The 'Americana' is a term that was coined after American wrestler Bob Anderson, who visited Brazil in 1978, where he spent time training with Rolls Gracie. This is when this move, along with many other wrestling style takedowns, began to be incorporated into BJJ, and the move was basically named after Anderson, an American, thus, "Americana"....

After reviewing Keith’s first DVD in 2007, I was very pleased to hear that a second volume was in the pipeline, showcasing more of Keith’s tried and tested personal favourite moves; it’s not very often that an instructor is willing to say that the techniques shown on the DVD are his own personal favourite moves, but according to Keith (in an interview I had with him back in 2007) he doesn’t care if he’s showing his high favourite moves, he’ll come up with more - now that’s what I call a confident instructor! Keith actually shows more than one variation to the technique and in every technique shown, Keith explains the position in detail and gives you a number of options you can use for each position. For example, Keith offers four finishes in the S mount chapter, seven variations in the kimura and three options in the half guard chapter, so you’re really getting your money’s worth in this DVD. Retailing at $24.95 in the US and with the exchange stacked high in our favour here in the UK, this is one of the best value for money DVD’s on the market today. The production and camera work is once again of high standard and Keith explains each technique in a clear and lucid manner, no struggling with dodgy accents on this DVD!– roll on Volume 3! The Fighting Photographer!

I want to congratulate Dylan and Matt Owen (Son and Father-no relation to me) for both taking 3rd place at the 2008 Pan American Championships in thier Blue Belt Divisions. What an Accomplishiment! There were the worlds best there. Dylan recently took two first places at Grapplers Quest in his division in Gi and NO-Gi! What a stud! I'm very proud of both of you.

I am in the process now of reviewing Stepan Kesting’s new unpublished DVDs “High Percentage Leg-Locks.” I will have my review soon but I must say this is one of the best DVD compilations I have seen in a long time. It is outstanding and you should buy it when it comes out! This got me thinking heavily about ankle locks, heel hooks and knee bars in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Frankly, attacking the legs have been considered low class in bjj (with the exception of knee bars) and many bjj instructors don’t teach them often or simply don’t cover them in the depth that they should. This needs to change. For years NON- Bjj and Sambo players have used them with great success and I feel this is a major disadvantage for BJJ. We, as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practioners need to change our attitude toward the use of them. The problem that I face as an instructor is that left unchecked people WILL get hurt in your school. Low belt students who learn them tend to start relying on them all the time to submit their opponents. Winning seems to be the only thing they are after instead of having the attitude of improving their overall Jiu-Jitsu game. As an instructor if I tell low belt students that they CAN’T attack legs then they tend to get better at passing the guard. That’s what I want. Please permit me to give this limited analogy because it’s not a flattering one and many people might not get the correlation but it is how I think of it. I feel that for many people’s obsession for attacking the legs is akin to taking “Meth (yes, the drug meth).” I use to be a police officer for ten years and have seen first hand the effects of this very dangerous drug. The first time people do the drug they feel that it’s the greatest thing they have ever done. The first time someone gets a heel hook or ankle lock they are surprised at the ease at which they got it. They think to themselves “Hell ,why do I need to pass the guard when I can just sit back and try the ankle lock. They then start doing it on a CONSTANT basis and start getting good at it. They say to themselves “I will just practice this and get better because it’s a sure way to win.” This is how it is with Meth; The abuser thinks they can quit anytime they want and then the addiction starts. Everything in their life starts to suffer because they keep chasing after that same perfect first high that they never get after that. ALWAYS attacking the legs is along the same line in grappling. They decide that passing the guard is too much work and they will just sit back and try and rack up an easy win all the time. Their uneducated (usually white belts, & blue belts)training partners start to get hurt because they get tired of the guy always going for leg locks and never doing anything else, they then start a happenstance scramble and fight harder and injuries inevitably happen, thus causing them to have to sit out for six months with a busted knee or ankle. Other partners start to get wise and over time their leg defenses start to improve causing the leg locker to get mounted all the time. The leg locker then gets frustrated and simply tries to get better at them, thus causing a vicious circle. Everything in the leg locker’s grappling game starts to suffer because he keeps going back to the well one too many times. I’m speaking in general terms but I’ve seen this as an instructor too much in my career especially with newer students. This is where the analogy ends. Continuous Leg locking won’t actually kill the practioner from an overdose and they won’t go to jail but they will eventually hurt their partner and their game doesn’t get well rounded. Unlike Meth, which has no place in your life, leg locks can have a beneficial effect when done moderatly. BJJ practioners , who many don’t even attempt leg locks, also won’t ever defend them which is also not beneficial to one’s overall grappling game either. I submit to you that if you do practice them (which everyone should) then you should become an expert guard passer as well and think of them as just another option in helping you take advantage of a poor guard or a partner’s mistake but not a “go to move” EVERY SINGLE FREAKIN TIME. If you do get an ankle lock or heel hook then you should put it on your training partner WITHOUT pressure and simply smile at them knowingly and move on. This allows you to practice your entry into the move without the risk of a very easy injury to the guy who is helping you get better. Believe it or not, the goal in BJJ shouldn’t be to win, it should be to get better at all your moves and the winning will surely follow. I’m not just saying this about ankle locks , this could be for elementary moves such as an Americana arm lock as well. I have seen plenty of big huge guys get really good at passing the guard (because they are on top all time), crush their opponent down in side control as tight as they can and then go for the Americana from side control because they don’t want to move and give their partner a chance to escape and God forbid, put them on their back (which many big guys don’t practice because they are on top ALL THE TIME). This is their addiction for victory. Escaping or at least the appearance of an escape is exactly what they should let their partner do so they can work on other really awesome moves from every position. They are too interested in winning with the same old tired crap that they always do because winning is ALL THEY ARE AFTER instead of improving everything in their tool box. The moral of this story: Don’t do drugs (Ha Ha).

