Private with Lil Bro Brown

Taps: 295.

Last training session of 2011.


Drills to incorporate:

1. Hip escape.
2. Bridge over shoulder.
3. Bridge then hip escape, belly down escape to knee.
4. Regular Sit outs.
5. Sit out var. - drop hip down to mat.

Today's topic - Side Control: Top and Bottom.
*Bottom: 1. Hip escape re-Guard.
                2. If blocked, hip escape to belly down.

*Top Series: Position 1 - On my toes, heavy pressure; right hand blocking his hip.
                     Switch to Position 2: Right knee against his hip, hand on other side of his hip.
                     Position 3: Hip down and go to Kesa Gatame.

Lil bro also tweaked my Scissor Sweep.
1. Get space.
2. Elbow grip, pull and "check watch".
3. Kick knee out if they hunker down.
*as in all Sweeps, need to UNBALANCE.

Night Session, Dec. 26, 2011

Taps: 4. Total: 295.

Tech. - Side Control Bottom Series.
1. Harpoon Sweep.
   a. My hand on inside on his face; right hand frames his hip, bridge into him, then sweep the other way.
2. Harpoon Sweep B.
   a. My hand on other side of his face.
3. Harpoon Fail, He bases out with his hand.
   a. Get Half Guard, or Full Guard.
4. Bait Americana
   a. Bump and get right under his belly, grabs his gi at the elbow.
   b. Left (threatened hand) grabs my left inner thigh
   c. Link my hands, trap over his elbow.
   d. Bridge up, then to left for the roll.

Rolling etc.
First class as a Blue. Pretty crappy. The holiday layoff and rust showed, and the night session new faces didn't help. Spazzy White who said he was coming back from two month layoff went pretty hard during a "warm-up" roll, and when I realized he was going for a wristlock from Back Attack, I had no hesitation, no problem tapping to him. There was still an hour and half of class left but he was done.

Just real herky-jerky, no fluidity to my movements or intentions. On top of which, got kneed in the head and got a knee to the eye from the muscley White who is now a Blue like me. He was the same when he was a White, trying to muscle that damn armbar from Mount. He subbed me once with it and has been trying to muscle it ever since.

One bright spot, I pulled the move from the knees that's turning into one of my favorites -- Fake Guard Pull to a Scissor Sweep. 
 

Blue Blue Blue and One Year Post

Status change: Blue Belt. Received on Dec. 17, 2011, nearly at year training at BJJ Club.


Taps: 2. Total: 291.

My mindset: Blue/White RESET. Back to the drawing board. So much to learn. Although I've tapped 291 times, I think I've made others tap maybe three or four times. I guess that's okay, since SUBMISSIONS COME LAST.

Year One has been about Survival and Escapes, and Breathing and Relaxing, and Learning How to Learn -- watching vids and drilling, focusing on a few things, and Staying Injury-free.

And Year Two? There will be a target on my back so don't worrying about tapping to Whites. Just don't get hurt. Escapes. Closed Guard. Breaking down techniques and drilling. Relax into bad positions. Keep working the Passes.

Class, Thu Dec. 15, 2011

Taps: 2. Total: 289.


Techs - Closed Guard Series: Arm Bar, Triangle, Omoplata.

Guard/Pass Guard Positional Sparring. Sucked. Again. Focus on one or two things. Worse, my Passing, which I thought was pretty decent shape, kind of sucks, too. But I am volunteering for Guard every chance I get. Problem is, I get passed and I'm out of the rotation. Review Rolles Pass. Guard - get cross collar grip and break posture. Flower Sweep.

PLAN from the Knees (when starting on Knees). I finally have a plan or "game."
1. Arm Drag.
2. Then, Cross Collar Push Ankle Pick. Ideally end in Side Control, but most often Half Guard Top, and work my Half Passes from there.
3. If he resists and pushes back, FALL back, Fake Guard Pull, Scissor Sweep as I fall. High percentage. Had some success with this lately against higher belts. Catches them by surprise.

Misc.
Getting caught in Omoplatas. Need to look up defense and counters.

Class, Tue. Dec. 13, 2011

Taps: 3. Total: 287. 


Tech. 1 - Knee on Belly, Switch Knees.

Tech. 2 - Switch Knee, flow over to other Side Control.

Tech. 3 - Own Gi Choke.
1. Ends up in North-South.


Rolling Notes:
Guard - I hate my guard. Need to focus on it. Just floundering. Grabbing here, there. Getting passed.
Step 1: Try Carlos Double Cross Grip, and go from there. Shrimp out, go for Hook Sweep or Arm bar on the left arm. Focus on that only.

Side Control Esc - Actually had one Escape to add to the 100 Project, but I could not get out of Kesa, because my inside arm/elbow was too high off the mat and being controlled.

Defense - So so. Did a better job trying to breathe and relax. Even tried Saulo's Running Man Escape. But couldn't remember the transition and got stuck there. Need to review the DVD. Mild success "caging the hips" inside Guard when my arm is way across center line, but have to remember I can get swept in that direction, too if I don't keep my leg UP.

Marcelo Notes

Been watching Marcelo roll and trying to deconstruct his Game. Or at least, pick up a few tips. Or just some things I see him doing, whether I can do it too is a whole another story.

In a nutshell, his top and bottom game is so solid he can play Seated Guard, then sweep, get on top and is able to Pass easily with is superior Top game.

From Bottom: Seated Guard -- 1. Hand fight: control hands/wrists. 2. Shoulder frame/knee frame for space. 3. Control lead leg, or ankle. 4. Get underneath, constantly undermining, testing Base and Balance, which will lead to ... 5. Sweep. (or he'll go for Guillotine sub if the head is sticking forward like ripe fruit to be picked), and gets on Top.

From Top: 1. Knee in, hand behind neck/head. 2. ** He doesn't use his hands to control knees or legs like most people do; he passes with the knee, knee pressure. 3. Butterfly Pass -- he double hugs waist.

RNC - he CAN sub with one hand. From Back (or seatbelt control) - his left (bottom) hand will control guy's left wrist, then there's a free path with his right top hand to come across the neck.

Sun. Dec. 3, 2011

Taps: 2. Total: 284.

Tech. 1 - Arm Bar from Mount. 
 *Learned a new detail: Pinch in with my knee against the raised arm I'm going to attack.

Tech. 2 - Kesa Sub. - Wrist lock and Neck Crank.
*Like the knee hold from kesa better. Have to remember to practice it.

 Tech. 3 - Harpoon Escape from Side Control.
 1. He has cross face; Right near hand/elbow frames his hip, Left hand inside left side of his head, grabs his belt.
 2. He has both knees in tight against me; bridge into him and as he pushes back down, roll him over.


Tech. 4 -Number 1 Escape from Side Control (sweep the other direction as Harpoon).
1. He has cross face; Right hand same, but Left hand on outside his head, holding his head down tight.
2. As he lifts his head, bridge into him and my hand pushes against his head, and try to put that head down on the mat, roll him over, and into kesa.

Misc: Need to Breathe. Relax. Not strain so much. According to Purple Reyn. And he's right. Breathe. Relax. Don't strain. Also, think ahead a few steps.

Thu Class Nov. 30, 2011

Taps: 2. Total: 282. 

Tech. 1 - Open Guard, Spider Set up to Omoplata.

Tech 2 - Omoplata Knee Bar.
1. He counters by posting up the leg, grab it and lean into it.

Tech. 3 - Ompoplata to Triangle. He stands, grab that leg and go for Arm Bar.

After Class Special: Vince's Sick Half G Roll to Back. 
He was showing someone this and everyone who saw it Ohh and Ahhed and drew it crowd and he had to show it to a bunch of us. Pretty flashy.

From Half Guard Top, he has your Right Leg trapped.
1. Left hand on chest, right hand on his hip near my trapped leg, push off and sit back and get my trapped knee up, get it down on the mat to the right of him.
2. Don't completely free that leg, have it still hook his leg.
3. Swing to the left of him, opposite side as the knee on mat, so I swing my right hand to the other side of his head and roll over my right shoulder.
4. That should make him roll over too because of my leg is hooking his and I end up in his back.
5. Get my left leg over him for the second hook.

Misc.
1. Stuck under Side Control. Back to the drawing board.
2. Floundering in Guard. Need more Guard time. Didn't help that I forgot to review my flashcards.
3. Doing okay with Passes but ended up getting my back taken at the last second. Asked Purple Vince and he suggested I put my lead knee high and right down the center of the chest and smash. But as he was showing me, I realized I have to get the underhook and get my head on the other side of him, and get better collar grip control.

Tue Class, Nov. 29, 2011

Taps: 4. Total: 280.

Tech. 1 - Single Leg Lean-In Takedown.
1. He stands, I kneel and get single leg on his forward leg.
2. Get close, his leg in between my legs, my head inside, my shoulder on outside.
3. Lean in with the shoulder, pressure on his knee and he falls.

Tech. 2 - Single Leg Lift his Leg.
1. If he doesn't fall over, I stand with his leg; switch his leg to other hand and lift up high.

Tech. 3 - Double Leg Takedown.
1. Lean in with shoulder, grab both legs and down into Side Control.

Rolling Misc: White Evan (4 stripes): I don't like rolling with him; he rolls 110% and muscles everything. Last time, he tapped me to an armbar from mount; he went for the same and I held on, even tried to get it into a belly down, but time ran out. The guy is dangerous, but I was paired up with him so what can you do?

One thing: I had him in a ankle Half Guard, and couldn't quite get into a full Half. I bridged and turned my knees, and pushed on his hip with my hand, and he kept grabbing my hand. Last step, I didn't do -- HIP OUT as I push on his hip. Easier to move me than him.

Need to review D. Ache's sneaky kimura from bottom of Side Control. I've done it on my favorite side, couldn't pull it off on the other.

Game Plan v. 1.
FROM KNEE -- 1. Get grips and fall into Scissor Sweep as I fake Guard pull; 2. Knee up and open passes.


GUARD -- 1. Get his LEFT sleeve; Grip break, and work the Hannette armbar sequence.
         2. Cross collar grip.

HALF GUARD -- 1. Prevent Cross Face.
        2. Get Underhook.

MOUNT -- 1. Elbow escape; 2. Get him to go S Mount.

S MOUNT -- 1. Sit up and collapse knee.

SIDE CONTROL (Bottom) -- 1. Prevent cross face; 2. Posture (hand on belly; hand preventing cross face); 3. Bridge; 4. Underhook.

SIDE CONTROL (Top) -- 1. Practice 3 basic holding positions.

