Student Objectives:
The student will escape the Knee on Belly position by using the Stuff the Ankle technique with good technique on a compliant partner.
The student will investigate “space is made on the way down” as an important concept in space creation by applying the Stuff the Ankle Technique.
Teaching Cues:
Drape the Arm
Power C
Bridge
Drop and Stuff
Lesson: Stuff the Ankle Knee on Belly Escape
The practicing student will start in a good training position by lying back flat on the ground with their legs bent and their feet flat on the floor. The practicing student can place their hands in the Home Alone position to start. The assisting student will start in the Knee on Belly Position by placing a knee on the practicing student’s stomach close to the belt knot. The foot will then be posted flat on the floor, away from the assisting student’s body, in line with the shoulder. The assisting student should angle their chest towards the practicing student’s body and use their hand closest to the practicing student’s legs as a post on the knee for added stability.
The practicing student will take their opposite side arm and place it on their own belt knot. The inside of their elbow should curve around the outside of the assisting student’s knee. The placement of this arm is important in guiding the knee to the Half Guard side after stuffing the ankle. It also defends against armbars and Underhooks while giving the practicing student an Underhook of their own after a successful stuff of the ankle.
Next, the practicing student will use the same side arm and make a Power C Grip with their palm turned up towards the ceiling. This hand will slide along the inside of their own body until it can take control of the assisting student’s ankle.
Next the practicing student will bridge, extending their hips directly towards the ceiling. The bridge should be momentarily held before quickly dropping the hips. When dropping the thips the practicing student should create a stiff arm with the Power C grip. This will allow the hips to drop while guiding the assisting student’s ankle between the practicing student’s legs.
After stuffing the ankle, the practicing student should use the hand that was draped around the outside of the assisting student's knee to obtain an underhook and immediately start to elevate.
The ending position will vary depending on how the assisting student defenders, but elevation will secure a top position or a neutral position.
Possible Extensions:
The best way to practice the timing and effectiveness of this move is to pair it with the 3 Step Guard pass and then immediately execute this movement. If done correctly, in timing, the amount of effort required for this movement is minimal. This should be the “go to” basic escape for the youth program.
Commonly student’s will try to Back Step out of this technique after their ankle has been trapped.. The placement of the arm around the outside of the knee allows the practicing student the opportunity to accept the Back Step and turn with it. This will angle the practicing student’s chest towards the floor and continue to an elevation. When practicing this movement, have the student’s practice it slowly at first, and then more dynamically. In reality, this is a very dynamic series of movements.
Possible Refinements:
The orientation of the Power C Grip is extremely important when taking control of the ankle. The palm must be up, and the elbow must be tucked in against the practicing student’s ribs. This grip is significantly stronger in keeping the assisting student’s body elevated during the retraction of the bridge and allows a very clean “stuff” of the ankle between the practicing student’s legs.
The momentary hold of the bridge is only a training aid to make sure the student is trying to stuff the ankle on the way down from the Bridge. Make sure the students are not trying to hold the assistings student in the air with the Power C grip on the retraction of the bridge, but rather guiding the assisting student’s ankle during the retraction of the bridge.
When retracting from the Bridge there will be an adjustment of the body angle. This will look slightly like a shrimp, but without escaping the hips. The turning of the body will be important for trapping the ankle because it brings the practicing student’s outside leg over top of the assisting student’s lower leg. It also angles the chest so the practicing student can belly down, and subsequently elevate.
Reference materials:
Teaching Reflections:
How did I do teaching?
What could I do better next time?
Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?