Why is it so hard for a higher belt to tap to a lower belt?

I have noticed a common saying among Jiu Jitsu Practitioner and that is leave your ego at the door.  I am starting to think that this is a one sided proposition.  It seems  like they are telling the new guys to not get fired up and go all crazy when a higher belt takes you to school and works you over.  I mean most of the higher belts take it easy on me.  No one really wants to hurt me or actually hurt anyone else when they are sparring for the most part.  The only time I see this change is when you catch a higher belt in a move that they have to really fight to get out of and then they go crazy on you trying to show there superiority.  They don't really have to do this as I already know they are better then me and so they have nothing to prove to me.

So yesterday I was rolling with a Purple Belt.  He was 20 years younger then me weighed about 50 lbs more was much stronger then me (or anyone at the gym for that matter) and is even better looking then me.  As we rolled I could tell he was working hard on trying to be technical and not just use his brute strength.  He has hurt me in the past using strength so I think he try to calm it down with me and works on technique mostly when we roll.  So yesterday we were rolling and I caught him in a very tight ankle lock.  It was a straight ankle lock and I could tell I had him.  I looked at his face in pain and realized he was not going to tap.  He tried to roll through but it just made it tighter and he still was not going to tap.  He tried to go 50/50 with me but it was not happening.  So I figured if he was not going to tap I was just going to let it go.  No need to hurt him because of his own stubbornness.  I know some may have an issue with this and may have wanted  me to finish this but I thought why hurt the guy just because he is too proud to tap to an older lower belt then him.

What do you guys think?  Is this a common practice where it is hard a higher belt to tap to a lower belt or someone they think has inferior skills to themselves but if that person is a higher belt or someone with better skills you would tap during the same hold and the same pain level.

 

Today I am posting an embarrassing moment.

As many of you may know I also sell Samurai Swords, Ninja Stuff etc on a website at www.ninjasupply.net  I  have always liked Asia (spent many years over there) and also speak Asian Languages.  My kids call me the Ginja Ninja (Ginja being short for Ginger because of my red hair.

I have found a factory that make high quality knives and swords.  They have some Folded Damascus steel blades (I know it is redundant to say Folded Damascus Steel) etc.

We ship stuff almost everyday and the people who buy from us seem to be very happy.  We have only had a few miscues and we started the site back in July.

So I decided before I sell these more expensive Musashi Swords I better buy a couple and see how Sharp they are and how well they work.  Let me tell you they are extremely sharp and well balanced.  They are truly Samurai Swords and the material and Craftsman ship is Amazing.  The problem comes from me and my buddies lack of experience using a Samurai Sword.

We have to now learn how to hold it correctly and also how to swing it etc.  Here is my first try at this and I cut a corner off of poor John's table.  It was so smooth I did not even notice it cut a corner off the table until I saw the video.  Of course on the next bottle I swung high  to compensate and missed the bottle all together.  I am going to continue practicing by assaulting water bottles and fruit and maybe by Halloween I will be able to  carve a Jack O Lantern with a Samurai Sword.  Then I truly would be the Ginja Ninja.

Maybe I should right a blog on mid life crisis's

Here is the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4O9LLL5P7s

After you've passed out are you less aggressive?

I passed out in a cross choke on Monday.  I have been to 3 workouts since then at different places.  I find myself tapping much quicker.  I have always tapped quick to joint submissions but really have been slow to tap to chokes.  I always felt I would be able to tap before I passed out but ever since Monday I have been questioning myself.  

Is this Normal?  

I enjoy starting the day with Jiu Jitsu but more then 2 rolls and I am shot for the day.

I guess I am getting older and my age is showing.  I like starting the day at Jiu Jitsu class but if I roll more then 2 times I find I am not very productive during the day.

