Teaching tachi-waza according to grips

For newaza, I believe the best way for players to learn is to teach them according to scenarios. However, for tachi-waza, the best way is according to grips (which sometimes can be a function of scenarios too).

Basically a player needs to decide what kind of gripper he is going to be. Is he a high-grips guy? Is he a traditional sleeve-lapel guy? Is he an unorthodox gripping guy? There are many gripping styles to consider and based on the gripping style adopted, we could then fashion a "family of techniques" centred around it.

That way tori would have not only one core throw but several related throws in his repertoire. He should also work on combinations that can be done based on the grip and the group of related throws.

The basic idea is to allow tori to have a range of techniques without having to change his grips or his stance.

Teaching newaza according to scenarios

Recently, I started teaching the players how to do techniques not according to classifications of techniques (e.g. pins, strangles, armlocks, sankaku) but rather according to scenarios.

For example, the classic scenario is uke being in a turtle position and tori riding on top of uke's back. From this classic situation, which is very common, what can you do? Answer: Many, many things.

From this position, you could subject uke to osaekomi rolls, strangles, armlocks and even sankakus. It's by far the most versatile position for tori to be in.

The other two key positions to drill are when both tori and uke are in turtle position facing each other head-to-head and when tori is in a guard position.

From each position, I would teach my players different options that they have at their disposal.