Need to copy these into Index cards to review before next training session.

With Little Bro at Black House

Taps: 0. Total: 276. Very mellow rolls. But Lil Bro Brown did give me some awesome details on a couple techniques I was having trouble completing.

Rope Pass (Half or Open Pass) - Tips/Details.
1. Get off my knees and onto my toes; and shoulder down for shoulder pressure (smash the knees down)!
2. Collar grip (to keep him close and prevent him from moving back and creating escaping space).
3. Get my head down into his chest (so he can't push my head away).
4. Walk my legs up for the pass.

Knee Slide Pass - Tips/Details
1. Squat low, put knee pressure and if he grips my sleeve, go with it and get chest collar grip and connect my elbow to knee.
2. Shoulder against his chest, no space.
3. If his hands push against my lead knee, pull up on his sleeve and knee goes downward, away from him for the pass.

Things to Work On:
1. Defense -- relax. Don't hold so tight. Don't use so much strength. Conserve energy. Use technique.
2. Practice HOLDING POSITION (instead of automatically going for Subs).

Holding Position - Side Control.
P1 -- Left hand under his neck; Right hand on mat, against his near hip; knees of the mat, on both toes.
P2 -- Right knee against his near hip (where Right hand was); Right hand over and on other side, with elbow against far hip.
P3 -- Kesa, but with my hip on top of his hip.
** Cycle through these basic positions, depending on how he moves and tries to escape.

Sun. Nov. 20, 2011

Taps: 7. Total: 276.


Techs - drills from Guard
1. Arm Bar.
2. Kimura
3. Double Arm Bar.
4. Kimura Counter - to take the Back.

Misc: Guard -- had an arm trapped, but I needed to: A. Lift my hips, get arm across center line. B. Flower sweep or Arm bar.

Half Guard - getting hit with Knee Slide Pass. Review: Saulo 2 and Carlos Infinite.

Taps: 5. Total: 269.


Techniques -- S-Mount Attack Series (all from Seat Belt Control)
Tech. 1 - Basic Across Down Collar Choke
1. He turns left; my left leg up, tight against his belly; my right knee tight up against his head.
2. My right hand under his head; left hand under his armpit; link hands; open hands, left hand opens near collar and feeds to right hand -- deep thumb in grip.
3. Right hand lawnmower pull and get ELBOW TO MY RIBS as my left hand pulls DOWNWARD on other collar.

Tech. 2 - Swim in Choke
1. Can't get second grip, so left hand goes under his arm, under my elbow like Loop choke.

Tech. 3  - Bow and Arrow Choke.

Tech. 4 - Arm Bar
1. Lift trapped arm up, bringing him up and to the side more.
2. Left hand makes a fist, put on mat right next to his face.
3. Lean forward and right a little to get left leg over.

** If he tries to trap my leg and go to Half Guard, I need to grab that arm and that side knee and turn him back into regular Mount.

Need to look up:
Counter to Bow and Arrow Choke.

Class Tues, Nov. 15, 2011

Taps: 1. Total: 264.


Tech. 1 - Starfish Drill (Side Control to Mount to other Side Control.
1. Right hand grip pants at hip; Left elbow on other side of the head. Right knee against his hip; left leg stretched out.
2. Switch base, right leg over to Mount.
3. Right elbow on other side of head; hop off to Side Control.

Tech. 2. - Huggy Arm Triangle
1. Left hand under head; right hand underhook, gable grip; both knees tight against him.
2. Get his across his face, across his neck, keep it tight with my head.
3. Slide my inside knee (left) across his belly, hop over with my other leg, into Side Control on other side.
4. Gable grip or even Rnc grip, right hand under left elbow, sprawl, hip down on hip, walk up towards head a little for the finish.

Open Sit Up Guard - Sucks.
1. Don't let him have grips on my knees or pants -- STRIP GRIPS with my fist as I kick out.

Half Guard Bottom - Sucks.
1. Even from Mount I'm able to get an ankle, but I'm just holding onto it for dear life. That's not it.
2. BRIDGE into him, push his hip as I shrimp away and get a deeper control on his leg, preferably over his knee.
3. Keep working the Monkey Paw grip and don't let him get CROSS FACE. Or even just get my hand on top of my head.
4. Get UNDERHOOK on other side; get SMALL, and dive under for his ankle for Old School.
**Review Vince's Half Guard and Pablo's, too.

Half Guard Passing - Sucks, not as much.
1. Having success with the Webber Switch Pass.

S Mount Escape - so so.
1. Bridge into him with my RIGHT FOOT, elbows in, try to take his base out by hipping into the up leg.
2. Or Turn into him and trap other side ankle to get into Half.

Guard Breaks/Passing - so so.
1, Grip sleeve and stand.
2. Saulo arch, circle back.
3. Get FIRM grips, keep him down on mat.
4. Work into rotation Rolles, half standing break, pass.

Submissions - North South Choke.
1. Review Marcelo and Monson.
** According to my White Belt priorities, I shouldn't even think about it, but but but, I did have Position, I just didn't have the right details for the finish.

Body Triangle -- good thing I watched the latest Gracie Breakdown just before class. I got to try it and also was able to escape when he let go due to my pressure on his lock. But that Body Triangle was tight; he squeezed once - whoof! - that's when I rolled to that side and started working the escape, trapping one leg, pressing down on the other knee.

Class Sun, Nov. 13, 2011

Taps: 2. Total: 263.

Tech. 1 - Open Guard Flip Over Pass
** First saw this on Shogun's site.
1. Grip on outside of his knees on either side.
2. Put my left shoulder and head just above his hip, facing to right. Put all my weigh on my shoulder and on him.
3. Completely flip over to his left side, flip back around to Side Control.

Tech. 2 - Var. Bait Elbow.
1. Leave elbow there, tempting him into Arm Drag or Omo, then hop over that side for the Pass.

Tech. 3. - Var. Cartwheel Pass.
1. Left hand on the mat between his legs, Right hand behind his head.
2. Jump, Carthwheel over and pressuring him down and around for the pass.

I thought these a bit fancy and acrobatic for my tastes. Perhaps a little advanced for the majority of the Whites that were there. They probably could of used a Guard Break or couple of Escapes.

Speaking of Guard Breaks, Blue Mike gave me a good detail: I need to be firm in my grips and Right Elbow need to be inside his thigh. I was too loose, had too much give.

My White Belt Priorities

Saulo is so spot on.

1. Survive/Defend.
2. Escape/Improve Position.
3. Hold Position.
4. Submissions.

Class Nov. 5, 2011

Taps: 5. Total: 261.

Tech. 1 - Basic Back Attack / Collar Choke
1. Seatbelt hold, left hand top, right hand under his armpit, link hands.
2. Left hand opens his collar, grip with right hand; right hand grabs other collar pulls down as left hand pulls across.

Tech. 2 - Back Attack into Bow and Arrow Choke
1. Only get first grip, he bridges, scoots and about to escape...keep that grip, switch base and come up to Side Control.
2. Get my Right leg over his body, grab his pants leg, lock my legs together and finish.

Tech. 3 -- He Rolls into Turtle / Roll over.
1. Trying for that back choke, but he kicks out, away and rolls into Turtle...I'm on the left side of his Turtle.
2. Push to the right to create a little space between his ankles; get my left foot over his left ankle.
3. Pull him back toward me and over, while extending him with my left foot hook; get right hook in, then left hook in.

Tech. 4 - Back to Mount.
1. He starts scooting and escaping Back, get my right leg over and hook in other side of his knee.
2. Use that to swing over into Mount. Careful I don't get trapped in Half Guard.

Nice advice and tips from Blue John. About White Belt, he said I needed to concentrate only on two things:
1. Escapes.
2. Holding position.

To that, I'd add:
3. Tapping.
4. Breathing/Relaxing
5. Ask questions; otherwise keep mouth shut.

He also showed my a couple nice escapes from arm bar and Triangle.
Arm bar escape (from bottom)
1. Use RNC lock.
2. Free arm goes under his leg.
3. Rock my legs and come up.

Triangle Escape 1
1. Get posture; grab his front leg at knees and pull down as I arch back.

Triangle Escape 2
1. Get Posture; swing my leg over his head.
2. Arch my back to break his leg grip.

Triangle Escape 3 (like Ryan's Escape)
1. ie my left arm trapped, grab his leg and go left, and get my left elbow on the mat.
2. Switch base (scissor my legs); control his bottom leg as it opens and pass.
3. Shoulder pressure into his hip, upper body so he can't come up to my Back.

Class Nov. 3, 2011

Taps: 2. Total: 256.

Warm-up Tech. -- Arm bar from Guard to Flower Sweep
1. Standard arm bar setup -- left arm wrist control of right hand; right hand under, and over his arm and elbow control.
2. Left foot on his hip, swing it over his head; he pulls out his arm; maintain grip on his wrist with my right hand.
3. Left leg back down, hip out to left, sit up and my left hand reaches over his back and grabs belt, and I'm half way onto his back.
4. Swivel a little to the right, right leg up to the sky and into his arm pit for the Flower Sweep.

Tech. 1 - Sit out (review)
Detail: Need to remember to arch my back and look up to ceiling as I sit out.

Tech 2 - Turtle Attack/Turnover to Bow and Arrow Choke.
1. I'm to the left and back from his Turtle; right knee against his hip, left leg straight and based out; chest heavy on his back.
2. Left hand reaches under his neck for far collar grip, deep; HOP over to other side, get my right against his knee as I pull his collar and turn him over.
3. Get my legs out and cross them; KEY: grab his pants with my right hand, and finish.

Misc:
1. Half Guard Top Kimura defense worked well. Thanks Robson.
2. Caught in a Triangle. Again. Damm It. Look up. Look up. Posture.
3. Couldn't finish the Guillotine. Review Marcelo. Remember to keep Guard closed and arch back to stretch him.

Padilla and Sons Kimono

In mid-July of 2011, I bought my second gi - a Padilla and Sons, White Gold Weave. It was huge but has shrunk nicely and fits pretty well.

I like that:
1. It's durable.
2. Plain, only a few small patches.
3. Haven't seen another person wearing it.

It's not super soft or pajama comfortable, like I've read some gis are, but I'm okay with that.

I've now worn it three months straight. This is my main and only gi. The starter HCK is now a little too snug. I'm planning on getting another maybe around Christmas or in the New Year to rotate in with the P&S. Maybe a blue one, but I'm torn: I like the old school, traditional white and the reminder of being a beginner, but the blue would hide the blood stains better.

Class Nov. 1, 2011

Taps: 4. Total: 254.

