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Back to Basics

70K views 230 replies 46 participants last post by  Kapitein Koek 
#1 ·
So, a friend of mine suggested I put this thread together to help people really nail down the fundamentals of their favorite simple techniques.

There are alot of basic things that I see even high level guys f*ck up sometimes, and they are things that take alot of time to master, so whether you're a beginning grappler or someone who wants to get back to basics (and we all should, every once in a while), post a technique on this thread.

There are some good grapplers in here, and some good material on youtube that I'll link in for people, so whatever you bring to the table, you should get some good stuff.

So, anyone who wants some of the details of more basic moves broken down, post them here.

EDIT: I've made a decision to index the first ten pages of this thread in this post, so it's easier for people to navigate. All posts will be made by technique, in alphabetical-chronological order. I've starred my posts, just as a point of reference for me.

(Indexed Pages 1-20)

Armbar from the Bottom 1
Armbar from the Bottom 2*
Butterfly Guard 1*
Butterfly Guard 2*
Can Opener 1*
Crack Down
Ezequiel Choke 1*
Gi Grips*
Guard Pass 1*
Guard Pass 2 a
Guard Pass 2 b*
Guard Posture and Defense*
Guard Theory with Heavy Opponents*
Guard Theory with Strikes*
Half Guard Sweep 1*
Inverted Gogoplata 1*
Inverted Gogoplata 2*
Kimura
Kimura From Guard 1*
Mount Escapes 1*
Mount Escapes 2
Mount Escapes 3*
Mount Escapes 4
Mount Top Position*
Omoplata 1*
Omoplata 2*
Regaining Guard 1*
Scarf Hold Escapes 1*
Scarf Hold Escapes 2*
Scarf Hold Escapes 3*
Side Mount Escapes 1*
Side Mount Escapes 2*
Sprawl 1
Sprawl 2
Straight Ankle Lock*
Triangle Escapes and Prevention 1*
Triangle Escapes and Prevention 2
X-Guard Sweeps*
 
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#123 ·
The Crack-Down & Attacks (for Tango87)

Alright, so Tango87 wanted me to walk through the crack down, which I first picked up from wrestlers and modified for gi grappling and judo (where it destroys people). I have trouble setting it up in MMA, because fighters don't really lock up the same way. They use the Greco clinch instead of the head/collar & arm grab.

So, this opens by grabbing the back of your opponents head (which looks like a dirty boxing clinch, or a wrestling head-pull) and your opponents tricept.

When I do it, I drop the elbow of whatever hand I have behind the head into my opponents clavicle and drop my weight down, as if I'm looking for a shot or a knee-pick, but I don't commit my weight. When they drop down to keep me from getting under them, I yank down on their collar or their head and drop my weight down on top of their head and neck.

I sprawl my hips out because some guys will try and grab a leg as if they were shooting, then I secure a front head lock grip (one arm in).

From this position there are a bunch of great attacks, gi and no-gi. I really wish I had some pictures, because while the crack-down is pretty easy to walk through, these moves are not.

The first is the brabo choke, for which you set up a reverse arm triangle and roll your opponent onto their side (and you'll be on your side as well). Then walk your legs towards them. This is kind of an oversimplification, without much detail. See Babalu vs. Sokoudjou for a pretty good example of this finish.

There's a nice straight away guillotine from this position if you slide your body down so you can wrap your arm around the head (you don't need to go to the guard to finish the guillotine, just squeeze the neck and drop your hips down).

There are a few gi chokes, and I'll go into them if you want. Those are the ones I really want pictures of.

Really, though, the best option is to do what you should do from the sprawl, which is spin for the turtle and look to take the back and finish from there. That's the real "position-before-submission" BJJ principle.
 
#124 ·
Alright, so Tango87 wanted me to walk through the crack down, which I first picked up from wrestlers and modified for gi grappling and judo (where it destroys people). I have trouble setting it up in MMA, because fighters don't really lock up the same way. They use the Greco clinch instead of the head/collar & arm grab.

