Class 106...

Today was all about specific drilling and we did 30 minutes on avoiding the opponent's guard, then 30 minutes on guard sweeps. 

And it was exactly the sort of repetition drilling I needed to help me improve some of the technical but essential basics I need in my game. The sweeps I worked on included a sweep from half guard, a kimura sweep, a hip bump sweep, a scissor sweep and an upa.

It was then on to sparring and I was partnered with mainly my fellow white belts and I did pretty good without going too crazy. It was a good class.

Key points: Drill the basics. Then drill them again.

Class 105...

A class on specific drilling, with lines of people fighting several people in the middle to either pass guard or retain guard. This was pretty exhausting and, even though I claimed a few victories, it was either by stealth or brute strength. There wasn't a huge amount of technique on display. 

On the plus side, I did remember to protect my front leg with my same side arm so there was a small victory for some technique. Of sorts. 

Onto sparring and I pretty much held my own with good fellow white belts. I didn't get tapped and escaped some good submission attempts but I also didn't submit anyone either. 

Not that either of them are brilliant, but my defence is definitely better than my attack at BJJ. And that has to change as I've just entered my first tournament. 

So my training is about to ramp up a level. And hopefully my attacks will, too.

Things to remember: Attack is the best form of defence.

Classes 101, 102, 103 & 104...

In the first three classes, we were working on positional drills and avoiding guard. 

There was also a sweep from open guard that relies on swimming your left leg over the arm of the opponent so your foot ends up in his armpit, virtually trapping his arm. Your right hand then swims under his opposite leg to grab his gi trousers and you pull him in, then pull him over you.

It was all quite basic stuff but this is the sort of quite basic stuff I wouldn't mind spending more time on. I certainly need it. 

The final class, however, was the real treat: a 90-minute class with 12 six-minute rounds of sparring broken by 30-second intervals. I got tapped, I got bruised, I got sweaty, I got a bit injured, I ended up in some dodgy positions and I even avoided some dodgy positions. I also used my new sweep from half guard to good effect.

 It was one of those really challenging and really tiring but amazingly life-affirming things.

Things to remember: Drill the basics; keep using and refining the half-guard sweep.