Tech. 1 - Basic Smashy Half Guard Pass
Me like very much. Simple. Heavy pressure. Guy will open his Half Guard because of the he's getting his head mashed.
1. Left knee (free one) against his stomach/hip; circle, walk your other, trapped knee wide out to FLATTEN him on his back.
2. Left hand cross face, right hand gets under hook and gable grip, tripod up and put shoulder pressure into the cross face, turning his head as I have my HEAD ON THE MAT, away from his head and looking away.
3. If his legs not open, my left leg comes up and levers/pushes against his leg and get to Mount.
      Bonus detail: after class special -- if the guy controls your free knee and tries to push and Re-Guard, I need to grab under his wrist and KICK BACK, loosen his grip and control that arm.

Tech. 2 - Sit Out to Back.
1. Off a failed Double leg takedown, he sprawls. I switch to Single, with my left hand, my right hand traps his arm at the elbow.
2. Bring my Right leg up, shoot my left leg through for the Sit Out, arch and head up and turn into him and get to his Back.
       **detail: turning into him. I was turning the other way, so that's why I kept losing in the scramble.

Class Oct. 29, 2011

Taps: 7. Total: 250.

Tech. 1 -- Butterfly into a Omo-like Lock
1. Cross collar grip with left hand, right hand behind for post.
2. Right hand comes up and under hooks, grips just under elbow of his left hand; left hand comes over his elbow and gable grip.
3. Both legs on his hips on both sides; pull his arm down to the left; right hand on my left bicep, trapping his elbow; right hand comes over his hand, other side of his hand.
4. Squeeze knees together, angle for the wrist/elbow lock.

Tech. 2 - Butterfly into Brabo-like choke.
1. Right hand cross collar grip; pull like I'm going for an arm drag, and his head comes down low...
2. Get my left hand deep, deep under his neck, come out way out on far side.
3. Right elbow comes down on top of his neck, push down and put on my other bicep, like RNC.
4. Right foot hook in and flip him over, his head against my belly and finish choke.
(Couldn't quite get the RNC grip locked in before the flip, and the Blue I was drilling with couldn't either.)

Last class was a depressing Four Steps Back, but this class was a better one -- half step forward. I'm just asking for a little progress, that's all.

Saulo Guard Break
It works! I just can't give up on it so quickly. I need to establish all my grips and keep at it. If they break my posture, then go back to step 1: get posture; 2. left high grip; 3. right grip; 4. Step out, circle step; 5. Arch, and put my butt into it.

It worked pretty well for me. Opened their guard and passed more often than not. But had a lazy habit of settling into Half Guard instead of the immediate Pass. At least, got to work on my Half Guard Pass, which I did the Webber Pass (Reverse Butt) fairly well.

London Sweep -- couldn't quite pull it off, and I know why. Didn't pinch and trap his knee, so when I bumped, he was able to widen his knee and base out. It will come soon.

Belt is White, but Ego is Blue, Purple and Bruised

Taps: 8. Total: 243. Two of those taps were to a lower belt. Now I get some of my own medicine. I've never tapped a higher belt, but I've come close, and I've given them a hard time usually. And I would puff up with pride and feel all good about myself. Now I know how it feels. I've tapped to a lower belt before, but twice in one roll?? And to a no stripe White? Man, it shouldn't bother me, but it did for a bit. But I need to keep putting myself in those situations so I keep working on them, no matter what the color of their belt.

The one bright spot was that I got One Kesa Escape off my 100 project.

Tech. -- Black Chris showed some series and combos (all Guard Attacks) and he went really fast. Hope I got them all.

Tech. 1 -- Arm bar/Omoplata/Triangle.
1. Double sleeve/wrist control, attack right arm for arm bar.
2. He pulls arm out, Omo the left arm.
3. He postures out of that, swing back with him for Triangle.

Tech 2 -- Flower Sweep/Triangle/Sweep.
1. Cross sleeve grip, left on his left. Right hand grips pants at his knee; right leg swings under his armpit for the sweep.
2. He bases out with is right hand on mat, swing around for the Triangle.
3. He postures up, swing my clamped legs left, then right for the Sweep.

Work On:
1. Triangle defense: tried the R. Hall defense but can't quite get it to work. Might just stick with the Robson.
2. RNC defense.
3. Back Escapes.

Also, had a problem securing Half Guard, where I'm almost there, and he pushes my free forward knee with his hand, and tries to re-Guard or really prevents me from settling into Half. I tried lifting his hand with my hand, but it was just hand strength vs. hand strength. Possible solution: 1. flatten him; 2. drive the trapped knee through.

Class Thu, Oct. 20, 2011

Taps: 4. Total. 235.

Tech. 1 - Basic Cross Choke from Mount.
1. Use other hand to open up the collar.

Tech. 2 - Defends that choke, into Arm Bar.
1. Go to S Mount, using my leg/knee to get arm over his head and trap.
2. Figure four, kimura grip and swing leg over for the arm bar.

Tech 3 - He links arms, then Hitchhike escapes.
1. Angle to his head that back should break the grip, but the he Hitchhikes away.
2. Get my leg over his back and scoot next to him for the Omoplata.

Kesa Kesa Kesa. Kesa Getame Escapes!!! I'm stuck under it way too much. I'm going to focus on this until I get a solid escape. Also, a couple of solid Side Control. I'm going to give it the 100 rep project treatment. I'm hanging out too much under Side. First, I need to hip out as he's passing, and not let him get settled in Side.

White Edgar is actually a three stripe and he's pretty close to me. He gets good grips on my pants in Open Guard, and I did a better job circling my legs to counter that, but I really need to Sit the Hell Up, and not be on my back.

Also, I got Mount a couple of times and he easily pushed me off. I need to get low and SWIM inside his arms and look for the arm bar. He got me with a RNC and I should review that defense, too. Overall, at least I did a better job breathing than last time.

Thoughts on Timing.
There's lots of talk of timing in BJJ, and my 2 cents is that it's all connected to Resistance, the other guy's Pressure and Balance. The timing of a move, especially escapes, defends on me feeling where his weight is, where is balance is, and using his momentum, his energy.

Plateau, General Malaise and BJJ Relationship

I thought I was burning out but I think I've kinda of got a handle of my feelings about training and jj. The first year, starting from last August was very sporadic and the second year, starting from this January was pretty consistent and all-consuming and I'm beginning to think of it as the Dating Phase.

I'm now entering the Steady Girlfriend Phase. Things are not all shiny and new, but it's starting to get a little serious.

Class Tue, Oct. 18, 2011

Taps: 3. Total 231.


Tech. 1: Scissor Sweep fail to armbar
1. Push top leg through, swing leg over for the armbar.

Funny, I was just reading about this very technique over at the Side Control blog yesterday.

For something different, we just rolled the whole time. An entire hour and a half of Open Mat. I rolled about four times. I'm a little annoyed I forgot to breathe during my second roll with Edgar the Two Stripe White.
Started with Brown Mike, Blue Ryan, Blue Dave? White Edgar, another Blue, Blue Peter, Edgar again. Did I really roll seven times? I think they were all three minute rounds. I was going to roll with everyone, but I'll try to get the ones I missed on Thursday.

White Edgar seeks me out and likes to roll with me because I'm his yardstick to measure his progress. And he can try a few things on me, not necesarily tap me but at least he can try. And he can see where he needs to tighten his technique, i.e. he had me in a triangle and couldn't finish. Some of the Blues have trouble with my triangle defense. He's getting better and better, and has a slick Guard replacement from Half Guard. Quite annoying that when I manage to get top Half Guard, he'll slip right back into Guard.And he kept me in Side Control pretty well by grabbing my near pants leg, preventing me from bridging or turning into or away from him. Need to look into that.

One other problem to solve: Wrestler's Sit Out. I can pull it off but I end in a scramble and I haven't been able to come out on top.

Class, Sat. Oct. 15, 2011

Can't lie. Feeling a bit blah. Maybe hit a little plateau or something. Not feeling as much passion as I used to. Maybe a tad burned out.

Taps: 3. Total: 228.

Tech. 1 - Mount Armbar
1. S-Mount, and as he tries to push that leg down and get Half Guard, I grab that sleeve.
2. S-Mount leg wraps under his head
3. Lean forward a little and swing my other leg over his face for arm bar.

Tech 2 - Mount / he links arms to counter armbar
1. Put my bottom leg through his linked arms.
2. Top leg over his head, releases his head, gives him space to come up.
3. Right into Triangle.

Rolling with Purple Steve: Got into top Half Guard pretty easy. He got lockdown. I swung my leg out of it and he got it back, so I tried the Butt Compressor. Didn't work. He tried the Shark Half Guard Sweep. Didn't work because he did it to me last week and showed me how to do it. My Half was tight so he let me get Side Control so he could Harpoon Sweep me. Damn.

Class, Sun. Oct. 8, 2011

Taps: 2. Total: 225.

Brown Joelle teaches the Sunday class. Great, great class.

Tech. 1 -- Counter to Double Under Pass.
1. Before he links arms and lifts and scoot, shrimp back to create space and make legs, hips heavy.
2. Double sleeve control as I both legs back under his arms and on his hips to "brake"/stop him from getting closer.
3. Flare out my knees.

Positional Drill for above: Person starts in top Guard, double under and tries to pass, while bottom guy defends using above technique.

Then Shark Tank from Standing Up. Wow. First time in practicing my stand up game. Person in middle goes for 1 minute, then takes on a fresh guy who takes over the ending position of the last guy. Three guys, three minutes.

Then on to free training.

I don't know if it was intentional but it was a well-structured class that covered Matt Thornton's 3 I's (Introduction, Isolation and Integration) method.

Class Thu, Oct 6, 2011

Taps: 14. Purple Iz got me with a Side Control choke where he steps over my head; Black Chris got me about 10 times and all real slow, flow roll, catch and release subs; KC Blue - first time I've rolled with him, muscled a lot of stuff, got me with armbar from Guard, keylock, belly down arm bar.

Really liked rolling with Black Chris because it was kind of mellow and I could see and feel the high level of BJJ.

Tech 1 - Standing Guard Break/Pass -- it's T. Dan's/Roger's Standing Pass.

Good timing because there's a couple of key details I was forgetting: 1. When I stand, I need to pull up on his sleeve and stack him on his neck and be head to head to him. 2. When I go single leg under, drop weight down right away, then get collar grip.

Tech. 2 - Continuation of Standing Pass - into Side Control then Keylock.

1. in SC: under neck and arm control; he tries to put arm against my neck, since I have on hand under already, use other to grab at wrist and put to mat and figure four.

