If you’re new to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu then you may be unaware of the starting position used in the martial art. If you’ve done your homework, then you will know that sparring and competition start from standing. That is, you’re both on your feet and facing each other. Typically, you will not start off without any grips of connection with your partner, and then the round begins. After this, you will typically slap hands and then you’re ready to go.
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Start from standing
If you’re at a gym that’s worth its salt, or taking part in a competition then you begin standing. From here, there are usually two routes to go down. The first is to pull guard, and the second is to attempt a takedown. Below we shall assess the tactical reasons as to why you would either attempt a takedown or pull guard.
Takedowns
In IBJJF competitions, takedowns score 2 points and can be a great way to start a match in a dominant position. Especially if you land in side control or mount, not only have you secured the points early, but you can then begin to start thinking about submissions and try and score a quick victory.
Some argue that takedowns should score more than 2 points as they’re a key part of BJJ and the lack of points means there’s less emphasis on learning them for a competition. As well, whether you’re in gi or nogi will determine what takedowns you go for.
For instance, in the gi, you’re more likely to see Judo thows that involve grips and trips. In nogi, you’re more likely to see wrestling takedowns such as double and single legs to gain an advantageous, top poisiton. Typically, higher weight classes will favor takedowns as they prefer to play a top, passing game.
Pulling Guard
The guard pull will not score you any points, but if you like to play guard and your takedown game is weak, then it’s a sensible option. For instance, if you’re facing a Judoka in the gi, you may get taken down into a bad position.
Thus, it makes tactical sense to pull guard and play it safe. Just make sure your guard pull is a good one to establish attacks earlier. Like takedowns, pulling guard is a skill in itself and should be done so aggressively to not allow the opponent to settle.
One issue with pulling guard is that if the opponent touches your leg as you fall, it can often be counted as a takedown. This is because under IBJJF rules, it means that the opponent touched your leg as you hit the floor, which technically qualifies as a takedown.
Some argue that everyone should learn takedowns as it goes back to the roots of BJJ and Judo and is good for self defense. Usually though, smaller, lightweight practitioners will pull guard as they prefer playing a guard game.
Starting from your knees in the gym
Some BJJ gyms will start sparring from your knees or in a seated position. The reason for this is that if the gym mat is too crowded, then it’s literally too dangerous to wrestle or throw opponents with limited space. This makes sense as people will bump heads and fall on people’s arms and legs which can easily lead to injury. So, although this practice is not ideal – it’s still fairly common in a packed out class.
Having said this, there are sadly some gyms that do this regardless of class size. The idea is that takedowns are still too dangerous, especially with newer students. Arguably, this promotes a culture of sitting down which can hinder a student’s progress. Even if they have no intention to learn takedowns, it’s still important to start from standing as it’s more realistic and also allows them to develop important techniques such as pulling guard from standing.
Combat base or seated guard?
When starting from the knees, there are two options to chose from. The first is a literal, seated open guard. Often, people will sit into a butterfly position, or even go on their side into an open guard. This invites their opponent to start passing.
The other option is to use a combat base. This is when you stand on one leg, with your other knee touching the floor. Here, your arms should be active and ready to grip. Some may prefer this to a seated guard and there are pros and cons to each situation. Ultimately, it depends on your personal preference though.
Do you need to learn takedowns?
Overall, yes you do. As mentioned, takedowns are a big part of the history of BJJ and date back to its early days. Even the top BJJ practitioners in MMA will very rarely pull guard and instead opt for takedowns. This is because pulling guard is naturally weak in a self defense or MMA setting, whereas takedowns are incredibly important.
Moving away from self defense, you will still need to learn some takedowns for sport BJJ. For instance, learning how to pummel in nogi is crucial at least from a defensive perspective. Similar, a lot of sweeps from half guard, butterfly and reverse de la riva are basically wrestling takedowns from the floor.
Therefore, even if you have no intention to stand, the techniques and principles of takedowns often crossover to the floor. As well, it’s a pretty awesome feeling when you manage to put someone to the ground when standing.
Summary
Overall, most BJJ matches will start from standing. In some unusual cases within a gym though, people may start seated for various reasons. Having said this, the main goal of BJJ is to win, so if you can do this by pulling guard and you’re comfortable, then that is also a valid option in a sports setting. In the end, whether you chose to focus on takedowns or neglect them depends entirely on your reasons for training BJJ.
