Class #639
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Open Mat, Bristol, UK - 22/04/2015
It's been a while since Chris and I have managed to get together for drilling and sparring on a Monday or Wednesday. I always get a lot out of it when we both have time and today was no exception. Things were bolstered by taking some video, as I'm keen to try and isolate where I'm having issues with both escaping and attacking mount. We did specific sparring, taking it in turns to defend and then attack from mount.
My camera placement wasn't great as it often went out of shot, but there were enough sustained bits of footage that I could see I was bridging far too much. Especially the first round under mount, I was bouncing a lot and moving down the mat. Repeatedly I was knocking Chris forward so he needed to base with his hand, but not really manipulating his weight distribution. I need to think more strategically about those bumps, capitalising on the shift in weight.
A useful point on that which Chris mentioned was that I was mostly bridging straight up, rather than an angled bridge. The straight up bridge is best suited for dislodging submission attempts, so I wasn't really using it efficiently. When I did angle my bridge, I was doing it to the side where Chris either already had his weight (so was tough to budge) or was able to put out a hand (thereby blocking any roll).
When I did escape, it was often due to Chris giving me some space by his leg, as he tried to transition into an attacking position. I could then get a leg under and start to lift. I want to be thinking more about angling my bridge, getting a sense of his weight distribution and doing a better job of controlling an arm when I do manage to get the timing of the bridge right.
My stamina is poor, so too much bridging is going to tire me out fast. I could have a go at thinking about my breathing, something I rarely bother taking into account. It's something Rickson and others talk about all the time and has in the past felt a bit gimmicky and New Agey to me, but perhaps I should give it a chance. Couldn't hurt, and if it does help balance my crap stamina, that would be cool. I know I'm never going to bother hitting the gym to do cardio or whatever, that's far too boring). ;)
On top I was a lot better at conserving my energy, but then it's much easier to do that on top. I did leave my lower leg in range to be grabbed a number of times (Chris was tending to clamp it between his feet in a sort of quarter guard), so I should do a better job of tucking that out of the way and quickly moving up into a higher mount. I was generally able to get to high mount: the first time Chris popped out the back, timing it nicely. I was caught by surprise, over-focusing on getting really really high in mount.
The next few times, I was able to get into a decent attacking position. I went for the choke, but couldn't get the second hand in place. I also tried that gi lapel variation on the ezequiel, but couldn't quite get the leverage. Still, the gi tail grip was fun, and eventually helped me move into an armbar. On finishing that, I landed it once, helped by controlling the head by twisting out my leg. However, the next time I got into position, Chris was able to escape because my second leg wasn't tight enough. I was focusing so much on keeping the head leg tight that I forgot about the importance of the second leg being tight too, up into the armpit.
Lots to play with. I'll keep on taking footage of these mini-open mats, but I'll need to work out the best place to put my camera next time. :)
Showing posts with label armbar from mount. Show all posts
Showing posts with label armbar from mount. Show all posts
22 April 2015
23 November 2013
21/11/2013 - Live Movember Rollathon Stream Sat 23rd Nov at 7am PST (3pm GMT) & Roger Gracie Mount Techniques
Class #535
Hit Fit, (BJJ), Dónal Carmody, Bristol, UK - 21/11/2013
The Movember Rollathon is finally upon us! Sofie from Gravity BJJ has set up a live stream so you can join in the action wherever you are in the world, here. It is due to start at 7am PST, which I think works out at around 3pm UK time (as IIRC, PST is 8 hours behind GMT). Don't forget to donate to the team too: if you've like to throw some spare change at my page supporting the Rollathon and follow the progress of my very silly moustache, that's all here. The Rollathon total (at the time of writing) currently stands at $720, so please bump it up further if you can! :D
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Tonight, Dónal wanted to share some of the techniques he'd recently picked up at a Roger Gracie seminar, appropriately on mount. If you're having trouble getting past their defence from mount, because they have crossed their arms over their neck, you can use a frame against their shoulders to bring your knees under their elbows. That will mean you can shove those knees into their armpits, seriously impacting their ability to escape your mount.
The first of three ways to do that is simply placing your hands by the mat directly in front of each shoulder, pressing your wrists against them. Secondly, you can put your elbows by their shoulders, which also means you can sink a bit lower and frees your hands to go on top of their head, helping to pull you up higher. Thirdly, try putting your hands directly on the front of their shoulders rather than on the mat, then lean forwards. You may need the additional leverage of your feet on their hips, but either way, from here you can attempt to pry their elbows up in order to get your knees underneath.
If you have an arm under their head and they start pushing on your knee, then depending on which side, you can either move to a submission or continue the process above. If they are pushing on the same side as your under-the-head arm, that means they only have one hand defending their neck. There should be enough space to reach your hand on that side through, curling it behind their wrist as an entry point, after which you can move into an ezequiel. If they are pushing on the other side, simply yank their arm up by the elbow and progress under the armpits as before.
Once you've got up into their armpits and their elbows are raised, you can move into either taking the back (my preference) or an armbar (which I generally don't like because I find the risk of losing position is too high, but then my armbars are crap so that's unsurprising ;D). Shove your hand past their opposite bicep, with your thumb on top, so making a sort of knife-hand.
Should you have trouble sliding it past, then with your free hand grab the elbow of the arm you're trying to control, pushing it across towards their other arm. This is counter-intuitive, but it does seem to create some space. Wedging your arm right through, you can now wrap their arm, using that to take the back or set up your armbar. Move into s-mount (which I last taught back in 2011), switching the arm you have threaded through theirs if necessary: i.e., rather than pushing your arm through from the inside, you reach around the outside and insert the other arm.
Doing that, you can then grab your own wrist, lean into their sternum and push off the other leg slightly. That will drive your weight through your bum into their chest. With your free hand, shove their elbow away from you, which should hopefully leave their remaining arm (which due to that switch you are already controlling) vulnerable to an armbar.
We then did some specific sparring from mount, where I had the pleasure of going with an experienced purple belt who was visiting the class. When I was on top, he immediately escaped the first time. I was much more careful after that, paying close attention to his arms, blocking them with my hips, shifting my body position to increase weight where necessary and also reaching deep under his back with my legs for control. I think he was using the same escape Michel Verhoeven taught at his seminar to defeat the kind of low mount I like, where you do a few small bumps and reach underneath to the opposite hip with your arm. As ever, I was only able to maintain, rather than initiate much offence.
Underneath, I relied upon the usual heel-drag, but also staying patient and waiting for my opportunity to exploit some space. The purple belt was going for more attacks than most people do, meaning I could sneak into the gaps as he did, but at the same time he was going pretty light. A few times I suspect he would have caught me before I escaped if he upped the pace, such as when he was moving into an americana and I spun through to his guard.
Free sparring started off with one of the white belts, where I was able to get on top with a rather sloppy sit-up sweep. I should be pulling back on their elbow quicker, as well as shifting into a kimura or some other attack if the sweep is blocked. Getting to mount, I again mostly just held it, unable to get the grips I wanted for the americana or the ezequiel. I should have moved up higher, then gone for it: I'm still too concerned about risking position.
Next up was a blue belt, where I stayed on the bottom with closed guard, repeatedly trying to set up that deep Relson grip choke. I got the grip, but grabbed the cloth by the shoulder. That's too obvious, so instead I should have reached underneath my arm and grabbed the far lapel, just like I taught it recently. I have a bad habit of not following my own BJJ advice. ;)
Hanging around a bit longer after the hour was up, I went with the same white belt from earlier, but this time took off my gi. It's cold at the Hit Fit gym, so I always wear both spats and a rash guard underneath. Rolling nogi levelled the playing field, as not only is my nogi crappy, I rely a lot on gi grips, plus the white belt has been doing MMA a while.
I ended up in guard for most of it, trying to control behind the head, looking for guillotines and the sit-up sweep again. At some point I think I might have gotten on top, but was not able to get anything going from there, especially as I can't go for an ezequiel in nogi. Eventually I got reversed, putting me in his guard. I am pretty much stuck when it comes to passing in nogi, as again I rely on having a grip on their collar to secure me in place.
Without that, I revert to the lazy and dangerous option of waiting for them to open their guard enough to slip an arm out and get a single underhook pass. The reason that's dangerous is because you're susceptible to get triangled or armbarred if you're not careful. It worked on this occasion, putting me in side control, but I think he got his guard back anyway.
Good to roll nogi occasionally, as it reminds me how much I depend on grips, though personally I don't really care. I've no interest in developing a game that works both in gi and nogi, because I find that means you lose a massive proportion of all the stuff that is fun in the gi: i.e., collar chokes, wrapping the gi up around various body parts and grips. So, I just need to develop a separate nogi game, which is going to take a while given how rarely I take off the gi. ;D
Hit Fit, (BJJ), Dónal Carmody, Bristol, UK - 21/11/2013
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Tonight, Dónal wanted to share some of the techniques he'd recently picked up at a Roger Gracie seminar, appropriately on mount. If you're having trouble getting past their defence from mount, because they have crossed their arms over their neck, you can use a frame against their shoulders to bring your knees under their elbows. That will mean you can shove those knees into their armpits, seriously impacting their ability to escape your mount.
The first of three ways to do that is simply placing your hands by the mat directly in front of each shoulder, pressing your wrists against them. Secondly, you can put your elbows by their shoulders, which also means you can sink a bit lower and frees your hands to go on top of their head, helping to pull you up higher. Thirdly, try putting your hands directly on the front of their shoulders rather than on the mat, then lean forwards. You may need the additional leverage of your feet on their hips, but either way, from here you can attempt to pry their elbows up in order to get your knees underneath.
If you have an arm under their head and they start pushing on your knee, then depending on which side, you can either move to a submission or continue the process above. If they are pushing on the same side as your under-the-head arm, that means they only have one hand defending their neck. There should be enough space to reach your hand on that side through, curling it behind their wrist as an entry point, after which you can move into an ezequiel. If they are pushing on the other side, simply yank their arm up by the elbow and progress under the armpits as before.
Once you've got up into their armpits and their elbows are raised, you can move into either taking the back (my preference) or an armbar (which I generally don't like because I find the risk of losing position is too high, but then my armbars are crap so that's unsurprising ;D). Shove your hand past their opposite bicep, with your thumb on top, so making a sort of knife-hand.
Should you have trouble sliding it past, then with your free hand grab the elbow of the arm you're trying to control, pushing it across towards their other arm. This is counter-intuitive, but it does seem to create some space. Wedging your arm right through, you can now wrap their arm, using that to take the back or set up your armbar. Move into s-mount (which I last taught back in 2011), switching the arm you have threaded through theirs if necessary: i.e., rather than pushing your arm through from the inside, you reach around the outside and insert the other arm. Doing that, you can then grab your own wrist, lean into their sternum and push off the other leg slightly. That will drive your weight through your bum into their chest. With your free hand, shove their elbow away from you, which should hopefully leave their remaining arm (which due to that switch you are already controlling) vulnerable to an armbar.
We then did some specific sparring from mount, where I had the pleasure of going with an experienced purple belt who was visiting the class. When I was on top, he immediately escaped the first time. I was much more careful after that, paying close attention to his arms, blocking them with my hips, shifting my body position to increase weight where necessary and also reaching deep under his back with my legs for control. I think he was using the same escape Michel Verhoeven taught at his seminar to defeat the kind of low mount I like, where you do a few small bumps and reach underneath to the opposite hip with your arm. As ever, I was only able to maintain, rather than initiate much offence.
Underneath, I relied upon the usual heel-drag, but also staying patient and waiting for my opportunity to exploit some space. The purple belt was going for more attacks than most people do, meaning I could sneak into the gaps as he did, but at the same time he was going pretty light. A few times I suspect he would have caught me before I escaped if he upped the pace, such as when he was moving into an americana and I spun through to his guard.
Free sparring started off with one of the white belts, where I was able to get on top with a rather sloppy sit-up sweep. I should be pulling back on their elbow quicker, as well as shifting into a kimura or some other attack if the sweep is blocked. Getting to mount, I again mostly just held it, unable to get the grips I wanted for the americana or the ezequiel. I should have moved up higher, then gone for it: I'm still too concerned about risking position.
Next up was a blue belt, where I stayed on the bottom with closed guard, repeatedly trying to set up that deep Relson grip choke. I got the grip, but grabbed the cloth by the shoulder. That's too obvious, so instead I should have reached underneath my arm and grabbed the far lapel, just like I taught it recently. I have a bad habit of not following my own BJJ advice. ;)
Hanging around a bit longer after the hour was up, I went with the same white belt from earlier, but this time took off my gi. It's cold at the Hit Fit gym, so I always wear both spats and a rash guard underneath. Rolling nogi levelled the playing field, as not only is my nogi crappy, I rely a lot on gi grips, plus the white belt has been doing MMA a while.
I ended up in guard for most of it, trying to control behind the head, looking for guillotines and the sit-up sweep again. At some point I think I might have gotten on top, but was not able to get anything going from there, especially as I can't go for an ezequiel in nogi. Eventually I got reversed, putting me in his guard. I am pretty much stuck when it comes to passing in nogi, as again I rely on having a grip on their collar to secure me in place.
Without that, I revert to the lazy and dangerous option of waiting for them to open their guard enough to slip an arm out and get a single underhook pass. The reason that's dangerous is because you're susceptible to get triangled or armbarred if you're not careful. It worked on this occasion, putting me in side control, but I think he got his guard back anyway.
Good to roll nogi occasionally, as it reminds me how much I depend on grips, though personally I don't really care. I've no interest in developing a game that works both in gi and nogi, because I find that means you lose a massive proportion of all the stuff that is fun in the gi: i.e., collar chokes, wrapping the gi up around various body parts and grips. So, I just need to develop a separate nogi game, which is going to take a while given how rarely I take off the gi. ;D
24 August 2013
24/08/2013 - Michel Verhoeven (Rickson Black Belt) Seminar
Seminar #013
The Dojo Sidcup, (BJJ), Michel Verhoeven, Sidcup, UK - 24/03/2013
For many years, Rickson has possessed a mystical aura in BJJ, a remote demi-god whose knowledge was shared with a select few. More recently, Rickson has been increasing his seminar schedule, holding his first ever European seminars last year. Unfortunately I wasn't able to make it in 2012 to train with the man himself, but I can make it to London to learn from one of his disciples.
When Al (who writes an excellent blog I've enjoyed for several years: like Rickson, he dispenses his wisdom infrequently ;D) mentioned that a Rickson black belt would be teaching in Sidcup, I therefore decided it was about time I experienced the legendary Rickson style. I was also intrigued by the prospect of learning from a Dutch black belt, due to the potential of getting an interview as well (which Al kindly set up for me). Up until now, I've only interviewed people from Brazil, the USA and the UK.
Update July 2016: You can listen to that interview now, as it's the first episode of the Artemis BJJ Podcast
Michel 'Babytank' Verhoeven started training jiu jitsu at the age of 13 in 1999, under Harold Harder (who had himself first met Rickson in 1996). Verhoeven is now a black belt under Rickson and head of Rickson Gracie Jiu Jitsu Holland, a growing organisation that is bringing Rickson over for a second time in October (which again I can't make, as it's my mum's 60th). Verhoeven's presence in the UK was organised by Paul Finn, who runs the Sidcup Dojo where the seminar was held.
