- Hi, I'm Patrick Fulop.
This is effective martial arts.
In this lesson, the clinch 101:
basic positions and how to escape.
Alright, so the clinch is a stand-up fighting situation
in which one or both fighters are
holding onto a part of the other's body.
Now, this can be used to execute the powerful strikes
or controlling your opponents posture
in order to land punches, elbows or knees,
or to go for a take-down.
So, a sweep, a trip, a shoot, projection,
or bodylock take-down.
What can also happen as well
is to go for standing submissions,
which is a little bit less common.
Now, there is a world of techniques
that are possible in the clinch.
Entire martial arts are devoted
to the study of this range of fighting.
And with good reason, because most often than not,
fights will transition at some point or another
through some form of clinch fighting situation.
So, knowing what to do in the clinch
is an essential part of your martial arts education
and self-defense training.
Now, we're gonna keep it very simple
for the purpose of this video.
We'll cover the basic positions
as well as how to escape if you don't want to be there.
First thing's first, let's get right into it.
Alright, so let's start by doing a quick overview
of the basic clinch positions.
So, there are two basic types of clinch.
The first one being head control clinch,
the other being body control clinch.
Now, in terms of head control, we have three variants.
The first one being double-head control.
That's when one person has both hands wrapped
behind the other person's head like so,
and the elbows pressed against the collar bone.
In this case,
what the person having the clinch
is gonna try to do is to break the other's posture.
So, bring the head down and pressing the elbows
inside the collar bone at the same time.
Breaking posture.
At the same time as well the elbows,
you're gonna try to squeeze your elbows together
to lock the head in.
Now, this is a dangerous position to be in,
because you're exposed to knees to the face.
So, you're gonna wanna get out of this position.
The other variant is the single head control.
So, that's when you have one hand
holding the head like so.
Also, the elbow driving into the collar bone.
And here it's also kinda dangerous
'cause you're exposed to punches and elbows.
The last variant of head control clinch
is the 50/50 position, or head and elbow control.
So, we're both holding on, we have the same position.
We're holding onto the other person's head.
The elbow is driving into the collar bone
and we're both going to be holding on
to each other's elbow.
From here, we're gonna be fighting for position,
trying to go for a take-down,
or we can be exchanging strikes.
Next up, we've got body control clinch.
So, the first... the worst position
you can be in is the back bodylock.
When you're here and one person has their chest
to the other person's back and has both hands
underneath the arms here, locked in front
in a bodylock situation.
From here it's very dangerous for the person
on the inside because they can get picked up
and they can get taken down.
This is also possible with both arms in like so,
or one arm in.
Next up, we have the front bodylock,
so that's very similar, where we have
chest to chest position.
One person both arms in underhook position here,
locked on the body.
And that's also very dangerous,
'cause you can get taken down in this position.
And the last variant of body control clinch
is the 50/50 or overunder position.
That's where we both have one arm
underneath the other person's arm,
grabbing onto the body.
And we're both going to be holding on
to the other person's triceps over here.
We're gonna be shoulder to shoulder,
here we're going to be fighting for position,
trying to exchange strikes,
or trying to go for a takedown.
Now, let's look at escapes.
Alright, so first up,
let's look at head control clinch escapes.
Let's start with the absolute worst situation
you can find yourself in.
Which is double head control,
when your posture is already broken.
This is very dangerous
because you've got knees coming to the face.
So, here you're gonna use
the x-block to push back escape.
So here, the person has broken your posture
and you know the knee is coming.
So, you've gotta block that knee.
So, person loads the knees, you get the arms in front
and you block with and "x" position
with the arms like this.
Nice and strong,
'cause the knee can be quite powerful.
From here, as soon as the knee is done,
you're gonna get both hands on the hips like this
and push the person away.
As you get you head down so you slip out of the clinch
and step back, so you're out of the position.
Once again, a little bit faster.
So, I break the posture, she knows the knee is coming
so she's gonna block it.
Hand on the hips, push back, head down, step back,
and we're back to striking.
Once again, I'll do it alone so you can see better.
So, imagine somebody is clinching my head like this.
So, the hands on the top of the head,
both forearms on the sides here.
So, my posture is broken and I'm going down,
I know the knee is coming to the face.
I need to block that.
I'm going to do and x-block over here.
45 degrees with the elbows,
I don't want to be too close here
'cause then the knee can make me hit myself.
So, I'm gonna block like this and then I want to
block quite powerfully,
'cause the knee can be quite strong.
So, I wanna use shoulders, elbows and wrists
to have good power in the block like this
to stop the knee in it's tracks.
And then as soon as the knee is done,
both hands on the hips, I want to push away.
Get my head down to slip out of the clinch,
take a step back at the same time
and we're back to striking.
Next escape, from double head control
is the cross face escape.
This is possible either pushing the head
up and back or the head to the side.
Now, first variation cross face up.
So, here the person had double head control
but he is not yet breaking your posture.
So, you want to maintain the head up
to resist against the person trying to bring you down.
If you have this, you can use the cross face escape.
