Taps: 936 and Arm Drag Series

Taps: 7. Total: 936.

Sunday fun day. And wondering why I have to travel all the way to other academies when I can get my butt whooped at my own place?

BB Joel taught.

1. N/S Esc, bumping and spinning around.

2. Closed Guard Arm Drag Series.
  a. Choke, finish with grabbing my own ankle.

  b. He defends the choke, Bump Sweep into Mount.
      1. Same hand goes in front to his face, pull in on his elbow, open legs and bump.

3. Mount - fake Armbar, roll down into Triangle.
  a. Go into S Mount, leg tucked into his armpit; pull up on his Non-armbar arm, fall down into Triangle.

Focus:

1. Passing / grip fighting
2. Arm Triangle
3. Triangle from Mount and Side
4. Closed Guard

Taps: 929 and Back to our Regular Academy

Taps: 4. Total: 929. 

Good to be back at my regular academy and getting my butt whooped by the regular crowd.

BB Vince showed a counter to the back scoop take, where they kick out and take your back. I need to grip their Butt, or at the pants or preferably the belt.

Also, the Half Guard Rolling Back Take. Ryan Hall special.

Half Guard, top and my right leg is trapped.
1. Bring my right knee out, like I'm going to Knee Cut, but then get my knee to the mat on the right, and get him on his side.
2. Bring my left leg up, near the near his feet.
3. Reach with my right hand near my left leg, as I roll over my right shoulder.
4. Bring my right leg up and down, and he should twist and I can take his Back.

PB Rick says all Sweeps come from the power of the Hips. Need to get my hips underneath, and no effort is needed. The fulcrum.

BrB Steve showed his Half Guard Bottom, Kimura Sweep. He can go either way with it. He showed only one way. Next time, I'll have to ask him about the other direction.

1. Get the Kimura grip, as I'm on my right side.
2. Switch hip, and start facing the left side and get my left leg hook in and lift with that for the Sweep to the Left.

Fail: Kimura Step over. 
 *Tried twice and both times they linked hands to defend. I need to get my right knee and over his bicep before he can link hands.

Fail: Passing.
 * Really need to deal with grips before I start passing. Break Grips before I pass. Break Grips before I pass.

Taps: 925 and the Simi Valley Open Mat Visit 1

Taps: 10. Total: 925.

Getting closer to the big 1k taps.

Those Simi Valley guys came to my academy and kicked my butt, so I had to go to their Open Mat, and they kicked my butt again.

There was a 17-year-old Blue Belt who tapped my 6 times in one roll. A White belt got me with a Loop Choke. Those guys are tough and they were not holding back. I need that. I need to train outside my comfort zone. I'm still training at my academy but I'm going back first chance I get, along with going to the Open Mat at the JJ League.

Next time, maybe he'll only tap me 5 times, then 4, and eventually I might get through the roll without tapping! Little bits of progress, goals for 2014.

"Stand to Pass." -- BB Kenny.

"Keep moving, don't let them settle when you're on bottom." -- random PB.

Watts Step-Over Armbar with Belt Grip Breakdown

Here is the breakdown. 

Step 1: Both hands on other side of his head.

Step 2: Underhook his outside arm.

Step: 3. Pull that arm, get him on his side.

Step 4: Grip his belt with my other hand.

Step 5: Go N/S and step over with my left foot; right foot slides down on his chest onto his other bicep, pinning his other hand.

Step 6. Kimura grip.

Step 7: Swivel, sit down for finish.

Whenever I get to Side Control, this is the one thing I'm going to practice.

Taps: 915

Taps: 2. Total: 915.

Brown Vince showed Half Guard Bottom Floss Sweep, where you use the gi and come up. It complements the top passing that he showed on Tuesday.

 Black Chris showed 2 Back Esc, and man I needed them. Simple.
1. He has a collar grip ...
 a. tuck chin down, get both hands on that hand and fall to the side that hand is pointing.
 b. Control his top knee before he can wrap on my other side and come up in Mount; shrimp out as I push with hand, shrimp shrimp and come up in Side Control.

2. No grips, just has hooks...
  a. both my hands crossed, and inside my own collars, elbows down and collar up, turtling, hiding under my gi.
  b. scoop, scoot down TWICE, then kick out one side as I push down his same side hook with my elbow, bring my leg back up.
  c. scissor my leg, come up opposite side of the cleared hook.

Currently reading the Talent Code by Daniel Coyle. Although I'm only halfway through it, it's got some great inspiring stuff and I want to use it to learn new skills, grow my myelin. With that in mind, the first project in the new Learning Methodology Using Deep Practice  is the Watts Step Over Armbar, with the belt tie grip.

Step 1: Watch the Video (without sound) 5 times.

Step 2: Break it down into smaller steps.

Step 3: Rep it Slow (100x).

Step: 4. Do that move only in that Position during Live Rolling for two months.

Next up:

1. Scully's Shin Sweep

Marcelo does it too.

2. Tanquinho Sweep. 

Revisit:

Cane Provost's 3 P System -- Posture, Pressure, Possibilities.

Taps 913

Taps: 3. Total: 913

Brown Vince taught 3 Half Guard Passes.

1. Dealing with High Knee Shield.
 a. Go under his ankle, go to Over/Under, getting his leg on my shoulder and stacking him.

2. Dealing with Low Knee Shield.
 a. I usually go for my Leg Weave, but Vince showed a double leg wrap.
 b. Go under both legs, grab bottom knee, sprawl and pass.

3. Knee Slice and going the other way to Mount.
  a. can't do Knee Slice, then tripod and get the knee down on mat; use my other leg to wedge open his other leg and drop both legs down for Mount.

Black Chris showed dealing with DLR and Leg Lasso plus Spider. All about breaking grips. Which fits in nicely with the Keenan Passing Dvds I've been watching. Really need to slow down and think about Keenan's Red light/Green Light passing areas.

Doing Ok with Passing Half Guard, especially the Knee Slice and when I couldn't get the Underhook, going the other way with the Fantasma Pass (just saw BJ Penn's variation which is similar.

Need to ask Vince about Half Guard Bottom. And also continue the Side Escapes. And I noticed my Open Guard sucks. They just walk around it. Need to deal with that.

Taps: 910

Taps: 6. Total: 910.

Black Chris taught.

Tech 1 - Sit out. 
1. I shoot in for double, he counters with underhook on my head side.
  a. change to single on that side; trap arm, bring that side leg up and sit out and come out the back.

Tech 2 - Single counter to Omoplata.
1. I'm standing with one foot forward, he sits but grabs lead leg and tries for Single.
  a. push down on back of his head; back step a little and drop my knee and his hand along with it on the mat;
  b. grab his elbow and forward roll into Omoplata.

Tech 3 - Loop Choke.
1. Off N/S Turtle.
  a. get good grip with right hand under his chin;
  b. left hand overhook other hand and comes up behind his head, palm up.
  c. roll under him opposite side of my grip hand, turning him over.
  d. scooch in, crunch, walk into him for finish.

