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BJJ Mental Models

Mini Ep. 42: Body Tethering

Feb 20, 2025
Dive into the concept of body tethering in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, where controlling your opponent's alignment is key. Learn to avoid the pitfalls of relying too heavily on clamp techniques. For smaller grapplers, discover effective strategies to maintain control against larger opponents, preventing them from easily overpowering you on the mat. Stay aware and optimize your game with practical insights and tips!
07:00

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Maintaining control over an opponent's alignment is essential to prevent vulnerabilities while using clamping techniques in BJJ.
  • Smaller grapplers should be cautious with clamping techniques against larger opponents to avoid being manipulated and potentially injured.

Deep dives

The Concept of Body Tethering in Jiu-Jitsu

Body tethering refers to the danger of becoming overly reliant on a position where one's body weight is entirely controlled by the opponent, making one vulnerable to injury. For instance, being in closed guard is beneficial if the guard player maintains control over the opponent's posture; however, if the opponent successfully postures up, the guard player becomes tethered and is at risk of being picked up or slammed, which can lead to severe injuries. This concept emphasizes the need for grapplers to avoid situations where their body is completely dependent on their opponent's movements, highlighting that even if certain techniques like slams are illegal, the potential for accidental injury still exists. Ensuring that one has control over their opponent's alignment is crucial to mitigate risks associated with being tethered.

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