Americana from half guard

Strykerx

Strykerx

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I am pretty sure there is something I'm fundamentally doing wrong here. I'm playing half guard keeping most of my attention to blocking the crossface. While in the mist of this the the high arm that is blocking gets push over. From there my partner weight is down on my hips.

He proceeds to americana me. For the most part only stronger and bigger guys can perform this move on me. FYI my instructor was not here today nor will he be tomorrow. Only me and one other student show up to class. So I could not ask him. Also there is about a 20lb or more weight difference between the two of us and most of the guys who catch me with this.

I know the escape from side mount but I have not learn the escape from half guard. I tried to escape using the traditional americana escape however i'm doing this from half guard so I can not bridge.

One more question at the white belt level what leglocks are we allowed to do I know heel hooks are illegal.

Edit - I did run a search and also look on youtube for the answer.
 
I'll ponder your Americana question.

As a white belt with a Gi on, NO leglocks are legal.

If you do NAGA no-gi, ALL leglocks are legal at ALL levels.
 
Heelhooks in a Gi are ALWAYS illegal at ALL belt levels. I'm not clear as to what belt level footlocks, toeholds, and kneebars become legI don't compete Gi often, and when I do, I only do upper body attacks.
 
thanks, I couldn't find anything regard this particular position and submission. Unless sherodog is being lame when I ran a search in the "Half Guard " thread. I was going to wait until one of my friends (CodeMonkey) was online to ask him but I can't stop thinking about it.
 
At white belt, only straight ankle locks are legal. And that depends on the tournament as well.

Kneebars and Toe Holds are legal at brown/black only. No heel hooks. EVER.


As for your Americana question, are you on your side in the "pray" position when he does this? Is your knee in? I bet not. Thats my biggest defense from half. Is to not stay flat on your back. If you do, youre dead. You need to be on your side with the knee on his hip.

You should be getting an underhook with your "high" arm. Also try feeding the bottom of his gi around his back to the "high" arm and holding.

If he is mentally capable to roll, and not an utter retard, he will whizzer that arm. From there, there are plenty of sweeps to get yourself out of half.
 
BTTinUSA said:
At white belt, only straight ankle locks are legal. And that depends on the tournament as well.

Kneebars and Toe Holds are legal at brown/black only. No heel hooks. EVER.


As for your Americana question, are you on your side in the "pray" position when he does this? Is your knee in? I bet not. Thats my biggest defense from half. Is to not stay flat on your back. If you do, youre dead. You need to be on your side with the knee on his hip.

You should be getting an underhook with your "high" arm. Also try feeding the bottom of his gi around his back to the "high" arm and holding.

If he is mentally capable to roll, and not an utter retard, he will whizzer that arm. From there, there are plenty of sweeps to get yourself out of half.
Click to expand...

Normally I do bring that knee in but my hip/groin is injured so I didn't do that today now that I think about it. What do I do if he is going for or already has the americana from my half guard?
 
If hes already pinned your arm and locked his hand to his wrist?

You can sweep the guy since he has no post, but that could play right into what he wants. Chances are youll lose the arm.

Another defense is to pull your arm in with your free hand, and put his hand (the one that is holding your wrist) inbetween your head. Does that make sense?

What i mean is, position that arm so that it is behind your head, but still holding your wrist. That will not allow him to pull your elbow to your hip and apply the necessary torque.


Personally im extremely flexible, and have only been tapped withh a keylock by 2 purples and one white belt who was an absolute beast. Sorry if youre having an issue understanding what im saying, i suck at typing out techniques.

Itd be much easier if i could find a video for you. Ill see if i can maybe make one tonight and post it for ya.
 
Well, there's a half-guard sweep when they're trying a kimura on you, predicated on the fact that they're usually really stiff if they're trying to finish it. You switch your hips, use their straightened out/stiff leg as a lever and then quickly reverse directions as you lever/toss them over for the sweep. However, that's a lot more feasible with the kimura as you can grab your belt/leg to defend yourself while you're doing all that hip switching and levering. I think with an americana you'd be subbed before you got the chance to pull that off.

Can you pull off the counter-americana if you switch your hips out?
 
Steelviper said:
Well, there's a half-guard sweep when they're trying a kimura on you, predicated on the fact that they're usually really stiff if they're trying to finish it. You switch your hips, use their straightened out/stiff leg as a lever and then quickly reverse directions as you lever/toss them over for the sweep. However, that's a lot more feasible with the kimura as you can grab your belt/leg to defend yourself while you're doing all that hip switching and levering. I think with an americana you'd be subbed before you got the chance to pull that off.

Can you pull off the counter-americana if you switch your hips out?
Click to expand...

I don't believe I can reach over to pull that off. I was thinking Since his weight is on one side I could sweep him. But then If I tried there would be even more pressure on my arm that is getting americana.
 
I had a huge guy do this to me at the last tournament, i don't generally get submitted from it, it's just annoying, i will bring my other arm over to help if they are really strong, but just don't let them get the other arm accross, i keep my head in between their arms and keep holding the shoulder with my other hand so he can't reach over my head, if need be i will roll towards the arm he is attempting to americana, which will lift his hips up slightly and help you get under his hips
 
if they still have lots of leverage with your head in the middle, it means their weight is high on your body and they are prone to you sweeping them, they probably have their hips up in the air and driving their weight forward, in which case you need to switch to butterfly and sweep them
 
I get finished off by americana from way bigger guys (40+ lbs) all the time
 
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