Originally Posted by
Tori Applegate
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.
I'm a 129 lb competitor. So amongst the men. I may have a better understanding of your struggles than most.
I'm not going to set here and say how I've pulled guard, against much larger opponents, and spent 85 percent of the match still on top. Which I have. (Videos in the Forum)
But I would like to say that if you can master your sweeps from guard (lockdown, butterfly, full guard) the larger opponents tend to be weaker off their backs. They tend to be less technical. Scramble. Which exposes them for what you call a "real" win.
I could go into a big long discussion about what a "real" win means to me. Because some of the matches I've won on points have meant more to me than ones I have finished by submission. What I would like to say is that as a fan, and I'm a huge fan of this sport, I happen to compete in this as well. When I look up the results of: Grappler's Quest, NAGA, IBJJF, etc. I simply look for who won. Came in 1st. 2nd. Maybe even 3rd. I don't look at who won by submission. Or who won by points.
The wrestling reference was to emphasize that the competitors involved made it so far and their goals are to win. Also it should emphasize that you have to get your opponent to the ground before you can execute a pin. As you pointed out. Maybe that was too obvious to be a good reference, I'll work on a better one. Haha.
I have a training partner I've been with for years that seems to have the same outlook as you. "I don't care about points, I am just looking for that kill (submission)". To his credit. For the past couple of years. All of his losses have come by losing the points battle. But he hasn't finished a single submission over that span either. Never once won a match on points, obviously.
I'm not saying this applies to you. But for him it reads as an ego problem. "I didn't really lose that match. I just ran out of time" When in reality. Yes you did lose that match. You didn't advance to the next round. You didn't receive the 1st place price. Nor did you compete for the 1st place price. -- Don't be like that guy. Please! (:
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