Like most people who practice the art of submission wrestling, I try to spend as much time as possible on the mat. And when I’m not on the mat, I think about grappling entirely too much. Yet, sometimes, the only thing I can do is think about grappling because I have other responsibilities clamoring for my attention.

Since I have grappled for nearly a decade, I have had to come up with ways to insure that gaps in training don’t derail my hard earned gains. As a consequence, I have developed numerous strategies. Those strategies are what this book is about. "20 Ways to Improve your Grappling Skills off the Mat" will share with you how you can increase your grappling abilities when you can’t make it to class.

It discusses mindsets and approaches and it is designed to help you become a better grappler when no one is looking. The ideas provided in this book will give you an edge when it comes to training. -- Following a few of the suggestions will take your game to the next level.

Imagine if you used all of them.

"20 Ways" also contains quotes from grappling and MMA veterans. It explores:

-How to be 8 steps ahead of your opponent
-The real deal with heavy bags and grappling
-What's up with grappling dummies?
-Ways to use visualization that are never discussed
-Why solo drills matter
-How a few simple words can change your game
-How Claude van Damme can improve your grappling
-Why maps are important in submission wrestling
-How being a bookworm is good for grapplers
-How you can improve without lifting a muscle; and
-Ideas that will revolutionize your game and make you a tapping machine

17,000 words

***Bonus Excerpts from***
"The Lazy Man's Guide to Grappling"
"M.U.S.C.L.E. - The Cheatin' Security Guard
"A Vampire on the Mat" (A BJJ Novella)

About the Author

Bakari Akil II, Ph.D. has been practicing no gi Brazilian Jiu-jitsu since 2004 and BJJ with a gi since 2008. He has also written about grappling for Black Belt Magazine and his blog, Jiujitsu365, has been nominated twice for “Best BJJ Blog” by the Fightworks Podcast in 2008 and 2009.

Akil holds a Ph.D. in Mass Communication from Florida State University. He is currently a Professor and teaches mass media, journalism and communication courses. He has taught and counseled hundreds of people over the years in areas related to graduate education, mass media and how to be more effective communicators.

He also writes for Psychology Today and his blog, Communication Central.