2. Key: my under hand pulls down and up.

3. Emily Kwok tip: top hand on wrist does a twist a la motorcycle rev twist down towards mat, makes the sub tight.

Bonus Tech: More Self-Defense than BJJ: if guy his chokes you inside your Guard/Double Armbar.

1. My right hand over his right elbow; left hand over his left elbow and lock it down.

2. Swing legs high over his shoulders and get high Guard.

3. Close Guard if I can; pinch knees in together to lock in his head and his arms; lift hips for Double Armbar.

Need to Review:

1. Side ESC

2. Kesa ESC

3. Armbar from Guard counters - esp. RNC grab.

Keep in Mind and Practice:

1. Saulo's Scissor Var.

2. Xande Sweep.

3. Robson Loop Choke

Class Tue, Oct. 4, 2011

Taps: 2 (Arm bar, rolled into a Triangle; Arm Triangle with my finger being caught and crushed). Total: 209.

Tech. 1: Side Control, switch, kind of Reverse Kesa with butt against his head.

1. Standard Control, linked hands under his head. Near arm pressures, turns his head. Unlink heads.

2. Far hand on near side, prevent hip from turning in.

3. Near hand goes to other side of his body, under his far arm, as I switch base/hips to Reverse Kesa, and scoot back against his head and trap both his arms, one with my arm, other on the far side of my hip/butt.

4. Swing leg over into Mount.

Tech 2: Reverse Kesa to far side Arm bar.

1. Figure four his far arm.

2. Pull him up toward me and onto his side, threatening a Kimura or Americana.

3. Step over his head, pivot and sit down for armbar.

Defenses: My defenses are so-so, kind of sloppy because they don't work so well against solid Purples. Must tighten them up.

Extra Credit:

I. Counter to Single Leg Takedown -- trapped leg onto his shoulder, push his head away and roll on that same hand, taking his hand that was on the single leg into an Omoplata.

II. Shark Mike's Sick Half Guard Sweep.

a. Top guy gets the underhook and flattens me out. I trap that arm with the overhook.

b. Switch trapping his legs from inside to outside.

c. Inside leg bridges into the underhook side and sweet sweep.

Class Sun, Oct. 2, 2011

Taps: 2 (Guillotine, Bruised rib from inside Guard). Total: 207.

Brown Joelle, who teaches the Sunday class, just gave away my whole Guard game plan during the techniques session of the class.

From Guard: Hip Bump Sweep to Guillotine to Kimura.

Need to Review:

1. Guillotine Defense. (Kesting)

2. Saulo's Scissor Sweep Var. (Rev. 2)

3. Xande Sweep (Lovato jr.)

4. Marcelo's N/S choke.

Class Sat., Sept. 24, 2011

Taps: 3. Total: 205.

Perhaps my progress is an illusion. Vaguely dissatisifed. Can't quite put my finger on it. Illusion part is that the Purples go easy on me, the high Blues shut me down, but at least I can hang with the low Blues.

Had some success with the Rolles Pass. Need to remember that I'm not fully standing. If I do, I need to control that side sleeve (a la T. Dan) so he can't underhook my leg. More of a half stand.

Need to Review:
1. Kesa Gatame Escapes. Key Details: Get my near hand on the MAT. Other hand needs the deep, deep, far underhook.
2. Guard Pass Prevention. Re-Guard techniques.

Class, Thu, Sept. 22, 2011

Techniques were review of that Turtle Turnover attack and DLR sweep.

Taps: 1 (RNC). Almost tapped to another RNC but time ran out. Total: 202.

Need to Review:

1. Guard Breaks/Passes: T. Dan and Rolles.

2. Kimura from Guard. Having some success with Bump Sweep, but need to follow up with Kimura if they post with their hand.

3. Side Escapes. And the 3 Kesa Gatame escapes.

Tue, Sept. 20, 2011

Tech. 1 - Turtle Turnover to arm bar.

1. Reach under, across his neck to control his far elbow.

2. My other hand reaches under his stomach for that same elbow.

3. Pull that elbow as I push his body with my shoulder.

4. Into Kesa Gatame and control that arm/elbow that I pulled.

5. Hip down lower and get leg over his face and arch back for the arm bar.

[I really like this turnover. Simple. Easy to remember and execute.]

Tech. 2 - (review) Gi Wrap Choke from Half Guard.

Rolling. Starting to give fits to the lower Blues, doing okay with the Purples, who don't go too hard, and getting on top with most Whites. Starting to grip fight more at the beginning, but everyone keeps pulling Guard, and I'm having trouble breaking Guard and passing.

Edgar the White (two stripes) said I've improved, but he has, too. Wished I was more encouraging to him. He was active in Guard, really tried for Triangle and defended my Standing Pass attempts very well. I think I eventually passed and Turtled and tried to re-guard and I got his Back and he defended my RNC and I got Mount. He defended chokes and almost bucked me off and left his arm out and I rolled into an an arm bar. I didn't quite have it and thought it was better to let it go than try to muscle it any more, and he tapped as I released.

Blue Phil got me with an arm bar from Mount. Rolled the wrong way and didn't pull my elbow out in time. I did manage to get my elbow out and escape in that very same situation with him a few minutes ago.

Taps: 1. Total: 201.

Need to Review:

1. Breaking Guard -- Trumpet Dan (standing). Tozi/Wilson/Sao Paulo.

2. Passing Guard -- Martin Aedma. Hell Pass and Open Pass, p1.

3. Next 1000 rep drill: Hitchhiker Escape. (1000 each side).

200 Taps

200 Taps and counting. Jammed my right toe a week and half ago. Had to miss a class. Thought it might of broken it. But I don't think so.

Sat., Sept. 18, 2011

Tech 1 - DLR sweep.

1. Push out with right leg against his hip to off-balance and pull him down.

Tech. 2 - Choke from Half Guard Top, Using his Gi to Wrap.

Rolling -- Purple chris (small chris) -- he took no prisoners and tapped me like riverdance, six times, using all of his Purple Belt tricks because the normal stuff doesn't work anymore.

Need to work on:

1. Side Escapes

2. Mount Escapes -- frame and scoot up. Get out of high mount.

3. S Mount Escape.

4. Half Guard Bottom -- prevent cross face and get underhook.

5. Passing / Standing -- Trumpet Dan

a. sitting passes - Robson; Xande; Tozi.

Colors and Belts

I can tell the color of someone's belt just by sitting in their Guard.

Whites are sloppy. They just wrap their legs around you and there's a ton of space. Blues are tighter. Purples are tight tight. No space. I haven't rolled or drilled enough with Browns or Blacks to see how they are different.

Class, Tue. Sept 8, 2011

Taps: 2. Total: 194.

Got a nice compliment from Purple small Chris. Did pretty well on Mount Escape drills. Only small Purple David gave me problems. He did have very good Mount maintenance. At least he did not sub me.

Review:

1. Side Escapes - looks like I'm going to be reviewing this for the next 1000 taps. Just when my escapes are good enough for Whites, Blues and up take me apart and it's back to drawing board.

2. Guard Passes.

3. Arm bar Escapes.

Class, Tue, Sept. 6, 2011

Tech 1 -- from Guard, choke with gi wrap.

Tech 2 - Guard Pass with gi wrap under, to Side Control, then choke with gi wrap.

Cane Prevost talks about the fallacy of technique and he's right, oh so right. All the important stuff in BJJ starts with P. Posture, Pressure, Possibilities, Principles.

One Purple was showing another Purple a sub North-South Turtle, kind of a crank, guillotine type thing and they used me as uke. Then the low Purple asked if I wanted to try it, and I politely declined. At this point, I don't need any more technique or any more subs, since I barely pulled off the ones I do know.

I need to learn more Postures for each Position, more principles. So I worked Half Guard Bottom with Purple Steve. Really worked on preventing the cross face, but he said I needed to fight for the underhook on the other side.

So Half Guard -- same time, underhook and prevent cross face.

Rolled with Purple Dave, who's small, maybe my size and weight, maybe a little smaller. He always sweeps me with his Spider. I just could not pass his Guard. A little better success with Half Guard, almost got an Old School sweep, but when he got side control, not much room or space for me to try for underhook. At least I had a plan. I couldn't quite execute but I had a plan, so that's tiny teeny progress.

Earlier in positional drill, I got to work on my guard -- six of eight (all upper belts) just passed easily. They waited for me to try my Bump, my scissor or something as I opened my legs, then wrapped up up my knees and passed. I need to shrimp out, get my knees out. The other purple stayed in my guard, didn't really tried to pass, but just let me work and defended whatever I was throwing out at him. The other lower Blue I've bump swept him before and I did again, almost scissor and flowered swept but time ran out.

Taps: 3. Total: 192.

Back to the Drawing Board

Class, Sept. 3, 2011.

Tech. 1 -- Cross Guard set up.
1. Set up from Butterfly. Fall back, lift him with with both hooks.
2. Underhook his ankle, get my head near that leg as
3. R. Leg across his hip with knee in between and under; L. Leg under his leg in the Cross position.

Tech. 2 - Sweep from there.
1. Grab his far posting arm.
2. Push with R. Leg, as R. arm pulls up on his ankle.

Taps: 9. Total: 189. That's more like it. If I'm not tappin', I'm not learning. Purple I haven't seen before, tapped me really quickly. Like three times in a minute. But he was nice about it. Muscled the finish a little.

A Blue was another very efficient in tapping me out. Not unfriendly, just very business-like. But at least I saw how to do Half Guard properly. He didn't get me get cross face and he kept me at a distance with his knee.

Review:
1. Side Escapes.
2. Half Guard
3. Half Guard Passes.

Class, Sat. Aug. 27, 2011

Whohoo. Three classes last week. And no injuries. Success! But then, no classes this week until Saturday.

Tech. -- Half Guard Lockdown, and to Electric Chair.

Funny, I've been reviewing counters to the Lockdown all week.

Taps: 6. Total: 180. RNC, 2 armbars from unusual positions, choke from back, choke from back with his gi, kimura from mount - get caught with this all the time because it's my left, weak arm and I keep thinking they are going for arm bar and I relax a little waiting to sit up to escape.

Need to Review:

1. Half Guard Bottom -- need to get to my side but I get confused to which side to come up on. (** I come up on their free leg side.); and work on the Underhook.

2. Back Escapes.

3. Turtle Escapes.

Class, Thu Auig. 25, 2011

Tech 1 - Closed Guard Sweep - Flower

1. Double sleeve control, he lifts one knee.

2. Dive under knee, as I pulls other arm across. My leg comes up, over.

3. Bottom leg swings under and sweeps out his other knee.

Tech 2 - Closed Guard - go into Arm Bar.

