Theme & Techniques: Double Leg Takedown, Mount Upa Escape & Cross Collar Choke
Students: Mike A, Jordan, Byrav
I had an idea for a warm-up that we've done in a past competition class. After the usual down the floor stuff we did 2 minutes each to drill a guard sweep of choice. Then 2 minutes to practice their ideal tournament scenario. So starting with a takedown then transitioning to a dominant position and completing their best submission. I worked on my cross guard pull to omoplata and then finish the omoplata either straight away or with a second roll to the crucifix. I had Byrav do techniques that he was familiar with like O-Soto gari to side control and finishing with an americana.
I would suggest everyone have a plan like this in mind or 2. Your best takedown or guard pull to your best submission. Mine are either my guard pull above or drop seio nage to north/south choke or knee on belly baseball bat choke.
I feel like my double leg has been getting better. It's been a process and a techniques that was very difficult at first. I went from leading with my head bent over at the waist trying to tackle someone. Then I started to learn about changing levels and penetration steps and turning the corner. Posture was still my biggest problem but now that is getting better I feel much more confident in my double leg and it doesn't feel as awkward as it did before.
Rolling: Guard Position, Free Rolling
Rolled With: Jordan
I went to cross guard and Jordan gave me a bit of a hard time from there, which I was hoping for. I had to reset a couple times but eventually got what I wanted. He did a pretty good job following that after my guard was open of trying to pass. I did have to turtle and he was in the process of trying to take my back when time ran out. From the top I attempted
Office Hours Partner: Mike
I reviewed Ryan Hall's deep half guard DVD last night and thought I had found some answers for Mike's step over. I think I looked at too many things because some of the specifics were fuzzy by the time I tried them. But there were some important realizations about using the butterfly hook to help off balance and defending the knee bar during the waiter sweep that I think will be good additions to my game.
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
April 19th 2016 - No Gi All Levels
Theme & Techniques: Front HeadLock: Regain Guard, Spin To Behind, Anaconda, Arm in Guillotine
Partner: Ben
We repeated last week's class which was fine with me as I need to work on this position a little more. There was an addition with the arm in guillotine which is probably not the right name because the hands connect closer to the armpit and it's more like an arm triangle. This is the first time I've seen this technique. Very cool!
Rolling: Headlock Position, Free Rolling
Rolled With: Ben, Mike, Tom
My main objective from the bottom of the headlock position was to complete a set out. I attempted it several times and finally hit one. What I was having the most trouble with was not being able to get my head to the side and behind my partners armpit, then it finally worked and it was smooth. From the top I was not able to setup the anaconda but would usually end up in side control.
Had some great rolls with Mike but they felt a little repetitive. We keep ending up in inverted half guard with him going for a knee bar. Sometimes he gets it, sometimes I escape. We had some other exchanges with guillotines and 50/50 position. I feel like I'm scratching the surface with understanding leg lock positions but I still have a long way to go.
Office Hours Partner: Mike
We talked about some deep half guard stuff and he pointed out that I needed to rock back more when setting up the waiter sweep so they go onto their hands. Practicing it a couple times helped, I'll have to look into it more and probably watch Ryan Hall explain it several times.
Partner: Ben
We repeated last week's class which was fine with me as I need to work on this position a little more. There was an addition with the arm in guillotine which is probably not the right name because the hands connect closer to the armpit and it's more like an arm triangle. This is the first time I've seen this technique. Very cool!
Rolling: Headlock Position, Free Rolling
Rolled With: Ben, Mike, Tom
My main objective from the bottom of the headlock position was to complete a set out. I attempted it several times and finally hit one. What I was having the most trouble with was not being able to get my head to the side and behind my partners armpit, then it finally worked and it was smooth. From the top I was not able to setup the anaconda but would usually end up in side control.
