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Wanna Roll? You Talkin’ To Me? Well I’m the Only One Here – BJJ Deep Thoughts

Ah, yes, the constant question in BJJ: “You wanna roll?” Perhaps the nicest challenge (or occasional threat?) we regularly receive or make. Countless articles have been written on how to roll from a flowing and “playful” perspective to hard core competition training. Here is a WELL-BALANCED POSITION. On the farthest ends of the spectrum it has even been portrayed as an argument. Check this no-holds-barred side of the argument out from BJJEE.COM. I suppose it is an obligation as a regular writer in the BJJ blogoshpere for me to put some of my own thoughts on the screen.

It’s All About Respect

I believe that perspective is everything and this should be taken into account in any situation where we are going to test and push ourselves and someone else beyond levels of comfort. Of course, we have our own perspective (I will get into that in a moment). More importantly, we should consider our partners’ perspectives. Nobody wants to be a jerk, but let’s face it, nobody wants to get crushed either—and so this becomes a crucial balancing act. After all, the reason we are training in BJJ is to come out of a fight as the victor. In rolling we just want to do so while earning or maintaining our opponent’s respect. Here is a quick checklist I run through regularly on the mats:

Do I know my opponent?

This can include anything from knowing them as a friend, a close teammate, regular sparring partner, or we just met today. Friends usually get a little tougher treatment (and usually dole it out too). Of course, the exact relationship may dictate quite a bit here and is a great starting point. My rule of thumb with unknown opponents is to let them dictate the energy early on and adapt accordingly, while remaining acutely aware of the potential for a high-energy out of control attack from the jump.

Have we rolled before?

Obviously a great source of perspective, but not always as simple as rolling just like last time. Were we both happy with each other’s energy that last time? Was someone injured, frustrated, or otherwise upset during that last roll? Maybe we both let the energy get away from us a bit and while it was okay, we should approach this next roll with a little more control. Maybe we went fairly easy and this is the time to respectfully ratchet it up a notch.

How experienced are they?

Belt rank is a reasonable guide absent of additional data. However, if I have more complete knowledge of their mat time, who they train with, experience in other arts, regular sparring schedule, brand new student, experienced competitor, etc., I find this information far superior than the color of a belt.

What physical characteristics do I know about them?

Size, strength, cardio, athleticism, speed, flexibility, injuries, limitations

What should I not take for granted?

While I use physical characteristics as a guideline, I try not to be too secure in them. Age doesn’t tell you much on its own and I don’t assume a female is inherently weaker. I try to keep size the more defining factor prior to engaging. I also keep in mind that an opponent with a generally non-threatening or even meager look can be a killer on the mats, and a muscle bound freak of nature can whimper and offer little resistance to a properly leveraged limb.

Where are we?

What should I expect for the setting and how might that affect my opponent? The same opponent may roll a little differently in a large seminar format than in the classroom, and expect the same adjustment on my part. Is there a plenty of room or tight quarters that require a more safety-conscious roll? Am I visiting their school or are we on home turf? I always start easier when visiting a school. Is there a bit of an audience or is everyone focused on their own thing?

What is the general culture?

Is this a high intensity school or class? Competition level program or more of a hobbyist level? Does the wall have a “keep it playful” style quote painted on it or walkout fight banners hanging over an MMA sparring cage? Is this a room full of aspiring ammy and pro fighters thick with sweat and humidity or am I the only one sweating among a sea of crisp fresh gis in new fancy colors?

How do they view me?

Perhaps the most important is how they perceive my role. Do they consider me (today, in this moment) a teammate, competition training partner, instructor, higher belt and mentor, or someone to be put in my place? Are they approaching me differently than their previous roll? Maybe they are typically a fairly light roller, but look forward to getting in one hard one before the end of the class. Are they intimidated? Are they expecting to dominate?

