For those of you who teach, what are your thoughts on structuring your classes on submissions rather than positions? For example, the last three weeks (and for the next month) of my class has been on the straight armbar and really trying to teach everything about it: mechanics, entries, counters/recounters, transitions, and set ups. The class is supposed to work as a lab where we troubleshoot together. I told the class that I don't know everything so they can also teach me. I did the same thing for two months on the kimura. When we roll, I would have students get placed in certain submission positions (i.e., "spider web," "kimura trap") and fight from there with objective goals, i.e. first to score a point or get the submission stays and a fresh body comes in. The students have been receptive thus far and I'm actually seeing them apply the lesson and improving. I changed to this method because I realized that when I would positionally some students would zone out because it just wasn't their game based on their attributes. But certain core submissions like straight armbars are going to be done by everybody from the white belt to the black belt, from rooster to ultra heavy.
Danaher posted on instagram tjhat he teaches in this exact way two days ago so I know I'm not crazy and I'm not claiming to be original. Just wanted to see if anyone else does this.
I've done that with triangles and guillotines.... I think those are 2 subs that a lot of people up through mid level belts, often avoid and make excuses as to why it's not for their body type. However, teaching the sub from different positions can really help with understanding of how the sub works.
With the guillotine, I could never get it in the "triple attack" from full guard. Once I started getting it from top half guard, I focused on what the difference was that allowed me to have success in one position but not the other. i gained a lot of insight into the position as a whole...small nuances about it and adjustments that can be made during scrambles.
With triangles... There's so many different scenarios. I think it's interesting that a lot of people struggle to get it from the back attack...They may get a submission, but it'll be a lot of neck cranking involved as they reach for their opponents legs.
I couple guys that I train with like PTA, spent about a month on kimuras...I haven't spent an extended period like that teaching the guillotines and triangles though.
Also, I haven't been teaching the submissions from a static position like side mount, etc. The concept I'm trying to emphasize is to attack in the transitions. All of the set ups or entries i teach are during a fight for a guard pass or during a sweep when the opponent fights to regain base. So I do teach passes and sweeps but it's to illustrate the concept.
It's an interesting idea, because done badly (in particular if it's rushed) it can be confusing. But spread over a long period like a month it's got great potential to open students to the potential of a submission, both in terms of where it can be used from and also what opportunities it can create. Nice work June :)
Thanks! I'll see where it goes. The cool thing was that students were learning to problem solve and think of solutions on their own during the live drilling. They would make adjustments to their grip, change their angles slightly, and some even discovered transitions I've never seen that worked for them. I don't think this method necessarily works on a 100% newbie. The blue belts and up who know the basics get the most mileage.
I did this own game a few months ago. Stopped thinking about positions and start viewing submissions as positions when I roll. I picked the kimura because it's available everywhere. I'm now doing it with loop choke/chin strap. I'm having guys let me pass or sweep themselves to survive these attacks.
I think this is a great idea. I've come to believe that once you understand how a submission or even sweep works at its core, you begin to see setups and transitions that you wouldn't see otherwise. It also allows you to be creative in ways that being too attached to a setup doesn't allow. I may have to try and take this approach to my training. Thanks.
Thanks! I'll see where it goes. The cool thing was that students were learning to problem solve and think of solutions on their own during the live drilling. They would make adjustments to their grip, change their angles slightly, and some even discovered transitions I've never seen that worked for them. I don't think this method necessarily works on a 100% newbie. The blue belts and up who know the basics get the most mileage.
I did this own game a few months ago. Stopped thinking about positions and start viewing submissions as positions when I roll. I picked the kimura because it's available everywhere. I'm now doing it with loop choke/chin strap. I'm having guys let me pass or sweep themselves to survive these attacks.
Thanks! I'll see where it goes. The cool thing was that students were learning to problem solve and think of solutions on their own during the live drilling. They would make adjustments to their grip, change their angles slightly, and some even discovered transitions I've never seen that worked for them. I don't think this method necessarily works on a 100% newbie. The blue belts and up who know the basics get the most mileage.
I did this own game a few months ago. Stopped thinking about positions and start viewing submissions as positions when I roll. I picked the kimura because it's available everywhere. I'm now doing it with loop choke/chin strap. I'm having guys let me pass or sweep themselves to survive these attacks.