Mount Attacks

We worked on gyaku juji jime and kata juji jime.  We also drilled armbars as a reaction to bottom's bump and/or attempt to roll.


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Knee on Mount

We did a drill where bottom attempts an elbow/knee escape.  Top adjusts to it be flowing into knee on belly.

From knee on belly, we worked on finishing with an arm bar.

We also discussed proper reactions to being under the knee on belly.


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Kesa Gatame escape and Arm Triangle

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"Offense from the Guard"

In this private with T, I suggested that we explore offenses from the guard.  Instructor's first move was to escape out and sit up (often to elbow; some times to hand).  This alone told me so much about what was wrong with my thinking:  when I suggested guard offense, I was thinking of being flat on my back, both hips down, and both shoulders down.  I equated guard offense with explosion from this flatten position, and instructor's approach did so much to change me mind set.

From the escape out (similar to scissor sweep), the bottom foot must be in opponent's hip.  In this position, standing up and basing to my knee is possible, then, a nice collar drag can put opponent on his hands and knees and me on top!  (Being in this position 8 minutes after suggesting offense from my guard is the type of creativity that I was lacking until instructor shared his approach.)

Of course, the scissor sweep might be there for the taking.  Sweeping is and act of offense from the guard.

This same escaping motion (as in the scissor sweep) can give the space needed for bigger, slower guys like myself to attack triangles and armbars.  I found this tip also extremely helpful.  The flexibility and explosion thought necessary to hit triangles and armbars, is not as much as an issue if you can create space and, then, use that space to your advantage.

In discussing triangles and armbars, issues of opponent's posture were explored.  Instructor also encouraged a dynamic arm bar drill that I need to improve upon.

One of the most valuable lessons learned was in the mental approach department.  It was really cool to see instructor's take on guard offense and compare it to my limited point of view.

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Giving Back class

I took my daughter to class tonight, and I stayed for adult class that followed. I was feeling the effects of a full training week, so I wanted to partner with a beginner to give back to my gym and art.

That said, I got a lot from the class. While letting my partner get the most reps in, here's what was covered.
1.  Head lock defense (big step back).
2.  Head lock defense (hook the knee; baseball side back).
3.  The above move lead to an open mount arm bar.
4.  Scissor sweep (with pushing the knee).
5.  The above sweeps lead to more open mount arm bar work.

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Butter Half

Today we worked a classic butterfly sweep.

We worked a kimura roll when we have our opponet in half guard. Many folks found it a but tricky. From the roll, our opponent will often post his right hand, this gives us a chanceto work an x (or modified) sweep.

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Adjusting to Bottom's Work

When in side control, your opponent (on bottom) will often want to explode up and get the under hook.  As he does this, you can counter by popping up with him and going to knee-on-belly.

From knee-on-belly you can do any of the following which we drilled today:
1.  kata juji jime
2.  top-side armbar (think guillotining your opponent's elbow)
3.  switch to a classic kimura
4.  from a classic kimura set up, go to the armbar

While mostly a knee-on-belly clinic, it was neat to consider these moves as a reaction to bottom's attempt to pop up from side control.

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Flow Work

With your opponent on mount, you must elbow/knee escape; you can bump to help this move.

Mounted on your opponent, if he attempts an elbow/knee escape, you can transition to side control.  You can also transition to knee-on-belly.  From knee-on-belly, we discussed finishes.

In other news, I got my blue belt today.  It happened at the beginning of class and came as a surprise to me.  My instructor has told me that it would be coming soon.  Using me as uke for our first move, he announced to the class that he was tired of seeing me in a white belt.  He, then, presented it to me.  I was surprised, and much of the rest of the class was in a different gear (mentally).

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No Gi Kesa Gatame

From an arm and collar tie up, connect your hands, sag your knee, and add a twist for a neat take down.

With your opponent kesa, try to work a Americana with your legs.

If you are in your opponent's kesa, make your frame and put your elbow to the ground.  Walk your legs away and sit up.  You have s-mount options from here.

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Half Guard

In your opponent's half guard, slide your trapped leg up and put its knee to the matt.  Your free foot can pry  your trapped foot out.  Your forearm is best placed on your opponent's jaw line.

In your opponent's half guard, wrap up his head.  Then, tripod your feet (pressing your shoulder down into your opponent's neck), shake loose and pass your trapped knee to your opponent's side.  Use your free foot to help pry.  End in side control.

In your opponent's half guard when he has an under hook and is sitting up, break-dance kick your free leg around (you'll be back down at this point).  Scoot out and pry free.  End in side control.  Whew.


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All Off The Scissor Sweep

We worked the classic scissor sweep then a variation where the opponent's knee is pushed out.
Then, we worked a sweep where bottom's left hand grabs top's left hand.  Bottom's right hand then grabs top's right armpit.  The sweep, then, moves in the direction of bottom's right.  It was slick.
Taking the back was also discussed along with finishing chokes.

