Issue 137

SKILL: HAMMER FISTS FROM HALF GUARD

1: Greg (top) is in Mike’s half guard – one leg between Mike’s legs, the other outside them.

2: Using his left-arm underhook, Mike begins to shrimp his hips out away from Greg, looking to separate or gain full guard. As he does so, Greg traps Mike’s right leg by hooking it with his right foot while he postures up by pushing on Mike’s ribs with his right hand.

3: Greg is now in perfect position to drop hammer fists onto Mike’s head. As he lifts his left arm up he uses his elbow like crosshairs, aiming the blow at Mike’s ear.

4: As Greg drops the strike he uses his upper body and contracts his core to get good power when he makes contact.

5: Even if Mike looks to avoid the hammer fists by pushing his head tight to Greg’s body, Greg still has the opportunity to land several good shots, or switch to elbow strikes.