The physics of the

grapevine

Written by:
Matt Powell

Photos by:
Pramek

Student Assistance:
Aaron Cowan

Copyright 2014
48f Publishing
Using the Grapevine
The grapevine movement is a great movement for escape or submission, depending on the position of the user,
in sport grappling. But, in the world of combatives, many times ground work is based upon shrimping, strik-
ing, and vital targeting more than refined sport techniques. Making the sport based technique work within the
combative space is a great way to create a smart, effective defense from the ground
Using a leg grapevine is a matter of physics and mechanics. By understanding the physics of how the grapevine
works, we can stop fighting the technique and start fighting the person. It is important that using physics in
combatives is designed not to make things more difficult, but more efficient.
The full mount is one of the most daunting positions we can find ourselves in a combative situation. It gives the
attacker the highest level of access to attacking the defender. While in the guard the attacker can be held to a
distance or tied up, but with a full mount the defender is at a high level of vulnerability.
A Second Look at the Full Mount
The full mount can seem daunting because of the access it gives the attacker. As strikes begin to reign down
there is often a tendency to curl up or put up the hands and arms to deflect or block blows to protect oneself
from the strikes. This delay in effective defense can quickly lead to the overwhelming the defender.
But, when looked at through physics, the full mount looks different for two reasons:
1. Center Mass: The center mass (CM) of the attacker has little stability in forward attack. Because the load
bearing area (or LBA as discussed in Breaking Balance) is the knees and ankles, the upper body becomes
unstable with a forward attack. With a press forward, the CM will force a balancing movement to create a new
load bearing area.
2. Leg fulcrums: The connection between the legs of the defender and attacker create multiple points of
rotation that can be used to move the attacker, with the primary fulcrum being at the ankles.
 The Fulcrum
The Grapevine The ankles must connect and wrap
The term grapevine comes from the wrapping of the legs together between two combatants. It can be used in together to utilize this grapevine.
both offense and defense. When wrapped together, multiple points of rotation occur. In this image we can see When the ankles connect, it creates
three primary points of rotation because of the connection of the two bodies. a rotation point, but also creates a
1. Hips - When the hips move, this will create movement in the center mass because of its immediate connec- fulcrum as can be seen in this image.
tion to the hips through the spine and pelvis.
Start by wrapping the bend of the
2. Knees - When the knees of the defender move this will create wide movement in the attacker due to the ankle around the other ankle. If the
connection between the hips and knees. attacker adjusts, constantly kick and
move until a proper connection is
3. Ankles - The connections of the ankles create a point of rotation which can affect the knees, and therefore made. The shin forms a fulcrum
the hips. While the knees and hips may move independently as a base, if the ankles move it will effect the entire (connecting the knee and ankle) that
lower body structure. will become very important to direct
the movement of the body, acting as
a rudder around the knee.

Beginning the Movement

The goal of this reversal is to move the
center mass of the attacker outside of the
LBA and create a large lever.

In order to use the grapevine defensive

reversal of the full mount, the defender
uses the right leg to grapevine, hooking
deeply into the left leg of the attacker.
This anchors the knee and ankle into the
ground.

Using the left leg, the defender presses

up, rotating up the left hip into the
attacker. With the attackers left leg
anchored, this prevents a balancing
movement. Since this knees are the
LBA, this movement will force the center
mass over and past the load bearing area.
 The Roll
The grapevine defense will create a
roll, as the legs are interconnected
and the hips force the defender to
roll with the attacker.

It is important to direct the roll to a

position of dominance. In this
photo you can see that the defender
brings hands up to stop any
forward grabs, give access to the face
and throat, while also allowing the
defender to brace up and sit back
post roll.
The Second Class Lever The feet and knees should be
Looking at the second class lever - lets look again at the grapevine defense.
moving into an aggressive position
The effort (F1) is the left hip, the load is the CM, and the fulcrum is the grapevine.
to gain an effective posture.
Compare the photo and diagram. This movement acts as a trip, with the knee planted and the force pressing
over, preventing a balancing, compensational, or dampening movement and equilibrium being removed. Its
important to look at this mechanically so the mystery of how is replaced with a movement that is efficient.

Post Roll
In this scenario, a firearm is going to
be used in order to defeat the threat.
But training with a knife, club, choke,
escape, or strike may be used as well.

Post roll, the defender keeps the

grapevine of the legs in a positive
position. This will prevent a counter
grapevine by the attacker. The defender
brings the hands forward to counter
any strikes or grabs, while beginning to
sit back to create distance as a defense.
 Initial Counter Attack
In this movement, the primary goal is to
deploy the firearm into a position where it
can be fired, while having a counter grab
for pistol retention. The pistol is deployed
under the protective hand to fend off any
grabs.
The defender is now moving the upper
body backward, putting the CM squarely
between the LBA of the knees and the
feet. This uses distance as a defense, limits
mobility in the attacker legs, removes body
parts from the bullet path if the firearm is
fired, as well as countering any grapevines
or counters at the moment (at the moment
meaning we should never stay in one place
to prevent a well-thought out counter).
Sitting Back
The last part of this defensive
movement is sitting back. Sitting
back reduces the chance of the
attacker to pull the defender into
the guard, allows for more lethal
targeting with the pistol, as well as
increasing distance.
Notes for the student
As with any Pramek manual, notes for the student are important concepts to remember.
1. The only race is the race to survive. Dont worry about being fast...worry about doing it right.
Remember you can get injured. Consult a doctor before trying the material in this manual.
Go slow, be easy on your training partner and communicate with them.
2. This is not MMA. This is combatives. Remember the difference between the two. If you
need a reminder of the difference check out this video.
3. When training communicate with your training partner. Ask when their equilibrium is off,
experiment with body movements and attacks, ask what is working and is not.
4. This is a base guide - its not a be-all, end-all. If you are an experienced grappler, this science
will refine what you know. If you are have not used this movement before, you will open
up your ground defensive methods. The important rule is to look to the science and work
against the CM.
5. This is not MMA - the goal is not to continue with grappling. The goal of this is to get into a
position of dominance, gain a position of stability over the LBA, and move from there.
6. This is a very powerful, quick reversal for you to use. Its simple and should be done with
explosive movement. You should train it to be fast and explosive and get to your point of
counter attack.
7. Do not put the cart before the horse. Use the grapevine method to get to experimentation.
If you can get the grapevine down to a fluid, successful movement that works within the DPT,
then introduce different weapons and counter attacks.
8. Experiment with different weapons once you can successfully this defense. In this example
firearms are used. Deploying a knife, using a choke or a strike, moving to escape, tieing up
the body.

You will notice the high defensive Have fun with your training and contact Pramek with any questions!
position of the arm. This creates a
box to fire within and removes the
arm from accidentally being hit
with fire if the pistol is used.

Sitting back increases the options

for defense and reduces the chances
of a counter to be effective.