18/06/2017 - Artemis BJJ | NoGi | Heel Hooks

Class #830
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Rich Lindsay, Bristol, UK - 18/06/2017

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Jun 30, 2017 at 11:11pm PDT

I have always been terrified of leglocks, especially heel hooks. However, as long as you're training with somebody who knows what they're doing it's good to have a play. I didn't drill them all that much, due to aforementioned fear (also, Rich teaches a LOT of technique in each of his classes ;D). Still the main points I took away were a two arm finish, the importance of getting under the heel and that you should avoid lying on your arms. If you lie on your arm, that will restrict the amount you can turn.

Once Rich got to defence, I was keener to practice. The big thing this time was grabbing their arm with both of yours and pulling it towards you. That's the first thing to try. Then there is the usual defensive stuff for footlocks, like 'putting the boot on'. Rich also mentioned crossing your feet as a general principle, which he said applies to lots of foot and leglocks. I look forward to his kneebar material, as that seems like a good attack against Sam's knee shield.

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Jul 8, 2017 at 1:00am PDT

I used my tripod with a new phone clamp, much better. Sparring with Adrienne, focused on when they have heel hook and you escape. She was doing a good job of switching to single leg x, so that was fun. Need to work my passes against there, which is where Paul Schreiner (yet again) comes in, from Precise Pressure Passing.

12/04/2016 - Open Mat | Leglocks

Class #712
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 12/04/2016

The 50/50 guard break wasn't working for me, as Simon just rotated rather than his guard opening. Am I missing a bit? Perhaps grabbing the gi in a certain way or something? On the nasty calf leglock, that needs to be in the middle of their calf, plenty of meat. You can't get enough calf muscle if you go too low on the leg.

I also got to have a play with technical mount as Mike wanted to work on holding it. Underneath I was either pushing the leg or rotating under for deep half. On top, I kept going for the arm, always trying to attack. I think that might be part of why Mike was having some trouble maintaining it on top, it was a little static and I wasn't under threat, which gives me time to work my defence.

11/04/2016 - Open Mat | Leglocks & Running Escape

Class #711
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 11/04/2016

I've been keen to get in some extra training for a while, as I'm not getting as much drilling and sparring as I'd like. Today was the first attempt to fit in some more, meeting up with a few people before class. We went through the leglock I learned from Kev on Saturday, which was useful. Drilling that indicated the importance of keeping your thumb up, to make sure you're driving the blade of your arm into the calf muscle. Also, you can bring your knee inwards, which keeps their leg twisted and I think makes it easier to attack that calf.

Ross and Milka were particularly good people to do this with, as they have that interest in the intricacies of technique, which really helps me get the most out of drilling. We also ran through leglock defence, the part that interests me more. I think I'll need to check back with Kev on the 50/50 guard break, I'm not sure I got all the details.

I also had a play with the running escape tip from a Carter Fisk video too, which is basically just shrimp firmly into them before you turn. That turn out from the running escape is much easier and less strain on neck than the leg swing, so if this makes the difference, I'd much rather focus on the turn. I'll keep playing with it.

There isn't quite enough room for sparring, as we're squeezing in around other people and classes. However, my hope is that if we can get a regular, committed group together, then I can go ahead and book a long-term slot.

09/04/2016 - Private with Kev | Open Guard | Leg Lock Defence, Calf Crush & Open Guard

Class #708 - Private #022
RGA Aylesbury, (BJJ), Kev Capel, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK - 09/04/2016

I know very little about leglocks. I don't really care about being able to attack with them, but I am keen to nail down the defence. Rolling with Seymour at the GrappleThon, I kept ending up in 50/50 without much idea of how to get out, while he went for my feet. The last proper look I had at leglock defence was when John Palmer went through a few options with me, way back during my awesome 2012 Texas trip. Leglocks aren't something that feature in the vast majority of my training, so rolling with Seymour was an eye-opener. I had been planning to work on leglock defence in this private anyway, but that confirmed why it was important. ;)

Fortunately, it wasn't as complex as you might think. There are three basic principles that run through most defences, which I knew already, so that's good. First, 'put on the boot': pull your toes back and straighten out the leg that's being attacked, as if you were struggling to get on a boot. Second, you need to pull them towards you (e.g., grab their gi or head), as they need to drop back to apply most footlocks. Finally, stand up, because they're going to have a really tough time getting anything once you get the sole of your foot on the ground and can bring gravity to bear.