Update Nov 2013: I did finally make it to a Rickson seminar, in November. No offence to Rickson, but for me, Michel's seminar was both better and cheaper. ;D
Verhoeven demonstrated his commitment to the basics immediately. During the warm-up, he took the time to not only correct how somebody was shrimping, but also showed the proper application. You might think that to correct a shrimp, you would tell the person to push off their foot more, perhaps raise their hips. Verhoeven told them to go into the defensive posture they would use under side control, then showed how they need to adjust to prevent him from easily pushing them flat on their back by pressing on the shoulder. This then fed back into the proper way to shrimp, keeping in mind the positions in which you might use that shrimp. It set the tone for the day: fundamentals with key details, which is exactly what I was hoping to learn.
Next up was takedowns. After 'self defence' drills, this is my least favourite part of jiu jitsu. It is therefore a testament to Verhoeven's teaching that it was both useful and engaging. That's because he did not begin with a load of throws. Instead, keeping the basics theme, he talked about takedown posture, which I find far more helpful. This followed on from another running theme in the seminar, dubbed 'game planning' by Verhoeven. What he means by that is essentially sparring followed by commentary. He had two of the white belts (who made up the majority of attendees: apart from them, it was just me, Al and a Carlson blue belt, Mike) briefly spar from standing. That became his example for some pointers on grips and posture.
The idea is that you stay solid while your opponent is bouncing around trying to yank you off balance. You react when their leg is in range or there is some other opening for a takedown. I'm not sure I quite got all the details, as I had slightly different advice from Mike and Al, but Mike's perspective was to jam your fist into the pec upon which the collar was resting. Keep that relatively firm, but as Verhoeven said a number of times, don't completely extend your arm, leaving a very small bend. As they push into you, use your fist into their chest to prevent their forward motion. As they pull back, follow them with your fist. This reminded me of what Sean Cooper said last November when I was in Texas, regarding the Rickson seminar he had attended and the importance of 'connection', something that would be mentioned numerous times today.
Al spoke about expanding and contracting, again in reaction to them pulling and pushing. This was also combined with putting your weight onto your front leg (for when they were pushing, I think), then the back leg if they pull. From what Al said, although that's counter-intuitive, the reason you load up your weight on the front leg if they push is that if you rely on the back leg, you have nothing behind it should they push you further. I think you expand your arms, flaring your elbows a bit, when they pushed, keeping an arm almost straight into them (I think like Mike described, but not quite the same?). Then you do the reverse when they pull, dropping your elbows a bit closer together and sinking your weight onto your back leg. Verhoeven mentioned this was something that takes a fair bit of practice, as it also needs good timing.
Verhoeven then demonstrated three throws. The first and last I think are standard judo techniques, seoi-nage and osoto-gari (though he doesn't kick through on the osoto-gari, instead saying that just placing your leg behind theirs as a brace is sufficient). The middle ones were more akin to what you can find in the rear takedown from Lesson Twenty Nine of Gracie Combatives. Start by opening up their elbow and collar by lifting your arms (something we had done as a separate drill earlier), then duck underneath, driving your near knee to the ground while stepping the other up. Keep your head raised to avoid guillotines, then spin to their back.
Put you head in between their shoulder blades so they can't connect with your skull by flinging elbows backwards. If they are upright, drive your hips into them to lift, then drop them back into the space you created. I was a bit nervous of trying that one, as I was concerned I might hurt my back if I messed it up. The second option was less nerve-wracking, as that was the same drop to the mat and pull them over your leg technique Rener shows on his DVD. Verhoeven noted you want to get your arm out of the way to stop them landing on it. I wasn't able to pull this off smoothly (unlike Al, who does it beautifully), mainly because I'm (as usual) over-cautious about committing to the move.
We continued into more comfortable territory with the groundwork, as Verhoeven began with a brief drill on maintaining mount. This was reminiscent of Dónal's method for taking the back in his ezequiel series, as the drill involves staying on your toes as they roll to their belly. You simply follow them sideways: the goal is to get used to having them roll through without letting yourself get stuck to them, as then you'd fall over and they'd end up on top.
That was as far as maintaining mount went (though submissions returned later), progressing instead to escaping the mount. Verhoeven first had us drill bridging in isolation, so he could work out if people were doing it right. Apparently only two people were. Bridge as high as you can, while also turning to one side: this is a significant turn, meaning that you body ends up twisted, your head looking in that direction. Verhoeven could then lead us through the upa escape from mount. The main detail he added which I'm not too familiar with is his grip. I'm used to grabbing the wrist and elbow, either behind the elbow (Rener style) or the crook of the elbow. Verhoeven's method depends on what they did. If they have their elbow out, push it towards their other hip, then grab the gi material of their upper arm and use that for your grip, pulling them down tightly.
The elbow escape instruction was helpful too. Verhoeven began by reaching across to the opposite hip with his hand. As with the tips on stand-up posture, keep your arm slightly bent. Push into that hip, then shrimp, using your free elbow to prise open their same side knee. Pop the knee through, pushing off that to make more space, then prise their other knee open. Once you get the leg out, wrap their leg with your outside leg, which becomes a base point to help slide your other leg out between their legs.
If they are a bit higher, use both of your hands to make a frame. This looks a bit like the recent video Stephan Kesting put out on framing, though he prefers to make a fist, as he feels that makes the frame stronger. The third option, for when they're pressing their hips down (as I like to do in low mount) is to go for the heel drag, still pushing into their opposite hip to help scoop up their leg. If you are having trouble reaching for the opposite hip because they haven't left any space, do a series of small bumps with your hips to create the room for your arm to slide under. This is what Verhoeven did when he used me as an uke for mount escapes, because I like to hold that low mount where I try to prevent them having much space (which is of course rather tougher to do on a black belt ;D).
The last section of the seminar was on submissions from the mount. I was extremely pleased at the selection, because almost all of them are techniques I've been looking to improve in my own game. The cross choke details were especially useful, as I realised I've been doing something fundamentally wrong for years: twisting my wrists the wrong way. I've been twisting them outwards when I should have been twisting them inwards. My training partner Martyn related a good tip for remembering this, which he'd heard from Allan Manganello (another Rickson black belt). If you cross your hands in front of you with the palms facing you, adjust your hands so the thumbs are touching. Now twist them so that the thumbs stay pressed against each other: if you twist the other way, you're opening up space. Genius.
Verhoeven's process is to insert your first hand, then bring your second hand underneath. Establish a relatively tight grip, already beginning to twist your hands inwards (remember the butterfly thumbs!) and raising your partner towards you slightly. Put your head on the mat above the shoulder your top hand is pointing towards, then twist and draw your elbows backwards to finish the choke. Don't flare your elbows, as then they can defend the choke by pushing those elbows back together.
If you can't get past their defending hands, there is the nasty option of digging your thumb along the jawline. I'm not a big fan of that as I find it too brutal, so prefer Verhoeven's other suggestion of flowing into another technique, such as wedging under their elbow and moving into a gift wrap. There was also a variation to the choke when you can only get one hand in, bringing your second arm around to the other side of their head, then 'shaving' back across their face to position that arm by their neck. Grab a handful of gi by their shoulder, then drop your elbow so your forearm is over their throat. This second arm doesn't move after that point: the choke comes from twisting the first hand and drawing that first elbow back.
Finally, there was a relatively straightforward application of the ezequiel choke, though Verhoeven does this differently to Dónal. He doesn't like to use less fingers for greater range, instead preferring to switch to the fist variation if you can't land the cleaner option. Driving your fist is certainly effective, but like digging across the jaw line, I would normally transfer to something else in that situation. In this case, that would be the next stage of Dónal's ezequiel series, the tight americana against the leg.
The more standard americana from mount followed, where once again, Verhoeven had a simple but significant tip. Instead of focusing your efforts on pushing their wrist to the floor, grab their wrist then concentrate on getting your elbow to the mat, by their head. For some reason, this seems to be a lot more effective at getting both your limbs and theirs in the right position to complete the americana. Martyn mentioned 'revving the motorcyle' here, another useful detail I often forget: in other words, curl your wrists up. If you lose the americana because they straighten their arm, you can flow into the straight armbar, much like the Roy Dean lockflow I like from side control.
Verhoeven finished off with an armbar from mount. I don't generally go for armbars from mount because I hate losing position, but it is something I should keep in mind as it's such a core submission from there, for teaching if nothing else. Verhoeven's application starts by grabbing their opposite tricep with one of your hands, using that to pull them up onto their side, so you can slide into technical mount. Post your free hand by their face, in order to swing your leg past their head. Don't drop back yet: first, wrap their arm with both of yours, grabbing your own collars, then raise your elbows and thrust your hips forwards.
That has two advantages. Firstly, it straightens their arm out. Secondly, it puts your hips closer to the shoulder. Together, that means when you do drop back, you're in a better, tighter position. That also means that the armbar comes on quicker, so be careful you don't crank this suddenly, or you're at risk of hyper-extending their elbow before they've had time to tap.
After some more game planning, it was time for free sparring. I decided against taking part this time because I wanted to make sure I was ready to head off and catch my train, so got changed instead (which also meant I could display the fabulous Pony Club Grappling Gear spats I'd been wearing under my gi, plus take a few quick photos for this post). However, I didn't escape getting smashed by a black belt today, as Verhoeven had grabbed me for a quick light roll before the seminar. In my attempts to escape technical mount, Verhoeven noted that I could have gone for a double shin sweep and come on top, something I need to remember.
I also went to my favoured running escape, but Verhoeven did the same thing Sahid does, trapping my trailing leg with his knee and effectively stymieing the escape as a result. As normally happens with higher belts, he eventually secured a collar for the choke. However, unlike some higher belts, when I used the poor defence of popping my collar up over my chin, Verhoeven didn't choke my face. He instead calmly waited for an opportunity to bring his other limbs to bear so that he could get the submission more smoothly. Always appreciated, and another reminder to be more careful of my neck when I'm flailing around with the running escape. :)
Thanks again to Paul, Al and of course Michel: I look forward to future seminars! It was five hours of technique, but because everything was fundamental I could concentrate – and more importantly, retain – some of those key details that make all the difference. This is exactly what I'm interested in, depth rather than breadth. I would much rather refine a collar choke or an elbow escape, as opposed to something flashy (or just outside of the game I'm trying to build for myself and my teaching) that I'll most likely never use. Next time I'll make sure I bring extra cash to buy a Babytank tank top: I was thinking recently, after all the hot weather, that I'd quite like a jiu jitsu tank top. Clearly having a black belt from Rickson gives Michel psychic powers as well as jiu jitsu skills. ;)
The Dojo Sidcup, (BJJ), Michel Verhoeven, Sidcup, UK - 24/03/2013
When Al (who writes an excellent blog I've enjoyed for several years: like Rickson, he dispenses his wisdom infrequently ;D) mentioned that a Rickson black belt would be teaching in Sidcup, I therefore decided it was about time I experienced the legendary Rickson style. I was also intrigued by the prospect of learning from a Dutch black belt, due to the potential of getting an interview as well (which Al kindly set up for me). Up until now, I've only interviewed people from Brazil, the USA and the UK.
Update July 2016: You can listen to that interview now, as it's the first episode of the Artemis BJJ Podcast
Michel 'Babytank' Verhoeven started training jiu jitsu at the age of 13 in 1999, under Harold Harder (who had himself first met Rickson in 1996). Verhoeven is now a black belt under Rickson and head of Rickson Gracie Jiu Jitsu Holland, a growing organisation that is bringing Rickson over for a second time in October (which again I can't make, as it's my mum's 60th). Verhoeven's presence in the UK was organised by Paul Finn, who runs the Sidcup Dojo where the seminar was held.
Update Nov 2013: I did finally make it to a Rickson seminar, in November. No offence to Rickson, but for me, Michel's seminar was both better and cheaper. ;D
Verhoeven demonstrated his commitment to the basics immediately. During the warm-up, he took the time to not only correct how somebody was shrimping, but also showed the proper application. You might think that to correct a shrimp, you would tell the person to push off their foot more, perhaps raise their hips. Verhoeven told them to go into the defensive posture they would use under side control, then showed how they need to adjust to prevent him from easily pushing them flat on their back by pressing on the shoulder. This then fed back into the proper way to shrimp, keeping in mind the positions in which you might use that shrimp. It set the tone for the day: fundamentals with key details, which is exactly what I was hoping to learn.
The idea is that you stay solid while your opponent is bouncing around trying to yank you off balance. You react when their leg is in range or there is some other opening for a takedown. I'm not sure I quite got all the details, as I had slightly different advice from Mike and Al, but Mike's perspective was to jam your fist into the pec upon which the collar was resting. Keep that relatively firm, but as Verhoeven said a number of times, don't completely extend your arm, leaving a very small bend. As they push into you, use your fist into their chest to prevent their forward motion. As they pull back, follow them with your fist. This reminded me of what Sean Cooper said last November when I was in Texas, regarding the Rickson seminar he had attended and the importance of 'connection', something that would be mentioned numerous times today.
Al spoke about expanding and contracting, again in reaction to them pulling and pushing. This was also combined with putting your weight onto your front leg (for when they were pushing, I think), then the back leg if they pull. From what Al said, although that's counter-intuitive, the reason you load up your weight on the front leg if they push is that if you rely on the back leg, you have nothing behind it should they push you further. I think you expand your arms, flaring your elbows a bit, when they pushed, keeping an arm almost straight into them (I think like Mike described, but not quite the same?). Then you do the reverse when they pull, dropping your elbows a bit closer together and sinking your weight onto your back leg. Verhoeven mentioned this was something that takes a fair bit of practice, as it also needs good timing.
Verhoeven then demonstrated three throws. The first and last I think are standard judo techniques, seoi-nage and osoto-gari (though he doesn't kick through on the osoto-gari, instead saying that just placing your leg behind theirs as a brace is sufficient). The middle ones were more akin to what you can find in the rear takedown from Lesson Twenty Nine of Gracie Combatives. Start by opening up their elbow and collar by lifting your arms (something we had done as a separate drill earlier), then duck underneath, driving your near knee to the ground while stepping the other up. Keep your head raised to avoid guillotines, then spin to their back. Put you head in between their shoulder blades so they can't connect with your skull by flinging elbows backwards. If they are upright, drive your hips into them to lift, then drop them back into the space you created. I was a bit nervous of trying that one, as I was concerned I might hurt my back if I messed it up. The second option was less nerve-wracking, as that was the same drop to the mat and pull them over your leg technique Rener shows on his DVD. Verhoeven noted you want to get your arm out of the way to stop them landing on it. I wasn't able to pull this off smoothly (unlike Al, who does it beautifully), mainly because I'm (as usual) over-cautious about committing to the move.
We continued into more comfortable territory with the groundwork, as Verhoeven began with a brief drill on maintaining mount. This was reminiscent of Dónal's method for taking the back in his ezequiel series, as the drill involves staying on your toes as they roll to their belly. You simply follow them sideways: the goal is to get used to having them roll through without letting yourself get stuck to them, as then you'd fall over and they'd end up on top.
