Snap-down reversal

Source: Volume 02, §7 --- ▶Watch at 00:32:56   (full transcript)

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Purpose

Poetic justice --- reverse from bottom of front headlock directly into your OWN front headlock.

Entry condition

Two-on-one escape completed. Partner's hands unlocked. You're on elbows, partner on elbows.

Mechanics

Same two-on-one method as before:

1. In front of partner, chin in. You can't just take your thumb and put it in here most of the time --- partner is trying to push your elbow across.
2. Two-on-one method: start by taking your left hand through, pull partner's wrist down. Then take your right hand, put it inside. That's how you end up with the two-on-one.
3. Hang out, keep your elbows back. As Chris goes to make a transition, that's what we're looking for --- the moment hands are unlocked.
4. Pass-off, head to the outside.

Now the snap:

5. He's on his elbows, I'm on my elbows. Nothing stops us from rising up and bringing our head above our partner's head.

6. Release the outside arm (left hand here). Bring it to our partner's head.

7. Hit a cross snap. A cross snap takes him with my left hand into my right armpit here. Take my right shoulder and put it on top of his.

8. Once we get to this position, we can lock up our own front headlock and begin to move our partner's arm across the centerline.

From here, you can make your choices:

• Roll through, tilting partner down onto their back, setting up various strangles.
• Use it as an opportunity to go around behind your partner.

To go behind: bring your head across to the opposite side, place your knee inside as a block, then move around behind your partner --- looking to expose their back, place your feet inside, and start to look to strangle.

Key details

• Don't pull the head into the armpit. When you do a snap-down, you're not trying to pull your partner's head into your armpit. It will never go. Instead: bring your partner's head down below the line of your shoulder, then put your shoulder over the top.
• Once front headlock is locked up, move partner's arm across the centerline.
• The dilemma is now symmetric --- you have the same stay-in-front vs. go-behind choice that your partner had when they were on top.
• To go behind: head across to opposite side, knee block inside, move around behind partner to expose their back.

Common failures

• Trying to pull partner's head into the armpit. The head will never go. Get the head below your shoulder line first, then put the shoulder over the top.
• Not rising up high enough before the snap. Your head must be above partner's head --- otherwise you lack the leverage for the cross snap.
• Forgetting to move partner's arm across centerline after locking up the front headlock. This is what secures the position.

Connections

• From: seated-guard --- To: front-headlock-top
• Principles: inside position
• Skills: grip fighting
• Related: This is one of three major off-ramps from the two-on-one escape, alongside the arm drag series and sitting back to guard.