Another great class tonight. Joey Walters is back from school and will be welcome additions to the team over the summer.
Mark’s going over some cool stuff both escaping from the back and taking the back. We’re also going over some cool self defense takedowns. As always each technique that we go over recaps the fundamentals of the different positions that we’re working.
One of tonight’s techniques was what to do when you have some brute laying his elbow across your throat and putting all his weight on you. You use your guard to create space and relieve the pressure, then when he heaves back, you pop the elbow to the opposite side and clamp down some kind of arm triangle almost.
Then you escape your hips out – guard is closed up to this point – and kick his knee straight back if you need the space to put your foot in. After your foot is inside, plant it down to use it to lift yourself up, grab his lat, post to your elbow that’s underneath and move to take his back and sink in the hooks.
I’m still trying to focus on each new technique through the lens of controlling space and my opponent. I’ve been trying to use better leverage – feet on the hips, and knees together – as well as grips and seeing each battle for grip control as a match of its own.