Learning your Professor's 'Signature Move'

Tuesday, 16 March 2010 00:29

I've heard this shout from Jorge many times during competition.

"TORREANDO!! SCOTT!! TORREANDO!!"

'Torreando' (or Bull Fight Pass) is a way to pass the guard of your opponent by gripping the Gi pants by the knees and with a quick 'bull fight' you smash to 1 side and pass to side control. You can usually get here from trying to pass the guard or being in Spider Guard. The main focus is getting your opponents feet firmly on the ground before you begin to faint left or right as this takes away the power in his hips..Definitely a Gi Move. (Pg 238 of Jiu Jitsu University - Saulo's Book)

It's also my Professor's signature move.

As student's of 'Britto Jiu Jitsu' it's important to try to add this guard pass to our game. My problem is that my fingers are killing me at the minute from training (grip fighting, choking etc) so I am always hesitant to go there. Plus I also feel it requires alot of strength.

But last week I began thinking that as his students we, collectively, should make an effort to apply this technique. Don't get me wrong - a group of students do use it effectively. But coincidentally this must have been in Jorge's mind too as he reiterated the above to us mentioning that if you ask any of his friends what 'Jorge's move is' - everyone would say 'Torreando'. And after again showing us the set up I have come to realize that not only does it not really require that much strength but that I will simply have to modify my set up and my grips in order to be able to compensate for my fingers but still be able to perform the move.

So Project Torreando Begins. Even though I am against Bull Fighting.

*Tumbleweed*

To prove I am 'for real' I went and bought those Metals Hand Grips to strengthen my fingers but right now I can barely squeeze the things shut. I have LOTS of work to do. (I would make a video but it's too sad and I don't have violin music)

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