Free-Movement © ; Phase i BUA PT ERMASTERING JUJITSU = phases, cach separated by the degree of body’ comiact ans conteal the tom lighters have on each other Mixed martial ats cMMA} lights always begin the to combatonts” squaring of with each other an zheir feet in the same ‘anes as boxers. Nether oae has any hold or grpon the ollie they ate thas free to move about as they please and to choose whatever allaviing or dele. sivemoventents they wish, Some fightess look tostige with fists and leet athers wok to aguressively dose the distance and tie the oxher fellow up in a cinch: soime look w 0 Immediately into a takedown to the grviand This ree move ‘mene phase of combat isthe ene that most people are farniiar with. It selose 40 what they sce in boxing and weestling mateies, and i ts checactertecd by the moveients and skills thar the average person typically associates with “teal Figheing” ‘The free-movement phase of lilting comprises two besie approwches, cach ‘quite diftevent fram the other, I the previous chaptes, we saw that combat can be divided into three mein 1. Some fighters have outstanding striking skis in the standing postion, ‘This ability gles thei an excellent chance of achieving victory by krickouk or referee's stoppage. provided that they can keep te Hight i the frec-mosemem hase. They consider the free-moventent. phase aya desitable stave ta be hel ‘nto 4s long as posible. Fighters who use this approach rust ensare they are ‘ot wrapped up ita tight clinch anal earalied ar aken tthe wound They work on the skills of knockout striking. breaking out of elinehes, and resisting takedown attempts tekeep the fight kn the fee-iveinent phase, This approach to fighting can be dubbed “sya and baw since sprawliigon op ‘of am opponent to defend the taken i the mos comin arn eflecive mean of keeping the fight tn the standing jwstion. Users ofthis approacin te tle Ire. rovement phase comsider striking skill as an eal in itsll, a direct mvcans to Victory through knockout or desis, 2. Other fighters see the free-mavement pave as an ota be pase, ‘They look to spend as ttle time as posible ia this phase since It vepresemts 2 time of danger. Rather than get into a batt: of slkes in which thore sa risk af being hit and even kicked out, they look so dose the gap in a slineh ot takedown, This isthe etc of both “ground and pound” fighters and subse slo lighters ull Nghters generally ball into the ubuassion eanegor). The key sklls for ins appronch are the abiliy 20 cose distance and cline in addi tion to shooting into takedown while evading and blocking sites, These who Use this approach ro the free-movement phase consider striking uly asa means ta Selting up takesorns an he clinch, Which appreach to the free-movement phase you opt for depends on the hills anal anribues that bor you and your opponent Rave, Obviously, It you are stronger than Be i in striking skills, thes it makes good sense toopt for the firs approach, co remain in the ree-rscwvement phase, I yon fee! yoursel 1 be outclassed 25 2 striker, then the second choice, zo leave the free-movemen phase as soon ac possible, makes good sense, VICTORY IN THE FREE-MOVEMENT PHASE __ ‘The most cruciat means to victory i the free-movemeini phase lies in supertor seikiag ability Hf you con hit harder, faster, and more accurately than. yurogponent can, while atthe same time raking fewer hits and preventing him frum ‘aking you into another phase of combat, then you stand an excellent chance of vlciory on your Leet. In an MMA tournarmert {and ako in a sect Tighe), you must be able to stike while defending takedown attempts. This is the erica difference betwscen striking in.a boxing or kickboxing match ard stuking in real ight. In dhe former. you can emai to full-power punching fand kicking without fear of takedowns, since these are illegal in boxing and Iideboxing. The problem cualroating strikers is that fully comanitting to tik Jag opens you up fot takedowns. The results that suikers must be much mare cabuinus in thelr offense MUACA han ip normal boxing snatches, Sitkezsimast Timit the duration of their stiking combinations (short combinations oe dl fader of the say in MMA), and they must aso work hare on their takedown ddelensesl they ae 1 avoid being quickly and unceremoniously Gumnped w the sound by a quick grapple Hecause a Byht will goto the cinch quickly once sitiking epi, most MMA, stciking specialists uve the bead as the primary target for punches in the free- tmawventent phase. Fighters execute lite bady punching since they simply do hot have the time to work the body asif it were @ boxing match, Kicks abo tend to be focused on the legs and not te body: there is much Hess chance of being jalived and takea down with a low kick than a high kick, In gereal, fight tead o use igh sks only Ite ka the match when thelr opponems are tred oF Turtand are therefore less likely so counter. When a fighter works with power ful chopping kieks to the opponent’ legs, wih quick, strong punches vo the head in short combinations, whale ac she same time defending takedowns, a stilker can present hirmsell os srry formidable opponent, Asa result of allow ing this strawegy dalong wih significant changes in. he ues), far snore fighis are being wa in the Keeesinovemenc phase than was the casein early MMA ‘competition, when strikers tended wo use the samme tetks they sould in a bax ing 6c kickboxing match. This assumption, combined with 2 tal ignorance of the crucial yrowid-fighting game, nd spelled disaster for specials strikers in arty NMA competition. ESSENTIAL SKILLS FOR THE FREE-MOVEMENT PHASE ‘Wehave made careful tote o the fact that each phase of combat has iisonsn set of sills that are quite ferent from Une skills sequired in the other phases. Mis thls face that allows a fighter sho fs strong in one phase to be defeated by nother fighter whu can keep him ow; of bis trang phase of cambar and place fina in his weak phtsex. Unsurprisingly, the sls that make for» great fighter inthe free- movement phase revolve around mobility and speed, since this made possile hy the keedoma of movement enjoyed by both lighters, Whether the fighter is a srikiug specialist who wants 10 keep the fight in the free- tmaverent phase ar 2 grappler who wants to quickly get into a cinch ac ‘akedotva, obiity and specdl are the two atirilates that lie behind the techs ‘nyques and sli appropiate 1 de fre-mavemett phnzc of colt ‘Stance and Motion ‘the most important foundational skillin the fre-moverent phase of combats ‘vitous doubt the ability tw maintain a solid fighting stance witle maving quickly 6—_______#asTerInG ausrrsu ze e an effciemty around, away from, and towacd your opponent, Because ile Hamnoaris associated with this skill people tend to overlook it and not practive ‘tnearly enough. Poorstance and motion skill quickly become apparent when OU Degin to fight. Your opponent will have lie dificuky in sirking you ee ‘aking you dawn whes your stance and motion is awed, blst people ean hald 4 stance easily enough when asked to; this skill, however, is nat enough. You ‘mut be oble to hold a stance while moving Mid inte attack and delense lutder the pressuze of live combat—ihisabilny i much mote difficult to ne- ‘ite, and it requires constant dling and practice. Stance The nist efficient seance for combat in the free-maverment phase of cammbet is ‘hou daub the standard boxers stance. This stance is more or fess stancand in Western boxing and in mus’ syles of kickhoxing. It allows lor good proce: Hon of the hend from punilis and kicks along with good offeisive striking Potential to ation, k pyranits rapid movernent in any cretion fox both offen sive and defensive purposes. Of course, small diflerences exis in aanee among fighters in aris such as boxing, hickboniny, and MAGA. Some lighters crouch ‘uote than others. others sind raore erect Some fighters stand slighily hore Square wo their opponents. others more shle on. Small varations instance ate certainly acceptable. Honvever he core ideas behind an efficient fighting stance the hands up to protect the heal te fet slighty ore than shouerdth ‘apart the weigh evenky distibted on the balls of he fet the rear heel sl ghnly ‘off the floes. the chin tucked down, the elbais i, the kuees bent—ilese aie omnia Coll. See gare 4.1, Motion ‘The abilty 10 move treely and eficiently while maintaining good balance and Stance isobe of the mos crucle! skill fighter rnust masier Footwork allows a lighter to evade his opponents attacks in an elficieat manner. In addition, tt Carries a fighter into a range thal he can enter into his own attacks. 1 isn ‘exaggeration w say that without good motion kil fighter i tle more than, a punching bag, He can be stuck at wil and has tle bape of succesfully recur te, Fighters must be ableto move quicdly in any directions ata momest’s note. Todo so they must bein good stance. Pere, yw cr se then tha’ ae and ‘mocon ae linked sks, Lone is lacking. so will the other, Many students show 3 strong preference for showy techniques, and they have disturbingly ite incers ‘31 in practising foundational skis such as stance and movion, This isa great pity. slnce tt 1 the foundational skills that are really the most important tw eam. They ptove to be fae more use in a rel fight than any of the mote exciting-lnoking moves, AA general rue of thumb la asic motion drills thar a lighr should move With the foot that isin he same direction to where he wishes to nv. F ‘example: If you wish to move forward, step with your forward le firs, ten Your res eg igure 42). Ifyou want to move sight, the eight foo1 moves is, (he left follows (figure 4.3) A allies, yar feet should brush the oor as you "ove, an your weight must be cacied onthe balls of your ee, Do act let you ‘weight rack back ante your heels because any movement then becomes dlc, | {__FREE-MOVENENT Figure 4A Stance tort via (0) and sh vw (0). Range and Distance Eaves, we talked about the inadequacies of zaige 2 the basis for a compere theory af combat. Range puoved tobe seriously incomplete. asic dil not pecan tu the cinch orground phases of combat, Tus does not mean that range and disance ate irrelevant or unimportant in combat, Inthe free-mavensent phase ‘ofetimbat, range and dist are cra] concepts, When (wo fighters square ff, thete is albvays a distance between tiem. This disiance or range varies as the ti lighters move around each other and attempt launch attacks. Con- trong nd paki thai shu aap deere the cose ate ight che r-mseemen phase ‘The problem, Luwever, i that te major theories of range and distance have ‘noc proven useful in actal MMA corapeition, We save that certain theres nf range define the use of range via techmque, For exanuple there isthe kicking range, punching ange elbow range, and so un, Actual experience, however has clearly shown thas once su fighters ate close enough to hi each othe: swith any form of offensive echalgue, ifs useless to talk ofa given range os ‘wing appropriate only for one cateyary of tectniques oFigure 4.3 Sideways cevementFR consider the knee stike- Most people think of the knee a3 a close-ange weapon, Yel ane of the sos successful means of knock victories in AIBA is the fying knee strike. which launches [ron lore ange (or kicking range). The free-standing kneestike as also been used successfully by tighter, They strike ‘teach other at what appears to be puaching cange. in adlition, koce strikes dre used with great success in al the variations ofthe clinch and. indeed. on the ground as well. You can cleanly se, then. tha its pure Folly wo talk about a ange that is suitable for only the knee ithe, since experience shows the ease Suit avhich it can be appli stall ranges. Considerations such 2s these point toveant the need for anew theory of range, ane that can be of use in real ght did thatisin acconl with the ubservabke fats seen in MMA competition. Thisis ‘what we shal ery to afer now. A New Theory of Ranige and Distance Everyone agrees that range and distance are erucial concepts in the tree» inosemnent phase ol enmbal. kxperienee in MMA competition hasshowa, bow: fret ha ange aid dlitance change se rapidly in the course of a standing fight that they are execeulingly difficult tn contr} a fgner closes the diane with detezmination ral comunitment the Hight always ers up inte clinch an free movement wil be lost, tn ait, there fs 10-way to predict which sechniques will be used at any given range, since every catrgory of technique fas many ‘ariatlons, each of which can be wsed at any range. Tite amy concep! ef racy ant ian tat hos pve wefan MBCA competition ihe as dso erwven cero aad nonconact ean. By thls, we mean that Ha fighter can reac out ard phys tally louch his oppanent, then he is at a zange where he is close enough 16 successlllyengoge in offessive technique. In eter words, if you can touc Your opponent, ten you are clase enough to strike him or take fins dawn. ‘ou cannat touck hin. then any offensive techniques useless: You will ave 10 tye sore form of mayement io take you forward into contact range, where your can successfully apply olfensive eeaaique. ‘The cancepl al cantact versus stonsonact range & Foose, W does Tol try 10 speelya targe at which a sven cecinique's appropriate (we have already sect that this is impossible), nor does it cy to divide ranges into short, wnediuer and Jong. Expeence has shawn chat range changes so quickiyin the free-movertent hase al combat that such 3 division is not helpful. Our new coacept of raige ‘enables a fighter to know that ithe fs lar enough away from his opponent that helther one can reach out ral touch the other, he safe from attack. He has sation warning 1 evade and counter whatever form of offense his opponent aucrnpss, ‘Oursiruple concept of range and distance does not attempt wo Hau a fginer to certsin types of arcacks ot etiain ranges. It recognizes the las that once ‘ontac fs possible, then any form of atack 4s possible—trom kicks, punches, ‘bus Kae snkes, and akedowres Il contact sanot be made with your op ‘ponent, chen the chance of an artack s being successful aze quite Loe ‘Because it'scems o say litle about ngr and distance, sich asiewple concept ‘ol range seemis open 1 obvious crtcsns. There isa reason fo this—there is ‘ot much tha: cam be sak, Previous theories of range init legislate toa heavi and they quickly came inta colic withthe observable facts. Another criticisin is thar there are dillerent ways in which [ean reach out and touch my oppo fen, TT each out with ray kad feg Tean touch hia sooner thas iY reach out JOVEMENT PHASE 6970 = |ASTERING JUIITSU and touch him with my lead arm. Which maetbod i correct? The auth is that the sialldllerence in reach between lead arm and lead leg is not signilicant ‘ough to matter Remember, range and dbtance charge with tremendous speed ie areal Aight; thes, small variagons in distance are unimportant So thea, ne have put forward a new theory of range and distance. 1 is ex- ‘eedingly simple. and it deliberately avoids dividing range and technique inna ‘ategoties that are of no use in actual combat, Is simplicity males it easy to fepnly even under te stress of combat and it has proven isl a retin pulde {a successta application of technique without linking a fiers ations Example of Range and Technique: Jose “Pete” Landis An instructive way 10 analjze the question of range asthe bass strategy and technique selection isto ook aca concrete exaryple drain from emitemperaty MMA competition, Jose "Pele" Landis, a distinguished MMA fighter am Brazil, ‘sam apt example ofa fighter who demonstrates the limhations of cassical theories of range and distance in teal fighting. ele came from a background in Muay Thai kickboxing and Braziian ja Hisu. The former isa style hat strongly emphasizes kitce sttkes fom many Positions and ranges. Peles natural body type—long legs and flexible hips ‘nade him ideally suited to the use of the hice a a striking weapon, In MAMA events aroun the world, Pele made the knee sik the bas of lis ulfense, often catching unwary opponents trom the urbkeliest of magles ana positions Im both the fee-movemers phase of combat and the cliich, Pele was without doubt one ofthe ost ingerous ond unpredictalietighters in MMA. largely os ‘result of his uncanny use ofthe kive strike One might ask, then, what was the busisof Peles socessul use of the knee stk? According 1 classical theories af range and distance, fh ought 1 be dae Yo the fect that Pele was an exper at coniraling distance and range, hace there Issuppcsed to bea range ot which the kee strike isthe optimal weapon. The {het however, that Pele used the knee strike at aif ranges: Range was pot the relevant facie in predicting how he would anack, Rath, is traning bake ‘round and body type made birw arsualty sulted vo knee strikes, and ie wos these factors that nde him continually select the knee sce as Ins weapon It «lid mater whether his opponcnts wereat short, meduin, o€ lang rng, or at Kicking range.” *panching range," or “grappling range," «rat any aller disance lorthor matter, Pele woul! lok io score with some Varian af the knee strike, Position and Angle ‘We have seen already the degree to which positional skills are stressed in the Overall rategy of che juts fighter. People normally think of positional skills {in the growed-tighting phase of combat an, tn a lesser degree, in the cinch, phase as well. However, position does play a role inthe lree-movernent phase of eombat. The guiding idea inthe frce-marvement phase isto seek a penlion that gives you some kind of olfensive and defensive advantage. ln elfec this ‘eans You must create some kind of angle beaween you and your apparent ‘that gives ou abettr position from which to launch your tikes and takedowns, hile at the same time limiting your opponent's ability ta du likewise. Thit ‘constant effort to eréate an advantageous angle on your oppanent isa key sell inthe free-meavement phase of combatIF you stay directly in from of your opponent, you will be dite i lout at his main offensive striking weapons andwill suller accordingly. Inaddition, ii much exsiet far him to block any takedown attempts you make. Instea fan use good footwork skills fo take vou out to an ame that Hits tnpenen’s offense ad makes hs delensc more difiak (once again, note the Importance of footwork and motion). One parcularly useful ale i w circle round is lead band. This takes you away fra his power hand and Keg tthe fear arm anid leg) and makes takedowns mauch saler and easier (igure 44) Punching ‘There isnio doubt that punches are the most elfectve form of striking weapon” Inthe ftee-movement phase of combat in current MMA competition, The vas inojortyof knockout victors are the result ol powwestl hand strikes. Nov only fre punches the means to quick vieiory inthe Iree-movement phase they also ies into clinches and Iakedoeens that take the fight into other cg sil. he, is crucial ait oma ke prefers fg i. Ls important to note, however, that punching in an MMA setting isqulte dlferent orm panching in a boxing match, Many people mistakenly assume that because the punching moveraents of MMA appear similar to those «lf ‘Westecn boxing, the two are kentical. tn fact, the rwovare diferent in subtle but Flgwe 4.4. hoging zap tem asthe, WEMENT PHASE _ aMASTERING JUATTSU Important ways. The biggest differences between punching iva bow ‘aidin an MMA watel fs that nthe later, takedownsare legal and ch nt be broken ajar by the referee. Remember the rules of boxing limit the fight to the tree-movement phase of omibat. This is not the ease in MMA. A boxer need nol be concerned abit fighting in the clinch and takedowns, since these are not part af boxing, Ace Cordingly, be can focts on the use of his hands as weapons whh 0 regatd for cotter dangers, He need nat worry about kicks, knees, eluows, theav, and tukalowns. Asa resi, he can totaly 6 ohis pusiching anacks and de- lense. The MMA lighter, an the other hang, must concer hime with al of these other dangers, since they are all legal in MMA. Hecouse of uns fa sine Inypoctantderenees emerge between the punching strategy ofa juts lighter in an MMA tight nd a Boxer in a boxing mat In MMA competition, for example, punching combinations lend tn be much shorter than in boxing. A fighter has any a short cime io yuinch befare his ‘oppor closes the distance inta a takedown or clinch: thus, ong anh tons are oot of Uke questlon. MMA fighters aso show a strong prelerence lox stcaight punches sth longer reach, stich a the jab and eros. ya are ele {enough to use shortercange purches, such asthe ook and uppercut then you are dose enou ch which lini the use ofthese types of pucesi moversent phase although they ane used much more i te clinch). Las the head iv almost almays the target in MMA fights, tn a boxing match, there sult to work the opponent's body asa prehade to attacking ne head, Asan tacks to te body are much more comma ina hos Tatch, In MMA, body attacks are done mostly in the cline, rather that the free-movemens phase Jab The ab is the workhorse punch in MMA, just asic isin bosagand Kickboxing. try 1 visual as We take you through it stage by stage Fromm a fightiag sane. throve the lead hand SUCHE a straight line. turing the palin dows as you extend ct, He sure to being the tu ‘back in the same stisighi line shat K wees ou Fetuening o your fighting stance. Keep your chin tucked t0 the shoulder of the ars that Juices the ab, Dono push the jab out. Let the punch stap aur by stay Figure 45. ‘Though te jabis ot intended to be a poet func, i ca hitan epponent with suring Jovce if a fighter snaps it out wih askance from the lead shoulder and hip, wile ot the same time taking a stall sep Jomard wth the lead oot. Thic takes te fighter nto sik ig range and ads weight to the sike. The rear band needs co stay high to defend the Fighter's face foes counterstrike. The lighter relaxed. SeeFREE-MOVEMENT PHASE si needs to throw the ja with force and conmailtment; a lazy jab can be strongly cates this move, Do ie, hawever, ty 10 se rniscnlar strengg io generate poner. To do So ly seeves to tigen you up and skew the punch, Relax and let your moving bod ‘werghicdlo the wrk, Make sure that your lead than says hgh to project vor lace. Usual the rearcrossssecup bya ati however there ‘ee tes when the rear cross can be the first blow thrawyn. Often, is good to follow the rear oss with the lle hook, os there is a natural low bergen these no stres. The rear crossis also am exeelleat counter svike, Fighters can ose it to counter an nponeit touridhouse kick or knee strikes ‘One of the est times to thso¥ tke rear cross fs inmeditely alter a change in level. An ‘opponent vil often take the change in level 4 a prelude to a takedormn attempl, anc he ‘sll drop his hands vs defend the takedown. “This gives an excellent opening forthe rear cross, Remember that etal target of the crass is the chin, jane, and face. Figure 46 Rear csi,—_____ MASTERING auarsy