03/05/2019 - Teaching | Mount | Pressing armbar

Teaching #858
Artemis BJJ (Easton Road), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 03/05/2019

From low mount, hook their elbow and walk your hand up (spider crawling your fingers). Keep doing that until you can lock their arm to their head with your cross facing hand. At this point, their arm might be drifting across, which sets you up for an arm triangle or a back take. If the arm stays on the outside of your head, you can instead go for an armbar.

Alternatively, you can drive your head by their forearm to push it into place, if like me you prefer the armbar. Once you have it to the outside of your head, keep your forehead on the ground to prevent them getting their arm free. Keep your arm tight, then move upwards until you can get the back of your head to their wrist, your arm/s just below their elbow.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on May 6, 2019 at 10:23pm PDT

The goal here is to lock their arm by the elbow and the wrist. That then means you can get a pressing armbar. In this situation, you're going to pull your arms inwards, while pushing your head outwards. Due to the back of your head jamming against the back of their wrist, you can hopefully prevent them twisting their arm as they attempt to relieve the pressure. If you haven't got the pressure right, you can simply adjust and try again: this is a fairly low risk attack, as long as you keep everything tight.

With your feet, press the soles against their sides. This should enable you to control their lower body while you set up and then apply the submission.
________________
Teaching Notes: Keep forehead on the mat, tight from the start, their wrist on the back of your head. Thanks to goatfury for this one: check out his BJJPath.com website. :D

17/04/2019 - Teaching | Mount | Armbar grip breaks

Teaching #853
Artemis BJJ (Easton Road), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 17/04/2019

When going for the armbar, you will most likely find that they clasp their hands together in some way to prevent you completing the submission. There are numerous options for breaking that grip. The simplest and most universal is, I think, bringing your leg (that you have nearest their legs, not the one nearer their head as that would destabilise your control) into the crook of their elbow and pushing the grip loose, combining that push with a pull from your arms.

It isn't foolproof, but it seems to be the one that works most often for me. Drop back, squeezing your knees, then pull down on their wrist and raise your hips for the finish. For another option, you can try leaning back towards their head, while you're still holding their locked arms. Draw a semi-circle with your body from there, swinging towards their legs. Depending on how they're gripping, that may pull the arm free: this one is probably best for when they're just clasping their hands together.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Apr 29, 2019 at 11:21pm PDT

For a more complex option, your can try weaving your arms through. Your arm nearest their head goes under their arm. You bring your other arm over to the side nearest their head, so that your elbow is against their elbow. Clasp your hands together, then twist out. It's hard to visualise from text, but hopefully the video below makes it clearer:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Apr 30, 2019 at 10:47pm PDT

________________
Teaching Notes: I'll keep playing with which grip breaks to go with. I'd like to research some others, like the wrist locking ones, pulling the elbows in etc. There are lots to try, so practice some others in daytime next time.

15/04/2019 - Teaching | Mount | Armbar

Teaching #852
Artemis BJJ (Easton Road), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 15/04/2019

You've managed to move into high mount and get underneath their elbows. Reach your arm under their opposite forearm, past the crook of their elbow. Grab around their arm, so that you're gripping the tricep. You're then going to move into s-mount, in a motion that has some similarities to the technical mount switch. Pull the arm you've gripped across, creating space to slide your knee forwards. If you need additional base, post your free hand by their head as your knee comes up, swivelling your torso to face their other arm. Alternatively, you might manage to pull their shoulder up if you have a grip ready for the choke, whereupon you can slide your knee under and begin the switch to s mount.

Your other knee does not raise off the ground. Instead, you're sliding it along the ground, then twisting and curling it around your opponent's armpit, tightly coming under their far shoulder. If you do raise that knee, you're at risk of leaving enough space for them to escape. Keep the knee low. Leaning forwards once in position may help too, to maintain your balance.

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on May 31, 2018 at 12:42am PDT

Lock the arm to your chest, or secure it by grasping your own collar. Scooping up their other arm can be useful here as well, if you can, also giving you the option of switching sides if you need to. Some people will grip their curling-leg ankle from here, reaching under their opponent's head (which has the additional advantage of cross-facing them). This will depend on your leg length and flexibility: you'll want to be comfortable with the position first, which is an awkward configuration.

