In doing this,
In this video,
The 80/20 principle says that the 80% of outcome comes from the 20% essential info and efforts or materials that you focus on. You can say in this video, 80% of my attention in clinch fighting techniques and training methods are in this video. Have fun watching and put some time to train them.
BTW, I have a course for this, if interested, please email me at yuriamadin@gmail.com or go to contact page and contact me.
I myself train in it because I love the art. I live the lifestyle and I train for self defense purposes. Royce Gracie was the man that made me and made others want to train. Effectiveness in fighting.
So the question is, what to focus in BJJ Sparring? I need to borrow from Jack Canfield’s formula for success, which is “Event + Response = Outcome”.
Or “E+R=O”. Jack said that the only variable that we are in control is “R”, which is Response. Therefore; in BJJ sparring, you need to first know the “O” or “Outcome” that you want to achieve and plan and train the right responses to it.
For example, if my outcome is to be great at guard retention and submitting from the guard. Then when I spar, i need to put myself in a position where I have to fight from the guard and try to accomplish my outcome, which are guard retention and submissions.
If let say my goal is to sweep from the guard (Outcome), then the response (R) is i need to put myself in a position where I can sweep my training partner from the guard.
Therefore; by having this formula on top of your head, you can now start to use your sparring session in achieving specific outcome in your training, regardless whether your goal is to be the next Mundial champion, MMA champion or just achieving proficiency in self defense skill.
As an every day guy who trains several times a week, I realize that with my limited time, I need to get the most of my BJJ training and progress significantly.
In order to do that I have picked up from Prof Chris Haueter on what I think how one should do to develop BJJ game fast:
1. Positions. When i teach a beginner so that it can later become my good training partner, I always start by teaching them top positions. I would help the person to master holding major top positions such as mount, side control, sixty nine, kesagatame and reverse kesa. Moreover, I also make sure that he or she can moves comfortably from one position to another while holding me down tight.
This type of training will boost the student’s confidence and I ,as a teacher and training partner, can also benefit from isolation sparring, which will benefit us both in performance.
2. Escapes. It is the second most important thing that one needs to master. To teach this, I would usually break them down to several days because they are much more complicated than that top positions.
I usually teach 2 escape techniques from each position like mount, side control, back mount,etc. Then, after drilling it, on that same session, i would ask them to spar in isolation by using the 2 techniques they just learn.
This way they get the chance to pull them off under pressure in sparring. I use progressive resistance where I make sure they experience success first. Then later, i add more resistance and intensity to match their ability to escape.
3. Guard. Both passing the guard and attacking from the guard techniques are probably the most complicated to teach and practice, because they are so many of them.
I usually start by teaching them how to pass the closed guard with 2 ways on how to open the ankles as well as 3 ways on how to pass the guard.
The format is the same when teaching them how to pass the half guard, butterfly guard and spider guard is also: 2-3 techniques maximum and then spar them in isolation.
Fighting from the guard are also complicated. One needs to create 2 minimum simple outcome in fighting from the guard, which are to submit or to reverse the position.
4. Transition is the next thing that one needs to develop. If one is good on maintaining positions, escaping positions and guard, the ability to transition from one position to another is crucial to have in your game. Later you will realize that as you grapple with more experience opponents, often times, transition is the only chance for you to capitalize on getting submissions, reversal and getting more dominant positions.
5. Submissions is the last part. Many beginners often want to jump to submission, but the fact is difficult to pull these off against resisting opponents. Therefore; you need to be strong with your fundamentals of number 1-4 before putting much energy on submissions and escapes from submission.
Thats it, I hope you try these strategies as these have been working for me and for many of my teachers. These fundamental BJJ game plan is what will save you during grappling matches and self defense.
Training Method that Works
How to train efficiently has always been my concern for a long time. I always try to find the best way to train efficiently knowing that I only have several hours to train per week.
That is why the 80/20 Paretto principle is very important for me to use. In this article I will reveal 2 training methods that I think it will be useful for you to apply.
