Evolve Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Newest update

2010-12-08T11:25:00.000-06:00

Hi Everyone,

I have added a new feature to the blog. You can now get blog updates sent right to your email instead of having to check the blog regularly. Just enter your email in the box to the left. I encourange you to check back with us even if you decide to use the email updates.

Thank you,
Christopher Story

Positive reinforcement video blog

2010-12-04T17:56:00.000-06:00

What builds a leader in a child?

2010-12-01T13:53:00.000-06:00

Every parent wants their child to become a leader not a follower. What are the qualities of a leader:

Focus – The ability to stay on task
Discipline – The ability to something the first time needed
Drive – The ability to push forward
Perseverance – Never give up attitude.

Those are a few of the qualities of a leader. Name more in the comment section below.

Positive reinforcement

2010-11-26T10:54:00.000-06:00

This is one of the most powerful tools in child development and commonly an under rated tool. Over the years I have seen people use the fear tactic to control a child and get them to comply. Using positive reinforcement is better then fear tactics.

If your child does something good let them know make a big deal about it, letting them know they did great. Always praise the behavior you are seeking for your child to have. Next time around the child will want to do the same action so her or she gets the praise. It is human nature to seek praise and approval from others.

"Yes sir" Master. Basic

2010-03-08T00:00:00.000-06:00

Advance techniques are the basics master. Sometimes students want to learn the flashy moves like a high kick or a flying armlock but that is not what makes a student proficient at the art. The goal is to look for consistency in the techniques that you use. As people say " the old reliable"

What makes a black belt a black belt is they use the same techniques that everyone else uses but the do them over and over mastering the basics and not the advance techniques? Think about when you roll with someone bigger then yourself the consistency of doing the flying arm lock and landing it over and over is far and few between..

Share your experience with the basic techniques you have learned that are the most consistent for you?

Instuctors are a parents ally (Part 1)

2010-03-01T00:00:00.003-06:00

Many parents enroll their children in martial arts for many different reasons such as discipline, respect, focus and self confidence to name a few. When parents enroll their children they are essentially gaining a new ally in their child’s growth and development.

Martial arts instructors put a lot of time and energy into the students they teach. The instruction is done with love and care for the student by using positive reinforcement and patience. Over the years I have had parents of new students ask me, “Mr.Story, will my childs focus improve? He is looking around during class and not focusing.” The answer I give them is positive reinforcement and patience is crucial. We must remember that children will live up to the expectations we set for them. Using positive reinforcement and patience the child can make leaps and bound of growth.

In my next post (Instructors are a parents ally (Part 2) I will give examples of how parents can help use the techniques of the martial arts discipline and respect in the home to help reinforce the child’s training.

Confidence!!! It can take you anywhere you want!!!!!

2010-02-22T00:00:00.002-06:00

When a child starts martial arts one of the first things they will have to develop is confidence. Think back for a second, when we learn something new even as adults we are a bit unsure sometimes. This is due to our confidence level being low. Once we are comfortable with the new found skill. The comfort we feel is really confidence. Even as adults we experience the same thing that children do when they start something new or learn a new skill.

When your child starts martial arts remember the first step to the process is developing confidence in them, showing the student that they perform the techniques. Encouragement is the best tool for an instructor and a parent to help the new student achieve their goal of black belt excellence.

Think back about who believed in you...? Share your story in the comments...

Am I approved?

2010-02-15T12:00:00.000-06:00

Children have a great ability of soaking in information. Children will soak of up everything they see and hear. As influencers of children it is important that we are constantly aware of what we say or do insuring it is positive and productive for the children around us.

Children seek approval of the ones they admire. The interesting point is that adults are the same. It is a natural part of our mental structure. If a child does an act of something good, bad or even questionable they seek our approval. The experience I like to use as an example is when a child starts martial arts they sometimes look back at their parents to see if they are watching.

Think back on your on experiences. What was an experience that you had as a child or an adult where you sought approval from someone? Share it in the comments

Evolve Martial Arts Makeover

2010-01-29T15:57:00.006-06:00

The school just finished getting a makeover! We have new offices, parent veiwing room, dressing room and pro shop. The project took two weeks and it looks great. I will post pictures soon....

