Check out weekly technique breakdowns by 3x NCAA champion Jason Nolf, presented by Athletes Ocean.
Aden Valencia's 3 Snap Downs to the Corner | Technique Tuesday
Oct 20, 2026
In this week's Technique Tuesday, 2026 national champion Aden Valencia of Stanford breaks down three snap downs that get his opponent to his hands and open the corner, all built on one idea: don't snap him straight down, make him react and snap him sideways.
Valencia starts with a fake to a snap for when his opponent is already reacting to the first snap down. Off the inside tie he lets go of the post, steps to the foot and touches the leg, shifting his head from the collarbone to under the shoulder so the shot looks real, then reaches to the back of the hairline and pulls him down as he steps back. Next is the snap he learned from watching Ono, made for the opponent who thinks his block keeps him safe: forehead to forehead for space, a base wider than his shoulders, and a short side step, then his ear stays glued to his bicep to knock the hand off as his elbow drives to the opposite knee and he tilts the snap sideways toward the corner. He closes against the thumb block, stepping offset of the body, sliding all the way down to the wrist instead of snapping from the elbow, and tilting his shoulder to loosen the grip before he swings to the head. Once his opponent plants, Valencia either chases that corner or switches sides and goes the other way.
⚡ Watch the full instructional now: https://app.athletesocean.com/product/aden-valencia-corner
