BJJ Mental Models Ep. 366: The Gripfighting Scorecard, feat. Chris Round
38 snips
Dec 1, 2025 
Dr. Chris Round, a BJJ and judo black belt with a PhD, shares his expertise as the Executive Director at MASTERs. He emphasizes the critical role of grip fighting in determining competition outcomes and presents his tactical grip-fighting scorecard, which ranks grips from -6 to +6. Chris contrasts gi and no-gi grips and discusses the importance of controlling the lead leg. He explains how asymmetry in grips influences scoring and shares techniques for dominating positions through sleeve control and effective transitions.
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Prioritize The Grip Fight
- Prioritize the grip fight before attempting your technique during a roll.
- Do not start a pass or throw until you've cleared or secured the grips you need.
Gi Hooks Versus No-Gi Wraps
- Gi grips act like hooks that persist, while no-gi grips are more like temporary wraps.
- The same conceptual hierarchy applies, but the timing and permanence differ greatly.
Control The Lead Side
- Establish a lead leg and fight to control the opponent's lead side during standing exchanges.
- Target their lead sleeve or lead lapel to shut down their strongest options.