Drew Foster
Silver Belt
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2008
- Messages
- 11,759
- Reaction score
- 1
Hey everyone. I can't train for a couple months after LASIK so I figured I'd ask a question here, since I can't get on the mat. I have had this nagging problem with my Anaconda choke for a while now. I have brought it up in several threads here that were discussing Rafael Mendes, head-and-arm chokes, etc. I asked this question several times and never really got a response except from Mikey Triangles and xMikeyx.
My issue is that I can only finish the Anaconda choke from one position. There are several setups that I use, and not all of them are the gator roll. But when I finish, I MUST be on my side and they MUST be on their back. Watch this video to see my finishing position. It is the same position used by Nogueira, Rafa Mendes, Babalu, and almost everyone that is good at the choke.
This is where the problem comes in. If I over roll my opponent so that we both are on our sides, I can't finish the choke. No matter what I try. Essentially, if our heads and bodies aren't perpendicular to each other, I can't get it.
I've tried expanding my chest, widening my back, walking in, squeezing reps, everything. My partner just stays there while I stupidly ask over and over, "How about now?" By walking in to them if they aren't on their back, my body still pushes the head down, but it doesn't push their artery into my forearm, so why would it even work?
Maybe this ISN'T a problem because I never have a problem dumping them on their back, and I don't do a ton of gator roll setups so over rolling them is not a huge concern. I just feel like I should be able to finish anyways if I do.
Any tips?
BTW, If anyone would like to see more footage of Mendes, Nog, Babalu, etc, finishing from their side with their opponent flat on their back, I am happy to supply links.
EDIT: Some finishes that represent the way I finish (the only way I can.)
3:49
3:30
2:38
5:48
My issue is that I can only finish the Anaconda choke from one position. There are several setups that I use, and not all of them are the gator roll. But when I finish, I MUST be on my side and they MUST be on their back. Watch this video to see my finishing position. It is the same position used by Nogueira, Rafa Mendes, Babalu, and almost everyone that is good at the choke.
This is where the problem comes in. If I over roll my opponent so that we both are on our sides, I can't finish the choke. No matter what I try. Essentially, if our heads and bodies aren't perpendicular to each other, I can't get it.
I've tried expanding my chest, widening my back, walking in, squeezing reps, everything. My partner just stays there while I stupidly ask over and over, "How about now?" By walking in to them if they aren't on their back, my body still pushes the head down, but it doesn't push their artery into my forearm, so why would it even work?
Maybe this ISN'T a problem because I never have a problem dumping them on their back, and I don't do a ton of gator roll setups so over rolling them is not a huge concern. I just feel like I should be able to finish anyways if I do.
Any tips?
BTW, If anyone would like to see more footage of Mendes, Nog, Babalu, etc, finishing from their side with their opponent flat on their back, I am happy to supply links.
EDIT: Some finishes that represent the way I finish (the only way I can.)
3:49
3:30
2:38
5:48
Last edited: