25/07/2017 - BJJ Globetrotter Camp | Leuven 2017 | Knee Shield Half Guard (Kenny Polmans)

Class #852
BJJ Globetrotter Camp (Sportoase Leuven), Kenny Polmans, Leuven, Belgium, 25/07/2017

Kenny's class was a highlight from last year, his teaching approach proving a good match for my learning style. This initial class was about the knee shield from the bottom of half guard. Kenny noted that he puts his knee right by their hip bone, no further across. If it's further across, that becomes easier for them to crush your legs and pass. Cross your ankles, pull your heels back. Frame with your hands, then you're ready to go.

Bring your knee high, with your elbow inside. Kick, then reach your arm around their hip. Don't reach too high, or you might leave enough space for them to lock in a d'arce choke. Step your leg over theirs to hook it, come up on your hand, then use that base to bring your knee out. Next, shucking their arm off your head. Lock in a seatbelt, then move back and drag them to secure your back position.

If they manage to overhook your arm and prevent you shucking it off, reach for their knee with your other hand. Do a superman punch with the trapped arm, aiming to flatten them. Grab their top knee, then hook that leg with your shin. Step your leg forwards, then move around to side control.

For the last one, their base is too wide for you to grab their knee. Instead, you're going to shoot your arm between their legs, rolling underneath. Make sure you keep the leg hooked, as that will help with leverage. Also, without that leg hook, you're at risk of just giving them side control. Again, Kenny used that big step forward with a shin behind their leg, which makes it much tougher for them to recover their position.