Yoko shiho gatame
So what's the story with yoko shiho gatame? Are we not teaching it anymore? Is there a reason?
Seems like we do mune gatame a lot and it's escape. Is it more effective (or just more likely)? And even with mune gatame, I get different variations on how to hold it: some have both feet straight back, some have the knee closest to uke's hip pulled up, some have both knees up (in which case the usual escape I've seen has a hard time getting started). Is my arm under his head, or over it?
Basically, I'm just wondering what I should be teaching white belts in terms of basic hold downs and escapes.
Great questions Sean.
Yoko-shiho-gatame is one of the classic hold downs. We continue to teach it in evening classes, but more emphasis has been placed on mune-gatame in recent years.
In my grappling experience, mune-gatame is encountered more frequently than yoko-shiho-gatame. Now, this isn't to say yoko-shiho-gatame is not effective; a guy who is skilled with either of these waza can make your life very difficult. In the randomness of rolling around and changing positions, mune-gatame simply occurs more frequently and naturally in my opinion.
I prefer my arm to be under uke's head. I typically secure that grip to the armpit pocket, or use my elbow to work uke's elbow upward toward his head and grip there, keeping control of uke's outside arm. You should establish an adequate control such that you can curl uke's chin toward his chest. This makes it difficult for uke to... maintain optimum respiration 😉 Mechanical asphyxiation if you will.
The focal point of mune-gatame is hip control. Tori should be controlling uke's hips by using his elbow & knee in a "pinching" uke's action. You want your knee and toes on the ground, typically in a runner's "set" position for the hip control. The other knee I typically have fully prone, keeping the toes engaged. This is the textbook version of mune-gatame.
If you focus on controlling the top portion of uke's body, your legs will tend to be backwards. Mune-gatame feels like a lower body hold-down, whereas kesa-gatame is more of an upper body hold-down.
You may remember many years ago we played with setting uke on his tailbone. Mune-gatame reminds me a lot of that.
Also, when escaping from kami-shiho-gatame, you may find yourself in mune-gatame.
Hope this helps.
Awesome. That does help, thanks.
I figured maybe it was just a "probability" issue... we just end up with mune a little more often in the process of moving about. Coolio...