October 11th 2013 - Gi (You Shall Not Pass!)

Theme: Retaining Guard

Due to the conversation that Mike and I were having less than 9 hours prior about my guard retention.  Conan decided to go over some concepts and techniques that are useful when your opponent is standing and trying pass your guard.  I really appreciate him focusing a class around something I need to work on!

Luckily Bauer was the only other soul to make it in for the Jiu-Jitsu class during the wee hours of Friday morning.  We went through several concepts of grabbing sleeves and stiff arming to reclaim guard, or directing their head as they attempted to pass, or using de la riva to take the back or keep them at bay and finally using the butterfly hook to get a shin sweep or stretch them out.  We also went over some passes using a combination of sleeve grab and knee grab to get around them and passing the de la riva by getting free of their hooks.

Rolling: One Standing One sitting trying to pass/sweep/submit

We did four minute rounds of one person up and the other down.  I felt pretty good about my passing until my cardio caught up with me.  It was hard work trying to be mobile and get grips and attempt to pass while avoid Bauer's legs.  It seemed like both of us did much better at passing the guard than retaining it.  I tried a lot of the concepts Conan showed us and was able to put some of them into play.  I kept reminding myself to keep getting up and not lay back. 

It was a very productive class that helped solidify that this part of my game needs to be refined.  Which is good because I've been looking for the next thing to focus on. 

WHOYA: October 12th 2012 - Gi

Greg taught and the focus of the class was regaining guard from turtle.  Not my favorite, but I have had some success in preventing guard passes by going to turtle recently.  We did the three basic techniques that I know: Sit-out, granby roll, and sit-out using the shin to regain guard.

 I rolled with Mike, Greg, Fuji, and wrestler Jordan and things haven't changed much since then.  The one true, funny line in reference to Greg from the post was: "I can't tell if I'm doing good against him or if he is just taking it easy on me."

I can't tell if I'm doing good against him or if he is just taking it easy on me.  - See more at: http://joshjiujitsujournal.blogspot.com/2012/10/october-12th-gi.html#sthash.ny0Wl5jq.dpuf

October 10th 2013 - No Gi

Theme: Passing the Half Guard

Small class tonight, it was only Mike, Adam, and I.  Still got our work in.  We went through a couple ways to complete the knee cut pass.  The only submission we worked on was pretty interesting.  It was a kimura that was setup from locked down half guard by controlling an arm, stepping over their head, locking it up and then rolling.  It was pretty slick.  Finally we worked on a Conan special that he like to use against Ray and Adam, so you know I was paying attention.  We would use our head under their chin and move down their body kind of sprawling on them until they released their half guard. 

Rolling: Sweep/Submit/Pass Half Guard, Free Rolling

Was pretty dominated today.  Got smashed by Adam and ran all over by Mike.  I tried my best to be mobile and go with the flow, but it became quite a struggle once I was put into side control.  The part where I would lose the most ground was when they stood up in my guard and backed away.  Mike told me later that I need to be getting up at those moments instead of laying on my back.  He suggested the I work on the one legged X more and I think that's where I'm going to put some focus.

October 8th 2013 - Gi Morning & Evening

Morning:

Theme & Techniques: Omaplata, sweep when they start to roll, back roll sweep against posturing

It was just Jordan and I, so Greg decided to build on the omaplata sweep class from last week.  The first sweep was pretty simple.  Just allow them to roll and let their legs pass.  The only difficulty is that you have to get out of their way.  I had a much harder time with the second sweep.  I still don't think I get what I was doing wrong and it really irks me that a piece of the omaplata game is not coming to me.  We eventually figured out that turning the head and looking to where we wanted to sweep them was very helpful.  I also was able to do it a little better after I tried to direct their elbow where I wanted it.

Rolling: Closed Guard and Free Rolling


We trained from the closed guard and I felt pretty good about my performance.  The opportunity never presented itself to do the back roll sweep, but I'm pretty hopeful about adding that to my game.  I was able to setup my goto omaplata a couple of times and I was also happy with completing sickle sweep and the spider guard to x-guard sweep that gets pulled on me all the time. 

Evening:

Theme & Techniques: Overhook setup for collar choke and Triangle, Knee pry Triangle Escape


I worked with John for the technique portion of the class.  Triangles have never been my think but I always enjoy practicing them.  I had a couple issues with flexibility but all in all I was able to do the techniques.  I had a little more trouble with the triangle escape at first.  I focused so much on going down straight that the technique didn't actually sink in until I leaned away a little bit.

