When I'm on the bottom of half guard, my opponent has been sinking his weight down and getting me with the ezkiel (the one where you grab your own sleeve, slide your knife hand across the throat and do a modified push up).
Is there a good defense to this move? I know I shouldn't be flat on my back like that, but sometimes the opponent is heavier and cross faces you down. Thanks.
When he crossfaces, you can bring your whole near side arm up across your face to relieve the pressure and prevent the choke. You will actually be lifting the crossface off with your arm near the armpit. This will give you much greater leverage than trying to push with your hand or forearm.
This is only a survival tool to buy a little time to get into a safer position; but, he may switch and go for the arm so be careful.
I'm sugesting this because you said he is already pinning you with his weight and you are not able to move away.
gaittec,
Thanks for responding, say I have his right leg trapped. Which arm is my near side arm?
Any advice for defending the hezekiel from mount, that is where I get caught sometimes..
I.
If he doesn't have double grapevines, you should be able to roll him. Snaking your arms between his arms to ease the pressure, can also help. Both these points have helped me against this attack a lot of times.
'You should be able to roll him'
Yes, but remember the choke can be finished from guard as well and in some cases it comes on even stronger from there, so think twice before you roll him.
From either half guard or mount, if you suspect he's going to try it:
Let's say he put his left arm under your head. Immediately put your left arm cupping his right bicep. If his right arm is too far away, don't reach, just keep your hand close to your face in a guarding position and cup his bicep when he moves it close to your head.
If he starts to go for the ezekiel, overhook his right arm with your left arm. There's no more choke. Under mount, that's a good time to try to roll him.
Thanx Andrew..have to try this...
I.
Rapidly becoming my "go to" submission from the top.
When you feel an opponent moving to the mount or half guard top, and you have a gi on, immediately work to entangle or engage one of his arms. It really shuts down a lot of attacks and helps your escapes too by preventing him from establishing a solid position.
I think of your near arm is the one closest to his center of gravity. Or closest to his heart.
When he is crossfacing you, I would use the arm on the same side he is using to block it. I also got an ideal fron watching Rulon in the olympics. I wonder if you could reach across and underhook his elbow pulling it across his body? It would be hard for him to get his sleeve if you could. It would also help you work into sweep position.
Good post Andrew.
Also, a simple defense is to put a hook in and elevate their hips. They can't choke you with no base. If you are flat on your back and crushed, this might be difficult. Try curling under on your side before he gets to you.
eat spinach. that'll get the fatass off!
hahahaha......what up bdussy
A little over 3 years later and I get caught in this stupid sneaky submission.
Glad I saved this thread, we need more input dammit!!!
Andrew's post is still what works best for me.