It is general knowledge that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) makes use of a number of dubious techniques, which are then not helped by the many controversial rules that are enforced in this sport.
When it comes to the moves, there are some that are exceedingly dangerous and have no business being used in competition BJJ, while others just have a bad reputation due to a string of tragic occurrences that have happened with them in the past.
One of the most notorious BJJ moves is the slam. Despite the fact that slams are extremely rare in BJJ, it is not unheard of for anyone to attempt them.
Because they have the potential to inflict significant harm to another person, this is one of the primary reasons why they are banned.
Jiu-Jitsu does, however, place us in positions where we are more likely to be on the receiving end of a body slam.
For this purpose, it is crucial, not only for your own safety but also for the safety of others, to have an understanding of what the slam is, how it acts, and how it may be avoided.
Here is everything that you need to know about the BJJ slam.
What Is The Slam?
In the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a technique known as the body slam is expressly forbidden.
Despite this, there have been several reported incidents of it occurring in mixed martial arts (MMA), and even some in WWE.
The slam is a basic technique in which one scoops up a person who is lying on the ground, pulls them into the air, and then slams them back down on the ground, with their backs often being the surface that makes contact first. This is done extremely quickly.
The person who is on the receiving end of a slam might, under some conditions, find themselves on their heads, which is an obviously hazardous and perhaps fatal posture.
Fighters often use a lot of guards, and a good number of those guards have the potential to develop into slams at some point in the game.
Can You Slam In BJJ?
Slams are uncommon to come by in BJJ, and when they do occur, they almost always lead to automatic disqualification of the competitor.
However, just like anything else, there are a few loopholes, which is why learning how to slam in BJJ is still a necessary skill for fighters to learn.
Even if you have the best of intentions and would never deliberately slam someone to the ground in any way, there is always the possibility that you may fall or make a mistake when you are in a position that could cause you to slam someone to the ground.
Even more importantly, it’s possible that other people won’t have the same level of good intentions that you have, and they won’t hesitate to try tactics that are only slightly legal but involve components of slam. This is a risk that you simply can’t afford to take.
The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) rulebook, which is pretty much considered to be the gold standard these days, defines a slam as any motion in which you pick someone up, whether it is from the guard or during a takedown, and suspend them in mid-air for a short while, before sending them crashing down to the ground.
When you lift up an opponent who has you locked in a triangle hold, you are committing an illegal slam, which will result in your automatic disqualification from the match. This is likely the most obvious example of an illegal slam.
Another illustration of this would be the back control move, in which ferociously springing backward is also called a slam.
The IBJJF maintains that it does not matter how tall a competitor is because they can be disqualified even if they elevate their opponent a few inches off the ground, stop, and then bring them back down to the ground again.
However, there are also legitimate forms of the slam that can still pose risks and cause harm to the individual who is subjected to it.
It is permissible to use a technique to bring an opponent down to the ground in a controlled fashion.
Even if you start by lifting them many feet off the ground, this is not going to be called a slam in the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu because of the way the rules are written. Having said that, this is the one that presents a lower risk.
Some takedowns seem like slams but are legal since they are executed in a continuous motion.
This is because slams are not clearly defined, so there are takedowns that appear to be slams that won’t result in disqualification.
An example of this would be the technique known as a power double, in which the opponent is hoisted up onto the practitioner’s shoulders, twirled, and then thrown to the ground while the fighter runs forward.
Summary
In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, the slam is a potentially dangerous and risky maneuver that should under no circumstances be permitted in competition.
On the other hand, it is essential for us to educate ourselves on the potential dangers posed by these motions and be able to understand them in order to properly defend ourselves against them.
It is not worth the risk to get crushed during competition since it may leave you with long-term injuries even if it results in the disqualification of your opponent.
If you are aware of the hazards involved with everything that grappling may throw at you, then you will be able to prepare your body if you find yourself being slammed by your opponent in BJJ.
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