Brutal. That’s how I’d describe the chokes we learned in today’s no-gi class. I decided last week that I’d take today’s no-gi class, and fortunately I was able to follow through. Class was a great workout, and I had some time to hang out afterwards which allowed me to drill some stuff and do some gi training too.
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Category Archives: Guard
Love Saturday Morning Classes
Saturday, 7/30:
Title says it all. These classes leave me refreshed, ready to take on the day. I had an excellent partner whom I’ve seen in class but have not really rolled with before, and we both seriously tested one another’s limits. A testament to this is the fact that by the time class was 45 minutes in we both felt ready to bring up the previous night’s dinner. Always a good sign, right?
Starting the Week Off Right
Monday, 7/25:
We went over some basics in class today. Following our usual warm-ups, came osoto-gari and double-leg takedown drills. Then after some guard training we worked on submissions from guard: the simple collar choke and the armbar.
Submissions landed during training: 2 leg triangles, one collar choke from guard.
Filed under Chokes, Gi, Guard, Joint locks, Log
11-on-1
Thursday, 7/21:
Thursday’s class was unique insofar as my previous experiences at RGA go. Following warm-ups and takedowns our brown belt instructor had all 11 white belts in the class line up along the wall. He then explained to us the activity we’d be partaking in for most of the class. One by one, each white belt was to get in his guard and attempt to pass, as he tried to sweep or submit. We spent the next 20-30 minutes doing this, each white belt going once.
Learning to Fly (And Not in a Good Way)
Monday, 6/11:
For class today we practiced the full motion of the hip-throw. This is actually practice for both students: The one performing the technique, naturally, gets to practice the full motion. The one being thrown gets the chance to get acclimated with falling. I can safely say it’s going to take me a few dozen more lessons of this sort before I can say I’m getting “acclimated” to falling.
For the day’s technique we practiced standing up to open the guard via one of the techniques I’ve mentioned in previous posts (at least, I think I have). Then, step back while gripping the gi pants at your opponent’s ankles. Pulling the legs to one side, step out to the other. Keep your grips as you bring your near leg towards your opponent’s hip, placing your knee on top of it. The other leg stays posted out to keep the pressure on. Bring your arm around and under your partner’s head to control the upper body, then bring both your knees down to the ground to assume the side control.
Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire
So I’ve complained before that training in the outer small mat room is akin to running a 10k in a sauna. Well, if I thought that was hard, last night’s instructor had something worse in store for the white belt class. Continue reading
Wrapping Up the Week
A change of pace to finish up the week — nice. Class started with the usual warm-ups, yes. Following this we drilled single-leg takedowns. The first one was the transition into the double-leg: start with the single-leg, then step back to force your opponent off-balance. As she jumps towards you, step forward, bend at the knees (keeping her first leg held between them), and extend both hands to grab the far knee and drive forward for the takedown.
The second takedown was new to me. After getting the single leg trapped between yours, swing your inside leg out. Your inside arm comes around to underhook the leg from the outside, near the ankle. Lift the leg up high, as the outside arm underhooks your opponent’s near arm, clasps over the top of the shoulder, and pulls down. This circular motion should bring your opponent down. If not, use your outside leg as a stop behind the planted heel or your inside leg to sweep to help you get your opponent down.