Analysis Of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Part 7) from BJJ.org

The Process Of Becoming Skilled
I have been practicing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu since 1991. Since that time, I have made several observations about training. Allow me to lead you through my observations.

There are ten major areas of training. Each area of training contained a lot of new information. Each area provided me with a new and more enhanced understanding of Jiu Jitsu. Here are the areas of training:

1. technical knowledge - large gross motor movements
2. coordination of different body parts
3. timing - knowing when to use the appropriate technique
4. sensitivity - feeling when to use the appropriate technique
5. basic strategy - knowing which techniques work for different body types
6. small, very precise movements - movements become smaller and more detailed over time
7. the combination and coordination of multiple movements and techniques
8. intermediate strategy - the use of counters and set ups
9. the development of mental attributes: patience, focus, determination
10. advanced strategy - planning to feel, not think

The first major area of training involved learning techniques. This is where you learn specific techniques for specific encounter situations. Technical knowledge is the starting place for many who begin their journey in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Unfortunately, it is an area where a lot of students plateau and become frustrated.

Learning techniques involves familiarizing one's self with the individual components of each move and then learning how to orchestrate them into a sequence called a technique. For example, the spinning arm lock from the guard involves nine individual movements:

1. grabbing the top of training partner's left forearm with your right hand
2. grabbing the inside of the training partner's right thigh with your left hand
3. spinning your body to your left by raising your hips up off of the ground, swinging your right leg over the training partner's face and pulling your head to their thigh with your left arm
4. pulling both of your heels to your buttock
5. squeezing your knees together
6. pulling the training partner's elbow into your belly button
7. pulling the training partner's wrist and pinky onto your chest and maintaining control of it
8. raising their hips even higher to hyperextend the training partner's elbow joint
9. releasing the pressure when their training partner taps the mat

(Do you see how that even a simple move is not so simple when broken down into separate components? Do you remember what it was like the first time you did this arm lock? Do you remember the difficulty you had? I do!)

Too many student take the technique portion of training for granted. They have the "Yeah, I got it" attitude. They are so anxious to move onto the next technique that they harm themselves. They do not realize the importance of developing a foundation of fundamental movements that will help them with more highly complex movements at a later point in time.

When the student learns a new technique, it is the instructor's responsibility to teach them not only the specific components, but also the strengths and weaknesses of the technique. The students must also be taught that no one single technique will work all of the time. They must be taught that every technique will not work for every student. Techniques have limitations. Therefore, it is important for the student to understand these limitations.

In the beginning, students are usually taught very large, gross motor movements which involve the use of large muscle groups. Fine motor movements (those that involve small muscles like the fingers and thumb) are too complex for the beginning student. Usually, the student has enough on their mind with large amount of gross motor movements. Once a student has mentally grasped the idea of a technique, he can then move onto physically coordinating his body to move in a sequential order. This is where coordination comes into play.

For most students, coordinating the movements of one's feet, knees, hips, shoulders, elbows and hands in a sequential order can be somewhat difficult. If the movements are performed out of sequence or on the wrong side of the body, chaos usually occurs. For example, do you remember the first time you did the elbow/knee escape from the mount position? I do. It was rather difficult. Yes, I know, most of us muscled our way through it and made it work. However, we noticed that the brown and black belts seemed to have no problem using this technique at all. Why? Because they had put in the required time necessary to develop a skill in this one area. We, however, were just going through the first phase of learning. We were trying to coordinate each of the movements in the right sequence and not look stupid while doing it. The coordination of movements is an extremely important area to train. Although we might KNOW a technique, being able to perform it under pressure is quite another.

Once we KNOW a new technique, have a good understanding of it, and can coordinate our movements into a smooth technique, we must now begin our journey with timing. Timing involves knowing and feeling when to perform a technique. For example, when your opponent is in your guard and he begins to lean his weight onto his left knee, when is the best time to sweep him? A good understanding of timing would tell you that the best time to sweep him would be when he is beginning the process of shifting his weight onto his left knee. If you were to sweep him after he had placed all of his weight onto his left knee, you would find that his weight had settled and that the sweep was still possible, but it required more effort on your part.

