Grapple Smart

Ok, so I’ve been posting my weekly goals on Twitter and I thought I’d post them here as well.  You’re welcome to follow me at @GrappleSmart on Twitter!

My #BJJ/ #BrazilianJiuJitsu goal for this week is to be inefficient!  That’s right inefficient when I train.  Far too often I catch myself utilizing as little effort as possible to win because I’m afraid of gassing out in later sparring rounds… sound familiar?  So this week I’m going to gas myself out so that I finish my sparing sessions in O2 debt (hopefully).  I’m hoping this will do 2 things: first, it will give my cardio a boost since I’ll be pushing my aerobic threshold and second, I’ll get used to attacking faster and more often.  I’ll let you know how it goes.  Anyone else have a goal they’d like to share?
The interesting thing about BJJ is that it’s similar to doing any repetitive exercise in one respect.  Just like running, biking, or whatever exercise you do, if you do it the same way consistently enough you’re body will get used to the exercise and slowly become fore efficient at performing it.  Sounds good right? Well, if the goal is to burn as many calories as possible in a workout then it’s not.  Basically, your body adjusts to what ever stress  you put it through and adapts.

The same adaptation can be said for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.  Think about it, back when you first started BJJ wasn’t it hard to breathe all the time, and so tough to think of the move you were just taught when it’s time to live spar?  As the weeks and months went by you were able to feel more comfortable sparing, and could think better in tight spots right?!?  Well, now it’s time to give your Jiu-Jitsu metabolism a boost and make you’re self gas out.  I mean what’s the worst that can happen? You get tapped out? So what!  But the benefits can be huge!

PART 3: PRACTICE MAKES PERMANENT – NOT PERFECT!

The great American investor Warren Buffet said it best “Practice makes permanent – not perfect.”  The same rule applies to everything you do to prepare for your first competition.   You can not expect to be able to effectively execute techniques and think clearly when you’re tired in a real match if you only train when you’re fresh and full of energy.

Goodbye clear headed methodical grappler, hello reptilian brain.

I was ready for my first competition… so I thought.  I felt like I had decent technique and had several combinations that I was ready to execute in my first match.  I was clear headed and was ready to apply what I had learned in a methodical thoughtful manner… WRONG!  I was keyed up from all the anxiety leading up to the competition.  The grappling tournament was poorly run so although I was scheduled to compete at 1pm I didn’t end up fighting until 8pm!  As I began to wrestle and get out of breath, my mind went BLANK.  I couldn’t even remember how to recompose full guard from half guard.  Forgetting technique was the weirdest feeling, it was like having a persons name on the tip of your tongue, and you know you know their name but you just can’t remember it.  Sadly, my reptilian brain took over and I did what felt instinctual.  As many of you may know, doing what comes instinctually or naturally is typically not the correct Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu technique and rarely effective.  For example, when mounted and being smothered by your opponent it is a natural instinct to push the opponent away (extending your arms) which exposes you perfectly to an arm bar.  Correct Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu technique, however, calls for a hip escape to the side to recompose guard.

Simulate real match conditions

Once you learn the mechanics of a takedown or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu technique it is imperative to simulate how you will feel in an actual match.  Although you can’t simulate everything you will experience in a competition match there are a few things you can simulate.

It is important to live spar and practice takedowns when you are physically tired as well as when you are fresh.  It is too easy to execute a throw when you’re well rested with a clear head.  Try executing throws after you’ve done wind sprints or a conditioning workout.  You’ll notice that your muscles don’t feel as strong and your mind isn’t as clear.  This is the time to find out how you react under these conditions, not during your first match!  Did you draw a blank on the simple throws you’ve learned? I did.  Was it really difficult to execute the take down when you were really out of breath?  It was for me.  Now you can make an honest assessment of how prepared you are and make the necessary changes to your training.  You may determine that you need to add some High Intensity Interval Training to your conditioning program.  This will have the obvious effect of increasing your physical endurance and strength.  The other benefit will be that you will feel more confident with the knowledge that you’ve prepared to the best of your ability.

