With only a few hours to spare, I expected to finish writing this article before the Everton and Arsenal match. But my PC caught a virus and I had to disinfect which took 4 hours+. I also had to watch the match which I missed the first half. Arsenal performed quite well with their insane passes but seemed to have become lenient at the last 20 minutes. Everton took advantage with terrifying counter-attacks which paid off when Cahill scored a goal. But Arsenal won anyway with 2 earlier goals, and 1 for Everton.
**********
You can master both football or Jiu-jitsu whether you're 5'4" or 6'10", plus or minus 150 pounds*. I coach football to small children in a poor community. They barely reach 4 feet, yet their headers could launch the ball as high as a basketball ring. Not to bash the other sport but if you're as tall as them, you need extra effort with your hands to launch a ball right into the basket. An airball is useless in basketball. But a header from a midget or a giant would translate to a pass, an assist, or even a beautiful goal! And we haven't talked about feet yet.
In football, the ball is more often dribbled and passed on the ground. Players of all shapes and sizes have an opportunity for possession. And because they cannot grab the ball with their hands (except for the goalkeeper), players have to make do with the rest of their body to keep the ball with them. Try grabbing the ball with your feet, your head, or your back. No matter how short or tall you are, that should take lots of skill. But what about basketball? It starts with a jumpshot so the ball is thrown high in the air where the tallest and the highest leaper would have an upper hand in possession. Tall people rules. Sorry.
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu insists that technique will always prevail over size and brute strength. Well that's true but -- I can't preach it like a gospel truth. Techniques aren't easy to master. It's not like cramming where you just memorize the facts the night before and circle the best answer on the test. You have to practice again and again before you can properly execute them against a resisting opponent. Some moves favor long-legged people (or taller) such as triangle chokes, techniques like the Rubber Guard favor extremely flexible people, while some takedowns and guard passes make champions out of short and stocky people.
Yes size does matter in football or BJJ. So whether you're tall or short, fit, overweight, big-headed, flexible as Plastic Man or light as a feather...use that to your advantage.
Other Things Football and BJJ Have in Common:
1. Brand Names on their Uniforms -- In the Premiere League, stamping brand names on their jerseys was first practiced by Liverpool, which happens to be my favorite club. But it has to be one brand only although it doesn't have to be related to football. Standard-Chartered sponsors Liverpool's jersey. Samsung for Chelsea, AON for Manchester United, Emirates Airlines ("Fly Emirates") for Arsenal, etc.
In BJJ, different brand names are patched all over the gi! Both fighters can have the same sponsor and that's no biggie for them. And all brands are related to Jiu-jitsu and MMA. "Vitamins & Minerals" is not a drug.
2. Both Football and Jiu-jitsu have a reputation for being a GAY sport -- (Future Article)
*And we're talking about competing professionally. Yes, the best goal scorers stand at 5'10" or 6' such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Berbatov, Wayne Rooney, Bale, etc. But there are star strikers as well that stood only 5'4" like Maradona who was Argentina's charismatic coach during the World Cup, his protege Messi is 5'6", USA's star forward Landon Donovan is 5'7", and our very own Paulino Alcantara is only 5'2" yet he's the highest scoring player ever of FC Barcelona.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Scissor sweeps, Hip bump
From this point forward, all techniques will be explained in a right-handed POV, unless otherwise stated.
Scissor sweep
1. From closed guard, grab your op's left collar with your left hand. At the same time pull his left lapel with your free hand and position it to your side. Make sure you are in a diagonal position.
2. Squeeze your bent left leg in a space between you and your opponent's chest.
3. Pull him until you feel his weight. Your body should be bent.
4. Push his left leg with your free leg. At the same time, arch your back (DETAIL)! You should be able to throw his body to your right. You may also pull with your hands to your right if that would help you achieve the technique.
5. This sweep will lead you into a mounted position.
Hip Bump.
