Sun 41 / 351

Taps: 3. Total: 351.

shitt. fukkk. another kesa tap fatigue, panic tap to blue belt and he wasn't even that big. 

wtf. 

back to drawing board. kesa escapes. 

so, my standup game sucks.

side control esc sucks.

passing sucks.

open guard sucks.

other than that. things are good. 

tarca techs at end:

from bottom half guard -

• start in knee shield, then top hand thumb in / palm down collar grip.
• lock in half guard, let him in close, other hand goes behind his head, locks into my other elbow
• bottom elbow lifts for choke.

sweep from bottom half - 

• get underhook, grip his belt 
• torque bottom leg, a la coyote guard / bonus adv tip - other foot pushes his leg out so torque leg can easily hook
• underhook his other thigh
• sweep

Sun 40 / 348

Taps: 4. Total: 348.

Pass, pass pass. Leandro Lo pass revisit. 

Open guard / collar sleeve attacks, possibly also Lasso. 

- progressed on Kesa esc but main Side ESC ... 

- Sore all over. Pain. that's never going away. Pain. that's how i know i'm alive. or as the Buddhists say, Pain n Suffering is Life. 

- Go where the FEAR is. Roll with the scariest Dudes. Roll w the dudes you don't want to. 

Sun 39 / 344

Taps: 3. Total: 344. 

Am i getting worse? well, certainly getting smashed by heavy Blues, that's for sure. 

still, gotta embrace the Grind. Love the Grind. 

pass pass pass.

in guard, stay connected. have grips. 

drill drilll drilll .... Mendes Footwork, passing. 

Sun 38 / 341

Taps: 1. Total: 341. 

Still can't get Kesa ESC right. the weight on top of me before the roll esc. try bumping with inside Knee?

Pass, pass. pass. 

DLR, collar sleeve? Open guard. 

doing ok w Loop chokes. keep refining it. 

Thur 37 - Turkey Roll / 340

Taps: 2. Total: 340.

1st time at Annual Turkey Roll. w/ Gen pop. 

tried to roll with more White belts. 

Had to leave early to go to some family thing. only got about hour and 15min in, but tons of people still on the mat. Next year, gonna stay much longer.

- Kesa ESC drill w live heavy partner.

- gen. side esc / gordon? 

- pass, pass ... BJ 1/2 works on white belts. 

-sit up guard / dlr / Rdlr or even X guard to the other side, his right leg as near leg, X'ing his left?!

Sun 36 / 338

Taps: 4. Total: 338.

- tapped twice to Bread Cutter Choke from Side. Still haven't solved that. 

- BB Bhasar tips -- Ninja Choke from Side, use my own gi. 

   -- Elbow pinch Side ESC. 

-- Pass, pass, pass. drill something. back to Wiltse blast cut. ? !

Sun 35 / 334

Taps: 3. Total: 334.

reminder: heel hooks -- take a moment, control knee line BEFORE grabbing heel. don't get all excited and grab heel and think you're gonna finish. control knee line. 

Drill:

     -- Kesa ESC ... bc failed: update, message received. 

     1. scoot close, bridge to load, get his head over mine, load onto my body, THEN bridge again for the sweep. 

    -- Marcelo elbow side ESC ... timing, push on elbow, circular motion, come up on elbow, one motion onto my Knees and he should go over.

    -- BJ penn half pass ... 

Sun 34 / 331

Taps: 3. Total: 331.

- passing, passing. don't get DLR'd on my left leg. point it outwards. 

- cross collar guard / cross spider? 

- n/s sneaky armbar

- roger / mount choke ... just can't quite get it. 

- also spider web armbar ... 

- ego and fear ... esp of big, heavy lower belts ... run to towards the fear. there the growth is. 

Sun 33 / 328

Taps: 6. Total: 328. 

There is such a thing as BJJ veggies. people i don't want to roll with but i do bc it's good for me. 

If i'm the best on the mat, then i'm at the wrong mat. need to find another place. that's how cooper flagg got the the nba. if he was the best at a gym, his parents moved him to another one, and so on. 

well, i don't have to worry about moving any time soon. tarca is the strongest i think. 

i just need to stop getting beaten up by lower belts, so that i can be beaten up by the BBs. 

could do better on Scrambles, get on top. Passing. 

drilling stand up w Judo girl:

1. same side Grip. 

