Last night’s instructor reminded us that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is not just a sport: it is a martial art with applicable self-defense techniques. Instead of takedowns, we started off with a defense against the headlock.
With both of you standing, your partner grabs you around the neck. You are bent over with your head in front of him, your body behind. Make sure to have a good base, and turn your head so you are facing him. The first makes certain you are not off-balance for the technique. The latter serves to protect your neck. As he throws a punch with his free hand, you block it on the inside with your far arm. Push it back to his far side, and pin it at the bicep or forearm with your close hand. Your far hand now grabs his wrist on the arm around your neck. Pushing your hips forward, straighten your back and look up to break the headlock. Duck back under the arm and twist it behind your partner’s back. Bring your close arm around his neck, placing the back of your hand on the opposite side of the chin. Use this to pull him backwards, off-balance, and then secure your hold by using the same hand to grip his opposite shoulder. Wrench the arm up for the shoulder lock, or kick out the back of the knee for the takedown/back control.
We trained this defense for a while before moving to a defense for the headlock on the ground. This is also known as the scarfhold, or kesa gatame. In this particular escape, the top individual’s lower leg is forward, and his upper leg is knee up, foot near and below his own hip. With you on the bottom, back flat on the map, scissor your legs quickly and use the torque to pull in your close elbow. Your far hand makes a fist as you place it under your partner’s jaw. Your close hand cups the bottom of the fist, creating a frame so that you can make distance between your head and hers. Escape the hips back as far as possible, then place the far hand on your partner’s far shoulder. Swing your top leg up high, then while bringing it down use the momentum and torque to pull your opponent down to her back as you turn onto your knees. With side control achieved, frame against your partner’s head to break the headlock. This is done by lining the forearm of the top arm along her jawline and making a fist with that hand. Using your bottom hand, cup your fist. Push down while looking up and straightening your back. The pressure will force her to release her grip. Step over to achieve mount. Then gift-wrap her arm by folding it down and around her own neck. Roll her onto her stomach, then pull the head back by the forehead (in a self-defense situation you may use a punch or cross-face to accomplish this). Slip your hand that was holding her gift-wrapped around the neck, to grab the opposite shoulder. Release her head, slide your free hand palm up under the downward-facing palm of the other hand, grip, and pull to apply the choke.
We drilled this escape as well, followed by some specific training from kesa gatame. The instructor was very detail oriented (which I’m completely OK with), so there was much talking but not a lot of time for live practice aside from the drills. Will have to make it up tonight.