The finok 3 another punch thar utilizes bey ‘weight in modion wo generat tremendous pont, and nis best done with the lead hanwl, The dea to dip a litle and lean sligsite out to the lea Side. Pcture is executlon: Without dropping your lead hand, tase your lead elbow, atid stu yout hips inward, turning in sharply on the bal of your lead foot. Your lead punching arm sioud ‘be beat sharp, wih the pal facing you and ‘with your lead elbow the sone height 35 our fis. The punch shoul! not be a wide, loopiig notion, but a short, snappy one (gute 4.7) eum to your figing stance, un tess you are throwing the punch as at ol sumne combination, Besure okeep yourrear hand hip to Wock any counterstikesto your fae, The pti ol she ok is our opponenn’s jaw ough she bole seo his eal works ok isa pomerful knockout weapon, at 3 IN seen by the opponent I isa unc that wars epecklly ll ust. fave ev yponern’s punch by ing levels. Irean be used lest on your oppaneat’s badly, especially damaging shay, indeed, Fue 4.2 Hock. Uppercut The uppercut is a powerful blow when you ase ose to your opponent relies on exploding your body weight upward to generate great kitachout poner Froma fighting stance, dipalinleand bring yout Jendshouléer and hip sligil forward. Do nov dnp your lead hand before the punch. (1a short, spoppy motiaa, turn your palm 10 face you, and ‘ip your appercut between your uppanent’s hands Upto the chit (igure 4.8). Return wo a fightlag ‘aie, unless you are poing fo the mext step al a combination The uppercurcan also be thrown successtully with the rear hand, Utilize the rear ip anid shoulder to add even more panver to she blow The uppercut is an excellent counter to te «ap. st who changes level inta a takedown, Time his level change, and launcd the uppercut ‘ith commirmem straigi to the chit, catching his forward moerient and generating great power.Kicking In the early days of MATA competition. Kicks were of litte value. tn fact, they ffien were detrimental to the users. since they made kickers vulnerable 1 takedowns that pot chem on the ground and at the mercy of ground grasplers In time, however kickers leamed 10 defend iakedowns, and kicking Bas be come an important sil i ue Iree-movement phase of combat Rounditouse Kick ‘Undouiedly the most important kid is the roundhouse kick, Indeed, it can Safely be regaled a the “king of hicks” in MAMA competition. iis responsible for more damage, knockdavens, an knock- than any other kick by far, The sound: Those kick that is utiiaed by cntteaporary jitsu fighters fa MMA is derived rom the ikboning style of Thailand, Muay Thal. The Fighter utlnes his hip weight ana leg weigh to sma is shin (rather than his ows} into fis opponent’ leg, upper boy. or head. I is aly best 0 throw the roundhouse Rick swith the reareg asthis makes hor much reore powerful strices “io theaw the rearleg roundhouse hick, exe- ate the following moves Sip forward with sour Sead ft, aiid open your hia ite by fuming the lead foo in thesamie direaton you te kicking Whip Your tear leg around in mariner not urtke tat of «soecer lek line the weight and power of your hips by totaling on your supporting foot so that you hel turns toward the opporent. Make con: race with the lower hall of your shin. See Big ve 4.9 Relax as you throw the hick. Do not think ahar by tghtening up and using your muscles shat you are aking power and think of your leg. as 2 whip. Als, do not Simply attack your opposer wit em reat roundhouse becanse he can easly (and strongly) canter witha rear ras. Set it up first with Your hands, Throw a jab to caver your opponent's eyes, then smash the kick to his thigh During ¢ match, il your opponent is stunned or etter fatigued the rounds house Isegreat way to finish the fight. I uisis the case, aim forthe lead. Keep in mina that iveakes some practice Wo eady the shins forthe kindof impact they rust ake in a weal fight. ut by kicking the heavy bag for Fong peciods of di {your sin il harcen and he ready 10 absorb the impact. “The lead le can aso be used to tnrow the roundhouse kick, The best way co td this a smtch stance just before you hich so that yout Had Teg ecomes {your tearleg, Skip your leat le back, and bring the rare forward, changing your ket in one quick motian, Nosy you can tos the lead leg ith teal power, Jince has now become the zearleg The bes target for the lead leg rosadhouse Figuie 4 Rosedhoune ik, bi—___HASTERING JuarTsu kick is the inter high of your opponent, a painful How that apeas ler up for ‘eher strikes and alsa for takedowns, Reinemier that one ofthe best tines tn use the roundhouse kick is immediately aler tweaking a clinch and returning to thee movement. Your oppatient wail be dsiracied and thus ope farsi es Co Ee eRe Case Study in Effective Kicking in MMA; Bas Rutten Aesv cull match the licking powvess of he Dut enough it his ihboxtng specials Has Ruten, Auten cae ke apg sls 0 Vote bis eh wih fla rund ot Maus Thai Kektwning oni ine com:salumemn what worrvtiaboul yoingdown had earned ola wrapping skis whe fghi- the rat. since he knew he si sll 3 ig ith Pamereve cruicin Japan, Rutten’sspecilky vive hese. I te simples kicks (rau $380 lining fast roxnaiouse lek throw ved Aeamenccs wraer ithe legs, hs liver and in some ANE, eid AL the Hew, the peablen fr stikes l tm Kicks) ane lo such 9 way that his cat sme coumiering Knee Strikes The kace sirikeisa truly punishing weapan that can be employed in a vast nunuber af situations, Many Jniockdowis and knockouts have resulted from the use of the knee in the free-moverent phase i combat Flying Knee ‘The flying knee i¢ ome of the most powell strikes ‘hat one human being can use an another, short of 4 weapon. It uulizes the wliole welgh of with a hard sting sufiee to sali genuine knockout power, ng. rom a fighting stance, -O0T opponent and hop an your supporting Jeg, taking your bodyof! the ground, This the kiee ‘nd hip of your other le straight fowatd your ap. Ponent, looking 4 hit the chin o¢ upp your hands high wo cover you Mn eflective counter. See figure 4,34 “The flying knee is an excellent way 10 cover the isrance berween you and your oppoment and get sately into a cinch. ft Is alas a great way to fhulsh a stunaed or reueating opposes Free-Standing Knee ‘Most people think of the knee asthe suring weapan fof choice in a clinch, but it is also effective in the Figure 4.10 Kae sre.FREE-MOVEMENT PHASE free-movement phase when you are not gripping the opponent at al, tn iis case, vou Inust be ste 10 keep your hands up w prevent counterpuchies. Th execute the free-standing knce strike, use your lead band asa distraction yy thrusting It towanl your opponent’ face, and pat your other hand up in front of your own face. Lean back so that you can thrust your hips farvard to wil power to he knee strike. Aim for te jay the upper body. othe thigh. in MMA, there is always the danger of a takedown. Many fighters are therelore wary of throwing free-standing knecs to their opponents body since these are often countered bya leg grab and takedown. Instead, they focus on the bead as a target, which forces the apponent to defend his vul hhead, rather than simply absorts the impact vo the body and follaw with takedown, One of the bets times to use this sitke bs just as your opponent cs levels into a takedown, Several notable examples of knockouts in MAMA matches have happened in just this manne. The free-standing knce b aaboan excellent counter toa strong punching attack, When this assault hap- jets, caver your head as your opponent punches aud drive your nee sraght jn hisabiomen. Evasion and Blocking {tts one thing to be able co ie largess but remcraber that your opponent will ie attempting to Int you back, It fs crucal, there Foxe, that you learn the skills of avoiding stbes rnfinize the daage that youtake in the free-move tent phase ol combat. asive skills allow sou to avolstikesslthour eomtac.These ace e808 Your toy ant require proliientrtoion sls, Blocking allows you tesalely aor np ¢eather than avo iy and Ie requites sound condoning and stance sits, Evasion ‘The moat simple and elfective form of evasion is simpy nox to be there when a strike cames toward you, When your opponent Launches 9 kick or hunch, use foonsork sls wo skip baek a step and ‘roid thie Blas, Do a skip back 10 fa, his wll prevent a counterattack. Go bac jst far enough to avoid the sik, then look to-come back with Your awn anack, Do nor continue to retreat in 2 Sah line because your apponent will eventually run you doy, you must cantinve toreteatalter {ou initial Itckware movement, 4 80 in a ciche to confound his stacks. Aather fon of mpetion that sel in eva porches i slipping your head w the outside of i foming pues (figure 4.11), Todo so allows vou ta easly couteratack wit strikes and takesowas. Level changing underneath an opponents ands Is als) a mean of avoiding punches, ané it sets up gue 411 fading we te oie, takedowns quite eficiently as nell 7 |Blocking A diferent approach to nulifying a stiting at- tock isto sally absoul a blow by taking it on a part ofthe body that cam handle the impact. Qi viously ht in the face isa painful and wnpleas- ant experience. However f your fae is eavered by your ams, the experience can te inede mare Manageable. The forearms and shins, bath hard and insensitive areas of the body, make the best locking surfaces. They are wsed to cover up an [ote the weak areas, such asthe jaw, face. eck, tis, abslomen, and thighs. Blocks are especially tsefilie MMA for fighters ino want ta enter it ‘clinch from the free-mnovement phase, Te fea ‘stusalely absorb afew lowes, then wa forward inno the clinch, grabbing the opponent's uppce Body and contr n Covering Mock, rng bik is one ot ‘bewt ways to protect the head from punithes, elbows, and kis, Rase your hana the ak at your nec, and rae the etbow ofthat sare arm bh, as yo tuck your chin and take the impact of your ‘ponent’ ste on the oater ami (gure 4.12} gure 412 Cori blot Keep your anker hand high to prtect the other se should your opnonens combine i she th thers. As with all Mocks, dent weach of 18 the Aecome 1» you and ake the impact clse to yout head noon trike Pim block, The pam block igure 4.131 is used to nullity your oppanent’s nb, The ides fs to use the palm of your rear hand to cath the kacomityg jabs n front ol yourface. Note thas dhe pol block isused only on theabe it istasultdent to stop a rear cross, Dono reach cut too far a intercept ce jab, Lath come to You snd block it around relatively close xo your face (but tot sa close hat your ‘om hand wil be driven into your face), & good idea i tn ire out you awn counter jab everytime you catch. jab. Do not mczey block all te tUme—you must throw 2 blow in reply to your opponent, Double forearm black. the donble-forearm block isan effective way to protect the upper body from kicks and punches. From yourfightig stance, warn toward the Ineoming blow as you simultaneously sip away from i slightly, Brig your fotearms together and tuck your chin, crunehig your upper body near ike ‘ture retreating into a shell, Take the impact on the forearms {ligare 4 |41, ‘Shin block. "The shin block Is the tandacd means of Mocking a roundhanne ‘ik to the thigh. When your apponentattempis to kick your leg alse that leg {up anal outward so that ls Ick makes impact on your shintone. This may Sound patnfal buttistmuch beter than taking ic he thigh, You can combine this block with the doe forearm block to lune sly your dense, Shooting Into Takedowns Thereis no dowbt that shooting into takedowns from the free-moyement phase asthe sill that mont redically changed people's atdes ward eal fighting 8FREE. MOVEMENT PHASE Figure 414, Devbieforare bine inthe early days of MMA corspetiion, Before the advent of contemporary MSA, must people thought se would De relatively easy 10 knock out anyone fnolsh enough wy attempta akedown, Others lived withthe belief har nobody «vas capable of taking diem down. Tai all changed quickly when people wi- ‘etsod thelist UMA events It became clear shat teshoot into takedowns eas dar nore dificult to detead than most people had anticipated kt proved to be the nemests of rust srg attacks. 92 NASTERING JUJTTSU Whenever fighters committed to punches and kicks. they became open ta ‘kedowns, This vulnerability made even the best srikers wary of hitting their opponents, an i drastically reduced their elfecivencss.f was not mil ¢rikere leamed the yrappling sills of defending takedowns, breaking out ol clinches and surviving on the ground that they beeame confident enough to throw their strikes wlth power The key pints for the jalsu filter to hear in mind when Preparing to shoot in on his opponent are the setup forthe shot and te level ‘change that precedes every shot Inte a akedorr. Setups ‘There are several ways tn set up takedowns, |. Motion: Retreat backward to get an opponent moving in toward yuu, Lower your level, then shoot as le moves lio you. This will ceate 3 ‘combined velocity that makes i difficult for your oppanent to success: Aull resis the sh. 2. Angle: Step out 10 one side 0 create an angle on your opponent, A wis angle co work with isthe one in which you step outside yar opponent’ lead hand. Thisposition puts you in relatively sale place this week se ‘nd bind spot and makes the shor eater, Range: Ste into contact range. thus giving your opponent te oppont Pity to strike, Ase commits o strike, lover your level and shot inta the takedown, 4. Striking: By attacking your opponent with strikes. you prevecupy hin with defense and thus make the task of shooting kn a ahesdoven much easier. The jab isthe best strike to setup shaits, but Hghters have also ised ‘he ear cross and varous kicks with some degree ol sucess, Level Changing ‘The ality ta lower one’s level as the prelude toa shot a rly ert sil ar the ulin lighter to master. Alluhe main shos, especially those athe les, are neve by a change in level you fail to change level propely before your shag the chances of a successlal takedown are slim. By lowering your level, You drop into a sance tha enabes you to prope yoursell oranda igh spec tundemeath your opponent’ delenses and into hips an legs. This makes for (quick ant effitentsakedowns tht are dificult ta defead. The wid ea sto {lop ino asap that is sll to a sprinte’s sioner, which takes Ht easy In stot fora by desing olf your near foo; and penetrating into youn oppor hips and legs iligace 4150), You can even lake level changes to case an ‘opponenc and make him nervous. A way to esute that you are changing level coer is 10 keep ou ead shoalier diay over your lead knce a yu lower your level. your ead shal Aer ges too far forward it becomes ewy fur your appanent to snap your head down to the rst and ruin any chance of a takedown, If your poste f tow ‘pris a you change your level, you can be knocked stralght back. Keey your Hea shoukieedneely over your lead Ines, and all wll be well ligue 4130), Double-Leg Takedown (Morote Gari) OF all the methods used to sake an opponent down in MAUA, te dauble-leg takedown is probably the most commonly sed. I allows you to control your ‘opponenc legs and hips. and it allows for quick and efficent cakedowns asaFREE-MOVEMENT PHASE Fate 435, Set shining. result, The key to any well-executed douible-ley attack is the preliminary level ‘hange that puts you in a sold position to penetrate under your upponent 2a get through tm his legs. ‘Tp pestorn his Hove take a quick step forward with your lead foot between ‘peur epponents fet, pushing olf your rearfoot. As you shoot, be sure to kes 81 |MASTERING JUITSU Sour ebows dase osourbody. Do not reach ou to a1 grab your epponem ‘Grab directiy behind bach his knees as your shoulder hits your ayyxmne’s ead hip, as showen in igure 4. 6a te sure that pour head goes tthe ouside ‘opponent’ lead nip) This means that you shoot under his weaker band, wihich makes far tore dfficlt fr i ly a5 you shoot in. You can skip your lead knee of the mati you wish, Yourrear leg eps lp tothe autside of your apponent and alows you 10 drie across him as you lftand pull on his legs iigute.t6b), Thy woavedd staying down an yourknees, Seek to get ip to your leet and drive. The resul isa sold, driving tackle tha Pils most opponents om ther hacks na shoe tne (igure 4. loc) Figure 616. Doubie ly takedonn,FREE-MOVEMENT PHASE Head to the inside Single-Leg Takedown “Another popula Takedown i the single-teg takedown, which Ins snany ver Sions, bie the one shown hexe is patticulaty appropriate for MAA. comp tion Single leg atiacks are extremely nse for atiackinga klthaaded fighter whose opposite ep is forward. Once again, the key to good executin Is an tifietent change of level hefore the takedown begins. ; perfomn this move, step your lead le just outside your opponent’ rat leg, av drop tu your knees as you penetzaie under is detense (gute 4.123) ‘Yeurtwnakitees goddown t the foot an both sides of your opponents ead 00% ‘Atthe same time, our kad aro ships around your appenent’s Kad knee, and your reat hand grabs him at the heel figure 4,17b). Press your head firmly Talis yur opponent’ lead leg atthe nner thigh uhen pas frwaed with jour fea and pul wth thehancon. yur opponents heel 0 ke im straight town igure 417 Head to the Outside Single-Leg Takedown ‘Aan ltemative to the double-leg takedown fs the head to the outside single-K takedown, This enn bea ltl easerto accrnpish since you focus your aten tlon on the leg that s closest 10 you. Change levels just as you would for a Uoublevleg takedown (igure 4.18), As you godanen and forward show your fead hand between Your opponent's kegs aad hook H ar il ke Toth your knees land on ether side of your opponents bead loo; as yon. lok Figu 4.7 Sirgleiegtbedonr. nodW t= née 83Figue 47 (canines) Figure 48. Sirsievey tabacows, ead tothe suse,FREE-MOVEMENT PHASE pont ‘oth arms deep around his lead leg atthe knee igure 4.18b), Having gained this peminary contol position reach with your isi hand tote back of {you opponents ther kee, Mocking rom moving hackrrard (figure 4 18) Drive lanward ino your opponear’s hip for the takedown (figure 4.184), Be six to keep your head and neck tg o the ip of your oppanent we prevent the gullltine choke being use aginst you, Blocking a Shot and Sprawling ‘A crueal sll in the free-movereat phase of combat is that of Blacking a shot aod sprawling, In ennly MMA events, few fighters hat this sil. The resul was thar most lighters went down casity when their opponents shut in for & {akedoven, This rave allowed grapplersto totally dominate the matctes, anit save litle opportunity tne strikers utilize thelr skills tnvalme, hues, ighters keane tn defend takedowns, and the ame canged cansderably, When takedowns fal as 9 result of good defense, the fighter whe ‘tempts the takedowns len pat ina vulnerable postion and cat be easy ‘attacked, The key to delending the mast common takedowns, leg attacks, and high dies Isto either block the initial shot wt the hands ot foreatrs, ar {alg tha, get one’ships and legs back ané away fren he opponent by spraw ing heavily om hin, 85“Fine 4t9 sbce Tloanne 86 _WASTERING JUITTSU Blocking a Shot With Handy, Forearms, and Underhooks ‘when your opponent shontsin fora takedown, he newt lower his ve use before the shot. As he docs so, lower your avn level to match ‘his, then block his shoulders or colazbones with your hands or forearms to ‘stop his incoming moment (flgaze 419). Quickly move avy’ anid rerum immediatly £9 4 fgingstance, Look to counter wl ses ashe strug o sega histone. This isan exellent time ware a ke strike tuo bi One final method of ocking a shot that bas proven effective In MMA com: peition Is the tse of ureheoks. Kf your oppeent locks arousal tur walst OF legs, dig ane of your ams wider his, ond lit up as yau push your bips back, ‘This detracts grail from his olfense ad gives you considerabje contet ol his bea Spravwling ‘Whenever your opponent hoa in, fhe fs looking to pullin your legs or lower back (or both.to lake you doven. You can prevent this by lavkering your hips ancl sprawling your legs back iignre 4.20}, Make sure your hack When performing this move, alvays remember te following: do arid around your oppunet walt To do. i to allow 3 simple counter. As you sprawl, you wart your oppo= nent to bear all your weight. Avoid punting your knees onthe grouid as wel because doing so takes weight off him. After you sprawl dono smal say front of vour opponent He may recewer after the intial falute au sil take ‘yau daven, Instead leok wo spin round behind hin and ta put yourself in an tacking postion. I you dont lavorgrouna fighting. get up and move away: Nook to counter wih sakes as your opponent rise.we = “analep at defeiding the wakedoven anu keeping the Aight in the ree-moverere page chan Choxk Lil Lie caine from a slong bickgrouna of erring. whic gave hime the experience and jet him | Among peolesstnal MAMA fighters few have joven sain. 00 | hgeac aight nes geg as tmovtinett phase, By coking these sts i) ‘powerful strikes toned by kickboaning tring, Lidell fra css in pursing hier bo ancmplc | we take him down. He would exher seat Menvlly ‘top of thers a they sharin, oc he wouldve them tup ina clngh. He would then seek to ether break FREE-MOVEMENT DRILLS FREE-MOVEMENT PHASE Figure 6.20 Thess. Case Study in Takedown Defense: Chick Lidell tein ora oto i uedonn nd | turn w ree movers. were bis power strishig Shillseoald be sedellectvely aunt ns iceasg hy ted oppanens Tiel aad aan ke o bls secs, Pst is se ol shor striking crabinathons sever rendered bint ‘aloetaie wo takedown, anil scm, he hada gem se hook power that made hin threat vey time an opponent auergted to shaot, tn addon, The made imellgen: we af cozeratacs lien bis et ala tak hin son, eves mia {ac hat is price denive wresinglls made ‘exceedingly difcul we down in dhe fist ace ‘Weave seen many ofthe mos importa skilsin the fre-mavernent phase of tombe, These sechniqses orm the basis of juju figher’s arsenal in this phase of cumbia, aud they have been high elective in actual MMA compeci= tian, ILis one thing tosce and practice these techniques; iis anether, however, to succesfully apply them under the sires of combat So tha he tudene car be succesful inthe cocect implementation of these techniques, combative drills prove w be uselul. We now ever 2 few ofthe imporant ones in éeval 87MASTERING JUIITSY Shadaw Fighting Shadow Tighting is smong the mos: important drils for developing the skill and attibotes required af fighters to succeed in tke free-tnavemem phase of Aghtlng. Stes people are fariar with che notion of shadow boviny. This 1s shadow fgg. The ideas are similar, but there are important dillerences. The ‘la difference is tht the jus fighter practices solo with all the teknigues Used in the freesmowement phase—stance, motion, punches, kicks, knees, eb bovts blocks evasion, shots. spaising and soon, Remember, jutsu and MMA ficompass many moce techniques than does boxing, Jujis fighters therelone do not merely shadow ber