Good timing only comes with diligent practice at slow speeds. Diligent practice at slow speed only comes with a disciplined mind, perserverance and patience. Knowing when to perform a technique is crucial in developing skills in Jiu Jitsu.

(I have spoken with a number of students who feel that certain techniques are invincible. I have been told that once a person put this lock on you, it is impossible to escape. Well, then I would allow this person to put me in that lock and would ask them to apply pressure and make me tap. Once they began to apply pressure, I escaped. They asked to perform it again because they "weren't really trying the first time" and I gladly accepted. Again, like the Great Houdini, I escaped. Now their curiosity was peaked. They thought, or had been taught, that once a certain move was applied, that no one could get out. What they did not know or understand was the concept of timing. Timing is a very important skill to develop. It will enhance your techniques!)

Now that we have some technical knowledge, we can coordinate our movements with ease and we have a good sense of timing, we must pursue the attribute of sensitivity. Sensitivity is the ability to feel and read pressure. To fight power with power is inefficient. To use an opponent's power against him is the efficient use of knowledge and power. This is what sensitivity does for the experienced Jiu Jitsu practitioner.

Sensitivity is an attribute that takes time to develop. However, once it is obtained, it is very easy to maintain. Sensitivity, like timing, comes with diligent, disciplined practice. It does not come very soon. Neither does it come by always training with a competitive attitude. Rather, sensitivity comes by learning how to be humble in your attitude and allow your opponent to dominate you entirely. Only by the controlling of one's own self and emotions can they develop good sensitivity. Good sensitivity will bring your Jiu Jitsu skills to a high level.

Next, comes basic strategy. Strategy is a plan, a set of predetermined tactics. Good strategy must be flexible. It must be able to adapt to an ever changing environment and mind set. Your strategy must allow for different body types, because if it doesn't, you're in for a BIG surprise.

Basic strategy allows for certain walls of resistance. For example, your goal may be to sweep your rather large opponent onto his back from your guard. However, he widens his base and prevents you from even thinking about going for another sweep. You, being the strategic Jiu Jitsu practitioner, know that the only way to widen one's base is spread their knees and lower their buttock to the ground. SENSING this, you immediately jump onto his back and hook your feet on the inside of his thighs. Then, you choke him out in front of everyone! Mentally, you prepared for the widened base and were ready for it. You knew that it was impossible for your opponent to widen his base and simultaneously maintain good mobility. Therefore, sacrificing mobility, your opponent chose to widen his base and there you were, waiting for him to do it so that you could go to his back. You knew he would do this because he was so much bigger than you. You would probably have another strategy for a much smaller and faster opponent because he would probably race around you like speedy Gonzales. Basic strategy allows for different body types and the most common types of resistance they will provide.


Next, you must move on to the smaller game of Jiu Jitsu. You must learn the tiny little details that make the game much easier physically, yet much harder mentally. When I first started doing Jiu Jitsu, my movements could be measured in yards or meters. After a few years, you could measure my movements in inches and centimeters. At this point in time, my movements are now measured in millimeters.

I have heard some people say, "Blue belts know the same techniques as black belts. It's just that they are not as good at them as the black belts are!" This statement, in my opinion, was obviously made by a blue or purple belt, or someone who measured their skill against a black belt who was out of shape. For me, the Jiu Jitsu game keeps getting smaller and smaller. The tiniest of movements many times determines the outcome of the effort. For example, in one of my competitions, I had my opponent in a tight arm lock. I mean that baby was sunk in tight. REAL TIGHT! However, there was one small detail that made the difference between the tap (which I did not get) and the escape. The difference was this: my opponent's elbow was resting on my left nut. The harder I squeezed my knees together, the more it hurt. The higher I raised my hips, the more it hurt. The more I pulled my heels to my buttocks, the more it hurt. Had his elbow been one inch higher, he would have tapped. One inch made the difference between a tap and an escape.

