3960 at Noho MMA / Last training of 2016

Taps: 1. Total: 3960.

Brn Baca ... Turtle Turnover Series.

I. Turnover - his head facing 3 O'Clock; i'm at 6 o'clock, my head facing 12.
 a. Top hand on back of neck/collar grip; bottom hand on his belt.
 b. Jump on him, my right leg on his near hip, left knee on his far top of his hip.
 c. Fall to my side, near his near shoulder, slide foot on hip into hook and turn him over and take his Back.

II. Turnover into Bow and Arrow
 a. top hand moves from back of his collar to front, choke grip
 b. Fall to side, slide hook deep, left hand underhooks leg and turn into Bow and Arrow.

III. Ninja Roll Back Take
 a. Get right foot hook in deep, come back next to him.
 b. Reach over his butt to far ankle and fold it inwards to compromise his base.
 c. Lean into him to topple him and shoot my right hand over my left to roll over my right shoulder and Ninja Roll to Back Take.

** he showed Calf Slicer but I was more focused on just getting the Back Take because I've always had trouble with it.

Review: Octopus Guard -- keep getting there from Half but can't quite finish to Back Take.

Good-bye 2016.

2017 ... more movements, less techniques. More principles/concepts, less techniques.

3959 at the Thur A.M.

Taps: 7. Total: 3959.

Blue Girl loves the Worm Guard to Straight Footlock. After she gets me twice, asked if she should stop going for it? Hell, no. Keep going til i can stop it. And i manage to roll out of it on the third try.

Brn Z is a monster of a beast and a nice guy. Perhaps 220 or 240lbs. I ask, did you just Berimbolo me, really slowly? Yes he says, watch me do it again. And he does. And I still can't stop it.

Work:
1. Half Guard - prevent Cross Face, Sit up to Underhook. Drill.
2. Granby Roll - Guard Recovery and Side ESC.
3. High Guard.

Next cycle: Add Passing, ie TT Pass or TT Half Pass (Long stepping) and Faria Pressure Passing.

3952 at the Tues A.M.

Taps: 6. Total: 3952.

Another frustrating class. Getting caught by the same crap by the same people. Even worse, the White Belts are getting better. Little bits of light in the tunnel here and there.

BB Vince ... Knee Bar Counter to my favorite Armbar ESC (leg trap)
 a. when the guy stuffs my leg between his, switch hands from bottom to top that's controlling his hand.
 b. lean down towards his legs, hook his top leg and start Knee Bar sequence.

var. starting with Kimura from Side, and my leg gets close to his and he stuffs the leg.

Brn Jason just dominated me as usual but in more emphatic way ... he's working the top pressure like BB Chris AND taking away all my escape routes and anchors. He lifts up on my Elbow and Knees. And he's got a wicked Knee Slice, really controlling my near arm. Need to get it away from him. Also, just sitting down on my knees just before the pass.

Line Drills with Back ESC ... man, need to review ESC.

Saulo's Scoot Down. Start at 5:45. The Original from the BJJ Uni book. 1. Kick and free the leg; 2. Turn and get other elbow to turn; 3. Turn into him, with free leg kicking over.

There is another Back ESC I like that I have to find.

BB Mike -- had an RNC across my teeth. I tapped. Another lesson: In the street, a strong guy can have a sloppy but very painful RNC ... if he gets across my nose or teeth, he can break either one and there's no tapping then.

White Belt tapped me with that Knee Bar, and I was playing around with Open Guard, trying out Recovery stuff and even Half Guard.

BB Vince Takedown Bonus:

Overhook vs Underhook ...

1. I've got Overhook, over the back and belt; other hand on sleeve, bent low.
2. Two Options: a. trip behind; b. foot in front for Hip Toss.
** Underhook guy has only option of Taking the Back.
3. Go for Behind trip and when he steps in front, then HIP TOSS.

3946 at the Thur. am

Taps: 5. Total: 3946.

BB Chris ... Collar Sleeve Guard Omoplata
 1. Left hand cross collar grip, right hand same side sleeve.
 2. Right foot on hip, left foot pushes on his thigh breaks posture and locks in Omoplata.
 3. Turn to left and make him flip over.

Flatten to finish:
 1. Straighten the top, right foot on top of his shoulder, make it heavy, that will flatten him and make his butt come down.

Blue Ali asked me to show my Fav Reverse Butterfly Sweep, after I hit it on him twice. He said I showed it to him before.

White belt gave me guts the cross collar guard because I was too lazy to deal with his grip. Next time, strip grip. Strip grip. Strip grip. There wasn't room to duck under.

Work:
1. Corkscrew
2. Akins Side Esc.
3. Clamp Guard
4. Guard Recovery

3941 at Mon. open mat and class

Taps: 5. Total: 3941.

Overhook Hook Sweep ... same one that BB Chris use to get ... well Purp Tony hit it on me twice. I might have to put that in my Tool Box.

Brn Arman's Class at 11am:

I. Triangle from Side Control
 a. Lift far shoulder to get cross face deep and my arm under his armpit, and Shoulder of Justice pressure.
 b. Push far knee away and down to mat to turn his body so there is small space to get my near knee in his near armpit to kill his near arm and connect my cross face elbow to my knee.
 c. Switch my other hand from far knee to near knee, push down and get my right knee on KoB.
 d. When he pushes on my KoB, control that wrist, swing my KoB leg over his wrist, chop behind his neck, and fall back.
 e. Lock in Triangle.

II. Half Spider to Triangle
 a. Spider on my right leg, stretch him with my leg on his bicep; be on that side hip.
 b. He lifts his right knee up; my left leg shin on shin and pushes away, breaks his posture down.
 c. My left leg on his hip, right leg come over his head ...
 d. Lock in Triangle.

Working: Closed Guard High Guard ... Elbow Shove in and McKinney push.

More: on Side Esc and Sky Pass and L. Lo Sweering Torreando.

3936 at Sunday Confession

Taps: 10. Total: 3936.

BB Tarca lets me play; new random BB guy, I think also old school judo based maybe, totally dominated me. Style similar to BB Chris and BB Mike at my regular school, but even more so. He really stressed "position before submission" mantra.

Pressure, control, go for the pin, and that way will open up the Submissions. So it was really really hard to make my escapes ... he locked and pinned me tight and when I moved he had the submissions. Of course, there were times we both waited because lots of my escapes are based on the other guy's sloppy sub attempts but he did not do that. He just put more pressure so I had to move.

It was whole different old school way of thinking that I'm going to put in my game. Go for the pin, go for the control ... that will open up the subs.

Danaher said the same thing about controlling the opponent before his students can get the leg locks. All about the control. Lesson didn't sink in until this BB.

He also showed 2 Lockdown Counters.
1. Nice guy ... fall to my side low and extend my trapped leg forward, like I'm kicking forwards... he will tap, some kind of slicer.
2. Not Nice ... left free leg kne up, try to stand ... he will tap.

Still 3926 at Noho MMA Sat nooner

Taps: 0. Total: still 3926.

Although Blue belts got close to tapping me.

Brwn Steve, owner/coach ... has a good little crew, lots of women, lots of White and Blues, not much higher than that though.

Teaching Basics. Love it.

I. Closed Guard, Flower Sweep set up to Armbar
 a. Pulls out arm, switch to other arm, get left knee under his chin
 b. Switch hip, get right leg over his face.

II. var.
 a. Can't get the right leg over ... make sure left knee against his chest framing so ...
 b. he can't come around, get close enough to cross face and pass

III. High Guard to Armbar and Omoplata
 a. sets up High Guard ... right foot on his back to break Posture
 b. space to get left leg over his shoulder to lock in High Guard.

** Omoplata ... flatten to finish, scoot to side or stretch his leg out (this was new detail for me).

Hope I can make it back soon.

Work on: My High Guard set up and Side ESC.

3926 at the Thur am

Taps: 6. Total: 3926.

BB Chris ... Armbar from Side, and can't break ... go to S Mount.

I. Near arm gives elbow of far arm, right arm bases back on mat, then controls far knee.
 i. Giddy up to S Mount, squeeze legs together.
 ii. If top arm is available, go for armbar.
 iii. If top arm is far arm, then switch and spin armbar on other side.

II. If during the S Mount, he gets his arm underneath ... grab both collars and pull his head up, so I don't get rolled.
 i. back step into Side Control or ...
 ii. grab my ankle behind his head, roll into Triangle.

III. Closed Guard Flower Sweep.
 i. break posture to get space to Underhook his thigh
 ii. Pendulum my legs into Sweep and Armbar.

Random: new White John keeps asking me to roll over and over again. I want to drill more but he's having too much fun just rolling. I guess I was that guy once, and I need to give back.

Also, if you smoke weed, you should do it where you don't keep your gis. So distracting smelling that weed on the guy's gi.

3918 at Monday A.M.

Taps: 5. Total: 3918.

Monday 9am Open mat for a change. Small crew of two, then two more showed. Two hours later, stayed for the 11am class of six. Stayed 3 hours.

During OM, Brown Gerald showed a Deep Half Top Roll to the Back. Similar to the Mendes, but this one doesn't yank down on the grips. Instead, top hand grips the top knee, other hand grips the pants at the waist. Fall to the side and hook his leg with my free leg and roll him into Back Take.

BB Chris ... Tech I. Closed Guard to Lasso, DRL, Sit Up Pull Down Sweep.
 1. Double Sleeve grips in Closed Guard. Shrimp, get on my right hip, Left Leg Lasso; Right leg on the hip.
 2. Square up. If he gets up ... right leg pushes on his thigh to stretch him, release Lasso and make DLR hook.
 3. Sit Up, DLR hook drops to mat, feed right hand grip to left under the DLR hook.
 4. Right hand pulls down on collar to Sweep.

Tech II ... if he doesn't stand on the Lasso, leans back.
 1. Non-lasso leg shoots through.
 2. Right hand shoots, too, posts on outside of right knee to spin.
 3. Spin under to Omoplata.

Work on:
1. Guard Recovery
2. Side ESC.

Rener's Advice Teaching Loved Ones

Rener had a 11 minute video. I distilled it down to these:

1. Make it FUNctional. (practical and fun).

2. Expect nothing; Praise Everything.

3. Grow at THEIR own pace.

Keep this in mind teaching the kids.

Year 2017 Plan - 3 Areas

Focus on:

1. Passing
2. Guard Retention / Sweeps
3. Side Control ESC

But we all know SUBMISSIONS are way more fun. But, but, but ... If I can't Pass, then I can't get to Side Control or Mount or Back and I won't get the high-percentage Submissions. So ... Passing, Sweeps and Escapes.

Say it with me: Passing, Guard Retention, Escape. 12 months.

3913 at Sunday Confessionals

Taps: 2. Total: 3913.

Back to the drawing board on Arm Triangle ESC. Newly-minted Brown David got me.

