Kaze Uta Budo Kai Forum Archive

So here is the scenerio. Kyle-San circles the class up for ne-waza time and asks what people's problems are. On multiple occassions the finger gets pointed at me. No words, just a finger pointed at me. And when asked to elaborate they always say my legs give them the most problems. For the most part I don't have a quick fix to their problem. It is one of those things that needs addressed on a case by case basis. Damon asked me the other night how I developed my legs.

The short answer is mat time.

The Long Answer:
I've had and continue to have great partners to grapple with, each person bringing to the table a different bag of tricks. I've always tried to practice as much as possible at the dojo. Rarely do I turn down a request to work with someone (can't recall ever turning someone down, but never say never). I also believe my legs have developed the way they have because I'm usually the smaller guy, and I have to use all of my available assets to keep from getting got. Which when you're the smaller guy, you are going to end up on bottom, hopefully in the gaurd position (being side mounted kind of sucks). Thus you have to be able to use your legs effectively and efficiently to sweep a larger opponent and regain the top position.

And of course I am merely a product of great teachers. A lot of the flexibility I have comes from being cranked on, twisted up, "pretzelfied", and put in the straight jacket (patent pending) by my teachers.

So all of you that point your finger at me, you should be pointing your finger at my teachers. It's all their fault that my "crazy legs" are giving you fits. 😄

FYI, crazy legs / spaghetti legs is my nickname for you!

Below is my mental image of how God intended Derek to look. But God was bored the day he created Derek. So he made him a human and blessed the folks @ Windsong Dojo with him. Who said God doesn't have a sense of humor? I'm sure every time he watches you grapple he just smiles.

I know how you feel, Damon. Derek is a handful, and so is Cameron. They are problematic, but their approach provides an opportunity for all of us to get better -- not only at defeating the crazy legs, but also in learning how to make our legs into crazy legs.

In some respects I think the shorter, more compact guys have an easier time doing the crazy legs thing to us bigger guys. Since Derek's a teacher & all, maybe he can codify things into a teachable system for folks.

Kyle Sloan wrote:Since Derek's a teacher & all, maybe he can codify things into a teachable system for folks.

Yes, you too can learn Derek "Crazy Legs" Hall's patented judo grappling technique in just 3 easy lessons, or your money back!!! Call now, and you'll receive his exclusive 9 DVD collection for only 3 monthly installments of $99.95!!!

LOL, that's a good one.

I've thought about trying to put some kind of lessons together, but like you said, the shorter guys are usually more effective at implementing their legs. The taller guy is better at using their legs more for leverage, but has a harder time using them as hooks and getting them tucked in under guys.

if folks already have good leg action from doing good egg beaters in warm up (a real prerequisite here!) then when i teach the bottom side leg entangle and turn over actions its mostly just: one up -one down, feet sticky like peanut butter, two hands in one spot- cross collar high, stay curled and forward and use the rock back for lift, if the feet slip then use the knees, if the leg slips then use the hands like feet -- all in all you can build a pretty sweet leg game out of nothing but that stuff

Im sure that Derek is doing more than this basic stuff but I'm pretty confident in saying, that like McCrorrie before him, this is the stuff that got his leg game cooking and givin folks fits cause its the same stuff i did to them that gave them fits til they learned it and started to share the joy

Nick hit the nail on the head. The basics are where to start. Then you just need to get mat time in. I would always, and still do, like to work with the best guys I can. So even if I do get my butt handed to me over and over and over, I still walk away a better player. Because even though I got got, I learned situations not to get into, or I got to try some moves that I've been thinking about and figure out if they work or not. I've been lucky to have been around for a few years now, and have been able to work with a lot of different, well rounded people. I'm honored to be compared to "no neck" McCrorrie. It's nice to be thought of being that kind of caliber.

Vintage Crazy Legs, circa May 2003 shodan demo.