That was as far as maintaining mount went (though submissions returned later), progressing instead to escaping the mount. Verhoeven first had us drill bridging in isolation, so he could work out if people were doing it right. Apparently only two people were. Bridge as high as you can, while also turning to one side: this is a significant turn, meaning that you body ends up twisted, your head looking in that direction. Verhoeven could then lead us through the upa escape from mount. The main detail he added which I'm not too familiar with is his grip. I'm used to grabbing the wrist and elbow, either behind the elbow (Rener style) or the crook of the elbow. Verhoeven's method depends on what they did. If they have their elbow out, push it towards their other hip, then grab the gi material of their upper arm and use that for your grip, pulling them down tightly. The elbow escape instruction was helpful too. Verhoeven began by reaching across to the opposite hip with his hand. As with the tips on stand-up posture, keep your arm slightly bent. Push into that hip, then shrimp, using your free elbow to prise open their same side knee. Pop the knee through, pushing off that to make more space, then prise their other knee open. Once you get the leg out, wrap their leg with your outside leg, which becomes a base point to help slide your other leg out between their legs.
If they are a bit higher, use both of your hands to make a frame. This looks a bit like the recent video Stephan Kesting put out on framing, though he prefers to make a fist, as he feels that makes the frame stronger. The third option, for when they're pressing their hips down (as I like to do in low mount) is to go for the heel drag, still pushing into their opposite hip to help scoop up their leg. If you are having trouble reaching for the opposite hip because they haven't left any space, do a series of small bumps with your hips to create the room for your arm to slide under. This is what Verhoeven did when he used me as an uke for mount escapes, because I like to hold that low mount where I try to prevent them having much space (which is of course rather tougher to do on a black belt ;D).
The last section of the seminar was on submissions from the mount. I was extremely pleased at the selection, because almost all of them are techniques I've been looking to improve in my own game. The cross choke details were especially useful, as I realised I've been doing something fundamentally wrong for years: twisting my wrists the wrong way. I've been twisting them outwards when I should have been twisting them inwards. My training partner Martyn related a good tip for remembering this, which he'd heard from Allan Manganello (another Rickson black belt). If you cross your hands in front of you with the palms facing you, adjust your hands so the thumbs are touching. Now twist them so that the thumbs stay pressed against each other: if you twist the other way, you're opening up space. Genius.Verhoeven's process is to insert your first hand, then bring your second hand underneath. Establish a relatively tight grip, already beginning to twist your hands inwards (remember the butterfly thumbs!) and raising your partner towards you slightly. Put your head on the mat above the shoulder your top hand is pointing towards, then twist and draw your elbows backwards to finish the choke. Don't flare your elbows, as then they can defend the choke by pushing those elbows back together.
If you can't get past their defending hands, there is the nasty option of digging your thumb along the jawline. I'm not a big fan of that as I find it too brutal, so prefer Verhoeven's other suggestion of flowing into another technique, such as wedging under their elbow and moving into a gift wrap. There was also a variation to the choke when you can only get one hand in, bringing your second arm around to the other side of their head, then 'shaving' back across their face to position that arm by their neck. Grab a handful of gi by their shoulder, then drop your elbow so your forearm is over their throat. This second arm doesn't move after that point: the choke comes from twisting the first hand and drawing that first elbow back.
Finally, there was a relatively straightforward application of the ezequiel choke, though Verhoeven does this differently to Dónal. He doesn't like to use less fingers for greater range, instead preferring to switch to the fist variation if you can't land the cleaner option. Driving your fist is certainly effective, but like digging across the jaw line, I would normally transfer to something else in that situation. In this case, that would be the next stage of Dónal's ezequiel series, the tight americana against the leg.The more standard americana from mount followed, where once again, Verhoeven had a simple but significant tip. Instead of focusing your efforts on pushing their wrist to the floor, grab their wrist then concentrate on getting your elbow to the mat, by their head. For some reason, this seems to be a lot more effective at getting both your limbs and theirs in the right position to complete the americana. Martyn mentioned 'revving the motorcyle' here, another useful detail I often forget: in other words, curl your wrists up. If you lose the americana because they straighten their arm, you can flow into the straight armbar, much like the Roy Dean lockflow I like from side control.
Verhoeven finished off with an armbar from mount. I don't generally go for armbars from mount because I hate losing position, but it is something I should keep in mind as it's such a core submission from there, for teaching if nothing else. Verhoeven's application starts by grabbing their opposite tricep with one of your hands, using that to pull them up onto their side, so you can slide into technical mount. Post your free hand by their face, in order to swing your leg past their head. Don't drop back yet: first, wrap their arm with both of yours, grabbing your own collars, then raise your elbows and thrust your hips forwards.
That has two advantages. Firstly, it straightens their arm out. Secondly, it puts your hips closer to the shoulder. Together, that means when you do drop back, you're in a better, tighter position. That also means that the armbar comes on quicker, so be careful you don't crank this suddenly, or you're at risk of hyper-extending their elbow before they've had time to tap.
After some more game planning, it was time for free sparring. I decided against taking part this time because I wanted to make sure I was ready to head off and catch my train, so got changed instead (which also meant I could display the fabulous Pony Club Grappling Gear spats I'd been wearing under my gi, plus take a few quick photos for this post). However, I didn't escape getting smashed by a black belt today, as Verhoeven had grabbed me for a quick light roll before the seminar. In my attempts to escape technical mount, Verhoeven noted that I could have gone for a double shin sweep and come on top, something I need to remember.
Thanks again to Paul, Al and of course Michel: I look forward to future seminars! It was five hours of technique, but because everything was fundamental I could concentrate – and more importantly, retain – some of those key details that make all the difference. This is exactly what I'm interested in, depth rather than breadth. I would much rather refine a collar choke or an elbow escape, as opposed to something flashy (or just outside of the game I'm trying to build for myself and my teaching) that I'll most likely never use. Next time I'll make sure I bring extra cash to buy a Babytank tank top: I was thinking recently, after all the hot weather, that I'd quite like a jiu jitsu tank top. Clearly having a black belt from Rickson gives Michel psychic powers as well as jiu jitsu skills. ;)
28 September 2011
28/09/2011 - Gracie Barra Technique (Armbar Escapes)
Class #420
Gracie Barra Bristol, (BJJ), Nicolai 'Geeza' Holt, Bristol, UK - 28/09/2011
After the excitement of getting my gf along to a lesson followed by the ADCC, it was back to normal tonight. Geeza has been running through armbars this week, specifically armbar escapes. Before he got on to tonight's escape, he first had us drill two basic armbar set-ups. Kicking off with the armbar from mount, you're imagining your opponent shoves their arms into your chest (unlikely in sparring, but useful for the purposes of drilling). Put one arm on the outside of theirs, with your hand on their sternum. Put your other arm inside, so that the second hand goes on top of the first.
Slide your far leg up into their armpit, sole of the foot pointing towards their head. The near leg shifts to their shoulder. Lean forwards, then slide your shoulder leg over their. Your arm should already be over theirs: lock it over the back of their elbow. Geeza noted that drilling, that was safer than grabbing the wrist. In sparring, you would use your other arm to secure the wrist. Drop back, then repeat on the other side.
That was followed by a similarly basic armbar from knee on belly drill. They have put their outside hand on your knee, leaving a gap. Reach through the gap and pull them onto their side. Move around to step over their head, then drop back for the armbar.
The main techniques of the lesson were armbar escapes. Geeza called the first one a 'clear and bridge' escape. They are about to armbar you from mount, but you've managed to link your hands together to get a brief moment before you're forced to tap. Fling your arms over your head to knock their leg off your head. Bridge, then wriggle your head and shoulders over their leg. Make a tight turn to come up in their guard, making sure your elbows are safe: if you're not careful, they could go straight for an armbar or triangle.
Geeza followed up with another armbar escape, this time referred to as the 'ninja star' escape. They are again looking to secure an armbar, now from guard. To give yourself some time, drop your weight down in what Geeza dubbed the 'floppy dog' position, sunk towards your knees. You're then going to flick your hand to one side, so that your thumb is pointing at their shoulder (as if you're an '80s ninja throwing the aforementioned shuriken).
That should give you the space to quickly tug your arm free. Apparently, Matt Serra used the same escape in his classic upset with GSP, but from a mounted armbar. It is a little like the hitchhiker escape, except that you're not following the arm around. Instead, you're just trying to create the space to pull the arm out.
There was enough time for a round of free sparring, where I went with Oli. Tends to always be quite fun, as Oli often tries out random stuff and keeps things light and friendly. I was reminded again that I need to adjust my passing depending on their grips, as I wasn't properly dealing with the leg pressing into my bicep. Need to remember to move back to clear that off my arm.
I also had a chance to move into the running escape, which I wanted to practice as I'm teaching it tomorrow. The usual problems were raised again, which is to be very careful of their arm coming through by your hip. Interestingly, Oli was bringing the arm by the head through sometimes, which doesn't normally happen. I guess you can block that with your hands, but it is a bit different to them driving through the hip arm.
Finally, I tried putting into practice a handy suggestion from Donal on spider guard, which he mentioned at the start of the lesson. In short, when you're using the leg lasso, kick a bit further and hook the foot around their back. I haven't done that in the past because I worry about foot locks, but Donal said that's never happened to him. As Donal mentioned it was a tip from Michael Langhi, I'm happy to take his word for it: something to play around with, and it does provide more control. Donal is going to be teaching on Tuesdays starting next week, so I'm looking forward to checking out his lesson. :)
Gracie Barra Bristol, (BJJ), Nicolai 'Geeza' Holt, Bristol, UK - 28/09/2011
After the excitement of getting my gf along to a lesson followed by the ADCC, it was back to normal tonight. Geeza has been running through armbars this week, specifically armbar escapes. Before he got on to tonight's escape, he first had us drill two basic armbar set-ups. Kicking off with the armbar from mount, you're imagining your opponent shoves their arms into your chest (unlikely in sparring, but useful for the purposes of drilling). Put one arm on the outside of theirs, with your hand on their sternum. Put your other arm inside, so that the second hand goes on top of the first.
Slide your far leg up into their armpit, sole of the foot pointing towards their head. The near leg shifts to their shoulder. Lean forwards, then slide your shoulder leg over their. Your arm should already be over theirs: lock it over the back of their elbow. Geeza noted that drilling, that was safer than grabbing the wrist. In sparring, you would use your other arm to secure the wrist. Drop back, then repeat on the other side.
That was followed by a similarly basic armbar from knee on belly drill. They have put their outside hand on your knee, leaving a gap. Reach through the gap and pull them onto their side. Move around to step over their head, then drop back for the armbar.
The main techniques of the lesson were armbar escapes. Geeza called the first one a 'clear and bridge' escape. They are about to armbar you from mount, but you've managed to link your hands together to get a brief moment before you're forced to tap. Fling your arms over your head to knock their leg off your head. Bridge, then wriggle your head and shoulders over their leg. Make a tight turn to come up in their guard, making sure your elbows are safe: if you're not careful, they could go straight for an armbar or triangle.
Geeza followed up with another armbar escape, this time referred to as the 'ninja star' escape. They are again looking to secure an armbar, now from guard. To give yourself some time, drop your weight down in what Geeza dubbed the 'floppy dog' position, sunk towards your knees. You're then going to flick your hand to one side, so that your thumb is pointing at their shoulder (as if you're an '80s ninja throwing the aforementioned shuriken).
That should give you the space to quickly tug your arm free. Apparently, Matt Serra used the same escape in his classic upset with GSP, but from a mounted armbar. It is a little like the hitchhiker escape, except that you're not following the arm around. Instead, you're just trying to create the space to pull the arm out.
There was enough time for a round of free sparring, where I went with Oli. Tends to always be quite fun, as Oli often tries out random stuff and keeps things light and friendly. I was reminded again that I need to adjust my passing depending on their grips, as I wasn't properly dealing with the leg pressing into my bicep. Need to remember to move back to clear that off my arm.
I also had a chance to move into the running escape, which I wanted to practice as I'm teaching it tomorrow. The usual problems were raised again, which is to be very careful of their arm coming through by your hip. Interestingly, Oli was bringing the arm by the head through sometimes, which doesn't normally happen. I guess you can block that with your hands, but it is a bit different to them driving through the hip arm. Finally, I tried putting into practice a handy suggestion from Donal on spider guard, which he mentioned at the start of the lesson. In short, when you're using the leg lasso, kick a bit further and hook the foot around their back. I haven't done that in the past because I worry about foot locks, but Donal said that's never happened to him. As Donal mentioned it was a tip from Michael Langhi, I'm happy to take his word for it: something to play around with, and it does provide more control. Donal is going to be teaching on Tuesdays starting next week, so I'm looking forward to checking out his lesson. :)
05 September 2011
05/09/2011 - Q & A at Gracie Barra Bristol
Class #417
Gracie Barra Bristol, (BJJ), Nicolai 'Geeza' Holt, Bristol, UK - 05/09/2011
As some of you may know, I write the team history articles for Jiu Jitsu Style magazine. So far, I've been running through the major teams in a vaguely chronological fashion. However, I'm soon going to get to a point where I'm not completely certain of the dates: it doesn't matter all that much which order I do them in, but it did make me wonder what the exact dates were. That's why I thought I'd start compiling a BJJ Team Index. That should help me work out which team to do next. Ideally, I'd also be able to indicate all the connections somehow (e.g., Alliance > Brasa > Atos), but I haven't worked out the best way to lay it out yet on a spreadsheet. If you can help with clarifying any of the info, or adding more teams, let me know. :)
I also managed to add that Facebook 'like' button at the bottom of each post in my blog, which I've been wondering how to do. There is a relatively simple tutorial here, which worked for me (though note that the initial version of the code will mean it only appears in individual posts: if you want it on the home page of your blog, like I've set it up, scroll further down into that guy's post, where he tells you how).
I managed to get myself sun-burned all across my back and shoulders during the Weymouth trip last week, mainly due to building sand castles and digging big holes in the beach (yes, I am five ;p). That meant I wasn't planning to go to BJJ tonight, as abrasive gi + sun burn tends to = lots of pain. However, in the text message Geeza sends out before every lesson, he said that tonight it was Q & A. I remember the last time he ran one of those, and it was awesome. Hence sun-burn or not, I wanted to be there.
Geeza kicked off by answering Guy's question about wristlocks. Geeza started by discussing wristlock defence. His central point was that in essence, it is quite easy. You just make a tight fist with your hand, which is almost impossible to wrist lock. You're still at risk if you're gripping a gi with your fist, as you will often have a few fingers extended in the course of making a grip. Hence why in terms of avoiding wristlocks, it is safer to grip really, really tight.
Geeza also showed some basic wristlock attacks, starting with side control. If they are swimming for underhook to begin their escape, that's a perfect moment to go for a wristlock. Immobilise their arm by grabbing the elbow and slipping your other hand over their bicep. You need to time it so that you can press your weight down on the back of their hand, before they can wriggle it into a safer position. From there, simply shift your weight so that you're driving into their knuckles and bending their hand towards their forearm.
You can also do several things from within a triangle, because the arm is isolated. That makes it vulnerable to a bent armlock (pull on the wrist to bring it to either side of your body), an armbar, or a wristlock. Geeza's wristlock involved pressing on the back of their hand with both thumbs and twisting it slightly. If anyone is interested in wristlocks for BJJ, I'd recommend checking out Roy Dean's Art of the Wristlock.
The second question for the opening hour of the question and answer session was how to get out of what I think Geeza called a side choke, which I'd refer to as an arm triangle. Begin by trapping their arm next to their head, using your own head to lock it in place. It is key that their arm is pressing into their neck: you're going to be using that to block off one side.
Bring your arm on the other side underneath their head: this is what will block off the other side. Link your hands together, moving to side control, pressing a knee into their back. Your other leg is out for base. From here, gradually sink down with your hips, squeezing your elbows together. That should eventually result in a choke.
