Auricular Hematoma: What Really Happens Inside a Grappler’s Swollen Ear
Cauliflower ear starts as an auricular hematoma. Here’s the anatomy of what goes wrong, the 48-hour window to drain it, and when a swollen ear needs a doctor.
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Straight Ankle Lock: 7 Essential No-Gi Setups & Escapes
Quick Answer: The straight ankle lock is a no-gi leg lock that hyperextends the ankle by driving the blade of your forearm across the opponent’s Achilles tendon while you control the leg from an ashi garami (leg entanglement). It is the one leg attack that is legal at every IBJJF belt level, including white belt,…
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Calf Slicer No-Gi: 6 Essential Setups and Escapes
The calf slicer is a no-gi compression submission that folds the knee and crushes the calf. Here are 6 setups, the escapes, and the IBJJF rules.
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The Anatomy of a No-Gi Grappling Short: Fabric, Flatlock, and Fit
A construction-first look at what separates the best no-gi shorts for BJJ from the pair that splits in your first scramble — closures, gussets, fabric, and fit.
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North-South Choke: 7 No-Gi Setups, Finishes & Escapes
Quick Answer: The north-south choke is a no-gi blood choke applied from the north-south pin, where you trap your opponent’s head and drive your shoulder and biceps into their throat while your chest pins their arm to the mat. It works by cutting off both carotid arteries with pressure instead of a deep collar grip,…
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Ear Guards for No-Gi: How Grapplers Actually Prevent Cauliflower Ear
Cauliflower ear starts on day one of hard rolling. Here’s how ear guards work, when to wear headgear, and what to do the moment your ear swells up.
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Compression Shorts Buying Guide: How Grapplers Pick a Pair That Survives No-Gi
A no-gi grappler’s compression shorts buying guide covering fit, fabric weight, flat seams, the cup question, and why fight shorts and gym leggings fail on the mat.
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Short Sleeve vs Long Sleeve Rashguards: Which One Actually Fits Your Roll
Short sleeve vs long sleeve rashguards isn’t about looks — it’s about grip, heat, skin protection, and the ruleset you compete under. Here’s how to decide.
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Single Leg X Guard: 7 Essential No-Gi Sweeps & Attacks
Quick Answer: The single leg x guard (SLX) is a no-gi bottom position where you slide underneath your opponent, trap one of their legs between your thighs, and put your outside foot on their hip as a gas pedal. It gives you two of the highest-percentage tools in submission grappling at the same time —…
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Cheap vs. Premium Rashguards: What a Grappler’s Money Actually Buys
Searching for the best rashguards for men usually turns into a price argument. Here’s what your money genuinely buys at each tier, where premium pays off, and where the markup is just a logo.
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Guillotine Choke: 7 Best No-Gi Setups and Escapes
Quick Answer: The guillotine choke is a front-headlock submission that wraps an opponent’s neck and squeezes either the windpipe or both carotid arteries. In no-gi it’s the standard punishment for a sloppy takedown attempt: when someone shoots and drops their head, you snap down, lock your hands under the chin, and either pull guard or…
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CJI 3 Is Dead | No-Gi Weekly June 22-28, 2026
Craig Jones cancels CJI 3, ADCC locks its Krakow invite list, Owen Jones avenges Andrey at ONE Fight Night 44, and Hyperfly drops a World Cup rashguard. Your no-gi grappling week in review.
