Brian Glick Climbing the Jiu-Jitsu Ladder - The Art of the Climb
(This is Part 1 of a 4-part series)
Ask any successful competitor about the key ingredients of success on any level and chances are good that there is a common thread about being thankful to their team and their training partners. You would be hard-pressed to provide any success story that is void of these key elements. Having an opportunity to sit in at a training session at the world-famous Renzo Gracie training academy in Manhattan NY, I think it would be safe to assume that Renzo Gracie and John Danaher 3rd degree black belt and Brooklyn native Brian Glick would be just the teammate/training partner that would fit this bill. As mentioned in another article about my trip to NYC, I was able to reconnect with my “twin brother” Peter Lawson (also a Renzo Gracie black belt) who was kind enough to direct me to Brian. Peter stated that Brian was a great person to speak to about some of the philosophies of “The Gentle Art” and that his mat I.Q. was top notch. One of the things that I observed that makes a training partner like Brian so valuable is his ability and willingness to distribute concepts of jiu-jitsu and how they relate to techniques. In the absence of, then-head academy instructor, John Danaher, Brian would be called upon to fill in on some of the classes Danaher would normally be teaching. It didn’t take long to realize that Brian taught with the same professionalism and meticulous attention to detail that would be expected at the world-famous Manhattan Academy. I had the wonderful opportunity to spend some time with Brian and hear about some training stories of the past and he was gracious enough to share a few very useful techniques.
How would you briefly describe the way that you roll?
I practice in order to strengthen my weaknesses.
How did you find jiu-jitsu?
I discovered it in the same manner that many others did back in the late 90s and early 2000's - through a friend.
Being involved with Renzo's academy for so long, you've had the privilege of training with many well-known practitioners, who are some of them?
I have had the great fortune to be able to train with many of the brightest lights in both Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts. Most recently my partners have been Gordon Ryan and Garry Tonon and Garry St. Leger, but over the years I have worked with Frankie Edgar, Chris Weidman and Rory McDonald, and for years with the great Georges St. Pierre. Gene Dunn, Roger Gracie, Ricardo Almeida, Romulo Barral, Braulio Estima have also been partners and sempai of mine at one time or another. But my most significant learning experiences have always been through my teachers, Mr. Danaher and Master Renzo Gracie.
You have the opportunity as an instructor at such a prestigious academy, how did that come about?
I try to be a very diligent student, and to place myself at the service of my instructors. So any time and any way I can help them to further the mission of Jiu-Jitsu and to repay them for all that they've done for me, I am there.
How has your BJJ evolved since it started?
The way I've been taught is to think about Jiu-Jitsu as a principle-based system for solving problems. Over the years I've become better at implementing it. But the truth is that I've had the good fortune of working under the watchful eyes of the same instructors for nearly 20 years. I've trusted them with my progress and they have never failed to guide me in the right direction.
Where would you like to go with BJJ, what's the future hold?
The Japanese have a word for it - "kaizen". I'd like to continue to learn, grow and develop in the spirit of constant, never-ending incremental improvement.
What's your best jiu-jitsu tip?
That consistent practice in the right direction, with the right principles and values, under the right teacher and with the right mindset can generate incredible results. If those conditions are met, it doesn't matter your age or stage or starting place.
What's been the best advice you've ever received?
Gene Dunn told me during my first week of Jiu-Jitsu that I needed to "begin with the end in mind". That single piece of advice has carried me through my training all the way to black belt and in the years since as well.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
Work hard and check your moral compass.
Guard Climb to Triangle
In jiu-jitsu, controlling your opponent’s posture is everything, and Brian has perfected that control through this triangle setup. Instead of relying on explosive movement, Brian systematically climbs his opponent’s back, keeping them under constant pressure. It’s all about patience and precision—two qualities that turn a good grappler into a great one.
Now that you’ve got the triangle locked up, what if your opponent shuts down your space? How do you transition while staying in control? In the next technique, Brian shows us how to use that same climbing motion for another powerful submission—the armbar. Get ready for a smooth, controlled finish that will have your opponent on the ropes.