Grapple Smart

Whether your a fan of No-Limit Hold Em’ poker or not I’m sure you’ve seen some of the widely televised poker tournaments on TV. Long ago, only the final table of the World Series of Poker would be condensed into an hour show played on ESPN. These days it’s almost impossible to flip through the channels and not see some re-runs of the massive $10,000 World Series of Poker tournament, World Poker Tour, Big Money Cash Games, or Heads-Up Hold Em’ Championship.

Would you pay $10K to play 1 on 1 against Kobe?

The great thing about the WSOP (World Series of Poker) is that it is one of the few tournaments that allow ANYONE to compete in. Anyone who can put 10 grand at risk at least. The point is that amateurs can go head to head with seasoned poker pros like Doyle Brunson, Jonny Chan, Phil Helmuth, and Gus Hansen. Sort of like if anyone of us could play one on one with Kobe Bryant or fight for the Heavy Weight Championship with Mike Tyson. Sound crazy doesn’t it. Well the poker pros pretty much treat these green amateurs as pawns and own or “pwn” them lol!

Or get in the Ring with Mike Tyson?

Can you illicit the reaction you want to execute your game plan?

If you ever see a poker pro ask their opponent how many chips they have or start talking to them about particular poker hands they may have they’re actually creating an ACTION to gain a REACTION from the opponent. It could be a glance one way or the other, holding breath, even an increase in the pulse rate visible in their neck (it’s true). That reaction gives them the information they need to defeat their opponent.

So how does all this this apply to Jiu-Jitsu?

Well, once you’ve been in Jits for a while and mastered the basic movements you will begin to develop your own game plan (or attack pattern). Once you learn some submissions and sweeps you may try to force them to work right? I mean we’ve ALL done it and maybe still do!  But occasionally, you’ll execute a sweep that feels almost EFFORTLESS! Just like when Michael Jordan hit so many consecutive 3-pointers against Portland that he shrugs his shoulders to the scorers table. He himself doesn’t understand how they go in with ease, just that they do. When you execute a technique in BJJ, especially a sweep, you’ve probably in inadvertently performed an action that caused your opponent to react in a way that essentially made him fall into the sweep. It feels as easy as when you’re drilling the technique. This is the beginning of recognizing and understanding Action/ Reaction and utilizing it to your advantage in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Eventually, with practice you’ll be able to chain attacks together (action) and cause your opponent to react in a way that will allow you to execute a technique (sweep, submission, throw, or defense).  If you do it right it will seem effortless as the masters intended it.

In this ADCC match between Rodrigo Gracie and Genki Sudo you’ll see what I mean.  Fast forward to about 0:46 to see the set up and 0:55 to see the actual sweep. You’ll see Rodrigo pushing into Genki and grabbing his legs (pulling him in) which in turn causes Genki to push back into Rodrigo and falls into the sweep.

Please Feel free to post questions and comments at the bottom! Happy training!!!