Student Objectives:
The student will apply the sitting switch with good technique against a non resisting partner from the sitting position.
The student will understand that the power of the sitting switch is controlling the tricep in the back of the assisting student’s armpit.
Teaching Cues:
Adjust Base
Insert hand
Cheer
Pinch
Elevate
Lesson: Sitting or Seated
The practicing student will sit on the ground with their legs together and extended. The assisting student will start by hugging their arms around both legs at the knees. The assisting student will then choose a direction and walk their feet towards Side Control. During this rotation the assisting student should maintain a strong hug around the knees.
As the assisting student’s feet rotate towards Side Control, the practicing student will adjust their base onto their hand while angling the chest, to the best of their ability, towards the oncoming legs. Then the far side arm will be inserted with a hand spear at the hip and thigh of the assisting student. Once the hand is on the inside of the thigh, the practicing student will pull back firmly with their elbow and lock it tightly against the armpit of the assisting student.
This should be a strong defensive position that will prevent the assisting student from finishing the rotation into a Side Control position by trapping the arm, keeping it in place, and preventing posture.
Once the position is solidified, make sure the practicing student keeps a strong pulling pressure with the elbow. Then the student will curl their heels back to try and trap the assisting student’s arm between their thigh and calf muscle. This squeeze, combined with the trap of the arm, and the base on their outside hand, should create a strong domination as the practicing student elevates their body and attempts to fight for the top position.
There are various end results from this attempt to gain top position, and as an instructor you should instruct a good training partner on which result you want. The three most common results are:
The assisting student falls over because they didn’t realize that their outside arm was being trapped by the calf and thigh.
The assisting student lets go with their hands and attempts to posture. In this event, the practicing student would sit back to Open Guard
The assisting student legs go with their hands and the practicing student is able to free their legs and obtain a top Turtle position (often behind their partner).
Possible Extensions:
Have the practicing student start in the Turtle position with the assisting student hugging around the hips. The practicing student can turn and attempt to sit to guard, while the assisting student hugs the legs. Once the legs are hugged the move works exactly as above. This is a common transition and application for the Sitting Switch.
Pinching their arms with the legs before trying to elevate on top is a medium percentage movement. Often, the Switch is most powerful when the hips are scooted towards the based arm and the back is angled away from the assisting student.
To clear the legs out from under the assisting student, the practicing student will lean heavy into the armpit via their elbow/tricep with the intent of driving the assisting partners face towards/into the mat. This can be done incrementally and should be focused on alternating heavy pressure towards the face with scooting the hips out towards the posted hand. As the legs clear the body, it is important that the student stay focused on the pressure of the Switch, otherwise future oppointes will elevate and attempt to take the practicing student’s back.
Possible Refinements:
Commonly, throughout the execution of the Switch, students will let the pressure on the back of the armpit weaken. Make sure the pressure is maintained throughout the movement as the technique will fail if the practicing student loses control of the arm. The practicing student’s body angle will greatly affect the assisting student's ability to posture.
The practicing student should try and get their hips as far away from the assisting student as possible, while still maintaining pressure on the Switch.
Reference materials:
Teaching Reflections:
How did I do teaching?
What could I do better next time?
Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?