January 28, 2007
Posture Outside of Guard
Practitioners of grappling in general, and BJJ in particular, quickly learn about the importance of posture, most typically in the context of being in an opponent's guard. If you have bad posture in the guard you will get swept and submitted all the time; by adopting good posture you can stabilize the top position and get ready to try your own techniques (i.e. guard passes).
Back when I was a blue belt it was a revelation to me to learn that the concept of posture can be applied in other positions as well. I was watching Michael Jen teach pin escapes on video, and he started talking about the importance of posture when trapped in sidemount. If I remember correctly, he went on to explain how correct posture would make your escapes easier and also make it much harder for your opponent to submit you. This changed my way of thinking when it came to setting up my escapes from bad positions.
Posture is important anytime you're vulnerable to submissions, including when you're trapped on the bottom. If you're trapped in the mount, for example, bad posture might include having your hand on your opponent's chest, making yourself vulnerable to the armbar. Good posture in the mount might consist of having one leg straight and turned outwards, the other leg bent and based on the mat, your body turned slightly towards the straight leg and both elbows tight against your ribs. In this position you're much less vulnerable to the quick and easy submissions and much more ready to start your own escape.
Most of the time good posture on the bottom will help create some maneuvering room by pushing on your opponent using the stronger parts of your body (elbows, forearms, knees) while limiting the ways in which he can anchor onto your body or limbs. Achieving and maintaining good posture while on the bottom against a skilled opponent isn't easy, however, because he will be doing everything he can to disrupt your defensive posture. If you're skilled at your pin escapes then the primary battle often lies in achieving good posture, and once you finally get to your posture then the escape happens almost by itself and without much effort.
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Back when I was a blue belt it was a revelation to me to learn that the concept of posture can be applied in other positions as well. I was watching Michael Jen teach pin escapes on video, and he started talking about the importance of posture when trapped in sidemount. If I remember correctly, he went on to explain how correct posture would make your escapes easier and also make it much harder for your opponent to submit you. This changed my way of thinking when it came to setting up my escapes from bad positions.
Posture is important anytime you're vulnerable to submissions, including when you're trapped on the bottom. If you're trapped in the mount, for example, bad posture might include having your hand on your opponent's chest, making yourself vulnerable to the armbar. Good posture in the mount might consist of having one leg straight and turned outwards, the other leg bent and based on the mat, your body turned slightly towards the straight leg and both elbows tight against your ribs. In this position you're much less vulnerable to the quick and easy submissions and much more ready to start your own escape.
Most of the time good posture on the bottom will help create some maneuvering room by pushing on your opponent using the stronger parts of your body (elbows, forearms, knees) while limiting the ways in which he can anchor onto your body or limbs. Achieving and maintaining good posture while on the bottom against a skilled opponent isn't easy, however, because he will be doing everything he can to disrupt your defensive posture. If you're skilled at your pin escapes then the primary battle often lies in achieving good posture, and once you finally get to your posture then the escape happens almost by itself and without much effort.
Labels: positions
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January 20, 2007
Combatting Claustrophobia
At first I thought that this particular question was going to be simple. Someone, let's call him 'Bob', wrote me about extreme claustrophobia when trapped in a bad position:
"I am hoping that you can help me with problems of extreme claustrophobia while grappling. For some reason, I just become anxious and begin to panic if I feel like I can't escape. Being under side control and feeling like I can’t move or breathe is the worst."
My initial reaction upon reading this was that I was talking to a beginner, and that my counsel should go something like this: don't worry, many newbies get freaked out at first when they find themselves trapped. Just keep on concentrating on the following things and everything will work out in a month or two:
Aha - I thought - it has to be conditioning!!! He might be technically skilled but is grossly out of shape. He might be losing the will to fight as soon as he gets into a bad position simply because he is tired!
Wrong again! He went on to tell me is very fit and that he does extensive, intense conditioning sessions.
He closed by saying
"And I do know my escapes. It’s just that I’ll try a couple of times and if it doesn’t work the panic starts to rise. I try visualization, which helps. I try to consciously relax and breath (easier said than done) and this helps to a degree."
