Issue 164

February 2018

Dominate position and set up a submission when you have your opponent’s back

Wrestling techniques from the coach of more than a dozen MMA champions, Kenny Johnson – with UFC bantamweight Pedro Munhoz.

1 - Kenny has Pedro’s back with hooks in (his feet are in between Pedro’s legs).

2 - Kenny grabs Pedro’s wrists to control them.

3 - Kenny pulls Pedro’s wrists out from underneath him, which takes away his base and flattens his chest to the mat.

4 - Kenny drives his hips forward and lifts his heels, which elevates Pedro’s hips and knees off the mat to completely flatten his torso.

5 -To keep Pedro flat, Kenny uses a figure-four grip on his arm. This prevents Pedro from posting up on his forearms.

TOP TIPS

HIGH SCHOOL

Don’t cross your feet when you have your opponent’s back. You could be vulnerable to foot locks against a good grappler.

COLLEGIATE

Your hips should be in line with your opponent’s when controlling their back. If you‘re too high, it’s easy to be shaken off.

OLYMPIAN

You can use the figure four grip (pic 5) to transition to an armbar from the back. Turn your body 90 degrees clockwise, put your left shin on the back of your opponent’s neck and crank the arm from a belly down position.