I was watching the Pans on BudoVideos.com last week-end and over my viewing time I watched several people get disqualified for rule violations. This amazes me! You spend all the time training your heart out and then pay the cost of getting to the Pans and you lose because you didn’t pay attention to how the rules go? You, my friend,are known as a dumbass! Darwin’s Theory on the “Survival of the Fittest” doesn’t only pertain to strength and health but to mental capacity, problem solving and strategy as well. Knowing the rules is the fundamental strategic first step in winning your matches.
I have been to numerous Ref Clinics and I am always amazed at some small “point” that I had overlooked. I submit to you that if most competitors and coaches would actually go to a serious IBJJF clinic they would walk out blown away at what they didn’t know. Reading, studying and knowing the rules is not a one off thing in this “Game” we call Tournament Jiu-jitsu. It is about constantly refreshing your memory so that you know ALL the ends and outs rule- wise. If you are of the mind that, “I read the rules once three years ago and I’m good to go,” you are going to be in for a big surprise.
I know that reading the rules is not sexy but you MUST master the intricacies of this “Game.” Coaches should have a rules meeting in their school, verbally and visually going over the rules and provide all their competitors and parents with a copy of the rules. I would also add that students should practice refereeing matches with fellow students, as well as practice coaching skills with music blaring to make you shout.
Winning is not only about Submission it’s about scoring points and advantages, once you know all the ways to score points, the wins will come a lot easier.
My purple belt Matt Owen (no relation) won Gold in his Purple Belt Division and Silver in the absolute at the Pans this year. He has been to a number of Ref Clinics as well.
I am a little biased, since I am a student of Mr. Keith Owen but I am the head of officials for mma – mixed martial arts, IAC - Idaho Athletic Commission and the fighters know the rules very well. I also help with BJJ tournaments and have been to several bjj officials’ certification clinics. Then helped with going over / demonstrating the rules the morning of the tournaments, “how to get points” and it always amazes me that the competitors don’t show up or don’t pay attention.
ReplyDeleteEvery year I officiate bjj matches that I feel if the competitors would have 'only' known the rules they would have ‘won’ a match that they lost. Many coaches will ask me why I gave or didn’t give certain points, only to have them say, “Oh, I didn’t know that”.
So, next bjj tournament, read the rules and show up for the rules meeting. If something isn’t clear, ask questions, it will help you win more matches.
Scott Marker
Officiating mma, bjj and grappling since 1996
I agree with this 100%. You just can't be too sloppy by not even reading the rules.
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