Mr. Harris,
I was rewatching your BJJ 101 Vol 3 to refine my footlocks and I saw something that I was really curious about. Near the end of the tape you show yourself doing an exercise that helps you deal with the pain of anklelocks and heelhooks. You allow a partner to slowly apply them on you and then hold the lock in a painful position, kind of like stretching but for pain.
I can see, maybe, doing this for anklelocks, but I was very surprised that you did this with a heelhook, especially since it has a dangerous reputation of causing damage before a lot of pain is felt.
Do you still recommend doing this exercise for heelhooks, or do you still do it yourself? Have you or your students ever experienced injuries due to this exercise? Do you do or advise similar exercises for armbars or other joint locks?
Thanks.
pats0,
The training method I demonstrated on that tape was an extreme one. It is not designed for the average practitioner who is highly concerned with pain, injuries and the responsibilities waiting for them as soon as they leave the academy. This training method is designed for the fanatical leg specialist who wants to take his leg locks (offense and defense) to its highest level. So, I do not recommend them for everyone.
Do I still do these exercises? No.
Have I, or any of my students experienced any injuries related to this exercise? None that I am aware of.
Do I have similar exercises for arm locks and chokes? Yes.
Roy Harris
"Do I have similar exercises for arm locks and chokes? Yes."
I still grimace thinking about the thrusting collar choke exercise from last year's Rochester seminar...
...but it sure works wonders! I have passed by baiting that choke a number of times since then...
(...but it wasn't fun)