I’m slowly coming to terms with the reality of my situation. That little 20 lbs bundle of slobber pictured above is making it very difficult to get any time at the computer to write. I think that for at least the next while I’m going to take some of the pressure off of myself. Part of my problem posting has been in trying to get enough uninterrupted computer time to draft a post. I think that, if I want to continue posting to the blog, I will need to be satisfied with shorter articles, and stick in some cases, to simply posting the techniques I’m working on.
So, with that said, I’m continuing to work on that modified Bullfighter pass I mentioned in my last post. It’s going okay, and I’ve found that even on guys with really strong legs, I can get around at least one and secure a solid half guard.
So, finding myself more often in people’s half-guard, I’m working on a few different posts. I’ve learned a few ways to pass half guard that I’m pretty comfortable with. The usual half-guard passes that involve walking my foot up to clear my knee, and then driving it to the mat on one side or the other. What I’ve been playing with lately are a few I’ve picked up from videos where I focus more on stretching my opponent out than bringing my leg up. I’ve seen a couple different approaches to this, once on an Andre Galvao tape and on another one by Damian Maia.
Technique yesterday involved working from under side mount. We started in good position, so one hand (say my right) blocking his hip, and then my left arm cupping his shoulder with the blade of my forearm in his throat. In this way, I can create space for myself using very little strength by widening my left elbow out. The harder he drives into me, the more pressure he puts on his own throat.
From here, James emphasized bridging constructively. Often, we bridge straight back, which keeps all of my opponent’s weight right on top of me. What I need to do is bridge over one shoulder. In this case, I would bridge over my right shoulder.
The goal in this particular case was to create space to swim my left arm around into a deep underhook.
At this point, we worked two different techniques. The first was to simply bridge once again to create space in which to bring in my right knee and then regain guard. One detail here that I appreciated was to bring my knee in kind of high. The point was that, often, people will try to get their knee in by sliding it along the mat. It’s much easier if I bring my knee up and aim for his hip. That’s where the space is… not on the floor.
The other technique was a reversal. With that deep underhook in place, I’m going to bridge once again to my right should. This time, I’m going to take my right foot and swing it under my left so that my hips basically turn over. Then drive in towards my opponent’s far knee toward his dead angle, using my right arm to block that knee from sliding out… sort of like an ankle pick takedown, but this time from the knees. I’m not pulling on his knee; rather, just blocking it from moving.
Keys to this one are to set up the right angle. If I am too close to him, I’m in danger of getting whizzered. Too far to the other angle and I’ll end up losing the position or at best, find myself in his guard.
Ideally, I’m at the right angle and can sit through into a scarf hold position.
Sparring was actually really good. I’m still fighting a particularly virulent cold, but I had decent wind and felt really good after class.
Now, how could that cute, little baldish bubbie interfere with your blog posting, I ask you!!
Good point about getting the knee inside to secure gaurd from in someones side mount. A lot of people do keep there knee to far to the floor rather than up by there opponants hip. This may be a good blog post for you to write up on as you seem pushed for time. Short and straight to the point.