Class Notes

I had a great time in class today. I felt like I was moving better, although I still got tapped out and have yet to tap out anybody. I got Danny's back and had him in good choke position for about a minute - everything was great except the actual choke grip. I really need to work on that.

Oliver worked on a armbar reversal drill. Pretty cool. Basically, if someone gets you in an armbar from mount, you push their far leg away from you as you swivel your hips away from him, then you pop your hips on their leg and roll over to get his arm.

I got a little better at armbar from mount from this drill. Keep everything tight. Push your knees together. Put your food on his head and pull the head close to you. Jam your other foot under their body or over their body. Keep the thumb up. Stay in line with the arm.

Defense

I need to work on my defense. Olliver told me that when someone has side control, you need to get some space, then get your knee up. Connect your elbow to the inner thigh of that leg when you bring your knee up. This prevents closing the space you just created.

I will look for defense videos and then reorgainze this post soon.

Attacks from Guard:

1. Armbar
2. Triangle
3. Sweep
4. Kimura
5. Cross Choke
6. Omo Plata
7. Hip Bump Sweep (Upa Sweep)

1. Armbar Video:


2. Triangle Video:


3. Scissor Sweep:


4. Kimura:


5. Cross Choke:


6. Omo Plata


7. Hip Bump Sweep (Upa Sweep)

Reorganizing and reposting some Videos

I realized that I'm posting random cool stuff, but when I'm in class, I can't remember any of it. I'm gonna try organizing attacks and videos by position. You'll see.

I suck at jujitsu

Had a good class yesterday - I was the only white belt. The upper belts took the time to show me how to do stuff. But I'm starting to lose some of the beginner's optimism and I'm realizing that I really suck at this and it's gonna be a long hard slog to get better.

Video: Gracie Insider

Gracie Insider

Awesome series of jujitsu videos

Rey Diogo Seminar

Rey Diogo visited our gym for a 3 hour seminar on Sunday. That guy is a badass. He's super nice, but you can tell he is a monster. I googled him later and found out that he's a 2 time brazillian national champ and 2 time pan am champ. Crazy stuff. He taught us lots of new stuff - too much really, cause I have a hard time remembering it all. Luckily, we had someone videotape it and they'll make a dvd.

Again?

Another bruised rib, what the hell?

Attacks from Side Control:

What can I do from side control?

1. Knee on Belly
2. Mount
3. Head control
4. If they turn, take their back

Attacks from Mount:

What attacks can I do from Mount?

1. Choke
2. Basic Arm Isolation/armbar (pin arm down to ground, slide your other arm underneath, lift elbow and pull down.)
3. Armbar Isolation to standard armbar.
4. Triangle!

Attacks from Guard:

What attacking options do I have when someone is in my guard?

1. Triangle
2. Armbar
3. Scissor Sweep
4. Cross Choke

Class Notes:

1. Armbar Drills. Worked on the basic armbar from guard and armbar from guard using hip action only (no hands).

2. Guard -> shoulder lock -> armbar. Grab the arm with your same arm, reach across and control the elbow with your other arm. Scissor your hips away from the isolated arm. Lock the shoulder. Scissor again. Finish with the armbar.

3. Three different Stack defenses.
3a. Get the armbar/triangle. As they stack you, underhook the leg opposite the isolated arm. pull leg/ push with your legs.
3b. Get the armbar/triangle. Lift up your hips. Sneak your arm under your hips and grab the gi of the leg across from your arm. Pull and push.
3c. As they stack you, you do some crazy rotation - dont' remember this one too well.

4. I got to see the power of a purple belt. Usually the upper belts go easy on me and use the grappling time to teach me stuff. Purple belt didn't teach me, he schooled me. It was cool to watch, if it wasn't me getting pummled on. I was getting tapped out so fast I forgot to say "tap." I would say "ouch that hurts" or "holy shit, what is that. stop. I mean tap." And he was creative. Wrist lock, ankle lock, collar choke, reverse guillotine. Whole lotta ouch.