To escape the arm triangle, roll towards the open side. Your aim is to make a little bit of space, so that you're no longer in immediate danger of being choke. From there, bridge and bring your trapped arm out and around their head, so that it is no longer pressing into your neck. Be careful though, as if you put an arm on the far side of their head, they can trap it and start moving for a north-south kimura.
Finally for the beginner class, Geeza answered a question from Arnaud about finishing off armbars from mount when they have their hands locked together. Geeza responded with a strategic method, which wears them out before breaking the grip. You are about the sink the armbar, but they have managed to lock their hands. Reach through to grab their belt, palm up.
With your other hand (nearest their legs), grab their trouser leg. Lean towards that leg, which will make them sit up. Let them come up slightly, then push down on neck with your leg. Keep doing it to soften them up, then eventually move your hand from their leg to under their wrist, and break their grip.
I had texted a question earlier, which Geeza told me he'd cover at the start of the advanced class. I needed to leave after that, so for the sparring that always opens the advanced classes, I did a bit of guard passage with one of the children (I was being wimpy due to my sunburn.) Given that I was rolling with a small child, I had a chance to practice my teaching, as I tried to coach him through a guard pass. I'm not sure if I've worked out the right balance between encouraging children and providing enough resistance for them to have a meaningful spar, but good to get a chance to build my experience doing that.
Onto my question. For the next three weeks, I'm going to be teaching back mount, in my usual maintaining, escaping and attacking pattern. As the attacking lesson is the one I'm most keen to get right (as I've arranged for my girlfriend and one of her female friends to attend that night), I wanted to ask a question about entries into the rear naked choke
I was specifically interested in a way of getting to the neck without being nasty. Geeza's 'nice' option was to use the gi instead. Rather than a typical rear naked choke, work the gi collar across their neck (easier than arm, as it is much thinner), then you can do a variation on the RNC where you pull on their gi with one hand, threading the other between their arm and head.
A less pleasant option is to make a fist with your index finger slightly raised, then rub that along where their jaw line starts, working it under their neck. This is particularly effective if you do it on both sides at the same time. I'm uncomfortable with the nastiness, as I'm a big believer in Saulo's mantra of "treating your training partner like your best friend", but if you're happy to use the jaw dig, it does work.
Gracie Barra Bristol, (BJJ), Nicolai 'Geeza' Holt, Bristol, UK - 05/09/2011
As some of you may know, I write the team history articles for Jiu Jitsu Style magazine. So far, I've been running through the major teams in a vaguely chronological fashion. However, I'm soon going to get to a point where I'm not completely certain of the dates: it doesn't matter all that much which order I do them in, but it did make me wonder what the exact dates were. That's why I thought I'd start compiling a BJJ Team Index. That should help me work out which team to do next. Ideally, I'd also be able to indicate all the connections somehow (e.g., Alliance > Brasa > Atos), but I haven't worked out the best way to lay it out yet on a spreadsheet. If you can help with clarifying any of the info, or adding more teams, let me know. :)
I also managed to add that Facebook 'like' button at the bottom of each post in my blog, which I've been wondering how to do. There is a relatively simple tutorial here, which worked for me (though note that the initial version of the code will mean it only appears in individual posts: if you want it on the home page of your blog, like I've set it up, scroll further down into that guy's post, where he tells you how).
I managed to get myself sun-burned all across my back and shoulders during the Weymouth trip last week, mainly due to building sand castles and digging big holes in the beach (yes, I am five ;p). That meant I wasn't planning to go to BJJ tonight, as abrasive gi + sun burn tends to = lots of pain. However, in the text message Geeza sends out before every lesson, he said that tonight it was Q & A. I remember the last time he ran one of those, and it was awesome. Hence sun-burn or not, I wanted to be there.
Geeza kicked off by answering Guy's question about wristlocks. Geeza started by discussing wristlock defence. His central point was that in essence, it is quite easy. You just make a tight fist with your hand, which is almost impossible to wrist lock. You're still at risk if you're gripping a gi with your fist, as you will often have a few fingers extended in the course of making a grip. Hence why in terms of avoiding wristlocks, it is safer to grip really, really tight. Geeza also showed some basic wristlock attacks, starting with side control. If they are swimming for underhook to begin their escape, that's a perfect moment to go for a wristlock. Immobilise their arm by grabbing the elbow and slipping your other hand over their bicep. You need to time it so that you can press your weight down on the back of their hand, before they can wriggle it into a safer position. From there, simply shift your weight so that you're driving into their knuckles and bending their hand towards their forearm.
You can also do several things from within a triangle, because the arm is isolated. That makes it vulnerable to a bent armlock (pull on the wrist to bring it to either side of your body), an armbar, or a wristlock. Geeza's wristlock involved pressing on the back of their hand with both thumbs and twisting it slightly. If anyone is interested in wristlocks for BJJ, I'd recommend checking out Roy Dean's Art of the Wristlock.
The second question for the opening hour of the question and answer session was how to get out of what I think Geeza called a side choke, which I'd refer to as an arm triangle. Begin by trapping their arm next to their head, using your own head to lock it in place. It is key that their arm is pressing into their neck: you're going to be using that to block off one side.
Bring your arm on the other side underneath their head: this is what will block off the other side. Link your hands together, moving to side control, pressing a knee into their back. Your other leg is out for base. From here, gradually sink down with your hips, squeezing your elbows together. That should eventually result in a choke.
To escape the arm triangle, roll towards the open side. Your aim is to make a little bit of space, so that you're no longer in immediate danger of being choke. From there, bridge and bring your trapped arm out and around their head, so that it is no longer pressing into your neck. Be careful though, as if you put an arm on the far side of their head, they can trap it and start moving for a north-south kimura.
Finally for the beginner class, Geeza answered a question from Arnaud about finishing off armbars from mount when they have their hands locked together. Geeza responded with a strategic method, which wears them out before breaking the grip. You are about the sink the armbar, but they have managed to lock their hands. Reach through to grab their belt, palm up.
With your other hand (nearest their legs), grab their trouser leg. Lean towards that leg, which will make them sit up. Let them come up slightly, then push down on neck with your leg. Keep doing it to soften them up, then eventually move your hand from their leg to under their wrist, and break their grip.
I had texted a question earlier, which Geeza told me he'd cover at the start of the advanced class. I needed to leave after that, so for the sparring that always opens the advanced classes, I did a bit of guard passage with one of the children (I was being wimpy due to my sunburn.) Given that I was rolling with a small child, I had a chance to practice my teaching, as I tried to coach him through a guard pass. I'm not sure if I've worked out the right balance between encouraging children and providing enough resistance for them to have a meaningful spar, but good to get a chance to build my experience doing that.
Onto my question. For the next three weeks, I'm going to be teaching back mount, in my usual maintaining, escaping and attacking pattern. As the attacking lesson is the one I'm most keen to get right (as I've arranged for my girlfriend and one of her female friends to attend that night), I wanted to ask a question about entries into the rear naked choke
I was specifically interested in a way of getting to the neck without being nasty. Geeza's 'nice' option was to use the gi instead. Rather than a typical rear naked choke, work the gi collar across their neck (easier than arm, as it is much thinner), then you can do a variation on the RNC where you pull on their gi with one hand, threading the other between their arm and head.
A less pleasant option is to make a fist with your index finger slightly raised, then rub that along where their jaw line starts, working it under their neck. This is particularly effective if you do it on both sides at the same time. I'm uncomfortable with the nastiness, as I'm a big believer in Saulo's mantra of "treating your training partner like your best friend", but if you're happy to use the jaw dig, it does work.
01 May 2011
01/05/2011 - RGA Aylesbury Open Mat
Class #393
RGA Aylesbury, (BJJ), Sahid Khamlichi, Aylesbury, UK - 01/05/2011
After the class on the Roger Gracie choke, Sahid continued into the 'skills and drills' part of the open mat. I may be teaching at some point in the future, so I'm paying particularly close attention to drills I might want to use for warm-ups and the like. I'm keen to avoid the "run around the room, do some sit-ups and press-ups," in favour of jiu jitsu specific movements and drills.
The skills and drills normally starts with four corner shrimping. Presuming the mat space is a square (or at least has corners), then you start in the bottom left corner, shrimping up the length of the mat as usual. When you get to the top left, you shrimp across. That's definitely the most difficult motion, so I'll give a quick explanation.
You're on your back with your legs bent and raised, knees fairly close together. Swing your knees in one direction, while twisting your torso in the other. That should bounce you sideways, so you can do that all the way along the mat. Using that to reach the top right corner, you shrimp forwards down the mat, then at the bottom right, shrimp sideways to the bottom left to start again.
Sahid then moved into mount based drills. The first is a drill for the armbar from mount. They lie on the floor, with both arms pointed straight up. You sit in mount, then post your hands on their chest, around one of their arms. On the isolated arm side, shift your knee to their head. Your other knee bumps behind their far arm, then curls around into a dog leg position, putting you in s-mount.
You can then swivel to bring your legs over, drop back while squeezing your knees and controlling the arm, then apply the submission (lightly, as this is only a drill). Disengage, shrimp your hips out so that you're facing them, then go back into mount and repeat on the other side.
The next drill was the same, except that this time, they've grabbed the outside of their other arm to stop you taking the submission. You still have your arm wrapped around one of theirs, as you were intending to drop back for an armbar. However, now hand of their free arm is grabbing the tricep of their trapped arm.
So, instead of dropping back, switch the arm you have hooked through. You can then slide your free hand in between the top of their arms, grabbing the tricep of their far arm. Shift from a dog leg position into a crouch, then twist to the other side, so that you now have a dog leg on the opposite side to where you started. From here, drop back for the armbar.
Finally, Sahid demonstrated a drill for escaping the mount, with different mechanics to the common elbow escape and upa. Bridge them forward, placing your hands on their hips and keeping your arms straight. The idea is to have them briefly suspended on your hands, so you can bring both knees between their legs. From there, you could go into butterfly guard.
However, you could also do what Sahid did next, which is shift into a footlock. Kick one of your legs straight, then bring your lower leg around the outside of theirs, pushing your foot into their same side hip. Knock them backwards, while wrapping around their ankle with your arms. The bony part of your forearm needs to be pressing into their Achilles tendon.
You want to end up turned on your side, your outside foot by their hip, squeezing your knees together. Your outside foot must not go past their hip, or you're liable to get disqualified (due to the potential dangerous pressure on their knee, depending on which way either of you turns to either apply a submission or try to escape). If you've got your arms in position on their tendon – easier said than done – lean back and squeeze for the submission.
After the skills and drills, it was open mat, meaning I could practice spider guard with one of the white belts. I began with the same techniques I worked at Factory BJJ earlier this week. We mainly concentrated on Adam's sweep, testing just how far they could move to side control and still get swept. Ideally you don't want to leave it too late, and you also have to be careful that they don't bring their free arm across your body and post it on the other side. That makes it hard to complete the sweep.
We played around with ways you might stop them doing that, which was fun but probably not very effective. Still, it seemed that if you could triangle their lassoed arm and keep them from getting it loose, you then had both your arms free. Grabbing their posting arm and under their leg enabled me to complete the sweep, though rather sloppily. I doubt that would work too often: as always, better to not get into that situation by applying the technique properly in the first place.
My training partner also had a suggestion for a spider guard sweep they wanted to work. This was handy for me, as the situation is that you've got your deep lasso grip and a foot into the other bicep, but they've raised their knee by your lasso, inside of their arm. Hook under that knee with your non-lassoing leg, also using your free arm to grab their same side sleeve.
Push that sleeve under their knee too, then knock them over in the direction of the non-lassoed side. I'm not sure if you're supposed to come up in mount or side control here, but I found it easiest to roll into top half guard, a bit like on Nick Brooks sweep from last year. Also like Nick's sweep, you can maintain your sleeve grip, pushing it straight to then attack their arm.
A final sweep from the same position involves bringing your lassoing foot to the opposite armpit, so that leg is across their chest. Your other foot is pressing into their same side bicep, which you've further trapped by holding that sleeve. Push your other foot high and towards the lassoed arm side, also lifting with the foot in the armpit.
From there, you can sort of roll into mount, although you're in a weird position as you end up sat on your leg, which is across their neck. Apparently that's from a Robson Moura DVD, though I'm not sure which one. Possibly cross-guard? Reminds me I need to watch the Moura stuff again, which I previously abandoned a few years ago as it looked too advanced for me.
We sparred from spider guard for a little while, to see if we could apply any of those techniques on each other before the grips were broken or somebody passed. We couldn't: so, more drilling required! ;)
My parents have continued the house moving process since Sunday, hence why it took me a while to get this post up: brief lull in all the packing and moving at the moment. I'll hopefully have a review polished off by either Friday or Saturday, although I've then got another house to get stuck into, in Bristol (not moving yet, as first the floors, roof and various other bits have to be sorted. My DIY is pants, so this should be interesting...)
RGA Aylesbury, (BJJ), Sahid Khamlichi, Aylesbury, UK - 01/05/2011
After the class on the Roger Gracie choke, Sahid continued into the 'skills and drills' part of the open mat. I may be teaching at some point in the future, so I'm paying particularly close attention to drills I might want to use for warm-ups and the like. I'm keen to avoid the "run around the room, do some sit-ups and press-ups," in favour of jiu jitsu specific movements and drills.The skills and drills normally starts with four corner shrimping. Presuming the mat space is a square (or at least has corners), then you start in the bottom left corner, shrimping up the length of the mat as usual. When you get to the top left, you shrimp across. That's definitely the most difficult motion, so I'll give a quick explanation.
You're on your back with your legs bent and raised, knees fairly close together. Swing your knees in one direction, while twisting your torso in the other. That should bounce you sideways, so you can do that all the way along the mat. Using that to reach the top right corner, you shrimp forwards down the mat, then at the bottom right, shrimp sideways to the bottom left to start again.
Sahid then moved into mount based drills. The first is a drill for the armbar from mount. They lie on the floor, with both arms pointed straight up. You sit in mount, then post your hands on their chest, around one of their arms. On the isolated arm side, shift your knee to their head. Your other knee bumps behind their far arm, then curls around into a dog leg position, putting you in s-mount.
You can then swivel to bring your legs over, drop back while squeezing your knees and controlling the arm, then apply the submission (lightly, as this is only a drill). Disengage, shrimp your hips out so that you're facing them, then go back into mount and repeat on the other side.
The next drill was the same, except that this time, they've grabbed the outside of their other arm to stop you taking the submission. You still have your arm wrapped around one of theirs, as you were intending to drop back for an armbar. However, now hand of their free arm is grabbing the tricep of their trapped arm.
So, instead of dropping back, switch the arm you have hooked through. You can then slide your free hand in between the top of their arms, grabbing the tricep of their far arm. Shift from a dog leg position into a crouch, then twist to the other side, so that you now have a dog leg on the opposite side to where you started. From here, drop back for the armbar.
Finally, Sahid demonstrated a drill for escaping the mount, with different mechanics to the common elbow escape and upa. Bridge them forward, placing your hands on their hips and keeping your arms straight. The idea is to have them briefly suspended on your hands, so you can bring both knees between their legs. From there, you could go into butterfly guard.
However, you could also do what Sahid did next, which is shift into a footlock. Kick one of your legs straight, then bring your lower leg around the outside of theirs, pushing your foot into their same side hip. Knock them backwards, while wrapping around their ankle with your arms. The bony part of your forearm needs to be pressing into their Achilles tendon.
