Now that I'm getting the hang of my paying writing job, I'm going to try and step things up here at side control.
Most important, I want to make an entry called "Coursework" for every class I take. This post will be limited to what was taught in class, no sparring notes, no drill notes, no ruminations and philosophizing--just the class, ma'am.
This afternoon was my first class back on the mat in several weeks. I think the last class I took was also a Wednesday, days before the Revolution tournament in Bonney Lake on November 10th.
I say that because we were working on the butterfly guard then, and worked on it again this afternoon.
Today, Rodrigo was basically teaching us another pass of the butterfly guard.
You are in your opponent's butterfly guard. He's got the overloop arm around your back, hand on belt and is probably working to turn his body sideways to get ready for the sweep.
On the same side of the overloop arm, you want to reach under his leg or hook on that side and grab the pants of his other leg at the cuff. With your other hand--the hand your opponent wants to trap--reach up and grab the guy behind the neck at the collar, thumb-in.
Be willing to move a little to make it easier to grab the pants at the cuff. Stepping up to a knee on the side you are trying to grab can help create space.
Once you've got your grips, bring your elbows in and lean forward, putting your weight on the guy. You are going to want to move, a sort of "sprawl walk" around in the direction of leg you have trapped.
He may roll to his side as you move around. Not a problem. Use your shoulder to flatten him out.
We spent some time working on this pass, as well as some time just practicing on balance when the guy on bottom has a good, butterfly guard and is working to off-balance you. One key Rodrigo mentioned was that if the guy has a good hook on one leg and is elevating it, you need to sit and put all your weight on your other leg.
"Sometimes you have to give," is how I think Rodrigo put it, and you can feel the jiu jitsu. Rather than fighting the hook when the guy's got it in pretty good, let him have the hook, but shift your base so that the hook is ineffective. In fact, if the guy overcommits to the hook, he might become all the more vulnerable to getting his butterfly guard passed.