5. Don't forget to control your breathing.

Notes from Class

1. My right leg triangle is weaker than my left because I don't pull the arm across as tight.

2. I'm getting better at bridging when they're on mount to roll over. My timing is better.

3. I'm still forcing the triangle, I can't move to it smoothly.

4. I learned 2 different chokes from mount. One is the standard cross choke. For the other, you frame the choke with one hand deep collar grip, then pull the opposite collar across their neck. The cost of learning that one: a few burn marks across my neck.

5. I need to work on strength and endurance. I had my opponent in 2 different chokes that I couldn't finish because I lacked the strength.

6. My ribs still hurt. I need to remember to take advil before class.

7. When you have someone's back, get a deep cross collar grip, use the other arm to grip their leg gi by the ankle, then pull hard. This is the one I couldn't finish, but it was really really hard for him to get out of.

Site for Kettlebell Videos

I found a site that has a list of great Kettlebell Instructional Videos

Weight Gain

I need to bulk up. I feel like my small size will lead me to more injury. I was talking to a classmate who told me that he trained to gain weight. Turns out they call my metabolism type a "hard gainer." So I should do fewer sets and reps of higher weight, eat lots of protein, and make sure to get ample rest.

Also, I bought a 25lb kettlebell. I'm going to use that for my workouts.

Notes from Class

1. I'm starting to get comfortable in guard. I like it there - even though none of my attacks have worked so far.

2. I love the triangle. I can't get it to work yet, but it just feels right to me. I definitely need to work on the setup for the triangle, how to transition from guard to attacking with the triangle.

3. Doing the motion drills really help. The armbar started to feel pretty sweet.

4. I need to work on basic positioning in side control. It just doesn't feel comfortable or effective. It feels loose and weak.

5. I have absolutely no idea what to do when I have someone in half-guard.

6. I don't know how to attack someone who's in turtle. I kinda got my hooks in, but I don't know how to open them up.

Video: Armbars from Mount

Class was Great

I came up with a ton of reasons not to go to class today: I was working the late shift, work was really tiring, I wouldn't have a chance to eat dinner, my ribs hurt, my stomach hurt. I couldn't figure out if those were legitimate concerns or me just trying to avoid something that scares me. I went to class anyway. It was great - I was just trying to avoid doing something hard.

We worked on motion drills, so I got to practice armbars and triangles. We did craploads of cardio. So much I thought I would puke (one guy was dry heaving pretty bad). Now I feel great. I'll have to remember this next time I don't want to go to class.

Video: Kimura from Guard

Video: Inspiration

Missed Class Yesterday

I missed class yesterday and kinda hate myself for it. 12 hour day at work - got home with enough time to make it to class, but I would've missed dinner. Funny thing though. I bruised a different rib on the right side kinda near my back on Sunday during class. It was really minor. But yesterday, as I was sitting at home on the internet, I sneezed and heard somthing click in my rib. It hurt! Now it's about as sore as my other rib was. Lesson learned: Even if I miss class, I'll find another way to injure myself.

Notes from Class

1. Work on Triangle

2. Shrimp to escape Mount

3. Need to work on basic armbar

Triangle Failure

I tried all sorts of stuff in class today. My triangle sucks. I need to post with the opposite foot to get some height on the attacking leg. Also, I need to work on the opening - getting to butterfly guard and the transition from butterfly guard to triangle. Additionally, I get stacked when I try to triangle. I need to commit to the triangle and finish strong.

More Notes:

• don't forget to shift your hips over to get an angle after you get your legs around. don't get squared up with him
• to lock the triangle, your other knee needs to drape over the ankle locking the triangle

Video: Armbar

Video: Triangle Choke

Video: Basic Submissions

Try this stuff tomorrow:

Things to try in class tomorrow: xpass, triangle, armbar, scissor sweep

Video: X-pass

Update (08/07/09):
I can't get this to work. Not even close. I try putting pressure on their leg with my knee and they either get me in guard or sweep me. I really suck at this. I think I'll put this one off until I get a bit more advanced.