- Jay Zeballos
- Sep 17, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 22, 2024
“In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless but planning is indispensable.” —President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Jean Jacques Machado understands the concept of having a backup plan very well. As part of the famed Machado family of Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners, he’s a lifelong student of the grappling art.
THE PLAN
One of the most popular and practical bits of advice you’re likely to hear is this: Always have a backup plan. You run into it everywhere—on television, on the radio and online. The reason it’s so common is obvious: One of the keys to achieving happiness and success in life is being prepared for what might happen. It’s as true in the dojo as it is in the real world.
In many martial arts schools, the instructor follows the beaten path with respect to the application of techniques: One person initiates an offensive move, and it’s followed by a defense or a counterattack effected by the other person.
When the students are beginners, it’s usually a one-step process. Should the initial attack fail, the students regroup, and the process begins again. As their skill level slowly matures, they begin to grasp the concept of setting up attack combinations to counter their opponent’s reactions.
In essence, they learn how to develop a backup plan. It enables them to react the moment their initial attack is stopped.
One of his family’s most celebrated champions, he received his red/black belt from legendary master Rickson Gracie. The following is the way Machado teaches the concept of the backup plan as it pertains to personal combat on the mat.
THE PARTICULARS
Jiu-jitsu is a grappling art that’s practiced in a dynamic environment. Because striking is prohibited and submission is the goal, you’re essentially training against full resistance.
As a result, there’s no assumption by you or your opponent that a technique will work. If you catch him in a submission—a choke or joint lock—he’ll do everything he can to defend and/or escape. If he cannot, he’ll tap out to indicate his submission and the end of the match.
As a new student, you learn offensive techniques from various control positions such as the mount, back, cross side, guard and so on. Against another beginner, you may be able to succeed in making the techniques work, but against a more seasoned practitioner, you’ll struggle if your initial attempt fails.
However, as you begin to understand how the human body responds in specific situations, you’ll learn how to adjust and exploit the openings your opponent’s reactions create. This develops your ability to flow, as well as your ability to bait your opponent.
THE DEFINITIONS
“Flowing” means being able to transition from one attack to the next based on your opponent’s reactions. This is akin to connecting your attacks like links in a chain. They should be executed seamlessly and nonstop until you secure the finish.
For the defender, this constitutes an exhausting experience because every time he fends off an attack, he expends energy—both physical and mental. He’s being forced to react to a situation, and as a result, he has to move.
Moving on the ground can be tiring enough for him, but when it’s combined with the need to maneuver your weight, it can drain his energy reserves quickly. Furthermore, it can be disheartening for him to succeed in escaping from a predicament only to find himself in another one.
“Baiting” refers to the act of setting up your opponent by creating a situation designed to elicit a specific response. It’s similar to the way a boxer uses his jab. The punch isn’t meant to finish the fight; rather, it’s intended to maneuver the opponent into range or cause a reaction that provides the boxer with the opening to land a rear-hand power shot.
In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, baiting can assume one of two forms. To do the first one, you start by providing a small opening or gap your opponent can see. He’ll perceive it as a way to escape, and as soon as he makes his move, you exploit it.
You should initiate the strategy from a position of control such as the cross side, mount, knee-on-stomach and so on. When you give him room to escape, do it in a way that causes him to go exactly where you want him to. Knowing where he’ll go enables you to spring the trap and catch him with your submission.
The second way of baiting entails feigning an attack to a specific target. This is the source of the oft-used phrase “Jiu-jitsu is like chess.” Example: You’re controlling your opponent from the mount and want to secure an arm lock.
If he’s defending properly, his elbows will be close to his body, making it tough for you to catch an arm. In response, you begin to work on his collar to get him to believe you’re going for a choke. Of course, he’ll try to fend off your choke attempt, but that will require him to move his arms away from his body. That motion gives you the opening for the arm lock.
At the highest levels of jiu-jitsu, it’s often said that if you really want to attack the arm, start by attacking the neck. It’s essential that you “sell” your initial attack, so you must commit to it fully. You have to make him believe the threat of the first attack is real because that’s crucial to creating the opening for what you really want—the arm.