There were times when I was training with my instructor Joe Moreira and he would show me some tiny little detail that made such a difference in my game. I could not believe what I was hearing, seeing and feeling. How could such a tiny little detail make such an improvement on my game. I am now convinced that as one progresses in Jiu Jitsu, their game gets tighter and tighter, smaller and smaller. It's the tiny little details that will make the game much easier physically!

Now, at this point in the game, I am sure you are wondering, "How much deeper can this game go?" Well, the answer is: MUCH, MUCH DEEPER! I have only scratched the surface of each of these topics. Lets move on though.

We now move on to the combination and coordination of multiple movements and techniques. This is where the game becomes highly complex. You must now combine your previous training together into a tightly knit ball of motion. Five techniques must now flow together as one. Your timing and sensitivity must be at a very high level. You must no longer THINK about how to do a technique. You must respond reflexively! Your ability to flow from one technique to another is crucial to lowering the amount of energy you expend to accomplish a specific goal! Coordinating all of the previous information into a tightly knit ball of fluid motion is much easier to describe on paper than it is to perform. How does one perform a five technique flow into one constant ball of motion? Simple! Train, train, train and then train some more. And then when you're done training, train some more. This is the only way to make Jiu Jitsu an art of fluid, yet very precise and powerful movements!

Next, we move onto intermediate strategy. Intermediate strategy involves the use of counters. It also involves setting up an opponent for the next move. Intermediate strategy is usually the first thing that most beginning students want to learn after they have gotten arm locked or triangled. They get tired of tapping out and want to learn how the blue and purple belts arm lock them so easily. However, they do not understand that this strategy is far too advanced for them. They beginning student must first work on the basic techniques, the coordination of their body, the timing of the basic techniques, sensitivity, basic strategy and then learning how the BJJ game gets smaller and smaller as they train harder and harder. Intermediate strategy is fun, but it requires a functional working knowledge of all basic techniques. If a student has to think about where to put his legs or arms for an arm lock, then he/she is not ready for intermediate strategy. To be able to counter a specific technique, a student must first have a thorough understanding of the original technique. Without this understand, the counter does not have much meaning. It is nothing but a fancy move!

The type of strategy where you purposely lead your opponent into his next move is sometimes referred to as a feint. This strategy involves putting the basic techniques, combinations and strategies together into a pattern that is designed to lead an opponent down an alley where there are a limited amount of choices. To do this requires an extremely high level of skill and patience. Not only must one possess great skill and patience, but he must also be a technician. He must intrinsically know that when he does a certain move, he opens certain doors and closes others. For example, when I am mounted on top of my opponent and I place my left hand into my opponent's collar (for a choke), I allow the opponent to perform the upa technique on his right side. I also allow him the opportunity to perform elbow knee escape on his right side. Intrinsically, I know that if he performs upa, he opens himself up to an arm lock. I also know that he opens himself up to an arm lock when he does elbow/knee escape on his right side. How do I know this? Because I have been through that series of techniques a thousand and one times, and because I have drilled them a thousand and one times, and because I have practiced and drilled the counters to each move a thousand times. That's how I can purposely and confidently place my hand into his collar and wait for him to perform upa or elbow/knee escape on his right side. This is intermediate strategy.

Next, we must move onto the development of mental attributes. Mental attributes, just like physical attributes, fuel your techniques. Mental attributes, such as focus, concentration, determination, pain tolerance, the will to survive and patience are what fuel your physical attributes. Some times, mental attributes are more important than physical attributes. Mental attributes give you the edge you need in those tight and uncomfortable situations. Have you ever heard of the mom that lifted an overturned burning car to save her child? Well, that was mental attributes in action. Granted, it is an extreme example. However, I must point out that the mind is a very powerful tool and should not be overlooked in training. The development of mental attributes will play a big part in a person's overall effectiveness in Jiu Jitsu!

