All right folks, I’ve got a few random thoughts this morning that I need to get out there. Just some areas I’ve been working on in my game as well as an update that has to do with a gi company I’ve never heard of, but that’s apparently quite popular with the rest of the world. Where I’ve been – who knows.
The first area I’d like to discuss has to do with takedowns for Jiu-Jitsu. We’ve been immersing ourselves this world for the past few classes and if you remember anything I’ve said in the last 3 or 4 years, I’m really not very good at takedowns. I’d prefer to lay on my back and get to business on the floor. But, with the reality of competition at hand, I don’t think the guys at the BJJ school I go to would appreciate my doing that – especially when they’re trying to practice something.
Okay, when competing in Jiu-Jitsu, the fact is that you’ve got to get your opponent on the ground. From what I’ve picked up through the years, there are two main styles of accomplishing this – the wrestling style and the Judo style. Of course, there are more than just these two, but this is what we’ll focus on today. And also from what I’ve seen through the years – most players prefer leaning toward the wrestling style. I’m not sure if that’s because they’re more comfortable with wrestling since almost every high school on the planet has a wrestling program or if wrestling just comes naturally for some people. Really getting down there to take out your opponent’s legs makes sense. And there’s evidence out there to suggest that wrestling takedowns work in BJJ matches. Just watch a few videos – you’ll see.
There is a small problem with wrestling takedowns for BJJ though and that’s what I’d like to talk about. I think this problem primarily affects taller guys, such as myself, or guys who aren’t all too comfortable with, or simply can’t, dive in towards their opponent’s moving legs and knees for a tackle. The problem is – wrestling takedowns don’t work for us. Every time I’ve tried one, I’ve been sprawled on and flattened, only to get myself stuck in a scramble. Where things go after that doesn’t really matter, because if I’m trying to affect a clean takedown, I’ve failed.
The whole issue lies in the fact that either my legs aren’t strong enough for me to stay down low for extended periods of time while trying to pick off an exposed leg or that there are way too many people out there who can stuff my very marginal wrestling game. Whatever the cause, I’ve adapted what I do to take wrestling out of the equation.
I’m sure you’ve guessed by now that if I take wrestling out of the equation, I’m left with Judo. Now, I’m willing to say that my Judo isn’t half bad. I can do a hip-throw or a Judo single-leg a heck of a lot better than I can a wrestling style single-leg, so that type of thing is what I like to lean towards when dealing with a takedown situation. Of course, I need to be cognizant of wrestling takedown defenses to protect myself, but Judo is what I use when I’m being aggressive.
Last night, we spent a few minutes doing live takedown scenarios, which I’ll tell you, is extremely effective when trying to advance your game in this area. Drilling is one thing, but actually going live is another. It’s nerve-racking, very competitive and incomparable when training for a real event.
After sitting and watching a few rounds of guys performing takedowns on each other, I was able to devise a plan. From what I saw, I discovered that I would in no way be able to compete wrestling style. The guys at my club are simply too athletic for me to meet them on that level. I’d get exhausted far too fast and my body style wouldn’t allow me to get all down and dirty diving in for a double-leg. So, I figured that staying very calm and working on keeping my opponent off balance for a leg sweep would be much more effective.
What did I do? None other than the Osoto-Gari. Did it work? Eh. Well, it worked, but it wasn’t all that pretty. But it worked and I didn’t get exhausted at all.
Judo for Jiu Jitsu – Jimmy Pedro – Osoto-Gari – BJJ Weekly #047
As you can see from the above video and if you watch a Judo match or two, you’ll see that the Osoto-Gari is hugely effective. For guys like me, it keeps my grips in tact and keeps my opponent up high and off balance. Just where they should be. And if you’re already good at wrestling takedowns, some Judo will add so much more to your arsenal, keeping whoever you’re going up against guessing at what you’ll do next. A lot of times what I like to do is to start off with a Judo-esque leg hook to a single leg takedown. Mixing Judo and wrestling is a formidable combination.
Those are my thoughts on that.
I’ve also been working on my x-guard setups. Ever since I’ve been playing more with my butterfly guard, I’ve been trying to take things to the next level, and x-guard is that next level.
