This week in Intermediate Class we’re diving into a powerful combination that can completely change your guard game, collar drags and butterfly sweeps from half guard.

If you’ve ever felt stuck underneath or struggled to off-balance strong training partners, this is your week.

💡We’re going to break down:

How to create angles instead of fighting strength

How to use collar control to expose posture

How to transition seamlessly from Half Guard to Butterfly elevation

How to connect sweeps directly into dominant top position

This isn’t just about learning techniques, it’s about developing timing, sensitivity, and the ability to move someone who doesn’t want to move.

Half Guard can be a survival position… or it can be a launch pad.

Let’s sharpen the details, build confidence underneath, and turn defense into offense.

See you on the mat. 👊

It was a great class with lots of mobility and Spider principles. 

I like where you are going with this Daniel Bianchi

Unstoppable guard.

The logic is simple in my mind: if you can’t pass my legs, how are you going to do anything else?

The guard isn’t just a defensive position, it’s a control system. My legs are the first line of defense, but also the engine for offense. They manage distance, disrupt posture, off-balance the opponent, and dictate where the exchange happens. When my guard is intact, I control the tempo. I decide when we engage, when we disengage, and when the fight shifts.

Passing the guard isn’t just about getting around the legs, it’s about solving a series of problems: frames, hooks, angles, timing, and constant movement. If those problems never get solved, progress stops. No pressure, no pins, no submissions.

That’s why guard work matters. Because everything starts (and often ends) at the legs.

This week we’ll take a deeper dive into kettlebell movement while continuing to put in solid, intentional work. The key focus will be building a strong connection between the kettlebell and the body by actively engaging the elbow and maintaining a powerful, stable frame. This connection is what allows for efficient movement, better control, and safer, stronger lifts.

This week in Intermediate class, the focus is on S-Mount as an attacking hub. We’ll break down how to connect Gi chokes with joint manipulation in No-Gi, emphasizing control, transitions, and decision-making rather than isolated submissions.

There was a time when I traveled with my gi everywhere I went. I made it a point to visit new academies, train, and build friendships wherever I landed.

These days, I’m a bit more strategic, choosing to visit friends and people I already know rather than random locations.

If you find yourself in a position to visit another academy, always call ahead, introduce yourself, and remember that you are a guest. Treating people and their space with respect is essential.

Due to high demand, this week we’ll be diving deeper into Deep Half Guard.

Expect a true nerd-level breakdown, focused on control, structure, and the fine details that make this position reliable at every level.

Come ready to slow things down, understand the mechanics, and sharpen your ability to control and reverse from the bottom.

See you on the mat 👊🏻

One of my favorites 

Great week ahead for kids