with thely hands, ut they shadow fight with theirwhole bay. They move about ust as they would rth an opponent. Forinsiance, imagine ax opponent infront of yoa, trying io Strike you and lake you awa. Counter his atacks as you atemtps your awn attacks. Make sure you use the full range of techniqucs inthe free-movement hase, Set a timer for five-minue rounds, and work at a good pace. Realy Imagine an active, agressive opponent 2s yun move about weith Hulity ain race, Equipment Training 4 fulitsa fighter can sharpen his skis inthe free-moveciern phase in the Se yroy as boxers and klckboxers do through the ase of equipnent. Use heavy bags focus mits, speed bags, kicking shields. and Thai padsta devel tse prnver and speed of you srkes. Be reaive in your ase of equipment Do not merely Mand in front of the target and bang away thoughtlessy,lmogine a live opp Dent hluing beck. Have your parinet mave and swing a yuu as you try toi te shields that your pariner holds, Sparring As your skills develop, you will need to go up to the text level, whic lavolves Spareing sith alive opponent, Nothing else prepares you for combat as well as live sparring does Let us get something straight from the sar, though: Tiss ‘otc tha you snd one perine aten i ack each ether ut ery yow aint ‘The lea 10 work watt your parner aotagalnst him, As you spar, lock to apply your teciniques with «degree of contac apprupriate to your wining tquce, ‘ments andl sil evel, Obviously you havea professional light camming up, you ‘ill need to work harder and with greater severity of commac. It yo ae jut Starting out or have no fights on che horizon, work at a moch pore relased pace, Flick out the punches and kicks, looking to place them accusaney and time "hem wel. Mave smoothly and evane your opponents atacksascatly spel Remember: Yon are net boxing or kik having! Practice catering the elinch and shooting ino-a takedown, tis bes to work with parners whan you can tron, 50 that training does not quickly degenerate into a trawl, Quite often, i js 2 Wwe idea to spe your ive sparring ito eiiher striking sparing or grappling sparring, where you focus on attacking and defending striking attacks (ast ke basing oF kickboxing} or you omit strikes and simply focus on wkedowns and efending takedowns ust ke wrestling). ci obey fr to say tha penp pling sparring i less Bazardous and more fun, a¢ few people enjoy bei hit "epcaedly in the facet com also be done an 3 daly basis moch more easly than striking sparnng.Clinch Phase CA IP TE ieMASTERING JUIITSI rave been stressing the degree to which unarmed, ingle combat divided inta phases. Each phase has a set of atrbutes and skills that Me required for sucess. His quite posse tined, cot} to have the auttbutes and sks to excel in one phase of combat bur totally lack the ‘tinbutes and skills required forthe others, The rapid transition of a fight from one phase cw the next is the great thallack of real combat. One sucit wansidon that gecurs capcy i tnost lights isthe transition from the free-movement phase af combat into the «ich pase. n general, we ean define the cinch pha of connbat as any fon ‘of sold grip that a fighter has on amt opponest that gives him sone fon of control over his upponent’s niovernent. Even a gripon yourropponeni’s wis for exainple; isa lorm of ditching, since it gives you a small degtce of con ‘col over his movement. When we think ofa clinch, however we usually think of it as a grip that affords much greater control than a simple wrist §rab, Thus, we normally understand a clinch as solid grip on the apponent’s head or upper body far both) with a high degroe of body: contact, Th type ‘of clinch allows you to comtrol an. opponent's movement and sie hin up to ‘negate hi srking ability. In this chapter, We shall conceutrateon the power. {ul, controling clineles that have proven so important in mixed manial ars (MMA) events, ‘Te bet. ler’ fist examine the number af diferences that exis beuween fhe freesmovement and cinch phases. The most obsious diference is the degree of control over an opponent's movement that is made possible by ‘rioping him. The free-movement pase of combat is always a neutral phase, A two fighwers of equal skil ace each other In the frec-tnovememt phase, then each fis an equal chance of attacking the other because neither man ‘hay direct control over the other man’s movement. Imagine a different siua- tion where one lighter has his hands tied behind lis back. Obviously, this handicap plaors him ata huge disadvantage, especially as the other begins to amlack ‘A doralnani clinch works in much the some way. By atsining a dominating clinch position, ome fighter ean te up his opponent’ arias and ody in sch a Way a5 to severely reduce his ably to attack and defen msl, Thus, tn Une inch that we bogie to se the inikerie of te positional strategy tat has Proven so important in she development and suevess of modern grappling ap- roaches tojulisu. 1 shere thatthe key idca begins ve emenge of working ts 4 position that allows a fighter tw auack an oppoaent while undermining the ‘opponent’ ability to retaliae Another change that occurs whena fight switches fromthe free-inevement phase into te cline phase of combat is that subunission holds beg to play 2 significant role. A number of submission holds can be effectively em: ployed la the clinch, eitherin the standing position or aspar of aakedawns Ove the clinch is established, the nature of striking abo changes quite radically. tn the free-rmovement phase. you arc fice to use whatever site You feel is appropriate for the situazion. In the clinch, you are limited 10 whatever is possible within the constraimts af the speciic clinch that you are locked up in, These subjects will each be discussed in detail throughout this chapter. | | 1CLINCH PHASE = THE CLINCH AS AN INTERMEDIARY PHASE OF COMBAT ‘When most people think about MMA fighting, hey Uhink of two major compo- ‘ens: the standing position, where strikes and takedowns are the otder of the diay, and the ground game, where postion allan submission hokds preva ‘Tu think i these termsts to completely overlook one ofthe most crucial aspects ‘teal fighting, the hatte that escurs in the chine. “The cnc sa fasdnating aspect of dhe ihn game it combines the characteris ties of both the sanding positina and gros game inio one phase of combat, People atten think of themselves as ether aground finer ur 2 standing fighter. ‘Suaradng lighters tend to eraphasize tikiag skill above al else whereas grou Lightersemphasie posttonal and sbmission sss. Ths artifical divide, howeve'. isbroken dovn in the dich. kt the deh, the characterises of boi the sanding ‘ge and the groan game merge. Succes inthe eine sa strange combination fl striking, haance, rapping. poston, takedown, and submission ski, Tow ‘eften people think ofthe grappling skis that have taken center stage in eater: ovary mata arts pertaining only tothe ground phase of combat. Todas isto {only overtoak the crcta soe of gaping in the stanéing-clinch ito. "Tolully aypreciate the role ofthe clinch, Keep in mind that itis relatively rate foe lights to go directly frorn the free-standing phase to the ground pase of ‘comnbal. This transition only occurs when one Highter bs eth: knocked to the sg r0tind by strikes or taken down cleanly, Far rore common fsa skuation whee the to fghtets lock up in aclineh asthey stke or when one fighter deeds a takedown and they then progtes Into a cinch. ‘Once fight goes into. cinch, it almost always progresses in one of wo possible dinectians: Fist, te clinch cara be brokers and the fight returns tothe free-naoyemen phase. Second, the fight soes fo the ground, Technically: a su tnislon hold can be appl in the clinel (although these ales always up fon the geoural, and 3 knockout can occur as wel. n the majonty of eases however, the lige wil citer return to free movertent or go to the ground: slepenis on the Interns ofthe two ighiersand dole relative sil in carrying ‘us those intentions, As such, the clinch usualy plays the roke of intermediary hetween the {ree-maveiment phase and the ground phase of combat, ‘A range of eciniques allows a fighter te take either direction when using che cite, ad eve shall look at sone a them in this chaptes Tis use of choice s fat makes the clinch such a vital phase of coma. In other words, eoeeol of the clinch allows ennurol of the direcion ofthe fig. Shaul you desire ate- {urn on free moverner, having skills breaking cinch ill allo you ie dose Showa you desiea ground fight, having killin akedovsns kim tke cinch wil allow ya to do that as wel. FOUR USES OF THE CLINCH ‘Why would someone atserapt 1p take a fight into the linc phase of combat? ‘Fighters have four main reasons to do so, anc all four are constantly seen in MMA fights oMASTERING JUJITSU = MASTERING JUTSU eel, ‘Someta sys expat ching ils och ‘more than othirs. Fur evample. Muay Thal kick boning involves strking in several specialized click psi. uloi agey concerned wt thaws. takedowns fom cles chat involve grnpng be Jt (fg Ua al judy players ede. tnWweve sn Tgting ye pgs mone stein lite ork uGreco-Rowan wreting, Recase no hols betes {he wa ate permed players are faced to fas eaiely x ppt ste Nery Care ses an intrnaera-evel eupoe fh of eeeo-Roman esting before curing SiMa competition Ne put is Greco: oman kills aL use inal hi gi combing sem wth sa ‘iil un prondvork te wieak heene with many o/s oppor. Cutie ised the cinch to aya the daenous sting silo boxers ane terete che up art eeping the of lance 0 thi they wes unable a skeetv. tn ale dito he wal use the cle os up aan ova seh te crit take the ih 4 the proud ‘vith Wine! n top pasion, Onder dimes, Coucare saul Ue the sinc w tian fuse hs ope ems this way, he cow wit se era Effective Use of the Clinch in MMA; Randy Couture couse othe igh espn I the sanding po Sion unt he cided cha a tne to go tothe su Although any ighie ae adept at ane perc lor apect ol he cach gone, Conture es Unt ‘nt hess strong oslo alle hen Ta nae bio «tough poner: who comld elie cone the tempo and dean ofthe ign We won okey the pit sacing. be would singly tes oppo ‘pin the ene the teased a yowetlsker he ‘won do the same. Any ine wasted oy the imund game, Be coal! eampoy a isang token tk rn the eine fhe wate o beth a ‘ppenent be cl beak the eins ad ei fice movement ‘A proliceat cinch tghtey then fas tbe ait Aicate the deci ha ain en, Hecate sini olen play te woe of a trey phase Deswerethe stan postion a the rou ll, You can coviral which pte 0 combat wl get eat ten yoa como ermey phases ait as One uth ys Cauces rt sues In MAMA eompettion Asa mein ofegatn the ante of « dangerau iiter. Most people are fy mllas with this kil of clinch ssork, singe it sso commen im the sport al box. Ing: Wheneverone box finds hiaselin tronbic, he usually ries o otk ap bis ‘opponent in a igh «linc to prevent his being punched. In thiscase, Uhe nels pphiysa negative role. but negative inthe sense that negates the opponent's striking attack, The main users of such tactics in MMA are fighters who preler srappling attacks. They actively scek to avaid a striking match in the free. ‘movement phave snd thus go immediately to the cinch 2 Ase mea sting up sro sing oppor. "The slinch ean aso be used much inne offensvely. Many proficient eine lighters actively seek vat ‘ous kinds of clinches that allow for strong elinchestrking attacks—knee and elbow strikes are especially favored. For example, ance a fighter altains asad neck clinch, he stands an excelent chance of landing heavy hilows on his oppor ent. Striking in the ckinch, however, ia difleremt business lam striking ia the lree-movement pluase. Remember: Expertise in ane is no guarantee of exper. Hise in the other. 5. As means of very up cabetovns more safety. One wf the great dangers of shooting in on an epporent front long range In the free-mavernent phase of combat fs belng countered by a heavy spa. This puts wm underneath your ‘opponent in a situation where he can lock a tight, owt headlack and strike you. tn avaitin,cheze fsgrea! danger af your uppaent’s running around bela‘CLINCH PHASE you and taking yourback. On occasion, fighters are even knocked ous be knee Jtrkes as they attempt to shoot ion their opponent's legs. Concerns sucl as these make many people think Its much ser toget to the dich iret and then attempt takedowns, rather than risk an all-or-noxhing shoot forthe legs. “4, Asi way oe fg nea stag psi aed ruta ake ‘This tactic use by anyone who does not want to goto the ground. People who prefer sting atacks usually engage in this tate. Hf you cat te up an ‘Opponent ina firm defensive dinch then you can make it dificlt far him 4 campleie a takedown. Case Study in Defensive Clinching Skills: Pedro Rizo | ne apt example ola ger who made exit seo. trons there Ro woul tar pio ane erie che arching alls ab ingame rate under clinch, wae cam be used na dee way | fhuttan tgiterfedto Reto, Skiled pecnariy ia somakeit hand youroppenentasucestuy ke yout down, Once i the averander cid, Rizzo ‘Muay Thal bickboxing. he merded a means of eep- fog, Sgt Uh the standing prin were ne cout ilies stiong punches and kicks. Rizo centered | Is defense on an elleciive spiam'. along with an agiessve use af the ovenader clinch. Whenever ft ppanentaitempted a sakesown. Riz woul ‘pra buck a Jo to uechook the opponent's Jamis te int opportanity. Thisundes 0k conte, ep fips ink ody ss ae the he ino ene ih i Be rr pa tags ie tees! | erst maya cpenets iy ed test 8 so ue then ie gan knock ht unctes | rade it tanigh lox an opponent to cormplete the take: TWO APPROACHES TO FIGHTING IN THE CLINCH = [ot all lighters Jook on the elite phase of combat in the same way. Many fighters. especially those feom a grappling stye of combat, view the clinch as. reat opportunity 10 negate their onpoaent’s striking olferse while opening their own offensive possinilites. As such, they comsider ita sale haven trom dangerous strikes, and they Wry to seeure and maintain the cinch as quickly as thai, Quite often, sc lighters use the cnc asa way toset up takedowns am take the lige w the gtoand, Hamever,a second way of looking athe chach isto see it as a ast ehance 40 ‘ep the fightin the staring position This wiew teas tobe the one of fighters jhose specialty les in striking ia the standing position. The primary ellort of thls type of fighters to break out of cliches at the Test opportunity and retuen the fight wo the fe-moverneat phase. What is interesting abour these nen dif- fewer appinactes tothe cline s that they ba recognize tv essential facts 1, the dnc plays the role of an intermediary phase of combat, somewhere betwen the free-movemnent phase and the ground-fighting phuse 93MASTERING JUSTTSU > The ellach is largely unavoidable in a real fight, If eo combatants are serious about fighting each che, chey will almost abrays end up in a flinch in a shert tine. tn areal fight. fighters face a tremendous forward Dressure, which is offen a shock to those who are not used to it, This ‘makes i almost inevitable that they wil quickly ran to each other and inch, VICTORY INTHE CLINCH ‘Hlahters can work ae effective dnd in several ways to attain vicory in une ‘armed combat. nro direct means to viciary are in tie dich phase ol combat, ‘The frst ofthese is with stikes. Quite often, a skilled clinch fighter can put his (pponentn 3 vulnerable postion and knock hin oun with knee ar eave sites, Several successtil conternporary MMA lighters specialize in just this kind of method. Ancther meshed isthe use of submission holds that force oue ighter to surrender or ese face serious injury: A less dltect means of victory In the clinch oe fighter to use Gloching skis to wear en opponent down phys. ‘ally, s the dnc can be 4 physically demanding pase uf cum, This tart; snakes an oppatieni easier o deal with in the other phases of com atid thus ears the path o victory, Quite often, its aso posite to galnshnilcant points In the clint to them eam a coveted jadge’s decison, KEY SKILLS FOR THE CLINCH We have maintained that each separace phase of combat has a set al kil that ate appropiate to cand that alk ane fighter vo dominate another lighter In tha phase, OF couse us oes not mean that there is no overlap in skils be- {Wveen the tferent phases. Nonetheless, empltical evince is arin show. ‘ry thatthe sills of ene phase are nt even clave eo easuring sucess li the ‘rhe phases. The cine phase iso excepilon ta thisrule, A uniqneset al hills that ve shall now look ot are essemtal vo succes in the clinch * Basie cinch postions nd grips aendtatey ‘+ Transitions om ane type af dich to another + Entering a clinch * Olf-baloncing the opponent (duxuriy ‘+ Takedown from the dinch * Submission holds * Striking in the cinch "Breaking a clinch and escaping Clinch Positions Approximayey sx typesot clinch have proven the most effective is MMA com petition, We must note immediately that these clinches can be ranked accond lng wo the degree of control and domination that they off over an eppanent, Somne of the clinches are neutral in so far as they do not offer any intrinsic___CLINGH PHASE “advantage over your opponent, In other ons. these elinches are symmetrical im that you and your opponent have the same gip wn each cxber:chexefore, your opponent has access tn exactly the same moves that you do. Two ex anyplesal neutral inches thatareimporan in AMA coupesiion are the collar and-clbow clinch and the over-under clinch. Collar-and-Etbow Cliztch Ta lek up your apponent ina collar-and-ctbows cinch, place one hand behind your opponem’steck at the collar also grip higher up on thie crown of the head). With your uihes hand, grip his arte. at copier wil probably gp you in the same way, creating 2 neural inch, but you can ive yourself slight advantage by pushing the hard on the elbow inside your opponeni’sarm and placing you kand on his Biceps. This gles you the advantage of inside comrol, whichatakes it easier far you to open up your ‘apponent so that you can enter forsrkes and takedowns. At the same time, adsw Lielps negate your opponents striking and takedovin aitacs. Over-Under Cinch: ‘The over-unde clinch Is undoubted the most comnnon frm of clinch in MMA conapetition. Its a neutral clinch; both fighters Rave symmetrical pastan and ‘an ths attack each other with exacly the same moves. Skil and size deter mine who dominates the acton in tis dine ‘One arm is hooked under your opponents arma with the other svrapped around your opponent's arm. Your head always placed on the same side as Your overhuoked arm, it allows you to control your upponent’s powerful tundeshoui by placing a lt of weight oni (igure 5.2). You should be chest-to chest with yOUr opponent: you cam lock your hands around his waist yon. Figure 1 Colvané: wale cinch, 95)___ MASTERING JUITSY ee ‘wish. This is referred to asan overunderbodylock, whlch oles yet another set of possible atacks. Although zhere are many offensive options len this clinch 4nd the bodstock the problem, however, is that your opponent has arcew 10 those same options. In addition, the aver-under cinch fa superb defensive Postion and thus highly favoced and diffcuk to attack. Once they have been Secured, oer clinches fle adelinite advantage aver an opponent. Nataly these advantages come in degrees Double-Underbooks Clinch Whenever two proficient clinch fighters get into the chesi-tosche they typically look eo secure double underhooks, This clinch prstion afler 4 definite measure of dominance by offering a tremendous amount ol conttal ‘over your opponent’ ower heck. hips, and upper body. This move wccurs when You successfully get both your amis under both your opponent's arms, Akl ional. ths clinch makes it easy for you to deop quickly to your oppaneny’s tes or double- and single-egcakedonen, andi aso cuts down your apparent ailensive options Ths, the dauble-underhooks ei hhawever, it probably the Least do tively easy 0 attain, Just lke the ove and perform a bedylock on your oppo est position, h isthe fit af the dominating clinches ing, IL occurs quite often and rela ier cinch, you can lock your hands 1 for additional contro digure 5,3). ‘Figure 5.3 Dinbleanierhaate clech,___CUINGH PHASE Neck livach The neck clineh is something of a minnie: The grip is really un the crown of the hod, rather than the neck. To perform this maneuver. place one hand ox the crown of your opponent's head, then place your other hand on top of the fist, Squeere your ellows together. and pressure your forearms into your opponeny’s ailarbones (figure 5.4}. Sand up on your tors. and try ta keep your opponent’ heal lower than yours The neck cinch is papular in Muay Thai kickbaxing I offers many upper fs thls your ponent with devastatiny kiree an elbow strikes, while off noi hack to che side, This nove is tesponsibe form sion, usually asa te sult of sicikesavith dhe knee tothe ci sep far puilloune chokes. O best times to lock up 4 neck elinch fs just after Your opponent atwemps a shot and fais (a5 a result ol your defensive sprawh Is hie attempis to gt back up, he is very vulnerable tothe neck cinch followed bry knee sik, Rear Clinch ‘The rearellcl isa usetul clined thar offers excelent fomtrol In this case, you are beltind your opp ‘round hb wast, uriler ene oF bork of his arms (fg variations of grip, but the walst grip is simple and etfee tunity lorantark and ‘with your hands lacked 5.5». There are other e. Because You are igus 5 Rear 97MASTERING QUITTSU behind your opponent itis dificult for him cw sie you elfextvely. Your ups Ppanent is largely Lined w Zoot stomps ar backward elbow strikes You do need be wary of several submision-hold counters ive shall look at sue later) Fiowever you have many of your osm attacks so be aggresive in this postion, Many eacellent examples of the standing ear clinch have o¢ ‘urted in MMA competition, and they al provide oppartnityto go straight lor rear choke hoids Front-Heuidlock Clinch The from headlack is undoubledly the most dominant means locking up nt Opponent in a standing clinch, This grips ight and comnaliiap. h ofl ‘nang great opportunites tositke, take down, and submit your opponent, while Feaving almost no opportunity for your opponent to do the same 10 you. Its probably fai to say thatthe front headlock, both i the standing position ard down oo the mat, has been responsible for more knockout and submission Vetoes than aay other clinch by for. Oncea fighter attains the from heatloek, itis easy lor him to rain knee strikes into his opponeats face. The fran’ hendlock also provides cose pmuxinnty for guillotine eliokes, n audition to effective takedowns far crolling pesiions The front headlock can be a ‘wo basic Ways. Prive front are the result of deliberate eflors to snap ‘your opponents heal below your ow so ‘shat you cam hock him up ithe heck, Reactive front headlucks are a defensive ppanventsatemptno take You down. As you sprawl on tap al him, you lick up a front lhendlock, Jn bord caves, howe, the lock fs the ne figure 8.6}, You must control yo ‘opponent’ head and one of hs arts. Aller wrapping your arm around your ‘opponeat’shead. grab hischin Your other hhand grasps his elbows and pulls toutant Be sure to keep your head on the side ol the trapped arm, and keep your awn elbows back and in tht to your tbs ¥ an keep your hands in cis position, or You can lock them together for auliional tighiness, Transitions Between Clinches Asthey grapple with an opponent inthe clinch, fighters must ook aw progres sively work thelr way into betier pesitions unui they can strike with ascen- ancy, take the opponent down, or make him submit. 