No Gi at Five Rings in Full Effect!
Have you taken a good look at the 'other' jiu jitsu going on at Five Rings? Many of our members are discovering the joy of taking off the gi and joining Coach Kevin and Coach Will in exploring and mastering “no gi” techniques. Long hailed as a way to complement your gi game, the level of instruction and communication is off the charts.
What's the difference, you might ask? Well, besides the obvious lack of a gi (no gi practitioners suit up in rashguards and boardshorts) the strategies employed vary because you no longer have the benefit of certain grips. In gi grappling, use of the gi - sleeves, collar, pant legs - figures prominently in gaining and controlling position, as well as in applying submissions. Practitioners can execute collar chokes, or use the sleeve or the hem of the gi to tie up a partner’s arm or hand. In no-gi grappling, on the other hand, grabbing the clothes is generally not allowed. Instead, practitioners can try to control an opponent by gripping the body’s natural handles: the neck, the wrist, the elbow, the knee, the hips, etc. This is also allowed in gi grappling, but is the only option in no-gi. The lack of heavy cotton cloth to soak up sweat in no-gi grappling also tends to affect the pace of a match and the ease with which an opponent can slip out of a bad position.
The next question is usually, why train no gi? No gi training helps develop transition speed and helps you work on tightness of submissions and control of positions either by controlling space or learning to flow better. This will most certainly cross over to your gi practices.
So the next time you have the chance, check out a Wednesday class from 6:30 pm to 8 pm or a Friday class from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. No gi sparring happens on Sunday from 11 am to 12:30 pm.
