That guy should have tapped...

At Saturday's Intermediate kimono class I saw a perfect example of where ego, and training can clash with unfortunate effect. I had 2 good rolls with blue belt partners, but when the 3rd 5 minute period started I found myself the odd-man out. I decided to sit and observe another match between one of my preferred training partners, a recent blue belt named Matt, and a second stripe white belt whose name escapes me...
It started out well enough, although Matt was clearly dominating- moving around easily, while his partner was missing escape opportunities. I offered a few suggestions, but seeing that I was not being listened to, quickly switched back to just observing. Then it happened- Matt was knee on belly to the guy, and the 2 Stripe turned up on his side- facing away from Matt, basically giving up his back- I saw Matt bring his right knee up to the guys back, and then step over the other guys head with his left foot- he snaps up the 2 stripes right arm in a kneeling arm bar, using his left thigh as the leverage point- it was a solid submission. I would have tapped. Unfortunately the 2 stripe didn't see it that way. Instead of tapping the 2 stripe tries to fight his way out of it adjusting his shoulders to try and pull his arm loose- but he just makes it worse- in fact he pulled his elbow down to the point where it was locked against Matt's leg, and the leverage for the armbar was better- it ends when the guy basically fights his way into a dislocated elbow. So now i see this guy, writhing in pain on the mat, but I am not overwhelmed with pity. The guy should have tapped.

I'll give you some more back story. I have trained with Matt since before I was allowed to roll. I know he is one of the "safest" partners in the school. I also know he is more of a "thinking" BJJ Player- less of a "natural" if you will. I know this because we are very similar, and I would define myself the same way. I also had an experience with this 2 stripe earlier in the day. the onset of class was an up/down/out exercise with the Fundamentals class. Up/Down/Out is as close as a fundamentals student really gets to "live rolling" or sparring. The drill is a set up- in this case from the closed guard. The "down" player has the "up" player in his closed guard. It is the up players goal to get passed the guard. It is the down players objective to sweep, or submit the up player. There are different variables, sometimes the coaches will tell one of the players to only offer partial resistance say 80%, so that the other position can work the problem, and achieve success. Sometimes it is just a live drill. Once a player has either achieved his objective, or been swept or submitted the drill is over. At that point, regardless of outcome the "down" player gets up and goes to the wall, and the "up" player becomes the down player, a new partner comes off the wall and the drill starts again. I told you all that to tell you this. Earlier in the day I came off the wall to pair up with the 2 stripe that got hurt. As i am approaching to get into position he tells me he has just been unconscious. Apparently he had tried to fight his way out of a choke- now I have been there so I understand that you can get surprised by a choke and try the wrong method of escape. I told him it was best just to tap in those situations. So here I have given him some good advice, but his response indicated to me that he wasn't really listening. I then let him catch his breath, and then passed his guard like it didn't exist. The 2 stripe guy is an older guy- older than my 35 years, he should have listened. It was obvious from what happened later with Matt, that he did not.

After Matt ran and got the guy some ice I made sure to explain about my earlier interaction. If only to provide some peace of mind for him that although the guy got hurt, it was in his own hands to prevent it, and he didn't.

The point I am trying to make here is to TAP when you are training.