My two favorite BJJ sites are running a contest, and I joined in on the fun! The Jiu Jitsu Laboratory and DSTRYRsg launched Drill to Win, asking for jiu-jiteiros to send in videos of their favorite drills for the chance to win amazing prizes (that is, t-shirts and stickers). Here’s mine!

Here’s a description of the drills:

1. Spin behind – This is a simple drill which is good for staying on top of side control when your opponent is turning in to you with an underhook. You can also use it to get the harness (or other back control grips) if they turn far enough on their side. I was emphasizing the spin more than taking the back in these reps.

2. Spin behind to kimura grip – Adding to the previous drill by grabbing a kimura grip during the spin. I’m aware that my arm and leg positioning is different than how others teach the spin behind (see Ryan Hall’s Back Attack DVD for an example), but it’s how my teacher Professor Eduardo de Lima always showed it, and it lends itself to grabbing this kimura grip.

3. Spin behind to kimura grip and armbar – The flow continues into an armbar. It’s important that you stretch the elbow away with the kimura grip to stop them from spinning up and pulling their arm out (again a point made in Ryan Hall’s DVD, which he credits to Dave Camarillo). You can see another variation of the spin behind to armbar here.

4. Passing guard to spin behind – You can do this with almost any type of pass, but it works especially well with standing passes that go over the top of the legs. You’ll see a mix of kneeslides, leg drags, bull fighters, x-passes and the like.

5. Crucifix vs bad single leg – This drill has the simple purpose of making you recognize when the arm is vulnerable to being trapped in the crucifix. You could upgrade it by having your partner do a good single leg with the head inside, then sprawling and pushing their head to the outside.

6. Reverse omoplata! – My favorite move ever!