Teaching #904
Artemis BJJ (Easton Road), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 11/09/2019
From the low mount, your attacking options are limited. I've found the most reliable is the ezequiel choke, which has the advantage of being low risk and also opening up a route to high mount even if you don't get the choke. To begin, you need to get one arm under their head. Many people will just give you that space as they try to escape, but if not, you can press into their neck to get them to raise their head.
Once you have an arm under the head, you can progress to the next stage. To get the choke, you need to block off both sides of their neck. For the first side, you're going to use your gi. With the hand you have under their head, grab your free sleeve. Pull it tight to the nearest side of their neck. Remember that it is the sleeve that is applying that half of the choke, not your hand. You therefore need to pull that sleeve across and into their neck. You may need to grip the sleeve with less fingers to increase your range, so that you are pulling gi material into their neck.
Curl your free hand in past their chin, moving it across their neck. Keep reaching, until you can make a chopping motion down into the other side of their neck. Make sure you're pressing into the side of their neck, not the throat (although crushing the windpipe may still get a tap, it isn't as efficient). To finish, pull on the sleeve as you chop. If you need to increase your leverage, raise up slightly (some people will even put a foot by the head to really drive). However, be aware that giving them more space could lead to an escape.
Obviously it isn't going to be that easy in sparring. They're going to be blocking you with their hand, trying to buck you off, disrupting your attack any way they can. To avoid that, there are a couple of options. One is to slip your arm inside their defending arm, pushing your arm through, then driving your elbow to the mat. You can then slide that arm back to trap their arm to their side, clearing the way for your choke attempt. Alternatively, they may give you the opportunity by pushing on your knee.
Fill up the space by sticking your head right next to theirs. Use this as both a means of control and a barrier against their efforts to get a hand back inside. Stay low, then gradually slip in your second hand. Again, they may give you the opportunity by bridging. If they are staying really tight, use your head to push into their skull, aiming to get them to turn it away. When that space appears, follow your head with your hand, then slip through for the choke.
Getting the ezequiel can be tricky due to the limited amount of material your sleeve provides. An alternative is to use the lapel instead. The first step is to get an arm under their head. Pull out either their gi lapel (preferable) or your own, then pass it to the hand you have under their head. This variation is similar to the lapel attack I like to do from side control, where you feed your gi to the hand you have under their head (something you can set up from mount too, dismounting to side control for the finish). Even more fun, if they are being super-defensive and crossing their arms to block a choke from mount, that's where the ezequiel variation comes in.
Pull their gi lapel up and over their bent arm, feeding it to the hand you have under their head. Bring your other arm underneath that lapel, cutting the hand down by the side of their neck, like you would for a standard ezequiel. You can then finish the choke pretty much as normal. If you start off with the gi lapel slightly loose, it's easier to slip your other hand under, before tightening it right up.
_______________________
Teaching Notes: Make sure you get a turn of their head, which means you will probably need to switch your head back over theirs in order to expose the side of their neck. Grinding the skull across is useful for initially clearing a route for your hand, as well as then turning their head back the other way. Also, you can rotate your arms around their neck to get to the sides, should they have their head either turned in the wrong direction or be facing straight up.
On the gi tail, I could talk more about rising up for leverage, though it's important to note that people can also do this from a lower position, preferably due to less space. Saulo goes up on one foot, IIRC, which applies to the application of both versions. Worth checking that again before I teach this next time.
Showing posts with label teaching # Mount: Ezequiel Choke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teaching # Mount: Ezequiel Choke. Show all posts
11 September 2019
23 May 2018
23/05/2018 - Teaching | Mount | Ezequiel Choke
Teaching #780
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 23/05/2018
From the low mount, your attacking options are limited. I've found the most reliable is the ezequiel choke, which has the advantage of being low risk and also opening up a route to high mount even if you don't get the choke. To begin, you need to get one arm under their head. Many people will just give you that space as they try to escape, but if not, you can press into their neck to get them to raise their head.
