Pressure over time: Jiu jitsu is the art of control that leads to submission. Submission of course, comes from the application of submission holds  - but the truth is what really makes the submission holds work in practice is pressure over time that breaks down an opponents mental will to resist and physical ability to resist through fatigue. It is in the context of PRESSURE OVER TIME that submission holds have their greatest and most consistent effect at the highest levels. When you are engaged with someone much lower in level than yourself, or if you catch an opponent by surprise, the submission hold itself is enough for victory, but in a tough bout against an opponent who knows how to defend himself it will be the precursor of pressure that makes the submission hold work

Pressure over time. John Danaher