Thumb-post drag (Americana drag)

Source: Volume 02, §8.1 --- ▶Watch at 00:37:33   (full transcript)

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Purpose

First of two methods for escaping front headlock when partner's hands absolutely won't separate. Fights the grip at the SHOULDER, not the hands.

Entry condition

Front headlock bottom. Can't walk, can't get two-on-one, partner's grip is locked tight.

Mechanics

Setup: We're underneath front headlock. Earlier, we wanted to get our hands inside, grip and wait around --- and we just feel it's not working, can't walk, partner's snapping us and moving, can't cut the corner.

1. Take your outside arm --- your left hand here (mirror on the other side).
2. After establishing inside-thumb position, take your left hand and thumb-post on partner's tricep. This brings his elbow down just a bit.
   • He wants his elbow back against my neck. Pull it down just a bit.
3. Take your right elbow --- even if he's going to extend it, pull it back to your knee (the elbow cut from Vol. 01).
4. Step with your left leg. Already, it's difficult for Chris to keep that grip.
5. Take your head to the inside position.

As we get this grip, the leverage on his shoulder is considerable. It gets worse when we pull our right elbow back. Now it starts to feel kind of like a key lock --- like an Americana --- and it gives us space to circle our head to the outside.

6. From here, take your right hand, finish the drag, put your chest on partner's back.
7. Two hands behind, partner between your knees.

Sequence emphasized:

1. Underneath partner. Remember: they want extension, we want retraction.
2. Pull the elbow back.
3. Take your hand on the outside --- don't just push partner's bicep into your neck. Pull down. His elbow moves from above my jaw to below. This is what we're looking for.
4. Move: take your right knee toward your left knee, then take your left leg and step it up.
5. As Chris goes to keep his grip, he finds it very difficult as we suck that elbow back.
6. From here, move to an arm-drag grip, pull partner past, move around behind, look to tilt them down, expose their back, go into your attacks.

When it doesn't open: Pulling partner's arm down with your left and stabilizing with your right opens their strong grip the way an Americana does --- it becomes uncomfortable. But you'll find people sometimes so strong that they won't open the grip. When that happens, take a 10-finger grip to simulate this:

• You're still going to circle.
• Partner's hands may not open. That's fine.
• Same thing: your head comes to the outside, even with locked hands.
• Because the angle changes, your head will pass through to the outside.

Key details

• Outside hand thumb-posts on partner's tricep --- pulls elbow down below jaw. Inside elbow cuts back to knee. Leverage on shoulder feels like Americana / key lock.
• Step with outside leg --- already difficult for partner to keep grip. Head circles to outside.
• Finish drag, chest on partner's back.
• If grip still won't open: 10-finger grip, same circle --- the ANGLE changes, head passes through anyway.
• This is a "quasi" arm drag that ends in a true arm drag. It functions a lot like an Americana / key lock.

Common failures

• Pushing partner's bicep into your own neck instead of pulling DOWN on the tricep. The detail matters: pull down so the elbow moves from above your jaw to below.
• Extending your elbow instead of retracting it. The technique requires the elbow cut --- pull elbow back to knee. Extension defeats the Americana-like leverage.
• Trying to separate the hands directly. This technique fights the grip at the shoulder, not at the hands. If you're digging at their locked fingers, you're doing the wrong move.

Connections

• From: front headlock (bottom) --- To: back-control
• Principles: inside position, retract
• Skills: grip fighting, elbow cut
• Escalation: when this doesn't work because the grip is too robust, escalate to the sucker drag.