So, this opens by grabbing the back of your opponents head (which looks like a dirty boxing clinch, or a wrestling head-pull) and your opponents tricept.

When I do it, I drop the elbow of whatever hand I have behind the head into my opponents clavicle and drop my weight down, as if I'm looking for a shot or a knee-pick, but I don't commit my weight. When they drop down to keep me from getting under them, I yank down on their collar or their head and drop my weight down on top of their head and neck.

I sprawl my hips out because some guys will try and grab a leg as if they were shooting, then I secure a front head lock grip (one arm in).

From this position there are a bunch of great attacks, gi and no-gi. I really wish I had some pictures, because while the crack-down is pretty easy to walk through, these moves are not.

The first is the brabo choke, for which you set up a reverse arm triangle and roll your opponent onto their side (and you'll be on your side as well). Then walk your legs towards them. This is kind of an oversimplification, without much detail. See Babalu vs. Sokoudjou for a pretty good example of this finish.

There's a nice straight away guillotine from this position if you slide your body down so you can wrap your arm around the head (you don't need to go to the guard to finish the guillotine, just squeeze the neck and drop your hips down).

There are a few gi chokes, and I'll go into them if you want. Those are the ones I really want pictures of.

Really, though, the best option is to do what you should do from the sprawl, which is spin for the turtle and look to take the back and finish from there. That's the real "position-before-submission" BJJ principle.
this sounds like a great way to start a match. I am very comfortable from North/South head/arm position. I would look for an anaconda choke if it was there. I may give this a shot if the guy tries to clinch in. I am going to attempt an inside leg trip first though... Thanks a lot for the advice!!!!
 
#129 ·
Yeah, I love this position, so it's always good.

First is obviously the north/south choke. Just wrap the arm around the neck in a guillotine grip. To finish, take your weight off of his body and on to his neck as if you're sprawling, but without your chest on his body.

A lot of guys will try and push you off to escape, or at least they'll try and wrap an arm around your body. An easy tap from here is to step to the knee on belly and swing the leg over the head to get the armbar.

Those are the easy ones. If you feel yourself loosing the armbar, it's pretty easy to transition to the hammer-lock (aka the kimura grip) and sink it in deeper or go for the kimura.
 
#127 ·
Just wanted to add, for bottom escapes you could always use the UPA escape from mount, if you mix it up with shrimping while trying to escape mount, it usually works.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sH7fF_Rcss&feature=related
Thats one way to do it. To be honest though, if you just get an overhook on one the sides, you can usually reverse it.

I apologize if you didn't want others posting in here =P
 
#131 ·
I have a question for you. We were working on escaping mount, and I was just wondering how I can avoid getting arm barred when I shrimp lol. When we were working on it, I got arm barred like 3 or 4 times. Should I lock my hands? I am just not sure how to prevent it.
 
#132 ·
Yeah. This is actually a pretty common problem for guys learning to shrimp.

It's as simple as not extending your arms out. Keep your elbows in. When you go to shrimp, put your hands on your opponent's knee (not their hips or their belt) and keep the elbows glued to your ribs.

If your opponent doesn't have control of the elbow, they can't get the armbar.
 
#136 ·
Thanks for all the advice Ironman, this is more of just a random thing then match advice, but whenever I grapple with friends I love getting a gator roll on them (just is a fun move to me) and I saw Babalu get a choke out of it. My question is would the set up for it be the same? Get a front headlock and then lock it up behind the (opponents) other arm, and just sink your forearm to lock it around their throat? Thus making it a choke instead of a pin? It seems like a really slick move.
 
#139 ·
I'm going to assume you're talking about the anaconda choke that Babalu got against Sokoudjou in Affliction. I'm only going to assume that because it's basically the choke you described.

Yeah, it's basically:

1. Get the front headlock.
2. Lock the head and arm position in.
3. Roll them on to their side.
4. Walk your legs towards the body, like you're going to guard. This will choke the sh*t out of them.

