"Get the fundamentals down, and the levels of everything you do will rise" - Michael Jordan.
We can already hear you think: "Aren't Stapho and Dario those guys that can't stop going for the matrix, and reverse matrix, and the upside-down lapel matrix... wtf does that have to do with the fundamentals?" Great question.
Well, that's true; we're known for fancy shit. But that doesn't mean we haven't spent our due diligence on the basics. As a matter of fact, over the past year we spent almost 4 months drilling nothing but escapes.
It's not because we're looking to become more defensive. It's because we want to become more aggressive. Counterintuitive as it might sound.
Before I (stapho) work on escapes and guard retention, I'd go to Stark Jiu-Jitsu to roll with Max or Erik (world-level competitive black belts). I'd get passed in the first minute spend the next 5 minutes either in bottom mount or tapping.
And let's be honest, that still happens.
But there have been some changes too:
- It takes longer for me to get passed because my retention has become more technical and effective. Every time I counter a guard pass, I can attack.
- When I do get passed, there's a chance I can escape, and after I escape, I can attempt another attack.
- If I don't manage to escape, I'm practicing a particular set of techniques, and I'm still improving my game instead of laying there, regretting even showing up.
If you think about it, the better your guard retention and escapes, the more chances you get to attack during a fight, and the more confident you become to attack.
I used to be afraid to shoot my triangles and my omoplatas from guard because I felt that failing would put me in bottom side control, which would mean death. Nowadays I'm not worried, cause I have confidence in my escapes.
If you're unpassable and unpinnable, then submitting your opponent becomes just a matter of time.
We want to give you that confidence and skillset so you, too, can attack time and time again.
Prepare to become unpassable and unpinnable.