17/05/2017 - Teaching | Side Control | Failed kimura into armbar, then into a pressing choke

Teaching #664
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 17/05/2017

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on May 19, 2017 at 12:56am PDT

You've gone for the kimura, they block it. You switch to the armbar instead, but they block that too. Maintain control of their arm, wrapping it to your chest. The thumb of your other hand points down, as you move to grip the collar on the far side of their neck. This is your anchor point for a breadcutter style choke (I use 'pressing choke' instead, I think that's more logical and descriptive).

Drop your elbow by the near side of their neck, making sure your forearm is pressing into the near side of their neck. Avoid crushing the windpipe, a common mistake on this kind of choke (not to say it wouldn't submit somebody, but it's inefficient, plus your training partners prefer being able to talk the next day ;D). If you need more leverage, you can grab their near side collar with your other hand and pull it towards their legs to take out the slack. Finally, you can also push your choking elbow into their head, driving their head towards their opposite shoulder.
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Teaching Notes: This is something Matt H showed me, I presume off this video. Gerbil shows it from technical mount, but I think it is viable off an armbar from side control too. However, I'll need to test this more. Either way, it is not going to work from a kimura, as you're sat on their head and can't reach the neck properly: has to be the armbar, so you have access to the neck. I should try teaching this during mount month some time too, as part of technical mount attacks.

The usual first thing to keep in mind with these kind of chokes is making sure it is a blood choke rather than on the windpipe, which I always emphasise. I try to inject some humour when I can, e.g., "your partner will appreciate being able to talk tomorrow, make sure this is a blood choke," that kind of thing. Yeah I know, not exactly Victoria Wood level, but meh, it doesn't come naturally. :P Even if it is being done correctly, that can still sometimes be a little painful if somebody puts loads of force through into the neck. I think that's ok, as it isn't something that is doing lasting damage like pressure into the windpipe, but at the same time I don't like to encourage anything that's mean. Hard to know exactly where that line is sometimes, but I think "no lasting damage" is probably a fairly good place to draw it.

Also, we had a record turnout of 24 grapplers tonight. Brilliant! Lisa's women class was packed too, with ten people. I'm really pleased at how the club has grown this year! That also means that I had a good indication of how many people the mats can handle. In free sparring, everybody was rolling and there was still some space. I think that the mats can hold at least 30, even more once that bit of building work is done and we recover that top corner edge.

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on May 17, 2017 at 1:18pm PDT

26/09/2016 - Teaching | Side Control | Breadcutter Choke (Polmans variation)

Teaching #565
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 26/09/2016

A video posted by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Sep 27, 2016 at 8:39am PDT

The breadcutter choke can be set up in various ways. The way I first learned was moving towards north-south from side control. They will then often reach past your hip, which leaves a space for you to reach under their armpit and clamp it to your side. That means their arm is stuck between your side and your arm. Move back to side control, then with the hand of that clamping arm, grab behind their neck, gripping in the middle of the collar.

Kenny Polmans does it different. He doesn't move to north-south: instead, he uses his cross-face to roll them onto their side, anchoring his hand by their shoulder. As soon as you have that space, jam your knee in to prevent them bringing their back to the mat. Your arm nearest their legs reaches under their arm, digging until you get it where you want it. Reach through for the usual grip.

You can then loop your shoulder-arm over their neck, bringing your elbow down while you also pull on your collar grip. If you need more leverage, you can lean into that shoulder arm, adding more pressure into the side of their neck.
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Teaching & Sparring Notes: Getting them up onto their side with that initial roll isn't easy, which might be a matter of reaching further to their shoulder to get your arm tight enough to the head for that to be effective. Getting under their arm can be tricky too, especially if they're familiar with this choke, but digging around under the arm seems to eventually work. I like that the way this puts them on their side makes it easier to get the pressure on the side of their neck properly (though you need to be careful of how their turn their head, as that can transfer it to a windpipe choke, which you don't want in class).

