Sunday 17th December = Fundamentals + Hell
Tonight we looked at sweeping using the hooks guard with some options for when it all goes wrong…
Remember, the basic position for hooks guard is:
- both feet ‘hooking’ inside your opponent’s thighs (if they’re kneeling) or knees if they’re standing
Grips can vary, but a solid default option is:
- one arm underhooking (reaching under) their armpit, your hand pulling down on the top of their shoulder
- clasp their other arm to your ribs at the elbow, with your armpit or elbow controlling their forearm/wrist – this is the side you’ll sweep to, so you’re making sure they can’t post out with that hand
Additional points:
You want to keep your head under the level of your opponent’s head. You need to get your body under their weight to sweep them successfully and you can pretty much guarantee if your head is above theirs that this isn’t the case.
Hooks Guard Drill
One person takes hooks guard, the other kneeling
The object is for the person in guard to stop their partner passing using only their hooks. Once they’ve been passed or swept their partner, the drill restarts.
i)The person passing has to pass without coming up onto either foot. Neither person can use their arms.
ii) Repeat, but this time each person can use one arm and the attacker can come up onto one knee
iii) Pass or sweep using whatever limbs you like.
Basic Hooks Sweep
With your hooks in and grips as described above (let’s say right arm underhook, left arm overhook):
- fall back toward your left shoulder
- pull your right hook toward you and then lift toward your left
- disengage your hook as they begin to fall
- take side control
You can choose not to disengage your hook and instead follow through to the mount position, but your momentum can be used by your opponent to counter-sweep you.
Losing the Angle
A common mistake with the hooks sweep is to lie straight back bringing your opponents weight onto you. Sweeping from here is a challenge, so a good strategy is to reset in some way or transition to another position.
Here are 3 options:
i) If at once you don’t succeed…
- sit up
- scoot your hips in
- re-establish your grips if you need to
- take them back on the correct angle to sweep them properly this time
ii) Rock-up
- sit up and re-set your grips if necessary
- fold your left leg* in front you you – knee pointing to the left
- drive your right knee forward and across your opponent’s right hip to the floor
- pull on their right arm
- apply your weight to take side control as their back hits the mat
* this (and the steps that follow) assumes you’re intending to sweep to the left.
NB: The success of this move relies a lot on momentum, so as you sit back up, the next steps occur pretty much simultaneously with your forward movement rather than sequentially.
Also, be careful to drive off on an angle rather than straight back – if your partner doesn’t have time to react and you drive straight back over them, you could injure their ankles as your combined bodyweight forces them to fold over backwards. Ouch.
iii) Disengage
- sit back up
- push their legs back with your hooks, pitching their weight forward
- get to your knees
- pull them forward under you with your underhook
- switch to an under-over grip – underhooking hand goes under their armpit to grip your other wrist which snakes in front of their neck. There are several finishes from here, a few which were covered in John’s most recent seminar.