Once you have an arm under the head, you can progress to the next stage. To get the choke, you need to block off both sides of their neck. For the first side, you're going to use your gi. With the hand you have under their head, grab your free sleeve. Pull it tight to the nearest side of their neck. Remember that it is the sleeve that is applying that half of the choke, not your hand. You therefore need to pull that sleeve across and into their neck. You may need to grip the sleeve with less fingers to increase your range, so that you are pulling gi material into their neck.
Curl your free hand in past their chin, moving it across their neck. Keep reaching, until you can make a chopping motion down into the other side of their neck. Make sure you're pressing into the side of their neck, not the throat (although crushing the windpipe may still get a tap, it isn't as efficient). To finish, pull on the sleeve as you chop. If you need to increase your leverage, raise up slightly (some people will even put a foot by the head to really drive). However, be aware that giving them more space could lead to an escape.
Obviously it isn't going to be that easy in sparring. They're going to be blocking you with their hand, trying to buck you off, disrupting your attack any way they can. To avoid that, there are a couple of options. One is to slip your arm inside their defending arm, pushing your arm through, then driving your elbow to the mat. You can then slide that arm back to trap their arm to their side, clearing the way for your choke attempt. Alternatively, they may give you the opportunity by pushing on your knee.
Fill up the space by sticking your head right next to theirs. Use this as both a means of control and a barrier against their efforts to get a hand back inside. Stay low, then gradually slip in your second hand. Again, they may give you the opportunity by bridging. If they are staying really tight, use your head to push into their skull, aiming to get them to turn it away. When that space appears, follow your head with your hand, then slip through for the choke.
Getting the ezequiel can be tricky due to the limited amount of material your sleeve provides. An alternative is to use the lapel instead. The first step is to get an arm under their head. Pull out either their gi lapel (preferable) or your own, then pass it to the hand you have under their head. This variation is similar to the lapel attack I like to do from side control, where you feed your gi to the hand you have under their head (something you can set up from mount too, dismounting to side control for the finish). Even more fun, if they are being super-defensive and crossing their arms to block a choke from mount, that's where the ezequiel variation comes in.
Pull their gi lapel up and over their bent arm, feeding it to the hand you have under their head. Bring your other arm underneath that lapel, cutting the hand down by the side of their neck, like you would for a standard ezequiel. You can then finish the choke pretty much as normal. If you start off with the gi lapel slightly loose, it's easier to slip your other hand under, before tightening it right up.
_______________________
Teaching Notes: Make sure you get a turn of their head, which means you will probably need to switch your head back over theirs in order to expose the side of their neck. Grinding the skull across is useful for initially clearing a route for your hand, as well as then turning their head back the other way. Also, you can rotate your arms around their neck to get to the sides, should they have their head either turned in the wrong direction or be facing straight up.
On the gi tail, I could talk more about rising up for leverage, though it's important to note that people can also do this from a lower position, preferably due to less space. Saulo goes up on one foot, IIRC, which applies to the application of both versions. Worth checking that again before I teach this next time.
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 23/05/2018
From the low mount, your attacking options are limited. I've found the most reliable is the ezequiel choke, which has the advantage of being low risk and also opening up a route to high mount even if you don't get the choke. To begin, you need to get one arm under their head. Many people will just give you that space as they try to escape, but if not, you can press into their neck to get them to raise their head.
Once you have an arm under the head, you can progress to the next stage. To get the choke, you need to block off both sides of their neck. For the first side, you're going to use your gi. With the hand you have under their head, grab your free sleeve. Pull it tight to the nearest side of their neck. Remember that it is the sleeve that is applying that half of the choke, not your hand. You therefore need to pull that sleeve across and into their neck. You may need to grip the sleeve with less fingers to increase your range, so that you are pulling gi material into their neck.
