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Oct
28
Last night the power went out at my house. I always forget how much I depend on the electricity until it’s out, and when it’s out, there’s a mad dash to find things I need: flashlight? candles? A match for Pete’s sake?…nope, I’m unprepared. Now I’m fumbling in the dark looking for the flashlight my son was using as a light saber.
Sitting in the dark, it occurred to me that we rely on certain things too much. It’s safe to say we do the same thing in jiu-jitsu. I rely on my ability to control either my opponents head or hips. It’s something that I can do fairly well (without sounding braggadocios). It’s something I rely on, like the electricity in my home, but when I can’t control the guy, when his hips are slippery and his movement is good—I’m lost, I’m in the dark so to speak. I’m relying on control, but it’s no longer there.
So my point is this, if you find yourself relying on something too much, change what you do. Practice plan B. If you always finish guys with a guillotine—stop using it for awhile. Tell yourself you will not use the guillotine for a month, instead you will use another submission to finish. Don’t rely on certain things to always be there when you train: your use of a certain technique, or your ability to control or to escape. Sometimes those things won’t be there, and then you’ll be fumbling in the dark, looking for a flashlight.
Good entry!