Wed Night

So I talked myself into going to the evening class, with the caveat that I would only do one roll at the end of class. I really, really have to be mindful of my body and take care of it.

So, I made it clear to Rachael and James at the beginning of class...I'm only doing one roll. No problem, they said.

Technique consisted of single leg defense to takedown, reverse scissor sweep and scissoring the leg if they hover above you in defense of the reverse scissor. Same thing if they're trying to pass your half guard and weave a hand in between your legs to block your hip.

Got some good pointers on the reverse scissor that will hopefully make it something that I'm more likely to use. I've had a helluva time loading people up without my leg collapsing (even during drilling) and I've known that it's a technique problem but haven't been able to figure what, exactly. I'm not sure that I addressed it completely last night, but I think I'm closer.

Time to roll and it's KOTH, win by mount or sub. James said that Rachael and I could start off by ourselves. Great, we'll do one roll and then I'll call it a night. So, we proceed to do one roll. For thirty minutes. 

Thirty minutes with Rachael is nothing like thirty minutes with Sarah. Midway through I was able to take her back and sink in and finish a RNC, which hasn't happened for a loooong time. Apparently I simultaneously had one of her arms trapped to the degree of it being close to an arm bar and I didn't even know it. I could have stopped rolling there, but no. So onwards we went, and I spent an uncomfortable amount of time in her bottom side-control. I finally escaped to a guard after who knows how long. 

I was trying to be mindful of points, but lost track pretty early on. Even if I don't know exact points, I think it's useful for competition prep to be mindful of things like "ok, i'm down a pass, need to get at least 3pts back". 

I hope I'm not overdoing it. Four classes already and the weekend seminar coming up with rolling starting on Friday night.

Wed Morn

Felt a little off before class. Couldn't decide if it was my stomach or something else. Persisted through to the rolling portion of class and then subsided. I thought it was going to be a problem but turned out to be a non-issue.

Technique was wrist locks from...everywhere. Standing, in your closed guard, while you're knee cut passing, while you have kesa gatame and several from top side control. I love working with Sarah b/c I know that my wrist isn't going to get tweaked during the technique portion. 

Felt good with them from the various positions, and it's a great reminder of a tool that is oft neglected.

Rolled with Sarah during the entire rolling portion of class. Had her in quite a few bad spots. She came close to getting a sneaky wrist lock on me and she was foiling my backstep pass. I'm getting my knees too close together when I'm passing which is leading to getting my back taken (or close to it). I need to remember to keep a wider base.

I'm debating on doing night class. I'm going to a weekend seminar (open roll on Friday night and class all day Saturday and Sunday) and want to be fairly fresh for it. I'd like to get in some good, competitive rolls with higher belts if possible.

But....I'll probably go to class tonight. Maybe I'll limit myself to one roll at the end.

Monday Night

Body and energy felt surprisingly good heading into evening class.

Technique consisted of take-downs of fake guard pulling and ankle picking. I was displeased to learn that I've been missing some key details, but better to learn this now than later. James had Cameron show a couple of his favorite, one of which involved diving for a single and the other taking back-control. 

KOTH, win by mount or sub. People competing at the local tournament this weekend had to stay down no matter what. I started off with Cameron, and we had a lengthy match but he eventually got me with a choke of some sort.

Rolled with Chuck, Nick and Arick. Was able to submit them all or get to mount. They're white belts (two of them almost blue), so I should be able to do that. Got into some trouble with Chuck, but managed to stay out of mount and eventually reverse. Nick went for an early footlock after I started in 50/50 and I was able to defend and get to mount. Can't remember the roll with Arick, other than I finished with a collar choke from guard.

I need to stop using my guard on white belts and move to pass or use a top game exclusively.

After class, Cameron went through an 8min gauntlet and went from green to blue belt for his 16th birthday. He had some tough folks to go through, with myself, Dennis and James at the end. Not that I was *that* tough of a challenge for him as he was able to get me into his guard, but whatever.

