DEFENDING SIDE CONTROL

Technique 1: Shrimping and Recovering Guard from Bottom

• Objective: Teach students to create space and use effective hip movement to reestablish guard when pinned.
• Key Focus Points:
  • Using the correct frame placement to neutralize top pressure.
  • Timing the hip escape (shrimp) to maximize distance from the opponent.
  • Efficiently transitioning to guard (closed, half, or butterfly, depending on the opponent's reaction or your preference).

Technique 2: Single-Leg Escape

• Objective: Equip students with a direct and powerful escape by transitioning to a single-leg takedown from the bottom.
• Key Focus Points:
  • Creating an underhook and rotating hips to establish control of the opponent’s leg.

Technique 3: Sneaking to Turtle and Transitioning

• Objective: Introduce a sneaky way to escape by transitioning to the turtle position with an emphasis on follow-up attacks or further escapes.
• Key Focus Points:
  • Proper framing to avoid exposing your back during the transition.
  • Controlling the opponent’s arm or head to prevent counterattacks.
  • Moving directly into turtle defense or transitioning to a dominant position.

LESSON PLAN

• Warm-Up (10 minutes)
  Include Drills related to side control and transitions.
• Technique Instruction (25 minutes)
  A detailed breakdown of 2-3 techniques and concepts.
• Drilling (10 minutes)
  Students practice Transition chains.
• Positional Sparring (3 minutes/each - 6min total)
  Focused sparring starting from side control.
• Cool Down (4 -5 min)
  

Kids Mat-Chat of the week

Mat Chat Topic: Kindness

Introduction:

• Start with: “Today’s Mat Chat is about something very important both on and off the mat – Kindness.”
• Ask the kids: “Can anyone tell me what kindness means to them?”

Key Points:

1. Definition of Kindness:

   • Kindness is being nice to others and helping them without expecting anything in return.
   • Example: Helping a friend who fell down or sharing with someone who forgot their snack.

2. Kindness on the Mat:

   • Be a good training partner by helping your teammate learn and not using too much strength.
   • Saying “thank you” after rolling and encouraging teammates who are learning something new.

3. Kindness Off the Mat:

   • At school: Include others in your games, say nice things, and help if someone looks sad.
   • At home: Helping your parents, siblings, or even cleaning up without being asked.

Interactive Activity:

• Ask the kids:
  • “Can you share one kind thing you did for someone this week?”
  • “What’s one kind thing someone else did for you?”

Wrap-Up:

• “Being kind is like being a good teammate in life. When we show kindness, we make the world and our dojo a better place.”
• “Your homework this week: Do one kind thing for someone and tell me about it in our next class!”

End with a question:

• “Who’s ready to be a kindness champion this week?”

   

BJJ Instructor Tip of the Week:

"Focus on the Details, But Teach the Big Picture First"

When introducing a technique, start with the big picture—what the move is, why it works, and when to apply it. This helps students understand its context and purpose. Once they grasp the overall concept, break it down into smaller, precise details that make the technique effective.

Until next time! Juan Pablo Garcia