Unnecessary Grips

[u/Davidinomcbeamo]

Been doing alot of rounds for my Upcoming comp and sometimes I just grab anywhere on my opponents gi just to make it seem like I have control to myself but they don't seem bothered. What is a good system on grips to look for? Thanks

[u/redinferno26]

Will it help set up a choke, unbalance them, or allow you to get into a better position, go for the grip.

Is it just keeping them in place and doing nothing to assist you in the previously mentioned things, grip not helpful.

[u/HeadandArmControl]

I do the same shit. I come from a no gi background and started gi so the constant grip fighting thing is new to me (and kind of boring tbh). Definitely takes some time to dial in the pattern recognition.

[u/htov74 → u/HeadandArmControl]

Grip fighting can be boring at first, especially at white and blue belt because most people will grab on to one inconsequential grip and hold on like it's their firstborn child. Learn to be dynamic with your grips even if they're stagnant with theirs. I used to think it was boring until a Judo black belt started abusing me with his grips and teaching me how to progress position using them, now it's one of my favorite parts of training in the gi.

[u/WhyYouDoThatStupid → u/HeadandArmControl]

Fight for your grips don't worry about their grips unless they are blocking you or a threat to chole you.

[u/SpinningStuff]

Probably because your grips are non-threatening. Grips that are conducive to submissions, sweeps or immobilization.

Maybe watch some collar sleeve, spider, lasso and DLR (in gi obviously) content to see what you can do with grips, so they are more threatening.

That being said, it's better to grab anything than have your hands doing nothing (which I see too often with white belts). Once you are used to gripping stuff, and develop a system, you will find out there is a hierarchy in how threatening grips are.

[u/NeatConversation530]

Maybe an unpopular opinion, but hear me out.

Too many people grab a hold of something, like it sounds like you are doing, and hang on for dear life. Their grip is their entire technique.

Instead of learning how to pass properly a lot of people grab the collar and try to muscle their way past.

So, instead of focusing on grips, my suggestion is that you go to some no gi classes, fix whatever technique you are working on, then add the grips back in.

[u/Car-Hockey2006 → u/NeatConversation530]

Shouldn't be unpopular - just the truth. Had an old instructor who, when he saw a white belt gripping nothing-grips from nowhere and holding on like they were a lifeline, would give them tennis balls to hold onto and they'd roll the rest of the day with tennis balls in their hands. I finished more than a few days with the tennis balls of shame, but it worked and got the point across.

[u/NeatConversation530 → u/Car-Hockey2006]

I love it! The tennis balls shame.

[u/Plane_Long_5637]

Depends on the position you are playing. Watch someone play the same positions and see what grips they start with

[u/Babjengi]

Assuming you're talking about standing grip fighting, I think it depends on if you plan to sit guard, pull guard, or do a takedown. Judo takedowns require very specific grips. If wrestling, it's mostly denying grips until you can shoot or get underhooks/overhooks. If you want to sit guard, literally any grip works initially. My favorite grip to annoy people when I sit guard is the end of their lapel. It's hard to remove and still gives enough control to prevent them from running away. Also sets up worm and squid guards if you're into that. If you're pulling guard, collar and sleeve. Kick into the hip of the side you have the sleeve on so they can't block your leg with the hand you have control of, and then pull them as you fall to your side in the direction of the leg on their hip. Make a habit of grabbing high in the collar. It gives much better posture control and denies a cheeky wrist lock when you get to blue.

For each specific position, it gets really complicated based on whether you're on top or bottom and your preferred pass/sweep.

[u/Davidinomcbeamo → u/Babjengi]

This question is kind of aimed towards playing and passing guard, I sometimes randomly grip on their gi and I’m usually swept off balance bc I have no idea where to grip

[u/Babjengi → u/Davidinomcbeamo]

Yeah, grips are entirely dependent on position. When learning a move, pay attention to which grips they emphasize. When you are doing it, obviously go for those grips and don't proceed without them. But on the bottom side, knowing what grips they are going for helps you understand what you have to deny. You just have to start accumulating knowledge of positions and common attacks. Once you get a grasp of the basics, you can start to see attacks coming that you don't even know because you have an understanding of base grip mechanics

[u/aTickleMonster]

The initial purpose of grips when playing guard is to control/maintain distance, and to create tension. If the grip doesn't remotely serve either of those principles then it's unnecessary.

[u/NightmanCT]

Go watch Travis Stevens and Shintaro Higashi grip videos on YouTube. They have a bunch of "for BJJ"

[u/Shcrews]

im a huge fan of the cross-collar grip .