Can we go slow? I haven’t done this in a long time…
Last night I got caught in a submission because I let someone pull the wool over my eyes. This is my public declaration: I won't be letting it happen again!
I'm sure every mat has got them: those people that have an excuse prepared every time they're rolling as to why they might lose a wrestle. They're tired, have a sore [insert arm, elbow, neck, leg, knee... you choose], or just aren't feeling right. What they're saying is that if you manage to beat them it's because they're not rolling at 100%, not because you're doing well.
Our mat's worst offender returned after 15 months off with a blown out knee... or so he claims. It's sad that I'm actually questioning the extent of his injury. He's been a blue belt the entire time I've trained there, which is almost three years. I was awarded my blue a few months back and haven't really had any consistent training since. At the end of the beginner's session last night this particular guy tried to weasel his way off the mat with a whole manner of excuses but Adam wasn't having a bar of it. "Before you leave, you have to roll Matt" was the clear instruction.
He loaded me up with excuses but I just told him "Adam said we have to..." and that I'd go lightly if that's what he wanted.
"Yeah, let's just go light so I can get back into it. It's been 15 months... blah, blah, blah."
I pulled guard and was not really working much, letting him find his posture and not taking the easy sweeps - basic sweep from guard is my bread-and-butter move now. He started to pass using some nasty elbows and before I get a chance to kick it down a gear he's taken my back and I'm protecting from his hooks, but that doesn't stop him from snapping on a massive jaw crank.
He yanked on my lapel with such force that it was pulling my jaw out of its socket. I explained to Aaron that my hearing in one ear was fading in and out as he cranked on it. That's not why I roll, so I tapped for my own safety.
I was really pissed, for two reasons. Firstly, this isn't what we agreed on at the start of the match. If he had've wanted to go hard from the get-go I would have. Secondly, as a new blue, Adam had pitted me against him to see how much skill he's retained and tapping me in the first minute would have made him look better than he really is.
So we get back to our knees ready to start the second roll and he throws out "OK, now we'll go slow" to which I replied "nah, you can't say that and then turn it up - we're rolling full pace now." "Ohh but my knee" he cried and I said I'd leave his legs alone.
I spent a few minutes moving around him from dominant position to dominant position with the intention of annoying him before I locked in the figure 4 and finished the match. I think it's the first time I've tapped him even though I've been close before...
... but he's not feeling 100% at the moment.
Hey Matt, long time stalker first time commenter, I was just wondering about your training. Is that Adam you mention Adam Metcalf of The Academy of MMA?
What kind of protection do you have to wear, I just assumed heavy gis but you mention elbows?
Hi Al,
Welcome to lambie.org ;)
Yeah that’s the Adam I’m talking about. He’s been my coach since I started and I credit him with me loving BJJ so much. He’s a great guy, and a phenomenal grappler.
Some people wear head bras - you know the ear guards you see American collegiate wrestlers wear. Other people have knee braces if they’ve got dodgy knees or just want more protection. That’s more because we start on our knees, so they can get sore. Or if you’re wimp like Aaron (who just bought a new pair or braces).
With respect to “elbows” I was meaning his guard passing. I see from your about page @ mynameisal.com that you’re into martial arts, so forgive me if I’m dumbing this down too much, but here goes. When I’m on my back with my legs wrapped around your waist, then I have you in my guard. There’s lots of ways that someone can pass my guard, that is they get out from inside my legs. The most common one involves sliding a knee to the base or my butt, raising the other leg back and up and dropping your weight back to open my legs. You can then pry with your forearms to open the guard. Some people tend to dig their elbows into their opponents thighs which is considered poor technique - you’ll come across guys that don’t care about that bit of pain and so unless you know how to open a guard properly you’ll be stuck there. I don’t have much respect for people that jam elbows into thighs to open guards.
Ah thanks for that. I had a crazy idea of you guys throwing Tito Ortiz-type elbows. Sounds really pretty intense though. Great to see another fighting developer around too.
It’s all about cuddles in pyjamas.