Tryout

Grappling is a funny thing.

People grab each other, and try to beat each other up. This all seems simple enough, but it most certainly is not.

If you don't know what you're doing, you can't win.

Let's say you've wanted to be tough for some time, and the route you've been taking has been pumping iron. You've made yourself big and strong. You've decided to give Jiu-Jitsu a try, confident that you can do well because of your power.

You show up, and ask somebody to roll with you. They agree. You are a little unsure about all this, so you've picked somebody considerably smaller than yourself.

For safety with a beginner, you both start on your knees. You grab him, and start bulling him around. He seems calm. You cannot know that he sees you as hyper and spastic. You use your strength and size to force him down and onto his back.

As you do, he grabs your head and pulls it down. You don't like this at all, and push up and away.

He's got your arm and is bending it backwards. His legs have managed to end up tangled with your shoulder. You refuse to tap, and your opponent releases his grip, and slips his leg around your neck. He shifts, and squeezes, and ignores your flailing. The world starts to sparkle and go black. With no possible escape, you tap.

He releases you. You are stunned that it all went so fast.

Your partner expresses concern that you were so reluctant to tap when he had you in an armbar earlier. He informs you that he might have broken your arm, and you believe him.

Should you be surprised at your effortless defeat? Of course not. You are no more likely to find big muscles useful when rolling than you would if trying tennis for the first time, or yoga, or dance.

Perhaps that's too harsh. Muscles can be useful, but not until you learn what to do with them.

The funny thing is, while people don't think they have a built-in tennis or yoga ability, most think they can fight.

They most assuredly can not. At least, not effectively.