Classes 111-112...

First up was a beginners class in which we focused on escaping and retaining guard. 

Basics emphasised here included strong posture and not allowing the opponent to collapse your posture if you are in guard, and collapsing the opponent and not allowing him to posture up if he is in guard. 

The second class was a special session with Chico Mendes, the Head Coach of Checkmat Europe. The focus here was also on guard escapes, with a focus on creating distance and maintaining posture when breaking out of closed guard. 

We worked on escapes from half-guard and the De La Riva Guard, too. 

I particularly liked the breakout escape from half-guard, where you sit up and use the knee of your opponent to force the guard open and move backwards. I also liked the driving through move to collapse and flatten the opponent on the bottom in half-guard.

Things to remember: Posture and distance when breaking guard.