SLC MMAExploring MMA and Jujitsu in Salt Lake City Utah

Advancing Foot Sweep, Pandas and Lyoto MachidaFiled Under: Instruction, Rantings

It’s late, I’m feeding my newborn baby and I could swear I just saw a panda throw De Ashi Harai – the advancing foot sweep.

Of course, we know this is an Egyptian ad for some cheese but I believe the voice over at the end translates directly to “Eat this cheese or a panda will judo-sweep your shopping cart like a rag doll.” To verify the Panda’s skills, I find the following:

Yep, that panda totally did throw the advancing foot sweep. Kung Fu Panda did not lie: animals know their Judo/Kung Fu.

Lest we think this move is strictly for members of the endangered species list and old men, I refer you to Lyoto Machida, who has pulled this move off a number of times in MMA. Below, he gives a few pointers on the foot sweeps he likes to throw.

Just thought you should know.

Upcoming Grappling CompetitionsFiled Under: Local, tournaments

Wanted to give you all a heads up:

September 25 is Grapplers Quest down in Vegas.  A couple of guys I know are going – it should be a blast.

November 13 is the next Champion Submission Challenge.  The location hasn’t been pinned down yet, but they are usually pretty close for us Salt Lake guys.

Both tournaments have divisions for all levels.

Tags: competitions, grappling tournament

Footwork: Moving out of the line of attackFiled Under: Instruction

The last few sessions at the University we’ve been drilling footwork. Not only is footwork one of the most essential tools in achieving the prime directive, we’ve seen some great fights that have been won by superior footwork (Ex: BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar 2). One of my favorite drills goes something like this: 

• Execute a three-punch combo, closing the gap with shuffle footwork
• Immediately step back out at angle, anticipating counter attacks and defensive readjustments
• Burst into opponent with a two-hit combo

The first set of strikes isn’t necessarily to hit a home-run – it’s to close the gap and set up the KO punches. If they land and do damage, great; but you want to put your fists in their face, disguising your encroachment towards a better positional advantage.  You cut away with a burst step, 30-45 degrees to the side, preferably away from their power hand. Your opponent will likely try to square back up to you or throw counter punches, but you’ll be to their side (looking into their ear) beating them to the punch. 

I haven’t really standardized what I call this combo – “3 cut 2”, “five hit combo”, “3 slip angle counter”, “1-2-3, 1-2”.  What would you call it?

Anyway, to illustrate a bit more about why cutting out of the line of attack is so important, I appeal to someone far greater than I to show us: Fedor.

One more vid, from our local taking it to the MMAT guys (Brandon Kiser) . It plays off that theme – distracting your opponent with a punch to set up your footwork … and that footwork enables a hard hitting blow.

Tags: Fedor, footwork, line of attack, MMA