 

Monday Morn

Woke up and didn't really want to get out of bed. Mornings after the Sat double class and Sunday advanced class are kindof tough.

Slight variation of the hip bump sweep by using a cross grip to control their post hand and then yank it away before they can actually post on it. 

From there, mount submissions including arm-bar setups if their elbows are high or low and switching to a far-side arm-bar/shoulder-lock/omoplata if you can't free the near side arm.

Picked up a few details on everything that'll hopefully stick.

Rolled non-stop with Sarah for the entirety of the rolling portion. I felt good about how much I was able to control and consistently get to the back, but I made a couple of bone-headed mistakes. At one point she timed a sweep perfectly as I back-stepped, and I thought to myself that it was a sublime use of technique and timing.

Probably going to do class tonight as well.

Weekend

Didn't train on Friday morning b/c I felt like I might be getting sick. Took some supplements and sure enough, felt better on Saturday. I typically poo poo those types of remedies but taking the day off from training and supps seemed to do the trick.

There was a possibility that both my partner and my friend's mother were going to be watching me teach the next day, and I had a lovely anxiety dream on Friday night about it. A bunch of people showed up before class, then most of them left before warm-ups. I couldn't get my gi pants on, no one was listening to my instruction, etc., etc. Fortunately the reality turned out to be much better, as I had a huge class of 12 (huge for me) and I had no problem with my pants. Went over side-control escapes. I completely spaced one of the ones that I wanted to cover, but went over several others. 

For noon class James covered half guard sweeps. Drive the bus, twist sweep, take the back. Some great details on the back-take that will help with my 93 guard back-take. Several things I've been missing on that. I've been starting by getting them to my lower shoulder or bicep instead of on the top of my shoulder. I've also been pausing there before the shrug. The pause is killing me and allowing them to get the whizzer (in addition to shooting in low). I also always, always forget to widen their knee stance.

Rolls seemed to go ok on Saturday. Regular timed rolls, but you had to get mount or back-control to win. I got back-control on Rachael but no one else. No one got mount or my back. I felt ok with my rolls. Not spectacular, not awful. Better than how I felt about them on Wednesday.

Sunday advanced class was an even number of folks. I had watched quite a few grip breaking and passing vids from the Ryan Hall series in the hours before and had some things to try out. Some of them I liked (lapel grip break, spiderguard grip break) and some not so much (DLR hook removal, circling the shin in on RDLR). I did a little bit of standup with Russ and some of the half guard from Saturday.

Rolled with Russ, Chaz, Jason W. and Jason S. Felt ok about my rolls. 

Wed Night

Technique was triangle from guard, setting it up from hip bump sweep or if they are digging their elbows into your thighs. Finishing the triangle if they posture, or moving to arm-bars if you can't break their posture. Baratoplata if they posture and defend armbars.

KOTH (win by mount or sub) and it was a train-wreck. Went with Chaz at least twice and I could tell that he was setting subs up and letting them go. I had a few good defensive measures, but completely out-classed (as usual). Kasey wrist-locked me fast and hard from inside my guard. Not cool. Zack got me with a foot-lock. I had his lapel early on and then let it go for some unimaginable reason. That gave him the space to lean back into it and finish it. Lesson learned. James had me mounted in about 30 sec. 

I was pretty discouraged after class. Some perspective though...Kasey is a 4-stripe purple, Chaz is an 8yr purple and James is a black belt. The only one that I really should have a beef with myself is letting go of the lapel on the foot-lock defense. 

I realized I'm putting too much pressure on myself in the guise of preparing for Pans. I need to back off that attitude b/c it's going to result in more harm than good.

Wed Morn

Rolled a bit like garbage this morning. Not sure what was going on. Wasn't especially tired, wasn't down emotionally...dunno. 

Again with the drill your own technique, so I worked the split pass, grip breaking and defending against the spiderguard. Drilling pretty good.

