BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

263 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

We went over side control escape where bottom bridges up and uses the created gap to roll over into turtle, while rolling bottom captures top's wrist with his own arm. 

From there bottom rolls top over for the sweep, or if top is pulling away bottom can roll over his shoulder for an omoplata.

261.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ
260.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ
258.5 Total Hours

BJJ

3 Hours BJJ
257 Total Hours

bjj

2 hours bjj
254 total hours

bjj

2 Hours BJJ
252 Total Hours

bjj

1.5 Hours BJJ
250 Total Hours

bjj

3 hours bjj
248.5 total hours

bjj

2 hours bjj
245.5 total hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ
243.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ
242 Total Hours

BJJ

3 Hours BJJ

240 Total Hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ
237 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ
235 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ
233.5 Total Hours

BJJ

3 Hours BJJ
232 Total Hours

BJJ

3 Hours BJJ
229 Total Hours

bjj

1.5 Hours BJJ
226 Total Hours

bjj

1.5 Hours bjj
224.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 hours bjj
223 total hours

BJJ

3 Hours BJJ
221.5 Total Hours

bjj

1.5 hours bjj
218.5 total hours

bjj

3 hours bjj
217 total hours

bjj

2 hours bjj
214 total hours

bjj

1.5 hours bjj
212 total hours

BJJ

2 hours bjj
210.5 total hours

BJJ

3 Hours BJJ
208.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ
105.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

203.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 hours bjj 202 Total hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ 200.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

Today I trained at Brea Jiu Jitsu since my gym is closed for the day.

We went over what Dan the owner calls, 'phantom' control.  It is all lapel work.  If bottom is in a butt scoot position and top is standing and grabbing one lapel.  Top steps over bottoms head and puts his body weight onto the lapel and applies his weight, coming down into side control.

We also drilled a variation were top goes right into an swinging armbar.  It is so tight that bottom really has no way to escape.

We rolled a 20 minutes round.  Dan called it a 'metamorris' round lol.
195.5 Total Hours

BJJ

3 Hours BJJ 198.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1 Hour BJJ - Private Lesson

I've been dealing with a skin issue on my face, so no rolling this week.  However I went in for a private today.   We drilled back control using hooks.  The professor showed me how to maintain control even when the person is escaping.  He also showed me how to combo into a clock choke if the person goes to their knees.   The professor also showed me a sweep from half guard bottom where I use my knee to bump their hip by their crotch to off-balance them.  Cool stuff!

193 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ
Today we drilled the 'drysdale' armbar. Here is what is looks like:

During rolls I did okay, I am quite sore from all the training this week (5x). My neck is very sore from a blue belts chained choke attacks.

192 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

Today we continued clock chokes and other turtle attacks.

I rolled conservatively since I'm so sore.

190.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ

Today we went over clock choke setups and executions. Rolls went well. I am coming back to my former glory.

189 Total Hours

BJJ

2.5 Hours BJJ

Today we worked the basics. In no-gi we drilled RNC, in gi we drilled armbar from guard, armbar from mount, and omoplata. During rolls a 19 YO woman choked me out 2x! What a beast.

187 Total Hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ

Today we continued with the choke variation (snap down anaconda?) from last week. The prof also threw on the clock choke since bottom is in the turtle position. The clock choke gets very tight! During rolls I went up against a 2 stripe who didn't get enough sleep the previous night... so I tapped him 4x! Next I went up against a fresh white belt on his second lesson. The dude is about my size and I took his back and choked him. It was a bit of a struggle at first. Next I went up against Marcus the purple belt. Sometimes he lets me attack him until he is in a bad position and tonight was on of those times. I got him into an armbar and he defended it like a champ by stacking me.

184.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ

182.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ

Today we worked the anaconda choke with various set ups. I dig this choke! I am starting to come back during rolls. I am slowly getting to where I was before I suffered the neck injury.

180.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

178.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2.5 Hours BJJ

177 Total Hours

BJJ

2.5 Hours BJJ

174.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2.5 Hours BJJ

We continued drilling the cool advanced open guard setup, but today we worked on different finishes.  My favorite is take the back, but there are also a few different sweeps.

Rolling went well.  I caught some and got caught in some.  My guard passing skills need work/practice.

