ryron roll one night, and I started noticing tiny things he was doing to off balance his opponent and set up for escapes and it's just masterful

[@nightvisionmonocular]

Imagine you are a blue belt and Ryron tells you to take side control on him!! When I was a blue I would have made wee wee in my gi.

[@chrisfrank8413]

Why? afraid of learning?

[@tristankendrick2582]

One of my instructors is a blue

[@MrMuslimGuy]

This technique was a pivotal point in my side control defense TO sweep n attack!!!! Thanks braddah

[@DaddyHexler]

Ryron and his brother Renee are for real my favourite BJJ teachers. I learn so much from them. Keep it playful.

[@chaos_omega]

"Show me armbar." That was both hilarious and intimidating.

[@JohnBradleyOsborne]

I wish I could “like” this video twice. That’s amazing.

[@SF_Native]

Ryron, thanks for this. I used this technique the other night on a higher belt and it worked flawlessly!!! Old video still holds up in 2019!! Ossss!!!

[@anorangutan511]

I was at this seminar! I use this, it is a great passive tactic. Hold him tight, but be relax. If he pulls up, sit up with him and bring the knee in, don't get in a push pull battle. You're controlling his posture with your arm on the head and preventing attacks by keeping his arm in behind your head. He didnt want people to go to mount because he was trying to prove a point of how this is a good defense against subs from side ctrl. If he goes mount, trap and roll like in ryron vs andre (meta)

[@BrettsterG]

I love the stuff Ryron teaches. There was a blue belt at my school who taught us NOT to hold the tricep and hug the neck. He said it is annoying and doesn't accomplish anything. But I'm with Ryron, I think it's annoying and it accomplishes a lot! I utilize strategies I've heard him talk about like the survivalist mind set and if you do not lose, you can only win and it has helped me tap out people at my gym who I know are better than me. I just exhausted slower than they did. Great stuff.

[@dougieladd]

Ryron is an awesome teacher, it's a pleasure to watch this. I'm a beginner myself, but it's great to see the journey I have ahead if my old body holds out. Thanks for posting.

[@Aceinthehole1179]

Gracie, Gracie , Gracie... Just shows you how much they know & how brilliant they are on the mats. 👌

[@JN-kk4nk]

Agree

[@joepeezly]

I love the simplicity of this lesson. So incredibly helpful for a white belt like me.

[@theFormidable1]

Defend escape control submit had leveled up my jujitsu after not doing it for 20 years. It is the key that I was missing in my jujitsu game. Thank you

[@SomoshiphopRadio]

"Who Said Arm Bar??" "I was kidding!" JAJAJAJ LMAO!

[@Vtard1]

Alot of ppl being hard on that blue belt...give him a break. Everyone is still learning and when you go up against someone like this you realize how much there is to learn.

[@mindismoving7498]

please correct me if i'm wrong, but it seems like this strategy works by forcing your opponent to *create space for you.* instead of spending energy trying to create space and getting stuffed, you hold your opponent as close as possible, and so for them to begin any attack, they actually have to make space to do it. even the kimura on ryron's left hand, looking like it'd be so easy, actually forces his partner to open some space around his hips, which allows ryron to slide in a knee or foot.

[@strontiumdog8646]

Think that is exactly it. Your opponent gets a bit frustrated and is in affect trying to make space to stop themselves being held tight……. that’s when person on bottom takes the opportunity

[@rayanslim]

It hurts to watch that blue belt squirm. He is obviously nervous and unsure about the level of effort to use, probably due to his reverence for Ryron. I'm sure he hates seeing himself in this video, though.

[@mxu111]

He should've just gave it his all. Pussy.

[@UnlimitedMullets]

That's what I was thinking too! Then I thought that maybe my blue belt skills would have pinged off of him like a bird flying into a window lol. I'd like to think that I would have taken advantage of giving Ryron my all but I'm positive I would not want to have been the first person to approach him!

[@spaceseed9250]

It's time for that blue belt to sit at the corner 😂

[@rashedzaman6483]

Moment of silence for the blue belt brother

[@slavicvolk]

Look at these not even white belts talking trash to a guy who could choke their asses out

[@2003pblakey]

Love the trap and roll. watched that several times over. nice bonus to add to video learning experience

[@GracieGarage]

Prof. Ryron is amazing!!!! Thanks for sharing.

