First Tournament - Takedown advice.

[michaelwbray]

Hey guys. I'm entering my first tournament on Sunday 9th December. White belt, 73kg-79kg. I'm nervous because when we roll in training we start on our knees, or butt scoot in, but in the tournament we obviously start standing up.

I have only down take downs in one lesson. I don't really understand how the scorig works either. Any advice on getting a good position from the start, and the points scoring system would be appreciated. My trainers are going to go over the take downs with me a bit - but they are quite busy guys. Elvis Sinosic, my main trainer, is currently in London for a fight Sunday Morning, so I'm sort of reliant on you guys till then.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Ari Bolden]

4 points – mount, back grab
3 points – passing the guard
2 points – take downs, sweeps and knee on the belly

http://www.ibjjf.org/rules.htm

Mike, I posted this on another thread...Ghosted3 asked the same thing.

Here are a couple of tips I told my students on this matter:

1) If you don't feel comfotable with takedowns, there is no rule that says you can't butt scoot in. Force your opponent to come down to your level. This really screws some guys up.

2) You are fighting a 5 minute match so why waste your energy trying for a take down? Take downs and standing grappling uses way more energy than ground grappling.

3) Since you only have 5 minutes per match, you want to get down to business right away. That means getting position and going for the submissions.

4) How is your half guard game?

5) If you are going to try a takedown without gi,there are only a handful that work really well while standing (and that only depends on your opponents counter techniques and how good he is).

You've got to be EXPLOSIVE for the takedowns to work: single, double, inside leg trip or a tai otoshi works well too.



cheers
Ari

[Ghosted3]

Thanks again Ari for the advice, another thing you can try is just pulling guard right off the bat. My takedowns are getting better but my friend who is going to NAGA with me has learned 1 so far. He plans to pull guard every match. Its another option if you are comfortable with your guard game.

[Dannicus]

. I'm nervous because when we roll in training we start .... or butt scoot in..




I think you answered your own question. Like Ari said, there's no rule that says you cant Butt scoot in and it does mess with some peoples rhythm. Plus, if that's how you start in training, you are comfortable with it. Maybe, when you train, your partner could start standing? and you could practice butt scooting in?

Whatever the case, keep us updated. We'll all be rooting for you.

[prodigypenn]

ive seen guys who may not b comfortable with takedowns or throws just jump guard, if ur wearing a gi its easier

[Spidaman]

If you do try for a takedown one key thing to remember is to go through the person. If it's a double leg, single leg or high crotch make sure you shoot right through them. Just think of it as punching. You don't want to punch the target you want to punch through the target. Also stay as low as you can when you guys are standing. Gives less of a target for the other guy to attack and makes it easier for you to defend a takedown. Also it shortens the distance when you need to shoot for a leg which is another bonus. And always keep your head up. Provides more power, helps against guilloteen and if you do get the takedown you won't smash your face in the process :) . BUT as everyone said you can just butt scoot in.

[michaelwbray]

It's a gi tournament. I'm very comfortable with my guard game. A lot of my high percentage submissions come from guard. If I can pull them into guard then I will. I'm going to roll as much as I can with a standing opponent between now and then for practice though. Thanks for the advice guys. I'll let you know how I go with it.

[Hadaka Jime]

But scoot... haha some guys may be very aggresive and throw you back and go for a mount, but if they try this pull a sacrafise throw, just grab the gi in the chest area roll backwards and kick your foot up into the opponent thigh, the faster they come at you the further they fly, so if you but scoot i recomend a sacrafise throw... if they come in slow then pull guard look for subs in open guard or subs from open guard, if you work well in open guard there is a lot of opportunity to sweep, get a sub, and if the opponent trys to pass, close your guard or shrimp with hip movement to hold them in open guard, watch some of shoguns fights when he uses open guard, that is MMA but it is very effective and i do very well for my self with it

GOOD LUCK:D , have fun, breathe and try your hardest, stay calm and if you win you win if you lose you lose... there may be people that are better than you, just try harder and use what you've learned

[Tom Gavrilos]

If you don't know how to wrestle and he does...dont waste your energy just pull guard.

[skitlishis]

Yeah just get on your butt and scoot in. You might want to research the x-guard, gives you a better chance of getting on top in side mount.

[michaelwbray]

Just some feedback incase any other begginers read this read:

After training for this, a couple of techiques that I was able to use effectively in training:

IF you can get double underhooks while standing, squeeze in on the lower back and try to bend them backwards and you can easily walk them forward and end up in mount.

I had more success jumping into guard rather then pulling down into guard. Have collar and sleeve control and really jump high and fast and be explosive when you jump into it.

