In Chicago. Tony’s gym is located just a few miles from O’Hare. A few spots still available.
Those of you who will be in Chicago and want to skip the seminar but meetup with me, let me know.
In addition to the seminar, some of us will be there for a few extra days (I’ll be arriving Wednesday the 8th and leaving Monday the 13th in the afternoon), and we’ll be shooting another DVD instructional set — this one on solo drills. The set will be designed to teach you strong wrestling fundamentals, with the moves then incorporated into a 40 and 55 minute cardio/conditioning work along video. That way, you can practice wrestling as part of your conditioning program, mastering fundamentals as you get into proper shape.
No equipment is necessary (though you can use a heavy bag, a sand bag, or a laundry bag to practice throws). Or, if you want to invest in a piece of useful equipment, try one of these.
It’s one of the few pieces of equipment I’ve found on which to practice shooting and takedown mechanics.
Plus, it’s liable to scare the bejesus out of your pets. Which is always good for a laugh.
Do they make a line of interchangeable heads that you can put on the training dummy? I’m thinking sports figures, politicians, that sort of thing. Maybe a custom-order option for deadbeat brothers-in-law or landlords.
Seems like it’d be a license to print money.
Anything in catch wrestling that will train me to not fall to the ground and cry like a baby when someone kicks me in the liver?
Hangman dummy? In black?
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACISSSSSSSSSSSST!!!
Whenever I deliver a really good liver shot, I tell it to “get up and fight, boy.”
I try to do it like an Oklahoman who has stockpiled all the country’s ammo because I fear the negro hordes.
Hey, serious question, I’m 6’4”, by build I’d probably fight below 205 at fighting weight. Have a background in jiu-jitsu and have monkeyed around with with muy thai. Everyone has always advised me to totally avoid the takedown and totally avoid the (non-plumb) clinch. Catch wrestling have any focus on how to avoid, well, wrestling? Skinny question from a skinny man.
Yes. You stop wrestling with wrestling. For someone to take you down they need to first beat your head, then your hands, then your hips.
The way we teach takedown defense, the sprawl is used only if you’ve messed up and let somebody beat your head and nearly your hips. And our sprawls we use like strikes.
Probably the most effective move, if you have a background in submissions, is the hip in. That blocks the shot, leaves the person taking the shot committed and vulnerable, and opens them up to face locks, neck cranks, chokes, or any number of serious problems.
We use standard western boxing, which, unlike Muay Thai, which uses a more upright stance with the arms held a bit higher and elbows flared, provides less openings to the wrestler.
If you are striking against a catch wrestler from a Muay Thai stance, we’ll look to slip and come inside and catch and underhook, available to us because those elbows are flared.
We also don’t worry much about the plum: instead of trying to back out (if we’re caught), we’ll close the distance inside and body lock. We don’t stand back and try to block knees with our forearms. The disadvantage to those who use the plum against wrestlers who tend to condition their necks is that you are using two hands on your opponent’s head, leaving the entirety of your body open. If you throw a knee and we catch it, you’re pretty much going for a ride.
If you are a striker, and are trying to avoid the takedown, you’ll also want to keep a wrestler outside, where it’s dangerous for him to take a shot. We won’t shoot unless we are within touching distance, so foot jabs might work.
Tony actually put out a series for guys like you: Catch and Kickboxing. The kickboxing instructor is a student of Bill Superfoot Wallace.
Tony’s role in the set was to teach strikers how to combat wrestlers.
You can find it here.
If that’s something you’d be interested in, let me know and I can probably get you a sweetheart deal.
Or, come to Chicago for the seminar.
That’s some good stuff.
I was into jiu-jitsu pretty hardcore for around 10 years in my youth and that’s still muscle memory without much practice. And, my arm and leg reach is pretty good so if I’m standing I’m in okay shape.
