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Escaping the Lockdown - Sprinter Escape
2008-06-09 22:04:00
Okay, so I'm one of those pricks who are good at stalling people out with the lockdown, going so far as to tap out people completely new to it who think it's some kind of Achilles lock.For those who don't know, the Lockdown is the basis of Eddie Bravo's half-guard game, essentially an uncomfortable grapevining of the trapped leg in the half guard, meant to extend that leg and create opportunities for sweep.Now, most of the time, what ends up happening is either a sweep happens, or the opponents just stall out for minutes at a time in the lockdown. To avoid this from happening, here is a fairly simple escape, a variation of the No-hand half-guard pass:Submissions101 Lockdown Counter - Sprinter Escape http://www.youtube.com/v/aifuYTiw-x Y-Opponent achieves Lockdown, and you want to get the hell out of Dodge.-Get the Over-Under (Trapped side arm over head, other arm under armpit, gable grip)-Get up on your toes on the trapped leg.-Start a vanilla no-hand half-guard pass (Outside leg...

Matt Hughes vs. Thiago Alves UFC 85 video
2008-06-08 07:39:00
No comments/spoilers for now, but I will say a few things-Hughes vs Alves UFC 85by mma4thewinSome really great wrestling prowess shown by Alves- training with some of the best grapplers in the world over at ATT really paid off.What's this? Matt Hughes... pulling guard?Knees really do come out of nowhere, and they hurt. A lot.I'm really guessing Alves learned his lesson from his Fitch and Parisyan fights.Watch the darn fight.
More About: Video , Matt Hughes

Scarf Hold/Kesa Gatame Escapes
2008-06-08 01:10:00
A couple days ago, I posted the shoulder lock technique from the Kesa Gatame, and I realized that I never posted any escapes to the Scarf Hold pin before... So here:http://www.youtube.com/v/G89T-SVVY5M Escape 1:Opponent isn't keeping his head tight in-Crossface with outside arm, and reach over with trapped arm to create the frame.-Push out while jackknifing to bring your leg over his face to roll him over.-Roll your legs out toward his head to get into side control.Escape 2:Catch and bridge-Scoot your legs and hips into your opponent.-You manage to get your leg/hip under him, effectively bringing the COG of you and your opponent towards you and higher.-Bridge and roll him over for side control.Escape 3:Chase and switch-You try escape #2, but your opponent manages to stay away, effectively pinning you down.-Continue to chase him, and hold him down extra tightly, and ride up on the balls of your feet, loading your opponent up.-Suddenly, drop, bridge, and switch for the roll over.So no...

Top 10 Signs That You've Grappled Too Much
2008-06-06 19:00:00
Apparently, according to some folks, I don't officially have a blog unless I have a "Top 10" list or two. Or three. Or seventy-five.I tried to be creative, but if the jokes been done before... TOO BAD. (But let me know anyway) Making this with a bad hangover was probably not the best of ideas.Punch Kick Choke's Top 10 Signs That You've Grappled Too Much10) You know who Mitsuyo Maeda is.9) You understand that a "Kimura" is not a traditional Japanese women's dress.8) You have been involved in a "Gi vs. No-Gi" argument at some point.7) Your animal impressions suck, as they always involve a turtle and you on all fours, not moving.6) In bed, you refer to missionary as "Guard."5) When someone says "Triangle," you think "Choke."4) You correct people on the internet who spell out BJJ as "Brazilian Jujitsu."3) Every time you give somebody a hug, you make sure you have the double underhooks.2) You know that "SAMBO" isn't a Latin dance.1) You "Say Gracie" before every meal....Meh. I'd sa...