Had some great rolls with Mike but they felt a little repetitive. We keep ending up in inverted half guard with him going for a knee bar. Sometimes he gets it, sometimes I escape. We had some other exchanges with guillotines and 50/50 position. I feel like I'm scratching the surface with understanding leg lock positions but I still have a long way to go.
Office Hours Partner: Mike
We talked about some deep half guard stuff and he pointed out that I needed to rock back more when setting up the waiter sweep so they go onto their hands. Practicing it a couple times helped, I'll have to look into it more and probably watch Ryan Hall explain it several times.
Saturday, April 16, 2016
April 16th 2016 - Open Mat
Open Mat
Rolled With: Craig, Derek, Bhuvana, Mike A
Game Plan: Deep Half and Bottom Half
Craig: We looked at the curriculum again and went over the throw section with just fit ins. We rolled a few times and I was on point with setting up the North/South choke. I had him take the top of half guard with the underhook and crossface and then tried to work my way out of it. It was some good training.
Derek: Super tough roll that made me want to improve my cardio and framing in half guard. He started on bottom which I commend him for. As I was attempting to pass his guard he turtled up so I took a collar grip and attempted the cross choke. But, when he figured out it was sinking in he was able to roll me off the top. Should I have let it go and tried to stay on top? Yes.
I ended up in guard and tried to play my game. Every time I felt like I gained some ground he would center back up and I'd have to start over. I attempted cross guard omoplata but he was able to step over my head which almost never happens anymore, I recovered and somehow ended up in a triangle. I couldn't lock it in though and ended up in half guard. Eventually he isolated my arm and finished an americana. It was a good reminder that I need to be more persistent in my framing and try to stay ahead of the game in half guard.
Bhuvana: She wanted some pointers on guard retention and half guard. The advice that I've been giving out lately for retaining guard is to cover the places they want to grip with your hands, that way I can usually prevent their grips and usually get sleeve grips. When we practiced she has noticeably improved in getting a spider hook.
Then we worked on some half guard stuff and she decided knee shield is something she wants to improve on.
Mike: Had some great technical rolls like usual. The first couple he caught me pretty quickly with heel hooks. After a flurry of twisting and turning I finally caught him with one as he was attempting a calf cutter. I'm still having issues with finishing the waiter sweep with him as he'll attack a knee bar as I go for it, I think I need to hold his hip tighter and commit to going for over/under pass.
Rolled With: Craig, Derek, Bhuvana, Mike A
Game Plan: Deep Half and Bottom Half
Craig: We looked at the curriculum again and went over the throw section with just fit ins. We rolled a few times and I was on point with setting up the North/South choke. I had him take the top of half guard with the underhook and crossface and then tried to work my way out of it. It was some good training.
Derek: Super tough roll that made me want to improve my cardio and framing in half guard. He started on bottom which I commend him for. As I was attempting to pass his guard he turtled up so I took a collar grip and attempted the cross choke. But, when he figured out it was sinking in he was able to roll me off the top. Should I have let it go and tried to stay on top? Yes.
I ended up in guard and tried to play my game. Every time I felt like I gained some ground he would center back up and I'd have to start over. I attempted cross guard omoplata but he was able to step over my head which almost never happens anymore, I recovered and somehow ended up in a triangle. I couldn't lock it in though and ended up in half guard. Eventually he isolated my arm and finished an americana. It was a good reminder that I need to be more persistent in my framing and try to stay ahead of the game in half guard.
Bhuvana: She wanted some pointers on guard retention and half guard. The advice that I've been giving out lately for retaining guard is to cover the places they want to grip with your hands, that way I can usually prevent their grips and usually get sleeve grips. When we practiced she has noticeably improved in getting a spider hook.
Then we worked on some half guard stuff and she decided knee shield is something she wants to improve on.
Mike: Had some great technical rolls like usual. The first couple he caught me pretty quickly with heel hooks. After a flurry of twisting and turning I finally caught him with one as he was attempting a calf cutter. I'm still having issues with finishing the waiter sweep with him as he'll attack a knee bar as I go for it, I think I need to hold his hip tighter and commit to going for over/under pass.