This morning I went in and had a good class.  It was all Blue Belts and me there and we learned some technique from the quarter guard.  (off on a Tangent now)  What is your theory on learning Jiu Jitsu?  I have been studying for almost 2 years and it seems like we are going over new moves or variations of moves we have learned in each class.  I find that when I am rolling that I miss certain aspects of the move so I cannot finish it.  Case in point.  This AM I worked on a move that I was taught in Santa Fe NM last week.  I got the back of a younger stronger jiujiterio and then took his left arm in my left hand, hooked my right hand behind his left shoulder and then went for the rear naked choke.  What I forgot to do was trap his arm with my leg so I could finish the move.  When I got choked out the same thing happened.  I was in a cross choke and pushed one arm down and then lifted the other up.  I then moved my hand to cover my neck but I stepped the wrong way with the leg and thought I could pass his guard and boom I am in lala land.  If I would have stepped up with the left leg my angle would have broken the cross choke, instead I was sleeping during class.

I wonder if I will ever get to the point of really being automatic on my moves.  As an older guy being able to anticipate and counter a move before it happens is vital.  Some days it seems like I am going in reverse.  I was thinking about it today.  The guys I started with almost 2 years ago that are still around have improved at about the same level as me.  They have interesting twists to their game that I can anticipate and counter.  On the other hand they are also good at countering my moves.  When we spar we are doing more stuff but basically are in the same battle we were when we started.  What I would really like to see is how I do against the guy who started when I did but quit 3 months in.  I would like to see him come back to see if my game has improved.

Back at Higher Ground BJJ Today

I have been travelling and will still be out this week but was able to make it to HGBJJ today for the lunch class.  It was a good class with a good mixture of proficiency and sizes there.

We did a good warm up and it has been a long time since I did this.  I think I need more of this to increase my Cardio.  Then we worked on an Americana from Side Control.  It always amazes me the little things in each move that can make it or break it.  If you can put all the parts together in a fluid motion you will be top notch.

I know many debate the technique vs strength of Jiu Jitsu and I have to say technique is the key.  Technique will over come strength in most instances.  The only problem is when technique is equal or close then strength takes over.  I try to work on moves that require a minimum amount of strength to pull off and they work well on the unsuspecting when I am sparring at another academy but when I am with my own guys and they know my techniques then the strength and speed of how I hit the move is what makes the difference.

You should train like the guy is going to be stronger but you should use your strength combined with your technical skill when you spar and compete to be your best.  

If you do BJJ you will get choked out sometime.

I try to be quick to tap. I have to say that eventhough I try to leave my ego at the door sometimes it still creeps in,  I don't know about you it is harder for me to tap to a white belt then an upper belt.  

Tonight I was in St. George Utah for the Sheriff's show and I went over to open mat with Jake  Johnston.  What a great guy to roll with and a guy with a great story.  He got his black belt from Pedro Sauer and seemed to be in my mind knowing exactly what I was going to do before I did it and countering everything with technique and not strength.  I was very impressed with his skills.  

Next I was matched with Victor a guy 32 years younger then me at 21 years old.  He was a good roll for me I got a couple of sweeps and he was able to recover guard.  He got me in a cross choke and it seemed a little tight but I thought I had my arm in a place that I was safe.  I passed his guard and the next thing I knew I was dreaming that I was driving and then I heard him ask me if I was okay.  I woke up holding the guy in side control.  I have had dreams of jiujitsu before and woke up to find I was sleeping but this is the first time I was dreaming and woke up to find myself doing jiujitsu.  Being stupid I continued the roll and then actually rolled with a purple belt after that.  

Victor is a good guy.  The problem was mine.  I should have gave his cross choke more respect and not thought I could fight out of it.  I need to let my ego go with all belts.  Lesson learned. 

Getting ready for competition.

Today at open mat not many showed up just some getting ready for an upcoming competition.  For a couple it will be there first time to compete so I thought it was best to go over some things to calm them down and give them some confidence.   

I think you should always have a plan when you start a match and then make adjustments as the match goes on depending on how your opponent responds or reacts to what your doing.  As the match starts with a takedown you should always have in mind what you are going to do. Do you pull guard? Shoot a double or single leg? Go with a wrestling or judo throw?  If you know what you want you have the advantage.  Do you want to keep them from grabbing a sleeve or lapel?  It all depends on what your plan is.  Your plan should include a takedown that puts you into the position you want to be in once you get on the mat.  It is much easier to get to the position you want to be in during transition then letting your opponent get to a neutral position and starting from there.  

So we went over takedowns based on where they wanted to end up.  We will see what happens once the competition comes.