Keep your legs squeezing into them, then lean sideways towards their stomach. This is to lighten your knee-leg, so you can bring that over their head. Lean forwards, sliding down the arm you trapped at the start, staying close to their shoulder. From here you'll be looking to drop back for the armbar. However, that moment where you're bringing the leg over their head is also where you're at risk of giving them too much space (which is why Saulo recommends leaning forwards). Make sure you don't flop backwards: it should be a slide down the arm, staying upright. You only drop back when everything else is tight.

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Jun 1, 2018 at 2:18am PDT

To prevent them turning into you, continue to lean into them, backstopping their elbow with your body. They need their elbow to turn, so don't let them have it. Grabbing their leg will make that even tougher for them, though note you'll normally need to switch arms for that. They will also try to bring their head into play, aiming to get to their knees so they can start stacking you. Use your leg to push their head away, so they don't have the posture to recover a strong position. Watch out for them trying to either push your leg off their head, or push the other leg down where they can trap it with their own legs.

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Jun 4, 2018 at 12:33am PDT

Generally, you want to get both legs over them, bringing the heels in tight to their head and armpit. Crossing the feet tends to be a mistake, but that's because most beginners will relax their thighs when they cross their feet, making it easy for your partner to push your legs off. If you remember to tense your thighs, driving your knees out, crossing the feet can be a strong control. Be warned it takes some finesse though.

Finally, you will most likely find that they clasp their hands together in some way. There are numerous options for breaking the grip. The simplest and most universal is, I think, bringing your leg into the crook of their elbow and pushing the grip loose, combining that push with a pull from your arms. It isn't foolproof, but it seems to be the one that works most often for me. Drop back, squeezing your knees, then pull down on their wrist and raise your hips for the finish.

Also keep in mind that you do not have to drop back to finish the armbar. It is entirely possible to finish the armbar from an upright position. Arguably, it is preferable, as this takes away the risk of creating space for them to escape into as you drop back.

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Jun 5, 2018 at 12:44am PDT

________________
Teaching Notes: Lean forwards into them to keep the arm squished. Grabbing the wrist before you drop back. Turning the hips.

26/10/2018 - Teaching | Mount | Shoulder clamp mount to omoplata

Teaching #807
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 26/10/2018

Hooray, our first 'blue belt plus' class!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Can (Jun) (@slideyfoot) on Aug 18, 2018 at 5:47am PDT

To secure a grip, there are two main options Kenny suggested. The first option is to wrap your same side arm around your knee, reaching under their head. Your other hand locks that in place by grabbing your wrist. A gi option is to instead reach behind your own leg, grabbing the back of their collar. There are several other submissions you can go for if the initial shoulder lock isn't viable. The two main options both involve bringing your leg over their head. If you're flexible enough, you can just swing it over. Should you need some support, slip your other hand behind, then guide the leg over.



If they manage to secure a grip on something, preventing the standard shoulder lock, you can switch to an armbar, or an omoplata. The omoplata is fairly simple. Raise up your other leg, stepping up with your foot like you were basing for knee on belly or a knee cut slide. Slide across towards that raised foot, dropping into the standard omoplata. Kenny makes a point that he drives his hips directly forwards, rather than the orthodox way of leaning towards their far ear. As ever, you can wristlock instead if that isn't working.
______________________
Teaching Notes: This was my first attempt at an intermediate class, where I decided that I'd go for combinations. I ran through the shoulder clamp entry into the kimura/wristlock, along with mentioning a few follow up options. There's the back take if they manage to get their arm free, or you could switch to the ezequiel if they manage to get their shoulder back down to the mat.

24/10/2018 - Teaching | Mount | Shouder clamp mount to armbar

Teaching #806
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 24/10/2018

To secure a grip, there are two main options Kenny suggested. The first option is to wrap your same side arm around your knee, reaching under their head. Your other hand locks that in place by grabbing your wrist. A gi option is to instead reach behind your own leg, grabbing the back of their collar. There are several other submissions you can go for if the initial shoulder lock isn't viable. The two main options both involve bringing your leg over their head. If you're flexible enough, you can just swing it over. Should you need some support, slip your other hand behind, then guide the leg over.



For the armbar, bring your hips up higher on their body. Push their head to face down, placing your arm in front of their head. You can use your other hand out to the side as base, or possibly grabbing behind their leg. However, be careful: you don't want to lose your balance while you have their arm tightly trapped, in case of injury. Rotate around the arm you have trapped, then slowly drop back. You might be able to get the submission by leaning back, if you've secured their arm under your armpit. If not, you can adjust into a standard armbar, adjusting their arm to your chest.