Karo Parisyan on the No-Gi Uchi Mata for MMA - Judo
2008-06-05 22:18:00
I'm pretty sure I posted a link to this technique before a long time back, but without explanation- so here it is, the Uchi-Mata for MMA and No-Gi, by everyone's favorite Judo MMA fighter, Karo Parisyan . http://www.youtube.com/v/EdTVTObWeGsThis throw setup is a counter to your opponent trying to drop you with an outside leg trip from the clinch- little do most US fighters know, that's a perfect setup to get raped via Uchi Mata.-He clinches you up, and wraps your leg from the outside to trip you for the takedown. Grab him either behind the head and under the armpit, or with an overhook on the head side of the opponent.-Here, you have about a second to react before you end up on your back in half guard.-With his body tight around you, your arm in a good spot, and your leg between his, now it's time to make him pay for trying to take you down.-Keeping the grip tight, you bring that outside leg inside to let you stay upright when you disrupt the center of gravity between you...

Marcelo Garcia - Shoulder Lock transition from Half Guard
2008-06-04 21:13:00
Another instructional video by one of my favorite grapplers ever, Marcelo Garcia.Today, he shows us how to do two things:Prevent the replacing of the full guard.Getting a shoulder lock while your foot is still trapped in the opponent's half guard.http://www.youtube.com/v/1eSC2d6Ftl UI guess I'll have to do a loose explanation with this one:-Attain head and arm control (underhook the far arm)-Feed your leg through, in a vanilla half-guard pass, trying to attain mount*note* - if you get mount, just play your mount game-You get your knee out and on the ground, but your opponent manages to trap your foot-Post on your near foot, then post your back hand to post on his chest to throw that posted foot over the head.-Fall back as if to go for the armbar-Grab the knee and squeeze for the shoulder lock, while maintaining control of the arm.-If your opponent freaks out and lets go of your foot with his legs, scramble and finish the armbar.
More About: Guard , Lock , Half , Transition

Shoulder Lock from Scarf Hold (Kesa Gatame)
2008-06-03 23:09:00
Well, after a weekend of exciting fights, my blog wouldn't be itself without going back to covering technique. Today, it's the Shoulder Lock from the Scarf Hold , aka, Kesa Gatame.http://www.youtube.com/v/tsBjOCw0b WwI'm going to go ahead and admit it: I absolutely suck at maintaining or transitioning from the scarf hold. It's something about it. I always either end up letting my Judo years take over and end up just pinning down my opponent, or I decide to get creative try to work to mount in some goofy way and end up having my opponent escape, or worse, reverse on me.The Shoulder Lock shown here by the Submissions101 crew is perfect for those who achieve scarf hold, but don't want to risk losing the position from attacking.Steps:-Tighten down the Scarf Hold by grabbing your own thigh.-Push the trapped hand down using your free hand.-Lift the near leg and feed that arm under it.-Triangle your legs.-With weight on your elbow, opponent, and far foot, you lift your hips up and slig...

Video: Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver, WEC Featherweight Championship
2008-06-02 21:51:00
This was possibly the single greatest 5 round fight I have ever seen.Instead of a blow-by-blow, it's going to be my notes:By the way, take notes on this fight. Watching this is better than any MMA seminar I've seen.-The hairstyles. Faber with cornrows is honestly a little terrifying to look at.First round:-Hard hitting round, but with no takedowns other than Pulver 's attempt to take avantage of Faber's slip, which is honestly surprising.-And when Pulver did come crashing down on Faber, it showed a few things-Pulver was not afraid. Most people would hesitate at that point, but Jens just dove right in.Excellent butterfly guard control by Urijah- despite the fact that he wasn't trying to set up anything, his overhooks and proper use of the butterfly hooks resulted in strong control on his back.-Both Pulver and Faber shows excellent striking and clinch skills, but either Faber had boxing skills I did not know about, or he's just never bother to use them, because that right hand is...
More About: Video , Championship , Jens Pulver