After training and seeing what feels right for me, I'd love to get those underhooks and go straight into mount. 6 points for the move and be a really nice position.

If I feel like the opponent is weak, try to get his back while standing up.

If I feel the opponent is way too strong, try to jump into guard.

The only advice I can give begginers is to really give it a go in training and see what feels right for you. I'll let you know how I go on Sunday.

Cheers

[Ryan]

In wrestling we always practice changing levels, circling and distractions. This is where conditioning comes in. You should change levels while circling and set up your shots. What I mean by setting up your shots is by giving your opponent a distraction. Grab his wrists and pull them down forcing his body to go forward and by instinct he forces himself back to where he was.... that is when you shoot in. Also, grab his wrists and fling them out to his side, this opens up his entire body to a shot. Another great way to get your opponent off balance is to do head and shoulder taps. While circling and changing levels you can tap him with your hand on his head or his shoulders. This may force him off balance and it opens his legs up for a shot. Be creative, tie up with him and do a duck under. Tie up and squat down and drive forward and grab his ankle for a trip.

[Spidaman]

I don't know if "head tap" is the right wording. It's more of a head snap downwards to put them off balance and instinctively they will posture up giving you that split second for a double,single or high crotch.

[Ryan]

I used the right word. What it is is an open handed tap/slap to the forehead. As long as you don't do it hard it is legal. You want to do it hard enough to piss them off and react

[Spidaman]

Oh a forehead tap. I thought you meant when you have contorl of their neck/head you just snap it down so that they react and have to posture up giving you that split second.

[Ryan]

Oh a forehead tap. I thought you meant when you have contorl of their neck/head you just snap it down so that they react and have to posture up giving you that split second.

That is a good takedown setup as well but I mostly used the head/neck snap to setup the duck under to get behind them.

[tuchek]

I just fought in a tourny, I weighed in at 117 kgs and my opponet was atleast 137. I dont know that many take downs so i tried the one i do know. i got off balance and he took me down landing in side control. we hit the mat so hard he muttered how bad it hurt him.... I was thinking try being where i was. I guess also the other fighters kinda stopped to see the elephants smashing the mat.

I would suggest either the flying guard or scooting in. Its alot safer that way.

[CEB]

Not me. I intend to start competing in Jiu Jitsu in May. I intend to fight for every takedown.

A good O Soto Gari or Harai Goshi where you follow your opponent to the floor driving the forearm into the sternum really help set the pace for your ground control game. Once I have the control I am sort of screwed because I don't know any submissions. :(

But I can lay on people pretty good if I don't have to do anything. I will probably see about doing some ocasional road trips to Pekin to work on my Judo come March.

[Ghosted3]

Ed, let me know when you plan on competing since I am around your size, and I will make a few trips to open mat and help you out with some of your subs. I would be glad to drill a few things with you and help you out.

[CEB]

Thanks a lot I can use all the help I can get.

I wonder if NAGA gives AARP discounts on their entry fees. :D

[Ghosted3]

Let me know which NAGA you plan on going to. Tim (he is also on this forum) and myself are thinking of going to the one in Wisconsin, if it is ever finalized that is.

[michaelwbray]

Had my competition this morning. Got beaten in my first match. My opponent caught me with a quick take down right of the back (shot in for a quick double leg), and landed in side control. He stalled it in side control for about a minute till I worked my way onto my side. Tried to shuffle around into guard, but got rolled over and he got my back.

I defended the rear naked choke well, but he ended up getting me in a collar choke and tapped me out.

All in all I had fun, but I really have a lot of training to do before my next one. Had a lot of trouble escaping side control when he was stalling me there.

Thanks for all the advice leading up to it

[Shotim]

Wll done man, as long as you learned something no one can fault you for losing. My first tournament was so nerve racking I almost wanted to puke before my first match.

[Ghosted3]

Congrats, most of the challenge is stepping onto the mats in the first place. And like Shotim said, if you take something away from it, it is all worth while.

[Dannicus]

When is the NAGA event in Wisconsin? I might make the trip out to watch.

[Ghosted3]

NAGA Wisconsin is 05-24-2008, they have not confirmed the event or location yet, so it is not yet set in stone.

[michaelwbray]

Definately learned from it. Was frustrating having the opponent stalling when in front. Had a lot of trouble escaping from his side control. Was used to opponents trying to submit me when rolling, and I could capitalise on a mistake to get position.

Had a lot of fun - and it really drives home that position before submission message that every instructor teaches. Going to focus on my escapes and sweeps for the next 6 months - submissions will come naturally with good position.

[Dannicus]

NAGA Wisconsin is 05-24-2008, they have not confirmed the event or location yet, so it is not yet set in stone.

Super sweet! Day after my birthday. I'm so there...