Originally Posted by
Joshua Jarboe
Nobody is engaging, so I'll chime in and you can take what this white belt says with a grain of salt, particularly if it's contradicted by a person of rank.
Super short answer:
74 episodes are up, so watching all of them is like drinking from the fire hose. I can't be working on that much stuff. My strategy is to choose something from MTS that can improve my game and focus on that. That helps me focus.
Short answer:
As a white belt, my gameplan is pretty stinking basic and I'm sure there are holes. But to put it simply...I have two focal points, two points I have worked diligently to make them strong (for a second degree white belt). I'm directing all paths to those focal points. The two focal points are bottom half-guard and top side control. Bottom half guard because you can get there from bottom mount, bottom side control, bottom closed guard, bottom open guard and standing with high percentages. (Or as Eddie says, clinch first, play open if you can't clinch). Top side control because it's dominant and easier for me to maintain than mount and because I can get there from lockdown. If I get mount or backmount and lose it, I may wind up in top side control. That's ok, it's strong for me.
Detail:
from Guard (I suck), I will try to sweep or submit. This is likely to fail because my guard is not that strong. If my opponent passes, I will catch him in bottom half-guard. Not a focal point because I'm not ready for RG but I know I want to go there later.
in bottom half (focal point), I will sweep using Dogfight or Electric Chair (if I get the submission, fine). I'm starting to look for submissions when I'm having trouble getting position.
In top half, I will use a high pressure pass and keep underhooks if I can to get to top side control.
In top guard, I will try to pass without getting submitted. This is my most dangerous position at the moment, so I'm working on getting better at top open guard passes.
In top side control (focal point), I will work to get Twister side. I am learning to threaten submissions to get my opponent to move, distract him so he doesn't escape while I turn. I'll focus on getting the tip-toe mount.
In bottom side control or bottom mount (becoming a focal point), I will try to get half-guard (a focal point).
In mount, I will try to get a submission.
So I'm focusing on perfecting:
Lockdown
Bottom Side control escapes
Top side control submissions, transition to mount from head and arm
...really that's 95% of my focus with MTS