jiu jitsu musings

Well I think my jiu jitsu game is advancing. I say this because I am able to try more with my training partners. I am just not reacting but actively ahead of what's going on. I used to have a very closed guard oriented game and that is not the case now. The ability to bait people, link submission attempts together and a greater mental awareness have all came around a little bit better for me. Giving me a noticeable improvement.

This has also given me the benefit of something very elusive in jiu jitsu, better timing. It is not that I worked on better timing or that I even really do have better timing, but my ability to "see" and predict things while rolling is now in better synch with what my body can do. So while I may not be faster per se, I am better able to time what I am doing.

Now if only my ability to put my weight on people was to magically improve. But I think I might always be at a disadvantage there. Jiu jitsu is nice in that if you are smaller than someone you can still fight them and have an even or better chance. But when you both are good at jiu jitsu then being bigger and or fitter makes a difference. And it seems that in this sport bigger normally mean fitter. As I am only 136 pounds I can only project so much weight or force and when I am doing it against someone bigger than more or of equal or better skill, I just don't get the effect I am after in controlling them.

The flip side to that though is I am getting a little better about feeling the other person's weight. So my escapes and sweeps are starting to happen faster, more crisply.

And when I get better my training partners get better. It is nice to be able to help the white and blue belts out. We all want to be better fighters. And I am going to be!!