Kimbo Slice vs. James Thompson Elite XC
2008-06-01 09:31:00
http://www.youtube.com/v/32Y5FWEDwT8http: //www.youtube.com/v/jfiaXDBfNCcI'm not going to go out there and say that I dislike Kimbo . Kimbo Slice has all the potential to become a legit MMA fighter, and despite that his career will most likely be short (he is 34 at this time) he will probably be a strong force during that time. His hands are as powerful as the hype says, and he is getting better.BUT.That was not the "defining fight" that we were looking for. Not only did this fight not answer any of the big questions regarding Kimbo, it just added fuel to the fire of all the skepticism regarding his ability to fight in MMA. And the worst part? The ref made the fight look fixed in a less-than-subtle way, which severely detracts from the already bitter-sweet win for Slice.Before I rip Kimbo a new one, let's go over his opponent- James "the Colossus" Thompson , a 16-8 fighter who seems to be more of a Hooligan than a fighter, with cauliflower ear that could be easily mistaken as a golfb...
More About: Elite

The (Shoulder) Von Flue Choke
2008-05-31 21:14:00
I was watching the Von Flue vs. Karalexis fight yesterday, and I realized I had never covered the "Von Flue" Choke - I know there are variations of the name, but everyone seems to recognize that one more often.If you don't know what I'm talking about, here is the end of the Jason Von Flue vs Alex Karalexis fight:http://www.youtube.com/v/aPQmH9mFSU 0There are a couple of uses for this choke, but generally, it's for when you escape your opponent's guillotine attempt into side control/your opponent holds on to your head for dear life via headlock with you across-side.The Submssions101 crew guides you through this slow-acting but effective choke:The sequence shown:-Opponent attempts standing guillotine-You wrap far arm over shoulder to relieve pressure, then circle around opponent to drop him.-With the far arm now under his neck, and you in side control, your opponent refuses to let go.-Feed the far arm as deep in as possible, roll him towards you a little bit (by attempting to postur...

Omoplata/Shoulder Lock from Octopus Guard
2008-05-30 19:05:00
Eduardo Telles shows us his Octopus Guard Omoplata. Note that in this case, omoplata is just referring to a shoulder lock.http://www.youtube.com/v/W-ijUYf2KTU Set-up for Octopus guard:Armdrag, Reach out diagonally with far arm, Post arm on back.It's like a stronger, less likely version of the Sit-up Guard the BJ Penn uses.Now, once you maintain Octopus guard (and say that you don't want to risk the back transition, and your opponent seems a little overzealous in trying to escape. Then the submissions is the easy part- you wait for him to try and reach around to throw you back into the normal guard. Since he doesn't have leverage, you grab that arm, bend it in, and get the shoulder lock.Personal note:I would personally train this drill as something to use in the scramble after a failed taking the back transition. Once you get to that position, especially in no-Gi, your opponent is not going to smoothly and calmly give you his arm. So this is a move you should learn to break out in ...
More About: Lock

Finishing the Kimura from the Half Guard (Recounter - Grabbing the Pants)
2008-05-29 20:39:00
Stephan Kesting from Grapplearts.com shows us how to finish the Kimura in half guard when the opponent decides to grab his pant leg.Now, I don't really ever expect this to happen in a no-Gi match, unless the guy you are going up against has some serious weight management issues and can grab his leg fat jelly rolls to do the same.Also, since your opponent's counter depends on his gripping of the gi/pants, you'll most likely be able to brute force the finish 75% of the time- this technique is for that remaining 25%.http://www.youtube.com/v/rdVWyYb61IMT his Kimura finish relies on using your opponent's reactions to your motions against him.Mr. Kesting explains this better in the video than I ever could, but here goes:-You try to finish the Kimura, opponent grabs pant leg-You try to initially brute force to finish, but your opponent's grip strength is pretty impressive.-Thus begins the recounter- you start shoving his hand inwards, a direction that your opponent should know that you...
More About: Pants , Guard , Half