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The Gentle Art They Said

Now It’s My Turn

Respecting our partner’s perspective is paramount to being a good training partner. In turn, they should do the same. So, our own perspective is also quite important. I’m going to set “correctness” aside for a little bit as the following is purely my own perspective. In such, I cannot be wrong, even if someone may disagree. That is their perspective. So let me start with something I feel, and that even my own instructors may be disappointed in hearing: I loath the terms that cheapen the deadly aspect of our art. I understand their place in the culture and the lifestyle, as well as in attracting students of all types, you just won’t ever hear me use them with any seriousness. These include (and I feel the thunder cloud forming above my head as I type this ready to strike me down with a bolt of lighting from the BJJ gods): “light rolling”, “flow rolling”, “keep it playful”, “gentle art”, “pajamas”, and so on.

In my defense, I will offer some insight into why I’m not a fan (with full understanding that many people I respect and try to emulate may enjoy these same terms). I understand that these phrases and terms mean different things to different people, so I am not debating that they can have perfectly legitimate reasons for using them. I also am not offended in the least when people do embrace these terms. To each their own.

Begin Rant

I come from a combative school. We train multiple martial arts in a blended curriculum that is 30 years strong. This is not that common; thirty years ago the general martial arts theory was “art vs. art” not cross-training. We have produced US and world champion pro and amateur boxers, kickboxers, savateurs, and Muay Thai fighters. We have champion Kali/Eskrima (stick) fighters. We have had world class Vale Tudo, and Shooto fighters (back in those days). We incorporate competitive and self-defensive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, shoot fighting, and catch wrestling. We also have students of all ages and types in our school for all kinds of reasons. Eventually, to move into higher ranks it is required that all students put their skills to the test in all of these combative disciplines.

In my mind there is nothing playful or gentle about trying to break limbs or choke people. There is nothing gentle about a heel hook or a goose neck. You need to practice carefully and with control, but it doesn’t feel gentle when you’re fighting under stress. It does feel real and that is important. You fight how you train, so train how you fight. That is simply the culture I came up in, and I cannot change that feeling.

Perception is Reality

Another reason I don’t like some of these terms is that they offer a very incorrect idea of what we do in BJJ. For example, it is truly one of few “martial arts” that requires regular sparring. I put quotes there because I also consider wrestling, and western boxing to be martial arts, but many competitors that come up solely in those disciplines would not. They distance themselves from traditional martial arts, because they often look at them as a joke. Ask a boxer if they are afraid of someone who knows karate or Tae Kwon Do. Ask a wrestler. I guarantee you they are not (generally speaking).

This is because of the watered down versions of what martial arts became in the United States. Using these soft terms in the US (and this may be very different in Brasil and other areas of the world), to outsiders or non-practitioners, unfairly puts BJJ into the traditional martial arts group and cheapens the fact that we are on the mat fighting for our lives. We are not point sparring or assuming some amazing outcome based upon technique we could never actually practice the real effect of. When you are tapping to a choke or a lock, it is because you are conceding that you would likely lose your life or the ability to fight on in a battle that theoretically may be “to the death”. This is the case whether you are training for competition or for real-world self defense. I find it irresponsible to consider yourself a self defense school if some high intensity sparring is not part of the regular week-to-week training. It will never be artistic or pretty on the street. Not ever.

Let’s Just Go Light

The next reason is that I am here for a workout. I am a father of two with a full time job and I devote my training time to also staying in shape. I expect to sweat and tax my body to its limits. I want my partners to push me there, and it can feel like a waste of time (and money?) if every roll is less than that. It upsets me if I’m the only one sweating in an entire class. Now, I don’t mind a light roll here or there for a warm up, a breather, or a cool-down, but I’ve got plenty of time to go with the flow during resistance drilling, technique chaining, and when rolling with smaller, less advanced or not as strong partners. I save it for that. When I roll with someone my equal or far superior, I want it to be hard. I want partners who can respect that. I also understand if that is not their style, and no one has to roll with me if they do not like it. We can partner during the lesson instead of the sparring and have plenty of respect for each other. I simply prefer to keep my flow in my training and raise my sparring up a level.