2. step outside w opp foot, as i pull w grip. 

3. either foot sweep or as they pull back, step for Tai Otoshi. 

Sun 32 / 322

Taps: 5. Total: 322. 

- making progress w passing. knee shield passing. lockdown passing. hip switch to counter hooks. 

- rolling w BB Len - moment of panic. far from proud of it. he had me in N/S choke, wasn't even that tight. he's a big heavy guy, has 60, 70 lbs on me. still. i could breathe but the panic / anxiety attack?? made my breathing faster. made me flashback to that near drowning in Maine, in that frigid water, where i couldn't see that well, and my shoulder wasn't fully 100% ... and i barely made it to the floating dock.

- next time; get one Breath. then another. tell myself, "Panic later." get another Breath. 

- Collar Sleeve Guard, if they stuff non-DLR leg,  then DLR must Lasso. But then what??

- RDLR, drill. BB Jeff from AOJ, gave me tips. to counter Knee Cut.

1. Knees up, then non-RDLR leg pushes on his hip

2. far side hand in front of his foot to spin under.

3. X his back knee on leg to push away, to get space to Crab ride. 

Sun 31 / 317

Taps: 5. Total: 317. 

* mount ESC / big, heavy Blue got me w an accidental smother choke when he had me in mount. His shoulder was covering my nose as he was going for an Ezekiel. 

-- Pass, pass, pass. 

-- Knee shield pass

-- Guard retention, frame, get them out of the box. 

Sun 30 / 312

Taps: 2. Total: 312.

Passes, alwyays.

Got some tips from Korean BB ... he passes me easily. 

His Sit up Guard Passes

1.  Opp leg, or ankle grip / other grip over the neck, then steer the leg, n pass the other way.

2. Knee Cuts w/ same side sleeve grip n collar grip, PULL up w both and get knee on outside or Knee cut.

3. Long step, push the leg grip in diagonal so he can't get knee in to recover guard. 

Also, keep up the Randy Shin Pass, need to go in at an ANGLE. 

ask Jeff about RDLR. 

lastly, the Shield Pass, w the weave and opp hand weave. 

Sun 29 / 310

Taps: 4. Total: 310.

BB Bashar - i don't tap to him anymore. I just say, "Arrghhhhh." and he lets go. 

BJJ Doppelgangers -- guys who look like Budo Jake and Rafael Lovato Jr. Funny enough, both Blue belts. 

- keep Passing, Randy Shin Pass. 

- guard retention / counter the Knee Slicers. 

Sun 28 / 306

Taps: 3. Total: 306. 

* Randy Shin Passing - slowly working it into my game / drill it. 

* ESC armbar / spiderweb ... instead of just stalling and killing his bottom leg, which prevents him from moving and finishing but i don't escape from there. i'm just stuck and stalling. Dude, find an escape. 

Sun 27 / 303

Taps: 3. Total: 303.

Passing, passing. Knee Shield? / camping? 

Also, getting crossed-faced in Half, big mistake. Hard to get out from there. 

OGG - one gi guy BB. In this day and age of Gi collections like sneakers, have to respect One Gi Guy - the BB who always wears the same gi as if that's he's only one. 

Sun 26 / 300

Taps: 6. Total: 300. 

Could not Finish:

1. Crucifix

2. Tarciplata off Kimura grip

* Uday's wife -- let her work, flow more. don't shut her down. you bully. 

Sun 25 / 294

Taps: 3. Total: 294.

 - Gordon Side ESC

- Pass. Pass. Wiltse Knee cut. 

- get a Takedown. Safada? 

- Wardinski sit up game.

- Sit up sweeps. 

Sun 24 / 291

Taps: 4. Total: 291.

-wiltse first outside step knee cut

- randy / outside ankle control

- inside position

- ward - tripod sweeps

Sun 23 / 287

Taps: 3. Total: 287

Focus:

1. Inside Control / dominate the inside in Passing / escaping or trying to submit
2. Takedown / Safada to jflo Kouchi footsweeps / or even Ouchi to Uchi to Kouchi (inside trip to Uchi to other foot inside trip)
3. Hip Switch v Half Butterfly / keep getting swept / Hip switch, hip switch, hip switch. 

