Category Archives: Sweeps

Ride Into Obsession

“Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.” That’s one of my favorite sayings. Most things can be good in moderation. Excessive overuse, however, will turn even something good for you into something bad. For the most part I try to take wisdom from this adage when it comes to things I like doing.

That being said, I’m clearly addicted to BJJ in a bad way, and it can’t be stopped. On or off the mat, I’m constantly thinking about it. Looking up ways to tweak my techniques, replaying the previous night’s class(es) and sparring sessions in my mind, thinking of what I want to work on and what I can or should try next class. I even obsess over things that aren’t directly about rolling, like when I’m going to workout to improve my pathetic excuse for cardio, or if I am finally going to start taking private lessons, or when I should compete, or how I’m going to manage to make it to at least 3 classes a week when I’m so busy with three jobs. See? Obsessing.

But enough about that. On to interesting stuff (i.e., techniques):

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Filed under Half-guard, Log, Musings, Sweeps, X-guard

It’s Damn Good to Be Back

Monday, 8/15:

There’s something to be said for taking a two-week break from the mats, as much as I hated doing it. You come back with lots of energy and a renewed drive to push yourself all the way. Such was the case tonight, when I took my first serious BJJ class in two weeks, coming off an arm injury. I’m still not entirely sure what caused it, but somehow I managed to sprain a muscle in the forearm of my right arm. It’s not completely healed as of yet, but I just could not stay away from the mat any longer. There’s jiu-jitsu to be learned! And I dare say I made my first class back in the gym count.

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Filed under Escapes, Gi, Guard, Log, Sweeps

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 →

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Filed under Gi, Guard, Joint locks, Log, Media, Pictures, Sweeps

Off the Face of the Planet

Wow. Where’d the week go? I was so busy this past week, I didn’t even realize I hadn’t been writing here until Thursday night. I made it to class on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. Let’s see what I can still recall. I’m just going to throw my bits of memory out there, I have no idea what happened on what day.

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Filed under Drills, Escapes, Gi, Guard, Log, Musings, Sweeps

Basic Sweep From Spider Guard

Wednesday, 6/22:

Class began with warm-ups and takedowns, the usual. Osoto-gari, double-leg. We did some guard-specific training afterward.

Technique for the day was a spider guard sweep. With your opponent standing, and you controlling the cuffs of both sleeves, place one foot on a hip, and the other on the opposite bicep. Next, transfer your hand that’s on the same side as the foot on the bicep to the other cuff. The hand originally on that cuff comes down and cups the back of the same-side heel. The foot on the bicep moves down to behind the same side knee, hooking it. Next, hold the heel, back of the knee, and arm in place as your foot on the hip pushes out. As your opponent falls back, use his momentum and his arm to pull yourself up, tucking the foot on the hip underneath you so you don’t end up in half-guard. You should have one knee up and one down, inside your partner’s open guard.

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Filed under Gi, Log, Spider guard, Sweeps

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.

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Filed under Back/Turtle, Escapes, Gi, Guard, Log, Sweeps, Takedowns

The Details Matter

This time I didn’t get to put up two posts on time, so here’s Tuesday, May 31st‘s post:

Today’s instructor went over the finer details of the scissor sweep with us. After warm-ups and takedown drills he had everyone that knew the sweep demonstrate it. He then went over our mistakes, tweaking a grip, pointing out the flaw in a foot position. Continue reading →

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Filed under Gi, Guard, Log, Sweeps

Monday: Back To School

Amazing, how much I could miss doing this after just a week and a half away. At 3:37PM I got the OK from the doctor to hit the mats again. Best news I’d heard all day. Maybe all week. Continue reading →

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Filed under Gi, Log, Mount, Spider guard, Sweeps, Takedowns