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Against A Superior Wrestler Pulling Guard Is The WRONG Strategy

Against A Superior Wrestler Pulling Guard Is The WRONG Strategy
Guest post by David Avellan, an ADCC bronze medalist. Avellan has defeated many of the world’s best grapplers, such as BJJ Black Belt World Champions Rafael Lovato Jr., Tarsis Humphries, Amaury Bitteti, Alexandre ‘Xande’ Ribeiro, Roberto ‘Cyborg’ Abreu, and Rener Gracie.

Avellan is credited for developping The Kimura Trap System , a powerful submission system that counters half guard, turtle guard, and take down players with brutal efficiency.

 

“Wait a second! Aren’t you a wrestler?”

 

Yes and no, LOL!

When my brother Marcos and I burst into national attention in 2003, we were labeled wrestlers. You see, back then, wrestling wasn’t common in grappling. A decent high school wrestler with BJJ training would give people fits.

That is what I was. I had 3 years of HS wrestling when I started to train NHB (No Holds Barred) in 1999. For your newbies, NHB was the hardcore, no rules form of MMA. MMA evolved from NHB and became the sport that it is today.

 

My bloodiest fight so far in BodogFIGHT Costa Rica

Anyhow, my brother (Marcos Avellan) and I achieved quick success in the grappling world once we applied our wrestling work ethic and take downs to our Jiu Jitsu game.

We only had an instructor for about a year and a half. After he moved, we became Ronins (a Samurai with no master).

We trained each other and constantly worked to improve our skills. We studied videos, magazines, UFCs, and competed as much as possible.

Since we had no easy hand me down source of knowledge, we learned to always keep our eyes and minds open to new techniques.

Back to the matter at hand – why I hate wrestling.

kimura trap bjj

That is me victorious over ADCC and Mundial Champion Xande Ribeiro

This may come as a surprise to a BJJer, but wrestling is the most stressful part of a match for me – even for someone who is labeled a wrestler.

Huh?

I’m not the only one. In fact, I would say that 99% of wrestlers share the same anxiety.

Why?

Because if you face an opponent who is a better wrestler, you will not be able to control the first points scored. Sure we could pull guard, but wrestlers are not used to being on their back.

The lack of practice makes wrestlers vulnerable like an upside down turtle when on their backs.

Personally, I have lost matches just because I gave up one take down. Losing 2-0 is incredibly frustrating. Especially when you are doing everything possible to score but your opponent is just stalling.

Playing for Keeps…

kimura trap adcc

Landing a Heel Hook on ADCC World Champion Andre Galvao

Many competitors play the “points game.” I admit – I have done it myself.

No one enjoys watching someone ride out the score. It bores the hell out of the crowd and makes no fans.

But that is not why I became a submission artist. I could care less about what other people think as long as I get what I want.

The reason I changed was EFFICIENCY.

In the ADCC 2007 Submission Wrestling World Championships, I had a total mat time of over 70 minutes with just 4 matches. Playing the ‘safe’ route caused me to go deep into regulation and many overtimes.

A total of 6 overtimes!

I fell short of what I wanted, which was two gold medals. Then I watched what the winners were doing: Marcelo Garcia, Robert Drysdale, Braulio Estima and Roger Gracie.

They spent less time on the mat because they were finishing their matches quick. That left them better rested to go the long haul and in tournaments, you need all the energy you can get.

I decided then that I needed to take more chances and up my submission game.

Being an engineer, I wanted to find the best submission hold possible to maximize my gains and minimize my risk.

I knew that I needed a specialty. A jack of all trades is a master of none. Marcelo Garcia has the arm drag, Cyborg the tornado guard, Braulio his inverted triangle. What was going to be mine?

I was already well known for my leg locks, but I wanted to specialize in another hold. Factors I considered were:

  • How many different positions could I attack with my submission?
  • How many ways could I finish my submission?
  • What would be my bailout plan if things went south?
  • How many ways could my opponent escape?
  • Could this be used easily in transition?
  • Can this submission be forced?