Bonus: Random Brown showed a tweak to Butterfly Sweep -- if they post, then scoot out, shrimp a little to get even more of an angle for the sweep.

Add to Drill: 

Kesa ESC -- time it to get my elbow down on mat when he transitions from Side to Kesa.

2014 New Year Resolution -- go to Open Mat at JJ League and Simi Valley.

I'm where I'm supposed to be but that doesn't mean I couldn't change things up a bit. I'm becoming a little comfortable and complacent. New year, I need something new, instead of doing what I've always been doing.

Gi #3 - Manto Gi

Early Christmas for me. Lil Bro gave me his Manto Gi that was a little too big. This is my Gi #3, White Single Weave.

Let's see how long it lasts.

Gi #1 -- Padilla and Sons. (three years)
Gi #3 - Kuai Kimonos (2 yeasrs .. when I got my Blue Belt).

Taps: 904 / Simi Valley Came to Visit

Taps: 14. Total: 904.

Open Mat - and Simi Valley came to visit and brought about 15 guys. And they were tough and I had my ass handed to me. Not a good feeling, let me tell ya.

I have been getting too comfortable in my training at my academy. Need to shake things up a bit. Need to get out of my comfort zone a bit.

I have resolved to be not a lazy bum and make the extra effort to make it over to the Simi Valley academy and train there at least once a month, either their Saturday Class or their Sunday Open Mat.

Those guys did not care who I was and did not go easy on me. I need more of that.

Need to work on:

Back Esc
Side Esc.

Taps: 890

Taps: 2. Total: 890.

Brown Vince in the No-gi class.

1. Half Guard Top Kimura ... when the guy comes up and beats me to the Underhook.
 a. Change base to Reverse Sit, and go over his underhook with my left hand, and tuck it in there, grab his arm or wrist
 b. Don't go for Kimura grip just yet but -- extend my left hand one-handed toward his head. This is to separate his hand from his body. Now, grab his wrist with my right hand, lock in the Kimura grip.
 c. Get back into original base, pull him up on his side and finish. If he rolls, roll with him and finish from bottom.

** rolling with Blue Brian later, I actually got this, but was close to finishing from top and bottom. Close but no cigar.

2. No-gi RNC - where the second hand is palm up and on the guy's back and Gable grips.

Black Chris in Gi Class.
1. Side Attack .. he turns away.
  a. Get Kimura grip, lift him and fall back and take his Back.

2. Turtle Turn.
   a. Get gi grip on far side, grip near his hip.
   b. Get slightly behind him, left shin on left shin as I pull on gi.
   c. Stretch him with the shin side leg, as I get the Back.

Side ESC -- tweaked by Brown Vince. (I was not trapping the far arm!).

Trouble with: Keenan's Ezekiel from Half. (Sean Roberts shows it, too.).

*Need to get under the arm, then around the neck? Is that where I'm messing up?

Hitting: 

The Reverse Scissor Sweep. (absolute favorite, and definitely in my Money Series).

And the Butterfly Sweep (off the collar grip) (Money Series)

Avellan Butterfly Pass.

And I like this Turtle Turn.

Carry on: 

Flower Sweep, Closed Guard Attacks - Armbars; Arm Drags; Mount Attacks - Armbars, Terrere Triangle, Arm Triangle; N/S Choke.

Blue Brian was showing me some Overhook Series in the Closed Guard, and made me think I need to go back and revisit the Iron Hook Series. Not sure why I went off that.

Remember to ask Brown Steve about his Cookie Cutter Pass, that he used on me today.

Taps: 888 - Open Mat Visit - JJ League

Taps: 2. Total: 888.

Lil Bro Brown invited me down to Open Matt at JJ League in Signal Hills, down Long Beach way.

Lil Bro showed me:

1. Turtle Turn -- far side gi grip, tight on the hip and pull at an angle and turn him to get Side Control.

2. Over/Under Pressure Pass/Back Step Pass -- a. when I get one knee in middle, use that knee to go over his thigh; get my other knee in tight against his other lifted leg and pressure, then back of neck collar control, then back step for the pass.

3. Shin Knee Sweep -- a. off the knee shield, same side control over his elbow (left side); b. pull him in, then right hand other side gi at the knee/leg; c. push with the left knee as I lift/push/punch with the right hand and sweep him.

Positive note: new place and mostly lower belts that I rolled with (except my lil bro) .. I hit the butterfly sweep (saulo style with collar grip rather than traditional underhook), and the Reverse Scissor Sweep. I couldn't hit the Reverse Scissor on Lil Bro because he's the one who showed it to me. Ha.

Not so positive: left some sweeps on the table, some subs I could not finish. N-S choke -- need to review; Flower Sweep -- had the armdrag and arm across my centerline, and totally forgot to reach under his leg and hip out and angle out and pendulum my left leg. Damn.

My JJ Game is like a Leaky Boat. 
Every time I plug a hole and new one appears somewhere else. Latest Hole to Plug ... Back ESC (get rid of hooks); Half Guard Bottom. Stuck wayyy too long under White Belts in these two spots last Sat.

Also, asked Lil Bro about a Side Top pressure, dealing with pushing hands ... he said switch hips and work on it on the Swiss Ball.

Met a BJJ Legend

On the way back from Vegas, stopped a Starbucks and who do you think was in line?

The Man, the Legend, the guy who kicked off the whole UFC revolution and inspired a ton of people to learn BJJ -- Royce Gracie!

He was wearing a "Royce Gracie" t-shirt and I thought he looked familiar, and I mouthed to him across the room, "Are you...?" and he nodded. I went over and shook his hand. A little bit later, he asked me if I had a camera phone. And the wife took a pic. Wow.

Rubbed elbows, shook hands with greatness.

Taps: 886

Taps: 9. Total: 886.

Ass whupped. Mission Accomplished. Was the Nail. Again.

Purple Rick showed the Ricoplata. Sneaky sneaky Armbar escape re-counter from Closed Guard.
1. Normal armbar, but not tight and RNC grip defends, then pulls right arm out.
2. So underhook his left arm, push hand between my legs. Trap his arm by putting my right hand on my left thigh, and keeping the armbar setup with the legs tight over his head.
3. Either underhook his other arm with my left or hip to right to get the shoulder lock.

Brown Vince showed:
I. Takedown, as counter to outside trip ... just turn, steer him.

II. Single Leg, Double Leg, Single drills.

III. Simple Turtle Turn/Tip.
 a. blocking the elbow or knee and grabbing back leg and pushing/tipping to Side.

IV. Turtle Turn/Roll 2.
a. Tight. Can't get any hooks in. Then get hook behind him, one of his legs. ie my right leg behind and between his legs.
b. push out his near hand, and he'll come back and whizzer me...then dive under and grab far knee and roll and come up in Side.

V. Side ESC - when he has underhook, and tight.
 a. grab at his shoulder and pull down to relieve pressure on the crossface.
 b. hip away a little, and he'll follow, get on my hip away from him ... Reach for the sky with my right near hand through his armpit and roll him over.

