Head jiu-jitsu instructor at Dojo Americana/99 jiu-jitsu in Vista, Ca., Mark Hopkins, is a 53 year-old black belt at around 175 lbs. In any given day a larger, stronger and younger guy will walk in my door and want to roll with me. I’ve rolled with guys as large as 350 lbs. It’s no fun, especially if they have some skills. As an instructor, I have to roll with my students, no matter what size they are. I have to represent what jiu-jitsu is all about: a smaller guy defending and overcoming a larger and stronger guy. To do this takes technical skill. And that’s what I have developed over the past 20+ years.

Now Harry isn’t super big, but he outweighs me by almost 50 lbs and is very fit and strong, and he has some grappling skill. In this video I narrate what is going through my mind as we roll. I hope this gives you, the viewer, some additional insight on what one is trying to achieve while rolling. Many beginners often misunderstand the nature of rolling. Many believe and assume while rolling, you must go 100% and go for top position. Although my takedowns are quite good for a jiujiteiro, I often play bottom position. Playing bottom position is the only way to develop a better guard and bottom game. And I feel this is where most people will lose or become defeated, while they are on the bottom.

Dojo Americana represents the NineNine team in San Diego North County. We are located in Vista and have 2 black belt instructors of different styles teaching on our mats, professor Mark Hopkins and Martin Figueroa.

http://www.dojoamericana.com
https://www.facebook.com/Dojo-Americana-157100714345575/
https://www.instagram.com/dojoamericana/
760-717-2170

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Have you noticed that when high level black belts take their opponent’s back the match is pretty much over? They will either submit them or stay on their backs till the end of the match. In this video, world champ Gustavo Gasperin breakes down a back take technique into 3 steps, to be used when you are in side control and your opponent tries to escape from it by shooting his underhook. Transitions and timing are everything!
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Professor Gustavo Gasperin teaches how to set up the americana trap from side control, and goes over some variations you can do, as the shoulder punch to still catch the same submission.

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Professor Gustavo Gasperin teaches the most common counters for the americana trap defense. The reverse armbar when your opponent tries to extend his arm in order to defend the americana, and the spinning armbar when your opponent moves his arm all the way around to the other side.