Student Objectives:
The student will apply the Bridge correctly and effectively as a way to escape Side Control while using the Bridge Out and Shoulder Roll.
The student will explore transitional escapes by applying a Bridge Out and Shoulder Roll after the practicing student has had their legs passed, but before the application of pressure in Side Control.
The student will demonstrate using the uncontested space beneath the bridge to orientate the body for the Shoulder Roll.
Teaching Cues:
Bridge Out
High Hips
Feet to the Hips
Lesson: Bridge Out to Shoulder Roll
The practicing student will start flat on their back with their legs gently bent, feet flat on the floor and their hands in the Home Alone position. The assisting student will take a modified Side Control top position. The assisting student should place one hand by the head and one fist on the far side floor next to the hip. The assisting student should then leave 6-12 inches of space between their chests with the majority of their weight on their hands and knees. This space is left to more easily build the proper pathway and to reinforce that this movement should be done before chest to chest pressure in Side Control.
The move will be initiated by the practicing student Bridging up and away. Make sure to emphasize control with the arms and hips as the pathway can be crowded and when done incorrectly, the elbow of the reach arm can sometimes occupy the same space as the assisting student's chin.
As the practicing student bridges up and away they should turn their hips towards the floor while basing on their shoulder and toes. Turning the hips towards the floor will require a combination of the near side hip turning over and the far side hip drawing under the body. The emphasis should be put on the outside hip pulling back and under the body. This is a strong concept that will accomplish two very important things.
First, future opponents are going to try and cup the hip and stay heavy on the person performing the Bridge Out. If that hip is controlled and the practicing student can’t turn the hip over, then they may not be able to use their legs to Shoulder Roll, or in the event that they want to get to Turtle and fight from there, it may prevent Turtle all together.
Second, it allows the hips to rise significantly higher by letting the inside leg (after the turn over) push and elevate rather than base and pivot. Please reference the video to see the difference in those two hip movements.
During the turning of the hips and completion of the Bridge the practicing student should not ever let their knees touch the floor. The assisting student should take the fist that was on the floor and hug around the waist of the practicing student.
Once the practicing student has successfully bridged out onto their shoulders, and has their hips elevated, they will do a modified Roll by leading with their outside leg opening in a large swing. The goal with this leg is to catch the assisting student behind the armpit and rib cage to force an adjustment to their base. If their hand posts on the floor to stop from falling over, the practicing student will have an easy turn back into the Closed Guard.
This pathway, and timing, will take a bit of practice but is an essential skill in reestablishing Guard against dynamic Guard passers that quickly bypass the legs.
Possible Extensions:
This escape works very well against the Knee on Belly position as well. Having the practicing student execute a pass that ends with Knee on Belly (like the Three Step Guard Pass) can lead to a different look at the spacing. Please note that the contact with the outside leg that opens during the Shoulder Roll will make contact with a different area on the body than if they are performing it from Side Control and that while it will bump them off, it often leads to a reset from Open Guard more than it does to Closed Guard.
As the practicing student builds proficiency in the Bridge Out and Shoulder Roll, combine the re-guarding movement with the assisting student performing a Knee Cut Pass. This will allow for the practicing student to develop the timing that makes this pass viable.
There can be a moment during the Bridge Out that future opponents will try to use to take the back. While this is an advanced transition for children it is important for them to understand that a hook may attempt to come into that space. For that reason the shoulder that is being based on should use the arm that is attached to crowd that space with the hand. This will help effectively defend against a common back take, but it will also allow the practicing student to turn their chest to the floor more efficiently.
Possible Refinements:
The harder the assisting student tries to hug the hip, the more powerful the Shoulder Roll becomes. For a powerful Shoulder Roll, have the assisting student try to rapidly close the space after the bridge and secure a tight grip around the waist. Also instruct the students that this will cause their face to move rapidly towards the floor and that they should limit how hard they attempt to hug the hips so that they can let go before their face smashes into the floor.
Until this point many of the escapes that students have practiced involve bellying down, or turning towards the assisting student. This is due to the desire to limit exposure of the back to our opponents. This is a good habit to have, but is contradictory to the Bridge Out and Shoulder Roll. Make sure that students are bridging away, and while it does expose the back, it is a limited exposure when performed correctly.
Students have a tendency to roll over on their stomachs without the Bridge and then attempt to lift their belly to transition into the Turtle Position. Make sure that students are emphasizing a lift of the hips for this movement. If done correctly the student is never truly establishing Turtle as their knees will never hit the floor.
Reference materials:
Teaching Reflections:
How did I do teaching?
What could I do better next time?
Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?