Guard and flexibility

[Ari Bolden]

Andy Wrote:
I was wondering if you had any tips or so on improving your guard/flexibility.. I just don't know what the best kind of drills are for those areas.
EDIT: I'm sort of looking for just one person type of drills.. My classes start again in September for BJJ, but in the mean time I don't know what kind of things I could do to improve my reaction or to just get use to a move by myself. No partner to practice on, and I don't know another alternative.

Dear Andy:

There are lots of drills to get your body ready and flexible. One of the most common things we hear in jiu jitsu is " I'll never be able to do that! You have to be super flexible to do jiu jitsu."

Like any sport, jiu jitsu takes time to work the muscles so they are use to "moving in strange ways." Do you think hockey goalies are able to do the splits right off the bat? Kickboxers aren't born being able to kick someone in the head. It takes time (but we know you know that).

Here is the deal Andy: Instead of writing a 20 paragraph response, I'll put a video together for you on " Jiu Jitsu Stretches and how to improve your flexiblity."

How's that?

I'll post it up on Sunday night.

cheers
Ari

[Andy]

That'll be great... thank you Mr. Bolden, appreciate it =]

[Tom Gavrilos]

Looking forward to seeing that myself.

[webs]

is the guy in the one video woth ari wearing a red belt??? he looks older than 16 so it cant be an orange????

[Andy]

and.. one more thing if you don't mind me asking Mr. Bolden.. what about practicing the moves themselves? Is there anyway to improvise what I have around me for practice, or does it have to be another person.. I know it sounds kind of strange.. but in my situation.. I have no around me that I can practice with.. no one wants to participate..

Thanks again,
Andy

[Ari Bolden]

Andy..call me Ari! (we're all friends here...unless we are on the mat and you can call me grandmaster ...j/k :) )

I'll add a video "drills for individuals" as well. I am surprised you haven't found anyone to practice with. All it takes is a poster on the local gym or coffee shop and I''m sure you can find someone....

Or..better still...buy one of the BJG shirts they sell here and wear it..people will come up to you and ask " Do you do Jiu Jitsu?"

:)

cheers
Ari

[Tom Gavrilos]

Or..better still...buy one of the BJG shirts they sell here and wear it..people will come up to you and ask " Do you do Jiu Jitsu?"

Yeah what he said!:p

Honestly though that is a fast way to get questions about BJJ...just wear one to the gym happens EVERY SINGLE TIME.

[Andy]

Haha.. I'll do that when I'm better at jiu-jitsu... =] Thanks a lot Ari.. I really appreciate your time and help.

[Ryan]

Yeah what he said!:p

Honestly though that is a fast way to get questions about BJJ...just wear one to the gym happens EVERY SINGLE TIME.

I always get this question..... "WHAT is BJJ?" Then, I tell them and their eyes bug out because it sounds painful.:D

[Andy]

Umm.. haha.. I kind of need advice on this if possible.. I'm 5'9'' and 153lbs., and just for example if I was going to wrestle with someone who was 5'11'' and around 220lbs., should I just stay away from that and decline? or should I just go with it?
I've wrestled with someone around that weight class, and I ended up getting stuck with him on top in the mount position. I had no idea what to do from there, I couldn't get my legs up or even roll. What should I do then?

[Ari Bolden]

Andy:

Always grapple (roll) with people who are different sizes. Bigger,smaller, stronger...whatever....mat time equals tap time.

As you learn more jiu jitsu, you'll start to understand what to do when someone is much bigger than you. There is no magic bullet, only hard work and a systematic break down of ground fighting.

Don't try to over power.
Don't leave your arms out for him to pluck them from your body.
Keep tight.
Shrimp (knee to elbow escape)
The hips are the main things we focus on to keep someone on the ground.
Hip control, hip control, hip control.
Wait for him to give you and opening. Capitalize on a mistake so you can scramble to half or full guard.

Hope that helps a bit!
Ari

[Andy]

Yeah, that helps.. thanks Ari =]
Something else I noticed.. was, when trying to go into moves like the triangle choke, where it involves bringing your leg up, I can't really seem to get my leg completely around the back of their neck.. is it because of flexibility? or am I just in the wrong position, or are my legs too short? I don't know really understand what the problem is.. or if that's really clear the way I explained it..

[Ryan]

Yeah, that helps.. thanks Ari =]
Something else I noticed.. was, when trying to go into moves like the triangle choke, where it involves bringing your leg up, I can't really seem to get my leg completely around the back of their neck.. is it because of flexibility? or am I just in the wrong position, or are my legs too short? I don't know really understand what the problem is.. or if that's really clear the way I explained it..


Andy, I started stretching EVERY day. Its like a car. You keep it in the garage all winter until Spring and it runs shitty for a few weeks or it breaks down and you have to repair it. BUT.... if you go out to your garage once or twice a week and let it run for 5 minutes you shouldn't have any trouble come Spring. Practice makes perfect.

[Ari Bolden]

Andy:

Notice the angle of my body...angel out to get a better choke

http://www.submissions101.com/chokes9.htm

[Andy]

Ahh, I see.. haha.. sorry for my stupid questions.. thanks again Ari..

[Ari Bolden]

The only bad or stupid questions are the ones you DON'T ask...
cheers!

[Andy]

I just meant I should've at least gone through the videos to check for myself.. don't know how I missed that.