Student Objectives:
The student will verbally review the need to go slowly and let go immediately when their partner taps.
The student will execute a shoulder lock with good technique and control.
The student will explore how to isolate one arm from the body by framing with their arms.
Teaching Cues:
Hand and Elbow
Don’t hit your partner in the face (this is said during the elbow framing the neck)
Strong Wrists
Drag the Knuckles
Lesson: Americana (Key Lock)
The assisting student will lay on the ground with their legs gently bent and their hands in the Home Alone Position. The practicing student will get in the mount position, with good posture.
The practicing student will place one hand on their partner’s same side elbow and the other hand on the cross side wrist (this puts both of the practicing student’s hands on the same arm of the assisting student). The practicing student will push the assisting students arm to the floor. Encourage the practicing student to keep straight arms and use their body weight to push it to the floor. Remind the assisting student that a good training partner will allow their arm to go to the floor in practice, but they should resist this during sparring.
Once the Arm is pressed to the floor, the practicing student will place their elbow on the floor (of the arm that is controlling the wrist). This will create a frame against the neck and further isolate the assisting students arm. Remind the student not to drop their elbow on the face while making this transition.
Once the elbow has framed the neck, the hand that is on the elbow will slide under the assisting partner’s elbow and take a shell grip on their own wrist. The practicing student will then place their forehead on their own wrist and slowly, in a controlled manner, pull the non-framing elbow back to their own knee. Once they have made contact with their own knee they will slowly, with good control, drag their elbow up their own thigh towards the hip. The assisting student’s knuckles should not come off the floor, and special care should be given to this detail.
Remind students to tap when they feel pressure, and do NOT wait until they feel pain. Children often have hyper flexible joints and may not feel any pressure. It is important to supervise the movement to stop the child before an injury.
Possible Extensions:
Pair the movement with Sneaky Mount before applying the submission.
Pair the movement with a Straight Armbar if the student straightens their arm to avoid the Americana.
Have the assisting student defend the entry to the Americana by pinning their elbow to the floor, then have the practicing student enter under the wrist before they reposition their forearm under the elbow.
Possible Refinements:
Focus on the flexion of the wrists (Check your watch).
Make sure the practicing student is not lifting the elbow without dragging the knuckles.
Make sure the framing elbow is firmly in the neck and creates a solid barrier between their head and their arm.
Reference materials:
Teaching Reflections:
How did I do teaching?
What could I do better next time?
Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?