In a captivating and insightful presentation at the BJJ Globetrotters Spring Camp 2019, black belt Chris Paines introduced a revolutionary concept in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu defense. The class titled “How to Defend Everything” offered a new perspective on Jiu-Jitsu defense, transcending traditional techniques and focusing on a singular, unifying principle.

The Essence of Control in Jiu-Jitsu

Chris Paines began by redefining control in Jiu-Jitsu, stating, “Control is whoever’s in control is the person who exists to any other person’s knees and armpits.” This simple yet profound statement underpins his entire defensive philosophy. He emphasized that maintaining the space between one’s knees and armpits is crucial to prevent being controlled.

“Control in Jiu-Jitsu is anytime someone exists between your knees and your armpits.”

A Different Approach to Defense

Paines introduced the concept of playing guard with a reduced appetite for risk. He encouraged participants to keep their knees close to their shoulders, thereby minimizing the risk of control by an opponent. This approach redefines traditional defensive stances, comparing them to the basic defensive postures in boxing and wrestling, where athletes cover their vital areas as a primary tactic.

“All I’m trying to do now is change how you approach your defense and attack.”

The Running Man Position

A key element of Paines’ teaching was the ‘Running Man’ position, a defensive posture designed to prevent opponents from gaining control. He detailed the position, emphasizing the importance of keeping the bottom leg at a right angle to the body, the top leg covering the knee and elbow, and maintaining a slight elevation of the shoulder off the ground.

“The simple answer to not being punched in boxing is to cover your chin. It’s the same in Jiu-Jitsu; don’t let them in that space.”

Applying the Concept in Various Scenarios

Throughout the seminar, Paines applied this defensive concept across various scenarios, including guard passing, choke defenses, and even leg locks. He demonstrated that by controlling the space around the knees and armpits, practitioners could effectively defend against numerous attacks, from guard passes to joint locks.

“Every guard pass, every choke, every position in Jiu-Jitsu can be traced back to you leaving this space open at some point.”

The Significance of Timing and Positioning

Paines highlighted that defense in Jiu-Jitsu is less about accumulating a large repertoire of techniques and more about timing and positioning. He argued that by understanding and respecting one’s ‘appetite for risk’ and being aware of vulnerabilities, a practitioner could significantly enhance their defensive capabilities.

Closing Thoughts

In his closing remarks, Chris Paines reiterated the importance of this defensive approach, noting that most failures in Jiu-Jitsu can be traced back to leaving the space between the knees and armpits open. He urged practitioners to analyze their rolls, focusing on their timing and positioning, to improve their defensive skills.

Chris Paines’ seminar at the BJJ Globetrotters Spring Camp presented a groundbreaking perspective on Jiu-Jitsu defense. By emphasizing the control of space between the knees and armpits, he offered a simple yet effective framework for defending against a wide range of attacks, potentially transforming the defensive strategies of practitioners at all levels.

You can watch the concept here:

His entire camp was based on a key concept of not allowing your opponent to enter the zone between your knees and armpits. Positioning yourself between’s one person’s knees and armpits is a sure way to be in control. After all this is what the IBJJF points system is based on.

Chris Paines aquired many of those concepts from his instructor Priit Mihkelson, who released an instructional about this system, on BJJ Fanatics:

Improve Your Guard Retention So It Is Hardly Ever Passed: Even If You Are Older & Lack Flexibility.
41 Year Old Estonian Priit Mihkelson (It Is A Little Country Near Russia) Figures Out A System For Older Grapplers To Retain Guard Easily.
If you lack flexibility, athleticism, youth, and explosiveness this is the system for you.