Technique: Half-Guard Passes, Attacks, Sweeps

1/17/2011~1/21/2011

          This week at El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, we focused on attacks, sweeps, and passes from the half-guard. This position can be very common in Jiu-Jitsu, and understanding the position could instantaneously improve your game even with just a basic set of skills.
           It is important to know that when you are in the half-guard both people have the exact same position with the legs. The only difference is that one person is on top and the other is on their back. With this in mind, it should help you understand that winning this position depends on how you use your upper body with your lower body to find a successful attack.

Attacks to Pass & Submissions: 
    Passing:
- Under hook trapped side, head on the other. tripod high to escape knee cap. Knee slide out and away.
    Use other foot to kick out if necessary.
- Turn to expose the back. Escape knee cap, place on mat. Twist body and use other foot to kick out.- - -- Hook behind the head and jump to the other side. Make sure you have a post. Hip-escape to expose
   knee cap. Use other foot to kick out if necessary.
    Submissions:
- Lapel choke: 
- Think box choke: Expose the back, hip escape toward head to open up the body. Wrap arm around the
                                head trapping the arm.

Sweeps & Getting the back:
- Trap their over hook take them to that side.
- Get a deep under hook to trap far foot, go into them/get bottom knee out.
- If their hand is posted on the mat: follow the under hook side all the way to the back, seatbelt grip, one hook in.

Eliot Kelly 

www.edhbjj.com

El Dorado Hills Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

"Noticing how something can be the hardest part of learning how to do something."

Why do we Bow in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu?

       This past weekend I was at the Grappling X Tournament in Elk Grove where there were many exciting gi and no-gi matches. In addition to some exciting moves, one thing that stood out from that day was the act of bowing. Some chose to bow and some didn't. It seemed many didn't really understand the significance of bowing. A few years ago I would have said that bowing didn't matter, and I didn't think much of bowing. However, a few recent experiences have helped change my perspective.

        At the high school in Japan where I taught English and coached wrestling, the wrestling club practiced alongside the Kendo Club. In general, Kendo clubs are known for being very meticulous about following protocol. I remember one time when a young student neglected to bow to one of the visiting teachers. That student ended up receiving a harsh lecture on bowing for a solid hour. In many Japanese Martial Arts, especially in Kendo, there is a phrase, "start with a bow and end with a bow"「礼」にはじまり「礼」に終わる. People explain that it is not enough to just remember to bow. Rather, it is important to have the spirit or feeling of respect and honor while doing so. Many similarities can be drawn between Jiu-Jitsu and Kendo.

        Jiu-Jitsu, like kendo, began as a Military Art with one objective, destroy your opponent. Over the years Jiu-Jitsu has changed into a Martial Art, a Self Defense, a way to build people with integrity and strengthen the body, mind and spirit. Going at it only with the intentions of obliterating your opponent would be uncivilized, and might as well be the same as a violent fistfight. Therefore, in Jiu-Jitsu, where character building is the emphasis, following proper etiquette is a must. 

Obviously, bowing is an important way to show your respect toward someone.  The act of bowing is also a way to quickly adjust your mind, body, spirit, and attitude. It is said that your body reflects your state of mind and spirit, and that the feeling of respect can be communicated through your bow. In Japan, where bowing goes hand in hand with greetings, bowing is considered a requirement for all human relationships. Bowing should not only reflect a sense of respect to your training partner, but also your thankfulness for your instructor, training grounds, and even to yourself and where you are in your daily life.

At the Grappling X Tournament some competitors would slap the mat out of frustration in defeat, and some would slap the mat and cheer out of joy for victory. Doing this would be looked down upon in many Japanese Martial Arts or not be tolerated at all. The reasoning behind this is that you should never forget to feel thankful and remain respectful towards your opponent who tried their very best in competition and trained with just as much emotional intensity for your battle.

From a layman's perspective, Jiu-Jitsu is a contest where two people are trying to break each others limbs or choke each other out. The reason Jiu-Jitsu is able to remain a contest and not turn into a brawl or quarrel is because the act of bowing is included. The bow signifies a spirit of mutual agreement to train together and make each other better. Since there exists a feeling of mutual modesty and humility, people are able to go at it with the utmost intensity and at the same time have no intention of hurting each other. 

        Some may say that Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is not a Japanese Martial Art and therefore you don't have to bow. If that's the case I recommend you go back to the top of the page and read the article again! 

Eliot Kelly

916-595-4064

www.edhbjj.com

       

FROM CERAMICS TO JIU-JITSU

While I was working in Japan, I had the opportunity to start learning how to make ceramics. (Yes, this blog is going to be about Jiu-Jitsu. Bear with me!) I was fortunate enough to have the experience because I took a weekly trip on a single-track train up the hills to the small mountainous town of Shigaraki (信楽). This town was famous for their ceramics known as Shigaraki-yaki (信楽焼), and at Shigaraki High School, where I taught English, there was a well-established Ceramics Club. I was initially reluctant because the idea of sitting in one place and hovering over a pot of clay on a spinning wheel was not appealing, but I was willing to try something at least once.

The entire experience turned out to be a great learning opportunity. In many ways I was humbled as the students around me kept turning out nice looking cups and bowls while the clay in front of me just kept taking peculiar shapes. Hora-Sensei, who wasn’t a Sensei (先生) yet, but had just finished his apprenticeship (He said some days he had to make 100 ‘exactly the same’ bowls, cups, etc. “Exactly the same” meaning the same size, shape, weight, thickness, everything or he had to start over!), and was currently working on passing his exams to become a certified teacher. He liked learning English words that applied to making ceramics, and one phrase we coined was “soft touch” and “hard touch.”

Although I didn’t think much of the phrase at the time, the words have remained very distinct in my memory. Surprisingly enough, once I started teaching Jiu-Jitsu in El Dorado Hills I realized the phrase applied to Jiu-Jitsu. Obviously, “hard touch” equated to moments when direct pressure had to be applied, and “soft touch” equated to moments when light pressure had to be applied. After a while it became obvious when I wanted to apply “hard” or “soft” pressure, but it was very difficult to figure out when to start and stop as well as the amount of intensity meant by “hard” and “soft.” Trying to explain the right moments would be a very daunting task (and I invite you to comment on this) but I will try to compare and relate the two different “touches.”

A “hard touch” involved using your body weight, a lot of constant downward pressure, and was generally done with the wheel spinning slower than usual.  A “soft touch” involved strength and used just as much muscle, but was not backed up by your body weight. A “soft touch” was applied with the wheel spinning at a faster speed. Both resulted in plenty of control over the clay, and both required a concentrated amount of pressure on a specific area of the clay. If we allow ourselves to meditate on this for a little while, we may find it useful in the development of our Jiu-Jitsu game!

Eliot Kelly
www.edhbjj.com