Video of recent no gi comp.

[michaelwbray]

Entered a no gi comp recently. Got beaten on points 4-2. I got taken down twice, I scored a sweep. I was getting frustrated as he was quite content to stall. Any feedback would be great!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1WiaEK4wmA

[Twister-Australus]

the whole way through that video i was thinking "rubber guard" it would have been perfect. I don't know where you are with flexibility but i think it would be worth spending some time on, especially if you want to do more no-gi events. :D ...maybe try out the lockdown too.

[Oneiros]

yeah me too...

"Go to Rubberguard"
"Break him down" ^^

[michaelwbray]

Yeah - Nearly everyone that competed in the comp was using rubber guard actually. I know what you mean though. I needed to be much more offensive in guard with him. In hind sight I wish I had of just tried to stand up from guard and tried for a take down or tried to do a head snap and take his back or something.

[batsugan]

Work on your sprawl and takedown defense.

[outlawz]

yup... x3...

that dude was breaking down his posture for you and made really zero attempts to pass your guard....

Versus you sweeping him, I think you should work on making your full guard and half guard more offensive (Rubber guard's forte).... I try to make my full guard a place my opponents DO NOT Want to be..... that guy seemed content to just lie on your chest....

Other than that if RG isn't where you are comfortable learn a few more sweeps.... I think a windmill sweep would have been available a few times.. Also called a flower sweep in some schools.....

[CEB]

Good job getting in there and having a go.

Are you primarily a gi player?

You had no luck establishing any sort of control while standing. Just some things I was thinking when I watched the clip was:

- Maybe consider working more out of a box stance until your sprawl defense gets stronger. If you can't get the legs back quick enough that leading foot can be a big weakness.

- Work on tie-up control and pummeling drills. Control his posture and don't let him control yours. When you step back make sure your footwork is being done on your terms. Everybody probably has different comfort zones and personal styles. I like to tie up and work with my forehead against my opponents forehead and make use of head pressure. Find a style that allows you to establish control.

- Maybe ignore my 2nd idea and go some other strategy. Maybe work on changing levels and developing a strong doubleleg. I guess my main point is you need to establish control and generate some offense from standing. The best takedown defense is to take him down first.

- Develop a really strong sprawl.

But that is just me. I'm no expert so take my comments for what they are worth. I hope some of it made sense.

Thanks for posting the video. Stuff like this gets to think about my own game.

[michaelwbray]

What I learned from this comp is that I really need to work on my take downs and take down defense. I am very much a gi player and guard puller.

In class I have a very offensive guard. Whenever I enter comps I tend to freeze up and not want to go for anything from there. I don't know what it is about comps that is making me do that, as I don't feel nervous walking out there.

[cchi]

How was it 4-2? I only watched it once, but i didn't see the sweep. (edit: nvm saw the sweep)

I saw 2 hip bump attempts, but he was postured down on you...you'll never get that sweep off when their base is low. The 2nd one was a decent try, and he posted out with his hand...you could have gone back to a triangle from there (Ryan hall has a great vid on this triangle setup)

He made no attempt to pass your guard, but you made no offensive attempts either. Also, after he stuffed your hip bump he didn't pass to side which was pretty sad.

Also why does it look like you're scared to clinch? If you're a guard player, it's the best place to jump guard from...backing up and slapping at him is going to put you in a worse position if you don't have good take downs or defense.

edit: And all the people saying "RG" would be good here...NO. Fundamentals would be better. RG is designed to break down the posture and have a free hand...his opponent was already laying on him...why would you tie up 1 of your hands and 1 leg to hold him down when he's already doing it for you? I know this is a submissions101 forum, but god damn.

[michaelwbray]

I like going for the triangle when they post out the hand as a defense to the hip bump. I was drilling that move a lot in a the last few months (learnt it from the ryan hall dvd).

[CEB]

....
Also why does it look like you're scared to clinch? If you're a guard player, it's the best place to jump guard from...backing up and slapping at him is going to put you in a worse position if you don't have good take downs or defense.
....
Yes. If you can get comfortable in the clinch and learn to control the clinch you don't have to pull guard. You can make some great things happen. Everyone is faster than me so when you take away the gi if I can't control the clinch I am screwed.

My favorite move this month is arm drag take the back and toss the guy backwards over my near leg ( quasi tani otoshi ). Then go to mount or side control to TSC to Mount etc... I love that arm drag move right now. But controling the clinch is a wonderful thing. You have LOTS of options.

[michaelwbray]

When we do BJJ we start on our knees 98% of the time. I need to get a lot more practice is starting from standing up to do better in comps I think.

[AJ]

What I learned from this comp is that I really need to work on my take downs and take down defense.

Yeah, same thing happened to me. I thought I could just snake people down and work them from the bottom.

But then I discovered that my tournament had an Ipon rule in addittion to standing restarts when it stalled into a stalemate.

So guys just took me down, stalled for the restart, and took me down again ultimately outscoring me. I definitely didn't approach the rules intelligently.

[michaelwbray]

Yeah - some comps down here now make it negative one point if you pull guard.

[Oneiros]

Is it just me or is it that many a class neglects the standup game (throws clinches etc)?
Even in the Gracie Barra I go we start from our asses most of the time...
Well I dont care because we do lots of stand up in our JJJ classes (we even have lots of "throws without grabbing the Gi" things)...
but I miss this sometimes in BJJ classes

[CEB]

We start from standing a lot now. The first year or so we always started from the knees but now that our GB academy is old enough and big enough to seperate classes by experience level we do a lot more standing working. Different GB schools are probably done differently though.

[AJ]

Is it just me or is it that many a class neglects the standup game (throws clinches etc)?
Even in the Gracie Barra I go we start from our asses most of the time...
Well I dont care because we do lots of stand up in our JJJ classes (we even have lots of "throws without grabbing the Gi" things)...
but I miss this sometimes in BJJ classes

Same here, primarily due to the lack of available mat space during classes. After that last tournament I am definitely dedicating the next few months of my game to sprawl control and a handful of takedowns from the clinch and shoot.

I could either cry and complain about the rules or just eat a fat slice of humble pot pie and fix the massive leak in my game.

[10thPJJPractionerNVCC]

i think him pulling rubber guard would be more effective, It doesn't matter if the guy's posture is down already, but there are soooo many more attacks from rubber guard that you'll keep your opponent wondering. the invisible collar itself is dangerous,even the PUMP would work, Croc will work... there's sooo many moves to pull.

but real talk, good job still though for competing, i'm proud of you bro. keep up the great work. Practice is a key, keep drilling and "try" to add up more guards/sweeps/control in your game and i'm sure you'll do great.