Confirmed
Friday, July 30, 2027
6:30–8:00 p.m. Central • Check-in opens 6:15 p.m. A guided 90-minute Connect Group session — prayer, instruction, drilling, and controlled positional work.
Defending a takedown attempt and returning to neutral, plus the concepts behind opening and passing a closed guard.
Location
Hosted at 3 Embers Grappling Academy
320 Industrial Blvd., Ste. 206
McKinney, TX 75069
This month's focus
- Standing
- Sprawl, circle, and reset
- Ground
- Closed-guard opening; knee-cut passing concepts
Every session opens with tap mechanics and prohibited-move reminders. Consent outranks rank: anyone may decline or stop a round at any time. The calendar never overrides individual coach clearance.
Curriculum video
Study before you step on
Watch: Most common positions
Text summary
Review the position map before you arrive: guard, half guard, side control, mount, back control, and turtle. Knowing the names makes the session's standing and ground focus easier to follow.
Read the transcript — Position map
Every drill in the session starts from a named position — learn the names first.
Bottom positions are about frames, hips, and posture control.
Top positions are about connection and weight, not muscle.
Instructional videos are educational and are not a substitute for supervised training. Do not practice submissions or takedowns without qualified coaching and a consenting partner.
Watch: Common beginner submissions
Text summary
The submissions a new grappler meets first, and — more importantly — how to recognize them early and tap in time. Prohibited moves for this session are reviewed on the mat before rounds.
Read the transcript — Recognize and tap
Recognize the setup before the finish: grips, angle, and closing space are the warnings.
Tap early, tap loudly, and release immediately when your partner taps.
Cranking a submission fast is how partners get hurt; apply slowly and let your partner respond.
Youth and mixed-experience rounds follow the session's prohibited-move list without exception.
Instructional videos are educational and are not a substitute for supervised training. Do not practice submissions or takedowns without qualified coaching and a consenting partner.
Watch: Sport point scoring
Text summary
Optional context for how positions are scored in competition. This is one ruleset, not universal, and our gathering is not a competition.
Read the transcript — Points chart
Two points: takedown, sweep, knee-on-belly. Three: guard pass. Four: mount or back control.
Guard pulls and side control alone score nothing.
A submission ends the match.
Instructional videos are educational and are not a substitute for supervised training. Do not practice submissions or takedowns without qualified coaching and a consenting partner.
Watch: Jiu-Jitsu in self-defense
Text summary
Where grappling fits in self-protection: awareness, de-escalation, and disengagement come before any technique.
Read the transcript — Order of operations
Awareness, de-escalation, disengagement, escape — then, only if necessary, control.
Leaving is a win. People are not the enemy.
Instructional videos are educational and are not a substitute for supervised training. Do not practice submissions or takedowns without qualified coaching and a consenting partner.
Watch: Standing safety and getting back up
Text summary
Falling safely and standing up safely are the first skills of the night. Every session opens with this material before any live rounds.
Read the transcript — Falling and standing
Break your fall with your whole side, chin tucked, and never post a straight arm.
The technical stand-up keeps your hands free and your base under you as you rise.
Create distance first, then stand — standing inside a grip is how people get taken down again.
Instructional videos are educational and are not a substitute for supervised training. Do not practice submissions or takedowns without qualified coaching and a consenting partner.
Watch: Escapes and survival fundamentals
Text summary
Survival and escape before offense: frames, bridges, and hip movement from side control and mount. This is the ground focus most sessions build from.
Read the transcript — Survive, then escape
Protect your neck and elbows first; frames create the space you need.
Bridge and shrimp to move your hips — pushing with your arms alone will not move a heavier partner.
Escape to a better position, not straight into a scramble you cannot control.
Breathe. Panic burns the energy you need to finish the round safely.
Instructional videos are educational and are not a substitute for supervised training. Do not practice submissions or takedowns without qualified coaching and a consenting partner.
Run of show
The ninety minutes
- 6:15–6:30Arrival, registration and waiver check, loaner gi, questions.
- 6:30–6:36Welcome, prayer, safety theme.
- 6:36–6:48Scalable movement preparation, ukemi, technical stand-up.
- 6:48–7:08Standing skill and controlled drilling.
- 7:08–7:33Ground position: escape, reversal, controlled attack.
- 7:33–7:50Beginner positional lane and experienced controlled-roll lane.
- 7:50–8:00Line-up, prayer requests, prayer out.
First time
Checklist for this session
- Register in advance so we can plan mat space, lanes, and loaner gis.
- Both required waivers signed before you step on the mat. Minors 13–17 need a parent or guardian signature and an adult present on site.
- A clean, fully dried gi. Loaner gis are subject to advance request and availability; sizing varies by brand, so tell us your height and weight rather than a size letter.
- Rashguard or athletic shirt and compression shorts under the gi.
- Sandals or slides for every off-mat area, including restrooms. Bare feet on clean mats only.
- Water bottle and towel — nothing shared.
- Trimmed nails, no jewelry, no watches, no catchable piercings.
- Mouthguard strongly recommended for live rounds.
- Arrive by 6:15 PM for check-in, waiver verification, and questions.
Safety
Waivers, risk, and consent
Both releases are required before mat access
Sign both online before the Friday, July 30, 2027 session. Participants aged 13–17 need a parent or legal guardian to sign, and that guardian stays on site for the full session.
- Train My Hands for War releaseSign on Mat-Ready
- 3 Embers Grappling Academy releaseSign on Mat-Ready
Track your progress on Mat-Ready.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu involves inherent risks, including falls, joint injury, head or neck injury, illness transmission, and, rarely, catastrophic injury. Safety rules reduce risk but cannot eliminate it. Registration, both required waivers, and compliance with coach instructions are mandatory before participation.
Bare feet on clean mats; sandals or shoes for every off-mat area, including restrooms. This Connect Group awards no belts or stripes, and no guest teaching happens without advance approval from the lead instructor and the host academy.
Questions
Session FAQ
- I have never trained. Is this session for me?
- Yes. Every gathering starts from safety, falling, standing up, and the position map, and beginners work in their own positional lane.
- Do I have to roll?
- No. Consent outranks rank. You may decline or stop any round with anyone, at any time, without explanation.
- Do you award belts or stripes?
- No. This Connect Group awards no belts or stripes and honors every member's home academy and coaches.
- Can I bring my son?
- Sons 13 and older are welcome with a parent or guardian on site and a signed guardian waiver.
- Do I need a gi?
- Yes — this is a gi session. If you do not own one, request a loaner in advance; availability is limited and sizes vary by brand.
- What does it cost?
- Nothing. The gathering is free, and we do not sell anything on the mat.