starting from knees

[kenpo123]

when grappling we offen start on our knees i have lots of trouble getting mount or side control always ending up on my back.. any suggestions for proper leverage..?

[Tony Dismukes]

Have you learned any takedowns yet? A lot of your regular takedowns from a standing position can be applied (with some modifications) to a kneeling posture.

I usually work from a neck/high-collar and sleeve grip. Most strong guys will try to push straight forward and bull you over. In that case, if I have a collar grip with my left hand, I'll often move in a circle with my right side moving backwards and to the outside, redirecting my opponents force so he can't push me over. If my opponent tries to switch to a headlock, I can duck my head down and take his back.

If my opponent is less aggressve, I might pull him down and towards his right forward corner with my left hand. When he resists and pulls back, I switch directions and check his left knee with my right hand while driving him to his left with my left collar grip. This typically will flop him over onto his back.

If all else fails, you can just pull guard and then sweep him.

Hope this helps. It's kind of hard to describe some of this without pictures.

[kenpo123]

NONO you described it very well, no I havent learned any take downs yet its only been my 2nd lesson and i have no exp in bjj at all just extinct, so far so good, i will try the teq you spoke of .. cause he did basicly bull me over and over.. again on to my back.

[khujo78]

judo also works well in that position. i know very little judo, but the takedowns we learned from that and wrestling work well for bjj. also remember that alot of the bjj techniques will be taught to be used while on your back...so you'll be spending alot of time there, lol. i think it just comes down to getting used to the movements, because the mobility is alot different from stand up.

[Matthew Jones]

Pay attention to what the senior guys do to you, and try to emulate. Also, the more you get put on your back the better you will become at avoiding that.

Be patient!

[Mekugi]

Maybe you should make sure you are starting from the right position?

This is probably not very helpful, but try keeping a "live" or "flexed" foot. It keeps you from being toppled easily from the kneeling position. This means, instead of putting all the weight on the tops of your feet (foot), your weight is kept on the balls of the feet (foot). Take a look at the two pictures I posted, maybe this can help?

[rgoad]

It sounds like you are being caught as he rushes you and can't evade. The flexed foot position Russ recommends is pretty important. It allows you to move sideways and to turn or pivot. You can raise or lower your body more easily, too, which allows you to shift the other guy's weight and off balance him.

It also adds lots of forward speed and spring to your rearward movement, although you should be side stepping. If he rushes in, pull him to your chest, then get your hips out from under the opponent. If he pulls you to him, rush toward him but off to one side and do the same pull to the chest. You should be able to go side mount from there.