MMA and me; day 209

Working the low 10 was the order of the day in kickboxing yesterday. First, we worked on stepping across and driving the leg into the kick shield. Bending at the waist, and bringing the knee up and around to drive it into the pad. With leg kicks, you don't want to throw them too hard, because if you really lean into one, and your opponent checks it, well, you will not want to throw any more, and that's the best case scenario! Also, instead of pivoting on the ball of your foot as you step across, pivot on your heel, as it helps you open your hips more, and that translates to a more fluid, and powerful kick.

Next, we worked from a lead leg push kick, directly into a low 10. Holding the foot against their stomach, you throw the 10 as soon as you bring the lead leg back to the floor, using your momentum to really snap the kick off. The nice thing about this transition, is that your opponent is usually so focused on the push kick, that their leg is just waiting to get blasted, and they won't even think about checking it.

Next was a follow up to a missed low 10. As the kick goes past them, bring that leg through, then lift up the other knee like a pitcher going into his wind up, bring it all the way around, and almost leap into throwing the leg across to drive the low 10 into the pad. This is sneaky, because you could also throw a spinning backfist, and then follow that with a low 10.

Lastly, we worked on throwing a low 10 to an opponent who switches stances. As they switch to southpaw, you also switch, and then much like in the previous scenario, bring the now rear leg up and swing it around, plant it right across your body and leap into digging the kick into the leg.

We finished with two rounds of skippies into a pad held by our partner, sit ups for a minute and a half or so, and then it was on to grappling. Great striking class, it really helped that we stretched beforehand, since I am NOT a flexible person.

So once again, the order of the day was leg locks, and we worked on a few new entries to familiar submissions. Buckmount to knee bar from low judo was one of my favorites. From low judo, simply pop your hips over their near side knee to sit on their hips, go elbow pit deep with your near side arm on their knee pit, pinch the knee between your thighs, and roll across their body. Slide your rear naked grip up to the heel, cup the heel, put your head on the foot, and arch your hips. From sitting on their hips, if they defend the knee bar by triangling their legs, you can throw your own triangle around their legs and get a muscle lock, or before you even go for the knee bar, you can initiate your own muscle lock.

We also worked a few new entries from the back. With an opponent standing over you, get your butterfly hooks in, boots on, pop your legs out to knock them off balance, and straighten one of your legs out in between their legs. With the straightened leg, shrimp to the other hip, and throw that leg up around to get your heel on their hip, and from there you have all sorts of options. You immediately have a heel hook, or can transition to an Achilles lock, or you can shrimp around to a knee bar. It's just filthy nasty!

Lastly, I'll cover the heel hook from being mounted. Bump your hips up to knock them forward, so they have their hands on the mat, and as they lean forward, walk their hips further forward with your hands, and bring one of your knees up to your chest, directly between their legs, and immediately shrimp to that side hip to throw your other leg over theirs, landing right into a heel hook, very similar to the previous position with them standing over you.

Leg locks are so wonderful, and they are everywhere. There are essentially only five, Achilles or straight ankle lock, knee bar, heel hook, toe hold, and calf slicer or calf crusher. You could argue that the electric chair is another, but I haven't covered that one too much, so that's for another day. Awesome class yesterday, I'm loving this lock flow stuff!!!