You want to end up turned on your side, your outside foot by their hip, squeezing your knees together. Your outside foot must not go past their hip, or you're liable to get disqualified (due to the potential dangerous pressure on their knee, depending on which way either of you turns to either apply a submission or try to escape). If you've got your arms in position on their tendon – easier said than done – lean back and squeeze for the submission.
After the skills and drills, it was open mat, meaning I could practice spider guard with one of the white belts. I began with the same techniques I worked at Factory BJJ earlier this week. We mainly concentrated on Adam's sweep, testing just how far they could move to side control and still get swept. Ideally you don't want to leave it too late, and you also have to be careful that they don't bring their free arm across your body and post it on the other side. That makes it hard to complete the sweep.We played around with ways you might stop them doing that, which was fun but probably not very effective. Still, it seemed that if you could triangle their lassoed arm and keep them from getting it loose, you then had both your arms free. Grabbing their posting arm and under their leg enabled me to complete the sweep, though rather sloppily. I doubt that would work too often: as always, better to not get into that situation by applying the technique properly in the first place.
My training partner also had a suggestion for a spider guard sweep they wanted to work. This was handy for me, as the situation is that you've got your deep lasso grip and a foot into the other bicep, but they've raised their knee by your lasso, inside of their arm. Hook under that knee with your non-lassoing leg, also using your free arm to grab their same side sleeve.
Push that sleeve under their knee too, then knock them over in the direction of the non-lassoed side. I'm not sure if you're supposed to come up in mount or side control here, but I found it easiest to roll into top half guard, a bit like on Nick Brooks sweep from last year. Also like Nick's sweep, you can maintain your sleeve grip, pushing it straight to then attack their arm.
A final sweep from the same position involves bringing your lassoing foot to the opposite armpit, so that leg is across their chest. Your other foot is pressing into their same side bicep, which you've further trapped by holding that sleeve. Push your other foot high and towards the lassoed arm side, also lifting with the foot in the armpit.
From there, you can sort of roll into mount, although you're in a weird position as you end up sat on your leg, which is across their neck. Apparently that's from a Robson Moura DVD, though I'm not sure which one. Possibly cross-guard? Reminds me I need to watch the Moura stuff again, which I previously abandoned a few years ago as it looked too advanced for me.
We sparred from spider guard for a little while, to see if we could apply any of those techniques on each other before the grips were broken or somebody passed. We couldn't: so, more drilling required! ;)
My parents have continued the house moving process since Sunday, hence why it took me a while to get this post up: brief lull in all the packing and moving at the moment. I'll hopefully have a review polished off by either Friday or Saturday, although I've then got another house to get stuck into, in Bristol (not moving yet, as first the floors, roof and various other bits have to be sorted. My DIY is pants, so this should be interesting...)
06 February 2011
06/02/2011 - RGA Aylesbury Drilling/Open Mat
[I'm off to Malta on the 13th, and won't be back until the 24th, so this will be my last post for a while. I had intended to train with a local club out in Malta, but unfortunately that knee injury means I can't.]
Class #377
RGA Aylesbury, (BJJ), Kev Capel, Aylesbury, UK - 06/02/2011
I'm not too comfortable with advertising myself through self-promotion: normally, I'll link back to stuff I've written in the context of a thread reply, rather than start a new topic purely to tell people to go look at something I've done. However, I know that there are a least a few fellow bloggers who are much less reticent about doing that. So, you guys may want to check out the Reddit subsite for BJJ.
If you aren't familiar with Reddit, it is a system for sticking up stuff you want to share, be that links, videos, questions, or just your thoughts on something. There are sub-divisions by interest, and the one for BJJ has grown pretty large (around 900 people posting) since I first noticed it (through my blog stats: I tend to follow up any links to my site I don't recognise). For people who are reading rather than writing, it's also a useful place to check out videos, questions etc. Sort of like a forum, but not quite.
Getting back to training, I really like Kev's drilling/open mat set up. It's an excellent way to make certain that people don't waste their open mat time due to having no plan of what to practice, or chatting the whole time. That's because the first hour is instructor-led drilling, beginning with a useful warm-up where you shrimp forwards, then across, then back, then across the other way. My leg can't handle forwards and backwards shrimping, but going side-to-side is fine: also a good work out for your core.
Kev moved into a double leg takedown drill, where you take it in turns to shoot in and lift your partner, then run or walk to the other end of the mat as they dangle over your shoulder (so basically like Matt Hughes in various MMA fights). I definitely wasn't going to be picking anyone up with my knee, but I could at least be useful as a weight for somebody to lift.
I'm small, so that meant that another guy who was injured (in his shoulder rather than knee) could get some training in that way, as he is much bigger so I was no problem for him to pick up. After he ran with me up and down the mat, I practiced shooting in the double (very carefully, given the knee).
Next up was drilling the armbar from mount, swivelling from side to side. That was relatively ok for my knee, though I had to do it slowly and with control. That dogleg position in s-mount does put some torsion on the knee, but it seemed ok if I didn't do it really fast and put lots of weight on it.
Knee problems also ruled out most of the following drill, which was annoying as it is something I would have liked to practice more. Again it is from the armbar from mount, but this time, they are defending, so you are struggling to yank their arm free. Instead of straining, you can simply switch to the other arm. Reach under, then bring your knees into a sort of crouch (i.e., rather than one knee up and the other in a dogleg position under their arm, the soles or both feet are now on the ground.
From there, switch to the exact same s-mount position, but on the other side. Apparently, there is a silat drill that is good for honing your transition if you don't have a partner, which Kev demonstrated. I didn't see a video on YouTube (mainly because I don't know the name of the drill: presumably there is some funky silat name for it, if anybody recognises this?), but you start on the floor, one leg bent in front of you, with the sole of your foot pointing at your other knee and upper leg.
Sort of like a hurdlers stretch, but with the other leg bent as well. Your other leg will also be bent, but the heel of that foot will be by your hip. You then rotate your legs to come up into a crouch, and finish by continuing the rotation of your legs, to end up in the reverse of your starting position.
The last drill was another transition, but this time from mount to knee on belly. If they try to upa and turn, your leg in the direction they aren't turning will swivel around, so that you bring your foot from the mat to their opposite hip. The leg in the direction they are turning steps out for base, putting you in knee on belly. The drill continued with them shrimping away from your knee, which you counter by sliding through into scarf hold. Switch to side control, reverse scarf hold (so facing their legs), then bring your leg over or slide your knee through to return to mount.
That finished off the taught drilling, leaving an hour of open mat. I couldn't spar, but even if I could I would still have wanted to get in some more drilling on that overhook choke I've been working. Fortunately for me, Kev is awesome, so when I asked him if he would mind drilling it with me, I ended up getting a great mini-private.
This centred around the second grip, which I now suspect may be the root of my problems landing this submission in sparring. After you've got the overhook and reached through for their collar, use that grip to also slide your other thumb up towards their head. This will also provide you with control, as you can pull their head down, as well as the opportunity to continue tightening that first grip.
Crush their collar in your second hand, to get a strong grip, fingers pressing into your palm through their gi. You hand is not going to move from this position. Move your body to the side a little, bringing your knees up their back to pinch together. The arm of your second hand needs to circle over their head, without moving your hand. Straighten that arm, so that their is a firm line to your hand: you shouldn't have your hand curved in either direction. To get that straight line, you may need to turn your knuckles towards you.
If you need to straighten your wrist from a bent position, don’t move your hand. Instead, press against their head to make the space. You can then finish the choke as usual, elbow into their chest. Throughout all of this, don't forget about your first grip: that also needs to stay tight.
You can also get the choke by grabbing fabric instead of the thumb grip and circling your hand over. Alternatively, you could grab material on the opposite side, and get the choke from there: looking at three DVDs that feature this choke, I notice that Roy Dean, Matt Thornton and Xande Ribeiro all go for that option (which works well if you want to choke across the throat and flare your elbow, which is what it looks like Thornton is doing). However, drilling the variations and having them done to me, Kev's method seemed to suit me better, as I found I could get a tighter choke that way (though the grip is a lot more difficult to establish, at least if you have weedy hands like me).
After that, I had a brief chat with Kev about grips. I've mentioned before how Chiu told me that he doesn't use spider guard much these days, because the grips knacker his fingers too much. However, Kev mentioned an easy solution to avoid getting to that stage: learn when to release the grip, and either immediately re-grip, or use it to attack.
For example, if they are yanking away to free themselves from spider guard, letting go may set you up for a triangle by putting their arm out of the way. If you've grabbed the inside of their trouser leg to pass the open guard and they are bashing away at your fingers to break the grip, there is a point where it makes sense to let go and re-grip, rather than accepting the potential damage to your fingers.
So, I'll finish with a Julia style closing question related to that: do you try and mollycoddle your fingers like me, or do you rely on your grips of steel and laugh at your opponent's puny attempts to break free? ;)
Class #377
RGA Aylesbury, (BJJ), Kev Capel, Aylesbury, UK - 06/02/2011
I'm not too comfortable with advertising myself through self-promotion: normally, I'll link back to stuff I've written in the context of a thread reply, rather than start a new topic purely to tell people to go look at something I've done. However, I know that there are a least a few fellow bloggers who are much less reticent about doing that. So, you guys may want to check out the Reddit subsite for BJJ.
If you aren't familiar with Reddit, it is a system for sticking up stuff you want to share, be that links, videos, questions, or just your thoughts on something. There are sub-divisions by interest, and the one for BJJ has grown pretty large (around 900 people posting) since I first noticed it (through my blog stats: I tend to follow up any links to my site I don't recognise). For people who are reading rather than writing, it's also a useful place to check out videos, questions etc. Sort of like a forum, but not quite.
Getting back to training, I really like Kev's drilling/open mat set up. It's an excellent way to make certain that people don't waste their open mat time due to having no plan of what to practice, or chatting the whole time. That's because the first hour is instructor-led drilling, beginning with a useful warm-up where you shrimp forwards, then across, then back, then across the other way. My leg can't handle forwards and backwards shrimping, but going side-to-side is fine: also a good work out for your core.
Kev moved into a double leg takedown drill, where you take it in turns to shoot in and lift your partner, then run or walk to the other end of the mat as they dangle over your shoulder (so basically like Matt Hughes in various MMA fights). I definitely wasn't going to be picking anyone up with my knee, but I could at least be useful as a weight for somebody to lift.
I'm small, so that meant that another guy who was injured (in his shoulder rather than knee) could get some training in that way, as he is much bigger so I was no problem for him to pick up. After he ran with me up and down the mat, I practiced shooting in the double (very carefully, given the knee).
Next up was drilling the armbar from mount, swivelling from side to side. That was relatively ok for my knee, though I had to do it slowly and with control. That dogleg position in s-mount does put some torsion on the knee, but it seemed ok if I didn't do it really fast and put lots of weight on it.
Knee problems also ruled out most of the following drill, which was annoying as it is something I would have liked to practice more. Again it is from the armbar from mount, but this time, they are defending, so you are struggling to yank their arm free. Instead of straining, you can simply switch to the other arm. Reach under, then bring your knees into a sort of crouch (i.e., rather than one knee up and the other in a dogleg position under their arm, the soles or both feet are now on the ground.
From there, switch to the exact same s-mount position, but on the other side. Apparently, there is a silat drill that is good for honing your transition if you don't have a partner, which Kev demonstrated. I didn't see a video on YouTube (mainly because I don't know the name of the drill: presumably there is some funky silat name for it, if anybody recognises this?), but you start on the floor, one leg bent in front of you, with the sole of your foot pointing at your other knee and upper leg.
Sort of like a hurdlers stretch, but with the other leg bent as well. Your other leg will also be bent, but the heel of that foot will be by your hip. You then rotate your legs to come up into a crouch, and finish by continuing the rotation of your legs, to end up in the reverse of your starting position.
The last drill was another transition, but this time from mount to knee on belly. If they try to upa and turn, your leg in the direction they aren't turning will swivel around, so that you bring your foot from the mat to their opposite hip. The leg in the direction they are turning steps out for base, putting you in knee on belly. The drill continued with them shrimping away from your knee, which you counter by sliding through into scarf hold. Switch to side control, reverse scarf hold (so facing their legs), then bring your leg over or slide your knee through to return to mount.
That finished off the taught drilling, leaving an hour of open mat. I couldn't spar, but even if I could I would still have wanted to get in some more drilling on that overhook choke I've been working. Fortunately for me, Kev is awesome, so when I asked him if he would mind drilling it with me, I ended up getting a great mini-private.
This centred around the second grip, which I now suspect may be the root of my problems landing this submission in sparring. After you've got the overhook and reached through for their collar, use that grip to also slide your other thumb up towards their head. This will also provide you with control, as you can pull their head down, as well as the opportunity to continue tightening that first grip.
Crush their collar in your second hand, to get a strong grip, fingers pressing into your palm through their gi. You hand is not going to move from this position. Move your body to the side a little, bringing your knees up their back to pinch together. The arm of your second hand needs to circle over their head, without moving your hand. Straighten that arm, so that their is a firm line to your hand: you shouldn't have your hand curved in either direction. To get that straight line, you may need to turn your knuckles towards you.
If you need to straighten your wrist from a bent position, don’t move your hand. Instead, press against their head to make the space. You can then finish the choke as usual, elbow into their chest. Throughout all of this, don't forget about your first grip: that also needs to stay tight.
You can also get the choke by grabbing fabric instead of the thumb grip and circling your hand over. Alternatively, you could grab material on the opposite side, and get the choke from there: looking at three DVDs that feature this choke, I notice that Roy Dean, Matt Thornton and Xande Ribeiro all go for that option (which works well if you want to choke across the throat and flare your elbow, which is what it looks like Thornton is doing). However, drilling the variations and having them done to me, Kev's method seemed to suit me better, as I found I could get a tighter choke that way (though the grip is a lot more difficult to establish, at least if you have weedy hands like me).After that, I had a brief chat with Kev about grips. I've mentioned before how Chiu told me that he doesn't use spider guard much these days, because the grips knacker his fingers too much. However, Kev mentioned an easy solution to avoid getting to that stage: learn when to release the grip, and either immediately re-grip, or use it to attack.
For example, if they are yanking away to free themselves from spider guard, letting go may set you up for a triangle by putting their arm out of the way. If you've grabbed the inside of their trouser leg to pass the open guard and they are bashing away at your fingers to break the grip, there is a point where it makes sense to let go and re-grip, rather than accepting the potential damage to your fingers.
So, I'll finish with a Julia style closing question related to that: do you try and mollycoddle your fingers like me, or do you rely on your grips of steel and laugh at your opponent's puny attempts to break free? ;)
06/02/2011 - RGA Aylesbury Beginner Class
Class #376
RGA Aylesbury, (BJJ), Kev Capel, Aylesbury, UK - 06/02/2011
First off, some readers might remember I had the pleasure of watching Future Champions in action back in December 2009. If you haven't heard of them, they're an excellent charity that uses BJJ to help kids. I just noticed that they have a Facebook page: so, go like it! :D
I was down in Bristol last week, but didn't get any time to drop into GB Bristol. May have been more difficult to just drill, as they don't have an open mat. Then again, there is a sparring class on Sundays, so if my leg still isn't healed when I next have the opportunity, I'll check that with Geeza. It did at least mean I could rest my injury for a bit longer.
