So the other day in sparring I tried a variation of the berimbolo (an inverting backtake) that I don’t normally do.
I was bigger, stronger, and much more experienced than the other guy. And all those stripes on my black belt should mean that techniques should work the first time I try them, right?
Of course not. A black belt means that you’re pretty good at some things but doesn’t give you magical insta-learning superpowers.
Anway, I went for that berimbolo variation two or three times, and each time it fell completely fell apart and degenerated into a scramble.
It was frustrating, but the good news is that 15 minutes after sparring session ending I knew exactly what I had been doing wrong.
The positioning of one of my legs had been completely off; essentially I had been using one of my legs to create a frame (that maintained distance) rather than as a clamp (that would have gotten rid of distance).
How did I fix it? I went and re-watched a technique in something I had produced with Elliott Bayev and boom, the problem was gone.
I’ve this post-sparring analysis many times on everything from takedowns to armlocks, from pin escapes to chokes.
And in this process it’s not only formal instructionals that have been useful. To figure out other jiu-jitsu puzzles I’ve also texted friends, emailed instructors, watched competition footage in slow motion, read articles, attended seminars, and checked out Youtube tutorials.
(By the way, any advanced practitioner or instructor who says that he doesn’t consume digital jiu-jitsu media has either given up on making progress in the art or is a liar.)
The bottom line is, whatever your jiu-jitsu problem is, the answer is out there somewhere. And usually it’s only a couple of clicks away.
Cheers,
Stephan Kesting
P.S. If all this talk of inverting onto your opponent’s back makes your brain hurt then check out The Easiest Way to Learn the Berimbolo. I can’t promise it’ll turn you into one of the Miyao brothers, but for sure it’ll help you understand this important move better.
P.P.S. For a pretty cool breakdown of the 3 stages of the berimbolo (getting your opponent onto his butt, spinning, and finishing) check out this article here.
P.P.P.S. For some advanced finishes to the berimbolo, including the baby bolo and the stomp to leg drag, check out these Powerful Options and Variations for the Berimbolo with Elliott Bayev.
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