I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong...

[Kintanon]

OK, I keep getting subbed with the same move by one of the guys in my gym and I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong and he won't tell me, so any help would be nice.
Primarily this happens when he's in my half guard and I try to dive down and get a leg, he moves around me like he's trying to pass my half guard then the next thing I know I'm getting neck cranked like a bitch. He's not guillotining me, and I don't THINK it's a canopener, but I can't tell. I'd like to figure out a way to stop this from happening. The neck crank is pushing my head forward and that's about all of the info I ever manage to get before I tap and he lets go.
Even know wtf he is doing and seeing a vid of it would be great if anyone has any idea.

[Sith_Lord]

What are you trying to achieve by just grabbing his leg from your half guard? By reaching for that leg (from what it seems), you may be leaving yourself open to chokes due to you compromising your posture. It would help to know what you wanna do from that position.

[Kintanon]

Um, specifically I've gotten up on my hip and I'm going for the oldschool sweep most of the time. Barring that I'm just trying to avoid getting flattened out. This guy is one of the pros from the school, so he shuts down my normal half guard game with ease. It's to the point where I'm trying damn near anything to improve my position.

[Kintanon]

PizDoff: Does that move feel like a neck crank? I'm not getting choked by whatever he's doing... The arm position there looks right for the way it feels like he's grabbing me.

[GoldenJonas]

You really have to ask your instructor about it. It is honestly impossible to see what you are talking about over the internetz.

If you have his right leg in your half guard......

1. Are you securing the underhook on his right arm before balling down for the sweep and moving for his left leg?
2. Are you moving for his left leg?
3. Are you balling down enough to tuck your head into his crotch or are you leaving your neck out for the crank?

Ask your coach to watch you and advise. Your training partner is a GIANT DOUCHEBAG for not working with you.

[Kintanon]

I've rolled with the guy twice, and he's subbed me with this move probably 9 times. If one of the instructors or anyone else even is available next time I roll with them I'll see if I can get them to explain it to me. I think PizDoff may be right about what he's getting me with though...

[Das Moose]

He won't tell you? What the fuck?

[GoldenJonas]

I've rolled with the guy twice, and he's subbed me with this move probably 9 times. If one of the instructors or anyone else even is available next time I roll with them I'll see if I can get them to explain it to me. I think PizDoff may be right about what he's getting me with though...

If the guy gets the whizzer on your underhook and stops you from balling down for the sweep then he is going for the brabo and you need to control his whizzer wrist and not go for the far leg. By reaching for the far leg to go for the sweep you are actually feed the brabo making it easier for him to figure four. Stronger guys can turn this into a nasty neck crank even if you have decent position in balled down half guard and you are stopping the guy from sprawling out to get the tight brabo.

The way I have handled the brabo sweep counter is to get wrist control and come out to my knees and spaghetti arm to counter the whizzer (can be difficult against stronger guys) OR maintain the wrist grip killing that side and try to get the leverage to sweep over to that side.

[Blue Negation]

There are neck cranks that aren't Brabo related too from that position. I don't know them well enough to try to explain them online but they're there.

[ViciousFlamingo]

I've rolled with the guy twice, and he's subbed me with this move probably 9 times. If one of the instructors or anyone else even is available next time I roll with them I'll see if I can get them to explain it to me.

The title of this thread is probably what you should be saying to the guy who subbed you, if you haven't already. Have you tried waiting until the end of your roll, turning to the guy, and asking him, "How did you sub me with X attack from Y position, and how do I defend against it next time?"

[Kintanon]

Flamingo: Yeah, I've asked him three times to show me what I'm doing wrong or at least tell me what he's subbing me with. He just grins at me and shrugs.

[jnp]

As previously mentioned, your instructor is most qualified to answer your question.

In the meantime, based on your response to Pizdoff's clip, can we assume that he's trapping both your neck and your arm? Is he off to the your side when he does this?

Most likely Golden Jonas already gave you the advice you need. That being don't go for the old school sweep, or even try to get closer to his his legs, while in half-guard if he has the whizzer.

[Kintanon]

Yeah, my next issue becomes, WTF do I do with him from my halfguard now? lol. That's a whole 'nother set of problems though. The guy outclasses me to a degree which is slightly annoying since he keeps subbing me with the same move. The other guys that dominate me that badly are kind enough to switch it up and sub me with different things, or point out what I should be doing instead of handing them submissions openings.

[ViciousFlamingo]

Flamingo: Yeah, I've asked him three times to show me what I'm doing wrong or at least tell me what he's subbing me with. He just grins at me and shrugs.

He's a dick then. I remember reading a good article about why training partners should always reveal how they do certain moves to their partners. It keeps people from stagnating in this kind of situation. After reading that, I've made myself not keep any secret moves. Once I teach a counter to my sub, I can start working on my recounter, y'know? Although obviously you're not the one who needs to be told this.

Go find somebody who's as good and ask this guy, definitely your instructor if you can.

Yeah, my next issue becomes, WTF do I do with him from my halfguard now? lol. That's a whole 'nother set of problems though. The guy outclasses me to a degree which is slightly annoying since he keeps subbing me with the same move. The other guys that dominate me that badly are kind enough to switch it up and sub me with different things, or point out what I should be doing instead of handing them submissions openings.

One thing to keep in mind: I find that a lot of my learning from rolling comes after we're done, when my partner goes over what I need to improve on and how to improve it. If the guy's that good and you keep getting owned by the same move, how much is that really helping you? You might consider just not rolling with him until you figure out how to counter that sub, if that's at all possible without creating drama. Your goal is to learn in training, not to beat one guy.

[M1K3]

You might consider just not rolling with him until you figure out how to counter that sub, if that's at all possible without creating drama. Your goal is to learn in training, not to beat one guy.

I agree here with VF. Your are there to learn and improve your game, not to stroke his ego. If he doesn't want to explain in the future simply say, "Dude, your too good for me, I need to work more at my own level" and find someone else. The counter to that move will come in time.