Help finding my niche

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

Hi, long time lurker first time poster. This is a question to those that have been training in BJJ for a long time. Preferably at least a blue belt. Anyway, I've been training since early August and I'm real interested in how long you guys think it should take before I begin seeing what kind of fighter I am. I for some reason can do some pretty gnarly throws so far that are Judo Throws, but my double and single leg aren't that great. Some collar chokes I'm good at, then the others I'm not. Basically with every technique I'm good at one and horrible at another one. I forgot the name of it, but its a choke where you grab the back of your opponents collar and like cross your arm while in the guard, pull him down and make a heart with your hands; thats how our instructor taught us. I have NEVER chocked anyone with that choke, any reason for that? I used to think I was a great grappler before I got into class and got a wake up call. Anyway, any help for mentality and stuff would really be appreciated

[Lacrymosa]

Hookah,

(nice Jefferson Airplane reference, BTW)

I'm not the exhaulted blue belt that you're probably looking for (white with eleven years of grappling on my resume), but I think you might be referring to the "X-Choke" as I sometimes hear it called.

I, like many others of the white belt persuasion find this move difficult at first. These are the pointers that I have come across.

1. Get your hands as deep as you can into his gi. This ultimately makes the choke tighter.

2. Bring his head down as close to your chest as humanly possible. This gives you more leverage and power.

3. Spread your hands apart in a downward motion simultaneously. Pull down hard, but not too hard as to give him a chance to tap out.

4. Keep your closed guard tight and ARCH YOUR HIPS while you are pulling down. Believe it or not, this made the difference when I found that I was finally capable of this move.

5. Try to use the choke as a second move of a combo. To tell you the truth, Hookah, if you blandly reach up and immediately go for his neck, I can almost guarantee you that your opponent will be thinking: "He's trying to choke me." Be sneaky about it. What I usually do is get ONE hand deep into his collar and distract him by going for a sweep or feinting an armbar. Get his mind off of the choke and on to his base and balance in your guard. Trust me, if you nearly sweep him a couple of times from the guard, he'll be thinking about it and use his hands to base himself. Once you see an opportunity where his hands are elsewhere (keeping himself up), quickly dart the other hand into the opposite side of his gi. With the second that you've bought, pull his head down hard, spread your wrists, and arch your hips.

Hope that helps, Hookah.....again, I'm not the most learned of our forum, but that approach seems to work for me.

-Lac

[SweepEm]

Hookah Dude;

You started early August and now it's September, I would say, patience.
There aren't many guys that are phenoms where you are great after a few months, unless you have had some type of similar training as Judo, wrestling...etc.

Unfortunately, there isn't a time table to BJJ.
Some dudes pick up things more rapidly than others.

Instead of wanting and waiting, i would suggest a private lesson (or a semi private with some buddies that are at the same level you are) with your instructor and work on your weaknesses.

Unless you are at a high level, great athlete with a keen mind, you will always have some strengths and weaknesses.

[EJ]

I have been trainen for 3+ years and I still suck!!!

[Lacrymosa]

EJ,

I'll give you some Chicano to Chicano advice, wey...

It's your vieja, hombre! Start putting her in her place....you know....cooking the frijoles....polisihing your pistola (entiendes?...heh heh heh)......you'll get your form back, hermano.

[SweepEm]

EJ, remember, I do know where you live and work.

Letter bombs are now much smaller and thinner!

HA!