Finally, we come to advanced strategy. This is where you put it all together: technical knowledge, the coordination of your body parts, the timing of your techniques, sensitivity, basic and intermediate strategy, precise movements, as well as physical and mental attributes. Your previous training has lead you to this stage of training: advanced strategy. Because of your vast experience and disciplined approach to training, you are now able to think and plan ahead of your opponent. Granted, things may not go as planned, but you are prepared for the worst. Your experience, disciplined training habits and unrelenting spirit has put you in a class by yourself. You can not only think for yourself, but you can also think for your opponent. This is the level where most of your techniques are performed without thought. You simply respond to a given stimuli out of habit. Why? Because you have been there a thousand times before. You are now set free from thinking and can focus on what you feel. Based on what you feel, you are able to predict the next series of movements from your opponent. Jiu Jitsu has now become a highly strategic chess game that you play in your mind and feel in your skin. You have forgotten more variables than most brown belts know. When someone ask you what to do in a specific situation, you immediately responds with the correct answer. When they begin to ask you how to counter that move, you interrupt them and by showing them not only the counter, but five counters ahead. Jiu Jitsu is now a feeling, not a thought!

It takes years and years of consistent, disciplined practice to reach this obtainable level. Some reach it before others, and others never reach it. What's important is that a person understand the path that lies before them and that they give their best effort to attain it!

I hope that you have gained insight by reading this article. I wish you all the best in your training!

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu In Action ( Royce Gracie )

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Technique Class

Well class proved to be rather difficult last night, for me anyway. Anybody I went up against in our guard passing drills probably had a pretty easy time. All started well when I was passing others guards but when I was put in the middle and others were trying to pass my guard I struggled very badly. Everything I tried failed. Generally it doesn't take more than 30 seconds to a minute for a person to either get submitted or to pass the guard but I struggled with one opponent for about 5 minutes. I couldn't scissor sweep him which is generally my goto move if I am struggling with someone. He also couldn't pass my guard. He would get it open but I would get it closed back up pretty quick so we weren't getting anywhere. Every attack I tried failed, I went for chokes, armbars, and the kimura to no avail. I tried almost every submission I know from the guard but I couldn't get any to work. It finally ended with me getting the sweep after 5 previous attempts. After this long drawn out battle I couldn't make a fist with my right hand because it was so sore from gripping his collar. This made me easy work for everyone that followed I couldn't stop a single person from passing my guard. It was pitiful. I then went back to attempting to pass others guards and I couldn't pass anyone's guard so I repeatedly got submitted. I think this is the worst I have ever felt after a class mentally. I just felt like I really haven't learned anything. Even the moves I thought I knew I realized I really don't know very well. Hopefully things will come together better Friday.

Analysis Of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Part 6) from BJJ.org

Learning and practicing submission holds is one of the funnest parts of learning Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. What's even funner is making the opponent tap to an arm lock, choke or leg lock.

To be proficient at submission holds, one must be proficient in the following areas:

1. The mechanics of each submission
2. The positions of control that accompany the submissions
3. The transitions that occur between the positions and submissions
4. The physical attribute of sensitivity
5. An understanding of the principles involved with joint manipulations and chokes

Learning the mechanics of submission holds is so important to develop good submission skills. I have seen numerous grappling matches where an aggressor tries to effect a lock, yet struggles with getting it on just right. He fumbles, and the opponent escapes. Why? Poor mechanics. He had an basic idea of how to do a lock, but he used strength to apply the lock. If he'd had good mechanics, his opponent would have tapped and he would have been declared the victor.

Learning the mechanics of a specific joint lock is more important than anything else. It lays the foundation for your understanding of specific limb placement and the use of leverage. Knowing the mechanics of a specific joint lock is also important because contained in the mechanics are the escapes. (And we all know how important it is for us to know how to escape a submission hold.)

Finally, learning the mechanics will help you at the intermediate and advanced levels of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Intermediate level Jiu Jitsu is nothing more than putting the basics together into numerous two and three technique combinations. However, once you begin to put these basics together into two technique combinations, you must maintain the integrity of both techniques as well as the transition, otherwise, you leave your opponent a chance to escape. For example, an arm lock has six different components to it and a triangle has seven. To put those two techniques together into a combination, one must coordinate sixteen different components (six for the arm lock, seven for the triangle and three for the transition between both submission holds). That's a lot of stuff to remember and coordinate. If you can not coordinate all of the above components, you must stick with learning and mastering the basic mechanics. Also, if you can not coordinate all of the above components, it means you must fill the gaps in the mechanics with speed, power, strength and explosiveness. Now, there¹s nothing wrong with filling the gaps with speed, power, strength and explosiveness. All it means is that you better not grapple with anyone who's bigger, stronger, faster, more explosive and as equally skilled as yourself. Otherwise, you're gonna end up real tired, real quick.