Flower sweep, like the Xande sweep, but the Xande I can do even if he doesn't lift his knee up. I just grab at the knee pants.

Taps: 2. Total: 174.

One to footlock, and the other choke from mount.

Still can't quite get the Tozi pass to work. Need to review that. Couldn't pull any Bump Sweeps today. Almost though. Gotta get in my reps again.

Need to Review:

1. Lockdown counter - Ari.

2. Half Guard attacks - Robson.

3. Tozi pass.

4. Triangle escapes.

Need to add Scoot to drill -- keep getting caught in High Mount.

Class, Tue. Aug. 23, 2011

A good, good class. Down-the-line Pass/Guard drill. Love 'em. Starting to see more things. In my roll and others. Surprised lot of Whites, even some Blues don't know the Sit Out.

Tech. 1 - Turtle Turnover (review from Sat.)

1. Grab elbow and same side ankle and push over.

Tech. 2 - Side control Choke - when he has hand across my neck / I have cross face.

1. Push that hand across, control with side of my head.

2. My near knee on his belly, swing over leg over to other side, slide knee down. On his side with the other hand still cross face (under his neck).

3. Cross face hand grabs my bicep as other hand grabs under my other elbow.

4. Tripod my legs, drop hips down.

Detail: make sure my cross face arm/bicep is against side of his neck tight.

There's a new White, White Jim. He's huge, like 6'3" 250lbs or something like that. I think he does MMA. He's quite intimidating, but really a nice guy. I think I scissor swept him last week. Anyway, he's big and strong and others are a little scared of him. He likes to sit up in guard and break your posture by pulling down on your neck. Like all Whites, he uses a lot of strength. He's going to be pretty bad ass once he learns some technique, like swimming inside the arms, then pulling on back of the neck as he curls his legs -- that's going to be unstoppable way to break posture for him.

Taps: 2. Total: 172. Both to Triangle.

Need to Review:

1. Triangle Escapes - Robson's and Xande's.

2. Half Guard - Top and Bottom.

3. Counter to Lockdown.

Sat. Class, Aug. 20, 2011

Tech. 1 - Mount Escape Upa (review)

Tech 2 - Mount Escape - Bridge to Butterfly or re-guard

1. Bridge.

2. Both hands on his hips and press up.

3. Get knees in for Butterfly.

Tech. 3 - Side Control to Arm bar (puts arm over my shoulder)

1. My arm near his head, wraps his arm and grabs my gi, tight under his elbow throughout.

2. Other arm down on mat by his hip to prevent shrimping out.

3. Go north-south.

4. Get him on his side, knee on his belly.

5. Get my weight forward, other leg goes over his head, and finish.

Supplemental techs. after class: Turtle Turnover

1. Get elbow control

2. Same side ankle control.

3. Push over into Side Control.

Turnover 2: 1. Grab gi and pull down into Side Control.

Purple Chris' Takedowns from Knee.

1. Arm drag.

2. Collar drag.

3. Collar and knee, and push.

1,000 rep Hip Bump drill is paying off. I need to remember: 1. Control the arm/elbow. and if he posts, transition to Kimura.

Taps: 1. Total: 170.

More to gassing than a sub, but I was most likely about to tap.

White Belt - Don'ts / Tues, Aug. 16, 2011

Sitting in Guard / White Belt Don'ts (Review)

1. Collar choke. Why: Leads to Arm bar - Bottom guy will: a. control choking arms; b. foot on your hip, rotate; c. get his leg over.

2. Put hands on mat. Why: Leads to either kimura or hip bump sweep.

3. Reach behind and try to break guard. Why: Leads to Triangle. Good tip: swivel/rotate your hips to direction his trapped arm is pointing. Good way to remember.

Back Attack - Don't (Review).

1. Cross your ankles. Why: Leads to Ankle Lock -- he will: a. same side as top leg, get that leg over; b. triangle with other leg; c. fall to top leg side; d. finish by squeezing knees and legs down.

Back Attack Escape - one hand has collar/choke grip

1. Both hands grab his choking hand, one hand on his hand, other on his arm.

2. Fall to side his hand is pointing.

3. Hand that was on his arm (one close to his body), release and control his knee (grip pants at the knee) -- this prevents him from transitioning to Mount.

4. Hip escape out to Side Control.

Taps: 1. Total: 169. Purple Chris got me in Triangle and transitioned it to arm bar.

Need to Review:

1. Triangle and arm bar Escapes. (also remember to transition from one escape to the other.) Got caught in a few triangles. Didn't tap but didn't cleanly escape either.

2. Turtle Attacks.

3. Spider Guard Defenses.

4. Half Guard Attacks

5. Side Control Attacks.

6. Sit out.

Actually getting to top position now and then and it's such a novel situation, I don't have a good plan of attack.

Also could do with more Side and Half Guard Escapes.

Need to also think about Stringing Moves Together. I Scissor Swept a huge White belt, but he was able to push me back into Guard. That's when I could have Hip Bump Swept him the other direction. Or when I tried the Scissor, he was leaning forward to counter and I had chokes available. Something to think about.

Class, Sun. Aug. 6, 2011

Tech. 1 - Takedown - Inner Reap.

1. Standard grips, my left hand gets under arm sleeve; right hand gets collar grip by the shoulder.

2. Pull him in, as he pulls back, my right foot steps between / in front of his feet.

3. My left foot, hop skips, turns my body and like tai otoshi.

4. My right hand pushes his shoulder, off-balancing him as my right foot hooks his outside leg (left) for the takedown.

Taps: 1. Total: 168.

Class was all Whites, all Purples except for instructor and one Blue. Tapped to Blue who got a kind of a paper cutter, that also twisted my body with his other hand. Never seen that one before.

Stream of Consciousness/Common Paths of BJJ

BJJ.

Belts. Colors/Rank.

Frustrations/Addiction.

Judo.

Wrestling.

Instructionals. YouTube. Books. DVDs. Collecting Gi's.

Crossfit. Ginastica Natural.

Yoga. Injuries. Withdrawal. Chiropractor.

Surfing.

Injuries report: Star date July 31, 2011

Here are the BJJ injuries since I started training, Aug. 2010.

1. Hyper-extended elbow (left).
Out of training: 2 weeks.

2. Thumb (left) sprained/tendon.
Out of training: 2 weeks.
Urgent Care visit: Yes.

3. Current injury: Neck (left upper side)/pains shoulder and elbow. Numb index finger (left hand).
Out of training: 1 week and counting.
Urgent Care visit: Yes.
Chiropractor: Yes.

Belt: White, 4 stripes.
Total taps: 167.

Injury Rest Day, July 28

Injury: Shoulder and elbow painful, index finger a little numb and painful.

After much thought, decided to skip class today. Must been the all Kimuras I got caught with on Tues. They were yanking and muscling and I wasn't feeling anything, so I fought it. As soon as I felt even a little bit, I tapped. Should I tap even sooner?

Feel a little wimpy missing class, but I don't want to make it worse and miss even more training. As it is with my schedule and family activities I don't knew when I can train next. Tomorrow (Fri.)? or Sunday? Next Thursday night?

Status: White, 4 stripes.
Total taps: 167.
Working on:
a. guard
b. passing guard.
c. side escapes
d. submissions - choke from mount; armbar from mount.

1,000 Rep Project

I heard a judo guy say you need a 1,000 reps to own the move. He did a certain throw a 1000 times so that when he stepped in the cage for his MMA fight he did it without even thinking about it.

With that in mind, I'm going to log a 1,000 reps in different BJJ moves, drills. I need to solidify my Attacks from Guard, so first up: Bump Sweep.

1. Rotate to side.

2. Post up to elbow, then up to the hand.

3. Sit up to get over his elbow. Control that elbow.

4. Hip up, and sweep.

I'm making a 10x10 grid and checking a box after every 10 reps.

Tues, July 26, 2011

Tech 1: Standing Clinch to Pull Guard, Armbar.

1. Put my leg on hip, pull him into guard as I swivel.

2. Get my leg over for armbar.

Tech 2: He defends above, pulls arm out -- Scissor Sweep.

Tech 3: Hip Throw. Some grabs neck from behind.

1. Grab arm with both hands, defend the choke.

2. Change level, drop my hips by bending my knees.

3. Swivel hip, throw over shoulder.

Taps: 4 -- Kimura, Bow and Arrow choke, armbar, kimura. Total: 167.

Tapped to a different lower White. The Whites must love me by now. I didn't suck completely, but there were definitely pockets of suckitude; sucky eggs laid my me. Getting passed easily. I'm gonna see if turtle instead of letting him pass to side control. Side escapes.

A Blue did show me a Mount escape, which I'll call the Hip Push: 1. Both hands on either side of hips. 2. Push away one way as I hip escape the other way. Similar to Purple Jack's move, which I'll Jack Rabbit -- because he does a double push. One small push one way and as he comes down, a big push the other way. Second push before he has any base or weight.

I guess the hope is that I'll suck less and less and eventually I'll be sort of competent? Well, I'm not too worried. As long as I've got things to work on and I'm slowly progressing, I'm happy.

A Smile

Monday night, I'm lying in bed about to fall asleep. Wife next to me still reading. I must of had my eyes closed with a smile on my face because the wife says, "You're thinking about jiu jitsu, aren't you?"

Funny thing is I was. I was looking forward to next day's class. Must be hooked.

Sat, July 25, 2011

Purple Vince led the class, and he showed a lot of techniques.

From Guard, against:

Rookie move 1: He tries to choke top Guard -- swivel hip and Arm bar.

Rookie move 2: He puts hand on mat -- Kimura.

Rookie move 3: One hand put high on chest -- trap it and Armbar.

Then he showed a whole series of Knee on Belly (KoB).

1. He tries to push off my knee, get Underhook, spin, put my other knee behind his arm and fall to Armbar.

2. He defends the Underhook, pull up sleeve of near arm, my knee against that armpit, fall to Armbar.

3. KoB maintenance -- a. my foot tight against his hip, knee falls where it falls; b. switch knees if he turns in; c. spin to other side, side control.

4. If he pushes my knee into Half Guard -- make sure he gets leg, ankle but not my knee; get knee down onto mat; flatten him, get neck collar grip and same arm sleeve grip, pull up and get to Back.

Taps: 2. Total: 163.

Need to work on: Kesa Gatame Escape -- 1. Frame and get leg over for armbar; 2. Elbow to mat; underhook; get to side.

