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.