Wardinski -- same sleeve grip to Sweeps n Ankle picks / 

thu 22/ Sam Braga Seminar / stilll 284

 Old School Berimbolo guy. 

but mixed crowd, didn't show any Bolo. 

Basic Takedown. basics. Just get up from bottom. Frame the head, push head away and get up. Or get to Close Guard.

Top - control back leg n he can't get up. 

Sun 21 / 284

Taps: 3. Total: 284. 

Gotta get a passing system. 

TD safada setup:

1.  R hand grip same side collar.
2. L foot step left outside, pulling collar; make him bring his L foot forward
3. that's the foot I kouchi inside trip w my R foot as my L hand pushes on his hip

If he pulls his L foot back / that brings his R foot forward

1. Level change n Ankle pick that foot

Sun 20 / 281

Taps: 3. Total: 281. 

Drill just one move series.

Closed Guard, cross sleeve two on one, elbow grip

1. Hip up n out, 3x. 
2. Grab his hip, hip out 2x - take the back

Bhasar tip. 

Also, reverse the grip, L hand on elbow, R on wrist, foot on hip, knee against shoulder for armlock.  

Sun 19 / 278

Taps: 5. Total: 278. 

Passing, passing, passing. always. 

also, getting smashed in half, getting knee cut alot. 

BB jeff from AOJ, has wicked RDLR Kiss of Dragon game, which i need to drill. 

1. strong, deep RDLR hook w R leg. 
2. Left leg posts on near hip, push him away, create space w this leg
3. R hand goes under his front leg to help invert
4. L hand posts, frames on his shoulder, then scoops palm up under his leg
5. Invert into Crab ride / R leg circle to get under, back of his knee
6. Grab pants in back, push out w both legs, secure the Back. 

Drill it. 

Sun 18 / 273

Taps: 8. Total: 273. 

• BB Bashar - double sleeve from the back / to single Lockdown on my left leg / underhook my arm into a Twister/ Banana Split sub. 

Pass. pass. pass. 

Mount mount mount. 

Zach side choke 

Sun 17 / 265 - nearly a month away

Taps: 4. Total: 261.

Nearly a month since my last confession. Life happens. 

• Tarca showing Darce (under grip) vs Anaconda (outside) after tapping his head in Turtle. 
• drill / passing passing passing. 
• Wardinski - seated foot sweeps 
• keep working the mount / slowly progressing. 

Gassing / stamina - all techs go out the window when i'm gassed. so what.

• do cardio?
• be more efficient n pace myself? Breathe more. 

Sun 16 / 261

Taps: 3. Total: 261. 

• Didn't get to roll w the Three Big Monsters. only one n he was Purple; the other two Blues. 
• Passing, passing. Knee Cut, Get Underhook, post my hand on other side of his head. 
• Hip Bump, above his hip. 
• Pracitce Lasso, Armbar Esc, Back Esc.

Sun 15 / 258

Taps: 6. Total: 258. 

1. passing, passing. get underhook

2. Closed Guard -- belly in the Air / butt off the Mat / pull in w Knees

3. Lasso sweep / variations

4. Arm drag / commit to it / move body outside / take the back 

was focusing on Side Control / elbow-knee connection - not much luck, but just starting. 

Sun 14 / 252

Taps: 3. Total: 252.

Passing, passing, passing.

Back attack, mount attack, side attack system. 

Sun 13 / 249

Taps: 5. Total: 249. 

Run to the fear. 

Drill: 

• passing / steps / 
• Back ESC system
• look up / how to counter flexible Mount ESC, when i'm in high mount. 

still getting smashed in Half Guard / people who lift up my off sleeve. 

Sun 12 / 244

Taps: 6. Total: 244. 

Run towards the FEAR. 

while i never turn down a roll, i also never seek it out as i once did. 

now i need to get that back. Go ask to roll with all the SCARY lower belts. 

Go roll with ALL the new, visiting people. When are you going to get a chance? Other than going to see them at their gyms? Also, i have the home court advantage, socially, at least. 