______________________
Teaching Notes: Make sure you get your hips behind the arm, turning before you drop. Be careful with your balance, hand behind you if you need to support your weight.

25/05/2018 - Teaching | Mount | Armbar

Teaching #781
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 25/05/2018

You've managed to move into high mount and get underneath their elbows. Reach your arm under their opposite forearm, past the crook of their elbow. Grab around their arm, so that you're gripping the tricep. You're then going to move into s-mount, in a motion that has some similarities to the technical mount switch. Pull the arm you've gripped across, creating space to slide your knee forwards. If you need additional base, post your free hand by their head as your knee comes up, swivelling your torso to face their other arm. Alternatively, you might manage to pull their shoulder up if you have a grip ready for the choke, whereupon you can slide your knee under and begin the switch to s mount.

Your other knee does not raise off the ground. Instead, you're sliding it along the ground, then twisting and curling it around your opponent's armpit, tightly coming under their far shoulder. If you do raise that knee, you're at risk of leaving enough space for them to escape. Keep the knee low. Leaning forwards once in position may help too, to maintain your balance.

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on May 31, 2018 at 12:42am PDT

Lock the arm to your chest, or secure it by grasping your own collar. Scooping up their other arm can be useful here as well, if you can, also giving you the option of switching sides if you need to. Some people will grip their curling-leg ankle from here, reaching under their opponent's head (which has the additional advantage of cross-facing them). This will depend on your leg length and flexibility: you'll want to be comfortable with the position first, which is an awkward configuration.

Keep your legs squeezing into them, then lean sideways towards their stomach. This is to lighten your knee-leg, so you can bring that over their head. Lean forwards, sliding down the arm you trapped at the start, staying close to their shoulder. From here you'll be looking to drop back for the armbar. However, that moment where you're bringing the leg over their head is also where you're at risk of giving them too much space (which is why Saulo recommends leaning forwards). Make sure you don't flop backwards: it should be a slide down the arm, staying upright. You only drop back when everything else is tight.

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Jun 1, 2018 at 2:18am PDT

To prevent them turning into you, continue to lean into them, backstopping their elbow with your body. They need their elbow to turn, so don't let them have it. Grabbing their leg will make that even tougher for them, though note you'll normally need to switch arms for that. They will also try to bring their head into play, aiming to get to their knees so they can start stacking you. Use your leg to push their head away, so they don't have the posture to recover a strong position. Watch out for them trying to either push your leg off their head, or push the other leg down where they can trap it with their own legs.

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Jun 4, 2018 at 12:33am PDT

Generally, you want to get both legs over them, bringing the heels in tight to their head and armpit. Crossing the feet tends to be a mistake, but that's because most beginners will relax their thighs when they cross their feet, making it easy for your partner to push your legs off. If you remember to tense your thighs, driving your knees out, crossing the feet can be a strong control. Be warned it takes some finesse though.

Finally, you will most likely find that they clasp their hands together in some way. There are numerous options for breaking the grip. The simplest and most universal is, I think, bringing your leg into the crook of their elbow and pushing the grip loose, combining that push with a pull from your arms. It isn't foolproof, but it seems to be the one that works most often for me. Drop back, squeezing your knees, then pull down on their wrist and raise your hips for the finish.

Also keep in mind that you do not have to drop back to finish the armbar. It is entirely possible to finish the armbar from an upright position. Arguably, it is preferable, as this takes away the risk of creating space for them to escape into as you drop back.

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Jun 5, 2018 at 12:44am PDT

_______________________
Teaching Notes: Remember to talk about posting on your forehead if they try to bump you, I forgot about that. Some people were keeping their weight back and off them, so highlight that you need to have your weight on them, not sliding onto your heel like you do in technical mount.

Also, on the actual finish I could perhaps have some more detail on lifting your hips and pulling back on the wrist. I didn't go into depth on breaking grips, but I did mention the nutcracker to one pair where they were having some trouble getting the armbar during progressive resistance.

16/10/2017 - Teaching | Mount | Armbar

Teaching #711
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 16/10/2017

You've managed to move into high mount and get underneath their elbows. Reach your arm under their opposite forearm, past the crook of their elbow. Grab around their arm, so that you're gripping the tricep. You're then going to move into s-mount, in a motion that has some similarities to the technical mount switch. Pull the arm you've gripped across, creating space to slide your knee forwards. If you need additional base, post your free hand by their head as your knee comes up, swivelling your torso to face their other arm. Alternatively, you might manage to pull their shoulder up if you have a grip ready for the choke, whereupon you can slide your knee under and begin the switch to s mount.

