Any time a training partner points out to me that I had an opportunity to sink in a collar choke, I immediately explain that I avoid them like the plague. It’s true – I often won’t go near collar chokes, as I find I have a very difficult time finishing them. That being said, this next technique is one of my favorite lapel chokes. That’s not to say I’m good at it, ’cause I’m not. I simply like setting this one up, even if I can’t finish it. It’s one of those moves where you seem to be giving up control and putting yourself in a bad spot, but if done correctly you will be safe the whole time.
Monthly Archives: August 2012
Got the Blues. In a Good Way.
It’s finally mine. The blue belt, the symbol indicating that I know just a tad more than nothing about this art that has verily taken over my life. Though my official training has been somewhere in the realm of a year and a half, I’ve been waiting years to achieve this. Now that it’s out of the way I can forget about milestones, titles, and symbols for a while and concentrate on just improving my skills. This belt is going to see me through arguably the most important stage in my BJJ career, and it’s not going anywhere for a while.
Filed under Musings, Pictures, Promotions
Side-Control Saturday: Sneaky Set-Ups
After the guard, top side-control is easily my favorite position. There are lots of options for attacks and setups. The array of possibilities is literally laid out in front of me, as my opponent is prone on the mat. From a transitional perspective, I can still move to other versions of side control (kuzure kesa-gatame, knee-on-belly, etc.), spin to the other side, or climb to mount.
It’s no surprise, then, that classes teaching offensive side control are among my favorites. Saturday’s no-gi class was such a session.
Filed under Chokes, Joint locks, Log, No-Gi, Side control