By Felix Rodriguez, Staff Writer
In this edition of TXMMA’s Technique of the Week we feature Genesis Jiu-Jitsu purple belt, Dustin Snow
Dustin Snow is a former U.S. Marine Corps member and combat veteran who completed a 2004 tour of Fallujah, Iraq. After fulfilling his service to the U.S. Armed Forces, Snow became interested in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and has been training full time in the sport since 2008. Dustin is currently a two-stripe purple belt student at Genesis Jiu-Jitsu Ft. Worth, a Cyborg Abreu Fight Sports affiliate under Albert Hughes and Tony Tipton. Dustin is also the head instructor at Genesis Jiu-Jitsu Aledo, an experienced referee and an active competitor in the Texas tournament scene. He’s earned medals competing in the World Grappling Circuit Texas State Championships, The American Grappling Federation and at the IBJJF’s Houston Open among others.
During this edition of our TXMMA Technique of the Week Dustin will demonstrate a rolling sweep from the spider guard position. The Spider Guard is an effective offensive position for Gi grappling that works by controlling the arms of your opponent with your feet on their upper bicep, and creating leverage by having a firm grip of their sleeves and over-extending one arm, while keeping their other arm close to the ground. This is an excellent position to set up triangles and armbars as well as sweeps like the one shown by Snow.
To properly set up the spider guard make sure you have a tight grip on the sleeves and escape your hips away from the arm that will be kept closer to the ground. Secure the bottom grip first by placing your foot on your opponent’s bicep and then secure the upper arm by keeping that foot extended and the sleeve grip tight. Once your opponent is in spider guard they will try to react and counter it. One of the most common defenses to the spider guard is to stand up to ease the tension on the arms created by your feet’s leverage. Wait for this moment to happen in order to execute the sweep. Once your opponent pops up to defend the sweep take your bottom spider guard foot and loop it around your gripped sleeve, to trap the arm, by placing your foot as a hook behind the upper thigh. Once the bottom spider grip is trapped and the hook is placed take the foot controlling your opponent’s upper bicep and slide it down to their hips. Bring your opponent towards you by bending down the foot on the hip and pulling on the top grip to force them down to your chest. Finish the sweep by rolling your opponent over the shoulder of the arm you trapped to end up in mount.
As always practice the techniques shown here with safety and respect for your training partner.
For more information on Dustin Snow and Genesis Jiu-Jitsu Aledo visit their Facebook Page at your leisure.
