Please drop any questions regarding John’s systems below (or other Jiu Jitsu technique questions) and I will do my best to break them down from the DDS perspective! Be as specific as you want.
DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a member of the DDS, I am just familiar with many elements of the DDS approach and have studied John’s systems extensively. It is the cornerstone of much of my game.
Also I wanted to add, chances are good I will know the answer to your questions right away, but on the off chance that I don’t, I will research the answer for you and write out a good explanation to answer your question.
I figured I’d expand the conversation we started in the Bullshido Discord (oh shit there is a discord?!, fuck yeah there is).
So obviously the DDS system is known for their leg entanglement as well as their hybridized Japanese make it sound cooler names. So I tend to focus my leg entanglement game on a Hall style 50/50, Saddle position combined with a Bodycomb style Reaping game. However, Danaher like to focus on the Outside Ashi as a finishing position.
Now, if we playing a seated 1LX style game and my opponent isn’t too comfortable there and does a more old school turn out, I can block that with Outside Ashi and finish, same with people that lazily step over from 50/50. However, when I initiate that transition against experienced leg locker, I usually end up in Leg Drag.
Now I can bring the shin back across or do the Cummings Style feet on the hips and leg press, however, it doesn’t really negate ending in that poor position. I haven’t tried to much of Cumming’s shot gun grip on the calf, so that might be what I am missing to prevent getting smashed, now at the moment I usually just pass the leg back over to 50/50.
I like to hear your thoughts from a DDS System POV.
I was thinking about this question for a while because I haven’t experienced the same issue as you have, and when I ran through my head how I do the transition I realized the issue. You NEED to have the heel BEFORE moving to outside ashi. You can’t do like other positions (1LX,50/50) where you get position before getting the heel. The heel control is really important here from the start.
I hope that helps!
Does DDS play with the Aoki (Z) lock at all? It something I been working during quarantine.
Some, but not as a primary attack. John’s opinion is that it’s a useful counter lock against various forms of ashi garami. Some members of the squad use it infrequently, but it’s not something to focus on as a primary attack, more as a counter attack/counter lock. I don’t use it very often myself. The squad typically focuses on the Heelhook from ashi configurations with the conventional toehold or kneebar as a backup/secondary attack to the legs. In IBJJF rules John has some really cool Achilles lock variations, but I’m not sure how well I’d explain the differences without video.