Since I started training judo, I've been finding that I get this submission all the time. It's an excellent move.
 
#137 ·
You wanna make sure your arm is under their chin and lock your hand on your OWN bicep. Tuck your head in to the side(if you don't, you'll squash your head when you roll!), roll so they're on their back and you're on your side, then walk yourself towards them, tightening your grip of the choke at the same time!
 
#140 ·
Hey guys!!
I haven't done bjj that long (5 months actually) and while im getting better and better each time i get stuck in a situation with some guys i train with.

Basically these guys continiously go for front/lapel style chokes when i land in their guard.
-I was taught to keep one hand pressed to them so i could stop their second hand from reaching my collar/lapel. Eventually they'll use their legs bring me in close and catch me that way.
-I never voluntarily go down (i try to stay postured) but these guys always manage to pull me down into the choke.
-I can check the guys hand (ive also tried the telephone) but then i just end up continiously defending when i really gotta get moving with the guard break.

If Ironman or ANYONE else could help me, that would be awesome! :D

Apologies for my lack of knowledge/experience aswell.
 
#141 ·
Hey guys!!
I haven't done bjj that long (5 months actually) and while im getting better and better each time i get stuck in a situation with some guys i train with.
That's what the thread is here for.

Basically these guys continiously go for front/lapel style chokes when i land in their guard.
-I was taught to keep one hand pressed to them so i could stop their second hand from reaching my collar/lapel. Eventually they'll use their legs bring me in close and catch me that way.
O.K., here's your problem:

It's not enough to just press a hand on the guy and push yourself up, so let me walk you through the basic guard posture.

  1. Sit back so that your ass is on your heels.
  2. Keep your shoulders over your hips and your hips over your feet.
  3. Keep your hands on your opponents belt (for gi) or hips (for no-gi).
  4. Keep your elbows in tight when you can.
  5. If they try and sit up, push the belt up (gi) or apply pressure higher (no-gi).
  6. From there, work to crack the closed guard by attacking the inside of their legs.

Now, here are a list of things to be careful of in the guard.

  1. Do not lean forward past their hips, as you will get broken down immediately.
  2. Do not let one arm drop out of the guard without keeping the elbow of the arm tight, so you can avoid the triangle.
  3. Do not let your opponent sit out of the guard without grabbing control of his pants and working to pass.

-I never voluntarily go down (i try to stay postured) but these guys always manage to pull me down into the choke.
If they're breaking your posture, that means your posture is not as good as it needs to be. Keep working these basics. Hopefully the pointers will help, but it's really one of those things you just have to do.

Remember to stay relaxed in the guard. Remember not to lean forward.

Most of all, though, remember to work the legs for the pass. If they're worried about you passing, then they'll be more focused on maintaining position than securing the choke.

-I can check the guys hand (ive also tried the telephone) but then i just end up continiously defending when i really gotta get moving with the guard break.
Then tuck the chin and go balls-to-the-wall with the pass. If you dip the jaw down to your collarbone to make it hard to finish the choke, then work quickly on the position.

It may not work, but it's worth practicing, as it may pay off if you can get through.

Still, though, focus on the posture in the guard, as I think that's almost certainly your problem.

Apologies for my lack of knowledge/experience aswell.
No worries. Everyone starts somewhere.
 
#143 ·
IronMan:

Any tips on how to get out of a situation related to scarfmount.

I was rolling with someone who got into scarfmount position, put his legs over my head, and eventually caught me in a kimura. I figured out what he was attempting to do when he put his leg over my head, but by then it was far too late to get out of it.

Any quick tips on getting out of scarf mount?
 
#144 ·
Alright, I'm going to assume that scarf mount and scarf hold are the same thing, if they're not, then correct me.

The scarf hold, I should note, is really only when they have control of the head alone. When they have the underhook on the other side, it becomes a totally different position.

First, I should get out the way two things.

