Marcus Soares Seminar notes

Marcus Soares Seminar – After action report

Seminar started a bout 45 minutes late because Marcus got lost on the way to the gym. When he arrived, he started off the seminar with a hellish warm up. It was tough. I was damn near shot by the end.

The seminar was very casual. Marcus began by asking for questions. He wanted to know what we were having problems with. He answered some quick questions and moved into a standing guard pass, followed by 3 mount defenses, a side control escape, 2 back control escapes and 2 escapes from the turtle.

I was struck by a few things regarding Professor Soares. The first was he reliance on the basics of jiu jitsu. He just has those basics down to a science and does need fancy new techniques. Second was just how little power he uses. In all the escapes, his bridges were simple little rolls, rather than a big explosion, he maneuvers his hips to the perfect angle and just rolls. His use of leverage is amazing. The third was his pressure was intense. My instructor Adam has awesome pressure, and a lot of wrestlers that I have rolled with over the years have great pressure but Marcus is on another level. He just uses leverage, angles, and every ounce body weight.

We ended up with a belt test. This was different type of test then I have ever been involved in. Basically, they matched up pairs by weight and we rolled tournament style. I don't really know how this could really show your entire skill set.

Technical notes

Guard pass:

Secure lapel and sleeve. Tuck elbows in tight and cross his hand to his opposite hip. Push down on hip and stand up with the leg on the side of the arm that is controlled. Stand with the other leg. Switch grip on the sleeve and grab the pants with the free hand. Push down on the hip with pants hand. Break the legs open, Finish as per regular under hook guard pass.

Mount escape one. (hooks in)

Grab lapel and opposite pant leg at the knee. Push against knee, free hook on that leg. Use foot to lift ankle and maneuver leg out to get to half guard. Roll towards your free leg and push away with hand on lapel, Secure side control.

Mount escape 2. triple attack position

Opponent has mount and has secured arm and is half way to spiderweb (cross arm bar) position. Use free hand to grab own wrist, Take trapped arm and put it behind head. Use chin and arm pressure to keep his arm trapped. Shift hips into him and swim free arm under his leg. Shift hips back the other way and roll/bridge into him. His arm will be levered against his leg in an arm bar. If not pass to side control.

Mount escape 3. High mount

Clasp hands together over face, Push up a little to create space. Grab belt. Push all the way up and over your had as you move your hips over his leg, keep moving your hips over and rolling in that direct, try to create enough space that you can pass to side control.

Turtle escape

You are turtled with opponent on your side. Use opposite hand to defend collar choke. Assuming he is on your right side, grab his right sleeve as he tries to get the choke. Secure it tight to you. Reach between his legs with your right hand and wrap it over and around his ankle. Suck that back in and grab his right sleeve with your right hand. Secure his left elbow with your left elbow. Flatten out you legs (or at least you left leg) and roll him over you. Secure side control.

Turtle escape 2 hook in

Grab right sleeve with left hand and with the right hand as High as you can on the shoulder, Push it way and to the left until it is the left side of your head. Secure it tight. Bridge up on you head and feet and he will slide down your back, Kick leg out to remove the hook and then start to rotate around as you suck his arm in and move to side control.

Back control, opponent shifted to side.

Assuming he is choking with the right hand and is off to the left. Grab right sleeve with left hand, grab right shoulder with right hand. Push up on his elbow to pop you head out. As you pop your head out, do not release his wrist, continue to push his elbow up and away from you and pull his wrist in. Swim your left arm under his wrist and over his triceps in to a chicken wing (reverse kimura) and drive it forward, Make sure his left leg stays over top of yours so he can not roll out.