Worry about Points or go for the Sub?

[Tori Applegate]

I'm just curious. When competing are you concerned with the points or just going for the kill period? I know I personally don't worry about points. I don't care about winning if I didn't get the sub. I have gold medals for a few points tournies where I ended up winning by points, but to me they're empty and I don't really count them as a legit win myself because I got them by points. I don't train for points, I train to finish with a sub.

How about you guys? Points or Sub?

[ScottRay]

"Points? We don't need no stinkin' points.." Our gym's philosophy has always been always go for the finish.

[John Robinson]

I'd rather lose going for a sub than try and win worrying about points. I don't know the last time I won a match on points or was even up on points. Finishers!

[Ryan Brick]

Personally I always try and go for the kill, if im in position for points ill pause until I get them though.

In my last 3 tournys ive only had 2 point scored on me and lost because of it, I won all my other matches by sub. Had I swept that guy I would have won...

Thats why naga is awesome you get points for sub attempts

[Josh Passini]

Go for the kill, fuck points. Going for the kill should lead to points anyway so its a win win.

[James O'Brien II]

For the most part. The point system makes sense and is relative to obtaining the finish.

I preach position before submission. And if you obtain proper position prior to your submission. You are likely gaining points, because the point system, for the most part, makes sense.

When I compete. The majority of my finishes come after I have built a 7 to 9 point lead. Not only does that put me in a dominant position physically. But my opponent is scrambling to get back in the game. More opportunities to finish are exposed. I also have a sense of pride in saying I was up 9 points to 0 before I ultimately submitted my opponent to take home the 1st place medal.

This is a sport. Not a pissing contest xD

Similar to asking a wrestler if he goes for the takedown or goes for the pin on his way to a state championship..

[Tori Applegate]

That's what we teach at our school. If you win by points cool, but we train for the finish and just do our best to get it in the time allotted.
Me too, I never really think about it to be honest. Except for when you're competing against someone and their coach is screaming at them to stall for points.

[Tori Applegate]

For the most part. The point system makes sense and is relative to obtaining the finish.

I preach position before submission. And if you obtain proper position prior to your submission. You are likely gaining points, because the point system, for the most part, makes sense.

When I compete. The majority of my finishes come after I have built a 7 to 9 point lead. Not only does that put me in a dominant position physically. But my opponent is scrambling to get back in the game. More opportunities to finish are exposed. I also have a sense of pride in saying I was up 9 points to 0 before I ultimately submitted my opponent to take home the 1st place medal.

This is a sport. Not a pissing contest xD

Similar to asking a wrestler if he goes for the takedown or goes for the pin on his way to a state championship..

What if you are a bottom player? Points are given for a lot of dominant positions. Usually I'm the smaller, weaker opponent. I have to count strictly on my game, which is usually all from the bottom. I love spiderweb, gangsta lean, skydive...I like the top game, but I can't expect to always get there in an absolute match against a 200lb chick. It's gonna be lockdown, rubberguard, etc.
Correct, it is a sport. If all you care about is winning, that's awesome, do you. Points all day and a sub if you can get it. I personally want to win for real, a submission. To legitimately get the in a position where they're going to sleep or getting a limb broken...now to me, that is a flipping win.

Well, to be honest James, I have never been to a wrestling state championship. But of course they will have to be on the ground before either person can even get a pin. I would assume they would get the pin ASAP and not stall or try to get in other positions if they're close to getting the pin, or ESP if they have a time limit.

[Zach Maslany]

points = boring. go for the sub. I feel like alot of these points guys play the game and there usually the ones afraid of going into all sub tourneys. Im going for the finish!!! Finishers 4 Life

[Blake Coston]

A win is a win in accordance to whatever rules are established in any sport. In BJJ tournaments you know the rules going in so a points win is a "real" win in my opinion. Typically the practitioner that is up on points is showing dominate BJJ anyways, which leads to subs. There are different types of players as well. I know many players that have great submission defense but there offense is sub-par. So they depend on control to win. I do think all tournaments should give points for legit submission attempts.

The bottom line is these tournaments represent a sport competitive setting so the point system is needed.