What's in a Game?

Part I: What's in a game?

These questions are integral to everyone's development as a jiu jitsu player. Some have even gone so far as to say the purple belt level cannot be reached until one's developed this so-called "game." At the 2007 Mundials, I echoed my good friend Mario's cries of, "fais ton jeu!" meaning, "play your game!!" In the medio-peso blue belt division consisting of beasts closer to brown belt than anything, "Jeans-Mary" played his game through five matches, finally placing third in a 70+ man bracket.

So what is this elusive "game"? What does it mean to "play your game"? How do you get a "game"? Can I pick one up at the store with my cheese crackers and bunch of cherries?

There are several BJJ bloggers out there who present and discuss their respective "games." Up too this point, I've adhered to the A-Game Campers strategy. I've discovered, however that the A-Game Campers strategy is really a skill development method -- one maintains a list of techniques or weaknesses that must be practiced and developed in order to constantly improve. It works awesomely for me, but I still don't have a "game."

What am I talking about? Well, for me, a game is a specific strategy to use during a jiu jitsu match. It is not a method of training, it's not a method of academically analyzing one's progress, and it is most DEFINITELY NOT a complete mapping or encyclopedia of every single technique one knows. Developing one of these complete or slightly-condensed maps of all available techniques is ineffective. There is no way to keep such a complex schema in one's head while doing jiu jitsu. For me, the best jiu jitsu comes by:

1. Taking advantage of, and imposing, your "game"


2. Instinctively and automatically reacting to your opponent


3. Being mentally flexible and responding creatively.

So (and I could be massively wrong on this, but I think not), if your "game plan" involves more than four techniques, and you're not a black belt (and maybe even then) then it's too complex.

An example "game plan" from one of my friends goes like this: pull guard immediately, keep tight, use long legs to prevent passing, triangle choke them out. The rest is just impromptu... I watched him execute some awesome judo throws, ridiculous sweeps out of no where, passes where it looked like he just walked through his opponents like their legs where ghost-tissue-paper (wiggly! wiggly!)... all excellent jiu jitsu techniques, but not part of his game. No matter what he used to get to the final closed-guard position, he always ended up there and always finished his opponents (until that ridiculous Brazilian kid who was ALL OVER and should not have been in that blue belt division at all...).

Part II: Games, on sale, isle 5!

I've been struggling for the past year to discover my game. I had this epiphany after mundials where I found myself constantly on the defense instead of doing what I did best (at that time). Actually, it was less of an epiphany and more of everyone telling me I needed to develop my game.

Is the answer so obvious sensei?? BJJ fighters become so elusive when you reply, "But how?" "It's just something you have to develop yourself..." "But... but... what's my game? How do I develop it??" "Don't worry, it will come, grasshopper."

I'm finding more and more that the answer here is to just keep truckin'. Just keep up with the A-Game Campers, Constant Improvers list. Keep working on those weak spots, and eventually your strengths will come through.

And in that, they may not be apparent as "strengths," but rather "favorites." I might not be an amazing butterfly guard player, but it's really fun! Maybe that's where my game is... Also, I like my standing-pass techniques, they're fun too! Maybe my game should be a top game...

Part III: What's in a game, but more importantly, what's in my game?

I don't know. I have techniques I always tend towards, ones I like the most, and ones that sort of come out of no where when I get angry.

What?

I guess the best explanation of this is sometimes you get paired up with a semi-new, really strong kid. After a couple months experience they have a decent handle on some techniques. That, plus the strong desire to prove themselves equals a very dangerous type situation. At the intersection of inexperience and immaturity comes the threat of stray elbows to the face, popped ribs, and strained... well... everything. After a few minutes of getting beat up, I get angry. Then it's all about the closed guard, underhook on one side which wraps around and grabs the lat on the opposite side. I found that instead of just holding there, if you really grab, it neutralizes alot of your opponent's strength. Something about having someone's fingers digging in, making your gi fabric irritate your armpit is just brutal. I keep working with that until I have the back. It's been working really well for me lately, so maybe that's my game....

But then, for me jiu jitsu is most fun when it's unpredictable.

Even as I re-read and continue writing this I'm pretty appalled and my presumptuousness. My measly three years of training can only graze the surface of that massive jiu jitsu iceberg.