An old training partner of mine stopped by the other day, and we rolled for a long time.
On two separate instances (that I recall) I found myself in the back step half, and I was on the bottom.
Yeah…
So he was playing the position well. He had the deep lat grip. His hips were shifted in the right way, and his shoulder was dropping down with all the force he could muster too. It’s a common situation where guards just get straight up obliterated.
I’m odd though.
It actually doesn’t bother me that much. In fact, I treat it just like any other half guard position.
Why?
It’s because I understand the true focus of the micro battle in that position. And just like a beaten record, it’s all about head position. Specifically, I want my head to drop down below his shoulder, and it’s almost like magic.
Once you create that separation, the structure of the top guy’s position just shatters. Passing ain’t so easy anymore. And often, there’s a moment when it seems like the other guy is a fish out of water.
He doesn’t know what to do.
…And that’s when you strike.
Anyway.
I recall delving into this scenario in the institute of higher half gyard learning, and it will soon be a larger focus once the third revision spreads to Phase Two.
Find out more here:
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