172 Total Hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ

Today we did a super sweet sweep from open guard.  I wont bother to explain it... honestly it is too advanced for me to pull of in a roll. It is good for my body to go through those motions though.

During rolls I went against a purple, a blue, a 14 year old orange belt (kids world champ!) and a few whites.  I got choked 2x by Cowboy Jim the purple belt.  He did what he called a half moon choke on me.  We started standing and I got in a decent underhook on Jim. I took him off balance but I made a mistake... I transferred my underhook to his shoulder.  Since Jim is taller then me he was easily able to whizzer.

169.5 Total Hours

jack of all trades master of none
master of few and jack everyone

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

167.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2.5 Hours BJJ

166 Total Hours

BJJ

2.5 Hours BJJ

Today I did no gi and gi bjj. 

163.5 Total Hours

Catch Wrestling - CSW

1.5 Hours Catch Wrestling/Combat Submission Wrestling

I went to a MMA gym down the street from me called CSW Mixed Martial Arts.

I learned some vicious neck cranks that could seriously paralyze someone!  I think I will start training catch wrestling one day a week to supplement my bjj.  The instructor is Erik Paulson, a legend in MA.

During rolls I had a bjjers mentality... I was fighting from my back and working lots of closed guard... I don't think these guys do much closed guard because the 3 people I rolled with didnt seem to know how to pass my guard...  maybe they are used to MMA GnP. Their top game was stellar though.

161 Total Hours

BJJ

2.5 Hours BJJ

Today we drilled arm triangles from side control in nogi, and back escapes in gi.

During rolls I got smashed over and over... it happens.

159.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ

We went over and arm trap roll from turtle position into a shoulder lock submission.

During rolls I got a few taps!

157 Total Hours

BJJ

My birthday roll!

Today we went over armbar from the guard.

I did okay rolling.  The professor gave me a gym shirt for my bday!

155.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ

We drilled omoplatas into a mounted omoplata.  Top keeps his arm drapped over bottom, and when bottom rolls out to undo the omoplata, top uses the drag from bottoms roll to propel himself into mount.

I am rolling terribly!  I get gassed quickly and I can't seem to put anything together.  It is frustrating. No stripe white belts are tapping me... I think this is where the ego checking lesson hits harder than the actual lesson.

153 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

We drilled omoplata into what I call a bull smash (sideways).  Top reaches under his leg and grabs bottoms sleeve.  From there top come up into mount to finish the omoplata.

I rolled pretty badly. 

151 Total Hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ

Today we continued the kimura attack series from side control that involves trapping bottoms nearside bicep with first my left leg, then my right leg.  From there I swing into a north south kimura finish.  Coach taught us 2 different variations from here, one a swing around armbar.  The other is a shoulder lock/bicep/forearm slicer.

I rolled today.  I gassed very quickly despite eating properly all week.  I am sore from PT yesterday!  Hopefully tomorrow will be easier at PT.

149.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ

Back!

I haven't done much in a month or so because I've been nursing a spinal injury.

We drilled kimura from side control into a stand up finish variation.  The variation is the same one that happens from north south kimuras when standing...

The advanced variation involved stepping over bottom's head while reaching through his arms to grab my own lapel.  From there I fall back while triangling my legs.  The end result is a kimura / bicep/forearm slicer. I learned my first slicer!

I rolled lightly and no one really attacked me, so I attacked them.  I managed to escape from some bad situations but didn't submit any blues or purples.

147.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1 Hour BJJ

We drilled armbars.  I didn't roll with anyone because of injury.

145.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1 Hour BJJ

We continued to drill a half guard sweep combo from bottom.

144.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

We drilled sweeps from half guard bottom. 

143.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2.5 Total Hours BJJ

Today we went over the half guard bottom leg trap that the professor showed me last Friday during a private lesson.  Once top's leg is trapped, buttom can take the back, push into top for side control or if top posts up his free leg, bottom can take it and roll top over.

During rolls I didn't do well at all due to my messed up/possibly broken middle finger on my left hand.

Here is a picture of no gi hitchhiker's escape:

142 Total Hours

BJJ

1 hour bjj private lesson

I took a private lesson with the professor.  I asked him to show me defenses against the various submission I often get caught up in.  I love to shoot in, and I get caught in lots of guillotines.  The professor showed me a counter choke where I reach up over tops head and squeeze while pressuring my shoulder/weight down into him.  Bottom can't finish the choke because if he uses his legs to push me back, he increases the pressure on his own neck.