1. From closed guard, reach for the opponent's left arm like attempting a kimura.
2. Your attacking arm should wrap around his arm. At the same time, make sure you also grab the tricep with your free arm.
3. Your body would slightly be tilted to your right.
4. Bridge your body to the right.
5. This sweep will lead you into a mounted position.
Scissor sweep
1. From closed guard, grab your op's left collar with your left hand. At the same time pull his left lapel with your free hand and position it to your side. Make sure you are in a diagonal position.
2. Squeeze your bent left leg in a space between you and your opponent's chest.
3. Pull him until you feel his weight. Your body should be bent.
4. Push his left leg with your free leg. At the same time, arch your back (DETAIL)! You should be able to throw his body to your right. You may also pull with your hands to your right if that would help you achieve the technique.
5. This sweep will lead you into a mounted position.
Hip Bump.
1. From closed guard, reach for the opponent's left arm like attempting a kimura.
2. Your attacking arm should wrap around his arm. At the same time, make sure you also grab the tricep with your free arm.
3. Your body would slightly be tilted to your right.
4. Bridge your body to the right.
5. This sweep will lead you into a mounted position.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
What Football and Jiu-Jitsu Have in Common
I may not be able to train next week because I'm having a bad cold. Even if I have fully recovered by tomorrow, I might still be infectious to my team mates. Bummer.
Next topic: Football and BJJ
Next topic: Football and BJJ
Another review for the double leg takedown
I am still having problems with this technique despite my long and arduous training. I knew I've done it correctly. I dived with back straight, hands on the opponents' calves, a bent leg between his legs, my head pushing on his side, then my other leg placed right beside his leg for balance. But I still exerted too much energy where theoretically, I don't have to carry him, just push him sideways. Worse, my opponent's legs kept getting caught on my supporting leg. That opened up opportunities for defense in his favor even if I were able to take him down.
Then I learned from another beginner (I just observed him) that I missed one simple detail. JUST ONE.
But before I tell you, let's review the techniques again. If I stand in an Orthodox stance where my body is diagonally positioned to the right, here are the steps that I've done correctly.
1. Touch opponent's body other than arms to determine distance.
2. Step in with the left foot.
3. In one simultaneous motion: a) dive with your back straight; b) Use left shoulder to bump on opponent's midsection; c) Grab behind his legs (ideally, at the calves); d) Dig your head into his side to your left (that's where you are going to topple him).
4. Your right leg should be stretched behind you. Bring that leg right beside your opponent's left leg.
From this position, I immediately pushed my opponent to the left by pushing his ribs with my head and tossing his legs away from the mat. But my position was too unstable. My opponent felt heavy and he could have had brought his weight forward to take me down instead (But we were performing drills so he did not attempt that trick). To prevent this from happening, let's proceed to No. 5.
5. Place left leg on the direction where you want to take him down (your left flank).
6. Push his side with your head and toss his legs upwards to your right (If you followed no. 5, performing this step would be much easier than it looks).
7. Place your chest on top of his when his body lands on the mat.
That's the problem with grappling arts. Every small detail matters. Treat the techniques like a computer code, a musical piece, a woman to be pleased. A regular joe with no boxing experience can knock out a bully with a lucky punch. But to toss that guy cleanly off his feet? Keep on training.
Code (irrelevant to the article): Get your potbellied pig to mate
Then I learned from another beginner (I just observed him) that I missed one simple detail. JUST ONE.
But before I tell you, let's review the techniques again. If I stand in an Orthodox stance where my body is diagonally positioned to the right, here are the steps that I've done correctly.
1. Touch opponent's body other than arms to determine distance.
2. Step in with the left foot.
3. In one simultaneous motion: a) dive with your back straight; b) Use left shoulder to bump on opponent's midsection; c) Grab behind his legs (ideally, at the calves); d) Dig your head into his side to your left (that's where you are going to topple him).
