Well, I've been training this whole time since my last post, but life has been crazy. New chickens, goats and more fence to put up. I'm teaching a law class and I have a new home job.
All this is killing my BJJ time, which I hate. Once the law class that I'm teaching is over, it will be back to a more normal schedule, but that's another 6 weeks away and I hate it.
I've been watching Roy Dean's Purple Belt Requirements now for a few weeks. I really enjoyed the Blue Belt requirements (having committed it to memory) and have implemented a number of the newer technique chains into my game, especially those from knee on belly, mount and guard. I'm having a lot more success with mount submissions, as well as, sweeps since then.
Combine that with some solid triangle information and hip bump basics from Ryan Hall and the Over wrap guard control (overhook combind with a collar grab by the over hooking arm) from Saulo, Half Guard stuff from Eddie Bravo and Robson Moura, and various other positional ideas from Damien Maia....and I'm gathering myself a fairly complex game (at least for the group I'm rolling with on a regular basis).
I'm getting this stuff to work on a regular basis...which is good. Regrettably, I'm getting it to work with relatively inexperienced partners. Oh well...mat time is mat time and I'll take whatever I get right now.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Week of ending with June 13th.
Training this week has been great. I was able to make it to two separate classes and one open mat session.
In class we worked various submissions from guard, getting our entries more crisp and refined. We worked specifically on the arm in guillotine and it seems effective off of the attempted take down. We also worked a bit on various entries into the omoplata. I specifically enjoy using it is response to the defense of the hip bump sweep...when your opponent counters by throwing their weight back into you.....you simply divert the energy to one side and swing out for the omoplata. I'm excited about this technique because it now gives me various options from the guard....and I love the "chess" of playing with options...and playing options off of each other.
I'm beginning to look at how people react to certain set ups and I'm trying to insert my own counters (various counters actually) to each reaction. This really follows the idea of energy conservation and I know that they'll move in the direction of their reaction with much more force than I can exert in any direction that I attempt to pull them. Using that energy is key to remain fresh while making them feel like a rag doll...toss to and fro.
I am rapidily beginning to feel technique win out over athleticism and strength, as people that have given me trouble in the past become easier and easier to deal with. There is not a sufficient skill gap yet to allow me to dominate, but I can see how having much more skill (rather than slightly more skill) would help even more. I know that seems obvious, but early on when people's skill levels are similar, it can wear on your mind. You can lose faith in the techniques, because you feel that they don't work on everyone...especially larger, stronger or faster people. You're told that it is because you lack sufficient skill to offset the physical advantages, but that it can and will come with time. It's nice to see that starting to happen.
As for my own work during open mat time, I've been working a lot with a closed guard arm wrap control position, which allows me to threaten with a cross collar choke, a straight arm lock and work a triangle position. It's also a great position to transition to various open guards, as I have a lot of torso control. I also worked on mount a lot this week, following the example of Roger Gracie who recent tore through the Mundials, winning all 9 of his matches by collar choke from the mount (or in one case, a barely remaining half guard). I've been looking at entries to the collar choke from different angles and with different grips. I've also been taking a long look at foot/body placement in mount while setting up the choke (because you give up an arm) or simply attempt to maintain it against a person with solid escape fundamentals.
In class we worked various submissions from guard, getting our entries more crisp and refined. We worked specifically on the arm in guillotine and it seems effective off of the attempted take down. We also worked a bit on various entries into the omoplata. I specifically enjoy using it is response to the defense of the hip bump sweep...when your opponent counters by throwing their weight back into you.....you simply divert the energy to one side and swing out for the omoplata. I'm excited about this technique because it now gives me various options from the guard....and I love the "chess" of playing with options...and playing options off of each other.
I'm beginning to look at how people react to certain set ups and I'm trying to insert my own counters (various counters actually) to each reaction. This really follows the idea of energy conservation and I know that they'll move in the direction of their reaction with much more force than I can exert in any direction that I attempt to pull them. Using that energy is key to remain fresh while making them feel like a rag doll...toss to and fro.
I am rapidily beginning to feel technique win out over athleticism and strength, as people that have given me trouble in the past become easier and easier to deal with. There is not a sufficient skill gap yet to allow me to dominate, but I can see how having much more skill (rather than slightly more skill) would help even more. I know that seems obvious, but early on when people's skill levels are similar, it can wear on your mind. You can lose faith in the techniques, because you feel that they don't work on everyone...especially larger, stronger or faster people. You're told that it is because you lack sufficient skill to offset the physical advantages, but that it can and will come with time. It's nice to see that starting to happen.
As for my own work during open mat time, I've been working a lot with a closed guard arm wrap control position, which allows me to threaten with a cross collar choke, a straight arm lock and work a triangle position. It's also a great position to transition to various open guards, as I have a lot of torso control. I also worked on mount a lot this week, following the example of Roger Gracie who recent tore through the Mundials, winning all 9 of his matches by collar choke from the mount (or in one case, a barely remaining half guard). I've been looking at entries to the collar choke from different angles and with different grips. I've also been taking a long look at foot/body placement in mount while setting up the choke (because you give up an arm) or simply attempt to maintain it against a person with solid escape fundamentals.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Cart before horse!
