29/10/2013 - Jamie at GB Bristol (Running Escape & Guard Recovery)

Class #533
Gracie Barra Bristol, (BJJ), Jamie Horsman, Bristol, UK - 29/10/2013

Jamie (who received his well-deserved purple recently) taught the class tonight, teaching the running escape. Jamie began with the version Saulo teaches on Jiu Jitsu Revolution 1. They have near side grips. Bridge to make some initial space. Your aim is to create a gap so that you can turn on your side, getting your hand past their near shoulder: Jamie noted here that you only want to turn a certain amount, so not so far that they can start crushing their weight down onto you. Use that hand as a block, then step out with your bottom leg. Be careful you don't elbow your partner in the face as you do that, especially if you're pushing off their shoulder with your hand. That was followed by a slight variation, where rather than a big step out with the bottom leg, you 'scissored' them to enact the turn.

Jamie also covered the basic guard recovery, where you bridge, shrimp out, then insert your knee, shrimping again to establish guard. Geeza added in some useful details, as when he gets to that knee-in position, he uses it to shove their leg back. He can then bring his outside leg around to secure what he calls 'good' half guard (which he's mentioned before). In that position, you can retain control while also staying relatively mobile, which is much more difficult if you are instead holding half guard by wrapping inside their leg.

Sparring started with specific work from side control, before getting into free sparring. I had an enjoyable light roll with Tony, as he was injured: we played from guard. I wasn't able to do much about his base and he also prevented me from securing that deep Relson grip. Sweeping wasn't getting me too far either, as I wasn't combining techniques: I have a bad habit of going for a sweep, they post out, then I don't capitalise by transitioning to disrupting that arm.

I kept things light with Berry, who is also injured, looking to get on top. Attacking the turtle, I had a quick go for the Gerbi choke Kev taught on Sunday, but there was no way I was going to be able to feed that gi tail through. I'll keep having a play with it when I'm attacking turtle, as it's useful to have something other than the Felipe-style clock choke to go for (which is the main thing I currently attempt from turtle).

One of the white belts mentioned something interesting at the start of class, about how they've been having lots of success going for Ezequiels from side control. I only think of that submission from mount (and I guess I have to admit it is possible from inside somebody else's guard, but not something I use from there). I hadn't ever considered it as a side control attack, so that could be a fun variation to try.

20/03/2013 - Jamie Teaches GB Fundamentals on Side Control Escape to the Knees

Class #496
Gracie Barra Bristol, (BJJ), Jamie Horsman, Bristol, UK - 20/03/2013

I was looking forward to seeing what the new instructors would be like, which is the main cool part about Geeza being away. Jamie hasn't taught before, so I also wanted to make sure I was there to support him. He started off with some self defence, as this was a Gracie Barra Fundamentals lesson, taking someone down when they headlock you then moving into an armbar.

The main technique was escaping to the knees from under side control. Jamie uses Geeza's method (which presumably is the official GB method: I haven't watched the DVDs for a while, so can't remember how Feitosa does it). Under side control, cross your hands over your neck, to stop your opponent having much in the way of offensive opportunities. You're then going to shift to the 'knife and seashell', which is another way of saying put a forearm into their neck, cupping their hip with the other hand (I prefer using the forearm on the hip too, but this is a viable alternative).

Bridge into them, then turn to your knees. Geeza and Jamie end up straight on rather than off to the side. Bring your knees up one by one, then go to turtle. Straight on is how I first learned it at RGA, though I find that when I do that I tend to have trouble avoiding them sprawling on me and stuffing the escape. Hence why I teach the Roy Dean method of coming up on the side instead, but that doesn't mean straight on is any less viable, I just have trouble with it. ;)



Sparring was specific from side control. I'm relying too much on grips, which will end up burning out my hands if I'm not careful: I need to try and be less 'grippy' for want of a better word. Next time I'll try just placing my hands there, cupping the shoulder, the armpit etc and see if that works ok.

I focused on digging out their near elbow, along with just maintaining position and staying heavy. With white belts, they tend to get frustrated and start bridging wildly, meaning they get tired, so you can just swing your leg over quickly to mount. However, that's a bad habit, as swinging the leg over is risky: they could snatch half guard, or worse, time their bridge and come up in guard.

So, staying heavy was relatively effective, as I was generally able to hold position. Except with Nick. As normal, he rolled me immediately: the fact he's 105kg to my 65 obviously makes a difference, but still, I need to focus on transitions with bigger guys. I'm always telling people when teaching that side control isn't static, you need to keep moving, but this was a good reminder to do it more myself. :D

Underneath was less succesful. I was able to escape a few times and I think I did ok at conserving my energy, but a number of times after bridging and getting my knee through, I found myself spinning around unable to stop them following me. I need to block them from doing that: perhaps controlling the arm, like I taught yesterday, or simply controlling the knee? Another instance where I don't think I'm following my own advice properly!

I'm also not bridging enough, though that's partly due to my groin injury. I gave the spin out escape a try, where you reach under their body, but that didn't go too well. I also attempted the stiff arm without any success: I think I need to commit more, as I'm possibly giving up on it too early.

On my way off the mats at the end, I was amused by one of the kids watching. He stared straight at me and said "You're the strongest!" Especially entertaining as I was standing next to Nick at the time, who quite clearly takes that title. Unless he meant it in the Brazilian sense, so was in fact telling me I'm using too much strength and my technique sucks? The wisdom of children... ;p