Hey everyone,
If you’ve trained with me, you’ve heard me emphasize the importance of connection countless times – whether we’re working on submissions, playing guard, or maintaining top position. That’s because understanding and implementing good connection principles is fundamental to everything we do in Jiu-Jitsu. When techniques aren’t working, the solution often lies not in using more force, but in improving the quality of our connections.
1. Connection Quality: Beyond Just “Having” the Grip
It’s easy to think we have good connections because something looks “right,” but there’s a huge difference between having a grip and having an effective grip.
Let’s look at a common scenario: You’re seated in guard with your opponent standing. When you reach for their leg:
- Weakest: Just your fingers behind their leg
- Easy for them to break free
- Minimal control
- Better: Calf secured in the bend of your wrist
- More stable connection
- Harder to escape
- Strongest: Calf deep in the bend of your elbow
- Maximum control
- Most resilient to defensive movements
The depth of connection you need depends on what you’re trying to control, but generally, deeper connections = stronger control.
2. Surface Area: Maximizing Points of Contact
Think of connection like Velcro – the more points of contact, the stronger the hold.
When we talk about surface area, we’re looking beyond our primary connections (typically our hands and feet) and thinking about how to fill in all the “white space” with other parts of our limbs and body.
Let’s examine De La Riva guard as an example:
- Initial Connections:
- Hook behind their leg
- Grip on their ankle
- Maximizing Surface Area:
- Your instep fully connected to their leg
- Your shin pressed against their hamstring
- Your hamstring connected to their shin
- Ankle control tight against your ribs
- Your hips shifted to touch their shin
- Your butt nearly sitting their foot
What we’re doing here is starting with our primary connections (the hook and grip) and then looking for ways to connect every other available part of our body to them. This creates a much stronger and more controlling position. Your connections are where you start, but surface area is about using everything in between.
3. Tension: The Power of Opposing Forces
Good connections aren’t just about contact – they’re about creating meaningful tension through opposing forces. Here are some classic examples:
- Collar & Sleeve Guard:
- Pull on the collar while simultaneously
- Push with the foot on the hip
- Creates a tension that limits their movement options
- Spider Guard:
- Pull their arms while
- Push with your feet
- They end up carrying your weight through these connections
- Shoulder Crunch:
- Pull their shoulder towards you while
- Push away with your elbow
- Creates a “stuck” feeling where they can’t easily advance or retreat
The goal is to create tension that either:
- Makes them carry your weight
- Limits their movement options
- Creates pressure they must address
Putting It All Together in Guard Play
Your guard game is the perfect laboratory for developing these connection concepts:
- Your Primary Focus Should Be:
- Creating and maintaining quality connections
- Controlling distance through these connections
- Using connections to create off-balancing opportunities
Key Principles:
- Every grip should have purpose and tension
- Maximize surface area whenever possible
- Look for ways to create opposing forces
- If your connections break easily, examine why
Remember, effective Jiu-Jitsu isn’t about forcing techniques to work – it’s about understanding and applying these fundamental principles in everything you do. When your connections are strong, you’ll find that your techniques become more efficient and effective, regardless of your size or strength.
Next time you’re struggling with a technique, pause and examine your connections. Often, the solution isn’t to try harder, but to connect better.
Cheers,
Kabir