Curl your free hand in past their chin, moving it across their neck. Keep reaching, until you can make a chopping motion down into the other side of their neck. Make sure you're pressing into the side of their neck, not the throat (although crushing the windpipe may still get a tap, it isn't as efficient). To finish, pull on the sleeve as you chop. If you need to increase your leverage, raise up slightly (some people will even put a foot by the head to really drive). However, be aware that giving them more space could lead to an escape.
Obviously it isn't going to be that easy in sparring. They're going to be blocking you with their hand, trying to buck you off, disrupting your attack any way they can. To avoid that, there are a couple of options. One is to slip your arm inside their defending arm, pushing your arm through, then driving your elbow to the mat. You can then slide that arm back to trap their arm to their side, clearing the way for your choke attempt. Alternatively, they may give you the opportunity by pushing on your knee.
Fill up the space by sticking your head right next to theirs. Use this as both a means of control and a barrier against their efforts to get a hand back inside. Stay low, then gradually slip in your second hand. Again, they may give you the opportunity by bridging. If they are staying really tight, use your head to push into their skull, aiming to get them to turn it away. When that space appears, follow your head with your hand, then slip through for the choke.
Getting the ezequiel can be tricky due to the limited amount of material your sleeve provides. An alternative is to use the lapel instead. The first step is to get an arm under their head. Pull out either their gi lapel (preferable) or your own, then pass it to the hand you have under their head. This variation is similar to the lapel attack I like to do from side control, where you feed your gi to the hand you have under their head (something you can set up from mount too, dismounting to side control for the finish). Even more fun, if they are being super-defensive and crossing their arms to block a choke from mount, that's where the ezequiel variation comes in.
Pull their gi lapel up and over their bent arm, feeding it to the hand you have under their head. Bring your other arm underneath that lapel, cutting the hand down by the side of their neck, like you would for a standard ezequiel. You can then finish the choke pretty much as normal. If you start off with the gi lapel slightly loose, it's easier to slip your other hand under, before tightening it right up.
_______________________
Teaching Notes: Make sure you get a turn of their head, which means you will probably need to switch your head back over theirs in order to expose the side of their neck. Grinding the skull across is useful for initially clearing a route for your hand, as well as then turning their head back the other way. Also, you can rotate your arms around their neck to get to the sides, should they have their head either turned in the wrong direction or be facing straight up.
On the gi tail, I could talk more about rising up for leverage, though it's important to note that people can also do this from a lower position, preferably due to less space. Saulo goes up on one foot, IIRC, which applies to the application of both versions. Worth checking that again before I teach this next time.
15 March 2017
15/03/2017 - Teaching | Mount | Ezequiel (Gi Tail Variation)
Teaching #644
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 15/03/2017
Paul wasn't able to make it tonight, so I covered the intermediate BJJ class. I decided that as it was intermediate, I would show something that can lead into a whole bunch of other options. As the students in this class have more experience, that meant I didn't have to worry too much about going through all the options in detail, I could assume that they knew them already. Handy benefit of intermediate. :)
My starting point was using the gi tail in mount. I had a specific technique in mind as the focus, but wanted to emphasise that it could work as an entry to lots of stuff, as well as acting as a feint if you just wanted to move into high mount. The first step is to get an arm under their head. Pull out either their gi lapel (preferable) or your own, then pass it to the hand you have under their head. This variation is similar to the lapel attack I like to do from side control, where you feed your gi to the hand you have under their head (something you can set up from mount too, dismounting to side control for the finish). Even more fun, if they are being super-defensive and crossing their arms to block a choke from mount, that's where the ezequiel variation comes in.
Pull their gi lapel up and over their bent arm, feeding it to the hand you have under their head. Bring your other arm underneath that lapel, cutting the hand down by the side of their neck, like you would for a standard ezequiel. You can then finish the choke pretty much as normal. If you start off with the gi lapel slightly loose, it's easier to slip your other hand under, before tightening it right up.
