June 12th, 2009 by jgatienza
Star sweep
October 15th, 2008 by jgatienza
Star sweep: starting from your guard. 1) using your left thumb lift up your opponents sleeve and grab it and lock your elbow down to your side. 2) break your opponent down using your abs and legs. 3) when he is leaning over you, space has been created to work your right arm under his knee, be sure to get your head close to it. 4) swing your left leg out as far as you can. 5) your right leg is still over and across your opponents back, apply pressure downward at the same time your left leg swings (clockwise) straight across the floor, this motion will “sweep” your opponent off his knees, from there you proceed to mount him.
If the sweep fails go to the omaplata. Now if your opponent realizes that you are trying to sweep him and he leans forward and wraps his left arm under your head. 1) with your left hand push away on his head. 2) throw your left leg over his head and squeeze your knees and hammer down. 3) and if your right hand is under his knee from trying to star sweep him, now would be a good time to free it if it isn’t already. 4) apply the armbar. 5) if he pulls his right arm out you still have the other arm to apply the armbar, cross your feet, his wrist should be on your traps/under chin area, locate his elbow and apply pressure downward and if you have to raise your hips.
Now if he postures up go for the triangle. 1) throw your left leg over his right shoulder. 2) push his left arm across your gut, lock it down by grabbing your shin, with your right hand grab your foot. 3) push off on your right foot to break him down, you might have to do this a few times. 4) once you’ve broken him down, throw your right leg over your left foot and pull down on his head for the sub.
Thoughts: I need to be more aware and react to my opponent if I’m going to my guard, I find myself in a bad position all the time.
July 29th, 2008 by jgatienza
Star sweep: starting from a closed guard, grab hold of your opponents sleeve with your left hand or grab behind his right elbow. Use your legs and abs to break down his posture, when he leans over shoot your right hand behind his knees like your are doing a bicep curl. Use your left leg and swing it to the left to turn your body so that his and yours make an L shape, your right leg should be high up on his lats, drive your right leg down and do a “scissor” like motion and then get into mount.
Variation: still starting from the guard, pop your opponents sleeve with your thumb and pistol grip it, if your opponet sits down and doesn’t allow you to get behind his knee, grab the pant sleeve. Swing your left leg out as far as you can, do a shoulder fly with his right arm and left leg, right leg should be high on his lats, drive your right leg down and do a “scissor” like motion and then get into mount.
Defense against the sweep: if your opponent tries to work his hand behind your left knee, simply sit on it, take his gi out of his belt, post up on your feet and feed the gi behind his back to your right hand, this will tie up his right arm. From there you can push down on his right knee for the pass.
Rolling review: I found myself in a triangle again, I was able to escape but I fell short in getting into side control. I must not stop until I get into side control. Fighting out of a half guard sucks. Remember when you are in side control go to position 2 to prevent him from getting half guard, push your hips high up on his torso. Remember to control the legs, grab under his leg and hold his gi.
Tips: think about how to get back into your guard