File:120 365 Taking the Back (4565556770).jpg

Doc says I have to stay off the mat for a few more days, but I wanted to go to practice this morning to say goodbye to my friend Kevin who starts his deployment process for Afghanistan tomorrow. So, since I couldn't fight, I brought my camera and took pictures.

This is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Here you see the player in the white gi trying to escape rear mount (and avoid getting choked).

The lighting in the dojo is really hard to control because the mats are dark blue, but semi-reflective.

Most BJJ matches are pretty unexciting to watch from an untrained point of view. Since most of the activity takes place on the ground, there are few big throws with lots of dynamic action. Instead, if the players are evenly matched, it is more like chess. You can, of course, win by submission, but most of the time you are trying to establish a dominant position. Certain positions, like rear mount, earn you points, and a fight can be won by points. Rear mount is worth 4 points. To get the 4 points, though, you have to have your feet tucked in by your opponents thighs as you see the player in the black gi doing here, and you have to hold this position for at least 3 seconds. You cannot win a BJJ match simply by pinning your opponent as you can in wrestling or Judo.