While on the subject of Sambo, i would like to share a personal experience with you guys.
I am a BJJ bluebelt, been grappling for about 3 years on and off, mostly NoGi. A couple of months back, i go to check out a new club in the area as my regular is going through changes. A lot of familiar faces, and the guy running the club is a BJJ black ive seen around plenty on open mats.
Anyway, we go through the session learning techniques and then it's time for sparring. As i like kneebars etc i always ask the persons im rolling with if those kinds of locks are ok (since you need to be brownbelt+ in BJJ to compete with kneebars/heelhooks). This particular session i rolled with another blue belt who said yes to my question but obsiously wans't very used to leglocks of any kind as i submitted him like 5 times in 5 minutes.
Off to the next guy. Another blue belt, but this guy looked like a MMA champ. Fine i thought, MMA guys often are lacking in the grappling department, and most bluebelts i rolll with are either my level or beyond. I never get owned by them...
As we start rolling, the guy goes for an achilleslock, transitions to it easily somehow. I stay calm and grab the collar of the Gi (as this almost always nullifies the attack and gives you some time to escape or ajust..), but somehow this guy ajusts his lock and does something magical and my foot feels like it's gonna be torn off. I tap.
This was the start of 5 minutes of hell. This guy throws kneebars, nasty achilleslocks from the pits of hell, sneaky armbars from nowhere. I get tapped like 10 times in 5 minutes, in front of the coach and some other watching. Naturally i was devastated and wondered what kind of blue belt this club was raising and obvoisly this is THE place to be.
Afterwards, i hear this guy is a 13 time world champion in sambo...................... The guys thought it was oretty amusing since i obviously didnt know.
Get a new BJJ belt i say...!