So all my easy answers seemingly didn't apply. What was worse, is that I had no intuition about what he should do, mainly because I have never experienced claustrophobia (on or off the mat). I know I'm supposedly an 'expert', but being at loss for answers prompted me to put out an appeal to the Grapplearts readership. Answers, suggestions and stories soon flooded in, and I compiled them into an article on Combatting Claustrophobia While Grappling.
I am very grateful to everyone who contributed, and think this will be a great resource to both claustrophobes and their coaches. Thank you for your help.
Stephan Kesting
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"I am hoping that you can help me with problems of extreme claustrophobia while grappling. For some reason, I just become anxious and begin to panic if I feel like I can't escape. Being under side control and feeling like I can’t move or breathe is the worst."
My initial reaction upon reading this was that I was talking to a beginner, and that my counsel should go something like this: don't worry, many newbies get freaked out at first when they find themselves trapped. Just keep on concentrating on the following things and everything will work out in a month or two:
- keep breathing when you are on the bottom,
- get on your side a bit instead of being flat on your back,
- keep his weight off of you with your elbows and forearms (i.e. defensive posture)
- learn to survive the smother
Aha - I thought - it has to be conditioning!!! He might be technically skilled but is grossly out of shape. He might be losing the will to fight as soon as he gets into a bad position simply because he is tired!
Wrong again! He went on to tell me is very fit and that he does extensive, intense conditioning sessions.
He closed by saying
"And I do know my escapes. It’s just that I’ll try a couple of times and if it doesn’t work the panic starts to rise. I try visualization, which helps. I try to consciously relax and breath (easier said than done) and this helps to a degree."
So all my easy answers seemingly didn't apply. What was worse, is that I had no intuition about what he should do, mainly because I have never experienced claustrophobia (on or off the mat). I know I'm supposedly an 'expert', but being at loss for answers prompted me to put out an appeal to the Grapplearts readership. Answers, suggestions and stories soon flooded in, and I compiled them into an article on Combatting Claustrophobia While Grappling.
I am very grateful to everyone who contributed, and think this will be a great resource to both claustrophobes and their coaches. Thank you for your help.
Stephan Kesting
Labels: the mental aspect
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Armdrag Counters
Q: "What are some simple ways to prevent armdrags as well as handle them once they're in process or completed?"
A: Armdrags are a great tool to get behind your opponent or to set up other moves. They can be used on the ground (e.g. from the butterfly guard) or on the feet (e.g. to set up a tackle). They are simple, powerful and effective, and because of that they are also pretty popular, so knowing how to prevent them and counter them is a good idea!
Here are 3 relatively simple solution to try against an armdrag - each option works both on the ground and on the feet:
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A: Armdrags are a great tool to get behind your opponent or to set up other moves. They can be used on the ground (e.g. from the butterfly guard) or on the feet (e.g. to set up a tackle). They are simple, powerful and effective, and because of that they are also pretty popular, so knowing how to prevent them and counter them is a good idea!
Here are 3 relatively simple solution to try against an armdrag - each option works both on the ground and on the feet:
- Preventive posture: don't give him your arms in the first place. Keep your elbows one fist's width or less from your ribs. Some people have described this as "T Rex posture.
- Re-armdrag: do the same back to him. As he fishes for his armdrag, or even if he is partway finished it, get your hand on his tricep and try to pull yourself behind him. For example, if he is dragging your left tricep with his left hand then get YOUR left hand around HIS left tricep as well. Often this turns into a big scramble resembling a methamphetamine-fueled square dance, but you usually end up in a neutral position and once in a while you get his back!
- Jam across: if he's dragging your left arm then take your free (right) hand, shoot it across your body, over your left arm and over his left arm and onto his chest. This prevents his further progress. Now you can free up your dragged arm and try not to give it to him again.
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January 09, 2007
Integrating Striking, Wrestling & Grappling
Q: You say that there are 3 main components to MMA: is it important to train these 3 components together or train them separately? For example should you add strikes to the clinch or just wrestle? Should you always train grappling with striking? How can I combine these areas if there isn't an MMA school near me?
A: If MMA or self defense are your focus then you should train each of these three areas separately AND train them together: this is what almost all the top fighters do.
The reason you want to train each area separately (at least some of the time) is so that you can develop skills in that area, without relying on your strengths in the other areas. If you always blend standup and ground, grappling and striking, then your weaknesses in one area might remain hidden for a long time.