Your other knee does not raise off the ground. Instead, you're sliding it along the ground, then twisting and curling it around your opponent's armpit, tightly coming under their far shoulder. If you do raise that knee, you're at risk of leaving enough space for them to escape. Keep the knee low. Leaning forwards once in position may help too, to maintain your balance.

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Oct 19, 2017 at 1:17am PDT

Lock the arm to your chest, or secure it by grasping your own collar. Scooping up their other arm can be useful here as well, if you can, also giving you the option of switching sides if you need to. Some people will grip their curling-leg ankle from here, reaching under their opponent's head (which has the additional advantage of cross-facing them). This will depend on your leg length and flexibility: you'll want to be comfortable with the position first, which is an awkward configuration.

Keep your legs squeezing into them, then lean sideways towards their stomach. This is to lighten your knee-leg, so you can bring that over their head. Lean forwards, sliding down the arm you trapped at the start, staying close to their shoulder. From here you'll be looking to drop back for the armbar. However, that moment where you're bringing the leg over their head is also where you're at risk of giving them too much space (which is why Saulo recommends leaning forwards). Make sure you don't flop backwards: it should be a slide down the arm, staying upright. You only drop back when everything else is tight.

To prevent them turning into you, continue to lean into them, backstopping their elbow with your body. They need their elbow to turn, so don't let them have it. Grabbing their leg will make that even tougher for them, though note you'll normally need to switch arms for that. They will also try to bring their head into play, aiming to get to their knees so they can start stacking you. Use your leg to push their head away, so they don't have the posture to recover a strong position. Watch out for them trying to either push your leg off their head, or push the other leg down where they can trap it with their own legs.

Generally, you want to get both legs over them, bringing the heels in tight to their head and armpit. Crossing the feet tends to be a mistake, but that's because most beginners will relax their thighs when they cross their feet, making it easy for your partner to push your legs off. If you remember to tense your thighs, driving your knees out, crossing the feet can be a strong control. Be warned it takes some finesse though.

A post shared by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Oct 20, 2017 at 1:56am PDT

Finally, you will most likely find that they clasp their hands together in some way. There are numerous options for breaking the grip. The simplest and most universal is, I think, bringing your leg into the crook of their elbow and pushing the grip loose, combining that push with a pull from your arms. It isn't foolproof, but it seems to be the one that works most often for me. Drop back, squeezing your knees, then pull down on their wrist and raise your hips for the finish.

_____________________

Teaching Notes: The big problem most people have with this one is that switch into s-mount where you slide the leg and curl. I think the issue is not just flexibility (though as I'm naturally fairly flexible that's something I should always keep in mind), it is that people are trying to get that slide and curl when their hips are still turned up towards the head. When you straighten the leg, that's the point to turn your body so you're looking at your foot with your hips in line.

The other usual problem is people dropping back too quickly. I made a point of emphasising that you don't need to rush, though perhaps overemphasised (as if you get good at the technique you would be able to smoothly spin into the armbar). Emphasise leaning forward to help with that, as well as grabbing the far arm, both of which I find help me maintain my balance. It is possible to stick your hand back for balance, but the problem is that takes your weight off them and onto the floor, making it easier for them to move.

I also didn't talk about grip breaks in this lesson, as there were loads of beginners so I didn't want to overwhelm them. Next time, depending on who is there, it would be worth mentioning at least one. I could do a whole class on armbar grip breaks, but that's quite specialised. If I did that, it would need to be in a month where I'd talked about several armbar variations, rather than just the one from s-mount I often teach. Or maybe if it was near to a guard month where I'd shown several guard armbar variations too?

13/03/2017 - Teaching | Mount | Armbar

Teaching #643
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 13/03/2017

You've managed to move into high mount and get underneath their elbows. Reach your arm under their opposite forearm, past the crook of their elbow. Grab around their arm, so that you're gripping the tricep. You're then going to move into s-mount, in a motion that has some similarities to the technical mount switch. Pull the arm you've gripped across, creating space to slide your knee forwards. If you need additional base, post your free hand by their head as your knee comes up, swivelling your torso to face their other arm. Alternatively, you might manage to pull their shoulder up if you have a grip ready for the choke, whereupon you can slide your knee under and begin the switch to s mount.