Still not 100%, although I'm not limping much now. Stairs remains a bit slow: going up it is just a bit sore, if I try to take the steps in the normal way (i.e., one foot on the next step, then swing through with the other foot to the one above that). That means I'm just putting my healthy leg on the next step, then bringing my injured leg to the same place, before continuing up the stairs.
Going down the stairs is more painful: if I put my injured leg down first, no pain. However, if I try to put my healthy leg down, then the way I have to bend and take the weight on my injured leg does seem to hurt. A less lazy and more sensible person would get off their arse and register with the doctor at the point. Given my usual time scale with things that involve calling people on the phone, that probably means I won't actually get it checked out until I get back from Malta at the end of the month. ;)
I had been planning to get in some training while in Malta, as there is a BJJ club there, but that would probably be unwise given the injury. Still, enough whining about that: I intended to treat today's session just like last time. That meant pure groundwork drilling, and only when it didn't involve putting strain on my right leg.
As ever, things started with takedowns, which I didn't drill due to the leg. However, interesting snippet on terminology from Kev, in relation to the single leg. When you have that leg trapped between yours, then step round and drive to knock them to the ground, there are two separate wrestling terms for it. Kev said that in the oil-drilling states, it gets called 'running the pipe' (which is the one I've heard before), as for oil drilling, you pass a pipe between your legs. However, in American Football states, they call it 'hiking the football', presumably for when they chuck the ball behind them through their legs.
Groundwork technique was all from the mount, which works well for my injury (except for escapes, but we didn't work on those today). That started with the Americana, with a handy tip on grips. I had thought that you put your hands on the wrist and elbow, stiff arm, then press forward with your weight. However, Kev suggested that it was more effective to have both hands by their wrist, gripping with the thumbs underneath.
Kev mentioned that was tough to land, but that he often used it to transition to something else. For example, an armbar from the mount. When you try the Americana, they will usually defend by turning towards their arm, or grabbing it with their other arm. Either way, you can then switch to technical mount, bringing your hand to their other wrist. Secure a figure four on that arm, and you can then finish as normal.
Another option if they try that defence is to take the back. This time, when they turn bring your arm under their head and grab their wrist: this puts you in what Rener calls 'twisting arm control' in Gracie Combatives (lesson thirty-five). Unlike that picture, you then grab your own wrist to create a figure four. You also want to keep your chest to their back, with your shoulder by their head (remember that with technical mount, your knee will be up high near their head too). With that solid grip, lift them up slightly, then you do a sort of sitting roll, pulling them onto you. It is then straightforward to establish your hooks to take the back.
Be careful that you don't end up too high, as that will help them escape. You also need to make you lift them up, or you'll end up trying to push them through your best. At best that will make it more awkward to get your hook as you'll have to free your leg first. At worst, it will set them up for another escape.
To finish, grab their opposite collar and feed it tight with the hand that should now be slid past their armpit. You can then bring your armpit hand behind their head, scooping up their arm in the process. Drive your hand as far past the head as you can, then also apply pressure by pulling on the collar. This should eventually get the tap.
I sat out of sparring, but that did at least give me the chance to both take notes, and also watch some of my classmates in action. I was particularly interested to see how Draz and Trev matched up, as they're both flexible and athletic. Whenever I spar them myself, legs seem to come out of nowhere to wrap up my arms, and it is tough to hold them down. So, good spar to watch.
RGA Aylesbury, (BJJ), Kev Capel, Aylesbury, UK - 06/02/2011
First off, some readers might remember I had the pleasure of watching Future Champions in action back in December 2009. If you haven't heard of them, they're an excellent charity that uses BJJ to help kids. I just noticed that they have a Facebook page: so, go like it! :D
I was down in Bristol last week, but didn't get any time to drop into GB Bristol. May have been more difficult to just drill, as they don't have an open mat. Then again, there is a sparring class on Sundays, so if my leg still isn't healed when I next have the opportunity, I'll check that with Geeza. It did at least mean I could rest my injury for a bit longer.
Still not 100%, although I'm not limping much now. Stairs remains a bit slow: going up it is just a bit sore, if I try to take the steps in the normal way (i.e., one foot on the next step, then swing through with the other foot to the one above that). That means I'm just putting my healthy leg on the next step, then bringing my injured leg to the same place, before continuing up the stairs.
Going down the stairs is more painful: if I put my injured leg down first, no pain. However, if I try to put my healthy leg down, then the way I have to bend and take the weight on my injured leg does seem to hurt. A less lazy and more sensible person would get off their arse and register with the doctor at the point. Given my usual time scale with things that involve calling people on the phone, that probably means I won't actually get it checked out until I get back from Malta at the end of the month. ;)
I had been planning to get in some training while in Malta, as there is a BJJ club there, but that would probably be unwise given the injury. Still, enough whining about that: I intended to treat today's session just like last time. That meant pure groundwork drilling, and only when it didn't involve putting strain on my right leg.
As ever, things started with takedowns, which I didn't drill due to the leg. However, interesting snippet on terminology from Kev, in relation to the single leg. When you have that leg trapped between yours, then step round and drive to knock them to the ground, there are two separate wrestling terms for it. Kev said that in the oil-drilling states, it gets called 'running the pipe' (which is the one I've heard before), as for oil drilling, you pass a pipe between your legs. However, in American Football states, they call it 'hiking the football', presumably for when they chuck the ball behind them through their legs.
Groundwork technique was all from the mount, which works well for my injury (except for escapes, but we didn't work on those today). That started with the Americana, with a handy tip on grips. I had thought that you put your hands on the wrist and elbow, stiff arm, then press forward with your weight. However, Kev suggested that it was more effective to have both hands by their wrist, gripping with the thumbs underneath.
Kev mentioned that was tough to land, but that he often used it to transition to something else. For example, an armbar from the mount. When you try the Americana, they will usually defend by turning towards their arm, or grabbing it with their other arm. Either way, you can then switch to technical mount, bringing your hand to their other wrist. Secure a figure four on that arm, and you can then finish as normal.
Another option if they try that defence is to take the back. This time, when they turn bring your arm under their head and grab their wrist: this puts you in what Rener calls 'twisting arm control' in Gracie Combatives (lesson thirty-five). Unlike that picture, you then grab your own wrist to create a figure four. You also want to keep your chest to their back, with your shoulder by their head (remember that with technical mount, your knee will be up high near their head too). With that solid grip, lift them up slightly, then you do a sort of sitting roll, pulling them onto you. It is then straightforward to establish your hooks to take the back.Be careful that you don't end up too high, as that will help them escape. You also need to make you lift them up, or you'll end up trying to push them through your best. At best that will make it more awkward to get your hook as you'll have to free your leg first. At worst, it will set them up for another escape.
To finish, grab their opposite collar and feed it tight with the hand that should now be slid past their armpit. You can then bring your armpit hand behind their head, scooping up their arm in the process. Drive your hand as far past the head as you can, then also apply pressure by pulling on the collar. This should eventually get the tap.
I sat out of sparring, but that did at least give me the chance to both take notes, and also watch some of my classmates in action. I was particularly interested to see how Draz and Trev matched up, as they're both flexible and athletic. Whenever I spar them myself, legs seem to come out of nowhere to wrap up my arms, and it is tough to hold them down. So, good spar to watch.
14 December 2010
14/12/2010 - BJJ (Beginner)
Class #368
RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Kev Capel, High Wycombe, UK - 14/12/2010
For those of you who watched the Mark Bocek versus Dustin Hazelett fight at UFC 124 (if you haven't, skip this bit as there will be spoilers), it has inspired an interesting series of interconnected videos by an entirely disparate group of BJJ black belts, which is cool to see. That starts off with a Gracie Breakdown by Rener and Ryron, where they look at the fight from Bocek's perspective, here.
There was a fair bit of criticism on the web for the rubber guard (e.g., here, particularly as it seemed Bocek passed it pretty easily. So, 10th Planet head honcho Eddie Bravo put up this video in a thread on The Underground. Yet another black belt, Dave Jacobs, regularly posts on that forum, and seeing the video, decided that he'd put up this response. Exactly the kind of exchange that demonstrate how awesome the internet can be. :)
Class tonight started off with the clinch takedown as defence to a haymaker, from the Gracie Barra Fundamentals syllabus, which led into mount techniques. The first was a basic cross choke from mount, although instead of feeding the second hand under the first, you put your thumb in their opposite collar. Slide that arm around the head and under their jaw, after which you can complete the choke by bringing your elbows back and your head down.
Alternatively, you can move into a double-attack from mount. Set up the choke as before, but this time, they manage to block your second arm somehow. On your first arm side, bring your knee to their head. Your other knee slides up to their elbow on the far side to make space, after which you swing your lower leg towards their head, in a 'dog-leg' position. From there you can switch grips and go for the armbar, and depending on how they react, drop back and grab their near leg, or switch back to the choke (hence why it's known as a double attack).
Grabbing that near leg is important, as if you don't, they can thread their leg through and escape to their knees as you drop for the armbar. They may also have the option of the hitchhiker escape. If you grab the near leg, it is very difficult for them to turn, because in order to do so, they have to bring that leg underneath them first.
Kev finished off with a basic trap and roll escape from underneath, before moving on to specific sparring from mount. This served as a handy reminder that it makes a big difference if you don't stop at half guard: I can often snatch that leg, but progressing from there can be tough. I was looking to use the knee I had behind them to bump them forward, making space to recover full guard or escape. That did work, but I need to make sure I've got onto my side, rather than getting squished underneath them.
I also had a go at the escape Rob Stevens showed back at Gracie Barra Birmingham, where you put an arm across the stomach, using the other arm to simply lift their leg and trap it in half guard, aiming to move into deep half. However, I wasn't defending my neck properly in the process, so very nearly go stuck in an Ezequiel as a result. Asking Kev afterwards, he suggested turning on your side, wedging one arm into their stomach. Your other hand grips your own collar and pulls it tight: combined with shrugging your shoulders, this defends against chokes. The elbow of that same arm can be used to shove against their leg, in order to move into half guard.
On top, I was ending up in my preferred low mount with grapevines, but also trying to experiment with feet on hips too. As ever I was going for Ezequiels without much success, and also grabbed at the americana a few times: I was able to grab the hand with one hand under their head, but couldn't isolate that arm, ready to slide my arm over their head to go for the sub. I also failed to hold technical mount, though I did at least get there, which is a small improvement.
Crossing the feet underneath mount was handy too, and felt almost as if I was playing guard from on top of somebody, with the same principles of controlling with the legs. The problem there is that it's easy to get your foot squashed underneath them, so I tend to worry about my ankles if they happen to suddenly roll just right to mess it up. My partner also almost escaped by simply bringing their feet right through, which is one of the more frustrating escapes (as it feels like they shouldn't be able to do it, but somehow they get there anyway). I managed to avoid it by grabbing behind his collar, then patiently waiting to work backwards to flatten him back out, but it was close.
RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Kev Capel, High Wycombe, UK - 14/12/2010
For those of you who watched the Mark Bocek versus Dustin Hazelett fight at UFC 124 (if you haven't, skip this bit as there will be spoilers), it has inspired an interesting series of interconnected videos by an entirely disparate group of BJJ black belts, which is cool to see. That starts off with a Gracie Breakdown by Rener and Ryron, where they look at the fight from Bocek's perspective, here.
There was a fair bit of criticism on the web for the rubber guard (e.g., here, particularly as it seemed Bocek passed it pretty easily. So, 10th Planet head honcho Eddie Bravo put up this video in a thread on The Underground. Yet another black belt, Dave Jacobs, regularly posts on that forum, and seeing the video, decided that he'd put up this response. Exactly the kind of exchange that demonstrate how awesome the internet can be. :)
Class tonight started off with the clinch takedown as defence to a haymaker, from the Gracie Barra Fundamentals syllabus, which led into mount techniques. The first was a basic cross choke from mount, although instead of feeding the second hand under the first, you put your thumb in their opposite collar. Slide that arm around the head and under their jaw, after which you can complete the choke by bringing your elbows back and your head down.Alternatively, you can move into a double-attack from mount. Set up the choke as before, but this time, they manage to block your second arm somehow. On your first arm side, bring your knee to their head. Your other knee slides up to their elbow on the far side to make space, after which you swing your lower leg towards their head, in a 'dog-leg' position. From there you can switch grips and go for the armbar, and depending on how they react, drop back and grab their near leg, or switch back to the choke (hence why it's known as a double attack).
Grabbing that near leg is important, as if you don't, they can thread their leg through and escape to their knees as you drop for the armbar. They may also have the option of the hitchhiker escape. If you grab the near leg, it is very difficult for them to turn, because in order to do so, they have to bring that leg underneath them first.
Kev finished off with a basic trap and roll escape from underneath, before moving on to specific sparring from mount. This served as a handy reminder that it makes a big difference if you don't stop at half guard: I can often snatch that leg, but progressing from there can be tough. I was looking to use the knee I had behind them to bump them forward, making space to recover full guard or escape. That did work, but I need to make sure I've got onto my side, rather than getting squished underneath them.
I also had a go at the escape Rob Stevens showed back at Gracie Barra Birmingham, where you put an arm across the stomach, using the other arm to simply lift their leg and trap it in half guard, aiming to move into deep half. However, I wasn't defending my neck properly in the process, so very nearly go stuck in an Ezequiel as a result. Asking Kev afterwards, he suggested turning on your side, wedging one arm into their stomach. Your other hand grips your own collar and pulls it tight: combined with shrugging your shoulders, this defends against chokes. The elbow of that same arm can be used to shove against their leg, in order to move into half guard.
On top, I was ending up in my preferred low mount with grapevines, but also trying to experiment with feet on hips too. As ever I was going for Ezequiels without much success, and also grabbed at the americana a few times: I was able to grab the hand with one hand under their head, but couldn't isolate that arm, ready to slide my arm over their head to go for the sub. I also failed to hold technical mount, though I did at least get there, which is a small improvement.
Crossing the feet underneath mount was handy too, and felt almost as if I was playing guard from on top of somebody, with the same principles of controlling with the legs. The problem there is that it's easy to get your foot squashed underneath them, so I tend to worry about my ankles if they happen to suddenly roll just right to mess it up. My partner also almost escaped by simply bringing their feet right through, which is one of the more frustrating escapes (as it feels like they shouldn't be able to do it, but somehow they get there anyway). I managed to avoid it by grabbing behind his collar, then patiently waiting to work backwards to flatten him back out, but it was close.
05 May 2010
05/05/2010 - BJJ (Advanced)
Class #308
Gracie Barra Birmingham, (BJJ), Rob Stevens, Birmingham, UK - 05/05/2010
I spent my bank holiday with my girlfriend, up in Louth visiting our friends' new house: lovely place. Its also the big election tomorrow, so should be interesting to see who comes out on top. I'll vote Lib Dem as always, but this time it might actually count for something, which would be novel.
Another session with Rob tonight, this time looking at mount. It was especially good for me, as it was low mount with grapevines, my preferred option from there. Rob began by showing how to maintain the mount. Your hips should be pressing into them, while your feet go back under their legs. You can hook in conventional grapevines if you want, or cross your feet (as Kev recommended at RGA Wycombe). Rob's favoured method is to press the soles of his feet together, knees off the floor, making sure that all your weight it really driving through your partner.
Rob then demonstrated how to properly slip your arm under their head: again, this is something I like to do from mount, so should prove very useful. The key is to not simply hook under their head, but to reach right to the opposite shoulder, grabbing a handful of gi (alternatively, you can hook your fingers under the armpit, which also works for nogi). Your other hand is out for base.
