When you said 'grabbing space' a lightbulb went off in my mind! Guard retention isn't merely recentering but also grabbing space. Such an important concept. Thank you Jon!!

Easily the best BJJ coach on YT.

Three minutes into this and may I say:"well done sir, beautiful and clear explanation". 👌👏👏

Amazing that we get this golden content for free, appreciate it Jon.

I really like the way you explain things. Thank you for sharing!

Kron Gracie is a great example. Ive watched his matches in the past and noticed that he had a great guard but couldn't really put my finger on what made it so special as he wasn't really doing anything flashy or what I would normally perceive as technical. Also, I really like how you showed the sort of, hip switching, walk backwards from guard. That's interesting.

Excellent instruction as always. I hear, 'control the distance' quite often at my gym. I knew what it was and to some degree how to achieve it, but, you just clearly showed me the reason why it's so important. Your instruction has helped me so much. Thank you.

What a great, informative video. The conceptual / principal approach to teaching is really effective. I’d love to see a similar approach to other positions and situations.

Absolutely mind blowing, thanks for that!!! In my opinion, understanding these concepts is what really allows us to evolve our game, because it gives us the confidence to adapt to the different situations that can arise during the fight.

This is gold!

Yes! More conceptual videos. It makes the moves make sense. Provides context for why moves work and where moves come from!

I’ve always had issues with taking the drills/techniques we practice and using them in actual sparring. These conceptual videos are great! Can’t wait to watch more

Really great concepts Jon! You're a strong communicator and express your thoughts and ideas effectively.

Thank you for such an analytical video! I love that you focus on principles first, build that foundation, and then apply techniques on top later. Your analytical approach makes a lot of sense and helps things click.

Principles and concepts can always be applied to any situation even if you don’t really know the specific situation you are in.. they are like a guiding compass.. distance, alignment, use available grips, knee elbow connection, realignment, distance… any one who can keep playing this game will become un tappable…

Yeah, it was something I been trying to push so I sent this to a lot of my students it is so important to keep space and distance mean whether you’re walking your shoulders or you’re moving your hips are you’re pushing off things super good

I personally love concept videos like these. Keep up the great work!

Im about 4 months into training and catching on quick. giving blue belts a hard time already (not boasting) but you are making lightbulbs pop on left and right with these conceptual talks. I think this way is best to start instead of reeling through as many moves as you can. I tried focusing on my favorite positions and nothing went as planned. But when i just defended myself, especially against stronger partners it usually went in my favor. You are a great communicator! 🙌💡THANK YOU!!

Holy crap this was great! You talk very well and clearly deliver the message. Nice to see videos focusing on essentially a basic movement and complexity, but that which has a huge impact. .

You talked about grabbing space, setting space, and centering. That's actually why e4 is considered the best opening move in chess. With e4, white makes the first move to attack and defend the maximum amount of the most important central space first. Humans have thought this for a long time and AI seems to agree. Of course, people play other moves first because they want to force their opponent to think and react in different lines. High level chess requires a lot of preparation and study to not lose in the first 5-20 moves, so people have to be prepared for the proper responses to other less optimal opening moves. If everyone just played e4, everyone would only prepare for that. As for AI, it's often forced to play other openings just to see how it does. If you didn't force AI to play a particular opening, it would always go e4 with the white pieces.

You and Jordan Teaches Jiu-jitsu are the best I've ever seen at explaining Jiu-jitsu in a conceptual manner. Really appreciate your work professor.

Love the principles based videos! Thank you

Thank you professor. This was great. No technique to memorize. As a new purple belt, I am trying to use concepts to improve my jujitsu.

This is the kind of video I like to see. Conceptual based stuff gives you the tools to understand why certain positions work. Thank you and keep up the great work.

Your videos and concepts are awesome. They make so much sense. Goes to show Jiu-Jitsu is as much mentally strategic than it is physical. Thank you 🙏🏻 sir

I learn alot from rhe narration then the clips from the mat or actual competition. This description prepares me for my daily sessions in the evenings. Much appreciated...

This is probably the best high overview guard video I've ever seen

Thanks Jon this is a game changer for me as a white belt, great content!

Rarely do we get taught the why everyone only teaches the here's how.. This channel will skyrocket teaching the why :)

Thank you for your tips. I will start to focus more on what you mentioned. blue belt

As a blue belt this opens my eyes. Amazing stuff. Can’t wait to put this to work

I swear I love watching your videos, I'm thankful you have a youtube channel!!

really good watch! Love how clear it is

Man, this was great! Thank you!

