With the National Junior Championships getting so big we need now need to run two rings side by side, it means I can’t see everyone in action. Couple that with a shortage on support staff and cameras, and it means unfortunately I can’t write a review up for everyone.
From what I saw on the day, and what Bill has seen, you did yourselves very proud. You always do. You guys give 100% in every competition, take victory humbly and take defeat in your stride as well. This is an amazingly powerful attitude to have, which I’m sure will help you along in every other area of your life.
Andy & Graeme grabbed the camera for their divisions so we have their matches for review. Some good lessons for everybody in their matches, as their mistakes are failry typically in Novice Submission Wrestling
Andy Submissions
In the clinch Andy lets his opponent grab his head too much, you should get rid of any hold like this immediately (link to head pull defence). While Andy held a great half guard, he doesn’t have any half guard passes, which hindered him getting a clean pass. He hits a superb arm triangle when he does take mount, however.
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Adam pulls guard aggressively (it’s actually not a bad strategy in submission wrestling if your guard game is good. I presonally don’t like it that much as it’s often used as an excuse for an underdeveloped clinch). Andy doesn’t make things easy on himself by having his head down and moving in with too much forward momentum. We need controlled forward pressure, led by the hips, not the head, in clinch.
When Andy passes, he has no block against the near side hip, and no underhook. This gives Adam a lot of space to try regain guard then stand up. Andy also makes the mistake of trying the single leg with his head on the outside, and pays the price for this.
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Adam Black (who took gold) capitalised on Andy’s mistake here of again trying a single leg takedown with his head on the inside
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Nice! Well executed double leg takedown – deep through the legs – Andy ‘turns the corner’ well to finish the takedown. He takes a bit of a risk trying to get mount which pays off, then he quickly finishes with an arm triangle.
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Graeme SubmissionsGraeme keeps too tight a hold of his opponent’s head when he gets side control, and keeps his hips too close to his opponents hips, which allows his opp to cause him so much trouble and eventualy stand up. Graeme is too tall and tries an uncontrolled throw to bring his opp to the ground the second time which is why he loses it. Nice, dogged work on getting back to his knees and a technical finish. Had Graeme gotten his hooks in first I think he could have finished that choke.[video]
Cracker Please! After a very technical and well timed sprawl, Graeme tries to muscle his opponent to the ground, and ends up on bottom. You can see the hassle he has trying to finish a single leg with the head on the outside. When Grame does get the scramble, he gets caught in a Gogoplata, which is quite a tricky submission!
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Nice sprawl, but by bringing his knees in Graeme takes all the weight off his opponent, and he can drive in again. After that, there’s a lot of poor top game by both guys (too arm dominant, head squeezy, hips not in the right place). Some hip position drills are needed!
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Spinny takedowns don’t work!!! If you watch really carefully Graeme’s opponent does a nice little sweep as he falls which gives him top. It’s a very technical coutner to a big man move like a spinny takedown. Graeme looks a little tired and gives up the fight for underhooks (The fight for underhooks is never ending) and his opp takes the back for a choke
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Even though I’ve only got a review for two of you, you all did brilliantly. Well done SPARTANS!!!
