26/11/2017 - Priit Mihkelson Mini Camp | The Back | Passive Turtle

Class #926
Fighting Fit, Priit Mihkelson, Stafford, UK - 26/11/2017

Just as he said later in the seminar, it was better having already seen it before. I got way more out of it this time. Though he mentioned he was going to talk more about open guard later. Same position as open guard, flipped. So, elbows same place, everything is the same. You're not blocking on your neck, your elbows are in your thighs.

Triangle of base, make sure you have toes on the mat. Look to the side they're on, but only a slight turn. Toes very important, if they try and pull, you need to be able to adjust. Be aware that toe flexibility can be a problem, such as when they put pressure into back of your legs. Try to samurai sit, toes on the mat, could be good for posture too. Good idea on coaching, sit like that when watching a demonstration. Same with Asian squat, or stretching out the hips, that's worth mentioning when I teach next. If they try to pull legs up when facing the other way, spin.

When they hook, just straighten your leg and turn. Could be you fall to panda, or you go to guard. Or, straighten your leg to put their hook off. You might need to brush it off with your foot too. Some other postures, fall to your side on your elbow, outside leg up, inside knee towards them. Outside arm is in tight, elbow still where it was before. Frame with that arm, then you can move to pull guard.

Don't let them connect their hands. If they start to push through, your blocks should give you enough time to react. If they reach (e.g., for a guillotine), you can grab their hand, grabbing their wrist with the other hand. That gives you a strong position. Also, grabbing wrist and elbow, pushing foot into hip. You could also fall with a straight leg. Can also try outside foot inside their knee, use that as a block.

Then there is the importance of wrist fighting. Block their wrists of they try to get their hands in. Cover the fingers with your hands. Or even the web between thumb and finger. You don't want them to link their hands. Keep your elbows on your hips, I think.

If they try to put a hook on, pry off with elbow. Or, you could go double under with your arms to block it. It may also give you the opportunity to turn into guard. Nice drill: on granby when next to them, turn your near shoulder right over to where your outside shoulder was, then granby roll. Can do that drill side to side.

The same panda position can work when facing them too. Just keep that space controlled, don't let them in. It applies to combat base too also butterfly guard. He might do a seminar on that too some time, leading with the head and head fighting. The forward panda is basically butterfly guard. Great philosophical point, you learn how to pass from the process of passing the guard, not from actually getting past the guard.

From turtle, put your arm across to your other shoulder range on the mat, same side leg out over there, straight into panda. Then he moved into side control too, same kind of posture. Not sure I got it, but Heidelcamp vids should help. Hooking over your leg into the back of their knee when they try to hook. Try and block it. It was fun and sparring with Steph, against her panda. Hooking the leg helped, but watch out for the fireman's carry/kata guruma.