Friday, April 15, 2016
April 15th 2016 - Gi All Levels
Theme & Techniques: Standing Head Lock Escape Valley Drop, Kneeling Guard Break, Single Under Pass
Partner: Bob, Craig
Bob and I met 15 minutes early to do some Judo before class. I'm pretty impressed with his ability to make Judo work and have only experienced this with a few other people. He threw me a couple times and it felt pretty smooth and effortless most of the time. A couple of times I felt glad that I know how to fall well because the ground was coming fast. Major take aways were to use my elbow more when creating kazushi and to take away the slack of the sleeve. We also went over a way to do o-soto gari but setting it up with more of a mahki komi. If you get a chance I'd encourage anyone to work with him on throws. You could work with Ray too if you see him in class.
Nothing new to report on the techniques of the week.
Rolling: Several Rounds of Different Positional Sparring: Closed Guard, Half Guard, Turtle, Side Control
Rolled With: Craig, Jordan, Jeff
We got done with the techniques fairly quickly and had a lot of time for rolling, which is why Conan had us do so many different positions. Turtle was where I got stopped the most. Craig did a good job of grabbing my ankle or pants to keep me from rolling. Jordan was pretty aggressive in half guard with some good pressure. He would get a crossface but eventually let me get the underhook, so I tried to give him some pointers on that. Otherwise it was business as usual.
Office Hours Partner: Jeff
While rolling in side control I talked to Jeff about blocking and preventing the cross face and turning it into an underhook escape or stiff arm escape. He seemed to appreciate this and some of the other things we worked on. He pointed out quite a few times that some of the things I was telling him to do were kind of mean like knee on belly. I can understand his position there are somethings I avoid doing (unless it's Adam) because I think they're mean. I tried to explain to him that we're all big boys and girls and can handle some pressure, cross faces, and some meanness.
Partner: Bob, Craig
Bob and I met 15 minutes early to do some Judo before class. I'm pretty impressed with his ability to make Judo work and have only experienced this with a few other people. He threw me a couple times and it felt pretty smooth and effortless most of the time. A couple of times I felt glad that I know how to fall well because the ground was coming fast. Major take aways were to use my elbow more when creating kazushi and to take away the slack of the sleeve. We also went over a way to do o-soto gari but setting it up with more of a mahki komi. If you get a chance I'd encourage anyone to work with him on throws. You could work with Ray too if you see him in class.
Nothing new to report on the techniques of the week.
Rolling: Several Rounds of Different Positional Sparring: Closed Guard, Half Guard, Turtle, Side Control
Rolled With: Craig, Jordan, Jeff
We got done with the techniques fairly quickly and had a lot of time for rolling, which is why Conan had us do so many different positions. Turtle was where I got stopped the most. Craig did a good job of grabbing my ankle or pants to keep me from rolling. Jordan was pretty aggressive in half guard with some good pressure. He would get a crossface but eventually let me get the underhook, so I tried to give him some pointers on that. Otherwise it was business as usual.
Office Hours Partner: Jeff
While rolling in side control I talked to Jeff about blocking and preventing the cross face and turning it into an underhook escape or stiff arm escape. He seemed to appreciate this and some of the other things we worked on. He pointed out quite a few times that some of the things I was telling him to do were kind of mean like knee on belly. I can understand his position there are somethings I avoid doing (unless it's Adam) because I think they're mean. I tried to explain to him that we're all big boys and girls and can handle some pressure, cross faces, and some meanness.
