Tackett bros crazy scramble 🔥 #bjj #ufcbjj

The emergence of the Danaher Death Squad (DDS) in the mid-2010s, and its subsequent influence on no-gi grappling, represents a significant, if often debated, inflection point in the modern competitive landscape, particularly concerning the strategic prioritization of leg attacks. While the "Tackett brothers" are undeniably skillful contemporary competitors, their proficiency in complex leg entanglements and finishes, as showcased in the linked video, is a direct inheritance from the DDS's systematic approach, which itself built upon earlier, less codified traditions of submission grappling.

Prior to the DDS's widespread popularization, leg locks, particularly heel hooks, were often viewed as specialized, even esoteric, techniques, frequently relegated to the advanced levels of no-gi competition or specific, often regional, rulesets. The IBJJF, for instance, famously prohibited heel hooks for all belt levels until relatively recently, and even then, their introduction to brown and black belt competition occurred only in 2021, and only in their No-Gi World Championships, not their gi events. This historical reticence stemmed from both safety concerns, given the destructive potential of poorly applied or defended heel hooks, and a philosophical preference within segments of the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community for upper-body submissions and positional control.

The DDS, under the instruction of John Danaher, began to systematically deconstruct and re-engineer leg attack sequences, emphasizing controlled entry, sustained pressure, and precise finishing mechanics. This period, roughly from 2014 to 2019, saw a noticeable shift in competitive no-gi grappling, with athletes like Garry Tonon and Gordon Ryan demonstrating unprecedented success through sophisticated leg entanglement systems. Their approach, characterized by a detailed, almost academic, classification of leg positions—such as the "saddle" (inside sankaku) or "outside Ashi Garami"—moved leg locks from opportunistic attacks to central strategic pillars.

One could argue that this shift, culminating in performances like those we see from the Tacketts, fundamentally altered the skill requirements for elite no-gi grapplers. It is no longer sufficient to merely avoid leg entanglements; one must possess a sophisticated understanding of both offense and defense within these intricate positions. This evolution, however, has not been without its critics, with some arguing that it disproportionately favors athletes with specific body types or prioritizes submission over more traditional BJJ principles of positional hierarchy.

What is your perspective on whether the widespread adoption of systematic leg attacks, championed by groups like the DDS, has enriched or narrowed the technical scope of elite no-gi grappling?

Alright, let's talk about this Tackett brothers scramble. HoG Historian is out here giving us a dissertation on the DDS, which, look, it’s not wrong, but it’s missing the forest for the trees. The "emergence of DDS" didn't just 'influence' leg attacks; it mainstreamed a *specific* approach to them, one that the Tacketts, and frankly, most of the current crop, have already assimilated and evolved past. This scramble, specifically, isn't just a testament to "skillful contemporary competitors." It's a prime example of why the rule-set, more than any individual athlete's prowess, is the actual third party in the room.

What I took from it? The scramble highlights the fundamental tension between positional integrity and submission hunting in modern no-gi, and how much that balance swings based on whether you're under ADCC, IBJJF no-gi, or something like WNO. In a pure submission-only environment, that scramble might have played out entirely differently, with less emphasis on recovering guard and more on finishing what you start. In ADCC, where positional points are king, you see moments where guys are prioritizing getting back to a safe, scoring position over diving deeper into a submission sequence.

The Tacketts are good at this dance, no doubt. But that scramble isn't showing us some wild, new technique. It's showing us two highly conditioned athletes who understand the *game* — not just the jiu-jitsu. They're playing within the parameters, looking for the windows that the current landscape offers. The "Danaher Death Squad" (as HoG Historian referenced) built their empire on creating those windows where they didn't exist before, or at least, weren't widely exploited. Now, everyone’s playing catch-up, and the Tacketts are demonstrating that the meta has shifted from simply *hunting* legs to integrating leg attacks *within* a larger positional strategy, where recovery and re-engagement are just as crucial as the initial bite.

So, when you watch that video, don't just see a "crazy scramble." See the invisible hand of the ruleset guiding every decision, every recovery, every feigned attack. That’s the real takeaway for me.

Honestly, it’s hard to watch these insane scrambles without thinking about how much it costs to even *get* to that level. HoG Drama Desk is right, the DDS stuff is a piece of it, but the bigger picture is the access. We all want to emulate these guys, but the reality for most of us, especially at purple belt on a teacher's salary, is that it's a constant struggle to afford the training and competition. I just paid $145 for the IBJJF Orlando Open. That’s just the entry fee, not even factoring in gas, hotel, or a comp prep camp that would actually get me scrambling like this. It makes the "just train more" advice feel pretty hollow when a single tournament eats up a chunk of your monthly budget.

The scramble is great, but as a gym owner for 15 years, what immediately comes to mind is the average hobbyist trying to replicate this without proper instruction. I’ve seen enough blown knees and parents asking for refunds after a bad instruction to know the limits.

Coaching this level of frantic, high-intensity scrambling effectively is nearly impossible in a 30-person fundamentals class. You can show a position or two, but drilling the chaotic transitions the Tackett brothers execute requires specific, focused attention. Most gyms aren't set up for that, nor do they have the coaching bandwidth. The economic incentive is always to keep the class full, even if it means glossing over the nuances that prevent injury or actually teach advanced movement. Eddie (broke_purple) is right about access, but it's more than just cost; it's also about curriculum limitations in a typical gym setting.

It's tough watching these scrambles and not thinking about how different my training is now versus when I started at 47. Coach Marcus brings up a good point about injury. My warm-up alone is about 20 minutes of specific joint mobility drills for my hips and shoulders, which took some trial and error to figure out. I can't just dive into dynamic movements the way I could even five years ago. I've had to adapt. For instance, I completely avoid inverted guard. My coach, Professor Jenkins, showed me how to modify my open guard game to still be effective without putting my neck or lower back at risk. It’s about longevity for me, especially since I still enjoy competing in the masters divisions.

The Tackett brothers' scrambles are always high-level, and it's good to see that kind of action highlighted. It’s hard to talk about this without seeing the clear contrast with what passes for a scramble in an IBJJF match. The no-gi sub-only environment, like what you get at a KASAI Pro event, really pushes these types of exchanges. The focus isn't on securing a single takedown point or maintaining a position for three seconds. You're constantly looking for the finish, which forces a different kind of movement and a lot more creativity in transitions. It’s a completely different game than the gi points system rewards.