I also drilled the hitchhikers escape from armbar and a super cool half gurad bottom postion where I trap tops leg at the foot.

We also discussed bjj theory, like creating space to escape and closing space to attack.

139.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1 Hour BJJ

Today I only did no gi.  It went well, since there is less to grip the blues didn't have their usual handle on me.  I even tapped out one of them during rolls!

We drilled armbar from guard. The big difference is that bottom has to buck his hips up into the armbar since there is less to grip.

138.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1 Hour BJJ

We drilled armbars from guard and from mount.  I also practiced the hitchhikers escape.

I took it easy rolling. My rib is smarting.

137.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

Today we continued armbars. The professor is having me do armbar from the mount in one quick step now, instead of 2.

It paid off during rolls because I hit the armbar 2x!

136.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2.5 Hours BJJ

In No Gi we learned how to setup a triangle from a failed armbar from mount.  Basically top takes his inside leg that is across bottom's torso and lifts it/places it across bottom's neck while swiveling his hips toward bottom's head to make the correct angle for the triangle.  Next top reaches across with one hand and grabs his own triangling leg's shin right behind bottom's head.  This makes the triangle TIGHT son.  From there top can easily transition back into the armbar, or try to tighten up the triangle.

We drilled armbar from the back.  Bottom starts in turtle while top has his feet in, but not hooked (or going for hooks). Top swipes one arm in and wraps/collects one of bottom's arms and brings it through and grabs his own lapel (trapping the arm). At the same time top puts his forehead STRAIGHT down on the mat (NOT to the side of the face!) AND top also has to sink in his leg (same side as that the head is on) cutting across bottoms body (not hooking in) while his other leg comes up/across into the back of bottoms head pressuring with his shin bone.  From there top grabs bottoms gi at the knee and directs his hips in a fall over bottom's head while pulling hard on bottom's gi pants.  The result is bottom getting flipped right into an armbar position!  Top just has to bring his free leg across bottom's face and push down while pulling up and away (45 degree angle?) with his hands positioned such that the blade of top's wrist is making contact with bottom's wrist.  It is painful for bottom, he is compelled to let go.


During No-Gi rolls I tapped a blue belt with a kimura from half guard.  I set up the lock and then moved my free leg over his head.  I turned my head toward him and rolled over the other shoulder.  He came up on top but the kimura was on! He tapped.

During Gi rolls I tapped a white belt with a triangle.  I tried against the blues but they tapped me a bunch today.  I got to roll with the professor. I tried doing lapel guard and he let me work until I quickly fizzled.  :D

135 Total Hours

BJJ

1 Hours BJJ

Today we drilled armbars from the mount.

Rolls went well.  I didn't get tapped too much. I also didn't tap anyone.

132.5 Total Hours BJJ

BJJ

1 Hour BJJ

Today we went over Americana into an Americana defense into a far side armbar.

Starting from mount top sets up an Americana.  Bottom brings his other hand over and grips his attacked hand to add support against the submission.  Top then moves the leg closest to bottom's head up toward/traps his supporting arm.  From there top switches to the S mount and switches the attack to the other arm. Top pressures down and brings his leg over into the armbar.  The benefit of this attack is that your wrist's hard part ends up against his wrists weak part. It is pretty easy to pull bottoms arm free for the armbar.

I rolled against a brown belt and did okay.  He was going easy on me I think.

I rolled against an orange and got triangled in the closing seconds of the round.

I rolled against a white belt and got an armbar in the closing seconds of the round.

131.5 Total Hours.

BJJ

3 Hours BJJ

I attended a seminar by Keenan Cornelius hosted at Brea Jiu Jitsu.  I learned the lapel guard.  Which is basically grabbing the lapel and using it to your advantage to attack/prevent guard passes. 

Keenan showed 3 different sweeps in the lapel guard. 
He showed a bunch of other stuff but it was honestly way above my white belt.  I have trouble with basic open guard but this dude is showing super advanced stuff.  It was still really fun! Keenan is a beast. During the final hour I got to roll with browns and purples from other gyms.  I also went against the owner of Brea Jiu Jitsu, he beat me quickly!

