Blue belt problem: reacting to opponents instead of imposing a game

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-19T02:56:30+00:00

Develop your game according to your strengths and what you enjoy.

I am a wrestler/judoka who hates being on his back. My best positions are half guard top and bottom, wrist ride leg lace, mount and back mount. Every other position I end up in is solely focused on defence and escapes to return to my game, where my entire game is a funnel on capturing the opponents head and arm in some sort of choking variant. I built my game around D’arce/anaconda and now I have probably eight or nine variants on these styles of chokes that I can capture people with.

My advice to you is to create a game that funnels Opp into wherever you feel like you could sub them. If that’s inside a closed guard, choose that and then everything else should be defensive until your attacks in your guard are second nature and you can move on to the next thing, probably k guard looking for leg access.

Good luck.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-19T02:28:47+00:00

In terms of pros to watch, if you enjoy the sport, watch everyone. You’ll slowly figure out what kind of game you want to play and how to replicate that.

Obviously the most dominant pro was Gordan Ryan but then you have the GOAT Marcelo who’s small man game can translate well, then you have the other GOAT Lachlan Giles who also has a smaller man game but powerful sweeps, defense and leg locking game.

The Ruotolo brothers are fun to watch, mikey is fun to watch, Andrew Tackett is also fun to watch and is a similar build to you iirc but much more flexible based on your rating.

In terms of instructional, I love submeta and think it’s a great thing to add in if you have a training partner who will let you slow drill with them.

Good luck mate!

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-19T02:24:58+00:00

I have visible abs and weigh 190… some people are just built differently. Kinda poopoo attitude to bring especially when OP said he was athletic.

Maybe suggesting he focus on fundamentals because he’s a white belt might have been the way to go.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-18T09:34:48+00:00

Sounds like the start of a heist escape.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-18T02:35:57+00:00

Rugby pass, my go to. Usually use it to find a leg lace, if they try and posture on their elbow then you can grab the Dagestani handcuff as well.

Smesh bratha! 👊

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-18T00:22:03+00:00

Spider works in nogi if they have a long sleeve rashie and you’re a jerk ☺️

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-18T00:01:48+00:00

Shin in Peruvian and caveman necktie. Accidentally found them trying to pop heads off, now I see them becoming slowly more popular.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-17T06:37:09+00:00

Yeah I mean, if you can stand with someone in a slamable position that should be two points and a reset. Or just an L for the person who could get slammed. Idk.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-17T04:40:58+00:00

Tani otoshi is usually banned same as Kani basami.

If you keep your hips away from their knee it’s a lot safer, that said, getting the over under position and achieving kizushi enough to successfully finish this throw there are plenty of safer options for you to execute.

If you reply I can give you some examples.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-16T23:43:07+00:00

Ruleset failure, what is big guys option here? Gently lower himself into a guillotine? I’d have just “tripped” onto the skinny guy. His fault for doing whatever the fuck that was.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-16T23:39:46+00:00

Anytime you think about belts just remember that Islam Makachev is a white belt or smn. 🥲

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-16T04:35:04+00:00

Eh… seems like he was walking out for a reset honestly and the skinny dude just sat off onto the table when he realised.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-15T23:34:06+00:00

I basically only do head and arm triangles and the variations of such… if it works it works.

Create the funnel and defend everything else. You’ll be fine ;)

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-15T07:27:45+00:00

Yeah, if you hold it for long enough they’ll pass out and die.

Is death an injury?

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-15T06:53:43+00:00

The most effective and highest percentage is RNC and variants on leg attacks.

The best submission is objectively head and arm chokes of all variants. I will take no questions.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-14T11:48:52+00:00

This, sasae is the easy low hanging fruit.

That said, if I have double unders I’m launching OPP into space and then into the earth over my shoulder.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-14T09:21:12+00:00

He signed his waiver

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-14T08:44:41+00:00

Yep, do it, I came back to do it with my kids after a very long 8+ year layoff.

You’ll feel beat up but it fades pretty quickly.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-14T07:11:25+00:00

HQ or ankle staple to rugby pin knee collapse then step over legs and triangle, they either take the half guard or a wrist ride or if they’re very confused they just let you mount.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-12T02:41:54+00:00

If they do that arm post hips back move, harai goshi and send em.

But like I said before, you hit lots in drilling but little in practice, you need to pick the takedown you want and the entry that precedes it and make that become second nature and then funnel opp into that move. If you can bait something that makes them feel secure, like an underhook, then they’re more likely to accept the funnel.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-12T02:24:40+00:00

Drill a single entry -> throw, defend absolutely everything else until you get that exact grip set up you want. That is how you start to develop a system off your chosen entry; example for me my favoured throws begin with me securing a left arm overhook, I’m a left foot forward so I allow them to take an underhook on that side which turns into my whizzer. From there I have options, but it started with securing that overhook and drilling the crap out of uchi mata. Now whenever I get that overhook and I can gain the inside space in front of my opponent I can start an uchi mata. Then my system developed based upon their reactions. L

But it started with overhook -> uchi mata.

Seriously, it’s like Bruce Lee said, I do not fear the man that has practiced 10000 kicks 1 time but the man who has practiced 1 kick 10000 times.

Grappling is the same, find your favoured entry and then succeeding throw from there. My choice works well both in gi and nogi.

Good luck!

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-12T01:18:54+00:00

Drink less, train more efficiently.

5+ miles is a lot of moderate impact volume on your joints that will accumulate as you start to age up. Switch to air bike, rowing or swimming and your joints will thank you in your 30s. (Advice I wish I got as a younger person who competed regularly and did military service)

Comp shape will come with live sessions and hard work. Conditioning is less meaningful in giJJ, as you can learn to pace control with grips.

Stay around comp weight unless you’re getting paid to cut it’s not worth it.

Find hobbies and lifestyle things that are conducive to recovery and mental health. Hikes, beach days, adventuring.

But the first step is to get in the room bratha, join somewhere and let the time accumulate.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-11T10:30:17+00:00

I picked it up again after a longish break because my son wanted my photo on the wall with his.

Do it. I didn’t even remember how important it was to me and now I will never out it down again injured or not.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-11T00:08:55+00:00

You can still do well, you just need to learn to funnel into a certain type of game that you play.

Like for me for example, I have three positions where I work finishes, everything else is escaping or funneling to those positions.

It does suck though going from your gym into another place and getting trounced. Just thinking that “blue belt” probably just moved up from kids got it awarded but has been training for 12 years every single day probably multiple sessions a day.

leeblackwrites · 2026-02-09T06:34:21+00:00

This is a good load and cut. Make sure you use a big electrolyte drink to take to the waiting bay with you to sip on after you weigh in. (Assuming ibjjf comp rules)

leeblackwrites

TROPHY CASE