A video posted by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Oct 21, 2016 at 5:38am PDT

Your other knee does not raise off the ground. Instead, you're sliding it along the ground, then twisting and curling it around your opponent's armpit, tightly coming under their far shoulder. If you do raise that knee, you're at risk of leaving enough space for them to escape. Keep the knee low. Leaning forwards once in position may help too, to maintain your balance.

Lock the arm to your chest, or secure it by grasping your own collar. Scooping up their other arm can be useful here as well, if you can, also giving you the option of switching sides if you need to. Some people will grip their curling-leg ankle from here, reaching under their opponent's head (which has the additional advantage of cross-facing them). This will depend on your leg length and flexibility: you'll want to be comfortable with the position first, which is an awkward configuration.

Keep your legs squeezing into them, then lean sideways towards their stomach. This is to lighten your knee-leg, so you can bring that over their head. Lean forwards, sliding down the arm you trapped at the start, staying close to their shoulder. From here you'll be looking to drop back for the armbar. However, that moment where you're bringing the leg over their head is also where you're at risk of giving them too much space (which is why Saulo recommends leaning forwards). Make sure you don't flop backwards: it should be a slide down the arm, staying upright. You only drop back when everything else is tight.

To prevent them turning into you, continue to lean into them, backstopping their elbow with your body. They need their elbow to turn, so don't let them have it. Grabbing their leg will make that even tougher for them, though note you'll normally need to switch arms for that. They will also try to bring their head into play, aiming to get to their knees so they can start stacking you. Use your leg to push their head away, so they don't have the posture to recover a strong position. Watch out for them trying to either push your leg off their head, or push the other leg down where they can trap it with their own legs.

Generally, you want to get both legs over them, bringing the heels in tight to their head and armpit. Crossing the feet tends to be a mistake, but that's because most beginners will relax their thighs when they cross their feet, making it easy for your partner to push your legs off. If you remember to tense your thighs, driving your knees out, crossing the feet can be a strong control. Be warned it takes some finesse though.

Finally, you will most likely find that they clasp their hands together in some way. There are numerous options for breaking the grip. The simplest and most universal is, I think, bringing your leg into the crook of their elbow and pushing the grip loose, combining that push with a pull from your arms. It isn't foolproof, but it seems to be the one that works most often for me. Drop back, squeezing your knees, then pull down on their wrist and raise your hips for the finish.

_____________________

Teaching Notes: Getting that hip turn is something to emphasise next time, to make sure people are facing the other arm. I'll have to think of the best way to explain that: face the other arm might work, so try that, particularly if I also emphasise grabbing that other arm to both help maintain the position and hinder their escape. I could also talk about the figure four grip on the arm as a method of control, although that fits best if I've recently taught the kimura from north south. So, maybe if I ever teach armbar at the end of mount month, followed by a kimura at the start of side control month.

21/10/2016 - Teaching | Mount | Armbar from Bow & Arrow

Teaching #578
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 21/10/2016

The bow and arrow choke is an attack from the back, but you can also do it from technical mount. That's because many back attacks are applicable from technical mount too: it's a halfway position between mount and the back, with the benefits of both. Given that the back and the mount are the two most dominant positions in BJJ (theoretically at least, reflected by their points tally in most BJJ competition rule sets), that means technical mount is a great place to be.

From mount, you're looking to get their shoulder off the ground so you can slide a knee underneath. If you've already managed to get a grip for a choke (in mount, people will be complacent about your first grip, it's the second one that gets them flailing), use that to pull the shoulder up. Slide your knee up behind the head, turning to face their opposite arm. At the same time, bring your other heel tight to their far hip.

Reach around their head, using your other hand to push their same side collar towards that waiting hand by their head. Hide your reaching arm elbow (as pulling on that is the main escape from the bow and arrow choke) and grab their same side leg with your other hand. To finish, it's the same as when going from the back. Pull your hand down (like you were cracking a whip), pressing your forearm into their head (you can drive with your shoulder too). If that doesn't work, you can try increasing the range by gripping with less fingers (though this does make your grip weaker). Putting a leg over their shoulder and then crossing your feet can give you more leverage, as you can then thrust your hips up into the choke.

