I just got in from an awesome training session, but before I head out and enjoy the sun for a couple of hours I’ve just got to share this with you. You see, a couple of days ago I heard a great quote that’s been rattling around in my brain ever since because it’s totally applicable to BJJ, MMA and submission grappling.
“To live through an impossible situation, you don’t need the reflexes of a Grand Prix driver, the muscles of a Hercules, the mind of an Einstein. You simply need to know what to do.” –From The Book of Survival by Anthony Greenbank
Becoming a good grappler also involves getting in shape and honing your timing, but mainly it’s simply a matter of knowing what to do.
For example,
- If you’re mounted and your opponent is defending his neck and his arms, do you know what to do?
- If you’re passing the guard and your opponent defends by flipping into an inverted guard position, do you know what to do
- If your 250 lb opponent is defending the armbar by clasping his hands together, do you know what to do?
The list goes on and on…
Getting better at grappling simply means that there are more and more situations where you DO, in fact, know exactly what to do! So keep on training, ask those questions, watch those videos, read those books and you won’t be able to stop yourself from improving.