28/10/2017 - RGA Bucks | Takedowns, Von Flue choke, double underhooks pass

Class #914
RGA Aylesbury, (BJJ), Dan Lewis, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK - 28/10/2017

For the double leg takedown, get your standard judo grips, grip a collar and sleeve. Step back and pull them in towards you, raising your elbows. Then immediately drop, putting the knee on the collar-grabbing side on the ground between their legs. Step your other leg up on the outside and put your hands around the back of their knees, but not trying to link your hands. Your head comes up, then you also step up with your other leg. Do a little sideways run, away from your head, in order to bring them down.

They will often grab your head in an attempt at a guillotine, then land under side control, meaning they have a not particularly functional grip. If they insist on maintaining that grip, you can do what's known as a 'von Flue choke', presumably named after some guy. You establish the cross face as normal, but driving your shoulder into their neck. Your other hand goes underneath their gripping arm, linking up with your other hand. Make sure your cross-face hand is palm down for the gable grip (palm to palm). Move around to exert pressure for the choke. Either you'll get the submission, or they will let go of their grip.

A post shared by Can (Jun) (@slideyfoot) on Oct 31, 2017 at 8:57am PDT

Dan then ran through a double underhooks pass, drawing on the method Mauricio showed earlier that week (very awesomely, Mauricio is now teaching every Monday lunchtime at RGA Bucks). Roll their collars together to start (like Donal showed me a few years back), fighting off their hands if they try to stop you. It's worth taking the time to get that super strong grip. Your collar gripping arm isn't completely straight, there is a slight bend so you're not straining, ready to engage if they try to sit up.

Open their closed guard with the usual kneeling break, then get your shoulder behind their knee. Rather than immediately reaching for the collar like I'm used to, you instead rely on gripping your wrist to create a frame. Your arm that would normally go for the collar instead just wraps tight around their leg. Your other hand comes in tight, grasping the wrist of your outside arm. Driving forward off your toes, start to stack them, keeping your head up, driving with your hips too. Once they are stacked, that's when you go for the collar.

Grab their opposite collar (or shoulder, if it's nogi or you can't get the grip you want) with one of your hands, sliding your fingers inside. Bring your knee behind their bum to maintain your stack. It is important to keep maintaining heavy downwards pressure throughout this pass. Keep pushing until eventually you drive past their leg and transition to side control: don't raise your head, just keep pushing until you slide past, nudging with your shoulder if necessary.

If they bring their knee across to block that, by your neck, you can switch to something else. Grip their other leg (that isn't against your neck), low on their trousers. Step over the top of it, so you're in a kind of half guard. Your head then goes onto the leg-stacked side hip, driving across towards that side. Head stays low to avoid the reverse triangle, then you bring your other arm in for the cross-face. Walk your legs back toward the side your head is pressing into, as that shift back around should make it tough for them to keep control of your leg.

Good roll with Stu as always, where I again tried to fit in that single leg x and shin on shin guard, but not getting it where I want it just yet. I'll keep trying (naturally it's rather harder on brown belts like Stu!).

22/06/2016 - BJJ Globetrotter Camp | Leuven 2016 | Double Under & Over Under Pass (Oli Geddes)

Class #731
BJJ Globetrotter Camp (Sportoase Leuven), Oliver Geddes , Leuven, Belgium, 22/06/2016

The double under pass has various names: I've tended to refer to it as the 'stack pass', or 'double underhook' pass, which relate to the 'single stack' and 'single underhook'. The principle is the same with all of them: elevate their hips, get a cross collar grip, crush through to side control. Looking back through my blog, I haven't been to a class on it in a long time: the most recent entry is a class from Jude back in 2007. More recently, I've taught this myself a few times, so I can cheat and use that as a skeleton to help write this class up. ;)

When I teach it, I go from closed guard. As soon as you can create enough space in their closed guard, slip your arms underneath both legs. Grasp around the outside and secure a gable grip (palm to palm), or an s-grip (four fingers clasped together). If you prefer, you can instead grip their trousers and lock your elbows, or indeed their belt: the problem with those grips is that the loose fabric may provide them with enough space that they can make room to escape.

The latter is the one Oli went with when he was teaching this, staying very tight. He also interestingly mentioned a funky elbow lock you can do to counter: writing this up some time after the actual camp, I've now been to a class at RGA Bucks which was all about countering the double unders with a whole bunch of submissions (I haven't written that up yet either, but it's on the list ;D).

