Starting strong in BJJ

Starting strong in BJJ

Starting strong in BJJ is essential to dictating pace. Start strong to finish strong! In any session of Jiu-Jitsu, whether in the gym or on the big stage, there are constant cycles of contact. Fighters or competitors will engage with each other, make physical contact and exchange various moves and tactics. In the vast majority of cases, neither person will be able to get a decisive finish and they will eventually break contact and then the whole cycle will begin all over again, with contact, exchange and breaking contact. These cycles continue until either a decisive finish is achieved or time runs out. It is important to understand that this cycle always begins with contact Grip fighting and tactical positioning are keys here. You must enter and make contact in a way that confers the advantage for yourself and negates any attempt by your opponent to do the same. This is soooo important. Don’t be naive and just walk forward into an ambush of grips, tactics and moves. The battle begins before you even grip up with your opponent. Your stance, motion and tactical positioning must correlate with what you want to. Then you must fight for grips, first denying the grips your opponents wants to gain of you and then assert the grips you want on them. Always be dictating the pace of the fight/match. Whoever will the battle of dictating the pace of the fight or match will have the advantage. Look as Coach Ariana Zeppetelli approaches her opponent from top position how carefully she positions his feet and how she denies his opponent a working grip with her legs whilst holding a stance that maximize his options and minimizes those of his opponent. Start the battle early and the victories will come easier. Start late and the defeats will come quicker and harder.