Fighters Only

Issue 025

November -0001

Basic principles

1a. Craig is employing a Thai ‘plum’ clinch, controlling Peter’s neck and head with both hands and squeezing his elbows together. Craig leans his body on to Pete and levers down on his head, forcing him to carry his weight.

1b. Detail of the grip: Note that the bottom hand points up, levering down on the crown of the head, as opposed to a single collar which typically grips the neck.

2. Craig uses his grip to turn Pete, he steps his left leg out to the side, then wheels his right leg back, setting his leg in a perfect position to deliver a knee strike.

3. Simultaneously he whips Pete around, ragging his head down and twisting his body.

4. In this variation Craig has lifted his elbow as he turned, ‘throwing by’ Pete’s arm, leaving him vulnerable not only to the knee but the elbow as well.

5. Note that Craig has slipped his grip to the neck; with his arms fully extended, (leaving Pete unable to push his head closer or pull away) his opponent is forced to eat the knee.

6. In the throw-by variation Craig presses down on the head as he knees, even if Pete manages to recover his head position, Craig can easily deliver an elbow as he lifts his head.

Straight knee from plum clinch

Though it seems simple, this is a move that is often performed incorrectly and many fighters get taken down when attempting it.

1. Craig steps his right leg back to deliver the knee

2. Note the feet – he powers off the left leg by lifting up off the heel, on to the ball of the foot. His toe is pointed to create the 'arrow' shape needed for a powerful, technically correct knee.

3. Craig maintains the perfect, upright posture as he delivers the knee. He pulls Pete's head in, and extends the hip to drive the knee in to the sternum or liver, as opposed to leaning back, which would leave him off balance. A quick recovery is essential so that Pete does not ‘catch’ the leg.

Duck-under to elbow strike

1. Craig has the plum clinch again, Pete tries to equalise the tie-up and prevent himself from losing head position by gripping the back of Craig's neck outside his arms.