Structured compinations or natural flow?

[xo-karate]

"Offence is defence and defence is offence" - Judo slogan

I've been trying out Roy Harris's defensive positions from DVD Bjj over 40. It works very well against white belts, but not against others. Instruction to me has been to be more relaxed and aggressive - to attack more.

One instruction has been that don't think about the moves - just do them - grab an opportunity when you see it. To my question "how" do I see it - answer is roll more, you get it. (But rolling with out defense will end up with sore shoulders from armbars:-) Really - with Roy's defensive positions, I've been able to roll more, but ...

Maybe I just need to learn attacks from defensive positions? Or attack first and be ready to pail out to an defensive position?

Should I practice compilations of attacks or just learn to see opportunities. (My answer would be both - but what comes first? Where do I start?)

[ps1]

"Offence is defence and defence is offence" - Judo slogan

I've been trying out Roy Harris's defensive positions from DVD Bjj over 40. It works very well against white belts, but not against others. Instruction to me has been to be more relaxed and aggressive - to attack more.

One instruction has been that don't think about the moves - just do them - grab an opportunity when you see it. To my question "how" do I see it - answer is roll more, you get it. (But rolling with out defense will end up with sore shoulders from armbars:-) Really - with Roy's defensive positions, I've been able to roll more, but ...

Maybe I just need to learn attacks from defensive positions? Or attack first and be ready to pail out to an defensive position?

Should I practice compilations of attacks or just learn to see opportunities. (My answer would be both - but what comes first? Where do I start?)

So I'm seeing 3 distinctive questions in your post. As I see it, they are these:

1. How do you begin to see opportunities? You mentioned the answer is to roll more. But this is not correct. The answer is to drill the move more. If you only drill it a few times, you can't expect yourself to consistently use it. These are perishable skills. But if you never develop the skill in the first place, it never has time to sink in. If the move is not part of you, you will not see the opportunity in time to use it.

2. Should I learn more attacks from defensive positions or just be more aggressive from the beginning? Learning when and how to attack is very difficult in BJJ. The fact is there will be a time for both of these options. Don't worry about aggression or attacking from weird positions. Focus on learning how to appropriately move your body. By doing this, you will find you are always in a position where you can attack and maintaining appropriate distance for skillful defense. Becoming skilled in bjj is about learning proper body mechanics...not about learning moves.

3. What method should I use to begin seeing the opportunities that lead to combinations? Drill, Drill, Drill....Opportunities are created in two ways. You create them or your partner creates them. However, if you don't drill enough, you will never be prepared for the opportunities.

[xo-karate]

Thanks ps1 - this answer means a lot to me. I've tried to get partners to drill with me between classes. (We can use our clubs tatami or our sports centers tatami for free.)

Your answer means I just need to try harder to get people to drill with me. I come from karate background and drilling is something that I am very used to.

[pittbullJudoka]

Another thing to add to ps1's post. We do positional rolling of sub for sub. You roll very lightly with some what natural reactions with 10% resistance looknig for submission opprtunities. After sumitting you partner hold the postion as to let them exicute the proper counter or escape. This lets you drill both asspects of attack and defence. Too if you are having a problem this a given sub or escape you can get extra reps in on the the application or counter.

This is very helpful and also give you mind a workout as well it lets you slow the action of rolling down to a manageable pace for the less experinced.

[ps1]

Another thing to add to ps1's post. We do positional rolling of sub for sub. You roll very lightly with some what natural reactions with 10% resistance looknig for submission opprtunities. After sumitting you partner hold the postion as to let them exicute the proper counter or escape. This lets you drill both asspects of attack and defence. Too if you are having a problem this a given sub or escape you can get extra reps in on the the application or counter.

This is very helpful and also give you mind a workout as well it lets you slow the action of rolling down to a manageable pace for the less experinced.

Agreed. This is a terrific way to drill. The great thing about it is, over time, it can be sped up and more resistance can be added.

[xo-karate]

I've done a similar thing - like slow roll, but you do a submission and back up a little so that your partner can do an escape?

I call this "catch and release".

[pittbullJudoka]

ps1 I agree with you on as theexperince level goes up so does the pace. I often end up picking the pace up a little more each round that is added until its full out sparing.

As for backing up and letting my partner counter yes and no depending on the move and if they have a escape that preceeds the final position.

[xo-karate]

I've checked some Roy Harris's teaching. He seems to have three escapes for each submission: early, mid and late.

Always the best escape is the early, when the attack starts and you counter it. So when we are backing up after submission, we are learning the late escape - kind of last resource "do or tap"-version.

Did you mean this "Pittbull"? or did you have something else on your mind?

[pittbullJudoka]

Kinda do it both ways depending on the counter you are wanting to use. But you are right the earlier you start the counter the better.