In the past few months, I’ve had more people stand up in my guard than I’ve ever had and I’ve had to adapt my game to that. While it’s really very comfortable and nice to begin things with a sweet sitting butterfly guard, things become more cumbersome the moment my opponent stands up. When this happens, I can manage, but I’d like to manage better than I’ve recently been. Hence, the practicing of the x-guard.
The 3 Most Common Errors in the X Guard
What I’ve been getting used to in the past few classes has been my x-guard entrance. I’m not necessarily going after the sweep once I take control of the guard – I’ve been more practicing controlling my opponent’s balance when I’m there. And as Stephan Kesting mentions in his video above, that’s a critical area to get used to. Getting your body accustomed to the position it’s in and that it’s okay to be there, that is.
I’ve been having good luck with doing what I’m doing. I’ve also been throwing in some de la riva guard here and there, but I’ll be honest with you – I think I prefer the x-guard. I’m not sure if it’s because of the pressure the de la riva guard puts on my knee, but I just feel better in the x-guard. I know the two are totally different and the outcomes vary – I suppose I’m just thinking out loud.
Lastly, I’ve found another gi for tall guys. It’s called the Shoyoroll gi and it’s pretty sweet looking. One of the guys at the gym picked one up and I’ve put it in my list of future gis because of the fact it may actually fit me. My Origin gi is working well and I really like it, so if I can maintain that standard, I’ll be a happy camper.
Given the time that has passed, are you still working on the Osoto Sari? And have you run into any issues applying it in Jiu-jitsu?
Hi Kenneth,
I’ve worked on it here and there, but nothing serious. Every now and then, my school ramps things up in preparation for some competition and we practice takedowns. Since the Osoto Gari is one takedown I can manage to pull off I usually go for that. I also like a sweet ankle pick takedown that I’ve modified for my body style.
I swear it’s like reading my own thoughts when I check this blog. It’s starting to get weird. Hah! I’ve had the same problems with take downs. I’m not real tall, but I have long limbs and it’s hard to get down to catch a double leg. But the great thing about having long limbs is that I can reach the opponent’s neck, shoulders, lapels and sleeves easily without the opponent reaching me. I’m starting to use it for my advantage, timing leg sweeps.
Now, the other thing I’ve come to understand, is that long limbs can be good also in the clinch. If I fail a leg sweep or throw, I just cling and try to sneak to the back or even get a greco-roman style body lock take down. Past 3 weeks I’ve even shooted in for a clinch. It has been working pretty well for me. I keep my elbow up as I shoot, holding my hand on my ear (preventing guillotines). Sometimes I can even get the double leg, but it is still hard to drive from there. I then just go for the back for traditional BJJ “drag down”.
As for th X guard and butterfly, just like reading my own thoughts and progression… Terere has some great material on video about the butterfly guard. I copied my “hook sweep” from his web seminar and it keeps working time after time with clinch/underhook/belt/pant sleeve control. And Marcelo Garcia is a no brainer. Can’t stop studying his videos for the butterfly and single leg X guard.
Tatamifightwear now produces Gis for the long and lean too, A2L for example. So if you can’t find a SYR Gi, you could check out their Estilo. Another good one is Gameness’ Pearl. I’m 182cm/77kg with long limbs and Pearl fits me quite perfectly.
Keep up the good work! Stay strong!
Interesting discussion regarding wrestling and judo in bjj. I think the disadvantage of using normal wrestling in gi jiu jitsu is that it’s much harder to do some of the basic take downs like a double leg if the guy is already gripped into your gi. It adds another barrier you have to penetrate. That being said, if you adapt specific wrestling moves for a gi you can get some interesting attacks like using a sleeve grip to set up a fireman’s carry or using the opponent’s gi against him to finish a single leg. I wish someone made a gi version of wrestling. Although I guess that would just be judo with less rules.
I am a former college wrestler, on the tall thin side. I have always used long limbs to my advantage. And of course you are getting flattened out if you do not know how to attack. It is the most basic of defenses. The sprawl and stuff.
As a long guy who prefers leg attacks, I much prefer a single leg. I will go double, but only as a finish of single or in a low altitude scramble.
In order to execute a single it is not a requirement that you get down and stay down, in fact that is not something I would recommend at all. You need to set up your attack so that you create and increase the angle to the sprawl. I could go on for some length. The bottom line is, you are not doing it right, and your long limbs are not the issue.
Look at some video of high single leg attacks.