THE SECRET TO MAGICAL TECHNIQUES

I'm going to let my inner nerd shine through and start today's tip by quoting science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke who said:

"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

To illustrate what this has to do with BJJ, let me take you way back to the early 1990's. That's when I saw a short clip of Royce Gracie demonstrating a certain attack from the guard position.

This technique started out like a standard balloon sweep and Royce lifted his partner off of the ground using both feet on his hips. But then, instead of finishing the sweep, he then transitioned into a midair armbar. He had the submission locked on by the time his partner hit the ground.

For some reason this move blew me away. What the heck had just happened and how did that technique work?

Despite a strong martial arts background I just couldn't understand how Royce got his partner from point A to point B.

In the next few days I spent a fair bit of time with a training partner trying to recreate that move, but only had limited success.

Many years of training later, however, that technique seems perfectly normal to me. I don't use it myself very often, but I think I know exactly what he did. The very fact that I can describe what happened means that it doesn't confuse me anymore.

At the time, however, the mid-air transition to armbar seemed like magic to me because my BJJ technology was not sufficiently advanced.

And I'm telling you that some of the moves that seem like magic to you right now will eventually become your bread and butter techniques.

Think of some things you've seen on the mats (or even in UFC fights). Techniques or transitions that you weren't able to follow and can't even properly explain.

Did someone just escaped from a fully locked on armbar with a weird twisty cartwheel flippy type of thing? Keep on training and eventually you might move like that too.

Did a small competitor just tap out someone twice his size in the open category? Keep on training and you'll eventually understand every technique and adjustment he used to do it.

Does it feel like that higher belt has four arms and four legs when you try to pass his open guard? Keep on training and you'll eventually learn all his tricks (and how to counter them)

I'm going to modify the original Arthur C. Clarke quote to this:

"Any sufficiently advanced grappling technique is indistinguishable from magic."

So if you run into techniques that you just don't understand then keep on training and - before you know it - you'll be pulling off all sorts of 'magical' moves yourself.

Stephan Kesting

WORLD PROFESSIONAL JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP - ABUDHABI 2010

After the tournament in our way back from Abu Dhabi to Dubai to eat some pizzas. From left to right: Simo, Arshad, Safar, Safar's friend, Gabor and me.
I am very happy with Dubai Brazilian Jiu-jitsu's Team performance. I hope we do even better next year.



















Simo fighting.



















Simo preparing himself to the fight.
















When we arrived at the tournament they were still setting up the mats. Beautifull place.