_____________________
Teaching Notes: This is the intermediate class I covered, which meant I could show a technique that is more of a set up to shift into other techniques, rather than a high percentage option on its own. With the gi tail ezequiel, I think it works best if you're ready to switch to side control and finish a choke from there. So, I probably wouldn't teach this in a standard class, people are liable to get confused without the additional context.
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 15/03/2017
Paul wasn't able to make it tonight, so I covered the intermediate BJJ class. I decided that as it was intermediate, I would show something that can lead into a whole bunch of other options. As the students in this class have more experience, that meant I didn't have to worry too much about going through all the options in detail, I could assume that they knew them already. Handy benefit of intermediate. :)
My starting point was using the gi tail in mount. I had a specific technique in mind as the focus, but wanted to emphasise that it could work as an entry to lots of stuff, as well as acting as a feint if you just wanted to move into high mount. The first step is to get an arm under their head. Pull out either their gi lapel (preferable) or your own, then pass it to the hand you have under their head. This variation is similar to the lapel attack I like to do from side control, where you feed your gi to the hand you have under their head (something you can set up from mount too, dismounting to side control for the finish). Even more fun, if they are being super-defensive and crossing their arms to block a choke from mount, that's where the ezequiel variation comes in.
Pull their gi lapel up and over their bent arm, feeding it to the hand you have under their head. Bring your other arm underneath that lapel, cutting the hand down by the side of their neck, like you would for a standard ezequiel. You can then finish the choke pretty much as normal. If you start off with the gi lapel slightly loose, it's easier to slip your other hand under, before tightening it right up.
_____________________
Teaching Notes: This is the intermediate class I covered, which meant I could show a technique that is more of a set up to shift into other techniques, rather than a high percentage option on its own. With the gi tail ezequiel, I think it works best if you're ready to switch to side control and finish a choke from there. So, I probably wouldn't teach this in a standard class, people are liable to get confused without the additional context.
07 October 2016
07/10/2016 - Teaching | Mount | Ezequiel Choke
Teaching #572
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 07/10/2016
From the low mount, your attacking options are limited. I've found the most reliable is the ezequiel choke, which has the advantage of being low risk and also opening up a route to high mount even if you don't get the choke. To begin, you need to get one arm under their head. Many people will just give you that space as they try to escape, but if not, you can press into their neck to get them to raise their head.
Once you have an arm under the head, you can progress to the next stage. To get the choke, you need to block off both sides of their neck. For the first side, you're going to use your gi. With the hand you have under their head, grab your free sleeve. Pull it tight to the nearest side of their neck. Remember that it is the sleeve that is applying that half of the choke, not your hand. You therefore need to pull that sleeve across and into their neck. You may need to grip the sleeve with less fingers to increase your range, so that you are pulling gi material into their neck.
Curl your free hand in past their chin, moving it across their neck. Keep reaching, until you can make a chopping motion down into the other side of their neck. Make sure you're pressing into the side of their neck, not the throat (although crushing the windpipe may still get a tap, it isn't as efficient). To finish, pull on the sleeve as you chop. If you need to increase your leverage, raise up slightly (some people will even put a foot by the head to really drive). However, be aware that giving them more space could lead to an escape.
Obviously it isn't going to be that easy in sparring. They're going to be blocking you with their hand, trying to buck you off, disrupting your attack any way they can. To avoid that, there are a couple of options. One is to slip your arm inside their defending arm, pushing your arm through, then driving your elbow to the mat. You can then slide that arm back to trap their arm to their side, clearing the way for your choke attempt. Alternatively, they may give you the opportunity by pushing on your knee.
Fill up the space by sticking your head right next to theirs. Use this as both a means of control and a barrier against their efforts to get a hand back inside. Stay low, then gradually slip in your second hand. Again, they may give you the opportunity by bridging. If they are staying really tight, use your head to push into their skull, aiming to get them to turn it away. When that space appears, follow your head with your hand, then slip through for the choke.