Naga May 9, 2009 Results

2009-05-11T09:41:00.004-05:00

Congrats to the Evolve BJJ Team. The following placed in Naga in Dallas May 9th

Chris Aragon- 1st Place Gi, 2nd Place No-Gi
Ivan Underwood - 2nd Place No Gi
Rashad - 3rd Place Gi
Jacob 3rd Place No-Gi

We will have some of the videos soon. Lets get ready for the next tournament July 18, 2009

Soul searching on the mat

2009-01-29T02:44:00.000-06:00

Have you every left the mat and find yourself frustrated and soul searching. For some reason you always come back for more it is like a good addiction. You get frustrated then you leave but you keep on going back to the mat.

That is the great thing about Brazilian jiu-jitsu it leaves us soul searching. It is like a hardening process to toughen our skin. On the journey to black belt and even at black belt this is a big part of your training. What we do with the frustration is what molds you into the black belt. Take it and figure out the problem. That is part of the journey.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of those arts that will challenge you mentally and physically. You will find out things about your personality that you didn’t know you had stubbornness, passiveness, etc… I have seen many short tempered people start training and soon they no longer have a short temper. As I like to joke with my students, there is nothing more that will take away your worries about life then when you are rolling and trying to defend the choke. Forcing you to live in the now.

Live, Learn, Evolve. Happy soul searching

10 years and counting, Happy anniversary!

2009-01-25T01:00:00.000-06:00

Happy anniversary! It has been 10 years as of today since I started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I remember learning the armbar from the guard and topside escape on my first lesson. 10 years later I still use them today!

Tournament Pictures 1-17-09

2009-01-19T21:23:00.006-06:00

Thank you everyone for this successful tournament. It was a great turn out. We will have another one soon. I will keep everyone posted. Thank you to our sponsor Dollamur and everyone on staff helping out.

Here are the pictures from the tournament. If you have any pictures please email them to me cstory21@gmail.com

A Reminder

2009-01-18T23:18:00.002-06:00

I love this passage!

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.

Ankle locks to be or not to be? That is the question.

2009-01-15T02:43:00.001-06:00

I was recently asked about ankle locks by a student of mine. They asked me about chasing an ankle lock. I like the ankle lock! It is a great tool for bigger opponents. If you are a newer person or still having trouble passing the guard I recommend that you stay away form chasing the ankle lock. The only problem with the ankle lock is if you miss the ankle lock then you will probly end up in a bad position.

Last Day!

2009-01-13T10:15:00.003-06:00

Today is the last day for early registration for the tournament. log on to http://www.martialartsbrackets.com/crcbjj to register

Blue to purple (Part 1)

2009-01-10T02:41:00.000-06:00

As you make your way to your purple belt enjoy the ride. Now that you have developed a foundation for your house it is time to secure the walls. By now should already have a game plan in place for the moves you like to use when you roll. This is the time to begin to branch off of the move and explore the new territory outside of those moves.

Example: If you like the armbar from the guard then you should work to see what else you can attack from there or what you can do if you miss the armlock.

Live, Learn, Evolve. Happy hunting.

Reminder and update on Jan 17th 2009 Tournament Dallas Fort Worth Texas

2009-01-08T11:30:00.000-06:00

Gi- only Brazilian jiu-jitsu tournament raising money for the community, donating to the North Texas food bank and The Heart House of Dallas after school program.

The tournament is on Jan 17th, 2009

$60 if pre-registered before or on Jan 13th, 2009

$75 to register after Jan 17th, 2009 or the day of the tournament

The Cut off date for early registration is Jan 13th, 2009

We will be holding a can food drive at the tournament which all can goods will be donated to the North Texas Food Bank. Net proceeds will be donated to The Heart House of Dallas an after school program for children.

Come out support the cause, compete and watch some jiu-jitsu.

Pre Weigh ins are located at

Date: Jan 16th 2009
Time: 6-8pm
Star Jiu-Jitsu
3030 N. Josey Lane Suite 102
Carrollton, TX 75007

The tournament location has moved to and will be held at on January 17th 2009:

Evolve Brazilian jiu-Jitsu
1400 Everman Parkway
Fort Worth TX 76140

Log on to for online registration or more information.

http://www.martialartsbrackets.com/crcbjj/

For more information contact Christopher Story 817-886-0729 cstory21@gmail.com

Belt Progression

2009-01-05T14:33:00.000-06:00

As you may already know and for those who are new to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, belt progression is a long process. I would like to start at the top for everyone. The belt system is white, blue, purple, brown black. It takes a minimum of 7 years to receive your black belt. Believe me it is worth the journey every step of the way!

