I’m a busy guy. I can’t always get the posts done before I go to sleep, much less before 12AM the next day. So here’s another post that’s technically a day late, if you want to be like that. This is for Wednesday, June 1st:
One of my usual partners is a big guy. He’s told me before (only half-joking, I think) that no one else wants to roll with him. It’s not that he’s mean or rude or anything. On the contrary, I think he’s a great guy. He’s just… well, big. And quite strong. So when you take a big guy and put him into a BJJ class with limited knowledge, it’s somewhat expected that he’s going to throw his weight (and probably his partner) around. And so begins tonight’s tale.
The professor had us start off class (after the usual warm-ups) with the fan-favorite, osoto-gari. A few minutes of this, and then we moved on to specific training from closed guard. He asked me to start on the bottom. Fine by me, means I’m not tired from repeatedly attempting to stand up and pass guard when it’s my turn to try submissions and sweeps. I don’t remember how long into the training it was, but at some point we ended up facing each other on our knees. I believe my head was under his chest. I felt a sharp, momentary pain in my right eye, but ignored it. I pulled my head out, maneuvered a bit to lock in a figure-four, and rolled for the anaconda choke, my favorite technique by far. The tap came in seconds. And when we sat up to reset he said, “Dude, you’re bleeding.” And so I found myself a few seconds later looking in the mirror at my first real BJJ badge of honor:
OK, so it doesn’t look so bad. And it’s not. It didn’t even bleed very much. But it’s right on the fold of the eyelid (which makes it a little tough to see), and I can feel it stretching every time I blink or close my eyes. Thanks for the constant reminder, pain receptors. Honestly, my main concern was to make sure it did not get infected. I stepped out a few times to wash it out with soap. Hopefully it heals quick. I’ve got stuff to do. BJJ to train, seminars to attend (see below), tournaments to lose at.
Anyway, after asking the instructor for permission, I got back on the mat. We continued with guard training, with me on top this time. I got some passes. We then moved on to mount-specific training. I started on bottom again and managed to pull half-guard, which resulted in a reset. Another time I got out, went to take the back and get a choke, but lost it and ended up with just guard. When it was my turn to have mount I landed a standard armbar. It was a struggle to break his grips before I managed to get the tap. I also got the back again and had an RNC set up. The professor coached me through it, making sure my choking grip was tight, and that I pulled down on the other collar (the latter of which I’d known about, but had forgotten to do).
The technique for the day was the spinning armbar from mount, which I was trying to pull off right as the professor called for a stop. I like practicing this move. The need to quickly spin makes it plainly obvious when I’ve messed up and what I need to fix.
Class ended with side control training. From the bottom I managed to reclaim guard once, and got a single-leg to establish a top position another time. From the top I almost got swept going for knee-on-belly. I took mount at least one time, and I’m pretty sure I got the back again, but I can’t remember if I landed any other submissions. Overall, a very fun class.
Weight after class: 190.4 lbs. If this scale is correct, I’m golden. GQ gives a 1-lb allowance, so I’d be able to slip into the cruiser division at this weight.
Found out that the famous Prof. John Danaher will be teaching a no-gi seminar at Codella BJJ Academy on Staten Island on June 12th. I may very well have to take up this opportunity — GSP has a fight against Nick Diaz coming up at UFC 137, and no doubt the professor will be spending much of his time working with the champion.