Principle 31: Centerline

Lead Instructors:  Rener GracieRyron Gracie
 Access:  Public   Status:  Active   Lesson:  Part of Course
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Limiting your opponent’s potential by taking control of their centerline.

Chess masters aim to control the center of the board, UFC champions aim to control the center of the octagon, and we aim to control the center of our opponent’s body. You can apply this principle from every position. We use two methods – “splitting” and “breaking” – to compromise the opponent’s centerline. A split prevents the opponent’s appendages from crossing from one side to the other. A break traps both appendages in one quadrant. Splits and breaks make the Centerline Principle especially powerful for setting up submissions against skilled adversaries.

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Lesson Specs

Lesson Goals

  1. Understand the Course Topic
  2. Refine your ability to execute the techniques presented in the Course
  3. Become familiar with the drills that can be used to develop your skills
  4. Achieve significant proficiency in the material

Instructions

  1. Watch the Lesson.
  2. Take notes on essential details.
  3. Bookmark key points in the videos for future reference.
  4. Ask questions in the Forum if you need help.
  5. Review the lesson multiple times to build confidence.

Lesson Slices

  1. The Centerline Principle
  2. Research Objectives
  3. Centerline Sparring

Lead Instructors

Rener Gracie

Gracie University Chief Instructor

Ryron and Rener Gracie are the eldest grandsons of Grand Master Helio Gracie, the creator of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Their father is Rorion Gracie, one of the world’s foremost experts in self-defense. In 1993, Rorion created the Ultimate Fighting Championship to showcase the supremacy of the family’s self-defense system in a realistic “no holds barred” confrontation against all comers. Rorion’s younger brother, Royce, won 3 of the first 4 UFC tournaments proving that the leverage-based techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu provided the most reliable way to defeat a larger, more athletic opponent. Ryron and Rener were born into this family tradition of testing the art against all challengers.

Rorion introduced his sons to the art as soon as they could walk. As children, they watched him teach private classes in their garage in Southern California. But, it wasn’t until they observed their father and uncles – Royce, Rickson, and Royler – easily winning challenge matches that they began to comprehend fully the effectiveness of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Even more important, Ryron and Rener recognized the profound impact the family’s art had on all who studied it. The life changing transformations of Gracie University students motivated the brothers to teach the art. While constantly perfecting their physical techniques, they worked equally hard to master the powerfully effective instruction methods developed by their forbearers. In 2003, Grand Master Helio Gracie awarded Ryron and Rener black belts in recognition of their mastery of his unique techniques and teaching methodologies.

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Ryron Gracie

Gracie University Chief Instructor

Ryron and Rener Gracie are the eldest grandsons of Grand Master Helio Gracie, the creator of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Their father is Rorion Gracie, one of the world’s foremost experts in self-defense. In 1993, Rorion created the Ultimate Fighting Championship to showcase the supremacy of the family’s self-defense system in a realistic “no holds barred” confrontation against all comers. Rorion’s younger brother, Royce, won 3 of the first 4 UFC tournaments proving that the leverage-based techniques of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu provided the most reliable way to defeat a larger, more athletic opponent. Ryron and Rener were born into this family tradition of testing the art against all challengers.

Rorion introduced his sons to the art as soon as they could walk. As children, they watched him teach private classes in their garage in Southern California. But, it wasn’t until they observed their father and uncles – Royce, Rickson, and Royler – easily winning challenge matches that they began to comprehend fully the effectiveness of Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Even more important, Ryron and Rener recognized the profound impact the family’s art had on all who studied it. The life changing transformations of Gracie University students motivated the brothers to teach the art. While constantly perfecting their physical techniques, they worked equally hard to master the powerfully effective instruction methods developed by their forbearers. In 2003, Grand Master Helio Gracie awarded Ryron and Rener black belts in recognition of their mastery of his unique techniques and teaching methodologies.

More...


Other Lessons in This Course

Free (Registration Required)

PBS4 Intro Class

Congratulations on achieving Purple Belt Stripe 3! In the Purple Belt Stripe 4 course you will be introduced to the final eight Micro Principles on your path to 32!

Principle 25: Anchor

Pinning any part of your or your opponent’s body to a surface to inhibit mobility. Sometimes referred to as “pinning” or “stapling,” the Anchor Principle is a powerful way to achieve optimal control of your opponent in both offensive and defensive positions.

Principle 26: Ratchet

Creating persistent incremental advancements in one direction while preventing motion in the opposite direction. A ratchet is a mechanical device that allows incremental linear or rotary motion in one direction, while preventing motion in the opposite direction.

Principle 27: Buoyancy

Capitalizing on offensive and defensive surfacing opportunities throughout the fight. Buoyancy is the upward force that prevents an object in a fluid from sinking. In a fight, buoyancy is the natural tendency for the person on bottom to try to get up.

Principle 28: Head Control

Controlling your opponent’s head to limit or direct their movement. Where the head goes, the body will follow; where the head can’t go, neither can the body.

Principle 29: Redirection

Reducing your opponent’s effectiveness by controlling the direction of their energy. There are two primary ways to redirect energy: 1) change the angle of impact, or 2) intercept the energy.

Principle 30: Mobility

Moving yourself when your opponent can’t be moved. Jiu-jitsu employs many highly efficient, leverage-based techniques to move and manipulate an opponent’s body.

Principle 31: Centerline

Limiting your opponent’s potential by taking control of their centerline. Chess masters aim to control the center of the board, UFC champions aim to control the center of the octagon, and we aim to control the center of our opponent’s body.

Principle 32: Grandmaster

Using the 32 Principles to continuously improve jiu-jitsu. From a very young age, our grandfather, the Grandmaster, constantly evolved the techniques of jiu-jitsu to accommodate his frail physique.

PBS4 Outro Class

Congratulations on learning The 32 Principles of Jiu-Jitsu! Now that you’re familiar with all 32, every interaction you have with any technique that embodies any one of the principles will be a “deposit” into your confidence “bank account” with that principle.

PBS4 Test - Introduction

Ryron and Rener introduce you to the PBS4 Test Drills.