lol. I was going to post a new topic about this and then I found this gem.
For a few months now, I've been getting smashed by people who are much bigger and stronger than me while trying to play the clinch game (lockdown half, quarter-guard, etc). I've been told time and again that I need to create space, but every time I do, my opponent is able to capitalize and smash me even worse. It was enough to put doubt in my mind that the clinch game is the best way to unify my gi and no-gi games.
When I heard Eddie Bravo say that he's been playing more open guard to get people to commit to clinching him, a light bulb went on in my head. Sounds like a fun idea.
Last night, I attended a seminar from Professor Redzovik. Had a great time, learned a lot. I was toying with the idea that my open guard game was super weak and that I couldn't ignore it any longer. Now I'm sure that's true.
The professor presented a simple framework within which we can think about and classify various open guard / half guard positions. He humbly designates this as "his perspective" which made his ideas easy for me to incorporate into my own very limited doctrine (even though there are undoubtedly plenty of black belts who have their own theories, I can't name a single black belt who doesn't deserve my attention when he or she speaks, particularly those who know that there are a lot of theories out there).
I'll re-share the video someone else linked to months ago in a way that's easier to click. I think it would be easy for clinch-minded folks to get defensive about some of these things, but I'm beginning to think there is harmony rather than discord between open guard and a clinching style of half-guard / quarter-guard. Professor Redzovik has helped me see where that harmony might be.
For what it's worth, this white belt thinks that if 10th Planet academies want to grow the open guard aspects of the System, Adem's ideas might help.
Y'all should think about bringing him in for a seminar IMHO. He's a cool dude, and what he had to say may improve my lockdown game.
For a few months now, I've been getting smashed by people who are much bigger and stronger than me while trying to play the clinch game (lockdown half, quarter-guard, etc). I've been told time and again that I need to create space, but every time I do, my opponent is able to capitalize and smash me even worse. It was enough to put doubt in my mind that the clinch game is the best way to unify my gi and no-gi games.
When I heard Eddie Bravo say that he's been playing more open guard to get people to commit to clinching him, a light bulb went on in my head. Sounds like a fun idea.
Last night, I attended a seminar from Professor Redzovik. Had a great time, learned a lot. I was toying with the idea that my open guard game was super weak and that I couldn't ignore it any longer. Now I'm sure that's true.
The professor presented a simple framework within which we can think about and classify various open guard / half guard positions. He humbly designates this as "his perspective" which made his ideas easy for me to incorporate into my own very limited doctrine (even though there are undoubtedly plenty of black belts who have their own theories, I can't name a single black belt who doesn't deserve my attention when he or she speaks, particularly those who know that there are a lot of theories out there).
I'll re-share the video someone else linked to months ago in a way that's easier to click. I think it would be easy for clinch-minded folks to get defensive about some of these things, but I'm beginning to think there is harmony rather than discord between open guard and a clinching style of half-guard / quarter-guard. Professor Redzovik has helped me see where that harmony might be.
For what it's worth, this white belt thinks that if 10th Planet academies want to grow the open guard aspects of the System, Adem's ideas might help.
Y'all should think about bringing him in for a seminar IMHO. He's a cool dude, and what he had to say may improve my lockdown game.
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