Now go train!

Stay tuned for part 4: High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)

WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS… PULL GUARD!

How I learned about it:

I remember the first time someone ever jumped or pulled guard on me.  It happened really fast!  The gripped up on my gi and before I knew it I was pulled to the ground in his guard and he was already setting up his first sweep or submission.  I was prepared to attempt a throw and thwart his take down attempts but I had never seen this form of take down and was surprised at how effective it was.

Low risk and low effort alternative to traditional take downs.

Although it is very important to learn basic wrestling moves and takedowns it is not the only way to get the fight from the standing position to the ground.  Jumping to guard allows you to get the fight to the ground in a relatively low effort and low risk way.  Let me emphasize the word “relatively” when I say relatively low effort and low risk because jumping guard is by no means a magic take down that works 100% of the time.

Basic mechanics

The basic mechanics of this move is to get a good grip on your opponents’ gi or body and basically jump into the guard position on your opponent while he is still standing.  Once your legs are wrapped around your opponents’ waist, the weight and downward momentum of your upper body is used to pull him to the ground ultimately ending up with your opponent in your closed guard.  Although you do not get any points for bringing the opponent to the mat this way it is a widely used sport Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu technique. “Sport Jiu-jitsu” is utilizing techniques that are useful for winning BJJ competitions as opposed to BJJ for only self-defense purposes.

KEY POINT : To execute a successful guard pull you must bring your hips to your opponents body first as opposed to your legs first.   I imagine I’m going to hit him with my hip before my legs do which helps me execute the technique properly.

What are the risks of pulling guard?

The risk associated with pulling guard is that it just doesn’t work on everyone.  Especially if you get a reputation of a “guard puller” people will be ready to defend it.  That said there are some grapplers at the world class level that have perfected the guard pull and use it almost exclusively.

Here’s two ways I’ve found to deal with a guard puller (stop someone from pulling guard on me):

As he attempts to pull guard, base out.  Basically, pulling someone into your guard requires that you cause them to lose balance and fall forward into your guard.  If you widen your stance and bend your knees you will not be pulled off balance easily.  Now they are holding their own weight on to you while you are just standing there.  Now you have the advantage and can proceed in two different ways:

1)  Break Guard: You either push down on one of your opponents’ knees, slow and steady pressure, until their guard breaks open.  As you follow them down to the mat, make sure you don’t allow them to close their guard again when you both land on the mat. Passing their guard will be much easier now that their guard is open.

2) Prepare for the single leg:  This works best in gi competitions.  Once you’re opponent jumps guard and you’re able to remain standing.  Basically, you grab your own gi pants just below their leg (imagine carrying fire wood under one arm and their leg is the wood).  Once they realize they have failed pulling guard they must do something else since it requires more energy for them to hold on to you then for you to hold them up.  Once they open their guard to stand, you already have their leg secured and immediately go for a single leg take down.

Now go train!

Stay tuned for Part 3: Practice makes PERMANENT and not necessarily perfect!

As in any sport you will have ups and downs in your training.  Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling are no different.  Every grappler will encounter sore joints and even need to take time off to let an injury heal.  The treatment for an injury, although not fun, is typically fairly straight forward.  Ice it, elevate it, take some Motrin, or even go to the doctor if you need to.  But there’s no doctor that can heal you or pill you can take when you hit a plateau in your training.

What is a training plateau anyway?

The dictionary defines a plateau as: When an individual’s adaptation or performance levels off or gets worse, a plateau has been reached and retrogression has occurred.  In my time I’ve hit several plateaus that you may be able to relate to.

1. You feel really mechanical when rolling and can’t execute moves that used to come naturally or seem simple.  There have been times when I know what I need to do to execute a technique but for some reason my body refuses to do it.   Maybe I eventually execute the desired movement but my intentions are telegraphed and my opponent easily defends it.
2. You’re getting your guard passed like it’s not there or getting submitted more frequently than usual and you just can’t put your finger on why.
3. You can execute a move well when drilling but blank out when live sparring.
4. You’ve learned new techniques but you just keep going back to your same old style of grappling even though you’d like to incorporate new techniques.
5. You just feel discouraged or burnt out.

