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.
Class size today was just a bit too big for the small room — fine by me, the inner room has much better A/C. Started off with the usual warm-ups: jogging (with variations), shuffling to the sides, rolls, shrimping, calisthenics, squats, ab workouts, and (my least favorite) push-ups.
Take-downs reviewed were osoto-gari and ye ol’ hip throw. Was told I have to break a bad habit of hopping towards my opponent to close the distance quick when setting up throws. A simple arm to the shoulder can deflect the jump. Without the follow-through provided by a planted foot, my entry can be diverted easily.
Had some great specific training beginning with closed guard. Got a spider guard sweep off. Disgust for arachnids notwithstanding, I’m starting to really get a taste for the possibilities this position offers.
Next up was learning the “upa,” for which I had not known the gi variation. While in bottom of mount position, grab the sleeve at the wrist with the opposite hand. Same side hand grabs behind the shoulder, above the armpit. From here, same as the no-gi variation: trap the same side foot with yours, bridge and turn to the same side. Simple and sweet, and now I have an option in case I can’t pin my opponent down with an overhook.
Weight after class: 190.3 lbs. Chances of making cruiser weight division for Grapplers Quest are looking better by the day!