Love the very last statement about self defense.

Thanks for another great video. I was lucky enough to attend your seminar @lapelarts in Vancouver. I look forward to trying these principles.

Definitely enjoyed the concept as it pertains to an issue and positions I've been getting stuck in. This shined a light right on some of the root causes.

Great teacher. If only this vid had been out 20 years ago.

One of your best videos… Super helpful concepts!

You're a good teacher. Love the conceptual videos. Less steps to remember and a deeper understanding of those techniques you do know

Excellent video makes a lot of sense thanks for sharing

Oh my god every time I watch one of these types of conceptual overview videos of yours I get a lightbulb moment, crazy stuff

Been watching as much as I can, can’t wait to see you tomorrow at breakthrough in Amherst, we’re all very excited to have your expertise come this way!

Great info pls keep doing your vids! Thanks

Thank you! Yes, more conceptual videos. Great tips.

Thanks … great content please more

Love your conceptual videos

Clear, concise, and effective immediately. Thank you for great content. Liked and subscribed! Keep up awesome work.

Great video, this helped my defense better than any video I've seen so far

More! More! As a white belt... learning these conceptual things is great. Keep Going!

I appreciate you content and you clean deliver of topics!

Very helpful, would like to see more 🤙

Mani components profe Iam here listening!

One of the most informative bjj and best conceptual video ive ever seen

Amazing advice!!!!!

Excellent break-down.

Love all your stuff.

I practice a striking art called Tsun Jo (only one school, in Seattle) which also dabbles in grappling - we are super self-defense focused, and so tend to use a pretty limited set of grappling tools. This kind of video is absolutely awesome for guys like me who benefit most from understanding how the overarching principles apply to our specific expressions of martial arts. It is a struggle to help my fellow practitioners understand the criticality of range management - you've done a great job of explaining that as it pertains to grappling. Best 15 minutes I've spent in a good long while. Thanks!

I’m loving the way that you instruct, Jon!

Love these conceptual videos

Really good insight here. I am definitely too grip focused when trying to reguard or establish guard from a neutral starting position. Im really going to try and be conscious of your advice of just maintaining distance and keeping aligned, and from there I can take whatever grip becomes readily available. Too often I am chasing double sleeve or what have you and the next thing I know I lose the angle and am being passed

That was so useful. The principles that underpin the technique is what I’m interested in to make sense of the myriad of options available! Thanks!

Absolutely stellar video Jon! Such great concise, yet super valuable points here! Well done!

so good information. so good at teaching

Thanks sir. I'm sure these concepts will become useful for me as I am able to develop and incorporate them into my training.

Great video, thank you. Lovely mane too

Good Video, Thank you. Those are some great ideas to think about!

this is fantastic, I would love more concepts plz, thanks Jon!

Awesome.

Thanks man! I just started BJJ couple of months ago and your videos have been really helpful to understand basic things and all :) Greets from Finland

❤🎉 This is quality stuff!

Excellent

Your concept videos are the best. thank you

Great stuff👍🏽👍🏽

Really just love your channel overall. Jam packed with so much good information

Great video. I've got your Open Guard instructional you did in colaboration with Stephan Kesting, and it is helping me a lot to build a solid guard game.

Always such great videos from this channel!

Great concepts, you moves are so efficient and fluid.

Incredibly helpful lesson, thank you for sharing!

Awesome coaching 👊💥💯

great content thank you!

Awesome explanations. So thorough.

Great stuff. Yes the conceptual videos are very helpful, please keep them coming. Thanks!

Excellent video! More conceptual type videos please !

You're at my gym, Jon! This is funny as maintaining guard is my big goal for my training over the next little while.

Great video as always. Love your content, man.

Great video, thanks. Cleared out a lot for me.

very useful, thank you

Another good video man I appreciate you you’re really helping me!

Learnt so much on this video. I love your content. Very straight on, on the spot and direct to the point. Thank you professor. Do you have an instructional?

You are excellent

concept videos rock. Thanks Jon!

Fantastic conceptual teaching!

Love this

Thanks Jon. Love the concepts.

Thanks Jon!

Great stuff. Thanks mate 💪🏻

Not even Danaher mentioned some of these concepts with examplrs in his videos. Nice :)

Thanks a lot, John! That’s what I need to improve my game.

Thank you :)