Rolling: trying to intentional roll, instead of mindlessly rolling for win or lose; roll to work on stuff.

Slightly Off Topic: Learning/Teaching

Cane Prevost over at his Gentle Art blog talks about the 3Ps of learning/teaching BJJ: Posture, Pressure, Possibility. He got it from Matt Thorton's 2I and Aliveness training. But 3I (Introduction, Isolation, Integration) has a more wider application and I'm going to try it on my older daughter.

I'm teaching her multiplication and this is the plan.

1. Introduction.

2. Isolation: Drills.

3. Integration: real life problems. Find square area of garden, our room that needs carpet, etc.

I'm going to try this in other areas, too.

BJJ Sangha

I've been reading many BJJ blogs and I like to start their story from the beginning and read all the through to the present. It's like a good book. And I like to read about their journey and hopefully learn a thing or too.

I know that BJJ is a life style for some, and some treat their academy and training partners like family but I'm starting to realize what that means. They've tapped into a "community", what the Buddhists call "sangha" -- one of three jewels of Buddhism.

Some people have that community with youth soccer, book clubs, their church, or their bowling league. I'm hankering for something like that. Why? I guess it's true, that whole no man is an island thing. Man needs friends, man needs community.

Outside of my family, I don't have much in the way of personal relationships. Also, I may have to start putting more effort into people if I want anything in return. What a change for the lone old wolf.

As we get older, as we move on from college, it gets harder to connect with people, to find that community, but I'm starting to realize it's vital that we need to find that community.

Thur. night, July 20, 2011

Tech 1: Standing Bullfighter Pass.

1. Grab both grips on his pants at knees.

2. He sits up, and you go one side to pass, bring shoulder down to get him back on mat.

3. One hand still on knee grip; other comes up for the cross face in Side Control.

Tech 2: Standing Bull Pass 2.

1. Grab both grips at pants.

2. He sits up and gets his two grips on my sleeves.

3. I let go knee grips and grip his sleeves.

4. Pull up on his sleeves, get his body off the mat a little and hip forward right into Mount.

Tech 3: Standing Knee Slide Pass.

1. Standing, hand on both his knees. Shoot right knee in between his legs, at an angle, right over his right pelvis.

2. As I slide down, get under hook with my right hand on his left arm.

3. Slide down knee to mat, left leg straighted out, in Side Control.

Then on to the Positional Drills down the line. I love these isolation drills. I made an error in the Mount/Escape Mount, where a Blue upa'd me. I figured out the morning after the class what I think I did wrong. I was going for the Roger Cross choke and got swept going for the second grip. I thought I was too fast, too greedy. But I know I did everything right up to that point, then I lifted my body up too high and I forgot to base with my forehead.

**I tried to practice all these during rolling, but hard to do since I rolled with the Brown who taught it to us. Also, it wasn't too efficient a learning process for me because he basically shut me down, with really fast tap tap tap tap. I couldn't work any of my game, I couldn't really find any chinks in the armor.

Then rolled with a lower belt White who tapped me with a RNC. I think i made his night.

I really like the Night White Belt classes. Although it's a little scary as a four-stripe White.

Taps: 7. Total. 161.

Outliers and 10,000 Hours

The 10,000 taps thing comes from Pedro Sauer Black Belt Keith Owens. I just finally got a copy of Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers, and read about the 10,000 Hour rule to mastery.

Zhoozhitzu do Graugardo blog also had a 1000 Flight Hours project -- rolling for 1000 hours and see where he's at.

I did the math and at the current rate of taps, in 10,000 hours of rolling I should tap about 1250 times. So technically, I should be aiming for 1250 taps, but that goal seems too near and too achievable. I'm going to stick to 10,000 taps.

Here are some more notes from the book.

• the magic number for true expertise: ten thousand hours.
• But what truly distinguishes their [Beatles, Bill Gates] histories is not their extraordinary talent but their extraordinary opportunities. [opportunities to get to the magic 10k number.]
• A basketball player only has to be tall enough -- and the same is true of intelligence. Intelligence as a threshold. [after a certain IQ level, other factors come into play.]
• Only two parenting "philosophies" [rich and poor]. Rich/middle class parenting -- "concerted cultivation" -- an attempt to actively "foster and assess a child's talents, opinions and skills."
• Poor parents follow a strategy of "accomplishment of natural growth." They see as their responsibility to care for their children but to let them grow and develop on their own. So the poor kids don't know how to "customize." While the rich kids are taught a sense of entitlement, an attitude perfectly suited to succeed in modern world.
• This is backed up by Terman studies of kids. All the super-successful A kids were from the "cultivated" parenting styles.
• Since we know that outliers always have help along the way, can we sort through the ecology of Joe Flom and identify the conditions that helped create him?
• The sense of possibility so necessary for success comes not just from inside us or from our parents. It comes from our time: from the particular opportunities that our particular place in history presents us with. [it matters what era they were born in.]
• Meaningful work: autonomy, complexity, and a connection between effort and reward -- the three qualities that work has to have to be satisfying. Work that fulfills those three criteria is meaningful.
• Success arises out of steady accumulation of advantages: when and where you are born, what your parents did for a living, and what the circumstances of your upbringing. And cultural legacy?
• Who we are cannot be separated from where we're from.
• Airplane crashes -- usually involve seven consecutive human errors. Also in concert with bad weather, pilot fatigue and being behind schedule.
• Asians and math: Chinese four-years can count to 50; American kids only 15.
• Being good at math is not an innate ability. It's an attitude. Success is a function of persistence and doggedness and the willingness to work hard.
• We should be able to predict which countries are best at math simply by looking at which national cultures place the highest emphasis on effort and hard work. ... all the cultures shaped by wet-rice agriculture and meaningful work.
• Success follows a predictable course. It is not the brightest that succeed. Nor is it the sum of decisions and efforts we make on our own behalf. It's a gift. Outliers are those who have been given opportunities -- and those who had the strength and presence of mind to seize them.
• the myth of the best and brightest and the self-made.

Crappy Class (Attitude), Promotion, All's Well...

Night class, Thursday, July 14.

I really should try to make more of the White Belt Night Classes. And I really need to take ownership of my training and learning. Be more efficient. Less ego. Fundamentals. Basics. Principles. Concepts.

With that in mind, no taps. Total still at: 154.

Tech 1: Standing Pass (shown before).

1. R. hand grabs both lapels and press down on sternum.

2. L. hand gets a sleeve grip/control.

3. Left side/left knee up; both legs up.

4. Both hands on same sleeve grip and posture straight up.

5. Right hand on his knee, shake/push to open legs.

6. Get single under for the pass to Side.

Tech 2: Side Control Elbow Lock

1. Get far side underhook, grab my own gi for control.

2. Other hand moves from under his neck to other side of his head.

3. Knee across belly, head down on mat.

4. Swing leg over his head, then under his head.

5. Grab my own wrist, pull up tight near his elbow joint for finish.

Crabby/Cranky

We had our usual Guard/Pass Guard drill and I couldn't do jack -- couldn't pass and got passed by a few times. There were five or six lower Whites, one Blue, two Purple. I was pretty pissed off at myself that I didn't do better against the lower Whites. Also, I felt I was using more strength and not enough technique.

And it didn't help that I got my fourth Stripe (White), and I felt it was not earned; I was unworthy of it.

But things ended well after I worked with Purple Rain. He was saying how no one was using the Standing Pass that Coach Chris just showed us. My thought was: he just showed it to us, so it's not going to work, and I just learned it so I'm going to be crappy at it so it's not going to work.

This is the COMPLETELY WRONG attitude to have. It's totally "be good" thinking and not "be better" focus that I should be having.

Who cares if it doesn't work? It's not supposed to work, right now, for me. But, but, after a bunch of reps, after much practice, after a few months, after I get all the details and make it my own, IT WILL BE AWESOME. It will work and I will be better. So I have of been practicing it, getting out of my comfort zone, so to speak.

Purple Rain suggested I work on that for a week. So whatever is shown in class, so focus on that for a week or so. He also gave me some Concepts tips:

1. Use pockets of energy: don't just grab and hold with all my might. Find the pockets, the angles, grab and relax; when I see the timing, the mini-opportunities, grab then relax.

2. Always threaten. Even if I'm defending, I have to threaten something to distract him, to deflect his attack.

Side Escape detail

*Get in prayer position. When I frame and push up, don't push straight up. Push up and down towards my feet, at an ankle, while at the same time, I rock my head back for momentum. Then bridge at angle and get my knee in.

Focus on:

1. Guard/closed.

2. Opening closed Guard/Passing guard.

3. Side Escape.

Cross Collar Choke - Detail

This was one technique that was covered in the last two classes. Some people call it the Roger Gracie choke from mount.

One detail I have to remember to do: After I get the first grip in, bring my elbow down on this chest with pressure. I keep forgetting to do that.

The other detail, which I've figured out, really has helped me, is to turn my palm up, making sure my thumb and blades along there is against his neck. They always tell you to it's key to get a deep, deep grip on that first grip. The reason is the deep grip helps get a tight choke on the neck, on the carotid artery.

The other higher belts I was drilling with didn't do this and they were crushing my windpipe, coming down on my neck but they weren't doing a choke; they were not cutting the blood supply squeezing the sides of my neck.

Mount Survival Checkdown

Someone gets my Mount, I have to:

1. Elbows tight; Frame/brace with my arms, hands clasped together, against his hip. (This prevents: a. riding his knees high into High Mount; b. getting close enough for chokes.)

2. Bridge and get on my side; one leg flat, other one up. Get rid of hook on the flat leg side.

3. Shrimp out and try elbow escape.

*** Constantly, every five count, bridge to keep him off balance and don't give him time to get settled in to try any subs.

Usually, as I get almost out with the elbow escape, they will transition to S-Mount (if they don't, I can easily get Half Guard, and may even get full Guard.)

So for S-Mount Survival, I try two things:

1. S-Mount Escape from Saulo's JJ University book, page 62.

2. Eddie Kone's escape shown here, via PT Grappler blog.

I've pulled off the Saulo before, but haven't been able to get the Kone to work for me yet.

Sat. July 9, 2011

Tech: same two from Thursday night. Instructor must do same techniques throughout the week.

Taps: Triangle, triangle, omoplata, defend triangle but tap to armbar. Total: 154.

Talk about my rusty defense, sheesh.

Trends: new Blues like Spider Guard. Many Purples controlling my elbow from Gable-like grip right over the elbow in Side Mount. Been seeing that a lot lately. Also, Triangle from Mount.

