Problem With Bottom Guard Offense

[Vincent Viglione]

I have a few months of experience training 10th Planet. I have the Twister DVD and book as well as both Rubber Guards. 6' 6" 180 lbs, rather flexible, but not super strong. I have found very good success with 10th Planet, especially the Rubber Guard, Lockdown and Twister side control. These techniques help to me completely obliterate my fellow Krav Maga students on the ground, which is good for all of us.

When rolling the other day, I encountered someone who would sit postured up in my guard with one palm on his forehead and he would dig the elbow of that arm HARD into my solar plexus. It is very uncomfortable and painful after a while. I can deal with the pain but it completely shut down my offense, I was unable to break his posture down into Mission Control and it created so much space for him to work. I tried to get the arm off of his head/my chest but he was stronger than me so it was to no avail. He then used his opposite arm to dig his elbow into the fleshy part of my thigh and passed into half guard. To top it off, when I applied the Lockdown, he slipped right out because he was wearing those swishy athletic pants on!

My question is: Is there any other way to combat this palm on the forehead elbow in the chest technique other than overpowering them? I do not feel an armbar from guard is a good response when the person on top is stronger because they have a lot of control as well as the strength advantage.

[Greg W]

Use a palm thrust and "pump" like move with your legs and hip out a little to your side so that elbow slides off your body. You should then be able to take his back. OR shoot in the deep hook and swim move to spider web. His arm is already near your center line, the swim move is similar to swim move from RG.

[Mick Broster]

A deep hook and transition to spider web is the way to go, with him bringing his own arm to the center line. But another very effective solution is to arm drag and work to his back, reach your opposite arm to the back of his tricep and then shrimp out to the side exposing his back. The key is not to try and pull the arm across but rather make sure his arm is stuck then move your body

[Mick Broster]

Use a palm thrust and "pump" like move with your legs and hip out a little to your side so that elbow slides off your body. You should then be able to take his back. OR shoot in the deep hook and swim move to spider web. His arm is already near your center line, the swim move is similar to swim move from RG.

must have been writing our reply's at the same time lol


Edit: i'm very slow at typing

[RobertF]

Use a palm thrust and "pump" like move with your legs and hip out a little to your side so that elbow slides off your body. You should then be able to take his back. OR shoot in the deep hook and swim move to spider web. His arm is already near your center line, the swim move is similar to swim move from RG.

this is some good advice.

[Greg W]

must have been writing our reply's at the same time lol


Edit: i'm very slow at typing

Ha, must be pretty near right on If we both said the same thing!!

[David Rosado]

deep hook all the way. The guy must think this is a good idea because the pain compliance has worked on a lot of guys. But if I tried this, my team mates would rip my arms off. I mean seriously, pumping the arm to my centerline is usually the toughest part for me to get. This guy is pretty much doing 80% of the work for you. Hahaha. It might be uncomfortable, but keep attacking with that deep hook and he'll get the picture that his move is a bad idea. It's just like when guys dig their elbows to break guard. A few triangles will break that habit.

[David Rosado]

Hahah I see everyone's saying the same thing.

Greg W, I like that sort of arm drag suggestion, too.

[Vincent Viglione]

Thank you all so very much! I appreciate everyone taking the time to offer suggestions and even though I will have to try it on the mat with a training partner tomorrow, I can already see the wisdom in the advice. =)

[Adam1987]

Sounds like he is doing 90% of the work for you for a traditional Triangle or an Armbar (depending on how you armbar).

Bridge up and pull arm forward. Trap the arm, lock his back in with one leg and transition to Armbar.