Course introductionCourse codes: ABR-100

Grappling Foundation

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8 chapters34 lessonsLevel 0 · Fundamentals

In unarmed combat we find all the essentials of the fight within our own hands, arms, legs and bodies.

Posture & Movement: We'll study the basic posture of unarmed combat and how to move it around in an efficient way. Clean footwork is essential in all types of combat, and we'll set down the basic of mechanics and movement vocabulary.

Structure: Structure is about the ability to resist pressure, and to redirect our pressure in a way that defeats our opponent's ability to resist.

Push & Pull: In these lessons we will move our partner around and direct our strong force into our opponent's weak angles. Then we'll thwart our opponent who tries to bring a forceful game and redirect their energy into places we can exploit.

Poste: We'll study four unarmed guards and put them together in a solo sequence for practice. Then we'll put those guards to use in attacking, breaking holds and defending against both high and low attacks from the opponent.

Course outline

01Posture and Footwork6 lessons
  1. Setting up a Strong PostureLesson
  2. Advancing, Retreating, Passing StepsLesson
  3. Left, Right, Triangle StepsLesson
  4. Elbow and Shoulder ConnectionsLesson
  5. Connection and Responsive MovementLesson
  6. Collar and ElbowLesson
02Three Turns of the Body3 lessons
  1. Volta StabileLesson
  2. Mezza VoltaLesson
  3. Tutta VoltaLesson
03Structure3 lessons
  1. Breaking Structure and AlignmentLesson
  2. Creating Solid Body StructureLesson
  3. Using the Head and LimbsLesson
04Three Keys4 lessons
  1. The Lower KeyLesson
  2. The Upper KeyLesson
  3. The Middle KeyLesson
  4. Transitions Between KeysLesson
05Push and Pull5 lessons
  1. Using the Opponent's Weak AnglesLesson
  2. Solid Alignment to the GroundLesson
  3. Breaking the Opponent's StructureLesson
  4. Strong Mechanical ConnectionLesson
  5. Pulling the OpponentLesson
06Three Go-Behinds3 lessons
  1. Go OverLesson
  2. Go AroundLesson
  3. Go UnderLesson
07Four Unarmed Poste6 lessons
  1. Porta di FerroLesson
  2. Dente al CinghiaraLesson
  3. Posta FrontaleLesson
  4. Posta LongaLesson
  5. Four Poste ProgressionLesson
  6. Exercise: Using the Four PosteLesson
08Defending via the Four Poste4 lessons
  1. Dente al Cinghiara versus Hooking AttackLesson
  2. Porta di Ferro versus Low AttackLesson
  3. Exercise: Attack-Defense SequenceLesson
  4. Posta Longa versus Straight AttackLesson