Rolling: Closed Guard and Free Rolling


The only person that gave me trouble tonight was Chris.  I thought I was making all of the right moves but he was just a little more aggressive, strong, and quicker than I was.  I wasn't able to pass his guard and he passed my guard a couple of times.  I did setup an omaplata on him but he stacked very well and took away all of the space that I tried to make.  I'm going to have to ponder what I did wrong there.

With everyone else, I tried to focus on techniques that I've been working on: a few omaplatas, a triangle, some spider guard.  Unfortunately the only person I didn't get paired up with was Mike. 

I did have to tell Jorge to chill out a little bit during our roll.  He was spazzing pretty hard and accidentally elbowed me in the jaw.  I bared down and put some pressure down on him in side control.  Afterwards he mentioned that my side control felt impossible to get out of, and I gave him some options for other possible escapes and also said he needed to chill out a little bit and work on more technique rather than rely on brute force.

October 5th 2013 - Kids Class & Open Mat

Kid's Class

Greg is doing a great job with the class.  He keeps them very busy and uses the right kind of voice and excitement to keep the kids interested.  My boys love it.  Fuji's daughter was also in attendance.  As usual we started out with some animal walks: shrimp, bear, crab.  Followed by some break fall practice.  Jayden and Jace were doing great with everything. 

We played our first game of the day which was a new one for the kids.  I think Greg called it sprawl ball or ball sprawl.  We stood in a circle and rolled the ball to each other and the receiver would sprawl on the ball.  Fuji and I even got some good practice in.  The kids had a little trouble at first because they kept rolling over the ball, but they eventually learned to keep their legs back. 

There is always a Jiu-Jitsu technique portion of the class and today we worked on transitioning from side mount to mount.  I was impressed with how well the kids did with each detail.  Switching their hand position, rolling to the hip, pulling their legs down, then stepping over.  We finished the class with a game of foot tag.  Which is just like it sounds.  Elsa wasn't feeling it so it ended up being me, Jayden, Jace and Greg.  I'm not sure if Jace understands the concept of tag, because he always wanted to be it.

Open Mat
Rolled with: Adam, Fuji, Henry, Mike

Not too much to say about today.  I spent almost all of my time in the bottom of side control with Adam, Fuji, and Mike. Adam and Fuji crushed me and eventually worked their way into a submission, both with collar chokes using the brabo grip.  Mike was all over me and kept switching sides whenever I tried an escape.  Mike got me with a bow and arrow choke, and a couple armbars.

Henry was a different story.  While I'm more advanced than him at this point, I do envy him.  He's only 22 and just beginning his BJJ journey.  How awesome it would have been for me to have had the opportunity to start at 22.  The highlight of the day is the armbar that I pulled off using the brabo grip setup that Mike had just shown Ray and I right before we rolled. 

October 4th 2013 - Gi

Theme and Techniques: Hip Throw, Mount, Upa escape, paint brush, arm bar

Not too bad getting up this morning, I was a little sluggish but made it on time.  Robert and Jorge showed up as well.  We started out with the trap trap go upa into guard.  We took turns rolling each other over and then the next person jumped into mount.  We practiced the americana followed by an armbar we setup from the americana defense.  Should americana be capitalized?  I never know.

Rolling: Mount and Free

Greg joined us and we did 2 minute rounds on mount escapes.  I did a good job preventing submissions from him, but he eventually got me with an armbar.  Jorge wasn't as difficult to deal with, but he's doing pretty well for a beginner.

I rolled with Robert first and felt like I was doing some good things.  My lungs are still not completely healed from being sick and the congestion caught up to me.  I tapped just from being in kesa getamai and not an actual submission.  That's the second time that has happened lately.  After that I had a coughing fit.  I rolled with Jorge as well.  He decided to play guard so I passed it, but he did a good job preventing submissions.  I just stayed tight to his hip and kept pressure until I could get a head and arm triangle.  He's pretty difficult to submit for a new guy.

All in all, it was worth as usual to show up to class.  I think I'm going to have to pay a little more attention to my hydration and what I eat between the evening and morning class.  Plus I can't wait until my cardio comes back and this congestion goes away.

