Class 36...

My arm's still a bit busted so no press-ups for me during warm-up although I have realised I need to start doing these again as soon as I can because they're ideal for strengthening the arm muscles I need for grappling.

Today the early exercises focused on grip fighting and breaking grips then on establishing guard and maintaining guard while the opponent tries to break your guard.

The main focus in class was on a flow drill that started with the opponent jumping guard and wrapping his legs while you are in a standing position.

To break his guard: you gain control of one of his hands, break his grip on your gi jacket and grab the sleeve; then with your other arm you drive your elbow into his thigh until his legs break open and you drop him to the floor.

To secure the position: once on the floor you pin his left leg with your right knee on the floor and your foot hooking behind his knee; your left leg pushes through on his right leg to stop him from sweeping and to help maintain pressure on his body; your left leg also has the bottom of the foot on the floor; with your left arm you underhook his arm and put your head to the left side of his head; your right arm overhooks his opposite shoulder and goes palm-to-palm to secure the top half of his body; the opponent should now be unable to wriggle out.

To move into side mount; you simply bring your left leg into position near your right leg and drop both legs over and clamp down chest-to-chest to secure the position with your head down; bring your knees up to his body so he has no wriggle room; note his left arm should be trapped between your right hip and right elbow.

To get the figure 4 lock: raise your head and tempt the opponent to try to frame your head away; when he does this drive slightly forward and trap his right arm; then bring you right arm from underneath his head and frame against his head and pin his left arm; secure the figure 4 lock with your left hand and paint down to tighten the lock then apply the figure 4 lock by elevating the arm at the shoulder joint.

In sparring I came up against more skilled and stronger people and got tapped out a few times; with somebody of my own level, however, I held my own and proved tough to shift by going back to caging their hips. I even managed to break guard and get to side control but ran out of time. A good class.

LESSON FROM TODAY: Drop weight chest to chest when in side control to help secure position.