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Indrek Reiland is the instructor of Aliveness Gym Estonia (Straight Blast Gym) and an e-buddy of mine. Just to try his hand at it and see what it was like to create an instructional, he produced one called Functional Half Guard. Despite the guerilla filming, I have to admit that it is one of my favorite half guard instructionals.
I've seen ones by Gordo, Gustavo Machado, Saulo, Bob Bass, Ze Mario and others. While those are all good, Indrek's was the first I'd seen break down the half guard into truly basic basics like hip, head and hand position, posture, defending the cross face, defending the underhook. The overall quality is surprisingly good considering the it was filmed on a digicam in the corner of a karate club with one training partner as his dummy.
What I felt really made the video worth watching was the quality of the material. Most of it is simple, solid and safe, making it some of the most useful techniques and positions for half guard. The paw and double paw are staples of my half guard now, and the safety position is invaluable when passing. Watch those if nothing else.
I also found it interesting how he approached it like he was teaching the viewer how to better coach their own students, and the use of the I-Method and Isolation stage drilling to focus on specific skills or add them to the game.
I asked Indrek for permission to put his video online, and he was happy to share all it for free. So I present:
» Functional Half Guard by Indrek Reiland (Aliveness Gym Estonia) [01:26:59]
Contents
I've seen ones by Gordo, Gustavo Machado, Saulo, Bob Bass, Ze Mario and others. While those are all good, Indrek's was the first I'd seen break down the half guard into truly basic basics like hip, head and hand position, posture, defending the cross face, defending the underhook. The overall quality is surprisingly good considering the it was filmed on a digicam in the corner of a karate club with one training partner as his dummy.
What I felt really made the video worth watching was the quality of the material. Most of it is simple, solid and safe, making it some of the most useful techniques and positions for half guard. The paw and double paw are staples of my half guard now, and the safety position is invaluable when passing. Watch those if nothing else.
I also found it interesting how he approached it like he was teaching the viewer how to better coach their own students, and the use of the I-Method and Isolation stage drilling to focus on specific skills or add them to the game.
I asked Indrek for permission to put his video online, and he was happy to share all it for free. So I present:
» Functional Half Guard by Indrek Reiland (Aliveness Gym Estonia) [01:26:59]
Contents
Introduction
Basic Positioning
Basic Positioning
Stay on your side
Paw
Isolation: paw vs crossface
Triangling the legs
Returning to closed guard
Isolation: adding the guard return
Double paw
Defending the brabo choke
Isolation: adding the double paw
Wedge
Isolation: adding the wedge
Behind the back arm trapping + sweep
Isolation: adding the arm trapping
On teaching basic positions and isolated drilling
Basic TechniquesPaw
Isolation: paw vs crossface
Triangling the legs
Returning to closed guard
Isolation: adding the guard return
Double paw
Defending the brabo choke
Isolation: adding the double paw
Wedge
Isolation: adding the wedge
Behind the back arm trapping + sweep
Isolation: adding the arm trapping
On teaching basic positions and isolated drilling
Two ways of taking the back
Toe grab sweep
Isolation: adding toe grab sweep
Sweeps off the wedge
- Going out the backdoor
- Grab pants sweep
When to teach half guard, the more advanced games and the basics
Half Guard TopToe grab sweep
Isolation: adding toe grab sweep
Sweeps off the wedge
- Going out the backdoor
- Grab pants sweep
When to teach half guard, the more advanced games and the basics
Basic goal - crossface and turning out
Safety position 1
- Down by hips to negate the underhook
- Pinching knees to prevent the guard return
- Cupping elbow to negate the paw
- Head in landing pad to flatten them out
- Isolation: safety position
- Importance of head position
Brabo choke
Safety position 2
Whizzer
Why not to kill the paw with a knee
Isolation: safety positions and whizzer
Basic goal in detail
- Crossface
- Turning out
- Hand on hip
Gi grips
- Shoulder lockdown
- Face covering
Passing off their bridge
Wristlock
Passing to mount
Passing to side control
Passing to side control or mount
Isolation: passes
Hip switch pass
Isolation: Review of passing drills
Putting the whole passing game together
Closing and ThanksSafety position 1
- Down by hips to negate the underhook
- Pinching knees to prevent the guard return
- Cupping elbow to negate the paw
- Head in landing pad to flatten them out
- Isolation: safety position
- Importance of head position
Brabo choke
Safety position 2
Whizzer
Why not to kill the paw with a knee
Isolation: safety positions and whizzer
Basic goal in detail
- Crossface
- Turning out
- Hand on hip
Gi grips
- Shoulder lockdown
- Face covering
Passing off their bridge
Wristlock
Passing to mount
Passing to side control
Passing to side control or mount
Isolation: passes
Hip switch pass
Isolation: Review of passing drills
Putting the whole passing game together
the quality of instruction is very good and the techniques are sound.... I am impressed. If there are any other instructionals from Aliveness out there I definitely would like to watch them.
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