Elite Training Center: Redondo

Hello Elite Training Center Friends,

This week’s classes in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program saw us practicing techniques in combatives and self-defense focusing escaping from the back mount and finishing the fight from the mounted position. In addition, we learned how escape from the standing headlock and attacks from behind oneself by surprise.

The self-defense strategy of escaping from a headlock was a technique we continued address this week. This time around we learned how to prevent the attacker from breaking our posture. Once on the ground, we practiced the spinning armlock with knee on the belly and also added the standing armlock variation. These two types of armlock finishes were said to used in many Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu self-defense techniques. At the end of the week we practices escapes against the rear choke attack. Each move used a throw to takedown the attacker. The rear choke escape throw showed us the importance of quickly gaining our base and throwing the attacker over your head. Two points during the escape is to lower your hips lower than the attacker’s and after the throw is performed, hold onto the arm of the opponent so you do lose your balance moving backwards.

The second technique to escape the rear choke attack practiced this week was when the opponent pulled you off balance and backwards with the choke. If was important to attempt the first throw over your head first and only use the step back throwing strategy second if pulled off balance by the attack. One tip was to step back on the arm-side you are being choked with deeply. A second tip was to turn your head and look to the spine of the opponent. This will help you get gain superior leverage and the best angle to trip the attacker to the ground as you move behind him.

On the mats this week we looked escaping the back mount and finishing from the front mount. Quick notes to about escaping the back mount, aways protect you neck from the choke, learn to be in control of your hips and found an effective escape strategy. Remember that when you are late in your defense, many times the opponent will determine what type of defense strategy you will use. You can not force it.

Lastly, during the week of classes, we explored basic finishing attacks from the front mount. Techinques that were reviewed and taught were the spinning armlock, the arm trap to rear naked choke and the arm trap to armlock. I could see a lot improvements in the students jiu jitsu practice in the performance of the armlocks this week.
This weekend led us to the first Elite Training Center Survival Camp in Santa Barbara, CA. Many of you that attended quickly learned the difference between training jiu jitsu on the mats verses ground survival training in the elements. But that is another story…

Best,

Prof. Tony Pacenski

This week’s classes in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program saw us practicing techniques in combatives and self-defense focusing takedowns and escapes if attacked from behind.  In addition, we explored the knee in the belly position and how to turn the fight with a variation on the hook sweep.

For the self-defense aspects on this week, we learned what to do if attacked and held over both arms or under both arms.  This was the classic bearhug attack. Both attacks were easily defended with jiu jitsu by use of leverage and basic tricks.  Further in the week we defended against the sucker punch.  This attack led to the clinch and the basic hip throw.  Two takedowns that were added this week were the hip throw and side trip takedown from the clinch reference point.  

On the mat this week we practice how to control the opponent using the knee in the belly position.  This position opens up many strategies such as submission attacks, transitional position control and the ability to where down the opponent with control, strikes or technical grips on the pants, sleeve and jacket.  Simply using the knee in the belly to transition to the mount position is a key objective.

Lastly, on the mat this week, we practiced using the hook sweep from the guard position.  Before learning this move, we reviewed how to use the armtriangle choke and also create an angle to take the back of the opponent.  It was this ability to move your hips under your opponent that determined what technique you could use or where you would end up next in the positional battle.  What we practice was to move the hips out to side the opposite way than taking the back position.  By doing this, we were able to learn the hook sweep and turn the fight.  In the end, this strategy led to the submission finish using the armtriangle choke.  Remember that the submission from the mount is half neck crank and half choke hold.  Therefore, it was practice to move to the side control to finialize the armtriangle.  All choke this way!

Best,

Prof. Tony Pacenski

Hello Elite Training Center Friends,

This week’s classes in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu program saw us practicing techniques in combatives and self-defense focusing passing the guard, escaping from headlocks against a wall and escaping for the mounted position against a resisting opponent or one that throws punches. Last week, I was on the East Coast conducting Martial Arts seminars and I had a busy schedule that affected the writing process for the first week of September in our blog. Nonetheless, let us reflect on this week’s progress.

