7 Big Lessons We Learned From WNO 24
7 Big Lessons We Learned From WNO 24
Here are seven lessons grappling fans can take away from WNO 24 including evolving takedown & leg lock metas, new ADCC contenders, and more
WNO 24 was one of the best grappling nights of the year and after so much high-level action there are a few important lessons that fans can take away. Some are technical, some are the evolutions of certain grapplers, or the emergence of new talent. Still, all are important as we build to one of the best summers in grappling history.
1. The Inside Ashi Is A Dominant Finishing Position
The leg entanglement that Gordon used to finish Josh Saunders is quickly becoming one of the best places to get the submission for leg lockers. After initially trying to enter the legs, Gordon ended up coming up on top, working for camping positions to drain out energy from Saunders, then re-entered the legs. That's where things get interesting. Initially, Gordon entered a cross ashi/saddle position where he could attack the inside heel hook but instead he chose to bring the foot across for the outside heel hook - while keeping his leg position.
This position with the feet locked the inside but the foot on the outside is known as the 'inside ashi' - a reflection of foot placement. If the feet are on the outside while going for the outside heel hook, it's an outside ashi. If they are inside, it's an inside ashi. This is also sometimes called a diagonal ashi or a leg knot. We saw the same strategy when Gordon tapped out Nick Rodriguez within two minutes in the ADCC World finals in 2022.
This inside ashi is really valuable because it hides your feet from their counter attacks and makes you harder to pressure into because your shins are wedging against their body. Gordon and his team are notorious for chasing asymmetrical leg positions and considering the safety and finishing potential we have seen from this entanglement it's no surprise to see it becoming more common in their repertoire.
2. All Loose Passers Should Be Studying The Hokage
Fabricio Andrey may not have won his match at WNO 24 but he still showed why he is one of the most fan-friendly athletes in the game with his show of exciting grappling with Pato (in one of the best matches so far in 2024). What especially stood out was his guard passing skill and anyone who wants to see a master of loose passing should be looking at what Fabricio is doing. Keep in mind that Pato has been on an incredible run in both gi and no-gi and rarely if ever gets his guard passed (tho he still was able to come back and defend his title).
Fabricio was able to pass Pato's guard early on multiple occasions, using floating kimuras and torreando work to move around the guard rather than trying to directly attack it with knee slides or half guard pressure. By never letting them spend time gripping or controlling his lower body, he is able to create consistent chains of passing attacks that eventually break through.
When you watch what he does to pass, Fabricio is combining different tactics like torreandos, leg pins, wrist pins, float passing, submission attacks, high steps, and more to work from left to right. All of these are used to help clear legs, create angles, and then pressure in against the guard. Once you respond to that pressure, Fabricio is moving to the far side where you are vulnerable.
With his mastery of this style, Fabricio is able to pass any guard in his weight class and continues to be a top athlete at 145lbs. With ADCC less than two months away, the Hokage will look to be a huge presence in the -66kg bracket.
3. Tainan Has Developed A Complete No-Gi Game - And A Taste For Leg Locking
Coming in to WNO 24 there were still a lot of questions about Tainan's no-gi game after only two matches but now we have a lot of answers after his fifteen minutes with Jay Rod. The conclusion? The two-time black belt world champion has made a full transition to no-gi -and even shows a real skill for leg locking.
Once the match started, Tainan was blast doubled in the first few moments by a very aggressive Jay - and then had to rely on his guard for a majority of the match which can be one of the hardest points to transition from the gi. Over time he was able to still show a lot of skill using the K guard/matrix, being very active with his reguarding (which we don't see as much of in the gi), and solving a lot of no-gi specific situations - enough to beat a top-10 middleweight in his style of match.
Tainan was really aggressive about wanting the K guard, using that to enter into outside heel hook attempts and back take attempts multiple times. It was one of these heel hooks that let him wrestle his way on top and eventually to the back - a very decisive sequence in the bout. Showing the skill to leg lock, wrestle up, and transition to the back all in sequence is what you'd expect out of a very experienced no-gi player.
We also saw an increased use of the front headlock, with an early guillotine attempt getting some real respect from Jay and then later a front headlock go behind turning into another back take for Tainan. Gui Mendes and Tainan have both mentioned since how it was part of their strategy to use the front headlock often and it worked out for them.
Since we are seeing Tainan facing world class opposition and winning using no-gi specific skills - ones he doesn't even use much in the gi - I think it is fair to say he has made the transition and is now looking ready for serious challenges.
4. The Inside Trip Counter Is An Example Of An Evolving Meta
Over the last few years there's been a big evolution in the standing position among high level no-gi competitors that hasn't been talked about as much as the leg locking evolution. The stance has become more upright, foot sweeps have become more popular, and overall the style has become much more like no-gi judo.
At WNO 24, we saw a great example of this between Jozef Chen and Elijah Dorsey when Chen was able to launch into an inside trip/ouchi gari early against Dorsey. This really is a great example because it shows the versatility of the overhook in this new style. This new upright stance lends itself well to judo-like throws that maybe aren't as common in wrestling and the most secure upper body grip you can get for those throws will likely be the overhook.
5. The Dima Effect Is Real
B-Team had a great night at WNO 24, winning 5 of 6 matches with the only loss being a competitive match between JayRod and Tainan. For a team that is famous for getting second place, this was a really impressive performance that can at least be credited in part to one man; the new B-Team coach Dima.
The European grappling coach has been brought in by the team to help oversee their grappling camps this summer - and potentially beyond. He offers a really valuable service to the team by offering objective feedback and keeping the team accountable.
Until now, it's been athlete-run and that can be hard when everyone has their own careers to focus on. Now, there's one central figure who is there to guide and advise in a way that the team appears to be responding to. It remains to be seen how the team does at ADCC and beyond, but with a full-time coach B-Team is appearing to level up.
6. Declain Moody: ADCC Darkhorse Contender?
Declan Moody isn't a well-known name yet in grappling but his performance at WNO 24 against Felipe Costa opened a lot of eyes. The ADCC Oceanic & Asian Trials winner was dominant from the top position, passing multiple times and securing the rear mount before getting the tap to a rear naked.
After the match, Declan said "there's no guard in the world I don't think I can pass" and after that kind of match it's easy to see why. While there are still some very difficult matchups in the way at the Worlds, Declan showed the skill needed to put together a darkhorse run in T-Mobile - especially if he can start getting to top position.
7. Body Triangle Escapes - What To Do With Your Hands?
This is another interesting battle we saw in Tainan vs Jay - JayRod's body triangle escaping. When someone is on your back, you're told to commit your hands to defending the choke and rarely (if ever) use your hands to clear a hook. In this fifteen minute fight we saw an example to the opposite, and with good reason - the body triangle.
Against a good body triangle applied by a knowledgeable grappler, trying to escape using only lower body pummeling is going to be nearly impossible. If you watch Jay's escaping, he is quick to use hands to peel and unlatch the body triangle, and then moves back to defending the choke with the confidence the position has deteriorated.
The next time you are stuck in a body triangle and can't get out, remember you can't treat it like traditional back control - time to get your hands dirty.
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