Knee on the Belly Class
Tonight in class we focused on escapes from the Knee on Belly position. Before I discuss the escapes I'm going to put down a few tips for establishing a good Knee on Belly position.
Hand Position: One hand should be on his collar, under his neck. This is used to keep him from turning into you. Simply turn your elbow out so you can drive your forearm into his face as he tries to turn, effectively blocking his turn. The other hand should be on the far hip to give you some control over his hips.
Leg Position: As you slide your shin across his belly you want to be careful not to drive it too far across his belly so that your weight is off center. Also be sure not to separate your knee/shin from their body too much as you enter the position so they have less opportunity to escape. The foot should stay on the mat for increased stability. To tighten the hold you can turn your knee up towards their sternum an pull up on their collar.
Body Position: Your torso should be centered over them so you cannot be swept in either direction. Some people like to keep their torso upright and others like to stay low. Either is legitimate, however, I prefer to stay low because I feel it makes it easier to transition to other positions and to catch submissions.
Escapes:
Knee on Belly Escape 1 - Circle Hips Away
Your partner has established the Knee on Belly position with his right knee/shin on your belly. First off, never place your left hand on his knee with your elbow out (as if to push his knee off). That position will leave you open for arm bars and chicken wings. To effectively block his knee without putting yourself in danger use your right hand to grab his knee so your forearm is along his shin (keep your elbow tight). Next bridge your hips up and as you come back down scoot your hips out to the left and walk your feet to the left. You will be partially moving sideways and partially circling your body counter-clockwise. Use your right hand on his knee to keep his knee in place as you move your hips out from under him. Once his knee hits the mat you either slide your right knee in to try and establish guard or turn onto your belly and get up to quarters.
Knee on the Belly Escape 2 - Pushing the Foot and Going out the Back
From the same position, start the escape by placing your right hand on your partners right foot/ankle so you will be able to push it when the time comes. Bridge up and as you lower your hips push your partners right foot between your legs. Immediately do two things, one lock his right ankle down with your legs (like you would in the half guard) and two, get the left underhook so your left arm is under his right and around his back. Open your left elbow to pull him headword and push his butt with your left knee to drive him forward allowing you to escape out from underneath and take his back. Note: Typically when you trap his ankle with your legs he will go for the Knee Drive pass. This is OK as long as you have the underhook you can still escape out from underneath and take his back.
Knee on the Belly Escape 2.5 - Negative Counter from Escape 2
After you have your partner's ankle trapped and the underhook as in the escape above, he will start to do the Knee Drive Pass but then switch to the Negative as he feels you going to his back. With him now laying to your left you can reverse the Negative by grabbing his collar behind the neck with your left hand (or reach all the way behind his back and grab his left collar from underneath his left arm for added leverage when you go to turn him). Hook under his right ankle with your left foot and elevate his right foot as you grab his right knee with your right hand. Scoot your hips away and push his knee away from you as you get up to your knees and roll him onto his left side. You are now in a dominant position and can try to either take the back, pull him back flat for the cross-body or put your right foot in for the side mount.
Knee on the Belly Escape 3 - Cross Ankle Lock
From the same Knee on the Belly position post your right hand on his stomach at the belt level, keeping your elbow close to you. Bridge up and as you lower your hips keep his hips up in the air by extending your right arm to use it as a post. With his hips suspended up on your hand that will create some space between his thigh and his calf which you will use to set up your ankle lock/pass. Slip your right knee between his thigh and calf and then bring your left foot up and place it on his right hip. Use your legs to push him back and to your left so he falls onto his right side. Make sure you turn your left toes towards the mat to make it more difficult for him to drag your left leg across and counter ankle lock you. Secure either the right cross ankle lock or the right cross heel hook. You may have to scoot your hips away to create space to feed your right arm to secure the ankle. Be sure to scoot your hips back in to keep the lock tight. Once the ankle lock is secured turn your torso to the left as if you are trying to place your chest on the mat (anterior left shoulder is on the mat not posterior). This will make for a tighter lock when you go to arch your back. To finish, arch your back, pull up with your arms (just like a guillotine) and push away with your knee and foot.
