Today was an open mat session and, exhausted from three martial arts classes earlier in the week, I planned to take things slowly.
Fortunately one of the blue belts I regularly roll with was there and he was nursing a back injury so we drilled some sweeps and escapes from side control before rolling.
And we rolled for about half an hour at half speed and it was good fun. I managed to evade most of his attacks and positional rolling and fought hard to avoid and escape his guard. I escaped armbar and triangle attempts and even managed to get side control on him a few times but I couldn't quite trap his arm in a kimura, American or armbar.
I do realise he was a bit injured and we only going at half speed but it was good and I actually started to feel like I knew roughly what was happening and where I should and shouldn't be. He was obviously taking it easy but it was a bit of a confidence builder to realise I am, very gradually I hasten to add, starting to pick up some basic understanding of what to avoid and when and how.
On a less happy note, it was the last day in the UK of a very high-level visiting brown belt from Brazil, who'd been here teaching as well as winning various tournaments while he'd been over here. I watched some of his fights on YouTube and he's an absolute beast in competition and just looks like he's having fun as he toys with, traps then smothers opponents. But on the mats and teaching with us he was nothing but kind and considerate and encouraging.
It's been fun. Oss Jackson! Safe jourrney home.
LESSON FROM TODAY: Drill escapes and drill sweeps; in fact drill everything and keep drilling it.
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