So you're gonna hold onto the one elbow over here.
Get the other arm inside in between my elbows.
Get it underneath my chin like this.
So, I'm gonna wanna resist.
The person with head control,
if they know what they're doing,
They're gonna wanna keep their chin down like so.
But you need to force straight up
against the chin, to get the head back.
And once you have this,
it's very hard for me to resist.
She's gonna keep on extending her arm,
to eventually break my grip, and we're back to striking.
Once again, a little bit faster.
So she controls one elbow, turns her body to the side,
hand underneath the chin,
pushes straight up and extends to break the grip.
A variation of this is the side cross face escape.
So, in this case she's gonna slide one arm
over both elbows like so,
break the posture a little bit like this,
and then get her other arm on the side of my chin.
Again, I'll wanna resist by keeping my chin down,
but the neck muscles aren't that strong.
So, she pushes,
she can get my head to the side like this.
And once she has that, she turns her body,
extends all the way, breaks my grip,
and we're back to striking.
Once again, a little bit faster,
so, hand across both elbows,
breaks the grip, hand on the chin,
push the head to the side, and escape.
The other thing you can do
from double head control postured up position,
is the arm lace escape.
So, in this case she's gonna slide one arm
over one elbow and underneath the other,
with the palm facing down.
Then she's gonna bring her other palm
stuck to the first palm and push
straight up on my elbow here,
as she ducks under to get out of the position.
The she keeps on pushing to get away,
and we're back to striking.
Once again, little bit faster,
so I have double head control.
She slides one arm over one elbow, underneath the other.
Palm to palm, push up, duck under, push away,
and back to striking.
The last technique you can do
from double head control is not quite an escape,
but it's a transition to a more neutral
or eventually dominant position.
So, we call this a swimming transition.
So, in this case,
I have double head control over here.
She's gonna get one arm in here,
so slide the arm on the inside
and then gain head control on that side.
And eventually she wants to try to do both as well.
So, she's gonna slide the other arm
and now she has head control,
I don't have much control over the arms over here.
So, I'm gonna wanna do the same thing,
slide the arm back, get into the middle here
and slide back to get the control over here.
Now, the drill you can do to develop your fluidity
in head control clinch is to have both
starting from 50/50 position and we're gonna both
get the arm on the inside of the elbow.
Keeping contact, slide it to the other hand like this
and slide the other arm to the elbow like so.
And then we can keep on going.
This is a good way to develop fluidity
and to feel the opponents strength.
So, you want to be relaxed here
and at the same time resist just a little bit.
And from 50/50 position,
there's a lot of things that can happen.
This we can clinch fighting, we can exchange strikes,
we can go for takedowns,
or we'll be fighting for dominant position.
If you don't wanna be in this position,
it's very simple, you're gonna use
the cross face escape,
so, slide the arm in, chin, push away,
and she's out.
Alright, now let's look at body clinch escapes.
First up, worst situation
you could be in, back bodylock.
Here, so I have the back bodylock,
she's gonna do the drop and bridge escape.
So, she's gonna do three things simultaneously.
First, drop her levels, get her hips down.
Then, hips forward, pushing with her upper back
on my chest to create distance and create stress
on my grip over here.
At the same time she turns her hips
so that the connection of my hands
is lined up with the side of her hip,
the sharp part.
Then she's gonna push with her hands
to eventually break my grip, like so.
Right away, she's gonna get her hands up
and we're back to striking.
Once again, little bit faster,
So, hips down and away, turn,
push with the upper back and break the grip
with the hands, we're back to striking.
Once again, I'll do it alone
so you can see better.
So, three things;
one, hips down, two, hips away,
pushing with the upper back with the twist.
And three, hands breaking through the grip like so.
Doing all three together it goes like this.
Again.
Another situation could happen if you react
a little bit late and the person lifts you up
is the use the leg hook technique.
So, it's very simple,
the person lifts, as soon as you're in the air
she's gonna hook my leg over here
and pull on it to bring herself back
to the ground, to establish stability.
Once again, I lift, she hooks,
pulls on the leg and back to the ground.
The other situation's gonna happen
is I have the two arms in variation.
In this case, she's also gonna do
the drop and bridge escape,
but she's gonna use her elbows
to apply pressure against my grip.
So, same thing, hips drop down, away,
and then she's gonna use her elbows,
push the side with her elbows
to break the grip,
and then she's back to striking.
And there's something you have to be careful for
with two arms in variation.
The person in back can go for
a standing rear naked choke.
Now, I'm gonna show you exactly
how to do this technique,
as well as how to escape in a future video.
The drop and bridge escape is also possible
with one arm in.
In this case it's going to be
pretty much the same thing,
so you're gonna drop your hips forward.
Then, the hand that's on the bottom
is gonna reach on top to grab the hand.
The hand that's on top is gonna also grab the hand
and push away, create distance and break the grip.
We're back to striking.
So, once again, a little bit faster,
hips down and away, and push on the grip,
and back to striking.
