Mindset Monday: Position Before Submission!
Today’s #MindsetMonday will focus on a very important concept we train in class: position before submission. It is so important to focus on getting into a dominant position before worrying about submissions or striking, even though it can be tempting to rush into when in the heat of an altercation. I’ll take you through why we prioritize about position above all else.
For one, your submissions are far more likely to be successful when in a dominant position. If you haven’t secured the position, it’s more likely for your opponent to reverse the situation, leaving you in the weaker, more vulnerable position. Better to take a moment to secure dominance before attempting a joint lock, choke, or series of strikes.
Additionally, since we’re talking about survival, we have to consider things like striking, weapons, or multiple attackers when thinking about fighting on the ground. In this case, a vulnerable position, like being flat on your back or belly down on the ground, can mean serious bodily injury or death. It is critical that you regain the top position so that you can either render the attacker unable or unwilling to continue, or you can disengage and run to safety.
That leads to the next point, which is that fighting from the bottom generally leads to more danger. While striking or going for submissions from the bottom can be effective when employing the right tools at the right time, you have to keep in mind that your opponent will have many more options, inherently putting you at greater risk. This is why in class we focus on covering and staying close enough to take the edge off of strikes when in the bottom position, rather than striking. Our goal is to focus on establishing control more than trading strikes when in a disadvantageous position, since the odds aren’t going to be in your favor.
Always carry this mindset with you to class. Constantly remind yourself to get on top while fighting on the ground in class, as we can sometimes get hyper focused on one move, completely forgetting about the goal overall. As a side note, there is value in allowing yourself to be put in a bad position as it can force you to think and respond, but that is a training mindset and not a self defense mindset, to be clear. Let your first instinct always be to dominate!
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