YouTube BJJ comp arm snaps....yikes! Do you change your "tap time" for comp

Will_N.O. · 11:33 AM

Followed the link from the other current "why didn't he tap" thread, which of course linked to a bunch of other touney arm breaks, many of them of them spectacularly gruesome. Probably not the wisest course of action with my 1st comp coming up.

It did lead to a question, however. I have a sense of my "tap limit" for training...I'm not some crazy "never tap" guy, but I generally will let a sub go until it's pretty sunk in before I tap...at training intensity, this usually means 3 seconds or so for an armbar depending on who I am rolling with.

All of those ugly YouTube breaks were over in that time. Do I need to think about re-calibrating my tap limit for this comp? I'm a total newb, 2 months and not especially talented so I'm not looking to medal, just get some early comp experience. Needless to say, a major involuntary mat vacation is not the sort of experience I am looking for.

Would appreciate some insight from the more comp-experienced posters. I'm just being paranoid...right?

codemonkey76 · 05-13-2008, 10:39 PM

it shouldn't be based on a time limit, if an armbar gets fully extended, i would tap, if you can keep it bent and straighten it on your own terms to do the rolling escape, if it doesn't work, tap immediately.

Tony Manifold · 05-13-2008, 10:43 PM

I heard once that an elbow will pop three times before it breaks. I have got to two and won't let it go any farther. If a guy is slowly forcing out, I will fight it for as long as I can but if it is quick and extended, I tap fairly quickly. A fucked up elbow would end my career (my real career in the military) and it isn't worth it.

codemonkey76 · 05-13-2008, 10:45 PM

i would think that allowin 1 or 2 clicks/pops is not the best strategy... don't you think those noises mean something?

it could be the severity of the injury, but it is still injury

Goat Meal · 05-13-2008, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Manifold

I heard once that an elbow will pop three times before it breaks. I have got to two and won't let it go any farther. If a guy is slowly forcing out, I will fight it for as long as I can but if it is quick and extended, I tap fairly quickly. A fucked up elbow would end my career (my real career in the military) and it isn't worth it.

Wow, I have never heard that. In my last comp my elbow popped exactly 3 times before the guy let go and started apologizing profusely. I was definitely very lucky he was such a nice guy.

JRT6 · 05-13-2008, 11:25 PM

In my experience the elbow breaks happen from the hard and fast elbow locks. Guys get in a zone and slam on the armbar w/ on the sub on their mind. Which is one of the reasons why I don't compete.

My elbow broke from a slower armbar but I had both arms locked and could't tap. By the time I screamed it was too late.

Zel · 05-13-2008, 11:35 PM

I've had my elbow click one time, and the indescriptible pain that followed proceeded to an instant tap.

Trust me, there is absolutely no honor in not tapping, break your arm and your out for 1 year, your arm will also probably never be the same.

Unless your made of glass your arm won't just instantly break, of course that doesn't count freak accidents. tap once it's at 60-70%, if you wait longer than that it might be too late