If/then vs. plan A/B

[skribs135 155]

Had a competition today. My best IBJJF competition so far (I actually played my game for a bit before I got submitted). We had gone over our game plans last week. My Professor's approach is to have plan A, B, and C. If plan A doesn't work, do B, and so on. For example:

• Plan A: Pull guard, dummy/tripod sweep.
• Plan B: Close guard, set up overhook and attack punch choke or butterfly hook sweep.
• Plan C: Knee shield, attack kimura.
• Plan D: Deep half guard sweep.

The idea is to try to force plan A a few times, if that doesn't work force plan B, and so on.

However, I've been one of the smallest guys in my gym. So for me, my general style is less of a Plan A, then Plan B; and more a series of if/then/else-if programming that I follow.

• Pull guard, if my opponent is standing centered enough, attack a dummy sweep
  • Else-if my opponent's right leg is near me, attack SLX
  • Else-if my opponent's left leg is near me, attack deep half guard
  • Else-if my opponent puts a knee down, close guard
    • If my opponent bases to my left side, go for overhook
      • Else-if my opponent bases to my right side, go for knee shield
        • Attack kimura
        • Else attack deep half guard
      • Else-if my opponent pressures in, attack cross-collar
      • Else-if my opponent postures up, attack scissor sweep or kimura/hip bump sweep

I generally can't force specific positions or systems in class, because I am usually by far the smallest and weakest. Usually by 2-3 weight classes below the next guy. So instead, I work with what I'm given. I also think it's a bit strange (maybe not) that my if-left and if-right statements usually have different thens.

This thread is more of a ramble. I know there's a question in here somewhere, I'm just not sure exactly what it is. Just needed to get some thoughts out and I guess see what folks respond.

 

[drop bear135 10]

Flow charts are the traditional method.

You can even buy aps for them.

 

[Kung Fu Wang136 167]

This is the TMA approach.

In general, you start from "create opportunity" and play offense. If fail, you then switch to "wait for opportunity" and play defense.

In sport competition, if you always play defense, you may get disqualified.

 

[skribs135 155]

I re-watched my fight a couple of times. My opponent's left arm was constantly on my belt, there's no way I could have set up the overhook guard on him, which is what my Professor asked why I did. At least not with peeling the grip first.

Then I re-watched it a third time. It was there on his right arm. But I never do that with the right arm...

 

[Kung Fu Wang136 167]

In stand up game, you usually use the same "entering strategy" over and over. The entering strategy is the root of your tree. Depending on your opponent's different responds, the tree trunk will branch out in many different branches. The nice thing about this approach is if you have tried it over 10,000 times, 99% of your opponent's possible responds. you will have a good experience in it.

A simple example can be:

You kick your opponent's leading leg. If he

1. resists, you try X.
2. lifts his leg up without stepping back, you try Y.
3. steps back, you try Z.

Not sure this work in the ground game or not.

 

[skribs135 155]

In stand up game, you usually use the same "entering strategy" over and over. The entering strategy is the root of your tree. Depending on your opponent's different responds, the tree trunk will branch out in many different branches. The nice thing about this approach is if you have tried it over 10,000 times, 99% of your opponent's possible responds. you will have a good experience in it.

A simple example can be:

You kick your opponent's leading leg. If he

1. resists, you try X.
2. lifts his leg up without stepping back, you try Y.
3. steps back, you try Z.

Not sure this work in the ground game or not.

It's a little different in BJJ. Let's walk through a chain of events that I would commonly do in TKD than in BJJ.

In TKD:

• I aim for head kick with crescent kick.
  • If my opponent leans back to dodge, next time I will re-chamber and turn it into a side kick that catches him when he returns.
  • If my opponent moves back to dodge, next time I will use the first kick to turn into a spinning kick, either back kick (if he moves slightly back) or tornado kick (if he moves further back).
  • If my opponent raises his hand to block, next time I will use a high outside chamber to suggest crescent kick, but sharply turn it into a body kick to come under the arm.
    • If my opponent protects both the head and body, I will instead do a hook kick to hit the other side, or turn it into a double kick so I can hit from the other side.

Each time I aim for the kick, I get more information, and then we reset to our standing position. This gives me more opportunity to gather data to score more points.

In BJJ:

• I aim for a double-leg take-down. I am sloppy with my head placement and get guillotined. Game over, no chance to retry.
• I aim for a double-leg take-down. My opponent sprawls on me. I'm forced down into turtle.
  • They lock a guillotine from front turtle. Game over, no chance to retry.
  • They move to my side, jump over with a helicopter choke. Game over, no chance to retry.
  • They move to my side, then back to the front with a clock choke. Game over, no chance to retry.
  • They move to my side, then knock me over into side control. I now need to defend side control.
    • I roll them over. Now we're not in standing, so I can't try double-leg again, but I can at least work my top game. If they manage to stand up (which I am not trying to let them), then I can retry.
    • I manage to recover guard. Now it's easier to "just stand up" to reset and retry, but still a challenge. It's also probably a better idea to attack sweeps or submissions, and it will be some time before I can retry.
    • They submit me from side control. Game over, no chance to retry.
    • They advance position to knee-on-belly, mount, or back control. Now it is more difficult to escape or recover and eventually get back to my feet for a retry. Also I can't practice my side control escapes from these positions, I need to work on new escapes.
  • They move to my side, then take my back. Similar problems if they knock me over into side control.
• I aim for a double-leg take-down. I actually land it! Now I'm stuck on the ground with my opponent for the rest of the round and I don't get to rep it anymore. Unless he manages to stand up.

The problem with BJJ is the position doesn't reset after each individual technique. The position changes after each successful technique, but also changes after many failed techniques. I may try a sweep and not knock my opponent over, and we're still in roughly the same position - except now my guard is open and I'm not positioned as strongly as he is. Or I may try a sweep and flub it enough that he easily advances position as a result.

In fact, my best move against new white belts is just stall while they work themselves into worse positions.