Last night during the fundamentals of jiu-jitsu class at Crossroads BJJ we worked a series of techniques surrounding the near side armbar from side control. The goal of this class was to help students not only refine the technical aspects of the armbar but also the timing of the submission as well. Understanding where to place your body is useless unless you know when you should be looking to apply the technique. In BJJ when you apply a submission or a position you are always looking to reduce space, any space you leave gives your training partner an opportunity to escape which could eventually lead to them having the upper hand. One of the key focuses of this class was making the armbar tighter and reducing your training partners opportunity to escape.
Once we made sure everybody knew how to properly apply the armbar we covered how to recover from a missed submission and still maintain top position. In a self-defense situation it is always better to maintain the top position where you can use your body weight and gravity to control your opponent. If we understand how to maintain this top position after a submission attempt we will feel more confident in going for the attack in the first place. From this recovery we worked back into a variation of original armbar.
The key to success in jiu-jitsu is drilling techniques repeatedly until you have gained enough confidence in your technique that you do not hesitate when the time comes for its application. If you are late you will use strength, and the more strength you use, the faster you will fatigue. If you fatigue first, you will lose. Most new students think the way to not fatique is to do extra cardio, such as running, or riding a bike, however even the most un-athletic person with the right strategy and perfect timing will not fatique, making that person cabable of beating the best athlete.
Advanced Jiu-jitsu
During our Team Jiu-jitsu training class at Crossroads BJJ we continued working the Kimora game. While we continued drilling the primpary attack, the Kimora from side control, we added two entries into the north-south Kimora position and a choke from each of the two positions. The idea behind this class was options. From the original position we have a submission and two ways to increase our positional control. Then from each of the two positional advancements we have 2 to 3 submissions.
By having multiple options from each position it becomes infinitely harder to defend each technique compared to when each submission is attacked individually. In jiu-jtisu easier is better, it makes very little sense to waste all of your energy attacking a well defended submission when another submission is more easily available. This is why Jiu-jtisu is the thinking mans martial art. We are not relying on punching or kicking harder, everything in jiu-jtisu is based on angles and leverage, which means you do not need to be strong to apply a technique on a much larger person.
The class finished with putting the techniques we have been learning into practice against a resisting opponents in a controlled drill. By giving our training partners the ability to resist our techniques we being to learn where we are making mistakes but also learn how and when we need to switch to an different attack. We essentially learn how take the hesitations out of our transitions and gain confidence in the new skills we are learning each and every class. Skill development is an essential part of jiu-jitsu and is often overlooked. It is much easier to simply practice the aspects of bjj we are already good at, however this is a short sighted approach and provides only momentary gratification. To truly excel in the art we must put our ego’s to the side and work on new techniques.