09/17/2025
Good morning! My 0515 hours morning crew has been learning/reviewing feet to floor this month. Last week and this week were/are no-gi. The following is what I have been teaching.
Last week:
We reviewed entries for Ouchi Gari. We discussed different grip set ups for this…
Grip set up options covered:
Double wrist grip (no-gi Sode style grip) – Control both wrist with a c-clamp style grip (I like to turn my opponent’s wrist palm up, causing their elbows to be inside their frame giving me better control of their movement).
Traditional tie up with head and arm – Control wrist and head. Keep opponent close by placing your forehead on the jaw line/mandibular angle area of your opponent. Keep elbows in tight.
Russian arm tie – When opponent attempts to get head control, look away from their arm as you grab the wrist pulling their arm to your chest. Gain 2 on 1 control (1 hand on wrist/forearm area, one hand grabbing the tricep/bicep area). Keep arm tight to your chest while tucking your chin placing your head on the inside of your opponent’s shoulder/chest area.
We worked on the Ouchi entry from the dominant side (everyone in class was right hand dominant). After obtaining the grip set up you prefer, work Kazushi to get your opponent’s stance opened up and their left leg forward. Step center with your right foot, cross step with left foot behind right, then hook opponents left leg with your right (tracing the big toe in a big half moon shape from inside out) driving forward and slightly to the right to accomplish the takedown.
Today we covered the following:
We went over a couple variations of no-gi Sasae Tsurikomi Ashi. The set ups/entries we covered were from the following:
Basic head and arm tie up
Opponent has head and arm tie up, you break arm control and gain head and arm (grasping the upper arm) control of them
Pummel to an over hook/under hook position.
Basic head and arm
1. Work Kazushi with push pull turn movements
2. When your opponent pushes back into you, allow them to go forward
3. I prefer guiding them to the head control side, but either side is fine
4. Plant your inside foot with the sole against the lower part of the opponent’s shin, just above the ankle area to create a sort of block
5. Pull the head down while lifting and turning the arm control side to affect the take down
6. Maintain control and move to top position (side control, knee on belly, full mount, etc…)
Opponent has head and arm tie up, you break arm control and gain head and arm (grasping the upper arm) control of them
(THIS SET UP/ENTRY IS SIMILAR TO A KOSHI GURUMA THROW)
1. Break opponents grip on your arm/wrist
2. Gain head and arm control (grasping the upper arm)
3. Work Kazushi with push pull turn movements
4. With this set up, I like to take my opponent to the arm control side, but again, either side works
5. When your opponent pushes back into you, allow them to go forward
6. Plant your foot with the sole against the lower part of the opponent’s shin, just above the ankle area to create a sort of block
7. Control the head while pulling the arm control side towards your hip pocket to affect the take down
8. Maintain control and move to top position, this will usually place you in a kesa gatame or kata gatame type position ( but you can always go to side control, knee on belly, full mount, etc…)
Pummel to an over hook/under hook position.
1. Begin pummeling till you have established a good over hook and under hook
2. Work Kazushi with push pull turn movements
3. Turn toward the over hook side while pulling the over hook down toward the mat and rotating that direction
4. Maintain control and move to top position, this will usually place you in a kesa gatame or kata gatame type position( but you can always go to side control, knee on belly, full mount, etc…)
