My first Jiu Jitsu instructor was Steve Maxwell in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the time in 1995, Steve was a Purple Belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu and a certified instructor from the Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy in Torrance, California. Also, Maxwell had under his belt over 25 years plus of wrestling. It was easy to see that from our workouts and learning of takedowns, we at the academy called Maxercise were better conditioned and had better standup compare to many of the affiliates of the Gracie Jiu Jitsu academy and Relson Gracie affiliates that materialized in the years to come. I also came to see this in California when I moved there in 1998. Many years later in 2006, I had earned my Black Belt in Gracie Jiu Jitsu and had my academy. I invited a State champion and North Carolina graduate wrestler named Chuck Connors to my academy to run a full wrestling program. It was a nice setup. Everywhere new high school wrestling from different schools came to the academy to practice, and this was my opportunity to learn Wrestling. Not a few takedowns or a series of takedowns.
Connors was very quick to point out that my stance and foot positioning was wrong. In addition, he cleaned up not just my movement and how to move opponents but my core takedowns such as the Double Leg, Single Leg and The High C (High Crotch). I loved it. We drilled over and overall these three moves along with setups, fakes and level changes with the magic of cutting away additional steps. This ability to reposition the opponent into the double leg or single leg while as he or she steps only to be just ahead and in the classic shooting stance was revolutionary to me. This was what I drilled with a partner or by myself. Over and over again movement, redirection into a level change and shooting position with my rear heel of the mat. I visualized the angles and different proper techniques based on the presentation of the opponent. I went from my stance and feet being all wrong to finally understanding the key moments to create and the exact moment to execute.
It has always been interesting to me how with more knowledge, training and experience a person’s eyes can change to what they are looking at in a more refined way. As I gained more experience in Gracie Jiu Jitsu, how I perceived a real fight happening changed quickly. During that time I could watch the earlier UFC‘s and quickly see who was effective in grappling and ground fighting. On the other hand, it was difficult for me to view the intricacies of punching and kicking.
Below is Jordan Burroughs showing how to redirect the opponent and create the level change/shooting position. Notice that he says, “As he steps, I am going to make sure I change levels.” This video starts at the 3:24 mark. If the opponent steps and you step back, and then you level change it is too late. You are too late. This has to happen with the idea of two moves in one.
This type of idea of two moves in one cuts away at additional steps when performing a technique in real-time with a resisting training partner. Why do three steps when you can do one step? For wrestling, I had to learn this. In Jiu Jitsu, I could write books about it and I have; however, Judo was a different story. For the last five years, I have been working hard on my Judo knowledge. At three different dojos and teachers, I have asked about this “Silver Bullet” type of positioning like in Wrestling’s level change/shooting moment that I can use in Judo. Judo has this move in Twos idea where you do one thing to perform different things. The overall guiding thing that BJJ, Wrestlers and Judoka need to understand is that there are different postures. In the defensive stance in wrestling, the lead hand protects the lead leg. The lead leg-arm does not extend in wrestling…In JUDO these ideas are the same…it is just the Jodaka has a higher standing posture.
Therefore, the question is to be asked: When and Where is the “Silver Bullet” in Judo? If you have one idea to put a spotlight on once you can do some basic Judo techniques such as Seoi Nage, Ko Uchi Gari and/or O Uchi Gari, what is it? What does it look like? Well below is a picture of it by Isao Okano Sensei. He has done what many have not over the years and that is developing a curriculum for Judo that is teachable and learnable. In a certain way, Okano has a unique way of creating Kuzushi in his approach to ko uchi and o uchi gari. Further, how Okano uses hand positioning for classic throws like harai ogoshi, tai otoshi and seio nage as well as how to practice uchi komi is amazing to understand and even better to do in your practice. All of this being expressed please take a look at the “Silver Bullet” of Judo that parallels the magic of a level-change stance golden moment just after redirection of the opponent/uke:
Below is a video to showcase movement, redirection and the “Silver Bullet” positioning in Judo. I have the video starting at the 13:50 mark. Watch how Okano sets everything up:
I hope that you add this attention to your practice of Judo. The Silver Bullet in Judo or the Silver Plane from this analysis is redirection mixed with the concept of a two things in one positioning of the Judoka stance. Above was the Okano stance to attack a weak plane with a forward throw or a rear throw. This Silver plane creates the Golden moment to attack the opponent’s weak plane. This will put you ahead of your opponent by taking out steps. Start looking for this. I will be most happy to receive your comments, including criticisms and suggestions. Noteworthy comments may be included in future articles, videos and book projects.
My best,
– Prof. “little” Tony Pacenski
Yokota Air Base – Tokyo Japan
www.tonypacenski.com