[@cwesley2005]

Ryron is the man. I think the blue belt forgot where he was for a minute. It was like he didn't even hear Ryron. Instructors always telling me to make frames, but I feel like this gives you more control and makes it harder for the opponent. Can't wait to try

[@waynelambert2695]

Ryron!! I will train with you one day!! I love your style sir!!! You have such a positive style! Thank you!!!

[@PotentialEn3rgy]

Make it happen Wayne!

[@asruiz7360]

I love how one of the most reviewed sections of the video was when Ryron did the split on that guy so effortlessly and slow - like "wth just happened?"

[@rthomas201011]

He clearly loves teaching.

[@MontrealBJJScene]

It is more an action reaction thing. When he pulls his opponent in, he has no options, so you seem actually react by pulling up, when they pull up, that is when he inserts his knee

[@infinitegodman]

Never seen this instruction style before. It struck me as beautiful teacher /pupil moments; "here young blood, feel what i mean".

[@JDGage]

He's my goal to be like in jiu jitsu. Calm and able to use technique over strength.

[@Draceb]

I love how relaxed Ryron is and how his skill is how he reacts like he is playing with a small child that is such skill. That aside i would inquire about the guy on top not really using shoulder pressure or what time is it grip to keep the guy on the bottom in a distracted state. Very good vid though I love watching the Gracie brothers Ryron/Rener when they do instructional vids.

[@metroshane]

I had the same question and tried it on partners the first day I saw the vid. What I found is that it doesn't really matter what the pressure the top guy is putting on you. The one aspect I found that he hinted to but didn't go into is that when you grab someone like that, they start questioning themselves. Why is this guy holding me tighter when I'm already smashing him, am I about to get rolled? As soon as that enters their head, the loosen the cross face and make it infinitely easier to get out. Total head game I was expecting to come out of it.

[@davidescobedo5965]

This brilliant, thank you professor! Hard to find this level of instruction elsewhere

[@raquelstucchio6358]

It's so funny because I always get stuck on the bottom in side control. The other night I was sparring with a much higher level guy who does mma. I got stuck and thought to myself "I can't escape so I'm just gonna stay here and wait for his next move and just tried to avoid having that pressure" after a few seconds passed and I didn't move he said "you gotta do something, you can't just be still!" So I'm glad I watched this. Ill incorporate the neck and triceps control. I've come to realize a lot of bjj moves are very instinctual and that's why I love it. When I was mounted when I first started classes I just thought how do I get this person off. So I just locked their ankles and bridged and it worked. Some things are instinctual and bjj builds on this and I love it.

[@PwnLinked]

Bruh that blue belt in the beginning was under a lot of stress XD I’d be like fuck no I ain’t trying shit against you ima die.

[@mtgsalt1151]

Nah I was kiddin 😂😆

[@JacobsWay]

Used this in class today and it worked like a dream!!!

[@Grapplers.Planet]

Love these kind of videos. Great Job. Awesome seminar. Thanks for the share brother.

[@1337nobody]

Try rolling with your eyes closed or even blindfolded, it's a great drill because it forces you to feel your opponent rather than see him/her. In a sense this makes it all become less of a thought process and more of a reflexive/intuitive kind of a thing. Did that make sense?

[@The_Nameless_Monster]

Just tried this trick This is so sick! It is very effective and helped me so much 😊

[@senghile7396]

if im correct a person punching ryron would create space,ryron is saying hold tight UNTIL he creates space for you to escape. so if you punch or try to go for a sub doesnt matter they both create space, so if you punch 1 sec in then you created space 1 sec in and ryron will then escape you in 1 second. if your not going to sit up at least a little but or bring your arm back to throw the punch theres just wimpy punches and that probably wont do anything.

[@enlistedmango]

So simple and yet so many people never do this! More concerned about the "traditional defence" (forearm under neck, elbow tucked in pushing hips) I will be trying this from now on. Stuck on bottom is the worst and its also a very bad position for me to get out of.

[@Words-of-encouragement.-.]

I did this in class last night and it actually worked. I kept letting people get into side control and then I would do this. People didn't know what to do, which allowed me to be in control and eventually escape.

[@denverstapleton7621]

love the fact he is keepin it real and playful! oss!

[@kwak76]

Interesting. I was taught to always try to frame in side mount and push off and bridge to create space to pull guard .