130.5 Total Hours.

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

Today we practiced armbar from guard into stack into a underhook on the ankle/body spin into anther armbar!

127.5 Total Hours.

T25 Alpha - Total Body Circuit

T25 Alpha - Total Body Circuit

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

We drilled half guard reversal into a kimura from half guard top.

We rolled 1 round of chess jiu jitsu, then we sparred regularly for 2 rounds.  I did ok.

126 Total Hours.

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

We drilled armbar and kimura's from the guard.

Rolling was fun.  I did well passing guards but my top game needs to get tighter.

124.5 Total Hours.

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

Today we went hard!

123 Total Hours.

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ

Today I got to drill kneebars with the advanced class.  Kneebars aren't allowed until purple belt, but the instructor wanted me to know about them and also thinks I am ready.

Starting from half guard, top guy spins around facing bottoms legs and grabs his free leg (the top part of bottoms leg triangle) and falls to that side, landing with his hip right by bottoms.  From there it is just like an armbar.

After the tap, bottom spins out and as he is spinning top can catch an ankle lock.

Here is me applying the kneebar:

And here is me applying the follow up ankle lock (badly):

During rolls we played chess BJJ, where you have to pick your moves one at a time and take turns... wow!  I got to think about my moves and I did okay!  I still got tapped out twice.

121.5 Total Hours

BJJ

No Gi:
Drilled a triangle setup from guard.  Bottom controls tops wrist with his opposite side hand and uses his free hand to cup/grip the elbow, forming a 2 on 1.

From there bottom pulls his feet up and places them on tops hips.  Bottom then crosses his leg/knee (the one opposite of the 2 on 1) over tops no gripped hand, pinning it to his body.

Bottom then swivels on his foot still on the hip while shooting the triangle.

During rolls I almost tapped a blue, and I ended up in top control on another blue for the whole round.

Gi: We drilled Kimura/HipBump Sweeps.

We rolled for 45 minutes straight!  No breaks and lots of partner switching.  I will be so sore tomorrow!

119.5 Total Hours

BJJ and Arms

1 hour bjj

After some days off for rest and recovery but now I am back.  I missed the mats.  I came out strong and got 2 taps on a fellow whitey.  I went against 2 different blues and did OKAY.  I didn't tap until I went against a purple. She bow and arrow choked me.  She also ripped my undershirt!

We drilled kimura/hip bump sweep combos.  I hope we can slide in some guillotine combos sometime this week. 

117 Total Hours

21s 3x15lbs
Grip Roll Ups - 3x7.5lbs

Arms

21s 3x15lbs
Grip Roll Ups - 3x7.5lbs

BJJ

2.5 Hours BJJ

Today we drilled knee on belly,  knee on belly switching sides, and reverse knee on belly spin into mount.

After drilling it a ton of times the professor played a game.  He would yell out 1, 2, or 3 or some combo string.  Us students have to perform those actions in a row, correctly.  The professor walked around with a big wooden sword/stick and swatted incorrect foot/body placements.
1- knee on belly, back to side control.
2-knee on belly switch sides.
3-reverse knee on belly into mount.

During rolls I took what the professor told me last week to heart.  I brought it hard.
I rolled with a brown, a purp, and 2 blues and I am satisfied with the results.  Even though I didn't get any taps, I passed their guards!

My throat continues to be sore, and my right ankle has a NASTY big bruise.

116 Total Hours BJJ

BJJ

 2.5 Hours BJJ

Today we drilled leg drag pass and collar choke from the back.

I took a private and we focused on knee on belly from side mount, into a kimura/straight armlock/americana combo.  The professor also fixed my scissor sweep.  I am not breaking their posture and HOLDING them in a broken posture.  I pull and then they are able to get up... I should be pulling and stay pulling as I load up the sweep.  I learn so much in private lessons.

113.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

More leg drag pass.  I really enjoy this position.  I was watching some blackbelts on youtube and this leg drag comes up quite often!  Only with the blackbelts they are in quite advanced positions with body parts everywhere.  I am on the other end of the spectrum.

The professor chewed me out.  He said I need to get meaner.  I am too nice.  He said I am giving people sweeps when they start them, and that it isn't helping anyone get better.

