The Three Fallacies of "Don't Go To The Ground"

Many so-called combat authorities like to tell you not to go to the ground in a "street fight". They generally cite things like weapons involvement, multiple opponents, no soft mats to land on, while you are submitting him others will stomp you, etc. as their reasoning. I say B.S. What they are really saying is ""Don't go to the ground because I don't know how to do it myself, and therefore can't teach it. And since I like having my ego stroked with people referring to me as a real world expert, if I can't teach it but tell you it is important, then I lose some standing as a badass. Especially since I am too afraid of testing myself in a grappling environment where I could get my ass kicked". Why do I say that is what they actually mean? Because the reasons they espouse are so easily refuted, they must have a hidden agenda.

I will break this down into three parts to answer the "experts" lies. Here is the first one:

myth: Don't go to the ground because there will be more than one opponent
fact: Really? Where are the numbers to back this up? The RBSD gurus say this all the time. I am trying to figure out where they are getting this. Now I am not saying multiple opponents when you are alone does not happen, just that they are statistically rare. I have gone through a ton of research into this and I just can't find too many instances where an individual 1) is by himself, 2) does not violate the rule of 4 S's (don't go to stupid places at stupid times and do stupid things with stupid people), and 3) manages to get into an altercation with multiple opponents.

Do the research. The RBSD guys (especially in the UK) love to talk about being a doorman and using that as their experience, and they usually cite Geoff Thompson as their touchstone. Well, unlike many of them, I have some grasp of reading comprehension, and I read Thompson's work, including his book that started it all Watch My Back (a really good and valuable book BTW). If you look through, even when he is working in the most violent of bars, it is rare to go against more than one person when he is alone. As a matter of fact, those instances make up less than 20% of his stories. And that number generally holds up across the board when you look at other reports of documented fights/attacks.

And, apparently, most of the RBSD guys have no friends. I don't know about them, but when I go out on the town for the night, I do it with friends, so I have someone to help me. I guess I can only pity some of these "combat gurus" who envision themselves stumbling through this world totally alone. I can't do much about that. I can't teach them how to be social!

Do multiple opponents scenarios happen? Sure, but in statistically small numbers, and even smaller would be the times it is one against the many (outside of Conan movies). So, we should prepare for it and train to deal with it, but don't base everything you do on it.

And in the following two parts, I will show more of how insipid it is for someone to parrot "don't go to the ground in the street".

Jab & Cross - the backbone

In my view, the jab and cross should be the backbone of a functional striking arsenal. Actually, it's not just my view; it's the view of a lot of extremely knowledgeable people like Rodney King, Paul Sharp, Greg Jackson, Adam Singer, etc. These two strikes are high-percentage, robust moves that work under high stress.

So why isn't it used more often and successfully by non-professionals? Well, there are three factors.

1) Poor Instruction - For some reason, finding proper instruction of how to properly throw these two punches is harder than finding a caring politician in Washington DC. The basic structure of both punches is very simple, but there are a ton of tiny details that are usually over looked. When an instructor who doesn't know these details teaches it to someone else, that someone might then become a coach and starts a vicious cycle of ignorance. Early in my Martial Arts journey, I was shown how to do these moves more times then I care to think about. Almost everyone who was not an experienced boxer got it wrong and screwed me up. Do some research to make sure you are learning it correctly. A key to knowing if your coach has a clue is if he talks about the balance component, how important it is, and how to incorporate it into your performance.

2) Poor Performance - Even when the instruction has been good, it doesn't always ensure success. A problem I see many times as a coach is even when people "know" the material, there is often a dichotomy between mind and body and the person doesn't even realize that they are not doing what they think they are doing. They are positive they are doing all the steps correctly even when they are far off. This is where a coach needs to be creative in order to get the idea across. Also, sometimes just video-ing yourself then watching it, will do wonders for that physical understanding.

3) Poor Spatial Relationship - This is a big one. Even when the instruction is good and the mechanical performance is solid, the technique fails because the person does not understand the proper distance needed between the two opponents. Time after time I watch people be so close that they T-Rex their own arms, or be so far away that they lose balance as they desperately try to reach the target. It is an ongoing learning process that can only be understood through sparring, ideally under the eye of a coach who knows what to look for.

Hopefully, this gives some people some food for thought, as well as some guidelines.