October 3rd 2013 - No Gi (I Need a Shower)

Theme: Takedowns, Reverse De La Riva

This will be a fast post because I'm tired and want to get up early for 6 AM class, sorry for anything forgotten or misspellings.  We did some taking turns with ad lib stand-up fit-ins and then some takedown sparring.  Jerad and I were partnered up for the first one.  We could do any takedown we wanted but one person was the defender and one the attacker and the attacker had to attempt 4 shots.  I think this was a good exercise since I'm not where I want to be takedown-wise and I suck at shooting.  The next round I went with Will and besides one embarrassing slip that allowed him to take my back.

Greg had us do two sweeps from reverse DLR.  The first one was a push and ankle trip into a knee slide.  I feel pretty good about the technique, but not about the position in general.  If their foot was too far away for us to trip, the second technique was to situp wrap our arm around their calf and our leg around their ankle and complete a technical stand-up.  This would lead to a single leg or a kind of knee bar takedown.

Rolling: Free


I rolled with Will, Jerad, and Henry.  I feel pretty good about my performance considering all the congestion I'm carrying around.  Henry even had to stop once to let me hack up a lung.  Jerad was probably the most frustrating.  I felt like attempting to pass his guard was futile and the I have to worry about him sweeping me.  He mentioned that he was trying some type of new sit-up thing that he saw in a video but I was too out of it after class to understand.

I mentioned at the end of class that I was starting to hate no gi.  I don't feel good about my guard passing and I feel even worse about my wrestling.  While you would think this would make me want to stop doing no gi, it actually has inspired me try harder and figure it out.  

The mats were so gross after class and I felt like a hot mess.  Henry and I both noticed that our hands were pruney.  I took my water bottle and sat against the wall with a towel over my head for a while.  I ended up producing quite a sweat puddle.  Eventually I got calmed down enough to change and head home and take a needed shower. 

WHOYA: October 2nd 2013 - Gi

Will ended up being the teacher in one of the few Tuesday evening classes we had at the dojo.  We worked on some half guard from the bottom which I'm always happy to do.  It looks like I spent quite a bit of time rolling with Mike and a little with Will. 

October 1st 2013 - Gi Noon & Evening ()

Noon Beginner

Theme: Cross Guard to Omaplata sweep, Over/Under Pass

Jordan and I were the only attendants.  The class couldn't have been more perfect for both of us.  I can see Jordan picking up on a lot of the things that I have been naturally drawn to.  We did quite a few reps of the omaplata sweep.  I payed special attention to the far side leg to put pressure on the hip and their arm or body, something that I haven't paid enough attention to.

The over/under pass was new for Jordan but it didn't take too long for him to figure out.  To improve this technique I worked on keeping my butt down and also Greg suggested that I put the person's leg higher onto my shoulder.  This felt a lot better.

Rolling: Closed Guard Pass/Sweep/Submit

Jordan had also been sick recently and felt a little queasy.  We only trained together a couple rounds before he had to sit out.  I was able to hit a few omaplata sweeps and he almost hit one on me.  I was happy with my guard passing attempts against Greg, although he hit the spider guard sweep on me multiple times.  I had one string of 4 guard passing attempts in a row that ended with him retaining his guard, but I had the illusion that I got somewhere.

Evening All Levels

Theme: Hip Throw with Neck, Armbar from Guard, Stack defense for the armbar

I worked with Adam during the technique portion of class.  We got quite a few reps in with both techniques.  The major takeaway was the defense using the rear naked choke arm position to prevent the armbar before stacking.

Rolling: Closed Guard Up/Down/Out, King of the Mat, Free Rolling

Had a lot of success here.  Swept or passed the people I should have and got swept or passed by the people I should have.  Except for one.  I was able to pass Adam's guard which is a very rare event for me.  I was in half guard and did the hip switch and then used the brabo grip to assist with the crossface until I could get my leg free.

I rolled with both Will and Moe.  I played around with the triangle from side control setup with both of them with a little success.  Will took it to me after that from top half guard and I was impressed with the amount of shoulder pressure he put on me.  I had Moe work on the bull fighter sweep a little bit and tried to stress when passing guard standing that controlling the pants was crucial. 

WHOYA: October 1st 2012 - Gi

In the beginning of the post I mention that Will and I rolled, which is something that also happened today.  Greg taught that night with a focus on completing the sweep from butterfly guard after being pushed flat on our backs using the overhook.  It sounds like Mike and I had quite the battle.