Training Notes

Mount Submissions

Posted on January 31st, 2015

Waterboarding
From side mount or full mount. If their arm is on my neck, use my hand on the mat to clear it above their head. Wrap both arms around their head. Squeeze their face into my chest, blocking the air.

Americana from Mount
Pro Tip: Use two hands to clear their arm to the mat. I have always been just using one, which is a struggle. Once the arm is on the mat, then lock up the grip.

S-Mount
Don’t just try to sit up into it. Slide the back leg towards the head, then bring the other arm over. Keep pressure on their chest. Lock up the arm bar, lean forward, then fall back into it.

Head-and-arm Triangle
From water boarding, make space and clear their arm across their neck. Step off mount, flatten out, use knee to block their hips, then finish.

Pro Tip: Stop fighting from guard in no-gi; it’s much harder to sweep/arm bar/etc. Attack and try to get top position.

Side Control / KOB / NS Escapes

Posted on December 28th, 2014

Side Control
Block hip with inside arm/hand so they can’t go N/S
If they are using shoulder pressure, grab their shoulder with same arm and push it down. Block hip and get the pressure off face.
Swim other arm under theirs, if possible
Bridge / Shrimp, don’t just bridge and let them flatten me back out
Legs to the side away from butt when bridging

N/S
When have under hook, lock their arm, bridge and roll into turtle when they try to transition
When in turtle, keep arm hooked. If they spin around, roll them over. If not, drive them over.

NOB
If they have a straight arm, cut under elbow and roll them over
Block both legs to push them off, not just one knee
If they have other leg too far away to block, block the KOB leg on the knee and ankle, not just the knee. Once blocked, shrimp out and get them off
Reach under NOB leg and grab back of belt (if possible). Grab collar and pull in hard. If they drive, roll them over. If not, shrimp escape.


1/2 Guard Passes with Chuong

Posted on December 7th, 2014

For our first private, Chuong and I worked on 1/2 guard passes. I have been having good success with the knee cutter, but this really opens up my game to a new level.

Knee Cutter - Low
  • get a deep under hook
  • put your head under the armpit, not by their head
  • don’t post on the top of your head, but move forward on your forehead
  • trap their other arm by the elbow reaching around from the outside. This will help move into scarf hold down the road
  • tripod to get knee past their hips. Do not start helping with the other leg until your knee is stabilized
  • once knee is past hips, put knee to mat and hip-switch
  • then, use other foot to free your foot if needed
  • pull up on their arm, and move and scarf hold

Knee Cutter - High
  • this is used when your opponent will not let you get the under hook
  • put your hand on their Hip
  • trap other arm by elbow
  • put your head down, and keep pressure on them with your head to keep them flat
  • tripod and pass, same as before

Knee Shield Block - Low
  • this is used when opponent tries to knee shield
  • with your outside arm, push their knee down to the mat
  • with your other arm, grab their collar and pulled their head close
  • then, put pressure with your body and hips and pushed knee up into their chest. “Load the spring"
  • sprawl, and slowly slide back until your leg is clear
  • pass into scarf hold

Knee Shield Block - High
  • if your opponent will not let you push their knee down
  • using outside arm, weave and grab by their lower knee
  • grab by collar with other arm
  • the pressure on them with your head to flatten them out
  • tripod and walk around to pass

If they kick a leg in while passing
  • step your inside knee between their legs
  • keep circling in the site control, making it uncomfortable for them
  • as they try to straighten out, take mount

Roll to take back from reverse scarf hold
  • can be used from any position, but works well if they are pushing on you with their arms as you are trying to pass from half guard. Also easy set up from side mount.
  • get near side arm under their armpit
  • switch hips into reverse scarf hold
  • either they will try to reach with their top leg to hook, or you can grab their top leg and pull it towards you
  • lock with your top leg by or above their knee
  • reach down and across them with your other hand, palm up on the mat
  • with your other hand, grab their other leg
  • role towards their feet
  • as they are on top of you, kick with the trapped leg to push them back
  • take back, or worst case, turn into side mount

Reverse Triangle

Posted on December 6th, 2014

When in a triangle, if your opponent curled his inside arm around your leg, instead of going for omoplata:
  • Control their head toward that arm
  • Switch the cross of the legs
  • Push their head toward that shoulder while closing the triangle.

