Student Objectives:
The student will apply the Ankle Pull Defense from Knee on Belly with good technique on a compliant partner.
The student will explore the use of uncontested space by shrimping away from the assisting student’s isolated leg while performing the Ankle Pull Defense.
Teaching Cues:
Elbow to Knee
Hook the Ankle
Pull the Ankle
Gable Grip
Shrimp and Belly Down
Lesson: Ankle Pull Defense
The practicing student will start in a good training position by laying on their back with their legs bent and their feet flat on the floor. The hands can be placed in the Home Alone position. The assisting student will start in the Knee on Belly position by placing their knee on the stomach, close to the ribcage. The other foot will be posted in line with the shoulder with the foot flat on the ground out of the reach of the practicing student. The chest will then be angled towards the practicing student’s head with good posture. The hand closest to the legs can be used to stabilize their base by placing the hand on the practicing student’s knee.
First the practicing student will place the elbow of the outside arm on the inside of the assisting student’s knee and drape their arm across their own stomach in front of the shin. The forearm should be flat against the body with the palm face down on their own stomach.
Next, the practicing student will use the near side arm and slide it along the body with a Spear Hand. The goal is to slide under the assisting student’s ankle and hook it on the far side with a sloth grip. Once hooked, the practicing student will gently pull on the ankle trying to rotate the ankle under the hips of the assisting student.
The elbow of the draped arm should be used as a chock against the knee to stop the knee from sliding up the chest and following the pull of the ankle. Once the ankle has separated from under the assisting students body, the practicing student will clasp their hands together in a Gable Grip. This should have the elbow pushing against the inside of the knee where the ACL is, the forearm along the length of the shin, the sloth grip scooping the ankle of the assisting student and the hands clasped together. This should create a strong bind on the knee.
Once the knee is controlled the escape is completed by moving the hips away. Shrimping works initially, however the act of bellying down by dragging the bottom leg under the top leg and turning the chest to the floor is how the move is completed most efficiently.
After completing the belly down the practicing student should keep heavy pressure with the elbow on the ACL while elevating the ankle. This will allow the practicing student enough time to transition to their knees and then elevate to a top position.
Possible Extensions:
Digging out the ankle to pull it can be difficult. When the assisting student hides their ankle from this technique then the previous defense Stuff the Ankle is extremely easy. It is important to play these techniques off of each other. To do this, have the practicing student alternate the techniques and practice in sets of 4. First the rep of Stuff the Ankle, then a rep of Pull the Ankle. When drilled like this it increases retention of the individual steps while also building out a functional set of escapes from a common position.
When elevating at the end of the technique with the Ankle Pull grip there is an easy transition into the Leg Drag. Upon elevating, the practicing student should lift the assisting studnet’s ankle by flaring the elbow (not the one on the ACL). This will allow the practicing student to place their knee behind the leg and then the gable grip can be released to obtain a more conventional Leg Drag grip.
Possible Refinements:
Make sure the early reps of this are applied slowly so that the assisting student has a chance to fall. There can be an intense binding pressure on the knee and the assisting student should be instructed to go with the pressure and sit down otherwise an injury might occur.
There is a very strong push/pull dynamic once the hands are clasped in the Gable Grip. If the practicing student pulls too much with the gable grip the knee will be able to move. If the elbow pushes too much on the inside of the knee the ankle will feel loose. It’s important that the pressure is first into the ACL with the elbow, and then reinforced by the slight pull of the ankle. This will bind the knee in place and allow for an easy escape by moving the hips.
Make sure the practicing student is avoiding the crossface while performing this movement. If the assisting student digs the forearm under the practicing student’s face after they have obtained the Gable Grip this can lead to problems. To avoid the crossface, once the Gable Grip is made, the practicing student should bring their forehead towards the Gable Grip. Not only does this protect the practicing student from the Crossface, but it also increases the binding pressure on the knee. Make sure this is done slowly to give the assisting student a chance to fall.
There is a dramatic difference between the flexibility of an adult's knee and a childs. When this is taught to the adults it is not uncommon for some adults to tap to the pressure on the knee. I highly recommend practicing this movement as an adult before teaching it to the children. This will give you perspective on the control of the grip and allow you to be a better advocate for safety while your student’s practice this movement.
Reference materials:
Teaching Reflections:
How did I do teaching?
What could I do better next time?
Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?