A video posted by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Oct 24, 2016 at 4:21am PDT

If that still isn't getting the choke, try bringing the hand that was gripping their leg behind their head, driving it through to push their head forward as you lock in the choke. For even more leverage, you can bring it under their arm. That then sets you up for yet another follow-up submission: the armbar is right there from that position.
_____________________

Teaching Notes: I focused on the arm behind the head variation and the armbar, as that combines with the armbars and chokes we've been doing already. I wasn't sure if this was worth teaching as well as doing it from the back, but it is a little different, so yeah, worth doing again. I love technical mount, it's such a powerful position: it's also really handy in terms of structure, as I normally follow mount month with a month on the back.

19/10/2016 - Teaching | Mount | Armbar

Teaching #577
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 19/10/2016

You've managed to move into high mount and get underneath their elbows. Reach your arm under their opposite forearm, past the crook of their elbow. Grab around their arm, so that you're gripping the tricep. You're then going to move into s-mount, in a motion that has some similarities to the technical mount switch. Pull the arm you've gripped across, creating space to slide your knee forwards. If you need additional base, post your free hand by their head as your knee comes up, swivelling your torso to face their other arm. Alternatively, you might manage to pull their shoulder up if you have a grip ready for the choke, whereupon you can slide your knee under and begin the switch to s mount.

A video posted by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Oct 21, 2016 at 5:38am PDT

Your other knee does not raise off the ground. Instead, you're sliding it along the ground, then twisting and curling it around your opponent's armpit, tightly coming under their far shoulder. If you do raise that knee, you're at risk of leaving enough space for them to escape. Keep the knee low. Leaning forwards once in position may help too, to maintain your balance.

Lock the arm to your chest, or secure it by grasping your own collar. Scooping up their other arm can be useful here as well, if you can, also giving you the option of switching sides if you need to. Some people will grip their curling-leg ankle from here, reaching under their opponent's head (which has the additional advantage of cross-facing them). This will depend on your leg length and flexibility: you'll want to be comfortable with the position first, which is an awkward configuration.

Keep your legs squeezing into them, then lean sideways towards their stomach. This is to lighten your knee-leg, so you can bring that over their head. Lean forwards, sliding down the arm you trapped at the start, staying close to their shoulder. From here you'll be looking to drop back for the armbar. However, that moment where you're bringing the leg over their head is also where you're at risk of giving them too much space (which is why Saulo recommends leaning forwards). Make sure you don't flop backwards: it should be a slide down the arm, staying upright. You only drop back when everything else is tight.

To prevent them turning into you, continue to lean into them, backstopping their elbow with your body. They need their elbow to turn, so don't let them have it. Grabbing their leg will make that even tougher for them, though note you'll normally need to switch arms for that. They will also try to bring their head into play, aiming to get to their knees so they can start stacking you. Use your leg to push their head away, so they don't have the posture to recover a strong position. Watch out for them trying to either push your leg off their head, or push the other leg down where they can trap it with their own legs.

Generally, you want to get both legs over them, bringing the heels in tight to their head and armpit. Crossing the feet tends to be a mistake, but that's because most beginners will relax their thighs when they cross their feet, making it easy for your partner to push your legs off. If you remember to tense your thighs, driving your knees out, crossing the feet can be a strong control. Be warned it takes some finesse though.

Finally, you will most likely find that they clasp their hands together in some way. There are numerous options for breaking the grip. The simplest and most universal is, I think, bringing your leg into the crook of their elbow and pushing the grip loose, combining that push with a pull from your arms. It isn't foolproof, but it seems to be the one that works most often for me. Drop back, squeezing your knees, then pull down on their wrist and raise your hips for the finish.
_______

Teaching Notes: My back still wasn't recovered, though I didn't have to teach by proxy this time, so that's an improvement. I thought about including an armbar break, but the usual kick I show wasn't something I wanted to risk with my back. I emphasised the slide with the leg, not lifting the knee, which I think helped. I highlighted grabbing their far arm too, which I think helps stop them set up an escape. I should play some more with the way Kenny Polmans wraps underneath their leg, as that's useful.

Some people had trouble turning their hips all the way to face the opposite arm, that's another thing to consider. Also, I think next time I'll also emphasise that you should slide down the arm in an upright posture, ending up seated. That's as opposed to flopping backwards, which is where 90% of armbar escapes happen, from what I've seen.

