Anybody with one month of BJJ training knows this move. It is one of the most basic techniques in a grappling practitioner’s arsenal. It is truly a classic Jiu Jitsu technique, dating back to the origins of the martial arts inception. If it could file a restraining order on me, it would have done so years ago. I have used this move so much that everyone who has trained with me knows that I am going to use it against them. The best part, it that I still catch everyone with it.
I have bastardized this hold and have made it my own. I have so many variations with it, that I have had to map it out on a piece of paper. On people who are not familiar with my devilish twist to it, they are easy prey – succumbing quickly to it and a mix of horror and amazement. To those who have been to the depths of my hell, they dread it’s face – when they see it coming, they simply close their eyes and pray for their salvation.
It amazes me that more people haven’t used this technique like I have. I myself, had picked up on this from a chance meeting with a BJJ black belt. He too, abused this technique thoroughly – catching many unsuspecting victims off guard. I owe him greatly for this, but in my endless study of this move, I have taken it to another level. I hope to meet with him some day so we can compare styles and see if there is anything we can teach each other.
Until that day, I will keep honing my weapon and make it as deadly as possible. I show my students how to use this mighty attack, and watch them practice it against each other – learning from other viewpoints. I attempt it from my different positions, figuring out how versatile this tool is. Amazingly, it is applicable from nearly every situation I have encountered.
If you have trained with me, you know him by his name. Named after a great Japanese martial artist who used this technique to break both of Helio Gracie’s shoulders – Kimura. If you have trained for a few months, you are probably familiar with how to execute a Kimura from your guard or side mount. If you have more experience, you know how to attack with this hold from your half guard, the north/south position, and from the turtle. If you are savy, you can pull this off from your feet. Then if you are me…well, you can pretty much go into this move at will.
Most people get frustrated, especially when you know a move is coming and you STILL get caught in it. “Not again damn it,” is what goes through there minds. This is how you become a juggernaut – developing exceptional skills in one key area and utilizing it as often as possible. Look at great grapplers like Marcelo Garcia – infamous for his arm drag. People know he is going to do it, and STILL get caught.
Many people think that to be great, you have to know MANY techniques. This is not true – it is practicing one technique MANY times that develops greatness. Becoming an expert in one move, that is, having practiced a technique so much that you have learned all the nuances of the hold and know every possible outcome. Like a master chess player, you can see your opponents moves ahead of time and trap him.
So be like the spider, spending his time perfecting his web. Sometimes expanding on his creation, other times beginning from scratch to create an even better trap. There are many ways to hunt, but the spider has perfected his craft so well, he only needs one. Because of his effectiveness, a spider never goes hungry. If you learn from his example, you too will be unstoppable on the mats.
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