THE GOAL IN BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU
In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, submission is the ultimate goal. As in the chess analogy mentioned earlier, you’ll need a strategy to attain that goal. What makes it challenging is that both you and your opponent have a complete understanding of what the other person is trying to accomplish. That’s why developing a backup plan for every position is essential as you move up the ranks.
If all this sounds confusing, study the accompanying photo sequences, then reread this article. That will help you grasp the concept of the backup plan and the role it plays in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, which will maximize your chances of securing a checkmate on your next opponent.
KNEE-ON-STOMACH
PLAN A
Jean Jacques Machado starts in side control, gripping his opponent’s collar with his right hand and using his left to keep the man’s hips from lifting (1).
Machado rises and places his left knee on the opponent’s stomach (2).
With his weight pinning him, Machado slides his left hand inside the man’s collar on the left side as he uses his right hand to lift his left arm, thus exposing the elbow (3).
The opponent has two defensive options: turn toward his attacker or away from him. He elects to turn toward him (4).
The move exposes the right side of his collar, which Machado grabs with his right hand, palm facing down (5).
Dropping his weight, Machado pulls his arms toward his chest to complete the collar choke (6).
BACKUP PLAN
If the opponent chooses to turn away from the Brazilian jiu-jitsu stylist, Machado allows him to do so but maintains control over his left elbow as he lifts it (1).
He then steps over the man’s head, driving his hips against his elbow (2).
With the arm secure, Machado sits back onto the mat and executes an armbar (3).
THE MOUNT
PLAN A
Jean Jacques Machado assumes the mount position on his adversary, Jay Zeballos (1).
His left hand is gripping the left side of the man’s collar, and his right hand is stabilizing his balance. The opponent chooses to turn to the left, into the collar grip (2).
Machado takes advantage of the exposed right side of the collar and moves to grip it with his right hand, palm facing down (3).
Note how Machado momentarily pushes on his head for balance before inserting his right hand. With both grips in, he moves his elbows close to his chest, drops his head and squeezes to complete the choke (4).
BACKUP PLAN
From the same starting position, the opponent elects to turn away from the collar attack while gripping Machado’s left arm in an attempt to defend the hold on his collar (1).
Machado controls his now-exposed left arm at the elbow (2).
Pointing the elbow upward forces the opponent’s left shoulder off the mat; Machado takes advantage of the space by sliding his right knee past the lifted shoulder, which positions his hips behind the trapped elbow (3).
He wedges his left foot under the man’s far shoulder, then leans forward, placing his right arm on that shoulder for support (4).
Machado releases his grip on the collar and raises his left arm to hook the opponent’s left arm (5). He sits back to effect the armbar (6).
CLOSED GUARD
PLAN A
From the closed guard, Jean Jacques Machado controls his opponent (1).
He circles his right hand under the man’s left arm (2) and grabs the wrist as he extends his arm (3).
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert turns to his right, opens his guard, puts both feet on the mat and rises onto his right elbow (4).
At the same time, he wraps his left arm over the man’s left arm and locks his left hand on top of his right wrist. Keeping the opponent’s elbow close to his chest, Machado lies back (5).
He turns his upper body toward his foe, forcing his wrist and elbow over his own back, thus completing the shoulder lock. For added control, Machado places his right leg across the man’s back to prevent him from rolling forward to escape (6).
BACKUP PLAN
If the opponent’s actions in the guard prevent Machado from trapping and extending his left arm (1), the jiu-jitsu master can turn to his right as he opens his guard and puts his feet on the mat.
He then maneuvers his torso up and to the right so he can wrap his left arm around the man’s left shoulder (2).
Note how he posts his right hand on the mat for support. With the opponent’s left arm secure, Machado drives his hips forward, forcing him onto his back (3-4).
He releases his hold on the arm and settles into the mount position (5).
Photos by Peter Lueders
