Class 35…

A week and a half off due to injury and I was raring to go and first up was a white belt beginner’s class. I like these classes because there’s no sparring and it’s all technique so I always try to absorb as much as possible.

Today the focus was on attacking from the guard using a collar grip. The set-up for all the techniques was the same: the opponent is postured up in your closed guard with one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach; to break his posture you grab his gi at the elbows and push it back so it flares his elbows out and attacks the integrity of his posture; at the same time you use your closed guard to bring his body forward then use your left arm to overhook his shoulder and keep him in place tight to you.

The following variations then come into play:

Collar Choke: while keeping opponent’s posture broken down unhook the lapel of his gi with your right hand and pass it over his back so you can grab it with your left hand to keep him pinned down; now create a little space by using your guard and then bring your right hand in front of your opponent’s face facing up and grab the lapel to the right of the opponent’s neck; with your left hand you now grab the lapel still around the opponent’s back forming an x with your wrists in front of his face; now wring to close the choke.

Defending Collar Choke and Attack to the Side: while keeping opponent’s posture broken down unhook the lapel of his gi with your right hand and pass it over his back so you can grab it with your left hand to keep him pinned down; now create a little space by using your guard and then bring your right hand in front of your opponent’s face facing up and grab the lapel to the right of the opponent’s neck; the opponent defends against your left arm here to stop you applying the choke so instead open your guard and plant your left leg on the floor and scissor sweep him onto his side using your right leg to chop into him. Keep the right hand collar grip firm. At the same time posture up on your left arm to gain leverage. The opponent is now on his side so apply the choke for the tap or use the leverage to end up in full mount.

The other variations, which I’ve forgotten the details of, included Defending Collar Choke and Armbar Attack; Defending Collar Choke and Armbar Attack, Defending Armbar Attack and Reverting to Collar Choke; and Defending Collar Choke By Pinning Arm and Pushing Through to Set Up Triangle Choke.

LESSON FROM TODAY: Break the opponent’s posture from guard by flaring the elbows, bringing the opponent forward using the guard and securing the overhook.