Rolling Gi and Clinching/Overhooking Techniques

A buddy of mine let me borrow his BJ Penn book "The Closed Guard" which focuses on Gi based techniques. I noticed a fair amount of techniques showing BJ over hooking, clinching the head into his chest, or simply bringing his opponent in tight by hugging/hooking/clinching the body in some way. Most guys I know training in the Gi do a lot less clinching and a lot more gripping/pushing/pulling. Is it fair to say BJ does (did) more clinching than the traditional BJJ Gi player? Or is it just an oversight on my part. The reason I ask is when I roll with guys (at my level) who traditionally train in the Gi, they seem like they are expecting gripping/pushing/pulling and when I smash their face into my chest they seem very disrupted. From there I start putting 10P to work.

Thanks,
Mark :D

I use a lot of NoGi techniques in my Gi game, notably the overhooks with a grip on their opposite lapel for that extra bit of tightness. The extra handles add more options to your arsenal and transfer over well from NoGi to Gi. Now you have a extra tight 'pinch' for all positions plus all the handles to close the distance in the first place!

The reason I bring this up is since moving from Phoenix (where I trained 10P under John Botello) to Atlanta, I started bringing my 10P techniques into my Gi game but I thought perhaps I was being too unorthodox. There was a bit of tension between me and one of the head instructors. The consensus was bringing 10P into the school when rolling Gi at the end of class is not cool. If I want to do it during No Gi rolling that's OK but it's still not "endorsed" in any way. I get it..they are Alliance and the IBJJF champions of the world.

Then I was glancing through BJ Penn's book late last night and noticed all the clinching and hooking in the Gi and realized I'm not the only one who sees this as being significant, different, relevant, whatever you want to call it. There are a few other schools in my area that more MMA based with Gi/No Gi training, so I may check one of those out. Perhaps more 10P friendly.

Mark: once again, as everyone on here know, I'm very new to this JJ stuff. But the more into it I get, the more it just boggles me that not everyone see 10thplanetJJ as being the shiiiit like we see it. I don't know about the adult game, all I can talk is from the kid's game. Even last night, I sit there and witness alot of kids get confused with the clinch game that we just injected into Cora. Even though Cora is a lot smaller then the boys, once she get them in the clinch and lockdown, its like they don't know what to do or how to attack her anymore. I know she can't be getting that good that fast that they don't have any answer for her. Its the system!!!! Its the wonderful system and the mindset behind it. I just can't wait for her next tournament.

Bruce and Jon, thanks for your input. For those of us that don't live in a city where 10P is available, I think we're all in a similar situation. Find the best Gi based school that also offers some No Gi and hope they are 10P friendly. There simply aren't any No Gi only schools where I'm at. Some schools offer No Gi one or two days a week but most are strapped to IBJJF and don't encourage 10P. There are a couple MMA schools I'm going to hit up. Usually they are much more open minded and accepting of 10P.

Circling back around, the BJ Penn book was refreshing to read. I just started it yesterday but I'm taking a lot of notes. This will keep me busy until Advanced Rubber Guard actually ships. :)

There isn't a 10thplanet school here either in Houston. However, we are very lucky to be at where we are, coach Travis Tooke is a great guy with an open mind. He actually attended Master Eddie's seminar in Jan. ANd 3 weeks ago, to raise money to send the kids to Pan AMs, he gave a seminar himself to both kids and adults. I sat and watched him teach the adult class and he was teaching the TWISTER!!!! LOL Cora ask me why I don't teach her that yet? I told her its because the TWISTER is illegal for kids, but she will definitely learn it soon.

Just to give an example, BJ demonstrates a Whizzer to Triangle in a Gi from his back. It's sick! And it's that line of thinking which keeps me juiced, 10P style, even if I'm rolling in a Gi sometimes. Life is good. :D

Dude you got to make a vid of this move. I can't seem to imagine it...