*Credit for instruction of all techniques goes to Darren Branch of Evolution Jiu-Jitsu
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
4.28.08 BJJ Class
Warm Up - Butterfly Guard Pants Grip Break
Starting in butterfly guard, your partner will grab both of your pant legs to control your legs. To break his grip, grab one of his wrists with both of your hands (cupping behind the wrist), unhook your foot from inside his thigh and kick your leg out to the side. Now replace your hook and repeat on the other side. To use this as a warm up repeat the grip break 3 times and on the third time grab an underhook and take his back. Underhook his right arm with your right arm, pull him to you as you scoot your hips towards him. Keep the outside of your right leg flat on the ground and don't hook his leg yet. Grab his left Lat with your left hand over his back and place your right hand on the mat extended out and away from him (so he can't grab it). Pull yourself up onto your right knee and as you open your right knee and swing your left leg over his back to get the far hook. Establish back control.
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Here are some simple sweeps and submission set ups from the standing open guard. These are all pretty high percentage moves which I typically have success with during training.
Technique - Standing Guard Sweep A (knees to chest)
As your partner stands up in your guard, be sure to open your guard on your terms, not when they force it open. This will make catching standing guard sweeps easier.
Once he is standing and your guard is open grab the backs of both of his ankles so he cannot step away. From here, there are 2 ways to execute the sweep. Method 1 is to to keep your knees relatively close together and the backs of your ankles on his hips so your lower legs are in a "V" shape. Drive his hips down to the mat by raising your hips off the mat and pressing your heels down and towards the mat. As he falls your right hand will grab his right sleeve so that the momentum of his fall will help pull you up to a top position. If he lands with his left arm posting, so he is not flat, just hip into him and to the left to complete the sweep and end in mount. If he lands flat, keep your grip on his right arm and circle your body around so that your left knee ends up by his right shoulder, like you are going for an arm bar. Doing this circling motion will prevent you from taking your hips off his so you stay heavy and connected the whole time.
Method 2 is the same as method 1 except you start the sweep by pinching your knees together and punch your knees into his chest to knock him back down to the mat.
Technique - Standing Guard Sweep B (foot in hip)
Start with your left hand gripping his right sleeve at the wrist and your right hand gripping his collar at the neck. He stands and you open your guard. Place your left foot in right hip (toes pointing out) and hook behind his left knee with your right foot. Push him with your left leg and pull him with your arms to keep him off balance. Don't lay flat on your back, instead lay partially on your left side. Now, switch your grip so your right hand is now gripping his right sleeve, sit up part way and fall over to your left so you are closer to his right foot. Grap behind his right ankle with your left hand and pull his ankle to you as you push him away with your left foot. Once he is on the mat, use your grip on his sleeve to help pull yourself up and place your right knee on the far side of his right thigh, so you are pinning his thigh to the mat with your shin (shin against his inner thigh). Your left leg will circle out so your left foot is on the mat far away from him so he can't grab it (left foot on the mat not your knee). Now shoot your right arm to the mat outside of his left hip with your elbow in to prevent him getting the underhook. Pull up on his right arm with your left and slide into kesa-gatame.
Technique - Standing Guard Arm Bar
Start with your left hand gripping his right sleeve at the elbow and your right hand gripping his collar at the neck. He stands and you open your guard. Place your left foot in right hip (toes pointing out) and your right foot on his left bicep to control his left arm. Push him with your left leg and pull him with your arms to keep him off balance. Don't lay flat on your back, instead lay partially on your left side. To free his left arm he will either reach his arm over your foot or under it. If he reaches over your right foot swivel your torso to the right and raise your hips off the mat as you clamp your right leg under his arm across his back driving your heel to the floor. Pass you left leg across his face, pinch your knees together and drive your hips up to finish the arm bar.
Technique - Standing Guard Triangle
Same set up as the technique above but this time he reaches his left arm under your right foot.
Hip up and bring your right leg across his back. Lock your legs in a weak triangle (right lower leg is not perpendicular to his neck yet) first to hold the position. Move his right arm across your body and interlace your fingers behind his head to keep his head controlled. Unlock your legs and place your left foot on his hip so you can swivel your torso to the right and place your right leg perpendicular to the neck. Re-lock the legs and finish the triangle by squeezing your knees together and pulling his head down.
