Elbow Escape - Side Mount
If your opponent is able to achieve the side mount, chances are they will be so eager to punch you that they will create space for you to execute the Shrimp Escape (Lesson 24). If they are able to prevent the Shrimp Escape, the best thing to do is conserve energy and wait until the opponent transitions from side mount to full mount so that you can use the Elbow Escape to recompose the guard. In this lesson you will learn two variations of the Elbow Escape from the side mount.
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Pull Guard
In an ideal situation, you would be able to close the distance, establish the clinch, execute a takedown, achieve the mount and win the fight. Sometimes however, your opponent is expecting the clinch and is very resistant when you try to establish control of them. If you get into a clinch and you are unable to take your partner down because they are too strong or you lose control of their hips, you have two options: let go and try again or Pull Guard. If you let go, you risk getting knocked out when you try to reestablish the clinch. If you pull the opponent in your guard, you can neutralize the punches, exhaust their energy, and eventually win the fight in a variety of ways.
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Predators often test their targets’ spatial boundaries to see how close they can get before initiating the assault. In this lesson, we teach you how to use verbal assertiveness to establish and enforce your personal space and what to do if the attacker crosses the boundary and physically assaults you. The natural tendency when being overwhelmed with strikes is to back away from the assailant while protecting your face and head. Once again, the intuitive response in this situation could be the most dangerous response. In this lesson, we further explore the distance management principles and learn how to minimize damage from aggressive strikes in a standing altercation.
Stop-Block-Frame (3 variations):
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Punch Defense (Clinch Entry):
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Armbar - Mount
The goal in the fight is to achieve the mount because from there we can deplete our opponent and eventually submit them with ease. When you mount an opponent, it is very common for them to reach for your chest or throat in their escape attempt, and this creates the perfect opportunity for the Straight Armlock. The Straight Armlock is one of the most dynamic submission in jiu-jitsu since it can be applied from virtually any position and it can be used to incapacitate even the largest opponent. In this lesson, you will learn how to apply the Straight Armlock from the mount, and in future lessons you will learn it from other positions in the fight.
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Guillotine Defense
When you establish the clinch, and your opponent no longer has the space or distance to strike you effectively, they will often wrap your neck in an attempt to submit you. For this reason, the Guillotine Choke is one of the most common techniques used by unskilled individuals because it’s simple and it gives them a feeling of control during the chaos. Although the proper clinch position should prevent the Guillotine Choke, your opponent may surprise you if your head is too low, and in this lesson, you will learn the most important Guillotine Defense principles.
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Twisting Arm Control - Mount
The beauty of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is that it enables you to defeat virtually anyone while controlling the amount of damage you inflict. The Twisting Arm Control is premium example of this because you can use it to set up a choke, straight armlock, or simply control your opponent until they surrender. In this lesson, you will first learn how to set up and maintain the Twisting Arm Control, and then you will learn two reliable finishing options.
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Rear Takedown
When you establish the clinch, your opponent’s arm may end up over your head. In some cases it happens inadvertently, in other cases it’s a deliberate attempt to catch you in a Guillotine Choke. Either way, any time your head ends up under your opponent’s arm, you can use it to transition into the Rear Clinch control position, from where you can set up the Rear Takedown. In this lesson you will learn how to transition from front to back of your opponent as well as how to take them down once you get there.
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Triangle Choke - Guard
If you achieve the mount but are unable to maintain control, you should resort to the guard position. From the guard, you can neutralize punches and submit your opponent with one of several techniques. In this lesson, we will discuss the Triangle Choke which is one of the most amazing techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu, since it gives any individual the ability to render their opponent unconscious from the bottom of the fight. In this lesson, you will learn the finishing steps first and then you will learn two effective methods for setting up and catching the Triangle Choke in a street fight.
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Haymaker Punch Defense
In many cases, the precise movement and aim of your opponent’s strikes are hard to predict. Sometimes, however, your opponent is so eager to attack you that their punch is totally predictable. The Haymaker Punch Defense is used when a determined attacker comes at you from a distance with the objective of putting all of their bodyweight behind one fight-ending punch. Because of this punch’s power and predictability, the best option is to slip underneath it and get behind your opponent.
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Double Underhook Pass - Guard
In sport jiu-jitsu practice, passing the guard is of the utmost importance. But as you know, preparing for a street fight and preparing for a recreational jiu-jitsu tournament are two different things. In a street fight, there is a 99% chance that your opponent will know nothing about jiu-jitsu and, as a result, they will not know how to use the closed guard to their advantage. As a result, you will be able to pass their guard by simply trapping their hips and stepping over their legs as you learned in lesson 1. In the unlikely event that you find yourself in your opponent’s closed guard during a street fight, you can use the Double Underhook Guard Pass to break their guard and get to a more powerful position of control. First, you will learn the Open Guard Variation that will work on 99% of people, and then you’ll learn the Closed Guard Variation that can be used in a fight against someone slightly more versed in the grappling arts.
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Double Leg Takedown (Conservative Opponent)
The advantage of establishing an upper body clinch is that once you take your opponent down you end up in the very dominant mount position, and you can disengage from the clinch if necessary (e.g., in a multiple attacker situation). If you anticipate difficulty in establishing the clinch, however, the Double Leg Takedown is a great alternative. In this lesson you will learn the basic mechanics of the Double Leg Takedown, and then you will learn how to apply it against opponents of varying levels of aggression.
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Thank you for registering for our FREE Women’s Self-Defense Seminar at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Nipomo! We’re excited to have you join us.
Here are the event details:
📅 Date: Saturday, August 23, 2025
⏰ Time: 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
📍 Location: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Nipomo
670 S Frontage Rd, Unit D
Nipomo, CA 93444
👕 What to Wear: Comfortable workout clothes (t-shirt with sleeves + pants that cover the knees).
👩👧 Who Can Attend: Ages 13 and up. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
🥋 What to Expect: You'll learn several practical and empowering self-defense techniques from the Women Empowered program—no experience necessary.
✨ Come ready to learn, grow, and leave more confident than when you arrived.
You are worth defending.
📞 If you have any questions before the event, simply call us at 805-270-5593 or email gracienipomo@gmail.com.
We can’t wait to see you there!
– The Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Nipomo Team
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Please let us know ahead of time if you are not able to make your scheduled time.
You are now on the waitlist. If a spot opens up we will notify you via Email.