Chapter 6: How I Structured My Game

Structuring a BJJ game involves tailoring techniques to personal strengths and mitigating weaknesses. For example, leveraging attributes like length, size, and flexibility while compensating for lack of speed or strength disadvantages.

Game planning encompasses four subcategories: top game, bottom game, standing game, and submissions. In sport jiu-jitsu, the bottom game or guard can be an offensive position, leading to the first method of attack. A guard player may focus on the open guard and bottom game.

Stand-up is the first pillar to approach in competition or training. As a guard player, the goal is to reach the bottom position quickly, often by pulling guard. The guard pull should be executed with intent, ensuring immediate offensive action upon landing, with proper grips and foot placement.

If guard pulling isn't viable due to timing or distance, consider alternatives like takedowns or throws. For taller individuals, maintaining a non-square stance can reduce vulnerability to judo throws and takedowns. Engage only when ready to act and avoid matching the pace of more skilled stand-up practitioners.

When unable to pull guard, use an inside trip or fake it to set up an ankle pick. These moves play to the strengths of individuals with longer legs and the ability to execute dynamic movements. Even if the inside trip is slow, it creates an opportunity for an alternative action, keeping one step ahead of the opponent.

These stand-up strategies are chosen because they can lead to the primary objective of getting to the ground and entering a guard position. If the inside trip fails, sitting to the butt is a viable option to transition to the ground game.