Black Chris showed a Scissor Sweep fail to Triangle. But with a couple of key details.
a. from Closed Guard, double wrist sleeve grip ... open Guard and get on my left hip.
b. Try Scissor Sweep with my left leg open, right knee across his stomach but right over his left arm.
c. Pull his right arm with my left hand as I shoot my right leg over his other hand and over his head and lock my legs.
d. my right hand goes around my right knee and link hands over his head -- this is posture control so he can't posture back up.
e. Then my left hand grabs my right ankle, left leg on his hip to hip out and adjust and lock and tighten the Triangle.
f. Finish: squeeze my thighs together, get his arm across, lift hip, pull head down.

Closed Guard update -- getting half way there on the techniques, the 2 vids below.

Attacking the Turtle: My Route

Here's the Plan. 

A. If I can the the Collar Grip, then Jump to other side and Turnover/to the Back.

B. If not, get the hooks in. Prof. Sauer shows me how.

B2. If I can't get both hooks, I can get One Hook and do the Rousey Roll Armbar.

And finally, if I need the Armbar Break, use the "Lonely Hand." Starts at 3:20.

And that's the Plan.

Taps: 877

Taps: 3. Total: 877.

Brown Vince showed the Guillotine Cow Turn (other hand underhook), max effect with a Butterfly hook, too.

Also, a Side Attack Kimura Series: Swim in and get underhook on the far arm ...

Back to the Drawing Board: Half Guard.

Taps: 874

Taps: 2. Total: 874.

Spider Passes.

1. like Bullfighter.
 a. grips over his legs.
 b. elbows in, and step back and make him sit up.
 c. staple his legs to mat, and step around either side, like Bullfighter, and come down with shoulder pressure on his chest, and into Side Control.

2. Smash, and into Over/Under.
  a. can't get the over leg pants grips, then grab under his calves, and go forward.
  b. his legs on my shoulders, and pressure on his butt, and reach around for the Over/Under.

3. Step over.
  a. get him on his side and step over his legs.
  b. sit down over his knees and come down in Side.

Reminder from a visiting Black Belt: Elbow ESC from Mount.
 1. I was turning too much and giving up the back.
 2. I did step over and trap his leg, but I was not getting my elbow inside his knee and sliding his knee all the way down.

** Creating my own move: Brown Francisco was showing Purple Phil a leglock from Open Guard, standing and I thought: I could fake that into a Leg Drag Pass.

from Standing Open Guard, wrap his right ankle with my left leg, and instead of sitting down for the leglock ...
  1. use my right hand and Leg Drag that right leg ...

* it's a thought. It should work as a higher belt should be worried about an leglock and not expect a Leg Drag.

Improving: Side ESC.

Needs work: Back ESC.

Taps: 872

Taps: 2. Total: 872.

from Sunday funday.

Black Joel showed a Half Guard Sweep, Old School var. But also, nice set up and maintenance from the Half ... framing, preventing the crossface, get Knee shield in, come up on my elbow, then hand .. when ready, shoot in for the underhook, dive in for the ankle and swing with my leg hook.

Also, Side Esc to Guard recovery ... 1. Bridge, shrimp, frame and pull in as I get leg over and Re-Guard.

option 2: get my leg over and go into Armbar.

option 3: grab the Kimura, get leg over and hooked in, then into Armbar.

Taps: 870

Taps: 4. Total: 870. 

Pre-Class with Brown Vince.

1. Clinch Shuck -- get head next to his clinch side, and hit his elbow and shuck and take his side and back.

2. Half Guard Top: A - Pop up to Knee Slide, and Back Step to other side if can't get Underhook and Pass on that side.
  B. Pop up to Knee to the right and get almost Mount; get his arm across, seatbelt, left leg behind his head, lift him up and fall to the right to get my second hook in.

Progress:

1. Mendes Knee Slice -- did everything right, except, 1. didn't get on my toes; 2. didn't get all way to right in Leg Drag position, but I still got the Pass and ended in near Side Control.

2. Kimura Hot Dog roll. Got the GGP version rather than Keenan's.

3 x 3 Drills: 1. Twitch Pass; 2. Turtle to Re-Guard; 3. Side Esc.

Review: from the Seminar
1. Side Attack
2. KoB esc.

Taps: 864 - Half Guard and Armbars, Arm Breaks

Taps: 4. Total: 864

Pre-Class No-gi -- Just Drills.
1. Leg Drag.
2. Leg Drag into a Over/Under Pass the other way. (really like this chain.); must drill the over/under more.

Class - Black Chris. Half Guard series. 
1. Half Guard Sweep (var. of Old School Sweep.) - most of the YouTube vids show it from the Lockdown, but BC showed it from traditional Half Guard and cupping the knee.
  a. Get underhook with the left hand; reach in and make him come forward as I dive in under his legs.
  b. Grab his ankle with my right, diving hand and pass the ankle to my left hand, that was under-hooking.
  c. My right hand then cups his knee as I bridge into him with my left leg and I come up on top.

2. If he bases, then I get the same sweep in the other direction.

3. Half to the Back.
  a. Get underhook, and reach and shuck his arm, then come up on my elbow and I'm almost to the Back.
  b. My left, underhook hand reaches over and grabs his far lat for control and pull out with my right leg, that has one hook in.
  c. That should get me space on the other side to get my Left hook in.
** flatten him out and use elbow push to get under for the RNC from top/Back.

*** funny. my initiation reaction was he was going to show the armbar roll because that's my natural goto when I get only one hook

Tiny, minor Progress: didn't tap to Cheapo Kesa sub that strong guys use on me all the time. I used the Helio frame, but didn't have time to get my leg over for the escape, but made him go back to regular Side Control. Yay. Progress, considering I tapped to the same thing like three times last time.


Focus:

1. Armbar Switch.

2. Armbar Break 1.

 

Kurt showing similar one.

* Review: Mendes Knee Cut / Leg Weave Pass. Details.
1. After the leg weave, collar grip.
2. Knee over his thigh.
3. Get on my toes.
4. Slide/point/slice my knee below his knee to get it out (b/c I don't have underhook; if i did, then I get knee cut normally, but now, knee cut way down)
5. Once cleared, move my hips to the other side, moving him all the other way to a Leg Drag position.

Taps: 860

Taps: 2. Total: 860. 

Black Joel taught basic Back Attack Series.

Attack 1. Basic collar choke from Seatbelt.

Attack 2. He defends, pull my choking arm away along with his defending hand, then trap his hand with my leg, and leg goes under his butt to keep arm trapped. Go back to the choke.

Attack 3. Choke with other hand behind his head.

Attack 4. Transition to Bow and Arrow.

Attack 5. Armbar. Push his head away, get legs over his face.

Knowledge, real knowledge leads to behavior change. I may "know" it, but it doesn't mean I can pull it off. If I really knew it, I can do it. And that is different behavior then what I've been doing or not doing, or not being able to do.

