June 24, 2011

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

June 23, 2011

Two Classes

Tuesday, 6/21:

Here’s something I haven’t done in a while: taken two classes in one day. True, I’ve been pretty tired lately, but mostly the reason is because I get home so late when I take two in a row. 9:45 is the best I can hope for if I do the 8 o’clock class, though 10:00PM is more likely. Those days when I can convince myself to hang around for Round 2 are infrequent, but worth it.

This time both classes were pretty full. For the first class we started with osoto-gari and double-leg takedowns. This was followed by around 20 minutes of King of the Hill training, a popular resort when the class is packed.

The technique taught afterwards was the baseball choke. It’s similar to the cross-collar choke from knee-on-belly, but requires less fiddling with the collar. While getting ready to jump to knee-on-belly, make sure your hand is deep in the back of the collar, behind your opponent’s neck, thumb inside. Once you pop up, slip your other hand, palm up, deep into the collar on the opposite side. The closer your thumb on your first hand is to touching the pinky on your second hand, the tighter the choke will be. Next, come off knee-on-belly and circle your way toward your opponent’s head. Drop your head to your opponent’s side, on the same side you started on, and squeeze for the choke.

Second class involved more King of the Hill. For the life of me I can’t remember what technique we went over this class. One thing for sure: I was dead tired by the end.

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Filed under Chokes, Gi, Knee-on-stomach, Log

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June 21, 2011

Motivation Renewed

I’m behind on my posts. Trying to catch up. Here’s Monday, 6/20:

The articles and forum threads I’ve been reading about BJJ competition are true: it really does put things into perspective regarding your weaknesses. I went to Grapplers Quest on Saturday, and my experience there made me resolve to step up my game. There’s an upcoming post dedicated to the event (including pictures and videos), once I get a chance to write it. Stay tuned.
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Filed under Escapes, Gi, Log, Side control

June 16, 2011

One Step Closer

Had a feeling this was going to happen, though I’d sort of decided I didn’t want it to happen this week. Maybe that’s the secret: once you decide you don’t want something, you get it. Some variant of Murphy’s Law? I’ve decided: I don’t want to be a billionaire.

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Filed under Escapes, Gi, Log, Media, Mount, Musings, Pictures, Promotions

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June 15, 2011

Got Me Some Swag

In anticipation of the no-gi seminar that was this past Sunday and the tournament coming up on Saturday, I ordered/bought some gear last week. And here it is:

I bought a pair of FightCo grappling shorts for last weekend's no-gi seminar. They got back-ordered.The backside to my new grappling shorts.Renzo Gracie Academy rash guards are functional and very stylish.

I’m really happy with my purchases so far. The shorts I bought off NJFightShop.com, and although they were back-ordered, once they got them in I had them within 1 day! Will definitely order from these guys again.

The rashguard is the white belt top for no-gi at RGA, and I personally think the design is totally badass. It’s also rather comfortable, made of a mesh with small holes that let the sweat out so I end class surprisingly drier than with other rashguards. Now my sweat is my opponent’s problem. Muwahahahaha!

Ok, so now for class yesterday:
Typical warm up. Osoto-gari and hip toss for takedowns. About 20 minutes of King of the Hill. Fun as always, even if I wasn’t doing great. I blame the mouthguard, still not used to that, though it’s getting better 🙂 I started on bottom. Neither my opponent nor I could get an advantage. After playing stalemate for about 5 minutes, the instructor stood us up and put us both at the end of the line. On my next turn I passed guard, which put me on bottom. I got spider guard on my next opponent and went for the sweep, but couldn’t land it and got passed. For my next opponent I almost had his back, but he was much shorter than me so my center of gravity was very high on his back. I got swept and passed.

Technique for the day was the key lock or Americana from across-side position. This was followed by side control training.

After class one of my friends went over the spider guard sweep with me. The trick is to fake my opponent into thinking I’m pushing him away from me. Then when he pushes back at me, I have to use his momentum to roll him over. Got to drill this, I really like this sweep and want to get it right.

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Filed under Gi, Joint locks, Log, Media, Pictures, Side control

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June 13, 2011

Keep a Tight Game

Keep it close. Leave no space for your opponent to move. My partner today was serious about this, and I’m inspired to concentrate on this in my upcoming training sessions. Stop worrying about those submissions. Start focusing on that control. Make it so your opponent is constantly uncomfortable. Keep the pressure on.

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Filed under Gi, Joint locks, Log, Mount, Musings

June 13, 2011

Seminar: John Danaher

Yesterday’s  no-gi seminar at Codella Academy taught by John Danaher was awesome. Prof. Danaher is a Renzo Gracie black belt, one of Prof. Gracie’s first students, and Georges St-Pierre’s wrestling coach. He’s renowned for his skill and knowledge of BJJ. Listening to him talk about the sport, it sounded like a science. Which I suppose it was. “Thanks for coming, folks. This will be a 2-hour lesson in physics and anatomy.” Best science class ever.

Prof. Danaher focused the seminar on the “neutral” seatbelt-whizzer position. This is when both partners are side-by-side, one with his arm underhooked on his opponent, with the hand across the back on the far hip. The other partner has a whizzer, or overhook, deep on the near arm. Both are on their knees on the mat.

There’s a looooooong list of techniques we went over, but I don’t have it with me right now. Will update this post when I have the chance.

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June 10, 2011

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

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June 9, 2011

Review

Today’s class was basically a recap for me. We started off with our warm-ups, including some extra push-ups (joy). Class went on to include osoto-gari and hip-throw training. Guard specific training was tough with my incredibly tall partner. Breaking the guard of someone who can hold a 6′ guy in standing guard with most of his body still on the mat is no joke. I got swept once or twice. Once, I got both my arms outside of the guard and went to stack and pass, but as soon as I came around my weight was too far forward and I got swept.

The technique for the day was the standard side mount escape I mentioned in this article. Still having a little trouble with it, but getting better, I think. This was followed again by side-control training. I nailed another breadcutter choke, but I got caught in a key lock. Managed a sweep from bottom side-mount, but also trapped myself in a bottom half-guard again that I could not get out of. Still very much concerned about my stamina.

Weight after class: 188.0 lbs.

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June 8, 2011

Extra-curricular Activities

Training in the outer white belt room really puts things into perspective. I was proud of myself for running a 5K in half an hour two weekends ago. But after just 5 minutes in that room I feel like I’ve run a 10K in a sauna. It’s not a pleasant feeling, and I really need to get my stamina up to par.

Warm-ups today were followed by osoto-gari and hip throws. Yep, back to the ol’ routine. Some guard training followed. My partner today has been getting private lessons and has gotten a lot better since we both started. He can’t take classes as often as me, so now we’re around even in skill. He’s got great control and strength. We were both able to pass one another’s guards a few times. I don’t think either of us landed a submission. I still feel my bottom half-guard game sucks, but I learned a new sweep (more on that later). Continue reading →

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Filed under Gi, Half-guard, Joint locks, Log, Mount, Takedowns

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