Whichever grip you prefer, you now want to stack your opponent, driving forward off your toes. Before that point, Oli talked about sprawling back to recover your position if they started getting legs under, as well as doing a sort of 'hip switch' if they were able to hook your leg. To get them in position for stacking, the two basic methods are to either pull them up onto your hips using your thighs as a ramp, or move forwards so you're close behind them and they are rolled up onto their shoulders.

Oli had a third version. He steers them in a direction, pulling back and down on one side, in order to get his shoulder behind the knee. That's when he starts to stack them, getting the lower hand in the middle by their lower back. Once you've got them stacked and have reached for their opposite collar, the aim is again to push their knee right into their face. You can keep them stacked by putting your knee into their bum, while you continue to shift around.

If you can't grab the collar, your can grab the shoulder, or you could also reach behind their head. An even tighter option is to reach all the way behind their head and grab the shoulder. In that situation, be careful you don't start neck cranking with a 'can opener' (a crude technique from closed guard where you pull their head towards you), as that's illegal in most competitions for a reason.

I normally establish a wide base with my feet, Oli's version looks easier, as he stayed fairly low. Either way, it is important to keep maintaining heavy downwards pressure throughout this pass. Keep pushing until eventually you drive past their leg and transition to side control: don't raise your head, just keep pushing until you slide past, nudging with your shoulder if necessary.

Oli didn't spend much time on locking his hands together, as he pointed out that if somebody is good, they are not going to let you do that. He therefore sticks with grabbing the top of the trousers on either side, by the hips. A variation is to get both hands to the middle of their lower back, then do a powerful motion to flip them up. As Oli emphasised, this isn't going to work well on somebody bigger than you. He then used his head by the hip to move round and get the pass.

There was a weird leglock you can do too if they block with their leg, which looked a bit like the way you armbar from a crucifix when you're still attacking the turtle. You lock around their leg, then stretch your body, driving your hips down. Most of the time, this isn't to submit them, it's to get them to move their leg out of the way so you can complete the pass.

Finally, there was another variation, the over under pass. I've heard the term, but I don't think I've ever been shown it in class. You're going for the double under, but can't get the legs into position. Instead, shift your weight to isolate one of their legs. You're trying to get your arm free on that side, to bring it over their leg, gripping underneath. That also means you can drive your shoulder on that side heavy into his thigh.

Bring your hips high, using your arm to punch that same leg your were controlling away, in order to pass. Be sure they can't shrimp away, as that will mess up the pass. That's where your other arm comes in handy, driving their hip to the mat. Your head is also by that far hip, adding more control.

Don't forget, you can also go to top half guard if you can't get past their leg. Finally, be wary of the reverse triangle as you pass. Keep solid control of that leg, so they can't push your head through. I like how he described "removing options": it's a slow, steady pass, taking away their options until you've got all their escape routes covered.

15/11/2007 - BJJ (No-Gi)

Class #101



Roger Gracie Academy (BJJ), Jude Samuel, London, UK - 15/11/2007 – No-Gi

I didn’t make it to class last week, as there was a higher priority: my girlfriend. Her fortnight kicked off by getting viral labyrinthitis, which is an infection of the inner ear that completely destroys your balance, so you’re constantly dizzy and feel like you’re about to throw up. There was no way I was going to leave her like that, so arranged to work from home in order to look after her. She then had a tough interview on the Monday, still suffering slightly from the infection, which wasn’t helped by her train ticket disappearing and the guy at the ticket office being a total bastard about it (despite the fact she had her receipt and outward ticket). Finally, she then had to have a tooth pulled out the next day, which sounded nasty: lots of pain and blood. So BJJ kinda took a back seat. ;)

Had writing to finish off yesterday, which meant I missed Wednesday, but next week should hopefully bring this busy period for me to a close.

Getting into class tonight, I notice there have been a few changes. The first one was explained to me by Roger: we’re not signing in anymore on a sheet, as instead we now each get our own laminated card which will detail our attendance. The idea is to give that to the instructor when you get on the mat, who then gives it to the secretary (which today was Joanna rather than Pippa: didn’t get a chance to ask if she was just covering or if she now works there too) to mark off.

I also saw a notice saying that those 7:30am mixed classes on Mondays and Wednesdays will be discontinued after this month. Not that I could ever have made them, but a shame for those people who like training super early. I guess they must not have been popular enough to warrant a permanent place in the schedule.