[@PessimiStick]

You can't get control of his wrist to attack with an Americana because he's hugging your tricep, and it's very difficult to feed the second hand in for BB choke because he's controlling distance. Creating space to attack also creates space to escape. That was the point of the exercise.

[@patrickoduinn4787]

We have a big guy in our club who uses side mount to submit all us white belts! He literally squeezes the life out of you, looking forward to trying this technique. I’d love the Gracies to teach him a lesson! 🤣

[@bradleyzum]

Same thing happened to me haha why I'm here !

[@2Point]

Biggest problem with side control is when they use weight and crush you. This video is great but when they're attacking I usually just let them go from side control to full mount because it's easier to escape than a heavy side control. I'll definitely be trying this out this week though, thx and cheers

[@tehf00n]

yeah its harder to escape when you can't breathe for sure.

[@joshuaroun14]

Okay, but the you give him the 4 easy points once he maintains mount and if he's knowledgeable he'll hold you and stall you in mount or work hard for the submission, and in tournament that's a lot of points given up and not easy to get back.

[@Jonesislearning]

Joshua Roun screw that, it's even worse to let the guy mount you in a real fight. Something I'd always avoid. I'd rather jus hold him like that until he gets tired or I find an opening to escape/recover guard

[@NeosUK]

A good side control is hard to escape and easy to control. A bad mount is easy to escape, however a good mount is pretty much IMPOSSIBLE to escape. That works well until you let someone like roger gracie mount you lol.

[@aqdjbcr]

I’m excited to try this today

[@joe.nail1]

This is great. It really forces the other guy to pull away. If he tries to go knee on belly?

[@BradleyHill]

More please!

[@ForzaTerra89]

I really like this video and I'll try this in my next class. I waste way too much energy on the bottom I just need to practice my escapes once someone has afforded me space

[@OzarkFightCrazy]

Just ask Galvao how frustrating and effective this defensive strategy is.

[@Vscustomprinting]

Right? I DID, and that's before I saw their fight.. he just kinda blew off the question..

[@Vscustomprinting]

Team atos ♡

[@AlvaroArredondo-ir6iv]

White belt question: What about establishing frames? Is that obsolete? This was really eye opening for me, esp. because when I get stuck here, the guy on top starts using his shoulder on my neck to setup either mount or a submission. But “tricep & neck” was so simple and I noticed that Ryron also brought his knees in and lifted his head…

[@Objectiveindividual1]

That was awesome and my game is on an instant new level. Thank you Mr Gracie.

[@mma-gb3si]

Simple, but effective. Thank you

[@SubWolffer]

I cannot wait to do this tomorow! Ryron, you and your brothers kick ass! lol

[@jorgenoorts7609]

Another great technique, way of thinking! Thanks for this

[@J3pr0x2]

It never ceases to amaze how many keyboard warriors are better than a 4-striped (?) BJJ black belt.

[@prodigypenn]

his style is very similar to Rickson, the way he waits for them to try something then counter it

[@Corvin666]

Man, he smashed that black belt like it was his first week

[@SparkytehUnicorn]

He has his eyes closed a lot during the sparring..... The Gracie's are phenomenal.

[@kirkprospector4958]

The level of relaxation he achieves while rolling is amazing.

[@SparkytehUnicorn]

Colin Jackson I want to see one of them do a blindfold challenge.

[@beedt714]

guessing you don't roll too much.. there's plenty of people who roll with their eyes closed. Bill Teche at Leon BJJ in CA Los Alamitos Is a blind blackbelt. It is very easy as long as you keep yourself close to your opponent. if its grip fighting then obviously no but not as bad as you think.. next time you train close your eyes and go based on body movement and feeling

[@SparkytehUnicorn]

Joshua Fachtmann I do actually practice jiu-jitsu, and I've always thought it was possible, but I've never really seen people do it well before.

[@AZTigerMMA]

yes master jedi. this was great.- thank you for the upload

[@Cognitoman]

Be a python... The python relaxes and waits for its prey to try to escape and event time it try's to breath when it's exhales the python squeezes a little hard make its prey get less and less room to breath

[@M0SHMUTT]

This is one of the best analogies I've ever read on a KZbin BJJ video .

[@Cognitoman]

Thank you

[@JorgeGonzalez-bz1nx]

Thank you..!!