So, if they try and bridge towards the elbow of your wrapping arm (very likely), you can bring your free arm to that side for base. Another advantage of gripping that shoulder is the ability to yank that back underneath you, especially if they bridge so explosively that you find your weight shifting off them.
That position with the knees off the ground also helps when it comes to moving into high mount, to secure an armbar. Lean to your basing arm side, providing you with the room to bring your other knee up. Gradually walk your knees into high mount, pressing your feet into their sides, squeezing in with your legs to suck up any space. Once you've got right up into their armpits, you can raise up and drive your hips forward. In this position, they can't easily bridge, and they also don't have any power with their arms.
That also means you can reach through with an arm, grasping their opposite shoulder (or indeed their gi, which enables you to switch to a choke if you want). Push the arm they have on that side across their body, then lean forward to trap it with your upper body. You can now slide your knee on the shoulder grip side right up to their head, staying tight.
With your free arm, grab below the elbow of their opposite arm and pull it across. You want to make sure they can't use this arm to defend, so if you can squish that arm against you and put their hand well away from any possible blocking positions, so much the better. Pulling that arm in also gives you room to bring your other foot to their head on that side, doglegging as with the usual armbar setup (your leg is curled in towards them, so you're leaving as little space as possible).
Gradually bring your shoulder grip side leg past their head, keeping it tight, until you can cross your feet and drop back for the armbar. If they put up any resistance, you can always move in a semi circle towards their head and then to their legs, which should pop their arm free into position for a submission.
Sparring started off specific again, from mount, with people numbered one, two and three as before. That is preferable to the usual king of the hill, as it means everyone is guaranteed at least five minutes underneath mount, because each number does a round in that position. I went with about four or five people I think when I was on my back, generally managing to bounce them enough to make space, then shoving a knee through. That works especially well when people are going for an attack.
The last person was quite big, so that was a little more difficult, although he was also less experienced. I tried Rob's suggestion from last lesson, where you block their stomach with a forearm and then use your other arm to lift their leg into half guard. I couldn't quite get my arm into place to lift the leg, so I'll need to work on that technique some more.
I later made a mistake when bridging, as I thought I'd managed to bump him forward enough to make space and get a knee through. Instead, I basically just helped him shift into high mount. Time ran out before he could get into place for a submission, but I suspect I may well have found myself tapping if that had gone on longer.
On top, I was getting put back into half guard most of the time, although at least I wasn't getting shunted off as sometimes happens all too frequently. Still, it was good to have Rob's technique to practice, but I struggled to get my knees up into their armpits. Possibly I was being too impatient and not securing a sufficiently solid mount first: my grapevines weren't as solid as I'd have liked, and I had trouble getting into Rob's preferred position with the soles of my feet touching. Driving more weight through my hips would have helped too.
I was again looking for butterfly during free sparring, scooting forward and looking to get an under and overhook. I could get the hooks on the legs, and finally remembered to press my forehead into their chest, but had much less success getting control of their arms. I also need to watch my knee position, and being more careful with my legs, as my partners were managing to back out too easily.
As a result I kept ending up in open guard when trying that, where I sought to secure that spider guard grip. Same old problem of not really doing anything once I'd got it, which was also the case with De La Riva (though I did briefly look to spin around to their back, but couldn't get my leg in place to start the process).
There was a female BJJer present for the first time since I've been at GB Brum (at least in the advanced class: I've seen a few in the beginners class which runs beforehand), but unfortunately she was only visiting. Still, it was nice to finally roll with a woman again, and also gave me a chance to practice my closed guard. I got into the overhook grip I tend to look for, but couldn't quite move into a triangle properly: I need to get a better angle.
On top of that, I should be a little less eager to immediately try and lock the triangle, instead just having the ankles crossed, then wriggling back on my shoulders until I've made enough space. Head control is something I keep forgetting too, though I sort of snatched at it this time. I think she had some kind of neck injury, as what I thought was an attempt to escape was actually an indication to stop (fortunately I realised in time!)
Obviously I also spent plenty of time under side control too. I got the running man escape, which was good, although the second time I tried it with someone else, I did it wrong and ended up giving my back. Not so good. That did give me some practice at escaping chokes, although I think my partner was going fairly easy on me (as he's a little bigger). I was trying to ease the pressure of the collar grip by gripping low on the same lapel then wrapping it under my leg. However, I'm not sure that was the right time to use that particular defence, as it is something Kev showed specifically against the bow and arrow choke.
Also like last time, I kept finding myself stepping over my leg with the knee up, from a half-remembered picture in Jiu Jitsu University. I really need to double check the survival section, to check if I'm doing it right.
Gracie Barra Birmingham, (BJJ), Rob Stevens, Birmingham, UK - 05/05/2010
I spent my bank holiday with my girlfriend, up in Louth visiting our friends' new house: lovely place. Its also the big election tomorrow, so should be interesting to see who comes out on top. I'll vote Lib Dem as always, but this time it might actually count for something, which would be novel.
Another session with Rob tonight, this time looking at mount. It was especially good for me, as it was low mount with grapevines, my preferred option from there. Rob began by showing how to maintain the mount. Your hips should be pressing into them, while your feet go back under their legs. You can hook in conventional grapevines if you want, or cross your feet (as Kev recommended at RGA Wycombe). Rob's favoured method is to press the soles of his feet together, knees off the floor, making sure that all your weight it really driving through your partner.Rob then demonstrated how to properly slip your arm under their head: again, this is something I like to do from mount, so should prove very useful. The key is to not simply hook under their head, but to reach right to the opposite shoulder, grabbing a handful of gi (alternatively, you can hook your fingers under the armpit, which also works for nogi). Your other hand is out for base.
So, if they try and bridge towards the elbow of your wrapping arm (very likely), you can bring your free arm to that side for base. Another advantage of gripping that shoulder is the ability to yank that back underneath you, especially if they bridge so explosively that you find your weight shifting off them.
That position with the knees off the ground also helps when it comes to moving into high mount, to secure an armbar. Lean to your basing arm side, providing you with the room to bring your other knee up. Gradually walk your knees into high mount, pressing your feet into their sides, squeezing in with your legs to suck up any space. Once you've got right up into their armpits, you can raise up and drive your hips forward. In this position, they can't easily bridge, and they also don't have any power with their arms.
That also means you can reach through with an arm, grasping their opposite shoulder (or indeed their gi, which enables you to switch to a choke if you want). Push the arm they have on that side across their body, then lean forward to trap it with your upper body. You can now slide your knee on the shoulder grip side right up to their head, staying tight.
With your free arm, grab below the elbow of their opposite arm and pull it across. You want to make sure they can't use this arm to defend, so if you can squish that arm against you and put their hand well away from any possible blocking positions, so much the better. Pulling that arm in also gives you room to bring your other foot to their head on that side, doglegging as with the usual armbar setup (your leg is curled in towards them, so you're leaving as little space as possible).
Gradually bring your shoulder grip side leg past their head, keeping it tight, until you can cross your feet and drop back for the armbar. If they put up any resistance, you can always move in a semi circle towards their head and then to their legs, which should pop their arm free into position for a submission.
Sparring started off specific again, from mount, with people numbered one, two and three as before. That is preferable to the usual king of the hill, as it means everyone is guaranteed at least five minutes underneath mount, because each number does a round in that position. I went with about four or five people I think when I was on my back, generally managing to bounce them enough to make space, then shoving a knee through. That works especially well when people are going for an attack.
The last person was quite big, so that was a little more difficult, although he was also less experienced. I tried Rob's suggestion from last lesson, where you block their stomach with a forearm and then use your other arm to lift their leg into half guard. I couldn't quite get my arm into place to lift the leg, so I'll need to work on that technique some more.
I later made a mistake when bridging, as I thought I'd managed to bump him forward enough to make space and get a knee through. Instead, I basically just helped him shift into high mount. Time ran out before he could get into place for a submission, but I suspect I may well have found myself tapping if that had gone on longer.
On top, I was getting put back into half guard most of the time, although at least I wasn't getting shunted off as sometimes happens all too frequently. Still, it was good to have Rob's technique to practice, but I struggled to get my knees up into their armpits. Possibly I was being too impatient and not securing a sufficiently solid mount first: my grapevines weren't as solid as I'd have liked, and I had trouble getting into Rob's preferred position with the soles of my feet touching. Driving more weight through my hips would have helped too.
I was again looking for butterfly during free sparring, scooting forward and looking to get an under and overhook. I could get the hooks on the legs, and finally remembered to press my forehead into their chest, but had much less success getting control of their arms. I also need to watch my knee position, and being more careful with my legs, as my partners were managing to back out too easily.
As a result I kept ending up in open guard when trying that, where I sought to secure that spider guard grip. Same old problem of not really doing anything once I'd got it, which was also the case with De La Riva (though I did briefly look to spin around to their back, but couldn't get my leg in place to start the process).
There was a female BJJer present for the first time since I've been at GB Brum (at least in the advanced class: I've seen a few in the beginners class which runs beforehand), but unfortunately she was only visiting. Still, it was nice to finally roll with a woman again, and also gave me a chance to practice my closed guard. I got into the overhook grip I tend to look for, but couldn't quite move into a triangle properly: I need to get a better angle.
On top of that, I should be a little less eager to immediately try and lock the triangle, instead just having the ankles crossed, then wriggling back on my shoulders until I've made enough space. Head control is something I keep forgetting too, though I sort of snatched at it this time. I think she had some kind of neck injury, as what I thought was an attempt to escape was actually an indication to stop (fortunately I realised in time!)
Obviously I also spent plenty of time under side control too. I got the running man escape, which was good, although the second time I tried it with someone else, I did it wrong and ended up giving my back. Not so good. That did give me some practice at escaping chokes, although I think my partner was going fairly easy on me (as he's a little bigger). I was trying to ease the pressure of the collar grip by gripping low on the same lapel then wrapping it under my leg. However, I'm not sure that was the right time to use that particular defence, as it is something Kev showed specifically against the bow and arrow choke.
Also like last time, I kept finding myself stepping over my leg with the knee up, from a half-remembered picture in Jiu Jitsu University. I really need to double check the survival section, to check if I'm doing it right.
09 February 2010
09/02/2010 - BJJ (Beginner)
Class #284
RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Kev Capel, High Wycombe, UK - 09/02/2010
I'm not quite sure how, but I busted my left wrist at some point last week. The only possible cause I can think of is that shoulder lock with the lapel, though I don't remember my wrist hurting at the time. Either way, for most of last week, my left hand hasn't done a whole lot, in the hope that resting it would mean it would be ok for tonight.
It was definitely improved, but still sufficiently sore that I didn't want to risk aggravating the injury by putting any weight on my wrist. So I decided to try and train around my wrist instead, which fortunately was possible tonight because there were enough sensible blue belts training. I often pair up with Howard, who I knew I could trust to avoid that wrist.
Technique started with the usual GB fundamentals stuff, this time a takedown from a bear hug. The interesting part was that it moved into some knee on belly submissions, starting with the usual far armbar if they push on your knee with their hand, followed by a choke.
You start by opening up their collar and getting a deep grip with your hand. The second hand slides on top over to the other collar, but only your thumb goes inside rather than the four fingers. Drop the elbow of that second arm across their neck, so that the wrist and forearm presses into their throat. Finally, put your head to the floor on the top arm side, squeezing to secure the submission.
Groundwork was mount again this week. Kev started with the basic spinning armbar, where they have their arms pushing straight up. That means you can put your hands around one arm on their chest, hop up and spin directly into an armbar, making sure to slide down their arm to leave as little space as possible.
As that is highly unlikely to happen with anyone a little more experienced, Kev then progressed to the more common armbar from mount. Shift up into high mount, knees into their armpits. If they're using a standard defence, with their arms crossed to protect their neck, this should shove their arms up. Slide your same side knee up past the top arm, turning to face their other arm.
Your other leg will curl around their other arm: all the way through, your legs need to stay tight, as otherwise they'll have a chance to escape. Slide your same side hand past the crook of their elbow, then bring your same side leg over their head. Kev likes to cross his feet (as he finds that results in better control), then drop back for the armbar.
Finally, we went through the typical Americana from mount. As I couldn't press on the arm properly due to my wrist, I took a leaf out of Cindy Omatsu's book and drove it to the floor with my head instead. Looking at the DVD again, I see that she grips differently than I was before bringing her head into the picture, grabbing the wrist with one hand. That's definitely something I'd like to try in sparring, as I can never get the arm loose for an Americana: keeping my base would be more problematic, but worth a go.
As I couldn't spar properly, I was going to just go light with Howard, but Kev asked me to help out a beginner instead. This made sense, as he had a messed up rib, so couldn't spar full on either. It was only his second class, so I went through the two basic mount escapes with him, also showing him how to secure a low grapevined mount. His rib was too tender for me to do anything on top, so we stuck with me escaping his mount, then drilling technique. I tried to keep things simple and not overwhelm him with information: I'm enjoying the opportunity to practice that element of BJJ, though it is a little more difficult when you're both carrying injuries.
Unusually, Kev then got everyone to free spar, starting in mount. That's the first time I've seen him let people do that in the beginners class. In the case of my training partner, it led to more teaching of the basics, where I tried to show him a simple standing guard break and pass. Again that wasn't easy, due to his rib, but hopefully getting a first look will be of some use to him further down the line.
When I decided to train around my injury, I'd forgotten one important detail: I take lots of notes, and I'm left handed. With my wrist out of commission, I couldn't write with my left. Fortunately, I've practiced enough with my right that I could just about scribble something using that hand instead. For some reason, I used to randomly try and write with my other hand back at school: paid off tonight. ;)
RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Kev Capel, High Wycombe, UK - 09/02/2010
I'm not quite sure how, but I busted my left wrist at some point last week. The only possible cause I can think of is that shoulder lock with the lapel, though I don't remember my wrist hurting at the time. Either way, for most of last week, my left hand hasn't done a whole lot, in the hope that resting it would mean it would be ok for tonight.
It was definitely improved, but still sufficiently sore that I didn't want to risk aggravating the injury by putting any weight on my wrist. So I decided to try and train around my wrist instead, which fortunately was possible tonight because there were enough sensible blue belts training. I often pair up with Howard, who I knew I could trust to avoid that wrist.
Technique started with the usual GB fundamentals stuff, this time a takedown from a bear hug. The interesting part was that it moved into some knee on belly submissions, starting with the usual far armbar if they push on your knee with their hand, followed by a choke.
You start by opening up their collar and getting a deep grip with your hand. The second hand slides on top over to the other collar, but only your thumb goes inside rather than the four fingers. Drop the elbow of that second arm across their neck, so that the wrist and forearm presses into their throat. Finally, put your head to the floor on the top arm side, squeezing to secure the submission.
Groundwork was mount again this week. Kev started with the basic spinning armbar, where they have their arms pushing straight up. That means you can put your hands around one arm on their chest, hop up and spin directly into an armbar, making sure to slide down their arm to leave as little space as possible.
As that is highly unlikely to happen with anyone a little more experienced, Kev then progressed to the more common armbar from mount. Shift up into high mount, knees into their armpits. If they're using a standard defence, with their arms crossed to protect their neck, this should shove their arms up. Slide your same side knee up past the top arm, turning to face their other arm.