__________________________
Teaching Notes: I think the ezequiel works well as a way to move into high mount, but focusing on it as a submission can be tricky. If somebody has a tight gi, then it's tough to get enough fabric on one side of the neck. That leads to uncomfortably twisted fingers and wrist. So, although I seem to say this every time I write up an ezequiel class (or the high and low mount classes), I think it needs to be combined with a maintenance lesson. The low mount class felt fairly good this month, adding in those no hand drills, as that helps bring home the importance of driving the hips through.
It's important in high mount too, but perhaps better to use the time to add in the ezequiel in the high mount class. That way I can spend less time on it, emphasising it's use as a way to go from low mount to high mount. That should also make the transition clearer. I have taught it that way before, but I think I felt there was too much previously. So next time, I can show the ezequiel as a way of getting to high mount, along with the pushing on the shoulders thing. In the drills, I need to make sure I include the side to side technical mount switch.
What I really want is a reliable way of getting into high mount and moving to an attack. What Chelsea and Tom were saying at the seminar (I'm writing this up a few days later, as usual) makes sense, pressing up in the elbows with your hips to expose the arms for attack. I could do a whole lesson on that too, come to think of it? Maybe that would be worth trying, moving into an armbar and back take across a couple of lessons?
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 07/10/2016
From the low mount, your attacking options are limited. I've found the most reliable is the ezequiel choke, which has the advantage of being low risk and also opening up a route to high mount even if you don't get the choke. To begin, you need to get one arm under their head. Many people will just give you that space as they try to escape, but if not, you can press into their neck to get them to raise their head.
Once you have an arm under the head, you can progress to the next stage. To get the choke, you need to block off both sides of their neck. For the first side, you're going to use your gi. With the hand you have under their head, grab your free sleeve. Pull it tight to the nearest side of their neck. Remember that it is the sleeve that is applying that half of the choke, not your hand. You therefore need to pull that sleeve across and into their neck. You may need to grip the sleeve with less fingers to increase your range, so that you are pulling gi material into their neck.
Curl your free hand in past their chin, moving it across their neck. Keep reaching, until you can make a chopping motion down into the other side of their neck. Make sure you're pressing into the side of their neck, not the throat (although crushing the windpipe may still get a tap, it isn't as efficient). To finish, pull on the sleeve as you chop. If you need to increase your leverage, raise up slightly (some people will even put a foot by the head to really drive). However, be aware that giving them more space could lead to an escape.
Obviously it isn't going to be that easy in sparring. They're going to be blocking you with their hand, trying to buck you off, disrupting your attack any way they can. To avoid that, there are a couple of options. One is to slip your arm inside their defending arm, pushing your arm through, then driving your elbow to the mat. You can then slide that arm back to trap their arm to their side, clearing the way for your choke attempt. Alternatively, they may give you the opportunity by pushing on your knee.
Fill up the space by sticking your head right next to theirs. Use this as both a means of control and a barrier against their efforts to get a hand back inside. Stay low, then gradually slip in your second hand. Again, they may give you the opportunity by bridging. If they are staying really tight, use your head to push into their skull, aiming to get them to turn it away. When that space appears, follow your head with your hand, then slip through for the choke.
__________________________
Teaching Notes: I think the ezequiel works well as a way to move into high mount, but focusing on it as a submission can be tricky. If somebody has a tight gi, then it's tough to get enough fabric on one side of the neck. That leads to uncomfortably twisted fingers and wrist. So, although I seem to say this every time I write up an ezequiel class (or the high and low mount classes), I think it needs to be combined with a maintenance lesson. The low mount class felt fairly good this month, adding in those no hand drills, as that helps bring home the importance of driving the hips through.
It's important in high mount too, but perhaps better to use the time to add in the ezequiel in the high mount class. That way I can spend less time on it, emphasising it's use as a way to go from low mount to high mount. That should also make the transition clearer. I have taught it that way before, but I think I felt there was too much previously. So next time, I can show the ezequiel as a way of getting to high mount, along with the pushing on the shoulders thing. In the drills, I need to make sure I include the side to side technical mount switch.
