Cageside Clutch: Damarques Johnson Body Triangle
by KJ Gould on Jan 23, 2011 7:42 PM EST
Email
Print
Photo by Josh Hedges, Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
One of only 2 submissions at last night's UFC Fight for the Troops event, the finish to the Damarques Johnson / Michael Guymon fight appeared to be accidental and unintentional leaving Johnson feeling frustrated he couldn't end the bout in a more typical manner.
We've always heard during commentary from Joe Rogan that a body triangle from the back has the potential to finish a fight due to pressure on the spine but we rarely ever see it. In fact as Rogan alluded to the last time we saw it finishing an MMA fight was Ivan Salaverry against Tony Fryklund, which was at UFC 50 in 2004. On re-watching that fight you can hear Frank Mir on commentary call it a Figure 4 Body Lock and also mention that it's been banned from collegiate wrestling exactly because of the pressure it puts on the spine. I believe you can also just make out Tony Fryklund saying he hurt his back earlier which might also explain why he tapped.
Before being banned from collegiate wrestling and it's more prevalent use in MMA or submission grappling (mostly for control) it was a finishing hold favoured by some of the Catch-As-Catch-Can carnival wrestlers several decades ago. These Catch Wrestlers had dubbed it the Hook Scissors and had worked out how to use one to maximum effect coaxing their victim to cry unkle when they couldn't take anymore. In fact one wrestler of the 1930's and 1940's by the name of Paul Jones used it as his trademark and he went by the nickname "The Hook Scissors King". During an interview in 1949 in New Zealand - by which point Jones had retired as a performer and become a promoter of pro wrestling - he claimed there was only one way to escape:- stand up! Easier said then done, Paul.
Damarques Johnson's version had some subtle differences to Ivan Salaverry's which I'll break down after the jump as well as a brief look at his superlative guard passing that spelled the beginning of the end for Guymon.
More gif goodness and step by step breakdowns at Cageside Seats.
The FanPosts are solely the subjective opinions of Bloody Elbow readers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Bloody Elbow editors or staff.
22 comments
|
10 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
great work KJ
everyone should head over to Cageside and read the whole thing.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
It works like a charm
I have been a practicing Jiu Jitsu fighter for the last 4 years. Recently I have inadvertently tapped many of my training partners with the body triangle. If one has the build for it, the move can be extremely devistating to the one being triangled. I have never seriously hurt my peers, but it is definately something I keep in the forefront of my mind when I slap it on. Great post, I am particularly like the back story of it’s origins in catch wrestling.
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift.
Catch Wrestling is amazingly fascinating
Some of those holds/moves are awesome, and ruthless.
As for the body triangle…shit can hurt. I have never tapped to it, but it can get pretty uncomfortable.
BOOSH
Great stuff. The body scissors was also one of Joe Stecher’s favorite moves. And the people back in 1920 didn’t have to have it explained to them how painful it could be.
The bout seemed over when Stecher finally put on an honest body scissors and kept it for a full minute and a half, inflicting plenty of punishment in the process. It was a magnificent display of main strength that finally released Lewis from the terrible grip.
Yeah, I mentioned in the Phil Davis Cageside Clutch
Joe Stecher used to practice his scissors by bursting sacks of grain
Davis catch background?
First off, great post as always KJ. I always enjoy your breakdowns in Judo Chops, and I look forward to going back through the various Cageside Clutch’s one of these days.
Second, I am just now looking at the Davis scissors Clutch you did. This is the second time we’ve seen Mr. Wonderful use improvised catch techniques in competition. Has anybody asked him if he has some sort of limited catch training?
If this life be not a real fight, in which something is eternally gained for the universe by success, it is no better than a game of private theatricals from which one may withdraw at will. But it feels like a real fight. - William James
I'm not sure, I don't think so
But you can happen upon Catch techniques by basically looking at the current Amateur Wrestling rulebook and look for what it says is illegal and then work from there lol
Awesome breakdown, thanks K.J., also please people, don’t try to submit your training partners with body triangles, it makes you a bastard.
Got the Summer hatin on me cus I'm hotter than the sun. Got the Spring hatin on me cus I ain't never sprung. Winter hatin on me cus I'm colder than ya'll; and I will never I will never I will never Fall.
The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world. My world is like the ocean, I’m like a shark and most people don't even know how to swim - Draculino
by Patrick Tenney on Jan 24, 2011 12:08 PM EST reply actions
It's interest, I was thinking if BJJ or Judo might end up making some kind of ruling on the Body triangle
Since the rules for sport competitions can be strict regarding anything attacking the spine. Wouldn’t surprise me if the IBJJF make some sort of modifcation (body triangles with no hipping in or something).
Well, honestly at the highest levels body triangles are not necessarily a good idea, it’s much easier to control with proper hooks, you don’t see many black belt champs who use the technique because there are just so many different ways to reverse or counter it. (i.e. ankle lock)
Got the Summer hatin on me cus I'm hotter than the sun. Got the Spring hatin on me cus I ain't never sprung. Winter hatin on me cus I'm colder than ya'll; and I will never I will never I will never Fall.
The mat is my church, the ground is my heaven, Jiu-Jitsu is my religion. And once you hit the ground you're in my world. My world is like the ocean, I’m like a shark and most people don't even know how to swim - Draculino
by Patrick Tenney on Jan 24, 2011 8:18 PM EST up reply actions
Exactly.
Most people in my school will test the waters with it to see if their opponent knows how to defend. If they seem to know exactly how to defend, our guys will give it up right then because you can seriously hurt yourself if you get caught in a counter and don’t let it go in time. .
by Brandon Starr on Jan 25, 2011 1:34 PM EST up reply actions
Drysdale has talked a lot about the potential of the bodylock
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXqf0A2vnMU
Pretty crazy stuff. It doesn’t take much at all to hurt somebody with it.
Drysdales was inverted and allows for a back stretch
versus the regular one form back mount which is more of a compression hold. But yes, another example of using it to your advantage.
great breakdown
a guy at my gym has a NASTY body triangle and it just kills the back.
The way Johnson was able to use gravity to drop his hips, I’m sure Guymon’s lower back just exploded.
Great stuff!
Here’s Yoshiyuki Yoshida demonstrating one of the ways of escaping the position at ADCC 2009 in his match vs. Leo Santos. The gif begins after he’s already fallen to the correct side, which is the side that the triangle is closed on. He’s also gotten rid of the over/under control that Santos had and has begun to move his shoulders to the mat. Finally, he overhooks Santos bottom leg with his bottom leg while thrusting his hips upward to create pressure on Santos’ ankle, which forces the figure four to open.
by zorba on Jan 24, 2011 11:01 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
good stuff
thanks!
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
by Nate Wilcox on Jan 24, 2011 11:26 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, and it was interesting Johnson went to that side, but purposely had the triangle broken as they turned.
Which makes me wonder if Johnson was baiting Guymon. That’s pretty shrewd strategy imo. Either Guymon turned over too much, or Johnson helped him go over.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bloody Elbow
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
