The concept of connection is at the center of Rickson Gracie's teachings in jiu-jitsu and self-defense. But what is it really? We had a chance to ask him in a recent interview. You'll find the second half of his answer below. Check out part 1 here.
"So, for me, not only the physical connection in terms of grabbing. If I grab somebody and I'm connected, I become the center of the motion, so if he tries to pull back, I have enough of a base to use his pulling back against him. If he tries to push me, I can use that energy to push against him, because my connection doesn't make me feel like I'm on the tail of the comment; because if the comet moves and you just disconnect, you go where the comet goes, so you're not connected; but if you're connected enough, you're in power of the comet, so as the comet moves, the connection makes a good advantage for you because, as it changes direction, as it changes [?], you're already ahead of the game, because your connection makes things tighter for you. It's like the anaconda that connects against the prey; and the more the movements happen, the more the anaconda tightens up the knot, because she is connected with the whole body, feeling the body: if the situation starts to escape here, she puts pressure there to... So the connection means the total understanding, the total perception of any move, any change; and that makes you capitalize on every little change."
"So, for me, not only the physical connection in terms of grabbing. If I grab somebody and I'm connected, I become the center of the motion, so if he tries to pull back, I have enough of a base to use his pulling back against him. If he tries to push me, I can use that energy to push against him, because my connection doesn't make me feel like I'm on the tail of the comment; because if the comet moves and you just disconnect, you go where the comet goes, so you're not connected; but if you're connected enough, you're in power of the comet, so as the comet moves, the connection makes a good advantage for you because, as it changes direction, as it changes [?], you're already ahead of the game, because your connection makes things tighter for you. It's like the anaconda that connects against the prey; and the more the movements happen, the more the anaconda tightens up the knot, because she is connected with the whole body, feeling the body: if the situation starts to escape here, she puts pressure there to... So the connection means the total understanding, the total perception of any move, any change; and that makes you capitalize on every little change."
Comments
I really like the T-shirt
Thank you!
Connection has totally consumed my game. I feel like I have magic powers, even against other skilled BJJ players.
I’m a dad, pushing 60, that watches his son doing JJ. But I love everything about it. And “connection” is a whole other level not fully considered by most. It’s psychological in one’s connection to your opponent. But it’s spiritual in one’s connection to what we call “the field” in physics. But I don’t want to loose or scare away anyone so I’ll stop talking. Thank you Rickson.