What I really want is a reliable way of getting into high mount and moving to an attack. What Chelsea and Tom were saying at the seminar (I'm writing this up a few days later, as usual) makes sense, pressing up in the elbows with your hips to expose the arms for attack. I could do a whole lesson on that too, come to think of it? Maybe that would be worth trying, moving into an armbar and back take across a couple of lessons?
02 October 2015
02/10/2015 - Teaching | Mount | Ezequiel Choke
Teaching #398
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 02/10/2015
From the low mount, your attacking options are limited. I've found the most reliable is the ezequiel choke, which has the advantage of being low risk and also opening up a route to high mount even if you don't get the choke. To begin, you need to get one arm under their head. Many people will just give you that space as they try to escape, but if not, you can press into their neck to get them to raise their head.
Once you have an arm under the head, you can progress to the next stage. To get the choke, you need to block off both sides of their neck. For the first side, you're going to use your gi. With the hand you have under their head, grab your free sleeve. Pull it tight to the nearest side of their neck. Remember that it is the sleeve that is applying that half of the choke, not your hand. You therefore need to pull that sleeve across and into their neck. You may need to grip the sleeve with less fingers to increase your range, so that you are pulling gi material into their neck.
Curl your free hand in past their chin, moving it across their neck. Keep reaching, until you can make a chopping motion down into the other side of their neck. Make sure you're pressing into the side of their neck, not the throat (although crushing the windpipe may still get a tap, it isn't as efficient). To finish, pull on the sleeve as you chop. If you need to increase your leverage, raise up slightly (some people will even put a foot by the head to really drive). However, be aware that giving them more space could lead to an escape.
Obviously it isn't going to be that easy in sparring. They're going to be blocking you with their hand, trying to buck you off, disrupting your attack any way they can. To avoid that, there are a couple of options. One is to slip your arm inside their defending arm, pushing your arm through, then driving your elbow to the mat. You can then slide that arm back to trap their arm to their side, clearing the way for your choke attempt. Alternatively, they may give you the opportunity by pushing on your knee.
Fill up the space by sticking your head right next to theirs. Use this as both a means of control and a barrier against their efforts to get a hand back inside. Stay low, then gradually slip in your second hand. Again, they may give you the opportunity by bridging. If they are staying really tight, use your head to push into their skull, aiming to get them to turn it away. When that space appears, follow your head with your hand, then slip through for the choke.
_____________________
Teaching Notes: I made sure to add in reaching inside their elbow to clear their arm out of the way, that's a useful addition. The version where you use their gi is something worth adding too, as a lot of people find that they don't have enough gi sleeve to pull this one off effectively. There is probably enough material to warrant a whole lesson on the ezequiel, but it remains something I'm still tempted to add to either the low mount or high mount class. The high mount class does feel sparse, so I think it needs something extra. Perhaps more technical mount?
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 02/10/2015
From the low mount, your attacking options are limited. I've found the most reliable is the ezequiel choke, which has the advantage of being low risk and also opening up a route to high mount even if you don't get the choke. To begin, you need to get one arm under their head. Many people will just give you that space as they try to escape, but if not, you can press into their neck to get them to raise their head.
Once you have an arm under the head, you can progress to the next stage. To get the choke, you need to block off both sides of their neck. For the first side, you're going to use your gi. With the hand you have under their head, grab your free sleeve. Pull it tight to the nearest side of their neck. Remember that it is the sleeve that is applying that half of the choke, not your hand. You therefore need to pull that sleeve across and into their neck. You may need to grip the sleeve with less fingers to increase your range, so that you are pulling gi material into their neck.
Curl your free hand in past their chin, moving it across their neck. Keep reaching, until you can make a chopping motion down into the other side of their neck. Make sure you're pressing into the side of their neck, not the throat (although crushing the windpipe may still get a tap, it isn't as efficient). To finish, pull on the sleeve as you chop. If you need to increase your leverage, raise up slightly (some people will even put a foot by the head to really drive). However, be aware that giving them more space could lead to an escape.
