SLC MMAExploring MMA and Jujitsu in Salt Lake City Utah

Working the Cage in MMA October roundupFiled Under: Instruction, Local

Today I was drilling some basic pummelling while being pushed onto the cage wall and wanted to provide some video resources about fighting off the cage, or using the cage to one’s advantage. Pay special attention to how the fighters use their balance, grips and base (hips, legs, and foot placement) to achieve their results.

Click through the pictures to see the videos.

Razor Rob shows how to nerf (obviate) the underhook when being pushed up against the cage and perform a sit-down takedown to get into side control.

Our local Brandon Ruiz shows some cage work defense with two techniques: a chest punch to get back your underhook and a slick two-on-one (controlling their two arms with one of yours) control to get your back off the cage.

UFC champ Frankie Edgar shows how to cut off the movement of your opponent and keep them on the cage with this drill.

Adam “Soul Horse” Song from Cageside MMA shows the proper base and pressuring technique to keep your opponent on the wall. He also demonstrates how to knee, footstomp, etc from this position. The discussion of how to base is brief, but essential.

Revolution MMA’s Joel Gerson shows a foot-sweep type move that exploits the opponent’s balance and base.

A couple of guys from ProFightNetwork show a knee catch takedown from the cage – keep that head tucked! – and then follow up with some excellent instruction on ground and pound.

Kenny Florian shows defense against ground and pound by securing a grip (two on one is great) and then wall walking back to his feet.  The move is related to a turkish getup.

Kevin Kearns (Burn with Kearns!) and Marcus Davis show a similar drill, the cage crush, that help you work getting back to your feet. Bosu ball used for resistance.

Another local man, Brian Yamasaki from DamageControl MMA has his wrestling buddy, Dave Seljestad show a single leg takedown when you’re pressing your opponent up to the cage.

Some guys from The Pit show various techniques in this long (12 mins) video instruction, including tips on finishing the double leg takedown while pushing your opponent onto the fence.

Brad Daddis shows how you can escape side control by walking your feet up the cage and rolling your opponent over. Pretty slick move.

Let me know if your thoughts – I learned a ton from these vids and would love to learn what you might have to offer too!

Tags: Brandon Ruiz, Brian Yamasaki, cage work, fighting off the cage, frankie edgar, Kenny Florian, takedowns, using the fence

Quick Video Tip: Double Leg Takedown Defense, “When it’s too late to sprawl”Filed Under: Instruction, Local

We were working on some body locks and positioning last night at the U and we went over this counter to the double leg takedown.   In a sense, its not a counter to the double leg takedown because you are still going to the ground. It’s a “make the best of things” type counter.   The guy gets in too deep, too fast to sprawl; its too late to stop him for taking you for a ride.  Best case scenario is that you get to pick the destination. Video below shows Utah local, Brian Yamasaki teaching the move.

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I remember seeing Dan Henderson use something like this in his fight against Jake Shields. He wasn’t able to roll Jake, but kept his hips from getting sucked underneath and got his legs to the side and then to freedom with his belly down.

Tags: Brian Yamasaki, Dan Henderson, double leg takedown, take down defense, takedowns

The Bas Rutten Liver ShotFiled Under: Instruction, Local

It almost seems that Bas Rutten has the patent on the liver shot – it’s something he does really well. The video above is short and sweet – and easy watch.  I really like how Bas delineates between the hook and the liver shot – the latter being more uppercut than hook. And the visual of shanking someone with a knife blade between your knuckles, Wolverine style,  …  priceless Bas Rutten.

Anyway, the local boys over at Mushin Self Defense have an longer, more in depth video (below) talking about the finer details of the liver and striking it. The first five or so minutes is Sensei Brian taking with a medical doctor about the location and structure of the liver.  The music in the background cracks me up.

One other thing – this punch is sometimes called a shovel hook, or a shovel punch, because of how it mimics the way you shovel snow in the winter time, something we all can relate to.  To make the punch really hit hard, you need to get your hips behind it and drive through with your feet -  without changing much of your vertical height. The video below is pretty decent and you can see the hip shift and the pushing through on the balls of the feet. Since they are coming from a kickboxing point of view, there is one notable  correction for us MMA guys – their starting stance is a little wide (foot to foot) and a tad too “slim” (angle to the opponent).

Tags: bas rutten, body shots, Brian Yamasaki, liver shot, Mushin, punching, shovel punch, taking it to the mmat