Defense first strategy in BJJ
Defense first strategy in BJJ
Having a Defense first strategy in BJJ can be successful. First, identify the potential threat(s) and negate the. Then, go to work. The most obvious and important feature of all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Mixed Martial Arts is resistance. You are expected to impose your moves upon an opponent who is actively resisting your attempts at those moves AND who is simultaneously attempting to impose his own moves upon you. It’s tempting when this occurs to turn this into a battle of wills. If I want it more than the other guy, perhaps I can prevail. Or, I simple expend more strength and energy than my opponent and outlast them. While these approaches can certainly work, they are not an expression of the ideals of Jiu-Jitsu. Instead, look to identify the specific grips and positions your opponent is using on you. Identify what specific dangers they create and begin by first negating those grips and positions and only when you feel they have been nullified, go on to impose your game. Avoid situations where you both simultaneously trying to impose your will on each other, this always degenerates into a dog fight where the stronger and fitter man wins. Rather, begin by robbing your opponent of any means of imposing his moves upon you, and only then trying to impose your own game. Grandmasters Helio and Carlos Gracie always preached and taught Jiu-Jitsu as a self-defense art first. And here at Savarese BJJ Academy,(www.njbjj.com), we follow those teachings. A good example of this is body lock passing. First you begin your guard pass – NOT WITH PASSING, but rather with the shutting down of his opponents butterfly guard by compressing their feet to their butt and locking the hips. Without free movement of the feet and hips the butterfly guard is useless. Then it’s time to think about how you wish to pass. To get the positive results you seek, begin with negation.
