Gi Jiu-Jitsu Training with Luigi Mondelli Grappling and Ju-Jitsu,The Jiu-Jitsu Guard »

Private Lesson with Luigi - Gi Jiu-Jitsu Training:

Last night I had a private lesson with Luigi Mondelli from American Top Team, then attended his No-Gi class after. I have been to his no-gi class before, and its an amazing experience. All of his class and students have an amazing attitude and all are extremely friendly and helpful. It’s a great learning environment. One thing I noticed (which I failed to do) was that once someone entered the mat, they walked around to everyone shaking their hands and saying hello. I thought this was a great way to start the class and get to know your fellow students.

During my private lesson(s) with Luigi I have been greatly trying to improve my basics in guard and overall… basics. He knows so many small details that completely change the way you grapple. In the grand scheme of things, my guard sucks monkey nuts. So I wanted to start working just the basic closed guard, and some attacks and transitions from there. I also use the scissor guard and wanted to work that with him as well. We have a similar body type - over 250lbs, over 6′2″, and longer legs. So our grappling game “could” be similar. My grappling game fails in comparison but he is the perfect person to learn from and model my jiu-jitsu techniques after.

Cross Grip Lapel and Gi “Coat Tails” Control from Closed Guard

One of my questions was what sort of attacks can I do from closed guard given the length of my legs and my fatassness. One of the coolest things we did was actually using the person’s lapel and the bottom of the gi (like the coat tails) to control. You first get a cross collar grip in their lapel, and put a lot of pressure to make the person uncomfortable. Then you start to pull the persons gi lapel out from their belt so it is completely un-tucked. From there, you wrap it around and isolate the person’s arm. This gives you a great deal of control of the person, which allows you to start working you hips out, but also allowing you to setup a freaking cool choke!
The choke is Kata Juji Jime. In Kobukai Ju-Jitsu we do a couple different variations, but this one is great using that extra label control. How is works is that I bring the person down closer to me with my legs and lapel control(s). Assuming that my right hand has the cross collar grip and my left is controlling the label, I pass my left hand over their head and sink in the choke. It’s hard to describe with text. I’ll try for some video this weekend.

Simple and Effective Kimura Setup from Closed Guard

I like the kimura a lot, but its one of those things I can never get. How Oz gets them all the time blows my mind. Focker is too quick. Slow asses like me just aren’t able to easy get kimuras, armbars, etc. They do happen for me, once in a great while, but it’s against people who are unsuspecting. Luigi showed me a simple little setup for the kimura and some tips to finish.
If you’re in closed guard and the person is trying to posture or has his hands near your belt area. You grab your opponents hand (my left grabs his left) with my thumb facing in, so my hand and his hand are in line, not perpendicular to each other. From there I simply bump my left knee up and into his elbow causing it to some into the kimura position. This allows me to quickly figure 4 the arm. From there, the finish is the same. But here were some tips that he gave me for finishing.

1. Keep the arm tight to your body and bent. Don’t let it come out and away because then they can extend
2. Start working your hips out while keeping pressure on his body with your legs. Keep the arm pinned to your chest.
3. Don’t push his hand and arm away to try and submit. Twist your body towards his head to finish.

I really like that setup though and it’s one that will work for gi and no-gi. I am going to have to continue to drill that.

Scissor and Open Guard Tips

I did not know this, but I guess the scissor sweep is considered a kindergarten sweep. I guess I’m in freaking preschool then! But the scissor guard or scissor position I really like. And Luigi also stated that this was one of his favorite guard positions as well. My biggest problem when I open my guard is getting passed relatively easily. Here are some tips that Luigi gave me to help that.

1. Always have 2 points of control - head & arm, arm & arm, leg & arm, etc.
2. Have “monkey paws” - use your feet to help control his hips and body.
3. Keep the scissored leg’s foot at his hip level, NOT up high near his armpit. If it’s in his armpit it gives them an easy heel hook setup.
4. Keep the non-scissored leg connected to his body. Either his hip, knee, etc.
5. Don’t be flat. Be on your hip.
6. Keep good distance

Armdrag setup from Scissor and Open Guard

When is scissor guard, control the sleeve of your opponent that is on the same side of your scissored leg. So if my left leg is scissored I control the my opponents right sleeve with my left hand. I am keep pressure on the arm with my knee from my leg and pulling the sleeve and arm to me. To do an armdrag from there….

1. Extend my scrissored leg, like I am doing a leg extension.
2. Take my right hand and come to the inside of my opponent’s elbow.
3. “Circle” my opponents arm so that his elbow comes out towards me and his right hand goes into his body.
4. Drag the arm across your body.
5. Have fun attacking!

Guard Passing Tips

I don’t know what it is lately…. but I used to think I was decent at passing someone’s guard. But I think that was before the people around me started to improve such a great deal. So I needed to just go over and learn some good tips when it comes to pass the guard. I understand the “principals” of passing, just executing them is the hard part.

1. Pressure is key. When passing the guard or doing anything, use my size, weight, strength and pressure. Apply force while passing.
2. One of the best “tips” or changes Luigi helped me with was trapping or pinning a leg while passing. One of Luigi’attacks while passing is forcing a leg to the ground. From there he pins it with one of his legs. He puts his shin and instep over the leg and to keep it pinned.
3. Break the hips - this is something that I guess really works for Luigi and some of his top students and something that I’ve never really done before. Basically when passing and transitioning “open” or “switch” your hips to escape the legs and finish the pass. Again, if I had a camera right now, it would be easier to show.