BB Tarca showing a sneaky sneaky Wristlock off a Leg Lasso, and can get Sweep or Armbar, too.

Work on: Sky Pass and Ghost Side ESC.

And Slick Brown pulled off a nice Crucifix ESC off new Brown David as they flow / warmup rolled ... scoot down to the mat low and backwards roll on top of the guy. Slick.

3911 at Sat. Breakfast Club

Taps: 5. Total: 3911.

BB Chris ... Half Guard Passes.
 And he totally killed my Half Guard Game.

I. Half Guard Pass (vs. Underhook and Underhooking thigh)
 a. Left hand shallow Cross Face, just to turn him a little and straighten his spine.
 b. Sprawl/Straighten left hip to kill the Underhook on my thigh.
 c. Left hand releases Cross Face, comes over his head and shoulder and grips the belt/gi and switch hips like Reverse Kesa.
 d. Right hand grips his top knee, left bottom free knee comes under/against his legs, Right Trapped Leg walks up til IT'S ABOVE HIS KNEE and MY KNEE IS CLEAR.
 e. Can either: Backstep and free the leg or KNEE SLICE.

II. Half Guard Knee Shield Pass
 a. Come over the top of his cross collar grip, right in the fold on his biceps, pressure down, trap his hand, kill that grip.
 b. Left hand grip his bottom leg at knee and TWIST my Hip to kill Knee Shield start walking Counter Clockwise into the Knee Shield, into Side Control.

Blues are getting tough. Couldn't get out of a Triangle. Back to drawing board.

Work: Ghost Side ESC.

3906 at Thur A.M. club

Taps: 6. Total: 3906.

BB Vince ... drillin the Hitchhiker Armbar ESC from KoB. As he goes for the far side Armbar and he steps over, I step over my leg, go belly down.

II. Kimura from Half Guard Top.
 1. Get Kimura grip, but he turns into me, stays on his side - can't finish in that position. Straighten my right, trapped leg; left leg above his head and fall to my left hip; I'm so far up, my right trapped leg is almost out and easily free my leg.
 2. If he turns away, keeping the Kimura grip -- follow and Take the Back; If he turns into me, switch my hips, my right hip against his, Side Control and try to finish the Kimura.

III. Side Control to N/S Kimura.
 1. Side Control -- heavy pressure with Kesa, if he turns in, go N/S and wait for an arm available to Kimura; he turns away, the near arm should be available.

Rolling: Didn't get to try the Half Brabo; did try from Closed Guard, not much luck, only to see Blue David use it on Blue Joey. He couldn't get it the first few times, but was able to take the Back with it. I thought he also missed a chance to drag the defending arm across and trapping that and getting the Choke; eventually he did get the regular Brabo Choke at the end of their roll.

Telles' One Arm Kimura from Half -- i was able to get most of it, could not get the sweep or Back Take. Need to re-watch and try again. (I didn't post my free hand.)

3900 at Sunday Confessions

Taps: 3. Total: 3900.

Funny, Blue and I both going for the Brabo at the same time. He was top Half Guard and I from the bottom. I had better leverage and was able to get my second grip before he could but I couldn't finish.

Another Blue also going for Brabo but he was driving his head into my chin as the Finish rather than using his other hand. Almost got it too, but I had to give up the Pass or tap.

Back to the drawing board with:

• Brabo from Half bottom and Closed Guard
• Octopus to back from Half Guard bottom. 

White Belt Problems #1 and #2

Just something I noticed rolling with White Belts.

#1. Closed Guard, Standing (Top) / Passing

a. My style/advice is to Stand to Pass, when in Closed Guard Top. There is only one thing to worry about -- being SWEPT. That's why, you need to STAND PROPERLY. And I've seen most Whites not doing that.

b. Control one sleeve grip, lift foot on that Same Side. Pinch knees tight and lock in his hips.
c. Open his Guard, by reaching behind you, between his legs or pushing down on his knee and leaning opposite way, shucking, shaking.

#2. Closed Guard, Bottom.
 a. Having no plan, as he tries to pass. My plan (before he Stands) -- Break Posture.
 b. If he is able to STAND -- SWEEP HIM.

As I've heard, if he opens your Closed Guard, you're being Passed; if you open your Guard, you're playing Open Guard. Another way of saying, Open your Closed Guard on your terms, when you're ready.

3897 at Turkey Roll Open Mat (Legacy)

Taps: 5. Total: 3897.

1. Footlock.
2. Armbar
3. Armbar, trapped the wrong leg on the escape.
4. Armbar
5. Can't remember.

Need to play around with Mike's Brabo Series from Half Guard Bottom.

1. Knee up straight up against his shoulder.
2. Top elbow connects with knee, frame under his neck.
3. Other hand lower on his arm, near his wrist and top hand is near his shoulder; both hands keeping the Cross Face from happening.
4. Right hand gets gi, feeds it over his shoulder to my left and when time is right, feed it back to the right.
5. Go for Choke, left knee is occupying his top hand, if he defends with is left, drag it across and trap it with my chest and hug behind head for more pressure for the Finish.

3892 at Sunday Confession

Taps: 1. Total: 3892

Finally got Glen's Kimura series to the end ... Kimura to Arm Triangle to Ezekiel. Hit Mike's shoulder hook sweep a couple of times and also the Mount to S Mount Armbar BB Chris showed last week.

BB Tarca ... Counter to Leg Drag, ends in Knee Bar.
 a. as he leg drags, get Outside Leg in between his legs, go deep and lasso around his leg, my other leg comes over the top, triangle my leg and press down -- he should fall.
 b. Go belly down, get my arm under his leg and Knee Bar finish.

Fail: kimura to back take from turtle ... Freitas. Also, Leite Armbar.

Keep working: Closed Guard ... overlook Triangle and omoplata, Brabo, Marte and Lapel, High Guard to sweeps or Armbar.

3891 at Thur. A.M. club

Taps: 2. Total: 3891.

BB Chris ... Overhook Series from Closed Guard

1. Cross sleeve (my right on his right), left hand under his right arm and link with my right wrist. Lift up, over and under his arm, grab his collar with right and feed to my left.
2. Shrimp to my left, break his posture a bit, lock in Side Guard, my right hand comes over the top and side for Choke I.
  i. Choke II - Thumb inside, four fingers out.
  ii. Choke III (he didn't show this but I learned it from BB Tarca 2 Sunday Confessions ago) -- four fingers in, palm up, fingers punch into his neck.

II. Triangle
 a. Same as above to shrimp, lock in Side Guard, my right hand keeps his left hand away.
 b. Get my right knee free, then shrimp the other way to the left to free my foot and get it over is head to lock in the Triangle.
 c. Don't need his arm across my body for the finish, just HUG under my right knee and back of his head together.

III. Defends and hides his arm by his butt - Reverse Triangle
 a. Unlock regular Triangle, reach with my right hand (against side of his head) for my left ankle.
 b. Lock Reverse Triangle with my right foot on top of my left leg.
 c. Finish with left hand Hugging under my left knee along with back of his head.

2nd Hour
BB Chris ... review of Mount to Americana and Mount to S Mount Armbar.

Getting good at Armbar Escapes ... stuffing the leg, but I need to turn in and come up. Also, if he has the leg tucked in instead of over my belly, then I go for the Hitchhiker ... if he's attacking my right arm and he's on the right of me ... thumb down, my right leg swings over the left and come up.

Working on: Berimbolo and Closed Guard and Passing.

3889 and Stripe Two on Purple

Taps: 7. Total: 3889.

Recap on Purple progress:

Purple - Dec. 2014
One Stripe - April 2016.
2nd Stripe - Nov 2016.

BB Chris ... Mount Attacks
 I. Americana
  a. Toes tucked in, high Mount, knees close to his armpits
  b. Left arm under his head, right hand lifts his head to get left arm deeper and reach deeper to under armpit.
  c. Chest and Shoulder pressure to turn head to the right (he can't bridge to left because of the pressure); right hand bases out wide.
  d. If he brings left out, then my right hand gets under his elbow and Spidey walks up towards his head and hugs my hands together, almost to an Arm Triangle.
  e. When he tries to bring his hand back down, my left hand comes out from under his head and grabs that wrist, my right hand goes under his arm and links to my wrist for Americana.
  f. At same time, my left leg grapevines his leg and i drop my left hip and stretch my grapevine leg.

II. Straight Armlock
 a. if he straightens his arm from Americana ... make sure my right arm gets lower, just below his elbow and lift.

III. S Mount Armbar
 a. from the Spidey Walk and his arms are both straight up in the Field Goal position ... lift his head up and bring my left knee against the side of his head.
 b. my right leg chops under his other side armpit, squeeze my knees together, with his head and both his arms trapped between them.
 c. Attack the arm that is on top ... if it's the right arm, trap it at wrist, grab my collar high, lean to right and get my left leg over.
 d. if top arm is the left, trap and armbar switch.

BB Chris - 2nd Hour ... Mount Escapes.
 I. to Butterfly Guard
  a. cup and press his hips, bridge and get my knees and legs in for the Butterfly Guard.

II. Elbow Escape to leg over trap into Half Guard.

III. Cup and Machine Gun pump ... Archy Bumper.
 a. get to one side and get a knee in.

Rolling with Purp Webb ... he got me with 2 Inverted Triangles, 2 knee bars at the end of endless footlock attacks, and a footlock early on. Man, I was on the defensive the entire time.

Bro Mike's Shoulder Grip to Hook Sweep ... hit this a couple of times.

3882 at the Sunday Confession Open Mat

Taps: 2. Total: 3882.

Small crew. Only six of us and half of them were women.

Blue Lis kept trapping my near leg while she was in Turtle. Quite annoying and I couldn't do much while my leg was trapped. I asked her about it and turned out it was Dogfight position ... she just happened to get to it from Turtle, which totally threw me off.

I know that position, but more from her side ... it's Leite's Knee Torque.

She also defended well and didn't let me take the back from her Inverted Guard, kept her hips and legs high.

Purp Ira had some dirty gi tricks: ie. stepping on my gi to keep me immobilized. He also plays around with gi wraps and pseudo Worm Guard stuff.

Work on:
Closed Guard ... Marte
Berimbolo drill
Guard Recovery roll.

3880 at Annual Prof Magno Seminar

Taps: 2. Total: 3880.

Got a couple of rolls in pre-seminar and a couple post-seminar.

Seminar Focus ... Self Defence.

I. Double push on shoulders, steering wheel vs. guy coming forward and throwing punches.
 a. Duck under to take back or Double Leg.

