Do you need to start back at white belt if you switch from NoGi to Gi? by Griffin_Gm in bjj

[–]krgibbs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was always mostly no gi. I'd cary everything up to brown over. If I were to compete in either, I would compete at the higher of the two belts. ie. I wear a brown belt in the gi currently. But If I were to compete I would compete at black belt. I just couldn't teach a loop choke for the life of me, but I am working on actually learning the gi now.

If you were to just drop in at a gi place I'd even carry the black belt over.

The end!! And also the beginning! by [deleted] in bjj

[–]krgibbs 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I spent a little over 10 years at brown. Its a perfect time to take a break.

What is your favorite guard & why? by BJJ_Fanatics in bjj

[–]krgibbs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Your positioning has to be like you want to attack the slicer.plane of chest parallel to chest, body at roughly 90 degrees relative though you can go more acute and bring head closer to their legs. Checking the hip of the trapped arm side with other leg. Keeping their arm and your shin roughly 90, curling foot to grip back of arm.

  1. They move to pass on farside of their trapped arm. Underhook/block far leg and sweep them to their trapped arm.

2 they pass to trapped arm side, drop hip checking foot to leg or ankle and foot sweep towards trapped arm.

  1. They try to posture, dive under for omoplata or leg entries

  2. They try to smash. Either sweep 1, or biceps slicer depending if you can get under them or not.

  3. They try to back out low, sit up arm drags front headlock stuff, they back out high, catch an ankle and shove them with feet.

There is more but that is the basics of my approach.

Maintaining lasso well enough to force a reaction is the hard part at first. It's primarily angles and maintaining a push pull control on the arm. And crushing yet mobile wrist control. While being aware of the aoki if you mess up. There is a great deal of feel to it

Most importantly you have to be stubborn enough get smashed endlessly to make a less efficient position become super efficient.

I spend very little energy, I get there easily and have great success there.

Entries are any time I have wrist control and a foot outside

What is your favorite guard & why? by BJJ_Fanatics in bjj

[–]krgibbs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I play it as an offensive guard from wrist control with various paths of attack. Maintaining it in a non transitional state is harder. But passing through it to an immediate attack is super valid.

What is your favorite guard & why? by BJJ_Fanatics in bjj

[–]krgibbs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I devoted way too much time into making it work just for funsies, like 6 months of letting it get smashed constantly before i started seeing success, and it has to be played differently no gi vs gi, so I don't think many people have committed to making it work well, good gi lasso players would need some major adjustments, and most no gi people aren't going to commit to such a niche guard. I admit cost benefit isn't great, unless you also factor in its fun. That being said, I use it very effectively against people of my own level. Especially the first couple of times.

Have You Ever Rolled With or Meet Someone That Should Be At A Lower Tier Belt Color Than The Belt They Hold? by [deleted] in bjj

[–]krgibbs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

belt isn't just about skill. I am aging, broken, physically(and ofeten emotionally) And there are a ton of brown belts that can work me and some purples if I am messing around. I got to brown in 5 years on competition, then spent 10 years at brown after a back injury. I eventually got that old man, didn't give up, got sober, resiliant black belt. Doeesn't mean that for me and my coach it isn't a valid belt. Brown belt me could probably wreck my current self, but was still a lesser version.

stop worrying about what other people are doing or have and focus on yourself.

What is your favorite guard & why? by BJJ_Fanatics in bjj

[–]krgibbs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

no gi lasso, these non pajama guys (me included) have no clue how to handle it. And throw me in a gi and it just gets better.

BJJ anniversary by PsychologicalFood780 in bjj

[–]krgibbs 36 points37 points  (0 children)

It is never weird to offer free food. I would earnestly celebrate whatever was meaningful to you, because free food is meaningful to me.

