Using the Gi as a weapon

***Cassius*** · Posted On: 1/17/2006 1:30pm

Originally Posted by FictionPimp

In judo we have throws that actually work better when the gi is pulled free from the belt.

One of the first things I do when I've got position on someone is try to pull the gi out of the belt. You can then use it to choke your opponent, control him, and all around make him your bitch. It also is extremely humorous to see the look on your opponent's face when he realizes that he can't escape a shitty guard armbar because you wrapped his arm up twice with his own gi when he wasn't looking.

You can also pull your own gi loose and use it as a weapon, as shown here:
http://www.grapplearts.com/Ninja-Choke.htm

It doesn't really hurt my feelings when someone's gi comes loose when we start standing, either. Seems to just give me more control.

**Goju - Joe** · Posted On: 1/17/2006 1:30pm

Originally Posted by Darkpaladin

Yeah, I gi choke my opponents on t3h str33t all the time.

I know it's a silly statment, the idea that people might use clothes and things like jackets against someone in a street situation. I am sure that never happens.

Luckily BJJ blue belts can walk around in winter wearing speedos thus frusterating any use of clothes against them.

**Anna Kovacs** · Posted On: 1/17/2006 1:30pm

I like to pull peoples gi's over their heads for the hilarity of it, if Shawn, the instructor, sees however, he laughs and makes me let them have their head back.

I also like to tie up peoples hands with their belt (or my belt, if it so happens to come off, but it's easier to do with their belt because you can wrap a wrist and pin their hand to their hip easy peasy when you go to pass the guard.

I've never managed to make anyone tap with a belt choke, but I've wrapped it around peoples necks or foreheads and over their eyes, which is also hilarious.

**Goju - Joe** · Posted On: 1/17/2006 1:31pm

Originally Posted by Garbanzo Bean

Things I have seen done with a gi:

throws
gi chokes (not just collar chokes)
KP's Black Belt instructor taking his belt off and wrapping it around someone's neck
A brown belt tying a blue belt's hands into his own belt
arm bars where you wrap the arm up with the bottom of the jacket
Blatant Cornholioing

Things I have seen in a tournament that caused the ref to pause the match:
Blatant Corholioing
The gi coming off
Sadly, I've never seen anyone garrote a person with their own belt at a tourney

I just want to say thank you for a legitamte answer

**dakotajudo** · Posted On: 1/17/2006 3:23pm

Originally Posted by Osiris

Goju, BJJ blue belts are smart enough to take their jackets off during a street fight. Possibly even their shirts. In fact, I was smart enough to do this during my highschool brawls.

Most of the street/bar fights I've seen, or been involved in, come down too quickly for any kind of undressing. Trying to take you shirt off is a good way to get caught with your shirt up over your head.

But if you've got time to dance around posturing, sure, take the shirt off.

Originally Posted by Osiris

Not to mention, you don't need to see to do BJJ so if the guy has you blinded and still wants to grapple, you're not that much worse off.

Being blinded isn't the hard part, it's being restricted by your own clothes.

As to the OP - using the gi seems to be becoming a lost art - higher level judoka tend to wear more fitted gis (there's actually been a rule added because of this), and BJJ gis seem to be cut with less cloth than the equivalent judo sizes. A lot of the old tricks don't work as easily - and pulling the gi up over the head is damn near impossible with a fitted gi.

**MEGALEF** · Posted On: 1/17/2006 3:45pm

I can't think of many scenarios where a street fight which leaves you time to take off your jacket is a fight you don't just walk away from.

But then again, I might be confusing street fighting with self defence.
:5oops:

**warnerj5000** · Posted On: 1/17/2006 3:57pm

Originally Posted by dakotajudo

Most of the street/bar fights I've seen, or been involved in, come down too quickly for any kind of undressing. Trying to take you shirt off is a good way to get caught with your shirt up over your head.

But if you've got time to dance around posturing, sure, take the shirt off.

You don't pull it over your head.
You rip it off, Hulk Hogan style.

**Virus** · Posted On: 1/18/2006 4:07am

Knee on Chest, remove belt, fold in half, flog the opponents face.

**Yrkoon9** · Posted On: 1/18/2006 12:59pm

As it relates directly and indirectly to this thread:

One of the last fistfights I was in (at a movie theatre) I got my hoodie pulled over my head. It took exactly .5 seconds to instinctively extend my arms straight out in front of me and back up to let him pull it completely off.

As a BJJ player I intuitively recognize how absolutely fucked you are when your gi gets pulled over your head because it happens all the time. In fact I would say as a Judo/BJJ guy I have a huge advantage in these situations because I AM FAMILIAR WITH THEM - much moreso than the average scrub.

**Gumby** · Posted On: 1/19/2006 9:34pm

Originally Posted by dakotajudo

Most of the street/bar fights I've seen, or been involved in, come down too quickly for any kind of undressing. Trying to take you shirt off is a good way to get caught with your shirt up over your head.

But if you've got time to dance around posturing, sure, take the shirt off.

There lies your flaw of your thinking- I avoid this conflict by restricting my line of clothing to spandex only :biggrin: