BJJ Norcal

A lot of time is spent comparing jiu-jitsu to chess. Although I understood this, I have struggled to put a high level "chess-like" game into action on the mat. I play point-counterpoint. They grab a sleeve, I break a grib. They move for an angle, I square up. Hardly high level chess.

The better players know where people are going and anticipate. They know the options available, and they take the advantage. They make a move, ready to flow into the next effortlessly. Good jiu-jitsu knows where you are, and where you can go. It knows the options and the percentages. Personally, I have always intuitively "believed" this, but I guess I always thought that I would "get there" someday naturally. In truth, I am nowhere near this. I do not think even a single move ahead after years on the mat. So maybe I need to change something...

I was training with Dave the other day and he was showing me a counter to when your opponent goes to their knees from side control bottom. My usual reaction is to bail on the position, go around their head, and stabilize again in side control (now on the other side). This is a good move to train, but this time, Dave taught to stay in position, but use your hand (leg side) to block inside their far thigh.

As I thought about this, I remembered that I had seen Saulo Ribeiro show the same grip on one of his dvds where he shows the proper way to execute the clock choke. He uses the grip to block out the guard recovery. Since I never go for a clock choke, I had never really worked this position and had pretty much forgot about it. The great thing was that connecting these two events in my mind taught me something that might solve my chess problem mentioned above - thinking backwards.

The concept is to take a submission you want to hit (or position for that matter) and work backwards, outlining everything you need to finish the sub. For example, let's examine the clock choke.  So starting backwards, I know I need a collar grip. I know I need my opponent to be on their knees and I know that I need to block out the guard pre-emptively. So when I am in side control, I need to first realize I want them on their knees.  That means they need to turn into me.  Therefore, I need to leave that window open. More importantly, even before they get to their knees, when I am in side control, I already know the grip I want - the collar. I also know the grip my other hand wants - blocking the thigh.

So let's rewind with the clock choke in mind. I take side control with the end position in my mind. I take a moderately deep lapel grip, one that I can use to control, but one that I can leave loose enough to give the illusion of movement. As they go to their knees and take the bait, the leg side hand goes to the thigh and I quickly move to the shoulder, sitting on it with grip in hand. Smooth and natural vs fighting to catch up.

Personally, this is a bit of a revelation.  I have a lot of moves where I "know" how to do them.  I "know" all the pieces.  The problem is that I never hit them live training.  Why?  Because I am late.  I don't plan to be in a position - I end up in a position.  Not smart.  I think so much of jiu-jitsu is the idea of early and late. Good jiu-jitsu is early - it does not depend on speed.  The best way to be early is to (1) know the submission you are going for and (2) know the pre-requisities. If you know both you can be VERY early by leaving windows open. If you can put these two ideas together I think your submission success rates should go up.  I am really excited to try this out in a few areas.

I know I'll be experimenting with it - hopefully you have luck with this idea as well.  If it works for you, drop me a line.

Paul