03/10/2017 - Academy Jiu Jitsu (Standing up in closed guard)

Class #904
Academy Jiu Jitsu, Dylan Hewitt, Melbourne, Australia - 03/10/2017

My ex-student Erin had told me all about her new school in Melbourne after she moved back home. A big part of my original reason for making the trip over to Australia was to see Erin and train at her new place. There was therefore quite a lot of expectation riding on what she'd said: as it turned out, those expectations were more than met.

Academy Jiu Jitsu is a lovely place to train, full of friendly people who immediately made me feel part of the family. In many ways it reminded me of training back home at Artemis BJJ, so I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Academy Jiu Jitsu if you're looking for a chilled out training environment with a friendly vibe. The rolls were technical, everybody was welcoming, lots of laughter during class.

The teaching was high quality too. Dylan went through a standard closed guard break and pass, with lots of details. Sit on your heels, thrusting your hip. Use your forward hand to grasp both collars, twist: that's to keep them down. Other hand grabs their wrist, pressing that into their hip. Slight flare of your elbow in order to press in their hip, but be ready to clamp that back in as it's dangerous (omoplata etc).

To stand, lean over to the non-wrist grip side, then step your wrist grip side foot forward. Stand, letting go of collars and pulling up on sleeve. Dylan likes to switch grips, but down to preference. Squeeze your knees together, then push down on their knee. You can follow with your shin and move into various passes. One I hadn't thought about was windscreen wiping your feet across, then you can go into mount, side control etc.

In closed guard specific sparring, I was lazy and just waited. It's important to be wary of chokes, I was lucky in that i could push on elbows to prevent the chokes, but if he had gotten deeper, that would have been on. I liked the simple tip that if they grab your collar, grab their hand and use that as your grip to stand. Worked well for me.a few times, but just white belts and I was telegraphing it too much. Next up, open mat.

18/07/2016 - BJJ Globetrotter Camp | Bournemouth 2016 | Posture Inside Closed Guard (Christian Graugart)

Class #757
BJJ Globetrotter Camp (Phoenix MMA), Christian Graugart, Bournemouth, UK, 18/07/2016

For my last class of the inaugural UK BJJ Globetrotters camp, it was Christian heading things up, this time covering posture inside closed guard. In his introduction, he talked about how this was one of the fundamental classes he would teach to kids. He also make the important point that frequently in a competition (especially early on), you will get stuck in closed guard as your equally nervous opponent clamps down and barely moves.

They generally want to do one of three things: sit up to get close to your chest, pull you down to achieve the same, or climb their legs up your back to again dominate your posture. You are fighting for that space. Christian's grip is different to the chest and hip control I'm used to.

Instead, he concentrates on the chest, grabbing the collars as normal (rolling them over if you can), but then putting his other hand directly underneath (like you're holding a sword, or a baseball bat to use the typical US simile).

Keep your arms straight: a good comparison is a press-up, where you can hold yourself a long time with straight arms, not very long with bent arms. Have your chest out, head up (don't look at them), sitting low on your heels. Your head stays over your bum: I often say keep your head behind your knees, but this is more specific.

They will eventually break your strips. Simply regrip, aiming to get back to your previous posture whenever they are able to bring you out of it. An effective way to prevent them pulling you down is to shove your arm into their throat, though that's rather unpleasant. I preferred Christian's second option, which was to thrust your hips forward, like you're in a rodeo.

Should they climb their legs up your back, swim your shoulders through. You don't want them to have that control of your chest. You may also need to push your chest forward too and come forward. At some point, you will get broken down. If you can catch yourself before you're all the way down, one hand slides slightly forward, your other hand is on the wrist to support it, elbows tight. You want to get back to your previous posture.

Alternatively, gable grip, elbows into their knees and your head down. It is very static, but fairly safe as they have to open you up in order to attack. Again, you are always looking to get back to your original posture. If they get an overhook, block their other arm. Turn, reaching back and twisting your arm so your hand is palm up, then fire your arm out elbow first.

If they've wrapped up your head and pulled you down, use 'squirrel hands' to retreat out of that position to regain your posture. You're hooking your fingers over their armpits, knees into their bum. Pull your head back, being careful not to extend your arms, as that leaves them vulnerable to attack.

Sadly that was to be my last class of the UK Camp 2016, but I'm hoping to be back for longer next year. I'll have to see how my holiday allowance works out at work, but hopefully I can manage two or three days. If not, then a Monday full of classes is still gives me loads of technique to take back to the Artemis BJJ mats. :)