Rising Jiu Jitsu Star - Katyanne Klitz - American Top Team

Rising Jiu Jitsu star Katyanne Klitz locks a GOLD medal at this year's Honolulu Open under her blue belt after just 8 months of training. We stopped in for a quick chat with Katyanne to find out more about her, and how she focuses her training to keep her skills polished:

What first interested you about the sport of Jiu Jitsu?
I love sports, and I love staying active. I like to challenge myself in sport, life, work...whatever it is that I do. And once I get started in something and take real interest, I never go half way. I study it, drill it, perfect it. I do not get discourage when things don't work -- I push it, fix it, and move on to the next challenge.

What other sports have you been involved with?
I played soccer my entire life, since I was 4 years old all the way through college. I also enjoy snowboarding and water sports. I am not sure any of these sports necessarily translate into Jiu Jitsu skills, but I think knowing how to train, focus, eat well, and be a team player, help in many aspects of training and preparation.

Would you consider Jiu Jitsu to be a more challenging sport than others?
Jiu Jitsu is definitely physically demanding in a different way than other sports. I think particularly in soccer, I could get away with more mistakes and still play a spectacular game, whereas in Jiu Jitsu each and every mistake is an opportunity for your opponent to capitalize and end the match. Learning to recognize holes and closing the gaps seems like it will be a never ending process, which is why the sport is so addicting.

What do you find most challenging about Jiu Jitsu?
I think the politics of Jiu Jitsu is the most challenging aspect, especially as a newcomer. Also, as a female in the sport, there are additional challenges that you may face with extremes on either side of the spectrum.

Katyanne trains at American Top Team in Florida, and plans to compete as much as possible in local tournaments and upcoming monster tournaments like Mundials and Pan Ams in California. We look forward to catching up with her later on to check in on her progress. Good luck! And happy training. 

Jiu Jitsu Moves & Techniques

If you are looking to learn new Jiu Jitsu moves, you have come to the right place. At the World of Jiu Jitsu, we compile the most crucial Jiu Jitsu moves that you will use from the beginning of your Jiu Jitsu journey, all the way through to the very end.

Jiu Jitsu moves and techniques are the heart and soul to gaining new ground in your Jiu Jitsu game. Whether you are looking to improve your game on top, or looking for technique, moves, or submissions from the bottom, the first place to start when looking to learn new Jiu Jitsu moves is from the specific area you want to work on. For example, you may want to start off learning new Jiu Jitsu sweeps from the bottom. Sweeps from the bottom are a great way to enhance your defensive game, and prepare and execute perfection transition to a top position.

When you decide to learn new Jiu Jitsu moves and techniques, an important tip is to focus on one area or move at a time. This will ensure that you perfect that move before moving on to variations of that move. Jiu Jitsu techniques and moves can vary greatly depending upon who is showing the move. The moves and techniques on the WorldofJiuJitsu.com have all been reviewed to bring you the highest quality Jiu Jitsu technique videos.

WE have divided Jiu Jitsu moves into several different categories on the site, including Chokes, Sweeps, Submissions, Passing Guard, and Take-downs. Each of these Jiu Jitsu techniques and moves areas will explore various options and games that are available to you. You should explore the options and choose the ones that most interest your current style, and move forward from there.

Best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Match of 2011

Farias (ATOS) takes on Malfacine (Alliance) in the 2011 IBJJF European Open. If you like the berimbolo, this video will be a real treat, with nonstop rolling action from start to finish. With several toe-hold attempts, and a dead even tie in points after 7 minutes into the match (with Malfacine holding one less advantage point at 3 to 4, to Farias), the match goes to the full 10 minute match. This is no doubtingly one of the best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt matches of 2011. 

What is the best way to recover from intense BJJ training?

Wanderlei Silva in an Ice Bath

I don’t know about you, but pretty much every time I train, afterwards my body feels like it has been hit by a bus. Taking the appropriate steps to let your body recover will have you feeling better in no time, and have you excited for the next Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training session with your teammates.

Step 1: Try to incorporate a cool down in your routine. Whether you walk around, or do a light jog, cooling down keeps your body from retaining lactic acid, which causes muscle stiffness shortly after a sudden stop after intense exercise.

Arm Bar Submission from Full Guard - Video

The arm bar, or arm lock, from guard, is a basic Brazilian Jiu Jitsu submission. There are other positions where arm bars and arm locks are possible. The arm bar video below will show you the BJJ arm lock technique from the full guard. You can use this technique to get your hips warmed up, and drill this move to increase your speed and accuracy for the arm bar submission.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Highlights Video

'I do have a very particular set of skills, skills that I have acquired over a very long career, skills that make me a nightmare for people like you...' - Quote from the movie 'Taken'. Well said Liam Neeson. This Brazilian Jiu Jitsu highlights video is awesome. Love this quote, and love this quote for BJJ.

The Basics - Jiu Jitsu Techniques, Positions, and Moves

Below is a compiled list of some Brazilian Jiu Jitsu moves, techniques, and positions. Even just learning basic terminology can be helpful when training, so that you do not get lost when your instructor is talking. Aside from the heavy Brazilian accents they might have, it can be difficult to follow along with all of the jiu jistu lingo. Even some of the simple BJJ positions and moves may have several nicknames that others fighters have never heard of!

Pan Ams 2010 IBJJF Tournament - Results

The 2010 IBJJF Pan Ams Tournament took place in the Bren Center at the University of California, in Irvine, California.  The weekend was filled with beautiful jiu jitsu submissions, sweeps, arm bars and more. This IBJJF tournament made a change in venues this year, after a record breaking number of attendees came out to compete and watch the 2009 Pan Ams.

NAGA 2010 World Championship - Newark New Jersey

This weekend in Newark, New Jersey was filled with arm bars and triangle submissions. Congratulations to all of the competitors in this weekend at the NAGA 2010 World Grappling Championship. For Gi Tournament results, see below:

2010 NAGA World Championship (Gi Results only below)
@ Newark, New Jersey
April 10-11, 2010