Hi All Rich Finaldi here for Combat Athlete MMA in Fairfield, N.J. Ok here’s the scenario. Kru Jonesly Theus, The head Muay-Thai instructor at Combat Athlete MMA is also a very seasoned blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Last Saturday we were rolling at class live, and it was a tough one. I gave him a very good fight up until he sent a decoy my way, I went for the bait and out of nowhere he was able to slap in that rear naked choke that I was so feverishly defending against for the past 2 minutes or so. He had my back and put the hooks in with his legs inside mine. As soon as he crossed his legs on top of mine I stepped over one of my legs on his ankle and went for the ankle lock. Low and behold in a split second it was just enough for me to take my focused off the rear naked choke he was trying to submit me with, and he was able to excute it without delay, and I tapped.
The decoy was happened when he took the double leg hooks out and then crossed them. He knew I would possibly try to execute that ankle lock and take my focus off defending the rear naked choke. The gamble worked for him very well. After the training session Jonesly explained to me why he gave me the decoy. It was ingenious. It became so clear to me that BJJ is so mental of a sport, exactly like chess. Your opponent gives up a bishop, pawn, rook, or any piece on the board as a decoy to go in for the kill and take your queen or worse your King. check mate, or in our case a BJJ tap out! See Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu much like chess is a sport of positioning, like getting your opponents back, securing your base with an arm, or a leg.
As the great Renzo Gracie has said about his school Renzo Gracie Academy in New York City, “There’s more philosophy on these mats then you’ll ever get at an Ivy League school”. Well stated. Because Brazlian Jiu-Jitsu cannot be perfected by muscle, or brawn. Though there is a time and a place for strength in this “Gentle Art” as many have called it. The great Georges St. Pierre has also said, “The greatest fighter is not the strongest, or the fastest, but the most efficient fighter is the best” . That’s exactly it! Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is all about strategy, decoys, and methodical execution. In the end whats great about the “gentle art” is that you must be in shape yes, but your mind’s eye better be in shape also to become in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu that human chess match.
Photo by :Gracie Oceania Training Center
Thanks and have a great Day ! Rich Finaldi - Combat Athlete MMA – Serra Affiliated School. Serving the West Essex, Little Falls, Cedar Grove, North Caldwell, Caldwell,West Caldwell, Wayne, Montville, Parsippany,Troy Hills,West Paterson,Boonton,Lincoln Park,Montclair,Pompton Plains,Pequannock,Pompton Lakes,Woodland Park, and Passaic county MMA, N.J. Areas