Passing the guard of your opponent is one of the most difficult objectives in a ground fight. The opponent has many tools and strategies that he or she can use to defend against your attacks. In a jiu-jitsu competition is a commonplace to see full matches spent inside the guard. Once again the basic objectives in passing are to establish posture, open the legs on your opponent in a technical way using leverage; control the hips of your opponent in some form, and move pass the legs of your opponent to the knee in the belly, side control or mounted position on top. This week we reviewed the basic leg on the shoulder passing and strategy of passing over one leg. The main concept taught was to learn how to change sides when the opponent resists your forward movement; or should I say forward-angled-pressure-movement. Yes, with the leg on the shoulder pass or passing over the leg pass, we learned the importance of “being” very heavy at the correct times.

One rule I have always followed is, “If the opponent wants space, be tight…and if the opponent wants no space, create space!” It is a game of influencing the distance, timing, movement and pressure. The latter technique we worked on this week was to pass under both legs. During the type of guard pass, the technique of gaining the superior grip on the kimono/uniform or controlling the far hip on the opponent was explored. When questions what I met by, “Control the gi/lapel first before you move to pass the guard,” I demonstrated how get gaining the superior grip before making the next transition could lead to running in circles wasting energy, using strength verse leverage, losing control of the position instead of controlling the next part of the positional battle. Please remember that is the series of little battles that wins positions in a ground fight. And when you win superior positions, you will start to finalize more victories in your training.

Further into the week we practiced escaping headlocks against the wall. In two different headlocks, the opponent was using the wall for assistance. The escape and counter to these specific types of headlocks were different compared to a headlock in the open space. In both situations, we learned to use the wall for your advantage. From there was took the lesson to the mounted position, yet we reviewed how to escape the position.

The basic concept that was type this week was to understand how to use the trap & roll (Opa) technique and the elbow & knee escape technique effectively. The approach here was to use one strategy first and if there is any resistance from the opponent, use the second strategy next at this correct time. It is important to commit to one strategy first whole-heartedly, and only use the second strategy when there is a real resistance. Many times in escaping the mount in a technical way, “IT” is a give and take battle or relationship. For the opponent to choke you, he or she needs to give up his or her arms. In this context to defend the choke, you can trap the arms (TAKE) and roll the heavier opponent.

Finally, we practiced learning one of the basic strategies and techniques of defending against a punching opponent that is in the top mounted position. Once again for the opponent to gain the most leverage and power to punch downward towards your face/head, he will need to create distance. When you close this space and get really tight to the opponent’s chest, you can effectively protect your face from damage. In this situation you are in a survival mode, yet you need to relax so you do not use a lot of personal strength. The technique we practiced from here was to trap the arm and roll. The major details are for those that came to class. Moving forward as you develop better ground fighting skills, the defenses to the mount will be making in very difficult of the opponent to mount you the first place. You strategies in escaping from the cross side position and putting up defensive “Road-Blocks” will prevent the mount position from being established.

Congratulations to all of the students that have been promoted this week in their progress towards blue belts: Faixa Azul!

Be ready for next week!

Best,

Prof. Tony Pacenski

Elite Training Center

Wikipedia defines alliance as an agreement or friendship between two or more parties, made in order to advance common goals and to secure common interests. So how does this pertain to Elite Training Center, well we have combined forces with Riviera Fitness Club to offer the Elite students a discounted rate at our neighboring gym. Everyone in Mixed Martial Arts, Krav Maga, Muay Thai, Filipino Kickboxing, Kali/Silat and all other Arts are eligible! Lets boost our community and in return we hope to help our school grow by channeling their members into our Martial Artists world.

