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Archive for July, 2004

Doing Something is Better than Doing Nothing

Monday, July 26th, 2004

Too often martial artists fall into the trap of being unable to do their regular routine and as a result do nothing at all. Getting back in shape after these layoffs is always a long and difficult process.

Say your work requires you to travel for a month at a time: don’t give in to inactivity – do something, do anything!

* Go train at another school (click here to check the worldwide grappling school directoryat grapplearts.com)

* If your hotel has a fitness room then do cardio one day and lift some weights the next (I guarantee you’re not missing much on TV)

* Read my article on training when training partners are hard to find

If your club is shut down for a long holiday break:

* Do some cardio-kickboxing or start jogging

* Hook up with other grappling addicts and have some informal training sessions

If you are injured find a way to work around it:

* If you can’t lift weights then work on your cardio.

* If you can’t work on your cardio then lift weights.

* Train your mind – watch classes, read books, search the internet.

Doing something is better than doing nothing. Staying busy keeps you in training loop and makes sure that you don’t become another ‘Couch-Fu’ expert. By doing something even peripherally related to your martial art you may learn something new. Who knows, maybe you’ll find that the change of pace even helps your training!

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The Leglock Debate

Monday, July 19th, 2004

Many Jiu-jitsu schools discourage, and even disallow, the use of leglocks while sparring. They argue that leglocks are a ‘cheap’ technique, and/or are unsafe, and/or prevent you from developing a good guard passing game.

I respectfully disagree.

The ‘cheap’ label gets used for new and unfamiliar techniques. There was a time when kicking someone was considered cheap and dirty – now with a more educated public it’s considered a cool way to knock someone out (thanks Bruce Lee).

Are leglocks dangerous? Well, it depends. All submission holds are dangerous if applied in a ballistic manner and without control, regardless of whether they target the knee, ankle, shoulder, elbow, wrist, etc. Ankle locks, compression locks and kneebars are fairly safe, if applied with control.

Leglocks that TWIST the knee and ankle, such as the heel hook or toe hold, are definitely dangerous. These twisting leglocks have a very narrow safety margin: the onset of pain is often indistinguishable from onset of damage to the joint. Be very careful if you use these techniques – always being ready to release them if your opponent starts flailing or refuses to tap.

Now I agree that novices who concentrate on leglocks a lot tend not to be great guard passers. However most leglock specialists eventually figure out that they need to make their game well rounded, and then work on developing their guard passes. They get to the same place just via a different route. After a certain point leglocks and guard passing actually complement each other: for example you might fake an ankle lock and then go for the guard pass.

Leglocks are becoming much more popular in competition. To learn the offensive and defensive aspects of a technique you NEED to include it in your sparring. If the knowledge stays theoretical (i.e. you are shown the counters but never get to use them on the mat) you will never hone the sensitivity and awareness to defend leglocks at a high level. Without the threat of leglocks many beginners develop unrealistic guardwork, leaving their legs WAY too exposed. Without the threat of leglocks how will you ever learn to defend them properly?

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Favorite Grappling Quotes

Monday, July 12th, 2004

Here are some of my favorite quotations with some relevance to the sport and science of grappling

“No plan of action survives contact with the enemy” – Military Proverb

“I am a shark, the ground is my ocean, and most people can’t even swim.” – Rickson Gracie

“A good plan executed violently today is better than a perfect plan executed at some indefinite point in the future.” – George Patton

“A goal without a plan is just a dream” – New age maxim

“Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid.” – Col. David Hackworth

“Trust, and then verify.” – Russian proverb

“Hard pressed on my right. My center is yielding. Impossible to maneuver. Situation excellent. I am attacking.” – Ferdinand Foch at the Battle of the Marne

“Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you” – Gypsy saying

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T.R.I.G.

Monday, July 5th, 2004

It is a long path from first learning a technique and mastering it so that it is instinctive and effective. Erik Paulson has a great method to master techniques: it’s called TRIG. It’s his key to developing skill with a given technique, be it a submission, a pin escape or a guard sweep

T = Technique. First you have to learn the technique. Where do your arms and legs go? How do you develop power? What do you do if your opponent counters your technique.

R = Repetition. Now you have to go and repeat the technique until your body understands it as well as your mind does. This can involve doing hundreds of repetitions, so lets get to work.

I = Isolation. Now you use the technique in isolation. Maybe you are working on escapes to a particular position, so start every sparring session pinned in that position. Another example might be deciding only to use one submission, say the triangle choke, when sparring people of lesser skill than you.

G = Grappling. Now you can incorporate that technique into your grappling arsenal!

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Doing Something is Better than Doing Nothing

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