Grapplearts: Two Updates, and Defending Chokes from Half Guard

[Stephan Kesting]

UPDATE #1: UNORTHODOX POSITIONS DVD

Recently I taught a seminar on Unorthodox BJJ Positions. The success
of this seminar inspired me to write a series of newsletters on how to
use unusual positions to confuse, frustrate and ultimately submit your
opponent.

If you missed those posts you can read them again here:
www.grapplearts.com/2009/03/unfair-advantage-unorthodox-bjj.htm
www.grapplearts.com/2009/03/kesa-gatame-in-bjj-unorthodox-position.htm
www.grapplearts.com/2009/03/offside-kesa-gatame-another-unorthodox.htm
www.grapplearts.com/2009/03/stephan-kesting-teaching-reverse-mount.htm

At this seminar I actually had a camera crew filmthe whole affair with
HD cameras. I didn't dwell on this earlier because I wanted to see
what the footage looked like before I made a decision to release it or
not.

We've been editing this footage in secret, and I got to have a look at
the rough cut last night. Now I'm convinced that it's going to be a
very useful and informative product. I'd forgotten how many
techniques, concepts and details I shared at that seminar!

So if everything continues to go well with the production process then
the final DVD should be released in a couple of weeks. I'll keep you
posted via this newsletter

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UPDATE #2: LIBORIO ON BJJ AND MMA

If you're watching the UFC these days then you know what an MMA
powerhouse American Top Team has become. And one of the cornerstones
of their success is the BJJ coaching prowess of Ricardo Liborio.

A few months ago I asked the Grapplearts readership if they had any
questions for Mr. Liborio. I collected and collated the questions,
and finally had a chance to talk to him last week.

It was a great interview, and I learned a ton about his training and
fighting methods. As soon as I'm done with dotting the i's and
crossing the t's I'll make it available to you guys.

In fact, I'm ONLY going to make this available to my newsletter
readership - a reward for being a member of the Grapplearts Tribe!

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DEFEATING AND DEFENDING THE BRABO CHOKE

A fan of the half guard recently asked me how they could avoid getting
caught in the Brabo choke:

"I like going for the foot grab sweep from half guard. My problem is
that I always get caught in a guillotine choke or Brabo choke when I
go for the leg of my opponent. What can I do to stop getting choked
all the time?"

The first step of defending any technique is to understand the
technique. Once you know how an attack yourself then your spider
sense starts tingling when your opponent starts to set it up on you.

Brabo choke specialists typically like to attack when their opponent
has an underhook. Here's an example of how to apply the Brabo choke:
http://www.grapplearts.com/Brabo-No-Gi-Choke.htm

So it's true that getting choked from the half guard is a legitimate
concern. But that doesn't mean that the half guard or the foot grab
sweep is useless.

Every single position and technique has its vulnerabilities: if you
throw a jab your opponent might slip it and counter with an uppercut,
if you use the open guard your opponent might have an opportunity to
footlock you, and if you use the half guard you have to watch out for
the Brabo choke (aka the "D'Arce choke").

The trick is to be aware of the potential dangers of a position and
taking precautions to prevent the counterattacks!

So let's get back to the half guard. In order to attack with the foot
grab sweep you need to first secure the underhook with the top arm.
BUT once you get the underhook you shouldn't just hang out there.

The underhook is a means to an end, NOT an end in itself.

And a related mistake is to get the underhook and then start grabbing
for your opponent's foot. This is incorrect. To do it properly you
first need to move down, down down.  

You should have your ear resting on his hip and your face almost in
*ahem* his crotch before you grab the foot and go for the sweep.  

And if you're down that far then it's very hard for him to get his
arms into position to choke you.

But let's say that you screw up, give him the opening and he attacks
with that darn Brabo choke. If you own it, I suggest you check out
the series of defenses to this choke that I covered in my Dynamic Half
Guard DVD.
www.grapplearts.com/Guard-Sweep-DVDs.php

If you don't have that DVD then one simple Brabo defense is to throw
yourself hard, flat on your back, BEFORE he finalizes his hand
position.  To avoid getting rolled he has to release and post his
hands, which also gets you out of the choke.

With regards to the guillotine, the most likely time for your opponent
to lock it on is once the sweep is already happening and he's falling
back onto his butt. So keep your awareness high at all times: if he
slaps on a guillotine during the sweep, as he's falling, then scramble
to the correct side to counter the choke.

Hope this helps...

Stephan Kesting
www.grapplearts.com

P.S. If you want to know which way to scramble in order to avoid the
guillotine choke then read this post:
www.grapplearts.com/2008/08/never-get-guillotined-again.htm