Robert Drysdale, fifth degree jiu-jitsu black belt, IBJJF and ADCC World Champion, recently revealed that his persistent use of D’arce submissions resulted in significant damage to both of his wrists.
In a candid interview with FightersAdvice, Drysdale discussed the origins of his signature technique that he famously used to submit
Marcelo Garcia at ADCC.
“Leo Vieira, my coach, he was doing this choke, this lapel choke from the combat stance,” Drysdale explained.
Initially using the technique with the gi, he adapted it for no-gi competition when training against opponents with strong underhooks.
“I started locking the D’arce from the half guard,” he revealed. “Leo called that choke the Brabo choke. And then I started calling it the no-gi Brabo choke because that’s where it came from.”
While Drysdale acknowledges that
Joe D’Arce, one of
Renzo Gracie‘s black belts, was likely doing the technique before him,
Drysdale developed his own variation independently.
“I don’t think I was a pioneer, but no one ever taught me that move. I came up with it on my own.”
However, the frequent application of this submission came with a price.
“I destroyed both my wrists doing that. And now I can’t do them at all,” Drysdale admitted. “A lot of arthritis on both my wrists. And I’m pretty sure it’s from insisting on D’arces to death, you know, being stubborn.”
Drysdale‘s experience serves as a warning to practitioners who heavily rely on this technique.
“If it’s putting stress on the joint, it’s not a good thing. A joint is not like a muscle. It doesn’t get stronger. It only gets weaker,” he cautioned.
Despite the physical toll, Drysdale‘s innovative approach to the D’arce choke remains part of his legacy in the evolution of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, a topic he explores extensively in his books about the history and development of the art.
