first no gi tournament: need advice

[sooner_sadiq]

hey guys,
in roughly two weeks i will be competing in my first no gi tournament. i have only be doing bjj for about one month but i am going to rely on my wrestling skills to carry me on what i like bjj wise. so here is my question, what are the most common mistakes wrestlers make that get them submitted?what should i look out for? how can i use my wrestling skills to my advantage? thanks in advance

[FunSPE]

First of all, good luck at your tournament. Id recommend shooting the takedown first and then pass the Guard to side control. From there work for a submission from the top. Ive never been a fan of the "take them down, let them up, take them down, let them up, repeat as necessary" game plan but some people use it well. If you arent comfortable from your Guard, you need to make sure you play a top game for each of your matches. Watch your ankles (to prevent ankle locks) and never turn onto your stomach. Let us know the results.

FunSPE

[Antares33]

The only other thing I'd toss in there is to make sure you don't give up your back, but after a month of BJJ you've probably figured that part out already.

[LJS93]

Yes the whole take down, let the guy up, take down again is cheap.

[Erik]

Watch for rear naked chokes and kimuras. Keep those arms in tight to avoid being armbarred. Beware of neck cranks from within your own guard.

Shoot your takedown when you can. Drive for leg takedowns any time the guy puts his legs under himself (i.e. when he's not working for guard) and if he does try to shoot guard, hold those legs together and walk yourself around.

This is normal BJJ advice but really applies to no-gi.

Remember - there is no cloth to grab, but you're a wrestler so you're probably still used to not having any cloth for gripping.

Also, it's up to you, but I prefer sprawling on the guy instead of going straight to guard if he shoots. From a sprawl, there's a great front choke where you take your overhook arm and tuck it past his cross-side armpit in the crook of your elbow, putting your arms in the same position as a rear-naked choke. From there, tuck your head on the side of your grip and roll in that direction (if your right arm is your choking arm, roll to the left). There's more to it than this, but ask your coach to work on this one with you - it's a good one and fits naturally with wrestlers who are used to sprawling instead of pulling guard.

Also, importantly, from a sprawl, you can spin to the guy's back. PUT IN YOUR HOOKS IMMEDIATELY from back mount! Keep your base LOW so you don't go over his head.

Once you have hooks, flatten him out with your hips and retain that position. From there, rear naked choke. This combo should be natural for a wrestler.

Best of luck to you!

[Cliff Hargrave]

what are the most common mistakes wrestlers make that get them submitted?

Getting caught in a guillotine while shooting for a takedown. Make sure you keep your head up and plant it on his body somewhere so an arm doesn't go around your neck.

Try to work a top game as best you can. Takedown-guard pass-pin, should carry you a long way.

[Erik]

Yes, I'm with Cliff on that all the way, though if you can skip going through the guard passing and using a sprawl and spin to back, I'd favor that approach. Of course, it depends upon how comfortable you are with what opportunities avail themselves.

Getting caught in a guillotine has been my worst weakness in no-gi.

I even had a running bet with an old friend that he couldn't get me with it. I'd tear a $1 in half and bet him the rest that in, say, 30 minutes, he couldn't get me with it.

Every time, after I submitted him umpteen times, he'd managed to get it after about 28 minutes of straight grappling.

He has a lot of taped together $1 bills now....

[James O'Neill]

I'd definately second the whole 'don't give up you're back' idea - that is the biggest mistake I have seen with wrestlers in a submission match. ...Well that and extending their head too much from side control - this leaves you vulnerable to a guillotine if they can get their shin between you for leverage - ends up being like a modified half guard position on their part actually.

From the sprawl, if you spin & get your hooks in, look for the cross face if they aren't giving up the choke. If you end up going for a rear naked & he traps your arm (the one that goes behind the head), try a one armed 'V' choke by taking your choking arm (the one that they don't have ahold of) and putting your hand on the side/back of your neck for leverage...

Fun, fun - do let us know how you make out!

[sooner_sadiq]

just htought i would give u guys an update. won my first match lost my second bc i wouldnt tap and the ref called it. couldnt go for 3rd or 4 so got fourth due to elbow injury

[James O'Neill]

Hey, you won the first one - good show. Did you learn anything from the experience?

[sooner_sadiq]

learned to keep my arms in tight, slow dow and not rush technique. some of my wrestling background has given me some bad habits. but i look forward o working harder for he next one to get better, i loved it.

[Bad Karma]

LOL! You trying out for the "No Tap" club or something? Why the injury? I'll assume your arm got caught - you refused to tap - ref called it - your elbow strained as end result.

What are some of the bad habits you're speaking of...besides not tapping? ;) I'm only ribbing you because I think most of us have gone through that phase. Good job on a win, though. Nothing like a win to get you addicted to comp's.

Peace

[sooner_sadiq]

too be perfectly honest that was part of my thought, but part of it was it was uncomfortable but never really hurt till he cinched it up. at which point it popped, ref called, etc. one of the bad habits i cant seem to be to get rid of is being ok on my back. i also need to slow way down.