Thursday, April 14, 2016
April 14th 2016 - Gi All Levels
Theme & Techniques: Standing Head Lock Escape Valley Drop, Kneeling Guard Break, Single Under Pass
Partner: Derek, Bob
Busy with work lately, so I don't feel like I've been doing this blog justice. I don't have much to say about the technique portion of the class. Just little things for the techniques of the week:
Rolling: Guard Up/Down/Out
Rolled With: Bhuvana, Derek, Bob, Dave, Andy, Harvey
Had great fun rolling today and had some good success. I attempted the single under pass a few times and had to abandon it a few times for over/under. In closed guard I feel like I've been researching transitions between 2 on 1 and cross guard. I'm not sure if I should feel guilty because it's my a-game or if I should be trying to work something else, but I don't feel stagnant with the progress right now so I'd like to keep working it.
During my last roll with Andy when I was on the bottom I attempted to setup the baseball bat choke from the bottom. Mostly to try to get him with his own technique. He said I almost had it, but I couldn't figure out a way to make it any tighter. He went over some specifics about setting it up and some troubleshooting that he does.
Partner: Derek, Bob
Busy with work lately, so I don't feel like I've been doing this blog justice. I don't have much to say about the technique portion of the class. Just little things for the techniques of the week:
- Head Lock Escape: Try to spin your opponent around during the takedown instead of trying to drag them straight down
- Kneeling Guard break: Keep your thigh as vertical as you can for as long as you can before stepping back.
- Single under pass: Take it in 3 different directions, push straight in using your toes. Once they can kiss their knee turn 90 degress, push straight again to push their knees to the side.
Rolling: Guard Up/Down/Out
Rolled With: Bhuvana, Derek, Bob, Dave, Andy, Harvey
Had great fun rolling today and had some good success. I attempted the single under pass a few times and had to abandon it a few times for over/under. In closed guard I feel like I've been researching transitions between 2 on 1 and cross guard. I'm not sure if I should feel guilty because it's my a-game or if I should be trying to work something else, but I don't feel stagnant with the progress right now so I'd like to keep working it.
During my last roll with Andy when I was on the bottom I attempted to setup the baseball bat choke from the bottom. Mostly to try to get him with his own technique. He said I almost had it, but I couldn't figure out a way to make it any tighter. He went over some specifics about setting it up and some troubleshooting that he does.
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
April 13th 2016 - Gi All Levels
Theme & Techniques: Standing Head Lock Escape Valley Drop, Kneeling Guard Break, Single Under Pass, Over/Under Pass
Students: Mike A, Frank, Jordan, Byrav
Had a good time teaching today. Added some grip fighting and throw fit ins to the warm-up and then got into techniques. I felt like we breezed through the techniques today so I decided to teach the over/under pass. By the end everyone understood it pretty well and I saw a few attempts at it in sparring.
Rolling: Guard Position, Free Rolling
Rolled With: Jordan, Byrav
I sat out of rolling the first couple rounds and was able to jump in at the end. I played it a little different with Byrav because he was being a little too passive with me. So I tried to talk him into executing techniques. For instance I had him in the bottom of side control, I would say something like, "okay how do you get out of this?" Then he would attempt the side control escape I'd give him just enough resistance to make it difficult then have him try it again until he could escape. Hopefully this helped.
Jordan's doing a pretty well at maintaining guard and passing guard. I had to turtle up at one point to prevent being passed and he almost took my back. Mike pointed out a couple things he needed to work on when trying to escape side control and getting caught in north/south. We also talked about defending north/south choke as well. That being said, I felt pretty good about my switching sides when someone turns in to escape side control.
Students: Mike A, Frank, Jordan, Byrav
Had a good time teaching today. Added some grip fighting and throw fit ins to the warm-up and then got into techniques. I felt like we breezed through the techniques today so I decided to teach the over/under pass. By the end everyone understood it pretty well and I saw a few attempts at it in sparring.
Rolling: Guard Position, Free Rolling
Rolled With: Jordan, Byrav
I sat out of rolling the first couple rounds and was able to jump in at the end. I played it a little different with Byrav because he was being a little too passive with me. So I tried to talk him into executing techniques. For instance I had him in the bottom of side control, I would say something like, "okay how do you get out of this?" Then he would attempt the side control escape I'd give him just enough resistance to make it difficult then have him try it again until he could escape. Hopefully this helped.