  1. I hate this position.
  2. The best way to escape is never to be there.

Still, since I've started doing judo I've spent a lot of time working on this position, as most of my training partners really, really like it.

The first thing to do is keep yourself from getting flat (this is always the first thing to do when your opponent is in a dominant position). With this particular position that means getting one of your shoulders off of the mat.

The best way to do that is to twist your hips towards your opponent. This will bring your far shoulder off of the mat.

In gi grappling, you can reach around to grab the belt (which establishes control) and then roll back over your shoulders so that they're on their back, which reverses the position.

In no-gi, when you can't grab the belt, you can still execute that same reversal, but, frankly, it's much harder.

I prefer, once I twist my hips up, to turn my hips over (so that I come up to my knees), get that hook around the body (without the gi, there's no belt to grab, but it's the same hook) and then sit back to pop the head out. This can put some strain on the neck, but once the head is out, you have control of the back.
 
#145 ·
Just a quick question about scarf hold. (my class just drilled the crap out of scarf escapes last week)

In the picture you gave, the close arm isn't secured at all, is that normal or just a "do it how you prefer" type thing?

I realize that was probably just a decent picture of the position you found, so I guess what I'm asking is, do you secure the close arm under/between your legs or just leave it loose?
 
#146 ·
Just a quick question about scarf hold. (my class just drilled the crap out of scarf escapes last week)

In the picture you gave, the close arm isn't secured at all, is that normal or just a "do it how you prefer" type thing?
Yeah, that was just to give an example of the position, that's not how I control the scarfhold at all.

I use the scarfhold primarily for gi and grab by the tricept on the arm and the back of the collar around the head (deep) to get a solid grip.

I realize that was probably just a decent picture of the position you found, so I guess what I'm asking is, do you secure the close arm under/between your legs or just leave it loose?
I secure the arm with the outside hand (what would be the left hand in that picture).

Like I said, though, this is a gi based move that I use in judo as a pin, not a move I use in jiu-jitsu or MMA because it becomes nearly impossible to set up a submission with your hips facing the ceiling like that.

Personally, I turn my hips over and go to work from side control. As someone who goes to the back a lot when people go for this position, I understand how easy it is to get there, and consider this position way too risky without a gi to hold on to.

With the gi, it's nice because when they try to escape by rolling away from you, it's pretty easy to spin into an armbar if you're quick about it. Unfortunately, I'm only using that in training now (I'm not a blackbelt in judo yet, and until you reach that level, the armbar is not legal in competition), but it's a great setup with the gi on.
 
#151 ·
Hi Guys
Gotta say I love this thread and you've given some fantastic advice in it :)
I have a bit of a problem when rolling.The majority of the people I roll with are usually about 2 weight classes above me at least.In most positions im fine but I seem to be very suseptable to americanas if they get a mount.
Can anyone recommend a good defense for this?

Thanks :)
 
#153 ·
That's a serious oversimplification of the guard game, in my opinion, though it's a piece of advice I hear alot.

If you're in the guard, dropping both arms out of the guard to scoop and pass is a good approach and, in that case, you definitely want to make sure you don't leave an arm in.

However, there's a huge gray area when it comes to leaving arms out in the guard.

Splitting the guard with a knee (either just popping it between the opponents hips and yours, or dropping it on the thigh to keep the guard open and make for an easy pass) allows the person in the guard to leave one hand on the opponents belt while using the other to pass over the leg, set up a navy ride or pass under the leg that's being underhooked.

I get frustrated by these little blunt pieces of advice that don't acknowledge the nuances of the ground game, especially when it comes to basics.
 
#154 ·
My instructions were simple, sure. I was in jiu jitsu for about three months before I figured out that rule, nobody told me, so I just figured someone reading this who understood my comment would have a little knowledge as how to pass the guard already. For my self when it comes to jiu jitsu Im a visual learner, its hard for me to write or read text and fully understand or explain it. Thats why I recomended the Nog/Fedor 1, I just thught if someone kept what I said in mind and watched it, it could help
 
#155 ·
For sure. It's not bad advice. It'll definitely keep you out of the triangle.