As all of our programs studied here at Elite Training Center, our MMA program is a unique mixture to form a flowing blend of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Japanese Jiu-Jitsu, Kick Boxing, Muay Thai, Filipino Kick Boxing, Silat, Greco Roman Wrestling and Collegiate Wrestling. Our Instructors have all combined their knowledge to form one of the first and only belting systems for MMA in the world. This System is used to insure growth at the school from the ground up.

Even though our MMA program is very open minded and adapts to the changing and ever so developing arts around it, we fall back on tradition. Elite implements the same ancient Martial Artists rules of Discipline, Honor, Respect & Strength. In MMA mental growth and toughness is as essential as its physical and technical aspects. Elite Training Center bases MMA on the idea that it builds strong bodies and minds such as the quote, “There is honor in tapping out.”

In addition to teaching Mixed Martial Arts as a sport Elite Training Center teaches the practical self-defense techniques associated with the art. The strikes and softer techniques such as joint locks and manipulations can serve to dissuade a potential threat in the streets. We believe that all our Programs coincide with one another and work under one large umbrella. Students are encouraged to use MMA classes to augment their self-defense training. In retrospect they can use Krav Maga, Kali, Fit-Flex and Kickboxing to supplement their MMA skills.

Elite Training Center. What does it mean to you? What does being apart of the Elite family mean to the rest of your life? For a while I have heard that Elite is a gym, or maybe students call it a place where they train for self defense. Some only come because they are interested about the jiu jitsu taught in the MMA or they just want the Muay Thai technique that they get from training in kickboxing classes. I have come to believe that Elite Training Center is an academy by definition. It is a holy ground where others, as well as yourself, are dedicated to improving the mental as well as physical aspects of life. Whether it be knife and stick fighting of Kali Silat, the effective techniques taught to defend yourself in Krav Maga, or maybe you would rather enjoy the sport aspect of MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) and roll using Brazilian Jiu Jitsu technique fused with Muay Thai and American Kickboxing. Within all of these dynamic learning opportunities you also learn underlying virtues that rarely converge so perfectly. Respect. For others, yourself, and the life your allowed to live. Discipline. To control your emotions, to listen to others, and to live a responsible life. Integrity. Do you live with integrity everyday? This is something to ask daily. For I cannot answer how it affects your life or if your doing it.

Often times people wonder why hand wraps are such an important part of Thai Boxing / kickboxing. Not only does it offer protection to the wrist and knuckles, but also represents a long tradition.

Martial arts from Southeast Asia are a mix of sorts. The fighting styles of Siamese soldiers most likely used Muay Boran which evolved into Muay Thai. The wrapping of the hands could have come from an art known as Lethawae from Burma. Contests were held between anyone who wanted to partake. The fights weren’t held in rings rather in sand pits.

We must, as martial artists know and understand where the martial arts we study comes from. It is the responsibility of any student at Elite Training Center to research the disciplines studied.

It’s Friday almost 9pm, my skin is submerged in goose bumps, I have the inability to stop sweating, my thoughts are racing, my emotions are running high. But yet I feel calm. Almost as if this is the breaking point, the calm before the storm. It’s now less then 24 hours until the bell rings and a predetermined violent affair begins.

In life emotions change, you lose someone you become sad, you miss them. You become angry or frustrated. Eventually you move on and celebrate the life they had, and the life you have to live. As in life in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) your emotions run high. The build up of emotions is almost catastrophic, that is if you cannot control them. They can also fuel you if embraced properly. Accept what is to come and put all effort towards what you want, all emotions seized, and you will be successful.

We will not allow you to fail……At Elite training center whether it be Krav Maga, Kail, Kickboxing or mixed martial arts, we work to assist you in your path so that you will not fail in reaching your goals within life, as well as in martial arts…

Elite Training Center’s “Team Elite” had a strong presence and showing at the Grapplers Quest held in Long Beach, CA October 10th, 2009.  Many of our athletes took medals home from the well known event. Results will be posted soon.  Here are some pictures of the event.

http://www.alpiner.net/FUN/People/Grapplers-Quest/9923001_6YSyB#676748238_2y8rX