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Is It Really a Bad Thing To Be a ‘One Trick Pony’

Is It Really a Bad Thing To Be a ‘One Trick Pony’

 

“One trick pony” (OTP) is that person from the academy that is always trying the same technique. Different types of one trick ponies can be classified in three categories.

Stubborn but not so successful OTP

OTP whose technique is working against a lot of sparring partners

OTP who is successful with the technique against almost everyone

As you can see being OTP doesn’t have to carry negative connotation every time, it all depends on its effectiveness. Every one of these three types has his own characteristics:

 

Stubborn but not so successful OTP

This is the person who had success with a technique early on or with lower belts so he kept it as his main weapon. He never tried to adapt and develop his attacks. He knows how to do the technique but only when he gets the certain position, so he rarely gets it against higher belts because he’s telegraphing a lot. He’s usually trying to execute it by using a lot of strength.

OTP whose technique is working against a lot of sparring partners

This person knows what they are doing and has invested some time building his game around the technique. Almost every time when his opponent makes a mistake and puts himself in position where this OTP can apply the technique, his opponent will be submitted. This kind of OTP knows really well how to capitalize on opportunities but isn’t so good at creating them.

OTP who is successful with the technique against almost everyone

This is someone who has mastered the technique and built his game around this specific technique. He knows many ways to lead his opponent to it. To inexperienced eye it looks like he’s the biggest OTP because he can do it few times during one roll, but actually on his road to the desired technique he has responses against every move that his opponent tries and one way or another OTP’s sparring partner is going to fall into his trap. This BJJ fighter has thoroughly built his game, not leaving any holes. 

Best example, Lucas Leite and his Coyote half guard:

Being the 3rd category OTP is one of the biggest qualities that BJJ practitioner could have. It means that he is building his game on just few fields, but those fields are big and strong. For example, if somebody starts his BJJ training and learns one sweep from half guard that suits him he should try to build his game around it, try to explore all the possible scenarios around that sweep. Of Corse that he should learn other techniques but this should be his most important growing point. After some time this specific area of technique will grow so much that it will start to connect with other small areas and that is the way of striving to the bulletproof BJJ game.

Contrary to this, there are many BJJ fighters that know a vast number of techniques, they are not OTPs but they are also not great fighters. Because they are building their game as it comes to them. They don’t have their strong points, areas where they are the best. They have a lot of tools but they are not connected.

So if you are striving to be the biggest OTP of all time you are striving for greatness!