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Bellator Champion Rafael Lovato Jr teaches at Lyndhurst BJJ Academy

Former Bellator Champion Rafael Lovato Jr taught at Lyndhurst BJJ Academy Savarese Jiu-Jitsu tonight. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion, coming off a 2nd place finish at the 2024 ADCC World Submission Wrestling Championship, stopped by close friend Professor Chris Savarese’s Academy to teach. Lovato and Savarese go back close to 25 years meeting at a Grapplers quest event they were both fighting in and and traveling a lot to tournaments over the years. Savarese has also been Lovato’s cornerman on many for East Coast fights.

Savarese’s thoughts

Absolutely awesome seminar tonight by my friend Rafael Lovato Jr.. special night for me as well. Blessed to be able to have him share his knowledge with us every year. Our friendship goes back over 20 years and he even stated how he watched some of the students grow up since they were kids. But it was a great advanced basics seminar that everyone absolutely loved. To make the night even more special, he recognized the talent of our room and the hard work of the instructors and I and promoted to 4th degree blackbelt, speaking movingly of the success we had through a personal health battle I encountered, my hard work, dedication and way of the bushido, of doing things the right way in an age where that doesn’t happen often. I was very touched and honored not only to share that moment on my mats and with my students but because our association has some amazing, world class instructors whom I greatly respect and I am honored to represent our association. Thank you to Professor Lovato and everyone for a great night of learning Jiu-Jitsu.

Savarese Blackbelt shares his thoughts

Special congratulations to my Jiu-Jitsu instructor, Professor Chris Savarese, for being promoted to 4th Degree Blackbelt. This is an incredible achievement and so well deserved. In a day an age where experience, resilience, and loyalty are often overshadowed by views, clicks, and fads it was an honor to see this promotion, his loyalty to his craft and students recognized, and be a part of his legacy. Congrats!

The front headlock in Jiu-Jitsu

Here’s the thing about the front headlock in Jiu-Jitsu. The single most accessible part of your opponents body that is a viable target for submission at any moment in a match is the head from front headlock situations. For the newbies out there or non-jiu-jitsu folks, a front headlock is when you wrap up a head and an arm inside of your arms, like a big lasso, with your chest over the back of their head. A solid front headlock will put you in a dominant position that can easily be used to score a take down or a submission. Plus for MMA, you can fire knees to their head that can end the fight. If you have done any sort of fighting, chances are you have ended up in a headlock before. Even in boxing, people get caught in headlocks after disengaging a clinch or ducking a punch. In any hard fought match it is inevitable that your opponent’s head will be exposed at some point (and usually several) to a serious attack from front headlock. These attacks are not only readily available but also highly effective and intimidating to an opponent. Make sure you have at least one good submission attack out of front headlock that you trust can get the job done against a tough opponent. This will make you dangerous at all times and give you the ability to snatch the initiative of a match at any time regardless of what has transpired previously. For more BJJ tips, follow us at https://www.instagram.com/savaresebjj/

Momentum in Jiu-Jitsu

here’s the thing about Momentum in Jiu-Jitsu. Google’s definition of momentum is the quantity of motion of a moving body, measured as a product of its mass and velocity or the impetus gained by a moving object. The BJJ definition of momentum is: A successful attack creates momentum in your favor. Some of that momentum is physical. Once your opponents position is compromised it takes time for him to recover. In that time you can launch a second, third and fourth attack which build increasing momentum in your favor. Another aspect of momentum is psychological. Success gives you confidence to attack again and often creates a negative effect in your opponents mind where now he becomes more concerned about the danger you present to him and often shifts into a more defensive mode. Once you establish a positive momentum, keep it going. Don’t attack and then stop. This will cause you to lose that momentum and let your opponent get back in the game and reassert himself. Make sure you compound one success upon another to maximize its effect on the match. Jiu Jitsu is like pool, the best guys don’t have a back and forth, they run the board. It’s easier to win when you’re leading instead of countering. For more tips, follow us at https://www.instagram.com/savaresebjj/

Pressure make diamonds in BJJ

Pressure make diamonds in BJJ. Physical pressure requires sufficient application time to have an effect upon an opponent. If you can maintain it long enough you can exhaust an opponent physically and break him mentally. But how does one keep that pressure on long enough for it to take its effect? Position. If you can stay in a dominant position, the best are those where you are past your opponents legs and on top of him either chest to chest for chest to back, then you’ll have a much easier time riding an opponent while he has to carry your weight on his head and shoulders through his arms. This is truly exhausting for even a very well conditioned opponent. Get your position and then use your position to make an opponent carry your weight in mechanically inefficient ways for time. If you can do this victory will be a constant companion for you. more Jiu-jitsu tips for pressure would include grips. A quality grip is important. You can try putting three fingers in your opponent’s armpit or grabbing their lapel. Keeping your elbow across your opponent’s belt to prevent them from bringing their knees up. Your Base is important. Switching your base allows for more movement and freedom to step over your opponent’s top. Also, pinning shoulder blades. Keep your opponent’s shoulder blades pinned to prevent them from turning into you or away from you. Futhermore, transitions. Know when to transition to side mount or back if your opponent is gaining leverage.

For more Jiu-Jitsu tips, follow us at https://www.instagram.com/savaresebjj/