I recently competed in BJJ at our regular InterClub event “SubNorth”.
I am no champion grappling competitor, as most of you know, but I did have a
great day and while I did lose both my jiujitsu matches, I still came with some
very beneficial first-hand knowledge and experience:
1.
I had first-hand experience grip fighting with a
very good purple belt. I applied my newly acquired judo knowledge in both
gripping offensively and grip breaking. This allowed me to dominate the grips
in the standing phase
2.
I tested my standing guard opening and passing
with great success. In fact, the majority of the points I scored were guard
passing points.
3.
I accidently came up with this awesome way to
prevent a guard recovery that flexible players do, where they fold upside down
from side control and somehow manage to re-insert a foot for the guard or half
guard. It worked a treat!
4.
I tested my half guard sweeping system
(switching from the Old Skool to the Plan B plus using the deep half guard to
sweep and prevent guard passing)
5.
I tested Saulo Ribiero’s Armbar defence and
escape from “University of JiuJitsu”. I had played with that jiujitsu technique
before, but never tested it in a competition. The great bonus was that it made
my opponent think that he still had a chance and tired him out massively until
I passed to his side.
That’s something I want to talk about. That moment when you
get caught. That moment when your opponent transitions from a position that may
or may not be uncomfortable (mount, side mount, back) to a position of actual
threat (and armbar, a choke, a footlock..e.tc.) and your brain splits into two
parties:
·
One party is telling you you’ve had a long day.
You’ve hung around waiting for your damn category to start and you’re tired
now. You have better things to do. This other guy wants it more than you. He’s
hungrier for this than you. You have nothing to prove, he’s already kinda got
the arm, choke or foot. Let him have it. Let go, tap and we can all go home and
forget about this day.
·
The other party has other plans. It sings from a
very different hymn sheet. You didn’t hang around all day long for this. You
have plans for the evening and you don’t want to spoil them with the feeling that
you gave up. Just blank gave up. You want this more than your opponent. He
doesn’t deserve it. You have nothing to prove to anyone else but everything to
prove to yourself. It’s no longer about jiujitsu. It’s no longer about the
foot, the arm or the choke. It’s about you. Use the technique you know and work
your way out.
The line between these two is very thin and if you’re not
careful, you might injure yourself. I am a big believer in tapping early to
avoid injury, but I am also a huge believer in investigating the mind through jiujitsu. For that, you will need a partner you can trust.
It's a thin line. Very thin.
--------------------------------------------------It's a thin line. Very thin.
ZHOO ZHITSU IS FOR EVERYONE!
Liam "The Part Time Grappler" Wandi
Proudly sponsored by Predator Fightwear: Built for the kill and Brutal TShirt: Made By Grapplers For Fighters
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