Things I’ve done to push through plateaus that you may benefit from.

1. Understand that if you stick with the sport long enough everyone hits plateaus.  Even the best grapplers in the world will tell you that they too hit plateaus.  Try not to get discouraged and understand that you’ll eventually push through it.
2. Take a break from training to clear your head.  I’ve gotten into a training rut where I’m physically present and doing the movements but my mind is just not into it.  It can very beneficial to take time off and do something else.  You’ll know you’re ready when it’s fun to be in the gym again.
3. Focus on other things you can improve and quantify.  The goal is to be successful at something else, anything else in order to neutralize the negative experience you have on the mat.  You can focus on improving your conditioning, flexibility, or strength.  I have found that flow drills can really help get past plateaus.  A flow drill is where you move (with a partner) from one submission to another, linking one submission or sweep to another.
4. 

   Master Lloyd Irvin and Mike Fowler

   Mental Strength training is yet another underrated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu technique. We’ve all heard of Olympic athletes visualizing a world record performance or executing perfect technique to win the gold.  Developing a grappling game plan puts some structure to that mental training.  Developed by the world class Judoka (Judo player) and BJJ champion Lloyd Irvin, a grappling game plan will make you a more tactical and effective grappler.  Basically, a grappling game plan is a plan of attack that you will use in a match and drill during practice.  You will develop combination’s of sweeps, submissions and escapes that you will test in practice.  After being in a slump in the gym I spent a week working on my grappling game plan and found that this increased mental training helped me push past my training plateau.

Hopefully, you can utilize one of these techniques to push the next training plateau you encounter.

Grapple Hard but Grapple Smart!

If you’re ready to take catapult yourself ahead of the competion then check out my E-Book and audio “10 Things I wish I knew before I started Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – A practical introduction to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission grappling”.

I had the honor and the opportunity to gain some insight into some valuable Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu philosophy.  Elias Gallegos a black blet and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu instructor told me about his philosophy on grappling. 

Elias described a technique called “chain gunning” where you launch a never ending chain of attacks at your opponent.  Like a machine gun firing a stream of bullets, eventually one will hit the mark.  The same is true about attacking submissions in grappling, if you launch your attacks and chain one attack to the next, to the next, eventually you’re opponent will fall behind not be able to keep up with your continuous attacks.  Elias said you need to accept the fact that you will probably end up losing positions and submissions a lot for about the first 3 months as you get used to the increased frequency of attacks.  After internalizing this technique by practicing it for a few months he says I’ll notice that I’m catching people in submissions much faster and with higher frequency.

Tyrone Glover

In the same vein as Elias’ “Chain Gunning” is a technique taught to me years ago by grappling phenomenon Tyrone Glover called a “flow drill”.  In this drill you work with a willing partner and move through a sequence of ten connecting submissions.  The goal of the “flow drill” is to help you learn how to instinctively move from one submission to another when you meet resistance.  For example, you could move from a Kimura (shoulder lock using arms), to triangle, to Omoplata (shoulder lock using your leg), back to triangle, and to an arm bar.  Eventually, as I have found you will begin to expect resistance to your attacks and be ready to immediately move to the next attack.

In addition to attempting to spar from open guard I’m also attempting to attack even if I’m not in exactly the optimal position.  For example, I’ll be playing open guard and my opponent is trying to pass my guard, I’ll attack a guillotine choke just to see how he reacts.  Interestingly, it causes him to fight my hands and defend the choke instead of continuing to try to pass my guard.  Then I’ll attempt to lock up full or half guard to finish the choke.

See if you can implement some of these techniques and let me know how it goes.

So Grapple Hard But Grapple Smart!

Want the secret to longevity in BJJ, submission grappling, or any martial art for that matter? Check out my E-book and Audio!