Headlocks and Hierophants

The Writings of WW Stevens

Month: January 2021

Keeping it Clean on the Mats

January 11, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Even before the coronavirus pandemic, we martial artists have always had cleanliness as a rule. One of the many reasons for this is that we are constantly in close contact with each other. We spread sweat, blood, and spit.

We have to take personal cleanliness seriously. It’s not just viruses we worry about. Martial arts gyms can be a breeding ground for fungal infections and even parasites. Most gyms work hard to make sure this isn’t the case.

As students, we also have responsibilities to stay clean and healthy. Below are some ideas to help you do so:

  1. If You Work Labor, Don’t Wear the Same Shirt You Worked In
    A lot of you already know to just have a change of clothes. But sometimes, someone shows up with a shirt full of grease or pants that have mud caked in. In most gyms, this isn’t a problem, since that person will be expected to change into a gi or gym clothes. Some self defense schools allow students to wear street clothes so they understand how to fight in them. Don’t be the guy who smells like ass. Bring a change of clothes.
  2. Carry Some Cleansing Wipes in Your Gym Bag
    To some this may sound silly, to others it sounds standard. Just get some flushable wipes to hit yourself with before and maybe after class. There are even separate kinds made for facial care. Don’t flush them though. While some wipes labeled flushable are indeed so, others are not. It can be hard to tell which are degradable in a sewage environment. So it’s safer to just throw them in the bin, especially when you’re using them for a quick cleanup.
  3. Never Wear Outside Shoes on the Mat
    This might seem to be a “no doy” statement, but it does need to be said. If you wear shoes when training on mats and indoors, get some wrestling or boxing shoes. Only wear these shoes when you are training. I recommend high tops, but that’s just my preference. Otherwise, if you’re training at a dojo or kwoon where no shoes are used, you’re all good.
  4. Clean Your Gear Regularly
    Be sure to wipe down your sparring gear, training pads, and other tools that take consistent use and sweat. Make sure that your gloves can dry out. It’s not common, but occasionally, closed hand gloves like boxing gloves can grow fungus. This can be combated by wearing hand wraps and washing those. Occasionally, it is also good to wash the inside of your gloves with soap and warm water. I use a soft toothbrush to help with this. Be sure that the gloves get a chance to dry after this. Glove deodorizers can help as well, but mostly just add a nice scent.
  5. Clean Yourself Regularly
    Shower consistently. Wear deodorant. Clip your nails. If you have long hair, be sure to comb it and put it in a protective hairstyle. All of these things will help you and your partners stay healthy.
  6. Clean Your Space Regularly
    Oftentimes, in traditional martial arts spaces, this is standard. Students will help to clean the mats and equipment. In some gyms, this is less common. Don’t be surprised if an instructor has students clean the mats. That is a part of the culture. If that’s not a part of your gym’s culture, that’s okay. The employee(s) will have general cleaning duties anyway. 
  7. Talk to Your Instructor When You Have Caught Something
    This could be a cold, a fever, or something like ringworm. Either way, let them know. If you still want to come to class, they may ask that you sit and observe, instead of engaging. If you have something respiratory, it’s good form to wear a mask. This is fairly common in many other countries, but isn’t a routine behavior across the board. Personally, I would like to see more of it.

With all this being said, most of this boils down to the ever present common sense. If you’re not sure about something, talk to your instructor or a student you trust. Different arts and different gyms will have different cultures of cleanliness. You can handle it as it comes to you.

Pressure or Flow? The Greatest Argument That Needn’t Exist

January 11, 2021 / / 0 Comments

Oftentimes in grappling circles there comes the great debate: Which is more important, pressure or flow? While many agree that the two are essential to the game, we all have a favorite. Since we’re a community of people who fight for fun, a lot of posturing ends up making it an either/or situation. So here I am, writing this article in an attempt to show the merits of both concepts.

Pressure

Pressure is making your opponent carry your weight, but it is more than that. Pressure can pull someone in as much as it crushes. Pressure is also the concept of taking territory and not letting them take it back. Here are some ways pressure benefits a fighter:

  • Use pressure from a dominant position to wear out your opponent and keep your cool.
  • Use pressure from a negative position to keep good structure and find an escape.
  • Pressure passes are godly.
  • Pressure creates the pin. 
  • Pressure keeps your opponent on the defense.

So where do we see this breakdown? The first issue is not all pressure is good pressure. Effective pressure is debilitating and precise. If your only goal is to lay your weight on them, you will get eaten alive by fighters your own size. This happens a lot to bigger guys in gyms. It’s a valid tactic against a smaller dude, but you have to learn the details of every ride and pin. You want to think about giving them only bad options. Make them want to give you the back; make them want to pull away so you can sweep. Proper pressure can help a smaller fighter control larger and stronger opponents. Check out a tiny woman practice her pin on a bricklayer here. On the other side, you can always watch Jordan Burroughs go over pins for wrestling. Regardless of the arena, pressure exists in three ways: weight, structure, and control. Next time you grapple, think about where you are applying pressure. Check your structure, make sure your weight is balanced, and see how well you can control.

Flow

In modern grappling, we can see our understanding of flow come from Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Flow in this sense refers to the smooth ease of movement found within good grappling. In this sense, it may also be called “floating” in some circles. It also refers to the practice of rolling with very little strength or pressure. The point of such exercises is to allow the grapplers to focus on their fundamentals and find themselves in new positions. It also helps:

  • Smaller fighters practice with larger ones, older and younger, etc.
  • You learn new entries into positions and techniques.
  • You better understand the dynamic nature of the fight.
  • You get to practice when recovering or simply tired.

Flow rolls are a good thing, but sometimes grapplers get caught by the siren call of making flow their whole game. Your opponents won’t allow that.

So how does flow become a bad thing? It doesn’t, but we make bad decisions. Sometimes, while working a drill, people try to be cooperative, but instead become a dead fish. It is the groundfighting equivalent of sticking an arm out there and letting the tori do a fifteen count combo.

There has to be some energy from each participant. Without it, the exercise becomes detrimental to your ground game. In my experience, the point of flow is responding to your opponent, instead of trying to force something. With flow drills, you have to give each other real energy and have a goal in mind. If you focus so much onto flowing from position to position, you don’t give yourself the chance to really lock them in. I think it’s fair to say, grappling is about control. It’s important to make sure you have true control of yourself and your position.

Pressure and Flow

It’s up to each of us to find our own balance between the two. Anyone who has competed can tell you once there’s glory or reputation on the line, we all use every tool at our disposal. So someone who doesn’t have broad shoulders and greater weight, flow might be a larger part of their arsenal. For someone with a more classical wrestler’s build, pressure is probably their preferred method. So don’t worry what works best for others, worry about what works best for you. The only way to do that is to keep an inquisitive mind and stay on the mats.

Here are some ways you can maintain a solid understanding of both:

  • Make sure your technique is rock solid during rolls, check your structure constantly.
  • Occasionally add strength back in.
    Technique + Strength = Win
  • Have light rolls and heavy rolls.
  • Wrestle with everyone you can find. At least everyone who isn’t a real asshole.
  • Destroy your ego. Don’t refuse to tap until you’re broken and don’t force a submission either. You’re not in the ring, you’re rolling with friends.
  • Always stress the basics. Your foundation is what keeps you formidable.

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