111 Total Hours

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ

We drilled leg drag until my legs started hurting... more like leg bruise pass!

I like the leg drag position when/if I can get to it.  Bottom truly is helpless to stop the pass once that position is obtained (at least at my level).  We practiced taking the back into a collar choke from the back.  We also drilled side control to knee on belly into armbar.

109.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours

We continued leg drag passes from last week.  This move is so money!

107.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

Today we continued the leg drag pass.  We sparred the leg drag pass, bottom had to sweep or get guard or half guard.  Top has to pass.

I did OKAY. 

106 Total Hours

BJJ

Tonight we gathered at our gym and departed to Babalu's B.I.G. Gym.

We rolled with Babalu's students.  I had lots of fun!  I went against 2 other white belts, David and Chris.

David is a 2 stripe.  I ended up tapping him 3 times, one armbar, one americana, and one kimura. He was much lighter than me.

Chris is a 3 stripe white belt like me.  He is slightly heaver than me and when we rolled he had control of me most of the time.  Only, he wasn't able to tap me.  Each time he put me in side control bottom I would try to put my body in a good position and wait for him to attack; which is a bad thing usually. He was applying so much pressure I felt like I would waste too much energy squirming free... so I waited.  Once he started in for a choke I defended for a bit then took a quick couple breathes and exploded into a bridge.  Chris was heaved off me for a moment and it gave me the space to escape.  Chris comes back hard but this time I am able to scramble and I end up in side control top. From there I am lucky enough to lock up a kimura on his far arm.  He taps!  Next go it progresses similarly only I end up choking him out with a bread cutter choke having just passed his guard.  He gurgled a few times before the tap.
The next go of it he ended up on my back, and just moments before time ran out in the round I was able to turtle into a sit out escape.  Time ended with us on our knees in the clinch. 

This goes down as a week of BJJ without me tapping... :D  Some say you aren't learning if you aren't tapping.  I say I am showing my learned defense.  It is just a lucky week.

104.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours

Gi:  We drilled a guard pass for 40 minutes today!  I am not sure what it is called, but the passer grips one leg inside the knee while gripping bottom's other leg outside the knee.  Next the passer pushes bottoms legs into his stomach/chest with his bodyweight.  He slips to one side while controlling the knee with his farside arm and hand.  Next top pressures down into side control.

We rolled top passes bottom sweeps.  I was able to hold my own for a bit but I gave out after a bit.  It was a good practice.

103.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1 hour BJJ

We continued drilling the omoplata.

We sparred top guy pass bottom guy sweep/submit.   I was swept by the higher belts and I swept lots of the other white belts.

102 Total Hours

BJJ

2.5 Hours

No-Gi: We drilled shoulder underhook stepback into a knee pick.  It is one of those falls that happens and you wonder how it exactly it came to be that you are in bottom side control.

We drilled double leg takedowns (in Judo: Morote Gari).  Afterward we sparred double leg takedowns.  I drilled and sparred with the professor!  He took me down twice in 3 minutes and I took him down zero times... but I shot in a good number of times.  I even set the shots up first!  The professor is a beast.

Gi: We drilled Omoplata (Judo: Ashi Sankaku Garami).  The professor offered to let me in on the advanced technique (triangle from mount) but I declined.  Omo is one of my favs!

During rolls I didn't get tapped, not once.  I didn't attack and push for top position until I went up against the professor.  He let me work my game and showed me weaknesses in my open guard defense (like that is hard).  I think the professor ran out of time before he tried to tap me.

101 Total Hours

BJJ

1 hr BJJ

Today we drilled the omoplata (Judo: Ashi Sankaku Garami).  I enjoy this move and it is one of my favorites!

During rolls I went against 3 other blues (3 rounds, 1 blue per) and didn't get a tap, but nor was I tapped!  I feel like my ability is improving.

98.5 Total Hours

Focus T25 Alpha Cardio

I busted T25 Alpha Cardio mostly to see if I am fit enough.  I am.

BJJ - Private Lesson

1 Hour BJJ

Today I went in for a private 1-1 with the professor.   We went over ezekiel (Judo:
Sode Guruma Jime) from mount, cross collar (Nami Juji Jime) from mount and omoplata (Ashi Sankaku Garam) from guard.   The professor focused heavily on comboing and getting 'the next step' kind of thinking going.

