Jiu-jitsu Made Simple: Understanding PRESSURE
“Pressure makes diamonds or it bursts pipes”
I’ve lived with this quote in my head ever since I was a brown belt getting my ass handed to me by some of my peers in the weeks leading up to my black belt.
I remember getting absolutely throttled. No mercy shown. It was more than hell; it was humiliation.
One of my training partners, a 240lb former all american running back and 3rd degree black belt (at the time) was sitting with me after one of these ass-kickings. He saw me visibly distressed and he says to me “Pressure makes diamonds.”
Defeated, I replied “Or it bursts pipes.”
He laughed. “Yep, that too.”
On the drive home, reflecting on why things felt so “personal” in training, I was wondering what I did to piss him off that he was annihilating me so badly. Then it hit me.
I was about to get my black belt. This was the “final test”.
[I got it three weeks later]
What is Pressure
One of the skills I strive to get better and better at in jiu-jitsu is the art of applying pressure on my opponents. Applying pressure is quite simple and extremely efficient and it leads to better opportunities to control and submit your opponents.
So what is it and how do we apply it?
Let’s take a look at the definitions above.
First: Continuous Physical Force
Second: The use of persuasion, intimidation or coercion to get someone to do something.
Perfect.
My very first professor said something to me when I was a white belt that stuck. He said “If you can make a man feel enough pain, he’ll do anything you want.”
The same goes for pressure.
If you can put a person under enough pressure, they will do whatever you want (per definition number 2). They will make mistakes and put themselves in worse positions, which, in jiu-jitsu, will lead you to your submissions.
The key is the ability to apply pressure and keep it constant (per definition number one).
So how do we apply this to jiu-jitsu?
9.8 Meters Per Second Squared
Just the other day, I was accused by another black belt of “going too hard”. I laughed because I was literally just laying on top of him during a pass I like doing (You’ll see it in a sparring narration later). I was exerting no force but for some reason, this person thought I was training with a high intensity. This was false.
The reason he felt the intensity was because I was able to direct my weight (dead weight) directly onto his legs and held the position with a couple of key grips that killed his ability to move. Constant force… Little energy expended. Efficiency.
Of all the constant forces in nature, when you train, the one you’ll need to learn most is Gravity.
Gravity pulls objects to the earth at a constant rate of 9.8 m/s^2.
Now, when you multiply this times Mass (your body weight), you get a constant application of pressure directly on your opponent in the event you know how to apply that force directly on your opponent.
In an art like jiu-jitsu, where everything is dynamic, there will be constant movement.
Your job then will be to constantly move with it and keep applying pressure at key points.
So what are those key points? Glad you asked.
Below the paywall, we’re going to take a look at how to apply pressure in various situations (namely side control and guard passing). After, I’ll hook it up with a little sparring narration so you can see some of these details in action.
There will be 5 videos
What is pressure in the context of “dead weight” and how to distribute weight
Rotational movement is how to negate pressure: How to kill it and adjust your weight.
How to use these concepts in the context of Guard Passing
Pressure through Sequencing: Psychological Pressure (Guard Passing)
Sparring narration with these concepts in action
Let’s dive in.
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