22/08/2017 - BJJ Globetrotter Camp | Heidelberg 2017 | Bow & arrow chokes (Chad Wright)

Class #882
BJJ Globetrotter Camp (Olympiastützpunkt Rhein-Neckar) Chad Wright, Heidelberg, Germany, 22/08/2017

Sinking into the black hole with Chad referred to the bow and arrow choke. This was the standard set up, although Chad prefers the version where you lean back, as opposed to the more upright approach I like to use. The main part I hadn't seen before was using your gi tail to finish the choke instead. When you're on their back, on the armpit hand side, pull out their gi lapel if it isn't already loose. Pull that up behind their back, then pass it forward over their shoulder to your choking hand. As with the collar, you don't want it too deep. As it was Chad, he also came up with an entertaining analogy, relating to the 'optimum level of highness' in jiu jitsu. ;)

A post shared by Can (Jun) (@slideyfoot) on Aug 22, 2017 at 9:43am PDT

You can then complete the choke as normal, just using a different grip. It is considerably easier on your fingers, because you can grab with your hand rather than the ends of your fingers. However, I have found that it can be tricky to get this without ending up in a neck crank, having drilled it back home since. The solution to that is possibly just patience. Instead of insisting on getting the choke quick, do it slowly, as that way you aren't pulling really hard and twisting the neck.

24/06/2016 - BJJ Globetrotter Camp | Leuven 2016 | No-Gi Pressing Armbar (Chad Wright)

Class #741
BJJ Globetrotter Camp (Sportoase Leuven), Chad Wright, Leuven, Belgium, 24/06/2016

The pressing armbar is an attack I'm increasingly enjoying, meaning I was sufficiently interested in what variations Chad might have that I forced myself to do a nogi class. For what Chad calls a cutting armbar (there are always loads of different names for stuff in BJJ), he started off with applying it against a triangle defence. If they tuck they arm back to try and prevent your choke, reach through behind that arm. You can then pry it loose, pulling the wrist to your neck, then moving into the usual pressing armbar.

Chad then demonstrated how you could move into the pressing armbar from underneath half guard, noting that if they posture up when you go for it, you can simply shift back to closed guard. From a closed guard, Chad showed how you can move into a 'pitstop', where you bringing your legs up over their shoulder and triangling your legs. That's definitely easier if you have long limbs like Chad. ;)

22/06/2016 - BJJ Globetrotter Camp | Leuven 2016 | Pocket Guard (Chad Wright)

Class #734
BJJ Globetrotter Camp (Sportoase Leuven), Chad Wright, Leuven, Belgium, 22/06/2016

This was one of the more complex classes at the camp. It connected to what Haueter was talking about in his class in terms of lapel stuff, used a little differently. The entry starts with a collar grip, also pulling out their lapel on the collar grip side. Switch your body over to the side, switching your grip from the collar onto the lapel you've pulled out. Their arm should now be pinned to your chest.

A video posted by Can (Jun) (@slideyfoot) on Jun 22, 2016 at 3:43pm PDT

To get the slack out of the lapel, you're pulling it behind them, rather than sideways. Moving into pocket guard itself, you bring your bring up high on their back, getting onto your side. The grip you have on the arm is the 'romantic walk in the park' grip, arm in arm. Your free arm reaches over their head, grabbing all the way over to their lat. Sometimes you might end up crossing your feet, but initially at least, you're pressing your knee down, like you would when moving into a pressing armbar.

Now you have the pocket guard. If they stay there, you'll look to take their back. Due to your 'romantic walk in the park' arm-clasp, you might be able to get an armlock by securing the arm by gable gripping your hands, then thrusting your hips into their armpit. Chad had a rather more colourful way of describing that, I'm going to stick with 'thrust your hips'. ;)

For a choke, pass that loose gi tail under their neck, gripping it with the arm you have around the back of their head. To close off the choke, again thrust your hips into their armpit. Chad calls this the 'infinity choke' or 'figure 8', due to the figure described by the gi tail and arm as you pass it through.

If you can't get that choke, you may find they posture up and drive into you. Reach under their leg, lift your opposite leg, then roll them past your shoulder. You can now move into a sort of ezequiel choke, as you've maintained your grip on the collar. It would be possible to switch into an armbar too, due to that 'romantic walk in the park' clasp on the arm.

Should they post on their arm, Chad showed how if you have long limbs (like him, he's a tal guy) you could go into a pressing armbar. Back takes may be available too, or indeed a belly down pressing armbar. Chad told us to try stuff out at this point, see what we could come up with. Interesting to have that emphasis on creativity. :)