Knowing how to execute a technique is not enough!
How many escapes do you know from Side Control, Mount, and Back? I’m sure you know a few, but do you know WHEN the right moment is to use those techniques? Do you know how to select the CORRECT technique for a specific situation?
We are gonna be talking about selecting the correct technique on Friday, with the help of our Flowcharts, but today, I want you to think about how many times you have executed a technique exactly like your Instructor told you to do, doing all the correct steps, and still were not able to escape.
What’s missing?
For instance, let’s pick the basic Side Control Escape that everybody learns in their first month of Jiu Jitsu. I know that some of you may be thinking “Oh, that technique is too basic, that’s why it doesn’t work!”.
Not true, all techniques work, as long as you execute them at the RIGHT moment.
That’s one of the main characteristics of a beginner student. Beginners are known for RUSHING the techniques.
Why do they rush?
When they are on the offense, they usually rush because they think if they don’t do it fast enough, they are gonna lose the opportunity, or because that’s the only technique they know anyways so it’s better trying to do something then doing nothing. Anyone?
But when they are on the defense, under Side Control or Mount for example, they usually rush because they have not learned yet how to chill and stay comfortable under those uncomfortable positions.
Some even panic and try to escape at all costs, just to get tired, making easier for their opponent to tap them out.
As we explain in The Ace of Escapes Video Series — available for purchase next week — a proper MINDSET is one of the most valuable tools when escaping from DOMINANT positions, like Side Control, Mount, and Back.
Learning how to stay calm and wait for the right moment to escape, especially against bigger guys, is crucial if you want to build a successful escaping game. Not only that, it’s the combination of patience, sharp technique, and identifying the correct technique for the specific situation.
Because you are under such a dominant position (they are dominant for a reason), you won’t be able to escape whenever YOU want, instead, you will escape when the OPPORTUNITY presents itself.
Take a look at the video above. It’s from this year’s PANAM Championships and it’s a good example on how to stay cool under pressure.
I walk around 165 lbs and compete at the Lightweight division regularly.
In this tournament I decided to compete at the Ultra Heavyweight division (222 lbs & up) because I wanted to test myself against the big guys and for a strategic reason, there were less competitors in that weight division.
All I had to do was win my first fight to move to the semi-finals and be able to medal in this prestigious tournament. And that’s exactly what happened!
I beat the first giant on points and advanced to the semis to face another monster (Stephen Hall), around 6’4”, 235lbs.
I got mounted by a giant, didn’t panic, didn’t expose myself for submissions, waited for the right moment, chose the right technique — Bridge to Elbow Escape Combo, part of The Ace of Escapes— and executed a well-timed escape.
Cool as a cucumber ?
How would your life be 3 months from now if you learned the skills to survive and escape from those positions? How about starting the new year with a solid defense game that’s gonna give you unshakable confidence when rolling against bigger guys?