When it comes to grappling in mma or self defense there is always the debate whether training in the gi produces better grapplers than no-gi does, and the arguement always goes "you should train for how you will fight", in other words train no-gi because in mma or the street you wont have grips.
I think this argument is null when the physical benefit of training with grips is considered.
Keep in mind I am only speaking from personal experience and this is just my opinion, so feel free to voice yours as well. My opinion is that training in the gi with grips the majority of the time will make you a better grappler than if you training mostly no-gi because of the way it develops your grip strength.
I notice a trend among my training partners, that the ones who are dedicated to gi are able to manhandle the guys who are at the same skill level technically and physically.
I also commonly hear that Roger Gracies hands are like iron vices, which I have no reason to doubt.
The truth is, that training while engaging your forearm and grip muscles 100% or the time will make your wrist-control nasty in no-gi which is so important when you are sweaty. Having dominating wrist control opens up so many techniques that would otherwise be low-percentage
Another point i would like to make is how training with a gi makes your game more technical. Imagine this scenario, end of class and you want to work a new technique into your game, will it be easy to be technical while you are sweaty in the gi, or would you rather have a roll where you spend the entire time with your opponent muscling and slipping out of every position? Which setting will you learn more?
I would like to hear your opinions
What follows is a type of wrist control I like to use gi and no-gi, try it out and see if it works for you!
TWISTING WRIST CONTROL
*From top-Side control or top-Half guard
1. pin your opponents far hand to the mat palm-down, like you would be attempting a kimura
2. use your close hand to trap their hand while doing this. Your palm on the back of their hand, 4 fingers grip over the outside edge of their hand while your thumb rests naturally around their wrist, like you are holding the flat end of an oar. You are grabbing the blade of his hand so you can get the maximum leverage to rotate it. you can practice this grip on your own hand.
3. Now when you have the proper grip, you have to drive his hand out away from his body so his arm is fully extended. once you do this, you can use your grip on the blade of his hand to rotate his wrist like you are revving a motorcycle. When you rotate it like this while his arm is fully extended it locks at a certain point, this is when you get to the limit of the maximum rang-of-motion of their shoulder, wrist, and elbow combined. By twisting the wrist this way you are able to fully lock your opponents arm. The twisting of their arm should not hurt them, but it should be utterly dominating, even if they are stronger than you are. One limitation however is that if you are fighting a monster that can lift most of your bodyweight with a single arm then they will be able to escape.
4. Once you have this wrist control you really have to sit a lot of your weight on it to control it. Since it is isolated from your opponents body it is hard for them to get it back, but they will fight, so make sure you are stiff-arming their arm to pin it, this way you are using leverage not muscle.
5. Keep your base LOW and sit in half guard so you are facing their feet but remembering to keep most of your weight pinning that arm with your stiff-arm. Now that their arm is pinned you can be REALLY dominating, smashing for the pass etc.
6. Another option is to walk their hand way up past their head, while basically sitting on their head while still in half-guard, and then slide your non-occupied hand underneath his isloated elbow and overtop your bicep for a straight arm-bar. If your wrist control is tight, this is can be a very-high percentage move unlike other straight armbars where your opponent can rotate his wrist to escape.
The specific grip on the blade of the wrist is very important, as well as understanding the concept of "locking" their entire arm by extending their arm fully and rotating the wrist to near-submission.
When you understand these important concept they can be applied everywhere. I have used this wrist control to escape from back mount when nothing else was working. Just apply it wherever you can grip their wrist and twist it to the max.
I think this argument is null when the physical benefit of training with grips is considered.
Keep in mind I am only speaking from personal experience and this is just my opinion, so feel free to voice yours as well. My opinion is that training in the gi with grips the majority of the time will make you a better grappler than if you training mostly no-gi because of the way it develops your grip strength.
I notice a trend among my training partners, that the ones who are dedicated to gi are able to manhandle the guys who are at the same skill level technically and physically.
I also commonly hear that Roger Gracies hands are like iron vices, which I have no reason to doubt.
The truth is, that training while engaging your forearm and grip muscles 100% or the time will make your wrist-control nasty in no-gi which is so important when you are sweaty. Having dominating wrist control opens up so many techniques that would otherwise be low-percentage
Another point i would like to make is how training with a gi makes your game more technical. Imagine this scenario, end of class and you want to work a new technique into your game, will it be easy to be technical while you are sweaty in the gi, or would you rather have a roll where you spend the entire time with your opponent muscling and slipping out of every position? Which setting will you learn more?
I would like to hear your opinions
What follows is a type of wrist control I like to use gi and no-gi, try it out and see if it works for you!
TWISTING WRIST CONTROL
*From top-Side control or top-Half guard
1. pin your opponents far hand to the mat palm-down, like you would be attempting a kimura
2. use your close hand to trap their hand while doing this. Your palm on the back of their hand, 4 fingers grip over the outside edge of their hand while your thumb rests naturally around their wrist, like you are holding the flat end of an oar. You are grabbing the blade of his hand so you can get the maximum leverage to rotate it. you can practice this grip on your own hand.
3. Now when you have the proper grip, you have to drive his hand out away from his body so his arm is fully extended. once you do this, you can use your grip on the blade of his hand to rotate his wrist like you are revving a motorcycle. When you rotate it like this while his arm is fully extended it locks at a certain point, this is when you get to the limit of the maximum rang-of-motion of their shoulder, wrist, and elbow combined. By twisting the wrist this way you are able to fully lock your opponents arm. The twisting of their arm should not hurt them, but it should be utterly dominating, even if they are stronger than you are. One limitation however is that if you are fighting a monster that can lift most of your bodyweight with a single arm then they will be able to escape.
4. Once you have this wrist control you really have to sit a lot of your weight on it to control it. Since it is isolated from your opponents body it is hard for them to get it back, but they will fight, so make sure you are stiff-arming their arm to pin it, this way you are using leverage not muscle.
5. Keep your base LOW and sit in half guard so you are facing their feet but remembering to keep most of your weight pinning that arm with your stiff-arm. Now that their arm is pinned you can be REALLY dominating, smashing for the pass etc.
6. Another option is to walk their hand way up past their head, while basically sitting on their head while still in half-guard, and then slide your non-occupied hand underneath his isloated elbow and overtop your bicep for a straight arm-bar. If your wrist control is tight, this is can be a very-high percentage move unlike other straight armbars where your opponent can rotate his wrist to escape.
The specific grip on the blade of the wrist is very important, as well as understanding the concept of "locking" their entire arm by extending their arm fully and rotating the wrist to near-submission.
When you understand these important concept they can be applied everywhere. I have used this wrist control to escape from back mount when nothing else was working. Just apply it wherever you can grip their wrist and twist it to the max.
(I seriously think it would make things so much more fun)
