Key takeaways from a private session with Italo.
Back Take
Offense:
- Bring the opponent's arm down and trap it with your leg to take one of their arms out of the fight.
- Negate their other arm with one of yours, leaving your free arm to finish the choke. Won't be easy - they can still tuck their chin.
Defense:
- Bring your leg up to bring opponent's hook to you while trying to control their choking arm.
- Grab their toes, slide your leg down to allow yourself to easily strip (move) the hook (to the side), then bring your leg back up to prevent opponent from re-pummeling their hook (knee–elbow connection).
- Grab their arm, rotate, climb up their arm, and escape.
Choi Bar
Scenario: Half guard with a knee shield, or open knee guard - any position where you can put your leg over the opponent's head. Works from butterfly guard too. Reference video
Setup:
- From knee shield half/open guard, frame against their shoulders and get the underhook, going palm to palm.
- Put your leg over their head.
- On the same side as your arm-to-arm grip, pummel your leg to their far hip.
- Squeeze your legs together with their arm trapped and finish the armbar.
Finishes:
- Belly-down armbar
- Belly-up armbar
- Reverse top lock, then slowly set up the armbar
Key detail: Keep your hips above their head. If their head is above your hips, you can't shrimp enough to bring your leg over for the choi bar.
Collar Sleeve → Armbar & Omoplata
- Pull their sleeve close to you, push it left against your leg while driving your leg into the arm.
- Armbar: finish from there.
- Omoplata: if they turn their thumb upside down, switch to the omoplata.
Game Plan Against Big Guys
- High mount: Shimmy up. If they go for an ezekiel or punch choke, use a Philly shell to protect your neck. Bump them with your knee, then elbow escape.
- Kipping: Requires inside position with your legs first (grapevines = outside position, so it won't work). Protect your neck and watch for submissions throughout.