12/06/2015 - Teaching | Closed Guard | Omoplata

Teaching #337
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 12/06/2015

Grab their trouser leg with your same side hand, also securing their sleeve on that side with your opposite hand. Kick up into the gripped arm, into the crook of their elbow. Combined with a push from your hand, that should bend their arm around your leg. To fully knock them over, 'superman' their trouser leg, punching your grip backwards to straighten their leg and flatten them out. From here, you can sit up, keeping hold of their trouser leg until you can easily switch to their far hip without them being able to roll through.

Angle your knees towards their head, making sure that as you come up, you also bring your leg out from underneath them. Both legs should be on their arm, ideally triangled around their gripped sleeve. Basing on your outside foot, raise your hips and thrust forwards slowly, aiming to tweak their shoulder for the submission. If you miss the submission or simply prefer top position, you can also turn that into a sweep, rolling them over your body. If you don't manage to control their hip or leg, they will roll through anyway. Keep control of the arm, then you should be able to end up on top.

If you miss it and they posture back up, turning towards you, swing your other leg into the side of their neck and swivel into a triangle. The omoplata combines well with the triangle, continuing the armbar-triangle-omoplata sequence.

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Teaching Notes: This is the first time I've taught the omoplata. It initially looks more complex, but hopefully after seeing the armbar and triangle, it makes more sense than in isolation. I tried to make it less confusing by adding a 'kick into their armpit' drill into the warm-up. I should have emphasised bringing both legs out from under them, as a lot of people were leaving their leg stuck underneath.

I did remember to use the John Will method in the middle of the class, which hopefully helped. I was especially pleased to see a number of people giving the omoplata a shot in sparring. Always cool if students give the technique of the day a shot: it's easy to get dissuaded because everybody is expecting it, but it's a great way to get it into your head.

Fridays also now include 30 mins of open mat at the end, like Monday. I was able to get in a bit of specific sparring from mount with Tristan. Main goal was to work on his escapes (he did a good job of staying calm and gradually working his frame), but naturally it gave me a chance to practice setting up submissions too. I went for a really high mount, looking for the arm. I didn't quite get that in place and messed up the bow and arrow, but was able to get to the back. Again he defended well, tucking his arms in, eventually managing to get on top in guard. More work needed on my part in regards to getting past tightly squeezed arm defence: up under the elbows, I guess? Something I can play with more during back month.