Connecting the dots for success #4

Tired of Getting Footlocked? Try this! TRUJITSU leg lock defense 101

Has this happened to you?

 

You're playing guard,

your opponent glances back, and BOOM! All of the sudden he's tearing your foot off.

 

Welcome to the world of leg locks, they're popular these days. Everything goes in cycles, and the season of leg locks is upon us.

Open guard players beware.

 

If you find yourself up against a leg lock enthusiast, here are a few helpful hints on how to survive.

 

First, Realize leg locks usually require 2 body movements from your opponent.

First being that they are able to use both of their arms for grabbing, the other being that their back must be able to pull away, arch or twist. In other words your opponent needs upper body mobility.

 

When your opponent falls back for a foot lock, a common reaction is to grab your opponent's lapel or neck.

The reasoning behind this is to prevent your opponent from extending their back and arching.

 

However, that's where your problems begins.

Here are 2 reasons why.

1. When you grab your opponents lapel, they have full use of both of their arms to freely apply a submission attempt.

And..

2. You are also relying on your grip strength to hold up against the strength of your opponents entire upper body as they pull back. It's just a matter of time before your opponent wins the "tug o war".

 

For a better result try this..

 

Instead of grabbing your opponents lapel, grab the sleeve of their secondary hand. Pull their sleeve and arm as close to your chest as possible. This will shut down your opponent's ability to pull away and arch their back.

Remember 2 arms are needed to finalize the leg attack in almost every case.

 

This is not good! Your grip will eventually fail. Your battling one of the strongest mechanical body movements. (Dead lift strength)  

This is not good! Your grip will eventually fail. Your battling one of the strongest mechanical body movements. (Dead lift strength)  

Try this TRUJITSU defense.. 

This Is more reliable. Control the secondary arm, and you will limit their ability to lock up and arch back. 

This Is more reliable. Control the secondary arm, and you will limit their ability to lock up and arch back. 

Next step:

Reinforce single handed grip.  

Sit up, pull your elbow to the outside of your rib cage, and clamp down. 

Sit up, pull your elbow to the outside of your rib cage, and clamp down. 

Now counter.. 

Now that you have shut down th attack.. Climb on top! And yes there is an arm attack, but that's another long story. To be continued..

Now that you have shut down th attack.. 

Climb on top! And yes there is an arm attack, but that's another long story. To be continued..

Connecting the dots for success. #3.

The Power of "Negative" thinking. 

If you have read the previous topics, it is probably becoming obvious that "Space" is the Red flag I am trying to spotlight.

 

In most cases, space is not good. Once again, I stress most cases. There are a couple of exceptions.

One of those exceptions is when you're battling a guard player. Especially the open guard.

 

Keep in mind, if your opponent pulls guard, they want you to go forward. Why?

 

Let's think about this...

 

If Your opponent drops to the ground, and is willing to let you be on top of them, they probably are comfortable with being the "underdog". There's the first sign!

In most combat sports, the guy underneath is losing, However, in jiu jitsu, it is different.

 

2 reasons.

 

Reason #1, When you are on your back, you have 4 limbs pointing at your opponent, verses their 2 limbs pointing down at you.

Your limbs are your tools/weapons. So in this case the guard player has an advantage.

 

Reason #2, It's easier to conserve your energy on your back, as opposed to constantly driving into your opponent like a training sled, or idling in a lunging stance fighting for a window to pass your opponent's  guard. It's more energy taxing for a top player when they are up against a guard player that has an understanding of how use their legs or knee shield.

 

After considering these 2 factors alone, it's simply not that bad to be the guard player. To put it more boldly, the odds are actually in favor of  the guard player.

 

When the top player pushes forward, there is always the risk of being knocked off balance, especially moving forward against a knee shield or leg lasso. As the top player goes forward they must also be aware of arm attacks or chokes that are available from different directions.

 

Plain and simple, passing the guard is not easy, that's why it's the second highest point scoring transition in Jiu Jitsu. Every time you go forward, the guard player has a chance. So what do you do?

Here is the answer..

Don't go FORWARD!!

Back away! Simply move back and don't let your opponent play with your weight. keep your neck and arms away from the "strike zone" of the guard player. This is what we refer to as "playing negative".

Most of us learn from the start to pressure pass and try to crush our opponents guard, but there is no rule that says you have to go forward Into the guard player's grasp.

 

It's a natural reaction to go forward. However, you should make your opponent earn the position of playing guard, as opposed to just walking right into their traps. When you go forward, you give the open guard player a chance to play with your base and control your limbs. In other words, "Smash passing" is not the only way. Instead try to back away and exhaust their grips, and once their guard becomes loose, then try to go around, under or through the middle if they try to sit up.

Keep your eyes open for future demonstrations on this concept.

 

Long story short...

 

Take a few steps back, to have much more success going forward.

The Risks of Moving Forward! 

The Risks of Moving Forward! 

Backing out of the "Strike Zone". 

Backing out of the "Strike Zone". 

Connecting the dots for Success #2

The Trouble With Spiders!

Has this happened to you?

You're playing Open Guard with double sleeve control. Your hands are controlling both of your opponent's sleeves, and your feet have the task of pushing against your opponent's hips, shoulder or armpit while your opponent moves.

Sounds easy, right?

no problem..

Right?

All goes well until you notice your hands feel funny. Shortly followed by tension in your forearms.

You have 3 minutes left on the clock, and your hands are officially getting tired. As your grips weaken, your opponent becomes more mobile making it harder for your feet to keep in place.

Suddenly your opponent slips around 1 of your legs,

And now your Spider Guard is PASSED!

Bummer.

If this happens to you regularly, Here is why.

There are 3 important details about Spider Guard to recognize..

 

1. Spider guard is a great guard, but keep in mind its success is based on a push and pull motion.

Push with your feet, pull with your hands.

 

2. Your primary connection with your opponent is almost entirely dependent on your hand grips.

Need an example?

Try playing Spider guard with a sprained finger.

Your feet push, but don't necessarily connect you to your opponent.

 

3. Spider Guard is a distance game allowing space. In some cases requiring space for the guard player to transition.

 

That is where the problems begin.

The more space your opponent has, the more your opponent is able to move, and the more your opponent moves, the more physical your match becomes.

If you are up against a more physical and explosive opponent, you're picking 1 of the harder games to play.

 

Long story short..

Get a little closer, and don't play a game that depends so much on the grip Strength of your hands.

There are easier ways to play.

Especially when against a very explosive opponent.

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connecting the dots for success.. #1

"It's all in the hips!"

Has this happened to you? Your fighting from your guard, while your opponent is keeping constant pressure or a ridiculous pace moving on top of you.
Finally, you establish the necessary grips and position to tip your opponent over with a sweep.
After all your hard work...Your opponent pops right back up and gains a top position on you again!! If this regularly happens to you, here is why.
You are not controlling the hips.
"it's all in the hips"
Realize with every sweep or "reversal", there are 2 stages.Stage 1 is when you compromise their balance and tip your opponent over.
Stage 2 is when you control your opponents movement so he can't get away from under you.


Long story short..Work the sweeps that keep you closer to your opponents hips and you'll find more successful results.

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