Student Objectives:
The student will apply the Feed the Belt technique with a compliant partner using good technique.
The student will explore using the belt as a control in the Half Guard while applying the Feed the Belt Technique.
Teaching Cues:
Underhook and Frame
Feed the Belt
Straighten the Leg and Belly Down
Elevate
Lesson: Feed the Belt Sweep from Half Guard
The practicing student will start in the Half Guard position by laying on their side with their chest facing the assisting student. The assisting student will place one leg between the legs of the practicing student and then place one hand on either side of the practicing student’s body. The assisting student will crowd the space by lowering his or her chest until it makes contact but apply little to no pressure while the move is being learned. The practicing student will use their bottom leg to hook around the knee pit or calf and then obtain the Underhook by extending their top arm through the space at the armpit to make a grip on the far side of the assisting student’s back.
Next the practicing student will frame the far knee by using their free hand to push on the inside of the knee. The goal is to spread out the assisting student’s base while also exposing the back. As in the previous lessons the practicing student should make sure their ear is pressed firmly against the navel to prevent the crossface. Until this point, the technique is very similar to the Old School Sweep.
Once fit into a positive Half Guard Position the assisting student will hide their far ankle from being controlled by slightly rotating it away from the practicing student. This is a common tactic to avoid the Old School Sweep. This rotation of the ankle away opens up a lot of space under the assisting student and makes a grip on the belt easily accessible.
The practicing student will take the hand that is framed on the knee and take a firm grip on the end of the belt. It is ok to grab one or both sides of the of the belt, whichever presents itself. After controlling the belt, the practicing student will stiff arm the belt between the legs as deep as possible with the intent of passing the belt off to the other hand.
To pass off the grip to the Underhooking hand, the practicing student will lower the Underhook to the outside of the assisting student’s thigh. This space can be accessed by flaring the knee of the non-hooking leg and sliding the hand and forearm along the crease where the glute meets the top of the leg. The belt should be passed to the Underhooking hand with the palm orientated towards the floor and then the free hand should return to framing the far knee.
To start the sweep, the practicing student will remove their own hook from the Half Guard and lay the leg flat on the floor. The framing arm will retract from pushing on the knee until the elbow makes contact with their own hip and then the hand should rest comfortably on their own thigh.
To finish the sweep the practicing student will start to angle their chest towards the floor while simultaneously straightening the bottom leg. This should be combined with a strong pulling motion with the hand holding the belt. The combination of pulling with the arm, turning the chest towards the floor and straightening the leg should make it nearly impossible for the assisting student to stop the bottom leg from pushing through the posted knee and completing a strong belly down.
As soon as the leg clears under the assisting student, the practicing student should start to elevate their body. The grip on the belt should be maintained until the practicing student achieves the top position. If the assisting student attempts to elevate as well the practicing student should lift powerfully on the belt grip in an attempt to off balance the assisting student and compromise their base. In a typical training situation the assisting student will shoulder roll to guard and attempt to clear the belt from between the legs.
Some training partners may be inclined to scramble to their feet when in this control. It should be advised against. Although they will be able to get to their feet, they will do so with the practicing student standing directly behind them with a tight bind around the hips and under the hips. If this is violently lifted it will often dump them on their face in a chaotic manner.
Possible Extensions:
The Overhook or Whizzer can create problems in the elevation step of this movement. It will be important to know the Limp Arm technique as it applies very well, even from the belt grip. Please review that lesson and practice these movements together.
There are controlling qualities associated with the belt grip that a normal Underhook does not have. To explore this control have the practicing student feed the belt grip to the Underhooking hand and then have the assisting student execute a Knee Cut Pass.
In the lesson above the practicing student is clearing the Half Guard by straightening the bottom leg while pulling with the belt grip. With the Knee Cut being executed that portion of the technique will be completed by the assisting student, however, the controls work the same. The practicing student needs to be quick with the belly down and elevation because as the assisting student applies the Knee Cut they will also be attempting to angle change into a more perpendicular body control. When this happens it will put a large strain on the belt grip as well as the arm. Encourage the practicing student to build similar timing for the finish, regardless of who initiates the clearing of the legs.
Make sure that the practicing student knows the Old School Sweep as well. The moves are very similar and pair well together. It is a great combination to attempt the Old School and if the control of the foot behind the buttocks becomes compromised (sometimes the grip will slip off the foot) then as they adjust their base from having the foot controlled the belt is easily accessible.
Possible Refinements:
Some students have a hard time passing the belt off to the Underhooking hand. This is typically because the hips are too close. Simply have the practicing student disengage the hips from the assisting student and fold their body by bending at the waist.
Where the grip is made on the belt can be varied as well. If the belt is long I will grab at the very end of the belt and when I pass off the grip I will take a grip above my feeding hand. If the belt is extremely short, I will grab closer to the belt knot and attempt to pass the grip off by grasping around the end of the belt.
It is very common for students to attempt to do this sweep by using the arms only. This will be nearly impossible as they will be attempting to pull the assisting student through their hook. Make sure the hook is removed and the leg is extending as the body is turned towards the floor.
Turning the chest towards the floor is important as well. If the practicing student does not turn their chest to the floor they will pull the assisting student into mount. The placement of the elbow next to the hip, and the subsequent hand on the thigh is to allow the practicing student an easier turn over to the belly down position.
Reference materials:
Teaching Reflections:
How did I do teaching?
What could I do better next time?
Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?