You would think that lesson, which was taught to me so early on, and in such a manner, would have stuck. I mean, I can remember the incident like it was yesterday, yet I still keep turning my back to my opponents. I still keep getting choked for it, too.
I have improved on defending my back in the scramble. I was hella tired of Joe always being a monkey on my back when we grappled, so I've worked hard to do a better job of protecting it. I think it's harder for people to take my back now, but there's still a very good chance that I will then just give it to them by being stupid while trying to escape pins.
That's what happened in my recent grappling match where I was ahead by points with only about twenty seconds left, and then ended up being submitted by rnc. She had me in side control at the end, and I could have just laid there, defended, and won. Instead (because I don't really play for points) I continued to try to escape her hold. Which was fine until I made the fatal mistake of turning away from her during the final seconds of the match.
I gave her my back, and she took it and choked me; just like Sensei Brad did so many years ago. I know I'm not supposed to turn away, yet in times of stress or desperation I still do. When will I ever learn?
"There is only one enemy and he/she is in front of you." -Seikichi Toguchi