But, yeah, it just doesn’t convert very well against wrestlers. Back when I was in Chicago I’d go into my friends place pretty often and I’d always be grabbed by a half dozen guys so they could spar against someone my height. They always embarrassed me. I’m not kidding, guys about 2/3 my size could easily take me down and most times they’d do it so they were already past my guard.
I just started going to a place up here a couple months ago and it’s the same thing. People want to practice sparring with the tall guy. So, jab, jab, maybe a tentative leg kick from me and then the guy (who once again is always a smaller, stronger wrestler) gets me in the clinch and puts me on my ass. And he’s always in side mount past my guard too.
I’ll see if I can make that seminar, the price is very good and it would be nice if a guy had to be a bit closer to my size to beat my ass. It’s hurting my fragile ego. Damn wrestlers.
Hey, people, take that as a testimonial. To look at me, you wouldn’t want to spar with such a fearsome creature. But 150 pound wrestlers routinely make me look like a little girl.
The cool thing about this seminar is that all the guys from Tony’s instructor program will be there, so we can work with you individually on your weaknesses.
Funny thing, one of the points we covered on the Paladin video series we just shot was how a guy works for the takedown and then immediately falls into the guard of the guy he’s taken down. When we take you down we’re looking for a hook in transition.
Here’s a clip of a double wrist lock throw the way we do it (scroll down to bottom of page).
Man, I really wish I could come and kick the shit out of all you crackers, but…I keed, I keed. I used to box a little back in the day (and good ole street fighting) but age has caught up and, frankly, I may be a pussy right now. So, in other words, I’d love to buy Jeff a drink and say thank you, from the bottom of my blackened heart, for all that he has done for me. Have fun.
I just watched that video, thanks. The language is all different. For me that’s an open kimura.
(Btw, it’s almost impossible for me to use words for muscle memory.)
I was taught to defend that by being flexible. Never worked, I seem to feel pain. Great failing as it turns out.
Offensively, in that position I was taught to get my hooks in, body triangle with legs, one arm choke or rabbit punches until the kimura attempt ended, then go for a normal rear naked choke.
Without a doubt, I’d be on the ground though. Out of my guard. Trying to retake position. Like normal.
This thread is depressing. I suck.
I assure you that the double wristlock and kimura are two entirely different animals. You have to feel it to believe it.
I took BJJ. Nobody ever got a kimura or Americana on me and was able to keep me from powering out. You cannot and will not believe the difference a few minor changes make.
Snap, no tap.
Another problem with my initial training (from around 13 to 23). I wore a gi for most of it. Unbelievable. I know fifty ways to choke someone with my sleeves. And I walk around in a t-shirt. Didn’t this occur to anyone?
You’re making a killer pitch, Jeff. And the guy was applying it out of the mount, which is cool.
God, you know what, for the life of me, I’m having a hard time remembering it, but I swear I saw Josh Barnett pull a double wristlock in Japan. (I would have thought it was a wacky kimura when I saw it.)
I have to ask, honestly, I’m not the world’s strongest guy, I’ll always be more wiry, is this a good technique for those built like me or is it geared towards the strong and stout?
That’s my way of saying that I’ll never “power out” of anything.
Okay, off topic, weird thread going on here: http://patterico.com/2009/03/19/our-famously-articulate-president-in-action/#comment-474647
Okay, I’m convinced. I’m going to see if I can make it.
Every seminar needs a tall, skinny guy to beat up.
Jeff – I’m not a wrestler but I’d love to buy you a drink or three while you’re out here in Chicago. I’ve been reading your blog since way back before the Deb Frisch days.
There are occasional blog-meets out here – the local AoS morons met in a Chicago neighborhood bar last November, IIRC, and just last week Iowahawk himself entertained a bunch of admirers in a north suburban setting. A fun time was had by all.
Please consider naming a place & time and giving your non-wrestling readers a chance to say that they’ve met you!
Thanks, will do!
keep an eye on this space for more details.
And by this space, I mean the blog. This this space will be buried in the archives by then.
nk, soft lump of mother-loving basementdwelling.
Hi nk, thanks for the link!