Wednesday, June 08, 2005

BJJ Move #10: Cross Side

Once you've passed the guard, you'll typically end up in this position. It offers good control and mobility.

WARNING! These techniques could result in serious injury or death if practiced incorrectly or even if performed correctly. They should only be practiced with the supervision of an experienced instructor.

Cross Side:
-Position
-Basic

There are two basic variations on this position:

In “Yoko Shiho Gatame” (or “overclasp”) you are on your opponent’s right side with him on his back, your legs are basing out, your left arm is across his head with your left elbow on the ground beside his left ear and your left hand on the ground below his left armpit. Your right hand is on the ground by his right hip or holding a knee (keeps him from getting a knee under you).

In “Mune Gatame” (or “underclasp”) your knees are folded under you, your left knee is (ideally) under his right armpit, and your left hand is under his head and left shoulder (left elbow and left knee trapping his right arm). Your right hand is under his left armpit with your left hand clasping on the top of your right hand (left and right hands trapping his head and left arm). Your right elbow and right knee trap his hips. Make sure your left knee is in his right armpit, to keep him from getting his arm in and turning you or hipping out. Put your chest squarely on his chest to keep weight on him, and lean your left shoulder onto his neck to keep his head turned to his left—that makes it harder for him to hip away. Keep your hips down.

Cross Side notes:
· Stay chest to chest; keep your weight on him.
· Knees spread apart so your hips are low.
· Do not bring your hips down close to his hips, or he’ll be able to roll you over him easily.
· Keep your butt low / hips down, or he’ll be able to put his arm (the one closer to you) under your hips and throw you over his body and take the cross side).
· When you have the cross side (on his right) with your hands around his head (mune gatame), he’ll try to hip out to put you in guard. You should either:
o Switch your hips out to the right, putting him into a kesa gatame hold (not yet covered).
–OR—
o Switch your hips out to the left, keeping your left leg and hip flat on the ground so he can’t put you into the guard. Then:
o Try a Kimura lock on his far arm. When he reacts by sitting back, step over into the mount.
· With the mune gatame (a/k/a underclasp), you want to drive the shoulder, or at least bicep, of the arm around his head so his head turns away from you. With his head facing away, it’s hard for him to turn his hips into you to put you back in guard.
· With the mune gatame (a/k/a underclasp), put your elbow in your opponent’s hip and your knee by the other hip to pin his hips in place and limit mobility.
· Remember, often in side control, you really need to grind down your opponent (either play tight or tire him out) before you can finish or you may have to catch your opponent while he's escaping.
· Be mobile. Sometimes your opponent will really bridge or push to get out. Knee on stomach (not yet covered) is a good option to keep you mobile, allow you to use less energy while you control your opponent and also frustrate and tire him out, forcing him to make mistakes.

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