Training in the outer white belt room really puts things into perspective. I was proud of myself for running a 5K in half an hour two weekends ago. But after just 5 minutes in that room I feel like I’ve run a 10K in a sauna. It’s not a pleasant feeling, and I really need to get my stamina up to par.
Warm-ups today were followed by osoto-gari and hip throws. Yep, back to the ol’ routine. Some guard training followed. My partner today has been getting private lessons and has gotten a lot better since we both started. He can’t take classes as often as me, so now we’re around even in skill. He’s got great control and strength. We were both able to pass one another’s guards a few times. I don’t think either of us landed a submission. I still feel my bottom half-guard game sucks, but I learned a new sweep (more on that later).
Following guard training we practiced the standard, slower armbar from mount. I think I’ve been getting better at this tech. I barely lifted my hips at all throughout the drill, and had the arm really deep when I was ready to apply the joint lock. Stuff is starting to click. With not a lot of time left, we went for the cool-down right after the technique.
My partner, who as I said has been taking private lessons, got us permission to use the third floor to practice some techniques. We rolled lightly for a bit, though it was so hot up there we couldn’t handle it for too long. I managed to (barely) slap on a guillotine choke for our last match. Once we accepted that we couldn’t roll any longer, I told him that I felt my bottom half-guard game was severely lacking. This is when he showed me a sweep option from this position, one that is similar to the scissor sweep.
Make sure you are lying on your side. Post up on an elbow if possible. With your top hand, grab deep inside your partner’s collar on the opposite side. Use this to frame. With your top leg, trap his near leg. Straightening your back, pull your bottom leg out from between his legs. From this point, proceed the same as for the “wide base” variation of the scissor sweep.
Weight after class + extra mat time: 188.0 lbs.