1s almost always the ‘ase that you begin in a neutral clinch, since these are the easiest wo atta. From there. you must work into a mote dorainant one, Thus te sl of flow. ing trom neutrat clinches to dominant ones {and then an ws sill mune domi- aan anes} Isa truly vital skill____GLINGH FHASE Collar-and-Elbow Clinch to Rear Clinch From the culla-and-elbow dlinch it is possible to make @ quick transition to Your upponent’s back. One ofthe best and sinsplest means al doing so isto use a viui-under, The ie isto quickly dock ender your oppenent'sarm and pop un boi him in the rear clinch ttigure 5.7). Dowe properly, this move isa eat way to effidently get ito a sol attacking postion. Figure 2 Toren fo colar and-iie cen to rex dich 99.100 ‘MASTERING JUJITSU Over-Under Clinch to Double-Underhooks Clinch Probably the mast commonly used cransion from 4 neuira clinch ¢o a dom- ‘ant one i that from mvereander to double underhooks. The ikea is io mance ver the hand of your ovechook arm under your opponent’ arm and thus get both of your arms underneath chose of your opponeat igure 5.8). This move Is telnively risk-free, and it takes title effor, hence its jwpulariy. A skilled ‘potent, hossever, wil immediately recognize the dager you ten tw selen your hand urder his ars. He will probably react by swimming his other arm ‘under yours. In his nay, he can prevent you fron securing dauble undeshvoks, axl he an ako maintain the neutral oversunder clinch ‘igure 58 Tensfton fran aver eaerellach to cono-andrbooks cline, Quite olten, this series of moves can create a protracted b lor superior position, Each fighter warts (o get the advantage of double underhooks, and bot attemat to swim their arms under their opponent's arms. The opponent reacts by doing the same so that neither can achieve the double underbooks. This kind of upper body battle for conto x calle pwmeantng ands qu common in MMA competion. But it can bea tiring experience. We shall look 21 puonsmeling dls late in this chapter They are esierual for developing the skills and atiributes required to lea peofident dlineh-lighter, Neck Clinch to Frout-Headlock Clinch The neck clinch is ome ofthe very best inches from which 1 unleash strikes f your opponent. expecially knee and elbow strikes, However, chuugh dome nating itis etier w cansiion toa front Neadlock if possible, singe tis offers even mare control and subinssion and striking possitltes. The easiest way to make that transition isto throw a knee to the midsection. Must people react by bending at the waist to avoid! the full impac: ofthe knee. This inevitably IuingsCLINCH PHASE the head dows and mazes easy to throw on a front headlods. Even without throwing the knee, by merely cranking or stapping the head down and to the life, you wil have mle difculy in gevting the head down far enrugh ta lock Upa leant headlosk on your opponent (figure 5.9). Entering a Clinch ‘you wate a boxing mael, you willoften see that as vo boxers launch their avtacks, they invariably end up ina iach, The same istrue of almost all street Tighs. Two oppomebts beyia with Daw and quickly cnd upina cine. Indeed post stcet fights start with the (v0 protagonists s0 cose 10 each other chat ray ofthe lights actually fyi bn the clench, One might conclude from this servation that tiéetineh fs tally inesiableeleract oa eal fight, Theres cetsinlya foc af rath to this ur its surprising hove easly a tually unsilled Tigie: can enter cline i he s determined to do so, Oken he sill need to ‘wade through a barrage of punches, but in. most cases, he cam evermually ge 10 hus goal, Nonetheless itis important ts know how to enter acne property 0 ‘hat you can got there withont sabwnining te to0 much damage. Proactive Clinch Entvies ‘one of the best ways to enter the dinch is to distract the opponent with some preliminary srikes, Whenover you throw ashe, ynur opponent rust react in Sonne ways ontierwite, he gets it, He isforeed to block, move, oF sounter, These Idiminary strikes therefore serve as a distraction 50 that you san follow up, one the distance, ancl salely enter ina aclinch, When your opponent reacts fhe willbe preoccupied and unable to fight. At that time, you can quickly lose sistance ant ete ‘ie prnsciive method of clinching sto standin foot of your opponent, just ‘outol comact range. thus keepingata safe disance, Quichly lower your level— this leads your opponent to think you ate aba 1 shoot, Instead, come back vp, and throw a quick jab to your opponents head. sieppitg in ay you do 80. “This wanye takes you closer to sour opponent, ad atthe same tne, it frees hn: to react dlelensively. Keep civing forward into a fight clinch, Reactive Clinch Butries Anosliee means of entering a dine to use your opponent’ aggressive Lot~ ‘vara movement asthe way fo dose distance and cinch. Whenever an oppo: tent comes forward to strike yout, the distance betwee you iy shortened so that lebecomes easter o step into the clinch, However, you will need to cover ‘upand block the incoming strikes, then lower your evel sliginly a step in, Jinaly locking your opponent up ina cline ‘One of the most common forms of reactive clinch entries arises when an ‘opjonent sions into you with the hope and iatention of taking you down. As vou spravl in reaction co histakedown attempt. you both come up iatoa cinch. ‘Appaniularly appropriate form of clinch here isthe neck dinch, As you jase ‘ul on top af your opponent, wait for him to core back up, As hese, lock up {eight neck line. I beeoeses easy now to throw sreng knee strikes intn hin ashe tiesto get up, This kind of cinch work: has been responsible lor any Knockout victories in BMA compertion. 1s doubtless ane of the best ways z2 aggressively counter takesiown atiempes, 101Figise 5:9. Toston for eck cinch te rrt-neaiac cinchOff-Balancing (Kuzushi) Cine of the most important sels clinch fighting hat of ofb-belancng an ‘opponent. This is the act of using your grip oa your poner Yo nove fim i Sicha say that he montentarily loses his balance. Ths skills olten overlooked toy many fighters, yer its the surest way todominate an opponent in the cinch. Selective huzushi allows you 1 avereume alarger and strong: opponent. There Ja finesse and feeling to the skill of off-uakancing that comes with constant {actce. [is difficute w teach in words, anu ittmust beexperienced 1 be really Uunierstoad. Tris 6 exaggeration 10 say that al takedowns, srkes, and submissions in the elinch phase of combat ate eases to accompli if they axe preceded by ofl- fullancing your opponent. The reason fo tis's simple. Wien people axe taker ‘out of balance, thle preoccupation is recovering ther balance and posture. ‘Tis makes thera vulnerable no sirikes,submnisions. and throws, Analysis ofall the combat sports that allow fighting inthe clinch guickiy reveals tht they all Strongly emphasize the art of of-baloncing ait opponent as the sewup for ul ferrin the ditch, The founder of judo, figoro Kana, made kuzasty the ists of his modifeations to classical jujist ie often demonstrated a profound under: ‘standing of kvzusht in his ite word and histecanique. His analysis of kuz remains %0 this day the best outline of the guiding principles that lie under- neath the art ol destroxing an opponents balance ‘The guiling principle we speak of ts that of lescning the degree of effort needed to thnove an appari, which i a clear attempt 1 act according io the smokin of mini effort, maximumetfed.” Acing om such a eine fs what allows a sinaller weaker man to overcome a larger, stronger opponent. Eh ‘deat eatonaltation of physical elfors precisely the direction chat Kano sol Wher ic explained t0 them in this way, most people can make sense of the absiract idea of kucushi, However, they have a dificult time in applying ibe actual pincipic in a practical way as they grapple with an opponent. “Thanklully, lighters can subscribe wo some guiding res of thurnb that go a Jong way in directing a siudent during che long process of developing strong il-balancing skills, One useful beginning fs to push when being pulled by {our opponent and to pull when being pushed. Following this simple rule Can inimedineey allaw you to effectively interfere with your opponeat’ pos ‘ure and balan. Let's now divide offbalancing techniqee in the clinch in wwe basic kinds: Ubneae an eeeular Linear Methods Linear methnds of ett-bilancing an opponent ase vsually performed from a ‘ilar clinch, neck clinch, oF ront-headlock cinch, fy far the most common ‘aod effective mean of linear oll Balancing the statowen. The idea ist push Strait back ino your oppanent to get him to push back. 1! he does nat prsh back, he will be ol-balanced sratght hackwwanl. As you fecl him puking back Into you, suddenly reverse direction and stap his read daw toward your feet, ‘Make sure your oven fet move back so that you do not saap him into a takedown, Make sure you sap the head down, rather than slowly pullit dav, Quite alten, yoor opponent will try 0 regal tes lance by quickly stghten- ‘ng back upafter the snapdown, which makesit easy to olf-balance him backveard 103104, MASTERING JUITTSY 3 be stands buck up. fe aio makes it relatively easy to drop your level and ‘Sino in or lis legs. thereby securing a quick takedown. Circular Methods Siecular methods are typically performed irom upper-body clinches, suc as the over-tnder dinck or double-underhooks ditch. The idea here is tw rotate Seti opponent by pulliag on one se of his body and pushing on che other. ‘You can pull with either your undechook arm. or ovetfioak arm as you siep tack with the leg an the same side as you pull wich, Your opponent will ten be ccled around ane must thesclore step 10 regan balance. You can iake adyan- tage of this momentary lapse of balance to strike or mare into takedowns and submissions. similar kindof of-halancing is dave with the neck cindy, The leas 10 jerk your appatient down aiid to one side as you step hack with your Jeon the same side toward the direction you are pulling yout appesterd, This ‘move takes him off-balance ain open co knee stikes. Takedowns From the Clinch ‘Takedovins in MMA competition can be divided up into many categories. One of the most baste divislons|s between takedowns that came out of the clinch ‘and akedowits that come out of the free-mavernent pase asa resul af shoot {ng in on your opponent. Takedowrs in the free-moueiment phage are aknvost always hots to the opponents legs oF hips whereas takedowns inte clinch olten involve the upper bod. This very reason is why Greco-Romat wrestlers, ‘hose sport is centered on upper-body throws, have dane so well at cline fighting in MLA tournaments, Each kindof clinch basks own kind of akedown, Appropriate wo tbat specific clinch, and we shall examite some of the mene elective takedowns that ate used regularly in eonkemporary MAMA. An impor tant concept in clinch takedowns. however. is Uhst of o-balamcing the appo Hent a8 a precursor (othe wkedown. You wil find i awach ease Lo throw or {ake somebauly down ifyou fittake himout of balance, Canstanty seek, then, (oolf-balance your opponent and to take advantage ofthis when throwing hin ortaking ties doy, Over-Under Clinch to Inside Trip (Ouchi Gari) The over-under cline begets many takedowns. The jrllem, however, that Your oppanent has exactly the same offensive posses as you da, since the ‘over-unsir clinch is sprametrical. The key toa successful atiaek. then, isto-tahe Your opponent ourof balance sottat You can yet through his deensesand ke hin dow. ‘One of the best tkedovwns from the over-under clinch isthe snsde tp, This move has the advantage ol being relatvely se, yet highly effective. From an overunicr diuch, pull yur opponent around you with your urdetbock aim 20 that he f forced to step toward you to regain his balance igure 51a), This ‘move whlens your opponent’ siance, making the execntion easier. You may Jock your hands in tight bodylock as well Step the foot athe leg thotson the Sime sd as your undechouk arm insite his legs then siveep sur Ina alang ‘hematin a cre around your apponent’s foot igure 5.10). Drive yous lady Weight lato your opponent, forcing your weight into him. You can even drop your overar daven to the knee of his othcr leg, pulling into you, This move {aes your oppancat sraight to his back with you landing between bis legs,(CLINCH PHASE Figure 5.10. Inve tip tabatoun fom cver-unde lech, Double Underhooks to Outside Trip (Kosoto Gakiy One ol the most etlective takedowns in MMA competition isthe badyock. from ouble underhooks, combined with an outside trip, Having secured dowle Lunderhooks. lack your handsaroural yourappoments ower buck (figure 5.113}, Full bis hips in ight avhile keeping your hips tight ve his hips figure 5.118). ‘Tote some danger here your appoment's countering wth a heailiock thn, so keep your hips ard tight fo your opponcnr’ hips. Step ours his leg and honk ita the call of eves lower {figure 5-11. Sag your hips into him as {ouratms pall his lower back in anid down. Your opponest’s posture willbreak hackwat al you can step Jonas into dominant top position as you Ton gare 5.118) Rear Clinch w Rear Trip (Tani Otoshi) Wheaever yout get behind your opponent, you have trany opportunities take him down One ofthe simplest and mos reliable methods isthe reat Imp fuan as Tats move takes ninonal suenth and is difficult to stop. Fold your pponene’s hips wih bot hands, Same people ike o performs lox ockasouad the waist (Ligure 5.12a). Squat dora and extend a leg belind both af your ‘ayponent’s gs dfigure 3.120). Pull his ins ght to yours, and up him over 105eet MASTERING JUITTSU Figure 514 Outlée tp taladoar fron double widehack. Your extended leg. Land pponent (figure 5.12c%, and quickly get Front Headlock to Crass-Ankle Pick We have.seen that he front hedlock is ene of he mest doentinglinehes in existence. igherscan utlize many takedowns om this positon, each of whieh dificult fe your opponent io resist. One particulary effective takedown rom the front headlock isthe eros-anite pick, From she front headlock (igure 5,133), place your head deep under your trapped! amma, then teach out wa the an that was around you sm. Use ito grasp your opponents ankle fligite 3.13. Do not the leg. Aa you pull on the ankle, drive across and urvier you Soppane nt TAs eAove puis your opponent under temendous pressure ad wll eventually take him sraghtto hishack. Keep driving and palling on that ankle {uni you put your opponent ina cyt pin, lat an Is back igh 5.131, Rex ‘ain your grip ound yur opponent's head throughout the rave. with your hha on bis chin, 1 flay on your back alongside your pom tog of i Submission Holds One of the great features of juiisu fs the use of submission holds inthe clinch. Only a select few martial ants have this feature—jude, samo, shoaifighting, 106,‘CLINCH PHASE ania few others. Subassion holds ad anew element ofghting in the enc, mens that fs Licking fs many’ ofthe ars that emphasize cinch fghiing ‘We can divide submisions inthe elinch into wo busie categories, 1. Standing submision holds, By far the most vommonly seen exannple of standing subvatsion folds i the gullotine choke. It has etded many MASA Tights, and ftremaits one ol he best ways to attick an opponent in a sandinge ‘applingscuation. 2, Subynission holds that sae in 9 sanding position but finish on the ground ‘ost of the really efletive standing submission holds that have proven sue ceslul in competition begin with the to fighters locked in a standing clinch ‘One lighter applies the lock by jumping into position and using the lock as a Jom af a takedown. Ib cod with both ighters on the sraurd ond with the submission hold securely locked on. The fying guillotine isan excelleat cx Jmple of such a move. Another fine example is the roling Kimura lock (lt gia, shove on pages 121-1 Ji, the prerequisite ta the successful use of submisston holds in the clinch i sound olf-aalancing ¢kuzushi) and a solid ‘working knowexige ofthe various clinches. By locking an opponent in 2 tight, Coalrolieg clinch and then taking bi oat of balance, the transition 0 a sub- ands is much easier AAs pital attacks im the dl 107Figure $.12 Arar arp tuledows hocr ex cinch, 108109Collar-and-Blbew Clinch Into Standing Guillotine ‘The surest way o enter into a guillotine from the sanding péstion is ww utilize 4 mapsdown. There ate several types of snapdorn, hut ihe one from the cellar, and-elbow dinch isone ofthe lastest and most eficienn Fram the collarati-elbow clinch. maneuyer the han that is en sour Sppoment’elbort inside his arm to his biceps (igre 5.14a}. This places vont ‘wo ars inside your opponents anns and gives ya a slight postianal advan lage. From there, deve the foreaimt of your atm around ¥onis oppanent’s neck ‘nto his collarbone and push into him. Ashe begins in push back, sap hls head town by jcking Voth arms dow and forward, shulianeously stepping your feet buck ifgute 3.14h). This move takes your opponeni’s head down below ours, allowing you to quickly wrap an arm around your opponent's neck aad apnly @ guillotine (igure $.14c). Fighters use several was to lock up gull ‘cach has its respective advantages and disadvantages. The method town here, the fig laine, is paniculaly it aad quick, Figure 518. Gelln-omb-elboe chien to “saning glint,CLINCH PHASE Frottt-Headlock Clinch into Flying Guillotine ‘The front headlock is uuly one ofthe dominant dinches. It can be wed to set Uupmany powerful strikes and iakedowrs, and its equally useful in seine up submission hols, which mostly involve choking attacks to che neck. The lying ‘qillonine sa subuston bok! that has Been used with tremendcus success in MMA competition, Ip fact, iis one of the fovorite moves of Rene Gracle, As such, the flying gullorine ean he used in many situations: here we jook 2 ts application as pan ofan atck from te front-headlock clinch However you Find yourself in a front headlock, either as aresult of delending ‘shot ta the legs by your opponent ar as.a result al a snapdown an your oppo= stent you can go stright into fymg guillotine, The hey fs 0 get a tight initial arin on the neck ad ann of your opponent. To do so grab the weit ofthe arma that encieles your opponent's neck, and pull through toward the arapit ol your opponent's tayped arm (igure 5.154}. Bring bath hands wp toward your lemurs. Place your leg arwund your opponent's waist and lightly jump up {figure 515, locking your legs around his waist in 2 cosed-guard pesition. as shove in figure 5.15 (the guard position will be seen again in the ground lighting sections ofthis book in chapters 6 at 7). From here, arch your hack ‘and squeeze tightly on your epponeni’s neck, keeping your bead clase 19 your uappament’s head, “This move putsa tight choke in place that isdfieut to defend wien jperly applied, 1¢does not marer whether your opmoent falls tothe ground or stays itstanciang pasion as you apply the chake; The fying gaillotine works equally wel in both cases. Rear Clinch Into Rear Naked Sleeper Choke (Hadaka Sime) ‘Once you get behind an opponent, you can artemps the sleeper hold, a highly llectve stranglehol olten used In MMA competition. You have nwo bask ‘choices In applying the sleeper lol from the rear clneh. First, you ean Jump. ‘onto your apponents buck, lock your fet aroun his waist, then apply te Bl {gre 8.16), Second, you can pull yaur opponeat backward an sown tothe ‘mat, placing both feet in his hips lo stabilize Your positon ybutdo not lock your fect sf you go the ground, then apnly the hold, About boil raves are "regularly used in competition, itis probably alr to say thatthe Laer isa safer ‘option 1 use because it minimizes the dager of being hn, should your app ‘nent slam himselt backward to attempt an escape. ‘The sleeper hold is also an effective way to-end a ight both in comnpedcion and ne see alteeation. fe reners your upponent dakonscious in a matter of seconds provides he doesnt submit. To lock it in place, reach around your ‘apnonent’s neck rom behing, until your elbows is right unaer his Adam's pple. ‘ace your hand on the biceps af your other am, Your other and slides over the sop of your opponents head, dow wo the hack ofthe head (igure 3.16e! Squeear wur elbows together, Keeping your head dose wo his. This mancuves srevenis boo from geting to your opponent’ brain: itferceshim yo subst or risk unconsciousness. ‘All stranglehoids work on this principle of citing a blood to the vain, As such, they are dangerous, Make sure thar you practice them with ution in the presence ofa qualified instruct. Most important, when they take effet, stop immediately- Release your partner as saon as he signals submission by capping the mat ar your body. aFigure 515 Frnt teadlck to “ynm quieting uzCLINCH PHASE igure 5.16 Rens lich treet ose wpe clube Striking in the Clinch ‘Mos fighting styles that emphasize the use of strles 40 win Oghts oly use shriking tectinique inthe free-mavernent phase of combat, Infact, i skins combat spoms such as Western boxing, kickbusing, andl many forms of karate: sadking ceases once a clinch i locked tp, hich islargely duc uo the lanikations Faced! on siiking methods ie these sports. tn boxing. for exaraple, only the fists may be used tostrike the oppoaent. Once the acm are tied up na cling. icing beeames dificults ence, there fsitic chance for clinch tigi. even i avere within the rules. The sanie Is rue of ae Kicks wile in Wesiern kicitoring. “the results that many people tink of using the clinch asa way to prevent someone trom sitiking you. To an exteat, this ts trie. Ila clneh is held Nightly, ican certainly peevert someone trom pinching and kicking you, However, specialized clinch-lighting technique fs used, cfketive punching inthe clinch is posible. It ner and etbore strikes are sed (sume MMA everts probit elbow ‘artes, chen striking in the dlirch can be very ellestive, Indeed. an ever increasing numberof vitories are now being won in vatlae tions al the cinch ia MMA matches. The Seysto ellecive striking in the clinch ave the following: 13,* Appropriate sceton ofc, Some clinches are more sulted 10 striking ate lueks than others. in MMA matches, the majority of knockout vieries in the slineh are undoubtedly swan the neck inch and the callar-and-elbaw clinch, ‘The reason fo this tendency is chat both these dinches allo a fighter to cons ttolan opponent's head in such way