Mount Attacks

We worked on gyaku juji jime and kata juji jime.  We also drilled armbars as a reaction to bottom's bump and/or attempt to roll.


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Knee on Mount

We did a drill where bottom attempts an elbow/knee escape.  Top adjusts to it be flowing into knee on belly.

From knee on belly, we worked on finishing with an arm bar.

We also discussed proper reactions to being under the knee on belly.


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Kesa Gatame escape and Arm Triangle

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"Offense from the Guard"

In this private with T, I suggested that we explore offenses from the guard.  Instructor's first move was to escape out and sit up (often to elbow; some times to hand).  This alone told me so much about what was wrong with my thinking:  when I suggested guard offense, I was thinking of being flat on my back, both hips down, and both shoulders down.  I equated guard offense with explosion from this flatten position, and instructor's approach did so much to change me mind set.

From the escape out (similar to scissor sweep), the bottom foot must be in opponent's hip.  In this position, standing up and basing to my knee is possible, then, a nice collar drag can put opponent on his hands and knees and me on top!  (Being in this position 8 minutes after suggesting offense from my guard is the type of creativity that I was lacking until instructor shared his approach.)

Of course, the scissor sweep might be there for the taking.  Sweeping is and act of offense from the guard.

This same escaping motion (as in the scissor sweep) can give the space needed for bigger, slower guys like myself to attack triangles and armbars.  I found this tip also extremely helpful.  The flexibility and explosion thought necessary to hit triangles and armbars, is not as much as an issue if you can create space and, then, use that space to your advantage.

In discussing triangles and armbars, issues of opponent's posture were explored.  Instructor also encouraged a dynamic arm bar drill that I need to improve upon.

One of the most valuable lessons learned was in the mental approach department.  It was really cool to see instructor's take on guard offense and compare it to my limited point of view.

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Giving Back class

I took my daughter to class tonight, and I stayed for adult class that followed. I was feeling the effects of a full training week, so I wanted to partner with a beginner to give back to my gym and art.

That said, I got a lot from the class. While letting my partner get the most reps in, here's what was covered.
1.  Head lock defense (big step back).
2.  Head lock defense (hook the knee; baseball side back).
3.  The above move lead to an open mount arm bar.
4.  Scissor sweep (with pushing the knee).
5.  The above sweeps lead to more open mount arm bar work.

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Butter Half

Today we worked a classic butterfly sweep.

We worked a kimura roll when we have our opponet in half guard. Many folks found it a but tricky. From the roll, our opponent will often post his right hand, this gives us a chanceto work an x (or modified) sweep.

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Adjusting to Bottom's Work

When in side control, your opponent (on bottom) will often want to explode up and get the under hook.  As he does this, you can counter by popping up with him and going to knee-on-belly.

From knee-on-belly you can do any of the following which we drilled today:
1.  kata juji jime
2.  top-side armbar (think guillotining your opponent's elbow)
3.  switch to a classic kimura
4.  from a classic kimura set up, go to the armbar

While mostly a knee-on-belly clinic, it was neat to consider these moves as a reaction to bottom's attempt to pop up from side control.

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