Urijah Faber vs. Jens Pulver, WEC Featherweight Championship June 1st!
2008-05-28 21:56:00
I can't tell you guys how excited I am for the Faber/Pulver fight coming up in 4 days-These two are so incredibly important to the sport, because they will be ushering in featherweight division to the mainstream.As a MMA Blogger, I was invited to join in and listen to the live interviews of both Pulver and Faber, but I was unfortunately too busy at the time- but since this fight means so much to everyone involved in Mixed Martial Arts, I'd thought I'd at least put up some info on these guys and their interview with Sam Caplan (of Five oz. of Pain).MediaAudio interviews:Urijah FaberJens Pulver Trailer:http://www.youtube.com/v/UA hQZ8tkZfMSome Stats:Urijah Faber "California Kid" Born: CA, USAFighting Out Of: Sacramento, CaliforniaAge: 28Height: 5' 6" (168 cm)Weight: 145 lbs. (66 kg)...
More About: Championship , June

The Jab - Boxing
2008-05-28 18:22:00
So you all saw Sean Sherk get destroyed by BJ Penn's jab.http://www.youtube.com/v/VH0rO2RFBPIn stead of going over the technique per se, I'm going to just point out a few things with this one.When the jab is when done properly, it is something between a lead straight and an arm punch. That might seem like a strange thing to say, because to most of you, a jab is just a jab, but the fact is, most people, especially in MMA, tend to over commit to their jabs (or just not use them at all), which just open them up so much.Notice that a proper jab is not a lead straight. Plant your feet a millisecond before you pop that jab out from your shoulder. Actually, because Sherk was hopping in to throw everything from his jabs to his hooks- Penn, with the reach advantage, took full advantage of the counter opening.Because I know some of you might not be happy about what I wrote above, because many of you may do it, but in reality, it's something that can be forgivable if and only if you have a r...
More About: Boxing

BJ Penn vs. Sean Sherk - UFC 84
2008-05-27 17:17:00
UFC 84: Ill Will - LW Championship BoutBJ Penn vs. Sean Sherk

UFC 84: Wanderlei Silva vs Keith Jardine; Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs Kazuh
2008-05-26 20:19:00
Just wanted to get these out thereUFC 84Wanderlei Silva vs. Keith Jardine Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs Kazuhiro Nakamura
More About: Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

The Art of the Slam -MMA Compilation
2008-05-25 20:45:00
This is probably the most painful video I have come across recently-The Art of the Slam video:http://www.youtube.com/v/J0Xym2 Kx0xsAll of the famous and not so famous UFC and PRIDE slams and takedowns are here, from the Randleman/Fedor suplex, Rampage Jackson/Arona guard slam, Hughes/Trigg walk-around double, Couture /Liddell takedown, and many, many, more.Watch it and don't cringe too much :)
More About: Matt , Compilation

Failed Scissors Sweep to Calf Slicer Combo
2008-05-24 20:04:00
An absolutely slick combination -> Calf Slicer/Calf Crush/Leg Slicer from Failed Scissorshttp://www.youtube.com/v/ZVwv1zjz Iy4Once you're past a white belt level of grappling, the scissors sweep is pretty easy to defend against, most often done just by posting out and widening your base. This technique takes full advantage of that.Note- if your opponent doesn't base out, you should just continue the sweep. Don't undercommit to the sweep just because you don't think it's going to work- doing so may just make your opponent not react the way you want, and may very well just end up with you getting your guard passed and your day ruined.Set-up: Go for the scissors sweep - get the hooks in with your feet, and try to get mount.Reaction: Opponent senses danger, posts out to prevent the sweep.Attack: You let go of the hooks, and you feed the foot that was posted on the ground through the opposite leg, while sitting up and pull him across, almost as if to take the back.Grab the far ankle ...
More About: Combo , Sweep

Anaconda Choke From Guard
2008-05-23 20:00:00
Here's a great choke you can finish from the guard for No-Gi fighting- The Anaconda Choke http://www.youtube.com/v/-KIQCpYXM9k To StartFor MMA: Wait for a PunchFor Grappling: ArmdragMuch like taking the back from guard, as soon as you get the arm over, open up your guard and scoot your hips out, grabbing the other side of your opponent to pull yourself up.Feed your outer arm under his arm and neck, then grab your own bicep for the Figure-4.Finish the Anaconda Choke as you would a guillotine by falling back, replacing the guard, and squeezing tight.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Remember to continue pushing your opponent down with the arm on the body while you feed your arm through to buy yourself a few milliseconds of time to secure the choke.Happy training.
More About: Guard

