Every time there’s a big competition like Pan IBJJF, I almost inevitably receive the same question:
What does it mean to “close out” with a teammate.
So to help answer the question, I shot a video last year at Worlds to better explain the concept.
The context: two of my incredible students, Takeshiro “Samurai” Tanino and Marlon Tajik, chose to fight for the World Championship Purple Belt title last year, rather than closing out.
Teammates are like family: we’re there for each other in tough times and are supposed to make each other better. So when they face each other in the final, it can be a very challenging, emotional moment.
That’s why the Brazilians invented the concept of “closing out” – so that family members wouldn’t have to go through the pain of fighting each other.
Click the image below to hear my full explanation:
Enjoy the video 💪🏽
Let’s go,
Andre
Andre Galvao
Atos Jiu-Jitsu Head Coach
Jiu-Jitsu Hall Of Fame Member
