ONE STEP AHEAD

Strong. Certain. Sovereign.

For the woman who owns her world.

OSA Training: Strike Hard To Get Your Advantage   

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: 

Strike with power, from underneath or from above. 

 

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.

 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