The first one is called “Progressive Resistance” and the second is called ” I Method”. I got ” progressive resistance” concept from Paul Vunak, one of the JKD instructor. Basically it is like learning how to write.
In writing, you first learn the alphabet before words. Then you learn how to create a sentences before paragraphs. Only later with enough flight time, you then can write stories, novels, etc.
Same thing with martial arts techniques. Lets use boxing. You first learn the stance and footwork. Even that, there are many footworks, you will probably use one style of footwork. Then, you will learn how to punch and it usually starts with the Jab punch. You learn the mechanics and you practice to hit the mitts and heavy bag. Right after that, you learn how to defend against it with slips and parry.
Once you start to spar, progressive resistance will make you to isolate sparring like jab vs jab, instead of using all punches. The sparring is alive, you get to perfect your techniques and performance in a live environment. Only then you add the cross like jab vs jab cross, and without you knowing it, you’ll be boxing full blast.
This “progressive resistance” format can be used in any type of fight training: kickboxing, clinch wrestling, grappling, weaponry, multiple opponents, etc.
The other is called “I Method”. I also found this method from Matt Thornton, Straight Blast Gym Founder. Alhough similar, i found this method is simpler to apply by anybody to improve their performance. The “I” stands for 3 “I”s: Introduction, Isolation and Integration. I will use the example of grappling to explain.
Introduction part is where you first learn the technique. You learn it well, retain the information and repeat the technique well, even with your eyes closed so that you get it good to your reflex.
Isolation sparring is where you spar in a particular position and try to pull of your techniques against resisting opponent. For example if you learn how to bent arm lock from mount, now try to do it when your opponent escape the mount and resist your efforts.
Integration is where you integrate everything into a sparring match. This is last process after he or she is comfortable in many different isolation sparring. After getting good flight time in many different positions of isolation sparring, one will already understands then game and the outcome that he or she tries to achieve. Integration sparring is like a testing laboratory of your fight performance. Your results from here will give you right feedback on what to work next and improve.
I hope these two training methods are useful for you as they have been useful for me.
I started training martial art because of self defense, but i fell in love with it. I then decided I want to be in it for a long haul. Its about longevity with me. Therefore; there are 2 aspects of martial arts: self preservation and self perfection. Self perfection will help you to be more efficient when you perform your technique and also you get to express yourself better using martial art.
According to Sifu Burton Richardson from JKD Unlimited, performance game is a game that is useful to train both self preservation and self perfection. The outcome of the game is playfulness in martial art. By being playful, you get to achieve self preservation, because the game is functional, and self perfection because you take away the risk of being injured.
For instance, let say you want to practice boxing sparring with a partner and you don’t want to hurt each other. What you can do is play with open hands where if you tap your friend forehead when you throw your jab, that means you score. He, on the other hand, needs to block your jab and throw his own jab to tap you. From here you can tweak it to let say jab vs cross only or jab vs jab cross. Then play a different game such as jab vs jab, but tapping the head and the thigh (real target is the groin) or stomach.
You can also play where the other guy try to clinch and you try not to clinch and just use Boxing. Or let say both of you use lead tools only such as lead hand and lead leg only for light kicking.
As for grappling, you can also use performance game. Remember the word is “performance”, so you want to improve your performance in any area that you want. So, if let say i want to improve my ability to flow from one technique to another in grappling, I can roll without submissions so that takes away the pressure from both of you and just focus on exploring other areas of grapplin when you roll. The result, you get better at flowing from one position to another, escapes, recovery and sweeps.
Later you can work let say on one submission, straight arm lock. Don’t tell your friend, but as you flow roll, you are hunting for that trigger to pull of the straight arm lock. Then you change role. This way, you are using progressive resistance to help each other out so that both of you can benefit.
By taking the risk of being injured away, using performance game you will have more fun and also improving both your self preservation and your self perfection because you are willing to explore and take more risk.