22rd April, 2010

Concepts

Survival

Escapes

Technique

Side Control Escape

Broken Scarf Hold Escape

So last night was a busy class, Thursday's are normally quiet so it was great to see a good number of people.  The focus of the class was to consolidate and refine the concepts and techniques drilled in Monday's session:

1. Top position

Maintaining 100 kilos - not just in side control but as you transition from Mune Gatame to any other pin.

2. Bottom position

Achieving the survival posture is the priority, not achieving it impedes your ability to escape.

3. Bridging into your opponent, not just up.

Bridging into your opponent in both escapes practised last night gives you that extra room to escape the hips and replace the guard.

We also practised a new escape - from Kuzure Kesa Gatame.  Having observed and practised with the group, applying the principles from side control made this escape relatively easy to digest.

1. Survive by bringing the hands and arms inside.  Elbows remain close to you ribs.

2. Bridge into your opponent to achieve this, remember you may not get this the first time around so keep bridging and inching your arm out from your opponent's control.

3. The arms relieve the pressure your opponent is applying to you, stopping the bicep of the collar grip arm stops him/her from returning to Mune Gatame.

4. Bridge again into your opponent and punch your elbow into the floor, this helps to give you a base to escape your hips but also stops your opponent's hips, hindering his movement.

5. Escape the hips and replace the guard.

We then drilled these concepts and techniques through countless rounds of positional sparring. We ended the session with two six minute rounds of sparring.