Bolo, I was wondering how the "benchpress" method of escaping bottom works whenever strikes are involved. Is it something specifically suited for sport BJJ or could it be adapted for MMA? Having never seen it, only read about it here, I don't have a clear picture of your posture or how exactly these escapes work. Your other escape videos really helped my game, and I'm very interested in this escape method. Hopefully, you'll do a seminar out my way sometime soon. Thanks!
Jeff
Well, ...(even I am not BOLO) -I´m his and Joe´s student, I can tell you one thing. His stuff works ....gi , no gi and also in MMA situation. It really does not matter too MUCH.
I personaly took NUMEROUS privates with JOE( also under MIKE supervision:) on just one subject - his pin escapes in MMA situation. I would say ..there are slight - very subtle variations of escapes(for MMA), but generaly speaking , the CORE principles - angles, pushing positions, angling the body,..etc. - are the same. Yeah, because your opponent is gonna hit you...how to be tight and stick with him is important in the beginning part of his bench press method in MMA situation. Once opponent try to create space, in order to hit - well, you know the rest - Joe´s method is ready:) So his method definitely works in that arena.
As for his unique bench press/BP/ method, a lot of people who experienced it for the very first time -think -that it´s PURELY attributed base method. Well...this is BIG misunderstanding . I would say, in my particular situation,...even still have been working on my pin escapes for many years /regular and bench press type/,BP style of escapes works awesome for me. For example, one of my student is 280lb(4.5 years BJJ experience ), and I can say -with BP stuff, I have the easiest time in my all BJJ life when he sinks the pin.It takes me just couple of seconds in order to get out!
Simply, you have to feel it in order to understand BP style. Just watching clips does not really solve the scepticism(sp?) of people!
See ya,
Radek
JRockwell,
I think you can see Joe M. using the "bench press" escapes on Mike if you buy his transitional escapes DVD and go to the extra footage section. Mike will have to confirm this.
Yes, the bench press escapes can be good for MMA. I personally believe that before a person works on escaping pins when strikes are being thrown, they should work on escaping in a sportive situation without strikes. Once a person becomes very good at that, slight modifications will need to be made to address the issue of strikes, however, it should be easier to escape when the strikes are thrown. Why? Remember that a person cannot hold an opponent with 100% control and throw strikes at the same time. Basically, you cannot squeeze a person for dear life and strike at the same time. So when an opponent begins to throw strikes, he must give up some control. Therefore, the throwing of strikes creates a greater open to escape.
Also remember that fighters constantly switch between grappling and striking mode when on the ground. When a person feels they have good control, they feel comfortable to strike. When they feel like they are losing control and going to end up in a bad position, they switch to grappling mode to maintain position or get a better position. Therefore, sportive escapes can have a very practical application in MMA.
Thanks for the answers, guys. That's what I've found with most of my "normal" escapes, they work fine in MMA situations if the timing is right. A few need modification, and then a few, I just don't do.
Bolo, I'm really fired up to learn more about this BP style of escapes. Would joining your association help me do this? Or do I need to track you down at a seminar? I'm in Northern VA, I don't know how often you make it out east. Let me know what lengths I need to go to in order to learn this from you. ;) Thanks,
Jeff
I haven't really put those escape on my online training as a big part of teaching this is "feel". I have to feel the student do it on me in order to tell them if they are doing it correctly as slight changes in my body positioning changes what the student needs to do.
I've only put certain clips of it when people who have trained this stuff in person with me have asked specific questions about it.
I don't have any plans on going out to your area, so you may want to look into flying out to CA and do some intensive training.
I'll start saving up, Bolo, thanks!
ttt