### Grip Stripping in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Grip stripping is a fundamental skill in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) used to break your opponent's grips on your gi or body, preventing them from controlling you or setting up attacks. This technique can be vital in regaining control and establishing your game plan. #### Key Positions for Grip Stripping: - **Standing** - **Closed Guard** - **Open Guard** ### Step-by-Step Instructions #### Standing Grip Strip: 1. **Identify the grip:** - Your opponent may have established a grip on your gi sleeve or collar. - Recognize the type and position of the grip, as this will dictate your next steps. 2. **Posture up and create distance:** - Stand with your legs shoulder-width apart. - Maintain an upright posture, using your back and core to create tension against the grip. 3. **Break the grip:** - For sleeve grips, use your free hand to reach across your body. - Position your hand behind the opponent's gripping hand, near their knuckles. - Make a quick upward swipe to forcefully strip their fingers off your sleeve. - Use your back muscles and leverage from your opposing shoulder to maximize force on the grip. #### Closed Guard Grip Strip: 1. **Positional awareness:** - If your opponent has established a grip on your collar, act quickly to prevent them from controlling your posture. 2. **Countering a Collar Grip:** - Cross-grab the sleeve of their gripping hand with your opposite hand. - With your gripping hand, weave underneath their gripping arm and grasp your own gi jacket near the wrist, creating a loop that traps the arm. 3. **Breaking the grip:** - Pull your forearm in a sweeping circular motion to disrupt their grip, breaking the grip as you complete the arc. - Immediately transition to an offensive or defensive priority position. #### Open Guard Grip Strip 1. **Recognizing grips:** - With open guard, you can target both grips on your pants or sleeves. 2. **Stripping sleeve grips:** - Identify the grip and grab your opponent's sleeve with your opposite hand. - Push off with your feet placed on the opponent's hips (using the gap) to maintain distance. - Pull their sleeve with a twisting motion to break their grip immediately. 3. **Dealing with pants grips:** - Hook their gripping wrist with your fingers underneath, and extend your hips. - Push away with your foot on their hip to loosen the grip. - Swivel your leg outward while continuing to press the hip flexor area, keeping the kinetic energy directed against the grip. By mastering grip stripping, you can efficiently disrupt your opponent’s plans and maintain control in various positions. Remember, the key to this technique is timing and consistency in practice.