Grip control in Jiu Jitsu or any grappling sport is very important because the competitor who has the dominant grips over their opponents can take control of the match. Grips can help you to manage the distance, obtain a strong position, and submit your opponent; while having the wrong grip can cost you the match. There are several types of grip variations, and these variations depend on whether you are using the Gi or No-Gi. In the Gi, you have the ability to use your grips on the collar, pants, sleeves, belt, and many other areas open to grab. In No-Gi, the main areas that will you have grip control are the hands, arms, back of the neck, and any area where you do not grab your opponent’s clothing.
When training or competing in the Gi, you can grab your opponent’s Gi just about anywhere you can get a grip. The Gi will help you to control your opponent and move them where you can score points, pass the guard, and submit them. Popular areas to grab your opponent’s Gi are the collar, lapel, sleeve cuff, pant cuff, and the inside/outside of the knee. Of course, you can grab all areas of the Gi to help you move or maintain a position. Also, while getting your grips, make sure your opponent does not obtain dominant grips over you and turn your match into an all-out grip battle. Your goal should be to get dominant grips, maintain your positions, and control the match.
In No-Gi, the gripping battle will be much different because you will only have your opponent’s body parts to grab onto. It is much harder to control your opponent when grabbing their wrists, triceps, back of the neck, ankles, etc. It is much easier for your opponent to break free of your grips in No-Gi. If you are dealing with a sweaty opponent, it could be almost impossible to find any dominant grips. If you want to get good at No-Gi, you will need to know how to hand fight, have good underhook or overhook control, be an excellent scrambler, and push yourself to become more athletic. No-Gi will be much more like wrestling and will require you to have good movement, and you will want to be able to control the pace of the match by staying in the mindset of attacking. If you are the one attacking, your opponent will be defending and not be able to get their game plan moving forward.
Now that you know several areas to obtain dominant grips and controls in Gi and No Gi, what if you have weak hands to grip with? Weak hands will be your destruction, so you better start working on that grip strength now. There are several different ways to increase your grip strength, and these are 5 ways you can start working on your grips today.
1) Climbing up a thick rope or rock wall climbing
2) Hanging from a pull-up bar using your Gi or a towel draped over the bar
3) Holding dumbbells by your side and increasing the weight as it gets easier
4) Pulling heavy weight attached to a rope using only your hands and arms
5) Massaging tight forearms, fingers, hands. You must relieve tension to gain strength.
I hope this article helps you moving towards dominant grips in your BJJ journey. Find what will work best for you, and keep pushing yourself every day. STAY STRONG!
By Jakob Kai Nakamura
