Tips, tips, and of course more tips!

1. Defending an ankle lock --> you can:

a) kick out and kick hard, loosening the grip from your opponent OR
b) roll into a standing position so that you are bearing weight on the foot under attack OR
c) do a combo, first apply method a) followed by method b) (I found this most effective and you then have mount or side control *hopefully*)

2. Acing that guillotine:

The trick is to get that wrist in deep and then straightening out your body (this will put your opponent's neck in an awkward position). If you find your opponent is great at defending, then raise the elbow of your action arm (the arm applying the choke) over your opponent's shoulder and rest it there. AND SECURE THE CHOKE!

3. Closing in on that triangle (on a stubborn SOB):

First, find that sweet angle, almost at 90^o and squeeze (press and clamp) tight. If you are able to finish the triangle off then GREAT! Else, readjust your position to align your body with your opponent, squeeze tight *super tight* and then bridge your hips upwards while pulling his head downwards to eliminate even more space between your legs. If you encounter a stubborn SOB and there is still no tap, DON'T GIVE UP! Scoot your butt away from your opponent while maintaining your triangle to add an awkward factor to his spine. That should do the trick!

4. The americana-straight-kimura armlock combo:

When one doesn't work, straighten out the arm for a straight armlock and WORK what your opponent gives you!!

(...to be cont'd...)