Class 7...

Class number two at the new school and class number seven in total.

Today we worked an overhead sweep that allows the player on his back to sweep the opponent in his guard over his head and roll out on top. We then worked on an adapted version of this where the player on the bottom uses the same entry to the sweep but then switches his feet and swivels round so he pushes the opponent over into an omo plata, which if the opponent rolls then turns into an armbar.

It's the third technique we've gone through here and while it feels a little over my head at the moment it's still giving me valuable ground time drilling techniques and getting my body used to rolling with people.

Another thing we worked on today was grip fighting and, as I discovered, I'm quite bad at this. I did pick up the idea of grabbing a gi sleeve using a pistol grip, though, and I'm also working on various methods of gripping my opponent's gi collar.

I got tapped a few times in sparring today but I also held my own against a few people with much more experience. At the moment it's survival strategy during sparring as I'm working out where I'm going with my body and trying to stabilise my position. I'm also getting better at using my feet to defend my position or fight back by pinning my opponent's legs when I'm in danger. Little baby steps...

But that's cool. The time to worry about submissions will come later.

LESSON FROM TODAY: use the pistol grip on the gi sleeve; keep using your feet more to defend your position by getting hold of your opponent; improve your grip strength.

Class 6...

After five classes at the previous school I decided to try a new school out today.

I liked the old school but the continued non-attendance of the chief instructor and a very small turnout meant that white or blue belts were running classes. And while the junior belts were pretty good, the fact the instructor was never there made me realise I needed to look elsewhere.

But I'm glad I went as it made me realise that I could do this and the white and blue belts I worked with helped underline some fundamentals that I needed to get my head around. So it wasn't a totally wasted experience.

One lesson in at the new school, however, and I'm hooked. The teacher is always on site and I counted at least three brown belts in the lunchtime class alongside the assistant instructor, who's also a senior brown belt.

The class was also very well structured, beginning with a light warm-up, which moved into a physically demanding workout. We then moved into a technique demonstration, which students worked on, before moving into guard-passing drills followed by free sparring.

It's a bit of a trek compared to the other gym but it's going to be worth it. The teacher is relaxed and knowledgeable, the students are friendly and welcoming, and the gym itself is a purpose-built facility with lots of classes throughout the day.

I think I've found a home for my BJJ studies.

Class 5...

Today, a brief lesson in humility. I felt I was getting somewhere with my 'caging the hips' technique in the last few weeks... and today it was me, a new white belt and a blue belt so I felt pretty confident. Then I got tapped all over the place during sparring. I think I managed one submission in about 20 minutes.

I'd watched the blue belt before and I knew he was very good and very technical and the new white belt was also very strong and also very good. I managed to hold my own with both for a while and even escaped some dodgy positions by rolling out. I even pulled a few reversals by adapting a hip throw when I was rear mounted a couple of times, but I was certainly second best for the entire lesson. I also found myself in several choke positions today and initially couldn't work out why but I clearly wasn't being very careful about defending my neck when I was going into my opponent's guard.

On the plus side I later found out the white belt had trained somewhere else before coming to this school so his white belt status was a bit of a misnomer. Then I realised I was getting caught up in the competitive element of sparring and gave myself a bit of a telling off. I'm here to learn. I can worry about winning later...

We also drilled some basics today, such as arm bars and a mount escape that relies on driving your arms through your opponent's hips then bridging and throwing him off.

But the key lesson for today was to value humility and patience. It was a reminder that I am still the whitest of white belts at this particular martial art.

LESSON FROM TODAY: Tapping people will take time so don't sweat it if you're getting ruined; to make caging the hips work you need to keep your elbows tight to your torso or the opponent has space to pry your arms loose and work all manner of sweeps or go into spider guard; defend your neck when you drop into your opponent's guard.

Class 4...

Today I met a new blue belt and a new white belt. Another white belt I'd met before was also in class and he'd competed at the European Championships at the weekend and picked up a bronze medal. It was quite an achievement and one of the things I like about this BJJ school is the teacher encourages students to enter competitions.

First up we briefly drilled a Spider Guard sweep. As an aide memoir:
Start on back with opponent in your closed guard; secure arm control with fingers wrapped under gi material on sleeve; open guard, move onto one hip and shrimp to get foot on opponent's hip with knee inside opponent's arm; repeat on other side so both feet are on opponent's hips then move feet up to opponent's biceps to establish spider guard control; kick left leg out and bring in over opponent's right arm so his right arm is trapped and your foot is in his hip; extend spider guard on his other arm by extending right leg and pulling sleeve control; switch feet as left leg goes under opponent's left shoulder and hooks under arm pit; right leg posts out to side; sweep opponent to your left as your right leg kicks him over and your left leg drives up to provide momentum; follow him over and end up in side control.

Today we also sparred and I started using my basic guard escape and had some minor successes with it. This was encouraging as it's something I've done some work on and will continue to drill. I also employed my 'caging the hips' technique and continued to have success in defending my position when trapped in closed guard. Posturing up also helped me defend myself too. For the moment I'm not worried about fighting with opponents in my closed guard as I feel I need to get the basics of fighting out of closed guard first. Slowly, slowly...

I did, however, spend some time today with the opponent in my guard and I must remember to pinch my knees in and keep everything tight to make it difficult for him to sink his elbows in and break my guard. I felt OK operating from my back, though.

Today I also got my first few taps. A few of them came from opponents being generous when I worked my way into decent positions, but one of them came from me sinking in a guillotine choke then rolling onto my back and sinking in an arm triangle.

It was a nice moment but I'm aware it was only a moment. There are still too many basic techniques to learn. But the basics I do know are certainly helping out.

LESSON FROM TODAY: To help pin the opponent's hips when in their guard you can use your hands to pin his hips by holding onto his belt and applying pressure down; posturing up when in your opponent's guard helps you apply pressure into the opponent's stomach.