Essential Fundamentals - Module 2

Stationary hip escape with elbow over the thigh

WHAT:
Escape from high mount control.

IMPORTANT:
• Place your forearm inside opponent’s thigh, toward the side you’re looking.
• Bridge to defend punches and lift the opponent’s knees off you.
• Keep your extended leg glued to the floor.

WHAT:
Escape from low mount control with hooks.

IMPORTANT:
• Straighten your leg to remove the hook.
• After removing one hook, step over the other hook.
• Post the leg that will start guard recovery on the floor to prevent hook re- insertion.

CAUTION:
• Partner should not turn th

• Acceptance
Accept that you are in a disadvantaged position, avoiding rash actions. Control anxiety, fear, and ego.

• Patience
Acting patiently decreases the opponent’s chances of advancing to worse positions for you.

• Priority
Position yourself to protect first against submissions and strikes before attempting to escape control.

• Hip escape with standing partner (one leg on each side of your torso).

• Partner on top with closed hands (not allowed to connect them), trying to maintain the mount while you apply class techniques.

• Back break fall + two-hand technical stand-up.

WHAT:
Control from closed guard against an aggressive opponent.

IMPORTANT:
• Stay relaxed, keep your head upright and close to the opponent. • Control the opponent’s arm on the same side as your head.
• Use both hands on opponent’s head if necessary to pummel.

WHAT:
Guard control against an opponent attempting to strike your ribs with a free arm.

IMPORTANT:
• Close the space between your shin and forearms.
• Use “goose neck grip” (a curved wrist grip used for tight control).
• Pull opponent’s triceps into your shins.
• Apply on one side and return to safe guard, or both sides if opponent tries to pull both arms.

WHAT:
Stand up when opponent escapes your guard control or staying on the ground becomes unsafe.

IMPORTANT:
• Keep legs semi-bent and feet pointed outward.
• Move northward (create distance while standing).

WHAT:
Recover safe guard when opponent stands up inside your guard and pressures forward.

IMPORTANT:
• Open your guard and drop your hips immediately when opponent stands (high hips leave you vulnerable).
• Keep legs semi-bent and feet pointing outward.

CAUTION:
• Bring your partner down slowly to avoid hitting their head on your elbow.
• Strikes should be soft, with focus on correct striking mechanics rather than power.

Practice all positions in random order.

Partner wears small gloves and strikes lightly (20% intensity), switching roles every minute.

• From closed guard, perform a half hip escape and sit up, posting one elbow on the ground.

WHAT:
Kimura shoulder lock, usually applied when opponent posts their hand on the ground.

IMPORTANT:
• Perform a hip escape to create the necessary angle.
• After locking the grip, extend your crossed legs and pull the opponent’s arm before applying the rotation.
• Use a butterfly grip (using mostly palms instead of fingers).

CAUTION:
• Apply the kimura slowly and under control.

WHAT:
Kimura attack when opponent posts both forearms on the mat.

IMPORTANT:
• Push opponent’s head under your triceps (similar to a guillotine setup).
• Perform a hip escape and post your forearm on the ground to help lock in the

WHAT: Kimura lock when opponent tries to punch, starting from shin guard.

IMPORTANT:
• Transition your grip from opponent’s triceps to their wrist.
• Move your head toward the controlled wrist and extend your leg as you secure the kimura.

EXERCISES WITH PARTNER:
• Practice kimura attacks to both sides.

• Work from defensive guard variations, waiting for the right moment to apply the Kimura.

• Hip escape from closed guard, sitting up posting a hand on the ground.

• Hip escape from closed guard, sitting up posting a hand on the ground, followed by a bridge and mount.

WHAT:
Sweep from closed guard when the opponent keeps a tall posture with weight on their heels.

IMPORTANT:
• Perform a hip escape.
• Use one leg to trap the opponent’s hip.
• Slide your body over their thigh.
• Control the opponent’s arm on the side of the sweep.

CAUTION:
• When being swept, partner should keep their feet turned inward (big toes touching) to avoid over-flexing the knees during the reversal.

• Practice setting up the sweep to both sides without completing the reversal.

• While you attempt the sweep, the partner tries to maintain base by keeping their knees on the mat and hands connected on your back.

• Rocking motion (see-saw) to seated hip warm-up position, post hands on the mat, and come up to mount.

WHAT:
Final movement of the Double Ankle Sweep.

IMPORTANT:
• Knee to the mat, open toward the side the opponent is facing.
• Foot posted against the opponent’s ribs.
• Hand on the mat on the same side you're turning to; the other hand controls the opponent’s neck.
• If the opponent tries to sit up, pull their arm to break posture.

WHAT:
A reversal when the opponent is standing in your guard without putting weight on you.

IMPORTANT:
• Maintain head control until the last moment before switching to the ankles. • Drop your hips and push with the knees to off-balance.

• Use a monkey grip (no thumb) on both ankles.

CAUTION:
Your partner must perform a safe breakfall when falling backward.