4. Your right leg should be stretched behind you. Bring that leg right beside your opponent's left leg.
From this position, I immediately pushed my opponent to the left by pushing his ribs with my head and tossing his legs away from the mat. But my position was too unstable. My opponent felt heavy and he could have had brought his weight forward to take me down instead (But we were performing drills so he did not attempt that trick). To prevent this from happening, let's proceed to No. 5.
5. Place left leg on the direction where you want to take him down (your left flank).
6. Push his side with your head and toss his legs upwards to your right (If you followed no. 5, performing this step would be much easier than it looks).
7. Place your chest on top of his when his body lands on the mat.
That's the problem with grappling arts. Every small detail matters. Treat the techniques like a computer code, a musical piece, a woman to be pleased. A regular joe with no boxing experience can knock out a bully with a lucky punch. But to toss that guy cleanly off his feet? Keep on training.
Code (irrelevant to the article): Get your potbellied pig to mate
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Bow and Arrow, Spider Guards, etc.
Correct Position for Bow and Arrow:
1. Rear leg is parallel to the ground and bent. Front leg is bent facing the opponent. Foot is firmly placed on the mat.
2. Arm closest to the opponent should be placed over the front leg. Post your free arm a little behind your body (from bird's eye view, at 5 o' clock of your body).
3. Raise the portion of your bum where your lead leg is aligned (*uhurm* attached) with.
Trick 1:
1. Tap the charging opponent's closest elbow point with your lead arm. Tap it away from your body and slightly grab it.
2. Raise your hips and position on your knees. Take advantage of the momentum to bring opponent to his knees for a back mount.
Trick 2:
1. Same, except grab the gi collar.
2. Post your posting arm further behind you.
3. Do no. 2 of Trick 1 and at the same time force the collar down.
Spider Guard:
1. Grab both lapels and use legs to push your op's biceps (actually an area close to the elbows' bending point).
2. One leg is bent with your parallel arm pulled close to you.
3. The lead leg is extended and planted on the op's bicep area. Don't let go of the op's lapel.
4. Your hips should be tilted towards your lead leg. This will give you a diagonal position.
5. Change positions by shifting lead leg and bent leg right to left, left to right.
6. If you timed this correctly, you can tilt your opponent off-balance.
Anchor:
1. From spider bent leg position, pull your op's arm until your own elbow touches the ground.
2. Wrap your leg around your op's arm. Be sure to wrap leg OVER the arm then hook ankle on op's armpit.
3. Lead leg releases op's bicep area then plant firmly on op's knee. DON'T LET GO.
4. Don't release op's other lapel unless a technique requires you to do so.
Technique 1:
1. When op places knee on your bent leg, he creates a space between his crotch and the mat.
2. Feed your op's other lapel (#4 above) on that space. At the same time, free your wrapped leg and push it forward. It should remain bent when planted on the mat.
3. Grab your op's fed hand with your other hand. Do this simultaneously with no. 2.
4. DON'T LET GO OF YOUR LEAD LEG.
5. Let your body fall on its side (lead leg side) so your other foot can hook to your opponent's foot.
6. Then swing your lead leg towards your other leg. Your body should take advantage of its momentum. At the same time, grab your op's ankle as the momentum would make your opponent fall and you right over him.
1. Rear leg is parallel to the ground and bent. Front leg is bent facing the opponent. Foot is firmly placed on the mat.
2. Arm closest to the opponent should be placed over the front leg. Post your free arm a little behind your body (from bird's eye view, at 5 o' clock of your body).
3. Raise the portion of your bum where your lead leg is aligned (*uhurm* attached) with.
Trick 1:
1. Tap the charging opponent's closest elbow point with your lead arm. Tap it away from your body and slightly grab it.
2. Raise your hips and position on your knees. Take advantage of the momentum to bring opponent to his knees for a back mount.