This applies to BJJ, chess and life. And I will apply to rest of the areas in my life.

Taps: 858 and Renato Magno Seminar

Taps: 3. Total: 858.

Renato Magno Seminar notes.

Warm-up with Pummel Drills.
1. Keep foot forward, head up, lean in against his shoulder.
** Secret sauce detail -- if you get caught against the wall or cage, step outside with your back leg and pull him around so that you've traded positions -- he's against the wall now.

Tech 1 -- Takedown off the Pummel. 
1. He's got pummel under my right armpit, grab wrist and pin it to the inside of me as I step to the right and outside of his leg.
2. Change levels to go for Double Leg, lean into him as I step outside with my left leg and he should just fall.

Var. if he has a high collar grip on my right side... i can try for regular grip breaks or ... a) duck under and then go same Double Leg; b) step in and outside, kind of bending his wrist a little, then go for Double.

Tech. 2 - Knee on Belly (KoB) ESC.
1. He's got his right knee over my belly over my right side, I bridge big and
2. Left hand grabs his belt and frames, right hand grips his other pants.
3. Shrimp out and back, shrimp shrimp, then my right hand behind me on the mat, come up with a technical stand up as I ankle pick his lead leg.

Tech. 3 - KoB ESC to Sweep.
1. Instead of ankle pick, I shrimp and get my right shin against his front leg shin.
2. Shrimp behind him with belt grip still, my left leg goes behind him and weaves to back leg (kind of like X-Guard.
3. Right leg that was on shin on shin goes behind the knee and lift as I pull down on belt for the sweep.

Tech. 4 - Side Control Attacks 1-2-3-4.
Attack 1: Armbar.
a. Crossface and grip gi under his neck as I kill the near arm -- I've never seen it down this way -- rather than get my knee under his armpit and open up, I pin his arm against his body with knees on either side of his shoulder.
b. then I grab in and under his arm at the elbow.
c. I lean down toward his head, on my side, on my left butt cheek as I get my right leg over his body, then my other leg over his face for the Armbar.
** another Secret Sauce Detail -- on the finish, if he powers up, then get my right leg under his neck and other leg over his face and flatten him back down and that's tight.

Attack 2: Triangle.
a. I'm slightly off-balance as I try to get my first leg over, and he may come up and get an arm under my leg to go for a Under/Over Pass, but then he walks right into a Triangle.

Attack 3: Take the Back, Finish with RNC.
a. If he comes up too fast for Triangle, then get hooks in for the Back.
b. Flatten him with the hooks and use ...
c. the Secret Sauce Detail for Getting under his Chin for the RNC: push on one side of his head with my elbow -- it looks like you're elbowing his cheeks but you're only pushing, and that will lift his head to get room to get arm in for the RNC.

Attack 4: Roussey Roll to Armbar.
a. If you only get one hook in, lean over, grab arm.
b. Get knee over the top of his neck and onto the mat and roll him for Armbar.

Tech. 5 - Counters to Guard Pull, he puts one leg on my hip.
a. Step back and get that leg off and "Steering Wheel motion" to KoB.

Tech. 6 - Self-Defense -- Esc Standing Choke from Behind. 
Very similar to this, especially hooking the leg and turning.

Tech. 7 - Armdrag to Guillotine. 
a. never seen it like this where you're like on his side and have one leg hooked, but I do need to throw other leg over his back.

Tech 8  - Armdrag to Calf Slicer.
a. instead of the Guillotine, use that arm to grab his around his body at the waist and reach behind and grab his leg and triangle my leg over his leg.

Tech. 9 -- Arm Triangle ESC.
a. Frame with both hands, bridge away and scoot into and under him.
b. Shrimp back the other direction and get a knee in and back to Guard.

Bonus: Turtle Escape from Random Purple Belt.
1. Get legs between his and grab far knee pants for control, then walk behind and around him as I lean into him.
2. He should topple down.

That's it. There was a lot of good info. I hope to drill some of this stuff soon.

Taps: 855, and Half Guard Top Game

Taps: 6. Total: 855.

Brown Vince's no-gi class.

Review: Guillotine from Half and Side.

New tech: Attack Turtle N-S with guillotine, get underhook on other arm and turnover.

** New move I thought up -- Falling Reverse Scissor Sweep. Companion to the Falling Scissor Sweep. It should work just like the other one. Different grips, but I still fall back like I'm pulling Guard and use their coming forward momentum to sweep. Maybe even start with a push-pull motion.

Half Guard Top Game 3.10. 

Option A -- Get Underhook and Knee Cut Pass.

Option B - He gets underhook on me.
   B1. Darce choke.
      If I can't get my arm all the way down and around for the Darce, then ...
   B2. Reverse Sit Pass.
   B3. Get near side underhook, go for Fantasma Pass (Knee Cut) on the other side.
   B4. Knee cut other side and come back the other way for Fancy Rolling Back Take (Mendes/Ryan Hall).

Need to get a Half Guard Bottom Game next, then ...

Closed Guard
Passing
Side ESC
Mount ESC
Side Control Top
Mount Top

That should keep me busy for a few years.

Taps: 849

Taps: 10. Total: 849.

Hey, ho first time no-gi. Brown Vince turned his early class before the class into a no-gi. Fun. Felt like White Belt.

He taught two Guillotines -- one from Half top and one from Side top. Both kind of cupping under the guy's chin. Side one - standard controls, cross face and underhook the far arm, kill his near arm with my knee under his armpit. Then pull on his far arm, get him on his side like I'm going to spin to other side for armbar, but instead, wrap around his neck with my other arm, and go almost to Mount and finish the Guillotine.

Regular Class -- Black Chris showed:
1. Open Guard, Lasso Guard Sweep.
 a. hip out, get on my right side, double sleeve controls.
 b. get my left leg over his arm and under his armpit (lasso);
 c. get in close, my right leg on the same side as lasso, across his hip area.
 d. right hand switches grip from sleeve to pants or knees.
 e. push pull with the lasso, then pull and sweep him.

2. Turtle Turnover with the neck lapel grip.
 a. like I'm going for the Clock Choke, but get on other side and pull, and it's actually Bow and Arrow Choke.

3. var. if the pulls out of Bow and Arrow, -- then Armbar.

Mild Success -- Guillotine Sweep (inspired by Lovato); Collar Butterfly Sweep (Saulo's vid).

Homework:
1. Half Guard Top -- if he gets the underhook ... I have three main options:
 a. Darce choke (can't get my arm all the way around).
 b. Reverse Sit Pass (kind of gone away from it. Don't know why. Bring it back.
 c. Fantasma Pass. (drill it.)

2. Baseball Choke with Lapel.

Taps: 839

Taps: 5. Total: 839.

Black Joel taught Mount Attacks. 

1. Triangle from Mount, finish on top or roll to the bottom. (theres' also an armbar from top, too).

It's hard swinging the leg around the head.

