Week of 08-14-2023
In space, if someone Rear naked chokes you, do you make gargled wheezings sounds as you struggle to inhale another precious breath of limited oxygen? Is this a rhetorical question like what is the sound of one hand clapping? Or if a tree falls in the forest, what type of sound does it make? Nah, it’s none of that. This was all a run-up to this footage of a purple belt astronaut wearing a gi in space.
Hello and welcome to another weekly issue of sneaky submission. The newsletter for those who love violently hugging people in pyjamas or strangling other people whilst dressed like a competitor in an international luge competition. Indeed, good morrow to you dear grappling aficionado!
NERD'S FIGHTING
Another week has gone by and we’ve heard more about the on-again, off-again nerd fight with Zuck declaring on threads that:
“Elon won’t confirm a date, then says he needs surgery and now asks to do a practice round in my backyard instead.”
“I’m going to focus on competing with people who take the sport seriously.”
On the other hand, Musk has posted the following on X (formerly twitter):
“Fight Recap:
I joked on X about fighting Zuck
Zuck then said “SEND ME LOCATION”
Italy graciously offered a Colosseum
Zuck declined
I suggested his home as “safe space”
Tragically, he was ahem “traveling”
Is there anywhere he will fight?”
So much for that. Won’t people think about the children? Why won’t they kiss and make up already? For the three ring circus this event was going to be, our collective sanity is probably better off not witnessing two fragile egos battle.
WHO’S NUMBER ONE
FFION DAVIES VS JASMINE ROCHA
For all the trash talk in this interview, this match highlighted Davies' dominance as a top-game BJJ exponent. Davies' aggressive control of the legs and hips always threatened Rocha with her devastating knee cut even from the outset of the bout. Ffion top control and control of head and arm in the crossface position made it very difficult for Jasmine to regain any composure and to get into any recovery position or to regain guard.
Davies's ability to circle and pass through Rocha's guard impeded Rocha's attempts to play open guard. Davies’ put herself in better positions throughout the match and lead to her dominating Rocha throughout the match. Even from mount, Davies’ dominant pressure and move to the arm triangle/gift-wrap made it an exhausting match for Rocha. Davies eventual backtake and body triangle led to a great win for Davies.
The most interesting part of this match was Davies’ strategy and her control of Rocha. Davies’ control of the legs, crossbody rides and dives for the underhook made the match a masterful display of a pressure passer’s mindset and game plan. Ffion’s methods to get those important pressure passing positions was a masterclass in modern passing.
What can we learn from this fight?
For top players who love to pass, the control of the feet and the hips are key to gaining a dominant position over the opponent. Davies’ positional control made it impossible for Rocha to regain guard and to escape into a better position, even if Rocha inverted and attempted to move into better positions.
NICHOLAS MERGALI VS KAYNAN DUARTE
This match was interesting. Meregali vs Duarte from the outset was a competition between two different grappling philosopies. Meregali representing the Judo perspective and Duarte representing the wrestling perspective. The hand fighting from the opening rounds didn’t lead to much for either fighter. It wasn’t until Duarte shoots for a blast double where Duarte is able to run-the-pipe and get a single leg. This leads to a take down for both competitiors. Meregali goes to a De La Riva guard position and knee shield whist Duarte attempts a knee cut.
Partway through a tense exchange, Kaynan sits back to ankle and starts attacking Meregali’s legs. It is here where Meregali is able to dominate Duarte by countering the leg attack by smashing the knees and moving into the headquarters position. Duarte is able to wrestle up and lead to another exchange on their feet.
Meregali hits back with own single leg which leads to series of single leg snatches and wrestling exchanges which eventuates in a Meregali foot sweep.
Late in the match, Meregali is able to get a body lock after a scramble which leads to taking Duarte’s back. Kaynan is able to get into a inverted half-guard whilst Meregali attempts to pass. Meregali from the top attempts to get a body lock before being able to cross-face and pass the guard. Meregali goes to mount and taps Duarte via Kata Gatame.
What can we learn from this fight?
As much as we hate to admit it, as grappling enthusiasts, our standup game is key. As much as this fight was interesting on the ground, it was the standup that set this fight apart. Yes, it went for long stretches with both fightings feinting and trying to get an in on the opponent, but what mattered was Meregali’s persistence with his singe legs and takedown attempts.
As a sidenote: The arm triangle (Kata Gatame) seems to be submission du jour these days.
LUKE ROCKHOLD VS CRAIG JONES
This fight was recently announced as part of as an Israel fight league promotion. I’m really not sold on this fight as Rockhold has been plagued with injuries and most recently suffered a loss to Mike Perry in a Bare Knuckle boxing fight.
Craig Jones on the other hand has been going strength to strength with his BJJ coaching and competing. His recently defeated Felipe Pena as part of the UFC fight pass invitational and will be competing as part of the B-team quintet contingent.
OH WOW
Oh Wow will be a place where I share my favourite moves that I see on the internet each week.
Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0Xf_CJzE6M
I love me some Kesa Gatame. I’m not sure how I was even introduced to it, but it is one of my go to moves in BJJ. Why I love it is because you take away alot of counter options from the opponent and leaves you with many options for submissions. Did I mention that it sucks out the will to live from the opponent underneath you? Funny, but it does that too.
The only issue with this position for me is the submissions. Whilst they are easy on paper to execute, it’s much harder on the mat to pull off these submissions with a bucking and frenzied opponent beneath you trying to escape. My go-to options are:
The Josh Barnett lean into the opponent which delivers skull-busting pressure. He used this against Dean Lister in that classic match.
The Bas Rutten crunch: Keep the Kesa Gatame hold and grab one of the legs and work your hands down and grab your thighs. This will inflict a joyful amount of pressure on your opponents lungs and will give them the wonderful feeling of suffering an asthma attack as it squeezes the air out of their lungs.
The keylock - The arm is right there and it’s just so easy to swing the leg over and force the arm to the ground. Easier said than done with a squirming and escape -minded opponent.
YOUR GYM MUSIC SUCKS
In honor of Robbie Robertson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2eTW8qZBtk
Robbie Robertson passing sent a thunderbolt through me when I heard the news. He was such an amazing songwriter and musician. The music that he made as part of the “The Band” really resonates with me to this day. Strangely, their music was the soundtrack to my twenties and my days at university. In the modern age, the music from The Band is folk music and seems unremarkable on the first listen, but a listen to the “Last Watlz” a few times you’ll find yourself humming the tune to “Up on cripple creek” and even “The night they drove old dixie down”.
“The Weight” is a song that is heavy in my rotation and his songwriting and craft on that song was really just timeless. For me, it’s like McCartney’s “Yesterday”, one listen and I knew in my bones that it was an instant classic. What struck me the most was the story and meaning behind “The night they drove old dixie down”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXSYm-CkUsE
Mr. Robertson sir, you will be missed.