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*All technique instruction credit goes to Darren Branch of Evolution Jiu Jitsu
Starting in butterfly guard, your partner will grab both of your pant legs to control your legs. To break his grip, grab one of his wrists with both of your hands (cupping behind the wrist), unhook your foot from inside his thigh and kick your leg out to the side. Now replace your hook and repeat on the other side. To use this as a warm up repeat the grip break 3 times and on the third time grab an underhook and take his back. Underhook his right arm with your right arm, pull him to you as you scoot your hips towards him. Keep the outside of your right leg flat on the ground and don't hook his leg yet. Grab his left Lat with your left hand over his back and place your right hand on the mat extended out and away from him (so he can't grab it). Pull yourself up onto your right knee and as you open your right knee and swing your left leg over his back to get the far hook. Establish back control.
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Here are some simple sweeps and submission set ups from the standing open guard. These are all pretty high percentage moves which I typically have success with during training.
Technique - Standing Guard Sweep A (knees to chest)
As your partner stands up in your guard, be sure to open your guard on your terms, not when they force it open. This will make catching standing guard sweeps easier.
Once he is standing and your guard is open grab the backs of both of his ankles so he cannot step away. From here, there are 2 ways to execute the sweep. Method 1 is to to keep your knees relatively close together and the backs of your ankles on his hips so your lower legs are in a "V" shape. Drive his hips down to the mat by raising your hips off the mat and pressing your heels down and towards the mat. As he falls your right hand will grab his right sleeve so that the momentum of his fall will help pull you up to a top position. If he lands with his left arm posting, so he is not flat, just hip into him and to the left to complete the sweep and end in mount. If he lands flat, keep your grip on his right arm and circle your body around so that your left knee ends up by his right shoulder, like you are going for an arm bar. Doing this circling motion will prevent you from taking your hips off his so you stay heavy and connected the whole time.
Method 2 is the same as method 1 except you start the sweep by pinching your knees together and punch your knees into his chest to knock him back down to the mat.
Technique - Standing Guard Sweep B (foot in hip)
Start with your left hand gripping his right sleeve at the wrist and your right hand gripping his collar at the neck. He stands and you open your guard. Place your left foot in right hip (toes pointing out) and hook behind his left knee with your right foot. Push him with your left leg and pull him with your arms to keep him off balance. Don't lay flat on your back, instead lay partially on your left side. Now, switch your grip so your right hand is now gripping his right sleeve, sit up part way and fall over to your left so you are closer to his right foot. Grap behind his right ankle with your left hand and pull his ankle to you as you push him away with your left foot. Once he is on the mat, use your grip on his sleeve to help pull yourself up and place your right knee on the far side of his right thigh, so you are pinning his thigh to the mat with your shin (shin against his inner thigh). Your left leg will circle out so your left foot is on the mat far away from him so he can't grab it (left foot on the mat not your knee). Now shoot your right arm to the mat outside of his left hip with your elbow in to prevent him getting the underhook. Pull up on his right arm with your left and slide into kesa-gatame.
Technique - Standing Guard Arm Bar
Start with your left hand gripping his right sleeve at the elbow and your right hand gripping his collar at the neck. He stands and you open your guard. Place your left foot in right hip (toes pointing out) and your right foot on his left bicep to control his left arm. Push him with your left leg and pull him with your arms to keep him off balance. Don't lay flat on your back, instead lay partially on your left side. To free his left arm he will either reach his arm over your foot or under it. If he reaches over your right foot swivel your torso to the right and raise your hips off the mat as you clamp your right leg under his arm across his back driving your heel to the floor. Pass you left leg across his face, pinch your knees together and drive your hips up to finish the arm bar.
Technique - Standing Guard Triangle
Same set up as the technique above but this time he reaches his left arm under your right foot.
Hip up and bring your right leg across his back. Lock your legs in a weak triangle (right lower leg is not perpendicular to his neck yet) first to hold the position. Move his right arm across your body and interlace your fingers behind his head to keep his head controlled. Unlock your legs and place your left foot on his hip so you can swivel your torso to the right and place your right leg perpendicular to the neck. Re-lock the legs and finish the triangle by squeezing your knees together and pulling his head down.
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*All technique instruction credit goes to Darren Branch of Evolution Jiu Jitsu
First Comments
So, I've finally realized that I need to step up my BJJ training if I ever want to attain my purple belt. I've been hanging out as a blue belt for quite some time now (years) and have come to the realization that I need push my training to the next level if I want to progress in this art. I figured that starting a blog to journal my thoughts and experiences would help me to stay focused on my goals. I also figure that I could use this blog to help organize my training strategies, training tips and techniques. So, welcome to Hizzy's BJJ Journal and lets hope its a fun ride.
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