http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cNvpIamQOE

Opinions?

Although it may seem gimmicky, i actually think this could be a great training tool to work on keeping constant pressure on an opponent and also working on nice, fluid movements. Could be used by beginners such as myself if nobody else?

If anyone's gonna flame it could you at least try it first and explain why it sucks!

GITMO here we come?

It looks like it would be of practical value. I might give it a try with my swiss ball once I move into my new place.

omg... i'm going to try this. i really do need to work on keeping pressure down and this looks like an excellent exercise.

There was an article (in grapplearts.com I believe) where somebody (can't remember who) explains several solo drills. One of them involved using a basketball for drilling pins. The idea was to pin the basketball, say using kesa, and switch back and forth from left to right without releaving any pressure applied on the basketball.

I hope I can find the link to that article in my bookmarks. Right now, I can't find it for the life of me.

I have done this a lot. Very good. It will also help your guard passing

I never saw him use his feet, great way to learn to bjj surf.

How do you mean "never saw him use his feet"?

I think its a great way to introduce the movement concepts to someone who is having a hard time picking them up.

30 min? Seems a bit excessive to me.

On a tennis ball? I suppose if you wrestle tennis ball sized opponents.

Yeah, the tennis ball thing was a little bit wacky. A basketball or a small stability ball should be fine.

Just got back from class and we actually did a similar drill where the guy on the bottom starts in turtle and rolls in various directions and you just have to keep your hips stuck to his and not get caught in guard/half guard etc.

Looked almost exactly like the clip except for the fact that you only use your hips to apply the pressure.

I'm gonna start using the ball if i can find some space to do it!

I've done this sort of thing, although its been quite a while. It is a good drill for balance, but I'd say this is a case of finding something useful, and then overdoing it...

I'd also say that one of the key things is to treat the ball like a person when you pin it, if your weight is high and centered over them its good balance training, but a person would roll you.

He's very good at staying attached from what I remember, although it's been quite awhile since I rolled with him. If he says they helped make his game into what it is, I'd say it's worth at least trying.

I think once you have it, it is important to remember the "feel" wehn you are rolling with someone.

I've done this sort of thing, although its been quite a while. It is a good drill for balance, but I'd say this is a case of finding something useful, and then overdoing it...

I'd also say that one of the key things is to treat the ball like a person when you pin it, if your weight is high and centered over them its good balance training, but a person would roll you.Exactly. The web article on baskeball drills was centered about the idea of putting, keeping and pushing your entire weight on the ball while doing the pins and while transitioning from pin to pin. Left side kesa to four quater (or knee on belly) then sprawl (while still squashing the ball) back to quarter/knee on belly to right side kesa to north-south and so on and so on.

You go around the ball as fast as possible (without being sloppy), from one pin to another. It's a good abs/core/hip workout btw. If I could only find the link to the article, I know it was in grapplearts back in 2005, but it's not there anymore :(

Ok, I found some of the basketball drills, not in grapplearts, but on stickgrappler:

http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/ug/basketball.html

The often-mentioned famous basketball drill for solo grappling training
Subject: basketball drill
From: Kirik
Date: 30-Jul-99 | 02:23 PM

Subject: Awesome drill for KIRIK
From: earthworm
Date: 13-Oct-98 | 07:56 PM

Learned this from Rigan Machado.Take a basketball and place it on the floor.Put your chest on it and roll forward slightly keeping your knees and arms from touching the ground.Press hard into the ball and spin on it.Next,switch from side to side for scarf hold .Again,it is important not to touch the ground with knees or arms.This is even HARDER than a moving opponent.When you get real good you can even grab the ball and pop up to knee mount(knee on the rolling ball),throw a couple punches and drive your chest down HARD back into the ball.You have to stay up on the balls of your feet constantly driving your weight down into the ball.You can also use a big ball to lay on and practice popping your hips forward(to simulate passing the guard)This is one of Rigans secrets guys.He doesnt just cross chest a guy.He crushes them.Ive tapped guys out by doing switches this way.it knocks the wind out of you



http://stickgrappler.tripod.com/ug/basketball2.html

Subject: RE: INFO
From: m.g
Date: 31-Oct-00 | 03:19 PM

The basketball drill is an excellent drill to develop holddowns. It is said that Rigan Machado uses this drill alot. However I got this drill from an old Judo book call "the secrets of Judo". This book is essential a physics book which uses Judo as a way to explain Physics (and vice versa).

Basically what you do is start from the hindu pushup position (also call the drive bomber push up) and have the basketball just in front of your chest. Your going to thrust your chest forward like your doing the hindu pushup letting your chest roll on the basketball.

I would start with my hands forward at first, later on you can place them behind your back as you do the movement.

The another drill you can do is lay on top of the ball with both legs behind you. You're going to then sit out with on leg so that you in a "kesa gatame" position. From here you bring the leg back to the center and sitout with the other leg so that you in the "kesa gatame" position in the other direction.

To add spice to this when you sit out to the "Kesa" position walk one leg over the other then move into a sitout, then walk the leg over the other again. What your doing is move in a circle continously walking over the top of one leg and then moving into a sitout with the other. It simulate the leg action of the clock choke or Koshi Jime.

You can also just stay in the sitout position and circle around the ball simulating continous holding with "kesa gatame". The same can be done with the Upper hold (north/south). You just circle around the ball with continous pressure with you leg behind you as if you're in the north/south position. You can put you hands behind your back when you do this (warning putting you hands behind your back is hell on you so don't do that so to long).

You can also do it for knee-on-the stomach and even triangle chokes.

I being using the basketball drills for about 4 years. And it works. It helps you develop sensitivty, and how to spread your body weight over an object. It doesn't take much time and energy to do. There are other drills I use the basketball to develop hold transitions but thats another post.




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Subject: RE: INFO
From: bounce
Date: 31-Oct-00 | 03:47 PM

Basketball Newaza Movement Development Drill

Drill Objective

The primary objective of this training drill is to develop kinesthetic awareness through contact with a moving body. The secondary objective of this drill is to improve aerobic capacity.

Equipment Needed

Fully inflated basketball for each player.

T-shirt or sweatshirt(remove your Gi jacket)

Drill Performance

You may not use your hands to keep balance. Begin by lying on the basketball with your chest. Move around the ball to both right and left. As you move around the ball roll yourself over to rest your back on the basketball. Roll on the ball from your shoulders to your hips on all four sides of your body. Spin 360 degrees around the ball on all four sides of your body. Duration: Gradually increase the drill to match the expected duration of up-coming matches.

This is from the Training Drills address that M Tripp gave a while back.

I don't want to give credit/blame where it's not due, but I think it was Aesopian who said to try putting the basketball on a scale and see how much weight you're putting through the ball, then fiddle around to see what you can do to increase it while maintaining position, then while moving. I've been out of comission from grappling for almost a year now, but I feel like it was helpful when I did it.