This week in our Intermediate classes, we will focus on back control concepts and strategies. We’ll be studying how to establish and maintain strong control, improve positional awareness, and apply effective attacks with the gi, including some of the most powerful chokes in Jiu Jitsu.

This is a great opportunity to sharpen both your control and finishing mechanics from one of the most dominant positions in grappling. Looking forward to a strong week of training.

Here is a sample of our focus ⤵️

https://rolacademy.tv/programs/back-control-chokes-sequence-84fed0?category_id=173535

Many people see a quick submission as a sign of dominance. I often see it differently. Sometimes it is the result of perfect timing, a brief opening, or even a bit of luck.

True dominance in Jiu-Jitsu is something deeper. It is the ability to control the entire exchange. To take away space. To dictate the pace. To decide where the fight goes and how it unfolds. When one can consistently guide the direction of the match not just the outcome but also the direction of the exchange, there is no question about who is in control.

In that moment luck disappears. What remains is skill, awareness, pressure, and mastery.

Dominance is not just finishing the fight. Dominance is owning every moment of it.

This is a loaded question. Both strength and flexibility are important in Jiu-Jitsu, and which one matters more often depends on the individual athlete and their physical attributes.

The real priority is mobility combined with usable strength.

Beginners benefit most from developing general strength and stability.
Advanced practitioners often rely more on mobility, efficiency, and refined technique.

Many grapplers eventually find themselves in the middle... strong, mobile, and technically efficient.

Strength keeps you safe and stable.
Flexibility expands your options.

Strength → Mobility → Technique Integration

Patrick Morton, what do you think?

I very selfishly have a plan every time I step on the mat.

This morning I did 12 solid rounds, and my objective was simple: no one gets underhooks on me. And when I was on top, I was fighting for every possible underhook. 

Having a specific goal each session keeps me focused. It prevents me from chasing “shiny objects” or rolling just to survive the round. Instead, I’m training with intention.

That clarity allows me to make small, tangible improvements, the kind that compound over time. One detail. One battle. One focus.

You don’t have to win every round.

But if you win your objective for the day, you’re getting better.

Pretty cool week ahead. John Kats is back on Monday nights at 7pm 

In my personal opinion Jiu-Jitsu should be viewed through three lenses: art, street, and sport.

Art is about mastery. It’s timing, leverage, creativity, and expression. It’s the quiet refinement of technique and the philosophy behind training, patience, humility, and lifelong growth.

Street focuses on survival. Distance management, awareness, standing control, and finishing or escaping quickly. No points. No rounds. The goal is safety, not submission chains.

Sport operates within rulesets like those of the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation. It rewards strategy, conditioning, and precision. Here, guard pulling, advantages, and time management matter.

All three share the same roots, control and leverage but the objective changes.

Art seeks mastery. Street seeks safety. Sport seeks victory.

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.