BJJ Winter Camp - Day 1

Today was the first of 3 days with Roy Harris covering escapes from side mount. Roy went over quite a bit of information. His goal was to provide a good foundation for escapes and training methods. As always, Roy brought a nice blend of theory, detail and application.

Good Technique

1. Position

• Where is my body in relationship to my opponent
• The minor things are what matter most, (where are my hands, legs, head, shoulders, etc....)
• If my position (or posture) is not there I must work harder on the back end and the remaining parts of my technique will suffer (I will have to compensate w/ strength and speed)

2. Mechanics

• A series of components to increase leverage
• This is the technical aspect of a technique

3. Pressure

• Application of force on anatomy
• Remember there is a difference between heavy and tight
• Pressure should be felt as if it's going forward and down at the same time.

1st POSITION - "Thinking Man"

FYI - Roger and I nicknamed these positions to remember them better.

• You should be on your side and NOT ON YOUR BACK
• Top leg goes over the bottom w/ the knee bent and slightly up. Bottom leg stays bent in a heel to butt position.
• Top shoulder should be rounded and pointing downward in a 30 degree angle
• The elbow of the top arm should be tucked between the top knee. Top hand can grab lapel for additional defense.
• Bottom hand goes on top of head to have elbow pointed out

This is a very defensive position, almost as if I was turtling from my side. One point Roy made is that the key to escapes is AWARENESS OF PRESSURE. For an opponent to attack or move there must be a release of pressure and shift.

Defense #1 - Opponent pulls on bottom arm

• When opponent pulls bottom arm to put you on your back, you must roll over on to your other side and finish in the "Thinking Man" on the other side.
• Key is to throw my top leg violently to create more momentum.
• Keep top arm tight inside knee to help defend against an opponent getting their hooks in
• Can go to knees when they attempt this.
• Key to going to your knees - getting onto your shoulder or elbow.

Defense #2 - Opponent crossfaces

• Bottom hand should be on top of head
• "Comb your hair" to divert the hand coming in
• If they go in side, you must go under their arm

Escape #1 - "Booty Bump"

• Objective is to push opponent's weight to 1 or 2 o'clock
• Opponent's weight and pressure should be felt going in the 12 o'clock direction
• Opponent knee or hips must not be on top
• Slide knee out and place elbow in arm pit
• In one motion shrug elbow in arm pit and knee opponent up top knee.
• Finish by taking the back

Escape #2 - "Log Roll"

• Available when opponent is tight on you and pinning elbow and knee
• Weight and pressure should feel as if going to 9 or 3 o'clock, NOT 12 o'clock
• Bottom hand goes on hip
• Roll over to other side and push w/ bottom hand to roll them over
• Hip out to get legs out from under opponent
• If they base out w/ their arms, put top elbow in armpit and create space. Combination possibility between "Booty Bump" and "Log Roll"

2nd POSITION - "The Heisman"

• Same as "Thinking Man"
• Only difference is top hand is no longer tucked, but extended to entangle opponent's arms (biceps), armpit or neck

Keys to "The Heisman"

• IF opponent's chest is turned into you, you attack the arm trying to secure your head.
• IF opponent's chest is turned away, you must attack the arm trying to underhook, armpit, the neck or near lapel.

Escape #1 - "Pull the Rug Out"

• Opponent is turning into you
• Hand in bicep (bend), thumb down
• Bottom elbow tucked between body and ground
• Hip out
• Push opponent to spot where hips once were.

I don't feel so comfortable with this escape, but should try it anyways.

Roy also provided us w/ information on how

Developing a Skill

1. Learn something new (knowledge)
2. Practice - brain to muscles and now you should be thinking less
3. Memorize - when you memorize you categorize it, organize it and last recall it (not too much thought here)
4. Feel - now you should not even think about a move, but feel it.
5. Refine and streamline - here is where one polishes and compresses the move to become more efficient.
6. Review - go back to details and basics
7. Adapt it - how do you use it against an untrained individual or trained?
8. Personalize it - make it your own.

Other Thoughts

• IF pressure is tight - Bridge
• IF pressure is loose - Shrimp or hip out
• Keys to someone holding you down from sidemount - Controlling your 1. head, 2. hips (legs)