06/04/2016 - Teaching | Mount | Armbar

Teaching #490
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 06/04/2016

You've managed to move into high mount and get underneath their elbows. Reach your arm under their opposite forearm, past the crook of their elbow. Grab around their arm, so that you're gripping the tricep. You're then going to move into s-mount, in a motion that has some similarities to the technical mount switch. Pull the arm you've gripped across, creating space to slide your knee forwards. If you need additional base, post your free hand by their head as your knee comes up, swivelling your torso to face their other arm.

Your other knee does not raise off the ground. Instead, you're sliding it along the ground, then twisting and curling it around your opponent's armpit. If you do raise that knee, you're at risk of leaving enough space for them to escape. Keep the knee low. Leaning forwards once in position may help too, to maintain your balance.

Lock the arm to your chest, or secure it by grasping your own collar. Scooping up their other arm can be useful here as well, if you can, also giving you the option of switching sides if you need to. Some people will grip their curling-leg ankle from here, reaching under their opponent's head (which has the additional advantage of cross-facing them). This will depend on your leg length and flexibility: you'll want to be comfortable with the position first, which is an awkward configuration.

Keep your legs squeezing into them, then lean sideways towards their stomach. This is to lighten your knee-leg, so you can bring that over their head. Lean forwards, sliding down the arm you trapped at the start, staying close to their shoulder. From here you'll be looking to drop back for the armbar. However, that moment where you're bringing the leg over their head is also where you're at risk of giving them too much space (which is why Saulo recommends leaning forwards).

To prevent them turning into you, continue to lean into them, backstopping their elbow with your body. They need their elbow to turn, so don't let them have it. Grabbing their leg will make that even tougher for them, though note you'll normally need to switch arms for that. They will also try to bring their head into play, aiming to get to their knees so they can start stacking you. Use your leg to push their head away, so they don't have the posture to recover a strong position.

Finally, you will most likely find that they clasp their hands together in some way. There are numerous options for breaking the grip. The simplest and most universal is, I think, bringing your leg into the crook of their elbow and pushing the grip loose, combining that push with a pull from your arms. It isn't foolproof, but it seems to be the one that works most often for me. Drop back, squeezing your knees, then pull down on their wrist and raise your hips for the finish.
_______

Teaching & Sparring Notes: This was feeling fairly good today, which I'm pleased with as it's still only the third time I've taught this lesson. People are continuing to raise their knee with the curling leg, but I made sure to emphasise that repeatedly, so I think it's getting less. Treating it as a slide and curl seems to help, as I'd hoped. I'll emphasise the lean even more next time. I've found it best to lean towards their legs and a bit forward (to make it harder for them to pull their arm free). However, quite a few people were trying to fling their leg over after they'd already slid down the arm, which also left their hips quite far from the shoulder. At the moment I'm switching arms so I can grab a leg, but I could also show the figure four grip instead for control. I might give that a go next time. Also, should I include the more complicated armbar grip break? I go with a simple kick into the elbow crook normally, but it would be good to show this one at some point too:

A photo posted by Artemis BJJ (@artemisbjj) on Feb 2, 2016 at 8:26am PST

Sparring was fun today, especially as it was odd numbers so I got to play too. In specific sparring, I tried an approach Saulo recommends on BJJ Library. Previously, I've always stayed low, with a similar posture and control to when I'm using low mount. Saulo's option is to remain upright, opening up their collar and using that to slide your arm down to the neck, thumb on top (which sets you up for several chokes, especially the Saulo choke and the palm up palm down choke). I wasn't generally getting close to choking, but it did make it easier to switch into either an armbar or technical mount. I'll have to try that against more experienced partners though, as I suspect I don't quite have the balance, or the defence against random legs flying in. I felt I had a lot more opportunity to attack, though.

I went for armbars a number of times, with an interesting progressive resistance experience going with Kirsty (W, not H). As I'm the instructor, she immediately went into heavy resistance. The main problem I had there was getting tight enough on the arm before she could pull it free. Another time, I had the arm, but she was able to get her legs into play to disrupt the attack. Come to think of it I should have asked more questions: either way, this confirms that when I have an opportunity to jump into progressive resistance, I should take it. In fact, I could even split people into groups, to make sure I get a go at progressive resistance? That could be a plan, as I've been wanting to get in more training and this would mean I get to drill too. However, I wouldn't want to cut down people's training time. I'll have a think: might be worth a go next lesson, as it has the plus side that you'd be doing progressive resistance against different body types too. I used to do groups of three back at PHNX, with one person in and the other two switching in. That could work.