I'm just saying, there are moments when passing the guard demands having one arm in and one out.
 
#158 ·
Yeah??? I want to know.... sorry I didnt understand the repy all the way.

I have seen and heard people go from x guard to butterfly... my butterfly is fairly good and I like to work it alot. I dont have the flexibility or feel comfortable enough to work the rubber guard and I dont really like the spider gaurd but am good enough at it that it helps, when I end up in a scramble
 
#159 ·
Yeah??? I want to know.... sorry I didnt understand the repy all the way.
Do you want to know how to get to the X-Guard? From what positions (sounded like you wanted the transition from the Butterfly Guard, so I'll post something on those transitions, if you want)

Do you want to know how to sweep people from the X-Guard?

Do you want to know how to submit people from the X-Guard?

Also, do you have a preference as far as no-gi or gi? The techniques do change a little bit without the grips.
 
#163 ·
That's a pretty non-specific question.

As far as great submissions that are very effective and very basics, here's a list of ones I've already gone over (either in this thread, or in other places on the forum).

From the guard:

Kimura
Armbar

From the top:

Americana
Armbar (described here from the hammerlock)

Narrow down your question and I'll address techniques specifically, but I really don't have the time to go through ten or fifteen submissions that should be taught at the whitebelt level, at least not all at once.

I've got a very basic question..

When you're in someone's guard, or if you're mounting them, should you keep it close, or should you try and sit up?
This is an issue of personal preference.

The MMA dictum is to stay postured in both the mount and the guard to throw bombs (or, at least, in my opinion, it should be). The traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu dictum is also to stay postured up.

As a guy with a very traditional Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game when it comes to passing the guard and establishing the mount, I tend to stay postured.

My thought process is like this:
  1. It's much harder to attack a postured opponent in your guard.
  2. With the gi on, it's very dangerous to let your opponent pull you close, as they have a lot of control
  3. From the mount, it's very easy to get rolled if you don't have good posture.
  4. From the guard, you give up a lot of passes when you can't use your knees to attack the legs.
  5. It's very easy to give up your posture. It's very difficult to get it back.

Those are just a few thoughts on why it's good to posture up. Of course, there are times when it's good to give up posture in the mount (there are really no times when it's a good idea to give up posture in the guard, unless you have control of your opponents legs and are looking to pass, and even then it's important to have a certain level of posture.

In the mount, if you're attempting gi chokes or trying to pry your opponents arms up, you may choose to drop your weight down, but remember to keep your weight on your hips, and don't apply too much pressure to the chest. That's how you get swept.

And if someone is in a high mount on you, do you get out by shrimping and then putting your legs around them to get them into your guard/half-guard?
It's going to be very difficult to escape a high mount this way.

Of course, it's very difficult to escape a high mount in general. The best way, from my experience, is to try and work them down onto your hips and look for an upa (buck and roll).

Shrimping does work, especially in gi grappling, to get back to the guard. However, if the mount is high, it's going to be very difficult to move their leg the distance that you need to in order to retain the half-guard.

Im mainly intrested in tranitioning between X guard and butterfly as well as sweeping from X guard
O.K.

So one of the reasons why the transition from the butterfly guard is so effective is because it comes out of a very traditional way that people try to escape the tight butterfly guard.

Lots of guys will try and step up with one leg (sumo step, as it's often called) and stuff your leg through. This position presents a huge problem for a lot of people, because the butterfly hook really isn't as useful when the leverage is gone and you're only working off of one leg.

When your opponent tries to turn to sumo step, you can get the x-guard easily by turning so that the leg that is posted is right in front of you. Then you swing your other leg from the butterfly hook on the other leg, through so that your legs make an x against the inside of his thigh.



At this point, it's important to quickly establish grips on his legs.

In gi, grab the pantleg right at the calf or ankle (the lower you grab, the better the leverage, but if he's good at breaking grips, it'll be easier for him to escape).

