I'm one of those Jiu-Jitsu guys which some of you probably can't stand, and that is because I use 'modern' Jiu-Jitsu techniques, and if you have no clue what I'm talking about, I'm refering directly to the berimbolo, the 50/50 guard, reverse de la riva, and many types of inverted guard and tech niques.



Marcus "Buchecha" Almeida sets up a berimbolo on Rodolfo Viera at the 2012 Mundials

So why do so many people get so pi**ed with these types of techniques? Well for one they can be VERY annoying, and the majority of people have no clue what is going on and will probably do something completely stupid which will result in most likely getting your back taken or your guard passed.





Another reason is that these positions can take you from a very comfortable position into one that can there is a high chance you will be submitted. For example, the 50/50 guard is a neutral position, but if the other guy manages to step his leg over he can pass your guard with ease and from here could potentially take your back.





But probably the main reason for hating these positions is that they are very hard to defend, and I'm not saying that a blue belt will be able to berimbolo a brown or black belt, but against someone who is the same level as you or a bit more advanced than yourself it's very hard to defend. Also, since these positions are relatively new, the defences for them are limited, they are out there but there isn't that many.





So why are these techniques so popular? Well the main reason these techniques are as popular as they are is because they allow you too transition to the back relatively easily (if completed successfully). The back and the mount are the most dominate positions in BJJ, submission grappling, and relatively any grappling based martial art, and also score 4 points in competition under IBJJF rules. But most people will choose to take the back over the mount as personally I think you have considerably more control over the opponent from the back, plus back control is probably the hardest overall position to escape.





Another reason they are so popular is that lots of people at the highest level use 'modern' Jiu-Jitsu techniques and have great success using them in competition, people such as Rafael Mendes, Rubens "Cobrinha" Charles, Guilherme Mendes, Samuel Braga, Bruno Frazzato, Caio Terra, Ryan Hall, Bruno Malfacine etc. Yes they are all people who fight at the lower weights, but now you are starting to see even people at the higher weights using these techniques. It doesn't even stop there! many of the best fighters at the lower belts also use these techniques on a frequent basis, people like Gianni Grippo, Michael Liera Jr, Edwin Najmi etc.



