Focusing on the tap out?

[GuardMaster]

I was wondering how many of you BJJ grapplers focus on the tap out when you grapple your fellow classmates? It seems like this is the end all objective to most individuals, but from a learning and skill development perspective is it the best? Sometimes it may be better to put yourself in positions where you can try new moves out, and try to work your escapes etc. When you put on a submission do you ever let go and keep rolling with your partner instead of tapping him out, then starting from the knees or standing up again?

What do you think the pros and cons are to each of these approaches?

GM

[jules]

it depends on the person you are rolling with. If you are clearly bette than he/she then i don't think you should go for your favorite submission and get it all the time. If the person is at about your lvl or higher, man go full steam.

[doubleouch]

That is a good question. Focussing only on the sub can be a bad idea. It is often a good idea to have a goal in mind before a roll. For example you might want to try and work for the back, or work on your open guard etc. This is often a good way to make sure you get something out of your training time. You can ratchet up the goals depending on the skill of your opponent. For example in grappling with a newbie you might try to hold guard without using your hands etc.

[mjohnson]

Go for the tap out.

Even if they are a higher level, make them work for it. As you advance your instructor may include drills such as doing a armbar on the right arm. And then maybe on the left arm, while your partner has the chance to do what he wants, this is to help you focus and increase your defense skills. If you feel weak or uncomfortable in a certain position such as the guard, work from that position until you feel better about passing it, or learning submissions from it.

Buy BJJ the master text from jiu-jitsu.net. That book is a great addition to your BJJ knowledge.

[tekshow]

good point...


in fact when my sifu is rolling with you he will put a submission on and it is dead clear that he has it, and then he lets go and immediately transitions into soemthing else...



i try to roll like that but sometimes, like one mentioned if they're at your level or above, you do go full steam and for the tap out. that's good too, and helps you learn, but learning by continuing the flow is also a good idea...

[Sean Dempsey]

I disagree.

I'd much rather avoid being tapped myself, than tap someone else.

You're gonna go for the tap against people better than you? You can't attack and defend at the same time.

Learn to defend, and learn to wait for someone else to make a mistake.

[tekshow]

^^^ heck yeah!


i always try my best especially against those that are a higher skill level like my sifu. how else can i improve?


i'm still defensive while going for a submission, i'm not going to give my position up because i was fighting too long for an arm bar...



but i think if you defend, and the way you describe it i think to mean "wait" - if you wait your just letting the other guy lead - and more often than not that doesn't work for me...


i'd rather overwhelm the other guy and distract his mind, make him think im going for something, let him defend against it, and then turn it against him...



but that's just the way i play, what works for you.....

[Cain]

i like to focus on one or two things.. like "today i want to pass the guard".. or "today I'm going to have a rock solid crossbody/sidemount"... things like that makes me focus on the small details in the few techs i infact do.. position before submission! any fool can do a kimura.. but getting to it.. that's the trick!