Wednesday, February 08, 2012

Top 7 reasons nogi is good for your gi game

Andrew Smith is an instructor at Revolution BJJ in Richmond VA.  He's a first-degree blackbelt in BJJ under Julio “Foca” Fernandez.  Smith is a three-time Pan champion (plus a silver and a bronze), a 20x US Grappling champion, and a decorated judo blackbelt. He wrote a nice two-part series on why it's good to train both gi and nogi.  I thought the second half, on how nogi helps your gi game, was a good reminder for me and maybe a bit of a kick in the pants to get me out of my kimono a little more often.

Check the article out here.

Two choke attacks, taught by Fernandez:



Also, if you haven't read Sam Harris's two articles on self defense and his start in BJJ, drop whatever you're doing and read them right now.

Self defense is here.

Drowning in BJJ is here.

3 comments:

JCC-CSV said...

that self defense article was acceptable.

A.D. McClish said...

A good reminder about going nogi. I get too reliant on the "handles" that a gi provides. Plus, it just seems like nogi makes you deal with more strength from your opponent than gi. For me, anyway. lol

Nick said...

The gi game helps your no-gi game. the no-gi game helps your gi game. So many gyms are so strict to doing one or the other. Its about balance. Guys that train in the gi 90% of the time dont know how to control and grip using they underhooks, overhooks, and neck ties when they don't have a gi on. And gis that never put on a gi stay to open and loose because they aren't used to needing to pretect submissions at all times.

I liked the video thanks for the post!