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ESCAPING FROM THE GROUND AND RETURNING TO YOUR FEET
Author: David Meyer
If you do hit the ground, the most likely position you’ll end up in is on your back with your opponent on top of you. Before you can begin your escape, you must keep one knee pulled in close to your stomach to stop him from getting the mount position. You should also keep your hands and arms next to your chest and between your body and his.
Although you might feel compelled to hug him to inhibit his strikes to some degree, it’s a losing battle because the action will tire your arms, leave your neck and head unprotected, and expose your limbs to an armbar. Note that this isn’t the case if he’s between your legs in your guard; then it would make sense to hold him tight until you’re ready to set up an attack or escape.
Escaping from a pinned position becomes harder as your opponent spends more time on top and consolidates his position. Therefore, it’s crucial that you learn the nuts and bolts of escaping and develop the instinct to begin your escape the moment your back hits the ground.
With your hands between you and him, thrust your hips upward to lift him several inches. Do not push with your arms because it will tire your muscles and leave you open to an armbar. Instead, lift him by engaging the muscles of your legs, butt and back to make a bridge. At the highest point of the lift, drop your hips to the ground and roll onto your side to look toward his legs. Quickly use your feet to push off the ground and slide your hips away from him, bringing your bodies into a direct line. Then roll onto your stomach and immediately rise to your hands and knees so you can take off like a sprinter.
If he tries to spin and get to your back, continue your sprinting motion until you can stand. If you’re unable to break free, turn to face him, then use the cross-face and sprawl (see part one of this article). If he doesn’t spin and instead remains in your path, prohibiting you from rising to your feet, immediately reverse your motion and lie back on your side.
Allow your legs to spin forward between you and him, then use them to shove him back so you can scramble to your feet.
If you already have some basic Brazilian-jujutsu skills, another grappling position you may wind up in is with your opponent between your legs in your guard. The most basic way to get up from here is to uncross your feet and use your hands and knees to hold him off as you retract your legs and kick him away.
If he’s low to the ground and too close for you to use your feet, place your left hand on the back of his neck and your right hand on the ground by your side, and in one movement, push his head into the ground as you slide your legs back and out. That will leave you sprawled on top of him. Then spin to the side, disengage and strike.
STRIKING ON THE GROUND
As a stand-up fighter, you’re trained to throw strikes, and on the ground that can work against you in two ways. First, most of your techniques rely on leverage, body weight and momentum that cannot be generated on the ground, especially when you’re on your back. You’ll probably try to make up for those deficiencies by using your muscles, and that will fatigue you and prevent you from focusing on escaping and returning to your feet. Second, when you extend your arms and legs to hit your opponent, you leave yourself open to joint locks.
Your instinct to throw strikes while on the ground is not a bad thing, but it must be channeled into techniques that are appropriate for that range. Remember that whoever controls the position—that is, whoever is the better grappler—will be able to execute ground strikes more effectively. And effective strikes on the ground, like all moves in grappling, rely on first establishing the correct position.
When you’re pinned on your back, there are simply no effective ways to hit. You might attempt a groin grab or eye gouge, but your opponent can do the same and with more authority. Therefore, you must channel all your effort into escaping.
If you’re on your back and your opponent is in your guard, you can protect yourself from strikes by using your crossed legs to pull him close, then entrapping his arms and body. At that point, you have two options: Release him and begin your escape as previously discussed, or throw a flurry of strikes and follow up with a clinch. Remember that he can strike you with more power, so you must use your legs, which are wrapped around his body, to keep him off-balance and moving forward and backward.
If you’re on top of a supine opponent, you can throw elbow strikes to the side of his head and knees to his ribs. If you find yourself sprawled on top of him after his attempted takedown, you have knee strikes, but executing them can leave you vulnerable if he opts to grab your legs and take you down. Therefore, it’s best to spin to the side, make a space and start striking.
MAT TIME
When you take to the mat to practice these strategies, wear suitable grappling gloves to protect yourself and your partner. Begin at low intensity and work your way up. Ensure that neither side gets carried away.
Although investing the effort needed to become a skilled grappler is laudable, a more efficient use of your precious training time might involve honing the skills described above. Mastering them will add a realistic grappling component to your game and leave you time to continue your pursuit of the striking art to which you’ve already dedicated your life. ...
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