The second thing you must devote yourself to learning are the positions of control that accompany the submission holds. Contained within the mechanics are the control positions that allow you to maintain positional dominance over your opponent. When you opponent frees himself from your grip, you must learn how to adjust your body to maintain control over his body without relinquishing your hold on the submission. You must also learn how to deal with those walls of resistance that present them self as you go for the submission (e.g. while attempting an arm lock on your opponent, he grabs his forearms with both of his hands and pulls his arms to his chest.)

Next, you must learn how to control the transitions that occur between the positions and submissions. When you find yourself locked into a position of control and dominance, you feel secure. However, as soon as you begin to go for that submission hold, you struggle with the thought of giving your opponent too much space to escape. Or, you struggle with the thought of taking your weight off of your opponent too long which will also give him an opportunity to escape. So, what do you do? You wait and wait and wait and wait, hoping your opponent will give you his arm or neck. OR, you ballistically shoot for the arm or neck, only to find yourself on your back again, wishing you had not gone for it. Well, all this ads up to is your unfamiliarity with transitions and your inability to set your opponent up.


Transitions are very important to your BJJ game. You must have them at high levels. Too many people become focused upon the positions and the submissions and ignore the transition that occur between the two of them. Just as you practice holding someone down from the mount, and just as you practice finishing a spinning arm lock from the mount, you must also practice the transition that occurs between the two.

The next thing to train is the physical attribute of sensitivity. Sensitivity is the ability to read and feel pressure. Once you obtain this attribute and can apply it from every position, it will make your game much easier. Especially against much larger and stronger opponents. Additionally, sensitivity is one of those attributes that is easily maintained. Unlike speed and power.

Finally, you must have a firm understanding of the principles involved with joint manipulations and chokes. When you apply a joint manipulation or choke, you are applying a certain amount of pressure on a specific location, at a specific angle. If you change the angle of pressure, you make the lock ineffective. If you change the position of leverage, you make the lock ineffective. The same applies with chokes.

As you can see, learning how to effectively apply a submission hold is an uphill battle. You will encounter a variety of difficulties along the way. But keep going, it's worth the battle. When you can repeatedly make muscle bound guys tap with greatest of ease, you will feel proud of your accomplishments. Don't worry so much about that big monstrosity in your BJJ class. He is the exception to the rule. He knows the same BJJ that you know. Focus on the new students that come into the class. The ones that are muscle bound. If you can make them tap, you have a lot to be proud of!

I remember the first bodybuilder I made tap. He was 6'2", and weighed 315 lbs. He was a high school wrestler to boot. His curiosity led him to my school and we rolled. He took me down and I placed him in my guard. He put his hands on my shoulders to pin me down and I took his arm and made him tap like an experienced conga player. he asked to go at it again and I obliged him. He took me down again and I immediately placed him into my guard again. He reached under my leg to pass my guard and I triangled him. Again he tapped. He asked to go again and I said, "SURE!" (Smiling like a Cheshire cat!) I took him down this time and mounted. He rolled over to his knees and I choked him. He tapped again, but this time he was angry! He said, "You can't do that!" I said, Sure I can. I just did." He said, "That¹s not allowed in wrestling." I told him, "Of course it isn'¹t. That's the Jiu Jitsu stuff you said would never work on you. How did it feel?" He said, "Man, I've never felt anything like that before. Can you teach me some of that Jiu Jitsu stuff?" Sure, I said. I'll never forget that day. I was still a blue belt at the time.

So my point in saying all of this is:

* Learn and master your mechanics
* Learn and master the positions of control
* Learn and master the transitions that occur between the positions and submissions
* Develop the physical attribute of sensitivity
* Develop your understanding of principles

They will turbo charge your current skills!