Rolled with Savannah, Chris, Shaun, Julio and Jason S. Everyone was pretty much mauling me today. Shaun pulled a guillotine while I was in the midst of passing his butterfly guard and whatever I did to defend it was wrong b/c I could feel my ear grinding into his shoulder. Sure enough, it was very red by the time the roll was over. Icing it after class, hope it doesn't swell up. :(

Not much of else of note about the rolls, other than I was disappointed with my performance. Going to shake it off and hope for a better outing next time.

Monday

James' knee is problematic, so he went over back-control escapes and then we did the 5min rounds of choose your own drill.

Rolls were pretty good, I controlled the people that I should have controlled. Body was well-recovered after feeling beat up yesterday. Considered night class but decided against it. Need to lift and moreso need to pace myself.

Weekend Classes

Saturday Fundamentals

8-10 attendees seems to be the norm, which is awesome. Covered attacks from mount. I was a little out of it from the previous week, but I think I did a decent job of teaching. Folks seemed to be getting a lot out of the details and general theory, so it was a good class.

After class, Tyrone told me that his daughter looks up to me as an inspiration, specifically that "girls can be as good as boys". Made my day.


Saturday Noon Class

I can't remember what was covered in class or the rolls. I think my rolls were so-so. I was tired by the end. I was behind on hydration and nutrition and it was becoming apparent. I did receive a red bar on my belt for teaching and a stripe. So there's that.


Sunday Advanced Class

Sunday was the first time I felt more like myself. I made a list of moves I wanted to drill and was able to fit them all in. James gave me a great detail on the split pass that I think is really, really going to help me from getting swept over to the side. I was going to work some L-guard from the previous week but completely forgot all of the techniques. Russ is working on guard maintenance and good defense from bottom side-control. I really like it.

Rolls were tough but I felt like I did ok. Chaz kicked my ass pretty good. I keep trying to take his advice to lead my passes with my hips, but his guard makes that very difficult. He often ends up passing me by sitting on top of me in a reverse halfguard and then going to leg locks. Can't remember much of my other rolls. James' knee is still in pretty sad shape, but I felt like I was legitimately doing some good stuff.

Wed Night and Fri Morning

Can't remember what we went over Wed night. We had a lot of new folks. I worked with Blaine on whatever it was. Don't remember anything about the rolls.

This morning we had two new women (their first class), so Sarah and I split and worked with them. Basic guard break, pass and then a rolling back attack. The women I worked with, Bailey, did very well. It's funny how people are prone to different movements, i.e. constantly too far forward or too far back, too much distance or not enough, etc. The timid vs. the overly aggressive. 

Rolled with Bailey and told her that her goal was to get to a top position with her hips past my hips. She went for a lot of wrist control in my guard, which I didn't do much about except break the grips. I kept trying to do a flower sweep but wasn't doing a good job of controlling her posting arm. I didn't adapt well to the gi (me) vs. no gi (her). 

Rest of the time rolled with Sarah, and turned up my usual intensity on her. I'm working on getting my hips forward more during the initial part of passes and I'm seeing improvement. I got myself in some bad spots though, namely exposing my back during a couple of passes b/c I didn't get the underhook. Not a good error to make, but at least I know what it is.

The past couple of days have been rough. I was on the fence last night about teaching Fundamentals on Saturday, but I think it'll be ok. Working with someone new today took my mind off everything else.

Wed Morn

Well....shit. James found out today his dog has bone cancer. What the actual fuck.

He was in no shape to teach class, so Jason, Dennis and I tag-teamed and went over a sweep and a couple of passes. I covered the split pass from Ryan Hall that I've been working with over the past month. Went fairly well. Julio told me after class that he used it on someone during rolling.

Rolled with Savannah, Joe, Dennis, Julio and Jason S. Savannah wanted to work her open guard and I happily obliged by smash passing. This was one of Joe's first classes back after at least two months off. He got at least one sweep, and was instinctively doing a lot of good stuff. 

Can't remember much of my roll with Dennis. I think he had top control for the most part. He had mount and was working for chokes. I eventually escapes but I don't think I was ever in a decent position.