1/2 Guard

Posted on December 3rd, 2014

Position
Underhook around waist
On side
Head to their body
Outside leg hooking theirs
inside arm pushing knee away



Old-school Sweep
When they posture to start pushing on head
Reach under legs with inside arm
Grab their outside toes
Push up and over that outside leg

Plan B
If they post their leg when trying to grab their toes
Pull them over you to the other side
Swim under their near-side leg with your arm
Side-control

Plan C
If they lose the wizzer to post, take back!

Judo Wrestling Reversals

Posted on November 16th, 2014

Uchi Mata from single leg (kneeling)
  • When opp is kneeling, step back with other foot.
  • Step to their outside, not between their legs
  • Uchi Mata throw

Backward sacrifice from single leg (standing)
  • If they are standing, use the leg they have to go into a backward sacrifice throw

Side Control Attacks

Posted on November 15th, 2014

Basic position
Don’t let their arm get between your legs
Bock under arm when moving to N/S to kill their hips
If their arm gets under your legs, reach up and move to scarf hold
If they are pushing your head back, transition into Kimora side control
If they resist Kimora, move into Head/Arm choke (either around head or standard)

Roll Notes
  • Overall, I am happy with how I did
  • N/S Choke: Brian showed me that I need to slow down and really get deep before choking
  • I was able to hit an Omoplata again. A triangle that they are escaping is a great setup for it.
  • I need to be more aggressive with my arm bars from guard. I am too timid, and people are getting out of them

Closed Guard Passes

Posted on November 11th, 2014

The first pass is what to do if they have your posture broken down
  1. grab lapels
  2. stand up keeping your feet close together
  3. all your feet in so they make a 90° angle
  4. use one knee between their legs to wedge their legs open

the second pass is a more traditional stand up, but some good additional notes
  1. if you have good control of their belt, you can hop up to so you don’t need control their arm
  2. squeeze their hips between your knees, so they’re unable to hip move

Roll Notes
  • Overall, it was pretty disappointing
  • I was having trouble stabilizing even white belts. I ran into the stiff arm multiple times that got me back into guard
  • I was able to keep a purple belt from submitting me
  • when I go for my submissions, I really need to go for them
  • I tried the side mount arm choke, but had my weight way too far over him, and was rolled over

No Gi - Side Mount Control and Submissions

Posted on November 8th, 2014

Control
Hip to hip. Make sure to drive your hip into theirs
If they push on your hip with their inside hand, clear arm and go into scarf hold

Scarf Hold
Keep far arm under their shoulder
Keep head on same side as body so you won’t get rolled over
Trap inside arm with your arm and leg

You can then transition to high side mount with their arm trapped.

Side Mount Head-and-Arm
If they are pushing on your head with their exposed arm
Clear your high arm under theirs
Swing arm all the way around their neck, starting on the side you are on
Lock hands
Squeeze to finish



Side Mount Reverse Head-and-Arm
Get into high side mount with their arm trapped between your body and leg
Top arm under their neck, and holding their armpit
Lock with lower hand
Head on same side of body to stop turning
Pull them up onto one side
Put weight into them to finish

Roll Notes
  • I was too busy thinking about providing coaching but allow myself to get submitted
  • did well catching the arm bar from guard two times. Basically works like a thought, they are leaning over you, push their head away and trap their arm. Make sure to drive hips up
  • I went for a stupid triangle that I knew would be shucked. Need to anticipate more.


Closed Guard Sweeps

Posted on November 7th, 2014

Sweep when Opponent Stands Up
Cross grip on the lapel
Under hook leg with other arm
Keep guard closed
Arch hips up and straighten out leg to buckle

You can also do the sweep without the cross grip by putting your hand by your head on the floor for leverage

Typically when you click the leg, your opponent will put his knee on your chest

Counter
Feed sleeve grip to arm that is under leg
Grab nearside collar with other arm
Omoplata
Roll opponent over you and end on top

Sweep if opponents legs are too close together
Open guard, then use your legs to pinch their legs together
Cross grip both sleeves
Pull them on top of you, then roll them over to one side
Keep knees together until you end in mount

Roll Notes
  • I was unable to finish a triangle, yet again. I think my issue is t I am not shooting my hips up when I lock it in
  • Did not try any of the moves where we were positionally sparring.
  • I had a pass, but let off on it at the last minute and was rolled over
  • The little white belt dominated the grips in open mat, and almost submitted me!

Bob Sullivan