Eyes closed?

[Rio]

I started BJJ a few months ago, and I'm starting to get to the point that I can transition from one position to another without getting swept too easily.

 

Tonight while rolling in class, my contact moved up on my eye....and because I was in the middle of passing the guard, I didn't want to stop to fix it. So I closed my eyes, and kept going. It seemed like I was able to counter my oponent's movements better (passed the guard, and pulled off a choke from side control), and even though I couldn't see, I had a better feel for what was going on.

 

Anyone else encountered this? Or am I just imagining things?

[username9]

In our Ju Jitsu classes we quite often do ground grappling with our eyes closed. It gives you Kinaesthetic Feedback. That is your bosy takes over the senses.

 

To explain a bit further it involves your muscles sensing what is going on by the way your body feels and the reactions to other forces on your body.

 

It is a great way to train both for "street reasons" (Imagine you have blood in ur eyes or something. And for the fact that your feel for others will improve.

 

Judo in the paralypmics was played by blind guys too. They do the same thing really - just feeling the weight of the opponent.

 

Hope that helps.

[Sasori_Te]

I have posted in other threads on this forum that I train my students by doing certain drills blindfolded. I also have them do their kata blindfolded. Practicing blind provides a number of excellent benefits especially for self defense.

[Shane]

My grandfather was a blind wrestler and he speaks as if it was his advantage over his oppenents. Some tend to rely a bit to much on the sense of sight while on the ground when we need to use all of our senses and that harder for those with vision to get down than for those without (obviously)

[kenpo4life]

Do it all of the time. Learned it from Royce about 10

[ramymensa]

We've done similar things at our Shotokan classes. It's amazing to realise we are able to move and do things without only relying on sight

[Ottman]

This is kind of related, but I play a lot of basketball, and as a result I've had a lot of sprained ankles, mostly my right ankle. While in physical therapy to recover from a recent sprain, my trainer had me balance on one foot, which wasn't difficult due to my martial arts training. So he had me close my eyes and try it, and it took me about two weeks to stay on one foot with my eyes closed for more than 15 seconds. It's still hard now, but I've gained a much better sense of my own balance, and the orientation of space around me from this simple little exercise. I also started doing forms with my eyes closed, and man what a difference. I must recomend it.

[Goju 4 Life]

Some tend to rely a bit to much on the sense of sight while on the ground when we need to use all of our senses and that harder for those with vision to get down than for those without (obviously)

 

I'm still trying to figure out how to use taste while fighting.

[White Warlock]

Drink a glass of milk, then lick your opponent's face.

[Kreisi]

I do it all the time it helps when on ground