Grappling Tips Newsletter

Probably the most common question I get asked is "how many times a week should I train to make progress?" As with most questions the answer is "it depends".

Once a week: If you are just starting grappling you can definately pick up a few things training even once a week, particularly if you already practice another martial art. Additionally there are lots books, videos and/or internet information that can learn from on days that you aren't training.

If you are a seasoned grappler who has become too busy to hit the mats as often as before you too may be reduced to training once week. Let me reassure you that training once a week is much, much, much better than not training at all. You will maintain at least some of your timing and conditioning, and will be much further ahead when you can return to your previous level of training. Of course if you can augment your weekly training session with some cardio or strength training so much the better.

Twice a week: Twice a week is enough for most recreational grapplers to maintain their skill level. You can even make some improvements training only twice a week, especially if your training is focused and you are able to do some conditioning on your days off. There have been times in my life when hitting the mats twice a week was about all I could pull off; by focusing my training I still managed to make improvements in some areas.

Three times a week: If you can train 3 times a week consistently you will make good progress. Once again, any studying, conditioning or cross-training you do on your days off will likely accelerate your learning so long as you avoid overtraining.

Four or more times a week: Now we are getting into the territory of the serious practitioner, competitor and/or professional fighter. Training this intensely may include conditioning sessions, sparring sessions, cross-disciplinary training and two-a-day sessions. At this intensity quality and quantity of rest/recovery becomes important because overtraining is a constant danger. For more information on this see my article on overtraining at www.grapplearts.com/Overtraining-Article.htm

Labels: training

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As you may know already, I like leglocks a lot. I have applied hundreds upon hundreds of leglocks to training partners without injuring them. This week I am going to tell you about the ONLY person I have ever injured using a leglock.

I was grappling at a class once, in a bit of a lazy mood. I was playing light and easy, not really going for the kill very often or with very much intensity. Eventually I found myself paired up with a big, macho weightlifter that had made up his mind that he WASN’T going to tap to me no matter what. As we wrestled I went for a few submissions that he escaped using large explosive movements.

In the second round of wrestling this guy I attacked with the basic ankle lock. I sat back, holding his ankle tightly but otherwise not applying the ankle lock at all. He didn’t really know what to do, and tried to escape by spinning wildly, first to the left, then to the right. I just sat there looking at him, holding his foot.

Suddenly there was a ‘pop’ as his ACL tore, and he screamed and started dry-heaving. We got him to the hospital quickly and I heard that he later underwent reconstructive surgery. I felt terrible, but in retrospect it wasn’t really my fault. It was as if he had been walking across a field, gotten his foot trapped in a hole, and then started trying to do full pirouettes to free his foot.

I think that this story illustrates a number of points: first that if your sparring partner is being an idiot and doing unsafe things to escape a submission just let him go and start again. My second point is about the dangers of thrashing wildly to escape a submission, regardless of whether it is a footlock, kneebar, Kimura or armlock. If you are caught in a submission in training either escape technically or tap out. Surgery, whether it is to repair an ACL or a rotator cuff is a pretty severe consequence of being too proud to tap out.

Train safe!
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Jiu-jitsu and submission grappling offer techniques to attack almost every major joint in the body. Attacks on the elbow, shoulder, neck, knees, feet, and ankles are all fairly common and have many high-percentage techniques associated with them. These should be your bread and butter submissions because they have a long, proven track record of effectiveness.

I think a bit of variety is a good thing, however, so let’s talk about a not-so-common attack: wristlocks. In my opinion the wrist is the most under-attacked joint in grappling. Just about every time you are attacking the arm you have access to the wrist as well. If your opponent is really good at defending the armlock, for example, you may be able to switch to a quick wristlock and get a submission that way.

There are lots of ways to compress, extend and twist the wrist. Just watch an aikido class or read a book and traditional Japanese Ju-jutsu. Typically these wristlocks start with both combatants in a standing or kneeling position, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t also work on the ground. In fact I think that a lot of them are easier to do on a pinned opponent than on a more mobile standing opponent.

I am not alone in my respect for the wristlock in grappling. Fernando 'Terere' and Fredson Paixao are just 2 of many BJJ players who have used the wristlock at the highest levels of competition. One the home front, one of my main training partners is a master of sneak wristlock attack. When we spar I constantly have to watch where I put my hands or he is going to trap a hand and lock the wrist.

Now for an important safety announcement: APPLY WRISTLOCKS SLOWLY!! Here is why:

1. the wrist is a small joint and thus susceptible to injury in the first place;
2. because they are relatively easy to counter the temptation is to slam them on quickly;
3. if you slam them on quickly you WILL injure your training partners.
   

The good news is that usually failing at a wristlock submission doesn't put you in a bad position, so you have nothing to lose by applying them in a slow, controlled manner.

Labels: armlocks, Injuries

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Today’s topic is a slightly unusual control position for footlocks. Control positions are methods of positioning your legs while you are attempting a leglock. The purpose of a control position is to control your opponent’s legs and body while you set up and execute your leglock. First check out the below (taken at Grapplemania Seattle. January 29th 2005, by Jermiah Armstrong).



In this photo I am trying to leglock my opponent. I have chosen to use a control position where I hold BOTH his ankles. This is a great control position: it is very difficult for him to stand up because he can’t get one leg back behind himself to push up with.

From here I will discuss 3 options:

1 – Submit him: obviously this is your best option. Typically you will eventually have to let go of one of his ankles to actually finalize the lock. When you sense that the time is right release one of his legs and switch a more conventional leglock position with your arms and legs.

2 – Stand back up: if you don’t think the leglock is going to work you can get back to your own feet fairly easily. Use the instep between his legs to lift his butt off the floor a little bit: he thinks that he will get back to his feet and will usually lift up a little bit more. Then drop his butt to the floor and use his momentum to pull yourself back up to a standing position.

3 – X guard: you also have the option to let him stand up and put him in the X guard and sweep him immediately. This is exactly what I did after the photo was taken. This is one of my favorite entries into the X guard and I have used it twice in competition (readers who own Dynamic Guard Sweeps Vol. 1 have seen this technique in action already). For more information on the X guard please visit www.grapplearts.com/X-Guard.htm

Here is what I suggest you do if the double ankle grab control position is something you want to develop. When you are in your sparring partner's open guard grab BOTH his ankles and sit back. Try to clamp your legs tightly around his leg, with one foot behind his butt and the other pushing his hip. Now just hold this position; don’t let him A) stand up, or B) pull his foot out. Don’t even worry about the submission at first – just try to hold him here as long as you can, following his movement.

This drill will develop the sensitivity and pressure required to control his legs and hips. Once you can hold him in the double ankle grip position indefinitely then start playing around with trying to finish the leglock and/or getting back to the top position in his guard.

Labels: leglocks

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