Sometimes you see schools have belts between white and blue. Blue belt takes about 1 year to 1 ½ years to earn. “Earn” that is an important word in this post. As you may already know anyone who make it to the next belt earned it!

As things change and more schools take on different approaches. I believe that it is important to keep as close to tradition as possible with some things particularly the belt system. Knowing a list of moves make you tough. No need to rush to your black belt because black belt is the longest belt you will stay at.

If you ask any black belt they will probly tell they don’t use all of the stuff they have learned, but that they are good at the techniques they use. Think of a hamster, he only knows how to bite and claw and he has a really good bite! We learn techniques for several reasons; offense and defense. Remember you don’t have to be jack of all trades.

School Gear is Here!

2008-12-22T18:52:00.005-06:00

create & buy custom products at Zazzle

Order all of your school gear online. Speak with me if you have any suggestions on gear you would like to see made. When you order your shirts you can choose the color shirt you would like to have.

See the gear

New School! Evovle Martial Arts

2008-12-04T13:49:00.005-06:00

After years of training and teaching I have opened my own school. Evolve Martial Arts!

New BJJ School in South Fort Worth near Burleson, Crowley & Cleburne.

Head instructor BJJ black belt - Christopher Story

We are located in the far south part of Fort Worth on the edge of Burleson and Crowley. No down payments and no contracts. We are offering two weeks free of training.

We are located 1400 Everman Parkway Fort Worth,TX 76140

Live,Learn,Evolve!

For more information call us at 817-886-0729 or email me cstory21@gmail.com

Class Schedule is as follows:

Adults Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Tues & Thurs 7:00-8:30 pm

Saturday 10:30 am-12:00 pm

Sunday 11:00 am- 12:30 pm

Kids Karate & Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

Tuesday & Thursday 6:00-6:45 pm

Saturday 9:45-10:30 am

Happy thanksgiving and stay safe!

2008-11-27T07:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving! and enjoy! I thought this would be a funny post.

Are you insured?

2008-11-20T06:00:00.000-06:00

In a previous post "Karate anyone?" I mentioned martial arts being similar to insurance. You never know when you will need it until you really need it!

Though out my carrier as an instructor I have come a cross many people who have decided to join the martial arts after they where attacked or got into a fight. The problem that some of the people came across was that they were traumatized form the altercation so much it hindered their ability to train. When someone is attacked and they are unable to defend themselves there is a feeling of helplessness that over takes them. That is a horrible feeling that no one should feel.

If you are not already training, then everyday that goes by is one more day you are uninsured. If you are not training or are considering training I would start sooner then later.

Look at like this. In Dallas Texas if you do not have insurance and get pulled over, your car will be impounded. If you don’t have insurance and see a cop you will hope they don’t pull you over and feel like a moving target. If you do have insurance that same cop is not a worry to you, there is a since of confidence. Same in martial arts when you are in a situation that is not a good one, you have the confidence to work your way out.

Get insured! Brazilian Jiu-jitsu insured!

Hold on and never let me go!

2008-11-15T06:00:00.001-06:00

Here is a way you can hold your opponent tight from the topside position using the gi.

1. Pull the gi out and under your opponents arm

2. Feed the gi to your hand under the opponents head

3. Hold tight! and control your partner. Great for holding big guys

More to come on this position (submissions, controlling, etc...)!

Margarida vs. Fabio Gurgel

2008-11-10T18:00:00.001-06:00

Watch this video and see which submission was used. This shows that the basics work the best, even at a high level!!!!

Roll like the kids do!!!!!

2008-11-04T06:00:00.000-06:00

Big Jiu-Jitsu comes in a small package! I continually tell my students that it is important they relax and not muscle though the technique. I use one of my previous students as an example. The video is of Devon San Nicolas, who is about 7 1/2 years old in this video. He is not a big kid and can only rely on technique. Watch his hip work and his guard work. Keep in mind he is only 7 in this video!

When rolling you don't have to be the strongest in the group, just the most technical. Devon is a very technical player and is still training today, now he is 10 and even tougher. Before his family moved out of Texas I had the pleasure of working with him and his older sister who I will post on later. If you notice in the video Devon was able to reverse his partner without alot of muscle. Keep relaxed and Keep training!

