Tag Archives: Escapes
Countering the Half Guard Pass
Since I released my DVD on the Dynamic Half Guard I get a lot of questions on how to prevent certain guard passes. I cover a lot of guard pass and leglock prevention in that video, but it’s *only* 2 hours long (more…)
One more Von Flue Choke
As you know, in the last few newsletters we’ve been discussing body position for guillotine chokes and using the ‘Von Flue’ choke to recounter the guillotine. If you missed them you can click to see the first post here and the second post here. (more…)
Never Get Guillotined Again!
OK, I have to admit that I’m exaggerating with the whole “never get guillotined again” title, but it’s almost true. If you incorporate principle that I’m about to share with into your grappling two things will happen: (more…)
The Stiff Arm (in Grappling)
The stiff arm on the Heisman Trophy is an iconic posture in football, and it is used by players in every single game. In Brazilian jiu-jitsu, however, the stiff arm has a bit of a bad rap. (more…)
Here’s on of the highest percentage leglock escapes from the Counters and Recounters section of the High Percentage Leglocks DVD. (more…)
Counter to the Rolling Toehold vs. de la Riva Guard
The rolling toehold is a very powerful, very surprising attack. Here’s a way to counter it and shut it down when your opponent tries to do it to you. (more…)
Grappling uses muscles that don’t normally get a lot of attention in the gym. As evidence of this I’ll point to the muscle soreness in unexpected places that otherwise fit people experience when they grapple hard for the first time. (more…)
Preventing & Escaping the RNC
A reader asked:
Q:“How do I escape the Rear Naked Choke – I’ve tried all sorts of things and they don’t seem to work…” (more…)
A Game of Inches
I was recently helping someone with their sidemount escapes, and of course we had to discuss posture when trapped in side mount.
As I was working with this person we kept on returning to one particular detail (more…)
The 'Kick Out'
Today I want to talk about a little move that has probably saved my butt at least a thousand times. I call it the Kick Out and if your game includes any standing guard passes I think it might deserve a place in your repertoire. (more…)
Armbar Defense vs. Crossed Ankles
A reader writes:
Q: How do I escape the armbar when my opponent is crossing his ankes?
A: Crossing the ankles during the armbar is controversial, but is an effective way to shut down many of your opponent’s escapes. (more…)
A Better Armbar?
The armbar, as it is usually taught, involves using BOTH of your hands or arms to control ONE of your opponent’s arms.
This two-on-one control can be used when trying to break through your opponent’s defenses, as in the photo below:
(more…)
How To Get Posture While Pinned
We recently talked about some examples of good defensive posture when you’re on the bottom, achieving good posture when pinned under your opponent is the first, and often the most critical, step in the escape process. (more…)
Recently we discussed the concept of ‘posture’ and how it applies when you’re pinned underneath someone. A few people have contacted me since then, asking for specific examples of posture while pinned. (more…)
Posture Outside of Guard
Practitioners of submission grappling and BJJ quickly learn about the importance of posture in an opponent’s guard. If you have bad posture in the guard you will get swept and submitted all the time. (more…)
Combatting Claustrophobia
At first I thought that this particular question was going to be simple. Someone, let’s call him ‘Bob’, wrote me about extreme claustrophobia when trapped in a bad position:
“I am hoping that you can help me with problems of extreme claustrophobia while grappling. (more…)
Armdrag Counters
Side Mount Escape Help
A Reader Asked:
Q: I keep getting trapped in side control. Sometimes I can’t even get my hips loose to attempt an escape. Some of the guys I train with are really good and get so tight, epecially trapping my hips between their knee and arm, that I can’t move my hips at all. (more…)
There is a slightly wacky Kimura (chickenwing) defense that has saved my butt several times recently. I haven’t seen it described anywhere else, so I thought I’d share it with you this week. (more…)
Shutting Down the Leglock Game
There is a certain type of opponent who is best described as a compulsive leglocker. You know the type: no sooner have you put him in your guard than he flings himself backwards and starts attacking your lower body with ankle locks, toe holds, kneebars and other submissions. (more…)
Escaping pins is never easy: if you get pinned in a match, then chances are that your opponent is either pretty good (relative to you) or that you are tired. Either way, escaping pins is almost always difficult and tiring, but a few simple principles can make it a little easier. (more…)
The rear mount is arguably the most dominant position in grappling. When you have rear mount you can apply some very powerful chokes and locks. In MMA or self defense you can administer severe punishment without your opponent having the ability to strike you back. (more…)
Static Bridging - a Common Mistake in Sparring
There are two fundamental ways to escape from most pinning positions: escapes based on ‘shrimping’ style hip movement, and escapes based on bridging.
One common mistake I see among beginners is that they hold the bridge position for far too long. (more…)
As you may know already, I like leglocks a lot.I have applied hundreds upon hundreds of leglocks to training partners without injuring them.This week I am going to tell you about the ONLY person I have ever injured using a leglock. (more…)
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition
The more complex a motor skill is, the more repetition is required to make it instinctive, smooth and efficient. Let me tell you a little story to illustrate what I mean. (more…)
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