Today was a fun day at practice where I learned a couple of new details about moves I already know and fine-tuned some techniques that I will definitely apply in future rolls.

Pull Guard to Ashi:

While standing, get a grip on the collar and sleeve. Utilize a push-and-pull motion so that as they push back, you pull guard and use your feet to kick their butt, making them fall forward. Remember to pull hard to control their upper body so they can’t regain their base with their lower body and have to post with both hands on the mat (otherwise, they will face-plant or land on their side). Use this opportunity to control their leg and come up, initiating a top position or getting into Ashi or single-leg X, and push them away or move into a leg lock position if you prefer to go for a submission.

I discovered that when I get pulled guard with that technique, I instinctively hip-switch and land on my knee and feet, similar to a headquarters-to-knee-cut situation. Or maybe I haven’t been pulled hard enough or kicked hard enough for me to come all the way forward and have to base with my hands (or perhaps I was already anticipating what was coming and automatically went for the defense).

Single Leg Defense:

Get your leg out from between their legs to the outside, kick down with your heels toward the mat. It helps if you pull their bicep toward you, pushing your leg further in so they are now holding your thigh, and kick down. Another option is to rotate your foot to the side or point your heel down, turn away from them, and yank your leg out. Remember to push their head or upper body away as you do so.

Ogoshi Review:

Ogoshi is one of the big, explosive judo takedowns that I’m still too hesitant to try during rolls. Today, we reviewed it and refined some details. Start by getting an underhook, with one hand controlling your partner’s wrist as your stance is perpendicular to theirs on the underhook side. You can either step in with your closer leg or further leg—it’s fine—optimally ending up with your hip stuck to their hip, covering half of their hip (not crossing their centerline). As you pull their upper body to the side and down with the help of wrist control and underhook, your feet can be one before the other or parallel to your partner’s stance—it’s fine. It’s better if your outside leg (same side as the wrist control) trips their leg as you step in to perform the Ogoshi. Lift with your hip, not your back; their weight should be on their hip, loaded onto yours.

Kimura from Side Control:

For a successful kimura, you need space for the arm and shoulder to rotate. In the side-control position, get the kimura grip on their far side. Slide your upper body back a bit while still maintaining pressure on their chest. Use your forearm to lift their shoulder up and apply the kimura. You can also step over their face, force their body to roll over to one side, and rotate their shoulder with a kimura.