Your other leg will curl around their other arm: all the way through, your legs need to stay tight, as otherwise they'll have a chance to escape. Slide your same side hand past the crook of their elbow, then bring your same side leg over their head. Kev likes to cross his feet (as he finds that results in better control), then drop back for the armbar.
Finally, we went through the typical Americana from mount. As I couldn't press on the arm properly due to my wrist, I took a leaf out of Cindy Omatsu's book and drove it to the floor with my head instead. Looking at the DVD again, I see that she grips differently than I was before bringing her head into the picture, grabbing the wrist with one hand. That's definitely something I'd like to try in sparring, as I can never get the arm loose for an Americana: keeping my base would be more problematic, but worth a go.As I couldn't spar properly, I was going to just go light with Howard, but Kev asked me to help out a beginner instead. This made sense, as he had a messed up rib, so couldn't spar full on either. It was only his second class, so I went through the two basic mount escapes with him, also showing him how to secure a low grapevined mount. His rib was too tender for me to do anything on top, so we stuck with me escaping his mount, then drilling technique. I tried to keep things simple and not overwhelm him with information: I'm enjoying the opportunity to practice that element of BJJ, though it is a little more difficult when you're both carrying injuries.
Unusually, Kev then got everyone to free spar, starting in mount. That's the first time I've seen him let people do that in the beginners class. In the case of my training partner, it led to more teaching of the basics, where I tried to show him a simple standing guard break and pass. Again that wasn't easy, due to his rib, but hopefully getting a first look will be of some use to him further down the line.
When I decided to train around my injury, I'd forgotten one important detail: I take lots of notes, and I'm left handed. With my wrist out of commission, I couldn't write with my left. Fortunately, I've practiced enough with my right that I could just about scribble something using that hand instead. For some reason, I used to randomly try and write with my other hand back at school: paid off tonight. ;)
10 November 2009
10/11/2009 - BJJ (Beginner)
Class #259
RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Kev Capel, High Wycombe, UK - 10/11/2009
I've started putting the date on new additions to my blog index, which should make it easier for anyone who is looking to beef up their Google Reader list. I use the yyyy.mm.dd format for dates, as being a geek, I like to be able to easily put things in order (in this case, Z-A on the 'added' column, with a secondary A-Z sort on 'blog title'. I made a handy little macro that does that for me whenever I press Ctrl+Shift+S). Which is also part of the reason I love Excel. ;)
This week, Kev is focusing on the mount, so it's a shame I'm off to Bristol tomorrow. I would have liked to have made the beginner class on Thursday, as I'm hoping he's going to go through the ezequiel from mount at some point (been trying to land it for a while, and though Kev has already given me some great advice on that, it would be very helpful seeing him go through the submission step by step from a grapevined low mount).
The first technique was an armbar from mount. This was mostly the same as before, but getting into the technical mount was a little different. Unlike previously, Kev started in my preferred low mount, grapevining the legs.
From that stable position, you first want to shove their arm to the mat. Grab their wrist with either one or two hands, then drive it to the floor. Kev grips with the thumb, which he mentioned can also help your base (if you're shoving with both arms and they try to bridge you halfway through). As usual, it isn't about arm strength, but straightening your arms and letting bodyweight do the job for you. Bring your knee up to their armpit, repeat on the other side, moving into high mount.
The technique then continues the same as before, though I did have a chance to get some further details from Kev, specifically on getting past their arms when securing the collar grip. Back when I was training at RGA HQ, Roger Gracie ran a class on how to use your hip against your elbow to drive that hand through (making a knife hand for less friction), but I had been thinking you needed to keep on shoving it with your hip.
As Roger did a seminar at Kev's Aylesbury location recently, he was able to clarify: you only need to get the hand past their blocking arms using the hip. Once you've done that, you can shift back to just pulling on their lapel to drive your other hand into a deeper grip.
In addition, Kev had some further points on that technical mount to armbar transition. As you shift into what Kev calls the 'dog leg' position (your far leg is diagonally wrapped around their arm, foot by their head), you want to keep a hold on the far arm. The grip should be by their elbow, but the clever part is that you also want to prevent their other hand from locking up (e.g., if they grab their gi or something). While holding their elbow, you simultaneously want to wedge your forearm under their other wrist, prying it away from any gi or arm they could grab. That should make it easier to isolate when dropping back for the armbar.
Also, like I mentioned last time, Kev crosses his feet when doing an armbar from mount. Given that there was recently a Bullshido thread on exactly that topic, I wanted to ask about something I'd read, which is that you should only cross your feet if both arms are trapped. If they get one hand out, you switch back to uncrossed. Kev has a different suggestion: if they get the non-trapped hand out and move to escape, he tends to catch them in a triangle (if they're turning into him) or go for a belly-down armbar. So, his legs stay crossed.
Kev then showed how to escape the armbar from mount. You're in exactly the same position as above, where they're in technical mount and have now brought their leg over to go for the submission. You need to grab their leg, then switch your own legs in order to get to your knees. This is easier said than done, but if you manage it, you should be in their guard, ready to run through the usual armbar escape.
A really useful element I hadn't thought about before, which I need to add to my technique summary, is shifting backwards on this escape. That helps to kill their pressure, combined with driving your shoulder into their leg and crushing it towards the floor. It was much easier to free the arm if you move backwards slightly first.
Specific sparring from mount was similar to last time, as again I found I was more successful when using a low grapevined mount, rather than moving higher up. However, also like last time, I couldn't launch much of an attack from there. I tried to shift into a high mount, but generally Howard started to bridge at that point. I did normally manage to switch into a sloppy technical mount, but not very secure, so kept floppy back into a grapevined mount to prevent losing control entirely.
I also had a go at triangles from mount. As I already had an arm under the head, I thought I could use that to lift the head and quickly get my leg under. Wasn't too successful, as I think I was trying to bring my leg too great a distance, and it also felt like perhaps there were some other steps I was missing. Moving into a rolling triangle might work, like the one from side control last week, but mount is of course a somewhat different position.
Escaping I managed to get back to half guard repeatedly, which was good. I think the Saulo arm frame helped with that, because as soon as Howard tried to shift into technical mount, I was able to create enough space to get my knee through, spinning to half guard (or once, rather less successfully to the bottom of side control).
RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Kev Capel, High Wycombe, UK - 10/11/2009
I've started putting the date on new additions to my blog index, which should make it easier for anyone who is looking to beef up their Google Reader list. I use the yyyy.mm.dd format for dates, as being a geek, I like to be able to easily put things in order (in this case, Z-A on the 'added' column, with a secondary A-Z sort on 'blog title'. I made a handy little macro that does that for me whenever I press Ctrl+Shift+S). Which is also part of the reason I love Excel. ;)
This week, Kev is focusing on the mount, so it's a shame I'm off to Bristol tomorrow. I would have liked to have made the beginner class on Thursday, as I'm hoping he's going to go through the ezequiel from mount at some point (been trying to land it for a while, and though Kev has already given me some great advice on that, it would be very helpful seeing him go through the submission step by step from a grapevined low mount).
The first technique was an armbar from mount. This was mostly the same as before, but getting into the technical mount was a little different. Unlike previously, Kev started in my preferred low mount, grapevining the legs.
From that stable position, you first want to shove their arm to the mat. Grab their wrist with either one or two hands, then drive it to the floor. Kev grips with the thumb, which he mentioned can also help your base (if you're shoving with both arms and they try to bridge you halfway through). As usual, it isn't about arm strength, but straightening your arms and letting bodyweight do the job for you. Bring your knee up to their armpit, repeat on the other side, moving into high mount.
The technique then continues the same as before, though I did have a chance to get some further details from Kev, specifically on getting past their arms when securing the collar grip. Back when I was training at RGA HQ, Roger Gracie ran a class on how to use your hip against your elbow to drive that hand through (making a knife hand for less friction), but I had been thinking you needed to keep on shoving it with your hip.
As Roger did a seminar at Kev's Aylesbury location recently, he was able to clarify: you only need to get the hand past their blocking arms using the hip. Once you've done that, you can shift back to just pulling on their lapel to drive your other hand into a deeper grip.
In addition, Kev had some further points on that technical mount to armbar transition. As you shift into what Kev calls the 'dog leg' position (your far leg is diagonally wrapped around their arm, foot by their head), you want to keep a hold on the far arm. The grip should be by their elbow, but the clever part is that you also want to prevent their other hand from locking up (e.g., if they grab their gi or something). While holding their elbow, you simultaneously want to wedge your forearm under their other wrist, prying it away from any gi or arm they could grab. That should make it easier to isolate when dropping back for the armbar.
Also, like I mentioned last time, Kev crosses his feet when doing an armbar from mount. Given that there was recently a Bullshido thread on exactly that topic, I wanted to ask about something I'd read, which is that you should only cross your feet if both arms are trapped. If they get one hand out, you switch back to uncrossed. Kev has a different suggestion: if they get the non-trapped hand out and move to escape, he tends to catch them in a triangle (if they're turning into him) or go for a belly-down armbar. So, his legs stay crossed.
Kev then showed how to escape the armbar from mount. You're in exactly the same position as above, where they're in technical mount and have now brought their leg over to go for the submission. You need to grab their leg, then switch your own legs in order to get to your knees. This is easier said than done, but if you manage it, you should be in their guard, ready to run through the usual armbar escape.
A really useful element I hadn't thought about before, which I need to add to my technique summary, is shifting backwards on this escape. That helps to kill their pressure, combined with driving your shoulder into their leg and crushing it towards the floor. It was much easier to free the arm if you move backwards slightly first.
Specific sparring from mount was similar to last time, as again I found I was more successful when using a low grapevined mount, rather than moving higher up. However, also like last time, I couldn't launch much of an attack from there. I tried to shift into a high mount, but generally Howard started to bridge at that point. I did normally manage to switch into a sloppy technical mount, but not very secure, so kept floppy back into a grapevined mount to prevent losing control entirely.
I also had a go at triangles from mount. As I already had an arm under the head, I thought I could use that to lift the head and quickly get my leg under. Wasn't too successful, as I think I was trying to bring my leg too great a distance, and it also felt like perhaps there were some other steps I was missing. Moving into a rolling triangle might work, like the one from side control last week, but mount is of course a somewhat different position.
Escaping I managed to get back to half guard repeatedly, which was good. I think the Saulo arm frame helped with that, because as soon as Howard tried to shift into technical mount, I was able to create enough space to get my knee through, spinning to half guard (or once, rather less successfully to the bottom of side control).
08 October 2009
08/10/2009 - BJJ (Beginner)
Class #248
RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Kev Capel, High Wycombe, UK - 08/10/2009
Kev continued with mount, started off by drilling mount to technical mount, which basically involved sliding your knee up their back while the other leg went up, foot tight to their side. You also put a hand behind you for base, which is something I haven't done in the past: it makes a lot of sense, as I feel a lot more stable. Kev also clarified that the knee goes to the top of their back. Previously I've tended to try to get to their head, which is probably because I got confused with an armbar set-up.
From there, Kev wanted to demonstrate an armbar from mount, starting in technical mount. Reach over and grab their elbow with both hands, pulling up. You're now going to switch back to mount, but this time you can go straight into high mount. The space is already there because you pulled on that elbow, which gets their arms out of the way of your knees.
You can now finish with an armbar, using the same technique as last time. The next technique was also a repeat of what we did on Tuesday, escaping mount by using the heel drag. Always good to get more drilling on those essential basics, so its cool Kev is making sure those are thoroughly covered.
In specific sparring, I'm still trying to do low mount with grapevines. I can maintain it, but not attack, so today I was keen to really push for a submission set up. In low mount, the only one I know is an ezequiel (not that I've ever landed one). I still can't get that hand onto their neck, as my training partners know exactly what I'm attempting to do.
Afterwards, I asked Kev his advice on getting the ezequiel. He advised hiding what you were doing by shoving your head next to theirs. That way, you can have the ezequiel all set-up, without giving them any warning, then quickly get into position after moving your head out of the way.
I also wanted to keep trying to shift to technical mount. I need to incorporate that basing hand, and make my slide sufficiently smooth that I don't leave space for them to block my foot. While low mount has been working well for me, I need to make sure I don't limit myself to that just because its comfortable. So, I tried to utilise high mount too, which is much tougher to maintain: I still haven't got a good grasp of how to 'ride' my opponent's bridging, or switch to technical mount. and need to avoid always using low mount, get better at riding out high mount. Still, I was again close to taking the back at one point, but fell off back to guard.
With Callum, I tried to put Kev's suggestion into practice, but still too obvious. Looking for those submissions made my low mount a bit sloppier, as I didn't react quickly enough when he trapped an arm and bridged. Still, that did at least give me an opportunity to ask Kev another question, this time about what to do if they block your foot when you try technical mount.
His response was that you then should switch to a pass: trying to regain mount is likely to get you swept due to the possibility of elevator hooks and the like. Something I'll have to work on, as that is almost what happened with my next sparring partner, Tom. I was blocked, looked to pass instead, but just got knocked back into guard.
RGA High Wycombe, (BJJ), Kev Capel, High Wycombe, UK - 08/10/2009
Kev continued with mount, started off by drilling mount to technical mount, which basically involved sliding your knee up their back while the other leg went up, foot tight to their side. You also put a hand behind you for base, which is something I haven't done in the past: it makes a lot of sense, as I feel a lot more stable. Kev also clarified that the knee goes to the top of their back. Previously I've tended to try to get to their head, which is probably because I got confused with an armbar set-up.
From there, Kev wanted to demonstrate an armbar from mount, starting in technical mount. Reach over and grab their elbow with both hands, pulling up. You're now going to switch back to mount, but this time you can go straight into high mount. The space is already there because you pulled on that elbow, which gets their arms out of the way of your knees.
You can now finish with an armbar, using the same technique as last time. The next technique was also a repeat of what we did on Tuesday, escaping mount by using the heel drag. Always good to get more drilling on those essential basics, so its cool Kev is making sure those are thoroughly covered.
In specific sparring, I'm still trying to do low mount with grapevines. I can maintain it, but not attack, so today I was keen to really push for a submission set up. In low mount, the only one I know is an ezequiel (not that I've ever landed one). I still can't get that hand onto their neck, as my training partners know exactly what I'm attempting to do.
Afterwards, I asked Kev his advice on getting the ezequiel. He advised hiding what you were doing by shoving your head next to theirs. That way, you can have the ezequiel all set-up, without giving them any warning, then quickly get into position after moving your head out of the way.
I also wanted to keep trying to shift to technical mount. I need to incorporate that basing hand, and make my slide sufficiently smooth that I don't leave space for them to block my foot. While low mount has been working well for me, I need to make sure I don't limit myself to that just because its comfortable. So, I tried to utilise high mount too, which is much tougher to maintain: I still haven't got a good grasp of how to 'ride' my opponent's bridging, or switch to technical mount. and need to avoid always using low mount, get better at riding out high mount. Still, I was again close to taking the back at one point, but fell off back to guard.
With Callum, I tried to put Kev's suggestion into practice, but still too obvious. Looking for those submissions made my low mount a bit sloppier, as I didn't react quickly enough when he trapped an arm and bridged. Still, that did at least give me an opportunity to ask Kev another question, this time about what to do if they block your foot when you try technical mount.
His response was that you then should switch to a pass: trying to regain mount is likely to get you swept due to the possibility of elevator hooks and the like. Something I'll have to work on, as that is almost what happened with my next sparring partner, Tom. I was blocked, looked to pass instead, but just got knocked back into guard.
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