Gracie Jiu Jitsu History on FSN

Good video about the history of BJJ and the UFC

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Technique Class

Well class went well last night even though I am still struggling with our 45 minutes of cardio. The bear crawls are the worst as we have to do about 10 laps around the edges of the mats and our gym is pretty big. Apparently the cardio used to be much more intense in the past so I guess I can't complain too much. The problem is it never gets any easier, as I get in better shape I am able to complete more of the cardio without having to stop. At least I am losing some weight and getting fit. Last night we worked on techniques from the butterfly guard which is new to me. I have seen it used but I have never used it in class before as it seems like it would make it easy for your opponent to pass your guard. I definitely think it is an advanced guard as I can't even keep anyone in my closed guard for very long. We worked on guitine chokes and sweeps from the butterfly guard which were very effective but very time sensitive. The slightest mistiming made the moves very difficult to execute. Rodrigo made a good point last night by saying, "most jiu jitsu moves look very easy from the outside but are extremely difficult to execute properly." Right now I try to muscle through the moves instead of using good technique which would make the moves very easy to execute. Unfortunately it is much easier said than done as there are so many small details that must be executed perfectly as I have said many times before in other posts. The road to success with Brazilian jiu jitsu is going to be much longer than I initially believed, I hope I can stick to it.

Analysis Of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (Part 5) from BJJ.org

Submission And Strategy
Learning is a process of time and effort. This process begins with the simple knowns of life and progresses endlessly towards the very complex unknowns. When a child learns mathematics, he begins with a very simple known value system. He learns how to count from one to ten by using his fingers and toes. Once he can comfortably and confidently maneuver around these simple things, he can then be introduced to more complex things like counting to one hundred. Once proficiency is achieved at this new level, he can then be introduced to basic arithmetic (which is the idea of putting the basics together into numerous combinations). Once his grasp of basic arithmetic has grown to a high level, he can then be introduced to more complex mathematics like algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus. This is the process of learning mathematics. This is also the process of learning anything in life, especially Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

The starting point in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is positional escapes. It is your value system, your foundation. Without this foundation, everything else you learn will not have meaning or substance. If you can not escape from an inferior position, you will never be able to control or dominate your opponent. You will have to resign yourself to always being on your back. Always trying to escape but never quite succeeding. Positional escapes must be your starting point because it will give you the ability to get off of your back and onto a top position. Plus, it will give you the power to further your education in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with things like positional dominance, submissions and counters.

Once you have built a solid foundation in positional escapes, you can then move onto positional dominance. The building block of positional dominance will lay the foundation for your study of submissions. If you can positionally escape and dominate your opponent at will (meaning any time you damn well please), then you will be able to repeatedly try submission after submission without regard to whether or not they escape the hold. For example, if your opponent escapes your attempt at an arm lock, oh well, you'll just pull him back into your guard, sweep him and do it all over again. If he escapes again ... yawn ... you'll flip him onto his back and try it from a different angle. Positional dominance, along with positional escapes, will give you the confidence to be able to do this. That's why it is the second building block along your path to submissions and set-ups.

Your next building block is learning the specific mechanics of each submission hold. The mechanics of each submission are what give you the leverage to be able to arm lock, leg lock or choke a 325 lbs. athletic, body builder with ease and finesse. Mechanics are made up of two thing: 1) the specific position your body must be in to control your opponent while you place him in a submission hold and apply leverage to a specific joint or appendage, and 2) the correct angles at which you apply and maintain pressure on the joint or appendage you are manipulating. Once you understand the how's, where's, when's and why's of submissions, the rest is easy.

Now before I move on to the next building block, I must interject something here. You must take these three beginning building blocks (positional escapes, positional dominance and mechanics of submission holds) and master them before even attempting to think about set-ups. Why? Because the set-up portion of the game is very intellectual. You can't be physically struggling with an escape from an inferior position or the mechanics of an arm lock, while at the same time trying to formulate a "what the hell am I gonna do next" strategy. You must be in absolute command of your positional skills, as well as your mechanics of submission holds, before you begin the very mental game of set-ups and strategy.