Ezekiel:
Elbows UP, off the mat!
All FOUR fingers in the sleeve, DEEP.
If the opponent rolls to guard, keep choke in.

Cross Collar:
DEEP grip to the back of the collar with the attacking hand.
The other hand goes under and goes for a DEEP grip.
At this point the professor showed me the feeling of having someone in a DEEP grip, and it is much tighter than I am used to attacking with.
Place the head to the mat on the side of the attacking hand.
Use the non attacking off hand to lever your attacking hand up (MAJOR DETAIL!).
Attacking hand goes across the neck, off hand levers attacking hand for massive pressure on the neck.

If I cannot get the 2nd hand grip in or can't get it deep, use whatever the opponent is giving up (they will be offering something by defending my attack) and attack (armbar, omoplata, triangle, etc).  Since I am in mount, I can trap the arm to his body as he fights off the choke.

Omoplata:
Very IMPORTANT: make sure I control the wrist to the MAT on the side I am attacking.  I was having trouble here because I attack the omo before having solid wrist control, and I get passed.
So, wrist control, opposite side leg push off his hip, swivel into omoplata.

General:
Look combos, think combos, what is the next thing i can attack?
Use what your opponent gives you, "scan their body."
What your opponet offers will evolve as the roll progresses.
Try to visualize attacking and be open to all attacks, dont get fixated on one move.

97.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2.5 Hours BJJ

No-Gi:  We learned a SICK back take move from half guard.  It is a spin around to bottoms legs, reaching over with your far arm and trapping his triangled foot (he is keeping half guard bottom)... at this point you are sitting on bottom, next you throw your free arm under his legs/butt and follow with your shoulder then body.  You roll through but stop before bottom can get his base.  Now bottom is almost on his knees, you hip escape toward his back and push his butt with both arms.  From there you already have the back with one hook in place!  It is complex.  I hope I remember it.

Here is a pic of the technique once top has rolled through but not yet hip escaped:

During rolls I didn't get tapped, but I also didn't tap anyone.  A blue belt from checkmat joined us, and he kept scooting away.  In fact he refused to engage and forced his opponents to hunt.

Gi: We continued working on opening guard and half guard top.  The professor had me teach the class the technique we learned yesterday.  I know he did this to cement it in my mind, but I was nervous!  It is hard to remember all the little details.

During rolls I got tapped by a blue to a triangle.   I didn't defend it very hard and I paid the price!  I also tapped to a purple by americana (Ude Garami).  He is the flow roll purple and he let me work my sweep game.

96.5 Total Hours BJJ

BJJ

1 Hour BJJ

Today we learned a useful half guard top pass into mount or side control.

Top underhooks bottoms far side arm at the ELBOW and lifts it above bottoms shoulder line.  This makes it difficult for bottom to sweep/squirm away.  Next top uses his head as a balance point by placing it on the mat on the side of the underhook.   Top then sticks his butt up in the air so bottom cant recover guard.  Now with good contol of bottom using the underhook, top slides his free leg up along his trapped leg and uses the TOES of the free leg to extend downard.  This action will catch bottoms holding leg and free his own captured leg.  From there top can swivel his hips for side control, or drive forward for mount.

During rolls I didn't get tapped!  I got an armbar from back vs another whitebelt (1 stripe).

94 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

We continued knee on belly drills.

93 Total hours

BJJ

2 hours BJJ

We drilled knee-on-belly drills.  We switched to the opposite side, we faced bottoms feet and drilled swinging the leg over into mount!

I rolled with the professor during sparring... and was worked!

91.5 Total hours

BJJ

1 Hour BJJ

We drilled from guard: armbar and kimura.  From knee on belly: armbar.

During rolls I tapped a white belt and almost sunk in a RNC, however my partner grabbed my swollen pinky finger and uh, twisted.  Ouch! 

I also got to work my game against the purple that shows me things after class.  He is so good compared to me!  Some day I will get there.

89.5 Total Hours

BJJ

2.5 hours BJJ

The professor asked me to do No Gi, so I did.

No Gi: We drilled from guard: armbar and kimura.

During rolls I kept getting tapped by guillotines.  I am unsure of myself in the explosive way of no-gi.

