avoiding knees when shooting, and other things

Hi ya'all

we spent some time in my HKD class doing drills on gaining distance wityh kicks, combos, whatever and ending up grappling.

When I tried to shoot (and trying to 'fan'?? for a side mount) - my instructor warned me about knees to the head. I was fairly upright and had the right knee blocked whilst pivoting with his right knee up.

Any comments on the dangers of knees.

Also for the grapplers. I sometimes try a takedown when I kick to the back of the right leg, then place my right knee behind his and either

a) sweep my forearm or palm under his chin and throw over my knees or b) grab both of his legs and throw him backwards over my leg.

Any comments on these techniques? Proc/cons or advice??

BTW, they work at times.

1. Time your shot when his weight is coming up, and he can't knee you, or hit you in any other way at that moment, nor can he get his weight down to sprawl. Many ways to get his weight going up.

2. **** a single when his weight is shifting onto the other leg. For instance, take his lead leg when he is throwing a hook. Again, he cannot knee you. You can also get his back, sweep single, flank, etc.

3. When you do shoot, shoot with your chest. Do not duck your head and charge in. This is how he can catch you with a knee, when you are overextended, head forward and low. Proper penetration with good posture does not leave you open to knees. Timing has a lot to do with this. If you are in good posture and he tries to knee you, *he is giving you the takedown*. I teach and train vale tudo sparring several times per week, and I've yet to be caught with a knee when penetrating. Keep your base under you, your head up, your elbows in

Just don't drop your head when you shoot in. Keep your head in close and tight to his body and keep going forward so he can't set up for a knee strike. On the reverse side: If your being shot into then you want to try and take your oppenents head down and try to step/skip back a step or two and use your hands to guide his head in for a knee shoot. Learn how to do a wrestlers sprawl also. It's the best technique for avoiding a leg takedown and then setting up your opponent for knee strikes. A good technique to use from Thai Boxing is to clasp your hands behind the shooters head and maintain control of it. Keep him off balance by swinging him from side to side and continue to pull him into your knee shots.

An Aikido Instructor taught me something similar to this. Works wonders as long as he's off balance.

Might want to just go with a double leg without your directly leg behind him. You run the possibility of getting your leg stuck under him and then your in a bad spot. If your able to penetrate that deep into him and grab both his legs then just continue to drive into him and he'll go down as long as you maintain a secure hold of both legs.

ok.. that's my $.02

Next!!!