Karate anyone?

2008-10-30T17:58:00.000-05:00

Why is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu effective? 95% of fight end up on the ground and most of the time when someone is attacked they are not given a choice of how the person is going to attack them. Usually the attacker will grab the victim such as abbductions, rapes, etc.... This is the real but scary truth. Martial arts is like insurance it is important that you have the ablility to defend yourself.

Not all martial arts have a street practical application. I use the following video as a joke about how some martial arts are.

If you are looking for a practial application self defense martial arts Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is one of the best!

Private Lessons vs. Group Class

2008-10-24T10:04:00.000-05:00

As everyone knows private lessons are great for improving your game. In a private lesson you receive more one on one time with the instructor. It is easier to improve your game faster. In a group class you can improve fast but you will have to show up to class much more. Both have there advantages and disadvantages.

Here are some of the advantages of both:

Private lessons

One on one instruction.
More detailed technique.
Rolling with the instructor helps expose weakness in your game faster.
The lesson is tailored to what you need in order to grow.

Group Class

More people to roll with.
Different body types.
Different skill levels to work with.

I feel as if both are very valuable. If you are looking to improve dramatically I recommend that you at lest do a few private lesson.

The black belt difference.....

2008-10-23T16:23:00.000-05:00

What makes a black belt a black belt? and what things do black belts do different then the lower ranks? This is a question that people ask me often. It is true that a black belt knows a lot of reversals, submissions and different moves. That is not the main component to a black belt though. Out of the hundreds of moves that a black belt knows they only use a certain amount. This same concept applies for most of your browns and purples.

Checkmate... Think of chess for a moment. Not everyone plays with the queen when they start. Some people will use the rook or the knight. When you play chess with a seasoned chess player they are always many moves ahead of you. Putting you in the position for you to make that one mistake that will end the game and result in checkmate! Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is strategy like chess. When you slap hands with your partner you have a usual game plan in mind. The details of the game plan is what matters the most!

Some of the most common things that a black belt does better involve prevention methods.

Such as:
1. Protecting their head
2. Making space
3. Tucking their chin
4. Not giving up their back
5. Staying on their side
6. Elbows in tight to the body

There are many other things that a black belt does, but the ones listed above are some of the basic components. Being a black belt is not about being a jack of all trades in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It is about doing the moves you like and what you are good at. If you are smaller than your opponent you will more likely have a good reversal game. If you are bigger than your opponent you will probably have a better top game.

The walk around pass

2008-10-22T06:00:00.002-05:00

Passing the Guard. (The walk around pass)

1.Grab your partners pant legs, pushing down to the floor.

2.Put your head into your opponents chest/shoulder on the opposite side you are passing to.

3. Keeping the legs grabbed with pressure on legs, continue to walk around

4. Stabilize topside getting the crossface.

White to blue (part 1)

2008-10-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

When a person gets their blue they should have good understanding of the basics. Positions, a few reversals, a few submissions, few escapes, etc... They don’t have to be good at everything just some of the basic stuff. Example: A blue belt should a have few good submissions that use and they should have a few good escapes and reversals. Blue blet is about building a solid foundation. It is nice because in bjj you can tell the difference by how they roll.

I look at it like building a house. Blue belt is the foundation of your game and purple belt is about building the walls and roof, fortify the house. Brown is about detailing the house. Black is about remodeling and adding to the house here and there, new landscaping and upkeep on the house. Always changing a growing the house.

What is Game? How do I get one of those?

2008-10-20T14:21:00.001-05:00

Developing your strategy for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is important. Strategy is usually reffered to as game. Dependeding on your size, strength, and abiillity is what helps determine you game.

I am smaller, I will flip you!
If you are 150 lbs. then you will probly have a better guard due to the fact that you smaller then most people in your class. So work on your guard game and make your reversals strong. Work on the triangle and armlocks from the guard. Being smaller has its advantages. I love being the smaller opponent because it forces me to have solid technique. If i am able to reverse a bigger opponent then it was all techinique. Become friends with the guard, it is your asset to your game. once you develop your guard then you can start thinking about playing a top game. If you can be on top though, stay on top.

One pancake, comming up!
If you are bigger then your opponent, then you will have to work on your techinal ablilty much more then the smaller person. This is a part of the game that can supprise many opponents quickly. If you have a very technical game you will run out of less gas when you wrestle and when you need to put a little strength into the move you will have technique behind it.