Gi: We drilled from guard: armbar, kimura and hip bump sweep.  We also drilled armbar from knee on belly. Next we drilled a turtle escape if top is in front.  The escape uses the same mechanic as a switch in wrestling, basically bottom catches the arm that is coming in under his armpit and does a sit out in that direction while applying body weight pressure on tops arm/shoulder.  From there bottom can move to tops back.

During rolls I tapped a 1 stripe white belt via armbar. I then proceeded to get tapped by a blue via triangle.

A blue belt was extra late today. While he was pacing around outside on the phone (we can see him through the windows) the professor hatches a plan to mob attack him and hoist him up in the air 5 times.  He comes in and finally gets on the mat and the higher belts bum rush him from behind.  I joined the melee and we hoisted him 5 times.

88.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1 hour BJJ

Today we drilled armbar from guard, kimura from guard and cross collar choke from guard.  I really enjoy the cross collar.  I plan to focus my first private lesson on securing chokes, particularly from mount. I plan to go every day this week...

We sparred top passes and bottom sweeps/submits.  The professors black belt buddy from Brazil started as one of the 4 bottoms... not one of us could pass him.  I tried and almost, almost got half guard top, but he did magic and put me in turtle.

I also received my 3rd stripe.  I don't feel I've earned it however this is important.  Now I can roll at all the advanced classes.  I now have the option to do 2 hours of BJJ on Monday and Wednesday.

86 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

We drilled triangle/armbar combos.  We continued to drill sweeps from spider guard.

85 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

We practiced spider guard and triangles.

We sparred the basic postions/escaping the basic positions.

After class a purple showed me and another white belt some drills.  We also drilled 20 kimuras from guard.

83.5 Total Hours

Run Night

2.2 miles

BJJ

2 hours BJJ

We drilled spider guard sweep setups.  It involves lifting the hips up in the air, swiveling one way to build momentum, swiveling the opposite way placing the leg behind the tops leg at the knee.  The sweep is cool because if top is crouching, bottom can push backward with the spider leg.  If top postures up, bottom can pull his spider leg (controlling tops arm) across his body.  Top has no post in that direction and is forced to roll.  Bottom follows him up and takes side control.

We sparred the basic positions and escaping the basic positions.

I rolled a bit until I started bleeding.  I'm a bleeder.

After class a purple showed me a judo takedown if the opponent has a deep ironclad lapel grip.  My same side (as his gripping had) goes under his arm and deep into his lapel while my opposite side hand grips his sleeve on the hand that has my lapel.  Next I drop/roll to the inside and my opponent is forced to roll (or have his arm broken) over leaving me able to take side control or even mount.

Two people mentioned that I lost weight.  Not true!  I am almost the heaviest I've ever been.  I guess my body is just shifting things around.

82 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

We drilled spider guard and spider guard into triangle/armbar combos.

80 Total Hours

Run Night

2.83 Miles

BJJ

2 Hours BJJ

Continued to drill spider guard.   My fingers are now raw and abrased.

We learned a sweet from spider guard where you bait a leg (the one on the hip) by placing it on the ground.  If the top guy tries to pass/do knee-on-belly there is a sick sweep involving quick hip movement and placing the bait leg behind top's legs.  If top is smart enough to sit, then bottom can go the opposite way and sweep into side control.

I rolled vs a black belt friend (Brazilian) of the professor.  He worked me!

78.5 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

My lip is finally healed up enough to continue BJJ!  I went today and only did the warm up and drills.  Rolling is for fully healed me.

We drilled spider guard control where the top guy will circle to bottom's non bicep controlled side. The bottom person has to switch his foot from the top's hip to top's bicep while the other foot goes from top's bicep to top's hid. This drill is hard work for both people!  I enjoyed it though because I got to work my grips and spider control.

Next we drilled throwing on the triangle from spider guard.  The triangle mechanics are the same only this time top is standing, while bottom has to, in one motion, pull both grips toward himself, use the foot posted on the hip to elevate the opposite side leg across top's neck and over onto his back (triangle setup).  Bottom maintains top's broken posture while throwing on the triangle.