Helio Gracie

Today would have been Helio Gracie's 96th birthday.

Any BJJ practitioner should take a moment to honor the debt we owe to him.

Happy birthday Grandmaster.

A true hero

Last summer, my wife and I went to London. We did the typical sightseeing stuff. One of my favorite experiences was Westminster Abbey. It was amazing how much history was in that place, including the graves of so many famous figures.

We spent hours there. I was on a quest to see and pay my respects at a specific tomb. I walked all over, but couldn't find it. Finally, I asked an attendant where this particular person was buried. He looked at me with surprise. I probably looked my normal sloppy self, three day old beard, old comfortable shorts, most likely a BJJ t-shirt, and with an obvious American accent. He then smiled and said it was in an area that was roped off for a private ceremony later that day. Seeing my disappointment, he offered to guide me back there. After a little journey, I was finally at one of the places I absolutely had to see on my UK trip - the burial spot of William Wilburforce, one of the greatest men that ever walked the planet. I was content.

There is a good chance that reading this you don't know who Wilburforce was. Please, take the time to either read the book Amazing Grace or see the movie by the same name. Actually, you really should do both. I think it is a crime that he is not revered for the great things he accomplished, things that have a direct impact on how we all live today.

Read the book and see the movie. I guarantee you will not regret it.

Someone else's blog

Here is a fantastic blogpost by Andreh Anderson, a BJJ black belt under Rey Diogo. Andreh is a very cool dude, and this post is what I have been preaching to whoever is willing to listen since I have been back from Brazil four years ago. Very well articulated.

Cecil says check it out:

http://andrehbjj.blogspot.com/2009/07/sparring-time-in-brazil.html

yoga words of wisdom

I have been doing yoga (specifically, Bikram Yoga also referred to as "hot" yoga) for a while now. I have been enjoying it, and I think it has given me some really nice benefits beyond flexibility. It has helped my breathing, and it has helped my knee that had surgery on it become noticeably stronger. I like the class as well because since it is done in a heated and humid room (the temp is around 102 and the humidity is around 60%), it helps flush stuff out of your system through immense sweating.

There are some interesting phrases and terms used on a regular basis too. I would like to pass on a few that I think have some carry over to other things in life, like martial arts..

The first one is something Bikram writes in one of his books. He says "You do not do yoga, you try to do yoga, and in the trying is where you receive the benefits." I really like this, because it takes the pressure off in trying to live up to a certain standard as the only way to "succeed". Just in doing it you succeed. How many times do we forget this in our other activities? I know that I myself am sometimes overly hard on myself when I get tapped in jiu-jitsu, or get punched too often in stand up sparring. I am really trying to just learn to enjoy the benefits no matter what the external indicators are telling me.

The second one is that none of the teachers EVER refer to doing yoga as "training" or "working out". It is ALWAYS just practice. You do your practice. You enjoy your daily practice. You practice your yoga. Again, the pressure of living up to your ideal of forcing yourself to train like a maniac is left behind. You just do the practice, and enjoy it. Something else I am trying to remember to follow when I put on the gi, or the boxing gloves.

And finally, this one from Bikram. "Give 100% of yourself to every posture. It does not matter how much of the posture you do, just how much you put into it. If you can only do 10% of the posture, but you are doing it with 100% focus, effort, and intention, you will get 100% of the benefits." This is probably my favorite, because it emphasizes that you are not in competition with anyone, only with yourself. If you give your all when you do something, you are winning. For example, if you are sparring someone and they are completely dominating you, as long as you are trying your best, you will get better. It might take you longer than the guy next to you, but that is irrelevant. All that matters, is that YOU WILL improve.

Anyway, I hope you can take away something useful from this. I am trying to!

BJJ pet peeves, part 2

Okay, so here is another thing that ticks me off involving BJJ.

Why does everyone who watches one UFC think he knows everything about BJJ? Or, why does anyone who has seen a BJJ DVD, or taken a seminar, or surfs the 'net, thinks they have seen and experienced EVERYTHING there is in BJJ, and can make absolute pronouncements?

