Hello Elite Training Center Friends,
This week in the basic adult classes we explored escaping from the bottom cross side position a.k.a. the hundred kilos position, and we also training how to develop better confidence inside the opponent’s guard. For the stand up combatives, the instructional content challenged your understanding of how to close the distance in a stand up fight and clinch the opponent against a wall. The wall was a perfect place to control the fight because the wall/cage/car helps prevent the opponent from using his hips effectively compared to the open space; also his or her punches will be less effective due to the closeness of the clinch and backing on the wall. The important strategy that was showcased and practiced was if one is committed to closing the distance to gain the clinch, do not stop if the opponent begins to move backward: Push the opponent all the way to the wall.
Third for basic combatives/self-defense that we addressed this week was basic strategies for defending against a standing opponent while you are on the ground looking up. Many of the basic techniques explored in the Krav Maga program at Elite Training Center helped aid many of you in applying the techniques of standing in base to your feet a.k.a. “The Technical Lift” in Krav Maga ;-)! Please remember to create distance with your kicks and different sitting positions before standing up when you are ready and/or if the timing is right to get back on your feet. Becoming more knowledgeable in ground fighting will determine how long to relax on the ground before getting back your feet verses the very important get back to your feet as fast as possible strategy taught in Krav Maga.
On the mat this week, we taught different strategies and techniques in how to escape from the bottom cross side position. It was important for us to understand the different distances of the position, how to behave when punches and strikes are being applied verses when the opponent is using pressure and control, and finally the very important idea of waiting for the right time to escape verses struggling to create an opening to escape. Sometimes when the opponent is just holding you down, you just have to wait for him or her to move to another position or attack with a finishing technique for you to escape; therefore, it is important to be ready, in position with your arm and leg position, and basically breath & think….relax!
Lastly this week challenged your understanding of how to be confident in the opponent’s guard. A skill ground fighter that is on the bottom position in a fight will place you in the guard. From this position the basic strategy is to pass the guard. The real fight has a different context compared to what we can train safely in the Elite Training Center. I showcased the ideas of punching your opponent to cause a reaction to open the guard, and I also showed that you can pick the opponent off the guard & slam his head/back into the hard ground. This all being addressed, we worked on basic techniques in jiu-jitsu when grappling. Basic defenses to the collar choke were taught, controls on the hips and reaching posture in the opponent’s guard from the knees were the main focuses this week. From a strong posture position, we trained how to open the opponent’s guard with distance, leverage and superior grips to reach the “Shield Position” a.k.a. the combat base position. This strategy of gaining control of the middle position in the opponent’s guard will help you perform many of the basic guard pass techniques that will be addressed in upcoming classes.
Next, the one takedown that was added to this week was the front clinch bearhug- “Tug of War” trip. This strategy in content was to commit to the front clinch-to-the-side-alittle- bearhug takedown, and if the opponent forces his or her hips away from you in the effort to run away; resist backwards in the classic tug-of-war and trip his or her leg. From this point, move to the ground fight in the top mount, cross side or top half-guard position.
The two main strategies to escape from the buttom cross side position were to get to your knees or to put the opponent in your guard or half-guard. Please remember the importance of “Baby-Bumps with your hips verses “Big-Bumps” with your hips. The one hundred dollar detail in both strategies of escape was to create space between you the opponent to make the frame position. From this point of reference, your opponent will determine if you get to your knees or put him in the guard. He or she can only defend one or the other: Not Both…. <<<The secret!
Thank you for all the students that are attending classes consistantly, and to those students that are reminding staff members about upcoming vacations.
See you all next week,
Prof. “little” Tony Pacenski
Elite Training Center
