Rolling Anaconda From Leg Drag by Brent Smith <VIDEO>

[Brandon Mccaghren]

Brent, am I missing something or does it look like strength game, battling the arm that you hook under? When you dive and roll onto your back with the gable grip, I looks like you may be depending on muscling to keep that arm controlled.
I like the look of the tech, and I m not saying anything bad about it, just a question.

Give it a try, Kurzy. You'll be shocked at how little effort it takes to hold that arm long enough to cinch the Anaconda.

[Kurzy]

Oh I definitely can't wait to give it a try! They only reason I ask is because I have a bum shoulder that likes to dislocate when I do overhead moves like that, with a pulling-down motion. Once I have my left arm up by my head it is in the danger zone.

[Brent Smith]

Brent, am I missing something or does it look like strength game, battling the arm that you hook under? When you dive and roll onto your back with the gable grip, I looks like you may be depending on muscling to keep that arm controlled.
I like the look of the tech, and I m not saying anything bad about it, just a question.

Great question. Very little strength required. That 5-0 grip or what I call the flipper grip is really strong as it is. As you're going for your roll, you pull it into your stomach and that will keep it tight during the roll. So really the strength is in the grip and how you position it. As you complete your roll you adjust your grip then from there it's about using that clinch strength. Closing the boom or using your leg to collapse the arm and get the grip on the bicep.
Hope that answered your question.

[Isaac Atley]

Great question. Very little strength required. That 5-0 grip or what I call the flipper grip is really strong as it is. As you're going for your roll, you pull it into your stomach and that will keep it tight during the roll. So really the strength is in the grip and how you position it. As you complete your roll you adjust your grip then from there it's about using that clinch strength. Closing the boom or using your leg to collapse the arm and get the grip on the bicep.
Hope that answered your question.

loving the technique man, I dont expect any less from you really. my only real question is, where are my leg drags you still owe me? enough time to go lollygagging and making cool helpful interesting technique videos but not enough to get some leg drag reps in after losing the bet

its all good, real question, when you join the hands together, it looks like you used a ball grip. (i forget the real name) Is that just in the video or do you prefer that one? I know you go to RNC grip afterwards but without having tested it yet, I'd have to say i think gable or pretzel grip would be tighter and more natural. whats your thoughts on it?

and welcome to the group of guys that grow fuzzy stuff on their face.

[Mike Nall]

Brent, am I missing something or does it look like strength game, battling the arm that you hook under? When you dive and roll onto your back with the gable grip, I looks like you may be depending on muscling to keep that arm controlled.
I like the look of the tech, and I m not saying anything bad about it, just a question.

There's not much strength involved at all. I hate to keep harping on Rafa Mendes, but he really is the master of this technique, and the reason why he prefers this set up from half guard over going to the vice grip to attack the darce or J necktie, is because there's no underhook to fight. If he does the darce he'll usually do it from other places, but not when they have a strong underhook. As soon as they underhook, you just connect your hands and roll. The biggest concern is them trying to ride your legs as you roll to come up on top of you.

Once you're on your back, between the grip and the leg trapping down on their arm, the position is very secure. I'd actually say the most difficult thing about the position is the actual anaconda choke itself. Everything else is easy. That's why I recommend learning that dead zone as a spot to hit darces and guillotines from too, in case your anaconda finish isn't that strong.

[Kurzy]

Nice, thanks.

[Mike Nall]

its all good, real question, when you join the hands together, it looks like you used a ball grip. (i forget the real name) Is that just in the video or do you prefer that one? I know you go to RNC grip afterwards but without having tested it yet, I'd have to say i think gable or pretzel grip would be tighter and more natural. whats your thoughts on it?

and welcome to the group of guys that grow fuzzy stuff on their face.

I feel like I'm hijacking Brent's shit, but I do this a lot, so I'll just chime in my 2 cents. I prefer the normal seatbelt/guillotine grip. Several reasons. It's so easy to get, and after the roll, it allows you to easily weave between the 'conda, darce, and guillotine. It's very hard to get the proper head control before rolling over if you have a gable grip. The gable is very strong for keeping their arm trapped and locking the anaconda choke, but harder to swim to the other chokes without disconnecting your hands. I play with both grips.

With the seatbelt style grip, that's not an issue. Here's a video of Rafa showing the move, and he explains why he uses that grip for the roll. The transition to the darce isn't on the free youtube video, but it's on their site.

I'd like to hear what Brent thinks too. Brent, I love the grip on the top arm before you lock up the head and roll.

[Brent Smith]

Oh you're not hijacking at all. Please put in your 2 cents!
Honestly the ball and socket grip is just natural from repping that marcelotine. For me it's the most comfortable but if the pretzel grip feels better I say by all means use that one. I don't feel like a gable grip would work here though. It would have to be a reverse gable/pretzel. So long story short I agree with Mike's assessment on the guilly grip being easier to transition.

[Kurzy]

Well I tried repping this tonight with a non-resisting opponent and I must say it feels good. I would love to know more about the position as a dead zone, if you would expand on that. I need to try to hit this rolling before I will know if it is as comfortable as it feels right now, but so far so good. No strain on the shoulder either, and it is definitely not a strength game.
thanks!

[Brent Smith]

Awesome to hear! Are you wanting a little more info on that leg drag position (pistachio) or the anaconda as the dead zone?