Jiu-Jitsu Roll Narration - Coach Zahabi
0
Night of the Living Dead·Tristar Gym
In this video I give you guys some tips and tricks to try the next time you roll! checkout Coach Zahabi's Greatest Ins…
Night of the Living Dead
SubFamilyナイトオブザリビングデッド(Naito Obu Za Ribingu Deddo)
Translation: Night of the living dead
Overview
Night of the Living Dead is an advanced rubber guard position combining Zombie control with an additional leg hook, creating an inescapable control platform. [1]
NOTLDDead Position
History & Origin
Night of the Living Dead is part of Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, developed for no-gi and MMA competition. [1]
Effectiveness
Proven in professional MMA and no-gi grappling competition by 10th Planet practitioners. [1]
Lineage
10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu; Eddie Bravo lineage. [1]
Competition Record
Used in professional MMA and EBI competition
Images
No images yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest an image.
Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — 10th Planet guard mechanics for Night of the Living Dead
Position & Entry
From closed guard — Transition to Night of the Living Dead
Variants
Not yet documented
Videos
1 video
Learn This Technique
No instructional courses yet for this technique.
Sign in to suggest a course.
Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Guard control position
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Advanced
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
Restricted
— IJF — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — ground...
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFLegal
— IBJJF — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from ...
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— ADCC — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points por...
ADCC Rules Update, April 2025PDF— Unified MMA — Legal — no penalty for playing guard
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— FIAS Sport Sambo — Legal
FIAS International Sambo Competition RulesPDFTraining Notes
✓Requires flexibility for rubber guard positions (Bravo, 2006)
✓Drill no-gi specific grips
Common Mistakes
!Insufficient hip flexibility
!Losing head control
!Not maintaining posture break
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Closed guard → Break posture → Night of the Living Dead → Submission or sweep
Sources & References
Primary Source
Mastering the Rubber Guard (Bravo, 2006)
1Book[1] Bravo, E. with Krauss, E. and Cordoza, G. (2006). Mastering the Rubber Guard: Jiu-Jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition. Victory Belt Publishing.
2Citation[1] Bravo, E. with Krauss, E. and Cordoza, G. (2006). Mastering the Rubber Guard: Jiu-Jitsu for Mixed Martial Arts Competition. Victory Belt Publishing.
[1] Bravo, Mastering the Rubber Guard (2006) — technique description and application
Community
Athletics
Requires above-average hip flexibility
Good grip endurance
Notes
Night of the Living Dead is a 10th Planet position documented in Mastering the Rubber Guard. Bravo names positions after pop culture references to make them memorable — this naming convention has been both praised for accessibility and criticized for obscuring the underlying jiu-jitsu. (Bravo, Mastering the Rubber Guard, 2006)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why should I make a fist when my hands are on the mat during rolling?
Making a fist protects your fingers from injury. Coach Zahabi at Tristar Gym emphasizes that putting your hand flat on the mat can break fingers, so it's very important to keep your hands in a fist position on the ground.
What's the key to finishing a guillotine choke effectively?
Coach Zahabi stresses focusing on compressing your opponent's chin down to their chest—this is the most important element when applying a guillotine.
How do I prevent my opponent from establishing guard when they attempt a guillotine?
Wedge your knee in your partner's hips to prevent them from establishing guard, which significantly reduces their chances of escaping the guillotine. Coach Zahabi notes that if they establish guard, your escape options become much lower.
What should I do if my opponent brings their knee and head close together?
Coach Zahabi emphasizes that bringing the knee and head together is a critical mistake in wrestling and jiu-jitsu. Whenever you see this positioning, immediately execute a cradle, as cradles are always advantageous for you and disadvantageous for your opponent.
How does the Night of the Living Dead work?
Night of the Living Dead is an advanced rubber guard position combining Zombie control with an additional leg hook, creating an inescapable control platform.
Where does the Night of the Living Dead come from?
Night of the Living Dead is part of Eddie Bravo's 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu system, developed for no-gi and MMA competition.
Is the Night of the Living Dead legal in competition?
IBJJF: legal — Legal — guard is fundamental to BJJ, sweeps from guard score 2 points; IJF: restricted — Guard pulling penalized as non-combativity — groundwork from guard permitted …; ADCC: legal — Legal, guard pull penalized -1 point in points portion; Unified MMA: legal — Legal — no penalty for playing guard; FIAS Sport Sambo: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Night of the Living Dead?
Danger rating 3/10. Guard control position
How do I set up the Night of the Living Dead?
The standard setup chain: Closed guard → Break posture → Night of the Living Dead → Submission or sweep.
How do I defend against the Night of the Living Dead?
Standard counters include: Posture up / Stack / Strip the leg control.
How effective is the Night of the Living Dead in competition?
Used in professional MMA and EBI competition
What are common mistakes when doing the Night of the Living Dead?
Top errors to watch for: Insufficient hip flexibility / Losing head control / Not maintaining posture break.
What are other names for the Night of the Living Dead?
The Night of the Living Dead is also known as Naito Obu Za Ribingu Deddo, NOTLD, Dead Position.