Obviously it isn't going to be that easy in sparring. They're going to be blocking you with their hand, trying to buck you off, disrupting your attack any way they can. To avoid that, there are a couple of options. One is to slip your arm inside their defending arm, pushing your arm through, then driving your elbow to the mat. You can then slide that arm back to trap their arm to their side, clearing the way for your choke attempt. Alternatively, they may give you the opportunity by pushing on your knee.
Fill up the space by sticking your head right next to theirs. Use this as both a means of control and a barrier against their efforts to get a hand back inside. Stay low, then gradually slip in your second hand. Again, they may give you the opportunity by bridging. If they are staying really tight, use your head to push into their skull, aiming to get them to turn it away. When that space appears, follow your head with your hand, then slip through for the choke.
_____________________
Teaching Notes: I made sure to add in reaching inside their elbow to clear their arm out of the way, that's a useful addition. The version where you use their gi is something worth adding too, as a lot of people find that they don't have enough gi sleeve to pull this one off effectively. There is probably enough material to warrant a whole lesson on the ezequiel, but it remains something I'm still tempted to add to either the low mount or high mount class. The high mount class does feel sparse, so I think it needs something extra. Perhaps more technical mount?
08 April 2015
08/04/2015 - Teaching | Mount | Ezequiel Choke
Teaching #305
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 08/04/2015
From the low mount, your attacking options are limited. I've found the most reliable is the ezequiel choke, which has the advantage of being low risk and also opening up a route to high mount even if you don't get the choke. To begin, you need to get one arm under their head. Many people will just give you that space as they try to escape, but if not, you can press into their neck to get them to raise their head.
Once you have an arm under the head, you can progress to the next stage. To get the choke, you need to block off both sides of their neck. For the first side, you're going to use your gi. With the hand you have under their head, grab your free sleeve. Pull it tight to the nearest side of their neck. Remember that it is the sleeve that is applying that half of the choke, not your hand. You therefore need to pull that sleeve across and into their neck. You may need to grip the sleeve with less fingers to increase your range, so that you are pulling gi material into their neck.
Curl your free hand in past their chin, moving it across their neck. Keep reaching, until you can make a chopping motion down into the other side of their neck. Make sure you're pressing into the side of their neck, not the throat (although crushing the windpipe may still get a tap, it isn't as efficient). To finish, pull on the sleeve as you chop. If you need to increase your leverage, raise up slightly (some people will even put a foot by the head to really drive). However, be aware that giving them more space could lead to an escape.
Obviously it isn't going to be that easy in sparring. They're going to be blocking you with their hand, trying to buck you off, disrupting your attack any way they can. To avoid that, there are a couple of options. One is to slip your arm inside their defending arm, pushing your arm through, then driving your elbow to the mat. You can then slide that arm back to trap their arm to their side, clearing the way for your choke attempt. Alternatively, they may give you the opportunity by pushing on your knee.
Fill up the space by sticking your head right next to theirs. Use this as both a means of control and a barrier against their efforts to get a hand back inside. Stay low, then gradually slip in your second hand. Again, they may give you the opportunity by bridging. If they are staying really tight, use your head to push into their skull, aiming to get them to turn it away. When that space appears, follow your head with your hand, then slip through for the choke.
_____________________
Teaching Notes: I want to emphasise pulling the elbow across next time, in order to get the gi sleeve into the neck. Lots of people ended up with their hand up high, because they were focusing on getting a firm grip on the sleeve rather than creating that cord of sleeve for the choke. Of course, it is also important to note that sometimes the gi may just be too tight for an effective ezequiel choke.
In that situation, you can instead use it to get them to raise their elbow, enabling you to move into high mount. Another option is to pull their gi lapel over their arm (e.g., if they're blocking) and feed it to your other hand. Pull that close to the neck, then slip your other hand inside, finishing off the choke as before.
