Meaning of (and how you know if you are) 'technical'

[Calibur]

I think most BJJ guys know the best athletes usually win tournaments, and that tournaments prove who is the best. The ones that don't think that's true are falling into TMA syndrome.

Really? Do yourself a favor and keep a mental tab on how many times you hear "Jiu Jitsu is the sport that allows a weaker man to beat a stronger man."

There are a lot of people who believe that attributes don't matter, despite the absolute division absolutely obliterating that idea.

 

[MidnightSnacks**]

You just explained why "technical" is back handed. Real BJJ masters don't just hang. They own you.

The "umph" is what differentiates someone who really knows BJJ from someone who just watches a lot of cool DVDs. It is the part that no one can easily explain how to do step by step but everyone can feel instantly when they get on the mat with you.

Guys like Marcelo are obviously extremely technical. There are plenty of threads on here from people who have experienced rolling with him. Yet none of them describes him as technical. He does not merely hang in there; he crushes. Marcelo has "umph". He is a master.

The random guy who subscribes to MGInAction and tries the latest moves in rolling? That guy is "technical". No one would confuse him with a real master like Marcelo. It is night and day.

The analogy of flow is used a lot in BJJ. And it is important to know how to flow. It is the source of true power.

However, people mistake knowing how to flow with knowing how to trickle along like a little relaxing creek bed. This is the flow rolling, and it is an important ability to have. It is also a good training tool at times. But it is fake BJJ.

The real BJJ is flowing like a fire hose. It's an astonishing power that overwhelms the opponent. Even though it's just water, it can knock someone off his feet.

No one describes rolling with a real master in terms of how he flows like a creek. Lots of people can do that. "Technical" guys who watch DVDs can do that. People describe the roll in terms of how unstoppable the master felt. That is the true BJJ that not many people can do.

To be satisfied with being "technical" is to be satisfied with mediocrity. It is a minimal level of competence. It does not impress me, I look down upon those whom it does describe, and I take offense to those who describe me that way.

great post

people try to separate technique and athleticism as if using your athleticism is shameful or cheating. a true master uses both. he uses technique as a lever to magnify his speed and power. whenever ive rolled with a real master like paulson, they are strong and have perfect technique. its overwhelming force applied perfectly in every situation.

 

[HIMBOB]

I aim to be the second type.

I want you to know what I am about to do and yet have no way of stopping me moving towards that.
I do not wish to know the latest moves or have a massive array of moves, I simply want a few for each position that you can not counter.

But I aint even close to either. A boy can dream can't he?

 

[Uchi Mata]

Really? Do yourself a favor and keep a mental tab on how many times you hear "Jiu Jitsu is the sport that allows a weaker man to beat a stronger man."

There are a lot of people who believe that attributes don't matter, despite the absolute division absolutely obliterating that idea.

I have no feel for attitudes in Japan, but where I train/have trained on the US East Coast and Midwest, I've never encountered that except in a few white belts who were quickly disabused of the notion. One of the things I really like about BJJ is the general acceptance that you need to be strong and have good cardio just to compete with guys your own size, much less people bigger than you. Of course, grappling in the US has always been a sport first and a martial arts 2nd (if at all), so most people I know who grapple recognize that like all sports conditioning is a must if you want to be successful. No one would say a basketball player need not be able to run the floor is his jump shot is good enough, why would anyone think a BJJ player need not be in shape just because he has good technique?

I think BJJ does give the smaller guy a good shot in a fight against someone who doesn't know BJJ, but two guys who know the game, it couldn't be more blatantly obvious that the guy in better shape or much bigger will usually win. I don't understand why it's even a point of contention.