[@mattg3537]

Ryron- The Python; squeeze his opponent into panic zaps them of energy and moral Rener- The Monkey; pokes and pokes and pokes very frustrating always playful Kron- The Crocodile; EXPLOSIVE Strikes hard, Fast and once he finds the submission he would die before he lets it go

[@JoeyMcPeace]

My brain keeps wanting to go to the samurai choke! That's the same thought Andre was having though evidently so no dice!

[@BrianBirdy]

So good. Makes it look easy 😃

[@ijustwannaleaveacommentony6511]

i tried ryron's tricep and neck trick against a brown belt, "aha, i'll be safe here!" i thought, "ryron told me so!" then i tapped to extreme shoulder pressure in my neck

[@Gearyco]

They can’t put shoulder pressure if you’re holding the tricep. You fucked up lol.

[@ec0n1n0thuman]

His eyes are closed for 50% of it, amazin.

[@paulangulo6821]

Ryron excellent as always.

[@10394925]

So hold him close until he trys to pull away then get the knee in to try and pull guard?

[@Mr850man]

If you are in side control just give the mount position to your opponent, noted

[@pabloamericano4930]

Ryron is the coolest Gracie. He doesn’t talk a lot like ( you know who) and he’s got the cool calm big cousin feel as a teacher.

[@joelvis65]

sometimes when ppl learn more complex techniques, they tend to forget the basics...

[@joshhardy5646]

The neck and arm control is really hard. You really have to practice and tune it because you have to time your knees and pushes based on their movement. I’m a blue belt and have been working this with some white belts. It’s not easy, but nothing is

[@Gwarrior314]

awesome points...Thank you

[@parisgracefully]

Ryron was making such a good point, despite the first partner giving him absolutely nothing to work with.

[@cygnus108]

Fantastic concept.

[@bsanjiban]

Great video. But, still thinking what if someone tries shoulder choke?

[@supasye]

Sanjiban Bhattacharya the whole point of pulling the tricep and neck is to avoid that pressure

[@jitsroller]

Exactly. Their is doctrine "no space " then there is strategy.

[@wackcity698]

The guy in the blue wen he was on top position should’ve pushed his elbow down before continuing to next position... love this shit man 😂😂😂🥊

[@counterkidnapping1737]

I understand what he means. If you try to escape the top person won't let you escape but if you stay still and just defend and try to hold or submit the top person, the top person will do nothing or maybe he will try to submit you that's the moment you escape when he tries to submit you. My question is, does this work in street fight if he mounts and punches you? When did you escape?

[@RhinoXpress]

pretty smart it's like an attack defense.

[@mohammadhijazi3720]

The blue belt at the end of the video is a black belt instructor now!!

[@Durrrville]

What would be your plan to tap out Ryron Gracie white belt?

[@patrickgaul3526]

I wish I was there.

[@tonynguyen2895]

ryron thinking about taking off that guys blue belt

[@phillippruitt6752]

You are a fucking genius brother !!!!

[@Besma80]

Deberia haber probado el Isquierdo en el Cuello?

[@seanmiller7889]

Is that Fred Estish's kid in the beginning?

[@PwnLinked]

Personally, I hate side control. I only use it to get to mount cause anytime I try for submissions I feel like it’s too easy for them to defend.

[@silverback7133]

ok im still relatively new at bjj. so im not shooting off here its a genuine question. what about controlling the shoulder with the passed hand and aiming for a north south overarm choke? would it be easier to reclaim guard?

[@TrishCanyon8]

❤Loved this

[@josephm.halljr.6998]

I need that.

[@KoriBJJ]

yeah, since you pull them down they want to pull away and attack and when they do you have the escape! it's a good idea. ill keep this in my head!

[@paolo2012]

amazing....flow like water

[@jesusthroughmary]

Ryron toying with black belts, insane

[@fdiaz05]

A lot of understanding pressure and energy here. Like prior comment about being a python. All these black belts find that pressure where its weakest and exploit it

[@PhilipHubbe]

What would you do if the hand of the attacker that was closest to the head was UNDER the arm rather to over?

[@anonymouse7095]

Please remember that a blue belt was a white belt only a little while ago.

[@Heretics0101]

Amazing!

[@hiphopbeast7022]

what about knee on belly? The neck hold doesn't work in that case, does it?