BB Bhasar Side Attack Pressure

• don't grab / chest to rib bone pressure
• switch to kesa / get higher up pressure / stay off knee
• KOB - hands on shoulder and hip / FLOAT / switch to reverse KoB / all about the hands n not the knee. 

Sun 11 / 238

Taps: 4. Total: 238. 

Keep up: 

• Knee Cut / footwork drill. paying dividends. 

Need: 

• Side Control attack
• Bhasar chest to chest, roll into pressure
• Side flow
• Mount maintenance. 

re: Side Control - doing more Cross Face pressure but BB Bhasar showed me some top chest to chest pressure that was Brutal. But it's hard to practice on Rosencrantz the dummy, bc you have to feel it and you need a live person underneath to give feedback. 

Sun 10 / 234

Taps: 5. Total: 234.

damn, already mid April and i've only trained 10 times???!!

What's working:

• Footwork drills paying off / Kneecut Pass

Review:

• Back Attack / Staying on Back
• Turtle Attack / keep losing position

Sun 9 / 229

Taps: 3. Total: 229. 

Review: 

• Floss Half Guard

Focus Drill:  

• Knee Cut / just Three Step footwork / Right, deep Left, then Underhook, Left Cut. 
• Back ESC
• Armbar ESC
• Side Armbar / 

Sun 8 / 226

Taps: 5. Total: 226. 

• Tarca Takedown -- off a underhook, other hand behind his head for half nelson grip / push walk forward, kick out front leg
• Pass DLR -- windshield wiper or Long Step / or Headquarters Pass
• drill - Side armbar ... trap arm, windshield to other leg / step over far side to armbar

Sun 7 / 221

Taps: 7. Total: 221. 

Four of those taps to Tarca. 

• Tarca grip
• Pass, pass. if you can't pass, can't submit. 
• Floss 1/2
• Tarca showed a sneaky, unassuming little lock from Side Control. 

Sun 6 / 214

Taps: 2. Total: 214

• Tarca's shark grip / my elbow, their elbow
• crab ride
• Back attack / trap the arm / get under the chin Rnc
• Bashar - move to the side

Sun 5 / 212

Taps: 1. Total: 212. 

Working in: 

• Dental Floss Sweep from Half
• Side Harpoon sweep / go one way firstj
• Uchi takedown
• Study Tarca's top game / Half pas

Bhasar tip - Closed Guard / cross sleeve control LIFT my hip and Drop to get his arm across Center line for Arm bar attacks, where i usually try to set up my sweeps. 

I have the armbar all the time.  

Sun 4 / 211

Taps: 5. Total: 211. 

Tarca tip - Honey Hole Pass, in between his knee. 

Review: 

• Armbar - from Side /  
• handcuff closed guard pass from BB seminar
• Armbar / 3/4
• Zach choke from side

- Getting smashed in Half. 

• half guard floss sweeps

Sun 3 / 206

Taps: 6. Total: 206 as BB. 

Most of them to Tarca. He's top heavy Half Guard Pass is nearly unstoppable. I don't see anyone able to counter it. 

Maybe need to add the Floss half sweep. 

Also, need a Pass. 

After roll, Tarca showing: 

    1. Takedown / cross collar, same sleeve grip, fall as one foot on his hip and other hook sweeps the opposite way.

    2. Basic Triangle from Closed Guard - cross collar, same side sleeve, slightly on side, knee comes over top of his forearm and pushes down to get leg over to lock in diamond Triangle set up. 

Sun 2 / 200

Taps: 3. Total: 200. 

All taps to Tarca. He is a monster. Always got new ways to tap me. 

And I've forgotten how to PASS. 

Drilling: Takedowns: 1 - Rick James Sweep / 2 - Rev. Seoi / 3 - Safada. / 4 - Arm drag trip. 

Prof Crane gave me exercise for my knee. Says to do it every time i feel pain. Also, going to collect old gis to donate with him. 

I'm Back / new year / 1st Roll / 197

Taps: 2. Total: 197. 

Over two months since i last rolled/trained. Nov 10. 

This is first roll of 2025. 

Left knee, arthitis, bone on bone? Might need Knee replacement, but a full one means i will no longer be able to train. A partial replacement means i can keep training. 

Might need to look into Stem Cell treatments. 

Man was rusty tonight. Couldn't remember many things. figures i guess.