March 4th 2010

Technique

Knee on belly
Side control

Concepts

Pinning
Position vs. submission
Bodyweight distribution
'Dynamism'

Today we focused on the 'top game' aspect of Jiu Jitsu and introduced the positions of 'knee on belly' and 'side control'.

Both of these positions can be described as 'pins'.  Now Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is a very active grappling system with the emphasis placed upon submission and effectively finishing your opponent.  However, before a successful submission can be applied it is necessary to manoeuvre yourself into the optimum dominant position whilst placing your opponent in the optimum disadvantageous position.  For example, we have drilled the closed guard extensively, by breaking your opponent's posture and having a high active guard you have placed your opponent at a disadvantage whilst giving yourself the advantage, it is from the dominant position that the arm bar can be applied.  So before we start delving into top position submissions we have to ensure that we have established the correct position.

The knee on belly position can be executed from two scenarios, from a transition from a guard pass or from side control.  From the guard pass we emphasised the correct body alignment and placing of the knee, but an often overlooked aspect is the driving of the hip forward, it is this more anything which creates forward pressure and thus allows you to control your opponent and successfully pin.

From side control the idea is also to pin, and yes the hips are still integral to this.  However, you may find that you have more grip control in this position so creating downward pressure with your knee and hips whilst creating upward pressure by pulling the collar and belt/top of trousers is vital.

We then looked in great detail at side control, most of the group is familiar with the correct position, but the most important aspect we stressed is weight distribution.  You will often hear the term '100 kilos' and it means that no mater what your actual weight is, your opponent should feel as if they 100 kg sitting on them.  'Active toes', 'hips down', 'dick in the floor'... all very strange sounding instructions but absolutely necessary if the position is to be executed properly. 

The second point we stressed was that although this is a pin, it must be a dynamic pin, Jiu Jitsu is never still, so you must never be static.  You must anticipate and react when to your opponent attempts to escape, Octavio Couto Jr, gives an excellent explanation:



We then moved onto some positional sparring from side control.  The focus was not on escaping as such, but more on maintaining pressure and the side control position whilst your opponent is active.

We ended the class with a few rounds of sparring, well done guys.