Last night’s instructor reminded us that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is not just a sport: it is a martial art with applicable self-defense techniques. Instead of takedowns, we started off with a defense against the headlock.
Not Just For the Sport
Filed under Back/Turtle, Chokes, Escapes, Gi, Joint locks, Log, Self-defense, Side control, 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
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
I didn’t get a chance to put up yesterday’s post, so here it is now:
Wednesday, 5/25 —
Tonight’s class was nice and easy. After warm-ups we got time to practice takedowns on our own. I went with osoto-gari, hip toss, single-arm, double-leg, and single-leg to sweep.
The instructor used me to demonstrate a side-control choke called the bread cutter, using the scarf-hold to set it up. I need to work on this more, had a hard time sinking it in from my partner’s left side.
My partner was kind of new, so I rolled slowly with him, giving him a chance to try out what he knew. I find this to be a lot of fun. I don’t know if I will ever be a top-notch BJJ competitor, but I really hope I have the opportunity to teach it one day. He got his first stripe at the end of class, so I guess the instructor liked what he saw.
Weight after class: 189.2! Cruiserweight, here I come!
Filed under Gi, Log, Side control
Better Late Than Never
My first time late to a BJJ class. I hate walking into class late — it means I don’t get the full training that I should be. And let’s face it: I’m paying a very pretty penny. I’ve got no right to waste minutes of training time. Much as I hate push-ups, I almost wished the instructor would make me do some as penance for my tardiness. Almost. Continue reading
Filed under Escapes, Gi, Log, Side control
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
Is It Not a Little Soon for a Hiatus?
Well, it’s been six days since I got back from Mexico. And of course Thursday and Friday I was itching to get back on the mats.
No, seriously, I was literally itching. And still am.
See, I was unfortunate enough to have an allergic reaction to something in the water down in the tropics. My legs are covered to the knee in an unsightly red rash. My lower back wasn’t to be left out, so that now at any given time I am likely to be contorted with one hand reaching to my lower back while the other scratches a leg or two. I’ve seen my doctor, and it should be gone within two weeks, but in the meantime there is naught to do but wait it out.
Continue reading