Issue 122

December 2014

WRESTLING

Kenny Johnson is one of the most esteemed wrestling coaches in MMA. Noted for his work with BJ Penn, he’s also taught Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida. He and UFC bantamweight Pedro Munhoz present the best wrestling techniques for MMA

1. Kenny has Pedro in a locked-hands front headlock. Kenny has his right wrist bone along Pedro’s jaw, palm down and his left wrist behind Pedro’s triceps just above the elbow. NOTE: Kenny has Pedro’s head and arm pressed tight together, covering him with his chest and cinching up all the space.

2. Kenny drops his level and starts rotating Pedro’s head to the ceiling using the combination of pulling with the hands and sinking the hip in.

3. Kenny continues to level change and crank Pedro’s head. NOTE: It’s very important to keep your hip connected to the head so you can drive and not allow any space.

4. When Pedro’s neck is cranked as far as it can go, Kenny hits a back arch throwing Pedro to his back.

5. Kenny then rotates on top of Pedro using the momentum of the throw.

6. Kenny finishes in side control looking to work ground ‘n’ pound or chase a submission.