that powcifl knee and ebay snes can de nected to the jam. The beauty ofthese clinches is that they allow calid ‘conta! of an opponent by controlling a part ofthe anatomy’ ithe head) tha i ‘ricial to movement. The old adage “where the head goes. the heey follows" is {Important in cineh fighting, At the same time, thew clinches allow suticent space bctween you aini your opponent so shat you can yellerate macimum force in uiizing a srking technique. The results a high knockout rate * The attainment 94 domdnont clinch. I you are locked up Ina postion where {Jour opponent has 8 dominant cinch on yon, then your chances al suecess- fully sting him are lo. To sike your opponent, rnuital clinch. If possible, atin a try darminant atiempis, You must attain at leas. a inch 10 ald your striking * OFF batancing vane opyonent. The more you can keep your opywonent off: balance, the easier i¢ isto strike him andl the hatder it wil he fur bin co strike buck a defend himself, You must consiaily look to keep yar pment ina sate ol confusion by disrupting bis balance because then his attentin will be focused on recovering histulance. Asa sesult. le Becornes alot stk you ‘while a the same tne being pen to your own sux thes, * Appronriie striking method The dlinch requires lis own striking enetluads quite dlferent om sinking in the lee-movement phase of eombat. In ferteral the knees and elbows ate the mast efficer means af sttking in the cline. (ieadbutts are also highly efecive: however, they are banbed in myst eonerporary MAA tournaments. fe Dphtrsin MMA hove hal he sues ec ‘ign ew experienced Wythe Manan supessar Vanerlet Siva Sha has» relive, simple eich Be hat has woven hig eestive: Is entered iva ypesof cinch, thewecrumder lies tne feck inh He aes the aves-uaer enc he ‘ver fas Wim in rouble, eer oma sone onck atack or eden atenps Hing spe ‘Moai, gins o tho hea bnees in is gpa abdomen terete space. He ther breaks te cli omd during the vanston eam bench, he ons fr opps she. 104 wth he nck cine huseve. th Silva kor Juul dhe mnt sucess. Coming om a bsckgraud f hal Nickiox'ng, where the ned linc is scopaly cmphasiued, Siva cansandly fukswsecire tna nds aoe oppanens Fed am ack shen jus Case Study in Clinch Fighting: Vanderlei silva | ever a takedowa falls, By spaling it ontop ofa lakes Siaclten ores hseppanens it hack Siptothes fee asthey dasa, shee ead eve ihn, Which males easycn quickly clasp on a ght nec inc as the qpponem srugaes back tp. At is ‘amen, Sia simply theows mel Kase sses {tae jw ofthe opponer. These tikes hte ie ‘in keto arneydnape The Sty ‘os! common means of knockout viaory in the lish phase of combat it reson a wound ace Sian ofa wise clint selection and a vulneale pn fet Im ober words the neck ch a deeminant Sich thus asupeth means of siting up srikes, especially whe the opponer: ie afl-satanved and reocempied mith geuing hack up, mus being unalile ta diecive'ydelend hime, slCLINCH PHASE + Greaing space with tle. One of the keys to effesive sufking in the clinch (and one that few people uunderstaad) isthe delicate balance between control and the creation of space. When you jock up an opponent in a tight clinch, you ean control his movement. The tighter the cinch, the more contrat ‘you have aver hi, and the more dificult it becomes to sutke you. Uniortue nately, however, thesame is true of you. The tighter you hold im. the harder it js lor you to hit hin etfectvely—sinice now you lack the space required 1 hit dleatively, To strike with power you ned to create space between you and {your opponent. This ask is done in different ways, depending on what type of line you hayes A sperlal note must be axed to this section om striking in the elinch. tn [MMA events, a high percentage of success sirikeshappes immediately ater flinch breaks. Wet thi happens, your opponent iaecomes distracted ty the change in phase and is thus vulnerable to a quick strike, Fighters sould con stant look forthe appectunhy to bit just as the cline breaks during the tran: ‘ition bck ofece mavernent, This saline whea most people have their hands dow, al they are ied, ofl balance, ané unsuspecting, Striking in the Over-Under Clinch We have noted the tat thacthe overinder clinch fs by ke most commonly ted fo a dich ia MAA compettion. We have also noted that tsa nerral élinch, insofar that both you and your opponent have the saine position and thus the same offensive options. As sach, the averinder pwsition does nat filer dominane sik: opportunities. This does riot mean, however. that you cannot sttke effectively in this posion. It simply means that an eppanent ol roughly equal sil level an ize can srke you. just as easly 08 you con strike hin. One of the prime reesons that many MMA fighters use the everunder dlinch isto prevent the opponent ftom striking effectively, This reason alone should ie yaw something about the dificoy of striking in tis pacticular clinch. faut because Its 3 common aad because so much time Is spent these, is ‘worth looking a stiking options, even if he aeernder cinch snot the best bace to engage in strking ‘The mast common striking method &s to wse your overhook arin wo strike your apponent in the ribs. Hie him with a hook punch. Keep your arm sharply tient, al get your bis behind the blo This mave may not necessarily hock anybody ct, but it does punish hian over time and make hile in the cline ‘unpleasant, Knee stikes are also wise options. The best way 10 do tent i tke ‘overunder cinch fs olfts unseshook acm atthe elbow with your averhuok arp, This maneuver opens his isto knee strikes. You cam also look to throw a kage srike over his overbook arm and bits face, This skill is especialy impo tang when your opponent brings his head down, Siiking in the Neck Clinch “The neck inch sone ofthe best fr striking an opponent your to arms ase Saside your oppanent's ars, locked around the head and neck, you can olen iinock your opponent our. The key Isto firs create space in which to throw & nee sike to the jae” “Todo this, explosively straighten your arms out so that your opponent is ihrown out ut azm’s Heng welale you stil have comrol of his bead. Skip your us6 __ MASTERING JuDtTSU Jegsinw a lunge postion with one kaee back ithat willbe the leg you throw te ‘nee strike with, since the rear leg can generate ate power). Naw there fy ‘ulfcient distance to smash a knee lo his jaw. Be sure to pull your opponents tread down im the sie to add power white athe same cine jerking him af. balance As soon as dhe srike land, zctam wz thn neck elinch with sour -*pponenCs forehead preswed inko your chest anal arms. Nepcat the pracess a3 necessary In some MMA events, elbow strikes are allowed, and the neck clinch isa feat plaorm w use these, Hold un to the head with one and, and use the tuher arm to whip elbow strikes inta your opponent, Ths technique fs mith fasier when your arms are inside Your opponent's arms. so ayy elbow sttkes ‘when the upporiumiiy aries. Striking in the Frowt-Heaittack Cinels The [rant headlock is without a doubt one ofthe best posiians tra fighter to Une pan opponent so that he ean strike with inppunity: Many knockouts and feleze' stoppages have oecrtes in thisclinch position mare tha any eter {nlac, Therelore; ic isno exaggeration 1 say that a tight frant-headlock clineh {sas dangerous a» the moaned position is fe shall ouk ac the mounied joske tion in the ground-Dghting chapters chapiers 6 and 7).-The trons headock ke aso much case to ata than the mounted position, and this ease applies to both the standing position os well asthe ground game, Hut shat ioakes dhe front headlock s0 dangerous isthe fac: thal your ‘ppoienc’s bead i tighly controlled in a postion that places it decay in the path of your knee strikes, His head is ultimately immotilized, and thus i takes ‘he fll brunt ofthe strikes. Atthe ame tne, yout opponent has litle apport nity to defen ce naming blows since movement and arm positon Is oually sonttolled, The fighter can perlorm kace strikes that hit kecly an the top ol {Hie eppanent' cranium and consequently do calasraphicdmnape in short one, Although tt ceria possible to ssh from she font headinck: mie sana tn posikon, is much more slfecive wo take the from headock, to tse mat betore you begin atriking This adjustment creates.a tnach move sale pallonnt from which to deliver your blows, To take afro headlack from te standhng Position 1o.the ground, you simply throw your legs back and sprawl ous, An Ouer method & to step back with both fee, and lowet your level by sagging ‘Your hips down ara cicing your opponent dor to the mat, Breaking Out of a Clinch For every type oflinh fighters have a nuraberof methods of escape. The key Isto select the correct escape foreach type of clinch, We shall naw lok al some athe mote effective means of ineakiag our ofthe main clinches tht are ut lise in MMA competition, Breaking Out of a Collar-and-Etbow Clinch The collarand elbow clinch i easy wo enter nto and is thus one of the ment ‘omnmnon forms ot ekinch. Its important fr fighters to havea quick and simple form af escape so that they can get out deforetheit opponent can contol them and go an the offensive. One of the best escapes is.a simple euside Ruslan, ‘When your opponent gras you behind the neck, grab his ac a he wrist anil tceps a shown (figure 3.173), Pash his arm actuss and comtl i hy hug.ging it to your chest as you citcie around taward the arm you are grabioing iligure 5.17b) His hand will side off your neck, Do not lt goat the elbor, but cofitinne to push it across an control it, Your opponent no Toner hasa grip a ‘you, and you can ezelly back aseay nowy and retum to the fee: movement phase Afgure 5.17 Figure 517 Scoping tobarend-atiny sich, LUNCH PHASE uy———___#asterine sygrtsu_ Breaking Out of am Over-Unier Clitich The oves-under clinch is almost cenainly ‘che most common cline in Miata. (One of the best ways i Oat of itis the forearm pos. In this clinch, most af Your oppeinent’s control over you comes from his undlerhookinng atm. Its thus ‘his arm that you must control io get out Place the hand of your overivok arm en the fercarn of your ‘undertook ann, close Hranenr’s the elbore (figure 3.184), Push down, This negates his f71p on you. Star: to move slightly away from hin: pull your underhook eut (igure 5.18b), posting the undertook atm on your oppanent's chest ta push asvay and eseape (igure 5.1 8c) Figure 5.18, Feapig uvevamder eich.Breaking Out of a Dowhle-tinderhooks Clinch ‘wenow come tothe question of beaking ott of éortinane clinches. This fats alnaysinoce difficl, since dominant clinches give your opponent more eattol ‘ufyous body than doreutralcbnetes. One ofthe best ways wo escape the ouble~ sore cauble-nderbooks clinch is he dist As fut opponent locks up 1 double-undechooks cinch, place bah hans wer liscinann pas igure 5.191 81 slack and away trom your opponent, Ths mancaver breaks even the songest lock ezoundl your body “Ths move saiso parietal useful wine yo ace pinned agaist aenec er he pes forkva street ight agaist a wall, or when you are locked ep aight beating Figure $28 Escaping doce nderbonts clic. CLINCH PHASE _ 9__ MASTERING 2UQITSU Breaking Out of a Neck Cinch ‘The neck clinch is one ofthe most intimidating clinches to be eaught in, Your ‘opponent ca fre a barrage of knees and elfonts at yon while useing sou avout and destroying your dalance. One natural respoise a dhs jredieanent is to lower your level eid attempt to dick out from under the neck: clinch. This move may work on occasion, bat it i more bkely thar a skilled cinch fighier aril connect witha porrertul knee stike as you arempt io duck out, which will Uatally result ina keackout of heavy damage. For dis reason. asi tying 19 ditck out from the neck clinch! A much better al ‘When locked in acjght neck clinch, you want to tay as upright as pose se hat you can detend knee atiacks, Reach up and aver your opponent’ arms with one hand. and place your patra om bis chi, thumb down (igure 5.201 sh across his face. aver bath his arms, turing. his jaw away from yout and ‘lestroying his ability to hit hard Asis head moves avsay from you. reach up owe 520. Ecairg mak ichCLINCH PHASE ‘with yoor other hand and pice it on the crown of his head, pushing itswreand the for bringing the ache hand up to the czorr of the bead to assist (igure 5.206). Your opponents nove bert aver hinsell whereas you are uptight. Tis nuts yon fr an excelent postion to th em knee strikes ifigute 5.20} ‘if you preter to lock a front heallok or guillotine choke. Breaking Out of u Rear Clinch Sillied gropplers often work their way behind thelr opponent, knowing that this pueda alfocds them considerable posttional advantage. They sock so lock thei hoids atound thelt oppanen’s waist for control then they look for takers or submissions. One useful way 20 get ont of ts potentially danget- ‘ousslivation isto altack your opponents arms ina tight lock, which goes by Several names in diferent yroppling styles. Often, ic relerred to a3 Bmw. tye, dante outa oF le gare “Wien your opponent locks his arms around ote waist 1 contra you, lok down tn se which hands on top ofthe other. This isthe arm you will stack Resin by lowering your hips then moving out and away froin your opponent This maneuver takes yur hase more solid and Kessens the danger of your being picked up and slammed as you artempx the move. Grab the wrist of our ‘opponents upperost arm—Hl you ave attacking his tight arm, grab the welt pitt your Lelt hand (and vice veesa}—then place de wri of your other arm under te elk ofthe ari You are atacking, Pash his west down. using your ‘erst under hlelbow asa fueron tgure ad your hand under his lho, and ga your own seat This move puts you in pusition to pesform the ‘gue 8.21. fraying ech aCLINCH PHASE Jock figure 5.21. Break his grip around you by pusiting his wrist down weith botk hssds and lewering your hips. tum arnand wo face your opponen. main- iajning the lock his am This position puts great pressure on his tapped au Having broken the Luck and (usned around, you yout can continue holding the lock. Jump iowané your opposes, placing one foot deep betiveen his legs (figure 3.21¢), Sit down, and roll your opponent deanly over you ard into the same lock on the ground (figure 521d), Aid the nove by ticking your opponent over with the foot you placed between his legs (ligure $2 te.g). Your second chaice is if you wish w avoid ighring on the rons Ln hat case, you can simply let go and return co the frec-mioverient phase. wy have a choice. First Breaking Out of a Frowt-Headlock Clinch ‘Wehave seen that the front ieadlock is ane ol the most ng dinches. If your opponent ls skilled, it can be difficult po break ont af One ‘a the best escapes toit, however, i the ser-arm drag. Uslng your trapped reach up Lo gab the opponent's ebay (ligtie 5.229: You will be grab bing the elbow of the ems that is enciteling your neck). 1 you cannot reach the elbow, use your other hand to help bring down within reach, Having tabbed the elbow, dag it hard across and in front of you, then circle behind Sour opponent. You can punch your other arm over your apponern’s hack as you altempt the move (ligure 5.22b). Should your opponent take the Tront headlock to the ground, the same move works equally well on the at. igus 5:22 Escaping fnt-beadlack circ.Ground Fighting CHAPTERarms to rover your position, Fale todoso resis ing you downto you back. “The pummeling drills physically exhausting and will et you i great shape forthe tough work of upper-hody clinch fighting, Nothing else can poepare you $50 ell for the ll dinpontamt struggle fe positional contro i the standing posi- tio. ‘You canals playa shar game with the ned cinch. The ideas to look up 4 beck cineh on your parmner amd to keep your hands m position with both ‘ares inside bis arts, giving you inside conneol and, hence. & measure of dom tushee. Your partner wil seek to break your dominant clinch positon by svim- ‘ming his own hands, one ata tne, inside yours. This move aloes him to lock ‘ups own neck clinch with his armsiaside yours, uns reversing the darian inch, Rach al you must try to prevent te other from maaintaining the dam tant inside-acn postion ‘Algo ir fo manta an upright stance wih you hips in fight Yo your partner Remember that one of the miain uses for the neck clinch & to control an ‘opponent’ head so that you ean threw knee srikes at him, If your head iso, then the chances ofa knockout knee ra the jaw are quite high. Therefore, Kee {your stance upright, our hips in, and your head hgh for this particular dl 1 Youre let over, you are nol unly vulnerable to knee strikes, but twill also be tas ta be ol-balanced by snapaiowns and pulling on the hea, ‘Asya becrie more confident, you can begin inconvonrdng some kee strikes ‘svat work the neck inch, Do not perform this exercise oo hard, Ann for the rib, stwnacs, and tgs with Light contact. I you hit too hard, injuries ae che bwiousresul. which wil quickly puta stop tv your taining and hence, your progress. The emphasis son controling the opponeat’s movement and balance ‘wtle matntaining your oven. Once this fs dan, the knee strikes are the ease ‘par: therelove; there isn need wo bit apd jn everylay tralning, By syorking lard on these dlls, you quickly develop the ros important stills anu atibuies that alow you to ght successfully i she cinch, Your aie iy to conte the mavement anil balance of your opponeas, while maintaining syour onvn, wil dramadcally snerease. This 1 really the esseice ol succesful Tighting in the dich, All de offensive techniques in alinch fghuingsrikes, takedowns, and submissions—rely on tis control of raaverient and balance, Sod, you will apply dhe pasional strategy of sceking better poston ond con- ‘rl in a lve situption, rather than merely repeating moves with no resistance, ‘This level is. as clase to the pressure that vou will experience ina eal fight and isthus excellent preparation It jsreally the equivalent of sparsingin the clinch, and it plays the sare crucial role that live sparing play in the free-moverent pase, yourngpponent’s crunch 125| 28 MASTERING JUJITSU early 1990s in North America and Japan, ground fighting was voaly overlooked by the mainstream marta) aris communiy. No one realy falked about itor paid any real attention co i, and te few ans that did engage {in any seriaus grounxt work —jdo, samho, wrestling, and shootfighting —mere ‘relatively unpopular. Wrestling n fact. was not even seen as.a martial an, but 8a school sport almost inicevant co real fighting, Unknown to virtully the entire manial arts world was the presence of Brazilian jo its a variant ot jess perfected overtime by the Gracie family a rail. They devoted a huge ammount of trae tothe mudy of ground fighting and Put i 10 proice in many’ sanctioned and nonsancsonxs figs i their nase lace. This proctical experience suit daem far ahead of every other art in the iground phase of combat. in Brazil. the Gracies fared a great reputation as Aighters and they experiences tremendous succes in local MMA competition This local une, however. didnot cross over ino the tiainstreara martial ans tse of Brat Al this changed when the fist MMA toumament, the Uiiniae Pghting Chamaptonship (UFC). was hell in 1993 in Detver, Colorado. Tb ost sail artis, this tournament vas a revolutionary concept The idea was Lo mach siflesent styles of fighiing against each other with very few rales; in foc, unly ‘ye gouging was prohibited inthe fit UFC. Thisfarmax was the logical means to settle the age-old dispute about avhich style of hing was the mest ellie fetta question thai has rum throughout the history ofthe mamial aris. Few people are even aware of the long hisory of MMA events, which had tun {throughout the ealy 20th century rope, North Anes, and dapon, Met ries are short, however anit few people inthe audience knew ofthe Fase yu challenges, the work of Magda an Yuka Tami, or the American catch wres~ Hers, Even fewer hal heard of the Gracies and their GOsyear sty of MMA Prawess. ‘Tate shock of the mainstream martial arts commuunily (and in waany cases, {w the dismay), the action was totally dominated by a Hitlesknown ju fis stylist, Royce Gracie. What wa really astounding 1e mast people was the fn) appearance of Gracie, amete 170 pounes, with a thoroughly unimpasing py sigue, Most of the otker competitors were rugged leaking and had impressive sredentials—yet Gracie hav Hale dificulty in anaking them submit. Not aly slid Gracie detea these powerful and dangerous opponcots hed xo wilh like efor anal it a absolute minimum of blood aad violenee, ie wan trough tHe use of submission holds, a methaat of victory litle used i the mainstream ‘martal aris community, where the emphasis was on striking prowess, Peaple Were expecting a bludgeoniny: match, with heavy hitting as the ineans (a vie- tory, They were stunned to sce such strongg men submit vo innocuous-lnoking locks and chokes that drew a blood, Remarkable as this was, t was anly @ prelude to a long run of MMA 1ourna- ‘ments that were joally daminated by grappling styles. In ight aler fight, a ‘pattern was scen, Fights would begin with 4 flurry of punches and Sick they ‘would quickly go intoaelnch: then they would tially goto the ground. Once fn the ground! fighters vered in the grappling arts had a massive advantage an won easly. In a thom ime, it dawned on the martial aris wacld that dhe ‘most overlooked clements of fighting—grappling and ground fighting—may ‘well be the most important elements af fighting. Bu: emergence of mised martial ars {MLA} competition in theGROUND FIGHTING Forermost among the arapplingstvles in early MMA events was Beslan jiu su. which coneentated on ground grappling almost to the exclusion of every thing els. Specializing in the art of amaining positional dominance and dhen submission, the Brazilians swept the field and gained a reputation for invincl biity in MMA combat, Almost overnight the manial arts world wos tumed pside down, and ground grappling still became the measure of fighting skill ‘More than anything es, these early MMA everns demoostrated how vital the ground phase of combat was in real fighting. and it showed jst iow over looked i had become in the contemporary martial aris world. In adition, a feat many myths ofthe martial ans were exposed as untenable. Traditional ‘concep such as “one strike, ane Kill” were seen as inipassiNie under combat conulitions, The alt-tweand clei that *T would never be taken down tothe geannd” ramng very bolle indeed. SIMA competition wos ikea bast of wind tht be may all he cust and smoke that hod accunnated inthe martial arts leaving a ‘eae view ol what was important and eorkable in real combat TWO VIEWS OF THE GROUND PHASE ‘When MAA competition fas revealed the importance of the ground pliave of combat there were ti types of reaction, Grapplers recefved it with delight, 4 ‘vindication oftheir syle’ eltectivenes: Traditional strikers. however, were pen- rally hore, since growl conabat lasyely negated ther game. Over she last ‘cade this delete in viewpoints has persist, even with the evoluta of MMA. lacs ro fighters sll ave aden preference loreither the ground jaame ofthe stamdng game; only a small pe=centage are equally comfortable ia boll, This loyalty to stole i de to the fot shat most fighters come from 1 bckgroandin ove Hing style that puts an emphasis on one phase of combat. oyersand Kikhoxers tend to prefer the standing game; grapes, the groan une. Depending om their backgroune, ighery stl havea definite Yendoncy 10 Consider the ground! phase of combat ascites heaven or el, shih Teaves is ‘stl to fundamental outaoks. 