Category Archives: Takedowns

July 19, 2011

Resistance Is Futile

Tuesday, 6/12:
Another class upstairs. Maybe it’s a Tuesday thing?

For takedowns we drilled two variations of the single-leg. The first is a transition into the double-leg. Once in control of the leg with both of yours, take a step back to force your opponent to hop towards you. Bend your knees and reach down to wrap both arms around your opponent’s far knee. Drive forward, forcing your opponent back to the mat for the takedown. The second variation has a few more steps. Assume you’ve trapped your opponent’s right leg. Once the leg is secure, kick your left leg back, use your left hand to swing your partner’s leg out to your left, and bring your left leg around and inside. With your free (right) hand, grab the bottom of your right lapel to straighten it out, then bring the left hand up to grab your own collar. This secures the leg, making it very difficult for your opponent to step down. With your right hand, grab his lapel as you step behind his planted left foot, sweeping him for the takedown.

Guard training followed, during which I landed an armbar. Continue reading →

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Filed under Escapes, Gi, Joint locks, Log, Takedowns

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July 14, 2011

Learning to Fly (And Not in a Good Way)

Monday, 6/11:

For class today we practiced the full motion of the hip-throw. This is actually practice for both students: The one performing the technique, naturally, gets to practice the full motion. The one being thrown gets the chance to get acclimated with falling. I can safely say it’s going to take me a few dozen more lessons of this sort before I can say I’m getting “acclimated” to falling.

For the day’s technique we practiced standing up to open the guard via one of the techniques I’ve mentioned in previous posts (at least, I think I have). Then, step back while gripping the gi pants at your opponent’s ankles. Pulling the legs to one side, step out to the other. Keep your grips as you bring your near leg towards your opponent’s hip, placing your knee on top of it. The other leg stays posted out to keep the pressure on. Bring your arm around and under your partner’s head to control the upper body, then bring both your knees down to the ground to assume the side control.

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Filed under Escapes, Gi, Guard, Log, Takedowns

June 10, 2011

Wrapping Up the Week

A change of pace to finish up the week — nice. Class started with the usual warm-ups, yes. Following this we drilled single-leg takedowns. The first one was the transition into the double-leg: start with the single-leg, then step back to force your opponent off-balance. As she jumps towards you, step forward, bend at the knees (keeping her first leg held between them), and extend both hands to grab the far knee and drive forward for the takedown.

The second takedown was new to me. After getting the single leg trapped between yours, swing your inside leg out. Your inside arm comes around to underhook the leg from the outside, near the ankle. Lift the leg up high, as the outside arm underhooks your opponent’s near arm, clasps over the top of the shoulder, and pulls down. This circular motion should bring your opponent down. If not, use your outside leg as a stop behind the planted heel or your inside leg to sweep to help you get your opponent down.

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Filed under Back/Turtle, Escapes, Gi, Guard, Log, Sweeps, Takedowns

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June 8, 2011

Extra-curricular Activities

Training in the outer white belt room really puts things into perspective. I was proud of myself for running a 5K in half an hour two weekends ago. But after just 5 minutes in that room I feel like I’ve run a 10K in a sauna. It’s not a pleasant feeling, and I really need to get my stamina up to par.

Warm-ups today were followed by osoto-gari and hip throws. Yep, back to the ol’ routine. Some guard training followed. My partner today has been getting private lessons and has gotten a lot better since we both started. He can’t take classes as often as me, so now we’re around even in skill. He’s got great control and strength. We were both able to pass one another’s guards a few times. I don’t think either of us landed a submission. I still feel my bottom half-guard game sucks, but I learned a new sweep (more on that later). Continue reading →

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Filed under Gi, Half-guard, Joint locks, Log, Mount, Takedowns

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June 8, 2011

Not Just For the Sport

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.

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Filed under Back/Turtle, Chokes, Escapes, Gi, Joint locks, Log, Self-defense, Side control, Takedowns

June 5, 2011

Following Through the Takedown

For Thursday, 6/2:

Fact: Having your class be taught by a contracted UFC fighter is pretty awesome.

One of the things I like about this particular instructor’s warm-up routine is that he makes us do sprawls. I don’t get to practice these nearly enough, so they definitely take a lot of gas out of me when I do drill them. Continue reading →

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Filed under Gi, Guard, Joint locks, Log, Takedowns

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May 24, 2011

Monday: Back To School

Amazing, how much I could miss doing this after just a week and a half away. At 3:37PM I got the OK from the doctor to hit the mats again. Best news I’d heard all day. Maybe all week. Continue reading →

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Filed under Gi, Log, Mount, Spider guard, Sweeps, Takedowns