Gordo Seminar

Technique 1:
When I am on bottom half guard with an underhook.
a. I get onto my side as much as possible
b. My free arm blocks the cross face. I keep my chin down and head tucked underneath
c. My free hand pushes against the knee as I use the underhook to come up
d. I take the back

Technique 2:
Person on top overhooks.
a. I stay on my side as much as possible.
b. My free arm blocks the cross face. I keep my chin down and head tucked underneath
c. My free hand pushes against the knee as I slide my body further beneath the person on top
d. I use the elbow of my underhooked arm to pinch down on the overhook to keep the person on top from basing as I sweep them over the opposite side

Note. In live training I find that having a belt grip or lapel grip work well. It's important to remember to get the hips underneath the other person. Gordo said that when you push the knee, right when they try to bring their knee back is when you should sweep them. He said if they keep letting their knee get pushed, go to the back.

Technique 3:
There are two methods Gordo showed to defend yourself when getting smashed.
First: Try to block the crossface and put the forearm of my free arm against the throat. Shrimp out so that I am facing the top person and slide my top knee in. Push with my forearm and extend with my knee to create space. Immediately get grips to control the distance.

Second: If I am unable to shrimp out, create a butterfly hook with my free leg. My free arm grabs the belt. Once I have my butterfly hook I square back up with the top person. As I elevate with the butterfly hook, I pull with the belt grip and regain guard.

Technique 4:
Option with the butterfly hook and underhook.
Shrimp out and get butterfly hook. Square back up, elevate, and trap opposite arm at the elbow. This allows me to trap B's whole arm. Sweep.

Technique 5: Stopping the knee slide pass if they are passing to my right

I can plant my left foot on the ground, placing my left knee right below B's butt. This forces their posture up, raising their center of gravity. This makes it a very uncomfortable position for them.

B. Once my knee is under their butt, I use my knee to push them forward and take their back.

C. If they keep coming forward I put my hand on their based knee and sweep them over the opposite way.

Technique 6: Guard opening and pass
I grip the lapel with my right hand and keep my forearm and elbow on B's hip. This is meant to keep them from being able to omoplata or triangle me. I base out my left leg and slip my left hand inside B's guard to the mat. I walk my left hand forward as I push my hips back opening the guard. Right away I stack B using all the weight of my hips as my left hand goes acros the body to pass.

Techniqe 7: Triangle defense.
I place both hands on the knee and follow the direction of my trapped arm. I place my body diagonally as I use my hips and back to put pressure on the leg. This should make it difficult to keep the triangle closed and difficult to close the triangle.