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BJJ Scout: Ben Askren Study Part 4 – Mat Returns

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Part 4 of my study on Ben Askren’s folkstyle adaptions to MMA.

* I do not own any of the above footage used. It’s reproduction is merely for critique and educational purposes.

Music:
StoneOcean – Home
Muciojad – Ariel Ace

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. I don't think one is better than the other the way I like to think of it is in striking for example Nick or Nate Diaz are volume punchers they will throw 50 to 60% shots they will not get tired because they are not over committing there damage is constant and they tire their opponent out that is like mat Returns now take someone like Conor McGregor where he has loads of unique set ups for his left straight unlike the Diaz Brothers he has a chance of finishing the fighting immediately but if his setups don't land he has gained nothing from it like losing position from back control I wonder is there a happy medium where you can do constant damage and have potential to get that finishing hold ?

  7. Bjjscout- would you make a video on sweeping and trapping guards? I've done some research but you truly have your finger on the proverbial pulse of modern and ever evolving BJJ submission grappling for tournament and MMA. Your insight is indisputably valuable. Also, your input and research on the, "best" guard for MMA (referenced in a prior video) would be fascinating; pertaining to both suggested videosI believe everyone would be in Accord to see them made. (I'm new to YouTube- I wasn't sure how to contact you personally, my apologies).

  16. Looks like mat returns are better for MMA. Endurance means too much in MMA nowadays. Also bringing opponent down means you can chain more subs on him so it looks logical to develop MMA grappling game in that way.

  17. once again you get it. Folkstyle top and bottom wrestling is why a higher percentage of American wrestlers transition better into MMA than international wrestlers who only compete in freestyle and greco.

  20. Great videos bjj scout. As a former wrestler, I heavily favor these videos and seeing your breakdowns on how Askren is applying a lot of folkstyle to mma is really encouraging and has confirmed a lot of what I have talked about to friends and some family. Me personally, I heavily favor the rides but as a leg rider, I definitely have to say not so much that mat returns are more important but rather positioning is more important. Putting in legs is like an end-game position you want to be in before proceeding to obliterate the poor soul trapped in such an agonizing position. I feel like the sheer power parallel ride is very much underutilized in favor of the versatility of the crossbody ride, which I personally feel is a mistake. Not saying that crossbody is better or worse (though there is some vulnerability in exchange for the extra offense), just saying that parallel ride could and should definitely be used more. One of my personal favorite things to do in wrestling was to go into parallel leg riding when my opponent tripods/quadpods. The amount of leverage the parallel ride gives is a lot for an opponent to handle. Even if they manage to get out of it, they still had to put in the effort. And sometimes they still stand up because they were farther along their tripod than expected. That's okay. In wrestling, the referee would stop and reset the position for "potentially dangerous." But in MMA, I would think it's totally fair game to just be a spider on their back and give them something to show for. May be unorthodox and not the greatest of "plans" but the advantage of having the position over an opponent is that you can always bail ahead of time.

  22. These are such fantastic breakdowns! Especially this series on Askren and Folkstyle. You're doing great work for the grappling community with these, especially those of us who don't know much about Folkstyle. I appreciate the wide window in to Folkstyle and it's mma applications

  27. It depends if your opponent's hands are on the mat and whether or not you have an arm trapped when they get to their feet. If they have either or both hands down, your best bet is to redirect their movement using a claw/spiral (twisting your opponent), crab ride (pulling them backwards), or legs/chops (redirect weight onto their hands). If standing with an arm trapped, tilts for days, without an arm trapped, get an nice angle and lift and return. One point of mat theory that I think is important to mention: to escape from bottom, it is the objective of the bottom wrestler to eliminate their opponent's angle on top. Knee slides and change overs are designed to put your opponent behind you. This makes it easier to come to your feet or granby. Conversely, to successfully ride on top (without legs in), the top wrestler wants to continuously circle their opponent. This separates their chest from their hips and makes escaping or reversing extremely difficult.

  29. hooks are amazing, a lot easier to do which is good, ill say Mat Returns if you have enough skill in them because it will gas youre opponent. attacking youre opponents energy is a viable strategy. I have submitted guys in comp who are a lot stronger then me, obviously like most people, simply because I got to top and stayed there no matter what, after they gassed I submitted them. that was on purpose too, so maybe for me I see a lot of value in being able to gas somebody out while you stay good.

  37. For the best between Mat Returns vs Hooks it probably depends on the weight difference/power difference between you and your opponent. Also, depends on your skill set and their skill set.

    If sizes are the same but skills sets/skill levels are different do what you have a comparative advantage at.

    If sizes are the same and skills are the same then probably mat returns (more mobility) can always go for hooks if a juicy option presents itself (like the juicy one in khabib vs conor).

    If Sizes are different and skills are the same (maybe hooks if you're the small guy and hope to get lucky, but mat control if you're the big guy… impossible for them to ever escape)

    If sizes are different and skills are different (big guy should add a multiplier to mat control then do what he has a comparative advantage at — likely mat control— and little guy should put a slight multiplier on hooks then do what he has a comparative advantage at).

    Not 100% convinced of this. I haven't done BJJ in about a year now so I need to get back in there (broke my leg while someone tried to bridge out of my top mount). Had my leg planted and kind of stood with their bridge then their hip and subsequently me piled onto my leg near my ankle… loud snap. I haven't stepped in the gym since then (january 10th.) I dream about bjj sometime though and still want to talk to people about what I should have done, what I did wrong… I have idea. I'm a white belt so were they.