Technique is the back bone of any game you develop! Games change and you will have more than one game that you develop. An order in which you will develop your game looks like so:

1. Learn techniques> 2. Try out your new techniques during rolling> 3. Pick out the most sucessful techniques> use to the escapes reversals and submissions that work of you = YOUR GAME!!!

This post was inspired by a student of mine when we went bowling recently.

King of the mat tournament (Non-profit)

2008-10-19T11:13:00.000-05:00

Recently a student of mine's wife passed away. She was 30 years old and passed away in a car accident. My heart goes out to them. My student and his wife have three little girls. As an instructor you will have many student go though hardships and I feel it is important to have the student body help support one another in hard times. We have all been in a position of hard time and in need of support from other.

On November 8, 2008 we will hold a non profit tournament for the student and his family. Proceeds will be donated to the family. The tournament is an open tournament. Divisions will include the following.

White belt open

Blue and up open

Kids open (5-10)

Youth (11-14)

Entry fee is $35 a person. This is single elimination tournament with a twist. If you are eliminated you can donate $35 to fight again. This is similar to the king of the hill concept. If you get eliminated you can donate $35 as many times as you want to fight again.

Location is the school I teach out of:

Texas Black Belt Academy

910 S Crowley Rd. # 39

Crowley, TX 76036

I encourage everyone to come out and support the cause. This tournament is for fun and to help raise money for a fellow Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and his family in this difficult time.

Stop you are choking me!

2008-10-16T14:26:00.001-05:00

As kids we rough housed and have probly heard someone say "Stop you are choking me!" i though of this because when i teach new students i always cover the choke and the background of the choke. after doing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for over 9 years now I laugh at that statement.

As most of us know, The choke we learn is a blood choke not a wind choke. I felt that it would be interesting to write about the blood choke and the mechanics of it. In order to fully choke you partner you must cut off the blood flow to the brain. With the choke you are trying to cut off both carotid artery's in the neck. If you only cut off one it wont do the trick you must have pressure on both arteries.

Here are some interesting facts about the blood choke :

1. When you are being choked it is hard to talk.

2. It takes 3-5 second to make someone passout on a tight choke

3. If you choke someone out, release the choke and lift there feet to wake them up

4. When someone is choked out a person will do one of several things; defaecate (poop or pee their pants), not remember what happened, convulse or wake up swinging like they did before they fell asleep.

Chokes are peaceful. In fact if you get in a fight on the street it is better to choke someone then punch them in the eye, that way you leave no chance of really hurting the person and protecting your personal liability if the law shows up. So the next time a friends says "You are choking me" while you are holding their neck, teach them how the real choke works.

(Side picture: Gi choke from topside)

Non Profit Tournament January 17, 2009

2008-10-15T01:06:00.000-05:00

There will be a Non profit Brazilian Jiu-jitsu tournament on January 17, 2009

We will have a can food drive and all net proceeds go to the Heart House of Dallas

Online Registration for Community Roll Call Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Tournament has started!

Log on to http://www.martialartsbrackets.com/crcbjj/ for online registration and more info.

Reversals - The basics! (Part 1)

2008-10-14T14:41:00.000-05:00

1st basic concept of reversing is what I call the table top concept.

There are four posts that your partner has (two hands, two legs). In order to reverse your partner you must take away the post to the side that you are going to reverse him to. If you think of your partner as a table it is easier to break him down as if you are chopping of the legs of a table. Blocking the leg or arm on the side that you are taking your partner to. You never want to leave your partner the chance to post their hand or leg.

2nd basic concept is the hip work!

On most of your reversals you will need to be on your side, which involves moving your hips. The better your hip movement the better your guard and reversals. When I teach this I tell my students to not sit flat on their butt. They need to sit to one side or the other. In simple terms I tell them to sit on one butt cheek. Sitting on one cheek allows for easy hip movement and more mobility.

3rd basic concept is feeling your partners weight.

Weight distribution is important. You will have to develop the sensitivity of your partners weight and where they are the heaviest and the lightest. Think about this, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is about taking the path of least resistance and if your partner is light on one side it will be easier to try and reverse him to the light side then the heavy side. Developing sensitivity take a bit of time so just keep trying for the reversal and you will develop the feel for your partners weight.