20. NOVICE KNOWLEDGE - HOW TO SUBMIT YOURSELF

Posted by on

No this isn't a tutorial on how to injure yourself, more of a guide to slap you in the face before you slap on a sub that marks the end of your roll that day, or potentially rolls for days or weeks after. 

Here are some situations in which you might get a bit shirty and jump the gun on some pivotal nuances that make a sub work for you and most importantly not the other way around. 

back control RNC

Cross o' the legs

This is probably the most common mistake newbies will make when they achieve back control. Is it such an awful move that will get you subbed every time? Perhaps not if you're physically gifted with some flexibility or innate strength.

However, there is almost no reason for you to cross your legs and go for the choke. Crossing your legs gives you the illusion of connection to your opponent, yet limits your ability to adapt to escape attempts, plus the defending party can triangle your legs and submit you as shown above.

Solution: Just don't do it. 
Leave your feet next to one another and focus on squeezing in and down like riding a horse with no saddle. Giddy up!

Von Flue choke

Von Fluent!

No the Von Flue isn't a German virus. 
The Von Flue choke is most often found when a beginner grappler invest their whole effort into securing a guillotine even after their guard has been passed. You'll notice like a great many chokes, Blue has his shoulder and arm pinned to his neck. 

Solution: Don't do. 
Recognise when you are no longer the one dictating the game and work on getting frames in and escaping.

Kimura grip submission

Kimura vs Kimura
Going for the Kimura grip or Figure 4 in half-guard is a gamble to say the least, especially against someone larger and/or more experienced than yourself. Think of it this way, you know boot-scootin' line dancing where partners hook each other by the arm and swing each other around?
Well this is like that except the losing party gets their shoulder popped.

Kimura half-guard

Yikes.
As shown, Blue has gone for a sub in a less than stellar position and has paid the price. When you gaze into the abyss, the abyss gazes back and when you throw up a Kimura be prepared for it to be thrown back at you!

Solution: Aim to go for the Kimura when you are in a position so you can control the body of your opponent e.g. side control, full guard.

Triangle choke guard submission

The Self Destructive Triangle

Last but certainly not least is one dear to my heart.
The old fashioned triangle over the foot is something recall when I was a budding white belt with legs like Tigger and grappling like Pooh. I vividly remember slapping on a triangle choke against a purple belt and squeezing like I expected orange juice to come out of his neck.

Problem was my composed counterpart defended, waited for my legs to gas out and methodically deconstructed my triangle. My lock over the shin slipped back to over the foot, as shown above, and I continued to squeeze out of ignorance and vigor. Inevitably my purple belt friend broke the lock and the sudden posturing twisted my foot so that even though my leg was facing the ceiling my foot pointed down to the floor in a complete 180 degree turn. 

You don't want none of this.
This story was 5 years ago and to this day my knee and applicable muscles are not, and most likely, will not be the same again. 

Solution: Keep the triangle hinge or lock over the shin always. If you feel it slipping there is nothing wrong with going back a step or two and gripping the shin with your hand and resetting.

The sub is the pat on the head you give yourself, we get it.
But never let your ambition for submission overwhelm you and make you submit yourself. 
We've said it before and we will say it time and time again, stay in the roll, and most definitely never take yourself out of one.

- Jake Anderson

← Older Post Newer Post →



Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published