Overcoming through technique

Welcome back readers....(silence)...hello? Anyone out there..? No?

Last night was the first night back after last week (life gets in the way sometimes) and I was looking forward to it as, for some reason, I love training with the gi jacket. I guess for a beginner like me it gives me more stuff to hold onto while trying not to be attacked...or maybe it just makes me feel like the ninja I always wanted to be growing up.

The gold ribbon really sets it off

Anyway, I was excited. 

We worked on escaping side mount when the person on top has the underhook (a common position for yours truly)..basically, for any non-jiu jitsu playing readers, it's almost the worst position you can be in. I typically hate this position because there are a few guys in my academy who are similar rank to me but MUCH MUCH stronger and former wrestlers to boot so this position is impossible to break for me using brute strength. I usually end up just defending and defending until I get submitted. I've got a couple of escapes that work from time to time but needed more and needed to understand how to attempt to overcome someone who is so much stronger than me. (I'm about 6'2, 190lbs).

Thankfully, I have an amazing professor at the academy, a Relson Gracie black belt who sees the value in showing proper technique over and over and over again. The escape we worked last night was one we've gone over before but there was a very important piece that I hadn't grasped the first time. 

Pull...don't push. In this case it's with your bottom (inside) shoulder that you pull underneath you to create the base. Combined with a rooted, planted foot, the transfer of energy through a good connection and proper alignment you can't be broken down and it allows for space to be created to establish guard or escape underneath.

It was like someone showed me how to walk. Instantly my game changed. Changed to point that I was not worried about being in side control when we rolled afterward. Confident that given the right timing I not only COULD, but WOULD escape and improve my position. Also, it allowed me to do so being "mellow" (thanks Blue Belt J who kicks my ass). 

One major point that my professor pointed out was that Helio Gracie was NOT some huge, buff wrestler. He was a much smaller man than most and it never stopped him from destroying bigger opponents. Our sport and art is not based on having to be bigger and stronger, it's based on technique, that when applied correctly, essentially nullifies the "brute factor" (pending trademark). 

The GM himself...at around 90 years old.

So what do I take from this? When a technique is not seeming to work for me...ASK WHY NOT. Take the time to go to the professor, express that it's not working against larger opponents and get to the essence of the technique. It's truly a game changer. 

See you after next class...