October 2021

Bow and Arrow Part 2

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I like this idea of skipping the back hooks and going directly into the bow and arrow choke. I often look for it when my opponent is on their side, as in Emily Kwok’s video that I linked on the previous bow and arrow post, but I’ve never thought to force it while their back was still on the mat.

I was looking for an example of performing the choke from back control where both players are on their side. It seems more common in my experience to be on the side, but many of the demonstrations show the attack from a seated, center position. I’m a bit puzzled by the following video from Lachlan Giles. As he’s demonstrating elbow and head position, he briefly falls onto his control arm side, with the choking arm on top. He shows first the consequence of losing the head position, but then shows a quick switch into the bow and arrow choke when the head position is maintained correctly. Following that, he demonstrates a bow and arrow sequence from the opposite side, with the choking arm on the mat side and describes that side as “easier.” Perhaps you notice, as I did, that this “easier” side requires several steps and requires some movement to free your bottom leg compared to the nearly instant transition from the traditional “weak” side. I understand the preference for ukes to escape on that side. It’s easier to win the head positioning and scrape them off your back. With the choking arm on the mat side, there’s more opportunity to reset the back position even if they beat the hooks. However, if the desired destination is a successful bow and arrow choke, it feels easier to me to use good head positioning and the leverage of my legs on the top arm choking side. It’s a simple turn on that side. If the bottom hook was any good, it’s already in position for the choke. Maybe at higher levels the head positioning is that much harder to win? Danaher’s bunch seems to like that side though.

What about the turtle? Get ’em with a bow and arrow there, too:

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Back Control Drills

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These three videos are similar, but each has some options or details that they emphasize that the others don’t.

In the first, watch the feet. I think this video emphasizes the feet better than the next two. Also, the third variation, the “re-roll” is not addressed in the others:

In the second video, he addresses the elbows. Control is not about pulling the hands of the seatbelt in, but rather closing the elbows. He’s also more deliberate about the leg positioning and roll direction:

This third video offers a less dramatic recovery. Rather than rolling entirely to the other side, scooting to recover the hooks. The leg curl at the beginning of the recovery is a neat detail. There’s a good reminder about not holding on to a crappy position as it slips away. You gotta move. The new leg position in the second part is cool too. Danaher ranked that leg position 2nd to the body triangle in his order of preferences. The body triangle isn’t always physically possible depending on your leg length and opponent’s gut. This leg position is more widely attainable.

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Bow and Arrow Choke

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In the link below, Emily Kwok shows a bow and arrow choke starting from a mounted position. The grip concept is the same from the back and she shows it from there as well. I know I’ve worked harder than necessary to finish gi chokes because I didn’t grip the collar correctly. Don’t waste your great positioning with a lousy grip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS6ALx73epc

Lachlan Giles is always a good resource. This video covers both the Bow and Arrow Choke and the classic escape from the back:

I’ve often used a variation of this technique:

It feels like an escape, but it’s still death.

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