*Terere starts from Side, but shows the finish rolling over.

2. Armbar from Mount --  If he pushes off your hip, get underhook and spider walk your hands up to his head and clasp both your hands. Then control his elbows, threaten Papercutter choke or grab the arm and go for armbar.

Guillotine Sweep. Just saw Lovato pull this off, and I'm putting it in on the Drill List.

And last, Kesa Escapes.

Between Stephen and Kurt, I should be able to get out of this.

**Misc: on the Side Top drill, I completely forgot to try the Brian control, under neck grip.

Taps: 834

Taps: 3. Total: 834.

*Brown Vince showed a Armbar A and B roll rom Closed Guard.
Armbar A -- usual attacking the right arm; 1. control the arm, left foot on his hip; 2. kick up with my right leg to break his posture to the left; 3. swing the left leg over his head.

Armbar B roll -- if he recovers and moves back to the right, swing my left leg over his right arm, behind his head, and my knee just under his chin; 2. as I roll on my belly and get the on my side; 3. I get the sub there or if he rolls.

** Black Chris showed the Deep Half entry again It attacks the Combat Base, the knee that he has up. ie. he has the right knee up ... 1. get my left shin against his right knee, wrap that knee with my left arm; 2. fall to the right as I lift his leg with my shin and get into Deep Half; 3. if he stands, then transition to X Guard ... get my right leg on his thigh, knee should be behind him, behind his butt; my right hand has his front left leg at the thigh, cupping it ... stretch him with my legs as i pull him down with the lapel with my left hand ... lift with my right leg on the thigh to get the Sweep as I come up KoB.

I like how Black Chris goes over the same techniques all week. So if you missed a class, you still can learn it, and if you come to all the classes then you're exposed to the same tech two or three times.

Mild success with Reverse Scissor Sweep, but usually only works once. But I always forget to try the Bump Sweep off the Fail. Need to drill it.

Speaking of Drilling, need to drill Flower Sweep, and if he bases out with his hand, then the Armbar is right there. duh. Need to remember to swing my left leg out, and get my head near his knee!!

Missed two classes because of this sore rib. It's a good excuse but I'm going to save it to use another day. Huffing and puffing, in a little pain as I breathed and rolled, but I WAS HAPPY. BJJ released some Happy chemicals in my body.

Marcelo Seminar in Japan Notes

Here's the link to video.

Here's the bad news:

• It's 1:12:00 long. That's over an hour. 
• It's in Portuguese and translated to Japanese.
• Could have edited it down to about 15 minutes.

There's four or five techniques and lots of good details, which I'll get to. MG looks so young!

Technique 1 - Armdrag Takedown to the Back (starts at 7:00).
*Detail A: Need to hook the leg (11:00)

Tech 2 - var. if you can't hook his leg, then Single Leg to the Back with Seatbelt (13:10)
*Continuation: if he rolls, you roll with him (16:20)
**Detail: on Single leg -- grab above knee and twist ( 19:40).

Continuation of Tech 2 (21:00) - he rolls and got his back on ground, with Seatbelt and top leg with hook in.
A. with back, bottom leg, push off and get up a little, get him on his side, the roll him the other way to get the second hook in.

detail: use your hook leg to pull him over to other side to get second hook in (23:00).

Continuation / Can't Get Top Hook in (26:00) - 1. Reverse Shrimp, my legs facing 180% from his legs, scissor legs to come up, bring him up back into sitting up, to from knees Back Control. 2. Swing leg over to get in hook, maintaining Seatbelt throughout the whole sequence. 3. Fall to the side with Hook and then get other Hook over and in .. right into a Collar Choke (28:10), second hand under his hand and behind his head, grabbing my own bicep gi.

Tuck back leg behind him (31:00).

Back Control - Detail of the Seatbelt (37:00)
1. Top hand wrist goes under the other hand wrist; that way if the guy pulls the top wrist (under arm hand), that leaves a clear path to the neck and RNC.

Back Control, Pulling hands away for Choke (38:10)
** Guy is smart and pulls at my top, choking arm with both hands ... 1. with my bottom hand, pull away the same side hand; 2. he's got my top hand with his other hand, pull my hand to the side, straightening, then trap his hand with my leg. 3. Wavy motion with my hand to get under his chin.

Tech 3 - He clears the Hook and shrimps out (42:50)
* Triangle and trap his arm with both legs and then RNC (44:00)

Continuation -- armlock with the Triangled leg (52:00); tweaks and detail on getting the armlock (55;30).

Tech 4 - Turtle Attack - Seatbelt hold to RNC (59:20).
*continuation: step over and trap his arm with outside leg, and cross my legs (1:00:00), then do the wavy hands under his chin to the RNC.
** var. armlock, by stretching out my legs (1:02:45).

Tech 5 - Attacking Sitting Guard with Guillotine (1:06:20).
1. Push him down, when he sits back up, go for Guillotine.
*Detail: if he grabs lead leg, pull back to bring down his head (1:10:00).

Taps: 831

Taps: 1. Total: 831.

Tech. 1 - Half Guard Simple Lean Sweep.
1. Get Underhook with left hand, right hand prevents the crossface by keeping it on his bicep.
2. Switch legs from right to left, and stretch his leg out with my same side as Underhook leg (left).
3. Come up on my right elbow, and lean in with my shoulder and he topples over.

Tech 2 - Deep Half to X-Guard Sweep (if he stands) - Review, from other day.
1. From Deep Half, lift his trapped leg, get my left leg under, and right leg over.
2. He stands, get into X-Guard, left same but right leg needs to be top of his hip, but knee inside behind his butt; my right cups his thigh just above his knee.
3. My left hand grips collar and pulls down, off-balances him and he posts with both hands on mat.
4. Stretch him out with my legs, lift up with my right hand on his thigh, sweep and come up in KoB.

Tech 3 - Entry to Deep Half from Knee start of roll.
1. He puts a knee up (Combat Base), ie right knee up; initiate Shin Guard, getting my left shin against his knee, wrap that knee from outside with my left hand.
2. Swing my right leg between his knee as I swing my body and lift his knee with my left leg, and enter  into Deep Half.

Fail: Man, I could not do anything in 1. Closed Guard. 2. Mendes Clock Choke (but it was on a Brown and I think it was close.)

Mild Success: Kama Grip (cross sleeve and back of neck collar -- need to steer wheel.) Rolling with Purple Ryan, I got the K grip and I think he helped a bit by getting down and going for the Magid Clock choke. Luckily, I did some research on counters to that, so I put my knee on his belly, and went for an armbar. Of course, I did it too slowly so he linked arms and I got the Kimura grip, and went for that, and even tried to get my knee on his bicep but no luck, so transitioned to the Back.
  He got a leg and went Half Guard, then Deep Half, and that's when I tried but FAILED the Mendes to the Back. I think I have to use my trapped leg, too, along with pulling with both my hands.

Look up: Finish Kimura from top of when he's linked hands, or holding tight. Lovato, Jr?