That applies to both orthodox footlock set-ups and stuff like 50/50. Kev added in some more specifics for 50/50 defence, which starts off with the usual putting on the boot, grabbing the gi and standing up. After you've done that, 'hula hoop' to put their locking leg in front of you, then grasp their knee and the bottom of their trouser leg. You can then shove that leg down and begin your pass. If the 50/50 is too tight, Kev suggested grabbing the locking knee, stiff-arming then shifting your hips away. I think I must have missed some details though, so I'll double check that with him next time.

You can also get in some early defence, such as getting a spider guard push into the arm they want to use to underhook your leg. Grab their same side arm, push into the crook of the elbow and use that to free your elbow. Sometimes you might need to hook under their leg as you're escaping, such as when you push their foot down and pop your hips over (I don't remember all the details on that, so will need to drill it some more).

As much as I don't intend to attack with footlocks, it is useful to know a few. Kev shared a nasty calf crush with me, interestingly entirely legal for white belts under IBJJF rules (as ever, that is just one rule set, but it's relatively widespread these days). From your usual straight ankle lock position, drag the arm you have underneath across the middle of their calf, aiming to pull as much calf up on the side as you can. Maintaining the tension, bring your other arm under, pushing the calf even higher. Lock that hand (thumb up) against the calf, then bring your other arm around the first, like you were trying to rear naked choke their calf. Squeeze, while also turning your shoulders away from the leg (i.e., towards their other leg). This comes on quick, so do it with control.

We also ran through some open guard maintenance again, as that's still my weak point. Kev did some light sparring, after which he said my approach is ok, but added that I should be pulling them into closed guard (because I said that's where I want to end up, progressing from the shoulder clamp etc). To do that is simple, you just need to yank them towards you when you feel their weight coming forwards. You can also do it like a guard pull, with a foot on the hip, grip on the collar, then pulling and swivelling from the floor. I'm also not setting up my ankle pick sweeps as effectively as I could. Kev suggested coming in closer and hooking the leg, IIRC.

There was a funky worm guard sweep too. In closed guard (or open, but closed was how we started), pull out their lapel. Get that underneath your same side leg, for which you'll need to open your guard, but keep your foot on their hip. Feed the lapel to your other hand. They will probably stand up at this point. Continuing pulling the lapel, yanking it behind their leg and again feeding to your other hand.

You're now going to do a final hand switch, so that you're grabbing the lapel with your same side hand, palm down. Bring your free leg on the outside of their wrapped shin. To finish, do a technical stand-up. That should knock them over, whereupon you can move through to pass or possibly even mount (you'll need to let go of the lapel for that).

Finally, Kev also got back to me on something I mentioned a few years ago (I was impressed he remembered!) about the 'cat' and 'dog' position with the back when inside somebody's closed guard. When you pop out your back ('dog'), that enhances your posture. It also makes it tough for them to climb their legs higher up your back. When he demonstrated, it put me in mind of Jason Scully's 'eat the belt' guard break: I should use that posture more. Good reminder. :)

21/11/2012 - Bullshido Throwdown Austin (including Control Point Theory lesson)

Monolith Training Centre, (Throwdown), Austin, TX, USA - 21/11/2012

The Bullshido website has been very important to my BJJ. It was members of that site who originally encouraged me into the sport, giving me the push I needed to get started. It was also a thread on that site which set the tone for my future training. I would strongly recommend everybody who wants to train BJJ read it, here. The training logs section has been another touchstone, one of the best of which is written by the awesome John Palmer, posting as jnp.

I have been reading jnp's log for years, as well as his numerous other mature and helpful posts all over the Bullshido website. So when I decided to go to Texas (full write-up here), 'meet jnp' was high on my list of priorities. Without meaning to be too gushing, it was even better than I could have hoped. I already expected him to have great BJJ, but he is awesome company off the mats too. Genuine, generous and intelligent, John has led a fascinating life which he is very good at sharing in a series of engaging anecdotes. It was a pleasure to spend a day talking and training with him, as well as meeting his lovely family.

In terms of BJJ, I essentially got a several hour long private lesson with a high level brown belt (although as anyone who has rolled with John over the last few years can tell you, a black belt would suit him rather well ;D). John likes to do an introductory talk that he gives to students. It is something he has mentioned in various threads, but it was extremely cool to hear him explain it in person. He discussed alignment, relating to skeletal structure and where the strength of the joint resides, along with the importance of creating angles (using the analogy of striking). Virtually every attack from guard is more effective once you create an angle, so any time you're in guard you should always be trying to cut the angle.

Control Point Theory

Once we arrived and started rolling, John went into much more detail, as well as demonstrating both compliantly and then during the course of sparring. His theory of control points was interesting, which he splits into primary (head, shoulders and hips), secondary (inside of elbows and knees) and tertiary (wrists and ankles). He also emphasised the 'flow with the go' mindset popularised by Rickson, so if you're meeting resistance in one direction, such as when you're passing, go with that force and move around to the other side.

Update Dec 2012: John put up this link over on Facebook, where he goes into those conceptual ideas in depth.

Update Oct 2020: It turns out that this lesson from John was incredibly important to my BJJ development. Control point theory has since become central to my game, especially to the way I teach. For a quick summary, I teach my interpretation here

Along with principles, John showed me some specific techniques too. I have struggled with the Braulio escape from side control for some time. John uses a modification to that technique which I'm looking forward to trying out. When Braulio does it, he pushes into the armpit and sits up. In John's variation, he stays on the floor. He waits for them to bring their arm past his head while in side control, then immediately grabs that arm by the wrist and elbow. Next John shoves that arm right to his feet, curling his body.

Still staying on the floor, turn to your belly, so that your legs end up stretched out behind you, continuing to firmly grasp their arm. That should cause them to flip to their back, meaning you can come on top and establish your own side control. Drilling that, I need to remember to push the arm far enough: I kept stopping short, which makes it much harder to put them on their back.

After catching me with a leglock, John had some further helpful tips on defending the kneebar. Your initial reaction should be to grab their head, wrapping it with both arms and dragging it into your body. If you can't get their head, grab their near leg and pull that towards you, to prevent them closing their legs. Similarly you can try using your free leg to hook under their leg and lift, again to stop them clamping the submission in place. Triangling your legs can help too.

I'm continuing to play with the running escape, which resulted in some more good advice from John. He noted that whenever somebody tries to swing their legs through as in the Saulo finish I taught recently, he blocks their hip with his head, which immediately sets up the pass. Aim to get your elbow under your knee if possible and keep moving so they can't toe hold. Definitely don't try grabbing your own leg as a defence, as that will mean you arm is straight: they can then collapse your knee into your arm, trapping both limbs.

Sparring

I have rolled with a number of higher belts, but there are very few who are able to measure their pace as well as John. Many times when I've sparred a black belt, I find myself either staring at them as they wait for me to move, or just getting smashed. John found the perfect balance between the two, letting me move, anticipating my actions, but applying just the right amount of pressure to keep me moving. If he ever opens a club or regularly teaches somewhere, I would very highly recommend anybody able to get to Austin trains with him. Excellent teacher.

Hence why sparring was a great deal more useful than normal. I had the luxury of a talented instructor to roll with who was also willing to give me detailed and specific advice after we finished rolling. Although I am being wriggly with my legs when escaping, John recommended that I engage my hands as well, such as pushing into the head. Still on the topic of escapes, it is important to work out several techniques that flow together, particularly as I depend way too much on the running escape. So. I need to find another side control escape that follows on from the running escape. The failure of one technique should feed into the potential success of the next.

John noted that I was tending to pause briefly when I was put in a bad position. Instead, I should be working towards my escape right in that moment of reversal, rather than allowing that moment of delay. Partly that comes down to mat time, but it gives me something concrete to think about, especially when rolling with people better than me who keep putting me in those bad positions.

Due to the injury, I haven't been sparring much on this trip, but I did get in a roll with another member of the Bullshido website too, which was cool (he posts on there as daddykata), as well as chatting to various others, like blackmonk and Naszir (who took the pictures). I haven't been to a throwdown (the name Bullshido uses for these training meet-ups) in a couple of years. Today reminded me why I went in the past, as they're a lot of fun. :)