I have taught for several years now, that Brazilian Jiu-jitsu (MMA as well) unlike traditional martial arts, are alive. Traditional martial art (TMA) are often frighteningly locked in to rigid systems that do not allow for innovation. The punches and kicks are specific and deviation is frowned on.
Unlike TMA, both Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts draw from an endless and ever evolving well of arsenals, counters, attack themes, positions and strategic themes. So the black belt Carlos, Helio, Royce and Rickson had, is not the same belt Gordon Ryan or Tainan Dalpra. Fion Davies, Elisabeth Clay and Helena Crevar are doing things the founders of what we love never saw or contemplated. It’s quite likely that the Jiu-Jitsu my current students default to will be different than mine. Their future students will likewise do what has yet to be discovered. This is why I love BJJ and MMA over other martial arts and combat styles.
From 2009 to 2025 a Lot Has Changed.
Grandmasters Carlos and Helio Gracie and were the catalyst for what so many of us practice, love, evolve and seek to perserve today. You can view an interview I did with Helio Gracie in 1998 for RapPages Magazine (shout out to @rapzines for getting this PDF) years before he passed away on January 29, 2009. In the 16 years since his death, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has experienced an unprecedented explosion of technical innovation, with hundreds of new positions, transitions, and submissions entering the mainstream curriculum. This evolution has been driven by competition rule changes, the rise of no-gi grappling, social media instruction, and a generation of practitioners willing to experiment beyond traditional boundaries.
Top 10 Positions Helio Never Taught:
50/50 Guard - The systematic approach to this leg entanglement position was developed primarily by Ryan Hall and Eddie Cummings after 2010
Worm Guard - Keenan Cornelius's lapel-based guard system, developed around 2013-2014
K-Guard - The modified De La Riva position popularized by Keenan Cornelius post-2012
Inside Sankaku/Outside Ashi Garami - Modern leg entanglement positions systematized by the Danaher team after 2013
Reverse De La Riva Guard - While De La Riva existed, the reverse variation became prominent in the 2010s
Matrix/Berimbolo Positions - The inverted guard systems developed by the Mendes brothers and Miyao brothers post-2009
Truck Position - Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet system position, refined and popularized after 2010
Single Leg X-Guard - Systematic development by Marcelo Garcia's students in the early 2010s
Lapel Guard Systems - The entire category of lapel-based guards (spider variations, worm, squid guard) post-2012
Modern Leg Drag Variations - The systematic leg drag passing developed by competitors like Lucas Lepri and the Miyao brothers
Top 10 Submissions Helio Never Taught:
Inside Heel Hook - While heel hooks existed, the systematic approach to inside heel hooks wasn't developed until the Danaher era (2013+)
Outside Heel Hook - Same systematic development timeline as inside heel hooks
Electric Chair - Eddie Bravo's submission from the truck position, developed post-2010
Modern Calf Slicer Systems - Systematic calf slicing from various positions, particularly from truck and leg entanglements
Twister - Another Eddie Bravo innovation from the truck position
Buggy Choke - The inverted triangle choke system developed around 2015-2016
Loop Choke from Guard - While basic loop chokes existed, the modern systematic approach from various guards developed post-2010
Systematic Toe Holds - Particularly from 50/50 and modern leg entanglement positions
Body Triangle Heel Hook - The combination submission popularized by Gordon Ryan and others post-2016
Ezekiel from Mount Variations - While basic Ezekiel existed, the modern systematic variations and setups were refined post-2009
Iron Hook Scroll & Cloud Scroll Certificate presented to Prof. Billy Ray Chubbs at New Creation Jiu-jitsu aka Megatron I’m gonna selfishly slip in the Iron Hook and Cloud Scroll attack themes to that. Note that to point this out is in no way a critique of a core founder of the style. It is simply to highlight the limits one can discover in the course of one life.The pace of innovation has been particularly dramatic in the no-gi realm, where the absence of gi grips has forced practitioners to develop entirely new control and submission systems. Social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube have accelerated the spread of techniques, allowing innovations to go viral and become mainstream within months rather than years. This represents perhaps the most rapid technical evolution period in any martial art's history, fundamentally transforming BJJ from the relatively simple, fundamental art that Helio taught into the incredibly complex, multi-layered system practiced today.
Of all the arenas to evolve though, foot locks/leg locks in my opinion is hyper evolved. Some might argue that their inherent danger levels might have surpassed its light speed evolution. Helio knew some leg locks. In fact, I had heard on good repute that the whole Helio vs. Santana fight happened because Santana was allegedly seen teaching straight ankle locks to some dudes after a Capoeira session by a cop who worked in the favelas and worked with Helio. I’m not saying that this is what happened. I’m just using the story to prove Helio had them in the arsenal.
From 1997 through the early 2010s, leg locks existed in a cultural blind spot within Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, particularly in North America. The traditional Brazilian approach viewed leg attacks as dangerous, cheap techniques that violated the fundamental principle of "position before submission." Most schools taught only basic straight ankle locks to advanced students, while heel hooks and knee attacks were largely taboo. This period saw a few maverick figures like Dean Lister questioning why practitioners would "ignore 50% of the human body," but their voices remained largely marginalized. The growth of MMA and no-gi competition began creating cracks in this orthodox thinking, as fighters like Frank Mir and Rousimar Palhares demonstrated the devastating effectiveness of leg attacks at the highest levels. However, the broader BJJ community remained resistant, creating a bifurcated development where no-gi practitioners slowly embraced leg locks while gi-focused schools maintained their traditional restrictions.
The modern leg lock revolution truly began around 2013-2015 with John Danaher and his students at Renzo Gracie Academy systematically developing what would become known as the "Danaher Death Squad" approach. Eddie Cummings, Garry Tonon, and later Gordon Ryan transformed leg locks from isolated techniques into interconnected systems with specific entries, transitions, and defensive hierarchies. This methodical, almost academic approach removed much of the danger and mystery surrounding leg attacks, making them safer to practice and more reliable to execute. By 2020, the cultural transformation was complete – what had once been taboo became essential, with even the most traditional schools incorporating leg lock curricula. The rise of submission-only competitions like EBI further normalized these techniques, creating a new generation of practitioners who view leg locks not as a specialty but as a fundamental component of complete grappling, fundamentally reshaping the art within a single generation.
At it’s arguable apex, one of its main guys Nicky Ryan may be forced to retire due to long standing injuries (likely from leg lock injuries). The BJJ world is shook. This begs the question, “Will top dudes of today even exist in the game in 10 years?”
Luckily I know just the guy to talk to. Ralph Gracie Jiu-jitsu black belt Prof. Mike Murrell of Cave Academy in Pacifica, CA. He was training and getting caught by Nicky Ryan back when most of you didn’t know who the Danaher Death Squad was. He was taking solo trips to NYC and Toronto to gain wisdom from John Danaher and Firas Zahabi before the explosion took off. Listen to him talk about his quick interactions with Anthony Bourdain and other sacred souls in the journey. Plus hilarious stories about getting his purple belt from legend Kurt Osiander and other comedy sessions.
Should leg locks be banned? What are ideal ways to learn leg locks and ensure safety? Maybe more people get hurt doing other things in BJJ and leg locks are getting too much blame? Are we using best practices when we learn, teach or spar? How about the evolution of training and rules? Let’s talk about it.
You gonn learn today!
Holla at a scholar!!!
Adisa
PS. Please share this with 2 people (real people you appreciate) who you think should subscribe. I appreciate your support more than you know. More cool stuff on stoic philosophy and jiu-jitsu, meditation and more- is coming. Hit me directly on IG @bishopchronicles or @64blocks to hang.
Share this post