In sparring, I was just trying to stay tight: as I forgot my gumshield I was being extra careful. I tried to get that grip from Kev's class a few times, but couldn't get it very secure. Perhaps I need more of a bend? Underneath guard, I was fiddling for wristlocks and pressing armbars a few times, but again I didn't have it locked in properly. One thing I did get in nicely was a bow and arrow type grip as somebody was turning away from me in side control, finishing it off with knee pressure. I think that gets called the crossbow choke, not sure.

16/03/2016 - Teaching | Side Control | Breadcutter Choke

Teaching #480
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 16/03/2016

The breadcutter choke can be set up in various ways. The way I first learned was moving towards north-south from side control. They will then often reach past your hip, which leaves a space for you to reach under their armpit and clamp it to your side. That means their arm is stuck between your side and your arm. Move back to side control, then with the hand of that clamping arm, grab behind their neck, gripping in the middle of the collar. Cinch that in.

You can also move into north-south, secure that for a moment, then reach back to get the collar grip. Either way, when you have that grip, walk back into side control. I like to use Xande's version to finish, as it feels a bit 'cleaner' than some of the others. Rather than turning their head to press into the side of the neck, he grips across to the far collar while they are still facing up. The hand needs to be far enough up that it doesn't cause the arm to squish the windpipe, but low enough to keep the gi tight. Drop your elbow, close to where your first hand is gripping. You then pry their head back with your elbow for the submission.

Another handy aspect of this technique is that it will work when your opponent does the classic white belt death grip over the back defence. As both their arm are up over your back, that leave your free to establish both your grips, as they aren't defending their neck. With the arm that goes over the neck, keep your elbow tight to your side. Xande starts from a position where both his knees are in. When he sprawls back on the leg nearest their legs, it enables his body to smoothly turn with his elbow still by his side, settling right into the choke.

In Saulo's version, as you move back around to side control, move your free arm back towards you, then use that to turn their head away from you. This feels counter-intuitive, as you'd expect to drag that arm back and turn their head towards you. However, you want to expose the near side of their neck. So, bring your arm back, then drive it over their jawline, turning their head away. Grip their far collar with your free hand (this might require balancing on their chest, turned towards their head, which should also help keep them pinned to the mat), then put your forearm into the exposed side of their neck.

To finish, you need to create some pressure into their neck, in order to close off the artery. Turn towards their legs, in a sort of reverse scarf hold position, then use that base from your legs to lower yourself gradually into their neck, keeping your initial gi grip tight. Be careful, as this can come on quickly and it isn't very comfortable.
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Teaching Notes: I've been trying this choke a lot more often in sparring, but it still needs some refinement. Teaching definitely helps with that. Next time, I want to note the option of leaning towards their head to add in some extra pressure onto their neck if you need it. While I prefer Xande's gentler version, it is good to have a backup for when that doesn't work (and I guess the leaning version isn't overly mean, as long as you do it with good balance and control).

14/09/2015 - Teaching | Side Control | Breadcutter Choke

Teaching #388
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 14/09/2015

The breadcutter choke can be set up in various ways. The way I first learned was moving towards north-south from side control. They will then often reach past your hip, which leaves a space for you to reach under their armpit and clamp it to your side. That means their arm is stuck between your side and your arm. Move back to side control, then with the hand of that clamping arm, grab behind their neck, gripping in the middle of the collar. Cinch that in.

You can also move into north-south, secure that for a moment, then reach back to get the collar grip. Either way, when you have that grip, walk back into side control. I like to use Xande's version to finish, as it feels a bit 'cleaner' than some of the others. Rather than turning their head to press into the side of the neck, he grips across to the far collar while they are still facing up. The hand needs to be far enough up that it doesn't cause the arm to squish the windpipe, but low enough to keep the gi tight. Drop your elbow, close to where your first hand is gripping. You then pry their head back with your elbow for the submission.

Another handy aspect of this technique is that it will work when your opponent does the classic white belt death grip over the back defence. As both their arm are up over your back, that leave your free to establish both your grips, as they aren't defending their neck. With the arm that goes over the neck, keep your elbow tight to your side. Xande starts from a position where both his knees are in. When he sprawls back on the leg nearest their legs, it enables his body to smoothly turn with his elbow still by his side, settling right into the choke.

