The Work is Done

Leave tomorrow for sunny and warm California!

I feel much better about my preparation this year than last year. Probably my best prep ever. Whether that translates into wins remains to be seen, but I'm going to be peaceful about it regardless. I've lost close to 15lb in less than 3 months. Training with purpose has helped me focus and roll with more intensity, which has translated into more progress (I think). I started taking notes again and transcribing them into the visual mapping system that I used to use frequently. 

Most importantly, jiu jitsu has been mostly fun again.

Pans Prep II

Weight loss has been going pretty well. Depending on the day and the gi, I'm at weight now. Hoping to lose another 2lb so that I don't have to stress about weight. After several sessions with James, I'm feeling a little better about my take-down game plan, guard and passing. I've been able to use some of it during rolls. 

I had a great roll with Jason S. last week where I got a legitimate sweep on him, something I haven't been able to accomplish in I don't even know how long. Had a very demoralizing roll with a blue belt a day later that had me very bummed on jiu jitsu. But he gives James problems as well, so I need to chill.

In general I'm feeling decent with the rolls. They aren't fantastic, but I feel like the prep and mindset that I have this year is better than last year. I'm looking for hard rolls and trying to push myself at the end of each round to finish in a good position. Had a roll with Jason W. yesterday that was very frustrating. He sat in top side control and was trying to bait me to separate my elbows from my body. Of course I'm not going to do that, but I couldn't budge him to escape either. We were in a stalemate for awhile until I finally tried a big explosive movement out and he capitalized for a submission. 

I've been sticking with the weight lifting twice a week. It's working well, and I feel like I'm able to maintain whatever gains I've made in the past several months. I can't wait until my gym is in a garage or shop space instead of in the house.

Pans Prep

I've been fortunate to get some privates with my instructor leading up to Pans. Last week we went over passing, because I'm just having a hell of a time with good DLRs. Of course, it almost always comes back to grip breaks, but he explained two breaks down for me in a way that I didn't get before that has already helped. 

I'm being a dumdum and stepping right into DLR, getting entangled and then struggling. I shouldn't be surprised.

This week we went over leg locks because I'm so wildly deficient in that area. I wasn't sure when I should try to turn my knee away and when I should try to pull my leg out. Turns out that it's pretty simple...if you can't turn your knee, pull your leg out. :p We covered several positions, including 50/50, back step pass and some standing. He had some great tips for avoiding bad spots in the first place.

My hope is that I'll be able to incorporate this stuff into my game for the long haul. I hate when I get a lesson on something, it seems great and then a year and half later I'm all "gee I wish I knew how to do that thing". 

Rolls have been so-so. Some good ones, I'm making progress with pushing the pace a bit. Others I'm just getting totally stymied and lose a bit of confidence. Need to learn from that and remember just how fun this is. FUN.