Light Rolling Anyone?

This is pretty funny. I just saw a post over at “A Skirt on the Mat” about the natural effect that occurs when one, or both parties of a “flow roll” agree to roll lightly and then, inevitably, roll hard.

Oh, I am so guilty of this. I don’t know why, but I suppose it may be because I get all revved up before class to fight someone. Rolling lightly just isn’t in my vocabulary sometimes. I look forward to class all week and I really love to spar. And sparring is the part of the class I look forward to the most. When it comes that time to get down, only to have someone suggest we “roll lightly” – I don’t know. It kind of disrupts my day. No matter how big or strong my opponent is.

Through the years, I’ve been witness to the blame game after a so called light sparring match was supposed to occur. You know the drill – things start off smoothly enough, one person puts a little too much pressure on, which causes a response. Soon enough, we have 360 degree armbars flying in from left field and a rusty bear trap resting in the corner. How’d that bear trap get here, one of the students asks?

I’m not saying that flow rolling is bad or wrong, I’m just suggesting that perhaps we should call it a different name. Maybe “civilized” rolling?

Jeff handled this issue pretty well when he used to put restrictions on us. He recognized that we were sometimes being detrimental to our own training and began setting up scenarios. One person would start here and the other there. When the first person achieves a result, start over. It was good and the best part – I would usually stay in class late to roll hard with a few guys. After everyone else would go home, we’d stay behind and get our fix. I suppose it may be the fix only a few of us understand.