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Guard Passing

When in the guard, you have only 3 choices:  1) go under the your opponents legs; 2) go over, or 3) go around.



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Better Movement

In this private, I worked on flowing from Kimura (hand always is down), American (where the hand is above), and other arm bars. As the opponent moves his arm, the possibility for one lock or another is high. If the opponet straightens his arm, I can control his wrist and insert my forearm under his elbow and basically bend his arm the wrong way. (The option to climb on top to execute a similar lock is there too.)

After that flow drill, we applied the similar mobility to the bottom guard by climbing our legs up to play a high guard. Various wrist lock possibilities were discussed.


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No Gi Guillotines

This slick choke comes out of no where from just about anywhere (including when an opponent is turtled).



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Side Control Class

From the bottom of side control, don't give up.  Class focused on swimming for the under hook, coming up to your elbow, and controlling the wrist with a knee pick.

Regarding your opponent is always an option.  Sure you remain on bottom, but that's much more neutral than being on bottom of side control.





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BJJ match: Dave vs. Dan (DGC3)

Blue is very agile and seems to use his strength a bit.  He still was dominant in this match.  His corner's comments seem to suggest that they were playing a win-by-point game plan.  The result was a very convincing win for blue.

Tamara BJJ Pan Ams 2010 Second Fight

White wins on points from a take down and pass.  Blue attempts a triangle and an armbar, and possibly had the better offense, but comes up short.

BJJ Pan Ams 2010 - Cassio Werneck - Match #1

The bottom player has a guard that wasn't passed and wins on points (possible take down or an advantage--it's unclear).
A gi choke was attempted multiple times.

Mark Pan Ams Fight 1

The winner of this match pulled guard and controlled his opponent's posture. Soon after he applied a kata juji jime choke to win the match over his guarded opponent.

Pan Ams 2010 - Celina Marie Match #1

White works a very top-side heavy game until losing the position while attempting an armbar from mount.  The armbar is completed despite the loss of position giving the woman in the white gi the submission victory.

NAGA World Championships 2007 Women's GI Beginner 6 Weeks

After some rudimentary grappling, a very tired woman wearing a white gi won on points over a very tired woman wearing a blue gi.

A triangle might have been attempted in this match, but each player seemed content to work a positional game of sorts.

Awesome Blue Belt BJJ Match - 2009 World Championship

In this match one player worked his guard game while the other attempted pass after pass.  The players exchanged sweeps  and wound up standing when the guard-happy player pulled guard and prevented his opponent from passing.  Time expired, and the bottom player won on points.

BJJ Match! Eduardo DeSilva VS Jerin Valel in Toronto at Grapplers Quest at UFC Fan Expo

This was a Gi match with an apparent 8-minute round.

This was an exciting but low-scoring match with each man maintaining his position.  The win came via label choke, and the winner had his opponent guarded at the time of the choke.

First Post; First Tournament

I want to begin this blog with an outline of my first BJJ tournament.  In short, I took third place with a record of 2 and 1.

I'm a competitor in the masters division (30-40 years old), and I'm a super heavy weight (208-221 lbs).  There were 5 gents in my division, and I drew the first match with a fellow to whom I had spoken throughout the long day of waiting for the white belt matches.

The wait was long, and my nerves were flowing.  I passed time by watching matches (this tournament began with upper belts and worked down from there).  I calmed the nerves by talking to folks--people I knew; people I didn't know; even people in my division.  I met a fellow who would be competing in my division.  I struck up a conversation which seemed to calm both of us down a bit.  The dude was big and stocky which made we nervous as a someone who may be competing against him, and I became very jittery when I learned that he was a wrestler.

In my first match (the lead match in my division), I drew the big wrestler dude.  Looking back on it now, I know that I lost the match before even taking the mat.  I was nervous about the situation and scared of my opponent.  I pulled guard because he is a wrestler.  We struggled a bit; he passed my guard and slipped on a slick paper-cutted choke.  As it turns out, this guy had a nice choke and caught everyone with it and wound up winning 1st place.

After my first match, things started feeling like normal jiu jitsu.  I was awarded a win via withdrawal.  The other guy hurt himself in his first match.  I hated that it happened to him, but I was sure that I would have beaten the guy.  (I know him, and it totally would have happened.  He's okay by the way; just a tweek.)

By this point in the division things were taking shape, and I knew who I would be facing for 3rd place.  I told myself that I could still do well, and I entered the consolation match feeling great.  I won that match on points:  26 to 0 to be specific.  I was happy to execute such positional dominance, but I would have loved to finish my opponent.  I tried, but the fellow's defense was decent, and I was being cautious.

After my division was over, I was able to actually enjoy the tournament.  I  enjoyed seeing the jiu jitsu of my team mates paying off for them.  Seeing their hard work working for them encouraged me more than I thought it would.

During my long, nervous wait, I told myself that this would be my last tournament.  I must say, though, at the end of the day, I believe I will compete again.