In Saulo's version, as you move back around to side control, move your free arm back towards you, then use that to turn their head away from you. This feels counter-intuitive, as you'd expect to drag that arm back and turn their head towards you. However, you want to expose the near side of their neck. So, bring your arm back, then drive it over their jawline, turning their head away. Grip their far collar with your free hand (this might require balancing on their chest, turned towards their head, which should also help keep them pinned to the mat), then put your forearm into the exposed side of their neck.

To finish, you need to create some pressure into their neck, in order to close off the artery. Turn towards their legs, in a sort of reverse scarf hold position, then use that base from your legs to lower yourself gradually into their neck, keeping your initial gi grip tight. Be careful, as this can come on quickly and it isn't very comfortable.
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Teaching & Sparring Notes: This felt like it went pretty well, no major issues that I could see. What I need to work out is a smooth transition into the other three attacks connected to this (north-south kimura, near side armbar and far side armbar). I had a go in sparring, but then I also still have that problem of being too wary of losing position. I'm getting closer though, locking up the far arm to look for the kimura/armbar. There will be plenty of time to test that out on Wednesday. ;)

I also added a new drill, or rather a modification to an old drill. I want people to start thinking about blocking the cross-face, as well as setting up their defence during transitions. Hence why I tried doing the usual side control escape drill, but using the Jeff Rockwell frame to block the cross face. I will keep on building that up and see if it makes any difference. I'm also beginning to include some more posture breaking drills from guard, pulling out their elbows then bringing your knees in.

27/05/2015 - Teaching | Side Control | Breadcutter Choke

Teaching #328
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 27/05/2015

The breadcutter choke can be set up in various ways. The way I first learned was moving towards north-south from side control. They will then often reach past your hip, which leaves a space for you reach under their armpit and clamp it to your side. That means their arm is stuck between your side and your arm. Move back to side control, then with the hand of that clamping arm, grab behind their neck, gripping in the middle of the collar. Cinch that in.

You can also move into north-south, secure that for a moment, then reach back to get the collar grip. Either way, when you have that grip, walk back into side control. I like to use Xande's version to finish, as it feels a bit 'cleaner' than some of the others. Rather than turning their head to press into the side of the neck, he grips across to the far collar while they are still facing up. The hand needs to be far enough up that it doesn't cause the arm to squish the windpipe, but low enough to keep the gi tight. Drop your elbow, close to where your first hand is gripping. You then pry their head back with your elbow for the submission.

In Saulo's version, as you move back around to side control, use your free arm back towards you, then use that to turn their head away from you. This feels counter-intuitive, as you'd expect to drag that arm back and turn their head towards you. However, you want to expose the near side of their neck. So, bring your arm back, then drive it over their jawline, turning their head away. Grip their far collar with your free hand (this might require balancing on their chest, turned towards their head, which should also help keep them pinned to the mat), then put your forearm into the exposed side of their neck.

To finish, you need to create some pressure into their neck, in order to close off the artery. Turn towards their legs, in a sort of reverse scarf hold position, then use that base from your legs to lower yourself gradually into their neck, keeping your initial gi grip tight. Be careful, as this can come on quickly and it isn't very comfortable.
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Teaching Notes: Previously I've gone with Saulo's version, but after checking BJJ Library in preparation for this class, I'm leaning towards Xande's version instead. I'm not sure if they are variations of the same choke (the breadcutter), or different chokes (Saulo using the breadcutter and Xande applying the paper-cutter), but either way I prefer Xande's approach. Getting the grip in the right place on the collar is important, to achieve the necessary tension: too loose and it won't choke, too tight and you'll just drive your arm into their windpipe.

It is worth noting that crushing into someone's windpipe will probably make them tap, but I don't like techniques that rely primarily on pain. Also, there's always the risk that you'll run into somebody with a high pain threshold. Going for the 'clean' blood choke is more efficient, as well as less mean. Win win! :D

I've been trying to build in more attacks from side control and this one looks like it could work well. Tomorrow I want to look at some of the follow ups, as this choke combines well with both far and near side armbars, as well as my favoured north-south kimura.