The Giants beat the Patriots in Super Bowl 46. The Patriots let the Giants score so they’d get the ball back with more time on the clock. The Giants didn’t want to, and actually scored by accident. Both teams were aware there’s more to the game than just the points scored.

Whether you play jiu-jitsu for points, submission-only, or just for fun, you have to consider stamina and time.

There are positions with names. Mount, guard, half guard, side, etc. But there’s nothing to describe the areas in between. And my current thinking is that those areas are where you can do the most to drain your opponent’s energy.

If you’re passing half guard and about to get to side control, maybe don’t go so fast. Allow them to keep quarter guard for a while. You’re at the goal line. Just don’t cross it. Let them struggle and expend energy. When they’re about to gain any ground back, that’s when you complete the pass. (If you’re competing for points, and know you’re going to get them no matter what, you have an incentive to delay scoring as long as possible.)

Or, if someone’s about to pass your guard, rather than use yourself up near your own end zone, let them have the pass, so you have time and energy to fight back.

My teacher’s been telling me this for years, except his instructions to me were simply, “Don’t get submitted, don’t get swept. Pass accidentally.”

I would add, “Don’t complete the pass until you have to.”