WHAT:
It is a variation of the double ankle sweep. Used when the knees can’t reach the opponent’s stomach or when there is concern about a possible footlock.

IMPORTANT:
• Maintain head control until the last moment before switching to the ankles. • Use a monkey grip (no thumb) on both ankles.
• Be careful with possible kicks as you come up.

CAUTION:
Keep the movement controlled, avoid kicking too hard. Partner must perform a proper breakfall.

• From the final Double Ankle Sweep position, come up to mount (3 reps each).

• Partner stays standing in your guard and tries to keep balance, without moving their heels away from your hips, while you attempt the sweeps taught in class. If the partner loses balance, they should break the fall properly.

WHAT:
Technique to bring the fight to the ground after a failed attempt to clinch or body lock the opponent.

IMPORTANT:
• Initiate backward propulsion before sitting to the mat.
• Transition directly into safe guard after the pull.

CAUTION:
• Move your hips away from the opponent as you sit down to avoid getting kneed in the groin.

• Clinch attempt + guard pull + shin guard + feet on hips guard + pedalada kick + technical stand-up.

• Armbar simulation from guard (stepping on the ground to perform a hip escape).

WHAT:
Straight armbar from closed guard when the opponent extends one or both arms to attack.

IMPORTANT:
• One hand controls the opponent’s wrist from the outside.
• The other arm wraps inside/between the opponent’s leg to assist the hip rotation.
• After locking the armbar, keep both legs bent and tight.
• The foot of the leg that is over the back should stay close to the opponent’s head.
• As you raise the hips, glue the opponent’s wrist to your chest.

WHAT:
Straight armbar from closed guard when opponent keeps elbows bent.

IMPORTANT:
• Cross grip triceps, control wrist.
• Post foot on hip (same side) to rotate.
• Swing leg over, keep legs tight.
• Foot near head, wrist glued to chest as hips rise.
• If opponent stands: hook knee, trap wrist in elbow, use legs to tilt head to mat and break balance.

CAUTION:
Apply slowly and with control.

• Armbar to both sides without posting the foot on the hip.

• Armbar when partner lifts both knees off the mat (keep hips elevated).

• After locking the armbar, partner tries to pull the arm out or stand up (50% resistance).

WHAT:
Submission from guard using the legs.

IMPORTANT:
• Pull the opponent’s head down.
• Engage your adductors to close the triangle tightly. • Keep your toes pointed upward.
• Perform a shoulder escape if needed.

WHAT:
Triangle submission while preventing the opponent from standing up to slam.

IMPORTANT:
• Pull the opponent’s knee toward your neck.
• Use your free hand to protect your face from strikes.

WHAT:
Prevent opponent’s strikes and finish with triangle.

IMPORTANT:
• Post your foot on the hip on the same side as the controlled arm.
• The hand controlling the opponent’s free arm transitions to their wrist.

• In-place hip escape, lift the top leg off the ground, and perform a shoulder roll.

WHAT:
Counter-attack when the opponent is inside closed guard and pressures their forearm against your neck.

IMPORTANT:
• Turn your head toward the opponent’s elbow.
• Extend your crossed legs to relieve the pressure.

CAUTION:
• Partner should apply pressure with control.

WHAT:
Transition from closed guard to back control by crossing the opponent’s arm.

IMPORTANT:
• Cross the opponent’s arm toward your legs.
• Perform a hip escape, moving the opponent’s shoulder to the ground.
• Place your head above the opponent’s head.
• Connect your chest to the opponent’s back and close the guard from the side. • Use a high seatbelt grip.
• Use the bottom leg to break the opponent’s base.

WHAT:
Transition from closed guard to the back using wrist control.

IMPORTANT:
• Cross the opponent’s arm toward your legs.
• Perform a hip escape, moving the opponent’s shoulder to the ground.
• Place your head above the opponent’s head.
• Connect your chest to the opponent’s back and close the guard from the side. • Control the opponent’s wrist.
• Pull the bottom elbow and post it on the ground.

• Start from the arm-crossed position in closed guard. Attempt to take the back or sweep. The partner must keep their hands closed and cannot lift the knees off the ground while escaping the control.

WHAT:
Defensive movement when I’m on the ground and the opponent is standing.

IMPORTANT:
• Keep body and knees bent.
• Use your arms on the mat to rotate.
• When kicking with one leg, the other must stay bent.

WHAT:
Offensive kicks from the ground against a standing opponent.

IMPORTANT:
• Base hand close to the body.
• Base foot placed away from the hips.

CAUTION:
• Only make light contact with the partner’s legs, no pressure. • Do not push the partner’s knee backward.

WHAT:
Safe way to stand up when the opponent is standing.

IMPORTANT:
• Stay aligned with the opponent.
• Turn chest toward the floor.
• Place foot close to the base hand when standing up.

• Seesaw while partner runs around trying to touch my head (partner must avoid being touched by my feet).

• Seesaw while partner runs around trying to touch my head (partner must avoid being touched by my feet) + technical stand-up when I feel safe to get up.