1 The i outlook is thatthe ground phase is the best place to take a sngle- combat. weaponiess fight, since this is where the greatest degree al positional ‘onzrolis posible. this ie the means by whicha lighter can negatean opponents saoking ollese anal by which he ean setup submission holds co allow the ight tobe som efficiently, Obviously, this anshue b the trademark ol yrappling spe- Css. We saw chat the history of modern grappling styles al jujisia have been theprime exaaipleso!thisoutloos. Mataemon Tanabe, Yukio Tani, Maca. and ‘mare than anyone else. the Grace family, have all extoled the giound phase 38 she way to dominate aod control a fight 2. The seen outlooks that the ground phase isan inevitable, but undesir able, phase of combat. fighter ness to know how to get eut ofthe ground ‘hase an back into the standing pasion as quickly and eficenly as posible Fall dni, he needs ta knwyeniough grappling sillsto survive onthe grownd— such a8 hotw to avoid suis hokis nal dangerous pis-—until he round ‘end or the releree iniervenes, This outlook tends to be that of fighters who ‘ome froma strong hackguound ia striking, Their real iatezest Bin keeping the fight in thei favored phase of comtat, free mosion, They recognize, hawever 129Bo MASTERING JUJITSU the lccihood of being taken out ofthat phase and into e ground fight hence, the need to addres he question of ground grappling, Athic] oulook that does not mer seriowsetention i often veld by many in the traditional martal arts comamanity. Tis is the claim that che granu! is the worst place tobe ina real Sight and that, consequemty,chey would simply ‘never go there This acthude was common fn the carly days of MBIA. bun It has since been rejected by veil all rational mamial artists Experience hasprawen time and tive again the inevitability of ground combat in area fg. To claim that you sizply would not go dora ft turn your eyes from the massive stone ol empirical evidence that demonstrates the contrary. Even those who donot favor ground combat almost aliyays concede the need to adkress this phage of combat seriously. at last fr the purpase of avoiding tas mci as possible. As such. we reed not consider this third attitude as being rleva MODERN JUJITSU AND THE GROI Its quite clear thor the modern styks of jujitsu—trom the inception of Fusen ‘yu throng the soriations of Maeda andthe Graciey—bave gone in a direction thats radically diferent from the rest of the martial arts world, No cer styles ‘pu so nnucl focus en the ground phase of combat, so it is worth asking how they came to choose the ground asthe best place to take fight, To answer this ‘queston Is to ouiline the basts of the whole theory of phases of combat and Jostional deminane, che to comerstones of modern ‘The core thoory of mextem jojisu fs the idea that fighting can be eroken ino istinet phases. each of whick is significantly diferent from each ather. The inajor dilferences between each phase tequire that fighters develop a separaie set of skills and attibittes to succved in either phase, As a resul, often p= pens that a fighter is strong ia one oF ww pases of combat bun alarmingly ‘weak in another, People such as Tanabe. Maeda and the Gratis all ned that ‘most fighting styles were weak in ground fighring, which made fightets who subsoribed w sucih mesnods vulnerable co 2 skilled geound gappler once the fight entered the ground phase, An ailtonal factor Is the idea that the most efiient tactical method 10 ‘employ ia zeal ight isto constantly place yoursel! in a postion where yint ean Ireely attack your opponent whileat the same time he cannot attack yeu, Apply Ing this method is rater lke placing an appowent in a palrof handeufts before fighting him. A similar rest cam be achieved by staining 4 dominant postion ‘on youropponent, The easiest place co attain this kind of positional éarninance an contro} ison the ground because the ground gives a platform an which to ‘in an oppanest al sestict is movement. Add to this the ict hat mist pepe ‘do not by nature move efficiently on the ground (since we spend most of nut ‘waking lives in an upright postion), and you can see thatthe ground isa wise ‘plage to implement this positional sategy ‘Finally. Vhere isthe simple fact that the grand fight fs nevitable tn a teal light. 4 dispropoctionate aumber of fights end up an the ground because a lighter’ most realistic means of securing vicioy specifically result irom bis tak Inga fight to dhe ground. Far example, i you are hit by a powerful strikes, you ‘wil be knocked to the ground, If you are thnwn by a potveriul judo player‘GROUND FIGHTING {you will be dhravra to the ground. Ifa much bigger assailant grabs you in a Irearhiig, You wl efp and fall the ground. Thee incidents demonstrae why ‘the ground phase fs such an inevitable destination in most lights. It makes tre~ ‘mendaur sense, then, fr fighters to foot signiticant attention an this phase ol ‘ambat and elevate its importance fm training, TRANSITION FROM STANDING POSITION TO THE GROUND PHASE ‘standing fight can goto the groand in several ways, andl each occurs often in tte course of grea fight, Mowe often than rn. he transition Ss a quick one, 9 be ready A fight can enter the ground phase asa result of any ofthe foowing, seenatics: strikes. This eansion tothe grounds part ulary difficult to deal with since you are usually stunned by the stake, While on the jiound, you must recover your wits and delend yourselt. Quite often, your Opportent does nox even follaw you down, but instead stands over yu and ik you in the begs «+ A taka from a long-range set. This means is favored by many Wrestlers ud jufisu fighters, played a seeming role in early MAMA events, wien ob: servers ivere sinned with the appparenc ease with which grapplers stot in on there surpeied opponents trom long range aid tached their les A sakedowr or fal rom she inc. Quite olen, two fighters Tock wp a linc wile exchanging sites, a asa result of a high sho! Once ina cinch, a light has a high chance of going te the ground, Sometimes this is duc to the ellbezate intent of one of the fighters: that is, be intextlonally attempts 4 token, Cher tines ts the newtable result of te extreme pressure that {ivofighters exert on each other when they bate at full pores. with no rere inuerveaiion io cop the dineh. More often than not, the to simply tip an {all to the ground. This s the pattern of raost MMA fights, an is even amore common ansong untrained people in sreetNighis, where the nro combats Jack bolanse and athletics, ‘You ean see them that the likelihood is high that via one ofthese routes, the Tight ulimately goes w the groaad—henkce the importance of ground traiang that most contemporary MMA fighters adopt. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE GROUND PHASE ‘The early MALA events certainly showed the martial arts world how ground combat was really illerent from the more familiar phases of combat. Quite ‘often, one fighter would be La trouble until the light went to she grourd. Thea {na toul reversal of fomunes, the previously daminant fighter would be quickly Geleated on the ground. The reason for this was the sheer difterence herveeen the standing and ground postions. This does noc wean that there iso overlays between standing and ground skills however. the differences are sigalaan, 11eee MASTERING JUIITSU | ua | ‘enough to mean thatthe najure ofthe fight does change drastically when Its {aken to the ground. This transition is what caused so niany fighters who were talented in the standing phases to fail completely inthe groued phase of cam bat. We can enhance sur understanding of the ground phase by painting out the mejor changes that occur shen a fight goes to 1he ground ‘The biguesdilereace herween the ground pase and any ather phase of combat fs thatthe degree of positional cantral anil dominance incieescs char ‘matically on the ground. Thete are a numberof seasons why thls hagpens oiling othe grou ict for mot pele The ve aso fo this is simple, We spend the majoriy of our waking. adult ives in standing or seated post. tions. Consequently. most ofthe movement skils ve use every day are done hile sanding, Most people never earn the skils of elfiient moverneat in & Supine position flyingon the bac). Asa result, when they are put on the ound they mive poorly. expending great amourns of energy with lew reals, Re member: Ground lighters are made. not bors. Ifyou are to succeed on dhe round, you have te leam the cnerect movement pstterns in the ground hase ‘combat, Wht experienc awn hers mave ty generally ck or way thal exone them srewer dager, Whoa «clear understanding of the posible postions in ‘ground fight, movement on the ground isusualy poorly dreeted. Often, you wil ee powerful, explosive fighters who are hot well versed inground fighting tse a iemendous amount of energy to get out ol one bad pastion. aly 10 go ‘nso another verse portion, This ests from the lick al knawledge and ground ‘waininng. If chey only knew the merits of the various postions, whieh ones to avoid and which to strive fo, they could save themselves. + The gro ine plas w eco. The ground itel! provides an etlecive Platforre on Which to pit an opponent and prevent hin fom easy movenent, Ieallows the effitent use of body weight to trap an opponent between your body and the grout itself In a standing position, lighters can accomplish 3 similar rick by pushing an oppoaent against a wall, The wall (ike the geoinid) ony plays the role asa inbibitorof movesnent, But the situation an the yuna ‘seven more controling than the wall because your lull body weight (ith the ‘Ko gravity) cam be pressed on your ogpurent to crush his wovernent, 1 Because grote conto pout om grew, ateniion boa Becme crt Locking on a submisshan hold is dificul as long as your opponent can move about, Since mover can be greathy restricted om the grouid, the use os imsion holds ar ease. Powerful contol aver the ovement ofa opponent Ische precursoe to most submision holds, This tactic is easiest when fighters perform ico the ground, 1 Sein on ihe grown tility dierent fom sriking inthe starting pss oI the stains poston, successful striking is argelv a wavicr ofthe poe sive application of body weight atthe correc: time and distance. This snot the ‘ese an the ground. In ground lighting, succesful striking isthe resale f sui tor postion and comod. Tuning. so crucial in standing striking, is almost te relevant in ground sinking since your opponent canno: move araund freely, Distance & a simple lacior wo maintain on the ground for the samc reason. Because hip movernentsmach mere dificult for Sybters a ata in the grou fighting positions, striking tends to be restricied co a battering effec, tthe: ‘han the possiblity ofan Instamaneous knockout.GADUND FIGHTING VICTORY IN THE GROUND PHASE = ‘te have taken pains to point aut thatthe wround phase of combats the place ‘where cust bghls ate Won and lost. Wher two unskilled fiers elas, they almost always end up on the ground. The bigger. stronger, more aggressive fighter normally preva, especially i he Larson top. but this tendency changes ‘pte skilael tecniqie age Lactored int the equalion. A skilled rapper cam use knowledge of positional pins and escapes to evade and cant an pentent. In elton, he san employ submission holds to lock or strangle an opponent and thus sity defeat even a larger, stronger fighter, In ft, if skilled grap~ ple begins the ground fight undemest his opponent. ic sill quite possible for hin wo prevalland attain victory, though he may have to work a lite harder tw da so, This type of occurrence hae been shown numerous times it MAMA, vents, and it iso longera surprise to most martial artists. The two most com= thon roeans of vitoryin a ground fight then. ae the following: * Auaining asoninating oto, shorting one's opponon thane pow an relemessnss mate i subs tk i out, fret rere’ slope 3 ‘ina judge decision, This strategy can be done with varying degrees at sopphis- ticatian. 1f you are far largee and stronger than your opponent i 8 usually ‘cough to attain any kind of top postion and pound away at your oppanent ‘This “grouns! and pours!” methodology é popular aman wrestlers in MMA ‘eves and lias ceria had soar sucess, It has algo hal many notable fi utes however especially when the size ofthe two combatants was sina, A noch more sensible approach &s to employ she positional sravegy central 0 modern jutsu, The iea i wo constantly seek a beter, more dominating posts tion, fiom where a striking attack is aot likely to be stopped oz cowntered by a Stled opponent. This postion greatly increases the elfetiveness of yo: srik~ in attack and maakes tt unlikety tat your opponent will be able wo interrupt our astack with sulbrassion autem + Atal onan potion, dae king fish te ile va sbi fold This is one of the most characteristic Features of the varios. rapping sivies. especially in rwodern fujisu, These submission holds comprise an in pressive elemem— remarkable demansiration of artistry to win a Sight tt Woaless display of pure grappling skill. This fs one seave in whieh modem {Jujtsuls ana form, rather than bloc, gladlatonal fackingot homnsia whieh ‘ony strength and endurance preva J actual combat, these two appmaches are usually mixed together, is al= most alvays the case that your opponent will have strong defenses to the basic suhmission holds. (This is not the casein a steet Hight, however. since your ‘opponent will almost certainly have no grappling (raining). Otten, this necesst- fates the use of stikes to open up his defenses. as he reacts 19 # barrage of suikes his limbs become exposed, aking the application of submission halds such ser RATEGY AND TACTICS IN THE GROUND PHASE ‘A general strategy lies behind the great snecess of jujisu in MMA combat. We have already seen the broad outline of that strategy; now its me vo get imo 133MASTERING IMAI the speciis. Once a fish goes to the ground, whetker by dssident or desig, ‘the two combatants cau fal into a large number of psstle positions relaive 10 ach ollter. These positions can be renked according to te degres of conttal and dominance they slow one fighter t exercon ihe other, Conitaland dom: bance ate therefare wndrsivad in terms ol the degree chick a prt aes 1 attack am appemene wie kes and subse olds wine emi hs aly (odo the same. Some positions are neva, offering oo real advamage 1 either fighter, Others ate inferior, allowing your opponent to determine wen and how he amacks, wile making it dificult tor you to coumerattack. Hf you re- ‘versed postions, then obviously you would find yoursellin a superior position, ‘We wll soon offer a deseription of the most inmcrtant postions inthe grou! Inhase of combat. An addition to the bate for positon, there isthe botle fr ultimate vie the battle to ake your opponere submit. Remember: Pstonat cen isonty means te end hat eae our apponart gu. Carsidered in this ight. yo ‘nn see that Hoisting skills—the means of ending a fight (striking and subse sion hokds}are absolutely crucial, Few people subst from mmerely bel hekd low, but almost everybody wll subsait when they are pinned and beingstruck ‘hard having breaking pressuce applied to one of tet Hinbs. or being sttagled, 1 tempring to think that finishing skills are te nvostimportaen ski In. round fight, since they are the arsto the inal pol, to make at oppo- ent submit. Tere is sone truth wo ths. However, if jou lack the ably to fist. control an opponent and this is dove through the atainment of good poste ton), you will find i diicult apply any ofthe sulission holds success. 104s probably fair vo say, then, that positional skills and suinmissan skis ate roughly equal in importance. Although it isirue thar posional cammtl is ey ‘4 mean to perlorn the finishing methods (strikes and subinision holds), iti equally rae that without positional cant, thedlesired end uniikey to occur {motheriands positional control and finishing methoxs are dependent on enth ‘other an! thus, fighters eusst pay equal attention to bath sills, ESSENTIAL GROUND POSITIONS _ ‘We have seen that positional control and the passage from one pesition to mare «lominating postions form the busi oluccess an the ground tama tne ta outline the basic posigns that occur inthe course ofa ground fight. When two people grapple on the ground, they ca form any dine of large ‘tuinber of possible positions. n addition, cach posiion has many possible vatiy- ts However, We can broadly categorize the esemial positions of ground grap- Pliag into a simple set, which canbe realy understood hy 2 heginner and wk form the basis of the ground tighi’s positional game. These positions ane ar. ranged in order of doriaance, starting with the most dominating posion {the {oprrear noun) ans working dow othe neutral postions (gvardand bal guan, ‘Nave thatthe worst places to be are undercath the dominan: postions. Ths the Dotion position in the toprcar mount isthe least desirable position tobe in, Rear-Mounted Position Of all he basic pestons that can oecur in yeound fight, the rearmounted posidon is probsbly the best. lt ollers a tremendous combination of control ardGROUND FIGHTING offensive fiepenver: in te form of submission holds ans strikes. A the same lume, i rakes it ilicult for your opponent to effectively attack you, especialy he is not well versed in grappling technique, ‘As fightes, you have tw distiner ways to apply the reor mouse. Firs. you can either he on top of your opponent (figure 6.1a} ar underneath him Lliguce 61H). Being cn top offers 2 fille more control esecilly if ym can sireich yourropponent oat by thrusting your hips forward into his lower bac Alihough this move bias orany altermtives, the mst common meth a fo ishing an appanent from this position is The rear naked sleeper choke, ab relerred to as simply the stqrer tkt (hace jim). The boxtom-tear mount Invelves your getting behina your apperment and wrapping your legs around him by placing your feet inside both his hips. In this postion. your legs ad Feet serve a crucial sole: They lock you inte place, BsMASTERING JUJITSU functioning as hooks that enable you to ride your opponeat no matter which ‘ay he rolls and moves, Be sure not zo cross sour feet inthis postion, because this makesitcasy for your opponent to apply a simple yecellecrivefaodlock on You Simpl place your feet toes pointed out, inside his hips, Along Possible for your oppenent to attack yous fet in this poskion it is nav only uch mote dificult for him to-do $0, its also unuch easier for you such aac From the perspective of your opponent, the man on the xeceiving end of he Fear mount, escape to beter pasition i the first priority, Wik certain subinis son holds, your oppanent has possible avenucs from whic to attack, ever froin such a disadvantageous position, Nonetheless, these attacks only havea low chance of success. They serve as setup to escape tather than genuine ate teonpes at subaaission Mounted Position (Tate Shiho Gatame) Amtather domitnant position f the basi rn lling your opponent's chest and kneeling over him. W execute this move, i cas up sah wo create roomn to strike. ar you can wrapone arn around his neck and gee dove low to control him, as shovwn in liguire 6.2. rat the out, is easy for fighters to launch a barrage of powerlal punches and it's sbiticult or your opponent to respond, since his showers and hips are pied to the mat, thus robbing his punches of any real power, In adaition, you can apply a ange 1 sion hod from dhe mown whereas Your opponent has little opportunity r0 reply ten, especially ina sreet fight against an ineaperienced grapple, fighers have oppomutitieso ransom from the mounted position tots tear mounted Position, This meve nosmully necurs when you begin striking tn the mount: Your opponent 1urs away to avoid the punches, giving you hisback. By ope ing yous legs a ite, semply give him a ile roont to iim in, then lain yor Hooks to secure a rear-mourted position, and thasan easy opparunitytafinish she tight witha rear naked choke. This transitinn s much fess common in ome tel position, whieh Involves youte Figur 6.2 Mune oslfon, | BeGROUND FIGHTING temporary MMA, since most people know that itis oolish to tam under the mount and ive up ones back oweves this happens a he ie in steesfghts sa you mut be able to make this transition at @ moment's novice. From the persective ol the man tndcmeath the mounted position. escape stil he num ber one pore, The bettom man is generally ooking tobrigge overand end up 1a ‘op fst inside his opponent's guard, or he fs looking fo soa: out and pt the cop man inside his wn guard. Knee-on-Belly Position (Uk? Gatame) As the name implies, se knee-on-belly posi tion has a it cera feature the placement of the cp fighters knee on his opponent's abt. net ot igs, Wille is knee is postioned, his tuands ean be in a number of ditfereat places, ‘with the opposite Ieg place out wide for bal dance and the foot secured fat on the ground (fiqute 6.3) ‘Opinion is divided on wheter tke mounted postion or the knee-on-beliy position f the hevierone for striking and submitting an oppo- rent, They are both extremely effective plat- forms for atack,Tadtion fast thatthe mo bs the better position, which is why it scores slit higher in jujsa competition. Tre mun {5 cettoltly superior fn terms of stability ann conitol ond {115 ako eader fora beginner 10 tse, However, fightery lave vali teaxons for trelesing the kneeson-belly postion, 1 oless tremenious motility and speedy ranssons ink sabinisiion holds and other pastions (especial the maunt), The knee-on-bely pesto i dl cata espe without exposing yoursellta locks ‘and chokes. Whatever the respective merits ol these to postons, itis clear thatthe knice-on-belly postin sai excellent ove from avhich wo eanural and akack an opponent, However, although is passive for the man on the bottoms to enter inka a nusber of subsnision Ino whike user the knee-on belly poston, escape bs sil his most important tas Side-Control Position “The skiescontral position is a powerful pling position that has a great au ter of variations. The common elernent in all of them is that you ave on Yop of rare Tying across his body, out to ane side ligare 6.4) This camge o inns goes by many names, suchas the sie mur! or aires sie evr Kom tht gtane Is 2 