So, the other thing you can do from
back bodylock, if you remain standing,
most likely the person's gonna bring you down,
but if you stay on your feet,
you can do some strikes.
You can do headbutt, rear elbow,
and hammerfist to the groin.
So, headbutt you're simply gonna
bring your head forward and back
on the head like this.
Back elbow here, turn,
and elbow to the face like that.
So, that's why if you have the back bodylock,
you wanna be close, here,
with the head on the inside,
so the strikes cannot land to your face.
You can also do the hammerfist to the groin,
so going to the side like this,
exposing the groin, and boom, hammerfist
to the groin like so.
Okay, next situation, front bodylock,
so, chest to chest.
She's gonna do the drop and cross face escape.
So, very simple,
she's gonna start by sagging her hips,
so hips down here,
so it's harder for me to pick her up.
At the same time, hips back as well,
taking a step back, putting stress on my grip here
so you can get one arm here on the inside of my face
and then push the chin away to break the grip,
we're back to striking.
Again, a little bit faster, hips down and away,
hands in front of the chin
and cross face and escape.
The other escape you can do from front bodylock
is the hip push elbow squeeze.
So, in this case she's also gonna drop her hips
and get them away from me,
and at the same time she's gonna
push on my hips with her hands.
This creates even more distance.
Then, she's gonna connect her hands together
and squeeze her elbows
to eventually break my grip like so.
And then she's out,
and we're back to striking.
Once again, a little bit faster,
so we'll drop and push the hips away.
Connect the hands, squeeze,
break the grip, back to striking.
The last technique, not quite an escape,
but very similar to the head control
swimming transition is the pummeling transition
back to 50/50.
So, in this case she's gonna
get one arm on the inside, like this
to grab an underhook of her own.
Once she has this, I no longer have this underhook,
so I might as well go here and grab the triceps.
And this is cool drill you can do,
the pummeling drill, to program yourself
to always go for underhooks.
And this will lay a foundation
for you to be good in the body control clinch.
So, we're gonna do the same thing
on both sides at the same time.
So, we're both gonna get one arm on the inside here,
go for the underhook and then grab
the opposite triceps at the same time.
Now we're switching shoulders.
Again, arm in and transition, grab the triceps.
So on and so forth.
This develops your fluidity and programs your mind
to always go for underhooks.
Now, if you find yourself in this position
and you don't want to be there,
very simple to escape.
You can use the shoulder bump to striking technique.
So, it's very simple,
she's gonna coil her shoulder back
and punch me with her shoulders,
creates a little bit of distance.
And follow up with a punch elbow,
and we're back to the striking range.
Again, a little bit faster,
so we're shoulder bump, boom,
and back to striking.
Now, like we said earlier,
there's a lot of stuff that can happen
from this position,
we can be fighting for position,
we can go for strikes,
or we can go for many different types of takedowns.
We will be seeing that in future videos.
Alright, so those are the basics of the clinch position.
Quick recap.
We saw the two types of clinch,
which are head control clinch
and body control clinch.
On head control we have double head control
and single head control,
as well as the 50/50 position.
In terms of body control,
we have the back bodylock, front bodylock,
as well as the 50/50 or overunder position.
In terms of head control escapes,
we saw what to do in the worst-case scenario,
when the person has broken your posture
and is about to knee you in the face.
So, to use the x-block to push back escape.
If you manage to stay postured up,
we saw the cross face escape.
Either pushing the head up and back
or the head to the side.
And we also saw the arm lace escape,
from postured up double head control.
We also saw the swimming transition,
back to 50/50 head control clinch,
which can also be used as a drill
to increase your fluidity.
And to escape the 50/50 head control clinch,
we're simply gonna use the cross face escape again.
In terms of body control clinch,
we saw also what to do in the worst-case scenario,
which is the back bodylock or double underhooks.
In which case we're gonna use
the drop and bridge escape.
We saw what to do if the person picks you up,
you can use the leg hook technique.
As well as what to do
if you have both arms in or one arm in.
For the front bodylock,
we saw the drop and crossface escape
as well as the hip push elbow squeeze escape.
We also saw the pummeling transition
back to 50/50 or overunder position.
And to escape the 50/50 position,
we're simply gonna use the shoulder bump
to striking technique.
Now, I definitely recommend you review these techniques
regularly and practice them diligently.
Because this is really the foundational skills
that you need to develop your clinch fighting abilities.
Later on, were gonna see
exactly how to do all the different strikes
and how to block them in the clinch position.
We're also gonna see in detail
all the different takedowns you can do
in the clinch, such as the sweeps,
trips, shoots, projections,
and bodylock takedowns.
And we're also gonna learn how to do
all the different standing submissions
you can do in the clinch.
As well as how to escape.
Now, that will all be for future videos,
so if you haven't already,
I definitely recommend you subscribe
to our channel right now
to stay tuned for those techniques.
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As always, it's been a real pleasure.
Till next time, I'm Patrick Fulop.
This is effective martial arts.
Remember, practice well, safety first,
and use these techniques only for self-defense.