The Takedown

Too many Jiu-Jitsu guys aren't working the takedown. It's a bummer, because we are losing a big aspect of training. The fight starts on the feet. It doesn't start on the ground. As Jiu-Jitsu guys we want the fight to get to the ground. We don't want to trade punches and kicks with seasoned strikers. It isn't our realm. That's also another thing Jiu-Jitsu guys need to work; we need to understand fundamental striking. I once talked to a black belt who claimed that he wasn't intimidated by strikers. He hadn't competed, and he really hadn't trained striking. He claimed that once he got the striker to the ground that he'd be able to punch and the striker wouldn't. This is where we would potentially get a very harsh wakeup call. A couple months back I sparred with a pro boxer, and now good friend. He was professional with me, and worked with me. He didn't hurt me or damage me. He just let me know where my shortcomings were, and there were many. I know boxing is one facet in a multidimensional game of MMA and street. Could I have been able to take him down? It's possible. He's a pro, and is all in on boxing. He is not cross training at this moment so maybe I'd be able to pull it off. He is tough as nails, trains as a professional would, has barely lost a fight and is smart. Who knows what would happen? There's a good chance he'd break my nose and a couple of my ribs before I'd be able to utilize a takedown.

I work my takedowns, because I think street. I know deep down that I have a skill set that is best deployed on the ground. I wouldn't stand and try to Muay Thai it out. I wouldn't try to go all Jack Dempsey on a man. I'm realistic though about the reality of a person who specializes in striking. They may even know how to clinch. MMA is a grappling dominant art, and that means we need to work on all of grappling. That means the takedown is on the table. We can't believe we have it. We need to know we have it. The more certainty we have the better off we are, and the less time we are wasting. We are wasting our time if we just train on the ground. If you get knocked out on your feet you won't be able to utilize your submissions. We need to dictate where the fight goes. It's as Renzo says, we want to pull the lion to the water and become a shark. Sharks don't last very long on land even if they do have rows of sharp teeth.