II. Vs. one hand on chest pushing ... Wristlock
 a. Grab wrist, move his hand on center of my chest, my hands behind his elbow, step into him to bend his hand and wrist (starting at 12 o clock, then downwards)

III. Vs. one hand on my neck from front .. straight arm lock
 a. Grab his wrist with both hands, turn my back to him, my butt pressing on his lead leg, pull up on his wrist

IV. Kimura series ... from double wrist push down to kimura grip on one side
 a. Options .. twist up to get him down
 b. Sumi sac throw over
 c. Outside trip or inside trip

V. Vs. double fists ...
 a. Snap down both fists, pummel for Underhook on one side, step outside on that side, deep deep underhook and angle should get great shoulder control and makes him bent over
 b. Other hand on back of his hand for knee in face or outside trip for takedown.
 c. Or back to other direction to sink in Guillotine with free hand ... details on guillotine: 1. Guillotine hand cups the chin turns it up, twisting his whole head to the side, THEN get my same hand under the neck; 2. Link my other hand and step into him and raise up on my toes.

VI. Standing Guillotine Escape
 a. My opposite hand on the choking side goes over his back
  $$$ ... if he starts lifting up to tighten choke, raise up and put my knees on his thigh, let him carry all my weight.
 b. Walk to side of him away from choke, bend him with the back hand and knee him behind his knee to get him down to Side Control.
 c. if he holds on to headlock from bottom of Side Control -- frame on his neck, circle N/S big heavy steps, heavy hips, turn head away until i break headlock grip.

VII. Sit Up Guard Counter Series ... I. Loop Choke
 a. open gi with left, get grip with right hand
 b. push him to the opposite side of grip and make him post that side.
 c. as he recovers and comes back up, I STEP IN CLOSER, trap his head between my legs, stepping in leg is right against his shoulder.
  II. Armbar
    a. Underhook his left hand that was trying to wrap my lead leg.
    b. Step over his head, get my other leg on outside of his legs, sit down for Armbar.
 III. Leg Scissor
    a. if he reaches for the far leg ... stretch it outside his reach, Underhook hand goes behind his head and post on mat.
    b. Fall down behind him and Scissor his head and get Kimura grip on his arm.

VIII. Breaking up a Fight if someone is on top in Mount or top Closed Guard
 a. Grab top guy's wrist and bend it back behind him and keep walking in a circle twisting him off the poor guy on bottom.

3878 at Sunday Confessions

Taps: 1. Total: 3878.

The one tap from sneaky, sneaky counter to my Kimura grip when he was on bottom.

BB Tarca -- Overhook Choke with other Four-finger grip.
 1. From Turtle ... reach under arm and get four-finger in grip / other hand goes over top and gets four-finger in grip, pushes against his neck, switch base and sit on left butt for finish.
 2. Also, from Closed Guard ... Overhook series ... can't get normal second grip on shoulder choke, go to the Four-finger in and push into neck.

Need to work: Open Guard Passing and remember to turn in instead of giving my back in Escapes. And Guard Recovery Invert Drills.

3877 at Thur A.M.

Taps: 7. Total: 3877.

BB Vince -- some random stuff.
 I. RNC finish ... from top of Turtle not the back.
  a. push the guys head toward the choking hand, to get under the chin

 II. Quarter Guard top
  a. Gift wrap choke
  b. brings off hand and it's palm up, control that wrist with gift wrap hand, lift his elbow for Americana.

III. Arm Drag/Armbar from Guard
 1. off the armdrag, take Back
 2. Armbar ... get wrist tucked under my armpit
   i. he braces with other arm on my face, grab behind that elbow
   ii. swing right leg under his armpit, tuck my head down by his knee
   iii. swing LEFT LEG over the head for the armbar

Ok, most of the taps were from rolling with my buddy Purp Webb and I've got some back story about why his Leglock game has gotten to a whole new level. We rolled 6 or 7 times, most of them lasting under a minute as he caught me in a Heel Hook or Knee Bar or his old standby Reverse Triangle.

So apparently he has a good buddy who's a Black Belt and trains at Renzo's in NYC. Last time he was back East he trained at Renzo's and his buddy set up Privates with Danaher, like 6 or 7 of them. And helping Danaher was Eddie Cummings and Gary Tonon. No wonder.

And this is the same guy who goes down to San Diego and trains at Atos and M. Liera and Oregon for a week with Roy Dean.

My only two small moments of almost glory during all the roll with him: 1. nearly Ezekiel from Closed Guard (yay borrowing from Judo); 2. nearly Capazzi N/S Guillotine (didn't have my chin in center of his chest, didn't scoot down and didn't adjust my lat against side of his face).

Other notes rolling with strong White Belt ... Half Guard Leite Sweep to top Half and Pass to Side and Roger MO to Mount bait Kimura ... then Glen's Judo Kimura Break (didn't work: he was holding on to his gi low not the belt); went to Magic grip and choke but he reached up against the Magic grip and defended choke; grabbed my leg for Single, made him pay with Crucifix set up and he defended as time ran out.

From Kimura, I should just step over and try Armbar and Leite Arm break from there and see what happens.

Drill: Invert Guard Recovery x 100 / Glen's Armbar Fake to Sweep.

3870 at the Tues A.M. Club

Taps: 5. Total: 3870.

BB Vince ... Back Attack Drills/Series
 1. Seatbelt to Basic Grip Choke 1
 2. Kimura grip pass over head to Armbar
 3. Thread bottom leg through, let back fall behind his head ... grab my ankle and lock in Triangle.

... Side Control -- Reverse Kesa Gatame
 1. To Mount, then S Mount ... a. underhook elbow, inch up; b. that side bend foot and get near his ear; c. lean other direction to get other knee comes on TOP of his forehead; d. squeeze legs together and gather/hug both arms for armlock (but i really want the bottom) ... i can swivel to regular armbar from side.

Scare: Brn Gors keeps trying that Reverse Smash Cut over the thighs, but this time he did it from my Open Guard and really could busted my Knees. Need to be careful rolling with him.

Purp Webster -- Great tip: Half Guard Pass with Kimura Grip -- wedge free leg then roll over my shoulder and hear his head, but make sure to STIFF ARM with Kimura grip near his waist/belt. That's a much better control and he has no space.

And we talked about Side Stepover Armbar but he was thinking of Bear Trap. I was really going gor the Milton V's variation. Also, Cannonball grip attack from Back.

Finally, want to work on:
1. Terere Half Pass - Long Step.

2. Invert Guard Recovery
3. Reverse Butterfly Sweep ... Continuation/Transition to Armbar?? ... Keep the arm and try for armbar.

Lil Bro Mike Sessions

Need to get him to show and tape.

1. Passing Series
2. Brabo Series from Half Guard Bottom
3. Underhook over shoulder lock control  (which he did show me)
  i. Sweep and straight Armlock.

3865 at Garage Session with Glen

Taps: 1. Total: 3865.

Glen is a Brown Belt and a family friend. He hasn't trained in about a year due to injuries. Had a one-on-one session in his garage on his hard, hard puzzle mats.

I. He preferred to AVOID my Half Guard altogether with Knee Cut start but then goes high and wide around to a half-scramble to N/S. From there, he starts Kimura Grip Series of Attacks.
 A. Usually can't get Kimura, shoots off hand for Arm Triangle.
 B. If he defends by turning away, left knee against his back, sit up for Ezekiel Choke.
  *knee against his back so he can't turn back flat; also a good idea to keep him on his side during Kimura.

II. Judo Kimura Break if he holds belt
 a. pull up strongly, but slowly, slowy, then JERK DOWNWARD fast toward mat

III. If he holds gi high up
 a. Magic grip series
   1. Choke - reach around and over.
   2. Choke 2 - let go magic grip and put that hand behind his head
   3. Crucifix setup - step over his far arm and trap.
 
IV. Closed Guard ... armbar fake to Underhook Thigh Flower Sweep.

V. Drills -- DLR Pass
 a. grip under ankle, hip forward and up thrust, Leg Drag.

VI. Stand up Game
  a. Fake low wrestling Stance
  b. Low stance, pull down and set up Double Leg
  c. Foot sweep and counter foot sweep
  d. Judo grip, grip low then high to the grip I want / grip break by pulling my gi away.

3864 at Saturday Breakfast Club

Taps: 2. Total: 3864.

BB Joel ... KoB Attack Series
I. Far side spin arm bar, with Kimura grip
II. Mounted Triangle to regular Triangle
  a. Pull behind head and underhook far arm, slide right knee down to mat
  b. Left leg comes up and S mount slides under his head, lock in Triangle
  c. Roll over to bottom for regular Triangle
III. Gi wrap baseball choke
 a. Trap near arm/bicep
 b. Gi over his far elbow, let him get arm out
 c. Baseball grip and top elbow towards 7 or 8 o clock for finish.

Noteworthy... Brn Z ... squeezed my ribs hard in Closed Guard just to distract me and get Flower Sweep.
 2. Sucesss with ... Closed Guard Overhook grip, he twists to get arm out ...Bam! Armdrag to the Back.

3862 at Sat. Breakfast Club

Taps: 6. Total: 3862.

BB Chris ... Back to N/S Crank and Side Attacks.

I. Back Control ...
 a. Release left leg hook, right leg hook goes under his leg and hook and lift
 b. Shrimp and seatbelt grip and N/S Crank.

II. Seatbelt grip, pass over his head into Kimura grip
 a. Left knee pins his bicep ... Kimura ... he holds onto belt ... reverse Kimura.

III. N/S Choke.
 a. good details on Finish ... which I usually able to get to the position and not be able to Finish.
  i. from Kimura grip, left hand goes under his head, deep, bicep under his chin ... making all the adjustments as I'm on my knees
 ii. Then sink down flat on the mat, choking left hand on one side, wiggle to get my Lat on the other side of his head.
 iii. Finish: left shoulder rotates downward pressure, right hand pushes on his near hand downward toward his waist.

Misc: Rolling with Blue Felipe ... who's just back from long injury layoff. First roll ... got him with my patented Reverse Butterfly Sweep and he tapped me from Mount locked in Triangle and rolled over to regular Triangle, which I can usually get out of ... not this time.

Rolled with him again later and got greedy and thought I could get the Reverse Butterfly Sweep again, but he stopped it cold and smoothly, too. First times someone stopped it AFTER I got my setups and grips ... his other hand gripped my Butterfly Hook leg and STEERING Wheeled me as I attempted my sweep. He got the pass and Side Control.

Tried to work the Closed Guard Inverted Sweep ... no go .. but it was on Brn Stevo and Purp Pierre. Could not get to the Inverted stage ... I also didn't have the pants grip, either.

3856 at Thurs. A.M

Taps: 1. Total: 3856.

Need to roll with more Higher belts.

BB Vince ... had us warm up with light, flow rolling and the constant movement wore me out.

I. Turtle to prevent the Pass.
 *Don't stay there too long. Recover to Half or Full Guard.

II. KoB to Turtle
 a. Shallow KoB, push down and Turtle into him.
 b. Deep KoB, across the belly ... push away, and Running Man Turtle away.