Injury: Sore Rib. Had the Brown in Clock Choke and he postured up and twisted my rib? Sept. 21 -- now I count down the days when I can train again. Day 1 of Injury.

Add to toolbox: Half Pass if he gets Underhook. Fantasma Pass from D. Avellan.

Mendes Knee Slice Pass Notes

vs. Half Guard Knee Shield.

Tech. 1. 
1. Right hand weave under the shield and grab pants of bottom leg, smash down with my right shoulder.
2. My left hand grip same side collar.
3. My right trapped knee comes up and on top of his thigh, post out my left leg, then slide my right knee down over his shin, knee pointing 6 o'clock.
4. After I've gotten my leg out, get on my toes, shoulder smashing both his legs together.
5. Stabilize by walking up 8, 9  o'clock position, past his knee, getting my right knee in his stomach. Push back down with my hips, walk with my legs back down toward his legs, counter-clockwise, flatten him and into a Leg Drag position. Wait til he stops squirming.
6. Walk back up to Side Control.

Tech. 2 (9:00)/ Hop over to other side.
5. After leg out, he's pushing my head, get my head on the mat and hop over. One leg at a time.
6. Into Leg Drag Position on the other side. Stabilze by lifting my left leg, and his leg over that thigh.
7. My head on left side of his head, tight so there is no room for him to push my head.

Taps 830

Taps: 5. Total: 830.

Tech. 1 - Deep Half to X-Guard Sweep.

Tech 2 - Deep Half to Back (if he stands up).

After Class Special - Purple Phil showed a Leg Drag to Over/Under Pass Drill (if the guy swings leg over to prevent the Pass.

Stuff on my mind:
1. Deep Half Counters.

2. Omo Esc (this one from Robson).

3. Tozi Pass. Still can't get it. Going to try going to the Right. 

Taps: 825

Taps: 3. Total: 825.

Tech -- Side Control Esc.

1. Flattened, and crossfaced: Bridge and get inside hand in, make frame and break cross face.
2. Don't let him get crossface back, so he'll have to put his hand on other other side.
3. When he does, push on his elbow and make frame with that hand and also with other hand on his hip.
4. Bridge and re-Guard.

** Marcelo pushes on the hand to make room to get hand in; and he does an elbow push, which I've done successfully.

Pre-Class Vince.

Half Top Series -- Pop up the Knee. 1. Knee Cut. 2. Knee on chest right in center (wait for his reaction). 3. Knee on other way, almost to Mount, and take his Back.

After Class - Vince. Closed Guard Hook under knee.
1. If the guy top Guard puts a knee up, hook under that leg with my leg.
2. If there is no room, push off with my other leg on his other hip, then there should be room.
3. If he sits back down to trap my leg, push off with my other leg into his other hip, come up for the Sweep.


Next Tech to Drill 1000 -- Xande Sweep aka Rey Sweep, Flower Sweep, Pendulum Sweep.

1. Flower Sweep.  One important thing -- the other leg (left leg needs to swing out, then back to CHOP the guys knee).

Here's Lovato, Jr. showing Xande Sweep.

Braga showing the same. 

And Andreh with the under leg version.

Some techs on my mind. Blue no stripe kept getting underhook on me in Half Guard and getting on his side, like he's supposed to and had trouble passing, and trouble setting up the Darce, and eventually he Deep Halfed on me. 

So, 1. Darce. 

2. Deep Half, Top to the Back, Mendes, Island-style. Mendes.  Jason Vigil's interpretation.

3. Closed Guard - Draculino Bump. 

And couple of Fails. 

F1. Dave Kama control. Cross Grip and Back of Neck Grip to Takedown. Got the grips, but couldn't get the takedown. (:22 same side grip, then passes over to other, so he has cross grip. Reaches over the back for second grip. Turns him over and gets KoB. Same thing on second roll -- :55 passes over to cross grip. Over the back and I think he pulls down). 

F2. Cross grip Seio Nage. 

 

Blue Brian and I ended up both standing and I tried this, but I didn't pull down. So Fail. Epic fail. 

Taps 822

Taps: 2. Total: 822. 

Tech. - Open Guard Simple Sweep.

* So simple, I don't know why i don't try it more often.

1. He stands in Closed Guard, I open my legs, and still have double sleeve control. My right hand gets his ankle on same side.
2. My left leg hooks behind his right leg, same side as my right leg posts on his hip on the right side, and I just push that foot and he falls.

Tech 2 - Closed Guard to Open to Sit up and Shin Guard to Sweeps (that we've gone over a few times.)

** Some days I'm the Hammer and Most months I'm the Nail. Today was a Nail day.

Taps: 820

Taps: 10. Total: 820.

Review of techs -- Black Chris likes to teach the same techniques all week, which is good. That way I can more practice.

1. Drill -- Bullfight Pass to KoB.

2. Drill -- KoB to Armbar.

3. Drill -- N/S grab gi and pull him up and take Back.

Misc thoughts: You get into martial arts because of Fear. Fear of getting beat up. You want to defend yourself, be able to beat others up. But as you get better and better and truly on the Path, you become more Humble. Why is that? As you get closer to mastering your art, your Fear does not decrase, but oddly enough, it increases. You Fear the Ego, of the Ego taking over. So you counteract that by becoming more Humble, and that is the Path to true mastery.

**I cannot believe how easily and quickly Black Chris passed Black Joel's guard. Chris is two stripe Black but still. Wow. He just stood up and Bam! Passed.

Something to aspire to.

Taps: 810

Taps: 3. Total: 810.

Tech. 1 - Back Attack - Armbar.
1. Side with the underhook, fall to that side and swing leg over for the armbar.
  ** seen this. know this. but i never think to try it. need to drill and put it into the tool box.

Tech 2 - Back Attack - Triangle. 
 ** had a hard time getting a handle of it.
 1. Underhook and control his wrist, ie if it's my right hand, then that side, my right leg on mat and scoot back a little.
 2. My left leg comes over his shoulder and my right hand switches from his wrist to my left ankle.
 3. Scoot back and lock in my triangle, my right leg over my left.
 4. Grab his belt and hip up and to the right for finish.

* Rolling with Purple Phil. Just cannot. I mean cannot freakin PASS HIS GUARD. I tried the Smash Pass, the Weave Pass. the Butterfly trap pass. He always manages to get his legs out and Knee Shields. It's frustrating as Hell.

   Then a new freakin thing he pulled on me today. Three. Three times during the roll. After the first time, I know it was coming and tried different things but he still got me with this Half Roll to the Back.
  I thought it was this Mendes thing but it's actually Ryan Hall's tech. See both below. Which also lead me to Caio's Back Take from Half, too.

Link to Ryan Hall's. 

And then Caio's.

Next on the Study List.
1. Closed Guard Attacks (cont).
2. Closed Guard Retention/Recovery
3. Half Guard.
4. Deep Half.

