By Felix Rodriguez, Staff Writer
Breaking Down a Fight-Ending Kneebar to Footlock Transition
The Hidden Angle will be an ongoing series where high-level jiu-jitsu competitors break down match-changing techniques that can’t be seen closely by the camera for our viewers. Basically, we’re asking our featured athlete “what happened there?” The idea is to provide a completely different (first-hand) perspective and some tips on how to properly execute the technique being featured.
For this edition of The Hidden Angle we feature Romulo Reis Pereira, a third degree black belt under Rilion Gracie who splits time teaching BJJ between Texas and Florida. Professor Reis has been a high level competitor for years; he most recently took silver at the Master Senior Worlds and won the 2011 & 2012 Pan Ams while competing as a cruiserweight (Black Belt, Senior 1).
The original video comes from Japan’s Campeonato Jiu-Jitsu 2005. Professor Reis came back from his opponent’s flying armbar attempt and ended up winning by submission in this extremely exciting match. The match is action-packed and worth watching in its entirety, but if you want to cut straight to the point fast forward to the 3:30 mark of the first video. Reis’ match-changing technique was the product of transitioning beautifully from threatening with a triangle to shooting for a kneebar. Unfortunately, the sequence takes place away from the viewer’s perspective, so the angle of the camera does not show the fight-ending transition into a footlock.
We caught up with Professor Reis and asked him to breakdown exactly what happened during the final transition. In the second video Professor Reis explains the hidden angle for us while being assisted by Roggan Gracie (pro MMA 1-0). The momentum of the match shifted when Reis shot up for a triangle to counter his opponent’s attempt to begin passing guard. The defense of this position allowed Reis’s transition into a kneebar. He explains that he was able to do this by opening his guard and spinning the leg over the shoulder to isolate his opponent’s leg.
This is the explanation of the fight ending sequence. According to Reis, his opponent defended the knee bar properly by shifting his hips and sitting up, however, this defense left him vulnerable for the foot lock he used. Professor Reis rolled atop the isolated leg to block his opponent from protecting his foot and switched from a kneebar to a foot lock by rolling away from his opponent. The torque of his hold in combination with the spin generated in the roll created enough leverage to force the tap and Reis ended up winning a gold medal in this tournament.
We hoped you enjoyed this first edition of The Hidden Angle and, as always, practice these techniques with safety and respect for your training partners. If you have any suggestions for future editions of the Hidden Angle please let us know in the comments section. We will try to make them happen whenever possible!
