Watch Olympic Judo medalist Jimmy Pedro and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu World Champion Bernardo Faria explain some of the basics for gripping. Pedro is a decorated Judoka and when it comes to gripping he is an expert. Whether your battling on your feet or the ground gaining control of your opponent is crucial. Without proper control, you will not be able to finish techniques. The gi allows for better control over your opponent, but it also gives the same opportunity to the other person. This means you would have to understand the basics of gripping in order to become better at Judo or Jiu-jitsu.
Three parts of gripping:
Defend- Defend against your opponent attempting to grab your lapel.
Control- Control the gripping hand.
Attack- Finish your opponent with a technique.
Pay a special attention to the way Jimmy Pedro breaks Faria’s grip when he grabs his lapel. The technique of breaking Faria’s grip is very important. There is not a lot of force or strength being applied on Jimmy’s end. The same concepts apply to the ground game.
After Pedro successfully breaks the grip he still controls Faria’s arm. Letting it go would allow Faria to regrip Jimmy’s gi. If you work hard to break your opponent’s grip you should capitalize on it. Also, you can’t just go for the sleeve. You should get wrist control before attempting to grab the sleeve. Secure the grip by taking the slack out of the sleeve.
Jimmy Pedro’s grip system has produced Olympic champions. Gripping plays a major role in Judo and Jiu-jitsu. Understanding it will make you a complete Jiu-jitsu practitioner. If you are someone that competes or plans to compete learning how to grip will make a difference. A great way to become good at gripping is to drill it on a constant basis.
We care about Jiu Jitsu so much that we decided to create this page for all the people like us – that eat, breath and live the Jiu Jitsu Lifestyle! We truly hope our content will make every one of your days better, on the mat and off the mat!