If you’ve ever felt flat on your back with someone posturing up, raining down pressure… yeah, I’ve been there too. More times than I’d like to admit. But guess what? That’s exactly when the butterfly guard becomes your secret weapon. And no, it’s not just for tiny guys or black belts. It’s one of the most dynamic, high-percentage tools in BJJ, used by legends like Marcelo Garcia, and today, I’m breaking it all down for you. By the end of this guide, you’ll know how…  Read More

Today? We’re diving deep into one of my favorite submissions: the BJJ knee bar. It’s not flashy like a flying armbar. It won’t win “Highlight of the Week” every time. But when it works? Oh man, does it work. And guess what? You don’t need to be a black belt to make it dangerous. By the end of this guide, you’ll know how to attack, defend, and drill the knee bar ,  all while staying safe and legal under major rulesets. Let’s get after it….  Read More

Hey there, Steve Marlin here ,  BJJ brown belt, lifelong grappler, and your guide today on one of the most talked-about moves in modern jiu-jitsu: the heel hook. Welcome back to Martial Boss, where we break down martial arts like you’re training with a friend who actually knows what they’re doing. No fluff. No fake hype. Just real talk from someone who’s tapped and been tapped,  sometimes in the same roll. And trust me, when it comes to heel hooks? I’ve felt both sides. I…  Read More

I remember my first time trying the omoplata. I was a white belt, super excited, and… I got rolled over so hard I saw stars. But that failed attempt sparked something in me. Now? The omoplata is one of my go-to moves from the guard. In this article, you’ll learn everything about the omoplata BJJ technique, from what it is to how to set it up, chain it, defend it, and make it work for your game. What Is the Omoplata? (Definition, Origin & Core…  Read More

I’m Steve Marlin, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu brown belt with over a decade of grappling under my belt (literally). I’ve choked out training partners, tapped in tournaments, and yes, gotten caught in this exact move more times than I’d like to admit. Today, we’re diving deep into one of the most fundamental techniques in gi jiu-jitsu: the cross collar choke. This isn’t just another submission. It’s a rite of passage. A bread-and-butter move that every single BJJ student learns early, and spends the rest of their…  Read More