Gary Menezes
homerésumé

Head & Shoulder Posts to Defend Guard

April 04, 2023

Where the Head Goes the Body Will Follow.

 Warmup Drills

Partner Warmup Drills

(15 minutes)

SLX hip up cycle for time
  • SLX hip up & then basic sweep
  • uke builds up on their free leg & that side hand post
  • uke shifts weight back to SLX'd leg and stands up
Armbars
Triangles (option: from double wrist grips)

Live Positional

(10 minutes)

King of the hill; points or escape; king starts on bottom; switch out if you win 3 times.

Starting position: grounded double leg, legs wrapped, head at opposite hip, leg to leg connection (i.e. mostly parallel to the person on bottom)

Instruction: Clearing the Head on Grounded Doubles

(5 minutes)

  • at least up on back elbow - if we're back on the mat, we do something else
  • forearm windshield or hand on side of head
  • mini-shrimp hip out as we clear (can't just use arm strength. similar mechanic to an arm drag from guard)
  • keep their head stuffed, technical standup into a sprawl
  • NOTE: common failure mode is opp stepping over to the opposite side - make sure we get out to the side & get our hips high asap

Drill

(10 minutes)

Instruction: Temple Post from Half Guard

(5 minutes)

  • don't rely on this, but it's a useful tool
  • e.g. uke is low bodylock passing - pummeling feet & turning the corner
  • the same mechanics as the grounded double defense - shrimp out to the side and clear their head
  • you can disengage or reguard

Drill

(10 minutes)

Instruction: Heisman Escape

(5 minutes)

  • as uke passes to side control, double post on their crossfacing arm (straight up, gripping at the elbow + upper arm)
  • combine shrimps + vertical pendulumns to rock upright / onto your other elbow
  • continue hip escaping / butt scooting to recover open / butterfly guard

references: Marcelo Garcia - Elbow Push

Drill

(10 minutes)

Common Ideas

(5 minutes)

  • direct uke's head / shoulders away from the pass
  • close off uke's shoulders
  • watch out for uke's rotation and the risk of north south etc. Stop this by blocking with your torso or hips.

Live Positional

(2 minute rounds)

  • Same position as the KOTH rounds

Live Rounds

(30 minutes)

3 - 6 minute rounds depending on energy levels.