III. Half Guard - Knee Cut Counter / Whizzer Choke Counter
 ** if he takes both hands off mat and goes for a Choke.
 a. reach between my legs, grab just above his trapped ankle.
 b. knee him in the Butt, he goes forward.
 c. come up to elbow and come up beside him
* Can also just Scissor my legs and come up (that will torque his knee), instead of the Knee in the Butt.

IV. Side Control Attack
 a. Cross face hand comes over his head, under his neck like I'm setting up a N/S choke.
 b. His far arm will frame under my neck and he'll turn into me ... EXACTLY what I want.
 c. Lift my far knee and brace against his hip, ATTACK THE FAR ARM ... Kimura, Americana, Swivel Armbar.

V. Side Control ... Windshield Wiper back and forth to MOUNT.

Need a little more work: Leite Half Back to Bring down and Triangle Armbar Break.

Success:
1. Freitas Turtle to Back with Kimura Grip (off the 10 Fav Moves, Budovids)
2. Sean's Giggler Lockdown to Sweep. Capizzi has something similar.

Look up:
Half Guard to X Guard.

3855 at Tues A.M.

Taps: 10. Total: 3855.

Half those taps were to my buddy Purp Web, who used to tap me with the Reverse/Inverted Triangle -- guess he got bored and now has been focusing on Footlocks, Leglocks, Heel hooks and Knee Bars.

BB Chris -- Kimura variation from Side Top ... switch grips, other hand getting under, coming round, twisting his elbow.

II. Honeyhole entry from Top Half ... get upright, swing my free leg over and get perpendicular to him ...

Work on:

1. Back Attack -- Cannonball Grip.

2. Prezel grip Guillotine - choking hand is on the INSIDE.

3845 at the Jiu Jitsu in the Park, 3rd Edition

In Manhattan Beach.

Taps: 9. Total: 3845.

About 60, 70 people?

Highlight: Meeting and rolling with SEAN ROBERTS.
Lowlight: Missing the Acai truck.

Cross Sean Roberts off my BJJ Bucket List. I've met Royce Gracie, took a seminar with Roy Dean but I actually rolled with Sean Roberts, one of my BJJ idols. We talked and he gave me tips, and I actually caught him with my Reverse Butterfly Sweep at the beginning of our roll, and he called me a "Sneaky Bastard." He said he was surprised and that it was legit. It's actually a modified Reverse Scissor Sweep that I got from him.

SR was showing another BB his Giggler Sweep, and a Lasso Guard Pass into making the guy Inverted (pinning both legs near his ears) into a Sick/Slick Back Take ... lift my left leg up, dive under the guy so his butt is on my chest, hook his leg with my left leg, reach and underhook his far shoulder/arm and pull him towards me to establish the Back.

Also, a DLR Triangle -- pass hand grip under his leg to my other hand, pull collar down with my right hand, as he puts his left hand on the mat, shoot my leg over for the Triangle.

SR tips from rolling with him:
1. from Back Control and the guy is almost escaping and is almost Mount and into Half, just hold on to far arm/sleeve. Control/Pull that sleeve as I get back to Mount.
2. Beginning of rolls -- push the hands down, away, DON'T let them get Both Pants grips.
3. His Half Guard -- left hand across his chest and touches opposite shoulder (that prevents Underhook); when they get close, then I can pummel for my Underhook.
3a. I noticed he does modified, loose (not extended) Lockdown, very effective with his Giggler Sweep.
4. vs. holding Gi Armbar defense and even against the Bow and Arrow (when he holds his Gi) -- Grab his gi lower down and USE MY FOOT  to push away and there will be leverage and he will release grip on his own Gi.

Machado Blue -- Armbar ESC ... RNC my hands, off hand under the guy's leg, attacked arm's elbow down to mat, come up, into him. Key to get elbow down to mat.

There were a four or five guys with gis and no belts. Over all, 40-60 percent of Gis to Nogi guys. Although the Gi guys rolled both.

One of the no belts -- Ronin Mike (I think he was a Brown) had some moves I've never seen before. He said his instructor was doing some Tai Chi-based BJJ.
1. Side ESC 1 -- get Underhook and just come up with Knee tap, if the guy doesn't settle.
2. Side ESC 2 -- get Underhook if he settles, Backward roll over my shoulder and come up in Side Control.
3. Mount ESC -- get one arm under the guy's leg, then the both arms, bridge and come up into DOUBLE UNDER Pass.

Closed Guard - break posture, High Guard.
X Guard
Side ESC - review Sean's.

3836 at Sun Open Mat

Taps: 5. Total: 3836.

BB Tarca showed a nice Counter to the Collar Grab and I can't break the grip.
 1. Cross grip his grip.
 2. Other arm - leading with elbow - comes over the top of his arm and under, reaches for the belt at his back.
 3. My head pushes into his chest, circle counterclockwise, walk towards his head to Pass into Side Control.
 4. Armbar finish: right foot comes up, left knee gets tight against arm under the armpit.

PB Ira tips for Bottom game: my lower body is crap, just too flat. Not moving. That's why I'm so easy to Pass. I need to frame, shrimp and get my legs in, knees in tight. Work my legs in. Don't let people occupy the "Pocket" area in front on my chest, hip area as they try to Pass.
  Need to work on it.

Update on the Mora Leg Trap Armbar ESC. Works very well, except today I was rolling with BB Jim. Had the leg trapped. But he was very heavy with the other leg on top of my face, I just couldn't get that leg off my face to do the full escape. I was huffing and pulling and there was pressure on my forearm and it was close to a forearm slicer.
  Was scared. Didn't have faith in the tech to let go and believe that he couldn't finish with his leg trapped. Should have let go and used my other hand to get his leg off my face? Eventually he angled away and got his leg out and finished the Armbar.
  Let's review the Vid. -- Ohhh. that's what i did wrong. I'm supposed to GIVE him the arm and as tries to finish ... I turn into him and COME UP. Sheesh.

3831 at Sat Club

Taps: 8. Total: 3831.

BB Chris ... Closed Guard to High Guard Armbar. A different setup to the High Guard.
1. My right hand reaches under and across to grab behind elbow of his right arm; my left hand already has that same side sleeve grip.
2. Now here's the variation: my left hand switches from the sleeve to grip, reaches across to behind the other elbow and pulls across.
3. That will break his posture enough to get my left leg over his shoulder to lock in High Guard.
4. Squeeze knees together tight and get left leg over his face on other side for Armbar.

Tech II -- Half Guard Half Butterfly Sweep.
1. I've got Underhook and preventing crossface by C cupping that bicep.
2. Shrimp back to get space to get Hook in with my left trapped leg.
3. Now let him crossface me and trap that hand with "answer the phone" and Hook Sweep towards the crossface side.

I like Denny P's High Guard setup and have been trying to go for it more ... hip up and get elbow across as I lock in HG. Actually got Blue Paul ... he postured back thinking I was going for Armbar. Instead I pushed him away and swept into Mount twice. Almost into a Mounted Triangle, too.
Born Gerald also said I have an Omoplata, too when I go for the Sweep.

Saw Brn Z ... back from Hungary. Big scary guy, like Brn Steve, who never smiled at me for the first 2, 3 years. Somehow must have earned their respect. Both very friendly.

OMG. How many times am I going to fall into Purple Leif loop choke as I'm passing. I need to stop and deal with his grip instead of just pressing forward. One of these days, I will get it right.

Trying to find Efficient, sneaky ways: i.e. Getting half guard Underhook...1. Hard bridge; 2. Clamp knees sweep attempt. 2nd example ... the Romulo sweep... instead of pulling withe my arm, just shrimp, shrimp, shrimp to get the Sweep. HG bridge to elbow across setup. Need to collect more examples.

That's where all the powerful invisible BJJ lives. And I must be progressing because I'm getting to Mount and Back fairly often. Can't quite finish but still getting there.

And it's Official. I have run out of RAM in my brain for NEW TECHNIQUES. From this point on, I'm only looking a videos of techniques I already know, trying to suss out better setups, entries, secret sauce details that make the technique work or more efficient.

3823 at the Thur AM

Taps: 6. Total: 3823.

BB Vince ... with drills:
Side Control to Side Control, when he turns into me
1. Elbow wedge in
2. Step over, knee in tight near his head (like N/S kimura position).
3. Back step to other side, Side Control.

KoB to Side Control on other side
1. Pop up to regular KoB
2. Switch to other knee
3. Back step over his head
4. Slide leg down into other side Control (and I guess I could go straight to Mount).
5. Cross face.

 Half to Mount -- oldie but goodie I have to put back into toolbox (tripod and wedge).

BB Mike -- KoB ESC to Crucifix, and lots of sub options from there.
1. Weave under ankle of KoB foot and touch other thigh.
2. Other hand on the shoulder and push both.
3. Just want to get his back hand near my legs and trap the hand into Crucifix.

Some of the boys were drilling a Side ESC that looked familiar and I couldn't remember where I had seen it. But I realized it can also be done in Half Guard, too.

Basically, a Lapel Ghost Side Control ESC.
1. Get Lapel from far side and over his back.
2. Other hand gets underneath and checks his hip.
3. Hard bridge to create space, SPIN UNDER AND OUT.
4. Keep the Lapel grip and move around until he flips over into Side ... there's the choke and his arm his trapped too by the Lapel grip for an armbar.

Work on:

• Sky Pass
• Side ESC ... ghost?
• Closed Guard High Guard set up
• Bring back -- Falling Scissor Sweep when starting from knees.

3817 at the Tues AM

Taps: 4. Total: 3817.

BB Vince was late and everyone had on their gi so we went gi all two hours.

Open Guard Passing
 ** When he goes Closed to Open, make sure to get grips on Knees or below on the legs. Anything higher like chest or collar will get me into Trouble.

I. Get double grips on knees or legs ... Stand Up. a. Step straight back - Bullfight Pass; b. then step straight Forward into Double Under Pass; c. cross side hand grips under his ankle, other grips top pants - Leg Drag; d. vs DLR hook, straighten my foot to have space to duck in and get Double Unders; e. Push both legs to one side, hug both his legs and face opposite way of Pass, step over and TRIANGLE my legs over his, trapping his legs and then open my legs and Pass one way or the other.  (*Gilles had a tweak with getting one arm deep under both legs and getting a RNC grip on it.)

We line drilled those 5 Open Passes.

2nd Part -- Vince showed a Butterfly Sweep with Over the Back Belt Grip.
 a. His best option is to hop over to that belt grip side so get my Right hook OUT and put it on outside to prevent him passing that way.
 b. When I'm ready, get a grip on his other hand, get my Hook back in and tuck my other foot under the Hook and Sweep to the left.

Remember to Ask Vince: Half Guard Top and they try a Kimura - the Counter. He showed me once and I forgot.

