FIRST THINGS FIRST
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Every Tuesday morning I send out a breakdown of the best combat sports action. In less than 10 minutes you'll learn how the top fighters win and anything else fighters, martial artists, and fight fans need to know.
Roberto Jimenez might be the most dynamic grappler today. He returns to action this Thursday at WNO 29. Today we’re going to analyze his work from the first half of this year to show why the most entertaining back taker in the whole sport may have just turned a corner.
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Now let’s get into it.
What's In Today's Letter?
ROBERTO JIMENEZ’S BEAUTIFUL BACK TAKES
Why Does Jimenez Always Find The Back?
Roberto Jimenez is must watch TV. The ever intense 25 year old Ecuadorian is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who has been submitting full grown men since he was a teenager. And for the entirety of this competitive decade, Jimenez has gone up and down in weight to win. This year alone Jimenez has won as low as 183 and as high as 207 pounds, not to mention absolute divisions.
Jimenez has claimed IBJJF NO GI Absolute World Championships, South America’s ADCC trials at 77 KGs, and other prestigious events at weights in between those two. But even with his exciting success he has consistently shown one major major weakness. Leg locks.
Leary is playing de la riva. He uses a scoop grip to grab his left leg and off balance Jimenez. He keeps the scoop grip, inverts under Jimenez, and grabs Jimenez’s other leg. Jimenez falls back. Jimenez rises to get on top and Leary pulls his leg in. Leary locks an inside sankaku to rip the inside heel hook.
Roberto Jimenez - Levi Jones-Leary
This year something changed. Roberto turned his leg locking liability into opportunities for his preferred counter offense. Back attacks.
This is an important point to keep in mind. If you want to attack leg locks from bottom your hips have to rise up from the mat. But every time your hips rise, you give your opponent an avenue to slide hooks in, roll, and establish back control. And this is particularly important for Jimenez.
According to BJJ Heroes, nearly 60% of Jimenez’s submission wins have come from submissions off the back.
Jimenez’s game represents the idea that every time your hips are in the air, your opponent can take your back. He knows that, and, now that he can counter leg locks more effectively, he can fully exploit that principle. Let’s look at what I mean, from Jimenez’s biggest wins this year.