grea poston so control an opponcrt and surat hr, In aciditon, it a great postion from which Yo arsiow into other ji such as the mounted postion and tine knee-on-belly pasion, The great virtue ‘ofthe sde-contzol position i its stability. No other postion offers the degree of sontral thats possible fom the side postion. Thisadvamtage males It 3 great place to slow the ternpo of fight dwn, exerting a fatiguing and frustrating positional control on your appeent that makes hin tre quickly igure 6.3 Kaee-on-bely pio, ByMASTERING 2USITSUL 138 Figue 6.4 Slo conta psiion, ones (2) ane wears (4). Fighters have many ways to hold 3 side-contiol position, and each has his ‘advantages and disadvantages. The key elements common ta all of then are as fallows © Alu piv your epronentches-towhet. Make sure that the center ol your chest s ditecty oc top of the center of your apponent’s chest ensure that i does nar slide down to his stomach or aver his side, + Kexp jor hips low and Base we. If your hips rise up, it becomes easy for your opponent to forcefully bridge and carry sou toa bad position, Sink aur hips davwn to use your weight much more efficiently, creating an unpleasantGROUND FIGHTING an txing pressure on your opponent. Also be sue takeep your base ol suppor avide. By this, ske mean that you shauld Keep your legs wide apart as you sink our hips down, which makes it difftnlt fer your opponent te roll you over ‘ Kegy stable, Do not simply hold on grimly to your opponent. No mater how dghily yn hold bins, he wil eventually work his way out. Instead, ove in response to his movements, Keeping voor his low and staying shest-10- chest you dos. If he attemprs to put you back in guard, do not be afraid ww tmawve yourhips aay loa his, You can ever walk around his iead Ws the other Aide of his body (but keeping your hips loyal the time). This isa great way to set up submis lioks and coaster our opponent's movement An interesting and imponant variation of the sie-contiol position gecurs sien the man on wp walks over and around his opponents head, then stops (tigre 6.5). this move puts him in a coniroling postion, olten rekerred 10 as ‘he ‘north and south* peti (ine yo face in opposite direcions!, This iy has a stighty dillerer. fee oi or both the top ara bottom Sighies For the san undemeath the skde-control and north-south pins, th concer bs evape to a beter position, The most common forms of escape in volve getting back to the guard position oF ge aver lor reversal or subini: him. These aliernatives are moze difficult on an experienced oppanent, however, Turtle Position The turtle position accurs ten in the course of ground fight. When one fighter sombishands an kaces, heod down, balled up tight. heis in vbe“tutle sition. His oppanent generally stays an top of hing, etther im front of I ‘with bis arms around the head and one of the arms {frat-beailack position} rout fo one side with one arm around the uppunent’s waist ki contol 6.4), 4 thind alternative is lor the tap man to position himself directly behind is opponesi, Figua 6.8. Hort south patlon, 19140 ___WASTERING JUIZTSU From the bottom man’s perspective, the cure posan is a disadvantageous Position. By keeping hirsel in tight the bextom mam can make attack dink, forthe tap man. Indeed, iis possible lor the bottom man toattack with his own submission holds. as wel as attempt numerons-escapesto better pisions, None theless it isnot sensible wo spend too ander v8 pp n absorb samme heavy damage, Te bots oan matt must either escape assoon as posible toa beter postion or atiemyp.a submission held, The tap man tas the choice 0 eilier sirtke his opponent, Lprove hls postion, or attenys subaission hold, Guard Position ne ofthe most talked above positions in ground fighting s the guard position, This postion refers to any situation where ane lighter ko his back or buttocks With an opponent in front is eg (igure 67), When MMA fighting began in Nomth Aseria in the early 19905, most people worked under the asunsnion that ita fighter was on his back hen ie wasia troubk. Aer all. hn dae Westen tradition, is man ison his back. be is pinned and considered hells. In moat peuple’ minds. the very image of helplessness ina fi back with onoies mn on top, bitty him at wil, To the absolute shock of ‘most people, a regular sight in these MMA fights was that of Brazilian jin ita fighters fighting from their backs and People hail simply not realized the enormous dlference between pincing a ‘mon om bis back in a truly dovninating postion and simply belng locked in the ‘guard position, The farmer snvaives getting past an opportem'slegsand elle. tively lning his up neaits chat the man on bociom: can use bis legs and hips to control the top man’s movements to a surprising degree ‘The quicker you cam understand his erucialdflerence, the quicke: your progres In ground lighting will be All wo often the difcrence between winning aad losing a fight Iss very ullerence berween keeping a man who ison cop of vou in ont a your legs inGROUND FIGHTING. gure 6.7 Closely pesitor (a). apen-qued (tute ly postion (8). an! aper-qurd (pmonent tending) paston the guard position) and allowing hein past your legs. As long as you hold an ‘opponent in the guand, you have an effective means af defending yourself from stelkes and upper-bedy submission the same time being able 10 sire ond subivit your opponent. The manent your apponent gers past your legs, you lose any semblance of control: dias, you Become progressively move ‘vulnerable as your opponent works his way up the hierarchy al postions, Invehapter 7, we shall look at the guard in etal because its soimportant to the bottom gamein MMA, Frotn she top man's perspective. the guard reyresetis 1112 NASTERING JUJITSU fight by simply pounding awa while Joched up in is guard; however, it ales possible 10 lose the tight by following this strategy. as many “ground aud pound!” ighters have Aiscovered. A much inate sensibic strategy i 10 attempt to get past dae bortam ‘man's legs ard bis into a tly dominant top postion that makes it far more difficult for the bottom ian to defend himself. This srategy of “passing the suand” (geuing past the Bottom man’s legs i the nic most Lavored by seasoned Brapplers and is a high-percesmage approach to the ground game. An akerna- live stcategy is to attack the bottom man’s legs with submlssion lylds, which ‘an bean effective shot to victory if done well. done poorly. ican lead 10 Toss ofthe top position Half-Guard Position Very olen in the course of a ground fight and ducing the appltation of the {urd position. your eppenem may’ arempt tn pas your gud (get around Yourless) When this happens, you mill often he foreed ta lack yoo eys around fine af ye opponent’ legs (ae apposed tu his wai), Since you conten 3 one leg. your opponent is hallnay past your guard—hence, the name, uaed gute 68}, Thsis another neutral position, You can submit an opponent from this pestian, tux he can submit you ako, The top man tus 3 definite ‘advantage in striking position, but if he overcinmits tastes, he cam be swap twa bottom postion ar ottacke ith subnission holds Since tis pation fs 50 comnion, yt rm clan wich it POSITIONAL HIERARCHY _ We can now ofler a rough guide to the hierarchy of prnitions: The list begins With the perspective ofthe jop man. Nove, however, Gail dhe 1p man iin & dominant position, thea the bosom man i in an inferior postion. The more dominating the top man’s position, the more salerior the bottom man’s posi- tion. Thus, the list poes two ways, stanting with the perspective ofthe fighter it ‘the top position, working down to neutral positions (where neliher the man oitGROUND FIGHTING {op aor the one om the bowtom has adecisive alvancaget, down tothe inteas- Ingly bad positions of the fighter on the bottom. ‘Top-rear taunted postion Bottom-tear mounted position Mounted positon Kuee-onsbelly psition Side-conteol position “Turtle position Holfoguard postion Guaed postion Half-guard postion “Tuttle postion Sile-coraco postion ‘Knee-on-belly posto Mounted positon ‘Buicomn-rear mounted! pasion ‘Thp-tear mounted position ‘Mote that there are many variations of each of these pasitinns and other ‘rsegular postions that occur in the course of grappling ard fighting. I ald tion, cenain ether postions (such asheadlock variations) are-aot covered here Some rdght disagree with the exact anering the postions: afterall. ea has its own advantages and disdvantages, Nonetheless this hierarchy can serve as ‘useful guide to the positional gone chat isso emuictal ina ground Bight, Note ‘nymeetely thatthe ubjectives and surategies ofthe two fighters ate diferem according (0 whether they occuy top or bottom pesition indeed. the objec tives ofthe top and bostom fighters are esually palar opposites. This async istelleced in the faa that we separate these two different aspects ofthe ground game and address them in the next two chapter. 13Winning From the Bottom Position CHOBE? TE146 MASTERING JUITTSY the last decade, ground fighting has hecome the mos: lked about aspect of fighting in the martial ars, which is 2 complete turnaround {rin the evious decades, when it was almost otally neglected. The rayon for this shiftin momentum isundoubtedly the inftuence of mixcd martial ats {MMA sehere grown fighting has so often proven to be the phase of combat where fights are won and last. There are, however, deeper reasons thot explain why ground fighting currently asthe undivided atersfon of So any marta arists First, fn a fight without roles, there are no weight categories, You must fight ‘whomever fate places in core of you, which was also the case in the early MMA events. Whenerer there ia dramatic diflerence in sz, the likelnood of ‘smaller opponent being taken down by afar lager appoient is much higher, Second, regardless of any great disparity in sz, there isalvaysthe chance af being takes: down to your back in a real fight. This cauld be due to your ‘Opponent’ great skill i akedowns co a mistake an your part his imply a laa. thac if sou gnc twugh opponents you havea high chance of being taken down at seme point, Third. ights are usually chaotic affairs, whiere things never seem to gu as Plated. Often your opponent tums out to be much mare dificult o cuted ‘wth than anticipated. even when he is untrained. tn the siveling chaos of fight, anything ean happen, Foe example, you can easily trip and ead up in the bottom position, despite your intention 0 to go down, Pettaps the mast ieyportant reason for developing yaur hartom gimme is the sca of confidence thot it will develop in you. Far mos peop, their greatest fear ina real {ght is being held down. and beaten, This natural fear prohibits therm tom fighting with conlidence a ligner is erilcd of hing aken down, ‘he willbe reluctant to apply his techniques. His concern will ie that i cami. tig to a stitke. he will be then down and pummeled. Hawvever, if le knows that he can survive fom the bottom position and eve attack fron it hen he will have na fear of being taken dowen, The resalt is that he wil hit with canfi- denice in the standing position. The boom game ia way of dealing whh the ‘Worstcase scenario of areal ight—the image of being pinned down and ershed, “uj makes you carlonuble specifically in the worsvease senatio. I you an deal comfortably tr that aspect ota light, there i eto lea. VICTORY FROM THE BOTTOM POSITION = ‘The 6¥o mast common routes to vietory from the bojtom position are submnise son holds, and sweeps and reversals. Subanission holds are locks 1 Uae jlnsar neck thet threaten your opponent with Injury or unconscionsness unless he Submits. Many elfectire submission holds can be applied from uaderneath your ‘opponent, especially i the guard postion. Likewise, chete area lange himber ofsweeps and reversals that allow you totopple an opponent over and take the ‘op pasition. Once this series of moves occurs, you can begin stiking your way to vicwory, or you can so on wo gain a positional advantage and then exploit it ‘With the application ofa submission hold fom a aiore daminant jwsiion, Keep in mind, however, that it is difficult vw win a fighe from unwerneath ‘Your opponent using only strikes. One of the few exceptians to this rule fe theWINNING FROM THE BOTTOM POSITION se ofa thrusting hee! kick wo the jaw of your opponent as be sands over your pen quan. This plove fa proven ihl-ender in MMA competition, Indeed, fhe of the mast Lamon instanecs ofthis forma esting Srom the bottom post than occureed when Renn Gracie 109k on Oleg Takiaroy in the Maral Arts Realty Supertighe (MARS) MMA event. aktaro® was skilled grappler wit & fine ened ip MAA competion Atverveoring asolid takedown on Renzo, He ‘nade the mistake of bending down to control Reso’ fet in the open guard iposily 25a precursor to a8 ankle-lock attack. Seizing the opporainity pro- vided, Remo sha sf, upward Harusting hee! Kick to Tsktarovs jt and gained ‘great knockout Most srikes, hnwever. ae weaker going 4p to your opponent than anes thal hhecan hit dou at you. Bot this disadvantage should not prewemt you ftom ‘ttempring sirfces from the bottom position. They serve to make your opp" fhent uncomfortable and-posibly move him isto a submission hd or sweep STRATEGY IN THE BOTTOM POSITION _ ‘Mor of hn bot poskons ae infor postions ts almost aways the case that you want to light on op al your opponent. Horreves if you igh a Mage, Stranger oppanent (or one bo i lle takedowas), you wil inevitably ‘eid up i the betomt position, Many peogle claim that shey would neves fit ‘on their backs in the botiom pasiton—tbat ita folish way 1 fight. teed jnlts fighters pref to fight from on tp, bat the ac is ha va you want 1 tin a Gghtand what cicurestances foe you to do are usally pot the same I {you fight tough opponents, there will be thmes wher you Hind younel! wer neath tem, ighing fram the bettors positing, ‘cause mst batons positionsae inkl, any lighters emphasis wk igh Jn trom weeeneath isto escape wo a beter postion. Whenever you are farted to fight from underneath, focus on the flloeog strateyy: ‘Get extol conteolng, dominating pis nan efficent and sae spanner and cither + extnpe to the guard poston, + escape to your knees or your fer dan thus yt back in antral postion), + reverse your apjonet, a + tere sibission bl 11 you ary to reverse your oppo, be aware that some esapes insave turnlag your ogponent aver and ending up on wp of iran a erminane post: tion, Theve tend to be dillealt and tiring. and there ba tsk asuclaed wth thee use, Should they fall, dey tend io leave you in an even worse pasion than before—anad red to boot: However. donne well ey can uma fight around. 1H you attempe x submisstor told, remember that this move can be adficals Jom Inferiar bottoms pastons. However. it may loice your upponeat wo back ‘off tle to escape the attempt Tock, His reaction may thes create the space reyuiced to antempt your escape to the guard postion or an escape 19 Your knees or fee. 7148 MASTERING JUIITSU GUARD POSITION, Stace many of he escapes frac dominating insane olds inveleew eta wo the guatd position, we will spend a good deal of time dscussig this postion, or ping underneath {Your opponent with him in tront of your leg amage of holding an Jypponent in the guard position is duat your hes can be uscd to canta is ‘movements and t0 work him into submission holds, seeps. and sues nbile a the same time resting his atiacks, Although many forms of goal are dallable, they all can be divided into three basi categories: 1. Closed guar: This involves locking your legs around your opponents ‘waist while lying underneath him. This move & what most people asoeiae swith the guard positon, since this was the variation ofthe gan dat was tse amore than any otherin early MMA matches. The adhantage othe coed guard {sthe ease with hic ic can be used to nullify an opponent's scikng atch. I ‘scather ikea tight resrictive dinch on the ground, You can use itto tie up an ‘ponent’ arts and interfere with bis punches 2. Open guard: This i a brea category of positions whose onl factor is that your opponent isin roar of your legs Since you are not rally holding your opponent in with your legs, hes at liberty to-siand up and wall faway fram you at any tne he chooses, which fs an option taken by amy sirkers whe prefer the standing pasion. The open. guint, then, tends 49 be sowie elective against an opponent vo was to Fey the igh i the grow plhve an is driving forward into you, tying 10 “ground ard pound” or pass around your legs to gel Wo 8 better Postion. tn this uation, the open guard coffers great combitaton of defensive afd offensive opcions, which fs due ro tie great moby Hat the position aflers vo your is an legs 3. thi eategory of quand poskion—and one of grea imponance—is tbe sarciledhall-guard poston, In a fall guard, your logs ate wrapped around {yaur opponent's walt thus, bath is legs are between yours, AS yon grapple ‘vith your training partners ic quite oken happens that your eeponent artemis {usget around sou legs. As Ie pushes past your legs you ave i lock your legs azcura ce of his o prevent in re getting past your legs an into 9 dome atl sie position. Since you are controlling onty one of is legs you have dim in a “halleguant” Neutrality of the Guard Position ‘We have constamily stressed the need of ground fighters vo scek better postion, Icisthen worth asking sic possible fora lignes tvatiain a dain pesitinn ‘while he is til! underneath his opponent? In the early MMA events, 0 raaRy Jutsu fighters were able vo defeat their unsuspecting opponents Iran under ‘eth in the urd postion that macy people came ithe conchason thatthe ssuand was a dominant postion. Infact, this snot the ease. Ina fight betteen two juts Higher of cay ‘equal ability, the guard i a neutef position. Neither the man on top, nor the ‘man on bottom, has a decsive advantage. The top man canna realy pn the Soitom man easily, since the boitom man can uilize his les ad bips 10 nove ‘in ways that defy effective comirel. In addon, the bottom man i stil able to move relaively easily into submission hols, and from there, be can also avid‘WINNENG FROM THE BOTTOM POSITION p= Sites most strikes. I clear, shen, lat be és not being pinned in the sense that he is being totally controlled. On the other band: the top man can attemp his oven submission holds reasonably easily (mostly tothe legs) His movements are not tig controlled by the bowom man. so once the guard is opened, he is at Ibexty to simply stand wp and walk atay. Cleary then, he is not being domi noted. na igh betveen tro equally skife jus fighters attacks Srom the guard ten to rely nore on trickery subterfuge. timing, and deception rather than ontwol and dominance. Seen i this ght, one can look at the guard as aimeu» tral poscion rather than. a dominant one, despite is appearance of dominance inearly MMA tournaments. ‘Therein, we cat say the following: growed fg. i ebwamr desrabieto ie ene, the miu caring posaion push. rerwer, ev find youself the fest poston, the guard she Bs plore =e. Ahouigh it does nx offer the posi tional control and dominance of the superioc top positions t does prevent your ‘opponent from dominating you, and victory fs possible for the man on the Potton, ft is absolutely essential thaz you become fair with the wotkngs of ihe gual postion, since itis certain that you will need to ase it whenever You fined yourself on your back. in ation, you will certainly have to work guint ‘he guard postion il you ever pat an adept ground fighter on his back, } case Study in the Use of the Guard Position: Royce Gracie Av the ume this roaxey: was tevolimlonary, ata in Neth Arete, one arias ascites wish MMA, Fulning sls above 68 others. That mae was Rove Grade, A lage part of Rove's cos the crip JIVUA events was cercered om his oustanding se of the gua postion, Idee twas Rayee Grace who realy popularize the use fhe guard among MMA Tans ad spectasrs, Before Royee's sxcries, most pend thought a fighter on ns back was a stn Tighter. Royce showed Ut axl, weaker fighter ‘lg se he gard wth he ata stone Sharesive opponent end ibee go on the atc and vein te ighi—all rom the bitoni. Defense From the Guard Position Inne espns or sarin le praoligenae and fer pepsin ois. Reyes seers ts ls as tale heen pian, IAT | had gieatyalence bs wei For the apponen 10 omit. an ern, even when Royse Way wae es tree pressure: hepa postin swans Royer 10 ue is sup fers sks: epee ame ‘ines hn wie Ree gard, These sls suomi teal ins sass ks frm mneracath, proved ine mes fo hisnypionens, ‘Wost people think ol the guard as a defensive position in which they can shield thetnselves Irom the sirikes of an oppestent who ic aa top of ther, We shall try hand, however, io dispel the notion thatthe guard fsa purely defensive peition {nthe next secon, Nonetheless. iis true thatthe guard can provide an excel- Jent rears of defending yoursel rm an aggresstve, striking upponest when used well Fighters have two main options when using the guard as 9 defensive shield ‘he first is 10 hug your opponent a5 ightleto you as possible in a dosed guard usMASTERING JUJITSU ‘verhooking one of his ams with your arm and folding his head down with the other. This us woutn.a tight. supine cinch with your upponent and makes it tough for hime to strike you effectively. You can improve your postion by ‘cOoimg your hips out to the same sige asthe arm that you have aveihoaked and then geting on your side, Asecond option excurs when acwally wsing the open guatu In this ease, fencrally want 10 keep your opponent as far away from voursel as posse, sie hie willbe trying has to punch vou. Place your fet am ni hips and push fim back. making it dificult for hist to each your head. You can ako place a foot on his chest. shoulder, or biceps asa meats of preventing lis coming into tange fo hit you in the head. Although many ether gripping teenies ean limi the amount of damage your opponent can incon you ka the yad Postion, these two aze the simples and eases strategies ts implement in the ‘chaos of a real fight, Attacks From the Guard Position One of the worst mistakes you can make in jujisu is 19 consider the quand Iassive deensive ition where you simply lang on for survival. Ahhough {he guar certainly can he used inthis way, iis handly desirable. You seam 0 see the guard as.a position from vehich yo ean wis the ghi, not merely hal ‘on for dear We. Remeriber: No ome ever wow af by sin hoting ain capvnent Wis essential, then, that you develop a progctive attacking game tram he fad, taking the fight to your opponent as much as possible. We shall oline «at mis of sweeps and sabmission bolas chat allow yi to attach a ep both open: and closed-guard positions, whether he isstanng upin yur jad ‘ar down om his knees. These arc high-petcentage moves that wu well in both MMA and grappling events We shall abo look a maves that have had & high sugeess rate in acl competion. A good rule of thu in using the guard is this Spends