Tails Sweep Tweak ... Try bumping into him to the Right to get momentum and disguise the Sweep when I actually go to the Left. It worked on Vince but Brn Steve was ready and kept basing and counter-balancing his weight over to the right.

3813 Sunday Open Mat

Taps: 5. Total: 3813.

Rolled at least 8 rounds of 8 min because no one know how to change the Timer. Rolled with everyone there except the two girls who are always drilling by themselves. One of the girls were Blue and other newly Purp and everyone else was either Purp or Brown and one Black.

Brn Wade was working on his straight footlock variations and I tapped to him three times (two foot and one knee bar).

Lots of people getting S Mount and getting Kimura grip and I'm keeping everything tight so there's nothing there for them EXCEPT the armbar, which I am waiting for and I've had good success escaping with the Leg Trap Escape.

One guy got me with a Ezekiel from there and someone else was tried that later but I was able to wiggle out.

Wade likes to Backstep from Top Half and I was finally able to block with my foot and almost take his Back (a la Leite) one time out of the three that he did it.

3808

Taps: 3. Total: 3808.

BB Jason. Kesa Gatame attacks.

Keep working on:

1. Side ESC
2. Closed Guard: High Guard and Armdrag Hip Bump to Back Take.
3. Back ESC.

Misc: saw Pb L - go hard and hurt Blue Asian Paul (as opposed to Blue White Surfer Paul) with an Footlock. A Shame. And when I rolled with Pb L he went fast, fast for an armbar and almost got it but he was yanking and straining, and I got out of it eventually.

And he gassed because he didn't have anywhere to go from there. Since I was stack/defending, he should have gone for the Spin Under Armbar.

3805 at Sunday Open Mat

Taps: 5. 5 or 6 rounds of 6 min. Total: 3805.

BB Tarca showing a Side Control Gi Choke.
 1. Use my own gi, pass to cross face hand.
 2. Other hand comes up on other side of his head, and to the crook of my hand like a RNC.
 3. Pull with gi grip hand, getting him almost to his side to get Tap.

Purp Christian asked me about my Armbar ESC because I just got out of two his armbars with it. And it is my latest favorite and I've had some success. I saw a YT video recently and it clicked. And now I realize my own instructor had shown me a similar tech. But that's when it clicks. I need to see the same tech from two or three different sources.

Brn Steve got me with the Scully Side Armbar. One that I've been trying and not getting. He was able to get the step over and sit back, which I've haven't yet been able to do.

Ran out of rashguards. Guess it's a good week of training when I don't have any clean rashguards left.

Turtle Attack -- BQuick's sit back Crucifix. Top hand gi grip and other hand together like modified seatbelt.

3800

Taps: 5. Total: 3800.

Why only 5? The leg lock guys were not there.

BB Chris -- Mount Gi Choke.
 1. Get low, my head on right side, next to his head so he can't see me getting my gi with my right hand.
 2. Pass gi under his head to my left hand; move up, getting my knees under his armpits.
 3. Now there's space for me to get my right leg bent to Kob.
 4. Get off Mount, right hand blocks hip; right knee slides down and blocks hip.
 5. Face his feet, get my head to that hip for the Finish.

Side Control Attack -- Baseball Choke.
 1. Pass gi under his arm to my left hand (cross face hand); my right hand cups that elbow and pulls in.
 2. Get KoB; my right hand lets elbow go and grabs top of Baseball grip on gi and DROP elbow down on his throat.
 3. Move N/S as right knee goes near his head, left leg bases out far, and head goes on the right side again for the Finish.

*Purp Pierre the Nightmare tip on Americana defense -- my free hand pushes on his elbow.

• Armbar Break -- top hand goes under (palm mostly up), other hand comes over top. 
• Armbar Break 2 -- bottom hand goes under, grabs my own gi and Tucks his elbow into my armpit deep; lean forward toward his head (11 o'clock), then back for the break.

• Belly down Armbar ESC -- scoot back and surf over his body to the other side. When I've been hopping over, I just end up back under regular Armbar position and end up tapping.
• Side ESC -- practice Henry bridge.

3755

Taps: 10. Total: 3755.

Nogi -- BB Vince. Half Passes.
 I. Pop knee out and Knee Cut when they try to turn other way to transition to DLR and ankle grip.
      a. Get Underhook and crossface.

 II. Foot wedge behind his knee
   a. move left and down to get trapped knee out; pop up above his head and get Butterfly wedge -- just before Mount.

Gi - BB Vince -- Side Control Attacks.
 I. Elbow stake, backstep to other side to Back drill, and into Kimura.
 (**partnered with Brn Anthony: man, he had some nice details to make everything much much tighter!)

  Ex. 1: from Side Control, my top hand gathers in his head (not neck), and my knee steps over his head and pinch his head between my knees; gather in his legs so his WHOLE body is fetaled up and uncomfortable.

 Ex. 2: from other side, control under his elbow and grip top of his elbow and when I release he will Turtle, get Hook in, use other leg to gather his his leg to Lockdown from the Back; pull on his gi behind his head and take him to the left to get better Back control and pressure.

 Ex. 3: with Kimura grip, use my whole core and push AWAY to straighten his arm away from his body and make it weak, then come back and behind his back for the traditional finish.

 II. He defends Kimura, switch to Americana on the other arm that is trying to push my leg from coming over his face.

Ex 4: on Americana -- use Monkey grip (no thumbs); get his elbow down to his waist and then lift use a wee bit to get the tap.

Working on:
1. Passes -- Brusch / Sky re-direct
2. Closed Guard -- Breaking Posture / High Guard to Armbar or Sweep.
3. Side Esc
4. Back Esc.

3745

Taps: 11. Total: 3745.

Nogi -- BB Mike ... Armbar from Mount, Counter to Hitchhiker ESC.
 I. Corkscrew
    1. Kimura grip on his arm, he rolls away to Hitchhiker ESC ... follow him and I'm turtled up, butt in the air, forehead on the mat, but still got grip on his arm.
    2. Move my leg from in front of his face to the back of his neck for the Corkscrew -- make him flip back over.
    3. Turn him to face his feet to have room to get leg over his face to finish.

II. Smash to Back
  1. If he won't flip over ... control his elbow, and move back to lock in Body Triangle.
  2. Remove that hand to get Choke on his neck and turn him onto his Back.

III. BB Vince - Wrestler Move / Double Leg and Sitout Counter
 1. He shoots, I sprawl on top, lock my hands to control briefly, but let go when he goes to Sit Out.
 2. Side he goes, that side hand I put between his legs and kind of "cross face" with my knee as I step over/toward into Mount.

Drilled Side Esc a little. Need to do more.

Rolls: BB Vince kept attacking with Honeyhole Kneebars/footlocks/double ankle slicers; PB Web kept doing same and also from 50/50, and kept getting to my Back and I can't escape because too busy defending Chokes but he gets my with Reverse Triangle. Same thing with BrnB Steve -- he gets my Back and only thing he can finish me with is the Reverse Triangle/Arm bar or Crank.

Need to look up Escapes for Reverse Triangle. Also, need to bust out X Guard for Web. He likes to start standing and sit into Honeyhole.

And work High Guard sequence from Closed Guard.

3734 Open mat, feeling low Plateau?

Taps: 8. Total: 3734.

Could not get a handle on my rolls. Random, chaotic, no themes emerged. Feeling low. Is this what a
Plateau feels like?

Arm bar escape ... Saulo -- need to come up and straddle his leg; triangle escape... Arm in side knee comes up and twist my body.

Find YouTube vid of new fav arm bar escape ... Trapping the leg, Rolling over the other one. Joe mora.

BQuick ... Crucifix from turtle attack.
Side escapes...drill.

3726 and Sunday Open Mat

Taps: 6. Total: 3726.

Big crowd today, including 3 women (all Blue). Rolled with two of them, both tapped me. First, I got lazy, but she won the Underhook battle in Half and Passed to Side, and wrapped me in my Lapel for the choke. She was really grunting for the Finish, so I was a little distracted by that. Never had anyone making sounds like that.

Second Blue Female - I dominated most of the roll, then let her work a little, so she Passed into Side and I rolled out to escape right into a Triangle. Very impressed considering it was at the end of the roll and I knew she was gassed.

Sexist but I don't like to roll with women. They don't smell like jiu-jitsu so it's very distracting. But that's my problem. I should roll with them more but there are not that many that train.

Study on this:

Side ESC - roll away and elbow push sit up.
Half Guard Bottom (got Underhook) vs the Step Back.
X Guard - tech stand up, Back Take and one more (scissor the leg sweep?)
Electric Chair ... PB Ira suggested I was very close to it several times in my X-Guard/deep half attempts against him
Romulo Sweep

3720 and Adv tech Side and Half Underhooks

Taps: 5. Total: 3720.

BB Chris ... Open guard to DLR ... Double sleeve grips; Push on his thigh with right foot, stretch him out, DLR hook in with other foot, sit up and pass right hand grip to other hand going under the hooked dlr leg, right hand grips far collar (Palm down), pull down for Sweep.

Tech 2 ... If he breaks grip and pulls away his left hand ... Switch to cross grip, left hand goes to his ankle, my right foot goes under his armpit and pushes and stretches him, then right foot comes down on back of calf ... To crab walk Back Take.

Tech 3 ... Back attack ... Fall to underhook side, push head away to swing leg over and in front of his head for arm bar. Bonus: Armbar break -- far arm tucks under his arm, gets deep over his elbow and grabs my own collar, fall at angle toward his head like 11 o' clock for the break.

Purple Wolfe let me drill Side top ... Zachary choke and Dope Mount -- key detail: need to underhook that far side before I drop my knee in then other knee for Mount.

Advanced Side tech to kill the near arm ... 1. Use my hips to turn him on his side then come back and get my knee into his arm pit; 2. Leg weave start of Dope Mount turns him on his side, then come back into his armpit.

Advanced getting Underhook in Half Guard bottom: 1. #1 bridge into him; 2. This is my favorite -- swivel knees left to right like almost sweep.

3715 and Who was that visiting BB?

Taps: 2. Total: 3715.

No gi -- BB Vince.

Kimura from N/S ... step over his head. He defends, pushing foot away and turns flat or inward. Swing other foot over, Gift Wrap around his head, free hand controls his other hand so I can get my foot over his hand and under his chin. Fall forward on my elbow, Triangle my legs ... forward roll into Triangle adjustments from bottom.

Visiting BB Eduardo with the Gi.

I. Elbow Tuck Butterfly Sweep Either Way
 a. Right hand cross collar grip, left hand same side sleeve grip. Pull him a little with cross collar, lead in with left elbow into his armpit, keeping sleeve grip and tucking my elbow into my body, locking his right arm.
 b. Right hand controls his other arm like a normal Butterfly Sweep ... fall to the right, and lift him that way ... 9/10 times I will get the sweep.
 c. BUT ... da dum. I can underhook his thigh with my right hand, reverse shrimp, and SWEEP him to the LEFT very effortlessly.

