Originally Posted by
Arman Fathi
There's your problem. I've found an overall principle of jiu jitsu to be that when one door closes, another door opens. In other words, every quarter second to half second the position you're doing or going for goes from being the best option for the situation to the worst option for the situation. If you feel a path that is blocked and it would take brute strength and FORCE to make it happen, reconsider if it's worth it for the sake of longevity. Go for something else or if you don't know what to do, do nothing and observe. I tend to learn more that way. Even if it means getting smashed, I live to fight another day and get to examine the position in depth later. Staying on the mats consistently will get you better than forcing techniques and saying you pulled them off.