Let me tell you, I have been doing BJJ for a while now, and I have been fortunate to have constant contact with a world class coach, as well as have had the good fortune of training in a number of gyms with other great coaches. I also have the good fortune to have a couple of close friends who are as experienced whose brains I get to pick. And with all that, I am still learning new aspects of BJJ. There are so many things I "knew" as a blubelt that I know now was wrong. Just last night, I learned a variation on a Brabo choke that explained why I was only having about a 30% percent success rate with Brabos. Even great players like my coach Megaton, or Royler Gracie never says "this is the fact about this". They, with all their knowledge and experience will say this is what they think, but never make it dogma.

And yet, keyboard warriors seem to have no problem saying the opposite "This is the way it is, no ifs, ands, or buts".

Interesting contrast in perspectives to me.

Judo

The more I am delving into Judo and working it, the more I think it is a hugely important piece of the combat puzzle that is missed by the majority of people. I am also thinking it might be MORE important for "street self-defense" than western wrestling. Why? Because I have not been able to find too many examples of street fights where the participants were shirtless, wearing speedos, or nude!

It is a simple fact that clothing/cloth will be available and/or involved in a self-defense altercation. Ignoring the advantages that can give you is short-sighted and foolish, in my opinion.

Father's Day

I have a tough time on Father's Day.

On the one hand, I love being a dad. There is nothing better in my life than my two kids. They have made me a better person (far better than I would have been without them) and they bring me such joy. Even when I am writing a huge check for another semester tuition for my daughter, or when my son does another dumb boy move, I thank God everyday for having my kids in my life. My heart is much lighter because of my being a dad.

On the other hand, my own father is no longer here (it will be 9 years this coming October). Growing up, especially as a teenager, I butted heads with him constantly. As a young adult, I wanted to be my own man and go my own way. It wasn't until I reached some measure of maturity that I realized my Dad was a far better man than I could ever hope to be, and if I could be half the man he was, I would be a successful human being. The problem is, soon after I finally had that realization, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Fortunately, there was nothing left unsaid between us when he passed away, but the pain of not having him around still leaves an empty spot in my heart. It is not easy to go through a Father's Day without wiping a lot of tears.

So, what is my solution? I don't have the foggiest idea. Every year I just stumble through, concentrating on the joy of being with my kids.

Sorry, no great insight, just something I had to get off my chest.

no media bias here

Check this out:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-analysis20-2009may20,0,5578614.story


So the voters of California rejected massive tax hikes. and the completely fair, totally unbiased, and without ANY personal axe to grind major newspaper says public ballot voting is a problem. Not massive spending, not a government who can't put their case for more taxes in a better way, and not runaway special interests. No, that can't possibly be a problem, just a democratic process that allows the average person a say in what their government does.

Right, no media bias there. If Fox News had wrote this, every left leaning journalist and media critic or blogger would have attacked them. But it is okay for a liberal paper to write such crap.

The grass is not always greener.....

Next time you feel things are a little tough in your life, contemplate this story:

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/2009/04/28/20090428orphan0413.html

BJJ pet peeves, part 1

Today I want to talk about one of the things that bug me in BJJ. In this case, it is the guy who is so afraid to lose, that he spends all of his energy on holding on for dear life.

You know the type. The guy who hugs your neck with a death grip so you can't posture up to begin passing his guard. Or the guy who clamps on to you inside your guard with no attempt at passing, just trying to not get swept or submitted.


Listen to a piece of advice from an old and broken, but experienced, BJJ practitioner. Unless you are a super athlete like Michael Jordan who is magic with any physical action you do, or someone who is able to train on the mat 8 hours a day, 7 days a week; what causes growth in your performance is LOSING! Nothing on Earth shows you the path to improvement or how to overcome your mistakes by actually experiencing failure. Every session on the mat should provide you with the clues you need to get better. You only get that by opening up and trying something. You might fail at it, but that is fine. Remember why you failed, and try to fix it.

There is no magic moment where a perfect move will suddenly appear, unless YOU have made it appear.

I have seen a lot of guys on the mat. The bottom line with those everyday guys (not the super athlete or the guy who is able to do nothing but train, but those of us who have to deal with the real world) who improve is that they ALL experienced failure, but kept plugging away and kept trying stuff that failed. That other guy who never opens himself up? Yeah, he gets to say "oh, so-and-so didn't tap me" but he also never figures out why he is a blue belt after 4 years.

Don't be that way. Ditch the ego, try to accomplish a positive goal on the mat, and have a light heart. BJJ is fun. Let it be so.