Student Objectives:
The student will explore the functionality and value of Stacking.
The Student will learn how to pass the Closed Guard by using the Classic Stacking Pass.
Teaching Cues:
Shucking the Clam
Take your grips
Stiff arms
Launch the Torpedo
Post the foot
Turn
The Stack
Arm Under
Cheer
Thumb in the Collar
Reinforce
Plank
Walk
Lesson: Stacking Pass
**Note** This is the most complex lesson plan thus far in the Children’s curriculum. There is enough content in this lesson for two lessons and it should be taught in segments. I recommend teaching the Clam Shuck first, and then the stack separately. It is also important to note that there are multiple different ways to open the legs and multiple different ways to stack, I specifically choose this method because while it is complex, it also highlights strong fundamentals that will transfer into other techniques. It is for these reasons that I feel there is value in teaching it as it is in this lesson.
The assisting student will start in the Closed Guard with their back flat on the floor and their legs wrapped around the waist of the practicing student. The practicing student will start with good posture and Standard Grips.
When making standard grips the practicing student will take their dominant hand and make a grip on both lapels near the sternum of the assisting student. The palm should be gently placed just below the ribs in the soft tissue. This creates a divot on the chest to help prevent the sliding of the grip. While this can be uncomfortable, the goal is stabilization and not discomfort. The second hand should be placed along the hip, making a firm grip on pants and pinning the hips to the floor with a stiff arm. There is a partial blading of the body to allow both arms to be straight. The arm on the lapels is to enforce space between the bodies and prevent the assisting student from sitting up, the hand on the hip is to prevent rapid hip movements for sweeps or submissions.
Opening the Closed Guard is arguably the most difficult portion of passing the Closed Guard. It is important to instruct students how to “shuck the clam” as a way to open guard Guard technically, however, it should be explained to students that future opponents may squeeze so tightly that Shucking the Clam may not be the most mechanically advantageous technique depending on body size. For this reason, it is important for the assisting partner to allow their legs to open when the move is performed to allow the practicing student to get important skill building reps for when this move is the correct move.
To Open the legs the assisting student will transfer heavy weight to their hands, both pinning the hip and applying pressure to the chest. It is important for both of these arms to be completely straight during this transition. It is also important to keep the hip physically pinned to the floor and if future opponent’s, or their training partners, lift their hips off the floor another technique will need to be used. The ability to pin the hips to the floor is an easy indicator to see if shucking the clam is viable. Once the hips are pinned to the floor and your weight is heavy on your arms, the knee (corresponding to the arm pinning the sternum) will be placed directly behind the tailbone of the assisting student. The partial blading of the body should make a clear pathway to the tailbone. If the pathway is difficult to achieve, then the practicing student can fully extend the leg back before bringing it up and placing it at the tailbone. If they student chooses this specific method, it is important to tell them to gently place the knee against the tailbone and not strike their partners in the tailbone. This is a tender part of the body and could lead to possible injuries.
Once the knee has been placed against the tailbone the student will post the foot of the other knee at 220 - 240°. The exact placement of the foot will depend on the individual student’s leg length and the width of their hips. Once the foot is posted the practicing student will push back off of their hands until their hips lock against the ankles of the assisting student. The practicing student should continue to push until they feel the strain of the legs and their arms. Once they feel the arms and legs straining, they should begin rotating their hips towards the posted foot. If done correctly this will increase the pressure on the ankles, and in some cases, open them.
Once the legs have opened, the practicing student will take their hand off of the hip and dig it under the knee and hike the leg up on the shoulder. As the shoulder comes under the knee pit the practicing student will drive forward keeping heavy pressure on the back of the knee and forcing the knee towards the nose/face of the assisting partner. The free arm should be pulling on the lapel, creating a counter pressure with the goal of getting the forearm inside the hips of the assisting student to prevent any Triangle attempts.
It is important to have the Triangle conversation at this point of the lesson.
As soon as possible the outside hand, the one that scooped under the leg, should make contact with the lapel of the assisting student close to the neck. The grip should be in the thumbs down orientation on the cross lapel. Once this hand is on the lapel it should be used to pull the stacked knee even closer to the face.
At this point the hand that was holding the other lapel well come between the legs and take a grip on the pants close to the spine. This gives the practicing student extra control over the hips, but also the ability to increase the pressure of the stack by lifting the legs/hips of the assisting partner and putting more pressure on their shoulders. This should be combined with a planking of the body to force all of the weight onto the shoulder.
Once the student has achieved a strong plank, a heavy stack and tight grips, the practicing student will shuffle step towards the head of the assisting student on the same side as the hand that is in the collar. This will be an uncomfortable position for the assisting student, and it should be pointed out that while this position is uncomfortable, the goal is to pass the guard safely and without any technical mistakes. The fact that it is uncomfortable is a side effect of good technique.
As the student rotates with the shuffle step the head will clear the leg and it will leave them in a very dominant position with good strong grips. Remind the assisting student that they can tap at any time and if they feel any pressure on their cervical (neck) that they should tap as the neck is under developed and safety, especially for children, especially in drilling, is the focus. Communication between the practicing student, the assisting student, and the instructor will be important in being able to drill this consistently without injuring your partners.
Possible Extensions:
The Log Splitter can be used in place of the Clam Shuck as an alternative way to open the legs.
Hugging the waist with a gable grip rather than manipulating the collar and reinforcing with the pant grip can be a great alternative finish, especially if the uniform is not present.
The assisting partner can Shrimp to Recompose Guard to set up a drill where there is continuous movement. This will cut down on transition time while also allowing the practicing student to understand the value of immediately setting grips to shuck the clam.
Possible Refinements:
Very often when transferring the knee to the tailbone the practicing student will bend their arms. Encourage strong frames and stiff arms during this portion of the technique.
Make sure during the shuffle step that the practicing student does not turn their head to allow the leg off of the shoulder. While this will facilitate the pass quicker, it also allows the practicing student the option to Leg Pummel or Shrimp sooner in the rotation. The rotation alone will be enough to clear the head.
Reference materials:
Teaching Reflections:
How did I do teaching?
What could I do better next time?
Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?