Trick 2:
1. Same, except grab the gi collar.
2. Post your posting arm further behind you.
3. Do no. 2 of Trick 1 and at the same time force the collar down.
Spider Guard:
1. Grab both lapels and use legs to push your op's biceps (actually an area close to the elbows' bending point).
2. One leg is bent with your parallel arm pulled close to you.
3. The lead leg is extended and planted on the op's bicep area. Don't let go of the op's lapel.
4. Your hips should be tilted towards your lead leg. This will give you a diagonal position.
5. Change positions by shifting lead leg and bent leg right to left, left to right.
6. If you timed this correctly, you can tilt your opponent off-balance.
Anchor:
1. From spider bent leg position, pull your op's arm until your own elbow touches the ground.
2. Wrap your leg around your op's arm. Be sure to wrap leg OVER the arm then hook ankle on op's armpit.
3. Lead leg releases op's bicep area then plant firmly on op's knee. DON'T LET GO.
4. Don't release op's other lapel unless a technique requires you to do so.
Technique 1:
1. When op places knee on your bent leg, he creates a space between his crotch and the mat.
2. Feed your op's other lapel (#4 above) on that space. At the same time, free your wrapped leg and push it forward. It should remain bent when planted on the mat.
3. Grab your op's fed hand with your other hand. Do this simultaneously with no. 2.
4. DON'T LET GO OF YOUR LEAD LEG.
5. Let your body fall on its side (lead leg side) so your other foot can hook to your opponent's foot.
6. Then swing your lead leg towards your other leg. Your body should take advantage of its momentum. At the same time, grab your op's ankle as the momentum would make your opponent fall and you right over him.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Wow...what a vacation
Actually, I didn't have any. I was caught up with the World Cup fever and I almost forgot about BJJ or this site. But I still kept on training at around August. As far as I could remember, I've been able to perform these techniques in a decent manner:
1. Chokes from mount -- Flatten yourself with arm on op's opposite collar. Place head and free arm on the floor. Make an arc on the arm and grab op's free collar. Move body at 12 o clock.
2. Spider -- Hold both arms and legs of op. Use a leg to push body away from op. Then play with the arms. If you stretch your left leg, your body should be angled towards the right, and vice versa. You can create an armbar, triangle, and sweeps.
3. Spider pass -- Tilt the longest leg to the other side and then quash your body on it. Reach for a sidemount but grab arm nearest to the mat to avoid rolling over.
4. Mario Sperry half pass -- Cross face. Then grab outer leg's pant. Use your free leg to place on op's thigh then pull trapped leg free.
That's it for now.
1. Chokes from mount -- Flatten yourself with arm on op's opposite collar. Place head and free arm on the floor. Make an arc on the arm and grab op's free collar. Move body at 12 o clock.
2. Spider -- Hold both arms and legs of op. Use a leg to push body away from op. Then play with the arms. If you stretch your left leg, your body should be angled towards the right, and vice versa. You can create an armbar, triangle, and sweeps.
3. Spider pass -- Tilt the longest leg to the other side and then quash your body on it. Reach for a sidemount but grab arm nearest to the mat to avoid rolling over.
4. Mario Sperry half pass -- Cross face. Then grab outer leg's pant. Use your free leg to place on op's thigh then pull trapped leg free.
That's it for now.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
A cute variation of choke from mount
Perform basic choke except you start with your head on the mat. Then slide in your first hand to the collar. If that hand is your right, place head at 1 o' clock. Use free arm to make an arc from your left to your right flank. You can avoid a sweep this way. Slide your free hand and reach the other collar. Make a sharp 12 o' clock turn to finish the sub.
Neat trick:
If you op defends by grabbing your forearm, just stick out your elbow. Slide your free arm under the space your elbow created and finish the choke.
There is another technique on passing a half guard. But it's too complicated for me to explain. Maybe next time then.
Neat trick:
If you op defends by grabbing your forearm, just stick out your elbow. Slide your free arm under the space your elbow created and finish the choke.
There is another technique on passing a half guard. But it's too complicated for me to explain. Maybe next time then.
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