In other news, ordered a new gi -- Padilla and Sons, baby, yeah! White Gold Weave. Finally, another gi besides my HCK, which is about 10 years old, and a little on the tight side, fading a bit, but I still like it a lot. Just thought I'd give another brand a try.

Night, July 7, 2011

Forgive me BJJ gods, it's been almost three weeks since my last class ... man was I rusty, and I'm really pissed that I stunk up the joint. Wanted to give one of my stripes back. Maybe in my day classes, I'm become comfortable and all the other guys are going too easy on me, but I just felt like it was day one for me.

Taps: 2. Total: 150.

It was a White Belt class, with a couple of higher colors.

Tech: 1 -- Kimura from Guard.

Tech 2 -- Failed Kimura from Guard / go to Bump Sweep.

Sat. Class, June 25, 2011

Tech. 1 - Vince Open Pass.

I'm calling it that because Purple Vince showed it to us. An Open Guard Pass. I'm standing, and if I'm passing to the right, I'll attack his Left Leg (LL).

1. Get my Right Leg outside his LL, under and tight near his hip, butt.

2. Press into that leg, my shin to his, bend his leg. Control that leg, my left hand on his foot, other hand on the knee.

3. Switch leg, replace my right leg with left, but same pressure; move right leg near his armpit for a sec, then to knee on belly.

4. Drop my weight down on belly as I come down in Side Control.

Tech 2 - Chris Pass (after you break guard).

1. Passing Left - Left hand gets a grip on his Right Leg at the cuff; Right hand under his Left leg and grabs his belt.

2. Grip on cuff hand, pulls down, flattens his leg, staples leg to mat; drop hip and weight down on that leg.

3. Walk around to the left and to Side Control.

Position Drills - Stay on Mount / Mount Escapes.

I really love position drills -- Guard/pass Guard; Side Control/Escapes; Half Guard Pass/Escapes etc.

First Mount Session, I was on Bottom, and I slowly escaped once and reset and was halfway to another before time. Second time, I was on top of New White and was terrible. He bucked me and tossed me and escaped four or five times. I got a leeetle bit better each time, but not at all happy with my performance. Since we couldn't do subs, my Mount Maintenance totally sucked. In hindsight, I realized I need to swim my arms under his to counter his use of arms, or at least in real rolling I need to armbar him.

Taps: 3. Total: 148.

I'm getting real lazy and giving up Americanas, but they are muscling it a lot too.

Tues, June 14, 2011

Tech: Knee on Belly Escape - trapping his knee and toppling him over.

Tech series of Omoplatas - Triangle, to Omo, if he rolls out etc.

Taps: 3. Total 145.

Injuries: Left thumb sore, Right shoulder sore. Went to urgent care to get the thumb checked out, in case it's a fracture. X-rays negative. Just a sprain. Have to wear this splint for a week. Not sure exactly when I got either injury.

Sucks, I have to miss training this week. And next week, I'm back to work so the two-a-week training is not possible. It'll be once a week (Saturdays).

Thoughts on rolling: Too passive from the start. I'm sitting and they push me over, and I'm pretty much starting from Bottom Half-Guard. Must try to get a grip, or underhook and leg hook and try a Butterfly as I go down.

On learning a new technique:
I haven't really learned it unless I can pull it off during rolling, against a live resisting guy. That's my measure of success. For me the steps to success are:
1. I see it or read about, BUT forget about it during rolling; forget to even try it.
2. I try it during rolling. Get to step one or two, and forget the rest. So it FAILS.
3. Review, so I remember the rest of the steps.
4. Success, but only once in awhile or against lower belts only.
5. Success. Mastery.

That's why I keep reviewing the same stuff over and over again, ie Side Escapes, Mount Escapes, Bottom Half Guard. I'm at a different level for each position, each technique, but trying to get to step 5 in all of them.

Old School -- couldn't pull it off against heavy smashy White; and he did a good job of cross facing me and keeping me busy defending his choke attempts.

This is the breakdown for Old School (as I understand it):
1. Lockdown.
2. Whip up and get on my side.
3. LH (left hand) (assuming you have his right side, right leg locked down), gets underhook.
4. RH reaches under and grabs free foot (LL, left leg).
5. Get up on my knee, lean into him, and roll him over. (this is where I get confused as to whether to open up my lockdown or use it as leverage as I do the sweep.)

Tozi Pass - step 2, so need to review. I had my head on the wrong side, so I was not preventing the guy from moving with me, making it harder for me to break his guard.

Speaking of passing guard and breaking guard... my posture gets broken so easily and constantly, so I've been looking at guard passes where you start with your posture broken. Having limited success. Most people don't expect you to pass with your posture broken.

Sat. June 11, 2011

Tech: from Closed Guard: Armbar to Omoplata to Triangle.

Taps: 1. Total: 142.

Positional Drills: Back Escape - I did well, escaped three times against Blue. Back escapes review seems to have paid off. Did okay in Mount Escapes; sucked in Guard, got passed by new Brown easily several times. He just based back, had posture and I opened my legs to try a Bump Sweep and he passed with Single Under.

Rolling: with Higher White - in his guard most of the roll, defending armbar, chokes. He just had my posture broken and I couldn't do much but defend. At least I didn't tap.

Next up: Blue Ryan - good roll, defended okay and actually got his mount but I couldn't get the Roger cross choke and he escaped and eventually got me to tap. I'm pissed that I couldn't escape from the Back. I've never really able to escape. If I get close, he transitions to mount. I have to review that detail to prevent that.

Tues, June 7, 2011

Taps: 4. Total. 121.

Spider Pass review helped a leeetle bit. David Blue swept me again, twice, but not as easily as last time. I was able to remove one of his grips, just couldn't move on from there.

Review:
* Old School Sweep -- especially the finish. Was there three times or four, was able to pull it off only once. And might as well review Plan B while I'm at it.

* Back Escapes -- still can't pull it off. (sources: Saulo dvd, Robson and Sgt. Jones).

* Armbar Escapes -- Saulo bk and Hitchhiker.

I read a couple of interesting books: Succeed - about goals and how and why people achieve them or not; Art of Learning, by J. Waitzkin. I'll post my notes soon and how it relates to jj and life in general.

Thu, June 2, 2011

Tech 1: Half Guard Pass -- good details. very technical. like very much. Key: get him flat on his back via 1. Free knee against his armpit/above hip area; 2. big circle w/ trapped leg, that will flatten him; 3. Get underhook on that side; 4. my head on mat and against his head on other side as underhook; 4. my butt in air, get my trapped leg, knee just above his knee; 5. shift weight/hip to bring that knee to mat; 6. my free leg leg kicks his knee to get my last bit of trapped ankle out and into kesa getame.

Tech 2: Half Guard Choke from Top -- use his gi choke; good transfer to gripping gi details from Purple Vince.

Taps: 2. Total: 117. Both with Blue Izzy. Both kimuras, same thing from inside his guard.

Rolling with Blue David -- swept me both times with his Spider Guard. I did get him with Old School.

Need to Review: 1. Spider Guard Pass; 2. Guard Break - Purple Vince gave me some pointers ... hand on hip, other hand on chest; come up and swivel, then knee up and keep him close ... see also Robson's Break.

Tue, May 31, 2011

Tech: Mount Esc; Mount Esc to Butterfly.

Taps: 1. Total: 115.

Only rolled twice: once with lower White and another with Creaky Bones Chris Purple. Scary. The lower belts are improving and closing the gap. Had my hands full. He was very active in guard and took awhile to pass.

With Creaky Purple, got mount and KoB and some gi choke that I couldn't defend and tapped and now my throat is sore.

Thu, May 26

Tech: 4 Chokes.
Sneaky Choke 1: From Bottom Side -- Standard arm on shoulder like you're going to frame; bridge and get other gi grip for choke (which is usually the first grip in a palm up, palm down choke); bring him back down and finish choke.

Sneaky Choke 2: From Guard, off a failed Scissor Sweep, keep the collar grip, sit up and reach for his belt on his back and pull up as tighten the collar grip toward the ceiling.

Choke 3: Baseball choke off Knee on Belly.

Choke 4: He goes for double leg, label choke (usually seen in choke from Back); same grips and sprawl. Need to be heavy on him and rest my weight on him.

Izzy Blue - americana from mount and that baseball choke i think. I was defending the cross face and he waited for me to bridge and got his grip under and finished.

2 taps: Total: 116.

Good: Guard/Pass Guard drills -- only got passed a couple times; didn't pass anyone but only got swept once. I even swept Izzy Blue when he stood up, but I was so shocked that I scrambled too slowly and he came up on my side for the pass. And rolling with Ryan Blue -- defended the whole time but didn't get submitted; defended the Back well enough but still couldn't quite escape. But I was moving alot from Back to Turtle to Back to Mount so he couldn't get comfortable to finish anything.

Need to work on:
*Side ESC.
*Back ESC
*Mount ESC -- especially shrimping back to get him back to low Mount.
*Bridge Series from Guard - didn't try any of this.
*Scissor Sweep & Reverse Sweep.
*Butterfly Sweep.
*General: 1. Keep Moving; 2. Be Heavy (especially transitioning, and when I'm resting, rest on him).

Add to Drills: Bump Sweep (esp. non-favorite side). So the drills on non-class days look like this.
1. shrimp x 20
2. sit outs x 20
3. Guard Control / circle x 20
4. Bump sweep.

Might need to replace the sit outs with something else in about a week.

*** and got a idea for BJJ shirt. will post pic when I make it.

Tue. May 23

Tech: Standing Takedown -- standard grips (collar and under elbow); staggered stance with lead foot same side as collar grip); pull with collar grip, make a L with that hand against his chest to push; leg hook in his forward leg; he should fall when you push.

Taps: 4: Total: 114.

Rolling with Purple Chris -- same damn thing every time. He mounts and gets High S Mount and wraps my arm around my neck and threatens the arm bar on that arm. Tried to turn and he gets the back.

Need to review Turtle attacks -- he Turtles to let me attack and I'm generally clueless there. I did okay defending the back (Controlling his top arm with two arms, but I didn't get to do the rest of the escape).

Need to review -- Trumpet Dan's Half Guard Passes; and Half Guard in general. I could not pass or sweep. At one point, Purple Morecai had top and I couldn't get underhook because he was trying to kimura that arm and I had a Lockdown but my other arm was under his leg, stuck halfway in Old School and Plan B. Dumb. I needed to get the underhook and go for the ankle for Old School.

Need to review: Bridge Series from Guard.

Third Stripe, White

Tech: Review of the Failed Footlock -- switch his foot to the other side, grab his collar and come up in Side Control.

