The Ranges of Ground 'n Pound - MMA Personal Training Ground Fighting Lesson

11.11.2025

Combat base in full guard - MMA personal training

MMA Personal Training Ground Fighting Lesson

My last lesson of the evening was with my long-time client of seven years. We are currently into the seventh lesson of his first 10 x 1.5 hour set of MMA personal training ground fighting. These longer lessons are usually reserved for more advanced students. Tonight's class consisted of 12 x 3-minute rounds of specific sparring going through the different ranges within the MMA ground range. Unlike all previous lessons in this particular course, we dispensed with the 2 x 5-minute rounds of Submission Grappling and permitted strikes from the off.

The Rounds

We progressed through the rounds, starting from the most disadvantageous positions for the defender and moving towards more favorable ones. Our approach focused on considering ranges rather than specific positions. This concept will be further clarified in the detailed analysis of each round. For each round, I've outlined the client's objectives. As his coach and sparring partner, my role is to help him attempt these objectives in the same position during the subsequent round.

1. Full back mount - top fighter's objective is to secure a submission or score 5 uninterrupted punches/elbow strikes to the head.

2. Full back mount - bottom fighter's objective is to escape the position by turning into guard or standing up without their back exposed.

3. Mount - top fighter's objective is to secure a submission or score 5 uninterrupted punches/elbow strikes to the head.

4. Mount - bottom fighter's objective is to escape by reversing the position or achieving a guard position. Moving to another pin, such as back-mount, is considered a loss.

5. Side control/scarf-hold - top fighter's objective to transition to another pin other than the two described, land five uninterrupted punches/elbow strikes to the head, land three uninterrupted knee strikes or secure a position.

6. Side control/scarf-hold - bottom fighter's objective is to reverse the position or achieve a guard position. Escaping to a turtle is considered a bail out, effectively neutral rather than a win for either side.

7. Turtle position - top fighter's objective is to land five uninterrupted punches/elbow strikes to the head, three uninterrupted knee strikes or kicks to the body, get full back mount, turn the bottom fighter into a pin or secure a submission.

8. Turtle position - bottom fighter's objective is to stand up without their back exposed, sweep or score a takedown, reverse the position and take the back or secure a submission.

9. Mid-range guard - top fighter's objective is to land five uninterrupted punches/elbow strikes to the head, flatten the bottom fighter or pass their guard.

10. Mid-range guard - bottom fighter's objective is to stand-up, sweep or submit the top fighter. The mid-range guard qualifies as butterfly and all half-guard variations except deep half-guard. Going to full guard or turtle position is considered a bail-out, effectively a neutral position with neither side fulfilling their objective.

11. Full guard - top fighter's objective is score five uninterrupted punches/elbow strikes to the head, secure a submission, pass guard or flatten opponent in half-guard.

12. Full guard - bottom fighter's objective is to stand-up, sweep or secure a submission.

We had a technical break after the turtle rounds, discussing the reverse half-guard rear naked choke attack.

The lesson finished with PNF, dynamic and static stretches.

Click Here For More Info On MMA Personal Training