In BJJ Competitions, You’ve Got to Play Your Game
I hate running late for BJJ Competitions! But it happened yesterday.
After a wreck slowed traffic to a halt and a needed bathroom stop.
I finally made it up to Indy for the competition.
And almost as soon as I walked in, I was told that one of our women, Brittany, would be up soon.
I rushed over to see her and give her and help get her ready.
When I found her she told me she had lost her 1st match but had another coming up.
I asked how she lost.
Her reply was that she was working really hard for the takedown and just couldn’t get anything going.
When she said this, I sort of scratched my head a bit. Knowing that her takedown game was not her A game.
I then asked her. . .
“What’s your best goto position in the gym?”
She grinned a bit knowing what I was pointing out and replied back, “Half guard.”
I grinned back and said, then lets play that. Don’t go for the takedown this time, it’s not YOUR game.
Play YOUR game. Play Half Guard. Don’t go for the takedown just because you feel like you need to.
Her next match soon started and she immediately got her grips and used the Half Guard pull I show in my Wrestling for BJJ series.
Her opponent gave her some trouble but Brittany was able to suck her up into a good Old School Half Guard position.
From there she swept, got dominant position and won 6-0.
Later on that day she took gold in no gi, using her Half Guard pull game and even scored her 1st ever competition sub.
A lot of times with BJJ competitions, people feel like they have to get the takedown in BJJ competitions.
And this simply isn’t true.
While having a good takedown game is a welcome addition to your game for BJJ competitions.
Even then, sometimes someone will be too big or better at takedowns, and you’re going to have to have a Plan B.
Some of the deadliest competitors are bottom oriented fighters who use aggressive guard pulls to fuel their attacks.
But even if you aren’t a takedown person, you ABSOLUTELY need to have options from standing.
And it’s why in my Wrestling for BJJ video series. I include a number of different aggressive guard pulls that go right into attacks and sweeps.
Hope you’re having an awesome day!
I’m headed back to hammock for some reading.
Talk soon!
-Chewy
P.S. The techniques in the W4BJJ Series are the same core techniques I teach my students to bring them up to speed for competitions. It’s the real deal!