In no-gi, grab the ankles.

From here you have a lot of sweeps.

The one I go to the most is just to pull the controlled leg towards my butt as I push with my legs against it. This will bend the leg at the knee at an odd angle, and force your opponent to put his ass on the ground. If you have a tight x-guard, it's very, very difficult to block this sweep.

When you get this sweep, don't give up the control of his legs. Use the pressure of your legs on his thigh to establish control and get the pass (or transition to a submission once you get the points for a sweep, as there are a few submissions from this spot).

The other move that seems to be very popular for gi is to turn under him so that you're behind him, grab his belt and use the hooks to force his butt to the mat, taking control of the back.

Hopefully that was helpful.
 
#161 ·
I've got a very basic question..

When you're in someone's guard, or if you're mounting them, should you keep it close, or should you try and sit up?

And if someone is in a high mount on you, do you get out by shrimping and then putting your legs around them to get them into your guard/half-guard?
 
#165 ·
Post Some Damn Questions

I'm going to make a project out of going to the first post and indexing the first ten or so pages of this thread as far as advice, but in the meantime, feel free to post questions, guys.
 
#166 ·
Here's a damn question:):

How do you handle heavier opponents in your guard? Specifically, if they grab a hold of your upper body and hug you, squeeze you and call you George and thus preventing you from breathing normally?

I know this doesn't have much to do with the specific techniques, but hey, you wanted a question.:)
 
#167 ·
How do you handle heavier opponents in your guard? Specifically, if they grab a hold of your upper body and hug you, squeeze you and call you George and thus preventing you from breathing normally?
I'm not entirely sure how being called George prevents you from breathing normally, but there are a few ways to deal with the size advantage off of your back.

The first is to work the guard high, so that your legs are in their armpits, and then start to attack from there. It's very easy to break your opponent down once you have the guard that high, as you can usually control their body with your knees. Don't let them posture up, as nice as it might seem to have them off of your chest. Keep them broken down and start to attack sweeps and submissions.

If you can't control their body and they continue to hold you, pummel. Try and get underhooks and hold onto them. From this position, there are a lot of attacks.

You can transition to butterfly guard and look for sweeps.

You can get on your hip (which should be pretty easy once you get the underhooks) and start looking to take the back.

You can work a handful of sweeps and (in gi) straight collar chokes.

When I see a lot of people get flattened out, especially by bigger guys, they try and sit up into their opponent. That's a waste of energy, especially against a guy who's just flattening you out.

Personally, I prefer to go under him. Try to get those underhooks or try to grab a pantleg or ankle and attempt the sweep. This change in leverage should take the weight off and open up your breathing.

I know this doesn't have much to do with the specific techniques, but hey, you wanted a question.:)
That's fine. I don't mind answering questions about using positions. Sometimes that's more helpful than adding techniques.
 
#183 ·
Alright, When you are in bottom guard. What's the proper hold to avoid them from raining blows? or standing up.

Also, same as in full guard. Do I hold double under hooks? or hold around the head and arms?

Thanks.
This is a personal preference thing. I suggest experimenting with a lot of different grips. There are a few standard grips, though.

  1. Both hands behind the head.
  2. One hand on the back of the head, one hand on the arm.
  3. Both hands on one arm.
  4. One overhook, one underhook.
  5. Double underhooks.
  6. One arm free, the other hooking under the opponent's knee.
I can get into attacks from any of these if you want. Still, play around with them. Developing a good guard is about finding what works for your body type, flexibility, mindset and personal level of comfort. There's no single answer.
 
#179 ·
not that i've done much mma sparring, bj penn has what he calls a dam good guard, which is pinning one of the arms to the side and your other arm behind the neck while having your opponents posture broken down.From here your opponent cant really do anything until they posture up, and you can make attacks from the guard, also if you doun't want to get hit, when they are postured up, grab the hand an pull them up. this seems to work for me.

good luck
 
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