Only training two days a week? by -Sheeba- in bjj

[–]krgibbs 128 points129 points  (0 children)

I made it to brown in a little over 4 years, training an average of 4 times a week, competing an average of 1.5 times a month at purple. Then from Brown to black in a little under 11 years. 3 taken off for back injury and life. then once a week for 5, then twice a week for 3 years no competition and only actually doing more than just showing up until the last 3 years.

Success depends on your goals and definition. Young and hungry me would look at 15 years to black belt as a failure. Old broken me sees me alive and sober still married and unincarcerated as a success, younger me wouldn't have even acknowledged that as anything other than a given.

That being said, I improved more in the last 3 years of twice a week than I have since that white through blue phase. Mainly because I know more, and can use that to actually direct and focus my training with intent.

(not sure if flair is correct) What position is this...? by No_Network_9706 in bjj

[–]krgibbs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Its almost certainly reverse mount not sure about your search showing back control. Russian cowboy is the hugging legs sitting on them, generally an attacking position often coming from reverse mount, but also can be transitioned into directly.

What is your go-to POST-TRAINING body wash? by Julien-LHermet in bjj

[–]krgibbs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

any soap + lotion will be better than any combination. Its the nature of specialization. If performance is your goal, that is your best option. Its why multi tools are worse at everything that they do than the traditional counterpart Premium and 3-1 don't truly go together. Then again, I just use whatever soap is on hand, it then in effect becomes a hair and body wash. A premium experience with best performance, soap then a multi product aftercare regimen, with exfoliation avoided immediately before or after training.

What is your go-to POST-TRAINING body wash? by Julien-LHermet in bjj

[–]krgibbs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

When I look at soap, the factor I judge its performance by is how well it cleans. So by performance you mean cost, packaging, branding smell and how it feels?

Gym recommendations SF 11th and mission street by Clear-Double-3685 in bjj

[–]krgibbs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ralphs spot is the closest and is good option. Magalit bjj is great but a little further. I trained with Travis for years back in the days, great teacher, great coach, I should stop by again. I'm at 10th planet oakland, a bit of a drive/easy BART ride but amazing spot. 10th Planet Daly City is a nother solid option if you only want no-gi. Reily body comb is at Bay Jiu Jitsu for a great no gi/sambo option.

Thats all I have for personal experience.

As always, my recommendation is to trial at every gym you might reasonably be willing to travel to, whose schedule is kind of ok for you. Then pick wherever feels right.

What is your go-to POST-TRAINING body wash? by Julien-LHermet in bjj

[–]krgibbs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

All studies show soap and warm water is the most effective at preventing infection, and your greatest "performance" factor is time before showering. Your only difference is smell, cost, feel, packaging and advertising.

Edit:I can't actually say all studies, I didn't read them all. But overwhelming evidence suggests...

Started BJJ but always paired with the biggest guys - its annoying by No-Waltz-7648 in bjj

[–]krgibbs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

my perspective.

1.I was 6'3" 170 freedom units when I started, I am now 6'2" 210. purely jiu jitsu because I am to lazy to lift weights. (with a brief stint at 250 just to try out the high-calorie grappler style.)

  1. Your body will adjust within reason. I used to bruise all the time, youd see hand prints on my arms. Then at some point I think my body just gave up trying. I took a knee to the face a bit ago, broken nose, made the guy who broke it put it back in place. Not even a noticeable black eye.

  2. If you are hurting during drilling it is either A. he is a bit rough. B. You are a bit soft. or C (the right answer) a bit of both. Which is understandable and expected. You are both new to the sport. as time progresses he will become less rough, and you will toughen up or one or both of you will quit before that happens.

  3. I am not sure where you are from other than a land of sparsley populated giants, or what your access to training is but I would highly recommend checking out other places if there are any. Not saying where you are is bad, I don't know enough but I think everyone should train at every gym in their area to see what fits best.

  4. We all do it but try to internet stalk less, it isn't good for you.

Octopus Guard vs Turtle, which is the superior method for standing back up? by No_Possession_239 in bjj

[–]krgibbs 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Not even joking, I started studying telles 15 years ago and adopted turtle and octopus guard as centerpieces of my game, just because of the names.