Taps: 5. Total: 110.

That Smashy Hulkin' new White Belt was there again. I would guess he's about 250lbs. So about 100 more than me. He tapped me twice on Tuesday. But not today. He was on top was of the roll and tried various subs but I finally Upa'ed toward the end and roll ended before I could do anything.

This was right after I got my third stripe and was called a Sandbagger because I didn't have any stripes showing on my new belt.

Purple Vince gave me a good Bottom Mount tip. He saw me needlessly protecting me neck when I didn't need to, opening myself up for armbars and musclely kimuras. He said to keep my arms down until they start getting their hands inside the collar and are actually going for the choke.

Purple Chris said I'm doing better with my defenses and not panicking like most Whites. I felt I was, too. But only half the time. The other half, I wasn't panicking but my brain was a blank. I knew I was in a bad position but I didn't have any escape ideas so I stayed inert and then had to tap.

At least, the good parts were that I was moving and trying stuff and that made it difficult for them to finish.

So the takeaway: Always Keep Moving and changing Angles and Keep Trying Stuff. So they don't have such a easy path to finishing the sub.

Need to Review: Back Escape; S Mount Escape; Side Escape (especially from the non-favorite side).

Class: Tue May 17

Tech: review of Guard Pass Defense - where they try Single Under and you have to push their elbow away before they grab your gi and shrimp out and re-Guard.

New Guy, big hulking White, and big red flags and alarms went in my head. I drilled with him and later rolled. He's got about 50lbs on me, maybe more. Mucho stronger, too. I had no problems tappin to him twice, once a kimura from side and label choke from side.

And Purple Chris got three taps on me, probably could of have alot more. He gets Mount and he gets an arm bar whenever he wants because I'm defending my neck from chokes.

Total taps: 105.

Side Escape Update: I did manage to do the two things (elbow down on mat, other arm underhook), and even got to third step (got him to go Kesa Gatame); but got stuck there and didn't remember what I was supposed to do next.

Have to review: Side Escape Theory 1.

Teeny Little Bit of Progress

Sat. May 14 -- Taps 3 (could have been a lot more, but the Purple I was rolling with was flow rolling). Total: 100.

Progress: On positional drills (Guard/Passing Guard - Gauntlet) ... previously I'll be in guard and it'll be like this: pass my guard, pass, pass, next pass, pass, pass, next repeat. But today, it was pass, almost pass; next pass, almost pass. That's progress.

Same thing in my trying to pass: this time it was sweep, almost pass; almost pass, stuck.

Need to work on: Side Escape -- but more specifically, just to these two things first: 1. My elbow in, down on mat; 2. other hand, get underhook. Go from there, and try the rest of the escape.

Thurs. May 5, 2011

Technique: Side Control -- to Kesa Gatame and variations. Key: getting that near arm up and controlled and following and not letting me shrimp away.

Taps: 8. Total: 97.

Work on: Passing Guard, Passing Guard, Passing Guard.

Maybe I'll figure out what to do in Guard that way.

May 3, 2011

Tech: Sit Down Guard -- remove the grips on pants; drag down cross collar to Back.

Taps: 7. Total: 89.

Work on:

1. Mount ESC.
2. Side ESC
3. Breaking Lockdown.
4. Roger's Half Pass.

A purple told me to get to Mount and see how others escape.

Sun. April 20, 2011

Techniques: 3 Takedowns

1. From Knee Sweep: Left- under elbow sleeve grip, Right - collar grip. Right foot - hook like a half butterfly; tuck other under butt like I'm pulling guard; sit down and in an angle; pull that leg out and tap/lock his knee as I flip over with hook.s
2. From Stand up: Same grip set up. Then Step on/lock his lead foot as I sit down.
3. From Stand up: Same except drive in with my head against his neck on opposite side as I step to side.

Taps: 7. Total: 82.

Back to Basics. Need to work on.

1. Mount Escapes
2. Side Escapes
3. Back Escapes
4. Half Guard Escapes
5. Guard - Breaking their Posture

Side note: If they pull Guard, try to put Knee up and try that pass.

Class: Thu April 21

Tech. 1 and 2: Guard breaks, standing.

Rough warmup, because there's a tournament coming up.

Taps: 5 - Armbar, RNC and couple of others can't quite remember.

Total taps: 70.

Good turnout, only one other White, three Purples and six or seven Blues.

Need to Review: 1. Saulo Knee Pass (I keep getting my Back taken on it as they push my head away); 2. Breaking Posture; 3. Old School / Plan B sweeps.

Three Week Break

Man, I missed class. After three weeks off, I was sllooooow.

Chris the Purple, who's usually injured, got to my back so easily with an arm drag, three times in row from the starting knee position. Arm bar, arm bar, tap tap. Total taps: 60. Then something else I can't remember. Tap.

Ryan the blue. tap tap. Izzy tap tap. then Ryan again. Tap, after a long roll.

Need to review: 1. Back Escapes; 2. Turtle Escapes; 3. Side Escapes; 4. Half Guard Bottom; 5. Half Guard Passes.

Total taps: 65.

On a side note: They opened a Gracie Barra in my town. If they didn't make you buy their gi and if they didn't make you come twice a week, I'd be there. But they are just not that flexible for me. And the guys are really cool at my current school, so I'll stick with it even though it's much farther.

Lest My Ego get Too Big

In the words of Robert A. Heinlein and the Man from Mars, "I'm only an egg" in the world of BJJ. Don't I forget it.

It goes egg, nestling, nymphs-adult, then Old Ones.

Keep repeating. "I'm only an egg." and "Bring empty cup" to training.

Best Roll So Far

And I'm not talking about sushi either. But before we get to that.

Tech. 1: Basic Standup Hip Throw. I'm too lazy to look up the Japanese name for it. Left hand grip under elbow, lift that up like steering wheel; step right foot in near his right foot, make fist; get my bicep under his armpit as I swivel; my back to him now, almost parallel; hip just outside; lift him onto my hip...

A whole lineup and now I know why most of the Blues and Purples sat out. Most, including me, didn't do it properly (no hip contact, or not enough hip connect, as Saulo would say). Most didn't know how to fall properly. Luckily, there was an extra pad for the drill.

Izzy the Blue said I was "getting better." Hurray. Dominated one White and there was a new White with a couple of stripes; very strong and heavy; barely held my own against his size and strength. He eventually gassed and we stopped. Chris the Purple was coaching him during the roll. It was very distracting. He said he always coaches the underdog. I'm not the underdog anymore.

There was a tap or two in there somewhere. Total tap: 58.

Last roll with Ryan the Blue. He's my benchmark for progress these days. Last time was a few weeks ago. He said my defense was good. He usually gets dominant position and can't get any subs because he only has the basic attacks, which I can defend. I usually only tap if they muscle the sub or if they transition to something else after the basic attack, or if they counter my counter my first defense.

But this time, he was moving really, really well. He's improved. He got dominant position and as I tried my escapes, he kept moving and transitioning, so that I ended up in another bad position.

He didn't get any subs, but both of us was moving. I've seen and read about "flow" rolls, but I've never been part of it til now. It feels awesome. More please.

Review: 1. Guard (breaking posture); basic attacks Bump Sweep-Guillotine-Kimura, etc; 2. Sitting in Guard (Breaking Guard) - and Passes; 3. Half Guard Sweeps; 4. Side Escapes.

Girl Sight! Yay! And the Phases of BJJ

I've been working my way through BJJ Grrl's blog and thinking there are no women at my school. And then one shows up today. Hurrah. Didn't get to talk or roll with her though.

Tech 1: Open Guard Pass. Grab the gi near the knees, push down and around to Side.

Tech 2: Guard break. Stand up.

Tech 3: Kimura from Side.

Tech 4: Var. of that Kimura. He straightens arm, get under his elbow joint.

Roll 1: Izzy the Blue. Getting to his Half Guard pretty easily, but also he's sweeping me half the time. Need to work on my weight. He swept and he got to Side Control and cranking the neck and was thinking if he moved just a little to the right, I would have to tap. So I rolled away the other direction, and he got a tighter choke. Tap tap. 48.

We went again and I got into half and time ran out.

Roll 2: Edgar the White. Just Guard and Passing the Guard, with me on bottom. Kind of had my way with him. Got sweeps that I've never pulled off before. Bump sweep. Scissor sweep. Guillotine choke. But, but. I still feel I was grabbing, using a little too much strength. I was grabbing for cross collar grip, holding and pulling too much. Overall, I think I've improved just a leettlle bit.

Roll 3: Chris the Purple. Crushified. Two brief shining moments: I got half guard and he swept. He turtled on purpose to let me work and tried to talk me into basics -- getting the back, hooks in and flattening (that's his MO) -- but I wanted to try the roll we learned last class. And it worked, although I didn't end up in Side as I was supposed to.

From there, all down hill. He got mount and S Mount and got the wrap my own arm around my neck control and then to arm bar. Arm bar. Arm bar. Then choke from back. Also, flattening me from back. Lots of Knee on Belly. Knee on chest. Knee on ribs, pressing down. I think I might have tapped to one of those. Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap. Total: 56.

Need to review: Side escapes (again) - especially the Harpoon sweep. Getting my hand caught and they mount and control it.

Knee on Belly escapes - can't get any to work.

Izzy the Blue did show me an arm bar defense - holding my gi and holding my trapped arm at the elbow and coming up with him when he goes down.

Here are my Phases of BJJ:

1. The Acquisition of Technique Phase -- buying Dvds, books, watching YouTube, reading blogs -- all in search of the magic bullet that will crush other Blues and Purples.
2. The Acquisition of Principles/Fundamentals -- Back to basics. Searching for the why the techniques work. And all of the details.
3. Coveting of the Belts Phase -- You can taste the Blue, see the Purple, then the Brown is not that far off.
4. Calling BJJ "Jits" Phase.
5. Giving of the Advice Phase - as a White, I should be keeping my mouth shut (see below for duties of the White Belt).
6. Just Enjoy the Journey Phase.

In between all these phases, there will be quite a few Pity Parties. It's just so easy to think, "I suck! I really suck at BJJ."

Duties of the White Belt:

1. Listen. Ask questions, but otherwise, keep mouth shut. Do not teach. Do not give advice.
2. Tap. A lot. Get swept a lot. Try to use technique. Calm down. Chill.
3. Keep your gi clean, your finger, toe nails short.
4. Don't try foot locks, ankle locks.
5. Don't practice on friends and family. Because you're jonesing for BJJ until your next class and those are the only people your techniques will work on.