Class 001 - August 13

I've got mixed feeling about the last night's class. I'm a bit disappointed actually... about my performance. Before the class I was really excited to be training again. But the minute we started the drills etc I noticed that I felt clumsy (at least, clumsier than usual) and a bit self conscious. It took me a while get over that (except the clumsy part) And while rolling I kept tensing up. That part wasn't fun...

But training again was awesome. I didn't care I had to tap a lot... or I couldn't tap anybody. It made me even more determined to work more.

Anyway, enough about me. Here's how the last night's class went on.

We started with some grip fighting. In this drill, both sides tries to get a good grip and unbalance the opponent, and then they reset and start again.

The next couple of technique were mostly about what you can do when your opponent grabs you from behind (with underhook).

First one was quite basic. Let's assume that opponent's clasping with right hand on top. You keep your left elbow close to your body and get hold of right wrist. Then your right hand goes under his right arm and hold your own wrist. Similar to kimura hold. At this point it's hard to break the opponent's hold with just using your hands. You can make it easier by leaning forward and pushing him with your hip. After breaking the hold you just pivot on your right foot and apply the submission.

The next two techniques were about how to defend yourself if your opponents tries to move you around and unbalance you or pick you up and do a suplex like move. When all he's doing is to unbalance you and move you around, you can respond by leaning forward and going on all four. This will make it harder for him to move your around or lift you.

Similarly, if he lifts you... you can respond by hooking his leg (the one closer to you) - this will make it harder for him to suplex you - leaning a bit back while lifting your free leg, swinging your leg down, and going on all four by using this momentum.

Eddie Edmunds vs Saulo Ribeiro [1]

After that we learned a leg lock to use when you're on all four. Let's assume that you're on all four and your opponent still holding you similarly. You move your hip in line with his front left and grab behind his ankle. And you pull while pushing back with yourhips. Then you sit down to the side . This way you'll end up on your side and set up for kneebar.

The last technique of the night was a throw when your opponent's bear-hugging you. You start with lifting your arms up and squatting down. Next, you step behind him with your left leg. You hold of his legs near his knees. You place your left foot behind his left and keep it straight while sitting down (bending your right leg) and pulling his legs. Then you end with side control - with your back to him, left elbow on his left side, and keeping pressure on his chest with your body etc -

Then ofcourse came the rolling part.

Things to improve or work on;
- Being more relaxed during rolling
- Shrimp, shrimp, shrimp
- Side Control escapes

[1] The picture is from ( http://www.pedrosauer.com/pedrosauer/newspage.asp )

An A-HA! Moment Regarding Passing the Guard.

I've had this A-HA moment a couple of days ago.

I was thinking about the guard passes I know during an extremely boring day at work. And I realized that I thought of passes as singles moves starting from opening the guard and to finally passing the guard.

But, in reality, those are (-wait for it-) two seperate (I can already hear you saying "Duh !") processes.

And when trying those passes in rolling sessions I had this "Alright, I'll do the [pass-name-here] pass. I'm gonna open the guard like this, and pass like that" attitude. This I realized was taking the flexibility out of the move for me... mostly because of my thought process. Being a white belt, that led me to getting stuck in the move, and not being able to react to my partner very well.

Also, thinking of them seperately helped me simplify the passes. I don't have to remember the gazillion steps of a certain guard pass. Now I think more along the line of "Alright, first I need to open the guard. Ok, I ended up combat base, not bad. I think I can pass by sliding my knee across."

I know it might seem like a small difference but it seems like helping.

Getting ready for the classes...

It's been a while since my last class due to work, school etc. But since (hopefully) I'm starting again soon, I've been doing some exercises that might be helpful for BJJ.

Like push ups, squats, side to side bridges, bump and shrimp, hips ups (as if you're doing triange chokes), animal walks, sit outs (I think that's what they're called) and turkish get ups.

They were quite helpful (and kicked my ass too). I suggest doing a circuit program like that for yourself.

( Oh, by the way I've got the idea Grappler's Guide (a really good grappling resource, with lots of helpful members - even some famous ones- ) Link . You, also might want to check that out. )