Striking from the Top
Hitting from top position without handing back the position you are hitting from.
Striking from the Top
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En esta lección
- Set a base that survives a punch being thrown from it
- Choose the right strike for each position
- Use strikes to advance rather than only to damage
Clave del entrenador — Post before you punch. A punch thrown from an unposted base is a sweep.
The trade
Every strike you throw from top position removes a limb from the job of holding them down. That is the trade, and it is a good one — but only if you set the base first.
The rule: post before you punch. Whatever you are about to throw, the other three limbs have to be able to hold the position on their own.
What to throw from where
| Position | Best strikes | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Closed guard | Short punches, elbows to the thigh | Being pulled down and swept |
| Half guard | Shoulder pressure, short elbows | Losing the underhook |
| Side control | Knees to the body, elbows to the head | Rolling as you lift a knee |
| Mount | Everything — this is the position for it | Posting too high and being bridged |
| Back control | Punches to the side of the head | Losing a hook while you throw |
Posture versus pressure
Two modes, and knowing which one you are in matters.
Pressure. Chest down, weight heavy, short elbows and shoulder strikes. Low damage, high control, very tiring for them. This is where you spend most of your time.
Posture. Sitting up, weight on your knees, throwing full punches. High damage, and a much higher risk of being swept or having your guard broken. This is a short visit, not a residence.
The mistake is posturing up and staying up. Throw two or three, then come back down into pressure before they can react.
Ground and pound is not a way to finish someone from bottom-adjacent positions. It is a way to make them give up position, which is what finishes them.
Drill it
Two rounds from mount and side control with light strikes to the body only, where the top player loses the round if they get bridged. Two rounds where the top player must alternate: three strikes, then thirty seconds of pure pressure. The contrast is the lesson.