As our grappling journey takes us from beginner to novice, there are a number of technique styles that become important to start playing with. These styles are the answers to when the fundamentals are becoming harder and harder to effectively work against our stronger opponents and competition. It can be a frustrating plateau (get used to it, there will be many throughout the journey). I can offer two immediate glimmers of hope to help move off the plateau and get back to progress:
- Fundamentals will work again, but if you’ve hit this plateau it means that all of the tiniest nuances have to be tightened up to work against tougher opposition. As an example, you no longer can get by with a pretty good Knee Slice. You now need an excellent Knee Slice. Even the slightest space, incorrect weight distribution or shift, or tiniest miss in setup or timing will be exposed at these higher levels of rolling. Time to do some active resistance drilling and tighten up all of the fundamental techniques. I often tell my students that if you are unable to truly threaten your opponent with the fundamentals, the fancy variations aren’t going to be any more effective. The variations are often based upon good defense to the fundamentals. They are the answer to solid fundamental offense being countered with solid fundamental defense. There is no need for your opponent to commit to solid fundamental defense if the offense isn’t a threat in the first place (in fact, they are probably busy planning their own out-of-the-box next step unburdened by fear). Likewise, there is no need to “get fancy” if the fundamentals work, especially since the fundamentals are often the safer and less vulnerable options. Keep fine tuning your fundamentals!!!
- Variations – It’s time to start using fundamentals to set up the “fancier” variations. By fancier, yes, I’m talking about the moves that so far you have marveled over on youtube videos, live competition feeds, at a seminar, or just watching higher belts roll. The showstopping moves that made you say, “oh right, like I’m going to pull that off anytime soon” or “well, there was one other variation from the seminar, but I couldn’t get my body to move that way, so let’s run through the ones we can do” (believe me, as a student of Robson Moura, I feel you). Yet (in my best Bruce Buffer voice), “It… is… Tiiiiiime!” If you don’t begin to dabble in these variations, your fundamental game will be more likely to stay stagnant as well. Just as your fundamental threats create openings for variations, your variation threats will create more fundamental success by forcing your opponent to consider more paths to defend.
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Thinking Above-the-Mat
One of the variation paths you can add to the game that offers a completely different level of attack and element of surprise are the Aerial techniques. I think of this family of moves to have two groups within it: true Aerials and pseudo-aerials or Floating techniques. The true Aerials are moves that happen in the air due to the practitioner’s initiation without a major assist from the opponent; think of Cartwheel Passes, Flying Triangles, etc. The Floating techniques happen in the air, but utilize the opponent to provide some of the lift; think of a hip-switch counter to a Butterfly Sweep, or a defended Tomoe Nage throw being converted into an Arm Bar before the opponent is brought back down to the mat.
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I found that it is far easier to get my feel for these aerials by beginning with passes over highlight reel submission attempts. The passes are also more likely to have a major effect on your overall game more quickly. Submissions need more than just an attempt to win matches and be effective. Failed aerial submissions can often leave us disconnected and vulnerable. On the other hand, just attempting some of the aerial and floating passes will immediately make it harder for opponents to maintain control, even when the passes might still need some work.
I also find it easier to start with the pseudo-aerial or Floating techniques. These techniques give you a feel for that ebb and flow of energy (above the mat) in a live roll between you and your opponent. They are answers to the actions and responses of your opponent, versus taking that solo leap of faith that you need when initiating a true Aerial. I started to have pretty fluid hips and base control in the air as a late stage white belt, but only well into blue belt training did I start becoming effective with a Head Stand Pass, jumping into Triangle control, or Cartwheeling over my opponent to a Back Take.
Today’s technique is a perfect one to start drilling and get a feeling for off-the-ground movement and balance. It is a floating pass technique from competition phenom Leanodro Lo. The action happens just barely off the ground, making it not some feat of acrobatic excellence to perform. It is a fluid hip-switch movement that can be applied in a wide variety of passing and countering situations once you have a good feel for it. It will also offer you a passing option to one of those pesky higher-belt guards that us blue belts find ourselves in–and sometimes unsure of–at this stage of learning: The X-Guard.
Step-by-Step:
- In opponent’s X-Guard with solid grip on the leg trapped over opponent’s inside shoulder preventing the knee to be turned into opponent. Opponent may also be in tight and deep enough to begin stretching the controlled leg out and disrupting base and balance.
- Drop and turn hips directly toward own leg trapped over opponent’s shoulder
- Tip: Make a strong base post on the mat with the hand on the same side as leg controlled by the Guard and a light counterbalancing post as necessary with hand on the same side of leg trapped over opponent’s shoulder.
- Lighten the controlled leg (now the rear leg after squaring hips) almost lifting completely off the mat and drive all of own weight forward onto the leg trapped over opponent’s shoulder (now the front leg). Hips stay low and the front leg stays flexed, while the chest and shoulders push the center of gravity further over the front leg base.
- Tip: Proper weight distribution will lighten the controlled leg, rendering the X-Guard control ineffective for sweeps
- With the same-side hand of the front leg, grip opponent’s gi under the inside arm pit with a shallow underhook
- Lean forward until weight begins to pass front leg
- Tip: Being careful to keep the rear leg light, use ball of rear foot to bounce and inch forward if needed
- Once center of gravity is just passing over the posting front leg, feel for the timing and proper weight distribution to easily perform a hip-switch and pass the front leg over opponent’s head and back under own hips (baseball slide style) on opposite side of opponent.
- Tip: Opponent may force the timing of this step, or can purposely wait to use opponent’s energy, by timing the hip-switch to occur when opponent stretches the controlled rear leg (which in its lightened state will automatically drive weight forward)
- As the leg clears, drop hips to the mat on outside of opponent
- Complete another hip-switch by scissoring this same leg under the previously controlled rear leg (now free) and use underhook (and Cross Face if you can get it) to consolidate into Side Control
WATCH THIS VIDEO for some great Aerial drills and passing options from Robson Moura
Image credit: http://thepurcellchronicles.blogspot.com/2014_03_01_archive.html (and in honor of my good friends in the 82nd)
Image credit: http://graciebarra.com/2015/03/gracie-barra-pan-ams/
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