Student Objectives:
The student will pass the Open Guard using the Kick and Go while using good technique with a compliant partner.
The Student will associate the Kick and Go with the Three Step Guard Pass with an extra step.
Teaching Cues:
Kick
Stuff
Knee on Belly
Lesson: Kick and Go
The assisting student will start by lying on the floor with their legs gently bent and their feet flat on the floor. The hand placement is not relevant for the assisting student and can be placed in the Home Alone Position or across the belly. The practicing student will stand square with one foot between the assisting student’s legs.
The assisting student will then lift the leg that is between the practicing student’s legs and wrap the ankle around the knee pit in a De la Riva hook. Once the hook is in place the practicing student will squat and place the outside hand on the knee of the DLR hook and the free hand will take a grip on the collar.
To initiate the movement the practicing student will slide the outside foot in close to the assisting student’s hip. This will readjust the base so that the inside leg can kick back without losing balance. As the leg between kicks back, the practicing student should use the hand on the knee to stuff the knee inwards, towards the assisting student’s other knee. The stuffing of the knee should create just enough space for the leg that was kicking to rebound and post on the floor next to the hip. Quickly the student should readjust their base so that their knee is placed on the belly, and the outside foot is posted on the floor, in line with the shoulder.
Students may recognize the similarities between the Kick and Go and the Three Step Guard Pass. These passes are very similar and if the student has drilled the Three Step Guard Pass they should have a much easier time with this pass.
Possible Extensions:
Learning to apply this pass in transition can be extremely powerful. The easiest way to build this understanding is for the practicing student to facilitate the transition.
Start the student in the Half Guard top with the assisting student having a Knee Shield. The practicing student can take a grip on the bottom knee of the assisting student. The second hand will be placed on the hip with a Power C. To facilitate the transition the practicing student will post the outside foot first and then enter the standing position. The hand on the hip will be an important part of the base while standing and it also helps rotate the assisting students back towards the floor as you apply pressure to it.
When standing up,the practicing student will kick their foot and stuff the leg as in the lesson above. This can be a really great pass when combined with the reorientation of the knees from the Half Guard to the Open Guard.
The movement ends in the Knee-on-Belly position and any of the Knee-on-Belly submissions can be a good option to pair with this pass. The Far side Armbar and the Baseball Choke are both really great options.
Possible Refinements:
Make sure the practicing student understands that you cannot do this when the assisting student has a grip on the ankle. It is very common for people that play DLR to use the ankle grip to secure the position and violently kicking the leg back while they have this grip could injure the practicing student.
The initial movement of sliding the foot in close to the hip can be easily overlooked. This can create a lot of problems with their base, but it also limits the range of motion of the kicking leg.
While kicking, sometimes the student gets off balance. Encourage the student to use their hands to support some of their weight. Not only will this give them increased stability, but the grips on the lapel and the knee have value when manipulated.
Reference materials:
Teaching Reflections:
How did I do teaching?
What could I do better next time?
Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?