Is there a way to practice base?

BobSacamano · 05-12-2008, 01:00 PM

I am starting to get side-mount every once in a while now. I even get side on a blue for like 10 seconds,lol.

But now that I am starting to pass guard a bit, I am noticing I have no base in side. Is there a way to practice that? Or just keep passing and the base will come?

What is happeing, is they are easily restting my guard or sometimes worse.

I know I am not supposed to be using strength but I think I am trying to hard to use gravity and keep my ass down, and it feels like I just don't have enough pressure on them, and they are easily escaping. Should I use some strength, like "squeeze them and push down"?

Is there a way to work on holding side? Or it just comes the more frequent I get side?

blanko · 05-12-2008, 01:14 PM

you are #1) giving them too much space so they can move their hips and retain guard

#2) too high up on them if you are getting rolled over.

The best way is to ask your instructor.

Frodo · 05-12-2008, 02:02 PM

You could drill holding the pin/escaping the pin. That is, sparring near 100% with the goal only to pin your partner or to escape the pin. That's how I got better at it.

franz_grinder · 05-12-2008, 02:05 PM

I'll answer this here as well:

"Be careful not to give power to intangible "base". Simply saying so and so has ridiculous base doesn't really cover what he's doing. It's technique.

Make sure to stop any posting arms on your opponent they confuse your balance - if he gets one limb in between you and him he can stop you. Side control is'nt as dominant as some would like to think. Your still grip fighting even when in side-control. Think about trying to hold down someone that's having a temper tantrum. You have to eliminate their hand that are pushing you back.

Take control of the higher parts of his torso; but not his head or shoulders. If you direct your weight , as best as possible, right into your opponents sternum and not his abdomen or shoulders you'll feel heavier. His center of gravity must stay underneath you and you have to move with it.

Play with a small medicine ball underneath your body. Circle and roll over it while trying to keep it's weight pressed underneath you. If you let it slip to a side or out from underneath you that's when someone has a chance to escape. keep the balls weight centered underneath and gradually move faster and more explosively adding in front rolls right over the ball once your able. This will all help to build neccessary muscle memory. And it will help you understand what 'base' really is.

PM me if any of this sparks your interest and i can give you some more tips. I'm a lanky 5'10' and had to really work on base."

Chinaboxer · 03:26 PM

get head and arm control, near side knee under his armpit, far side knee on his hip, and most important part is to block his inside hip with your arm. if you don't do this, he'll just recompose guard on you.

there are other ways to help maintain side control such as wrapping his lapel around his bicep but like the others have said, have an instructor show you .

if you have mat time, get a higher belt and try and hold side control while he tries to get half or full guard on you. once he escapes, recompose side control and start over.

Chinaboxer · 05-12-2008, 03:24 PM

double.

ILGrappler · 05-12-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by franz_grinder

Play with a small medicine ball underneath your body. Circle and roll over it while trying to keep it's weight pressed underneath you. If you let it slip to a side or out from underneath you that's when someone has a chance to escape. keep the balls weight centered underneath and gradually move faster and more explosively adding in front rolls right over the ball once your able. This will all help to build neccessary muscle memory. And it will help you understand what 'base' really is.

You could also try this with a rubber bladder and when you're done have your intern Darring throw it out the window.

el_cazador · 05-12-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chinaboxer

get head and arm control, near side knee under his armpit, far side knee on his hip, and most important part is to block his inside hip with your arm. if you don't do this, he'll just recompose guard on you.

If you're on your knees you can't keep much weight on your opponent. I sprawl out out on my toes, keeping my hips nice and low. Puts a lot more pressure on the guy than if you're on your knees.

Grab a bethroom scale and rest your forearm or elbow on it, and try different positions to see which registers the most weight, ie. start on your knees, then sprawl out on your toes, shift your hips up/down, adjust the angle of your upper body, etc and watch how it changes. Should give you a good idea of what position will apply the most pressure.

codemonkey76 · 05-12-2008, 05:04 PM

When I hold side, I always keep one knee forward and one knee back that way i can keep my hips attached to the ground, preferably i will keep one him attached to his hip and the other sprawled back. Also you want to make your opponent look away from you, if his face is turned away he can't turn his hips towards you to try to return to guard, if you get one arm under his head and grab his far lapel or armpit and pull it towards you and drive your shoulder into his jaw to keep him looking away.

Another point to note is it is not a static position, if he starts escaping, transition, switch to N/S or side control on the other side, if he bridges, that's the perfect time to step over to the mount.

Spoonman7 · 05-12-2008, 05:14 PM

just remember that hip position is the single greatest contributer to strong base, keeping your hips low and heavy is what makes some guys feel like they weight 500 pounds when they are 180.