Ju-Jitsu Training - Mount Drills, Scissor Sweep, and Ososto Gari »

Mount Drills - Escape Training and Warmup

Last night we had an interesting training session. We ran around the dojo for a good 15 minutes doing various rolls and basis throws during the run. I heard someone call it the “Central Park Run”. It was a great warmup and actually a lot of fun. After that the class broke up into pairs and did live drilling on escaping from mount. This drill was actually a lot of fun, and a great one to work on for both people. The person on the top needed to work on keeping mount, while the guy on the bottom has to get out. I think for some people they realized its harder to keep mount then excepted, and for others they realized its a pain in the ass getting out of mount…. especially when you have someone who out weighs you a great deal. While thinking about getting out of mount, it reminded of a video I saw. It’s a simple mount escape like most of us do by bringing your elbows to your opponents knees and shrimping. But instead of trying shrimp back a great distance, you use your far leg to trap your opponents leg and transition to half guard. I think Ryan was trying a variation of this technique last night.

Scissor Sweep Training

I worked with the yellow belts last night on their bottom guard techniques. Two techniques we spent a good deal of time on were the scissor sweep and the makikomi sweep. These are actually two of my favorite sweeps from the guard. Especially the scissor sweep. I really like the scissor guard, and it’s one that I have been working on a great deal.
Key Points on the Basic Scissor Sweep - (assuming sweeping to my left side)

• Maintain hand control on your opponents right sleeve (below elbow), and right collar
• Either plant both feet quickly on the ground and transition into the scissor guard position. Your right knee will come across their body, and your left leg will be across their hip and stomach area. This is a great defensive position against strikes, plus a great position for attacking.
• Now comes time for the sweep. A common mistake that people make is that they just try and sweep directly from the position they are in. They don’t try to off-balance their opponents or setup the sweep at all. Here of the components of the actual scissor sweep execution.
  1. Pull your opponent up into you aimed at your left shoulder.
  2. As your opponent starts coming up drop your left leg right to ground level against their knee and leg.
  3. Scissor your legs, try to flick or kick with your right leg, pull with your left hand, drive with your right hand.
  4. Follow them with your right leg and end up in mount.

Scissor Sweep Videos

Basic Scissor Sweep

Scissor Sweep Variations

Makikomi Sweep

The makikomi sweep is another guard sweep that can be used as an attack itself, but it most effective when you are attempting to go for a kimura or reverse ude-garmi.

Key points of Makikomi Sweep [attacking opponents right side]

• When you opponent defends against the kimura by grabbing around your body, get an overhook on your opponent’s right arm with your right arm and lock it down. Do not let go of this arm!
• Post your left hand to the mat and drive your hips up high.
• Try to look at your right shoulder turning counter clockwise
• Rotate your hips, like you are trying to kick the mat with your right foot.
• You are in mount.

Sweep from Submissions 101.
I’m not the biggest fan of this video. But it does have some good elements and shows the basics of the sweep. One thing I do like is how he entangled the opponents arm with his left arm.

Cool makikomi sweep fake to omoplata.
This is a cool variation or counter to a failed sweep. I’m really going to have to work and play with this one a lot.

I kneed Trey in the head

During newaza last night I went with Trey from www.jujitsublog.com and we were having a good roll. Sensei asked us to try and be a little bit more creative and try some stuff. I was trying to do this… but again my constant excuse… I have a hard time maneuvering with my busted shoulder. During one of my transitions I basically buried my knee into his face. It left a nice mouse almost immediately. I know he’s going to comment on it on his blog, so give his blog a read: www.jujitsublog.com

Osoto Gari