Back Control and Chokes

nieman gracie instructing as daniel is still in puerto rico. we continue to focus on basics, which is great for me. today we worked on finishing an opponent once we have back control. this is a big problem for me. uke always manages to get my hook out and escape by getting his back to the ground. i reviewed galvao's back control dvd after the class - am going to try his technique next time.

separately, neiman did some excellent work describing which hand chokes. the key here is that i want to use the hand that will make uke choke himself if he turns into me to escape. best shown in the video below. the first choke taught to me is the second choke taught on this video.



the second choke taught to me today was the rear naked. i like this video because the shoulder push seems like a good detail to add to the arsenal.

Escape from Side Control: Elbow-Knee

professor gino in this morning with some basics on escaping from side control. he went over two variations - one with a bridge and one without. he said his back problems make him use the bridgeless technique more often. i put my right knee up to avoid the mount and slide my left foot away from my right to give some additional room to move my hip to my left. i then insert my right knee and make a brace with my right elbow. i push off uke. i move on to my right elbow and move my elbow back so i can move my body back as uke comes forward to attempt to pass again. this body drag using the elbow may be an easier alternative to trying to replace the guard.

for the bridged version, i bridge into my opponent and then fall away to insert the foot. using one or both feet for the bridge is ok. (using only one allows a better mount defense).



the first variation on this video is close to what i was taught except that instead of doing an elbow drag, he does a more traditional guard replacement.

double threat from the mount

after a week off on vacation, i came back to class at lunchtime today to greet the new instructor, neiman gracie. he taught basics today which is always good for me.

from the mount, he showed how to threaten the choke and the arm bar simultaneously. From the mount, i open uke's right lapel with my left hand. i then form a line and use my right hand to travel all the way deep behind uke's neck. i then control uke's right elbow with my chest, forcing it across uke's chest. i then move to the technical mount by placing my left knee by uke's ear while continueing to sit on his chest. i curl my right foot across uke's shoulder so that uke does not use his left arm to reach under my foot. i then threaten to choke by inserting my right thumb under uke's far collar. the choke requires me to place my head on the floor along side my helping hand. i also threaten the arm bar which requires me to place my left leg over uke's head and fall back.



this video is identical to what was taught in class except he does not place his head on the floor to finish the choke as i was taught. also, the way he initially inserts his hand to start the choke is different.

halfguard top passes

working with professor gino this morning and blue belt jake. gino taught us four separate passes from halfguard top. First two use shoulder pressure and second two do not. the last of the four appear similar to what was taught in saulo ribiero's revolution 1 dvd on halfguard.

pass #1: my left shoulder presses against uke's cheek as my hands grip palm to palm. i swing my right leg (which is caught) back behind me so that uke is looking in one direction and his knees are pointing in another. i then use my free foot to push against uke's leg to free my leg and foot.

pass #2: my left shoulder presses against uke's cheek. i place my head on the mat along with my right hand. my left middle finger goes into uke's armpit. i go on my toes for mobility. i swing my right leg (which is caught) up towards my own head. i then use a straightarm with my right arm to push off uke's knee. once my knee gets past his leg (3/4 mount) i have to tuck my knee into uke's body to keep him from doing eblow knee escape from the mount. this pass works better for me even though uke's spine is not as bent as i do not get swept as often.

pass #3: uke uses his forearm to block my shoulder pressure. i move my head to where it would be if i had side control. my left arm goes on the ground. i move my hips towards uke's head (important) to make it harder from him to push my hips. i swing my trapped right leg up towards my head and use my right arm to push.

pass #4: uke uses his forearm to block my shoulder pressure. i move my head to where it would be if i had side control. my left arm goes on the ground. i move my hips towards uke's head (important) to make it harder from him to push my hips. i sit on my butt and insert my right arm inside his thigh and grap. i position my left (free knee) against uke's bottom hip and bottom leg. i pull with my arm and push with my knee as a make room to pull out my leg and foot. i only create enough space to pull out the leg. my left hand posts on the mat to block the sweep in one direction. my right arm pulling on uke's leg blocks the sweep in the other.

lots of half guard passes on youtube but none i could find exactly like these four. two of them were studied earlier and have notes in this blog.

sweep from guard after uke stands up

after being out a week with a sore wrist, i am back today for a lunchtime class with professor daniel. he went over two complex sweeps. i am unlikely to locate them on youtube. both of them start in the closed guard and uke stands up and breaks open the guard.

first sweep sequence: right hand controls uke's left sleeve. right foot pushes uke's left knee to gain distance and then place my right foot on uke's left hip. my left leg raps round uke's right knee (dela cava). my left hand grabs uke's right elbow. i push on uke's knee again to sit up, reach behind his right leg with my left arm and transfer control of his left sleeve to my left hand. my right hand grabs uke's left collar to prevent him from breaking the grip i have with my right hand. i kick his knee and pull uke towards me to complete the sweep. since i control his left wrist, he cannot base out.

second sweep sequence: right hand controls uke's right sleeve (cross grip). he stands up again. i again push off his knee and sit up and transfer control of the hand. however, this time, his left hand is free to base out. so i turn my body, keep my head in front of uke's groin (important), and hook is free leg with my right hand. i then hip out underneath him so that he rolls forward.

Rolling Tips: Escape Side control - Turn on All Fours

start similar to tactics for replacing the guard - press uke's shoulder with both palms (actually, for the turn on all fours, just using the free arm is usually enough if i cannot get both arms) and hip bump up, use my arms as blocks. if uke does not allow enough room to insert the knee, consider getting an underhook with the near arm and turning over on all fours and stretching my legs out and away from him (to keep him from getting my back). my head follows my arm inside his body as a go for a knee. my head pulls up while my arms pull his knee. i have to move my legs around towards his legs as i do this. generally more difficult than replacing the guard.



the interesting detail added by this video (not taught to me) is lifting my far leg once i am trying to take him down by pulling his leg.

Rolling Tips: Escape Side Control - replace the guard

When uke has his shoulder in your cheek and is applying pressure, i use my free arm to press on his shoulder while my forearm presses against his chin. my close arm also presses against his shoulder (not his hip or wait). IMPORTANT: i have to keep both hands open. (i have developed a bad habit of closing my hands.) then hip bump straight up, use both hands as blocks, hip out, insert the knee and push off.