Something I picked up from rolling yesterday (Personal Sparring Notes)
2008-05-22 22:13:00
I decided it would be a good idea to test out my technique with a near-useless right arm (infection drained the hell out of it) yesterday, and I had some things to note. Note, most of this is really beginner stuff, I just wanted to make some notes.When tired, an armbar is a much better option than trying to finish a Rear Naked Choke against a guy who is tenaciously defending it in Rear Mount.Also, when you have the back and you're exhausted, roll the opponent to one side and triangle his body (try to hide your feet behind his back)- it's absolutely exhausting to maintain the hooks against someone explosively bridging and rolling all the time. Also, dont forget to switch sides for the triangle if he manages to roll over (don't want your feet on the ground when you have a body triangle)When in half-guard top, it's not a bad idea to just try to roll your opponent to take his back immediately before your opponent even gets a chance to break your posture.When you want to finish a fi...
More About: Personal , Notes , Yesterday , Rolling , Sparring

X-Guard Sweep to Armbar
2008-05-21 19:51:00
http://www.youtube.com/v/MBUl-SnR1KoX-Gua rd is synonymous with one thing for many grapplers- Sweep s.Today, here is the go-to sweep for when your opponent tripods himself to prevent the usual spread and underhook sweep.Note- The Armbar in this video is more or less a secondary move- the point here is to achieve a side mount via X-Guard .In X-Guard, after you spread your opponent's legs to the point that he can't maintain base, he will often try to prevent the sweep by posting on his far arm.Pull his upper body towards you, an overhook on the far arm, and preferably an underhook on the closer side.Pull down on the upper body, then explosively push up and out with your legs to complete the sweep.Secure Side Mount, or go for the Armbar like the video shows.

LFC Double Knockout Video
2008-05-20 17:57:00
Honestly, not much explanation needed here:Legends of Fighting Championship, double KOvideo:http://www.youtube.com/v/bqGsZzwP D94Just wow.
More About: Video , Double , Knockout

Knees and Takedown from Thai Clinch, Ryan Schultz
2008-05-19 20:45:00
IFL Fighter Ryan Schultz, best known for beating down fighting prodigy Chris Horodecki, demonstrates a thai clinch fighting technique that ends with you kneeing your opponent in the face, then taking him down.http://www.youtube.com/v/0XqDYLi7mRk My usual rundown of the technique:After you grab your opponent in the Thai clinch and with the crown of his head in your grasp, you pull him in and toward one side.When he resists, you switch off on him, switching from clinch to pushing is head and body off to the side, off balancing him and giving you enough time to land a solid knee to the head.Also, with that, you have a simple double leg wide open for you on the other side of the body.When it comes to striking techniques, my personal view has always been KISS (Keep it simple, stupid), and this series of moves is wonderfully put together.
More About: Knees , Takedown , Clinch

Danillo Villefort vs. Mike Massenzio IFL
2008-05-19 00:52:00
Danillo Villefort vs. Mike Massenzio IFL 16/05/2008http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= HngLiUcJc18Great job by ATT fighter Danillo Villefort-Excellent initial use of the Rubber Guard to rain a few blows while on his backGreat job avoiding the Ground and Pound after being forced into the corner of the ringBut, the exciting part- after missing what looked like an armbar attempt, Villefort did the smart thing by attacking the leg, starting with a toehold, and after Massenzio escaped, kudos to Villefort and his ATT training- finish by very nice straight kneebar.Short and Exciting, watch the fight!

