Fighters Only

Issue 115

June 2014

Jimmy Pedro is one of the world’s top judo coaches. His ex students include UFC star Ronda Rousey. With the help of black belt Riley McIlwain, the USA Olympic judo head coach shows the best judo moves for MMA.

1. Jimmy (blue gi) begins to set up a juji gatame (armbar) on Riley, who has dropped to all fours having failed a throw.

2. Jimmy first steps his right leg over and around Riley’s back, then posts on his right hand as he slides his shin under Riley’s torso, hooking his right foot on top of Riley’s left thigh.

3. Jimmy slips his left arm around Riley’s right, grabs his own gi pants at the thigh and presses his left knee against the right side of Riley’s head.

4. Jimmy rolls onto his left hip and grabs Riley’s far leg with his right hand. He then pulls it across his face as he lifts with his right knee so Riley’s head comes off the floor.

5. Jimmy brings his left leg in front of Riley’s face to better secure the armbar before Riley’s back touches the mat.

6. Jimmy struggles to break the defense of Riley, who’s blocking the armbar by gripping his right sleeve with his left hand.

7. Looking to pin Riley to force him into action, or win the bout under judo rules, Jimmy turns his left palm up and feeds Riley’s belt into it with his right hand. 8. Jimmy grabs Riley’s far leg and pulls Riley’s knees to the mat next to his hips.

9. Jimmy quickly places his right hand on the floor behind Riley’s thighs and curls his right foot under Riley’s left shoulder.

10. Jimmy lifts his left leg off Riley’s face, posting it on the mat to push himself into a seated position on top of Riley, whose back is now on the mat. In judo, this is a pin and Jimmy would win if he could maintain it for 20 seconds.

11. The only way for Riley to escape is to make a full commitment to getting out of the pin, which forces him to break his arms apart and stop defending the armbar. As Riley turns to his stomach, Jimmy brings his left leg back over and in front of Riley’s face and drops his left arm’s control of Riley’s right arm to the wrist.