It's not as effective as the orthodox grip and tends to require more leverage, but a handy potential variation if your gi isn't baggy enough. Also, I'd like to highlight reaching the arm inside to clear their arm out of the way, as that's useful for the choke set-up.
Tonight was my first time teaching on the big mats downstairs. It is awesome having all that space, but sound is trickier than the smaller room upstairs. Not only is downstairs huge, so your voice has to carry further, but there are people lifting weights and exercising all around the outside. The sound system wasn't working too well either, but I think I have a back-up plan (and if that fails, I'll look into getting some good portable speakers for my phone, so the timer is suitably loud).
Artemis BJJ (MYGYM Bristol), Can Sönmez, Bristol, UK - 08/04/2015
From the low mount, your attacking options are limited. I've found the most reliable is the ezequiel choke, which has the advantage of being low risk and also opening up a route to high mount even if you don't get the choke. To begin, you need to get one arm under their head. Many people will just give you that space as they try to escape, but if not, you can press into their neck to get them to raise their head.
Once you have an arm under the head, you can progress to the next stage. To get the choke, you need to block off both sides of their neck. For the first side, you're going to use your gi. With the hand you have under their head, grab your free sleeve. Pull it tight to the nearest side of their neck. Remember that it is the sleeve that is applying that half of the choke, not your hand. You therefore need to pull that sleeve across and into their neck. You may need to grip the sleeve with less fingers to increase your range, so that you are pulling gi material into their neck.
Curl your free hand in past their chin, moving it across their neck. Keep reaching, until you can make a chopping motion down into the other side of their neck. Make sure you're pressing into the side of their neck, not the throat (although crushing the windpipe may still get a tap, it isn't as efficient). To finish, pull on the sleeve as you chop. If you need to increase your leverage, raise up slightly (some people will even put a foot by the head to really drive). However, be aware that giving them more space could lead to an escape.
Obviously it isn't going to be that easy in sparring. They're going to be blocking you with their hand, trying to buck you off, disrupting your attack any way they can. To avoid that, there are a couple of options. One is to slip your arm inside their defending arm, pushing your arm through, then driving your elbow to the mat. You can then slide that arm back to trap their arm to their side, clearing the way for your choke attempt. Alternatively, they may give you the opportunity by pushing on your knee.
Fill up the space by sticking your head right next to theirs. Use this as both a means of control and a barrier against their efforts to get a hand back inside. Stay low, then gradually slip in your second hand. Again, they may give you the opportunity by bridging. If they are staying really tight, use your head to push into their skull, aiming to get them to turn it away. When that space appears, follow your head with your hand, then slip through for the choke.
_____________________
Teaching Notes: I want to emphasise pulling the elbow across next time, in order to get the gi sleeve into the neck. Lots of people ended up with their hand up high, because they were focusing on getting a firm grip on the sleeve rather than creating that cord of sleeve for the choke. Of course, it is also important to note that sometimes the gi may just be too tight for an effective ezequiel choke.
In that situation, you can instead use it to get them to raise their elbow, enabling you to move into high mount. Another option is to pull their gi lapel over their arm (e.g., if they're blocking) and feed it to your other hand. Pull that close to the neck, then slip your other hand inside, finishing off the choke as before.
It's not as effective as the orthodox grip and tends to require more leverage, but a handy potential variation if your gi isn't baggy enough. Also, I'd like to highlight reaching the arm inside to clear their arm out of the way, as that's useful for the choke set-up.
Tonight was my first time teaching on the big mats downstairs. It is awesome having all that space, but sound is trickier than the smaller room upstairs. Not only is downstairs huge, so your voice has to carry further, but there are people lifting weights and exercising all around the outside. The sound system wasn't working too well either, but I think I have a back-up plan (and if that fails, I'll look into getting some good portable speakers for my phone, so the timer is suitably loud).
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