Thursday, August 11, 2005

BJJ Move #51: Scarf Hold Defense and Escapes

What to do when someone puts you in a scarf hold. Even though you may find it's not such a good idea to put someone experienced in this technique, people will often put you in it, so the escapes are important.

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.

Scarf Hold Defense and Escapes:
-defense
-reversal

Tips:
Your opponent has you in scarf hold on your right; try to get your right elbow against your side and on the ground.


Escapes:

1) Head high: Arm brace, hook head with leg
If his head is not tightly against you then sneak your left forearm against his neck, brace your left wrist with your right hand and push him away enough so your left leg can hook his head.
Use your legs to drive his head back, rolling him onto his back. Come up onto your knees and take cross side. He may still be grabbing your head, but now you are on top and in control.

2) Head low: Hook leg
Try this escape when your opponent’s head is low to keep you from sneaking your forearm in (and also better if his legs are low, meaning, near your body).
Turn onto your right shoulder (this keeps him from controlling your right arm). Throw your left arm over his back to grab his left shoulder. Throw your left leg over his left leg, hooking it.
From here you can pull yourself around the left to his back.
If his right arm is still around your neck, you can do a chickenwing shoulderlock: Use your left shoulder to pin down his right shoulder and drive it into the ground, then use your right hand grip on his right wrist to chickenwing him by pulling his hand behind him and back up towards his right ear—-this will release his grip on your head and submit him. Or just choke him.

3) Legs far: Turn to knees
If his legs are away from you (or balled up near him), hook his left shoulder with your left hand and get your hips far away from him and get on your right side as much as you can.
Then turn on to your knees and drive forward. Base out on your right hand. If he lets the headlock go, simply take the back mount.
Otherwise, extend your left leg behind you and pull him backwards onto his left side. Come around to a cross side on his right.

4) Legs far: Roll over
Your opponent is now controlling your right arm in his left armpit in a proper kesa gatame.
Lock your hands around his ribs.
Try to turn to your right onto your knees (or at least scoot your entire body close to that of your opponent). This will make your opponent lean more weight onto you.
Now quickly bridge in the other direction (to your left), rolling him over you and taking the cross side on his right.


Comments? Please feel free to point out mistakes, describe tips on the techniques, suggest ways to make the descriptions clearer, etc.
Click here to go to the list of my BJJ move posts.

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