Jordan's doing a pretty well at maintaining guard and passing guard. I had to turtle up at one point to prevent being passed and he almost took my back. Mike pointed out a couple things he needed to work on when trying to escape side control and getting caught in north/south. We also talked about defending north/south choke as well. That being said, I felt pretty good about my switching sides when someone turns in to escape side control.
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
April 12th 2016 - No Gi All Levels
Theme & Techniques: Front HeadLock: Spin To Behind, Anaconda, Regain Guard
Partner: Bhuvana
I haven't worked on the anaconda for a long time and was happy to work on something different today. I always look forward to no-gi Tuesdays to work on some different things. Some pointers on the techniques from today:
Rolled With: Greg, Harvey, Tom, Mike A
Had some good success with rolling from the headlock position. I didn't feel like I had a chance to attempt the anaconda at any point. As soon as we started everyone I rolled with pulled my hand off of their chin which was my first action as well. Although I would usually try to grab with the other hand.
From both Greg and Mike I'm seeing some different attacks with trying to separate get my elbow away from my knee to isolate that arm to get a crucifix. A couple times I had to try to get ahead of the back take and try to bridge and get my shoulders to the floor as quickly as possible. When I was on top with Greg he was able to easily stand-up a few times right away because I wasn't putting enough shoulder pressure down.
I feel like Mike and I are ending up in the same positions each time we roll. He'll stand and try to run around me to pass my guard. I'll grab his leg and try to go shin on shin. Often I'll pull deep half after that. He'll step over or I'll attempt a waiter sweep then we may end up in a leg lock battle.
Office Hours Partner: Harvey
We went over armbar from guard again and made a few minor adjustments and then he asked me if there was anything I wanted to work on. I did some half guard stuff with the goal of getting to deep half and sweeping. However, he wasn't really doing anything about my underhook so I kept taking his back. I gave him some half guard top pointers and showed him some things that I do to pass and prevent the underhook.
Partner: Bhuvana
I haven't worked on the anaconda for a long time and was happy to work on something different today. I always look forward to no-gi Tuesdays to work on some different things. Some pointers on the techniques from today:
- Spin to behind: The main detail from switching from front headlock to the side of turtle was to put your hand behind their shoulder to keep them from grabbing your leg as you move around.
- Anaconda: My biggest piece of advice for this and darce is don't fall into the choke until your hands are secure. It is difficult to tighten this choke once you fall to your side so make sure you have your hand secure on your bicep.
- Regain Guard: The hardest part of this for me was freeing my head or figuring out which way to step. Eventually it made sense to make it like a sitout.
Rolled With: Greg, Harvey, Tom, Mike A
Had some good success with rolling from the headlock position. I didn't feel like I had a chance to attempt the anaconda at any point. As soon as we started everyone I rolled with pulled my hand off of their chin which was my first action as well. Although I would usually try to grab with the other hand.
From both Greg and Mike I'm seeing some different attacks with trying to separate get my elbow away from my knee to isolate that arm to get a crucifix. A couple times I had to try to get ahead of the back take and try to bridge and get my shoulders to the floor as quickly as possible. When I was on top with Greg he was able to easily stand-up a few times right away because I wasn't putting enough shoulder pressure down.
I feel like Mike and I are ending up in the same positions each time we roll. He'll stand and try to run around me to pass my guard. I'll grab his leg and try to go shin on shin. Often I'll pull deep half after that. He'll step over or I'll attempt a waiter sweep then we may end up in a leg lock battle.
Office Hours Partner: Harvey
We went over armbar from guard again and made a few minor adjustments and then he asked me if there was anything I wanted to work on. I did some half guard stuff with the goal of getting to deep half and sweeping. However, he wasn't really doing anything about my underhook so I kept taking his back. I gave him some half guard top pointers and showed him some things that I do to pass and prevent the underhook.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)