Submission Master Grappling Dummy - Clock Choke

So you want to practice the traditional clock choke from turtle or the tornado clock choke but you don't have a partner to practice on. Here's is where using the Submission Master Grappling Dummy gets creative.

This particular jiu jitsu grappling dummy is great for working with it on its back or postured up to work on grappling techniques from your guard. However, when it comes to techniques from the turtle position it doesn't want to stay in turtle by itself because the arms aren't stiff enough to hold it's weight up. The solution? - simply put something under the grappling dummy's stomach while it's on all fours. You could use a step stool, make a box out of plywood, use an upside down small trash can, etc. I use a small ottoman from Wal-Mart that fits perfectly and will support the abuse.

Tornado Clock Choke

After recently rolling with someone who's gi was super tight I truly see the value in the tornado clock choke. I haven't had a chance to try this out yet but am looking forward to it. We were taught to hook the inside of the thigh/leg but I can see where sometimes that may not work. So, if hooking the thigh doesn't work and grabbing the gi pants doesn't work then I say go F5 tornado on them!!

Clock Choke

During my year of Jiu Jitsu training I've heard of the clock choke but haven't learned it in class or looked it up. Last week my instructor showed it to us and I think I will end up using this a lot. It seems very effective as long as you can keep your opponent from defending.

This video does a good job of showing and explaining the basics of the clock choke.The version we learned in class was starting with one leg behind and one leg beside your opponent (opponent in turtle) and you didn't have a hold of the collar yet. I like how this video shows the transition into the clock choke starting from your back with your opponent in your guard.

Grappling Dummy - Breaking In the Legs

Before Saturday's Jiu Jitsu class I worked technique on the Submission Master Grappling Dummy for about 20 minutes. I had trouble getting it to stay upright because I hadn't used it in a while and the legs went back to their original position. The legs are stiff when you first get the grappling dummy and it takes some time working with it to break the legs in right. I didn't want to overdue it and rip the stitches in the crotch area so I've been taking easy on the legs; as a result, the legs tend to go back to default position if you go a while without using the dummy.

There are two solutions to keeping the grappling dummy's legs trained to stay in a good position when you're not using it. The first is to store the dummy with a push-up bar wedged between the thighs. This will work the stitches and material in the crotch area. Second is to store the dummy postured up with the feet pulled out with it's butt sitting on the floor between it's feet. This will work the stitches and material at the knees and legs.

1. Push-up bar wedged between the thighs.

2. Grappling Dummy postured up with it's feet pulled out and it's butt on the floor.

Al Bundy is a Black Belt!!!

Al Bundy a Black Belt? That's awesome!!

Grappling Dummy - Spider Guard Sweep

In today's Jiu-Jitsu session I had the opportunity to roll with new people at a different school. It was the perfect opportunity to try a new sweep from spider guard I saw earlier today.

I had to slowly fish my legs into position to execute the sweep but it worked twice on an opponent who was about 60lbs heavier than me (and a white belt). When I tried it against a purple belt it didn't work so well because I didn't get my legs set up quick enough before he started to defend. This move will be easy to practice on the martial arts dummy, so with a little practice I think I'll be able to use it against the higher belts. The Submission Master Grappling Dummy only weighs about 80lbs. Although 80lbs isn't much - it is dead weight, so practicing this particular spider guard sweep with the Jiu-Jitsu dummy will be good training.

Jiu Jitsu Grappling Dummy

There is a NAGA (North American Grappling Association) tournament coming up that I really want to attend. I don't feel as if I'm ready as my conditioning and mental strength isn't where I want it to be. So tonight, with only 1hr to train, I had to decide what would be the most effective use of my time.

I decided to work with the Submission Master Grappling Dummy. Out came the Jiu-Jitsu notes from class and we went to work. Most of my concentration was on what to do once I achieved side control since my mind tends to go blank when I get to this point during live rolling. Once I did one move I tried to transition into what I thought would be the next logical move from that position. Rolling with the jiu jitsu grappling dummy didn't really work my conditioning but I figured that working technique and knowing what to do in different situations was more important. Hopefully I'll get some good roll time in this week to help improve my conditioning.

iGrapple - Butterfly Guard

Yesterday's class was a good eye opener to some serious work needed when it comes to no gi.

I've been down this road before but haven't addressed the issue because most of my Jiu-Jitsu training is with the gi. In gi Jiu-Jitsu it is so easy to control your opponent just by simply grabbing the gi and working your way into your next move, whereas in no gi there is nothing to grab onto.

The few gi butterfly sweeps that I know didn't work well yesterday because of a combination of my training partners being more experienced (they know how to defend) and poor execution on my part. In addition to trying the sweeps I also tried some submissions from the butterfly guard but they didn't work either.

This morning I looked at iGrapple to see what additional options it shows from butterfly guard. It turns out iGrapple has a lot of different options and has the moves broken down from the position of your arms on your opponent (Double Underhook, Under & Overhook, Double Overhook, Arms Across Body). Rather than trying to look at all of these I decided to think about what position my arms are usually in (naturally) and came to the conclusion that I usually go for the "Under & Overhook" of my opponent's arms. From here there are three moves that I've decide to concentrate on, (elbow lock, omoplata - when executing the elbow lock you are already in position to go into the omoplata, & taking his back). With a little practice on the grappling dummy these techniques should be simple to apply the next time I roll no gi - I'll let you know how it goes.

Breathing - Conserving Energy

Proper breathing and conserving energy is something that many beginners probably don't think about.

During my last tournament the announcer calls my name for my first match - so I put on my headgear, don my mouthpiece, and stand there waiting for the match to start when I hear Sensei say, "Darren, slow down your breathing, relax". I was breathing hard and was all tensed up before the match had even started.

I definitely need to work on this as I'm sure most beginners do. This video captures the concept of creating space so you can breathe while also concentrating on physically conserving your energy.