Jude went through the usual fairly hefty warm-up, then moved on to what proved the only two techniques of the night. We started off with a stack pass, which I’ve done before, but never nogi. Starting in their guard and having achieved double underhooks on their legs, you grip and pull them in towards you and up. Your knee comes up, slightly to the side, then pressing your weight right down, you twist their body away from your knee with your arms, driving with your shoulder. Keep shoving your weight through until you slide into side control.

Jude then demonstrated an open guard pass. From a standing position, you control one of their hips by pressing firmly with your hand. With the other, take hold of their knee. Maintaining control of the hip throughout, throw the leg to one side and drive right through with your head, aiming to end up you’re your head on the same side as the controlled hip, basically butting them in the chest to get there, finally sliding into side control.

I think that’s when we did a bit of open guard passing, though it might have been at a different point in the lesson. I was working with one of my preferred training partners, Christina, and spent my time on the bottom trying to entangle her legs. Something I need to work on, as every time she steadily worked her way through into side control, generally by getting one of the legs isolated (I think). I need to be more offensive with the open guard from there, trapping them with my legs: in other words, like Owen does with his excellent open guard. I did try things like putting my foot into a bicep, but as I don’t really know what I’m doing there, it wasn’t especially productive.

However, I did at least feel I had more options underneath than when trying to pass. I find passing difficult enough with a gi, so without those grips it becomes nigh on impossible. I need to be much more mobile, and also use that open guard pass we were shown today more often. I was in position a couple of times, but struggled to throw the leg to one side, on trap it in some other way. Again, something I should work on. Its good to have another option for guard passing nogi, as previously I was completely stuck: at least now I can be working towards a technique and hopefully improve little by little each time.

We then went straight into free sparring, which would take up most of the lesson. I started again with Christina (IIRC), and much the same pattern took place as with the open guard passing, where I tried to drag her into my guard and she went to side control. I’m trying to work on making space under side control with my elbow, so that I can shrimp out. However, I’m still forgetting to try to go to my knees, due to focusing so much (albeit with very little success) on either getting guard back, or stepping over with my far leg to try for half guard.

As usual Christina gave me several tips, which I might have mixed together as I sparred her twice. First she reminded me of the guillotine escape we learned last time I showed up, where you raise the hips, put your head to the floor and drive forward. She could have easily choked me out a few times, but instead took pity and coached me through the escape instead. She also suggested that when trying to escape a RNC, I could try popping my head out past her armpit, given that I’m small. I was attempting to pull the arm down, move my legs round and swivel to side control, but that didn’t work too well. As ever, good to have a few options for escapes.

I also sparred Connor, who is another good training partner. Again, I spent most of my time sitting under his side control or mount, trying to make space. My elbow escape really sucks at the moment, as it tends to result in my partner getting high mount. I did go for half guard a few times, but wasn’t able to do much with it: I tried to bring my knee through, but couldn’t stop Connor getting back to either side control or mount.

Continuing to display terrible cardio, I was knackered by this point. However, I wasn’t going to be let off so easy, as like last time Jude pulled me over for a spar. Also like last time, he gave me lots of tips – definitely a good experience to roll with your instructor. The coming to knees thing under side control cropped up numerous times, which I eventually managed to do after Jude’s prompting: I need to get into the habit of going to knees and trying for the single leg, as per the drill we did earlier (you escape from side control, single leg your partner, then they do the same and it starts again).

I also found that even when my partner is going light and gives me a good position, I’m not sure what to do with it. I was sitting in guard with an arm round Jude’s head and trying to control the arm, and couldn’t think what to do next, ending up with a very half-arsed guillotine attempt. I followed that up with a sloppy try at the sit-up sweep, but as I hadn’t at all broken Jude’s base, that didn’t go anywhere. It would be great to have a private lesson and really work on sweeps and using the guard some time, as well as escapes. Will have to see how I’m looking financially next year.

Having taken a round off to try and get my breath back, I then had roll with Leo that felt pretty similar to that with Connor. I did manage to reverse him a couple of times, but they were always short-lived as I soon returned to my previous position underneath, not to mention he was going light. Still found myself caught in a few chokes, but generally felt able to be a little more mobile because Leo is closer to my size. However, as he is extremely mobile, that extra bit on my part didn’t make any difference: a good reminder that I have to use my hips more and fight harder for position.

