ONE STEP AHEAD

Strong. Certain. Sovereign.

For the woman who owns her world.

OSA Training: Map the Ground  

Know Every Position Before It Knows You

 

Why This Matters

The ground feels infinite until you look closer: there are only really a few key positions. Once you know them, you remove your own confusion and much of his ability. 

Today’s goal isn’t to “win” on the floor but to see the ground clearly and stop being intimidated by it.

(P.S. The ground training begins on P174 of your training manual. But read the rest of the book too - it's really good! That's not me saying it but some influential women who've said so :)

 Video 1: 

Underneath: When the World is on Top of You

 

Recognise the positions where someone is on top and trying to hold you down - at the side (“cross-side”), at your head (“north-south”), sitting on you (“the mount”), or between your legs (“the guard”).

If you have a partner, get them to move through these positions lightly. Then let them apply gentle pressure. Start to feel where their weight is. 

Where are they weakest? That’s your escape route.
Where are they strongest? That’s where you don’t want to push.

Notice where their weight sits - their centre of mass. That’s the point you can push to control or unbalance them.

(Read P262 of your training manual - Chapter on Sensitivity).

Solo option: Lie flat, breathe, plant your feet, bend your knees, and turn slightly side-on. That tiny angle already creates space - and starts to move you toward tomorrow’s lesson, The Strongest Position on the Ground.

Video 2:

On Top and Kneeling: When the World is Below You. 

 

Control Your Position, Keep Balance and Get Away ASAP.

If you’re above him, you’re in a superior position by default.

Your job is not to stay there and wrestle with him or play the game to see what happens. This is not a grappling match.

Your aim is to get up and get away.

 

So get up and get away!

To do that, you might need to hit or break holds or strike weak points. You might need to escape any grabs and holds he might have on you while you're on top.. 

So do that - break things, get free, get away.

Note: On your knees you can still strike, push, fight out and rise up.

Solo Drill (3 min): From on top (You’d be kneeling in some way or other), plant a foot and stand up, then get straight into your Fence. Repeat 5× each side.

 

Video 3:

Turtle: Kneeling on All-Fours

 

“Turtle” sounds harmless, but if you’re underneath it can be frightening - someone’s weight pressing down, controlling you.

But being on hands and knees means you’re already halfway to standing. You can push, turn, fight, scramble to your feet.

Drill: Start on all fours → pop one foot forward and plant it → push off that foot and stand → move  to face the person, get into your Fence and beyond.
Do 3 reps each side.

If you’re on top of the turtle, the rule remains the same: hit hard, hit often, break, poke, bite if you must, and get away. Shout and keep moving.

 PRACTICE SUMMARY 

  • The ground is complicated, but your job isn’t to master it - only to understand it enough to escape it.

    Tomorrow we get out of these positions and earn our two favourite words: space and freedom.

  • And remember - page 174 of your training manual is where the ground positions training starts. It's really worth a flick through at the very least. There's just so much in there.

Why This Matters 

 

  •  On the ground, his size/strength advantages are exaggerated. That’s a major reason why we don’t want to be there. 
  •  You’re less visible; a bystander is less likely to see you. 
  •  Sound doesn’t carry as far. Your shouts and any noise you make has less chance of getting heard (but continue to be loud anyway - that’s good practice for many reasons). 
  •  Serious assault risk is higher when you are not standing.
  • Good news: very few people actually know how to hold you down. Very few people are technically proficient at holding someone down - but also note that these skills are the ones used by the masters of ground fighting. This knowledge, well-practised, goes a long way.

Coach notes: fundamentals win. They really do. Having a strong baseline knowledge is one of the most important things you can do in any topic. So please practice and own these moves!

 

Tomorrow : learn the Ground positions - so you know exactly how to deal with that.Â