II. Closed Guard vs. When They Stand
 a. Left hand cross sleeve grip his left side, Underhook his leg on same side.
 b. Pass grip over the the right hand.
 c. Open legs, pivot hips, come down to regular Omoplata I.
 
 Omoplata II - he postures up, BACK FLIP  and come up Side Control with his arm.

Omplata III - Log Roll, come up in Side Control with the Arm.

IV - Armbar ... his free hand near my knee, grab it and swing leg over his head, underhook his other leg and Armbar.

Bonus:

vs. Double Unders ... Sit up and grab back of elbow and lock in RNC grip.

vs Pass ... Lasso and let him pass, Triangle legs and bicep slicer.

vs. Flattened Half Guard Bottom Sweep ... Lapel Grip over his shoulder with the left hand (normally my Underhook hand), Bridge in to make space and get my other hand under him and unto the other side, Swing my legs and come up on top; keeping Lapel grip on the back of his head, move around to the right and turn him over get Side Control.

Brown Izzy was back and told me to RELAX and flow more. I need more people to tell me that. Because I think I AM Relaxed!!!! And that I am flow rolling. But obviously I AM NOT. So thankful, but wish I had more guys like him to remind me to CHILL. CHILL. CHILL.

3713 and more Half Guard

Taps: 5. Total: 3713.

No gi -- BB Vince.

Double Leg (he sprawls), into Single Leg pull in.
 a. Hook leg with same side, wrap his waist ...
  1. If he puts both hands on mat, take Back.
  2. If he Wizzards ... i. Knee tap push over; ii. link hands, dive under, roll over; iii. if he posts out with his leg -- crank on shoulder, push down on back of his head to roll him over ...

BB Mike showed a Guillotine from there, switching hips, or even letting him come up into Half Guard and finish him there.

Gi -- BB Vince

Knee Shield Half Guard Pass -- Over/Under.
 1. Under and outside pants grip; shoulder into his belly, straighten my leg; switch hips and swing leg out.
  a. If he keeps legs locked, bring other leg onto KoB.

*** in general, vs. Knee Shield, bring my KNEE UP and make him react and move. He'll probably try Butterfly Guard.

Bonus tech: Blue Tony the Tiger got me with Kimura from Half Guard Top twice and BB Vince was coaching me how to reverse but I couldn't understand, but he was saying...

* My free hand dives under for Deep Half grabs his trapped (inside) leg; when he tries to finish, I scissor my bottom leg under and come up in Half or Side.

 

3708 and Kimura Grip Rollover AB

Taps: 3. Total: 3708.

BB Chris ... Closed Guard Kimura Grip Rollover Armbar.
1. Left hand grips wrist on same side, right arm goes behind elbow of same arm (like in armbar setup).
2. Shrimp left and bring his arm down in gap in the right, and create bend in his arm as I lock in Kimura grip (left hand still on his wrist, right hand grabs my own wrist).
3. Shrimp to create space to get my left leg over on his back and knee on back of his neck to force his head onto mat. He will flip over.
4. Shrimp other way to get left leg out and over his face for traditional armbar finish.

Tried working the Corkscrew but ended breaking posture with Double Collar grip and went into Overhook grip and eventually Omo that Blue Ali flipped over but I still ended up on top.

Also, worked with Blue Eddie on 3/4 Quarter Guard Ninja Roll. He didn't really commit to it so I drilled it with him after the roll.

All the Blues are getting better at defending. I really need to work on better attacks. Could work on Side ESC as always.

Notes on Maia vs Condit fight

Round 1: Maia manages distance, shoots in for Single, gets the Takedown. Tripods with head down into Headquarters then settles down into regular Half Guard. Shifts hip, gets his knee up, then pushes Condit's knee down to get to 3/4 Guard.

Condit turtles so Maia sinks in other hook and takes the Back. Condit tries to stand and teepee but Maia seatbelt grip and pulls at one of his hands. Maia gets him back down and turned a little so he locks in Body Triangle as he shoots choking hand across Condit for half of the RNC. He has the other hand on top of Condit's head but Condit pulls it away. Maia goes to a modified grip of RNC. Condit taps.

All this takes place in 2 minutes. And it's all covered by BJJ Scout in his preview of this fight and detailed fight analysis of Maia. Thank you BJJ Scout and D. Maia.

Recap: Single Leg takedown, Headquarters tripod, Half Guard, 3/4 Guard (usually Pass to Mount), Back, RNC finish.

3705 and Sun. Open Mat

Tap: 5. Total: 3705.

Brown Misc (means I forgot his name) had a bunch of new tricks up his sleeve: wristlocks, footlocks, and armbars from all over the place.

Blue Wrestler Shane always gets me on Kesa, and almost got me with a wristlock trap but I was able to reverse. He gets Side then Kesa and works the Arm Triangle, but he also has a tough Kesa, which means I need to work on that ESC more.

And he finally got me with a RNC plus stretching my back. I always tap to that rather the choke because my lower back is so weak and I don't want to F@%^$% it up any more. I really don't have a defense when they stretch my back out like that. Luckily, most people concentrate on getting the RNC and I have a little time to work the escape.

3 Notes all from watching others show someone else a Move:

1. PB Ira was showing PB Steve a Side Control Sit Up ESC ... Prayer Position, Shrimp Into the guy and push with Prayer hands on his armpit; Right hand continues to push on Traps or near Armpit, left hand comes up onto Elbow, and pushes over; Tuck/fold legs in show he can't grab hold as I push.

2. BB Tarca ... Open Guard, spawl, smash Pass: sprawl on right hip, bring left knee up, go around to the right.

3. BB Tarca ... Sneaky Kimura from Closed Guard ... left hand grip on right hand sleeve, push onto to mat; reach under that arm like an armdrag (but tension like a Catch armdrag) will bring him forward; lock in Kimura.

Also, rolling with BB Misc: man he was heavy and had excellent balance. I could not do anything. None of my Half Guard stuff was working, even with the Underhook.

3700

taps: 5. Total: 3700.

BB Chris ... Kob escape ... Grip knees of each, upa, then shrimp, shrimp to get Half Guard.

Tech 2 ... From knees ... Deep Half entry ... Left hand grabs belt grip, left leg up, shoot in for half butterfly hook/half guard; right hand dives under thigh to get a Deep Half; keep belt grip with left hand and elbow tight so there is not room for him to dig for Underhook.

Brown Steve has added new tricks to his Spider Guard, entering into leg locks from there. Even more deadly.

Working the: pass to side, dope mount to mount, rodolfo s mount arm bar. So far, only have progressed to the mount stage.

3695

Taps: 7. Total: 3695.

BB Vince ... No gi.
a. Review of 3 TD counters from Tues.
b. Turtle control - dark side tech ... grabbing four fingers minus the thumb.
c. Americana counter from bottom ... re-Americana.

D. Kimura Switch variation ...
 i. from N/S, he goes belly down, switch hands, underhook with other hand; switch hips; STEP OVER his head (press his head away with legs), pressure his hand that's trapped and he'll release it and then go back to Kimura.

BB Vince .. Gi
I. Basic Half Guard Pass A
 a. lift his bottom leg a little, thread my trapped knee through.
 b. right hand on his hip to check and inside to prevent Underhook.
 c. I get Underhook, get my elbow all the way down on mat so no space for him to re-Underhook.
 d. Crossface and free my leg by kicking the BOTTTOM leg with my free leg.

II. From Side ... Step Over Choke with the cross face deep into collar
 var. also Armbar by letting go choke and grabbing behind my thigh.

PB Webster has been working that Rollover Kimura control, trapping my other hand with the leg series. He's getting there almost every time. I need to Tanquino Sweep before he gets set up.

Still tweaking the Half Guard Game ... but BB Albert's way of getting the Underhook is so effective. Trying the sweep and when they base out with their hand, there's all the space to shoot in for the Underhook.

Also, K.Brown's tip of hiding the near hand underneath my body is just awesome. That takes alot of control away from them when they can't get my wrist or sleeve or elbow to do their Knee Cut.

Once I get the Underhook, go right into the Romulo Sweep. Lots of success with that.

3688

Taps: 4. Total: 3688.

These 3 minute rounds go so fast. I much prefer the Open Mat 6 minute rounds on Sunday.

BB Vince - No gi first hour.

Kimura Wrestler Switch Series.

I. From Turtle Bottom ... Kimura grip to break his Seatbelt grip, extend, then reach in for Switch and come out to the Back.

II. Open Guard, he passes and almost Kob ... same deal, Kimura grip ...

III. Mount, bottom: get on side, and get Kimura grip, shrimp back to get space to get knee in and above his knee; sit up, Switch.

Bonus: Break Seatbelt grip when he's on my Back -- pull/straighten the non-gripping hand. One hand will be gripping his other wrist.

Gi, 2nd Hour -- Takedown Counters when he shoots in with a Double.

I. Cowcatcher: Guillotine with right hand, left hand Underhooks left side, and Underhook side keep reaching up to the sky and Turns him over. Switch my base as I crank up with Guillotine grip.

II. Crossface: Right hand under his jaw and reaches for just below shoulder; left hand reaches over his back and Gable grip; crank to the left over his shoulder, turning his jaw/face and turn him over.

III. Kimura Turnover: Sprawl ... push on back of his neck, left Underhooks left side and comes up and connects with my right wrist; push my left and all the way to mat as I move to the right, that should torque his neck and make him flip over and I'm in Side Control.

PB Pete ... a couple of set ups.
I. From the Back ... fall to overside, come into S Mount and shoot Underhook arm deep and go for Arm Triangle.

II. from Kob ... get far Underhook like I'm going to Armbar, if he frames on my posting leg, C Clamp his hand, step over, right knee comes down and into Mount and other leg swings over to lock in Triangle.

Forgot the Reverse Omo: Pass his arm to inside Leg. Dig in with Inside Leg and push his arm toward Outside leg and pass it back over.

Drill: Closed Guard.

Still 3684 at Masters Open Mat

Taps: 0. Total: 3684. Six rounds of 6 minutes and no taps. How is the possible? No Black belts and I think the three Browns were going easy on me.

Just love the Half Sweep vs Knee Slide that Romulo showed. Good success with it. Want to drill it some more.
Also trying to practice sitting in Closed Guard, not having my posture broken. And Closed Gurad attacks starting with Corkscrew.

Drill just this: after posture break ... Hand on back of head, hand behind elbow; hip up get elbow across centerline, high guard. 3 steps. Again. Again.

3684

Taps: 3. Total: 3684.

BB Chris ... Spider Guard drills. Footwork, grips.

