Quick question, when in the seat belt, which hand do you have over on top when gripping? The choking arm (over arm) or the under hook arm?
I noticed Marcelo likes to have the under arm on top, I guess the reason is the person fights off that arm and leaves the choking arm to attack, but I seen a Robert Drysdale clip and he says the choking arm should be on top for a quicker attack with it because the other hand isnt getting in the way
Which do you prefer?
Garcia's way, all the way. Drysdale's explanation doesn't really make sense unless you have the thumb on the wrong side. Even if the underhooking hand is on top, there is nothing stopping the choking hand in its path.
I usually side with Garcia on most things, but started thinking about Drysdales way and liked it, but know that I think about it, maybe Garcia/under arm on top is the way to go, I like to use that hand to hook the arm and trap it with my leg, makes an easier transition and like you said the over hook arm is still free to attack
marcelo.
garcia.
Marcelo. The other way is much much easier to defend against. 
Paul.
Schreiner.
delicious bass - Marcelo. The other way is much much easier to defend against.
This, by having the choke hand on top it allows the person to get his hand under and defend it a lot easier,
If the hand of the under hook arm clasp on top of the hand of the over hook arm, I find it easier to feed the collar and protect the over hook arm from a floating arm lock off the shoulder from my opponent.
i like ryan's explanation, which seems about the same as marcelo's.
i like ryan's explanation, which seems about the same as marcelo's.
Marcelo's all the way. Though I did pick up a tip on gripfighting from the backmount at a Drysdale seminar which is really badass, he knows his stuff.
Ive also noticed that grabbing and covering my actual hand instead of wrist or just part of the hand has actually increased my finishing percentages. When I get the seat belt and my under arm grabs choking arms wrist, my opponents initial reaction is almost always to go to my "exposed' hand in a tearing away/wristlocking motion.
Choking hand on bottom. Most people will grab the top hand, regardless. This way, they grab the top hand then the choking hand is free to attack.
jmil147 - Ive also noticed that grabbing and covering my actual hand instead of wrist or just part of the hand has actually increased my finishing percentages. When I get the seat belt and my under arm grabs choking arms wrist, my opponents initial reaction is almost always to go to my "exposed' hand in a tearing away/wristlocking motion.
I see what you are saying, but I think by grabbing your wrist, you are making the seatbelt grip tighter around your opponent.
Unless you have super short arms (I have short arms, but still need to grab my choking arm wrist to ensure a very tight seatbelt grip), grabbing just the hand or part of the hand will probably give you too much space imo.
kying418 -I agree. Grabbing wrist probably offers tighter control, but gives opponent the advantage in handfighting. I suck at the "opening" the neck motion that Marcelo uses with his wrist. It seems like the instant he gets the seatbelt he has the arm around the neck. I guess I should probably be more aggressive with the prying motion.jmil147 - Ive also noticed that grabbing and covering my actual hand instead of wrist or just part of the hand has actually increased my finishing percentages. When I get the seat belt and my under arm grabs choking arms wrist, my opponents initial reaction is almost always to go to my "exposed' hand in a tearing away/wristlocking motion.
I see what you are saying, but I think by grabbing your wrist, you are making the seatbelt grip tighter around your opponent.
Unless you have super short arms (I have short arms, but still need to grab my choking arm wrist to ensure a very tight seatbelt grip), grabbing just the hand or part of the hand will probably give you too much space imo.
I usually do choking hand on top with a gable grip, just feels more secure to me.
jmil147 - Ive also noticed that grabbing and covering my actual hand instead of wrist or just part of the hand has actually increased my finishing percentages. When I get the seat belt and my under arm grabs choking arms wrist, my opponents initial reaction is almost always to go to my "exposed' hand in a tearing away/wristlocking motion.
Can't find a video, but this is exactly what Marcelo has said. Grabbing your wrist leaves your hand exposed to be ripped away, whereas if you're covering the choking hand, and your opponent peels your top hand off, you can try to shoot your choking hand under the neck right away.
To clear up any confusion- this is how Marcelo holds his seatbelt grip.
Always with his right arm as his choking arm (he only chokes with his right arm), with the left hand grabbing the wrist.
IMO, the most important part of the backpack/seatbelt position is securing upper body control over your opponent- the choke is the secondary part. Thus holding the wrist tightens up your grip.
I'm sure there are other ways people have had success with the grip. However, to me Marcelo's makes the most sense, and he has proven it to work against the highest levels of competition.
One thing with Marcelo, he is a huge stickler for details. Of course, if you show him a better way of doing something, he is very open minded to check it out. However, if he feels his way is the most efficient and economical way to do something, he will want his students, seminar attendees, etc, to do it exactly how he teaches it.
good post kying as usual
Hmmm