Now, when it comes to set-ups, you have to play a lot of the "what if" game. You have to take your training partner aside and do a frame by frame analysis of the game. When your opponent or training partner offers you resistance in one direction by slamming shut a door of opportunity, you need to take the time and look around to find the other door of opportunity that exists. Up until this point in time, your learning process should have taught you that there are always two sides to every coin. So there must be at least two doors of opportunity in every situation. All you need to do is take the time during your training sessions and find them. Yes, an instructor can show them to you, but you must take it upon yourself to find them. Here's an example of what I mean. If my opponent were to lift his head up while I was trying to apply a triangle on him, I would simply flow into an arm lock. Why? Because the specific energy or pressure that he gave me was conducive to me taking his arm. He was leading me into an arm lock. If when I tried to arm lock him from that triangle position by throwing my leg over his face and he ducked his head under my leg, well, I'd flow right back into the triangle.


So when he lifted his head up to counter one submission hold, he led me into another one. When he lowered his head down to counter another submission hold, he led me into another. My opponent could not simultaneously lift and lower his head at the same time. So, as my opponent chose to close door "A", I made a bee-line to go through door "B". When he saw me making a bee-line for door "B", he tried to close door "B" instead. Either way, I was gonna make it through one of those doors of opportunity sooner or later.

So, when it comes to set-ups, you must realize that you are talking highly complex issues! This is not the kind of stuff you talk about with children, but with University Professors. So now that I have made you a University Professor, you should not ask childish questions that relate back to positional escapes, positional dominance or the specific mechanics.

For the person who is concerned with setting up an arm lock on a highly talented, equally skilled and knowledgeable individual, they should first be able to setup an arm lock on a unsuspecting and unknowledgeable individual like taking candy away from a baby! If they can not do this, then they are not ready for this complex issue. Setting up an arm lock on a highly talented, equally skilled and knowledgeable individual is a very difficult task. It is one that can be done, but it can be a lengthy process.

You must start the process by establishing control of his body. Once you have established control, you must determine his skill level by what you feel. Next, you must begin you the process of attacking a joint or his neck. Should you encounter physical resistance (meaning power or strength), you just have to wait it out because he will tire in a minute or two. Should you encounter technical resistance (meaning he knew a technical counter to your submission attempt) you should flow into the submission hold he is leading you into without giving up control of his body. Following someone's pressure is like water finding the path of least resistance. It is there, it just needs to be found.

Yes, you can plan ahead and try to stay ten moves ahead of your opponent, but that usually doesn't work. Why? Because you're doing Brazilian Jiu Jitsu kata. You may think you can plan what your opponent is going to do, but if he surprises you, then you'll find out that your kata was your worst enemy. It misled you into battle. You must not plan on doing this and doing that. You must learn how to respond to what pressure your opponent gives you. If you always try to force an issue, you will one day more than likely encounter an issue that is a lot bigger and stronger than you can force. Then what will you do? You'll probably get tired and panic, expend more energy than you really had to, and maybe even lose the fight. Maybe luck will be on your side and you will win the fight. But you will have spent so much unnecessary energy that you will be unable to continue fighting other fresh opponents.

Your planning, strategy, and set-up must happen during training. You must address every little nook and cranny of the issue at hand before testing it out in live action. You must also have an instructor who is willing to share with you the flowchart of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. You must see and learn how each technique has several individual counters, and you must learn and memorize each and every counter. Then, you must see and learn how each and every individual counter has several counters to it. For example, if I were to show you a simple arm lock from the guard, and then show you ten (10) different counters to that one arm lock, you would say WOW! Then, if I took each individual counter and showed you five counters to each of them (i.e. five counters to counter #1, five counters to counter #2, ..., five counters to counter #10; fifty counters in all), your mind would be blown. And then if I asked you to memorize them for your up-coming match with Jean Jacque Machado, you'd think I was crazy! Well, welcome to the intellectual world of set-ups and strategy. It is a world of complex factors and exponentials!