Baseball Escape

Student Objectives:

  1. The student will escape Back Control by correctly using the Baseball Escape against a compliant partner.
  2. The student will explore using the floor as an effective way to escape Back Control.
  3. The student will explore using the hands to defend their neck when an opponent attacks them from Back Control.

Teaching Cues:

  • Grab the wrist
  • Baseball pose
  • Over the head
  • Back flat
  • Block the knee
  • Up on top

Lesson: Baseball Escape from Back Control

The practicing student will start in a modified Butterfly position, sitting on the floor with their legs gently bent and  their feet close together.  The assisting student will sit directly behind them and set their hooks by wrapping their legs around the practicing student’s waist.  The assisting student will then take double under grips and pull the practicing student backwards until the practicing student’s back touches the assisting student’s chest.  

Once in position, the assisting student will make a Hand Spear and place the hand between the neck and shoulder of the practicing student.  The hand spear should slowly progress forward tracing the jawline as performed in the Rear Naked Choke and the Short Choke.    

As the Hand Spear progresses around the front of the body, the practicing student should have their hands in a defensive posture.  The cross grip hand will be up close to the neck with their thumb on their own collarbone and their pointer finger touching the very base of their own ear.  When the assisting student’s hand makes contact with the hand of the practicing student he/she will close the hand grabbing either the fingers, palm or wrist of the assisting student.  Immediately the same side hand will reinforce the hold on the assisting student’s choking arm by grabbing tightly at the wrist.  

With both hands clasping the assisting student’s choking arm, the practicing student will pull down towards their belly button.  This should extend the arm of the assisting student and seat their armpit over the shoulder of the practicing student.  Then, after the arm is generally straight, the practicing student will lift back up with the assisting student's wrist applying upward pressure towards the elbow of the controlled arm.  This should bend the arm and create a pocket of space.  The practicing student will then bring the arm over their head and immediately pull back down on the wrist control.  

As the arm clears the head the practicing student will walk their feet towards the hips of the assisting student and place their back on the floor.  Once the back is firmly on the floor the hands should be transferred to the assistant student’s knee.  The practicing student needs to understand that during a live scenario, this is a positionally dangerous area and future opponents will use this part of the movement to try and get on top.  The goal of holding the knee is to prevent mount.  If they do start to lose this transition, the practicing student should aim to stuff that knee in Half Guard while their opponent is forcing their way to top control.  

After transferring both hands to the knee, the practicing student will then release the inside hands grip and wave the arm between the bodies. As the arm is clearing the body the hand that is still on the pants will extend away, pushing on the pants as they force themselves up into a Combat Base position.  

Possible Extensions:

  • Have the assisting student use the Underhook to the Back.  The practicing student can then perform the Baseball Escape.  The earlier that they control the arm, the higher percentage the escape.
  • Once the practicing student completes the Baseball Escape and comes into the Combat Base position, they can pair it with an immediate pass.  The Knee Cut, or a Back Step pass both pair well with the end of this escape.  

Possible Refinements:

  • If the practicing student's initial grip during the defense includes grasping the fingers of the assisting student, make sure they are grabbing at least 3 fingers and that they are not attempting to apply a small joint manipulation.
  • When making the angle to place their back on the floor, the practicing student should use their feet and walk them towards their hips.  Commonly students will try and arch their back away.  While this can also help in the transition to getting the back on the floor, it is not nearly as effective as walking the feet.
  • When forcing their way to the top after controlling the knee, the practicing student should Thread the Needle to get back to Combat Base.

Reference materials:

Teaching Reflections:

  • How did I do teaching?
  • What could I do better next time?
  • Did the student gain proficiency in lesson material?

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