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Reverse Z: Introduction

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Reverse Z What does the position look like?Components Where does this position come up from?Goal of the position

Reverse Z

What does the position look like?

Components

Pulling deep into your opponents armpit and pushing their head down with your elbow

we want to be using our elbows to forcing their heads down to prevent back takes

With the leg that is closer to your opponent it is supposed to be connected to their hamstring as a sticky hook

this foot connection (butterfly hook) acts as a way to make meaningful inside connection to off balance your opponent
this connection also prevents them from simply stepping over and passing your guard

Where does this position come up from?

This position appears as someone tries to pass your guard with body-lock passing

It will appear post takedown. For example if you get double/single legged and taken to the ground

It will appear as you open your closed guard and seek hip height

Goal of the position

“Reverse Z”, (RZ going forward) isn’t an advantageous position

Why? There are a few factors

Your opponent has great proximity to your waistline (the jeopardy point) and the ability to get your elbow separated from your knee by climbing up your body
They have the ability to get your back flat to the mat

So, if the goal of RZ isn’t to stick around what is it good for then?

The main goal of RZ is to:

off-balancing through sweeping to get into a more advantageous position one where you are not at risk of getting your back to the mat or your opponent separated your elbow knee connection
gaining height over your opponent

Negating the Hip Switch

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

A good reaction from your opponent whenever your going for the reach around is to switch their hip.

This comes up if your unable to solidify the octopus guard (OG) before they react to it.

For some guys hip switching is their first response.

So the question is then, “How do we escape from being flattened out?”

The Position

This is one of the worst possible positions for you be caught in. Just after having your back taken from the octopus guard

Your back is to the mats, both arms are exposed over your shoulders and your legs have been taken out of the equation

The Escape

grab the lat of your opponent (0:02) and place your knee against their chest (0:06)

the objective is to create momentum since you’ll be stuck in a pretty immobile position

you create momentum backwards so that your opponent will have a natural reaction to go forwards. They do this to prevent a sweep or to keep you in place

the momentum is created by swinging your body forward

0:14 - having successfully off-balanced your opponent you can:

attempt to take the back
go back into neutral

Buggy Darce from Ocotopus Guard

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Game 1 - The end result

Starting Position

1 - arm underneath neck and gripping bicep

2 - hand on lat

Objective

Attacker

Maintain the strangle on your opponent

Defender

Escape from the strangulation

Game 2

Starting Position

1 - arm thrown over the head (although not showing - its grabbing your lat)

2 - hip should be connected to your opponent's shoulder

3 - hand pressing on the ribs

Objective

Attacker

Get to the final d'arce position by using your hands (from starting position 3) to rotate underneath your opponent

Defender

Escape the strangulation

Game 3

Starting Position

1 - you are on your side

2 - tricep pressing into your opponents neck

3 - underneath the thrown up leg, grab the blade of your foot

Your opponent's arm is OVER your head

Objective

Attacker

Get to the position from the first game, hold and control the strangle

Defender

Flatten your opponent's back to the mat

Context Switching

Buggy Choke From Octopus Guard

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Game 1

Starting Position

1 - make a "c" grip with your hand and grab the blade of your foot

2 - place your arm underneath your leg

3 - get the crook of your elbow around their neck

4 - place the other foot into the waistline of your opponent

Objective

Person who is doing the buggy choke

You are to maintain the buggy choke for the duration of the game's time
If you opponent tries to defend to push away from the buggy choke grab their arm with your free arm

so if the buggy choke is on your right hand you grab them with your left

Person who is being choked

You are to escape the choke
This can be achieved by

Wrapping the arm close to your head around the waistline of your opponent
Use your other arm to frame the face away
Rotate your body towards the head

Game 2-a

Starting Position

Person on bottom start in octopus guard with no hooks (butterfly/ko-soto)

Person on top has no grips either

Objective

Person on top

Your goal is to bring your opponent down so that their back is flat against the mats
Your shoulder is pressed into their cheek

Person on bottom

Maintain the octopus guard position

Once they go to put your back on the mats you are to hip out and get the buddy choke

Maintain the buggy choke for the duration of the time given

Game 2-b

Starting position

This game can be done by either choosing to use the ko-soto / butterfly hook

Game 2

Butterfly Bolo

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Game 1-a

Butterfly Sweep Option #2

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Game 1

Starting Position

1 - crook of your elbow underneath your opponent's armpit

2 - head on the opposite side of the the first position under the arm

3 - leg in between your opponent's

Objective

get to mount while maintain chest to chest connection
glue one/two of your opponent's hands to his head

Bottom

reverse the position
get a knee in between you guys and create space

Game 2

Starting Position

1 - place your forehead on the mats

2 - cup right underneath the crook of your elbow

3 - wrap your ankle around your opponent's shin

Objective

Top -> 2 objectives

Take the back
Get into the position from game 1 and pass into mount

Bottom

Remove yourself from the situation

Remove the ankle's connection on your shin