Knee Cut Pass review

1. Mendes Bros.

2. Marcos Avellan MMA style.

3. Henry Akins on finishing. Getting the ankle out.

Going to have to do a breakdown soon. Getting close but no cigars. 

Taps: Still 807

Taps: 0. Total: 807

Tech. 1 - Half Guard, knee in, underhook, kick butt and out the back.

Tech 2 - Half Guard - Pass. Don't have underhook, grab neck collar, back step.

Tech. 3 -- Shin Guard, out the back.

Marcelo Standing Step Pass. 

Marcelo Guard Break. 

Taps: 807

Taps: 2. Total: 807.

Tech - Half Guard, when crossfaced, no underhook. Flattened.
1. Shrimp out and get Knee in. Push with knee a little bit and ...
2. Get Underhook.

Half Guard principle -- Knee and Underhook. Knee and Underhook.

Tech 2 - Sweep or Re-Guard. 
1. Re-Guard -- Grab his belt at the back with the Underhook hand.
2. Other hand grabs his knee/pants.
3. Switch leg trap on his leg inside to outside.
4. Pull with the belt grip as I swing hips the other way and lift him and ...
5. Get him into Closed Guard.

Back ESC update -- need two more.

Focus:

• Closed Guard -- Kurt's Underhook Sweep -- still can't get it; Rey Sweep. 
• Deep Half. Just been blindly hitting it. But need to watch a couple of vids.
• Shin Sweep -- Marcelo and Scully. 

Taps: 805

Taps: 1. Total: 805

Pre-Class. Brown Vince showed an Open Guard, double hook sweep. But I could just push his knees for the Stupid Push Takedown.


Been doing Takedown Series.

Seoi Nage.

But my favorite is still Terere's Safada Takedown.

Going to have to a Breakdown and drill it.

Back ESC update. 3 More to go. Although, I was stuck inside Purple Phil's for a godawful long time. But at least he didn't sub me. I was just stuck and surviving. Which is good, I guess. As Saulo says, Survive, then Escape.

Taps: 804

Taps: 4. Total: 804. 

Focus: Back ESC - started 5 rolls with Back Taken. 5 more to go.

Tip: from Purple Chris -- go strong, strong, strong, then explosive when the guy is tired. Example: he tried a Triangle on my from his guard, and I was defending. Then he switched to an explosive Hip Bump Sweep. Got it easily.

Fail: Kurt's Underneath Sweep from Closed Guard. I think the guy based out with his hand? That means I didn't control it. Duh. And I didn't put my left foot on the hip!

Gotta keep tryin it. 

Taps: 800

Taps: 1. Total: 800.

Tech. - Double Leg Takedown. 
1. Left lead leg -- shoot in between his legs, deep, past his foot, that knee on the mat.
2. Cup both his legs, keep him from moving.
3. Put my shoulder and head into him.

b. If leans over me to put weight forward.
3. Take a step with my right leg past him, counter clockwise, to about two or 1 o'clock postion.
4. Put my head into him, and if i need to -- lift his leg with my left hand, taking him down not back but in a circular counterclockwise fashion.

Inside Guard Reminders (pre-passing checklist).
1. Break grips.
2. My elbows inside his thighs/legs.
3. If not doing double unders Pass, press down on his hips/stomach as I ...
4. Lean back and stand up.

Back ESC reminder -- after I kick and remove a hook, bring my knee BACK UP. Otherwise, he can get his hook back in. Also, hip out and onto his leg that I just cleared.

• Watch Saulo's Back ESC again. 

Armbar ESC - fail.

• Watch Saulo's Armbar Escape -- I think I brought down his knee to wrong side? Scoot back and down. 

Work some Planks -- Strengthen my core -- I hurt it doing a Plank Triangle ESC.

Remember to try: Reverse Scissor to Hip Bump. (I keep forgetting to hit the Hip Bump.) But I also realized a failed Reverse Scissor also has his hand way across my center line, and so I can go for different attacks from my weak side.

Technical Mount Escape Breakdown 3.5

Breakdown notes of this video from Vintage40BJJ.

1. Like the vid, I'm on my side facing to left, my left leg straight, my right leg up. Right hand in my collar, protects the neck; left hand grabs under my right elbow, prevents him from pulling out my right hand. (if his hand comes behind my head, my right hand grabs that wrist.)
2. Scissor my legs, left leg under right, bump him forward.
3. My left hand grabs his right leg at the ankle and holds it in place as I get my right shin under that knee and my left leg on the outside of that leg.
4. Get my right hand out with big circular motion over his head, get belt grip, trapping his arm.
5. Shrimp out a little to left and get myself flat; sweep him to right, using the belt grip and the right shin hook. Come out on other side or
5b. as I sweep, grab his inside knee with my left hand and come up in Side Control.

Ezekiel Choke

I keep getting very close but can't quite finish this Sub. Here are the vids to study. One thing I noticed: I'm not getting my second hand on the other side of his face/chin.

1. Here's Xande.

*Xande says don't get first hand in too deep. Just the blade of the hand on the back of his neck.

2. S. Kesting.

3. Keenan's Sneaky one from Half. (another one I can't seem to finish.)

Taps: 799

Taps: 11. Total: 799.

Tech. 1 - Shin Shin Guard (review).
1. From Open Guard with double sleeve grips and feet on each of his hips. Push his hip with my right foot to make him stagger his stance, with right foot forward.
2. Come up and sit up on his right leg, my left leg shin on the inside of of his right shin.
3. Grab his belt or his front gi tail with my right hand and pass it to my left hand, that is behind his right leg.
4. My right hand then pulls down his collar and makes him post on mat with both hands.
5. As he gets back up, my right leg shoots under and between his legs, my head goes under, too as I tightly grab his right leg and COME OUT THE BACK, and side of him.
6. Grab his outside ankle, tap/trab same knee with other hand and tip him into Side Control.

Tech 2 - Simple DLR Pass.
1. Break all sleeve and collar grips, pressure with my lead right leg into his thigh. Make sure my knee is pointing OUT, to right.
2. Grab his forward right leg at the foot, push it outside then step inside, kind of bowlegged with both legs but with good, squat base, and my right hand has a same side gi grip at the belly and my elbow in, connected to my body/hip/knee.
3. Left hand goes under for the Under/Over Pass, and grabs opposite collar grip and stacks him as my right knee staples his thigh, and gets to mat.
4. Switch collar grip from left hand to right as I back step my left leg, and my left hand controls his left leg from under into Pass and Side Control.

** Forgot and I only started one roll from having Back Taken. Nine more to go.

Stephan Kesting wrote me back on Facebook and sent me the link to his "Twitch Pass."

Need to drill this.

Thought #2: "Success" of Technique

Thought #1: Efficiency. 
a. if you want him to come forward, push him and he'll usually push back. And vice-versa. If you want his arm to the left, pull it to the right. He'll resist. If he doesn't, then have a move that uses his arm on the right.
b. it's easier to move yourself, then to move him.
c. stay a step ahead: if he defends one move, go to the next one, then back to the first one.


