How to Sprawl correctly?

[thetruth2709]

I train in Muay Thai but lately my instructor has been incorporating ground techniques to our class, I am all for it and most of the class also enjoy it so no problems.

I was absent for a week because of work and yesterday when I went to class we partnered up and did a drill that included me sprawling when the other guy shoots.

I was doing it wrong at the beggining because it was the first time in my life I was sprawling so basically I tried to calculate the timing when the other guy was shooting and basically went on an act of FAITH and thew my legs back and my body forward and land on top of him, at the beggining I was very hesitant because I didnt know how I was going to land, and I even think I landed bad once, but hey, at the moment thats the best solution I thought of.

Is this basically how you do it... sprawling is an act of FAITH and throw your body to the air to land on top of the other guy?? remember this is the first time in my life I was sprawling and the instructor didnt really give me any pointers on how to do it right.

 

[eworden78]

I train in Muay Thai but lately my instructor has been incorporating ground techniques to our class, I am all for it and most of the class also enjoy it so no problems.

I was absent for a week because of work and yesterday when I went to class we partnered up and did a drill that included me sprawling when the other guy shoots.

I was doing it wrong at the beggining because it was the first time in my life I was sprawling so basically I tried to calculate the timing when the other guy was shooting and basically went on an act of FAITH and thew my legs back and my body forward and land on top of him, at the beggining I was very hesitant because I didnt know how I was going to land, and I even think I landed bad once, but hey, at the moment thats the best solution I thought of.

Is this basically how you do it... sprawling is an act of FAITH and throw your body to the air to land on top of the other guy?? remember this is the first time in my life I was sprawling and the instructor didnt really give me any pointers on how to do it right.

you really don't want to land "on top" of your opponent. If you sprawl correctly you will end up face to face with him.
What you want to do is try to keep your center of gravity at the same level as your opponent.

 

[thetruth2709]

you really don't want to land "on top" of your opponent. If you sprawl correctly you will end up face to face with him.
What you want to do is try to keep your center of gravity at the same level as your opponent.

really? because at the beggining when I was doing it wrong I asked my partner "so you want me to land on top of you?" and he responded "yea man"

 

[eworden78]

really? because at the beggining when I was doing it wrong I asked my partner "so you want me to land on top of you?" and he responded "yea man"

Well maybe I'm looking at it from a wrestler vs wrestler viewpoint.
If you have a good wrestler underneath you they have a chance of scrambling for a leg.
If you keep him out in front of you you have a good oportunity to counter attack.
In wrestling you know you executed a perfect sprawl when the shooter is on all fours and you are on your toes with you weight on his shoulders.
So I guess in a way, you do want him underneath you, just not very far.

 

[NO-PITY]

land on top of him spin around and take his back '' and guess what you now have so old fashion G AND P

 

[Slithers]

So I guess in a way, you do want him underneath you, just not very far.

yup

 

[Slithers]

land on top of him spin around and take his back '' and guess what you now have so old fashion G AND P

or the lion killer.

 

[Fozzy1]

where is superbeast to teach us.

~Foz

 

[Joe Herman]

think the worm

 

[Doop]

try and make your toes touch that back of your head like in the exorcist

 

[hipmix]

Exactly, The lion killer Aka RNc !, What i like to do is i use my fore arm on top of my opponent shoulder (trap) as he shoots in, sort of a clinch, and then i sprawl, leg extension while pushing him with my forearms i drop all my weight down + forward (so he cant grab a single) on his shoulder, from there i switch to under over grip to switch to his back, or if he gets a leg , double under (Sometimes easier!!!) ECT.....hope that make sense AH !

 

[hipmix]

Exactly, The lion killer Aka RNc !, What i like to do is i use my fore arm on top of my opponent shoulder (trap) as he shoots in, sort of a clinch, and then i sprawl, leg extension while pushing him with my forearms i drop all my weight down + forward (so he cant grab a single) on his shoulder, from there i switch to under over grip to switch to his back, or if he gets a leg , double under (Sometimes easier!!!) ECT.....hope that make sense AH !

 

[hipmix]

Double over is good too if he doesnt have a leg !!!

 

[BJJHooligan]

really? because at the beggining when I was doing it wrong I asked my partner "so you want me to land on top of you?" and he responded "yea man"

It's really hard to describe how to sprawl it's more something you need to see and be instructed on. Once you have been doing to long enough it just becomes instinct. I have wrestles since i was in first grade and it's just intinct for me to sprawl and cross face the second someone shoots on me then spin and take thier back.

 

[Chris Kimmerly]

Your chest should land on the back of his shoulders, not his back but the backs of the shoulders. This will drive his head into the floor. You want to make sure that your feet go way back and drive your hips forward and down. If you can get one of your hands on the back of his head and give it a little push down as well. All this has to be done at the same time.

If you simply land on his back he can easily spin out, grab a leg or arm or simply stand up and throw you off.

 

[Shadowdean]

The sprawl depends on his shot.

 

[BJJHooligan]

Your chest should land on the back of his shoulders, not his back but the backs of the shoulders. This will drive his head into the floor. You want to make sure that your feet go way back and drive your hips forward and down. If you can get one of your hands on the back of his head and give it a little push down as well. All this has to be done at the same time.

If you simply land on his back he can easily spin out, grab a leg or arm or simply stand up and throw you off.

Very good advice if you land too high on him it will make it easy for him to get the take down because the strength of your sprawl in in you hips pushing down.

 

[JarMan]

One of the most important parts of the sprawl is what you do with your hands. They are your first line of defense against a shot. Your hands should block his shoulders or upper arms as he shoots in. The impact gives the rest of your body the momentum to sprawl away. If you sprawl correctly you will not land on top of him because you sprawled back using your hands to push yourself backwards as you jump your feet back and lower your hips. The sprawl I described is against a double leg attack. A single leg attack requires a different type of sprawl.

 

[BJJHooligan]

One of the most important parts of the sprawl is what you do with your hands. They are your first line of defense against a shot. Your hands should block his shoulders or upper arms as he shoots in. The impact gives the rest of your body the momentum to sprawl away. If you sprawl correctly you will not land on top of him because you sprawled back using your hands to push yourself backwards as you jump your feet back and lower your hips. The sprawl I described is against a double leg attack. A single leg attack requires a different type of sprawl.

I always did drills of someone shooting on me while i had my hands behind my back to improve your sprawl. They called them SIU drills. You would drill for a minute or so and see how many takedowns the person could get in that amount of time. So i disagree with your advice. If you have a good sprawl you do not need to use your hands at all. You can defend takedowns with just your sprawl.

 

[JarMan]

I've done those drills, as well. They are important for developing the sprawl. Unfortunately too many coaches forget to teach using the hands. Many shots can be stuffed simply by stepping back and blocking with your hands. You end up in a much better position (on your feet) compared to on your knees. There's simply no way to sprawl and end up on your feet without using your hands. Watch Chuck Liddell. His sprawl starts with his hands because he wants to stay on his feet.