I can’t remember too much about my final two spars with Christina and Greg, as I was completely gone by that point. Class finished with yet more exercise, which my legs refused to respond to properly, so I kind of wiggled in a poor attempt at running/jumping/sprawling etc. Definitely need to get fitter!

RGA Open Day this Saturday, which should be cool. I’m hoping two people I know are going to be able to pop down: haven’t seen either of them in a while (one for a good 15/16 years), so could be an interesting way to catch up.

25/07/2007 - BJJ (Beginners)

Class #75



Roger Gracie Academy (BJJ), Roger Gracie, London, UK - 25/07/2007 – Beginners

There was a lot of talent in the room when I walked in, as a bunch of black belts – including both Felipe and Roger - grappled on the mats, while Maurição looked on. I recognised Leo, who I’m still sure must have some kind of judo in his background: he landed a number of throws on his sparring partners. The other Brazilian I’ve noticed over the past few weeks with blonde hair was also on the mats, and as I’d suspected is yet another black belt.

Roger took the class today, and kicked off with the basic trip, osoto gari. He taught it slightly differently to how I’ve seen before, as normally the process is to step past your opponent, then drag them in that direction, pulling down on their arm and up on their shoulder. Roger’s version was to step through and then pull your partner tight into your chest, so you end up standing parallel, before sweeping the leg to take them down. Always good to have a few variations, even if I continue to be less than keen on throws.

That was followed by the usual armbar from guard. Although I’ve been shown the submission plenty of times, there were plenty of useful reminders. Keep the knee tight as you post off the other hip, and make sure you really push out your own hips. If you don’t shrimp enough, then it’s going to be difficult to break their posture. Also, use your hand to push their head into place, which makes it easier to get your leg over the top.

Roger then demonstrated my favoured tailbone guard break, following the same pattern as BJ Penn: very cool, as I’ve been hoping we’d get to see this sequence in class. Get a firm hold on their belt, put a knee into their tailbone, then straighten your arms and push up and back. At the same time, your should have your other leg as far back as possible, in order to drive your hip into their crossed feet, breaking their guard.

As soon as their guard opens, you can then perform a stack pass. Slip your arms underneath both legs (I think one at a time, but not sure), get a secure gable grip then drag them towards you. Stack your opponent, aiming to push their knee right into their face (or alternately, use your shoulder). Once you’ve decided which way to pass, grab their collar with the same side hand. Move round, and with the other hand lift their hips, maintaining heavy downwards pressure. Keep pushing until eventually you drive past their leg and transition to side control.

Specific sparring from guard started off with Nathan, who I haven’t seen in a while as he’s been off doing voluntary work abroad. He’s about my weight, so always a handy training partner. His guard has definitely got tougher to pass, as I had some trouble getting through, though I think I managed to get the stack once or twice. I’m keep leaving my arm vulnerable when attempting to break the guard, so need to pay closer attention to the positioning of my elbow. Nathan was able to break my posture a few times, so that’s also somewhere I need to be careful: keep back straight and look up, with a wide base.

I managed to get a sit-up sweep when Nathan was in my guard, but it was rather sloppy – I drove my own elbow into the floor in the process. I need to be smoother on that sweep, pulling their arm in tighter, and also keep in mind the possibility of switching to a kimura, which I often forget if I fail to get the sit-up. I also must remember to go to my knees if I find myself underneath with plenty of space. The only reason I did so against Nathan was due to a reminder from Roger, so that’s something to ingrain.

Class finished up with specific sparring from mount. My next partner was Ivan, who I haven’t sparred before – judging by his accent, he’s American, or possibly just learned his English from an American (there’s a French girl in my office who has an American accent for that reason). I didn’t have too many problems under mount, successfully sweeping him a few times, but found it very difficult to maintain mount when I was on top. Ivan was repeatedly able to get double underhooks and sweep me, so clearly that’s an area I need to work on. Getting better control of my opponent’s arms would help with that, and also being careful not to lean too far forward. I tend to end up in a position where I’ve got an arm under their head while using the other to base out – that’s worked for me on occasion, but here it just resulted in continuous sweeping.

The sign-up sheet for the Bristol Open is up, so I put my name down for the under 64kg. Apparently there will be a coach to take us there and back on the day, so I shouldn’t have to worry about accommodation. I don’t think I’ll have any trouble making weight, as I’ve been maintaining about 61.5kg (without a gi), which is ideally where I want to be for the competition. That would mean I should weigh in about 63.5kg, so I’m giving myself 0.5kg leeway.