The reason you want to combine striking, wrestling and grappling in your training (at least some of the time) is to simulate a real fight as closely as possible and also to find out if you have developed any bad habits in your training. For example, if your wrestling stance is extremely low with your hands on your knees, or if you use your closed guard without breaking your opponent's posture posture or controlling his head and arms, then a brief MMA sparring session will definitely be an eye-opening experience for you.
If there isn't an MMA school near you then combining strikes with your wrestling with your grappling is going to be difficult. The boxers you train with will only want to box, the wrestlers will only want to wrestle.... So you may need to train these areas independently until you can either find an MMA school or some training partners who are willing to to cross train. Even if you are training them separately you are still laying solid foundations for later, so this is NOT wasted effort.
Another useful tip if you are training with pure grapplers is to put them in your guard with gloves on and encourage them to try to punch you: you're not allowed to punch back, only defend, sweep, submit, etc. Often-times training partners don't like to get hit, but they don't have a problem with hitting you, so you can still do this drill.
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A: If MMA or self defense are your focus then you should train each of these three areas separately AND train them together: this is what almost all the top fighters do.
The reason you want to train each area separately (at least some of the time) is so that you can develop skills in that area, without relying on your strengths in the other areas. If you always blend standup and ground, grappling and striking, then your weaknesses in one area might remain hidden for a long time.
The reason you want to combine striking, wrestling and grappling in your training (at least some of the time) is to simulate a real fight as closely as possible and also to find out if you have developed any bad habits in your training. For example, if your wrestling stance is extremely low with your hands on your knees, or if you use your closed guard without breaking your opponent's posture posture or controlling his head and arms, then a brief MMA sparring session will definitely be an eye-opening experience for you.
If there isn't an MMA school near you then combining strikes with your wrestling with your grappling is going to be difficult. The boxers you train with will only want to box, the wrestlers will only want to wrestle.... So you may need to train these areas independently until you can either find an MMA school or some training partners who are willing to to cross train. Even if you are training them separately you are still laying solid foundations for later, so this is NOT wasted effort.
Another useful tip if you are training with pure grapplers is to put them in your guard with gloves on and encourage them to try to punch you: you're not allowed to punch back, only defend, sweep, submit, etc. Often-times training partners don't like to get hit, but they don't have a problem with hitting you, so you can still do this drill.
Labels: training
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Just Get Dressed
Last week I talked about how you sometimes have to bail out of a planned training session. Well let's turn the situation around and talk about motivating you to get your butt back on the mat.
I once read an article in a running magazine in which the author was talking about building motivation. She said that, like everybody else, she had days where her motivation was low and she didn't feel like running. Her 'trick' was to give herself permission not to run, but only AFTER she put on her running clothes and laced up her running shoes. On most days the act of putting on her gear built enough momentum that going for a run didn't seem like such a chore after all.
I've often used the same technique - giving myself permission not to train if I still don't feel like it once I've gotten on the mat. At least 95% of the time I find that I DO have the energy to train at least a little bit, and little bit of training is a heck of a lot better than no training at all.
So the next time you feel like cocooning in front of the TV rather than training, try going to class and putting on your gi (or board shorts or speedos). If you still don't feel like training, that's OK, at least you gave it a shot. But I'll bet that most of the time you'll find that putting your gear on was the hardest step, and that training will seem like the easy next step!
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I once read an article in a running magazine in which the author was talking about building motivation. She said that, like everybody else, she had days where her motivation was low and she didn't feel like running. Her 'trick' was to give herself permission not to run, but only AFTER she put on her running clothes and laced up her running shoes. On most days the act of putting on her gear built enough momentum that going for a run didn't seem like such a chore after all.
I've often used the same technique - giving myself permission not to train if I still don't feel like it once I've gotten on the mat. At least 95% of the time I find that I DO have the energy to train at least a little bit, and little bit of training is a heck of a lot better than no training at all.
So the next time you feel like cocooning in front of the TV rather than training, try going to class and putting on your gi (or board shorts or speedos). If you still don't feel like training, that's OK, at least you gave it a shot. But I'll bet that most of the time you'll find that putting your gear on was the hardest step, and that training will seem like the easy next step!