Closed Guard ... need to work next step. Getting their Posture broken, but then I brain freeze there. Need to drill next step. Going to High Guard.  or Flower Sweep.

Closed Guard top ... doing better, practicing not getting Posture broken. Hunkering down on my butt.

New respect for Lockdown. Thought I had it solved but BB Mike was showing Blue belt and the Whip Up is key. Just extending is not enough. You have to bring your Lockdown and knees to your chest like a Crunch, and THEN EXTEND, and that will totally move the guy around.

Getting lazy, getting my Half Guard killed by higher belts. Brown Gerald and Purp Peter just crushed my HG game. Try BB Albert's move of coming up to Turtle.

3681 and Sun. Masters Open Mat

Taps: 5. Total: 3680.

Small group today. Had to go two, three rounds with same folks.

Need to tweak Dope Mount, but BB Albert's Counter to Knee Slice worked great against 70-year-old Blue Allan. But the second time, he crossfaced me with a wrestling crank and sunk in RNC. And I tapped.

Some nice little tips and tidbits here and there: Crook grip for Armbar, lifting head to get RNC deeper.

3676 and Half Guard Sweeps When Flattened

Taps: 2. Total: 3676.

BB Albert ... Half Guard ... No underhook, crossfaced and flattened.
Sweep A
1. Put hand on his hip, create a little to get on my side.
2. Bottom feet on mat, knee up, torque to the right (same as Giggler Sweep).
3. He will post on mat with the crossface hand or he'll be sweep. When he posts, there is room to get the Underhook.
4. With Underhook, reach and grab gi near armpit. Get on my side or on elbow to reset.
5. Try same sweep to left again. This time when he posts, my Underhook hand reaches up toward behind my head and takes out his posting hand as I complete the Sweep.

Sweep B
If he back steps to defend ...
1. My left leg hooks onto his Backstep leg, my other leg untangles his other leg to hook under it and lift to complete Sweep.
2. My left hand grip on his gi prevents him from turning back to the starting spot.

Knee Slice Counter.
1. Pinch his leg with my knees. Don't cross my legs.
2. Come up into Turtle, with his leg still pinched between my legs.
3. Lift right leg up, post right hand on my and Drive/push into him to the Left.
4. He will post out his leg to prevent from just falling down.
5. That's when I Drive Back and come up in Side Control.

BB Mike was showing a Shoulder Pressure Choke from Side Control, which I think it's the Stuart Cooper move that SC learned from Braulio.

Really liked the BB Albert series, if nothing else, it's another slick way to get the Underhook. And it's another way to hit the Giggler if people counter by posting their hand.

Want to Learn: Corkscrew to Filho

Closed Guard: Corkscrew.
1. Flare both elbows out, crunch in to break his Posture and bring him down, close.
2. Both hands control back of his head.
3. Right hand stays on back of head, bridge/hip up and then with left hand push his elbow over to right, past center line as I hip up into ...
4. Double High Guard (over both shoulders).
5. As he defends, push elbow up to create space, reach under with Left hand and control bottom arm and get leg over his head for an Armbar.
6. As he stacks to defend ... reach under with Right arm to far side hip.
7. Left leg goes in front of his face, feet on the back of his head as I spin under and Flip him over into Spider Web.

Filho (Armbar Break).
1. Right hand is already underhooking his leg. Left leg gets off his head and onto mat.
2. Right hand reaches up to his top wrist, pulls it away.
3. Left leg back over his head, as I lean back with the arm for the Finish.

3674 and No gi and My Ankles are Sore

Taps: 5. Total: 3674.

No gi first hour turned into No gi Thursday. Two hours of No gi.

BB Vince ... From Half Guard Top. Footlock and KneeBaaaaa.
 1. Pop up trapped Right Leg.
 2. Left knee slides across his belly, turn away from him. Sit down and go for KneeBaaa.
 3. He will hide his leg, triangle his legs.
 4. Reach over with my right hand, and over both his legs, grab outside his Foot to tighten his triangle.
 5. Left arm wraps his top foot, go for Footlock.
 6. When he straightens his foot to defends, cradle both feet, get outside original Foot for the KneeBaa I was originally going for.

Same move from Side Control:
 1. Step over his head into Backwards Mount (facing his feet).
 2. Crisscross grip his ankles (right hand on left ankle, left hand on right). Bring them up to his butt, his knees pointing up in the air.
 3. Going to the left, release left hand grip, pull with the right and twist/sit down into same position as Above.

Everybody is doing Footlocks. It's this year's Berimbolo. What's next?

Buddy Webster finally made it back on the mat. He's been out for a year. He was drilling Milton's Cat Jump Kimura vs. Sitting Guard. And he's also upped his Footlock/Knee Bar game like everyone else.

Also, Guillotines ... getting there alot. Can't Finish. Homework to do.
And failed the Kimura Hotdog Roll to the Back.

3669

Taps: 3. Total: 3669.

BB Vince - 1st hour No gi.

Wrestling 101 ... Shucking the Clinch. Reach over outside his clinch toward his head, shoulder shuck to get his clinch off. Get my clinch and elbow down in an "L" to prevent him shooting in.

Arm Drag - stuff his arm between my legs. If it goes outside, potentially he has an Arm Drag, too.

I'm in Butterfly Guard -- he reaches for Knees to push down or pass ... Arm Drag.

Butterfly Guard Pass from Po po Brown Freddie ... Passing to the right: Clamp his knees together with Left hand on one side and my Right Knee comes up on the other side. Smash down his knees together with my right knee and float over for the Pass.

2nd Hour is Gi with BB Vince and it was a Master Class on Passing Half Guard. 

** Bottom guy should be preventing the Crossface with hand on shoulder and on bicep or wrist.

Vince's Pass all start with the POP-UP Knee.
1. Hand on his hip, pop up and get my Knee on his belly.
2. NEXT: everything now depends on his BOTTOM KNEE, whether he keeps it flat on mat or brings it up to pinch my leg with both his legs.

2A. He keeps it DOWN... PASS 1: Underhook and Knee Slide. or PASS 2: Quarter Guard to the side, other leg to pry open and MOUNT.

2B. He brings his bottom knee UP ... PASS 3: Re-direct to the Right, Smash and Knee Slide over his top thigh with off-leg (Left Leg) or PASS 4: Gi grip on his chest, push his top knee to left to get Gi grip on outside; Left hand comes in front of his face to his armpit; walk to left to Smash and Leg Drag-like Pass but with Back Step.

Along with all this DeBlass has nice Knee Slice re-direct to the Back, which i want to add to the Toolbox.

Fail: on the Ankle Lock Counter to the Footlock. Need to ask BB Tarca next time I see him. Also, drill the Ashi Drill to Counter the Footlock.

** Push same side leg down, scoot over.

3666 and Sun. Masters Open Mat

6 Rounds. 7 Taps: Total: 3666.

That's better. Back to normal.

BB Tarca ... got me twice with High Guard Sweep. Looked like he was going for Armbar, but unbalanced me with the leg over shoulder (aka High Guard), pushed me away, gets me unbalanced, scoops my other leg and SWEEP.

Need to put that in my game.

Also, was going to ask about that Ankle Lock counter to Straight Footlock, but he was showing to someone else. So ... Boot in, scoop his foot out, my same arm goes under his ankle, link my hands in Gable grip.

Blue Wrestler keeps getting me Kesa and trying to finish the Arm Triangle. He can't. But I'm stuck there.

Review: Arm Triangle ESC. Arm Triangle ESC. Get on my side. Don't get flattened.

Feel like my Transitions are getting a teeny weeny bit better. Still need to work on it. Need to flow without thinking. That comes with more Drilling.

Still 3659

Taps: 0. Total: 3659.

O taps? How does that happen? Got stuck with helping out White Belts. Gotta give back, i guess.
BB Chris ... Triangles and Triangles.

1. Draculino setup ... knee in across and fake the Scissor Sweep.

2. Double sleeve, wide knee, his hands outside the knees, half Spider ... left foot on his hip, right on his bicep, come up on my left elbow, Sit back down and lock in Triangle.

3. from Side Control ... Tererre setup: kill near arm, crossface, right hand pins other wrist to his chest, pull his head off the mat, right leg swings over, clears the pinned wrist, swings leg under his head and hold that ankle with my left hand; roll forward over my right shoulder and lock in Triangle.

1 Triangle ESC ... knee down to the mat, far knee bring up against his back, other leg step over his head, and lock in, float over into Side.

3659 and Masters Open Mat

Taps: 5. Total: 3659.

Trained four times this week. Can you imagine the kind of shape i would be in if i could do that consistently. Alas.

BB Tarca showed me a Straight Footlock Counter -- use Boot, scoot forward, get his foot and wrap under for the Ankle Lock. I can't remember the grip exactly. Need to have him show it again next time.

He also showed a nice Choke from Back, using my Gi, going under his arm to my Underhook arm and going Bow and Arrow. Didn't think it was possible to choke with Underhook side grip. Must give it a try.

3654

Taps: 2. Total: 3654.

BB Chris ... Open Guard-back step-sit on his stomach facing away from him, Knee Bar.
 a. he crosses his legs, uncross ... Knee Bar.
 b. Can't uncross, turn into him, grab top leg ... Footlock.
 c. Can't finish, reach under, gather other ankle and compress together ... Ankle Lock/Shin Slicer/Footlook on the bottom foot.

Blue Tony let me drill that Knee into the bicep Half Guard Sweep.

BB Mike quite tough and used the pushing deep into armpit/sit up Side Control ESC.

Keep Playing with X Guard and introduce Taking the Back from there. Need to get him unbalanced to the right, then get his front leg across / over my head.

3652

Taps: 3. Total: 3652.

BB Vince ... started with Nogi / Wrestling. Crossface-Sprawl drillss, Log Roll, etc. And rolling nogi is so fun because i have no idea what i'm doing with no grips. Felt like total White Belt.

Since I saw Tom DeBlass' Defense to Straight Footlock, I have not tapped to it. So they've moved on to Kneebars. Tapped to three or four this week. Also, footlocks where they crossed my legs and footlock or Calf Slicer.

Blue Tony showed my a nice Half Sweep ... control the right wrist/sleeve gi, put top knee (left) on his bicep and press out, unbalance to my left, dive under his thigh with my right hand, and come up for the SWEEP.

Still experimenting with X Guard when they stand to Pass ... Basics reminder: same side leg as underhook of his knee -- my knee goes between his legs, foot on his hip, that foot on top of other foot.

Armbar Break (Kurt O's version): top arm, nearest to his head -- that's the one goes under. Other hand over his elbow bone.

Misc: during the 1-2-3 Choke from Back: Blue Eddie used a Three-Finger grip to get the Choking grip.

Single Leg Counters

1. Cross Face and Spawl.

2. Sumi Gaeshi (step in between his legs)

3. Uchi Mata (step back, then roll him over forward)

4. Kimura grip

5. Omoplata (grab his arm that's holding Single Leg, then Forward Roll)

3649

Taps: 4. Total: 3649.

