In Fundamentals class today, we worked on more guard armbars and gi chokes. However, we also worked on a cool combo armbar/gi choke. To perform it, I have my opponent in my full guard. I trap their right wrist with my left hand. I then get a cross collar grip with my right, as if I am going for a gi choke. You use this to break their posture. They will probably tuck their chin to prevent the choke. Hip out towards their untrapped arm, using your left foot on their hip. Bring your right left up their back and dig your heels into it. If their chin is still tucket, bring the left leg over and lock in the arm bar. If they try to get tall and defend the armbar, grab their left shoulder with your left hand, hip out in the opposite direction (bring your left shoulder towards your left ankle) and lock in the choke. If their chin is tucked again, don't abandon it. Shake their head like a rag doll and you will get it locked everytime.
In this video, he does not do the choke, but he does do the armbar from the lapel grip
I did not roll today since I bruised my ribs in no-gi earlier in the week. I spent that free time working with a new guy on full guard posture and a guard pass. If feels good to no longer be the "new guy" in class.
From bottom guard, get a cross collar grip by sliding your hand along the collar as if it were a race track. Make sure you reach for their tag at the back of their gi. Slide your other arm under your cross gripped arm and grab the collar as high as you can get it. It is not necessary to get a deep grip. My goal is to grab the collar right where my knuckles will put pressure on their carotid artery, however you can pull this off with a much lower grip. Rotate your fists, as if you are performing a wrist curl (this step is extremely critical in the success of your choke). Next lift your body as high as you can get while pulling your arms out in a scissor motion. Imagine you are cutting off your opponent's head.
The first choke in this vid is perfect
In the event your opponent tucks their chin when you get the deep cross collar grip, you will be unable to execute the standard variation. With their chin tucked, their head will be tilted downward, leaving enough room for you to reach over their shoulder with your free hand, and get a grip of their gi at the shoulder (it does not need to be the collar). Next, bring your arm over their head so that you have an arm on either side of their head. This will now resemble the standard variation except that the deep grip is now on the bottom. Next, kick your hips out, positioning your body to the side of the shoulder grip. As weird as this might seem, imagine you are shaking out a dirty rug and shake your grips up and down. Eventually your opponent will allow you to sink the 2nd grip under their chin, at whihc time you lock in the submission.
today was by far my best sparring day. After 5 5 minute rounds, and 60 minutes of technique training, I still had plenty of energy. I demonstrated good mastery of the techniques discussed in class, and was very effective in my submission defense.
Great class today. We worked on 2 variations of Bow and Arrow Chokes. The standard variation starts from an over under hook from the back with leg hooks in deep. With the over hook, get a deep collar grip. With the under hook, grab the same side leg. Lay back, pulling the collar and legs as you fall. Your leg that is on the same side as the choke hold should become unhooked and posted up at a right angle to prevent your opponent from rolling over it in defense.
In the 2nd variation, your opponent rolls over your leg. Keep your opposite foot engaged in your opponent, either over their leg or on their hip. As they roll, follow them, remaining on their back. Free your bottom leg and roll into their body to lock in the choke.
Mid way through class, I developed neck burns on my left side. Mainly because my sparing partner rarely reversed his grip. You would get neck burns too if you were on the short end of 20+ Bow and Arrow Chokes.
We rolled after training as usual. My first partner overpowered me most of the match and I found myself in 2 armlocks and a choke. Other than a couple of sweeps, I didn't get much accomplished. I did mush better against my 2nd opponent who was one of the most experienced in my belt classification. I wanted to focus on bottom guard so I pulled guard every time. He only managed to get out of my guard once. I managed 1 triangle choke but got blocked on all sweep attempts. My final opponent was a female Blue who did a great job of preventing me from pulling guard by getting really low. I locked in 2 Americana's but she managed to roll out both times.
