Knee-Pin, Reverse Scarf-Hold & Full Mount (diary entry)

01.06.20   The second part of my client’s second course on MMA appears to be becoming a Submission Grappling/Ground-Fighting course. After a warm-up of ground-fighting callisthenics, we began where we left last week at the knee-pin.   When it comes to covering the pins, transitioning is very important. I ensured that both my client and her lockdown partner first went through all the transitions up to this point (side-control, scarf-hold, north-south, scarf-hold, side control, knee-pin). From the knee-pin, my client and her lockdown partner drilled two types of arm-bar set-ups. The first one dealt with the near side arm and the second one the far side arm.   Next we went back to side-control and transitioned to reverse scarf-hold. This position gave us the kimura and reverse arm-triangle submissions. We paid a lot of attention to correct positioning and also using one submission attack to the set up the other, putting the opponent under pressure and providing better opportunities for a second attack.   We then transitioned from reverse scarf-hold to full mount. In order to do this efficiently my client brought her knee up and gripped her foot. We went over the reason why gripping one’s foot to transition to the mount is important and briefly touched up half-guard. The opponent will constantly be looking for gaps to exploit and limbs to trap from underneath. This transitioning point is a classic example. He is likely to catch the leg, as it is moves from the reverse scarf-hold to mount, in his own legs and then move into a half-guard counter-attack. Keeping hold the foot during the transition defends against this possibility.   When in the full mount a wide range of possibilities opens up for the fighter. We looked at the high mount position, where a simplified arm-bar can be accessed amongst other submissions. Then we went down to a low mount position and the grapevine stretch. We then went over the Americana, the Kimura and the snake-choke. We will continue from the position, tighten up all transitions and look at the opposite side knee-pin next week before moving onto escapes.   BOOK PLACE NOW ON THE SOFT SKILLS WEBINAR THIS SUNDAY!