BB Chris ... Open Guard, flare elbows, Fall to Side for Side Armlock ... keep going for near Omo into Wristlock and Toehold.

BB Vince ... Butterfly, double Underhooks, get flattened, free one arm, reach and link arms on other side with his elbow turned, keep going for Omo.

Also, Omoplata setups from Spider Guard ... stretch him with feet on biceps, stretch him the other way, off-balance, then free original leg and swing over the shoulder for Omo.

or start with one feet on him, other on the biceps.

Playing with:

1. X-Guard. Need to watch more vids.

2. Scully's Armbar from Side, underhook and collar grip. Reverse Sit. Leg over for Mount. Other leg over. Sit back for the Finish.

3. Maia Passes ... A. Half -Reverse Sit-3/4 Mount-Mount. B. Dope Mount.

3645 and Back at Home Base

Taps: 1. Total: 3645.

BB Chris ... from Closed Guard: (a) Cross Sleeve Grip (right hand); (b) Left hand dives under his thigh as i punch grip and pass grip over to the left (hand that's dived under); (c) Swing/pendulum the right leg, straighten the leg, the Log Roll him over; (d) Control his trapped elbow with right hand; left hand goes under my left leg and grabs his collar at back of his neck; (e) Right leg goes over his head, Mount briefly; (f) right hand posts on mat, Roll to kind of Omo, with my left leg kicking/trapping; (g) shrimp, shrimp to get space for right hand to grab his other hand for the Finish.

Brn Ryan ... showing a Surfer Blue Paul a Back ESC ... (a) control Underhook hand, trap it; (b) fall to Underhook side; (c) control top choking hand, pull it over my head; (d) get top hook off and connect my top elbow to elbow so he can't get hook back in; (e) base out, kill bottom leg and belly down and ESC.

3644 and Masters Open Mat

Taps: 7. Total: 3644.

These 6 min rolls go fast.

Struggled with:

Delmonica Reverse Half Sweep ... lots of people going to Knee Slide on my Half Guard and I was able to make Brown go Back Step but got stuck there and could not bridge to sweep. think he was controlling my far leg.

Some success: Giggler Sweep but I really need to keep their knee down and not let them come up and do Knee Slide.

KBrown's Secret grip in Closed Guard.

BB Chris' Side Defensive Posture really worked well. Stopped Kob and Breadcutter Choke, but allowed them to get Kimura grips on me.

BB Leonidas showed me his Knee Slide Knuckle Choke, which he also does in Closed Guard Bottom. Key Detail: Not too deep, but not as loose as Loop Choke. Pinkie goes right against center of his throat, push and turn pinkie up as I get other hand grip.

Keep at:
1. Matt's Flower Sweep.
2. Turtle Attack 1: Juji
3. Turtle Attack 2: Reverse Omo.

Blue got me in Arm Triangle after he tried for longest time to get me from Kesa and Chest Pressure. Annoyed that I forgot the Frame and Shrimp ESC. Then he says he's a Wrestler. Don't Care. Keep your charity pity to yourself. Don't say you're stronger, heavier, D1 Wrestler, higher belt. Don't Care. I don't need cheering up. I don't need to be handed excuses.

I got caught because, as Kurt O says, "I f#%E* up." I didn't do something or I did something wrong. I need to figure it out and fix it. Got nothing to do with your belt, age, weight, experience, or strength. I need to take ownership of my failures, of my training.

3637

Taps: 3. Total: 3637.

BB Chris ... Side Control ESC Posture ... near arm grabs my own collar high to prevent chokes and Breadcutter etc. Elbow tight, connect to knee up to prevent Kob. Other hand grabs his collar and if he switches to KESA, then shrimp and frame and come up on top.

Side deal from Half Guard ... keep the near arm tight, elbow in, and if he switches BASE, then get high UNDERHOOK near is armpit and SWEEP.

var. using baby half hook.

Keep working ... Flower Sweep and Double Pull down into Hip Bump; Knee Shield Pass.

* Turtle Attacks ... Juji and Rev. Omoplata.

Review: Delmonica Rev. Half Sweep. I forgot some detail.

3634

Taps: 4. Total: 3634.

BB Joel with misc drills. And nice Step over Spider Pass ... Grip under the legs, step up, thrust forward to remove hooks, then step over into Side.

Notes: need to tweak the Half Weave Pass ... Once I get my leg free, they are getting the their top leg free and reGuarding. Try either 1. Use my on-weaving hand, press down on his top leg and HOP over to other side; 2. Chest and shoulder pressure on TOP of of top leg to smash BOTH His legs as I pass.

Pb Pierre ... Tried the double pull down into Hip Bump - no luck but I went for the Flower sweep and oh so close to hitting it. Need to keep at it.

Work on: Butterfly Pass and Lutre Floating Pass.

3630 and NoGi Tuesday

Taps: 6. Total: 3630.

BB Vince and BB Mike team-teaching.

Mike with the nice drills: 1. Mount-Kob-Wiper Kob other side (back and forth)-then Back Take.
2. Open Guard Knee Cut-Wiper Kob to other side. 3. Robot Legs Passing side to side (near knee cuts through).

Vince - Kimuras and Guillotines ... A. Half Guard Top Whizzard Guillotine. B. Mount ESC with Kimura Sweep.

Misc: Butterfly Guard getting passed like it's nothing. Shessh. Side Control ESC - focus on controlling the cross face arm.

NoGi -- I'm a White Belt.

3624 and Simi Open Mat on the Fourth of July

Rolls: 12: Taps: 10. Total: 3624.

Feeling discouraged and feeling like I suck. But it's what it is.

Could not maintain Side Control when on top; completely blanked on Side Control ESC when on bottom. Lots of work to do.

Random Blue got a nice Hip Bump on me; nice set up with the Double Collar Pull Down, then released and as I pulled back, he hit the Sweep in one motion. Smooth.

BB Marco had such a smooth, tight Side to Mount.

Had my Butterfly Guard Passed like it was nothing.

So ... Side ESC, Butterfly Pass (Matt A.), Flower Sweep and Knee Shield Re-direct.

3614

Taps: 3. Total: 3614.

BB Chris: same setup with the Mount (Bicep ride) but instead getting his arm on outside and rolling to Omoplata, get his arm on inside and Scoot, scoot and grab shin and lock in Triangle from top. And also the armbar is available there, too.

Same setup ... stand up and he puts his hooks behind my knees ... step back and get him him in Sit Up guard. Push right sleeve down, left sleeve up. Step forward with left leg, then right leg and cup behind his head, then shin and roll over into Triangle.

Keep working:
1. Half Guard Game ... Leite and also the Giggler.
2. Closed Guard - Matt A's Flower Sweep
3. Knee Shield Pass -- Matt A's re-direct.

3611 and Back to Home Base

Taps: 3. Total: 3611.

BB Chris ... Mount to S Mount to Omoplata with the double sleeve biceps ride.

Random Blue Jen trying her Worm Guard. Let her play. Blue Dae got me with simple Cross Choke. Let it go too far and too deep. He's got a good Reverse Half Bottom that he always gets me with. He gets Underhook and I naturally Back Step to Reverse Half and he wraps my gi up somehow and he has in past taken my Back but today he reversed and came up on top. Gotta ask him about that.

Also, should try Knee Ride Cross Collar on him. Did try it on Purple Wolfie but he wouldn't give me either the Pass or the Choke. Need to work on the Technique. No one gives me nothing.

Rolling with BB Mike. Man, the 5 minutes felt like 20. Being on bottom of his pressure sucked my soul out.

Rolling with Purple Wolfie ... got the Side Guard with the Magic Lapel Grip and dived under BUT could not get the Sweep. Need to Drill the Flower Motion. Drill Flower Motion. Swing Leg out and then Back.

3608 and Sunday Masters 2 Open Mat

Rolls: 8. Taps: 8. Total: 3608.

Wow. 20 days since last training session. Was in NYC. Walked right by Renzo's place.

Prof Tarca loves using that cross collar/Knee Cut threat off the Top Half Pass. And I tried to use it on Purple David. He gave me two good tips:
 1. On that move, my Knee needs to put more pressure, especially over the CENTER of his belly.
 2. On Side Control Top, go Cross Face and immediately to Knee of Belly.

Brown Javier had great Recovery from Turtle. Sleeve Control, Leg Lift, then turn into Guard. Need to practice that along with a million other things. He said to just practice positions when I roll. No Subs.

With Prof Tarca and Brown Wade kept getting caught in Basic Sweeps, ie. Overhook to Butterfly Sweep. Man, BB Chris always gets me with that, too.

Misc thoughts:
"Game within the Game" -- getting into my Game before they do. ie. Reverse Scissor Sweep -- I get my grips and I attempt the Sweep. They are now playing my Game because they need to defend or get swept.
 Get into my Pass, so they need to start defending my Game. It's alot like Initiative in Chess. You're either ATTACKING or DEFENDING. I should be Attacking so I don't have to Defend.

Add to Toolbox:

Pass to Side to Choke, Luta Livre:

Along with Milton Viera, N. Reiner my fav LL guy.

Arm Drag Set up Thoughts

Been awhile. I've gone away from the Arm Drag. Time to bring it back.

Set up Thoughts:

1. Gift them the Left hand/Sleeve. Let them grab it.
2. Move my left hand (with theirs attached) ACROSS my body.
3. My right hand reaches for their trap/behind elbow for the DRAG.

Drill it to Kill it.

3600 and Masters 2 Open Mat

Rolls 6. Taps: 5. Total: 3600.

All taps to Straight Footlock. They seem to be my Achilles heel. ha ha.

Purple Ira taught be a couple of things.
1. Gray area of transitions: you can do whatever you want. There's no techniques there. Just chaos. Creativity. Or bullying with your weight. Like he does. Knee pin on my wrist or biceps, etc.
2. He's kills most Sit Up Guards. Knee forward and cross collar grip. Good balance and Pressure. But he says: a. Get the same side Lapel, wrap under and get it OUTSIDE the thigh. On other side -- that has more power. And get Shin to Shin.

His game is not pretty but very effective. I see him smashing and bullying all the other Purples and below.

Other things to work on or review:

1. Straight Footlock Counters.
2. Cross Choke from Mount.
3.  Reverse Half Guard Sweep. The one from Sinistro Brown belt at Shoyoroll Open Mat. I can't remember the finish.
4. Black James showed a Kesa/Catch Barnett Sub ESC. Knee Up like the usual prevent to Mount from Side. That takes away the space for him to lift up and get pressure on the head for the Sub. Then push the head away or swing the leg over his head.

misc. with Purple David ... nearly got the Buchecha Rolling Armbar from Side. I should drill that.