Arm Throw or Seio Nage, no-Gi
2008-05-17 21:12:00
One of my favorite takedowns, but also one of the easiest to counter is the Arm Throw , or Seio Nage in Judo terms. Regardless, it is still important to know, because when used at the right time, it ends with you in side mount.http://www.youtube.com/v/kwJx7Z9Y_v AEssentially, he goes over two variations- the Drop Seoi Nage and the Deep Arm Throw.While you can watch the video for the drop, I'm going to cover the Deep Arm Throw, because it applies much more easily (not saying the drop can't be used) to MMA and no-Gi grappling.While in the clinch, and you and your opponent are in a push and shove kind of moment, you wait until he pushes forward to step diagonally across, and wrap his arm over your shoulder and with the side of the neck deep into his elbow. It has to be deep, because you don't have the gi to hold on to like if you were doing this for Judo *pic*.*IMPORTANT NOTE*Note that you're essentially giving him a standing choke, and if he wraps himself around you, you also gave h...

Getting to the X-Guard, MArcelo Garica
2008-05-16 17:03:00
http://www.youtube.com/v/u00K0cq6kXYMarce lo Garcia goes over the hardest part of using the X-Guard :Getting there in the first place.Essentially, he goes from a position where his opponent is standing, with his butterfly hooks in, so that he can swim in for the X-Guard. Note that it's important for this method that the opponent isn't forcing the action forward, instead, Garcia waits for him to back up to get to the guard and sweep him.Watch the video!
More About: Marcelo

Open Guard and Butterfly Guard Pass - JJ Machado
2008-05-15 20:33:00
Jean Jacques Machado , whom I credit with making people understand how important over and underhooks are in the grappling game, and eventually leading to Eddie Bravo and his no-Gi insanity, shows us a stupid simple guard pass meant for the open guard, but it with the first step modified, also meant for the butterfly guard.http://www.youtube.com/v/Kft4mHElVL s1 - (Open Guard )Jump in, hike his ankles under you, and use your legs to hug his shins together1 - (Butterfly Guard)Negate your opponent's butterfly hooks by squeezing them together, arms at the knees.2 - Push the knees over to one side, and pass the guard.I did say it was simple.Make sure you maintain pressure on those legs, as you don't want your opponent to get to or get back to the butterfly guard.
More About: Pass

Leg Lock Transitions
2008-05-14 21:25:00
I'm a little too tired from practice yesterday to write out a full entry, but I will say that while focusing on leg locks yesterday during rolling, I caught 4 ankle locks and 2 heel hooks. I was proud of myself.Anyway, here is a wonderful video on transitioning from leg lock to leg lock. I feel that these kind of videos are useful to just about everyone, because it opens up many options or remind people that they can transition out of a failed move, or how to deal with things that your opponent might do.http://www.youtube.com/v/g-5jMlsUpX8On e of the first things he goes over, finishing the ankle lock when the opponent rolls over- very important for anyone who is not familiar with ankle locks- roll with him! I must have finished 1/2 of those locks yesterday while they were trying to roll out of it.He covers getting either a ankle lock or a heelhook from-vanilla ankle lock-north south transition to mount-guard, opponent standingGood amount of information packed into a short video.
More About: Transitions , Lock

Nick Diaz vs Katsuya Inoue Dream 3
2008-05-13 17:36:00
...A continuation from yesterday,Nick Diaz vs Katsuya Inoue Dream 3http://www.youtube.com/v/yhN2aUHpiS8This fight wasn't quite as one sided as the Mayhem Miller fight I posted yesterday, but still, Diaz chose to hang and bang with his opponent, and did quite well. As a matter of fact, Nick was just punching Inoue's head at will.Always good to see Nick Diaz do well, IMHO. It's a fun, if not fair, fight- watch it!

DREAM 3 - Jason Miller Vs Katsuyori Shibata
2008-05-12 21:28:00
Jesus, this was one of the one-sided MMA matches I've seen in a long time-Jason Miller Vs Katsuyori Shibata, DREAM 3http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dhmkHJ2_ KEMayhem 's little peace sign (or 'victory,' if he meant it solely for all the Asian folk in attendance) after achieving mount killed me. He's awesome, and this was just a great performance by him.Also, kudos to Shibata for avoiding the armbar, but kudos right back to Miller for countering the counter. A great jiu jitsu display shown by both.
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