MMA and me; day 292

We worked on a couple of really cool moves on Thursday. The samurai roll, and the berimbolo. The roll is an odd mix of simple and complex. From inside your opponents half guard (on their right leg for the purposes of explaining) cross your feet underneath their right leg, to help control the roll. Swim your right arm to the mat on their right side, rolling over your shoulders, and as you do, extend your hips and kick your legs to lengthen out their body. As you finish your shoulder roll, uncross your feet, and throw your left leg around their left side to take their back. It was the first time I drilled the move, so I am still working on it, but it is a very nifty way to pass the half guard, and end up in a very dominant position. It has to be executed quickly, and it also is something that can be tacked on to the end of an old school sweep from half guard bottom, which actually can help with the momentum and make the roll even quicker.

The berimbolo can be done from many positions, but we worked on it from a sitting position, with a seated partner. With your left leg under their right leg, and your left foot on their left hip, reach under your left leg, to grab their right heel, or a hunk of their pant leg near their right heel. Tucking your head as close in to their right hip as you can, roll across your shoulders, bringing your right shin across their belt line, and kicking them over as you finish the sweep. Shift your hips to line up with their back, and grab their belt, a hunk of their jacket, or whatever you need to bring your chest up to their back, and sink your left hook in to secure the position. Like I said, it can be done from SO many positions, X Guard, De La Riva, half guard. The key is quickness, and momentum. Both of these moves are pretty new to me, so I am going to be working them a lot, so here is to more new stuff!