Someone told you: you are using too much strength, not technique
By Leonardo Correa
Nov 08, 2021 - (3 min read)
"You are using too much strength"
I've heard this so many times. I am sure you've heard this too. Now you have no idea what to do. You are a white belt (sometimes blue) and don't have many techniques in your toolbox. Obviously anything you do will involve strength because that's all you have.
Scenario
Someone I train with said that wanted to pass my guard. His name is Bob, white belt. Think with me: I am a black belt, trained, and competed a lot. He is a white belt. Do you really think that in a real combat situation or competition, he would be able to pass my guard consistently? I am not saying that this is impossible but it wouldn't be normal.
Sometimes I relax the guard because I want to train guard recovery or side-control escape. Perhaps I put myself in a terrible position and work my way out.
However, most beginners don't primarily focus on learning. Back to Bob's scenario, his intention is just to pass my guard. I can't see any technique, just strength and desperation to pass at any cost. Unfortunately, the higher belts must make him pay. The training could be a lot more productive if they come intending to apply the techniques, or at least try.
Let's try something different
I would like to invite you to try a different approach. Let's not try to pass the guard anymore. Your focus now is on applying the techniques.
You still don't know what to do.
Let's find out if you know any passing guard technique to apply.
Think of any passing guard that you learned during the classes.
Here are some techniques, if they ring a bell: Knee slice, X-pass, back step, toreando, rugby style, over-under, Sao Paulo pressure pass, Barbosa pressure pass, and so on.
Go ahead now and explain to me (or to yourself in your head) at least one passing guard technique. I don't expect the level of details as a black belt. Just explain exactly the way you've learned. Explain step-by-step, grip by grip the passing guard technique.
If nothing comes to your mind, try to repeat what you've learned in the classes. If you still not able to execute one technique, you have only strength in your toolbox.
Here comes a piece of advice. Attend the classes as usual. When your instructor shows a guard passing technique, use it during sparring. It sounds simple but you are not using the technique you've just learned. Do you still wonder why the higher belts don't give you an inch? Don't try to beat the higher belts. This is your ego getting on the way. Leave this for the competition classes. There are times to go for the kill. I love it when I see people trying to execute the technique they learned during the class. I do everything to help without saying a word. It's natural.
Tweet to @LeonardoBrAu