In free sparring, I need to be careful of my neck. I was holding on to a kimura grip as I often too, which ended up with me swivelling underneath and getting a bit squished. I realised part way through and adjusted, which is good, but I don't want to be putting myself in those positions. I'd rather get passed than screw up my neck. I've messed it up so many times in the past, albeit only minor tweaks, but that means I'll have a sore neck for several weeks and affects my sparring. Also, I must remember to sit up when the opportunity arises in open guard, even if I'm still a bit underneath them. It will be good to get in loads of sparring at the GrappleThon this weekend (08:30-08:30 from the 9th April to the 10th, down at the London Wing Chun Academy near Wood Green), assuming my body holds out. Especially as I'll be training at the RGA Bucks open mat earlier that day, which is often quite hard on my weedy, low cardio body. ;)

Final thing I should mention is the Ana Yagues seminar we're hosting at Artemis BJJ on the 24th July. I'll keep mentioning it, but on the off chance I have any readers who don't also follow the Artemis BJJ Facebook page, everybody is welcome and it's only £20. Check the Facebook page for details. :D

14/10/2015 - Teaching | Mount | Armbar

Teaching #405
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 14/10/2015

You've managed to move into high mount and get underneath their elbows. Reach your arm under their opposite forearm, past the crook of their elbow. Grab around their arm, so that you're gripping the tricep. You're then going to move into s-mount, in a motion that has some similarities to the technical mount switch. Pull the arm you've gripped across, creating space to slide your knee forwards. If you need additional base, post your free hand by their head as your knee comes up, swivelling your torso to face their other arm.

Your other knee does not raise off the ground. Instead, you're sliding it along the ground, then twisting and curling it around your opponent's armpit. If you do raise that knee, you're at risk of leaving enough space for them to escape. Keep the knee low. Leaning forwards once in position may help too, to maintain your balance.

Lock the arm to your chest, or secure it by grasping your own collar. Scooping up their other arm can be useful here as well, if you can, also giving you the option of switching sides if you need to. Some people will grip their curling-leg ankle from here, reaching under their opponent's head (which has the additional advantage of cross-facing them). This will depend on your leg length and flexibility: you'll want to be comfortable with the position first, which is an awkward configuration.

Keep your legs squeezing into them, then lean sideways towards their stomach. This is to lighten your knee-leg, so you can bring that over their head. Slide down the arm you trapped at the start, staying close to their shoulder. From here you'll be looking to drop back for the armbar. However, that moment where you're bringing the leg over their head is also where you're at risk of giving them too much space.

To prevent them turning into you, continue to lean into them, backstopping their elbow with your body. They need their elbow to turn, so don't let them have it. Grabbing their leg will make that even tougher for them, though note you'll normally need to switch arms for that. They will also try to bring their head into play, aiming to get to their knees so they can start stacking you. Use your leg to push their head away, so they don't have the posture to recover a strong position.

Finally, you will most likely find that they clasp their hands together in some way. There are numerous options for breaking the grip. The simplest and most universal is, I think, bringing your leg into the crook of their elbow and pushing the grip loose, combining that push with a pull from your arms. It isn't foolproof, but it seems to be the one that works most often for me. Drop back, squeezing your knees, then pull down on their wrist and raise your hips for the finish.
_______

Teaching & Sparring Notes: I put in too much detail, an old habit that sometimes creeps back if I'm not careful. Next time, pare it down! A common problem was people leaving space with their curling leg, because they were lifting it before bringing it around the armpit. Next time, I'll emphasise that should be more of a 'slide', then you curl, without raising the knee up into that semi-technical mount position.

I mentioned grabbing the leg under their head, though I'm not sure how useful that is unless you're super tall or long limbed (so, good one for Ruth, come to think of it). Posting on your hand for balance is something I want to add next time, keeping it close to the head. That goes for when you're dropping back too. Getting a grip on the leg makes a big difference too (for me at least), so I'll emphasise that more too. Adding more grip breaks is tempting, but that will overcomplicate: however, having a few more up my sleeve for drilling would be handy.

In sparring, I was finding that leg grab made all the difference. I also combined the armbar with the single arm/Saulo choke from Monday, which worked well for me. Having said that, with more experienced people the single arm choke feels a lot less stable. I'll have to force myself to go for it more often on those experienced grapplers, so I can see where it breaks down and how they escape/defend. There's the combo video Saulo did on BJJ Library too, which I'll give another watch.