When you first step onto the mat Jiu Jitsu feels like chaos. You have no idea what is happening, or why this 2 stripe white belt is mopping the floor with you without breaking a sweat. In a sense this is the moment you discover the power of Jiu Jitsu. You want control but you can’t have it. Jiu Jitsu has taken that from you and you want to chase after Jiu Jitsu to get it back.
So your life on the mat begins.
What is Chaos
Chaos is the sense that there is no order. The movement, the connections, the moment that is about to happen. It’s too much for you to analyze and assess. You can’t predict where this moment is headed, or begin to unravel its mystery. Your balance breaks, and before you discover where you are new grips are establishing new threats. This is chaos. An element of the game that is rarely discussed because you by and large spend your beginning months trying to eliminate it. Or at least, limit it to the point where rolls feel intentional.
Controlling Chaos
Limiting chaos involves increasing control. This can come in two forms, physical control or decision control. If you have been following along, this was an important element of our timing discussions. As a white belt, you were tasked with slowing things down. As a blue belt, you were tasked with using your developing games to create the future. This is a projection of physical control to decision control in your skill progression.
As a purple belt, you are tasked with playing with time. This is when you begin to understand how your game makes the rolling experience feel. You are in control and using that control to define perception. Timing is just one part of this game, and when you extend this concept beyond timing you begin to look at the value of creating chaos.
Here you have come full circle. You began your journey eliminating chaos in order to play the game. Now, you have to use your understanding of the game to create chaos. That debilitating experience you once felt is a tool you can inflict on others. Hone this tool and your Jiu Jitsu becomes complex. At least, it feels complex. The chaos you create isn’t yours. Your job is to create their chaos.
Creating Chaos
You must assess your opponent’s game. How are they responding? What are their goals? What game is being played here? Of course, they are assessing yours. Your directions and connections are their information analysis. Your outputs are their inputs, and this is the key to creating chaos. Your goal is to give them information that deceives and overwhelms. The more you can achieve this goal, the more your opponents will be unable to read your game. They will feel increasingly lost in your web of deception as you pace toward victory. This is your path toward chaos.
The connections you don’t need
Your game is defined by your connections. Your grips, hooks, and entanglements will present a range of possibilities for your offense. A savvy opponent knows the game. Your connections telegraph. To create a sense of chaos you have to establish connections with no physical intentions. Only chaos intentions. The emptiness in purpose is filled with delivering sensory overload. Pull out the lapels. Sink your hand deep into the collar. Move from one empty connection to another and your opponent won’t know what to read. You may have two legitimate threats, and your goal is to make it seem like you have four.
The movement you don’t need
Like connections, movement defines your progress and also telegraphs your goals. You need to create movement stimulus that deceives your opponent. If you want to move right, move left. If you want to attack toward the legs, attack toward the upper body. Mask your movement patterns in feints and fakes. Don’t reveal your true intentions until it’s time to strike.
Efficiency Leaks
Maximum efficiency in Jiu Jitsu demands intention. Every movement and connection must have purpose. When creating chaos your movement and connections will be by definition not contributing to your objective. The value of this lies in your ability to distract your opponent from reading your true intentions. If your empty connections are not creating chaos, then they are truly empty and you have an efficiency leak. You can evaluate your empty connections by how your opponent responds to them. Are they breaking grips you don’t care about? Are they backing away from submissions you don’t plan on entering? This is a good use of your time. If they are not responding then you need to find better empty connections or dedicate everything to your objectives.
Chaos Conclusions
The topic of chaos fits neatly within other topics. Timing, dilemmas, games, rhythm. When you find the conceptual overlap in your understanding you can create sharper tools. Chaos as a tool serves an important function. At a high level, everyone knows the game and reads your intentions. You have to hide your intentions to make progress. Play with this idea and you will see much more success.