As I thought about this more and more, I struggled to wrap my head around it all. I made flow charts and diagrams to try and pick the most efficient move.

kimura trap mindmap

As you can see, it gets quite complicated…

The result of all this brainstorming was a technique I had learned in my first day of grappling training…

…the Kimura.

What is the Kimura Trap?

The Kimura Trap is a submission system that I have been developing for over five years.

I have drilled countless hours, mapped tons of different sequences, and practiced hundreds of scenarios – all in the quest for a submission that I can hit against anyone at any time, from any position.

There is a TON of positions, submissions, sweeps, take downs and escapes in the Kimura Trap system. Here are just a few things the Kimura Trap can do for you:

Say “NO” To Wrestlers! Use The Kimura Trap To Counter Take Downs:

  • Stop All Shots Dead In Their Tracks With This Bullet Proof System. You Will Feel So Safe, You Will Stand Straight Up And Have No Worries!
  • Many Ways Of Setting Tempting Takedown “Traps” That Will Have Your Opponents Taking The Bait Over And Over Again!
  • Monkey on your back? No problem, use the Kimura Throw to finish him off. WARNING – you may break his ribs (I’m guilty of this – OOPS!) or take his shoulder clean off the socket!
  • Choose Which Submission You Will Finish Your Enemy With: Rear Naked Choke, Arm Bar, Bicep Slicer, Triangle Choke, Inverted Triangle Choke, One Arm Choke, Head Scissors, Kimura, Wrist Locks, And More!
  • No Need To Be Flexible, Strong, Fast, Long Limbed, Etc. – This System Works For Everyone!
  • Is This Going To Work In MMA? Absolutely! In Fact, The System Is Easier To Use With More Ways Of Finishing!

If the Kimura Trap system was just about takedown defense, it would be a great weapon in your arsenal. But the good news gets better:

The Kimura Trap Can Be Mixed With The Half Or Open Guard To Create The KIMURA LOCKDOWN:

  • Half Guard Kimura’s are not just for beefcakes! Learn how you can easily put your opponent on Lockdown and have him at your mercy, regardless of size!
  • Break anybodies grip to finish your Kimura with never before revealed secrets to grip breaking
  • Facing a grip like a steel pad lock? Use the Avellan Squeeze to pop his elbow out of place. This is brand new submission that you can learn nowhere else!
  • Having trouble with the Kimura? No problem, just arm bar him with either the grape vine arm bar or the rolling arm bar!
  • Tired of arm bars? Be like Braulio Estima and put him in an inverted triangle choke!
  • Stop your opponents passing by putting him into the Kimura Lockdown. It is so easy and deceptive, he won’t know what is going on.

 

The Kimura Trap is More than just a Submission – it is a Submission System

 

My first use of the Kimura Trap against UFC veteran Jay Heiron

I can grapple someone ONLY using the Kimura Trap System and be a stone cold killer.

Using the system is easy and there are tons of opportunities in every match. You don’t have to wait for the stars to line up to get your chance.

This is what makes this system so powerful – you can use it all the time.

If you are paying attention, I have said system dozens of times. What do I mean exactly when I say the Kimura Trap is a system?

  • It is a well documented and thoroughly understood process that is easily replicated.
  • The process starts when you give it an input (what position you and your opponent are in).
  • You execute the Kimura Trap, and as the position changes your response will match it.
  • The process has no unknown variables. Any counter your opponent makes has been accounted for.
  • It requires no thinking. Just follow the steps in the system to get your desired output – submission!

This is the beauty of the Kimura Trap – it is so easy to replicate in new students. I have blue belts that are beating brown belts just because they can follow the system.

And yes, you can submit your instructor! I taught a Kimura Trap seminar at a close friend’s school while he was away, and now he is complaining that he keeps getting caught with it by his students!

There you have it, now you see the effectiveness of a strong Kimura grip and the versatility of it. If you want to take your Kimura game to the next level check out Robson “MAU-MAU” Lima’s 3 DVD set, “The Kimura System.”