Julio let me work from guard and top side for most of the round. He showed me a nice option for an arm-bar when I have the arm-wrap from closed guard and am trying to work the choke. Simply pull the arm they're using to defend the choke and then attack an armbar. 

Jason worked a mix of guard and passing. I did a better job than usual of pummeling with my legs to retain guard. 

I did some experimental stuff today, not on purpose but moreso when I was in an odd position and wasn't quite sure what to do. I'm giving myself some slack.

Classes

Went to class on 2/4, but as soon as I walked in the door I lost it and walked right back out. I think I knew as soon as she started getting sick that it wasn't going to be a happy ending.

Friday morning I had it a little more together and was able to stay composed throughout class. Marcelo, one of Walter's black belts from Brazil was visiting. He went over a couple of techniques and then James went over a couple. Nando did a good job translating, though it took them a little bit to get into the groove. It was good to get out and get the blood flowing.

Saturday morning seminar with Marcello. He went over at least eight techniques from a variety of positions. I like seminars that focus on one area, but I also appreciate the ones that cover a variety b/c it's interesting to see different takes on the same thing. 

I felt guilty about going to class on Saturday, but I needed a clear head.

Went to class on Monday and mostly kept it together. I was rolling with Chuck and had him in a choke/crank from top quarter guard. I realized that I was yanking the hell out of his neck and figured it was probably more crank than choke. I knew it was because I was angry and trying to get out frustrations, at which point I started to lose it a bit. Stopped the roll, went in the back and took some time to myself. Came back out and rolled with Chris and Jason. Really had no desire to be there, but it was good for me.

Sarah was a real sweetheart, showing up for the seminar and Monday morning's class even though she was tired and not feeling well. I'm glad she was there. 

Monday Morn

Top side-control submissions. Near-side arm-bar going to s-mount or using far-side arm to go to s-mount on the other side. Head wasn't really in it, but still seemed to do ok on technique.

Good roll with Jason S., I even passed his guard. I think it was legitimate, although he might have let me. Tough to tell.

Jeremy next, very tough white belt. Slowed him down with grips, got to his back in a scramble and then bow and arrow choke.

Chuck, another very tough white belt. Usually he gets top position, but today I was able to isolate his arm at least twice for submissions. Omoplata from a guardish position and another from...can't remember where. Passed his guard, got to mount and harassed him to end the round. Far and away the best I've ever rolled against him.

Shaun, who went for a footlock. I used the defense that Jason W went over last week and it was really useful. Was able to defend the submission, pass the guard and work from the back for the majority of the round.

Blaine was in my closed guard and I tried like hell to sweep him but couldn't budge him. He got to the knee cut position a couple of times, but I was able to regain guard. I finally did an arm-drag to his back and was harassing him from there for the remainder of the round.

Did much better in rolls than I expected.

Sarah was out with miserable stomach pain, Antone's knee was totaled on Friday and one of our training partner's husband had a serious medical problem last night. Not a good start to the month.

Sat & Sun

Fundamentals was well attended again, 9 people I think. Went over very basic mount escapes. Felt like I might have been boring people a bit, but basics are basics and that's what the class is about. Would like to find some more theory or interesting stuff for the mount stuff though to sprinkle in.

Noon class was large, over 20 ppl. James went over the same DLR sweeps as Friday. Rolled Rachael (got my ass kicked) and can't remember who else.

Sunday class was moved up to noon instead of 1pm b/c of Super Bowl. Speaking of Super Bowl....bleh what a heartbreaking finish. Anyways, I drilled guard pull, top side transitions, breaking butterfly hooks, and split pass. Rolled with Rachael where I got owned again, Chaz, Manny and maybe Clayton. I didn't feel like I rolled particularly well. I asked Chaz after class if he had any advice for me and he gave me some great feedback on how I'm letting my torso get way in front of my knees when I'm trying to pass. Also some advice on jamming up the guard players legs.

Very busy weekend and now dog is sick, so feeling a little scattered.