Labels: the mental aspect
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January 02, 2007
Trust Your Spider Sense
Most instructors, motivators and 'experts' will tell you to train, train, train. Today I am going to tell you the exact opposite: there are some days when you shouldn't go within a hundred yards of a mat. The trick is figuring out which days those are.
Let me start with silly story time: a few years ago I got invited to a sparring session with a couple professional MMA fighters (don't ask me their names - I won't tell). I had had a really crappy night's sleep, but accepted the invitation anyhow. During my trip the gym, however, I had this feeling of doom: it wasn't nervousness per se, I was just not happy about the upcoming sparring session and was sure that something was going to go wrong.
As we were lacing up the MMA gloves I mentioned that I wasn't really well rested and that I had a premonition that I was going to get injured. Both fighters laughed and told me they'd been out partying the night before so they had probably had less sleep than I.
The sparring went OK at first: I was getting hit a lot, but sort of holding my own. In the fifth round my opponent tried to kick me: I caught his leg and charged forward, knocking him down. I followed him down to the ground in order to stabilize the position, and planted my nose directly on his knee: CRACK!
As the blood trickled out of my broken nose and down my face I told myself: "I knew I was going to get injured!"
As it turns out, the broken nose was actually the LESSER of two injuries. A few minutes later I went to the washroom and was surprised to see the toilet bowl turn red: at some point I had gotten punched, kicked or kneed so hard in the kidneys that I was actually peeing blood. Lovely!
Since that day there have been several times when I was about to go to training but didn't because I had the same feeling. On these days my unconscious mind took stock of my physical and mental condition, the training environment and my likely training partners and came to the conclusion that training was not the right thing to do. I'll never be able to prove that taking a break on those days prevented disaster - perhaps I could have trained and been perfectly OK. On the other hand, if I can avoid an unnecessary injury then I will get more, not less, mat time in the long run.
Learn to recognize and respect your spider sense telling you that something isn't right.
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Let me start with silly story time: a few years ago I got invited to a sparring session with a couple professional MMA fighters (don't ask me their names - I won't tell). I had had a really crappy night's sleep, but accepted the invitation anyhow. During my trip the gym, however, I had this feeling of doom: it wasn't nervousness per se, I was just not happy about the upcoming sparring session and was sure that something was going to go wrong.
As we were lacing up the MMA gloves I mentioned that I wasn't really well rested and that I had a premonition that I was going to get injured. Both fighters laughed and told me they'd been out partying the night before so they had probably had less sleep than I.
The sparring went OK at first: I was getting hit a lot, but sort of holding my own. In the fifth round my opponent tried to kick me: I caught his leg and charged forward, knocking him down. I followed him down to the ground in order to stabilize the position, and planted my nose directly on his knee: CRACK!
As the blood trickled out of my broken nose and down my face I told myself: "I knew I was going to get injured!"
As it turns out, the broken nose was actually the LESSER of two injuries. A few minutes later I went to the washroom and was surprised to see the toilet bowl turn red: at some point I had gotten punched, kicked or kneed so hard in the kidneys that I was actually peeing blood. Lovely!
Since that day there have been several times when I was about to go to training but didn't because I had the same feeling. On these days my unconscious mind took stock of my physical and mental condition, the training environment and my likely training partners and came to the conclusion that training was not the right thing to do. I'll never be able to prove that taking a break on those days prevented disaster - perhaps I could have trained and been perfectly OK. On the other hand, if I can avoid an unnecessary injury then I will get more, not less, mat time in the long run.
Learn to recognize and respect your spider sense telling you that something isn't right.
Labels: Injuries, the mental aspect
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Grappling Girls
I have added a couple of new articles written by, and for, female grapplers. The first is a compilation of different reasons women might want to study grappling, and the second is guide for women stepping onto the mat for the first time. Thanks to the Grapplearts readership and to Liz Posener for helping out with these articles.
If you're female grappler, read the articles and see what you think - I'm doing what I can to increase the female presence on the mats. If you're male then you might want to pass these links on to the women in your life who are thinking about trying a class but haven't done so yet.
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If you're female grappler, read the articles and see what you think - I'm doing what I can to increase the female presence on the mats. If you're male then you might want to pass these links on to the women in your life who are thinking about trying a class but haven't done so yet.
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