76.5 Total Hours

Run Night

2.55 miles

Speedbag

400+ hits per side

Speedbag

300+ hits per side

BJJ

1 Hour BJJ

We continued triangle/armbar combos!  I busted my lip pretty badly...  I had a tooth go through my lower lip. :(

75 Total Hours

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

We drilled triangle/armbar combos.  We drilled maintaining/escaping side control. After class I asked a purple to reteach me the flower sweep.  Here what I recal:

From guard bottom:
1. Grip (pistol) his sleeve with the same side hand.
2. Grip the opposite side gi material at his knee.
3. Open up the hips while pointing your heels to the sky.
4. All at once, pull his sleeve toward your head, pull his knee toward and above your head and swivel your hips in a pendulum motion toward the side with the sleeve grip.  This causes him to go head-first to his shoulder, then back.  You end up in mount. 

74 Total Hours

Disc Golf

1.98 miles

Speedbag

400+ hits per side
3 sets of 21s @20lbs a side.

BJJ

2.5 Hours BJJ

I went to No Gi for the first time.  I did alright but I got caught in 4 chokes. I prefer Gi!

72.5 Total Hours

Run Night

2.61 miles

Speedbag and Arms

300+ hits per side
3 sets of 21s @ 20lbs per side

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

I am going to be sore tomorrow!  This means that I did it right!

We continued the scissor sweep.  I am really getting a feel for the techniques involed; namely: lapel hand punch towards sweep side, pistol grip hand pull, sweep side leg chop, and opposite side leg hoist, all at once! 

I gassed hard very early (during drills) due to the intense warm up.  Professor had us do some intense cardio/plyometrics involving chain style (using other people, one after the other, little rest) drills.

During rolls I tapped a higher belt from the back (first time!).  I got him in what I thought was a loose lapel choke, but i guess it was tight in the right places.

I rolled vs the Professor!  This is the 4th time I've rolled with him. I have 5 rolls total vs blackbelts in BJJ.  It went... better than last time.  I spent the WHOLE time defending, which doesn't exactly nab subs, but at least I didn't rush into a triangle or his guard.  In fact I played my whole game under his center of gravity but that didn't stop him from locking up a triangle. 

I am so busy being off balanced that I can't mount any sort of offense!

70 Hours BJJ

BJJ, Speedbag and Arms

1 Hour BJJ

We continued scissor sweeps.  I am starting to get a bit proficient at it.

We drilled/sparred guard passing vs sweep.  I did pretty okay passing, but my sweeps need work.  Guard bottom is not my thing yet.

68.5 Hours BJJ

200+ hits each side
3 sets of 21s @ 20lbs a side.

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

We went over the scissor sweep and also a variation of the scissor sweep where the top guy starts to do a standup.  The variation was very cool!  Bottom person hooks tops posted leg while setting grips, then scissors and ends up in mount.

After the professor taught a submission transition/combo involving the ezekiel choke into an arm trap into an armbar.  The bottom guy has to defend the ezekiel which usually involves flairing the elbows out a bit.  Top moves/scoots his knee to trap the arm (occupying the space the flaring elbow makes with his knee). Then from there it is a quick weight shift the throw the leg over bottoms head for an armbar.

During rolls I tapped a fellow white belt, and was tapped a few times by a blue and also by a purple.  Fun times!

67.5 Hours BJJ

Arms

Alternating Curls: 3x8 17.5lbs
Palm Up Wrist Curls: 3x15 17.5 lbs
Dips: 30

...hardly a workout.

BJJ

1.5 Hours BJJ

We warmed up with double leg shots, we drilled double leg takedowns, and we sparred takedowns.

For standing takedowns, I've discovered that I am quite proficient.  The professor had 5 higher belts line up in stations facing the rest of us.  Us lower belts took our turn in line as 5 of us went up against the higher belts.  The match was king of the hill, so the winner got to stay at the station.

I took down all comers until my legs gave out.  Luckily no black belt showed up in my station, but I certainly rocked it.  After a bunch of people I exhausted.  I re-queued and came the the front, I held my station AGAIN.  I even busted a smooth judo hip throw on a blue belt (throwback from childhood judo lessons) and made the line go, "ohhhh".  :D

66 Total Hours BJJ

Arms and Shoulders

Speedbag: 300+ hits per side

2 sets of 21's @ 15LBS a side. 

I think it is finally time to bump up the weight on the 21's!