Hine te as pose ‘ying avon yous back. Always look to scoot out tothe side ol your opnottent--sit ‘up. get on your sie, get your hips owt to one side, These small charges in bay j Position make a age eflerence: they greatly facilitate your snacks {rom the { ‘eard. Ifyou just le ar an your back, you really have few olfensivcopiians 40 ] move in the nays just mendioned to get your allense unwer way, The only ane You want tole down is when you want to rest Jal should you fee! fatigued, Attacks From the Closed-Guard Position When Your Opponent Is on His Knees | Hip-heistsweep. The ig-heistssweepis one of the best moves wo employ when | Your onponct i on his knees inside your closed guard. Iisa low-risk move {that seen olen in MUMLA competition ot all eves. one well can tum the tlrecon of a fightin a matte sccocds Ta ute the swe, place bath Let | ‘onthe ground figure 71a, Post one hand behind yo onthe lloar and quickly sit uptaward the side you have posted your handl—tis wil be dn se hat yo {Wil sweep your oppunent over. Reach across with your whet hind and grasp {our opponeays arm {atthe elbow) on the side you wish 1a swcep him over {gate 7-10), Ditve your ips up into your opponent, placing your hips higher than hs. Turn your head to look behind you and drop yous knee dawn wo the floar an the sane se you imtend to swcep your opponent. a oe motion, til 130. iFigure 7-1 Wiphelt wee, Your ips overt tbe sie (gare ?. ke. This wil wake yo tas, Brive fo theside raher than into your opponent, You wl Lnish i the rmounied poston Guilletinecheke, The guillotine choke is the single mast con ssibmision bold in NMA. Ica be applied from many positions, but te guilonine {rom the guard is particularly elective asi employs a high percerage ol ¥ toads’ sength against your opponen’s valnerable neck. It combines extianely svell withthe hip hist sweeps Whenever ane of shese fas. switch inumedaels qo the ollter. [rls best applled on an eppoaent kneeling i your guard. Pacing tid feet on che Hoos sit up and to the side just #5 you would for the bip-test ‘sseep (figure 23).Post yourhand an the ground behind youané rel around your opponent's eck wilh your uber arm (is ix your sranglang arm figase "by, You ean sx00% your hips away from your opponent abil to faite the chatcling olhis neck with Your arm, Wih your other arm grab your sramgling fa othe wnt figure 7.2), Fall your strangling arm upto your serum. Lis awn and scoot your hips ou tathe opposite se of your tponcntshead, Lack ‘your appunent in your closed guard and squeeze the choke (igure 7 2a SVIMNING FROM THE BOTTOM POSITION 131)152 ___ MASTERING auaTTSU ee Figre 7.2 Gulltve cle, appane 10 Neck-erank turnover. This isan excellent yay to ier force submitor tum him overinte the mounted position. With your appune down in your closed svare place both Kee on the ground an side, jist as in the bipebeis weep and gill aded to combine together as they all have the same tnital Posting one hana on the ground behind you ‘opponents neck (igute 7,3a). as inte guillotine, Feed thearm you have looped ‘over your opponent's neck unde his armpis. shes bing i “The palin of your hand should be facing asvay fom yo {s licked under your armpit. Lock your hans palm co pal at jorque your ‘opponent's neck by bringing your hands across bis back (Ligure ‘Quite often this ssulficieat tp force en opponest to subeat I ot, conhnae applying presure until he fs med over to his back and you Bnd youre mounted (igure 7.3 iineeting ann 10th wee mnoves ane were). Figure 7.5 teieuank tame_WINNING FROM THE SOTTOM POSITION Zrienylechoke. the slaggle choke veitains one ofthe most popularand swocessfl bison tod rom the gard poston, The warant we lonk at here iss used from the closed guard whea the opponcni i on his knees, With your open ode in your closed poarl gals both his wists, Forcing ome vit back 10 Fis sherman gure 74a), This allows yu to tarow your gover that opps aw ardura sour opporern’s neck tis wil be your st Jeg) This tags ‘Jour opponcis ead and one arm between your legs (gure 74h. Try to toucl the Foot af your strangling logto the back of your apponent’s apposite shaulder 10 ‘create an optiauumn angle forte stranglehold {you may have to pall yout foot into ths pasion), His often belpful 1 seo your hips otto the side LaHiaie the chake, Lock you lap around youropponen’s head and armin dhe tanga Iiguretoue parte shown figure 7. Ac) le sure to ull the foot ofthe sang eal he way under & ae other le fo oot merely cross you Kee Squeeze your kieesfogeticr and pull down on your opponents ng, 153134, MASTERING U3TTSU. Figure 7.4 Tzegle choke, ‘Aitacks From the Closed-Guard Position When Your Opponent Is Standing Arm bar Gui gatome), This versatile submission hold can be used i» huge hhuinbet of postions. Here we see t used against an opponent standing up in the closed guard. Grab the wrist of the arm yun wish to Jack with your hand ‘nd secuteit to Your cnest¢igute 7.5a, i, reach inside bis leg ease to the ankie and pull your head ‘you have grabbed (liguce 7 5b), This sets up the correct angle forthe arm lock. Your bady should be roughly perpendicular to your ojyonent. Walk your ker high up on your ‘opponent's back, Do ttt let your hips dp to the fla that greany ese the chance ofa sucessful arm loc. Swing your Teg over your opponennt’shead to secre the lock t figure 7.5), Try toxouch your hips up una te aneypiof the am you are locking, hich ighiens the lock cousiderably, Squeeze your knoes together, bring your Ket down towards the Poor, aise your hips, and pall the wrist of the locked aria down. This quickly puts breaking pressure om your opponent’ arm, Knee bar (hiza gate). The knee bar js another submission lvold that can be used in large numberof postions. 1s particularly elfecive when an ponent stats up in your dosed guard, It combines very wel whh the arma bar attack jus seen, sine the initial movement isthe sane. Should the arm karla, the Knee har fs an excellena follow-up. As your oppenent slonds in your closed ‘guard, reach fase fis leg with your arm juz as you did far thee arn lock {Higare 7.6a), Pull your head tonands the foot of tat leg, Open your guand and let your hipsdenp. Your foot willrest on the hip of the leg you intend tack, as show in figure 7b. Being your knee inse the knee ofthe lee you have stabbed, This isa crucial etal. Swing your other leg around ina wide are until ‘Your toot touches the opponen’s butiocks (gute 7.60). He suze to ning Your {hls up and above the kace of the leg you are attacking! Ifyou fail to do so the Jack wil be inelfetive. Squeeze your knees imgether to contral your mypanent's leg gure 7.6). Lock yourarmsaround your opponent's ankle arc back arid Jhrust your hips fonsardtp put beaking pressure on the knee joint tlgure 76}WINNING FROM THE BOTTOM POSITION Figure 7.5 Aon 330 Atsacks From the Open-Guard Position Wien Your Opponent Is on His Knees asc elevator sweep (sumi gaeshi).. This great move is best employed whet jour opponent is on his knees in your open buwerdly guard ¢yaur two Ket ace inaoked under your opponents thighs). Sit up and lock your arm around your tpponeiits upper arm {overhook), With your other band secure your oppamen’s clhow or Nest (Ogute 7.72), Fall dlreiy 4 the side of the wrist or eo you have grasped (HHguze 77bi. As you flit with the laoton te opposite sie your ace sweeping towards Push off the ground with your other loot tligure 7.70). 155MASTERING JU31TSU 156 Figure 7.6 hres ba This combined action wopples your opgonent aver w ike sie and ‘Keep dtivig until you end in the mounted positen or acrost his side shack, igure 7.70, Pressing armlock (ude gatume). Pew submission bolls can be applied with the ease and! speed of ide gctame—one of the very best allacks to use on an ‘oppenene inside your open guard on his krices, The moment your opponent ‘extends aa arn inside your open guord he becomes vulnerable to ude gauame. Slide your hips out to the side (your body should be om ts se) and weap your AFM around his elbow as shown (figure 7.84). Trap che wrist af the arm you wish to lock berween your neck and shoulder. Clamp your kinees arowsid the shoulier ofthe erm you are atackiayg and squeeze. This makes escape diiteut. okt your arms directly over the elbows of your apponent’s arm and squeeze ia lonards your chest, hyper extensing the ellasw joint (igure 7.8),——___ MASTERING guziTsu Atnerg enntemporary MMA figiers, cone has ex ‘elled inthe se ofthe guard postion edie degree ot Case Study in Offensive Use of the Guard Position: Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira Part of what made Nogueita such a dificull eppo- ‘Meat was his sll nthe standing psition, He had Bialkn jultsuerpenArronioRedigs"Mionoaro” —suong bing alba ake The W ano | ouch le ight. Mts locked up pone atempied msn a escape Meuse the bot ates ne edn sad ade fe sed more pune ea a et Ts s_| ihe aus Ou oe tes opponent ere rer than Mineiauro, but it made mo diflerence—they Hod Does ugh up na bane sans shin alts inside dhe goad pole. What di sind Souci’ yas lo ot ight hos ‘conaiant acd unremitting attacks fram the bere Fesion es ightes sere guard ina ey eens teeta Joo a ick segment ina onic ate Sig the ral chek, hima arc, an eas ihitearmles és nate opponent ‘Mane ld hey inevitably aun thers cout in abut. the ace ol concer aoc, they cull old oat only $0 lang before deteat came by ‘ray of acnther perecivenecil sua Hall eB sont pele da ko Nogueira guand where they were exped athe sabmiaion hol sac. tn Als way they rere pt in kaa If hey sind ‘op they red bing knack out or ken >in a tottom posion. they stayed i te guard icy ‘vole ise by subeison holds, Every by new what oexpetinsde Noga gard hth tofoim atacks were wel Kroon and ite few ‘What made she difereice wan the presi al des teninasin with hich they eee pk asually In esended combinations Faced wih Ure coma nm underneath, few aponents were abe ny effective olense while Joke in Minctane’s ged Attacks From the Open-Guard Position When Your Opponent ts Standing Douibte-shin sweep, This move san excel ‘standing in your open guard, and it do arikleand knee locks unlike many lent Way toattack an opponent wha i 01 expose YoU I8 any troubksomne ‘otter open guand sweeps). As our appiment Stanly, pliace your fet inside his legs ot the knees, your lower shins pressing ‘yping: the inside of fis knees (igure 7.43). wih both bands floor and! spread your kaces outisard (fig directly backward to the Hor. Yuan th outside gure 7.90). an Achilles Hoek, Hee hook, The beellioak isa tab bott is ankles fram the 28 you panch your hips up all the ie 7.2). This kavcks your opponent leticorme up ina top pasitianarattem great Way 1 attack an opponent who isstanding up In your open guard. With both fee hooked inside your opporem’s legs at the kes, reach our and grab the heel of whichever loots cases! 1n yo lige {uke 7143) Pall your hips in close to that foot aru kick your Soot irside an around that leg (this Ue leg that you are attacking) url your foot lands on ‘the hip of the leg you are atcacking (igure 7.10 b and c), Your ather loo is tucked under the homsting of che leg you are stacking, Squeeze your knees together for controk Full the toes ofthe foot that you are attacking under your «rmp\t, Hook pour wrist ruler the ee ofthat foot and ock your hands ogee, Torque the het across your chest io out breaking pressure on the ankle ad knee. Be careful in the application a! this techmique—injuries are common, Give your partner tae to submit while raining. 5BFigure 7.9. Oaabiestin sere, ESCAPES AND COUNTERS IN THE BOTTOM POSITION _ In time forts look atesch of the commen postions a ground fight Irom the batton fighters perspestve. We have alresdy mentioned that une bottom fighter’ main emphasis san escape wo a betes position, An altemative strategy {sroatterapla submission hold front underneath ake slbmisson hold sacceet, 159160, MASTERING JUJITSU consider ita greacbonus. It fails at eat it forces your opponent to defend, siving you te space needed to escape toa better sition. Ln either ese, you hhavedone well We shall now consider moves that enable you ta eon of the amore dangernas pins and holdiawas in MMA. Escaping the Rear-Mounted Position The rarmount is one of the most dangerous places tobe cag trea ight. ‘Your opponent can rain blows on the hack o! your head and neck ites on inp, whereas you can do litle in return. tn addition, le can aiack yur neck on ‘umn wih an array ol subraision ios. Au elective means of escape is thus evel. We shal look a how 1 esape the two main forms of ica mou top and Bott ‘Top-Rear Mount ‘The fop-tear mount oexurs when your opponent is perched! oi 19) ul yum, ‘idly. your lower back and hips with both his legs hoaked into your hips. Fn que 723 hom esape fue te tose rethie poston, he can stretch you out and pot you under great pressure. One froeible escape i the ety escape mieten "The elbow escape is by far the mest aseful and iraportant eseage meth fn jai, IW enables you te escape the pins and ols of opponens ft larger ten Yourself with reatlve ease. Generally it resuks im you placing your opponent fhack in the guard position. Peuple wsually think of the elbow escaje as an es- ‘ape fron the ela noun pastion, but there are mang variants, incling this one from the top-reas mount. This can seem like a coxnlicaed move, bul vil alte practice, you will be able todo it quickly and efiienty, Your appo- hen fson top of you full eae mount figore 7.112}, The mst important thing ito temove bis “bowks* his Ket iv your his), which aive hy sabilty ‘and contral aver yout To remove the books, kick one of your legs back and pce it Maton the ground! between your opponents legs (figure 7.18}. Ths emoves one tock imimediatey, Slide de kiice of the leg you have just Licked jeross ane unnler your opponent's remaining book (igure 7.146), Try to fou the knee al that ley co your appasiteebovr This prevents your oppanent [ram {WIUNING FRON THE BOTTOM POSITION 161162, MASTERING JUJITSU getting his hook back in place. To emave the remaining hook, kick your ater Jeg (the one your opponent is sill hooked under) back. Now botl hooks have been rerooved ilisure 7-L1e, Get up to your knees, keeping vour imees ond shows tight together to arevent your opponent from getting his hinaks back in place (Ligure 7.11}. Resch up and grab his arm (figure 7.111), Roll hira over your shoulder (igure 7.L1g). The fact that he isnot hooked in place miakes this, easy. As he falls il your back, stay on your knees so that you ean 1ake a 10p pinning position, Bottorm-Rear Mount ‘The bettom-rear mount occurs when your opgonent is swt ony Hone! in behind you, int also underneath you. From here, he can sill tack your neek aid act thou his stiking power fs somewhat less than from she fop rear: _mounted positon, Once again, 2 sound escape method is needed i! you are 0 void his attacks: For example, the slige-out method: It enables You to protect ‘yourself from the usual choke and arnlock atiempis that you can expect an ‘opponent to do once Be attains this great pasion, while ate same time i takes you out f itmediate dang and inka a beter pasion, Yout opponent fs behind and undemeath you in a bottom-rear rows, threatening to choke you (gute 7.12), He has boch leet hooked ko your hp, Once again, these “hooks” n your hips are the source of your problem Ta fecape, bridge up into yor eppenient as you pull down on his strangling arm. at the vist and elbow, Slide vut in the same direction that che fingers of his Stuangling arm are pointing, Turn your chin dow and toward the biceps of the staangling atin. Keep sliding out until your shoulders touch the Moor Ulpure 7:12b), Getting your back atid shothlers to the floor is cracial—once this occurs, pour opponent is unable to dioke you, Try to yet on you side ara lace you: pponent {figure 7, 12c, In this postion, you are sale from the strangle ‘The danger now is that your appanent will get upon top of you i he mounted Position. To prevent this. hook your uppermost loot under your opponents upper leg at theknce ad it. Hook your arm under the same lea ifigure 712d), Lftavith your anm to prevenk your opponent getting up. Kick your leg back and Sotteintoa side pinning pesition (igure 7.126). Escaping the Mounted Position “The mounted position has ended marry MMA fights. 11 allows the top man 10 strike almost at will, Without a sound means of escape, the botan nan is viriually helpless—thur, the need for dhe elbow escape ‘We have noved altendy the massive importance of Ube elbuw escape—the ing of escapes. 1a aldtion to requiringlisle strength and being elfecive agalnst nuh lazger opponents it also exposes the user t litle danger as iis being performed. Here ywe look at a yariant that finishes with arvoflersive move—the Achilles lock. With your opponent mounted om top of you, farm a defensive frame by placing beth hands on your opponent’ tips figure 7.13a). Bridge 1a et your hips olf the floor. Push with both hands toward your fee de noc push ‘uph and ruth to onesie. As you drop your hins, soot them out to the oppose side thar you have turned toward and bring the opposite knew ue knee of yous lover leg) between your oppenent’slegs (igure 7.138), Your knee should be drawn up to your chest Wrap your ote leg around the ley you imend to ‘ttackani place your 001 oa your appanent’ship fo the leg you are attacking. eta efi shee eesFiqueJ.12 Sliceout escac fom the Bottow-vear me. 163MASTERING JUITTSU Wrap your aria arotind your opponent’ ankle ai the Achilles tendon so that the bony part of your wrist is under the Achilles endon thse 7.13c1. Grab your wrist with your other hand and pull bos hands high up to the steraum, Pash your hips forward and arch your back tn put breaking pressure on. the ‘ankle, Perform the lock on your side. not fat om your back, ‘Figure 7.23, tom excape fan te nied esto,INNING FROM THE BOTTON POSITION = Escaping the Knee-on-Belly Position ‘Only slgbily Hess dangerous than tl ste knee-un-belty postion. Once ‘again, fighters face a real danger of being besten tnto subasson tena his Pitot or being locked in a cole or joint lock, ‘When you are caught under the knee-on-belly position (figure 7. 14a} R008 esenpe method is to off-balance your appesient forward. Do this by bumping your knee inta your opponent's buttocks to brig his s¥eight forwant tige {ire 14h), Your opponent will need to base ous on bis hands to prevent t- pling ver, Tart toward your opener and shoot your ara (te one furthest {rot the opponent) around the leg (acthe knee) that was placed on yur belly (igure 7. 14e). Seisor your legs andl get quickly us to your knees, tackling your ‘opponent’ eps and taking hint down figure 714d) Figure 7.24 Lscae far the bree orl postin. Escaping the Side-Control Pasition “The side-control sition is not quite 3s potentially dangerous asthe postions ive have seen 60 far However, its the stepping stone 1 those positions, Even fo considerable damage can be done with srkes from this position. A vast number of subriisson holds can be done from side control sold mews of escape is terefore essential. The method ol escape from he sie-control position 165166 is often determined by the way your opponcn pins to-knees method and the escape-to-armlock method Escape-to-kuees method. When your opponent ‘goo means of escape is ta get to your knees. To 2 determined and skilled opponet ‘Begin dy wetting your arms in i pinned down by quires carchul ubservance of tecinigue, -goud position shovsn in figure Figire 7.15. Escape sde-comtol past (oer) to teeWINNING FROM THE BOTTON Pt hand ison your opponent's hip. the elbow an bis helt line, Your other arm is tucked under his arm and holds hs upper back. Bridge wp, nara into your vat nd away trom your opponent figure 7.15. nh the arm thar svason his uppet back around your opponent’ lez. As you roll ante your stomach, lnck your hands arcarnd Your opponent’ leg atthe Ienee figure 7.15) Pull yourself into your opponent, geting up to your knees fn lose to the leg you are holding (igure 715d). Drive ito your opponent, reaching actoss or eo leg and taking your opponent down gute 7.15) ecape-to-arock Gu gatame) methd, This metho isemployed agains at Underlasp side pin, Your oppanent fas eased a side comrol pin with tiwerlasp. farm defensive lameby pacing both hands on your upper ces, bows i ight w your chest (igure 7.L6a). Bridge and push your spponent ‘nth oh your elbowsover your head (rather than directly upwards), 9 shown in figace 7-16b. This creates sufBient space for you to sveing both Tess up sinittaneossly: Bring the leg thats nearest your opponent yp under his em Sopp atslsbrere your Figure 7.16 scape sde-tortol postion (endef ermock 167,_ MASTERING JUITTSU sa that your foce touches tke back of his shower. ‘The nher leg pss over his bead dtigute 7.16). Bring the foot ofthat leg down ura te flor as yan ‘ayweeze Pour Knces together, Wi both Yess push your opponent dowh ain aay 10 allalance him so his hack. Complete te arandock by tating your BIDS ed pull hs wrist oven: wets but hands ifigure 7.1 Escaping the Turtle Position The turtle position i dificult categorie in terms ofa hierarchy that is based 9 degree of danger: In actual MMA competition, tie turtle pusition has een ‘sed with great stecess to defend agains attacks in certain cases in llc case, hhowever, the turtle positon has gotten fighters into Jot al trouble, espedaly from the Lam-headlock postion that we saw eafierin ce clinching chap ter: Quite often, the top tighter is able 40 thraw sirang knee strikes into th Lotlom fgtter’s hea as he tures ap, which resuks in knockouts and severe ‘damage. lone i is exagzeration to say that in some cases, the bottam of the turtle position is even mote hazardous thas the botiom of the mane pst. ‘The trapsand-rol method i an effective means of escape. When vou are in {he ule postion and your oppanent fon top of you in a controlitg position, secure the wis ofthe arm that your opponent las over yourback (ligare 7.17). He hasto pst his arm over your buck n order to hold you down and clamp your thw ta your ribs, tes best 10 get perpensicilarco your oppanent fefore you ‘tempt the cll, Get your hipsin cle and under your opponent, Look iowatd him and roll aver your shoulder (figure 7.17b1, You want siete your body luler your oppanent. This wil take him nyt aver your shoulder and onta his tach. Rall over with him ané tur: toward is legs. This isimportan Ifyou turn the wrong way be will end in a good position, By turning toward Ks les, yo ome out witha clean side-position pn. (Tigure 7.10). DRILLS FOR THE BOTTOM POSITION = ‘Auinber of uselul drills can dramaucalysmprove a lighters huttom game, We shalllook now at some ofthe best But before we do, kt is quickly review how partners should begin cach dri Peslups the bext way 10 gain expertise in escaping {rom bed pasitians in (quick and efficient paanmer is to have your taining partner start in each of the

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