So, I posted about a single BJJ rolling session without first saying anything about myself. I'm former military, having served nearly 8 years in the Army. They were good to me, introducing me to law and giving me college money.
While I was serving in Arizona, I was introduced to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (hereinafter "BJJ") while watching the first UFC in 1993. I must admit that I hated Royce Gracie back then. His style of fighting made no sense to me and I gave him no credit for taking down and submitting person after person. It simply was not impressive to my uninquisitive mind (my mind in much more inquisitive now). However, after a short time the military become very impressed with the Gracies and approached them to create the Army Combatives program. I was exposed to BJJ there, though in a condensed and dumbed down form.
After leaving the military, and the free combatives training that they offered (influenced greatly by the Gracies). I forgot about it. I didn't think about it again for nearly 8 years, after the lethargy of reading for school and my love of food made me swell like a balloon.
So, I trained for and ran in a half marathon to get in shape, but running was not my passion. My goal was to get into good enough shape to try BJJ again...but in a gi with a formal instructor. I walked into class over a year ago, in May of 2008 and started BJJ for the first time in over 9 years. I was terrible, though not completely ignorant. I took to instruction fast and competed in December of 2008, winning gold in my first competition.
Competition is great fun and I think everyone, win or lose, should try it. I'm not one of those that thinks you have to compete to earn belts or anything, I just think you cheat yourself by not trying it once in your life.
I can't wait to compete again, likely in June of 2009. What I really hope to do is get to the place where I'm travelling to compete at various competitions throughout the U.S. I never expect to become some great BJJ icon, but I want to so beause I enjoy the BJJ brotherhood and want my life to intersect with it as often as possible.
While I was serving in Arizona, I was introduced to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (hereinafter "BJJ") while watching the first UFC in 1993. I must admit that I hated Royce Gracie back then. His style of fighting made no sense to me and I gave him no credit for taking down and submitting person after person. It simply was not impressive to my uninquisitive mind (my mind in much more inquisitive now). However, after a short time the military become very impressed with the Gracies and approached them to create the Army Combatives program. I was exposed to BJJ there, though in a condensed and dumbed down form.
After leaving the military, and the free combatives training that they offered (influenced greatly by the Gracies). I forgot about it. I didn't think about it again for nearly 8 years, after the lethargy of reading for school and my love of food made me swell like a balloon.
So, I trained for and ran in a half marathon to get in shape, but running was not my passion. My goal was to get into good enough shape to try BJJ again...but in a gi with a formal instructor. I walked into class over a year ago, in May of 2008 and started BJJ for the first time in over 9 years. I was terrible, though not completely ignorant. I took to instruction fast and competed in December of 2008, winning gold in my first competition.Competition is great fun and I think everyone, win or lose, should try it. I'm not one of those that thinks you have to compete to earn belts or anything, I just think you cheat yourself by not trying it once in your life.
I can't wait to compete again, likely in June of 2009. What I really hope to do is get to the place where I'm travelling to compete at various competitions throughout the U.S. I never expect to become some great BJJ icon, but I want to so beause I enjoy the BJJ brotherhood and want my life to intersect with it as often as possible.
May 30, 2009
Too long since training! I got to roll on Tuesday, but that's not close enough.
We spent most of our time working position drills, which I really found beneficial. The guy I sparred with, almost exclusively, is a strong and fast wrestler...he gives me problems. So, starting in various positions really helped me.
I was able to escape mount and side control and hold guard well. I was also able to pass his guard, get mount and attempt finishes from there. My top game is decent, but I only have a few closing options. I need to work on some chaining techniques, to get more submission attempts in...give the guy something to think about.
I have a hard time with sweeps from half guard, guard....anything with a solid wrestler in top position. No surprise there...but I'd like to be better at it. I've worked that transition into butterfly and half butterfly. I think I need to keep adding that into the mix.
I also need to look at some arm breaks for the arm bar. A lot of people have stalled me out on arm bars lately.
We spent most of our time working position drills, which I really found beneficial. The guy I sparred with, almost exclusively, is a strong and fast wrestler...he gives me problems. So, starting in various positions really helped me.
I was able to escape mount and side control and hold guard well. I was also able to pass his guard, get mount and attempt finishes from there. My top game is decent, but I only have a few closing options. I need to work on some chaining techniques, to get more submission attempts in...give the guy something to think about.
I have a hard time with sweeps from half guard, guard....anything with a solid wrestler in top position. No surprise there...but I'd like to be better at it. I've worked that transition into butterfly and half butterfly. I think I need to keep adding that into the mix.
I also need to look at some arm breaks for the arm bar. A lot of people have stalled me out on arm bars lately.
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