Flow Rolling

Hmmmm…. It’s almost as if the only ones who can do this correctly are the highest ranks. They can move in so many ways and have so many techniques that they can roll deadly but with very little use of muscle. To learn about how to properly flow roll, enjoy this guide from black belt and sports psychologist, VALERIE WORTHINGTON. At lower ranks, it just feels like bad training. Not to mention how many students “roll light” up until they are finding themselves on the losing end, then go from 0-100 real quick (just be honest about what you’re going to do from the start)—but I digress. Back to flow rolling: giving up positions you would never give up, allowing sweeps and arm bars you would never allow. It feels like the Aikido school that teaches its students self defense with an inflated sense of being able to pull it off in a real-world situation. Can an Aikido master likely defend themselves from an attacker? Yes, after a decade plus of training. Can a two year Aikido student? Who knows? They may think so. I wouldn’t be so sure.

Part of the greatness of proper Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is that the two year student probably does have a huge advantage over the average untrained potential attacker (much like boxing and wrestling). Not if you never rolled hard. Not a chance. Not against someone who outweighs you by 70-100 pounds. Not a chance. So, self defense or competitive training requires hard rolling. If neither of these are your goals, I’m not sure why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is what you decided on. There are a lot of ways to stay fit and learn great body movement that are gentle and pain-free. Fighting arts should not be.

Before everyone hates on me, I remind you, these are my deep thoughts I’m sharing. I don’t push anyone around that does not want that or isn’t ready for that. Many beginners enjoy rolling with me regularly and that is a great time for me to work on my flow and techniques that need work before pulling them off on more advanced opponents. Classmates that really understand me often will use me for the harder roll out of a series of lighter rolls. They come to me and expect that from me and would be disappointed if my roll with them was not one that pushed them the extra step. I appreciate that understanding and am happy to be used in that way. Often those classmates and I have the best of relationships and learn a ton from each other.

I can temper my level of “go” to the size and strength of my opponent, but I have never been upset with an opponent who purely overpowers me. Out of control is a problem, but strong or heavy is not. That is the perfect time for me to work on leverage, breathing, patience, and technique. I also don’t want anyone to let me out of something that I did not legitimately work my way out of. If I can dish it, I can take it. I want to take it—it’s how I learn. Oh, and if I am close to catching you, don’t stop to show me how I could do it more effectively. Show me that I don’t have it by escaping, or tap and let me know I caught it. Afterwards or during the next technique practice, you can help me tighten it up or make if more effective.

Just Breathe

Okay–rant over! I will go back to my generally zen, and non-judgmental state of being. I believe in the dissolution of Ego, and that BJJ is a great way to stay humble. I get my butt kicked regularly. In boxing, in BJJ, in fighting. Many, many people are far better than I am and I enjoy them proving that. I look only to earn respect every time I step on the mat, or in the ring, or when visiting another school or dojo. Ahhh, a whole other topic. Is there (or should there be) a complete loss of ego? Probably depends on how one defines ego. Can you properly learn to fight without any ego? I’m not so sure. I think that would more likely be surrender.

The way I see it, we strive to leave our big “Ego” behind, but our little “ego” is always there, and it should be; it is part of survival. Spending the majority of my life in the martial arts world, I always chuckle at the phrase “there are no egos in martial arts”. Riiiiiiight… That is why I prefer to think of “ego” in two regards. I think of the big Ego as what should be left behind: bragging, lack of humility, bullying, etc. I think of the little ego as what should not: confidence, eagerness to learn, never give up attitude, honor, self preservation.

Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/BJJVideoVault/?fref=photo

Image credit: https://www.instagram.com/p/-21i5uBBJj7NmTQ6SVmk7Run81vnq8SntFoao0/ and in honor of a great instructor and total bad ass, Rita “La Guera” Figueroa

The post Wanna Roll? You Talkin’ To Me? Well I’m the Only One Here – BJJ Deep Thoughts appeared first on Science Of Skill.


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