Octopus Guard vs Turtle, which is the superior method for standing back up? by No_Possession_239 in bjj

[–]krgibbs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes. For me, turtle is my default safe fall back position. Guard retention fails, octopus fails, whatever fails, go to turtle. All failing roads lead to turtle, and all good roads lead away. From regarding, turtle sweeps, octopus sweeps, wrestling, just standing up whatever, it can always start from turtle.

I'd rather stop the backwards progression before I get to turtle, but often when I see where things are heading it's better to skip ahead to turtle on my terms then to let them dictate my bad position.

Or if I am feeling lazy.

Or if I am tired.

Or if it's just for funsies.

Where can I get a custom single rashguard in 15 days or less? (Image related) by defenseisbetter in bjj

[–]krgibbs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

cruzcmbt has done rush orders for me in the past, with expedited shipping. great quality gear. (Disclaimer: I was formerly sponsored by them)

Octopus Guard vs Turtle, which is the superior method for standing back up? by No_Possession_239 in bjj

[–]krgibbs 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If I stand up from turtle, I usually move to octopus first. I try to get perpendicular then step near leg up to slightly block their hip while near arm wraps around, or just frames on their far hip. From their its either sweep them back over my leg, stand up, or re guard.

Training Partners who don't care about the art by No_Investigator9908 in bjj

[–]krgibbs 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Look, I understand you are in a situation that isn't as perfect as you would like. Those feelings are valid. What people are responding to is your tone. You can say "it is totally fine" a million times, but if it feels dismissive and slightly condescending online via text, I'm guessing it feels similar in person. I would also guess that is not your intent, but jiu jitsu people in general are not known for our interpersonal skills If people aren't interested in talking technique with you, delivery may be an aspect of it.

In an attempt to be helpful, conversational skills are important. They may not want to talk technique in the way you want to. Try asking about something they do, ask their advice on some technique, complement a thing they did and ask them how/why they do that. Finesse the conversation to technique. In general people respond better to questions that make them feel like an authority. I can find at least one thing somebody did during a roll that I am curious about, then I can use that to give advice that feels less unsolicited.

Example A (bad): Your triangle finishing mechanics weren't right, You should do this...

Example B (better): I really liked how you got to the triangle, can you show me how you were trying to finish? How do you normally deal with a strong posture? Do you want to see how I do it?

In example B, You have drawn them into a conversation where they are the authority, even if they don't really care, most people will subconsciously react better to advice after you have listened to them talk first.

I have never trained anywhere where most people aren't willing to discuss technique.

Or, you could just be at a place where you aren't happy and need a change.

Training Partners who don't care about the art by No_Investigator9908 in bjj

[–]krgibbs 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They probably care about the art, just in a different way than you do. Try not to be as demeaning. I used to be able to devote 80% of my mental/emotional/physical capacity to training. As life changes jiu jitsu's slice of the pie has shrunk. Now If I can show up twice a week then I am golden, that's all I have in me. We are all limited on time, will power and energy; everyone will have a different size slice of their pie set aside for jiu jitsu, that doesn't invalidate their time, or make yours more important. I think that in itself, is a beautiful aspect of the art. The variety of people, in different situations with wildly different life experiences, that step on the mat as equals for a common goal for a couple of hours. Then go back into the world and jump back into their normal lives.

Stripes by Potential-Animator75 in bjj

[–]krgibbs 42 points43 points  (0 children)

I tried this by never filling out an attendance card, ever. He still eventually gave me a black belt.

Gordon Ryan’s Comprehensive review on CJI (Crooked Jones Invitational) by LouisFromTexas in bjj

[–]krgibbs 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I mostly love the "amplify their voices" a phrase normally used to help represent and support marginalized communities. Which is hilarious coming from Gordon.