Stephan Kesting recently sent me an advanced copy of his unreleased work called "High Percentage Leg Locks. " I have watched this video several times and the only word that comes to my mind is the word “Masterpiece.” I think this is Stephan’s finest work yet and is a treasure trove of valuable information that novices and experts alike will find extremely worthwhile. Kesting talks in-depth on how to do Ankle Locks and Heel-Hooks as well as, and more importantly, how to enter into them with the proper technique to finish. In his second volume Stephan gives the counters to these moves and then goes into how to recounter them once an opponent defends. Simply amazing! As an instructor I think these DVDs are all one needs to effectively teach their class on world class leg locking techniques. He then ends his DVD’s with a bonus section on Toe holds which are incredibly sneaky and are worth the DVD’s value in and of itself. I have seen numerous videos on Leg Locks from others in my 15 year career in BJJ and this set is by far the best material presented on this subject that I have seen. I wish I had a few negative comments to sprinkle in to make me seem more discerning but really this set is all a person needs to become highly proficient in their leg game. If a student were to couple this video with Kesting’s previous Knee Bar video then they would have all the proper tools to start their journey into becoming a leg lock master. I highly recommend this set when it is released and I wouldn’t let anyone else see it. Make them go get their own copy if they want it. Keep the secrets for yourself.

Team Keith Owen did AWESOME at Grappler's Quest in Vegas this past week end. We took 16 medals with only 11 guys going!! We got 6 Gold Medal 8 Silver Medals 1 Bronze We took 9 medals at the last GQ!

Meridian Magazine voted me one of the top most influential men in the Meridian Community! Meridian Idaho is a suburb of Boise with around 70,000 people in it. This was a pretty big surprise to me because I had done an interview with them last year and one of my students brought in the latest issue with me in it. I am in it along with 9 other gentlemen. This was a great honor for me! They cite the reasons that I'm a "Power Player" (there words not mine) because my school is successful, the fact that we teach a lot of lifeskills to children and adults, my dvd's are sold around the world, we took 16 medals at the recent Grappler's Quest, I am a lead instructor at the Idaho Police Academy, I do a lot of work in our public schools and we do an enourmous amount of charity work in our community. Now....If I could only influence my wife a little bit more =) Keith

The team results for the 13th Annual Grappler's Quest are out and Keith Owen BJJ from little ol' Boise Idaho took 7th Place overall. Team Mica and Cobra Kai rocked the hell out of the tournament! I want to congratulate them for their accomplishments. Our school beat out around 35 teams to take 7th including my old schools an friends the Las Vegas Combat Club, Sergio Penha BJJ and Cameron Diffley's Legion Jiu-Jitsu. I love these guys and respect them to no end! It was a great accomplishment! These are some fantastic teams! My excitement knows no bounds!!!!!! 1st MICA/Machado Jiu Jitsu Las Vegas 7175 points 2nd Cobra Kai 6999 points 3rd Carlson Gracie/Warrior/Xyience 4850 points 4th Charles Gracie 3300 points 5th Santa Fe 3125 points 6th PARAGON 2950 points 7th Keith Owen 2550 points 8th Ralph Gracie 2100 points 9th Las Vegas Combat Club 1850 points 10th West Point 1525 points