Thought #2: What's key to making a Move Work?

1. Cluelessness of Opponent. If your opponent is a first-week White Belt, chances are the move will work. Or even if he's an upper belt, if he's never seen this super-secret, sneaky move, you have a good chance of pulling it off. But what if he's seen it? What if he knows it's coming? Then what determines if the move will work?

2. Setup/Angle. If you set up properly, get all your grips, get correct pressure and controls, then the Sweep/Submission will work.This is related to the "Position before Submission" mantra you hear all the time. Fail Example that I see with low Blue Belts and on down: they get to mount and get so excited when they see an arm, they just grab it and lean back for the Armbar. So bottom guy is able to come up or link his hands in defense.

3. Timing. Related to Efficiency. The moment he's leaning one way or is off balance -- that is the moment for you to hit the move. Related to Setup. The moment you've set up, that is the time to hit the move.

Taps: 788

Taps: 5. Total: 788.

Tech - Half Guard Pass Series. Simple. Love it.

A. 1. He has a frame and keeping me at a distance, drop back a little and to right and get both hands and wrap his legs together.
     2. Sprawl out and back and get my butt down and get on my toes. That should break his Half Guard grip on my leg.
     3. Pass to the left into Side.

B. 1. If he blocks the pass with his hands on my hip -- get my left knee to base.
     2. Get my face from his right hip over to the left.
     3. Hop over for the Pass.

C. 1. Instead of hopping for the Pass, get my right leg over his leg and squeeze.
     2. Wiggle up to Mount.

No win Situations.
1. Not much fun or satisfaction dominating White belts. But not much fun tapping out higher belts either. I tapped a Purple three times -- all off that Brian's Side Control series (Paper Cutter choke, NS choke and something else I can't remember). Anyway, I felt bad. Obviously he felt bad and was keeping score and wanted to even the taps, so I rolled with him and he got a couple taps on me.

Plan -- Start the next 10 Rolls all from Back ESC. Then the next 10 on the next position so I don't get bored. Saulo's Back survival, scoop and escape. (have to remember to get elbow inside his hooks, and fall to the side, and not let him come up into Mount.)

Failed at the normal Loop choke and gonna try this Spinning Circle Choke.

Lovato Mount Choke - can't find the vid. Starts with under the head, then brings it around to the front and on his next, then get the second grip. I can't quite finish and need to view again.

Efficient BJJ: Thoughts and Examples

It's hard to put in words but maybe I can convey it with some examples:

1. At the beach, a wave is coming and I don't crash head into it. I dive under til it passes. 
2. Knee on Belly, trying to set up the Baseball Choke. If my knee bothers him and he tries to shove it away with his hands, that leaves me a clear path to the Choke; if he defends the choke, then I slide my knee down to Mount.
3. If he frames his forearm against my neck, I don't press down; I get behind his elbow and push it aside. 
4. Knee Cut Half Pass -- I need the Underhook, but if he keeps pummeling and he gets the Underhook on me, then I go to Plan B Pass: Reverse Sit, control his belt or pants. 
5. Knee Cut Half Pass 2 - As I was just about to clear my knee and pass, he got a hook under my leg and I felt a little off balance going in that direction, so I reversed direction and got my leg down and into Mount. 
6. Like Black Chris did to me: he didn't hold onto to his grip like crazy, he just moved onto the next step. Some people like to grip fight to the death or hold on liked crazy. 

I'm really trying to find more moments like this, that uses less energy, that takes what the other guy gives me. Don't fight force with force, go under or around or try something else. 

Taps: 783.

Taps: 5. Total: 783.

Failed at this.

Work on:
1. Back ESC.
2. continue with Closed Guard.
3. Half Guard.
4. Mount Attacks.

Blue Brian showed my an awesome Side Control Hold, which I've dubbed the "Brian Side Collar Control."
1. From Side, you go N-S, and my near arm goes under his near arm and grabs his his neck collar.
2. Come back to Side Control, and I totally killed that near arm and I've got tight control of him.
3. From here, I can go to Paper Cutter Choke with my other hand or sit back and Arm Bar that near arm.

Funny, enough I saw it on a Judo doc of Mifune "Essence of Judo." It's called a Kazure Kami Shihogatame.

It's tight.

Taps: 778

Taps: 3. Total: 778.

Tech. 1 - Side ESC - far hand gets under and spin out and around.
        2 - both hands under and push and spin out. (Failed on this, guy just lands on top of me in Side on other side.

Tech 2 - Side Subs. (counter to above, where he tries to get far hand under, Trap it with my knee, other leg bases out like KoB, but on knee (that would be on belly is on the trapped arm).
         ii. then finish with either Paper Cutter choke or Gi Wrap and Knee against his neck.

Review:
1. Side ESC.
2. Butterfly Pass -- and a Hip Switch Technique by Kesting (can't find the vid anywhere). He describes is as a "dog peeing", then leg/hip switch. Wish I could find it.
3. Closed Guard.
4. Grip Fighting. (i'm giving the upper belts such a lead, letting them have all their grips. Of course, they are going to sweep me. Reminds me of when I was a White belt and Purple Jack used to sweep me so easily.)

Side ESC Theory 1 Notes 3.5

Part I.

1. Link hands, get Underhook. Bridge.
   1a. Come up onto knee.
    b. If he pushes back, Sweep the other way.

2. Get Underhook. Shrimp sideways away from him. He follows you.
 a. Sweep into him.
 b. if he bases out with his foot, sweep the other way.

Part II

1. Try to hook his leg in Side, and bait him into Kesa/Headlock Esc (i have Underhook) -
   a. Bump, come out the back.
   b option: if pushes in, get under and Sweep the other way.

Taps: 775

Taps: 7. Total: 775.

Turtle to Re-Guard Drill (add to drill list).
1. I turtle to prevent Pass, he's over my right shoulder 3 o'clock.
2. I push into him with my right shoulder to create a little space, shoot my right hand under my left armpit.
3. Shoulder roll and get him in my Guard.

Tech - Ankle Riva/Gi wrap Guard (review from last class)
1. Left ankle inside of his right ankle; Sit up and gi grip around that right leg; right leg on his left hip or thigh and stretch him; my right hand pulls down on his collar.
2. If he bases up, dive under and go Deep Half and come out the back and ankle/knee tap takedown.

Rolling with Black Chris (owner/instructor) -- obvious but he's a few steps ahead of me. He has a grip, I break grip but was surprised that he didn't fight it. He just let go and moved on quickly to the next step  -- which I was not ready for.

Rolling with a strong White Belt - bump sweep fail, kimura fail. But realized much later I have to start putting Ryan Hall's Bump to Triangle into my toolbox. And here's also two shorter versions.

Review: 
1. Half Guard Basics
2. Marcelo Side Elbow Push ESC

3. Kesa ESC (fabio gugel)

Mottos.
1. No excuses. No ego.
2. No Advil for a bruised ego.